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Skempta

Rekkdyr was not up to this fight. I doubted whether I'd be able to take on the two newcomers myself.

I circled around to my gnoll comrades weak side, the wounded forearm dripping with fresh blood.

I caught a feral, almost wild look from him.

"That's Drangis Bloodspear. Warchief of Clan Bloodspear." I whispered to Rekkdyr. The massive orc wore a close cut beard dyed in a strange greenish-blue color, to match his hair. He wielded a wicked looking thrusting spear, and held a large wooden shield in his other hand.

Rekkdyr grunted in response, lifting his bastard sword in preparation.

I examined the gnoll woman with Drangis. That had to be Grekris, matriarch of the Bonefangs. It was said she was born from the blood of the Gnoll's demon god himself. Much like the two gnolls before, she wore nothing at all, save for various bone and antler piercings. Her nipples were both pierced by long, thin splinters of wood, and as she cackled maniacally, I could see her tongue also had a variety of strange piercings. She held no weapon, but from the looks of her unnaturally sharp teeth and claws, I wouldn't be considering her unarmed.

She had a particularly nasty reputation for violence, including rape and torture, and Drangis was not much better.

"This won't be an easy fight." I told Rekkdyr.

"Any ideas?" he asked, taking a step forward. I could see gashes and tears from where the two gnolls thrashed him violently just moments before. If the pain bothered him, however, he did not show. Instead, only a cold determination reflected in his eye.

"Don't underestimate either of them. They're in charge of their tribes for a reason." I replied, beginning to circle around.

"Gnoll or orc?" he asked.

Truth be told, I'd rather not fight either of them. I was better equipped to face Drangis, however.

"You get this lovely beauty, I'll take bluebeard." I nodded at the gnoll woman.

I rushed forward, bashing a shield thrust aside, only to have my sword met with the enemy orcs shield.

Before I could recover for another attack, another thrust dove low, though I managed to knock it wide with my shield.

His shield came in ,slamming me back. I rolled with the attack, rather than stumbling to retain my balance, coming up to a standing position. Drangis pressed the assault, thrusting forward. I parried his spear with my sword, stepping inside the assault range quickly, to perform a shield bash against his shield. The massive orc actually laughed as I merely slammed myself backwards from the attempt.

I'm not a weak orc, myself, but this guy was incredible! I ducked beneath a swing from his spear, which swept overhead. An unusual attack with a thrusting weapon, but I had no doubt that such an attack had caught opponents off guard in the past. I also knew if such an attack had landed, I'd have been flat on my back, dazed from the force of the blow.

I thrust forward, barely managing to connect with his shin, drawing a thin line of blood, as he backpedaled to avoid the attack.

He slammed forward, crashing shield to shield, sending me stumbling backwards. Before I could recover, a large boot kicked out, blasting the air from my lungs.

An incredible weight slammed down on my chest, and I glanced up to see the massive orc, pressing a single boot down heavily between my bare breasts. I struggled to breath, trying to force the boot off of me. He laughed, lowering a spear tip to my throat.

"Convenient. Already primed for a good fucking." He chuckled, a wicked look coming to his eyes.

I gasped as he pressed down harder with his foot.

Suddenly, a large gnoll slammed into his back, sending him toppling off of me. Rekkdyr, spun around to slash at his pursuer, standing between me and the crazed gnoll woman.

I used the opportunity to right myself, Turning to face the orc, who was charging us.

I felt my bare back brush up against Rekkdyr's furry tail, and knew I would not be able to use mobility to defend against this assault.

I widened my stance, bracing myself for the force of the hit. My shield slammed out as hard as I could muster, a sword slash cutting low.

The spear deflected from it's thrust, harmlessly wide. I felt a sense of satisfaction feeling my sword connect with Drangis' thigh, drawing a wicked line of blood across his bright green leg.

"Bitch!" He roared, slamming out with his shield. My shield met his, but the force of the blow blasted me regardless, and I stumbled to the side.

He bore down on me thrusting with his spear. I rolled out of the way, losing my sword in the process.

I came up, bringing my shield to bear just in time to deflect another thrust from the mighty orcs spear.

I kicked out as hard as I could, connecting with his injured legs knee.

A loud crack sounded, and his leg buckled awkwardly.

He roared in pain, thrusting his spear into the ground to brace himself from falling fully.

I moved to scramble away, but the orc threw himself on me, slamming me in the head with his shield.

Dazed, I felt my shield torn from my grasp. A snarl of victory, as I felt rough hands fondle my breasts as he pulled me closer to him.

I could feel a familiar rage coming over me. The true mark of my gift, the bloodline that separated me from a regular orc, from him. My eyes began to glow with an odd greenish light as I calmly grabbed his massive forearm as it roughly squeezed my breast. I glanced up realizing the orc was trying to position himself between my legs. Fool.

I brought my leg up, giving enough leverage to kick straight down into his groin.

He fell back, hoping to protect his injured orc-hood. I clung on to the retreating orc, following him down with a headbutt, feeling my antlers collide with his face.

He roared in pain as I slammed again and again, goring him repeatedly in the face, spikes catching him in the eyes and throat.

I felt my lower tusks biting and tearing into his flesh, and a burning hatred tore through me. A strange feral hunger. I wanted to taste this creature blood.

I savagely mauled him, goring and tearing into his flesh with antler and teeth, even feeling my nails, which took on a strange claw-like quality, ripping into his flesh wherever they could manage.

Moments later, I stood above my fallen foe, antlers and face dripping in dark blood, the blackish red trickling lines over my smooth, dark green flesh.

He was gasping, blood gurgling at his throat, one eye completely destroyed by an antler spike. Just like that the fury ended.

No longer a threat, I turned to see the two gnolls still exchanging blows, Rekkdyr covered in many more gashes and cuts. It didn't seem to slow him, however, as he swung his bastard sword in fury, even managing to chop off one of the fiendish gnolls ears.

She roared, dancing away in pain, as he chopped forward, tearing a large wound across the gnolls stomach. She spun, falling to the ground.

Rekkdyr stood behind her, driving his sword through her right shoulder and pinning her to the arena ground.

To my surprise, he stepped away, leaving the gnoll woman pinned to the ground like she was, yowling in agony.

Spinning, he was panting heavily and growling fiendishly.

He stumbled over to me, a look of shock on his face.

No longer raging, I gave him a smile from beneath the blood and gore coating my face. He shuddered away, clenching his eyes shut.

He was pacing in a frenzy, panting heavily and visibly shaken, though more of rage then fear.

"A friend of mine thinks there is no better victory than besting an opponent, and letting them live." I commented, eyeing the gnoll matriarch who was writhing behind him.

"Should they be allowed to live?" Rekkdyr growled. The question troubled me. Clearly, the demon-blooded gnoll was far beyond any hope of redemption in the eyes of a "civilized" race. Yet, all too often, I'd seen humans decide who deserved life, and who, death. I held no moral issue with killing in the defense of ones life, but blood for bloods sake, when a foe was defeated... there was no honor in that. I suppose I'm not like most orcs.

It had been Rekkdyr's unreasonably just and honorable code of ethics and morality that had endeared the gnoll to me. The reason I couldn't bring myself to raise by blade against him in the arena when he stood in defense of the fairy girl, despite the almost certain death that awaited him. But now, there was something strange, different in him.

"They are no longer a threat. We won. I say let them be."

Rekkdyr eyed me for a moment, an indecipherable look on his hyena-like face. Something was off about the way he examined me.

"Something tells me these two have no qualms about killing and raping. That orc there would have had his way with you, if he had not underestimated you. You willing to let such beasts live to do so again, possibly to another?" he asked.

I hated questions like this. I was a child from two separate worlds, where morals differed dramatically, as well as the concept of right or wrong. It was even more difficult to take the high ground when you yourself had just been raging uncontrollably mere moments prior.

"You were given an opportunity to live, when none should have been afforded you. Look what you've done with it." I pointed out.

"A young child can be brought up better, I fear it's too late for them." He growled. I could see his claws were drawing blood in his clenched fist. I'd never seen the gnoll so angry before.

"Rekkdyr, of Duskshire, this isn't you! To kill a helpless foe!" I roared, stepping closer to him.

He glanced at me, and I could see the strange look in his eye slowly slipping away. He shook violently, collapsing to the ground.

Rekkdyr drew a quivering breath.

"Y-you're right." he growled, clawing at the earth with bloodied hands.

I took another cautious step forward, taking a knee beside him.

"Easy. It's adrenaline." I whispered, slowly rubbing his large furred back.

He looked up at me, and I saw tears in his eyes. Never had I imagined seeing a gnoll cry.

"I don't know what's wrong with me." He whispered.

All the while, the crowd was silent.

Aatu

"Fornvarr, I want to ask you something. I've noticed the scent of an owl that's been following us for a few days now." I asked as we made our way down a winding path off the main road.

"Ah, you mean Noctu?" He asked, smiling. "Yes, he's been my friend for a while now. He's been keeping an eye on things. Been keeping me informed on the slavers that have been following us."

"Slavers are following us?" I asked, glancing back up the trail behind us.

"Indeed, though they won't find us. The forest is on our side. Can't say the same for them." He smiled knowingly.

"So how were you captured then, the first time, If you're so good at hiding?" I asked.

The man gave a hearty laugh.

"I allowed myself to fall into a trap, knowingly. I'd heard of their operations, taking beasts and men to distant lands to live their lives in chains. Best way to find where their hiding is to let them lead you there themselves." he winked.

"So, you purposely got yourself captured. To, what, free me?" I cocked a brow.

He laughed again.

"You know, that is a very human-like expression. Sorta weird to see it on the face of a wolf. Yes and no. I actually freed as many as I could that night. Probably why they are so interested in finding us. Bet they lost quite the profit."

"Why me?" I eyed him suspiciously.

"As I said, you seemed a natural with magic, and It was only through your actions that I was able to move forward with my plans." He replied.

"So, why are they suddenly so active?" I asked.

"I've heard unsettling rumors that there is a new patron in Manir that is willing to pay high price for any and everything that lives and breaths, and can reproduce. Not quite sure why." he replied, a seriousness overcoming him.

We arrived at the bottom of our decline, the trail leveling out in bit of a flat run through a small valley.

There were large rock-faces on either side of the trail that disappeared behind a bend up ahead.

"I can only speculate that--"He began, before suddenly pausing, tense.

"Ready yourself, Aatu." he whispered, stepping forward.

"What's wrong?" I asked, but he just held up a hand.

I sniffed the air. There it was, a strange, human-like musk on the wind, but it wasn't quite human. How Fornvarr sense it before I could, I didn't know.

He suddenly called out in the human tongue, though I couldn't understand him.

To my surprised, from around the bend in the road came a lone figure, humanoid in shape, though much to short to be a human.

It was a dwarf, wearing a simple leather armor, and wielding a large two handed axe.

The short humanoid spoke, brandishing his weapon threateningly. I could not understand what he said, but his body language was not friendly.

Fornvarr spoke again, taking a step toward the dwarf.

About four or five humanoids emerged from the tops of the rock-face on either side of the trail, each drawing back on a longbow, arrow ready to set free.

I growled, stepping back.

Fornvarr just smiled.

"Vindris" he said, thrusting his hand out.

A powerful gust of wind slammed together from either side of the raised cliff face, blasting all of the unsuspecting men down into the deep ravine with us before a single arrow could be flown.

The dwarf roared something, rushing forward with his axe.

I bolted forward to meet the short humanoid, diving forward quicker than he could react, and feeling my teeth close tightly around his fat ankle.

He stumbled forward tripping the the ground.

I leaped around, slamming on his back. My heart was pounding with excitement and nerves.

I could see Fornvarr was casting again, this time creating a large sphere of flames from seemingly nowhere. He was directing it's movement, chasing and swallowing the highwaymen with fire.

The dwarf growled something, but I just lowered my muzzle to his ear, growling menacingly.

Frost escaped my lips, chilling the creatures ear, and he froze in fear.

A sudden elbow shot up, catching me in the ribs, sending me rolling off him.

I righted myself, to see the angry faced creature gripping his axe staring me in the eyes.

I let my cold white and black gaze meet his, fear being forced from my mind. I had only ever hunted before. My one real, non-game related kill was hardly a fight.

My heart was racing as I circled the man before me, who met my motion.

He was much more cautious now, after my quick trip maneuver. However, so was I, as the dull ache in my ribs reminded me how hard he could strike.

He dove forward, tiring of our game, and swung his axe downward. I quickly sidestepped, releasing a blast of icy air from my lungs, catching him slightly as I dove away.

He roared, bringing his axe around again, though the swing was weak and awkward as his left hand was chilled from my breath attack.

I dove around ducking that attack as well, before leaping forward for the dwarfs throat.

We crashed to the ground, his axe shaft somehow finding it's way between my jaws.

He held my snapping teeth just inches from his face, his badly frostbitten hand barely capable of gripping the axe shaft.

I could taste wood and leather in my mouth, teeth buried deep into the grip of the weapon, as I kicked and snapped ferociously.

Frost was clinging to the grip of the axe and I could see the chill clouding menacingly just inches from the dwarfs face.

I closed my eyes, thinking hard for a moment.

"Bolrun." I growled against the wood in my teeth.

The axe shaft suddenly burst into flames, just like the tree branch Fornvarr demonstrated with.

The dwarf yelped in shock, releasing his grip on the now flaming axe. I released my grip as well, diving straight for the doomed dwarf's throat.

I could taste his blood as my teeth sank into his flesh, and I gave a ferocious shake, ripping his throat out.

Stepping back, I glanced around at Fornvarr, who was nodding in approval, the fiery orb nowhere to be seen. There were charred corpses about, but no other bandits remained standing.

"Well done, Aatu!" he cheered, coming to me, and running his hand through the fur on my neck.

"Your the fastest learning apprentice I've ever had!" he grinned.

My heart was still racing, the adrenaline rush still strong.

"First real fight." I said, giving a wolfish grin. I was still not quite sure what to think.

"Remember, do not delight in death, even when it's necessary." Fornvarr said, a serious look coming to his face.

I glanced back at the corpse of the dwarf, blood still oozing out of his destroyed throat, though a light frost had gathered around the wound.

"Of course. I'm sorry." I said turning back to him.

"It's easy for a predator to take pride in a good kill. That's not quite the same as finding joy in it. Remember that."

"Fornvarr, could you maybe, teach me how to speak in the human tongue?" I asked. He gave me a small grin.

"Never thought I'd hear a wolf ask such a thing. Of course, I can try." he said, standing.

"But not here. Let us leave the dead be."

And with that, we continued on our way, leaving the devastated bandits behind us.