Wild Justice

Summary: Valter was out searching for Ephraim and instead found a lone wyvern rider. A dark, scarred past lingers around her and something plagues her. What is she trying to fulfill? Rated T for violence, occasional sexual tension, and character death. ValterxOCxEphraim

One: The Lone Wyvern Rider

A/N: This is taking place just after the fall of Renais.

Text:

"Speech"

Thoughts

Flashback/Lyrics

Disclaimer: I don't own the Sacred Stones but I do own Zecilys, who kicks butt and anyone else I created or will create.


"Don't get mad, get even."-Robert F. Kennedy


The sun rose, spreading its pure golden yellow rays over the lands. It was brightening the day but not the moods of the people. The day before brought sad and awful tides that continued to grow hard, cold lumps in the people of Magvel's gut. The castle of Renais had fallen yesterday and their king was dead. The only hope for Renais' future was the twins, Prince Ephraim and Princess Eirika. Unfortunately, their locations were a mystery for the time being. Almost everyone around Magvel knew about Grado's betrayal and their invasion but many did not know why. Only a few knew and one was a wyvern knight by the name of Valter.

Valter was a general who served the Grado Emperor and was also titled as the Moonstone. He was pale as sour milk and his midnight eyes showed bloodlust and other inhuman hunger. His long, flowing, charcoal hair was like a beast's mane, for he was one at heart. Those who fought him died by the fatal stroke of his lance and he was the last thing they saw before their soul took flight.

Valter flew on his wyvern Slivegio as the sun was high in the sky with the air that seemed strangely calm. The wyvern knight watched the Grado Imperial army move out into the horizon, in search of the not only Renais's prince and princess but to obtain and destroy the other countries' Sacred Stones.

"Be on your toes, Eirika and Ephraim, like good prey. A special treat is coming for both of you." Slivegio grunted in agreement. Valter cast his gaze downward, hunting for his foe. He snickered at his foolishness; Ephraim would never let himself be in view of Grado solider, much less a wyvern rider. "Oh, Ephraim, where are you? Come out, come out, Valter wants to play," cackled the corrupt wyvern knight.

He was about to command Slivegio to go down just a bit when his wyvern snarled out of the blue. The Moonstone immediately knew what this meant: Slivegio smelled another wyvern nearby.

Frowning, Valter pondered over his mount's report and asked to him, "Is the scent familiar?" To add the puzzle, Slivegio shook his head vigorously and dropped down lower and picked up the pace. "So," whispered Valter, "you know exactly where the wyvern and its rider are at. Very good." Slivegio snorted, his eyes saying: Nothing can get past me. The Moonstone squeezed his knees into Slivegio and the wyvern swooped downward, to the direction where the scent of the unknown wyvern came from.


The female wyvern rider pushed back a couple strands of her mid-thigh length, wavy turquoise hair, letting it fly freely with the wind. Her golden eyes scanned the horizon, saying, "It's another beautiful day, isn't it, Eroniz?" She turned to her wyvern who snorted softly, almost replying her question by saying: Yes, it certainly is.

Zecilys sat down on a log and poked at the remains of the camp fire with a stick. Shifting the dirt over the cold coals, she rearranged the campfire to make it look like no one had camped here. She was just about to pack her things in her bag when Eroniz let loose a snarl and dung his claws in the fresh earth. Zecilys took notice of this and understood immediately what that meant. A wyvern rider was approaching and fast.

Zecilys snatched a lance from her pack, a steel lance, and thrust it in front of her. Who ever it was coming, friend or foe, she had to prepared. Better safe than sorry, Xais had told her. Xais. Her eyes suddenly felt watery, her memories when she was young flashing through her mind. She brushed the tears aside and pushed the memories back. She couldn't lose focus now-that was another thing he taught her.

She looked up ahead and spotted the tiny, dark speck of a figure with wings and little rider on top. Eroniz nuzzled his nose on her shoulder, letting her know he was there for her. Tightening her grip in her lance, Zecilys waited for the wyvern rider to emerge.


As Slivegio arrived at the spot where the wyvern was at, Valter was surprised to see a woman standing beside it. The young woman had long, wavy, brilliant turquoise hair that blew with the wind and skin like peaches and cream. Her golden eyes that stared at him were alert and ready, determination and fierceness sparkling inside them. She gripped the lance tightly, causing a jubilant shiver to travel down his neck. She was not someone to be taken lightly.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here, Slivegio?" he said in his usual sly manner, hoping to decrease the abnormal fiery spirit in this female rider. His effort just made the fire blaze more fiercely in her eyes and she positioned the lance in a much deadlier position.

"What do you want?" she asked sharply and Valter slowly let a wicked grin emerge on his face before answering.

"Heh, that's no way to talk to a Grado General. I am Valter, also known as the Moonstone. You do well to show me respect.(1)" Valter studied her face, hoping to see a flicker of fear in her eyes. What he didn't expect the female wyvern rider to do was roll her eyes and adopt a bored expression.

"I never heard of you, I'm afraid. I don't have time to learn about every general in Magvel. What a waste that would be." she replied and Valter forced a muscle by his mouth to not twitch from her annoying ignorance. He swung down from his saddle and slowly approached her, noting that her mount was behind her, crouching in an attacking and protective pose. That wretched mount seemed obscenely loyal to this ignorant, cheeky shrew of a wyvern rider. It made him long to take his spear and skewer it and her on the spot. However, he had to know what she was doing here, in Grado territory. If she was a spy for Ephraim, than it would be his lucky day.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded, regaining his superior posture once more.

"That's none of your business!" the female retorted, both wyvern riders glaring at each other, their eyes flaming with cool rage.

"My, my, such a ferocious temper," Valter snickered, determined to get her on her knees and beg for mercy. This girl was becoming more and more of a thorn in his side just like Ephraim. The female wyvern rider glowered at his mockery and pressed her lips firmly together.

"If you really are a Grado general as you claim to be, then why are you here, questioning me? I have done nothing wrong." she said in a dangerous tone. A grin formed on Valter's face. Things were getting exciting after all.

"Why, you ask? You could be a spy for the renegade Ephraim, pretending to be a commoner or—"

"I am no bloody spy for this Abraham or Ephraim fellow! I don't even know who he is nor do I care! All I know is that I must—" She broke off, realizing she was close in saying too much and closed her mouth firmly.

Valter's grin widen even more and he questioned, "What is it that you must do?" The tone of his voice taunted her but she kept her feelings spectacularly masked and only answered:

"Like I said before, it's none of your business."


This was the first time Zecilys had meet a Grado general and she did not like him at all. Not one bit. He was beginning to be a dangerous bother, unfortunately. After uttering "it's none of your business" again, Zecilys started to feel that perhaps Valter was someone not to be trifled with. But the damage was done and Valter now looked like a belligerent monster ready to spring on its prey. He took a step closer toward her and another step and didn't stop until they were nose to nose with him staring down at her. His eyes blazed with beastly fury and inhuman power, ready to burst open. At that moment, Zecilys was unnerved more than ever. It had been such a long time since Zecilys felt a string of terror, she could barely recognize what it was. She hated feeling scared; it was something that almost cost her life years ago, back when she was so young and carefree, when the weight of strife didn't bare her down. Back when everything was right...and perfect. Her thoughts scattered like dandelion seeds in the wind when Valter's shadow flew upon her with his menacing but impish scowl. His hands flexed in and out like he was itching for his lance.

"Why, it is my business, wench, and you'll tell me why you're here." he replied darkly and pride swelled inside Zecilys throat. She'd be damned if he found out anything of her goals, he'll hear nothing from her!

"Eat me!" she spat at him and jutted him hard in the gut with the end of her lance. Before the wyvern general could regain stability, Zecilys raced to Eroniz, leaped onto his saddle and cried out, "Fly!"

He darted into the sky, sensing the urgency in the situation and in her voice. By the time Valter recovered from Zecilys's blow, she and Eroniz were already a big blob in the cloudless sky.

"Follow her," growled the Moonstone when he got up on Slivegio, his knuckles whiter than death itself and his temper rose to the next level. He wanted payback on that woman and he was going to get it, no matter how long it'll take. Nothing that he wanted will slip through his fingers, nothing!

Slivegio flew up in the clear, morning sky and followed the scent of Zecilys and Eroniz, where they would meet a startling event.


How was it? More action coming up in the next chapter, so review, review, and REVIEW! Chow!

(1) Means something along the lines of 'you better show me some respect'.