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Hi everyone! I'm sorry for taking so long to update, but I was thinking it was best if you guys understood Calindel's background a little more. So, these next few chapters will focus more on his past, and how he ended up in Port Kogar, and more importantly, Rex's loving arms. ;)

Canines and Felines: A Kingdom Divided

Chapter 5

~*~*~

The five canine knights found themselves in a predicament. As soon as they reached the bottom of the canyon, the sun had casted his rays upon the desolate ground. Calindel and his companions stuck to either side of the canyon faces, hiding themselves from the beating heat. A bead of sweat dropped from his snowy white cheek, his tongue lulling to one side as he panted to keep cool. He turned around, groaning as he noticed his comrades were in the same poor shape he was in.

"C-Cal..." One of the German Shepards called out to him, "C-can't we take a break? My footpaws are killing me... and this sun is making it even more painful to take another step!"

Calindel growled softly at the canine's complaint. He sighed loudly in frustration as he leaned his back on the canyon wall, sliding down until his rump hit the sandy ground. Luckily, the spot he sat on was shaded, and the other canines sat around him, feeling thankful that the wolf listened to the suggestion. The old deerhound patted him on the shoulder, panting with a tired smile.

"Atta boy, lad..." He snickered, "We all need a wee bit o' rest a'fore we continue..."

The wolf didn't say anything in reply. He was too frustrated with himself that he might say something he'd regret if he let his tongue loose. One Shepard passed him a water skin, letting the wolf smile weakly as he gratefully accepted it. He ripped the cover open with his maw, slowly gulping the precious liquid down his throat. He slowly passed it to the canine next to him when he finished, who also took a few grateful gulps before passing it on to the next, and so on.

"Unbelievable..." Calindel muttered under his breath, clenching his paws into fists as he let out a small growl. His body went limp as soon as he rested on the wall, removing his chainmail and breastplate, eventually finding himself snoring softly as his body gave up on him. The deerhound easily caught wind of the wolf's actions, shaking his head slowly as he closed his eyes, feeling his body relax.

"Cal's got teh right idea, lads..." He whispered as his voice slurred. "Best get a nap while we still can. 'Tis gunna be a long battle, an' we best get as much rest as we can."

The three Shepards nodded in agreement, hiding along the shadow of the wall. They huddled together and fell soundly asleep. All five of them were exhausted, but oblivious to the thundering battle cries above them.

"To arms! To arms!!" Cried a voice, and his breathed roared in response as metal met metal, the loud sound of cleaving flesh softly echoed, the smell of blood present in the midday sun.

"Blood for blood, for Victory!!"

Calindel's fluttered his eyes open, his ears picking up the sound of battle above. It had only been an hour since he decided to nap. Cautiously, he rose, quickly taking a few sips from his water skin before silently climbing up the face of the canyon wall. It didn't take him long before he reached the top. Having removed most of his armor when he decided to take a nap, he was much lighter and faster, although he was now more vulnerable to an enemy's blade. He examined the sun-torched land, panting as he tried to fix his eyes on the battle he heard from below. He then noticed a group of felines, looking like pirates, battling against several large bulls. Their swords rang in his ears, the stomping of footpaws and hooves created dust clouds that made it hard to see clearly.

"For the Tribes!" One bull yelled, impaling one of the felines with his horns, killing him instantly. Calindel could easily see that the felines had the bulls outnumbered five to one, and decided to lend them a hand.

"For the Goddess!" He cried, dashing at the felines at immense speed, drawing his long sword from his back before leaping into the air, cleanly stabbing against a feline chest, hearing him squeal in pain before falling limp. Both parties were startled by his presence, but the felines soon growled in anger when they noticed their fallen comrade, and soon three were charging toward him.

"Cream an' slaves fer the one who kills the dog!" One of them cried, lashing his scimitar at him. Calindel easily blocked and severed the feline's head with one clean swing, his eyes glowing ruby red as his snow-white fur was stained crimson. The other two backed off, joining the company of their comrades as they circled him, leaving the bulls dumbfounded in shock and awe.

"I don't think you kitties know who you're messing with..." He growled, standing in battle stance. A large leopard, their apparent leader, stood in front of him, a bright silver scimitar in his paw as he readied himself.

"Aye," He replied, "But that don't mean I won't be able te kill ye, pup!" He growled, lunging at him with full speed. Calindel quickly parried his attack, but was knocked back by the leopard's strength. Luckily he managed to land on his feet, side-stepping to the right as he dodged the leopard's heavy swing. Seeing his chance, he leg-swiped him to the ground, running his blade on his chest, only to grunt when his blade hit the dry ground.

"Yer better than I thought, mutt..." The leopard growled, brushing the dust off his cloak. "But this has gone long enough..."

"I agree." Calindel nodded, covering half of his face with his raised blade. "I'll end you quickly." An eerie silence then followed, when suddenly both fighters charged at each other, wielding their blades as if to draw one last strike. Both fighters then swung once, then passed each other, pausing to see the victor. Calindel's back was ripped down the middle, but he was unscathed. He lifted his blade for all to view, showing the blood present on the tip of his blade. The leopard choked on blood that rushed to his throat, when the wound on his back burst open, causing him to go limp as he fell to the ground. His feline comrades stood there, frozen in shock and horror of their leader's death.

"R-retreat!" One of them yelled, "Retreat! Git back tew the camp, now!!" The remaining felines scrambled on to their footpaws, running away, screaming and yelling in fear and panic. Calindel sighed in relief as he swung his sword at the ground, removing the blood that dirtied it before sheathing it neatly on his back. He was about to leave when he noticed the herd of bulls suddenly surround him. Feeling threatened, he was about to reach for his sword, when a loud snort and groan told him to do otherwise. The bulls parted and the biggest of them walked towards him. He was a burly old bull, the scars all over his body telling the wolf of the many battles he had faced in his life. He was clad in tight leather shorts, as well as twin leather sashes that were full of pouches and held a holder for the giant poleaxe sheathed on his back. He stomped his hooves heavily on the ground, each step like a mini earthquake as he stood over the young wolf.

"You have quite the courage to come here, young one..." He snorted, his tired amber eyes examining him closely. "If you were seeking a reward for your assistance, I'm afraid there is nothing for you here."

The young wolf genuflected before the old bull, bowing his head in respect. "You misread me, mighty one." He retorted formally, "I simply overheard your battle from the canyon below, and decided on my own accord to assist you."

The old bull looked at him curiously, looking for any signs of deception. "Why then," He asked, "Would you fight these felines rather than us? Have you no interest in the Treasure of the Wandering Tribes?"

Calindel's breath caught as he was lifted up off the ground, the tip of the bull's axe coldly touching his throat.

"Believe me, sire..." He stammered, "I-I have no such intentions... I only have quarrel with the felines... not you or your kin."

The old bull stared into the sky-blue eyes of the snow-white wolf, the sun's light causing them to glow an iridescent color. Eventually, he slowly lowered him to the ground, sheathing his poleaxe on his back, pulling a long wooden pipe from one of the sash pouches, sticking some leaves in it and lighting it with a quickly lit piece of tinder.

"Very well, I believe you, young one..." He hummed, taking a few breaths from his pipe, blowing some smoke from his nostrils. "What is your name? And what are you doing in this desolate land?"

"I am Calindel, Templar Knight of the Kingdom of Andriel," The young wolf bowed as he introduced himself. "My comrades and I are on our way back to the forward base on Tilas-Miel, where our council of elders eagerly awaits our return."

The old bull sat patiently on the hot ground, the midday sun not being a bother to neither him nor Calindel.

"Well met, Calindel." He replied, blowing smoke from his nostrils. "I am Amos Longhorns, and these are the warriors from my tribe. We were going to leave this land for the near oasis near the base of Mount Crag'Ash when we ran into those pirates. Had it not been for your aide, we would have surely been overrun. You have our thanks. But where are your other comrades?"

"It was of no trouble, Amos," Calindel reassured, smiling as he looked back up at the old bull. "And my comrades are still down the canyon floor. I was the only one who climbed up to assist."

"It was foolish of you to have come alone." Amos hummed, "Brave, but foolish, nonetheless."

"Well, they were all exhausted from our long travel here. They, at least, get to rest and restore their strength."

"But what about you? Are you not tired as well?"

"No, I've rested plenty already." At this both of them laughed heartily.

Two bulls called out to their leader, carrying the bodies of the fallen felines on their shoulders. Amos stood quickly, dusting his leather shorts and getting on his hooves with a grunt.

"We will depart from here then." He said quickly, "Until we meet again, Calindel..."

"Aye," The wolf nodded, shaking the bull's hand. "Til next time then..." They then parted ways, The bulls heading westward, while Calindel marched back south toward the canyon mouth, where his comrades just climbed up the canyon face.

"Oi, there ya are!" The old deerhound yelled out to him, "Where have yew been?"

"Checking the area, old timer. " Calindel laughed, patting his shoulder. "We should get going, then."

The four canines looked at each other inquisitively, wondering what the young wolf did before they arrived. They quickly shook it off, and followed after their leader, who already took off in a sprint.

~*~*~

The five canine knights entered the elder's war tent, their armor clanging noisily as they dragged them along the sandy ground; they had run for three hours straight while the sun spread his warmth to the world, and they were exhausted from their nonstop sprint. Once inside, they were greeted with a table ten elders, with a majestic and young she-wolf seated in the middle.

"Ah, the reconnaissance team has returned! How went your little scouting trip?" asked the left-most elder, who was eager to hear from them.

"Everything was as I had unfortunately predicted, Lord Goldtooth." Calindel replied, with him and his companions drawing their swords and genuflecting on the ground, leaning against their swords as a sign of respect.

"Unfortunately..." Continued the deerhound, "Wit' our current numbahs, t'wit won't be enough tew hold back teh pirates' advance tew the forward bases."

"Confounded felines!" Shouted another elder, "Have they all become so insatiable for land that they dare break the pact we made during the Dune Wars!? I will not have it!"

Calindel then averted his eyes to the young she-wolf seated in the middle. Their eye contact carried more than enough words for her to stand, silencing their quarrels and arguments.

"It would seem that you've fought some of these pirates, young Calindel?" She asked him, her eyes glimmering beautifully with her elegant lavender silk dress that shimmered with the small sunlight that seeped into the tent.

The young wolf had nothing to hide. He merely nodded in reply, hearing the gasps of surprise from his companions.

"That's impossible!" Said one of the shepard trio, who jumped to his legs "We were with him the whole time, and we've never encountered any of those felines!"

The she-wolf silenced him with an icy cold glare, causing him to kneel again, whimpering in fear. Calindel then bowed his head at her, sighing quietly.

"Aye, milady, it's true." He grimly replied, "I had fought a few of them, at the mountain pass while my comrades were resting from their non-stop running toward her highness."

"And you had no intention of waking your comrades whilst you fought them, young one?" Asked the elder seated left of the she-wolf, who scowled at the wolf's explanation. "Were you so confident in your ability to combat such loathsome creatures by yourself?"

"No, I wasn't..." He replied softly, "But I was too far from them when I had engaged them, that I had no choice but to fight them myself." He then looked solemnly into the eyes of the she-wolf. "But I can assure you, milady. I had no intentions of stealing all the glory. I would have been killed if I was careless."

The she-wolf nodded in reply, gracefully standing and walking toward the young wolf, kneeling down in front of him, and kissing his cheek.

"All is well, dear brother." She smiled, caressing his cheek. "The honesty in your eyes and words is more than enough proof for me and the council." She then took the wolf's sword from his paws, and laid it on his shoulder. "And so, by the powers invested in me by the Eastern Kingdoms, I hereby name thee, Calindel, Lord Knight of the Eastern Realm, for your valiant effort of bringing vital information to me, even in the midst of absolute danger, and bravery in meeting and defeated a few of our dreaded enemies in open combat, alone."

The young wolf stood with wide eyes when the sword left his shoulder. Very few knights have been given such a title, much less canines his age.

"I-is this the wisest decision, sister?" He asked, sheathing his blade swiftly. "I'm sure my comrades deserve this honor more than I do."

"You are mistaken, Calindel..." She smiled, her small tiara glimmering in the light as she bowed elegantly at him. "You have my trust, as well as the council's now. I know I've chosen the right fur to carry this weight, and it's more than just because you are my brother."

She then kissed his cheek, standing up gracefully turning to the council members. "This meeting is now adjourned. We shall all meet back at the castle, when we finish checking the remaining bases."

The gentle breeze flew slowly by, and there was silence in their midst as they left the tent to do their duties.

I still dread that day... that day I was left to die by my brothers. How could they?

****

And that does it for this one! Reviews welcomed warmly! Thank you for reading!

_"Living it my way..." ~Periosha _