Quest 4: Winters Shadow

Jackal was repeatedly throwing a rock at the wall, letting it bounce back into his hand. He heard one of the guards say "You've got a visitor freak!". He sat up from an old bed and looked out of his little cell. "I hope you're cozy in there, because you're not getting out.". He smiled and said "Grace! What a pleasant surprise! Finally come to your senses, and are gonna convince the guard to let me out?".

"I can't believe I ever trusted you, all that talk about wanting to help save a world that you're bringing down! Does your own mother know about this?!". He just kept smiling and said "Yep. Hell, Laura found out by accident and even threatened to kill me! My brothers are both humans though, so don't worry about having to beat them!". She glared at him and said "You belong in this cage for all the things you've done-".

"Whoa! Easy there snowflake, because you're skating on thin ice! The only one of the remnants I have control over is Glacial, and he's the most stubborn! I do wish you'd let me explain though, it'd make this so much more easy, and I honestly wanted to tell you.". She started to walk away and said "We're done here.". She stopped in her tracks when he said "Your old man is alive by the way!". She whipped around and said "What?".

He turned to the wall of his cell and said "He's alive, for now. Glacial has him kept in the dungeon. If you leave now, you might be able to sneak by while his guard is down. The guards change shifts every hour, so you'll have a 10 minute window to get to him, before the next hour starts.". His smile fades and he says "I really did want to tell you, but now you know why I didn't!".

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Grace got on Frost and Blaze landed next to them on top of a dragon he named Dante. "I guess we're going to Winter?". She nods and says "Let's move!". They all started flying and Jackal watched from his cell. "Just watch you demon, they'll stop you and your pathetic army!". Jackal turned to the guard and said "Army?". The guard nodded and said "Glacial has an army from all 4 seasons waiting in Winter, once they get there, all your plans are finished!".

Jackal panicked and said "I didn't know about no damn army!". He looked out the window and then at the bars. "Let me out! I need to warn them!". The guards just laughed and one said "Please, we aren't that stupid!". They walked away and dark thoughts started filling his head at the outcome and he started to panic. "No, this can't happen!".

His eyes turned purple and his pupils remained white, but turned into slits. When the guards came back, they saw something manifesting on his body, from behind him, a purple furry tail came out, and two animal ears appeared on his head. He turned to the guards and said in a much darker voice with a corrupted smile "There will be chaos!".

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When grace and the other seasons got halfway to the kingdom of Winter, they stopped to rest for the night. "Blaze, get something for a campfire, everyone else be on the lookout." Grace said to them. Unknown to them, they were being watched by someone. Once Blaze came back he started the fire and said "In the morning, we'll work on making a plan for when we get to the kingdom.".

Laura looked at him and said "I'll keep watch, I don't need to sleep that much.".

*In the morning*

Grace woke up to feel the ground underneath her was more cold and hard than normal. She opened her eyes and looked to see she was in a cage. "WHAT THE HE-". "Good morning sunshine!". She looked to see Glacial walking at the side of the cage. "Glacial?! Where's my team?!" Grace demanded. She heard Blaze groan and saw him in a cage too.

He tried to get up but passed out after lazily saying "Grandma? Is it lunch time yet?". Glacial sighs and says "Yes, that. We had to give the big one a stronger dose of narcotics, since he can prove to be.... Very resilient.". She looked to see all their animal companions in chains and muzzled. She stuck out her hand to barely touch his snout, gaining a whimper from the wolf.

"Don't fret, once we get to our location, your suffering will end!". A few more hours, and they get to the kingdom of Winter, and are taken into a large open area. "What do you think, should I build my new throne there.... Or there? It doesn't matter, you'll all be too dead to stop me anyway!". He separates them and then pulls out a knife saying "Now then, who should die first?".

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From far away, a giant purple snout sniffs the ground, and a low growl erupts from the source. It then runs in the exact direction of Winter.

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"Oh, I know!" Glacial says smiling. "Princess cold-snap dies first!". Some people grab Grace and he says "Goodbye, princess!". Right before the knife hits her, a loud howl is heard. "I know that energy anywhere!" Glacial says. On a cliff ledge above them, A giant, purple and black Jackal, eyes and mouth with purple flames seething out of them. "Jackal! Nice look! Your strength will set a fine example for the troops!".

This was Jackal.... But they would soon realize it was something far worse. Jackal jumped down, but there was something else about his act. Something more.... Primal. He started to approach Glacial and the remnant of Winter said "Uh, Jackal, not to show any disrespect but uh....". He was now standing right in front of him and growled. "Could you give me a little space.... Please?".

Jackal turned his head to the side and then to everyone's shock.... Bit onto his arm and then started shaking and tearing him apart, Glacial's screams filling the air. One by one, he tore through all of them. Blaze burned through his chains and released his friends saying "We need to go, NOW!".