"The Lone Griever Ein: Side Saga 01"

(WARNING: This story contains language that touches on sensitive material and contains graphic imagery.

Please read with absolute caution. If you know you will be triggered. Please don't read any further.)

The Lone Griever: EIN

SIDE SAGA 01

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4 Full Cycle of the Seasons Ago…

Death and decay reeks in this dying valley. Bones, ligaments and any matter of corpses are strewn across the putrid sands. Not even the buzzards can stomach from the rancid flesh.

Within this dying valley, a fearsome Grey Wolf stands his ground. A meek human stands behind him. She's bloodied, bruised and what's left of her clothing is tattered. They’re linked by a bond of blood, for they are siblings and the weakness of the girl and the determination of the Grey Wolf, they were left behind. Left behind to perish. Their corpses will serve as fodder for these deranged hellbeasts and unlike the buzzards, the hellbeasts can stomach the scattered, rancid flesh.

“Damn them. I can’t believe they left us behind!” The Grey Wolf’s fierce cry explodes into the sky and violently reverberates in return.

“...Ein… I was the last one holding the baton and I couldn’t go on. Don’t let my weakness rob you of the glory with our clan. Go forth without me.”

Ein Griever, the fearsome Grey Wolf, growls. His heart seething with contempt for his clan.

“To hell with the Griever! Especially if it means we just abandon one another. Ein casts a brief gaze at the red sun... an omen of death in this area… the Öde Wasteland.

“Ein?”

“Just rest for now,” says Ein.

Adamant to protect his sister and to escape the Öde Wasteland with her, he approaches the gathering throng of hellbeasts and netherwolves.

He looks back at his sister. He will not fail her!

“Take shelter while you still have strength.” Urgent instructions from an older brother to his younger sister.

The girl is brought to tears. Her clothes have been shredded. She’s half nude, bruised, and bloody; nevertheless, she feels no shame. She musters the courage to scurry beneath a nearby rock formation. From there she watches Ein face off against Cerberus, an ashen serpentine wolf.

“So, Ein... we meet again…” says Cerberus with a flick of his forked tongue.

“Save the sentiments Cerberus. You’ll need them for yourself when I make you plead for your wretched life.”

Cerberus scoffs.

“The outcome is in my favor because this is my territory. Victory is soon at hand.”

Ein growls.

“Bastard, it will be you who falls on this day!”

The two wolves leap towards each other, clashing claws as they pass one another midair.

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Moments Later

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“Ein! Prodigy of the Griever Clan!”

A large Andromorph mole maniacally clashes his claws against one another. He’s ready to kill.

“It will be to my sublime satisfaction when I gnaw upon your scrumptious flesh!!”

A rather large hellbeast, an andromorphic mole, relishes the thought of feasting on the fallen corpse of The Grey Wolf Ein,his quarry.

Drool and froth seeps from his mouth.

This uncouth degenerate passes through the joint throngs of hell beasts and Netherwolves.

He’s ready to kill Ein: his prized morsel…

Ein’s holding himself up. He’s pushing himself in order to keep fighting; however, that sheer might is dwindling in increments. Gallant as he is, Ein’s strength is creeping closer to absolute zero: it is only through the Will of God Ein finds the strength to fight on. He’s determined to stay conscious… he is solely determined to facilitate an escape of his twin.

Ein bears his fangs and steps forward, but along the way he trips and lands on a knee. He’s sapped of his strength and his vitality dwindles in tandem with his strength dwindling as well.

“Damn it.” He mutters.

The mole erupts into a frenzied cackle.” What’s wrong little pup? Have you lost your will to fight?” The mole continues to taunt his prized morsel and he continues to scrape his massive claws together. He’s sharpening them; poised to kill and devour Ein. His victory soon in hand. Upon the prospect of gnawing Ein’s flesh, the mole begins to foam; that putrid froth drips out of the mouth of that degenerate bastard…

…but Ein flashes his wicked set of teeth.

“No, I haven’t lost my will to fight, but the only thing your homely visage is depriving me of is my interest in fighting you. You boast of my demise yet deep down you’re nothing but a ragged mongrel following orders from that fallen deity Sköll. You’d be better off as a meal for the worms than to be disgraced by a rather, unamusing death. Therefore, I say to you...”

Ein raises his body despite his fatigued condition.

The horde of hellbeasts and netherwolves mock Ein in unison. Their cackling and taunting resonate from their vicious ranks.

Ein lowers his head and withholds the urge to collapse, but from within, he’s building a second wind.

Ein is poised for the kill; he’s continuing his valiant last stand.

Again, he flashes his set of wicked fangs. His fearsome razor sharp teeth become a defiant smile.

“...therefore, I say to you, to all of you, turn tail you wretched lapdogs of Sköll or I’ll slay each and every one of you abominable vermin; for the ground you stand on will be your grave!”

The mole and his comrades cease their jeering. They roar furiously; cursing Ein, the Grey Wolf, in their vehement uproar.

“You mangy pissant!” Barks the mole. His putrid froth sprays forth from his mouth while more festered froth foams. “I’ll tear your body limb from limb and scatter your remains to the flocks of the air and to the scavengers below.”

Ein bursts into laughter.

“Is that so… well I’m a little tough from my fit and active lifestyle. Those flocks and scavengers will prefer some plump juicy meat from a fatass hellbeast like you.”

The mole, Ein’s vociferous opponent, belts a tremendous roar. The froth spews uncontrollably out of his mouth. He explodes into a frenzy! With incredible haste, Ein charges forth!

In his wake, dust and debris and filth are tossed up. He readies his claws… ready to murder Ein!

…but Ein anticipated this blind assault. His goading of the mole, that degenerate beast, is prompted him to a blind assault…

…initiating this favorable outcome.

Ein shifts his weight upon his hind legs and leaps with his front claws pointed forth, piercing right through the mole like a drill.

The carcass of the were-mole explodes and scatters; wet and bloody heaps of his innards splatter everywhere.

The mole, brutally eviscerated, is just another fallen foe but there’s no time for a fanfare…

A score of netherwolves and hellbeasts are charging forth.

The heroic Grey Wolf gallantry charges forth…

...but suddenly his body limps and gives out. Past the point of absolute zero. Ein collapses. The slaying of the mole, that frothing degenerate, exhausted what little ounce of energy he was building up for his second wind.

…Ein’s body crashes to the earth and produces only so much a mere dust cloud before the oncoming horde.

He doesn’t even have enough strength to maintain his form of the Grey Wolf. He reverts back to his human base.

Without that second wind, Ein’s valiant last stand failed.

…Ein’s body crashes to the earth and produces only so much but a mere dust cloud before the oncoming beasts!

Cerberus the Serpentine leaps from the oncoming horde and lands within the range of the fallen Gray Wolf.

The Hell beasts stop in their tracks.

Cerberus stalks the fallen hero, snickering with each step.

“And so, Ein the Gray Wolf, grovels before me; just as I predicted you would.”

Ein speaks with a raspy voice; his might finally expended.

“Very well serpent. I am without the strength to fight back; therefore, I have no choice but to concede. Be it as it may, you can do with me as you see fit…”

Ein struggles to catch a breath…

…but spare my sister, leave her be.”

Cerberus bursts into laughter.

“You know I can’t do that Ein, or better put, I will not. Every beast who fails to reach the finishing point line belongs to me and…”

…Cerberus flicks and flails his forked tongue. He moistens his lips and smacks them. “And to the victor goes the spoil meaning, your sister will become a prized concubine to my growing collection. I’ll add the little bitch among the ranks of my whores. I’ll take ‘really good’ care of her.”

Cerberus cackles at the height of unabated ecstasy. Ein growls bitterly; disgusted and defeated.

“Cerberus, you vile dreg of the earth; if I am to die by your hand... then, by the Will of the Living God, may my flesh be as toxin passing through your lips.

Ein passes out. Cerberus saunters around Ein at an encompassing pace.

He chuckles. “A damned hero to the end.” Cerberus hums a hymn of victory… a fitting dirge for his most fearsome foe. Cerberus approaches Ein and rests his claw on Ein’s throat. He intends to deliver the deathblow… but instead he feels a pulse.

Cerberus lifts his claw…

Ein lifts his eyes, satiating with determination.

“BASTARD!!!

Ein immediately transforms his hand into a claw. He springs back to life and rakes Cerberus’s face.

The Ashen Serpentine reels from the painful bloody wound across his face.

With haste, Ein flees from his would-be executioner. He flees to the rock formation, where young Ava is hiding.

He stands by her, guarding her secret sanctuary. Even if he renewed his vigor.,that second wind he hoped for, lasts for a fraction of a moment’s length…

…he would’ve died in honor while defending his sister. The thought of keeping her safe until she can escape invigorates Ein with that much needed second wind…

Cerberus charges fourth. He leads the Hell beasts and nether wolves in the like manner of that ghastly embodiment Death, riding his sickly, pale and ghastly horse: Pandemonium is rising.

Ein looks back at his sister.

“Ava. There is a small crevice leading to a cave behind this rock formation.”

“What?” Ava knows in heart of hearts what her brother intends to do. Just the sheer sight of him, wounded and disheveled, is tear jerking enough.

“Go now and I’ll join you later,” Ein demands.

“But…big brother...”

Ein growls bitterly.

“GO!”

Ava nods and sneaks off.

She sheds a lone tear as she looks back.

The horde arrives and Ein leaps into action, forcing his battered body to fight and crush the skulls of his opponents. He morphs into the Grey Wolf, his andromorph form, one last time…