Mid day had begun to pass and began to give way to the cool air of the approaching eve. Shadows grew long as the sun began its decent toward the horizon the and the busy streets of the small town began to calm as the townspeople finished their daily duties.

Farmers around the town had also began to slow their work as the day completed. Animals were fed and watered, gardens tilled, and the farmers trusty tools were put away from a hard day's work.

One farmer, a canine with short, messy, black hair took a bit longer to finish feeding the animals within his barn. He owned the largest amount of swine and poultry in the town and his hired help was injured earlier in the day and was sent home, leaving the farmer to finish on his own.

After finally feeding the last of the animals within the barn and closing up the barn, the farmer belted his tools and walked toward his home. Normally, he would have put his tools away in the toolshed. But he still wasn't finished with his duties. He still needed to go into town and pick up some things for morning.

He knew the wife had begun settling the children in their beds and they would be long asleep before he came home. He wanted to wish them goodnight before he left, so he decided to stop by his home before going into town.

The wooden steps leading to the door creaked loudly under the farmer's weight, alerting the woman inside that her husband was coming inside. The female canine had long wavy hair, which was loosely tied back at her neck. An apron embroidered with flowers was worn over an old dress and appeared to be powdered with flour from the last prepared meal.

A smile appeared on the woman's face as the front door was heard opening downstairs. She was helping their youngest change into his pajamas while the two older daughters kicked playfully in their own bed across the room.

"Deloria?!" The farmer called from the kitchen.

"James!" The wife responded while ushering the boy to his bed. "We're all in the children's room!"

James responded by beginning his climb up the creaky, wooden stairs. Entering the children's room, a warm, comforted smile appeared an the farmer's face he approached his wife.

"I came up wish the children goodnight." James said quietly, his loving gaze never leaving his wife's beautiful face. Even after a hard day's work within the house, even with the flour that had found its way into her hair, her beauty always made him feel lucky to be married to her. He felt he could stare into those green eyes forever and become lost within them. "I have to go into town and buy the morning feed."

A worried look came upon the woman's face. "I thought you said you would do that earlier..."

"I was. But Jim was careless and wasn't paying attention behind the horses." James interrupted. "Poor man was kicked and broke his collar bone. I sent him to the doctor and I had to finished up the duties."

"I hope he'll be alright."

"He will, he's a tough young man." James said before turning toward the two girls kicking under their blankets playfully. A warm smile reappeared before bending down and kissing each of their foreheads. "You will be good for your mother, wont you? Straight to sleep without a fuss?"

"Yes, daddy!" One of the girls announced before pulling the heavy blanket toward her shoulders and snuggled against her pillow.

The older daughter extended her arms and wrapped her arms around the farmer's neck. "Goodnight, daddy."

James welcomed it warmly and wrapped his arms around the small child before pulling the blanket over her shoulders as she laid down. "Good night, my dears."

The farmer turned to his youngest next. The boy was his only son. He was only five, but he will grow to be a strong man. Once that time comes, he wont have to hire so many workers in the harvest season. but that wont be for some time. In the meantime, he can enjoy his days as a young boy.

Once the boy saw his father turn toward him, the boy scrambled under his blankets and pulled the top blanket over his head as if he was hiding.

James took this as an opportunity to have a small tease time with his son, which was rare since he was always working while the wife had the children. "Randy... Where is Randy? ..I swear I saw him a moment ago.." James said as he crept over toward the boy's bed. The girls watched and giggled while Deloria stood next to the door and smiled.

"I cant find him.... " James said with a mischevious smile and hovered over the bed. Randy squirmed excitedly under the blankets. "Maybe he's..... HERE!" James quickly shot both arms out and wiggled his fingers under where he felt were the boy's arms and sides.

Randy laughed uncontrollably and popped his head out from under the blanket. An laughing, excited smile on his face as he struggled under his blankets while his father tickled him.

After a short tickle session, James settled and knelt down at his son's bed with a warm smile. Randy finished up his uncontrollable laughing and chuckled as he pulled his blanket to his neck comfortably.

"Will you be good and stay in bed?" James asked innocently before the boy nodded his head silently. A hand raised and lightly touched the side of the boy's face. "I will see you in the morning.. I can show you how to feed the chickens tomorrow. Would you like that?"

"Uh huh!" the young boy nodded his head. "Can I go into the fields with you too?"

"Not yet." James replied. "But you will when older."

A short disapproving grunt erupted from Randy, but it was only temporary before the boy's arms wrapped around his fathers neck. "I love you, daddy."

A wider smile appeared on Jame's face as he returned the huge. "I love you too. ...Now, you need your sleep." James said before allowing Randy to lean back in to his bed and snuggle himself into his pillow.

After pulling the blanket over his son's shoulders, he stood and exited the children's room along with Deloria. Once outside the door James turned and lovingly kissed his wife's forehead.

"Will you be gone long?" Deloria asked

"If the store is still open by the time I get there, I shouldn't be gone any longer than an hour and a half. If it is closed, I'll have to leave earlier in the morning and hope he opens his store early." James responded and walked with his wife down the stairs.

"I'll stay up for you."

"There is no need." James stopped in the kitched and faced his wife. "You're day has been just as long as mine.. I will see you in the morning, My love."

Deloria smiled and wrapped her arms around the farmer and embraced him for a short moment. James smiled and cupped a hand to her cheek before kissing her gently on her soft lips. "I'll see you in the morning." he repeated and turned around to exit the house.

Once outside, he followed the worn ground path that led him back to the barn. But instead of opening the barn door, he walked to the side and towards the saddled, gray horse he had readied before he fed the animals.

"Alright, Torin..." James said as he untied the horse's ropes. The horse gave a few disapproving grunts, but followed the farmer as its ropes were pulled. Once a few yards away from the barn, the canine mounted Torin and began a steady trot toward the road towards town.

------

The air was cool and the sun's light had nearly completely faded into the evening's dark as James entered town. It was still light enough too see, but streetlights were already being lit along with the stores lighting their own candles within their doors.

The streets were calm, few people wandered the streets. The stores along the main road were beginning to close. Few shops remained open in the later hours, one of them was where James lead himself to. There were a few nights the shop had closed early due to lack of customers, but after seeing the light through the shop's window, James dismounted Torin and secured him to a post before entering the shop.

"Good evening, James." The shop owner greeted as he moved a heavy box onto a higher shelf. "It's not like you to be shopping here at these hours." The heavy set man finished and stood at the counter, waiting for Jame's reply.

"Jim was sent home after one of the horses gave him a good kick to the collarbone. He's hurt pretty badly, but I know he'll be on his feet soon enough."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." the shop owner said, his happier gaze settling into a worried one. A short moment passed before a more cheery look appeared. "I bet you cant wait until that son of yours grows up. ...Randal, his name is, right?"

"Yes." James said with a smile; looking around the shop for the desired product he needed. "Then I wont need to hire as much help in the fields."

"He'll be old enough before you know it. Children, they grow up too fast... and if you're not watching, they'll end up out growing you and you're the short one of the family." the shopkeeper stated proudly.

James chuckled and lifted a heavy bag of dried seed and brought it to the counter. "Business is doing alright, I hope." he asked while placing the bag infront of the shop owner.

"Yeah, its doing alright. Today has been a bit slow, though. I'm surprised I've kept the shop open this late."

"I'm glad you did, or I would have trouble in the morning." James gave a relieved look. He had his suspicion the shop may be closed, but he felt lucky it was still open. He chuckled to the thought it may have been open just for him.

"..I think I know why its been slower today than usual, James." the shop owner said in a lower tone; motioning james closer as if someone else could be listening.

James lowered his brow, but leaned in and listened. "There were a couple of them Eye of Michael soldiers within the town this morning. Two of them on horses passed through... scanning the area as if inspecting our town or something."

"The Eye of Michael? This isn't their territory..." James quirked an eyebrow and turned his gaze toward the door. "What would they be doing here?"

"Nobody knows, they didn't speak to anyone but themselves. Some say they're just passing through..." the old man paused and lowered his voice just above a whisper. "Others say they could be scouts for an army behind them."

James pulled back as if rejecting what the old shop keeper was saying. "An army for what? There is no war here."

"Keep your voice down..." the shop keeper warned. "Haven't you heard the stories of what the Eye of Michael has done to other lands? They're magic haters and brutes. They massacre entire villages and take the people's children to serve their mistress. No one here seems to believe it." He pointed toward his temple. "But I do. And once we're done here, I'm locking up shop and heading out of town for awhile. ...I suggest you do the same."

"You know very well I cant pack up and leave because of only a hunch." James protested. "There is too much at the farm and I have a family to take care off."

"The two soldiers going through town are enough evidence for me... You do what you like, I'm leaving."

"Thanks for the heads up, Jonathon. And good luck." James said while handing the old shop keeper some coins.

"You will need it more than I will, James. At least I'm preparing for the worst."

"Goodnight, Jonathon." James shouted back to the shop keep as he exited the door.

The news of the two soldiers coming through town bothered James quite a bit as he strapped the bag of seed to Torin. There has never been sights of soldiers here, especially in a town as small as this. Not for quite some time, anyway. He had heard stories of a demon passing through here seventy years ago... and that brought soldiers here. But no one now would remember it. It wasn't important either. He would rather have some demon come through here than an army from the Eye of Michael. Jonathon was right, they're all brutes and he's heard those stories before.

He hoped he was wrong and the soldiers were only passing through.

After strapping the bag of seed to Torin, James mounted the horse and began a casual trot back down the road toward his farm. His gaze was mainly set downward, but a blur in the sky caught his attention and the farmer looked up.

A small cloud of smoke rose into the sky just past the hill outside of town. Only fire would cause the smoke to be black. And by the size of it, it wasn't from a chimney or bonfire. Either a patch of trees had caught fire or a building or home was burning...

James' eyes widened as Torin whined nervously. "Home.." he said outloud before a harsh kick was given to Torin's side and send the horse in a panicked gallop. Jame's farm was the only farm west of the town. And if smoke rose from the west, something happened at his home or something caught fire in the barn or stables. There was no time to second guess, his family was in terrible danger!

Before the edge of town, James was forced to stop in his gallop. A mixture of shock and panic overwhelmed him as he watched two horsemen in ministry uniform lead a small army of foot soldiers enter the town. The further they entered the town, the more men broke off; breaking into homes and stores.

With each building entered, the more screams of women he heard. Men and women alike desperately tried to escape, but were quickly met by another soldier's sword or arrow.

Torin bucked back on his hind legs in a panic, but James used this to turn the horse and run in the opposite direction of the soldiers. James had to get to his family. He had no doubt in his mind that army found his farm and caused the fire. He could only pray his family got out to safety.. but there were so many soldiers.. and they were only there for one purpose. To take over the entire town, killing anyone in their path.

One of the horsemen at the front of the army spotted James down the road and took off in a mad gallop after him. The other horseman remained calmly behind, a stoic look on his face as he watched his partner ride off after one of the peasants.

James road toward the other end of town. He would have to ride completely around the town to get around the army, but he had to get to his family. They were the only things that mattered!

The horseman, who chased James down the road, quickly drew his bow and launched an arrow as he rode. The arrow instantly struck Torin's hind quarters and crippled his right hind leg. James' horse whined violently and toppled down onto its side; forcing James out of his saddle. The farmer slammed the side of his face against the hard, dirt ground and rolled his back.

James groaned painfully as he attempted to regain the breath that was knocked out of him. He attempted to quickly stand, but found himself on the ground again dizzily. His head hit the ground hard, but there wasn't a concussion from what he could tell. The sound of Torin's whines and struggles could be heard next to him.

The old gray horse was on the ground, rapidly kicking and whining as the pain throbbed from its hind leg. James could see the arrow lodged into the horse's hind quarters and carefully crawled over to attempt to remove it.

Another arrow was shot, nearly grazing James' head, and struck into Torin's neck. Torin jerked with a high pitched whine before its head hit the hard ground. James crawled back in shock and looked around frantically with widened eyes.

"Hold still, ...Peasant." A low, rumbled voice said. "A waste of a good horse when I was aiming for its rider..."

James quickly turned his head to see one of the riders sitting upon a large, black steed with another arrow aimed directly for him. It was one of the riders at the front of the army. He must have seen him ride off and followed him. James heard the bow tighten and held up his arm to his face to sheild himself.

A yell suddenly roared out from someone nearby. James couldn't tell if it was the rider or someone else. Before even the rider could react, a large, heavy bag of seed was thrown viciously toward the rider from the building they were next to and knocked the rider from his horse. The arrow misfired into the air before the rider slammed into the ground. The black steed whined and ran off down the road.

"Get yourself out of here, James!" Jonathon shouted out. "I'll hold this one off! Go help your family!" The old, heavyset man stood at the store's door with a hammer and a rock in his hands; ready to fight off anyone who approached. And he would fight of this soldier to save James.

James didn't hesitate to stand. After giving a greatful nod to Jonathon, James turned and continued to run down the road on foot.

"Come on, you worthless scum. You think you can come into MY town and take over the place?! Come on!!" Jonathon taunted.

The rider growled lowly and stood himself up. An infuriated glare focused only on the old man. "You knocked me off my horse.." The large, black wolf announced through a growl as he unsheathed his sword.

"I'll knock something else off too! ...I'll let it be that nasty head of yours." Jonathon continued to taunt before dashing toward the rider.

The black wolf snarled and quickly swung his sword up and slashed across the shop keeper's throat.

Jonathon released a gurgled attempt at a cry in pain before falling to his knees. Blood flowed down his neck and down his chest from the large gash. A pained, expression was on his face, but still managed to barely say one more thing to the black wolf. "Eat... Shhii"

The wolf's sword quickly raised again toward Jonathon, except this time... the sword moved more quickly and removed the old shop keepers head from his shoulders.

The black wolf snarled before turning and running into the direction James did.

The skies were completely filled with smoke from the burning buildings of the town. A dangerous tint of orange darkly reflected across the black smoke in the sky as the flames grew higher from building to building. Soldiers ran rampant throughout the town, chasing and hunting down the people within the town. Screams and shrieks echoed through the streets.

The screaming cries of children being torn away from their weeping mothers arms could be heard before more horrific screams were heard from the mothers falling to the blade of more soldiers. Fathers desperately tried to fight for their wives and family, but quickly fell to the vicious blades of the soldiers flooding into the town.

"I do not desire prisoners.." The calm horsemen stated to one of the foot soldiers beside him. "Do what you will with the women, but kill them quickly. And I do not wish to be here long, the mistress wanted this to be quick."

"Yes, Sir!" The foot soldier replied with a malicious smirk before running forward along with a few more soldiers.

"....Quick, indeed." The horsemen said to himself as he watched the same soldier run into one of the houses, a woman screaming shortly afterwards. "A small town, a short amount of time..."

---

James ran as fast as he could through the smoke filled streets. The farther he went, the more soldiers seemed to appear. "There's too many.." he said as he gasped for breath, stopping only to hide between two buildings. A loud crash from one of the buildings across the road startled him further and forced him to look.

A man was thrown through a window and landed harshly upon the ground. Several arrows were embedded into his chest along with numerous glass shards along his face and shoulders. He looked as if he was trying to run off, but the impact of several arrows into his chest knocked him out the window.

A mother's cries rang in James' ears as one of the soldiers dragged a small child out of the door of the same building the man was thrown out of. The mother desperately tried to chase after the soldier with her child, but a man from behind stabbed her through the back with his sword.

The child's screams echoed between the two buildings James was hiding. James watched as the mother was mercilessly thrown onto the father's back while the child was dragged away. Anger began to rise within him. A fist clenched and an infuriated snarl appeared as he watched the soldiers. "They cant do this... Not without a fight!" James said before reaching to his belt and grabbing hold of the hatchet he had strapped there before. His other hand would grab the mallet, also located on his belt.The farmer only hesitated for a second before dashing out into the street.

There were three soldiers in the middle of the road. All three of them were pushing and teasing the small child as she cried for her mother. They laughed and mocked her, continually prodding her with their swords.

"You're mummie's dead!! AHHHahahaa!!" One of the soldiers mocked.

"Why don't you pick on someone you're own size?!" James shouted and slammed his mallet into the first soldier's head. The impact struck him to the ground immediately, leaving the other two dumbfounded as to what just happened. James used this to swing the hatchet into the chest of the next soldier. A horrific shriek roared out from the soldier before falling to the ground as well.

The third soldier was able to unsheath his sword and swing it towards James. But the farmer leaned back just in time and uppercut the man with his mallet against his jaw. The man whined and fell onto his back; suffering from a broken jaw. As the man whined on his back, James raised the hatchet again and thrust it down into the man's chest.

"Run, child!" James shouted. "Find somewhere to hide!" But the child stood in shock and couldn't move. James grit his teeth and belted his blood soaked weapons before grabbing the child's hand and ran down the street.

Both James and the child ran as fast as they could with James tightly gripping the child's hand. More screams could be heard throughout the streets. Every building and house was in flames as more people were dragged out of their homes and slaughtered.

"PILE THE BODIES AND BURN THEM!" One of the soldiers commanded down the road, forcing James and the child to turn quickly down another road. "And PUT THE WOMEN'S HEADS ON PIKES!" James could hear the shouting echo over the roars of the fires and the yells of the soldiers.

Exhausted, James ran into an empty alley way with the child. The child fell to the ground in tears as James bent over and panted. "Why are they doing this?... We have done nothing.."

"Because you 'are' nothing." A low, growled voice echoed in the alleyway.

The voice startled James, but he wouldn't be given enough time before a gloved hand gripped into his neck and forced the side of the farmer's face into the wall infront of him. James could only groan in pain before the large, black wolf grabbed James by the skin of his neck and dragged him across the alleyway. This time, throwing him through the glass window and into the building.

"Take the child and put them with the others!" The wolf commanded another soldier before walking around to the front of the building.

James rolled around in pain. The glass in the window had scratched into his face and arms, that along with his face slamming into the wall made the pain unbearable. James struggled to stand, but felt another sharp pain in his leg and forced him to the ground. Upon looking at it, a large glass shard was embedded into his outer thigh.

The farmer shouted out in pain after taking hold of the shard and forcing it out of his leg. His entire body trembled as he looked around. From what he could tell through all the smoke, it was a stable. Pulling himself up to lean against a table, all the horses were removed or missing. He cursed under his breath before a crash forced his attention to the front of the building.

The black wolf soldier had forced the door open and walked sternly inside. "Where do you think you're going?" The wolf said in his rumbled tone before approaching James and grabbing his throat.

James panicked and struggled, but was little opposition to the wolf's hold. Bloodied hands desperately clawed at the wolf's gloved hand while his injured leg limply tried to gain ground.

The wolf only sneered and slammed the farmer's back against the nearest wall.

"Why are you doing this?" James barely said, fighting for breath. "Our town has done nothing against... the Eye of Michael!"

"We do as our Mistress commands. And you.... people.... have been abusing your rights here. You use magic, and you shall burn for it." the wolf growled while tightening his grip.

James' features scrunched painfully and desperately tried to kick at the wolf, but the wolf was unphased. "We.. are not under the min-nistry's ..rule!"

The wolf's snarl grew as he drew closer to the pained canine. "Everyone will be... in the end." he growled before thrusting a dagger into James' side.

James yelled out in excruciating pain. A trembling hand desperately tried to pull the wolf's hand away, but the grip on his neck was undaunting.

"Some day..." The wolf sad lowly as he released the dagger's handle and grabbing another from his belt. "The people will see our views... They will see the Mistress' views..." Darkened eyes lowered to the dagger before looking back to James. "But not you, unfortunately... You never will..."

James' eyes widened, but could only choke and groan as the wolf's grip tightened around his throat. He tried to fight back, but the wolf was far stronger than he was!

The black wolf sneered and moved slowly at first, but quickly forced the tip of the dagger into James' right eye.

James' kicked and struggled and groaned as loud as he could. This was worse than the glass shard and the dagger still in his side! He could feel the cold metal scraping the tender flesh and against the bone of the socket. Blood poured out and down his face as the eye was mutilated within the eye socket. "Please, stop!!"

The dagger was finally removed, leaving only a dark red cavity where the eye once was.

Tears streamed down Jame's left eye, desperately praying the wolf will stop. But the wolf wouldn't. The bloodied dagger shifted to allow the left eye to see.

"And now for the other eye." the wolf growled.

The wolf angled the dagger toward the undamaged eye, but before he could move it closer, one of the ceiling's beams cracked loudly and fell to the ground behind the wolf.

Startled, the wolf jumped to the side; glaring down the beam as if the thing fell intentionally.

James, with all of his remaining strength, quickly lowered his left hand and pulled out his hatchet. Before the wolf could stop him, the farmer swung the hatchet and forced it into the wolf's chest.

The black wolf cried out in pain before falling to his knees. Blood spewed from his mouth before falling onto his face onto the ground.

James wheezed as he watched his enemy fall, but soon fell to the ground.

Smoke and ash began to fill the room as the fire on the rooftop of the stable grew dangerously. The wood along the ceiling began to crack loudly and chunks of burning wood fell to the ground.

James weakly raised his head. His left eye scanned the area as best it could. Blood still streamed down his face from where his right eye was and stained down his clothes and onto the floor. Shakily lifting his upper body from the ground, the farmer gripped onto the dagger in his side and forcefully removed the blade. A shout of terrible pain erupted, but he silenced himself as he scrunched his face up painfully. After summoning enough energy, he turned to make sure the wolf was still on the floor before looking back toward the back of the stables.

He had to get out of there... A loud crash surprised him. Seeing what it was, he realized another beam had fallen and crashed toward the front of the building. The whole building was falling to the ground, and James could do nothing to escape. But James will not give up! He had to get back to his family. To Deloria and his children!

James grit his teeth and attempted to bring himself to a stand. A pained groan escaped as the sharp pain in his side and leg struck him, nearly forcing him to the ground again. But the canine quickly grabbed hold of the wall panels and used them to keep himself standing. Slowly, James pulled himself forward toward the back of the stables.

The pain coursing throughout his entire body increased with every movement the farmer made. But he had to get out and get to his home. They were depending on him. When he had finally reached the back of the stables, both of his legs buckled underneath him. Fortunately, his weight fell forward and knocked the back door open to the outside.

Every building, house, and store was in flames. Soldiers still ran rampant in the streets while the cries of the townspeople filled every corner of town.

James had landed on his side and onto the dagger wound. A sharp pain jolted through him and forced his entire body to cringe, triggering every other wound to feel even worse. The pain was paralyzing, his entire body was stiff from exhaustion and pain.

The farmer's face winced sadly as he placed the side of his face onto the ground. He wanted to stand up, his family needed him! They were depending on him and he couldn't even stand! The vision in his eye began to blur as he only concentrated on breathing. It was all he could hear... the hollow, weazed breathes of a dying man.... "I'm sorry.." he whispered as his vision blurred further.