Prologue

It was a dark and cloudy night. As Thane looked out the window of the shack that he was hiding in to protect him from the elements, waiting for some one to arrive so he could go back to the comforts of his home, when he saw something lurking in the darkness of the forest. He tightened the grip on his dagger, debating if he should go out and find out if it is the person he was to meet or not. There was a rustle and a low growl that seemed to reverberate through the night’s sky. Hearing this made the hairs on the back of Thane’s neck stand on end. The whatever-it-was moved again and Thane gritted his teeth. Normally he wouldn’t be out on the Trade Roads at night, but his father had received the shipment late and it had to be delivered by tonight.

Staring into the woods, trying to figure out what was in the forest mist. Thane heard another noise on the other side of the road. The uneasy feeling in his gut seemed to dissipate when he took his dagger out. Stretching his hearing, he listened for any other unusual sounds.

SNAP!! He heard a twig break and he saw a flash of metal coming his way. With a silent scream, he threw himself to the ground listening as the arrow hit a tree trunk just meters away on the other side of the trail. Pursing his lips, he whistled and then leapt off and fled into the woods. There was an answering cry up above. and soon a large reddish hawk dived down to him, perching on his shoulders with all four of its legs.

In one hand, Thane held his dagger just behind a bush so that it wouldn’t glint in the moonlight and give off where he hid. In the other hand, he held the pouch of rare imported spices that he was delivering. Silently, he watched the trail as a dark clad figure padded out onto it, holding an enormous long bow.

The figure looked right at Thane as if he could see into the darkness. Thane slowed his breathing, so the creature could not hear him. After what felt like hours to Thane the figure turned on his heal and left. Thane felt relieved, but just as he started to get up and set off to his shack to wait for his father, and he heard the twang of a bow. Seconds later an arrow grazed his arm just enough to draw blood. Instinctively he darted behind the nearest trees, just in time to have another arrow sail past his ear.

"Neigh!" His horse whinnied in fright. He reared up and pawed at the air with his front hooves. Quickly, Thane leapt forwards and grabbed his stead's reigns. Swinging himself up, he kicked his heals together.

"HA!" Frightened, the horse made a mad dash down the trail followed by a few arrows that whistled past its flank and buried their heads into the dirt on the trail nearby. Soon however, the arrows ceased, but it wasn't until he was well into the neighboring city and on the way to his father's business partner's mansion that he felt safe.

Yet he couldn't help but wonder why some one would want to kill him over some harmless spices, unless there was more to it than his father had told him. With his father’s business partner’s house in sight he lost all thought and wonder. What he saw, no mortal being should ever have to bare witness to. There hanging from the front trees of Jay’s house was his father, Jay, and a few others that Thane thought were to have been innocent by-standers that saw the horror and had to be silenced.

"Father!!" Thane screamed, and ran up to his father's hanging body.

"Thane," his father spoke at barely a whisper, "You must run or they will get you too. I had feared this would come soon. Take those spices to the next city and give them to the mayor. Pray that they have not gotten there all ready. Now, go, run!"

"Who, father, who?!? Who did this!?" Thane said trying to fight back the tears welling up in his eyes.

"The dark knights of ..." His voice was cut off by an arrow that flew through the air and shot right into his throat. Thane, turned about on his heals just in time for him to see the arrow that was coming straight for his head. Throwing himself down on the ground, he reached for his dagger, only find an empty hand. "Damn it! Just my luck," Thane muttered to himself, as he glanced around for his dagger.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw something reflect the moonlight lying on the ground at his father feet. Quickly, he swept up his dagger and leapt behind his father's body. He hated to use him as a shield, but becoming a pincushion was not a favored option either. With a curse, Thane ducked as another arrow whizzed by, missing his father's shoulders be mere centimeters.

"How am I going to get out?" He thought. If he moved past his father's body, then he'd get shot for sure, but he didn't know where to run if he did anyway. Then, if stood still, the archer could move in and pick him off at his leisure. Gritting his teeth, he was just about to dash forwards and threw his luck to the winds, when the sound of hoof beats behind him caused him to turn.

"What the...?!”

Thane threw himself aside for the billionth time that night as a mighty roan horse charged by. He coughed in the cloud of dust it threw behind it as he peeked around his father's body. There was a flash of silver as the horse's rider drew its sword. Another arrow whistled out, but this time it was not aimed at him. Thane swallowed. He was frightened, frightened and confused. He watched in a still and horrified daze as the rider leapt off his horse and waited. The loyal beast charged into the trees. As soon as he stumbled out, the rider wiped forward with his blade.

"Ha!" He shouted.

Swearing loudly, the archer threw up his bow to protect himself. The other man's blade sliced through, chopping it in half. It missed the archer, however, and went wide, giving the archer time to draw his own blade.

Taking advantage of their distraction, Thane decided to make a run for it. He was hardly five feet away from his father's body, when the massive roan charged over. It reared and neighed loudly. The hawk on Thane's shoulder screamed and took off into the sky. Frightenedly, Thane looked over at the combatants. The archer jerked his head towards him but the other man, taking advantage of the distraction, stabbed the archer through the ribcage. With a groan, the archer sank to the ground dead. The swordsman whistled and his horse trotted over to him. Seeing him mount, Thane ran for it. As he fled, he could hear the Horse charging towards him. Briefly, Thane dared a look over his shoulder just in time to see the rider reach out for him. As he charged by, he nabbed Thane by him collar and hauled him up.

"Put me down!" Thane roared, squirming all over.

"I will not," The man replied with a growl.

"Let Go!" Thane struggled harder.

"Do you really want to die that bad, Thane?"

Thane ceased struggling.

"What? How do you know my name?" Thane looked up at the man with shock. Under his hood, he had short cropped white hair and a sharp nose. He looked down and Thane jumped. The man had red eyes!

"Who are you?" Thane asked as the man sat him in front of him a galloped on.

"Call me Duke," The man replied.

"Well, Duke. Thank you for saving me. I didn't think this night could get any worse," Thane said as the rode on.

"Heh, heh. If you only knew, if you only knew."

"Knew what!? My father was just killed. Over what this little bag of spices? If they wanted them so bad all they had to do was ask."

"Like I said if you only knew."

"Are you going to tell me or are you just going to leave me hanging?" Thane asked.

"You will soon find out. Time will tell you everything. Now just hang tight until we get there. You’re a mess and you need some sleep. Then, I will answer some of your questions."

"Swell, how am I going to get any rest with all these things on my mind?" Thane thought to himself. As they rode off into the darkness Duke's horse never seemed to get tired. The steady pounding of the horse’s feet made Thane very sleepy. Thane didn't even feel it, when they got to the Inn. nor did he feel Duke lay him down in the bed.

* * * * *

“NNNNOOOOO!! Father!!"

Twang! Another arrow flew though the air for the hundredth time that night.

"YOU!!" Thane's voice boomed in the midnight air. Drawing his dagger he turned to run after his father's killer.

"Heh, heh, heh," a dark evil laughter boomed though the air.

"What the?" Thane wiped around in every direction to fin where the voice came from. Twang! "What? Huh?? Owff...” Thane dropped to the ground with an arrow in his back.

* * * * *

Thane's eyes snapped open. He was breathing heavy, and was dripping with sweat.

"Nightmare?" A low voice asked. Thane bolted upright with a gasp. His eyes darted quickly around the room. In the corner by the door, he found Duke on a chair. The severe looking man was staring at him.

"Yeah..." Thane replied sullenly.

"Don't worry. They'll only get worse before this is over," Duke replied.

"Joy and rapture," Thane said dryly.

Duke gave a smile that didn't touch his eyes, "Planning on sleeping and longer Master Thane?"

"Are you kidding!?" Thane bit out, sliding out of bed.

"Good," Duke said rising to his feet, "then you can meet the rest of the group."

"Rest of the group?" Thane asked warily.

"Yes. These people will be the last people on Earth that you can trust now," Duke explained as he picked up a candle tray and led Thane out of his room, "Everyone else is now your enemy."

"Wait a minute!" Thane called, jerking his arm out of Duke's iron grip, "How do I know that I can trust you?"

"You don't yet," Duke replied, "But you soon will." He turned and began to walk again. Silently, Thane followed. Together, they made their way down the hallway and then down a flight of stairs. In the dim light from the candle, Thane could see that the house, building, or whatever-it-was, was very old. The wall boards looked dusty and worn and the floor boards beneath creaked loudly as they passed over them. The staircase itself was missing three stairs and Duke gently helped Thane around them. At the bottom of the stairs, Duke turned them to the right and led Thane into what he assumed was the kitchen.

"Well," Duke said softly, his red eyes glittering brightly in the candlelight, "Here's you new family," Then louder, "Hey guys, he's here!"

From the table, six pairs of eyes looked up. Thane's jaw dropped as he took in the odd assortment of people, if that's what you could call them. Leaving him to stand in the doorway, Duke made his way over to a short skinny man at the end of the table. The man looked up towards Thane with large black eyes that constantly blinked as he continuously wrung his hands.

"This is Tweek," Duke sat, patting the man on the back. Tweek jumped, then gave a sheepish grin, running his hands though his short wild gray hair.

"Pleased to meetcha," He said in a high squeaky voice. He extended a shaking hand and Thane walked over and took it, shaking it gently.

"He's a wererat," Duke explained.

"Oh," Thane replied. He watched as Tweek turned back to his food and picked up his fork with a trembling hand. As the man started eating again, Thane turned to the next “person.”

"Hello," He said in a deep, thunderous voice. Thane's jaw dropped again. He was enormous! Tweek beside him was practically dwarfed next to him.

"This is Ox, a minotaur," Duke explained.

Thane shook Ox's hand, wondering at how small his fingers were. Ox grinned and tossed his head, sending his beaded hair clacking against his horns.

"And this is Pyro."

Thane turned to the next man. He had tiny spectacles perched on a pointed nose and spiky red hair. His eyes were a shocking sapphire blue and sparkled as he grinned maniacally at Thane. "Hullo!" He said, scratching the stubble of his beard on his chin.

"The girls over there are Byrd, Catra and Jackal," Duke pointed at each in turn.

Byrd looked up and smiled. She had soft brown hair and eyes, and lightly bronzed skin. Catra seemed to be some sort of tiger woman. With orangeish fur and black stripes. She had a creamy white throat and belly fur. She grinned at Thane, showing her sharp white teeth and waved with a clawed hand.

"She's a Turpaw," Duke explained.

Last of all, Jackal waved. She had long black hair and a face that almost looked like a muzzle, yet Thane couldn't quite tell.

"Jackal's a Changeling," Duke said, "As you probably already know, she's a normal human with the ability to polymorph into one other creature. Her animal is a were jackal."

Thane nodded.

"These are who you will learn to trust over the next few days and if you don't you will," Duke said.

"Duke, who are these people?"

"We are the protectors of peace in this crazy world of ours. We fight the Dark Knights. We have been watching over you father's business for sometime now to see if that was there next target. They lead us off into a different direction to distract us from your father. Lucky for you I was watching or you would have suffered the same fate as your father. Regrettably, I was too late to save your father, but I saved you. We are, oh, how do I put it. We are a fellowship. Bonded together to fight all evil and rid it of the earth."

The group broke out in to applause, and started cheering.

"Very nice speech."

"It touched me, right here," Ox said with a fist to his heart.

"Best yet."

"Oh, will you guys cut it out," Duke said turning red in the face.

"So, what is this all about? You said once I got some rest I could ask questions. I want to know why my father was killed last night," Thane asked.

"You still have that bag of spices right?" Pyro asked. "Well, yeah. But, what does that have to do with it?" Thane asked more confused then ever.

"Everything," Ox boomed

"Huh? Explain please."

"Those spices if mixed with the right ingredients will produce a potion that if drank will make its victim as strong as ten men, with side effects of course. The one that drinks it will become stronger from the moment the sun rises until it sets, after is sets he or she will return to their normal state. If the Dark Knights get their hands on this you may as well kiss our world bye-bye. All that is good will be lost if they get those spices," Duke explained.

"Well, then can't we just destroy them?" Thane asked.

"If only it was that easy," Jackal said.

"You can't burn them. That is how they reproduce, in the heart of the flame," Pyro explained. "So, what did my father want with them? I mean what good are they to him?"

"They add a very nice kick to any of your favorite foods. There are very few that know their true purpose. So, when the Dark Knights caught wind of this they moved in on your father," Duke said.

"Well then," Thane said trying to find something to say.

"That is why you must stay with us. They will stop at nothing to get you and those spices," Tweek said.

"Well, you guys can have them then and I'll just leave and try to get my life back in order."

"We would love to, but we are bonded to the fight and we would be tempted to use them for our own use. That is why you must hold on to them," Duke said.

"We were once a great army. Many have fallen or have joined the Dark Knights. We are all that is left. We are forced to live a secret life; no one knows we exist any more. The Dark Knights think they have won, but we are the ones that put a stop to anything that may put them ahead. We are "The Forgottens, and now we are asking you Thane to join us on our quest to put an end to the eternal war between light and dark," Byrd said.

"All this for a bag of spices?" Thane sighed. He looked up at everyone. Their faces were grim. If he didn't join them, he would send them to a long, drawn-out death. If he did, he could possibly save the world.

"All right," He said, "I'm in."

They all grinned.