Dead Moon Rising

by Izzy G

Prologue

“And jus' where are you goin'?”

Silent Shadow couldn't help but smile at the teasingly frustrated voice of his fiancée that drifted down the grand staircase to where he stood in the foyer. Her words were slurred slightly, still thick with the slight stupor of sleep. Without even turning, he could see her chocolate brown mane still tousled. Her turquoise eyes would be sparkling sightly in the dim morning light, but unfocused.

He sighed softly, closing his eyes. Of course it wouldn't be easy to just leave. Of course she would put up a fuss. In her defense, Silent had promised to not do something like this again. He promised not to try anymore death-defying missions. But duty called. For once, the Grand Master in him couldn't be ignored. He knew Ink wouldn't understand, or maybe she would. She was a high ranking Order member, so he assumed she understood when it was time to take action.

But not all missions ended with the slash or stab of a blade.

He feared this would be one of those missions.

“Well?” Her voice had cleared some, not as fatigued. More demanding. More worried.

“Ink..,” he started quietly, “there are things that cannot be ignored or avoided, you know that. I-”

Ink Flash shook her head with a soft sigh, coming down the stairs to stand next to him. She nuzzled him gently, her voice soft, “I'm not trying to stop you, Night Wind.” She chuckled, “I do understand. There are contracts offered that cannot be ignored.” She smiled as he looked over at her, his gaze vaguely affectionate, “Just promise me you'll come back. Alright?”

He nodded with a soft sigh, kissing her gently, “I promise.”

That was a promise he knew he might break. But he had to make it. There was no way, looking into her eyes, that he couldn't. He was her world, her everything. He knew this. He was painfully aware of the fact she looked up to his every move. Painfully aware of the fact that even now, a novice of the clan, she thought of him as her master. In truth, he always would be, but he knew she missed the days of parkour practice and sparring in the basement. Things were simpler. Easier.

Almost like breathing.

But word had spread of the possible revival of the Bleeding Moons and the two were faced with new contracts almost every day. Most were turned away for mindless cruelty or even just seen as a waste of time. But this one, he had to take. And as much as he hated to do it, he had to leave Ink behind. She wore the crest of a crimson moon, but her specialty was in the killing of the material, the physical. She fought what she could see, what her dagger could touch.

This was his specialty.

Spirits.

Demons.

The unknown.

“It should only be a few days,” he added, dipping his head to rest his forehead against hers. “Take care of Thunder.”

“Like you have to remind me?” She giggled, “I'll hold things down here, don't worry. Just go.”

He nodded and turned, going to the door and undoing all of the locks before pausing one more time to look at Ink. Her messy mane. The black and red robes she wore, styled like those of her favored Order but colored like a Bleeding Moons'. The loosely tied sash around her waist. The way her hood sloppily lay at the base of her neck. The intricate metal work on her bracers. Her glistening blue eyes. He couldn't help but smile softly.

She made a shooing motion with one of her brilliant red hooves, assuring him with a gentle smile that he could leave. With a soft sigh, Silent nodded and pulled open one of the massive doors before stepping out into the growing light and pushing the door shut behind him with a soft thud.

It felt like fate crashing down on him.