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Chapter Eight - Into the Furnace

Delicious scents wafted pass the end of my nose, teasing me enough to make my muzzle fill with saliva and my gut ache from hunger. I was pulled from my sleepy haze by that scent. The more I woke, the more my other senses sharpened. Sizzling sounds sparkled at the end of the fur in my ears, almost tickling them and making them twitch.

The scent and sounds made it difficult for me to ignore the pain of hunger. My eyelids slowly parted, revealing the blurry and dark world surrounding me. There was an orange glow in front of me, and after I blinked a few times my vision was clear enough to see the fire blazing in front of me. It was not the only source of light in the darkness as other fires were blazing all around.

How strange that so many were up during the dark hours of the day. Still tired, I also felt the discomfort of cold in addition to my hunger. I curled myself up into a tight ball, and waved my tail across my body, the end of it resting at the end of my nose. It took me a moment to realize that the presence of the wolf that usually slept next to me was absent. I could also feel the cold directly on the ends of my fur because I was still without a shirt since it had become the bag for the roast.

"Snowy couldn't reach the bread so he tried climbing up the cart a bit but the cart driver saw him," I heard Midnight's voice speaking. Memories of the previous day slowly started to come back to me. Everyone was awake because it wasn't a dark hour of the day. I uncurled myself a bit to look back at the fire to see Midnight telling a story to the three pups of Alec and Lexandra. "The driver heard him and saw him taking food so Snowy ran for the nearest alley. The driver left the cart, really upset and chased Snowy down, allowing me to grab a full basket of bread!"

Reluctantly I decided to uncurl myself and give up on sleeping. I crawled out from under the crudely made tent and looked up at the sky that still had ash falling down from the clouds. Not a single ray of sunlight had broken through anywhere. Seeing the clouds still covering the sky made me feel the burden of the ash. Although I was half-nocturnal, seeing no sun for what must have been at least two days was depressing.

A strange glow from the direction of Mount Ignis drew my attention though; the bottom of the black clouds had an orange glow to them. It was far in the distance but it was the only source of light provided besides the fires around the camp.

"The driver came back and didn't even notice that I took the basket," Midnight continued his story. I raised my paws over my ears and stretched for the sky, feeling my sore muscles still depleted from the long walk the day before. "He was so upset over the wheel being broken but continued on his way with the broken wheel. I found Snowy in the alley, and the driver really beat him but we still ate great that night."

My gaze fell to Midnight, who continued telling his story to the other wolf pups but the youngest noticed that I was up and walked over to me. Midnight didn't even care that he lost one of his audience and continued to tell another story.

"Hi Snowy, I'm Toki!" she introduced herself. She was about Midnight's age, but I felt that she was not as matured as Midnight, an orphan who had a lot more worries. "You're all white! And your tail is really long!"

Without any warning, she maneuvered around me and reached for my tail. She grabbed the end of my tail and pulled on it.

It caught me by surprise so I jumped away, yanking my tail from her grip but she chased after it. Slightly annoyed I tried to keep my tail away from the wolf but she was persistent. Why was she trying to grab my tail anyway?

"Toki, leave him alone," I heard the pup's mother say. Her mother's words stopped the wolf from reaching for my tail as I pulled away, but her wolfish eyes didn't leave her mark. Maybe it was some sort of game she was playing, but I still didn't like having my tail pulled on.

With the wolf named Toki following me, I went and sat down next to Midnight. The black wolf could almost be related to these wolves, except that they were all of a lighter color. Midnight continued telling his other stories, seemingly for his own benefit but I did as I usually did and somewhat toned him out.

"Good morning," Alec greeted me when I joined the rest of them. "At least I think it's morning. Thanks to you and Midnight, we can all have a good breakfast." The adult wolf gestured and strips of the roast that were being cooked over the fire.

"Can I have some now?" I asked. In the back of my mind, I felt that I shouldn't have to ask. It was my roast after all, I stole it and carried it out of the city.

"It's almost done cooking," remarked Alec, denying me to my food.

The wolf Toki had sat down next to me, and I suddenly felt her paws land on the end of my tail as she caught it again. I had been unknowingly flicking the end of my tail and she must have found it taunting. I flicked my tail out form under her grip before curling it around myself again but she swatted at it.

It really must have been some sort of game to her but I was no less annoyed by it. I did find a small sense of accomplishment when I would cause for her to miss now and then though.

Glancing around the camp I noticed that others were waking up all around the town. Some were packing to leave but no one had yet left. I was certain that this town wasn't our destination so why was everyone wasting so much time here? Especially when the orange glow on the clouds behind us gave me a sinking feeling.

I continued to wag my tail and Toki continued to swat at it or try to pin it to the ash-covered ground. I even smiled a bit as I did my best to keep it from her paws. I tried to wait for Alec to distribute the food but it remained sizzling in the pan, taunting me. I rarely ate cooked meats, the last being the meal the Velox fox bought for us at that inn.

Even though I had hardly eaten or drank anything the day before, I felt the need to empty my bladder. I told Alec of my need and he told me to go to the tree line. Standing and walking away from the fire, I weaved around the other camps away from the road and the town toward the forest of year-round green trees. When I reached the trees, I could tell by the smell that many refugees had come out here for similar needs. Still I relieved myself on a tree and returned to the camp.

While walking back to the camp, I felt the ground under me rattle slightly. The feeling of another tremor coming invaded me and soon the ground shook softly, capturing the attention of the hundreds of refugees. I stopped and tried to keep my balance as I felt the shaking continue. Other refugees were trying to keep their stuff from falling off the carts, and a few younglings even cried out in fear. The tremor was small though and quickly subsided; even so it made my heart race.

Once the ground felt stable underneath my hindpaws again, I hurried back to the camp. Approaching I saw that the wolves were picking up a few things that had fell off the cart, but then they quickly returned to eating the cooked pieces of meat.

"Here Snowy," Lexandra said. "You weren't hurt by the tremor, were you?" In her paw she offered a cooked thin strip of the roast to me. The smell was overwhelming and fueling my hunger so I didn't hesitate to take it and immediately start devouring it. Gnawing on the deliciously cooked meat, I shook my head in answer to her question.

She smiled at me and offered for me to sit next to her. Alec sat on the other side of her, while the other wolf pups were beside me, talking about all sorts of random topics.

"The first time I felt a tremor was when I was asleep," Midnight was now telling another story. "It started to wake me up but then a bunch of snow fell on me from the gazebo roof above. When that much snow falls on you, you are instantly awake. It was a really cold awakening." Midnight certainly seemed more cheerful after all that had happened recently; and the fact that the sun was still missing. He seemed to be telling all the stories of what we did together; stories that I shared the experience with.

"Come on pups," Alec said after all the cooked meat had been devoured. "Let's pack things up. It's still another three days to Arkitline so we better get going."

"Okay, father," said one of the larger wolf pups. They all started to stand, including Midnight so I followed example but stayed back. Midnight stood next to me while the family of wolves went to their cart and started to mess around with things, including wrapping up the hide that Midnight and I slept under.

"Hey that's mine," shouted one of the wolf pups. He reached for a shirt that his mother had retrieved from one of the bags but she held it out of reach.

"You can share, Ace," she said in a chastising tone. She knelt down to her pup to look at him at eye level. "You have others. Besides you never liked this shirt."

"It's still mine," whined the pup but with a stern look from his mother he didn't object anymore.

Lexandra then walked over to me and held out the shirt in front of me. "You can wear this, Snowy. It'll be more comfortable than having all that ash fall on you."

I looked at the pup, Ace, to see him glaring at me. He was mad at me because his mother was giving me something of his. My ears bent back a bit because I hated the feeling of being hated. I felt it too often when just trying to survive but now I was feeling it because I was being offered something.

"Ace!" barked his mother again. The wolf pup looked away and started to pout, folding his arms across his chest and scampering off to the other side of the cart where I couldn't see him anymore. Lexandra smiled at me, ignoring her son's reaction. "Don't worry about him. I'm giving this to you, not him."

I hesitantly took the shirt from her paw, pulled it on over my head and fitting my arms through the sleeves. I felt guilty for taking the shirt but I didn't want to upset Lexandra more than I didn't want to upset her pup.

"Please, everyone stay put," a distant voice yelled. I glanced across the camps to see someone coming from the town. It looked like another guard. "The river has flooded over its banks and washed away the bridge. There is no way to cross."

"What?" remarked Alec. The voice of the other guard drew the attention of everyone nearby.

"There is no way to cross the river so everyone stay here," repeated the messenger, walking further away from the town and deeper into the camps. I noticed other guards walking out from the town, going slowly to each camp and briefly talking to some of the refugees. "All the snow melted in the eruption and flooded the river. It is too dangerous to cross and there is no way for carts to cross. Please stay where you are."

"How are we going to eat?" another refugee demanded. "There's no food left!"

"We are looking into all your concerns," responded the guard.

"That volcano really erupted at the wrong time," cursed Alec. He stomped away from the cart and looked at the orange glow on the dark clouds. Lexandra followed him and listened to his rant. "In the dead of winter when there is no food. All the snow and ice on that mountain melted and destroyed the harbor, and is now preventing us from reach Arktiline. That wildfire isn't going to wait for us to find another crossing either."

"We'll find a way," Lexandra commented optimistically. She grabbed Alec by the shoulder, turned him toward her and hugged him. Alec relaxed and returned the hug.

I felt a sudden grip on my tail again and turned to see that with them no longer worrying about packing, Toki had resumed her quest. I pulled my tail from her grip and stepped away but she darted for my tail again. I jumped back, pulling my tail away from her grip by just a few centimeters. I smiled, feeling accomplished in defeating her but she did not give up.

If the adults said we couldn't go anywhere yet then I would wait until they found a way to get across the river they mentioned. Not to mention that I was somewhat relieved that I did not have to walk anymore right now. Although I felt rejuvenated from yesterday, I could still feel the effects of the long day of walking.

For now, I waved my tail away from Toki again and allowed her to continue chasing it. She jumped at me but I sidestepped and dodged her, making sure that my tail wasn't left her path. Falling to the ground did not deter her though because Toki picked herself up again and tried to run around me.

We stayed clear of the fire and the other campers, having limited space to play in but within a few minutes that space was invaded by one of the guards. Breathing a little heavy, I stopped and looked up at the snow leopard who glared down at me and Toki.

"Did you find a way to cross the river?" Alec asked, also taking note of the invading guard.

"No," he answered. The guard walked passed Toki and me, and approached Alec. "You're of the city guard, correct?"

"Alec Ulokwe, at your service," Alec answered. "What can I do for you?"

"Lord Naali is assembling hunting teams to go find some food," replied the guard. "He's recruiting his guard and request that every available body meet him for assignment at the inn. Report there as soon as possible."

"Yes sir," said Alec. The snow leopard walked off to recruit more, leaving Alec with us and he looked disappointed. He looked at his family individually before looking at Midnight and finally me. "Midnight, Snowy, come with me. You two can help me hunt."

He wants Midnight and me to go hunting with him? We have never killed anything before. Not even been out in the forest before. How much help can we be?

"Father!" objected the eldest wolf pup. "They don't know how to hunt. Why are you leaving me behind and taking them?"

"Ena," Alec said to his son. "These two are orphans and need to learn how to hunt. They won't be able to survive out here because all they're used to is living on scraps. You and Ace can go hunting with me some other time."

"We're your sons!" Ena, the wolf, yelled. "They're just orphans."

"Your mother needs your help, Ena," said Alec quietly. My ears could barely pick up his words now. "You need to trade anything you can for food to feed your brother and sister. There won't be enough for the orphans either so I can't leave them here."

Alec wanted us to go with him so that we wouldn't eat the food his family could trade for. I felt my heart sink a little. The wolf may have given us a place to sleep last night but he took our food, and now was preventing us from sharing other meals. All his kindness Midnight and me was absent if it ever came to his family. I knew I shouldn't have expected much but I still felt disappointed.

"Okay, father," said Ena. The wolf pup's ears were back showing that he was still disappointed in not being chosen but from his easy agreement, I knew that he understood why we were being removed from the comforts of the camp.

"Follow me you two," Alec directed at Midnight and me. He walked off toward the town, with us following. "If you two learn how to hunt then you can find your own food more often. You won't be as hungry all the time, and I won't find you stealing any more food." Alec smiled back at me at the last statement. I felt the shame of being reminded of being caught by the wolf. I tried to ignore the statement which was easy because of the little hope that maybe us going hunting was actually a good thing. Maybe Alec was right, and that Midnight and I can learn how to hunt. No one would get mad at us for trying to hunt, like they do when we try to steal.

Reaching the edge of town, I realized that it was busy with guards and others who were wearing some sort of weapon on their belt. They were all adults, some running into buildings and others running out to the forest in all different directions. Maybe they were really trying to find a way across the river quickly and we wouldn't be stuck under this darkness forever. That is unless this dark cloud covered the whole world now.

"Snowy, they all have weapons like us," Midnight muttered back to me also noticing the busy activity.

Instinctively my paw reached down at the dagger hanging off my hip. He was right, we were not much different from the adults. Before I felt like we didn't deserve to be in the town because it was where the important adults were, but maybe there was a small possibility that we actually did belong in the town. I raised my head a bit higher, walking with a bit more pride now.

"Do you think we'll be good at hunting?" I asked Midnight after we walked pass the first building.

"I don't know, I never tried it," answered the black wolf. "If we're good at it though then we can even sell food and leathers!"

"The animals are dangerous," commented Alec who was listening to us. "If you try to hunt too many of them, they'll turn around and hunt you. Nature must remain balanced and if you upset that balance, it will try to remove you from nature."

"What about the eruption then?" I asked, using the word that I heard the adults refer to the exploding mountain. "Is that nature balancing?"

"It might be in a way but it also threw off the balance locally," answered Alec. His gaze remained forward as he marched us toward the largest building in the town. "The world will recover from it though. The world will always repair itself when something like this happens. It has all happened before. Here we are."

Alec marched through the doors of the largest building, and we were quick to follow him and stay on his tail. Although we were reluctant to enter the building, we feared losing Alec and getting lost more.

Inside were dozens of guards around the lobby of an inn. The tables were pushed to the side, or cleared out and replaced by one large table at the center. Armed guards surrounded it, and others who looked even more heavily armed except for one white furred fox at the end of the table. He was shorter than the other adults, but wore a small and thin metallic band on his head.

"The fire is spreading at an alarming rate," one of the guards told that arctic fox. "My scouts say that it'll be at this town within two days. We have to find a way to cross the river before then."

"Any news on your scouts, Prowler[1]?" the arctic fox asked staring down at a map on the table.

"They've found several trees that have fallen over the river suitable for pedestrians but every bridge has been washed away," answered a heavily armed lynx. "There is no way for all the carts to get over the river. I have a team trying to build a bridge but the river is just too high."

"Order them to do whatever is necessary," the arctic fox said. "Recuit as many from the refugees as you need. If we're not moving across that river before the next day then we'll have a full-blown panic on our paws. I don't need to tell you what happens when those flames come down from the mountains."

"Yes, my lord," answered the soldier. He turned tail and walked around the table, heading for the exit.

Alec led us to a corner, where other guards were gathering but I still could hear the conversations at the table.

"My lord, we still need more paws back at Simiq," yet another one spoke up. "The ships from Kientan have not yet arrived and there are still civilians trapped in the rubble. Over a hundred are already confirmed dead by the flood, and the secondary explosion that rained large rocks down on us."

"I can spare twenty more of my guard to go back to the city with you," said the arctic fox. "If anyone refuses to evacuate, then force them out if necessary. I gave the evacuation order and I will have it obeyed. How far over the sea has the ash gone?"

"Beyond the horizon my lord," answered the same bear. "The hyourgrpyhs[2] can't fly in it so we can't send out our riders."

"If there are any ships left, send three out to find the fleet the Leakhos has agreed to lend us," the arctic fox ordered. The arctic fox looked up and toward us, and the group of guards that had gathered in a corner. "All guards here for hunting, please come closer."

Midnight and I stayed close to Alec as we approached the table. It was too tall for me to see over, and Midnight's ears barely poked over the table.

"Six of you will be heading south to track a migrating herd herd of cervines," said the arctic fox. "You know that every spring they come back up with far too many numbers because the Enes faction has killed the predators in the south. Their overgrazing next spring will be a significant problem because we're suffering too much loss from this eruption. I am trying to solve that and our food shortage at the same time, so go track the herd and trying to bring back a few. Any volunteers?"

Many of the guards raised a paw, and a team of half of the guards assembled was chosen. The arctic fox ordered them to report to one of his officers, leaving only half a dozen of us left; Midnight and myself included.

"Orphans?" questioned the arctic fox. He glanced around the table's edge to get a better look at us. "What are they doing here?"

"My lord Naali," Alec said. "I thought they'd be a great asset for hunting. They're remarkably light on their hindpaws."

"An arctic fox and a black wolf," commented the lord. "I thought I heard a report on something about them attacking a foreigner."

"Yes my lord, these are them," Alec said. My eyes went wide and I stared up at Alec with surprise. What was he doing? Was he going to have us arrested?

"We can't worry about that now," I heard the arctic fox lord say, much to my relief. "Especially since the report of black wolf orphans appearing dead around my city. At least one could protect himself from whoever was murdering orphans."

"Yes, and if these two learn how to hunt then they won't be an issue with the caravan," Alec continued to argue for us to join the hunt.

"We don't have the resources to start training the orphans how to fend for themselves," remarked Lord Naali. "But very well. You will take responsibility for these two. Take them to hunt the small game populations across the river. Two more guards should go with you to ensure no one gets hurt. Be back before tomorrow night with your catch. Volunteers?" A couple other guards raised their paws and were assigned to our team. "Report to Prowler Alvar at the blacksmiths. He'll arm and direct you to a way to cross the river."

"Yes my lord," Alec said. He knelt down to us and spoke to us. "Come on, stay close to me."

"The rest of you head toward the wildfire and try to catch some large game fleeing from the fires," Lord Haali continued speaking to the others around the lobby. "There will probably be some injured that won't make it very far. Try to avoid the healthy ones; they'll be scared and desperate, and dangerous."

Following Alec, we soon exited the building leaving the others to receive their orders, or to report in.

"Who was that?" Midnight asked Alec.

"That was Lord Haali," replied the wolf. "Lord of Sirmiq Harbor. He lived in the keep that was on the cliffs. I'm sure you two have seen the keep in the city before."

"Yes, we have," stated Midnight. He glanced back pass me and toward the inn.

I was surprised that the arctic fox in that inn was the Lord who lived in that keep. Before I had assumed that some other species, a stronger and larger one had lived in that keep but someone just like me was living in it. And never would I have imagined meeting the person who could afford to live in that massive building I saw on the cliffs.

Staying close to the two wolves and other two guards, we wandered through the town toward another building. We met with another snow leopard at the blacksmiths of the small town, who gave a ranged weapon and a bag of equipment over to each of the guards.

"There is a crossing that my scouts are working on about three kilometers hereby downriver of the bridge," the snow leopard, who I assumed was Prowler Alvar, told us. He had a map and was showing it to the guards but Midnight and I were too short to see. "Here it is. Just tell them your on a hunting party for Lord Naali and they'll escort you across the river safely. Hopefully by the time you all come back, the crossing will be complete and the caravan will be moving again."

"Thank you Prowler," Alec said. He rolled up the map and slid it in to his cloak. He led us and the other two guards toward the opposite edge of the town that we had entered it in. "I'm Alec by the way. This is Snowy and Midnight."

"Eamon," the lynx guard introduced himself.

"My name is Faramond," said the caribou guard. "Think we should split up to cover more ground once we cross the river?"

"That might be a good idea," Eamon agreed. "We are only hunting small game so the more ground we cover the better."

"Very well," Alec also agreed. "I'll take the orphans south with me."

"I'll continue west."

"That means I got the north."

Soon we were out of the town and again among camps on the other side of the town. They weren't as wide spread as they were on the road leading into the town so it took us only a few minutes to pass them and enter an unoccupied road. Glancing back to take a look at the town again, I saw someone following us that made my fur stand on end. Further back behind us, following us with that limp was the familiar reptilian.

"Midnight," I exclaimed. The wolf's orange eyes glanced at me and I quickly pointed back behind us.

"Alec, that's the one that tried to drown me," Midnight told the adult. His fur was raised, standing on end. The reptilian noticed that I had spotted him but he continued moving toward us.

The three guards looked back at the reptilian, the other two ignoring the claim but Alec gazed a little longer.

"That does look like the one who claimed he was attacked," remarked Alec. "He has the same limp." He shoved us forward, and kept walking in the same direction. "Eamon, Faramond, we might have a thief following us. Be careful that he doesn't try to sabotage or steal from any traps that you'll set up on the other side of the river."

"He tried to kill me!" yelled Midnight. How could Alec say that the reptilian following us was nothing but a thief when he was trying to kill us? Midnight was furious that he downplayed his claim.

The other guards laughed and dismissed Midnight's accusation. "That foreigner is just trying to steal a meal. Why would he try to kill an orphan? Don't worry puppy, we won't let him steal anything from us."

I glared at the other guards who were taking this as some sort of joke. A growl lightly rumbled in my throat because I was angry with them but I was also afraid that they won't offer any protection to us.

"Prowlers Alvar's soldiers won't let him cross the river," Alec said. His tone suggested that he was trying to reassure us but I did not feel any safer. "Stay close to me and he won't come near you two."

I again glanced back, and the reptilian was still following us at a slow pace. I wanted to walk faster and hopefully lose him but the adults were content at taking it slow. I didn't know where I was going so I had no choice but to follow at their pace.

Midnight glanced back a few times as well, obviously not comfortable with us being followed by someone who tried to kill us twice now, and would have tried again if he caught us back on the road.

We had no choice but to trust that the reptilian would not attack while we were with the guards so we chose to stay with them. Walking down the road, the town and camps were lost through the trees that collected behind us. After two kilometers of walking, a dull roar was heard that almost sounded familiar but far more aggressive. I didn't recognize the sound until one of the guards commented on it.

"The river really must be full if we can hear it from here," Eamon, the lynx, stated. "Prowler Alvar said the crossing would be three kilometers downstream."

The roar of the aggressive river grew stronger and stronger, until we came across it. The river had no banks, coming right up to us and had submerged the foundations of the bridge that had once crossed it. The bridge itself shattered and missing. I could see the stone pillars occasionally through the roaring waters but the water was so dark and polluted that once it covered the pillars, they disappeared from sight. The force of the water was so great that trees had fallen and laid broken or uprooted half in the water. The water moved fast, and threatened to carry anyone that fell in off to who knows where.

"Stay away from the river," Alec told Midnight and me. Midnight looked at it with awe just as much as I did but we did not need to be told twice that it was dangerous. The water did not even look like it could be drunk because it was so polluted. Even in the darkness of the black sky, we could see that there was ash and mud tainting the water.

The guards went off the road, going straight into the forest. We followed them. I was surprised that the trees were taller than the buildings back in the city. The ground was also softer than the roads, but was littered with plants and needles that had fallen off the trees. They were all dead now, wilted from the cold winter but also covered in ash that probably would kill anything that was surviving.

A small hope of losing the reptilian lit up inside me when I turned back and I couldn't even see the road anymore. The trees were already thick enough a dozen meters in to cover the road. Maybe he won't find us.

Weaving around the trees, and following the river downstream we tried to reach our destination but the off-road travelling was exhausting. I could hear nothing but the roar of the river filling my ears, as it aggressively slammed into trees, dug up smaller planets and crashed them into rocks. Every now and then a large tree would float by. One of the trunks nearly washed up to me, to knock me down and crush me but I instinctively jumped back and avoided it.

"There they are," the caribou finally stated. I looked around the three adults I was following to see several other adults crawling over some tree trunks that lay across the river. It was only possible because the river fell slightly downhill there, so that only the splashing water hit the logs. The other logs that were pulled by the river threaten to crash into their makeshift bridge but so far they all missed and went underneath.

"The bridge isn't ready yet," one of the soldiers shouted once they had spotted us.

"We're here on Lord Naali's orders," Eamon declared. "Hunting party for the caravan. We were told you'd allow us to pass."

"Right," the other soldier said. "Hurry up then." As I drew closer, I saw that there a few logs together crossing the river. Some were uprooted and others were broken at the stump but they all looked like casualties of the flood. Standing on the logs over the river were some soldiers with axes, trying to make it flat enough for carts to drive over easily. "Be careful, it's not entirely stable yet. And watch out for logs that might ram into it from upriver."

Eamon and Faramond climbed onto the logs and started to cross. Alec picked Midnight up by the waist and placed him on the logs. "Go slow, watch your step and don't look at the river," the wolf warned Midnight. He turned to me, grabbed me by the waist and hoisted me into the air and set me down on the logs.

I looked across the river where the logs landed on the other side and then down at my hindpaws. The path was four thick tree trunks across but water continued to splash up on the wood making it wet and slippery. Midnight took slow steps forward, following the other guards so I followed his example. What if a tree trunk hit the bridge and I lost my balance? What if I slip and fall in the river? My throat felt dry, and I focused on moving ahead. One paw step at a time.

"There's some one following us," I heard Alec tell the soldiers but I tried to focus on my hindpaw placement. "Don't let him cross. I think he intends to steal our catches."

"Roger that sir."

A few steps in, I could feel the river roaring beneath me. Glancing to the side, I could see its angry waters were not content with devouring the plants on the riverbanks. The water wanted to devour everything in its path, including me. Another step forward, I could feel the wet bark offering less traction. Another step and the logs rattled a bit as the river splashed against them again.

Midnight had gone ahead of me, but I was too frightened to try to catch up. I took another slow step, wishing I were on the other side already. I would even accept going back but I knew Alec was behind me, waiting for me to hurry. I took another step, and risked glancing up toward the other side of the bank to see that I had nearly made it there. I urgently wanted to get across so I hastily took another few steps, and bounded onto the other shore. I jumped off the logs and landed next to Midnight.

"That was actually fun," Midnight claimed. "A little scary at first but its not that hard." I glared at him, breathing heavily because I was relieved I was no longer on those logs but he didn't notice me as he was gazing back at the river.

Alec landed next to me, and the five of us had reached the other side of the river. We walked away from the river a bit until the other two guards stopped.

"I'll be heading north now," Faramond stated. He spoke loudly so that we could hear him over the river's rage. "We should meet back here tomorrow morning."

"There's no way to tell the time under this," remarked Alec. "Unless the ash clears by tomorrow then I think we should head back to town as soon as we're done."

"Sounds good to me," replied the lynx. "Good hunting." The lynx marched off straight into the trees in the same direction the road lead.

"Solitary species," I heard the caribou remark under his breath. "I'll see you back in town then, Alec."

"You too Faramond," Alec replied. "Good luck." The caribou turned downstream and walked off until he disappeared in the trees, leaving us with Alec. The wolf turned toward the direction upstream, and waved for us to continue moving. "Let's get going. There is a lot of different ways to catch small game and the best way is to use traps that disable them and remove them out of the way of other predators. This bag has all the supplies we will need and I'll show you two how to make a trap. You have to remember where you put them though."

I took a glance back at the bridge before it disappeared from view. I could see that the reptilian had managed to find his way to the bridge, but I could tell by their actions that the guards were refusing him passage.

"Thank goodness they stopped him," said Midnight, also taking notice. "Now we don't have to worry about that. I just hope that he won't find us when we get back."

"You two are under my protection so don't let that reptilian worry you," said Alec, also glancing back. "Let's focus on catching enough prey for the caravan. Come now, you're safe."

---

[1] Prowler - Military Rank equivalent of Lieutenant.

[2] Hyourgrpyhs are a fictional flying creature that I am still developing. They are flying creatures, large enough for a rider but are incredibly difficult to tame and even more difficult to ride. Name is subject to change.