FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter Thirteen - Kindest Wicked Acts Are Cruel

Surrounding me was the forest again, with no one else there but I knew the refugees were out there somewhere, trying to find refuge from the ash. Its thick blanket covered the sky, ensuring that no light pierces through its veil. I stared up at the ash and could see black smoke suddenly fall like wisps of mist all around me. The smoke wisps fell scattered with most landing behind the trees, except for one that pooled on the ground not a meter from where I stood. Out of the black mist formed the dead animal that I had so savagely killed when I was starving not long ago. Its body was mutilated by my desperation to get at the meat.

The image was unsettling. I felt pity for the animal, but I felt strangely at peace for killing the animal. After all if I didn't kill it, I would have certainly died from starvation.

A shadowy paw reached for the body of the animal and snatched it away from my view, reminding me that the other orphan had stolen a majority of the meat.

Replacing the stolen carcass of the animal was another several dozen wisps, littering the ground with dead animals. Some of which I recognized as the simple animal species that were caught in our snares. The other animals I didn't recognize, I have never have seen their species before but they were all brutally killed. They must have been the wild animals that have been slaughtered by the other hunting parties to help feed the refugees.

I was responsible for nearly a dozen of those kills, but what else could I do? I would have starved without that meat, and I must try to survive. The animals tried to survive too, but they died so that I can survive. They fell into the trap of a snare and had no chance to survive after that. That was unfair to the animal though, they didn't even have a chance because they were killed by a snare and blade. Not by the teeth and claws of any of the refugees.

Every animal that lay near me was killed through some other means than teeth and claws that nature has given all of us. We killed them in a dishonorable way; they died without a chance to fight back and prove to be the stronger creature. Every hunter, every refugee is responsible this slaughter. There are just too many of us.

Another shadowy wisp fell near me but this one did not uncover a dead animal, but instead the shadow started to take shape. The body had smoke rolling off of it while it took form into some quadruped animal. It had a short tail and triangular erect ears. Even though it was completely covered by shadow and reflected no light, it almost looked like Midnight, in a more animalistic form.

Its eyes glowed like large stars and they stared right at me. We were eye level as the creature was as tall as me, even though it stood on four legs. My white fur contrasted the shadowy fur that flickered on the strange creature's body. I held my breath, not because I was scared but because I was waiting to see what the creature would do.

Staring at those stars for eyes, I sensed that the creature was encouraging my realization that the animals were killed dishonorably. There are too many to feed, and if the world starts to become too heavily populated then we will all suffer for it.

A flame sparked and illuminated through the trees, bright and destructive. It drew the gaze of the shadowy creature that retreated a few steps from the light and myself. The ash-covered sky reacted to the light by raining more shadow wisps. The wisps even fell on my shoulders and slid off; the entire sky was threatening to fall and crush me. Each wisp that fell due to the firelight left behind another body of creatures that looked strong and powerful. They must have been at the top of the food chain but they fell to arrows, traps and poisons like all the rest.

My eyes grew wide as I saw these powerful animals having been slaughtered and their bodies mutilated. I felt fear rise up in my chest: a fear for what could be responsible for so many deaths, fear for what the animals had to suffer through, and fear for what such reckless slaughter will do to this world.

The destructive light that upset the sky grew brighter. With the shadow wisps still raining around me, I focused on that light. A figure was forming from it until it took a chilling shape, a reptilian that looked and was dressed similar the assassin. The scar on my back stung at the sight of the figure.

I don't know how I knew but I knew the reptilian was responsible for many of these deaths. Maybe it was the prideful way he looked around at the animals, many of which are not even suitable for eating even if the reptilian was starving. With that prideful expression, the reptilian picked up a nearby dead animal that was large and certainly a powerful creature. With a blade the reptilian mutilated the body by cutting off its ears, tail and paws before dropping the mutilated corpse back on the ground and leaving it there. The reptilian was taking trophies and leaving the animal to rot.

The shadow beast next to me growled at the reptilian but did not approach the light. Its growl silent but I could hear its frustrations. I felt it too, the life of the animal was nothing more than a trophy to this reptilian. That animal was only trying to survive but it was killed only to become a trophy? It survived for all of its years that so many others died through, only to be pierced by an arrow and its body mutilated. Such an injustice could not be forgiven.

The reptilian turned to look directly at me, and it smiled. Its eyes fogged over, one starting to drip with blood while an arrow grew out of the socket. Two more matching wounds formed in the torso until the reptilian took the shape of the assassin that haunts me. The light grew brighter but it only made it more difficult to see as the sky continued to fall. I could see another figure with similar features of the dead assassin walk out of the light. Then more reptilians started to appear but I could not see them as the wisps' rain grew too thick. The mist started to pool on the ground, covering the dead animals and everything faded behind a new black veil.

My eyelids felt heavy, as I tried to open them. My eyes fluttered a few times until I found enough strength to keep them open. I stared at the ceiling of the hut that was dark but slightly illuminated by the brightening sky outside. I pushed myself up, fighting the fatigue of sleep, and swung my hindpaws over the edge of the cot. My tail lightly flicked back and forth, feeling heavier than usual. The silver ring was now wrapped around my tail instead of on my arm, because my arms were too thin to wear the ring comfortably.

Even though the sun was rising, it wasn't particularly late in the morning. The sun had started to rise earlier and earlier in the mornings a few weeks ago. My white fur had started to shed and I could nearly see my grey undercoat through it now. Winter had broken. It was the worst winter I had ever suffered through but I survived.

The other wolves were sleeping nearby, except for Alec who was probably out patrolling. I placed my head in my paws and rubbed my eyes with the thoughts of the dream fresh in my mind. The images were so vivid and now they were difficult to ignore. Not only was the vivid dream bothering but also the fact that I've had such similar dreams ever since Alec found me starved and sick in the snow. That seemed like it was so long ago. Both moons have been full twice since then.

Many of the refugees had been recruited to go back to Sirmiq to rebuild but many were left behind as well. Several died due to the pandemic that ravaged the city, but now with most of the refugees working to improve the conditions, the illness had broke and food was available more regularly.

Guards that were still behind had to help provide the extra security needed, while the rest of us were put to work doing a large variety of chores. We were expected to support ourselves and help aid the reconstruction of Sirmiq in any way we can. Arktiline also expected us to help around their city for the inconvenience of so many refugees. Our presence did cause an illness to break out over the city after all so it was the least we could do to help remedy that.

Being reminded of the chores, I glanced to a corner of the hut where several crates and supplies were gathered. Lexandra was recruited to help pack crates of supplies to send back to Sirmiq for those who returned there. It was mostly clothes, blankets and tools. I did not mind the work because with food regularly available now, I didn't know what to do with my day. The two male pups were more reluctant to work, and often passed their work over to me. Lexandra had scolded them for doing that but they still do it when she's out of the hut. Toki at least tries to help pack things when I'm around but she doesn't exactly grasp the concept of being space efficient when packing.

Before I considered continuing our work, my dry throat distracted me. I saw that the basket we used to keep water was empty. I hopped off my cot, grabbed the basket and walked out into the cold weather.

Winter is ending, but it was still cold outside. Snow was still piled up high around our hut and I partially sank in it when I walked over it. It was about three kilometers to the river but it was a peaceful morning. The sun lit up the sky rapidly until it broke over the horizon signaling that a new day has started.

The river had frozen over again after the eruption but now the ice was melting and breaking up because the temperature could no longer keep the rapid waters frozen still. With a full basket of water, and after having stated my thirst, I returned back to the camps and the hut. When I walked through the flap of the hut, I saw Lexandra was up and stoking the fire. Her three pups were still sleeping on their large cot.

"Thank you Snowy," she said, expecting that I was fetching the water again. I set the basket down next to her and walked over the supplies we were to pack. We both tried to remain quiet so we wouldn't wake up the wolf pups. "We have to finish this shipment today because fresh supplies will be coming in from the south tomorrow."

"Okay," I said. I grabbed an empty crate, which was almost as big as my whole body, and set it down. I was less considerate to the sleeping pups but I've had Lexandra tell me plenty of times to at least try to stay quiet. I didn't understand how they could sleep for so long but I obliged. Eager to get started, I started to firmly pack several rolls of cloth and leathers.

Ena, Ace and Toki eventually woke up when the smell of their morning breakfast cooking reached their noses. I had nearly finished packing a crate when Lexandra stopped me so that we could all eat before we continued to work.

Alec returned before the morning was over. He greeted us kindly enough but he was exhausted so went straight to sleep. We moved outside to work when it was a little warmer in the sunlight, to allow Alec to get a peaceful rest. I didn't mind working outside because I find the fresh air relieving compared to the smoky air inside the hut. I could also tolerate the cold a lot more than the pups who were quick to complain.

Regardless of the pups' reluctance, we worked for the entire day just as we have done for almost the entire time since I recovered from nearly starving to death. When the sun was threatening to fall below the horizon, we finished the last of the current shipment and had them packed on the wolves' cart. Lexandra wheeled it off so that the crates of supplies could be delivered, while us pups were left at the hut. Alec woke before Lexandra could return so he started to make us some soup for dinner, and so that he could eat before he goes off for his nightly patrol.

"When are we going back home?" Toki asked when Lexandra returned. Alec was putting on his uniform and weapons so he'd be leaving soon.

"Soon Toki," answered Lexandra. She was tired from dragging the cart around, and obviously ready to get another night's rest.

"I don't like it here," Toki continued to complain. Even her playful attitude towards me had diminished somewhat over the past week. She obviously wanted to have the luxuries that she had back in Sirmiq. "I want to go home."

"We will," Alec said. He knelt down in an attempt to comfort his daughter. "You just have to be a little more patient, and help your mother and we'll be home soon enough. I promise."

"You said that a long time ago," Toki replied, starting to throw a fit.

"You did say it two weeks ago," Ace started with an accusing tone.

Their arguments were nothing new and I hated to be around when they started. I hopped off my cot and walked out of the hut to get away from the pups' complaining. Last time I stayed, I was somehow brought into the argument and blamed for the predicament that we were all in. Do they really think anyone here wants to be here? A lot of refugees had gone back to rebuild Sirmiq so I didn't understand why the pups couldn't wait patiently. They even have a solid roof over their heads, which is more than what I could say for myself even when we were in Sirmiq.

The stars were starting to come out, but both moons were absent from the sky tonight. Even with my pupils wide, I still had difficulties seeing in the dark. I took a few steps away from the hut so I wouldn't hear the voices of the whining pups but I didn't wander far. I stood next to the road that led into Arktiline. The hut wasn't far from the road, like most of the huts that were quickly built for the guards of Sirmiq. They were crucial help during the first week of the refugees' arrival so Arktiline and Sirmiq refugees worked quickly to build them some shelter. Being next to the road also allowed the guards to help keep it clear for deliveries.

Standing next to the road, I stared up at the stars that were slowly becoming brighter as the sky grew duller. With the absence of the moons and with clear skies, the stars seemed much brighter than I have seen them before. Among the stars I saw that there was a purple like haze among them in a cluster of stars. It was a bright nebula that I have never seen before. Those stars reflected in my eyes and sparkled. I noticed several of them blink briefly across the sky, moving in a linear pattern. The pattern had a rough shape and looked almost as if some thing as dark as the night was flying above me.

The stars stopped blinking though and whatever was causing them to do so disappeared behind the trees. At the same time another light drew my attention back down to the ground and further down the road. It looked like another shipment coming, the one Lexandra warned me about earlier in the morning.

I gazed at the torchlights for a moment, trying to see how much stuff was being delivered; or if Lord Naali was back to possibly send us all back to Sirmiq. A minute passed before I could see the torchlight reflect off of their carriers. A chill ran up my spine when I saw that they wore outfits similar to that I saw in my dream, and their scales reflected the fact that they were reptilians. My fur bristled at the sight of them; there were five of them, and three of them holding a torch. Behind them were the expected supplies but the reptilians were an unwelcome sight.

It was still too cold for the southern merchants to come up here, and only one reptilian had stayed in the northern cities during the winter. That reptilian had left his mark on my back when he tried to kill Midnight and me. What were these five doing in the north during the late winter months?

"That doesn't look good," Alec said, having suddenly appeared behind me. I turned to look up at him and he was eyeing the reptilians as well. "Go back to Lexandra and get some sleep Snowy."

"What about them?" I asked gesturing at the incoming caravan. The assassin failed to kill Midnight and me so he tried again. He failed again when he was killed by Alec, but whatever reason he targeted us was still valid because we still lived. Maybe one of these newcomers were here to finish the job. Midnight wasn't here anymore though, only me.

"Don't worry about it," Alec reassured me. He smiled down at me. "They won't try anything. If they do, they'll find that even during this crisis, we're capable of defending our own. Now go get some rest and don't worry about a thing."

I stared up at Alec for a moment before glancing nervously back at the approaching reptilians. Maybe they wouldn't be an issue, and were just here to try to make a profit. The reptilian merchants have been known to be quite zealous when it comes to money. With the crisis and the current way things around going now, Lord Naali must be spending a lot of money to rebuild Sirmiq. A ripe opportunity.

Hesitantly I turned my back to the newcomers and went back to the hut. I glanced at the sky and saw that the stars seemed to have dimmed a bit. Maybe it was that my eyes adjusted slightly to the torchlight but I could no longer see the nebula.

The doubt that these reptilians may be here for another reason caused me to feel worry weigh down on me. When I returned to the tent, the remaining wolves seemed to have settled down and were lying on their cot. I climbed on to my cot and curled up, laying my tail across my body. I lazily looked at the fire before closing my eyes.

My dreams weren't vivid like the night before, instead they seemed to be mixed with a consuming light and a faltering shadow. The light burned everything in its path. It was completely destructive and the more it fed on, the brighter it grew. After an enternity of shadowing and illuminated firgures pushed against each, the light exploded intenesely bright and threatened to consume me too.

Shaken awake, I was startled and bolted up in my cot.

"Relax," I heard Alec say. I looked over at the adult wolf and realized, to my surprise, that it was morning. "Lord Naali is back and he wants to see both of us."

My heart was still racing and my breath was erratic so I took a moment to recuperate before asking, "He wants to see me?"

"Yes," Alec said, standing up and taking a step back. "It's about the assassin that attacked you." I tensed up at Alec's words. I had hoped to never think about the assassin again. Those reptilians that I saw the night before must have something to do with it being brought up now. Alec noticed that I was tense. "Stay relaxed. It'll be fine, but we need to go into town now."

"Why?" I asked. I rubbed my eyes and tried to wake up more. Even though my dreams were foggy, they were again leaving me with an uneasy feeling.

"They want to talk about the attack," Alec answered. He kept his voice down since Lexandra and his pups were still sleeping nearby. "Don't worry too much about it. All you have to do is tell them what you saw and be truthful. You don't have to say anything unless Lord Naali addresses you directly. Otherwise, let me do all the talking and I'll handle everything else."

I felt my stomach churn at the thought of talking about the attack. I tried to keep myself from feeling nauseous by not moving too quickly while I stood up off my cot.

"Ready to go?" Alec asked. I nodded and followed the wolf when he turned and exited the hut. The sky had a few clouds in it reflecting the light from the sun that was creeping its way to break over the horizon.

We walked on the road toward the city, and when we reached the gate the Arktiline guards stepped aside as if they were expecting us. Inside the city walls again, I saw that it was a lot more cluttered with supplies on the side of the roads than last time. We didn't walk far into the city before we entered an inn near the main gate. The inn was carved into a large and still living tree, making it an impressive building.

My steps faltered when I walked inside and saw the band of reptilians. They were standing at the end of a large table in the center of the lobby. On the other end were the arctic fox lord, his advisors and some of his guards. No one looked particularly pleased to be there at that moment.

"You brought the witness Alec?" asked Lord Naali, when he noticed both of us entering the inn. It appeared that his arctic coat was thinning like mine.

"He's right here," the wolf answered, gesturing at me with an open paw. We approached the table, and I could barely see over it. From the clothes, I suspected it was the innkeeper that brought a stepping stool over to me so that I could stand on it and see over the table.

"Have him tell us about the attack then," Lord Naali said, looking frustrated for some reason. The reptilians looked as if they were waiting for something to happen and most of their eyes were on me.

"Snowy, tell them about when the reptilian attacked you and Midnight in the woods, when I was there," Alec whispered to me.

"Tell all of them?" I asked. I was uncertain about retelling that story with the reptilians present. Alec nodded. I looked from the reptilians to Lord Naali and his advisors before staring down at the table. "Well, I..."

"Don't be nervous pup," Lord Naali said to me in a pleasant voice. I looked up at him to see that he was hiding his frustrations to make me feel more comfortable. "You're not in trouble. We just want to know what really happened."

I nodded and swallowed dryly. I tried to remember everything that happened that night with the reptilian while I stared at the smiling older arctic fox.

"We... We were hunting," I slowly started to say. "We set up snares to capture animals to bring back and help feed everyone. We set up camp at the end of the day when..." My eyes shifted from Lord Naali to the reptilians and back.

"Don't worry about them, just talk to me," said the arctic fox. I nodded at him.

"Alec went to hunt another animal so that we could eat before sleeping that night," I continued. I stared at the arctic fox so I wouldn't get nervous while I tried to recall the events of that night. "Midnight and I went to set up more snares and when we went back to camp we lied down for a bit. That's when I heard something moving in the woods and when I looked it was that assassin. He attacked Midnight and me, and we were both cut. He would have killed us if Alec didn't come back."

"What did Alec do?" asked Lord Naali.

"He shot him with an arrow," I answered, remembering the dead figure that haunted my dreams. Each time I can see the three arrows in the reptilian sticking out of his mortal wounds.

"Do you know why you were attacked?" the arctic fox asked.

"He was trying to kill us for some reason," I answered. "He attacked us in Sirmiq too."

"We don't know about that," Alec intervened. "If someone was targeting an orphan in our city then that'd be an assassination attempt."

Alec had called the reptilian an assassin many times; I thought he believed Midnight and me about the other attacks, so why was he saying that it's not true now?

"That's absurd," said one of the reptilians. "My brother would not worry himself with an orphan. Kane was a merchant in Sirmiq because he fell ill and could not leave before the snows settled in. I don't know about you furred ones but we don't recklessly attack each other during a crisis."

"Then how did I get this?" Alec asked with his voice flustered. He pulled down the collar of his guard outfit to reveal the cut on his neck. It was difficult to see through his thick fur coat.

"Don't concern us with that small cut, you can hardly even see it," replied the first reptilian.

"Hardly see it?" repeated Alec his voice dripping with anger. "Do you know what it takes to cut through all my fur and my skin! A centimeter closer and it would have killed me. And how'd this orphan get this cut?"

Alec suddenly picked me up and placed me sitting on the table. He lifted up my shirt on my back and pushed aside my fur to reveal the scar there.

"Don't blame my brother for when you trip and cut yourself on a branch," shot back the reptilian.

"You think we would forget how we sustain injuries like these?" Alec yelled.

"That's enough," Lord Naali screamed at both of them. I shyly hopped off the table and straightened my shirt out. Alec and the reptilian glared at each other but managed to reign in their outbursts. "Occisur Zemisks, we were dealing with a crisis at the worst time of the year. My city was destroyed, food was low and several refugees were on the verge of starvation. Could it be possible that Kane Zemisks saw an opportunity for food and got out of control?"

"No," said the reptilian harshly. "The infidel pup mentioned someone else. Where is this witness?"

"He is not here," said Lord Naali. "That pup is out of our reach right now."

"He was the target, wasn't he?" Alec spat.

"That's enough Alec," said Lord Naali. He was trying to defuse the tension but I could feel how angry Alec was for being called a liar.

"Your claims are absurd," said Occisur. "I know Kane was murdered. Abishag's followers value life unlike you furred heathens. There will be justice for my brother; Abishag's will shall be done."

"Your deity's will is nothing more than an excuse for your own fulfill your own desires," remarked Alec. I could see the reptilian tense up at those words; he almost looked like he was about to attack Alec right there.

"Stop it, both of you," Lord Naali screamed before the reptilian could respond. "There's been a lot of deaths since Mount Ignis erupted. We're still trying to recover, and I can't be dealing with accusations of one murder. Take your gang back home, Zemisks, we don't have the resources to feed extra mouths. You can return and we'll sort it out when I'm not busy with trying to save my citizens' lives."

"My brother will be avenged," promised Occisur. "Just shall be done. Abishag's followers value life too highly to let this go unanswered." He stepped back from the table and ordered the other reptilians to go out of the inn before he followed.

"They value life?" spat Alec once they were gone. "Right. They only publically execute any outspoken scientists, stone any one who lives or believes differently than they do and torture though who have possessed supposed 'demons' in them! Even when their own become sick and deny being 'possessed by demons', these fanatics only take that as proof that they are possessed. They're completely illogical!"

I did not understand what Alec was talking about, but he was really upset. I had never seen him like that before.

"Calm down Alec Ulokwe," said the arctic fox. He sighed and lowered his head to stare down at the table, looking concerned. "You killed a Talon, and now more of them have come here. What did you expect?"

Alec didn't respond but I saw his expression fall back to neutral, no longer letting his frustrations overcome him.

"You are right, Alec," the arctic fox continued, looking back up across the table toward the wolf. "They did bring up the wolf pup. You admitted to killing Occisur's brother so they should have had no interest in that pup, especially since he would have only condemned Kane Zemisks more. I am starting to wwonder if the Leakhos' interest in the wolf pup is legitimate. A lot of other parties are interested."

"We probably won't know for a while, Lorcan," said Alec, forcefully calming himself down. "Do you think Zemisks will leave the city like you commanded?"

"No, of course not," said the arctic fox, Lorcan Naali. "You know how the Talons are so stay wary and avoid provocation. They'll poke a bear with a hot spike and blame the bear for swiping at them. Escort the pup back to your camp and get some rest."

"Yes, my Lord," replied Alec. He looked down at me with a weak smile before he gestured for me to follow him out of the inn.

"The Talons have never been subtle, but to send their zealots here now..." the arctic fox complained to those that remained in the room while we walked out. "We need more guards."

Outside of the inn, Alec turned to speak to me. "You did good in there. Sorry to have to put you through that."

"What are they doing here?" I asked, referring to the reptilian band.

"Wanting revenge for me killing that assassin," answered Alec. We were passed through the main gate with no trouble from the guards. The sun had risen now and was reflecting off the snow brightly. "Don't you worry about that though. I'm the one in trouble right now, not you."

"If they're not leaving though then aren't we both in trouble?" I asked. I felt nervous having them nearby and now that they've seen me, they will be able to recognize me. One attacked me no reason, now they have a reason to attack me because I was there when Alec killed the brother of the one here.

"It'd be really stupid of them to attack us while we're in camp," Alec responded. "Lord Naali has instructed them to leave so he'll have the guards looking for them but we must still be wary because they'll try to stick around."

Walking down the street it didn't take long for us to find the hut again where we all slept. The other wolves were awake now with Lexandra dividing dried meat into portions for our breakfast.

"Where have you two been?" she asked curiously, seeing us walking together. "I thought Snowy went to get some water."

"We were in the city talking with Lord Naali," answered Alec, looking exhausted from his night shift. "I can get some water. Don't you have the new supplies yet?"

"No," answered Lexandra freeing her paws of the dried meat. "I'm supposed to go into the city to help sort through it all so that we can pack properly. Sirmiq is saying that we're sending too many blankets so we have to start being more careful of what we send. And don't worry about the water, I'll go get it."

Lexandra stood up and grabbed the water basket before walking outside the hut.

"So you all have the day off then," mentioned Alec. And so we did. The pups were excited to have a day off and no have to work anymore but I quickly felt the boredom and wondered what I was going to do. Lexandra returned with water and merely dropped it off before she left to go work in the city.

Alec instructed me to stay inside considering what the reptilians had said back in the inn. I figured I might as well practice weaving a basket since it was something to do and quiet enough to allow Alec to sleep. In a way it was peaceful but leaving my thoughts to wander made me worry about Occisur and his gang. The other pups went out to play, not having anything to fear about other than how long they'll be without the comforts of their old beds.

Without the work of packing crates, the day dragged on for an exceptionally long time. Finally I noticed through the hut ceiling and entrance that the day was growing dimmer, and the sun was finally setting. Lexandra returned, bringing her pups in from the cold with her, allowing Alec to leave and start his next shift. Finally, it was an appropriate hour that I could sleep. I lied down and curled up, hoping that tomorrow we would have some real work to keep us busy.

My dreams were a sea of darkness and I couldn't see anything but some voices were all that I could hear. I could not make out what they were saying no matter how loud the voices got. They were too jumbled up and slurred for me to understand.

There was another sound trying to gain my attention but it was so quiet and distant. It grew louder, disturbing me slightly but fell quiet again. It was nothing more than a quiet rumble. The voices continued to overpower but finally through the darkness I could see something. They were familiar starry eyes. They glared at me until that rumble suddenly turned into a growl before the creature barked almost deafeningly loud.

In the darkness I bolted up from my cot, being startled out of my dreams yet again. The ringing in my ears from the bark did not fade. I looked around to see if Alec had woken me up again but only the sleeping wolves were nearby and undisturbed. Slowly the bark's echo faded, and gave way to the same voices that I had heard in my dream.

"...there then we'll send someone else," said the familiar voice of Occsiur. "We better hope that we find him before the Leakhos accept him. That damn little black wolf gave my brother far too much trouble."

Are they talking about Midnight?

"Not so loud Occisur," urged one of his companions. "Someone will hear."

"My brother was bested by an orphan wolf and his arctic fox whore," Ossicur hissed. "My family's honor is on the line so don't tell me to be quiet."

They are talking about Midnight and me. I quietly hopped off my cot and crept to the entrance of the hut. Light from a torch casted moving shadows from the hut's doorway.

"We understand that your brother underestimated them," said another. "Who'd expected orphans would be armed with such weapons."

"Don't insult my family," snapped Ossicur. "We protect the investments of the Enes faction, and through them the investments of Abishag."

How did they know about our daggers? Peeking out of the hut, I saw the reptilians walking down the road and away from the city. I looked back at the sleeping wolves before stepping silently out of the hut. The reptilians know that the assassin was trying to kill us, if only I could hear a little more then I can prove it.

"I do not mean to insult your family," defended the reptilian.

Staying back out of the lights, I watched the reptilians walk further down the road until they were nearly out of hearing range. If it were daylight that I probably wouldn't be able to see them at all, but in the dark and carrying torches, they were easy to spot.

For two kilometers I followed the reptilians while they talked about vowing revenge but not really saying anything that I could prove. Then they went off road, which required for me to get closer so that I wouldn't lose sight of their torch through the trees. They continued for another kilometer through the woods until I came across what looked like some more ruins then the torchlight vanished suddenly along with their voices.

I stopped in my tracks, worried on where they might have gone. I was following the reptilians but they suddenly vanished and went quiet. The ruins around me were in more rough shape than the ones where Midnight was taken and I realized that I was completely lost. I looked for any sign of torchlight but I was only greeted by darkness. Glancing back the way I came, there was no way I could see the road.

"This is the arctic fox," stated one of the reptilians voice, sounding close.

I jumped at the sound and looked around. I could see the rough outlines of the trees and the ruins in the darkness but not any sign of the reptilians.

"Yes, it's the one from the inn," said Occisur's voice. "The one who attacked my brother and cost him his mission and his life."

Stone struck against metal and with a shower of sparks, a torch relit from behind the ruins. The five reptilians walked out and faced toward me, two of them with swords unsheathed. I stood wide-eyed at them, frozen in fear.

What have I done? I made myself vulnerable to them.

"Abishag's will shall be done tonight," said Occisur, his reptilian features twisting in a sick smile.

Without another word the two armed reptilians took a step toward me. They were far too close for me to be able to outrun them. I didn't know what to do.

Before the reptilians could take another step, movement in the shadows caught my eye. My gaze was fixed on the reptilians but the movement was so strange that I could not help but to look.

Where the torchlight failed to touch, a shadow rose from the ground like smoke and slowly took an increasingly familiar shape. Two eyes sparkled like stars, its fur wisped like smoke and his maw tensed up in a threatening snarl. All around me and the reptilians rose another four similar creatures. Their growls were soft, almost unnoticeable but their presence was finally sensed by the reptilians.

My body stood frozen with my mind clouded. Should I try to run from the shadow creatures and hope they won't attack me? They were glaring at the reptilians so maybe if I stayed still they wouldn't notice me.

"What the--" one of the reptilians with an unsheathed blade started to say. His voice caught and gurgled in his throat. The first shadowy creature that appeared, bent its legs and crouched low to the ground. It sprung and lunged itself at the reptilian, its muzzle going straight for the throat of the armed foreigner. Bared black shadow teeth sunk into the reptilian's scales given strength by the shadowy muscles that flexed as the teeth clampled onto the reptilian's throat. Both artieries were peirced, blood spraying out between the black teeth.

As quickly as the shadow creature attacked, it released the reptilian's throat and landed nearby. Blood that sprayed from the bite splattered across the snow, with the blood that dripped from the shadow beast's muzzle. The reptilian didn't even have time to scream as he fell back unconscious and landed harshly in the snow. More blood swelled from the puncture wounds and pooled around the snow the reptilian lied on. The unconscious reptillian would bleed out in a matter of seconds.

The shadow creature stood now in the torchlight, radiating darkness through its black fur. No light was reflected off of the creature, as if the light itself was being absorbed by its fur. Its fur rose like black flames but soft like smoke. Whatever it was, it had just killed that reptilian as if he were nothing more than a bug in the dirt that was stepped on.

What would it do to me? I made my decesion and demanded my body to run, but it did not act. I stood still as stone, shocked by what I had just witnessed.

The reptilians weren't any less shocked as they stumbled back from the shadowy creature. The other reptilian who had his weapon drawn lunged at the shadow beast, only to have the creature jump back and melt into the shadows that the torch casted, completel vanishing.

"Kill them!" shouted Occisur. Before his words reached my ear, the shadow creature that faded into the shadows sprung from another shadow and attacked the second armed reptilian. Its teeth clamped down on the sword arm causing the reptilian to scream and drop his sword. When the beast released the arm from its muzzle, the arm went limp. Blood ran down the arm from the puncture wounds, and dripped to stain the ground as well.

The moment the first shadowy beast jumped back from its second attack, the others jumped in and viciously tore apart the reptilian. He screamed but soon his own blood gurgled it out. The shadow beasts retreated, leaving a mangled corpse in the snow.

The three remaining reptilians' eyes were wide, witnessing two of their teammates being slaughtered so easily. The reptilian that held the torch dropped it to the ground.

"He's a demon," muttered Occisur. He glanced at me before stumbling back from the shadow creatures that growled at them. "A demon!"

The reptilian turned and ran off, with the other two but the shadow creature didn't give chase. Instead they turned to look at me. I held my breath while I stared back at them, my body still refusing to act.

All but the first one melted back into the shadows as if they've never existed. The first one walked up to me, his eyes looking directly into mine since we were the same height just like in the previous dream. I dry swallowed, and couldn't help but to stare back. The creature growled at me.

I was sure it was going to attack but instead it jumped off to the side and melted into the shadows. As if I was being held up by supports that were suddenly taken away, I collapsed to my paws and knees and took a deep breath.

Why wasn't I waking up? I breathed heavily and looked up at the dying torch. It illuminated the two reptilians that were killed. I could still hear their screams, and I could smell the strong scent of their blood with each deep breath I took. It was all too real. I finally realized that I wasn't waking up because this wasn't a dream.

Unsteadily, I tried to pick myself up. I carefully walked over to the torch, giving the dead reptilians a wide berth, and picked it up with both my paws.

I had no idea what just happened but I had to get back to camp.