Nick Silvermane arrived on a tall hill, it's dead grass crunching beneath his feet. He did not walk to his destination. Nor did he in any way travel. He simply appeared in the open area, as if he had formed out of the crisp morning breeze blowing his silver hair around.

He looked, to anyone who cared to notice him, as a slightly disheveled teenage boy. His shirt and jeans were a size too large, and they hung loosely off his slim frame. He looked underfed, as if he had not eaten in days, or even weeks. He looked out to the horizon to his left. The world beyond was frozen in time, birds and insects caught motionless in mid flight. The tip of the golden sun peered out over the mountains of the landscape, filling the sky with shades of purple, deep red and orange.

The silent, tranquil image was broken a low, sickening cry, the noise like deranged laughter. Nick looked down. A hyena laughed beside him, the sound echoing through the frozen countryside. Blood was matted into its fur around the base of its almost bear like head. Nick sighed, scratching the wild animal behind the ears and looking around.

Behind him, a park bench stood alone on the open hill. A tall figure sat upon it, a black hood pulled over their head. Between their feet Nick could see the blade of scythe glinting in the multicoloured light of the sunrise.
Nick smiled slightly, walking over and sitting on the end of the bench furthest from the figure, the hyena at his heels.

"You keep strange company, my old friend." Nick smirked, stretching his arm over the back of the bench.

The figure looked around. He was a pale and freckly young boy, his gaunt face framed by the sides of the large black hood draped over his head. He reached up and pulled it off, revealing an untidy mop of vibrant ginger hair. He was tall and lanky, but his long black coat made him appear heavier built than he truly was. Under normal circumstances, he could have been seen as quite an imposing figure, but his slumped posture and the black bags under his eyes gave him a weakened appearance. The hyena paced in front of them, before laying at his feet, panting like a dog.

"I've grown rather fond of him, Famine." The boy said, reaching down and scratching the animal.

Nick tensed. "They're horrible little animals." He said. "And that's not my name, David."

The corner of David's mouth curled up into a thin, rather sinister looking smile.
"My apologies, Nicholas."
He looked up at Nick, who shook his head slightly.
"But I disagree. I feel they are simply... Misunderstood. They are some of the most well adapted predators alive, hyenas, and yet they are seen by many as nothing but scavengers. They are seen as equivalents of vultures."

Nick scoffed. "My vultures are different. They choose to take the easiest meal, not to waste energy preying on smaller creatures."

David shrugged. "If you insist."
Somebody tapped their fingers on the bench between the two teenagers.

A third boy, with pale, clammy skin and sandy blonde hair, leant on the back of the chair. His chocolate brown eyes were slightly bloodshot, and the tips of his hair had a sickly green tinge. His clothes were dirty and stained, and dirt was caked under his fingernails. A small rat scampered up his arm and sat on his shoulder.
"Nick." He said weakly. "David."

David nodded. "Care to take a seat Riley?"
The boy shrugged, walking around and sitting next to Nick.

"Why are we here, David?" Riley asked, looking over at the ginger teen. "I understand it was you who summoned us."

David looked at his watch. "This moment has been captured in time. And when it is released-
A bird called out from behind them, and large, inky black Raven landed on Davids wrist.

"Nevermore." It cawed.

David nodded, shaking his hand and he bird flew off.
"She will join his shortly." He sighed, biting his lip. He gestured to the large open plain below them.
"And when this moment is released, War will rage on this battlefield."

"Who's been telling you my secrets?" Asked a girl from behind them.

The boys turned around. A short, freckle faced girl stood behind them, her shoulder length curly red hair whipping around her in the wind. Her scarlet leather biker jacket was ripped and burned, and her jeans were faded and torn. A dirty, chipped woodcutters axe hung at her belt, and two large German Shepard's flanked her on either side.

"You're late." David drawled.

"Or were you all just early?" The girl asked.

Riley coughed loudly. "Sit down Genieve."

The girl jumped over the back of the bench and sat beside David.
"Now there's a name I haven't heard in a while." She scratched her head. "When was the last meeting? Nineteen forty... Something?"

"Whenever it was you started World War Two." Nick grunted.

Genieve smiled, staring off into the sunset nostalgically.
"Good times."

"I'm sure the mortals would disagree." Riley shook his head. "Death had a field day."

David sighed, staring blankly at his feet. "That's... One way of putting it."

Nick reached over and tapped his shoulder, bringing him back to reality.
"What are we all doing here, David?"

The red head looked sadly at his friend. In the golden sunlight he almost appeared to flicker in and out of existence, each moment appearing more worn then the last.
"I have spoken to Fate."

"Oh yeah." Riley shrugged, scratching his chin. "How is Agatha doing these days?"

David shot him a glare. "If what she has seen is true, all of us could be in trouble. War is coming."

"Im already here." Genieve said.

Davids eyes went completely black. "Do not test me, War. If your plans come to fruition, you could run the world to the ground."

Genieve raised an eyebrow. "And that's bad? Bring business to you all? The amount of death alone would be brilliant."

"Even after all these centuries, your youthful ignorance still shines through. Or are you truly so stupid as to think I enjoy death?"

Genieve shot to her feet, grabbing Davids collar and pulling the much taller boy to up to face her. Crimson flames burned within her now red eyes. Her voice deepened, echoing around them.
"Do not insult me, Death!"

Riley stood up and pushed in between the two. "Drop it!"

"Stay out of this Pestilence!" Genieve yelled. She tried to push bats him, but Nick grabbed her arms, pulling her back.

After a moment, still glaring at David, she relaxed, pulling herself free of Nicks grip.
"This war will happen, boys. Famine will ravage the lands, sickness hit the populations, the Dogs of War will run free-"
The German Shepard's barked.
"And the death toll? Virtually uncountable. This is the apocalypse boys, and we are the horsemen."
Geneive disappeared, the grass burned and smoking where her feet were.

Nick sat down, staring out over the fields.
"So this is it." He said wearily. "What it's all been leading up to. The end of it all?"

Riley shrugged, sitting down beside him. "She seems pretty serious. This could be the end."

David tapped the his Hyena, which had fallen asleep on top of the handle of his scythe. The tool flew upwards into his hand.
"I have been around for longer than any of you."
He sat down.
"I have been around as long as there was life in the world. Before there was any of you, there has been death."

Nick nodded. "We know. What you just felt like rubbing it in while you got the chance."

David smiled. "Perhaps. Or perhaps I repeat myself to tell you that life will find a way. Through Famine, through Pestilence, and even through War, life will survive, even if in its smallest forms. Perhaps one day the world will return to the one we know it. But if what Genieve says is true,mth at may not be for a very long time."

Nick nodded, looking over at the sunset. A bird caught mid flight was slowly beginning to flap its wings.
"I believe Time has held still for us long enough."
All around them the land slowly began to move once more.
"And I believe Nature will pay for it."

The world resumed normal speed, and war began...