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I woke just before the break of dawn to something wrong. Jeseia was still sleeping underneath the blanket, unaware for now. I slowly slipped free of the blanket into the cold morning air, I couldn't see anything yet but still was the sensation around me. I drew upon all five elemental forces, the four primal energies were there as normal, but I felt something in the spirit around me. Something was nearby that was disrupting how spirit flowed in the area.

There, coming up from the pass towards the west, the route were we planning on, was something moving. Something moving slow and somewhat awkward, but definitely moving. I could feel the spirit in whatever it was as it true closer, it seemed out of place. I stood my ground, feeling it as much as seeing.

It was my size, walking with a limp, in one hand appeared to be a sword or long dagger as a weapon. "Fire and Earth, that's what Jes told me was needed." I muttered, Drawing the earth about us into a circle then fueling the circle with the fire element. Flames slowly came up from the very soil, surrounding our tiny camp in a defensive line of unnatural fire.

With the illumination of the circle I was able to see clearly what approached. It was a man, but a man whom wasn't a man. I could feel only spirit from him, no emotion. It was like a soul without form, without a body. Yet a body is what limped closer to the fire without fear.

"Jes, get up, and do it fast. We have a problem here."

I heard a pitiful yawn before a soft growl, the vixen jumping from the blanket. She drew the knife from pack I'd used earlier in carving my walking stick. "That's not possible." She stated simply, "There's no form to that spirit."

"So you notice it too? Good, I'm not crazy. Speaking of crazy, what was that title Granh gave me?" I asked playfully, holding my staff ready as the thing drew almost to my defensive line.

"Honored friend of the northern forest clan. Walker of fire. I do believe, why do you ask?"

"Just curious is all." I smiled and pointed my walking stick towards the creature, drawing fire from my heart, through the token in my staff, through the ring of fire to direct it beneath the feet of the being. It didn't seem to notice the flames even as they caught the clothing aflame.

I stepped forward defiantly, stepping into the fires I created, driving them away from my feet as I did, pushing them forward and around our friend. Drawing from the strength of the very mountain we stood I drove my staff hard against his weapon hand, expecting to disarm the sword from him. The hand itself crunched right off, the face of this thing never flinched. The eyes, the eyes were dull and lifeless. This thing wasn't even aware of the pain I inflicted.

"Jes, see what you can figure out about this thing from there, I need to destroy it, now. It's not alive, it's something else!"

I drew upon air now, whipping it along the crest of the pass to drive sideways against the thing almost toe to toe with me, driving it inches at a time further from me while I used my walking stick to hold it at bay. "It doesn't seem to feel anything, I'm going to destroy it."

Jes yelled up to me, "Do it! It's mage work here. The spirit was torn from that body, and just enough to animate it was driven back in."

I drew upon the earth to loosen itself around the feet of the creature, sinking it up to the ankles in rock before I tightened the hold of the ground once more. Drawing flames up from the earth again, I surrounded this creature in flame. I drew the heat into the form before me, making it burn hot and fast. The loathsome creature was burned to ash in just a couple minutes, I quickly relaxed all the fire around me and the camp to make sure it didn't get out of hand before turning to Jes.

"What did you see before I burned that thing?" I asked, breathing hard as I sat down.

"Spirit driven into the heart and tied off, very unnatural. Whatever it was, it wasn't made by nature. A mage made it, a powerful one, and one whom seems to know where we are."

"We need to get going, now. Lets see what answers Ornmi has for us when we arrive." I drew Jes close and wrapped the animal skin blanket around her before we started to walk down the pass once more, the barest hints of dawn lighting our path.

After leaving the mountain pass and returning to warmer flat lands by mid day, we were starting to see trees in the distance. "Is that the forest that Granh described?" I asked curiously.

"I think so, I haven't been over this way before." Jes shrugged a little, smiling.

We continued on for another hour, in the distance we could see a large form running towards us. He appeared to be carrying a hunting spear of sorts. Jeseia stood ready with the dagger in her hand while I stood half a step in front of her with my own walking stick held firm. Already I was drawing upon spirit to feel what was coming at us. "It's not one of those things, lucky us."

We stood our ground for another ten minutes or so, watching the form running at us, tracking us. Behind him appeared to be two more coming. I could tell the shapes now as they drew closer, my grip on the staff relaxing slightly. "Wolf clan"

The first came up to us growling and bearing his spear tip, he studied us for several long minutes, not risking the first move while out numbered. He starred at me long and hard, my garb still that of a wolf clan from my trial of fire when my own clothing was destroyed.

"Why are you here, Walker of fire." He finally stated, looking at me directly. Jeseia having relaxed some and put the knife away.

"Tanthis, We're here to speak with Ornmi. We're in a bit of a hurry." I told him, setting my walking stick end back on the ground.

"Come with me, our village isn't far from here." The wolf breed turned and howled out softly into the air, his companions slowing down their run and instead turning and heading the opposite direction. The wolf breed began a brisk walk towards the direction his other clansmen ran.

We traveled quickly with the wolf breed, covering the distance of the flats in short time before heading deep into the woods. Within another hour we came to a larger clearing of huts and tents. Much larger than the area that Granh called home. There appeared to even be stables of sorts and a blacksmith hut built on the far side of the village.

"Remain here a moment, I will fetch Ornmi to speak with you." With that, he slipped into one of the larger structures. A female, older, with large runs of gray through her pelt came out shortly after. She looked over me with obvious confusion for a moment before nodding softly to Jeseia.

"I am Ornmi, leader of this clan and protector of the village. Who exactly are you, and how do you know the northern forest clan?" She asked of me, not threatening, just, very up front.

"Tanthis, Granh sent me to you specifically. We're on a bit of a mission, he told us to come here and ask for you."

"Very well, I can help you. It will take until tomorrow, but I can help you. You let Granh know that I do not consider my debt repaid." She motioned back to the large hut, "Come with me, I think we have much to discuss. Lucion, Get Lorth and Calmon ready. They'll be leaving in the morning."

One of the wolf clan members nodded and headed over to the stables, stirring up a bit of a ruckus as they worked on the request. Jes, Ornmi, and myself settled into the large hut. She poured us a bowl of tea each.

"Two weeks ago, five of my strongest warriors were taken without a trace. All five were on a simple patrol along the borders of these woods. I sent scouts but wasn't able to find anything."

Ornmi growled quietly, "Two days ago, a small band of men, eight of them by the count I was given, came into my woods. They smelled of death and we tracked them easily enough, they were coming straight here. It isn't possible for them to have known where my village was, but they came here like an arrow from a bow. My men cut them down, but these things didn't bleed. These men felt no pain and kept coming until we'd cut them to pieces."

"Granh lost some of his clansmen as well just before we left his camp. We also fought one of those things as, it was heading east, right for where we were settled." Jeseia added, "They're the bodies of men passed on, they're not alive as we are."

Ornmi nodded softly, "And you, where do you go?"

"We're heading north of here, then back to Granh. From there, I believe we're heading to a fox village." I simply stated, I didn't want to spill too many details of the whys and who.

"For Granh to send you to me like this, it must be urgent. Leave your gear here and I will have you restocked and ready for your travel north. I suggest you get something to eat and get some sleep, you'll need your strength for tomorrow."

Ornmi motioned to the hut door, calling another one of her clan to meet us there. "These two are to have their supplies restocked and be treated as an honored friend of the clan should be treated."

We were lead to a central hub of the village, and offered a hot meal of stew and baked breads. There we ate with others of the village, listening to their stories and then having to recall my own of walking through a blaze to stand before Granh to have earned the name Walker of fire.

Jeseia gently tugged my arm, and we excused ourselves from the group, walking slowly to a hut which had our gear set just outside it. Peeking inside, it had a feather mattress and thick skin blankets, a small wash basin, and a pitcher of cold water.

"It's been months since I've had a proper bed like this." She squealed a little happily, dragging me over to it.

"Seems like that long for me as well, too bad it's only for the night." I pressed a light kiss to her lips, smiling.

Jeseia returned the kiss before mrrring deeply and slowly undoing the kilt I was wearing, she then drew her own garb off and set it with mine. We slipped into the warm confines of the blankets and settled atop the very soft and comfortable mattress.

I gently drew my hands along her bare frame, feeling her shift and move to my touch. Her own paws wandering about me like our first time together. "Thank you for coming with me Jes, I couldn't do this without you."

"I don't want to be anywhere else than at your side Tan, I love you." She cooed to me, sneakily easing herself beneath me. "I love you too Jes." Was all I had time to say before pressing a deep kiss against her muzzle.

I slowly eased myself atop of her, linking our bodies together as we began to move. There beneath the blankets we made love, tender and gentle. Her muzzle and hot breath against my neck while her arms gripped around my shoulders tightly. I kissed along her neck and shoulder as I pressed down into her smaller frame gentle and slow.

We ended up pressed front to front while laying on our sides and drifted to sleep there in each others arms, holding tight to each other. Jeseia was cooing pleasantly into my chest while I breathed in her scent deeply.

The next morning, after we washed up and dressed, we stepped out from the loaned tent into the early morning light. Our gear was still setting there by the entry way, I threw the pack up onto my shoulders and secured it. We looked around for a moment before spotting Ornmi sitting on a largish rock, staring into a small cooking fire.

"Good morning you two, Lorth and Calmon are ready to go. Come with me." She slowly eased up with the help of a cane and started heading over to the stables with Jes and myself in tow.

"These two are a gift, part of a debt I owe to Granh. Learn to trust them and they'll learn to trust you."

"I've ridden horses before, Shouldn't be a problem." I smiled, a little bit of my country boy upbringing might finally be helpful.

"Horses eh?" Ornmi laughed softly as we entered the stable, not a horse insight. "Lorth, Calmon, come here please"

Two very very large native wolves stepped from behind a stall, both wearing riding harnesses of a sort and by the looks of them they were twins.

"Lorth and Calmon here are not horses, Tanthis. They are dire wolves. My great grandfather found a den of pups on Torrnal's peak years ago, raised and tamed them, then breed them. These two are the twins I personally cared for. They're the quickest I've ever seen and they'll die to protect the rider. Please try not to find that out on your own."

I didn't know whether to run, or just faint there as the two large wolves came forward. Their heads taller than mine. Jeseia just giggled and walked up to one, petting along his muzzle. "They're adorable."

"Lorth is yours Jeseia, Calmon is for you Tanthis. I've told them about you and they're ready to go as soon as you are." Ornmi patted the necks of each, "Take care of them you two, they'll need it."

"We will Ornmi, Thank you." I smiled and nodded as she turned to leave. "I was speaking to my twins." Ornmi laughed softly and left from the tent, leaving us with the dire wolves.

"Well Jes, shall we get going?" I nervously asked, walking up to the wolf on the other side of Jeseia.

"Sounds good, I really want to see what these boys can do." Jeseia giggled again as she gently hopped stop Lorth, easily settling her slight frame on the harness.

"Promise not to eat me in my sleep?" I playfully asked Calmon as he knelt for me to mount up as well. He replied with a playful growl, not unlike Jes does. "I'll take that as a maybe."

Jeseia looked over to me before nodding softly and smiling. "Lets get going boys, we've got one heck of a run ahead of us."

Lorth and Calmon gruffed softly in unison and stepped from the stable hut, slowly trotting through the village. We passed Ornmi along the way, She bowed softly to us in passing. "Good luck on your journey."

Once we'd cleared the village and entered the trees, both wolves stopped and crouched, stretching out their limbs. They stood again and arched their backs slightly, letting out a deep resonant howl that rang out through the trees. Both wolves then bolted in a dead sprint through the forest and then out into the open plain. We guided them easily north while the twins worked their muscles and raced with each other. Both of them were much faster than horses and more elegant to ride.

I finally was getting comfortable with Calmon, petting a hand on his neck as he ran tirelessly north, the miles flying past us. I looked over at Jeseia and she was squealing and laughing quite happily, Lorth looked to be playing with her a bit as he'd dip left and right each time she'd squeal out again.

At mid day we took a break along a small stream. The twins eagerly drinking their fill while we rested back in the sun, eating some small bits of dried meat. "We didn't bring any supplies along for you two, You'll have to go hunt for yourselves." Jeseia teased the wolves a little.

Both of the dire wolves looked up and barked a little playfully before darting off along the plains, leaving Jes and myself alone while we ate and relaxed a little. "We'll hope those two return."

The twins did return in about an hour, growling contently and again drinking heavily from the stream to wash some of the blood off of their muzzles. "Are you two ready for another run north?" I asked, slowly standing and then helping Jes up to her feet.

We received a chorus of gruffs as both wolves dipped a bit to let us climb on again. Each of them stretching out again like before. "Alright then, head out!"

Lorth yipped excitedly and tore off north with Jes laughing back at me, Calmon and myself right behind as again we rode hard. The trees and plains started to give way to brush, bushes, and rock as we went. The twins seemed to not mind in the slightest, easily finding secure steps for each foot as they ran on and on without complaint.

Night was starting to fall when we finally decided to stop for camp, Jes starting a small fire while I laid out our straw mat to sleep on. "Alright boys, go find yourselves some dinner, we'll be right here." I said to the twin dire wolves. They both darted into the distance to hunt while Jes and I sat to enjoy the fire and eat some dinner.

"What a day, I swear, just as soon as I think we have things figured out." I smiled a little, laying back on the straw mat.

"Where's the fun if nothing exciting happens?" She giggled a bit, curling up atop me, nibbling at my lips before she got comfortable.

"Oh I don't know, there's something to be said for consistency." I wrapped my arms around the vixen and curled up with her, yawning lightly.

Jeseia just smiled and rested her head down on my chest, yawning softly herself before falling asleep there curled up against me. I feel asleep shortly after. I did wake up a few hours later as the twins came back, they checked to make sure we were alright before curling up protectively around us and falling asleep as well.