https://www.deviantart.com/ifritnox/art/3-6-Shadows-over-Andromeda-976660569
Draco was wounded, but there was no victory yet.
On the clearing Trishanku, there was a big maple tree with leaves of a fiery red, called Cornu. Between his roots was Mira, the grave of the titans, and there Ursa Major and Bootes laid Ursa Minor to rest.
A second grave lay beside Mira, which Canis Major and Canis Minor dug out. This was Fornax, the grave for everyone else Draco's flames had burnt.
As Ursa Major and Bootes finished their sorrowful task, the wolf brothers Canis Major and Canos Minor returned to Trishanku. And soon there were Sabik arrow-star, Kornephorus rock-bearer, and Mirfak with his pack, the bull Aldeban ruby-star who had withstood the darkness. Algieba came and Kitalpha and Kentaur, children of Pegasus, and finally Pegasus himself. The twin foxes Castor and Pollux, and the four scouts - while Cygnus was still poisoned. The elk Nunki appeared and the she-wolf Virgo. And then some other creatures who found the courage to come home. These were the peacock Pavo, and in the river the cod-king Sadalsuud, the swordfish Aboras and the she-whale Shemali.
They were the heroes who wanted to face the darkness; no more came that day.
Ursa Major and Bootes told them of Ursa Minors sad fate and how they wounded the great Draco.
"My arrows can't pierce deep enough", Booted said sadly.
"The darkness won't send Draco here as soon", Phoenix, the middle scout, knew. "But now she herself advances and will attack us in person. We need protection and a plan!"
"I can protect you", Aldeban ruby-star offered. But they needed more than just one bull. Then, Canis Major stepped fourth. After the first attack, he had saved Lynx' last gift: Three shields the Lynx had made together with Phoenix, Virgo and Lukida, three shields of pure light. One of them was the shield of Bootes which he got back. Sadly he caressed the big claw, whcih Ursa Minor had given to him. "If only I had you with me before!"
The other two shields, Phoenix gave to two of his brothers: The crane Grus and the eagle Aquila; since the swan Cygnus was still poisoned and the raven Corvus had failed. The three shield-bearers and the bull placed themselves around the clearing to protect and watch over it. Darkness fell upon the land.
Now the Defendants prepared for the fight. But soon Bootes spoke up. "There are many Innocent still in the realms of Lightreach. We have to save them, if we can."
The others agreed, although they hesitated. For saving so many wouldn't be easy. The darkness crept in from the east and the south, they wouldn't be able to save many from there. In the north and west, however, the creatures would hardly be convinced to come toward the danger. The trust in the titans was broken since Lupus fell.
Mirfak was determined to help. He wanted to go west and convince as many as possible. His pack - Arae, Sol, Lunis, Sirius, Canopus, and Arktur - would join him.
Kornephorus and Sabik decided to go north. Algieba wanted to join them, for the Acadiameadow there was her home.
In the south, so they knew, there was no hope of saving anyone. Nunki, the elk, however, asked to go east. Part of the East, behind the river Lyra, was untouched by darkness. Kitalpha and Kentaur joined him, and so the three of them went toward the biggest danger.
Mirfaks pack found many animals in the West and started to convince them one by one to join them in Trishanku. Mirfak was wellknown, so that many trusted him, and he didn't give up until everyone was with him. He didn't want to leave one creature behind, and so it was that he even saved the coward: The bird of paradise, the toucan and the giraffe.
In the North, Kornephorus and Sabik found many and could convince them. But then they saw a lion. Algieba didn't need long to realize he was Regulus, and she ran to her brother.
On the edge of shadows the children of Lynx met. Algieba told her brother about their father's death and hoped, Regulus wouldn't turn ut to be a traitor. But then, the water snake appeared next to him, which Algieba knew as an enemy. Regulus laughed about Lynx and roared to show his might, his rule over the Acacia-Meadow. In this roar, however, Algieba heard Draco's scream and knew her brother had helped to create the beast.
Filled with terror, she attacked, but the water snake crawled between them. She, strenghtened by darkness, was a terrible enemy, but Algieba fought without hesitation. Regulus realised he wasn't strong enough to face his sister, and he ran away. The fight of water snake and tiger was so wild that flames burnt the Acacia-Meadow. Even Kornephorus and Sabik couldn't enter, and thus they saved all creatures they could. Finally, Acacia-Meadow was turned to ashes; and Algieba overpowered the water-snake and killed her.
So the first servant of the Darkness died.
"You can have this kingdom!", Algieba called, loud enought for her brother to hear, and returned victorious, but wounded, to Trishanku. Her wounds were deeper than the snake's bite. For the treason of Regulus had sowed seeds of darkness into her heart.
In the East, Kitalpha and Kentaur led many creatures to safety. Kentaur led them away form the shadows to the river, and Kitalph from the river to Trishanku. Nunki walked through the river, back and forth, and carried all animals to the other side.
They got sorrounded here, for the darkness was coming in fast. Kentaur had to flee, as he felt the breath of death in his neck, but Nunki didn't follow him. The shadows were creeping in on the Norma-Lake. But suddenly, the lake was turned into a poison of light and the darkness recoiled! They had gained some time and Nunki carried the last creatures to safety. Then he looked back and spotted a scorpion. This was Scorpio, and it was his poison that held the darkness back for a while. Nunki ran back and carried the scorpion to safety, and together they ran to Trishanku.
All that were gathered here were saved. But everybody outside had to face an end in darkness. And there was few hope upon the clearing Trishanku, for even though they were protected by shields, there was no salvation in sight.
