The Dark Moon Fangs lore #3 (Patreon)

– So you are the famous Serdak? - The wolfen demon loomed over the Vallorian, its huge wings creating an ominous shadow in the already not very bright room. At the same time, the leader of the dark samurais himself looked ominous, as if he had recently died, but then rose from the grave. The tone of the wolfen was relatively friendly.

- Let's admit it. - Serdak did not really understand what he was doing here, but it was better than waiting for execution in a cold, damp pit.

- My people saw you scatter those upstart kitsune in the tavern. You are a good fighter, Serdak. My name is Lord Riken, Returned from the Abyss, and I am the leader of the Dark Moon Fangs clan. Would a renowned warrior want to join my clan?

- Why on earth should I join anyone?

- First, we saved you. Secondly, I have heard that noble Vallorian warriors always take the side of the weak and oppose injustice.

At the word “weak,” Serdak arched an eyebrow and gave the wolfen demon a long look. Then he looked around, at the rhinos, the boars, the wolfens crowding around. It was difficult to call someone who was hung with weapons samurai weak.

Also, even in the dim candlelight, the wolfen noticed that some of the samurais looked strange. Someone on the body gaped deep non-healing wounds, someone was missing an ear, eye, finger, but this clearly did not cause discomfort to the samurais. Some even gave off the rotten smell of damp earth. It was clearly the strangest host that Serdak had seen in his life. But still he decided to listen to Riken's speech to the end.

- I see your gaze, warrior. - The Returned from the Abyss took a couple of steps back and gestured around the room with a sweeping gesture. - But take a closer look at my fighters. Each of them suffered from vile kitsune, many even died for other people's ideals. When the insidious Scarlet Forest clan enlisted the support of the witch, they did not ask if we needed their “unification”. They just came and took theirs. Houses, property, lives. They covered themselves with speeches about the common good. Some of us have been given a second chance, a chance for revenge. But you would know, mighty Serdak, how many devoted samurais we have lost, choosing the right to life. Tell me, in your native Vallor, would such a thing also go unpunished?

Serdak hesitated. Least of all in the world did he want to get involved in other people's showdowns, but he no longer wanted to run further. Moreover, the words of the demon were similar to the truth. The memory helpfully reminded the wolfen of the guardsmen who had attacked him in the tavern. About how they threw him into the pit. Yes, and revenge for the oppressed looked like a good way to drown out the pain. Serdak clenched his fists and was about to open his mouth to agree to Riken's proposal. But then the face of Ayura surfaced in memory, and the experienced warrior began to doubt again.

While Serdak was thinking, the Returned from the Abyss came close to him and put a huge paw on his shoulder.

- Join the dark samuraiы, mighty Serdak. Join the Dark Moon Fangs. Help restore justice.

- Ah, damn it! I'm with you.

So Serdak became a member of the Dark Moon Fangs clan. First, as an ordinary samurai, then as a commander of a small detachment. He even received personal armor - blood red, with a grinning tiger on his chest. And with each new mission, Serdak realized that the words of Riken were true, the Scarlet Forest clan and the Children of Inari really went to their goal no matter what, and what was good for someone, brought only pain and loss to others.

Serdak arrived at the Sunrise Islands in the spring. All summer and autumn, he was engaged in small assignments by Riken, and then winter came, and with it - the first serious mission. From Serdak, who was now called the Red Tiger, it was required to completely clear one of the coastal villages from the elite detachment of the Children of Inari. Even the wolfen demon himself went on a mission, which was far from always the case.

The Red Tiger Squad rushed into the village like a tsunami. Children of Inari  did not expect an attack, so they fell into the snow one after another and quickly turned into white fluffy mounds. The last trio of kitsune warriors were driven by dark samurai to the foot of a sheer cliff. Serdak decided to deal with them personally. He slowly approached the foxes frozen in a defensive stance, lazily beat off the naginata with his sword and ripped open the belly of the first fox with his dagger. The two remaining flanked him, but the Red Tiger deftly rolled back, threw a shuriken at the leg of one of the Children of Inari, then jumped sideways and cut off the arm of the second with a powerful blow. After making sure that the one-armed kitsune no longer posed a threat, he turned to her companion wounded in the leg.

Kitsune didn't even try to pull the blade out of her leg. Instead, she drew her sword and pointed its tip towards the wolfen. The sword seemed vaguely familiar to Serdak.

- Kill her! - Lord Riken, who was watching the fight from the side, waved his wing impatiently.

Serdak raised his sword and drove it deep into the fox's chest. Kitsune twitched, her helmet flew off her head, and the wolfen saw a familiar face.

– Ayura!

Red Tiger lifted the faceplate of his helmet.

- You?! - Blood flowed from the mouth of the kitsune, she clearly clung to life with her last strength. - Warrior…take care…of…white… - Ayura’s head fell on her chest, her body slumped to one side. Streams of red blood flowed over the white snow.

Serdak lowered his shield, turned around and walked towards his own. The last words of the fox did not go out of his head. take care. About whom? The Red Tiger promised himself to find out and fulfill the dying request of the captain of the guard.