Never An Absolution - Chapter One
Never an Absolution (c) Cederwyn Whitefurr October, 2000 All rights reserved.
Lying on her side, the young anthro Doe trailed her clawed fingertips over the surface of the meandering crystal clear pond. Beneath the water, large trout flicked and sparkled, their silvery scales shimmering in the sunlight that shone down on this serene place. Smiling softly, the Doe touched the surface of the pond again, making her reflection fragment as ripples spread outwards. As a shadow cast a pall over the pond, the trout flashed and vanished, and the startled Doe snapped her head up to stare at the black clouds that began scudding across the previously blue sky. Something in the clouds movements were unnatural - as their black shapes churned and boiled from the west, gobbling up the swatch of blue and lending a sense of fear to the young Doe's senses. Cold claws of fear began to sink their icy grip around her and into her heart as a chilling; almost icy wind, rose and began to howl like a pack of banshees. Shivering, the Doe climbed back to her feet and pulled her heavy robe tighter around her neck and shoulders, then whimpered as the icy wind increased - ripping at her exposed fur and burning her eyes. No - this was no natural occurrence, and it boded only ill. As best she could, the Doe tried to shield her sensitive eyes from the small twigs, leaves and dust that began lashing at her, as the wind increased even louder, its wail like that of a thousand souls in purgatory. Struggling against the wind that buffeted her, she staggered and her frightened cries pealed forth, as the oaks pine trees bent and creaked, their needle like nettles being torn from their branches and flung at her like thousands of darts. Sobbing and almost blinded by the grit that whirled and eddied around her, she staggered down the faint forest trail, and made her way back to the small hamlet of her people....
Everywhere, the wind lashed and tore at their fragile homes, the tents flapping; goats and cattle broken free of their pens and running rampant and frightened through the village. Louder and louder the wind roared and buffeted this small, unobtrusive hamlet, its merciless rage like that of a Dragon. All around her, her people struggled and fought to protect their small enclave - working to secure their tents and to reinforce the wooden palisades that surrounded their homes. Buffeted sideways by a strong gust, the Doe stumbled and nearly fell, but a warm pair of paws grasped her forearms and steadied her. Gratefully, the tear streaked Doe nodded to the younger Buck, who gave her a tender smile, then ran to assist others.
"Mother!" Shrieked the Doe, her voice cut to ribbons by the rising gale. "Mother!"
Fighting both her own fear and the overwhelming dread which clutched at her people's hearts, the young Doe searched for the one person - who meant everything to her. making her way past a throng of her species that cowered behind a crude log cabin, the Doe spun about, calling out repeatedly - her throat becoming sore and making breathing difficult. An older Doe, wearing a simple grey smock, appeared from the nearby shadows, and gratefully, the younger Doe ran to her and buried her muzzle against her mothers breasts.
"Shhh...easy Ceredwyn..." Choked the older Doe, as she embraced her daughter and pet her back consolingly. "Its all right - just a storm."
"Katerina - " Ceredwyn wept bitterly. "Its not mother...its not a storm. 'Tis the work of evil magicks...I can feel it in my bones. I draw breath and taste its foul nature in my mouth. This is no storm of nature!"
Katerina hugged her sobbing daughter tighter and tried to lead her away...and all across the village - an unexpected silence descended like a veritable cloak - the pine trees swayed and fell still, and there came an unnatural quiet. Fear began spreading and rippling out through the gathered humans and anthro deer, as they stared around them - watching as leaves, dust and debris pattered down from the glowering sky.
"See Ceredwyn? Its alright...it's all going to be all right...." Katerina whispered soothingly, as she slicked back her daughters long floppy ears.
Ceredwyn continued crying and shivering, clutching her mother tight, as she could still feel the palpable evil that lay to the west - and swiftly came on silent wings.
"Mother - please...post the sentries to the towers." Ceredwyn begged. "This isn't over..."
With a gentle lick of her daughters forehead, Katerina smiled softly and shook her head, her long ears flapping quietly.
"Ceredwyn - it is all right...honestly. You must have eaten some bad berries out in the woods...to make you so skittish and unsettled. Come on - I'll make you a nice bowl of wormwood and chamomile tea."
"No - " Ceredwyn growled, as she become as immovable as stone, her eyes narrowing.
Katerina paused, then her eyes widened as she stared at her daughter. "What did you just say?"
"I said - that this isn't over!" Ceredwyn snarled, her anger rising swiftly.
Those anthro deer and humans closest to them paused and stared incredulously at the young Doe, and her mother. katerina stepped back a pace, her ears slicked back and eyes wide in disbelief. A low growl of displeasure startled both Doe's, and they, along with others, immediately dropped to one knee as an old anthro Buck emerged from the largest of the log cabins.
He stood nearly seven feet tall, his 5' rack of antlers impressive - his grey muzzle betraying his age, but the strength and power contained within his body left no doubts, that he was the leader of these people. He wore plain leather breeches and a green dyed linen shirt, over which was worn a faded surcoat that hung to his knees. Around his waist was belted a cracked leather girdle, from which hung the scabbard of an ornate broad sword.
"What is this disturbance, that threatens the harmonious relationships of our people?" He snarled. Katerina wilted under the intense gaze and even Ceredwyn felt cowed by his power, that washed from him in permeable waves. He walked slowly around them, his cloven hooves clicking on the crushed gravel.
"My lord Argent - " Ceredwyn stammered, keeping her head bowed. "Milord - I fear that a great danger approaches out village. Please sire, I beg of you to post the sentries to the towers." Lord Argent snorted and stepped right up before her, making Ceredwyn cringe back fearfully. He reached down and slowly lifted her back to her hooves and placed a paw under her chin, making her look in to his eyes. Holding her brown eyes transfixed, Argent was silent, then his own ears slicked back and he sighed.
"Archers - to the towers...now!" He snapped, nearly deafening the young Doe before him, then he turned to stare fixedly at Ceredwyn. "I pray - for your sake, that you're mistaken young one..."
A dozen archers, comprised of humans and anthro deer alike, dressed in leather armour took defensive positions along the palisade walls and sentry towers, their long bows held tightly, a bucket of arrows beside each militia member.
They held their positions, until a sentry gave an alarming shout of warning. Instantly, the entire village burst in to action, with the females herding their young and infirm down through a small concealed cave entrance, and the males arming themselves with all manner of implements. A soft drumbeat was heard, followed seconds later by the steady thudding of heavily armoured horses and what sounded to be an entire army of infantry. Through the forests cover, they could see the glinting of the sunlight from the armour and weapons of the approaching soldiers, and more than one villager became fearful. As the tide of soldiers spilled out from the cover of the forest, the villagers stared in terror at the twenty heavy cavalry that formed a line, the horses barely held in check by their armoured knights, and the six score of soldiers; which the bulk of which were footmen, but many wielded a light armour and carried long bows. Blazing silver light came from their armour and weapons, and a villager wailed and threw down his pitchfork and ran towards Lord Argent.
"Milord Argent - they're King Dalnarian's soldiers - " Wailed the anthro Buck. "oh sire - they're wielding silver weapons...they mean to destroy us!"
With a snarl of rage, Lord Argent savagely slapped the younger Buck across the muzzle, driving him to his back. "Do not forget that which we are! We have lived in peace for hundreds of years - and why would that pathetic human King want to wage a futile battle against creatures such as us?"
Sobbing and dabbing at the blood that dripped from his nose, the young Buck stared up at Lord Argent, who snorted and strode purposely up on to the main platform, that overshadowed the inner gate of the village.
"Who are you, who comes armed for war, against a peaceful people?" Lord Argent roared, his voice carrying across the field. Some of the spearmen moved forwards, then parted and stepped to the side, allowing a regally armoured figure astride a massive white stallion to ride forth, his banner proudly held by the bearer slightly back and two the left of him, two armoured human knights flanking this figure. This figure wore gleaming steel plate armour than encased him head to toe, and his helm was an ornately crafted and quite realistic looking snarling wolf's head, replete with visor.
"I repeat - " Lord Argent snarled even more louder.
"I will not waste words with a fell creature from the depths of the abyss, whose people would willingly prey upon the young and defenseless! Yes - I know well of your kind - and your evil shall perish this day on my sword...so it shall be!" Came the answering response from the armoured figure.
"I do not recognize you - who so defiantly threatens me and mine. I know nothing about these attacks on your kind - and I assure you, that my people are peaceful and have not harmed another human in - " Lord Argent retorted sharply.
"Human?" Mocked the armoured human figure astride his horse. "Your kind are not humans - but you are the foul spawn of the denizens of the abyss - who took their pleasures with the ancestors of a gentle natured woodland creature! Evil such as yours should be wiped from this earth, and I swear upon King Alexander's name - that I shall do such!"
Horrified moans and a few sobs rippled through the anthro Deer and humans within the village, as they all felt the biting words. They knew they were not true, but the implications and insults stabbed deep in to their heart.
"You are truly a fool - should you think that my people are such vile beasts!" Lord Argent shot back scathingly. "I will admit, that centuries ago, my people were cruel - bloodthirsty beasts. Yes..our ancestors did prey upon both humans and animals - but look at us! We raise our own animals to supplement our existence, we have but no wish to spill the blood of humans...."
"I ask of you...Lord..." Lord Argent growled dangerously. "too take your troops and return to whence you came - as we do not wish to fight. Should you force our paws - then we will fight...and I promise you this, that my people will not prove to be an easy challenge!"
With a sneer, the human-like figure reached up, then slipped his helm free - to reveal his very wolfish muzzle and head beneath. His black tipped ears slicked back and his dewlaps curled, revealing long, deadly canines. His eyes blazed red with anger, and he unsheathed his sword...and the standard-bearer dipped the pennants.
"Kill them all - leave no survivors!" Snapped the armoured wolf astride the horse. "I want his head - do you hear me! Attack!"
As one, the fanatical soldiers stormed across the field towards the waiting palisade, as their archers began firing volleys of lethal arrows at the village defenders, who shot back with their own arrows...but it was obvious from the start, that they would be overwhelmed - it was just a matter of when. With a howl of laughter, the armoured wolf wheeled his magnificent steed about, and galloped back through the ranks of his soldiers, to await the inevitable victory, he was sure would be his...and with the death of the former King by his own paw, and the deaths of these pathetic creatures - he could begin to implement his own reign over this once peaceful kingdom....
To Be Continued...