AU Collection, Stories, and Fanart

Wrong Beginnings (Story)

Sabre huffed, watching his breath fog into the chilly air. All around him, the forest was silent. It was as if the animals knew what was bound to happen in a few weeks' time, fleeing the forest before the two armies collided and blood was shed.

Sabre scanned the area, hairs on end.

He was being watched, but from where was the question. His Handler was already going to make him go through the Hell Training just because he was spotted. Last thing Sabre needs is an even worse punishment because someone saw him and managed to get away.

Usually he’s the one watching unsuspecting soldiers. Or generals. Or politicians.  Or some royal member's family. Or-

Screw it. Usually he’s the one watching unsuspecting people. Easier than listing out the hundreds of jobs he's seen people do as he grew up.

Just whoever the government decides that they need to be watched for a bit or…well…that part of his job doesn't matter. Sabre wasn’t doing any of those missions his Handler sent him on. Sabre was on the one he was currently, which was just gathering info on the upcoming army.

Sabre's job was something simple that usually freshly trained Youth Combatants are sent on.

Sabre wasn’t complaining about the mission though. One, after the last mission he was sent on, he’ll take the easy task. Two, complaining verbally wasn't something the Trainers allowed. Three, if he, one of the best Youth Combatants to date, couldn’t find whoever was still watching him, Sabre doubts one of the Freshly Trained would.

Sabre pushed down the urge to grab any of his weapons. That would basically give away the fact he knew he was being watched, and then usually death follows.

Sabre quite enjoyed living, so he merely walked through the forest, head facing forwards but stretching his senses all around. The throwing knives against the underside of his arms were a comforting weight.

A flash of movement out of the corner of his eye.

He spun, knife out of the sheath and towards the unfortunate soul.

Sabre blinked, and the…shadow…thing stood there.

That was not normal.

Wait, did he… did he miss?

Oh gods his handler was going to kill him. Sabre wasn't allowed to miss.

The shadow person turned and ran deeper into the forest, not a sound created. Sabre had several curses go through his head, darting after them. He pulled out a dagger from another sheath.

Sabre dreaded giving his report when he got back to the base. Forget about his Handler killing him. She was going to kill him, revive him, make him go through the Hell Training, then kill him again.

He slid to a stop when he watched the shadow dive into a long, old, stone hallway built into the hillside. Torches were lit on the inside, but that added to the creepy factor.

“This is so ominous.” He mumbled, before following after.

Shadow creature or not, Sabre’s constant goal was to not be seen. If he was he had to get rid of who saw him and quickly.

At the moment, that meant the shadow person.

He went down the stairs, taking two at a time. He faintly noted the gravel above him. This better not be a trap. Sabre did not need a repeat of the punishment last time he got trapped.

All thoughts of possible punishment fled Sabre’s mind when he saw what laid at the bottom.

Stone walls surrounded him as a tomb laid in the middle of the room, with signs dotting all over the wall. The writing was visible, but ineligible.