The darkness, it had always been the darkness that kept me from descending into the woods. I fought many battles, faced many a foe, but it was something about this darkness that has kept me shaking in my boots.
Every night I have the same nightmare, my entire squadron is gone and I am left alone, shadows crawl from every crevice, clawing and strangling what little sanity I have left. Just before I see my dark assassin ready to deliver the killing blow....I awaken. It was dark today....always is in these bloody woods, my name is Farn, I am stationed here with my squadron, T-Calibur56 division delta, a party of 6, our mission is to scout out and establish headquarters in the Gloaming Wildwoods. "OH!", I heard a surprised cry from the far west of our camp. I grabbed my blade and rushed in..fearing the worst. I made the turn around one of the trees and saw Hal our medic, he looked startled, he looked up in surprise and quickly told me "Sorry for that, a little wolver just jumped up in front of me, little scamp brushed past my leg in a hurry". I lowered my sword, relieved I helped Hal pick up some of the supplies he was carrying over for Regina. Regina is our top scout and was sent out to scan for incoming enemies when we first set up camp, she was attacked by some wolvers, injuries like that weren't too serious, but it was the 35 foot drop from the edge of our camp was what truly injured her. Unable to perform her duty she was ordered to stay and rest at camp until further notice.
It was then that I thought I heard something in the distance. I couldn't decipher what it was exactly but it was too far to really check out what it was, but it felt to close to really ignore it as well. "Lighten up buddy, it was probably another wolver or something" smiling as he told me this, I shook off my paranoia and carried on with Hal as we arrived on the more secure area of our camp we saw the rest of our squadron, minus Regina and the captain, gearing up.
Dewon, our gun expert, brandishing a wicked red blaster, was the first to notice us but didn't say a word but acknowledged our presence. Hilda, our offence troop, was having trouble putting on her gloves as she saw me and Hal walking towards them. "Hey glad you made it with the supplies, bring then over to the captain hes with Regina right now they sound like their arguing back there".
Me and Hal looked at each other and shrugged, as we walked up to the tent you could already hear the shouting. "I can still do my job captain, I think I would know if I'm too injured for this!", I heard the captain now in a stern voice reply "No, you don't know when your too injured because you don't seem to give up, that's the reason I have you on this team but right now I want you here". Nothing else was said as I carefully opened the tent, "Hello?" I stammered as the captain quickly turned is head to face me. "Ah good you have the supplies, is Hal with you?". Hal, who was right behind me stepped in the tent, "Hal reporting for duty sir!". The captain looked tired, then again I never see him too cheerful either. "Good, Hal I want you to stay with Regina and tend to her wounds, when your done keep watch here, I don't want any intruders in our camp when we go out". "Out where sir?" I stupidly interrupted, he didn't seem to take notice though, "Were going on an expedition in the uncharted areas of the Gloaming Wildwoods".

Well it was going to happen eventually, I mean I'm part of this group, I need to pull my own weight as the navigator of the group. I chose this job because I wanted to be part of the captains group and no one else's. Captain J. aromer was an inspiration when I was a recruit, when I had found out that he was in need of a navigator I jumped in faster than any skeleton could leap.
Now I start regretting my decision as we continue deeper into the woods, Hilda jumped up from behind and tapped my shoulder, I jumped a bit but it was enough for Hilda to notice what was wrong. She couldn't help but smile at me, "Your being jumpy over nothing, these woods are just another living space for wolvers and we only gotta be here so we can establish a few checkpoints for future knights to come, nothing but recon that's all". I was relieved a bit, always glad Hilda was around to comfort me when things seem grim. I looked at Dewon who hasn't said a word. "What do you think about all this Dewon?", he looked at me, looked at the rest of the woods ahead of us and shrugged. "Gee Dewon you should be a motivational speaker when this is ove-" "SHH!", I looked and saw it was the captain who interrupted Hilda. "I heard movement", you gotta love this guys skills.
We drew our weapons and followed the captain as he moved some shrubbery ahead of us. Once the view came into clearing all I saw was a wolver, a lone little wolver just there sniffing the ground below his feet. Hilda was the first to speak "You think there might be more?". "Can't tell, I heard heavy footsteps though might be an alpha nearby". Just as the captain had finished his sentence, no sooner had the shadows come to life and swallowed the wolver whole and disappeared as quickly as they had formed. Everyone including Dewon could not believe what had just happened.
"What was that!?" Hilda as always was the first to state what was on her mind. "I don't know but until we do we need to be on high alert, Farn see if you can establish a connection with Hal back at base". Without a word I grabbed the communication module and tried establishing a connection. Dead, I couldn't seem to find anything, no connection and no host connection. I'm here with my squad and a living forest that eats wolvers......

I can barely see what was going on ahead of me, all I see is the captains blade swinging at the branches and bramble that was blocking our way. "Are you sure this was the way we came Farn?" asked the captain. "I'm positive, I think it's the clockwork sir, it's constantly changing the terrain". "Oh I hope Hal and Regina are all right", Hilda exclaimed. "Their fine as long as the power stays up back at camp".

"Their fine as long as the power stays up back at camp.........." my head is spinning, all I can hear was the captains echo about the power back at camp, something got us, it was fast. I looked around me and saw Hilda passed out by a tree, Dewon was right by the captains side, but something was wrong. It was then that I noticed the captains left arm.....it wasn't there.
I quickly collected myself and rushed to him. "GO CHECK ON HILDA, I'M FINE" shouted the captain. That was enough to stop me right in my tracks and check on Hilda, she seemed okay, still breathing normally. "What just happened?" she looked up with tired eyes. "That thing that got the wolver, just got us". Suddenly burst awake she stood up fast and looked around frantically. "Wheres the captain!?". She didn't need me to tell her, she was already running towards him. "Hilda are you alright?". "Yes captain I'm fine but YOUR ARM". "It's nothing I can assure you I'll be fine we need to continue back to camp". Struggling to stand up we had Hilda help the captain as we head onward toward sanctuary, or so we thought after we arrived at camp, or what was left of it. The place had been strewn across the land as if a large storm had swept it away. I didn't think after that, I ran in, looking for any signs of life, for Hal...for Regina. "Farn stop it might still be here!", I didn't listen I just kept running. Everything was broken, that was when I heard some noises, I quickly ran towards them, desperate I shouted out to see where the noise was originating from. I heard it behind me this time, I quickly turned only to see what was left of a mecha knight, one that we had delivered to us to protect our energy source from wolvers. It was still slightly operational but was crushed like a small insect under a large dark mass. I looked up only to see two large red eyes followed by a stinging pain at my side as I was knocked back by a swing of another large dark mass.
"FARN!", it was the captain this time who was shouting. I mustered enough strength to turn my head from out of the dirt and look to see what was going on. Dewon had opened fire on the dark mass with his famous red gun. As I stood back up very nervously I looked behind me and saw a 35 foot drop inches away from me, I couldn't move, whatever strength I had left was used to stand up. I could only hope the rest of my squad was handling the situation.
The creature roared as it turned to face Dewon, he looked at me, a stare I will never forget, one that displayed a man who knew when his time was up. I couldn't utter a word as the beast devoured Dewon without hesitation. Hilda, tears running down her eyes could only watch as the beast was devouring its silent meal. The captain drew his sword and was yelling at Hilda this time "RUN, I'LL HOLD IT OFF FOR AS LONG AS I CAN". I always thought cliche heroism was only in children stories, but the captain truly was willing to give up his life for his comrades. Hilda knew that just as much as I did, without a word, tears in her eyes she ran towards me but I quickly held up my hand in a stopping motion, I weakly told her "I'm too weak to carry off on my own, I'll only slow you down", I knew she was too nice a person to leave me so I drew out my sword and told her "If you step and closer I will take you down with me!", she couldn't believe what she just heard and knew there was no talking me out of my choice. As soon as she was about to take off, the captain let out a fierce battle cry before crumpling before the might of the dark creature. It turned towards Hilda and just before it could spring towards her I shouted at the creature. "HEY, HOW ABOUT YOU FIGHT SOMEONE ELSE YOU UGLY BEAST", that was enough....It turned right around, looking for the dead man that had just said that. It fixed upon me, with those crimson, unfeeling eyes.
My nightmares have come true, no one but me and the darkness, two paths, both that lead to a gruesome end, face the dark creature, or plummet into the abyss. At least when Regina fell down she was able to hold onto some rope we tossed her. Me, I do not get such luxuries. I had my blade ready, whatever happens next will happen, I have no regrets, no regrets, no regrets, no regre-

And that is my story for Zettalux's Spiral Knights Fanfiction contest!
My ign is: Knightcaptain
I do hope you have enjoyed this snarbolax inspired story as much as I had enjoyed writing it!