Knights Against the Night Part 23

"We need to leave." Beano said, his eyes were haunted, and he had been debating this back and forth before speaking with his friend.

"We can't." Mars said.

There was something very like panic in the mouse's eyes, his tail whipped back and forth "They believe we're winning." Beano said, with as much distain as he could muster.

Mars paused, eyes flickering over his friend. "We are." Mars replied.

Beano whirled around, pacing back and forth, almost vibrating with rage.

"No, we're not." Beano replied, angrily, "We can't be, it doesn't make sense, I saw..." He trailed off, staring into the far distance, eyes seeing something Mars couldn't.

Mars leaned forward, "We defend the kids, the monsters can't feed off them, it's simple maths."

"We're fighting defensively. We're not defeating them. They are gathering their power, they..." Beano objected, shaking his head.

Mars sighed, "You're being paranoid again. There are more of us, we have the bigger army, the more capable fighters, the best hope."

Something flickered in Beano's eyes, a thin blade appearing in his hand, more rapier than anything else.

Mars didn't hesitate to bring up his own, holding it defensively. "Where's the threat?" He asked, eyes flickering between blades.

Beano's was dark, and if anyone else had seen it, they probably would have decided to put the mouse out of his misery, it was never a good thing when the weapons went dark. Not that Mars' was much better, a dull glow that could barely be noticed in the bright light of the room.

"I have no hope." Beano said, his eyes drawn to the dark of his blade, holding still against all hope.

"Beano..." Mars asked gently, "Where's the threat?"

"I'm the threat." Beano said, dropping the blade.

It clattered to the floor, and Beano stepped back, shaking.

"No!" Mars objected, "I don't believe that." Stepping forward, carefully going around the blade.

"Yes I am!" Beano insisted, "I went too far, I'm lost, I don't just find a hole and pull it close over me."

Mars sent his away blade again, reaching for the mouse and pulling him close.

"Don't leave me..."