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"Kel?"

Kel flinched and almost jerked back when Khan's paw touched his muzzle and gently tilted his head up. Terrified, but unable to resist the tender, even loving touch that he'd wanted for so long, the young wolf clenched his eyes shut.

Somehow sensing his distress, Khan only draws him close and held him.

"Hey...talk to me. It's okay."

Kel shook his head. His body remained rigid against Khan's. He felt his back being caressed and smiled at the irony, that Khan of all furs would be so unselfishly trying to comfort him, when Khan himself was the source of his distress.

He was so warm...so soft...

...I'm so tired...

Trust him or die. Trust him and die...maybe. Probably...

The turmoil in his mind was nothing to the desire in his heart.

Khan's arms wrapped around him. Strong but gentle...

He could kill you. If he knew.

...protective and comforting...

He loves me.

He didn't trust you.

He had his own demons. "If you work together"

He could kill you.

...I love him...he loves me...

Fool...

"Kel..."

Kel leaned his head against Khan's broad, fuzzy chest and nuzzled. Truly told...he was tired. Tired of fighting. Tired of being afraid. He had a chance, here and now, to have what he'd always wanted. He could let it pass him by, or he could risk it all. What did he have to lose?

He smiled. All or nothing. Alright...

"My...guide. She paid me a visit while...while you were...

Khan nodded, and tightened his arms around the younger wolf. He had no idea what Kel was talking about, but he sensed Kel's distress, so he said nothing, just encouraged him gently by saying nothing and holding him.

"She told me there was evil here. I'd known that already of course. That's why I called her. I...wanted to know what we faced."

Khan winced as Kel's words stung him. He nodded and kissed the top of Kel's head, silent apology. I was stupid. Forgive me.

He felt Kel smiling, and the slight shift in his body as he lay a soft dark paw on Khan's chest. Acceptance. Yes, you were. But it's okay.

"She told me that the Shadowbeings you described...they were created in Islewigh. She didn't tell me how or why...only that they were, and that if we wanted to survive...we had to...work together."

Here, Kel paused. Khan could feel the tension building in the young wolf. His fear hung thick in the air. Never particularly fast on the uptake, it took Khan a while to work though all the implications of what Kel had just said. He spoke of a guide who had revealed things to him that he couldn't know. He spoke of Islewigh, the cursed land where their kind had once been created, and where Tiaan had won recognition for them in the eyes of the gods. The sorcerers had at one time waged war on those humans and furries that had turned their backs on the old ways of magic. It had only been the intervention of Tiaan and her mate Caleigh that had turned the tide by having the gods grant them the right to live. Since then, the practice of magic had been outlawed in all the lands save in Islewigh itself.

And in Kiy.

Oh gods...oh gods, it couldn't be...

Kill the sorcerer wherever you encounter him.

It was the oldest law on the books, and one that had been adhered to religiously in all the lands.

Except Kiy.

Kiy still had wizards, who called on magic, and spoke to the spirits. It was the main reason why there had been so many wars over the years. Kiy refused to give up their practice of magic, and no one wanted to live with that threat on their own borders. For reasons of his own, the Baron had seen fit not to enforce the law of killing wizards....but even he had commanded that any wizard found be brought to him.

Kel was Kiyan.

No...oh gods...Kel...

Kel. His soft, beautiful pup, the first and only person to ever break through his self-absorption to touch his soul and make him feel alive...was also a wizard, and therefore a wanted criminal under sentence of death.

His mind reeled, but recovered quickly. His warrior instincts hadn't detected the least amount of ill intent in Kel, and it was usually a dead warrior who didn't quickly develop this instinctive skill. In that contest, Kel' magic became simply another weapon in in arsenal, and one didn't judge a fellow warrior on the type of weapons he carried...only on how he used them.

He looked down at the young wolf he still held in is arms.

So that's why you were so afraid to let me love you...

I cannot blame you, pup...I understand.

What he did not understand was how the fuck he'd gotten himself involved in this. Gods! Barons and witches and apocalyptic wars and wizards...? Monsters out of Islewigh, the accursed land...

Khan shuddered and mumbled a quick ward against evil. Instantly Kel pinned back his ears and started to draw away, his green eyes stricken. Khan tightened his arms around him, refusing to let go, and nuzzled Kel gently in reassurance.

"Shhh, Ash'Kel-te" he whispered, the loving endearment coming unbidden to his lips. "It's no matter to me that you're a wizard...sorcerer...whatever. I don't care about that. What matters now is getting out of this. Work together. Okay. We can do that. Now tell me what exactly this...guide of yours had to say? Believe me, if her suggestions can get us out of this, I'm all ears."

His tone held just the right balance of gentle humour and resolve in it to reassure Kel, who couldn't help smiling. He hugged the younger wolf close, both to reassure him and to indicate that he really didn't mind what he'd just been told. He knew just how much courage and trust it had taken for Kel to tell him this, and he wanted him to know that it wasn't misplaced.

"Tell me," Khan said, gently nuzzling the pup.

Kel nodded and sighed as he relaxed. He wriggled a bit, apparently trying to find a comfortable position, then settled down, his head leaning against Khan's chest.

"Khan...would you be able to fight these creatures if...I made them visible to you? One of the things I can do is see life. I don't mean see it with my physical sight. I mean looking at something using magic...what we call mage-sight, or astral sight. Every living thing that lives and breathes has a life-line that connects them to Wakata-Geah...the Source-of-Life. By using mage-sight, I can see them as clearly as I can see you. If...you allow me...and if you trust me, I could allow you to see them too. I could give you that sight...if we link."

His confusion must have showed, for Kel continued without prompting.

"A link. It's a...psychic connection that would, for a short while, allow you to share my abilities. You could sense the creatures in the same way I could. You won't see them with your physical vision, but within yourself, you would sense them, sense their movements. Depending on how strongly we link, and how much spirit power you yourself have, you could even anticipate their movements."

Anticipate their movements? He looked sharply at Kel. Could this be the source of Kel's prodigious speed? He could sense what you'd do before you did it? Abruptly he blushed. Gods above! How many times had he had to restrain himself from raping Kel? He knew that...and was still here? Dear goddess! He looked up and met Kel's laughing eyes. Oh yes! He knew all right! Khan shook his head and grinned sheepishly at his young love, feeling better for some inexplicable reason. Still...this required exploration.

"How do you mean 'inside myself'? And...um...spirit power? I don't have any spirit power - I think. I've never spent much time in Kiy..."

"No no," Kel interrupted. "The power is latent in everyone. Anyone can learn to use it. If we had the time, I could teach you to do almost everything I could do. The power grows within you the more you use it. Some people are born with a head-start, but...we can all use it. Everyone has spirit power. All the link really does is allow you to draw on my...knowledge. Your own power will...do all the work, but you'll draw on my training."

He blushed then, and sobered. "But Khan...I must tell you. If we do this...there will be no hiding. I would be able to see some of your thoughts, your feelings, and you would see mine. In battle, I won't be able to concentrate on giving you the sight you need, so you will be able to draw on my other...abilities as well. You may even retain some of them afterward. Khan...think carefully here. Right now, you have a way to fight that works for you. You've developed the skills over the years. What you draw from me...might interfere with that. A link such as the one I propose occurs very deep within the mind. The abilities you draw from me will become as instinctive as those you learned through your own experience. You'll draw on them without thought...but you'll have no memory of gaining the skills, or even what the skills are. In the middle of battle...that can be dangerous as you yourself won't know what move you're going to make next. You'll lose your ability to plan ahead. Think of that. Can you live with it? There is another factor...Once I awaken your spirit power...it may manifest."

Khan blinked.

"I'm... not too sure what you mean by that. Didn't you just say that...this magic thing is something everyone has? How...?"

Kel nodded.

"Everyone has it, yes, but we don't all have equal power. And some people lock theirs away instinctively. That's what you did with yours. It's locked up so tight you barely have access to it. But...if I let you link with me...you'll know how to access it. You may not be able to lock it back up again once that door is opened. I can't be sure. Think about that too, Khan. You...could become a wizard yourself..."

Khan blinked. Him, possibly become a wizard? One of those robed individuals he'd seen in Kiy, or the fancy-armoured warriors from that land with the weird face-paintings and stuff. A wise one that everyone bowed to... The idea seemed absurd. Magic? What would he do with it? The gods knew he'd never done much thinking in his life. He'd acted on impulse. I want, I take. His impulse now was to take whatever advantage he could get. He'd need very edge to fight his way out of this.

And yet...he was no longer alone. He couldn't just act anymore. The young black wolf beside him deserved consideration. Whatever he chose now would affect them both, and for the first time in his life, that mattered. Someone else mattered. His choice now would determine their whole future. His. Kel's. Theirs. He'd no longer be just a simple mercenary. He'd be leaving his simple, unthinking, instinctive life behind, and he'd never get it back. But that was a false start. Kel had already changed him. There was already no way to go back. No matter what he chose, the changes Kel had wrought would remain. He could choose to end all that, or he could choose to continue to grow. Kel had changed too, he thought. They'd influenced each other and learned from each other. They'd made each other better, more complete, simply by being together. He didn't want that to end. He couldn't imagine being without Kel anymore, and that was the single truth that decided him.

"Kel...this is...very far beyond my experience. I don't know anything about magic, or guides, or even Islewigh. I don't know anything about...any of this stuff. I just know how to fight. So I'll fight. If what you propose to do will let me fight better, then I'll do it. I trust you. Do what you must to...do this link thing. We'll get out together, or not at all. I promise you that."

Kel was still for a moment, then he nodded once. With soft, slow movements, he untangled himself from Khan. Khan let him go, but not without a feeling of loss. It had been remarkably comforting and pleasurable to hold Kel, and the feel of the cool night air against his sweaty belly and chest was most unwelcome. His eyes stayed focussed on Kel, following his every move as the black wolf removed an obsidian carving from his pack. He held it up. Even in the dim light of the moon, Khan could see that it was a rough, finger-length carving of a wolf,

"This is a representation of me," the black pup explained, and offered it to Khan. "I've infused it with my own essence. Hold it tightly in your paw."

Khan took it, and examined it quickly. The surface was smooth and polished, but the carving itself didn't seem to be of the same standard as some arty things he'd seen on sale at various bazaars. It seemed exactly what it was: a representation, a symbolic image. It had green eyes though, like Kel's. He looked questioningly at Kel.

"Look at the fetish, Khan," Kel commanded. Khan bit back a laugh. The pup's voice held such authority...something he'd never displayed before. Secretly, it pleased Khan to see it. He did as he was told, trusting Kel to know his craft as well as he knew his own.

"Focus on it. Feel its every curve in you paw. Become aware of it...know it on as many levels as you can."

Khan closed his eyes, ignoring the fact that his mind yelled at him that he didn't know what Kel was saying, that it didn't make any sense. His warrior training took over, and he did what he was commanded to do as best he could. He fixed an image of the fetish in his mind and slowly started turning it over and over in his paw, letting his sense of touch direct him, matching the image he held to the curves he felt.

"Think of it as me. You're holding me in your paw. You want me inside of you. You want me to explore you as you're exploring me. You want me to know you as you know me...I am in your paw, Khan...think of me...focus on me...hear me...feel me...I am there..with you...You're holding me...I am with you...let me inside you..."

The pup's voice caressed his ears. It soothed him, speaking of things he longed for with all his heart. Rhythmic...chanting. He felt Kel in his paw...his warmth...Kel...

Yes...I have you...I want you inside...know me...I feel you...you're...here...I trust you...inside...come...come inside...inside me...inside me...me...

The world fell away. There was only him and Kel. There was no world. There was only them...inside the wonderful darkness. Warm...intimate...

I feel you Kel...come to me...I am here...here...come to me...

Out of the darkness, he felt Kel draw close, deeper. No sight. Just the steady blaze of Kel beside him...No fear...nothing...

He felt Kel's body...the power in his limbs. Kel was there beside him...his body...their body...do I know this...? Yes...that's how...yes...

He found that he could see more...here in this darkness he could see everything...A young pup, with a sister...

...what was Kel looking at...? I feel you looking at me...its...okay...I feel you...mine...mine...yours...oh...yes...

...small house...and there...a face...not a wolf...not a...oh yes...I understand...he was a...bad man...no...just...no understanding of you...the other one did...yes...he understood...not everything...not all of you...

...you fled...you...died...

...you...love so much...oh Kel...

Memories flooded through Khan's mind, fleeting images that explained Kel in ways words never could. He felt Kel inside him...the deeply loving presence that saw without judging, that soothed without demanding. Loved without reservation. Kel loved everything, and so his life was a mess of pain in the harsh reality of death, murder...blood...

Painfully aware of the monster he was, Khan would have shut the door on Kel right then if not for the pup's complete lack of horror.

Even you can be loved...

...love me...love me...

...please...

Their souls reached for each other, and in that instant, the link was forged. It rang through their bodies and souls with the clarity of a smith's hammer on steel, and spat them out of the trance state they'd been locked in, deep inside each other.

Locked together by ties so deep that the knots could never be found, they woke, clutching each other, clinging, their tears soaking their fur. Khan could feel Kel's heart beating. He was aware of every motion he made, the feel of his arms around the young wolf. He felt the depths of Kel's pain, and his fierce desire. He cherished this...the deep trust and faith Kel had.

He was also aware of a darker roiling within himself, that Kel's knowledge identified as Spirit Power. It was awake...aware that gates had been opened. It wanted out, and knowledge rose instinctively inside of Khan. He curbed the rising power as easily as he'd subdue a weak woman. There wasn't anything he wanted to do with his power now. Right now...right now he wanted to explore this link...the wonder of such total awareness of another...

He wanted to kiss Kel and feel the dual touch the link provided, feeling his own pleasure as well a Kel's...

A hard shove to his chest sent him reeling backward and with the feel of ice water dousing hot metal, he came back into himself. The loss of his closeness with Kel nearly made him howl in anguish. His body tensed to pounce forward, to repossess that wonderful security...but a soft paw restrained him, pressed gently against his chest.

"Khan! Focus! I'm here. Here! Look at me. Look! Look at me!"

Soft paws forced his muzzle up and green eyes bore into his soul.

"I'm here. Feel my touch."

Those wonderful paw caressed his face. Trembling, Khan raised his own paws and lay then over Kel's as the younger wolf gently stroked back his face fur. He swallowed hard. His heart hammered in his chest and his eyes focused and unfocused randomly. His head felt like it was filled with dandelion fluff. Kel took hold of his paws and placed them on his own face.

"Feel me, Khan. I'm here with you. Are you alright? Khan?"

Khan shook his head. There was a slight note of panic in Kel's voice. He shuddered and made an effort to clear his head, get control of his own body again.

Had...had they really been one? He'd spent an eternity in that dark place with just Kel there. They'd...he remembered so much...and the feeling was still there. Kel was...inside him...but also not. He was there before him...and inside...

Am I inside you too? Yes...yes...there...

Here and...there...

"Khan...?"

He shivered as Kel's voice echoed inside and out...but things were clearing now. Kel-outside was gaining clarity now.

"I'm...yes, I'm...fine. Just...what the...fuck just happened? I'm...you're...where..."

He focused on Kel's eyes, felt the pup's fear...but the physical vision of him was enough to bring back perspective. He'd spent forever with Kel...but he knew this world too. He'd lived here all his life. But that other place was still available. He was starting to get the knack of keeping it separated from this reality.

Dear gods...love is such an insanity...existing in two bodies at once.

He grinned. Maybe an old wolf could learn new tricks after all. This link...mmm! The possibilities inherent in it!

His shivering eased away until his paws were steady once more. He took Kel's paws in his and squeezed. Kel's eyes were still wide with fright. Khan smiled.

"I'm...okay now. This is...so weird. Like...oh, fuck it. You know what I mean. You felt it too. I know you did." Khan tilted his head to one side and smiled, still receiving emotional impressions from Kel.

"I'm fine, Kel. Don't worry so much."

He grinned, elated for some reason.

"Are you...sure?" Anxious green eyes clouded with worry looked solemnly at him.

"I'm sure, Ash'Kel-te. So...what now?"

Kel smiled.

"Well...the link went a bit deeper than I anticipated. But I don't suppose that matters now. I know it's confusing right now. You've had no training at all, but I did my best to give you proper shielding abilities. There are ways to dampen the link so we don't intrude on each other so much." He giggled. "And no. We can't lock each other out completely. All it means is that your awareness would remain focussed on your own sense-impressions...but I think we'll always be aware of each other. I think you'll find that you'll always know where I am, and what I'm feeling. Just like I will know. Like I said...it went deeper than I though. I'm sorry, Khan. I...couldn't stop it. I tried to limit it...but..."

"But I wouldn't let you." Khan nodded. He remembered that. He'd let Kel in unconditionally, without limits...and that had forced Kel to open as completely. Neither of them had wanted limits on how close they could get. It was as much his fault as Kel's. Not that he minded. It was what he wanted, and he didn't regret it.

"So what does it mean? For us, and for getting out of here, I mean?"

"Well...we'll have to test that. There's no way to know. The link is there, and it works."

Without warning, Kel lashed out at Khan. Quick as lightning, his arm flashed forward.

Warning rang inside Khan's mind. It was like a thunderclap inside his head. Aware of Kel's move, recognising what he was doing, it took him no time at all to react and block. His own arm lashed up in a movement he knew would counter this attack. He sensed no malice from Kel...only playful mischief, and so his soul searched for a manoeuvre that would match his own intent. His vision hazed, and suddenly he was looking at the world in colours he'd never seen before. There was Kel. His soul blazed bright greenish-blue against a black backdrop. Every tree, every animal, even the groundcover...their life force shone. He could tell which was plant, and which animal. Plants were...dull, like unpolished stone glowing from within. Animals were more shiny, but opaque. Kel though...Khan could see right through him. He was multiple colours. His every though made the life in the fibrey stings of his muscles pulse different colours against the bright green-blue of his soul. Yes...there...a streak of black running along the little fibres of his arm. He was going to stay the blow. It would not connect very hard against his instinctive block. Now if he could catch that arm, and pull just so...

Kel's blow connected. It was feather-light, just the baret touch against Khan's. He grinned...and yelped when Khan's other paw caught hold of his free arm and pulled him in close. He twisted around and rolled. Caught unawares, Kel fell forward and down, and an instant later was pinned underneath Khan.

Khan grinned toothily.

"Saw that coming a mile off, pup. Surely you can do better?"

Kel laughed.

"See what I mean? You saw it all with astral sight...saw what I would do, and drew the knowledge of how to counter it straight from me without even thinking about it. That's how it will be when we fight those beings. You'll see them the same way. Your reflexes are quick enough, although you do lack a certain...finesse. You'll need to train those muscles, Khan. If you want to fight like me, you'll need more than just strength."

"Ha!" Khan grinned. "I was quick enough to catch you, wasn't I?"

He never saw it coming. The pup's left paw struck out and connected just under his chin. His head snapped back and before he could even recover from surprise, Kel had pushed him off and onto his back. One of his knives slid easily from its sheath and was poised at Khan's throat in an instant, all in one smooth, silent motion.

Khan blinked as Kel grinned down at him.

"Not nearly as fast as you think...pup. And you let your guard down. Don't get cocky."

Khan smiled back, rubbing his chin where Kel had hit him. He knew Kel had used just enough force to get his point across. The attack Kel had used was now clear in his mind, and he knew how to use it himself. This was going to be...strange.

"Right. Point taken." He wiggled his nose. "Did you have to hit so hard?"

Kel only grinned as he got up.

"Come on. Let's get out of here."

They struck camp quickly and efficiently. For the moment, both wolves were lost in their own private introspection. Intimately aware of each other through the link, they moved in silent unison. Once they had everything, Khan sat down on a nearby rock and slid his right-hand blade from its sheath across his back. He inspected it minutely, hefting it in his paw to feel its weight. The weapon felt both familiar and a profound mystery.

Kel watched him in silence, his eyes soft. His ears swivelled this way and that, listening. Both could sense evil approaching. Kel could feel Khan's hot rage through the link. It was tightly controlled, but it would consume anything in its path. It fuelled his spirit-power and lent him strength beyond the usual. His enemies were approaching, and he had years of wrath to pay them back with for the loss of Dehelian, Vanis and all the others he had lost.

It fascinated Kel. Khan's magic seemed turned entirely inward. Where Kel used his to sense the world around him and affect it in subtle ways, Khan used his to enhance his own natural abilities. He'd never seen anything like it before. Perhaps it was just the way Khan was. He didn't really want to know what was going on in the world. He just wanted every edge with which to fight it. Khan was and always would be a warrior, no matter what other abilities he gained, or how he changed.

It was something of a relief for the young wolf. They'd so nearly lost themselves in each other in that ecstatic moment when their souls recognised each other. There had been no stopping it...and neither wanted to. They both knew how deep the attachment went...but neither was quite ready to acknowledge it. It would be acknowledged...but not now.

Not now.

For now, it was enough to feel safe, with his partner beside him, knowing that he could be relied on. It was a wonderful feeling.

A soft snarl on the night breeze alerted them. The two wolves slowly rose. Khan unsheathed his second blade, and Kel sent his senses roaming.

There. They were coming from the north, through the swamp. The path they were on led due west.

"Come on." Khan barked. "Time to go."

The path was easy enough. Kel's constant attention to the location of their attackers allowed Khan to lead them confidently through the undergrowth along firm ground, evading the first wave of the Shadowbeings. They didn't run, and showed no hint of fear. Their faith in each other was complete.

Their souls blazed in combined glory, lighting their way with spirit-light.

It didn't take long for the Shadowbeings to find them. Khan could hear them, scuttling along the edges of their light. This time, he saw them.

He shuddered.

They looked like puppies. Perfectly formed little wolf pups, with the cutest little ears, huge eyes and sad little muzzles. He saw all that reflected in their life-lines...lines that didn't connect to earth and sky like his and Kel's...but that led into darkness without touching either. Their life-force was dull red, like a forest fire seen through thick smoke. Quick pulses of blood red flashed along their limbs. They were ridiculously easy to read. Created with but one purpose, there was no way for them to hide their intent.

The little muzzles howled and snarled at them, revealing fangs that were far larger than normal. Thin and silvery-transparent, they dripped saliva, and hungry red eyes glared at them with insane hunger. They carried no weapons. Their claws were their weapons. Long, like swords, and sharp, they resembled the hideous fangs. One slice from those claws was death. They moved like smoke, darting here and there, but not impossible to follow.

His rage darkened. Pups. These monsters from Islewigh used pups to create their minions.

Khan had no illusions about his life and the evils he'd committed, but he'd never, ever harmed a cub. No wolf would. Like most wolves, he'd been popular among the cubs at the training facility. He never turned one away, and spend inordinate amounts of time playing with them, or teaching them. Like any wolf would.

How could they do that to...cubs?

They would pay...Oh, how Islewigh would pay for this outrage...

The snarls came closer, and Khan quickened his pace. He wanted to be as far along the path as possible before the creatures attacked. The path remained relatively flat and easy to run, but the undergrowth grew thicker. It occurred to him that they were being herded. Not that it mattered. These creatures couldn't know about Kel's ability to see them. Nothing could obscure mage-sight. Chasing them into thick vegetation wouldn't provide any cover for the creatures at all, and wouldn't really be an impediment to the wolves' weapons.

He grinned. This time, all the advantages were with him. Last time, he'd been young, terrified, unprepared, ignorant and blind in the dark. This time, he could see. He was superbly trained with a new set of skills, he had a partner at his back who could follow his every move and needed absolutely no looking after, and he knew exactly what he faced.

There creatures were going to die.

There.

There was a natural clearing up ahead. They'd stop there, catch their breath for a bit. He almost laughed as the snarls turned to triumphant yips. The creatures actually thought that they were tired and scared. Well, they were wrong. Just behind him, he felt Kel's excitement. The pup was looking forward to this as much as he was.

Now the creatures were circling them, exactly like they'd done ten years earlier. They darted in and out, feinting and retreating.

The two wolves remained still in the centre of the clearing, back to back. Khan held his twin blades casually ready. Kel held a knife in each paw, and had loosened the scabbards of eight others, ready to draw.

One of the creatures leapt in, straight toward Kel. Khan followed the pup's movements through the link. The little cub snarled and slashed with his claws. They would have cut Kel to ribbons had he not been able to see them. His left arm rose and fell, and a black hilt was buried in the cub's chest. Not waiting to see if others attacked, Kel leapt to retrieve his knife. The second he knelt, Khan was there. A curved blade whistled over Kel's head and decapitated the second shadow that sprang forward. Kel's arm snapped forward and stabbed a third creature in the belly where Khan had stood a second previously. They both jumped to their paws, once again standing ready, back to back. Five seconds, and three shadowbeings lay dead and twitching on the ground.

"Nice work, Ash'Kel-te," Khan grinned.

"Thanks!" Khan could feel the blush, and Kel's pleasure at the compliment. He smiled.

"Watch out. A pair approaching at your east."

"I see them. Thanks."

A knife streaked up and thudded into another cub, who screamed as he fell.

"Persistent, aren't they."

"Mmm. Not too bright though. Climbing trees aren't too effective when you're armed with throwing knives. Would you be so kind?"

"Of course."

Khan's blades whirled in a complicated arc that took off arms and heads as a small group of creatures attacked all at once. They crowded each other, barely leaving room to make effective use of their claws. Khan's whirlwind of blades made short work of them. Blood sprayed and soaked into their fur. Little bodies lay twitching, whimpering pathetically. Khan steeled his heart.

Not cubs. Not cubs...

A soothing flood of reassurance and calm came rushing through the link, and stilled his thudding heart.

"You're right. They're not too bright."

The ghost of a kiss touched his cheek.

They inched their way toward the carcass of the creature that had tried an aerial attack. Kel quickly retrieved his knife while Khan guarded him.

Ten down. How many more...?

Kel scanned quickly and reported back.

Sixteen. Five to your west. Six to your east. The others circle. I suspect they will rush us in a pack while the individual circlers will try for a lucky strike. Here...let me show you...

The image appeared clearly in Khan's mind, and he nodded.

Better not let them form up. I'll take my west.

With a mad howl that echoed in curious unison, the two wolves separated and rushed their respective groups. Kel's knives went flying in quick succession. Three thumped home. Three creatures dead. The remaining three scattered, howling. Khan dove, his blades extended. Right before him, five of the creatures were ready. His dive took them completely by surprise and he cut the legs out from under another three before they could react. Two more knives thudded home.

Eight more down. Eight to go. Three knives left...

Khan completed a roll. Where were they?

There...

Two of the creatures were stalking Kel. Khan's heart clenched, and instantly he got the mental equivalent of a shake.

Focus, Khan!

He grinned. Yes, Master.

This earned him a mental slap, and a feeling of amusement.

This time Kel didn't even bother with his knives. He let the creatures approach, and when they were close enough to rush him, he leapt at them. The dance of death, as Khan thought of it. Those beautiful leaps and kicks and punches he'd watched back at the training facility were now fully revealed as the deadly weapon they were. Kel's lead connected solidly to the creature's chest. Khan heard bone crush, and the surprised wheeze of the creature. It was slammed backward and down. Before it even hit ground Kel had whirled around and drove the base of his paw into the second one's nose. The little muzzle shattered. But Kel wasn't done yet. He whirled on one leg. The other swung in a deadly arc toward and struck the creature's head as it staggered back, still dazed from Kel's earlier blow. The neck snapped with a sickening crunch and blood sprayed from its nose and broken muzzle. The little body collapsed. A knife flashed over Khan's shoulder to thud home in a creature that had been sneaking up on Khan.

Pay attention, Khan!

But there didn't seem to be anything left to fight. The remaining five creatures fled, howling as they did so.

Kel scanned quickly, but didn't detect anything more. They leapt to retrieve Kel's knives. Kel quickly cleaned and sheathed them.

The two wolves stood panting, trembling as battle tension ebbed away. They didn't wait long, but took off again immediately when they felt ready. For all the advantages they had, neither had unlimited energy.

They loped easily, Khan's unerring sense of direction leading them toward the exit. They knew that it wouldn't be long before they were attacked again.

Kel was exhausted. He hadn't slept in two days and the constant vigilance was starting to take its toll. He still ran tirelessly and maintained mental discipline, but Khan knew he couldn't maintain it much longer.

Abruptly Kel stopped as if he'd run into a wall.

Khan skidded to a halt and trotted back. Kel was staring straight ahead, his eyes wide, body rigid. A cold wind blew up Khan's spine.

"Kel...?"

A soft breeze moaned through the trees, bringing the scent of death.

"Oh, no..." Kel whimpered.

"What is it? Kel?"

"Run. Run, Khan! Now!"

Khan didn't bother to argue. He turned and ran with no regard to energy use. He sprinted as fast as he could. Kel ran behind him, his fear driving him on.

The moaning on the wind grew louder.

"How...far...before we get there?" Kel panted.

"Another mile."

Kel shook his head in defeat. "We'll never make it."

"What?"

Kel stopped, and shook Khan off when he made a grab for Kel's paw, intending to drag him along.

"Khan! That's a spirit out there! I sensed it when we came in here. It's...insane, Khan. It's nothing but need. It kills with no regard to what it kills. We can't outrun it. But...maybe it can be driven off. Trust me Khan."

Khan blinked as if slapped and let go of Kel's paw.

"Right. Anything I can do?"

"Yes...Please...just...be close to me. Hold me if you would. I will...need support. For now just...stand there. I need to prepare."

Khan did as he was told as Kel quickly drew a wide circle in the wet ground and stepped inside. He sat down in the exact centre and motioned for Khan to join him.

"Put you arms around me and hold on. I may need to draw spirit-power from you. Open the link as wide as you can."

Khan nodded. Kel closed his eyes and began to chant. He touched the blue stone in his collar. The fur rose on Khan's neck as he became aware of a vortex of power that quickly surrounded them, forming a barrier around them. Kel called a strange name. With each call he made, Khan felt him grow wearier. He threw open the link as wide as he could, offering Kel every ounce of power he had. The shield solidified, and moments later, a human shape appeared. It was female, with oddly pointed ears. Khan had never seen her like.

Kel slumped in his arms and the weird apparition turned its attention to Khan, who shrugged helplessly.

"Don't look at me, lady. He only told me that some insane spirit was on the hunt, and we're on the menu. We have a mile still to run, and we won't make it with this thing chasing us. Would you mind...uh...lending a paw...hand...um..."

The human woman clapped a hand over her lips to hide a smile.

"I can see why he likes you." She laughed. "Sure. I'll help. You stay put, now. And look after him, will you? Oh! By the way...that shield of his will only keep unsummoned spirits away. It'll be no barrier against shadowcreatures. Be vigilant. I'll be very put out with you if you let anything happen to him, Khan Fuzzywolf."

As abruptly as she'd appeared, she disappeared.

Khan looked around. Okay...here we go again...

"Kel...? Kel? Can you stand?"

Kel nodded and groaned.

"Yes...just...give me a second..."

"Kel...I need you to give me that sight thing..."

The black wolf nodded tiredly. Khan's vision fuzzed as Kel scanned their surroundings.

There they were. Six of them. They were...fleeing. Fleeing?

Straight toward them, away from a dark mass of energy that was rolling toward them at an impressive pace. Kel was right. They'd never outrun that. Good gods...

Khan glanced back. No way Kel was fighting this round. He had enough on his plate keeping evil spirits away.

Very well. My party then.

He unsheathed his blades and whirled them around in his paws a few times, feeling once again the weird familiar/alien feeling that he'd grown used to over the last few hours. His skill and Kel's had met in uneasy balance in his skull. Hopefully he could make it into a harmonious whole.

The creatures didn't wait. They yowled in panic as they rushed him in one single melee. Khan leaped straight up in the air, to his own vast surprise. What the...? Guided by instinct, his body vaulted end over end, earth sky, earth sky, earth...until he hit the ground standing, swords ready. He'd leapt right over them...Of course...

He screamed a battle cry and flew into the creatures. His swords flashed in the moonlight. He was grimly reminded of the way the creatures' claws had glinted ten years earlier...

Kel's ability to read and anticipate their moves made it easy. His blades struck flesh much more often than not. Fuelled by his anger and his magic, Khan became a killing machine. He no longer thought or planned his moves. His enhanced senses took in their every move and familiar and unfamiliar battle skills fused together. He leapt like he'd seen Kel do, crushing the windpipe of one hapless pup at the same moment his sword sliced through the neck of another. His fists, clenched around the hilts of his blades as they were, also came in handy as he smashed faces. He screamed and screamed his rage, raining down death on his enemies until there were none left. Six bodies lay broken and beaten on the ground. Abruptly coming back into himself, Khan sank to his knees, exhausted. He raised his left blade to the sky and howled his triumph.

A soft breeze blew through his mind, gently dissipating the clouds of rage, and he turned to face Kel. The young wolf sat smiling on the ground. His ears flagged with exhaustion, but there was pride in his eyes. Khan approached wearily and sank down next to him. He let his swords fall where they would and put his arms around his partner.

"You could have lent a guy a paw you know," he teased and licked Kel's cheek.

The pup giggled.

"You didn't seem to need much help." A gentle paw touched Khan's cheek. "You did well. I've never seen anyone learn so quickly."

They leaned against each other, too weary to move...and yet they had to. There was an insane spirit still to be dealt with. Khan got up first.

"That lady spirit of yours...she going to lend a hand or something?"

"Indeed I am."

The wolves turned to face the ancient goddess.

"Run. Run and don't stop. I'll maintain a shield around you until you're clear of the swamp, but you have to run as fast as you can. Kel, you must keep your shield up. I'll send you the strength you need, but that's the best I can do. Damn Islewigh. I didn't count of an escaped spirit...Why are you still here? Run!"

They ran.

All around them, dark clouds rose up from the earth. The wind picked up as the vengeful spirit called forth its power. All around them, trees withered and died.

"The spirit is sucking the life-force from everything it touches. I'll keep it away from you," the goddess yelled above the sound of the breaking storm that spun down out of the clear sky. "Keep running."

Exhaused as they were, they kept running.

Abruptly, they ran into the open. Golden grassland greeted them where moments before it had been green swamp.

"Now, Kel!" the goddess commanded, her voice like a whip.

Kel whirled around and raised his paw in a "stay" gesture. Without even thinking about it, Khan joined him and wrapped his arms around him from behind.

"In the name of Benzai-Ten, mistress of Water, I command you: stay. In the name of Wakata-Geah, earth and sky, I say to you: be free. Return to the sky, and be renewed. Stay your evil."

The spirit howled. It sobbed and gibbered insanely. Power blazed forth from Kel, from Khan, and from the goddess beside them. With each blow, they drove back the poor, insane spirit. It fought them for just a moment...but it was tired. So tired, and so infinitely sad and broken. Abruptly, it faded away. Instantly, the clouds rolled back and the wind stopped. All that remained were dead trees and animals all around that had been emptied of all life.

It was over.

Kahn turned to thank the weird lady, but she was already gone. He hugged Kel close and held him for a moment, his head spinning. How he managed to remain upright was beyond him. Remaining upright seemed somewhat beyond Kel at the moment.

"Come. Let's set up camp, then we can sleep. It's been a long day" He said, and licked Kel's cheek softly.

Kel laughed and shook his head in wonder. A long day indeed.

"Yeah. Let's...do that."

They set off, into the night.