Way of the Warrior
A tale from when the world was young.
An elder fox sat at a camp fire. Surrounded by young cubs and young warriors she began to speak. And when she spoke, the young began to listen.
"There was a time when the foxes and wolves fought each other. Having earned each others respect they called a truce. But truces are easily broken. That story I'll save for another day."
"The story I'm telling involves both clans. Warriors from both sides fighting together for a greater good. Having put their differences and grudges aside. They fought the only way they knew how. The way of the warrior."
Thus she began her tale.
Akiana stood upon the rivers edge. Her head held high, she watches the cubs play along the river. The night before had been hard, the decision of becoming tribal leader was hard on her. The people looked to her for guidance and as a pillar of strength during hard times. "Ma'ki desh'onai" they called her. It meant "wolf walker". She had earned the name when she fought beside the mountain foxes at the battle of the Ravenfold river. Many of her tribesmen had fallen as the mountain foxes began to break off their assault. Holding her ground she fought with the wolves until she felled their party leader. Such a thing is worthy of a great honor. But now her greatest challenge would be the survival of her people. Being young, the elders had trusted her with the well being of the people, a duty she wasn't sure she could fulfill. Walking down the river bank she collects some water in her hands and splashes it on her face. The cooling sensation brought her down to earth a little more. Slowly her senses heightened up as a warrior came over to her. She quickly notices that its Arukai, a warrior vixen who had fought along side her at Ravenfold. "Hako ma'ki desh'onai.", says Arukai as she bows her head. "Hako Arukai", replies Akiana, "What news do you bring?" Arukai nods to the east, "Wolves have been sighted by the Ravenfold. Their numbers many." Akiana lets out a small grunt, "Then we shall see what they want." Arukai nods her head once more, "Shall I gather some warriors?" Akiana waves her off, "No. We shall go alone you and I" Arukai accepts her judgement and follows Akiana as she heads towards Ravenfold.
It was a little after sundown when they arrive at Ravenfold. Akiana makes her way over to the wolves camp with Arukai behind her. One of the wolves sees Akiana and steps towards her, "Stay where you are fox." Suddenly the camp lights up with hollers from the wolves. Coming out of one of the tents is a wolf with war paint on his face. Akiana recognizes him as the leader. Arukai watches the wolf come closer to them and puts a paw on her knife. Akiana puts her arm in front of Arukai, "Stay your knife." The wolf walks over to Akiana and looks down upon her, "I am Seto, the leader of this pack. It does me great honor to meet one warrior such as yourself Ma'ki desh'onai." Akiana nods her head, "What are you and your wolves doing near the fox lands?" The wolf looks around his camp, "We are but a small part of a greater people. As are you. But we have heard the coyotes are making their way to your lands." Akiana looks to Arukai "Why should me and my people be concerned?" The wolf lowers his head, "I have heard on the winds that coyotes seek to take your lands for their own. For they have already taken my peoples land and scattered us to the four winds." A look of concern comes onto Akiana's face, "I thought the wolves were a proud and powerful people. Why do the coyotes have you worried?" The wolf turns to his warriors, "Like I said we are few. Coyotes poured upon our village like a great rain. Many brave warriors have fallen to their arrows. We few that you see are just remnants of my once proud village." Akiana looks at his warriors, "But there are so few." The wolf nods his head, "In two days time we will strike the coyotes at our camp. We enter your lands seeking your help. For proud we are but our numbers few." Akiana looks to Arukai, "Go back and warn our people. Gather our warriors. Tell them a great enemy nears our home. Now go." Looking back at Akiana, Arukai nods and heads for the fox camp. Seto leads Akiana to the camp fire, "While we wait for your warriors to come I ask that you join me in my tent." Akiana complies and follows Seto to his tent. Once inside a female gives Seto his meal. Seto looks to Akiana, "Hungry?" Before Akiana could say anything the she wolf gives her a bowl. Not wanting to offend her new found ally she kindly accepts the offer. Stopping for a breath Seto looks at Akiana, "My people speak of fox kinds iron will. They say you're a strong people worthy of our respect." Akiana takes a bite of her stew and swallows, "The same could be said of yours as well." Seto finishes his stew and hands the bowl to the she wolf, "Many moons ago, my people once had a great warrior. Your people knew him as "Ma'ki sh'eh Ya'inda. Wolf of Sorrow." Akiana remembers this name and nods, "My people tell tales of this wolf. Mostly we use his name to scare cubs to sleep." Seto laughs, "Heh, I called him grandfather." Akiana about chokes on her stew at Seto's reply, "It is good he is remembered. Many of us try to live up to his legend." Akiana remembers the legend once told to her by her forbears.
Wolf of Sorrow as he is called, fought with an iron nerve. The battle of pride was to be his greatest achievement. Almost single handedly he fought the mountain foxes. Many challenged but none succeeded to wound him. He carried a bow said to have been given to him by the great spirits. Ma'ki'a Shi'ah, "Wolves Hope." He led the wolves until he was felled by a mysterious sickness. The wolves believed it was the price he paid for his victory in the battle of pride. After he passed the wolves set fire to his body, a belief that his soul would be set free from his body. Such is the way of the wolf.
Akiana finishes her stew she and hands the bowl to the she wolf. Seto asks the she wolf to hand him a cloth covered item in the corner. She grabs it and hands it to him before taking a seat at his side. Looking on in Akiana is amazed when he reveals Wolves Hope. Seto holds it up, "I haven't used this bow but when I go into battle I will wield this weapon of my people." Akiana nods her approval, "Such a time has come for it to fight once more." Seto slowly wraps it back in the cloth, "Until that time, it rests." Akiana accepts Seto's offer for a truce and rests in his tent.
The next day Akiana is awoken by the sounds of laughter. Getting out of her makeshift bed she exit's the tent. The sun is already shining and she feels its warmth on her fur. In the center of the camp wolves are wrestling with each other. Her people do the same, it's a way to show strength and spirit but is also a way to kill the time. Seto walks up to her and speaks, "My warriors grow restless. I fear they may not wait for yours." Akiana about agrees when she sees something on the horizon. Its her own warriors coming towards the camp. From this distance she counted about 200 strong. Seto looks over and sees them. A sense of pride washes over him and he hollers out loud. His wolves do the same as they await the arrival of the foxes. Akiana watches as Setos smile fades and as he regains his proud posture. Minutes later Arukai walks up to Akiana, "I brought many warriors from the camp. On your word we are ready to fight." Raising her bow Arukai yells as the foxes behind her join in her war cry. Patting Arukai on the shoulder Akiana turns to Seto, " Now we are many more."
It was near dark when they came into view of the wolves main encampment. Seto watches as the coyotes moved among the light of the fire. He had no idea their numbers but his honor did not care. He would kill them all or die trying. Akiana looked upon the camp and seen that the coyotes were many. Her eyes could make out the tiny outlines of warriors in the dark. Turning to her warriors she tells them about what she sees, "The coyotes are in the wolven camp. Their numbers are greater than ours but we will win if our courage is greater." Seto turns to his own warriors, "Listen to the words of this fox. For she is a warrior, the same as you and I."
As dawn approached the next day, Seto stood staring at the rising sun, "Now in this hour, I, Seto, once more call on your courage and strength. To take back our home from the coyotes." Turning to face his warriors he speaks again, "May our names be remembered." Akiana looks at her own warriors, "Let this be the time when wolves and fox kind fight as one. For the honor of our people, "Azka'de'sho'nae aki" (May We Live Forever)
Slowly they emerge on a hilltop. The coyote scouts seeing their force begin to rally their own warriors. Raising Wolves Hope over his head, Seto lets out a fierce battle cry that echoes through the plains. Akiana watches as the coyotes come pouring out of the camp and towards their position. Seto points toward the coyote horde and yells, "For the honor!"
All at once the warriors of both sides clash. Seto dodges a spear as it flies past him. Taking an arrow from his quiver he aims for the coyote who threw the spear. A snap of the wrist and he lets fly his arrow. It flies with such force it hit's a coyote in the chest and sends him stumbling backwards. Akiana brushes past her first foe as another warrior makes the kill. Grabbing her tomahawk she dodges a knife slash and hit's the coyote in the back. Kicking him off she ducks a spear tip and plants her tomahawk into the wielders skull. Wasting no time she presses further into the fray. Arukai lifts her bow and readies an arrow. Before she could release she took an arrow to her shoulder. Dropping her bow she looks for the shooter. A coyote rushes her with a spear but she quickly disarms him by kicking it to the side. Knifing the coyote she uses him as a shield as more arrows came her way. Dropping the coyote she reaches for her knife and throws it at a coyote loading his bow. It snaps his head back as it lodges into his skull. Recovering her knife she pushes on. Akiana dodges a spear and tosses the coyote over her shoulder. Unsheathing her knife she makes a quick kill and looks at the coyotes in front of her. They stand back as she lifts her knife. To her right, a wolf takes a coyote down with the blunt edge of his spear and stabs the coyote in the back. Looking to the coyotes he growls as one comes toward him. Tossing the coyote aside he goes for the death blow when an arrow hits him in the chest. Taking a few steps back he breaks the arrow off near the tip and finishes the downed coyote. Arukai is amazed at his prowess when a coyote rushes her. An arrow passes her head as the coyote flips in front of her. Looking back she sees Seto holding Wolves Hope. He gives her a nod and continues fighting. A fox rushes past Akiana and is met by a coyote with some beaded armor. She takes a stab at the coyote and he dodges the blow. Before the fox could recover the coyote rushes in and plants his knives in her chest. Looking over Akiana sees the whole thing happen. Brushing off the coyote in front of her she makes her way over to the scene. Looking at the coyote she takes out her knife. Smiling the coyote raises his knives. Akiana takes a swipe and misses, the coyote seeing his chance pushes Akiana to the ground. In a flash Akiana was back on her feet. Knowing this coyote would capitalize on her mistakes she draws her other knife. The coyote psyches her out by pretending to dash forward but pulls back. Akiana jumps and moves back. The coyote managed to spook her and hopes she makes another fatal mistake. He rushes her again but Akiana catches him by surprise. She lodges a knife into his shoulder and the other one into his neck. Dropping to his knees the coyote stares into Akiana's face. She could see the life fading in his eyes and pulls her knives out as he drops to the ground dead. Seto pushes his way past a few coyotes and makes his way into the camp. A coyote charges him and causes Seto to dodge to the side. Kicking the spear from the coyotes paws Seto drives his knife in the coyotes chest. Twisting the blade Seto pushes the coyote away. A coyote runs towards Seto and thrusts with his knife. Dodging the blade Seto tosses the coyote over his shoulder. Seizing the opportunity Seto plants his knife into the coyote. The coyote curls up from the strike and lays there motionless. Pulling the knife from the coyote Seto walks toward another group of coyotes. A look of hatred in his eyes as he looks to the ground, a wolf lays there with her cub in her arms. Wiping the blood from his face Seto rushes the coyotes. Not too far behind him Akiana makes her way into the camp. The body of many wolves lay here and there. Both the young and old. Fearing this would happen to her own people she fights harder.
The battle raged on for most of the day. As evening fell, the coyotes began to withdraw from the battle. Seto stands at the edge of the camp, watching the coyotes running in fear. Akiana stands beside him, "We have won the battle." Seto nods his head, "Yes but at what cost?" Looking back Akiana sees her warriors standing proud. Arukai walks past a few of them and drops to her knees. Akiana rushes over to catch her. Arukai looks at Akiana and reaches for her paw, "I have lived my life as I seen fit."
Akiana fears for Arukai and holds her gently. Arukai smiles, "But know I go on to the next life with my head held high. Knowing my sacrifice here would save the ones I loved." Arukai coughs and some blood is seen dripping from her mouth, "I go now to our ancestors. In whose company, I have earned the right to walk amongst." Akiana feels Arukai's grip loosen as she ceased to breathe. Akiana lets a tear fall from her face. Holding Arukai's body close Akiana says a prayer. "Ak'shi me'he noka. Sa u me te on' Ma'hi se'h ne na'ko. (Farewell my friend. I will remember you. Warrior of the fox nation.) Putting his paw on Arukai's shoulder Seto speaks in wolvish, "A'kihi des una kih sove'" (Go in peace, my friend)
It was before sunrise, a time Akiana knew would be a good time to send Arukai on her way to the next life. Akiana stood in front of the ceremonial built for Arukai. Arukai's body rested in the middle. Seto walks over with a lit torch and hands it Akiana. The foxes behind her began to sing a song in foxish. Their voices could be heard a long way off in the distance. Akiana feels the sorrow in their words and sets fire to the wood pile around Arukai. The fire burned ever bright as Akiana steps back. Such is the way of the wolf, but being a fox. Arukai had been given a great honor. Such is the way of the warrior.
Slowly the elder fox stops speaking. A cub moves closer to her and asks, "How do you know this my elder?" Lifting her head, Akiana looks to the cub, "Because Arukai was my friend. A proud warrior of the fox nation. A name I shall not forget as is custom for such a great warrior."