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Morning found me sprawled across the bed in the same position that I fell asleep in, I was roused by a soft knocking at my door. I cracked open an eye and was nearly blinded by the sunlight streaming through the window, I groaned and stretched. Leaning over the edge of the bed I rummaged around for my rucksack. "Best get moving boy. The General wants everyone that's going to be participating in the training exercise to meet in the village center in an hour." came a female voice through the heavy door. "Give me a minute." I called back.

A few minutes later I was in the main room, sitting with Usav and the others as they killed time with a game of cards. "Sound sleeper aren't you?" one of them asked. I yawned and nodded, looking about for something to eat. "Teira, we got anything left for the boy?" Usav asked. The one that sat at the far end of the table grunted and rose, heading towards the kitchen. About ten minutes later he came back and slid a plate, heavily laden with eggs and some kind of sausage, across the table. "Here." His voice was little more than a coarse whisper. As he sat I couldn't help but notice the long scar across his throat.

As I ate the others discussed the upcoming exercise. Apparently this was the first time in several years that the Generals required us to be there. We couldn't help but wonder how the drill would be adjusted to suit us. The simple repetition and routines that suited the rest of the army did little for us. Also many of us would grow bored without any real bloodshed. The other concern was that a scouting party had recently gone missing only a few miles from the training grounds. Given the news of the dragon-kin gathering at our borders, many assumed the worst.

As I finished eating we heard the sharp, clear sound of a bell from the village center. We quickly gathered at the center of the village. General Narkath was already there, "The King has told me that only a few of us need to be present at the training grounds. Anyone wishing to go, stay here. Everyone else, carry on as usual." Many of the older berserkers cheered at that last line before returning to the tavern or their homes. The General watched them go, shaking his head. "This is why I tell the others that our presence at these drills isn't necessary." He muttered before gesturing for us to follow.

The General led us through the city, people lined the streets to watch us pass. Some of them bowed their heads out of respect while others talked excited amidst themselves. For many of them this was their first time seeing such a large group of berserkers outside our village. As we reached the far end of the city we ducked beneath the low branches of the great forest. We wove effortlessly between the ancient trees, every now and then we would catch a glimpse of one of the other divisions of the army marching in strict formation down the worn trails.

We were the first to arrive at the training grounds, a large open clearing nestled in the middle of the forest. We sat in the center of the field and someone pulled a deck of cards from a pouch that hung from their loincloth. General Narkath joined them, and before long gold started changing hands as we bet on the cards. At one point I glanced up and for a second I though I caught a glimpse of movement amongst the leaves at the far end of the field. Though when I looked closer the trees were still, save the brief flickers of birds flitting between the branches.

A short time later the other divisions began to trickle into the field, coming down from the various trails that riddled the forest. We rose and turned to greet them, I saw a few familiar faces in the various units. Mikko grinned at me from amongst the warrior's ranks. His leather armor branded with various sigils that enhanced his spells, though he had added a few since last time I saw it.

We all met in the center of the field, the generals gathering to discuss the details of the drill. The other units stayed within their formations, waiting patiently. However, the pack milled about aimlessly, talking and joking while we waited for the generals to finish. Many of the higher ranking officers in the other units glared at us, but they chose to remain silent rather than challenge us for what they thought to be disrespect.

Finally the generals finished their discussion and began giving orders. The warriors and archers fell into place while the pack crouched in front of them. The mages went off to the side and began weaving their spells. A few moments latter a fairly convincing illusion of an enemy army shimmered into view at the far side of the field. The generals took their places over by the mages and gave the order for the exercise to start.

The spectral army bore down on us, the pack howled and we responded with our own charge. We left the warriors behind as we met the specters head on. To our disappointment we found that though the specters looked real they had little substance to them. We were able to swat them aside with little effort. Any kind of excitement and battle-lust quickly faded, though we continued to play along if only because all of the generals were present and we had no choice. However that didn't stop some of us from making our own fun. I saw two berserkers casually tear a spectral archer in half as if it were a wishbone. Another kept lining herself up so that the illusions would hit each other every time she dodged their attacks. I also saw General Narkath standing apart from the others trying not to laugh at our antics or the other generals' growing frustration, somehow I got the feeling that he expected this to happen.

The other units did their best to keep to the generals' original orders. The warriors followed us, cutting down any illusions that we either missed or didn't finish off ourselves. The archers stayed back, firing off volleys with rhythmic precision. It would have been more impressive if they weren't using cork tipped arrows. The mages looked furious as they tried to keep the behavior of the army of illusions in line with the generals' orders, not an easy task thanks to our messing around.

The day wore one, the exercise lasting for hours on end. By late afternoon the entire pack had grown bored, thought the other units continued with their charade. At one point I saw Usav stop dead in the middle of the field and pull a set of pan pipes from his pouch. Their haunting melody carryed over the sounds of the mock battle. I turned in time to see the other generals staring at him with rather bemused expressions. That seemed to be the final straw, for several minutes later the generals called for the exercise to come to a halt.

The illusions vanished and the mages stood, I could hear them talking angrily amongst themselves as they gathered behind their respective general. The warriors and archers on the other hand simply looked relived that it was finally over. Though their relief quickly changed to annoyance when they heard some of the older members of the pack cheering.

General Narkath came over to, "The others want you reprimanded for this, but I have to say this was one of the more amusing drills we've been to." He chuckled, "Since when did you play the pipes?" he asked Usav. "Quite a while Sir, it's a family tradition." Usav answered, carefully tucking the pan pipes back into his pouch. In the background we heard the other generals and their officers talking amongst their selves, it sounded like they were discussing rescheduling the drill. I didn't get a chance to hear any more for it was at that moment a barrage of arrows rained from the far side of the clearing. Most of the shots fell sort but several fell upon the pack. I felt the hard impacts of several arrows burying themselves in my chest and shoulders. We were the only ones to be hit, the other units were all outside the enemy archers' range.

The generals began shouting orders and the other units hurried to obey, we ignored them and turned towards the source off the arrows. Seconds later a war band of dragon-kin and their human allies emerged from the trees. Our howls melded with their war cries and we clashed. We had the greater numbers, but the other units were still fumbling with their weapons while our archers' cork arrows bounced harmlessly off the advancing enemy. Despite that, we still had the advantage.

One of the humans swung their blade at me and I caught it, the razor sharp edge digging into my hand. The human stared in shock as I ripped the weapon from his hands, he didn't have time to recover before I impaled him with his own blade. The other berserkers made equally quick work of the war band's front line. I saw General Narkath somehow managed to break one of the dragon-kin's serpentine necks. Usav and I ganged up on another, circling it and dashing in close to claw at its scaly hide. It quickly collapsed, its blood running through the elaborate carvings of its armor. As it struggled Usav and I each grabbed a wing and pulled, it screamed as we tore them off. We were about to kill it when one of the generals ordered us to halt, claiming we needed it alive.

We snarled but turned away from the fallen dragon-kin, rejoining the others as they tore through the remaining ranks. Only a few of the humans and one dragon-kin survived, fleeing like cowards while we slaughtered the rest. The battled ended almost as abruptly as it started and with nothing left to kill our bloodlust faded. The rest of our kin simply stared at us, most of them still rooted to the spots where they were standing when the attack started. For many of them, they had heard the stories of our ferocity but this was their first time witnessing it. General Narkath nodded and said a few words to the other generals before leading us back through the forest. As we left I saw the mages binding the dragon-kin we left alive, preparing it to be brought back to the city.

I walked beside the general on the way back. "An impressive display, Verloth. I'm glad to see the other generals' faith in you has not been misplaced." He told me as I plucked arrows from my hide. "Thank you, sir." He laughed, "You can drop the formalities, those are just to make the other generals feel important." We, along with the rest of the pack, talked animatedly of the brief fight. Laughing and already telling stories of our own respective fights.

We made for quite a sight as we walked through the city. People quickly clasped hands to their mouths to muffle gasps as they saw us, laughing and talking amongst ourselves while splattered with blood. One of the King's advisors hurried over to us as he saw us pass, with quick and quiet words the general filled him in on the details concerning the failed ambush. The general had barely finished talking when the advisor ran off to inform the King. Other advisors soon followed, all asking similar questions to both the general and the rest of us. By the time we reached the outskirts of the city the sun hung low in the sky.

"Drinks are on the house tonight." Called the general as we set foot in our village. We, as well as the berserkers who stayed behind, cheered and made straight for the tavern. Ale and mead flowed freely as we recounted the day's events yet again. Before long Usav and some of the others struck up a merry drinking song. Next thing I knew, I was on top of a table, a mug in one hand and the other around a shockingly beautiful wolfess, her russet brown fur standing out amongst the greys and whites of the berserkers'. We danced madly, stomping our feet in time with the increasingly frantic rhythm of the drunken singers. Somehow we didn't spill a drop of our ale, even as the others passed us full mugs.

We danced well into the night, we danced until our legs gave out beneath us and we crashed down onto the table. That seemed to signal the end of the celebration for we slowly began to disperse, small groups of us breaking off and stumbling home. I tried to help her off the table but all I succeeded in doing was bringing us to the floor. We lay there laughing at ourselves and at each other. I vaguely noticed a set of paws stepping onto view and a hearty laugh from somewhere above our heads. A firm hand grabbed us both by the scruff of our necks and hauled us to our feet. "Keep layin' there lad an' someone'll start thinkin' you're a rug." Usav slurred, giving me a firm slap across my back. The unexpected impact sent me stumbling headfirst into the lass's arms and we fell straight back to the ground. Usav's laugh grew louder as he pulled us to our feet yet again.

Somehow we made it outside and she mumbled something that might have been a good night or a good bye before staggering off to join her friend, a tall silver furred wolfess who almost seemed to glow in the dim light. They disappeared into the night and I tottered after Usav, passing out shortly after we reached the house.

I awoke to the feeling of having nails driven through my skull and the whole world seemed fuzzy and off kilter as I tried to rise. Dimly I noticed someone had carried me to my bed while I slept. I stumbled through the house and noticed everyone was still asleep. Quietly as I could, not an easy task since every footfall sounded like thunder to me, I slipped out the door. The early morning light burned my eyes and the chirping of the birds tried to saw my head open. Eventually I made my way to the small stream behind the house and all but shoved my head under the cool clear water. I took several long pulls from the refreshing stream and slowly my head began to clear.

With nothing else to do I decided to take a short walk through the forest in hopes that the rich air would help further clear my head. I slipped between the trees, ambling mindlessly over roots and through the undergrowth. I soon lost track of time, wandering aimlessly through the ancient forest, listening to the songs of the trees. At one point my ears pricked up and I heard the soft sound of someone humming a merry tune drifting through the trees. Curious, I slid silently through the undergrowth, following the sound.

I shortly came to a small clearing, a humble hut sat at one end while a spectacular garden filled the rest. I saw a flicker of movement at the base of one of the massive flowering bushes and realized the sound was coming from there. I crept closer still and saw, half buried beneath the bush, the flash of a russet brown tail wagging in time with the tune.

"I was wondering when you'd show up." A rich husky voice called, it came from the crouching figure. She stood and turned to face me, my eyes widened as I realized it was the wolfess from last night. She wore a simple tattered brown loincloth and a matching strip of fabric around her chest. Her russet fur was covered with dirt and grass stains while her warm green eyes glowed with subtle power. I rose and stepped cautiously from the underbrush, at a loss for words.

"I'm sorry, we were having so much fun I think I forgot to introduce myself last night. I'm Tarja, the current priestess of Life." My jaw dropped. She laughed and came over to me, gently pushing my jaw shut. "Careful, something might start nesting in there. Stay a while, Anya's just finishing getting breakfast together" my stomach growled as she grabbed my hand and pulled me over to the hut. I was still in shock, just having found out that I had spent hours dancing drunkenly with one of our high priests.

As if on cue Anya stepped from the hut. I shouldn't have been surprised, but my eyes widened yet again as the silver furred wolfess smiled at me. Her pure silver fur glowed brightly in the morning sun and her golden eyes flickered with their own light. "Poor boy looks like he's seen a ghost." In contrast to Tarja, her voice was light and airy. She set a plate by my side and passed another to Tarja before sitting across from me. "If Tarja didn't mention it, I'm the priestess of Light." I guessed as much from her radiant fur.

"Quiet one isn't he?" Anya asked. "He was talking quite a bit last night. He's quite the charmer." Tarja told her. I was pretty sure they could see me blushing through my fur. The priestesses continued making small talk while they ate and I slowly recovered from the morning's many shocks.

"I suppose it's time to get serious." Tarja said as I finished eating, I had taken my time to savor every bite of the priestess's incredible cooking. "You've captured the attention of many yesterday. They will be watching you closely throughout the coming war." She told me. "Go, fight with our blessings and bring down those that wish our kingdom harm." Anya followed. The two priestesses began to chant and I felt their spells sink into my fur and flesh. I shivered as the magic settled beneath my skin.

"You're welcome to stay, but I feel some might be beginning to wonder where you have gone." Anya told me. "But do come back sometime soon, you're a good dancer." Tarja said with a laugh. I smiled and bowed to the priestesses before taking my leave.

I worked my way through the forest until I eventually wound up back in the village. "There you are lad! We were beginning to get worried, don't want you getting into a fight without us." Usav called as he saw me. I told him of my meeting with the priestesses. "You should be honored lad. It rare for those two to spend that much time with anyone. Getting their blessing on top of that..." he just shook his head, "You're defiantly an interesting one that's for sure, lad. By the way a messenger from the tailors came by a little while ago, that's how we found you were gone and not just sleeping in again. They left the package on you bed."

I thanked him for the news and hurried to the house. I had a feeling I already knew what to expect from the package. It was exactly where Usav said it would be, I quickly cut the string with a claw and unwrapped the paper. It contained several white loincloths, each embroidered with a perfect replica of my markings. I hurriedly stripped and donned one of the cloths, placing the rest with the rest of my belongings in the sturdy wooden chest at the foot of my bed.

I walked into the main room to find Usav standing there. "You look like you've been here for years now." "And not a moment too soon." General Narkath said, stepping through the door, "The King had given the order: tomorrow we go to war."