I Will Not Run...

Chase ate the rations that Summer had brought him in silence. His mind wavering between multiple possibilities of the coming day.

As he could barely force the food down his throat, he felt his mind racing at the thought of finally enacting his sacred vengeance.

He had lost the first time, but it was a mistake on The Wendigo's part as to not kill him where he stood.

Chase would be the last thing that the general of Frostfang got the chance to see.

But he also had to find a way to hide his true identity during the battle, as it would be within the eye of the storm, the center of more then three armies, and thousands of onlookers.

"Chase?"

Chase turned toward Summer who was sitting quietly at his side.

"Yeah?"

Summer started to fiddle with her thumbs, as she looked down upon the valley of the allied armies.

"I am seventeen, and come from a wealthy house..."

"No..."

Chase denied it before she could even ask the question.

"You are a great person, with a kind heart... But I am a creature born from the depths of hell, I will not run, for my place is on this battlefield... No offense..."

Summer wiped her eye with her orange colored sleeve, and shook her head.

"No, I thought you would say something like that."

Chase set his food down, and stood up.

As he gazed upon the kingdom far in the horizon, shrouded in a veil of endless snow. He smiled at the girl.

"Onyx thanked me for saving your life, and told me that he is forever in my debt. He has no place in this battle, and is fighting for something far greater than what he thinks..."

Summer tilted her head, and raised an eyebrow.

"I ask that once this war has ended, that you take Onyx and flee far away from Vallmora, take a ship and go as far as the eye can see... Then go farther, what awaits this continent is nothing but ruin and chaos..."

Summer nodded.

"Why should we run if you aren't? We may have only spent two or so months together, but we are as much of allies, as anyone else within your team."

She stood up, and gazed toward the distant horizons of Frostfang, and then turned. Looking far into the north, a towering pillar stood tall enough to scratch across the top of the very sky above them.

"We will help you take the world if you desire it..."

Chase stood in quite the shock, his eye began twitching and he had to help himself not to laugh.

"I don't think I want the world, too far gone if I'm being entirely honest..."

He jokingly said, which showed Summer's serious gaze as not one of a joking front. She had completely meant everything she had said, which caused Chase quite the discomfort, but at the same time, he had finally found his unity.

"The world huh?"

...

The next morning, Chase walked into one of the smaller tents on the outskirts of the allied armies.

Gemini stood quietly waiting within the tent, and a set of armor, made of near perfect craftmanship was hung from a training dummy, resting lazily for all who enter the tent to see.

"You didn't have to do this."

Gemini shook his head.

"You have shown me friendship where little was offered, and brightened the days of plenty of people like me, I did have to do this."

Chase stepped closer to the armor, putting a hand softly on the breastplate.

"What is it made of?"

"I used the fur from a powerful monster that had been killed near the oasis that well... You know?"

Chase nodded, as he continued to study the armor.

"What is the metal?"

Gemini picked up a small ingot resting on the table near his sleeping bag.

"Carbonite infused titanium.."

Chase raised an eyebrow.

"How the hell did you make an alloy in the middle of a frozen wasteland with no shelter but the tents we sleep under?"

Gemini grinned.

"I have my ways, just as you do yours..."

Chase nodded, not even bothering to question further.

Stepping back a little, he took one good look at the armor he would wear when the allied armies took on the forces of Frostfang.

It was not heavy armor by any means, but nor was it light. It seemed to cover most areas of the body, except for the head of course. Which he had his own helmet anyway.

Silver and black metal lined all of the light-ish plating across the armor's back, chest, abdomen, thighs, shins, and even forearms.

The upper arms were left with lighter materials that were more flexible, so that he could use his sword without restraints, and the leggings also looked quite versatile, and wouldn't halt his movement in any way.

But the ivory fur cape that wrapped around the back of the armor was what really sold the deal.

"Sure it won't get stained red?"

Gemini shrugged.

"It should be stained red if you're using the armor correctly..."

"Fair point..."

Gemini left the tent, allowing Chase to try the armor on, and sure enough it felt great over top of his skin.

It even had a pair of carbonite gauntlets that would act as great protection for his hands.

Gemini walked into the tent, and whistled.

"Shouldn't take any fatal blows with that on... Although, what are you gonna do for a helmet."

Chase grinned.

"I beckon my enemies to gaze into my eyes when I rip the life from their catalyst..."

Gemini nodded.

"Sounds like a plan."

Picking up his mighty Warhammer, he began toward the tent's exit.

"What do you mean?"

Chase asked.

"I am not going to let my friends fight a war while I sit and watch from the mountain tops."

Feeling a sting on his heart, he barely heard the faint whisper come from the blacksmith dwarf.

"United we stand... Together we shall never fall..."