The Guardian: Captain Blaze
#6 of The Guardian
Captain Blaze
As they carried the unconscious Fang to his room, Zaglar gently placed him upon his bed as Hawk left carrying a wooden bucket heading back to the river. Silver went over to Fang shaking his shoulders trying to bring him around. "Fang? Fang? Dam it Fang answer me!"
As Hawk returned, Silver slapped Fang across the face with no result. Hawk nodded her head towards Silver to stand clear as she dump the bucket of water over Fang. As the water dripped it turn from the color of white to a rusty orange as it went towards the floor from his wounded body. Zaglar turned to face them both moving quickly in front of Fang. Zaglar pushed Silver back from reaching the cloak as he moved to remove it. "I advise you put aside your trip for awhile Silver, at least for a couple of days or more. I wouldn't unpack your things yet incase if Captain Blaze decides to make a hasty decision, if you get what I mean."
Snarling at Zaglar, Silver made the attempt once again for the cloak. "I do. Now would you please move so I can see his wounds?"
Reaching quickly, Zaglar restrained Silver as they struggled in front of the presence of Hawk and Fang. "I advise you not to do so my friend. I already sent for Garth, he'll be here soon I assure you."
Ignoring Zaglar, Silver removed his paw and finally reach the cloak from Fangs' body. As he removed the cloak Hawk cursed as Zaglar step back from Silvers rage. "Hell's teeth! What the hell happened to him Zaglar? Is he even alive? Tell me! Tell me now or I swear I'll..."
"You will do nothing, and if you do I will have you under arrest and thrown behind iron bars in your own village." A voice ranged out.
Standing in the doorway were two fellow lycanthropes. One was Garth and the other was no other than Captain Blaze. Zaglar nodded his head towards the Captain as Garth went over to Fang's aid with Silver glaring at the insolent canine before him before assisting Garth tend to his son's wounds. "Captain Blaze, I see that you got my message."
Garbed in armor, a maroon cloak ranking him as Captain, and a sword at his left side the russet grey-brown wolf walked towards the unconscious Fang. "So this is Fang I presume? Looks like he's been through hell and back. Is he allowed to tell us what happened in this so called place Chamber of Trials?"
Rising to his height Zaglar informed of the traditions of the Wolfhood Ceremony. "The Chamber of Trials is an ordeal that all young male wolves have to partake when they reach the age of eighteen. It's a custom we have here Captain Blaze, and it's not a joking matter. So I ask of you not to joke about something you can't even dream or even comprehend. As to your question he'll not be able to tell us." Zaglar said as Garth and Silver attended Fangs' wounds.
"And why not?" Demanded the captain.
This time it was Hawk who answered. "Because nit wit any wolf alive, who endured the Chamber of Trials isn't allowed to tell anyone, even the king himself of what he experienced. It's a rule that has to be followed; those who break it somehow manage up dead as a door nail."
"I see." Facing towards Garth the Captain nodded his head towards Fang. "Is he fit to travel healer?"
Handing some wash cloths to Silver, they both began on the work to remove the access of dirt Fang placed upon his wounds. The process didn't take long for most of it was already washed away from Hawks attempt to awake Fang. Reaching in his bag he brought out a dry cloth and tossed it over to Silver to dry Fang off as he searched through the bag for some ointment while answering the question. "By the look of these wounds he'll not be traveling for a while I assure you Captain."
"How long?" Snarled the Captain.
Silver got up and went to approach the Captain with clenched paws but Hawk intercepted him. "No. Don't do it Silver, he's not even worth it. Besides you promised Fang you'd accompany him remember? How would Fang feel when he sees you behind iron bars? Just help Garth. If Mr. Almighty here gets too high and mighty within his breeches I'll pound him down a peg or two."
Glowering at the she-wolf, Captain Blaze watched Silver sat back down before he asked again. "How long?"
Sighing out loud Garth answered the insolent Captain. "It's hard to tell really."
"And why is that?"
"Because it's all up to him. The cuts and slashes I can clean out and stitch together. And you see these five slashes here? Whatever caused this was planning to kill him. By the looks of his arms he used them to block the attacker, even his right forepaw is broken from the attempt. He's lucky that he even survived the Chamber of Trials for it has killed many times. Also his right hindpaw is sprained so he won't be running about for some time till it heals on its own. You can see it was grabbed by some creature yet it didn't break his paw. From the looks of it, whatever creature it was dragged Fang down and attacked him thus causing these injuries. See the teeth marks here?" Pointing at the holes within Fang's pelt above his ankle, the healer continued on as he applied ointment upon the wound. "Plus Captain Blaze he's still unconscious, unless you wish to carry him all the way to the King in a litter?"
"Can't you bring him around?"
Hawk laughed. "We already tried slapping him and nothing. I even had the pleasure of dumping water all over him with the same result. Nothing. He's out like a light Captain what do you expect?"
Choosing his words with care Captain Blaze answered her. "What I expected was to bring Fang back to the palace before almost half of the season is spent. If I wait till he's conscious it would be in winter by the time we got to the palace. I was ordered to have him there by the beginning of fall that's what I expected ma'am." Not really expecting an answer like the one she received Hawk was dumbfounded, nodding her head at her friends she decided to walk out of the room for a breather. Continuing on to the point Captain Blaze turned about to depart, however before doing so he paused making a statement to them all. "So be it. If I and the rest of my squadron are to wait for Fang, then I'll have to fortify your village..."
"What do you mean fortify our village?" Silver questioned the Captain.
Captain Blaze locked his eyes upon Silver. "What I mean is exactly what I said. If you want more information then you better ask your council buddy over there." He pointed at Zaglar. "If it makes you feel any better we weren't the only ones searching for your son. What they plan to do with him is either kill him for what he's capable of or soon will be after some training that is. Or they'll use him against the King and all those who oppose them." Saying what he had to say he left the room leaving Zaglar to explain the situation to Silver.
Reaching into his bag once again Garth pulled out his sewing kit and a bottle of liquor. Seeing Hawk slip right back in, Garth addressed Silver as he handed over the kit. "Silver sterilize my needle will you and get one yourself as well because it's going to take two of us to fix this mess. Besides Zaglar will explain what he needs to or Hawk here will strangle the truth out of him." Garth said as he watched Hawk position herself in the perspective of blocking the doorway. Taking the needle from Silver, Garth started stitching Fangs' right forearm as Silver attend to the left. "Now first things first, what did Captain Blaze mean by them? Sounds like there are others searching for our kin here, so start explaining Zaglar."
Seeing that there was no way out of the mess he was put in, Zaglar sighed as he spoke. "What I'm about to tell you is for your own ears only. Not a single word of this can be reach the wrong ears for there could be wide spread panic in this village."
"You have our silence, now explain." Hawk stated as she closed the door.
"Ok...let's start off with your question Garth. What Captain Blaze was refereeing to be a force known as Bazlar lead by no other than Vangru himself."
Garth was about to reply when Hawk intercepted him. "And he's after Fang. Ok the picture is getting clearer. But what does this all have to do with Fang?" Hawk asked.
Seeing there were no chairs about to sit upon Zaglar decided to sit on the floor as he answered Hawks' question. "It all has to deal with the prophecy of The Guardian..."
"Oh rubbish that's just a fairy tale Zaglar."
"Do you want your question answered or not Hawk?" Zaglar sighed.
"Yes I do but..."
Silver cut Hawk off with a stern look. Turning towards Zaglar as he continued stitching he said. "Go on tell us about this 'fairy tale' of yours Zaglar. I wish to know what's going on here, how this involves my son, and I want direct answers."
Zaglar glared at Hawk. "The Guardian is no fairy tale. There is a record of it inside the palace; I've seen it with my own eyes. Even though I don't have a copy of it I do know what it is about. "
Hawk was always impatient and she always showed it. "Then get on with it will ya. It's evening already and I got livestock to take care of in the stables."
Garth finished stitching and continued on Fang's chest. After the last slash was clean and repaired by his father's hands Silver looked over his handiwork before nodding his head in approval. The cuts and slashes that Fang received in the Chamber of Trials were cleaned and stitched neatly yet both knew it would take some time for the wounds upon his chest to heal for they were shallow slashes. Any deeper Silver would have raged that night the day of the wolverines attack on Fang had he not intercepted with his forearms.
Garth went to inspect Fangs' right hindpaw again to see if it was infected like the wounds placed upon his frame from the dirt he place to control the bleeding. Seeing it was in the clear, Garth grab some bandages and handed some over to Silver as they continued on their work while Zaglar continued. "The prophecy states a great war will break out in the land of Translavkania between the forces good and evil. But before that happens a chosen creature from the heavens would be born, raised in Translavkania at some random village that happens to be ours, and would be tested to the breaking point. And he or she alone would choose a side they would serve in this war and determine the outcome as well for the fate of Translavkania depends on it."
"So Fang is this chosen one is what you're implying?" Questioned Hawk.
"Yes. He alone must make a decision on which side to serve for this war that probably will break out soon."
Silver asked the question that was on all three of their minds. "And how can we tell if my son is really this Guardian?"
Zaglar got up from the floor as Hawk moved when Garth asked for help on Fangs' right forepaw as they applied pressure upon it making sure the bones would heal properly while Garth applied the brace. Approaching the door he paused as he answered the question. "You all already know the answer. Especially you Silver. Ever since you found him by the river, brought him here to become one of us, and reared him as a son for the one you lost."
"You know very well that doesn't answer my question Zaglar." Glared Silver.
Zaglar turned and looked Silver in the eyes. "Then take a look at his left eye when he comes around, and you'll have your answer. I saw it as I inspected his features before the ritual. From my knowledge the Guardian is marked within one of their eyes by the mark of lighting etched within their iris. Now I have to inform the villagers of Slyvangard of what Captain Blazes' intentions are, of Fangs' condition, and prepare for the feast tonight without his presence for we do have guests." Hawk accidentally dropped Fangs' forepaw on Garths needle that was resting beside the bed when she heard what Zaglar said about the feast.
"Ouch!"
All heads snapped towards Fang as he cried out. Realizing of what she done, she quickly pulled the needle out. "Opps! Well now that your awake we'll head on down with Zaglar to help out with the feast of your return." Grabbing Garth as he just finished with the brace on Fangs' forearm, she pull him by the ear before pushing him into Zaglar. Both toppled over each other trying to get out of Hawks' wrath. "What are you two doing? We can't sit here all day; we have a feast to prepare. Now move it or I'll grab both of your lugs and drag you all the way down there."
Not going to have his ear pulled like that again, Garth grabbed his supplies and rushed out the door. Following Garth's lead, Zaglar left with Hawk yelling behind them both as they ran across the bridge. "That's more like it! By the time we get there we'll have the feast ready in no time at all." Leaving Fang confused as he rested in his bed, while his father laughed at the sight. None of them knew that Vangru had finally reached Slyvangard. Leaving his forces behind in the woods, he took three of his scouts with him as they entered the village in disguises.