The Order of Events: The Red Wolf (19 page)

Veruk stood atop the eastern wall, as he stood beside archers, ready to pin down any target that was elected.
              Veruk held his hand up, as he looked at the incoming beast. Whatever it was, it was furry, and traveling at a great speed, blurry to the eye. “Hold your weapons. Wait until we understand what this is.”
              Samana and Kurlank had reached the eastern gate, and stood watching from below, as Veruk called down to them. “I don’t know what it is, but it’s fast, and furry.”
              Samana drew her blade, as she ran for the wall steps, leaving Kurlank behind, as she called up to Veruk. “Can you make anything out?”
              Veruk looked again, and the approaching beast was nearer.
              Turning to Samana, who had reached the top of the stairs, Veruk looked puzzled.
              “It’s a wolf? It’s a red wolf.”
              Samana stood frozen as soon as the words had left Veruk’s mouth. The archers let loose their shafts, all planting into the patchy ground of grass and ash, as the beast leapt gloriously from the ground below, and over the wall. Tackling Veruk, it knocked archers aside, as the captain was taken down into the streets with him.
              Samana rushed down the wall steps, as Veruk looked up with his one eye, pinned to the ground and helpless, as he was staring against the face of a blood colored wolf.
              Kurlank stood only but feet away, as he drew his swords from his hip placed sheathes and stood staring down the beast.
              The wolf stared intently at the challenging warrior, as it stood on all fours, pinning the captain down, then all of the sudden…
              Samana came hurtling from the side, the wolf’s quick reflexes gave way, and it rolled, dodging the body blow, and then regained its footing, watching as Samana held her sword point at the ready to fight, Veruk getting up from the ground. “What’s going on here? I thought wolves were dead and gone forever. What’s this thing?”
              Samana held her stance, and began to circle the still beast, as did Kurlank, as she spoke to Veruk. “I have to stop this beast from reaching Murta Sota, if I don’t, he’ll destroy the world.”
              Veruk stood shocked and drew his sword, calling his guards over. “Are you serious, this beast will do that, how?”
              Samana had no time for explanations. “Just trust me.”
              The Red Wolf watched as more guards filled the streets to oppose him, and then spoke, to the surprise of all who stood before him. “I will kill all of you. It is my lot, my duty. The world shall be purged of your kind, and left to be ruled by mine.”
              Veruk spoke against the beast, stepping past Samana and the others. “Ha…right, I’m not afraid of any wild beast!”
              The wolf stared intently, stopping Veruk in his tracks, as all others paused before the coming spectacle, as the wolf spoke. “I’m not just a beast!”
              The Red Wolf stood on all fours and shook, as fire began to burn on his fur, spreading wildly. Bones began to break as they meshed and morphed, forming into that of a human, as the onlookers stood watching in horror at the sight.
              The beast gave out a loud howl, penetrating all those before him, as he stood erect. His bones began to burst from his body, dripping with molten ooze, as he twitched and writhed around. The fire began to fade away, as the bones turned black, and by great mysticism, were as iron, making a fare suit of protection on the charcoal-skinned one.
              Samana stared, wordless, as he was turning into the very image of her dreams.
              The head of the wolf opened and a head peaked out with long, black hair, swaying messily, as the eyes of the boy were as twin flames, his sharp teeth showing off as he breathed new air.
              The wolf jaw closed over his head and made itself as a helmet, forming as iron too, beneath the mysticism of the beast. The beast had now taken its finest form.
              The wolf spirits were amongst those around the boy, as he had finished morphing his form, hearing their voices called to him, and him alone. “This is your strongest state, feel our power course through you. Feel it, it is good.”
              The beast looked at the wolves, as he was watched by the others. “Yes, it is good.”
              Samana watched curiously, as it seemed he was talking and looking at ones that were not really there.
              The wolves began to fade and spoke once more. “Now, fulfill your duty. Slay the humans, as they slew us.”
              The beast spoke, drawing a blade from a slit in his armored side, his father’s sword.               “Yes, I shall do as you say. It is my duty.”
              Samana and Kurlank nodded to each other to approach, as the weapon was drawn and the beast without speech, as he put his attention upon those before him, eyeing Veruk intently.
              “You must all die. You will be the first!”
              Veruk swung his blade at the beast, as Samana and Kurlank began their rush for the beast. “I will not fall to a beast!”
              The blade swung, shining in the dying light, but was avoided by the swift beast, leaving Veruk perplexed in more way than one. Veruk could not believe the speed of the beast, and was stabbed through from behind by a sharp blade, and soon fell, killed with a single thrust.
              Samana rushed, backed by the garrison of the fallen Veruk, and charged brandishing sharp steel upon the Red Wolf.
              The beast saw them coming. Having drawn his sword from Veruk, he rushed them, as Samana stood leading their approach. The young warrior swung heartily at the beast, but was dodged, and kicked sideways with his swift leg, leaving him to meet the oncoming warriors head on.
              Kurlank ran to Samana’s side, and helped her up, as they watched and saw the garrison take weapons against the beast, and fail horribly. He cut down the first row in but seconds and then swung his blade in a violent spread, using his talent of fire to send flames coursing from his blade, and into the guards, burning them and slaying them with one good sweep.
              Having killed the guards, the Red Wolf shot fire at the buildings of the town, and set the town ablaze around him.
              Samana was up and spoke to her friend urgently. “We have to stop him! He’ll kill everyone!”
              They ran towards the beast and he turned his attention, seeing them coming, and shot fire at them, with his free hand. Samana dodging furiously, and landed in a roll, continuing her approach, as Kurlank took the burning blow, unable to be harmed by the fire.
              The wolf noted her good talents at dodging and shot several more bursts. Each was dodged with great agility, as Samana worked her way to the beast with great effort, only but a foot away.
              Samana dodged the final flaming burst, and thrust at the Red Wolf, which he dodged, grabbing her hand as she dropped her sword to his touch, looking into the his deadly twin flames.
              It was at this moment he realized something. Samana was the girl of his dreams, of his visions. The hair, her wears, everything, she was the one he was to take and be one with, when the world was made to burn.
              Samana looked at the beast curiously. For a moment it seemed as if there was peace in his eyes, as they met hers, but then the feeling left, as the beast looked past her, and at the rushing Kurlank.
              Kurlank swung his dual swords, charging as he let out an echoing call. “Haraaahah!!!”
              The beast let go of Samana and pushed her aside, as he met blade against blades with the metal one. Dodging, dicing, and moving across the burning building side, as they fought madly.
              Samana picked her sword up from the ground, as she began to pursue the fighting two.

The town was being swallowed by fire, as it spread ferociously, helpless people running about, trying to find a way out, as hope was seemingly lost.
              Kurlank swung for the elusive beast, madly, but each time missing as the Red Wolf dodged skillfully, and for the final time, dodging a swing for his head, bending backwards to do so, and then slamming his hands forward into the chest of Kurlank, sending the metal one back several good feet.
              The beast was growing impatient and took his sword back as Samana was at the scene, the beast voicing his impression of the warrior, with a cold tone. “You fight well, you fight with a purpose, but mine is greater, and so is my strength!”
              Kurlank stood with the burning building at his back, Samana at his side, speaking to the beast. “I have a purpose too, and it’s to stop you!”
              The beast looked at her with his burning eyes, and then to the building behind them, staring upon the fire with purpose. “I know your purpose, and it is not what you think it is. In time I will make you understand.”
              Samana felt great heat from behind her, unable to respond as the fire grew from the building. Kurlank saw the growing danger, and threw himself in front of Samana, shouting.               “Samana, NO!!!”
              The fire spat from the building and showered Kurlank, separating in twin directions as he blocked it from Samana, but this was just a distraction.
              Samana was grabbed from behind, and struggled against the grasp of the beast. In effort to make things easier, the Red Wolf knocked her out with a blow to the head, and carried her over his back as he walked away from the metal one. “I need her. You’re a good fighter, and seemingly as loyal to your friend.”
              Kurlank saw that Samana was no longer at his back, and blocked the flames no longer, running after the Red Wolf. But the beast grinned behind his helmet, and used his gift of fire once more to get the armored warrior out of the picture.
              Kurlank was running for the beast that was standing still, watching his approach. He was almost there, grasping out for Samana, when fire burst from a building, causing a great explosion, sending Kurlank flying from the ground, and into the building opposite the exploding one, crashing heavily as the fire torn building collapsed beneath his weight.
              The Red Wolf was finished with the silver, bloodstained warrior, and ran off through the burning wreckage of the town, heading northwest for the pit which his people had come from. Carrying the unconscious Samana on his back, who remained unaware of the burning demise her friend had seemingly met.

-Chapter 7-
Past

The housings gathered were dusty and alive with commotion, as the wind blew and voices spoke of the happenings at the border fence, the blood, bodies, and…the wounded one.
              Sofius had been out like a snuffed candle since the previous day. The man that had taken him in, along with his wife, had the wounded stranger set upon a table. They had washed, stitched, and burned all of his wounds, fixing him up into a living sight, his wounds to grow new scars to befriend his old ones.
              The man and his wife sat on a simple, wooden bench, watching from across the room as Sofius was resting quietly.
              Several raps upon the door gave way to the rise of the man, and he answered the door, being met by several curious heads. “What is it you want?”
              The three spoke, very curious as to the condition and origin of the stranger.
              “Is he alive?” “Where’d he come from?” “I don’t think we should be having strangers here, not a good idea at all!”
              The man grew tired of the assault and slammed the door wide open, the door hitting hard against the inner wall as the man spoke. “I don’t know! He’s alive, yes. But it is of no concern to us where he comes from, or what he is…all we must know is that he saved my wife, and maybe even the whole of us. Isn’t that good enough for…” The man was unable to finish, as his wife spoke urgently, calling his attention. “Mastus, look, look!”
              Mastus left the door and was at his wife’s side, as they looked upon the risen form of the stranger.
              Sofius was up, and threw his hood and cloak over his body as he approached the caring husband and wife, smiling with sharpness as he took a knee before them. “Thank you. Your generosity is something that is not found often among my people…or among people of any tradition. I know you are known as Mastus, but would you grace me with the name of the one I saved?”
              Mastus smiled upon Sofius as his wife grabbed the stranger’s hand, gesturing him to rise as she spoke. “My name is Yur, and you should not thank us, we must thank you. You saved my life, and maybe all of ours!”
              Sofius shook his head, and took the hand of Yur to his cheek and bowed his head in respect. “You have saved my life. Let us call it, a life for a life then?” Yur and her husband nodded upon the thankful one, Sofius releasing Yur’s hand and then looking to the door.
              “I must go now and return to my people. The ones that came here could be only a few of what is to come!”
              Yur and Mastus were figures of worry as Sofius approached the entrance, the crowd at the door backing away as the curious figure made his exit.
              Yur and Mastus left their house and were sturdy at Sofius’ side, Mastus speaking to the wounded one. “You’re still wounded. Those cuts could open again. If you stress yourself too much, you could…” Sofius grabbed the arm of Mastus and spoke in a thankful manner. “I am honored you worry, but I must go...my wife, my child, my people could be in great danger…even your people. They could all be in great danger if I don’t go. So, please, heed my wishes, and let me go!”
              Yur looked upon the scarred one with respect for his bravery, and took her husband’s side as she spoke. “We will let you go, but tell us your name before you go.”
              Sofius walked down the dusty road, and turned to the two giving and caring strangers, speaking to them his farewell words, crowds of curious men and woman watching and listening as he did. “My name is Sofius. I hope I am wrong and no harm comes to you and your people. Thank you for your kindness and care. I will do well with the life you have saved!”
              With his words spoken…Sofius was gone. Running speedily on the morning light, he charged, pushing himself forward with every bit of strength he had.
              Mastus and Yur stood on the dusty road, watching as Sofius, the bloodied stranger, fearsome and kind, leapt the border fence and ran onward with great strides. He was a stranger to them, but a hero none the less.