Fog of War. Chapter Four.
Fog of War
Chapter Four
By Roofles
Only within the camp a couple of days, Duran had figured out its layout. Mentally making notes of the whole place he was being held at. If need be, Duran could draw a map of everything. Or even a crude layout. He might have too when he eventually escaped, reported back everything he had learned, mobilize the troops and...
And do what? Duran frowned on that, the sheer cold of the night making him shake as he stood once more in the center of the camp.
The wolves had been in their right, as far as they had been aware of, to attack him and his camp; as far as they had known at the time, they were intruders. Duran was only still here in hopes of keeping things...peaceful. And he needed to remember that. Thought of revenge could wait another night, if he was alive that is.
Which is exactly why he was out so late, sneaking once more in the shadows and heading to the tent located next to the war-party captain's own. Bernard's tent was the largest out of all the personal ones. Duran ignored it and headed for the one directly next to it. There were black feathers on the outside of the tent and even more stomped down into the snow in front of the doorway. The same black feathers the wolf with the crossbow used for his crossbow bolts.
Duran tucked his cloak around himself, shivering from the cold that was setting in. With night falling, it'd fall below zero soon enough. The polecat was made for far warmer climates; he wouldn't last long out here.
He ducked inside as a pair of guards walked by. The two wolves were chatting and ignored him all together.
All the lights were off inside the tent, the central pit wasn't lit and Duran could only make out shapes and shadows as he stood in the doorway. There was a bed, some sort of wooden desk and then equipment a soldier would need and a chest next to the bed for personal things. Just as Arn had, though Duran had never looked or asked inside about it. The desk was most likely a fletching table to hand make arrows and bolts.
Duran stubbed his bare toe, his foot still only wrapped in leather, against a metal piece on the ground. He cursed softly, bouncing a bit on his heel and regretting coming here.
There was a sound of flint against stone. And the next second the fire pit started up. Duran whirled around to face the greasy black fur wolf, hunched down over it. The wolf kept his crossbow nearby but wore very little, just a single leather shoulder piece that was adorned with similar black feathers. There were more of those feathers scattered around and on the ground.
"You came? How kind." The wolf chuckled several times, showing it's yellow grimy fangs.
"You sound more like a Hyaenidae when you do that." Duran frowned a bit. "Why did you call me here?"
"To have a little fun?" The wolf offered back, standing up and grinning wickedly at the polecat. Showing off how little the wolf was wearing. Duran didn't ask why the wolf had the shoulder guard and cloak on but nothing else. Duran ignored the wolf.
"I wasn't talking to you," Duran just said facing towards the desk. There were pieces of wood, metal casings and several different sized quivers on the table. Duran ignored them as well and looked over them an at the wolf sitting behind it. The one who had actually called him here.
Bernard had one leg kicked up against the table and was currently polishing that wicked three pronged spear. The edges were jagged and there were hooks all over it. Facing every different direction. Only the bandage wrappings around the center allowed him to hold it without being cut on one of them.
"You actually showed." Bernard just grunted, sitting up a bit at being addressed and stabbing the end of his spear into the ground. "An here I thought my shadow wasn't being direct enough."
"I just put two and two together." Duran replied with a shrug. "Why did you want to see me?" The polecat really wished he had his sword right about now.
"You were in the storage tents for a long a while." Bernard toyed with a topaz brooch with one hand, similar to the one Duran had and the one he had seen hours before. The polecat didn't reply right away at that, so Bernard went on. "Usually... slaves, are never without their owners nearby. If you were acting independently, this would be a problem. For you." And the wolf looked up with his one good eye.
"If you doubt me, I'm sure Arn will vouch for my whereabouts and what I was doing." Duran said, keeping his fears in check. The polecat could still feel his heart pounding so loudly in his chest, he was sure it would give away just how afraid he was.
"And just what were you two doing?" Bernard asked, resting back and tapping his fingers together. The wolf lowered his brow a bit.
"Well... uh..." Duran stammered, splaying his ears and blushing brightly under his fur now. He coughed several times. "Just...sort of... bathing. Is all." He said each word softer than the last.
Bernard quirked an eyebrow and lifted one ear at his words. "What was that? Speak up." The other wolf just cackled loudly, laughing like a hyena.
"Just..." Duran tried again and found himself losing his voice.
"Yes?" Bernard continued to press. The wolf seemed to be amused with his blight.
"Bathing! I was giving him a bath! Ok? Happy now?" Duran fumed, embarrassed as all hell as the other wolf only laughed louder now.
"I... see..." Bernard was the one to be taken aback, chuckling himself a few times as he sat up once more. "That'd explain why you were trying to be so... evasive, about it." The wolf nodded as if putting some doubt behind him. Having suspected the polecat of foul play in the beginning.
"Then you understand." Duran curled his tail around his waist, looking away. "I try not to think about it. It'll haunt me to the end of my days."
The other wolf only laughed more at that, falling onto his back and kicking his legs now. Duran hissed at him. Bernard lifted one hand up, though he chuckled himself.
"Maitio." Bernard said address the other wolf. The greasy black fur wolf nodded and got up. On all fours he jogged over to the corner of the room and began searching through bags and parcels, satchels and other things Duran recognized to belong to his people. The wolf came back over on two legs carrying several different papers.
Bernard swiped the table clear with the back of his hand, letting Maitio lay everything out. The wolf then lit a few candles and set them up as Duran walked over to look down at the papers.
"These are..." Duran growled a bit, clenching his fist tightly. "Why do you have them?"
"After our little talk," Bernard just tapping a finger on one of the parchments. "I sent Maitio out to search your camp. While I looked in my own personal... storage." Bernard chuckled a bit at that. "And came across these."
"You took them..." Duran thought that over, at first insulted by it. The nodded. "Did you know from the start, then?" The polecat said slowly putting the pieces together.
"Not until you brought it to my attention." Bernard pulled out a thickly bound scroll and set it on top of the rest. Using a nail, he undid the golden lace tie and unraveled it slowly. "It does appear to be the peace treaty, you spoke of." He tapped a nail on the scroll. Then on another parchment. "And the request to enter our borders."
Duran walked over to look down at them, inspecting the yellow stained old parchments. He saw what Bernard was trying to point out now; the seal, the stamp that had showed the wolves had granted them access was missing from the spot it had been.
"Seems to be missing." And Bernard looked up at him with his good eye, the corner of his muzzle twisting down in a frown.
Duran took a few second to think that over, his mind going a mile a minute. "If I may?" He asked at first, unable to help the smile on his face now as it came to him. Knowing something the wolf didn't. Bernard just accepted by turning his hand over, offering it back to him. The wolf watched and waited.
Duran took the parchment and headed outside, coming back in a second later with a handful of snow. He rubbed it on the spot the seal had been, letting the snow melt in his warm hand and then dampen the paper.
"It's a simple illusion." Duran just spoke softly as he did the work. "Back home, we have several such... tricks. The war might've ended. Doesn't mean there aren't hidden, underground things going on. Politics, you'll find," and Duran lifted the parchment up to one of the candles. Just out of reach of the flame. Then finally set it back down, turning it to face the wolf. "Are a fight unending, unlike a battlefield. You can't win it with brute force..."
Duran tapped a finger at where the seal had been stamped. There was a faint black outline that was almost impossible to make out in the dim light. Bernard glared down at the mark.
"Shadow ink." Duran explained, lowering his head a bit now. "It's an illegal substance, sold only in the underground black market." Duran rubbed at his chin. "I wasn't aware it could be attained within the Northern realms though." The polecat scratched his chin thinking that over.
"We are not so isolated as you may think." Bernard looked up at him with his good eye. Studying the polecat who had gone silent now, thinking everything over.
"It means... someone purposely had us come, to be killed. For what gain?" Duran spoke his thoughts aloud. He only looked up as the two wolves continued to watch him. "It could have easily come from either side, however it is not something any layman can procure. The substance is a illegal for more than one reason. My own people, though I wish not to think of such things, have means of getting it. Yours seem to be able to, too." The polecat kept his voice calm even as he clenched his hands into fists.
Someone had basically sent him and his party to be killed. Knowingly so. Using the wolves as nothing more than the bloody instruments that they were.
Bernard frowned at this. "What is to gain?" The wolf just asked, not as his own question but to see the polecats thoughts on the matter.
"Depends." Duran nodded once. "The Ursa clans wouldn't stand for a treaty between our people. The Gulo Gulo wouldn't be cunning enough... or rather, it is not their way to do something so underhanded as this. They prefer far more direct approach..." Duran continued saying his thoughts aloud, closing his eyes now as he checked everything over in his head. "To use the wolves as tools of war, seems... risky. Stupid to draw their attention on themselves. If they're found out that is."
Duran walked back in forth as he continued thinking it over.
"Unless it is war they sought." Duran stopped at that. "When my Empress doesn't hear word of our arrival, things will get... complicated. Quickly."
"Will she seek retribution?" Bernard ask, the wolf smiled as if hoping this was to be the case as if the polecat just threatened him.
"Highly doubtful." Duran said in reply, with a shake of his head now. "We are not warmongers. Still, there is much we can do. Will do. In action for this crime. Cutting off trade, closing any future lines of communication, boycotting the whole North." Duran shook his head once more. "Nothing so direct as war though, no. The Empress will not be pleased when she hears of all of this..."
The polecat chewed on his nails.
"She'd back the others." Duran said slowly, coming to the most rational conclusion. "Supply the Gulo Gulo with reinforcements, from the shadows. Nothing so direct that the wolves could use against the valley. Just give them the aide wherever we could. Always just enough to make the wolves spend all the more resources to keep the Gulo Gulo's at bay. The Ursa clans as well."
Bernard growled a bit as he spoke of the polar bears along the Western shores. The hated rivals of the wolves. "We have kept them in check so far, a little backing will not change that." The wolf snarled now at Duran, slamming one fist down on the table and standing up with the motion.
"It doesn't need too, my lord." Duran just said with a bow and backing up a bit wishing to keep these talks as peaceful as possible. "All it needs to do is make sure you cannot advance. Stopping you in your tracks is good enough." Duran shoulders slackened a bit. "We have no interest in the Northern realms. Our only investment is to make sure the North does not have interest in us." And he turned back towards the wolf. "What will you do, now?" The polecat gestured at the documents. Showing him the proof he had been seeking to begin with but not daring to speak an actual word of it.
Bernard must've known by now that he had been nothing more than a rather deadly tool used to restart conflicts between the two nations. That attack on Duran's people was nothing more than a ruse, a ploy being manipulated by someone else. And Bernard's nails were currently digging into the desk as this became clearer and clearer with the documents in front of him.
Someone had dared to use him? Him? And his people for their silly little... games of war? Such an insult could not overlooked.
Duran was surprised the wolf could read the documents at all. If he couldn't; things wouldn't have progressed this far, this quickly. Or at all. His life still weighed on Bernard's good will after all.
"You may go." Bernard gave him a wave and with that this meeting seemed to have come to an abrupt close.
"Would it be possible," Duran said taking a step forward and waited for the wolf to acknowledge him. "To send word back to my homelands."
Bernard just gave him another wave. The wolf clenched his other hand so tightly blood had been drawn and the look that passed over his face made Duran freeze where he stood. This action, this insult to the wolves? Blood would be paid.
"I'll see you back to camp." Maitio said moving forward. He was taller than Duran was, but not by much. The smallest of the wolves moved forward and guided him out quickly, leaving Bernard alone to contemplate. "Best not to disturb him when he gets like this."
Duran looked back over his shoulder at the tent now behind him. Then gave a nod and followed after the wolf's steps. Almost matching every step he took, hoping not to leave any tracks himself in a wolves den.
The wind was cold, the storm was returning and the camp was devoid of life save for the two of them as they slinked their way over the snow and made their way back to Arn's tent. The polecat was shivering from head to toe as they got back. Duran looked back once he reached the tent, planning on giving a final thanks to the wolf for once more leading him back safely here safely. He wasn't there and Duran entered the tent alone as the snow continued to pick up.
It was dark and hard to see the straps needed to retie the tent flap closed. The fire continued to smolder in the pit but with the tub had been set over it, giving him little to no light. Duran made his way around, placing his cloak off to the side and undoing the leather wrappings on his feet. He was shuddering from the cold as he moved closer to the bed.
The bed moved and Duran stopped, figuring Arn was just turning over. Then the wolf spoke and another shiver ran up Duran's spine as he felt a warm gust of hot breath wash over his cold face. The wolf was far closer than he knew.
"Where had you gone?" Arn asked without even opening his eyes, both ears training towards the polecat. The wolf could easily smell his scent and the fresh snow covering him. It was clear Duran had been outside.
"I needed to take a leak." Duran said softly, not looking up at the wolf as he settled back down where he had fallen asleep the previous night. The polecat had too much to think about to deal with the wolf right now.
Arn grunted at that, shifting his position and turning towards the polecat now. The wolf sat up a bit, pulling one of the fur blankets back. It had been made out of an Elk he had hunted and brought down alone, the passage from cub to adult for wolves. Inviting Duran into the bed with him and under such a blanket meant more than the polecat would ever know.
The polecat wished to refuse but knew it best not to try the wolf's patience. Wondering how long Arn had known he had been gone. Or if he had just woken up at his return. Duran couldn't risk confrontation with the wolf. If Arn decided to kick him outside for this, Duran wouldn't be able to survive until morning.
Duran stripped what little clothing he had on off and shivered once more. The tent was far warmer than the outside had been and his fur helped against the biting cold. But he still felt cold as he moved over to the edge of the bed. Sitting down on the very edge, the corner of it and hoping that'd be enough.
"Your shivering." Arn spoke softly, almost in the same tone his brother had used around the polecat. Heavy but warm. Just as Arn was as the wolf pulled him closer with a single hand. Curling his fingers around his chest and guiding Duran next to his warm, naked body.
Arn wasn't wearing anything, not that Duran suspected he would be. And for once the polecat found himself thankful for that.
The cold had set in and night was abound them. Duran hadn't been aware of just how cold it had gotten until he had gone out. Now the polecat was shaking, holding himself as he lay in the bed against the wolf. He hated this. Having to rely on this wolf, the very one who was holding him captive. Having to need him like this. For the warmth he provided against the cold.
Arn pulled the covers back up and over them, curling up and around the polecat as he pulled Duran ever closer, against him now. Duran shuddered at the warmth radiating off of the large wolf. Underneath the fur covers, it was warm and only heating up as the male body curled up around him. Arn held the back of Duran's head, keeping it close to his chest and the polecat could hear every breath the wolf took in the silent tent. The rumbling growl as the wolf exhaled. The sound of his heart beat. The feel of this fingers tightening their grip over him. Duran could feel the blood rushing to his face as he nosed the wolf a bit, detesting the fact he was enjoying this so much.
"At least he's clean." Duran grumbled a bit as he grabbed at the wolf's chest, as Arn slid his hand down and over the polecat's back and over his rear. Petting him like some kind of house cat. Duran could only wonder what his own brothers would think of him now, being like this. Kept and treated like a pet.
Arn began to snore once more, it shook his chest and the grip he held over the polecat laxed. Duran moved only a fraction of an inch and found Arn tightening his grip instantly, as if aware the polecat might try and worm his way out of his grip once more. Duran had been but quickly just called it quits before he even started.
The cold, this night had sapped him of his strength and Duran found himself to be too... comfortable to complain. And soon enough, Duran found himself laying on the wolf's chest as Arn turned over to lay on his back, open legged and the two slept peacefully into the night as the large wolf held the small polecat with both arms.
Duran wasn't sure how he ended up finding himself resting, upside down, between the wolf's legs as morning came and he woke up. Or why Arn was petting his face with a foot. The polecat just frowned as Arn used a toe to lift up the side of his cheek and poke at his teeth with it.
Duran had never been much of a morning person, and ended up just biting one of Arn's toes as the wolf continued to scratch his face with it. The wolf yelped and jumped up out of bed as Duran scrambled away from underneath him; it'd be rather painful for Arn to land on him.
"Something bit me!" The wolf whined, holding his foot and rocking back and forth. "Suck it out, suck it out!" Arn begged.
"What?" Duran looked at him as he ruffled up his head fur, trying to wake up. He spat a few times and wiped his tongue off.
"The poison!" Arn moved his paw over towards him. "Quickly, suck it out!"
Duran just looked over him before it dawned on him. He must've meant the Nocturnal poison from those strange centipedes, like the one that had nearly attacked him the other night. Duran actually laughed a bit at that. The wolf growled in return.
"You weren't bit by one of those insects." The polecat laughed some more, seeing the wolf like this. The big bad wolf reduced to nothing more than a child; not to say Duran wouldn't be feeling the same way if he had thought to be poisoned.
"Then what bit me?"Arn asked, a bit wide eyed. Then he narrowed his eyes, folding his ears back. "You!" He snarled baring his teeth at the polecat.
"You had your toe in my mouth! What did you expect me to do?" Duran stuck his tongue out, wiping it off with a hand once more. "Nasty business."
"So you bit me?" The wolf growled some more. Duran fur stood up a bit and he got ready to fight if need be. Then Arn fell back onto his rear and laughed loudly. He wagged his toe in Duran's face.
"What? I'm not going to kiss it and make it feel better." Duran snarled back. The wolf returned, a much larger snarl and the polecat reluctantly did. Arn grinned and laughed some more.
"An what is our first task for the day?" Arn asked, leaning forward and pulling the polecat closer with both hands. Duran wasn't sure why the wolf was asking him, who was suppose to be his pet.
"More training." Duran just said getting up and ready. That quickly turned the wolf smile upside down.
Duran was sitting out behind Arn's tent within the hour, much as they had before the previous day; this time the polecat had been wise enough to bring something to sit on instead of just the snowy ground. Duran had borrowed one of Arn's old cloaks, a heavy worn thing that stunk of the wolf. It helped keep the cold at bay and so the polecat tried not to think much of it. Duran was sipping from a ceramic bowl, some soupy broth the wolves had been serving out at the morning gathering, as Arn continued the drills.
Several of the wolves had gone on patrol, a hunt around the whole area they were in charge of and to take down anything they came across. Arn had been part of the gathering but wasn't even look over for consideration for the hunt, as if the wolf hadn't even been there. Duran had used the opportunity to brown nose the wolf a bit more, complimenting him while he was down to get brownie points. And besides, the two had work to be done and couldn't fool around with such tedious things as hunts.
The wolf was taking to the training like a fish to water. It was in their blood. The First Great War had been focused solely in the Northern Realms. The wolves once had a vast empire that had banded all the stray packs together underneath one banner. The Alpha-King at the time was a tyrant, blood hungry monster (or so the legends go) that sent his war engines over anyone or thing that got into their path. Even his own troops, so long as he achieved victory in the end.
Countless lives had been lost. It was hard to overlook this history as the polecat sat nearby and watched, helped train yet another wolf for more bloodshed.
It was only thanks to the end of the Third Great War that the thoughts of peace between their people even came up in talks. The last war had encompassed the whole of the continent. The Northern tundra, the Eastern Sands, the Southern Jungle and even the Western plains. Not a single faction hadn't been involved in the war at one time or another. Yet, oddly, it was in the end when the Northern wolves took control of the North did things begin to settle down. No force wanted to weaken themselves in fear of the wolves turning on them. And it had been the current Alpha-King to suggest a council to be held, an a truce to be signed.
Even knowing that it was most likely due to the wolves taken such causalities, and to give them the time to recuperate; no one had wished for the war to continue. The other kingdoms agreed to the truce and thus the Third Great War came to a end. Most think it only as a stand-still for the next one to come.
"Tell me," Duran asked as Arn came over to get his hourly praise. Duran tried not to think too much about it as he scratched behind Arn's ears and along his neck, underneath and up under his muzzle and throat. "Why do you only use one sword? A one-handed blade at that."
Arn had laid out in front of the polecat, just resting his muzzle in Duran's lap as he got scratched. The wolf had leather pads on his shoulders and hips, arm and leg bands but wore very little else. The snow and cold didn't even seem to bother him as Duran clung to the cloak draped over his shoulders.
"Cause I can." Arn just grunted, frowning a bit. "Had a big sword. Ursa's took it during a raid."
Duran was a bit loss for words there. He had to think that over; Arn didn't mind the wait, rolling his tongue out and over Duran's thigh as he continued to get pet. A raid from the Ursa's hadn't been heard of or reported within the Valley.
"Why are the Ursa heading so far East? Their homes are along the Western Shores." Duran frowned a bit, as if things weren't complicated enough.
Arn just shrugged. Duran frowned at that. That wasn't a good sign, that the Ursa were moving so far inland. The fact Arn wasn't any help on the matter only made things worse. Duran really didn't want to be asking Bernard about these things, at least the wolf still lazing out in his lap could be... contained.
"Why don't you use a shield then?" Duran turned Arn's head to one side so he could scratch with both paws along the wolf's cheek and behind his ear. Arn just lolled his tongue out, eyes rolling back as he enjoyed it.
Only replying when Duran had stopped. "No prideful wolf would use a shield." Arn turned over now, lazing on his back and placing his head in Duran's lap. The polecat rolled his eyes and continued scratching underneath Arn's muzzle and over his white fluffy chest fur. The very fur he had slept against and on, all night long.
"That doesn't make sense." Duran pet Arn's cheek now with the back of his hand. "If you get killed or badly injured, there can be no honor in that."
Arn would've argued but the fact the polecat was petting his face like this left him at a bit loss for words.
"Get a shield that's spiky. One of those big tower shields! Use the shield itself as a weapon. Then no wolf can argue against that." And Duran lowered his head down until he bumped their noses, petting the wolf's face.
Arn shivered at that, his fur poofing out a bit more. Duran was a bit worried he was going a little too far with this. The wolf was like putty in his fingers and he could so easily mold the wolf into anything he wanted him to do. Then a thought struck him.
"When the wolves raided our camp, they didn't take everything with them did they?" Duran asked looking down at the frazzled wolf, still giddy from all the attention.
"Nope." Arn said more than happy to spill out anything Duran wanted to know. "How could we? We just grab what we can and go." Duran batted an ear at that; that really did just make them sound like raiders.
"Then all of my stuff, for instance." The polecat continued to scratch the wolf's face and the sides of his neck. "Would still be there?"
"If no one took it, I suppose." Arn just sort of shrugged not really caring for this talk.
"Then that would mean you are missing a lot of stuff." Duran said, stopping now and moving back a foot so the wolf could turn around and sit up. Arn did slowly, looking at him perplexed to what he meant.
"Not sure I understand." Arn just took a seat in front of him, looking at the polecat.
"Well, you have me." Duran said placing a hand to his own chest and looking at the wolf. Arn smiled and nodded at that. "Which would mean everything I have, I own would then become yours too. Correct?"
"That's... correct?" Arn was the one to ask, having to think that over. "Then all your stuff is mine."
"Right." Duran said in such a way to make it sound as if it were somehow Arn's idea. "You a brilliant wolf after all." And the polecat chuckled lightly. "Can't get anything past you." And once more Duran strung along the compliments as if they were in fact strings to be played, moving the wolf as he so chose too until the end when he finally suggested. "We should investigate the camp."
Arn looked back towards the wolf encampment they were just outside of. The wolf appeared worried, his face written with distraught as some part of him felt he should ask Bernard for permission.
"It is your stuff, after all." Duran pressed the issue not about to let it slide because of Arn's position in the war-party. "It'd just be the two of us. Go get your things. Then return before the hunting party returns." Duran smiled softly, taking one of Arn's hands in both of his own.
"An no one would know?" Arn asked still uncertain on the matter.
"None would be the wiser." Duran agreed, getting up and pulling on Arn's paw as he did so. "Lets just get a few bags to carry the stuff in, some provisions and then we'll be back before anyone even suspects we went somewhere."
Arn still wanted to refuse, but couldn't. Looking at the hopeful face of the polecat staring up at him with those wide emerald green eyes and a smile on his face. If it made him happy, the wolf could do this one thing. Then maybe, Duran would be willing to sleep in his bed.
And so the two were soon off, having to loop around the back way where they held their training practice before escaping out onto the open tundra. Duran still wore the wolf's heavy cloak over his shoulder, the inner parts were lined with what Duran could only figure to be polar bear pelts. It was comfortable but smelled like an old blanket belonging to a... well, a dog. It was hard to complain as everything, so far, was going as planned and Duran even thanked Arn as he crawled back up onto the wolf's back.
Arn, on all fours, began running towards the camp.
It was a long journey for the two but they had plenty of daylight to spare and the storm hadn't slowed their progress down this time.
The camp was as how Duran remembered it, in shambles. The wooden posts had been broken in and the beams supporting his tent had all snapped. Broken carriages, other tents and supplies riddled the camp. Scattered about as if a hurricane had torn it down, rather than a pack of wolves.
The snow hid most of the damage and the camp looked old, quiet and somehow Duran felt as if he were walking into a graveyard as they stopped at the edge of it.
"Give me a moment, please." Duran just smiled at Arn after he got off his back. "I'll.. I'll get your things, for you." And with that Duran moved into the camp.
The polecat made his way slowly towards the central tent, his own. One side of it had been ripped clean open, where the wolf named Bella had taken the royal red silk as her prize for the hunt. The rest of the tent had collapsed on the other side, half of it had been burned by a spilled oil lantern. The other half was buried underneath the snow from the storm that had hit.
Duran stepped through the rip in the wall and walked over to the chest next to where he had been sleeping. Where he had awoken during the middle of the attack. Hearing the screams, the battle crys and those frightening howls of the wolves that set on them.
Duran wasn't sure when he had fallen on his knees, or when he had picked up the helmet of his dear friend and bodyguard; holding it close to his chest as he wept for their loss. All those who had died here today just because of a mistake.
Then it dawned on him, that this wasn't a mistake. That someone had done this. Tricked the wolves into attacking them and sent them, his own men, to die. For what gain? He wasn't sure. He could only guess, speculate on the matter. But his sorrow had quickly turned into anger. A pure hatred for those responsible for this.
A large paw touched his shoulder, as the wolf crouched down beside him. Duran didn't look over his shoulder at Arn, who had indeed followed him in.
"I know you don't bury your dead. That you forget about them. And let... let the cold North reclaim their bodies. But may I?" Duran asked, hot tears running down his face now as he turned to look at the wolf. "May I please at least... bury this one?"
Arn didn't speak, only lowered his head with a nod and ended up helping the polecat dig the body out of the snow and into a shallow grave. The weasel, belonging to one of the side families, had a massive wound on his front. The captain of his guard had died fighting at least, not killed from behind like so many others were. And Duran used his helmet as a grave marker.
Even without asking, Arn had dug four more graves within the frozen earth. The wolf was panting a bit as he finished the last one, not even looking at Duran as he headed over to bury a few other bodies he had seen while following the polecat.
Duran helped with what he could, but it was Arn who did most of the work.
"I wasn't part of the original assault." Arn spoke softly, once more in that soft deep voice that shook his very chest with every word he spoke. "I was just a scouting member. That had been told to come towards here."
Duran looked at him. "Told too?"
"We didn't know what to be on the look out for. Just that we were to be." Arn looking down at his dirty hands. "This isn't any way for a Lupin to act." Arn clenched his hands into tight fist. "Attacking like this. We are warriors, not... not this..." The wolf cursed, turning his head to look over the destroyed camp. Arn was on his knees, sagged over a bit.
Duran didn't reply at first, just rubbed his arm and followed the wolf's gaze over the wreckage.
"I'm not so dumb." Arn spoke now facing the polecat. "To know why you wanted to return here." Duran once more didn't reply. "We are taught not to care or feel for our fallen dead. To leave the injured behind and to fight as if even death can't stop us." Arn shook his head once. "Some of the others follow those rules as if that is all we all. Not all of us, could just so easily move on if our brothers and sisters died." Arn held both hands together for a few seconds, his fists tightening a bit. "I can see their side to it." The wolf spoke looking up at him once more. "Sometimes it's easier to believe that there is no such thing as death. So we won't have to worry about leaving those we care about behind. Or to be left alone, when they are taken from us."
Arn got up and walked over, getting down on one knee so he was roughly even height as the polecat was. He placed a hand on his shoulder. "If there is anything else, you wish for. All you have to do is ask." And the wolf moved a fraction of an inch closer.
Then his eyes widened and Duran found himself being thrown to the side, with enough force to skid through the snow.
The polecat cursed loudly, looking up before his muzzle dropped open and the snow next to him was stained in scarlet. The red of blood.
Duran wasn't sure how they had snuck up on them, or why there were so many. But a whole group of Ursa set on them with the sound of thunder as their battlecrys rang out. Arn met theirs with his own, a low deep howl that ripped the sky in two as the wolf let it go as if he had been using a warhorn rather than his own voice.
Duran knew what that was. It was the sound of a wolf in need, a sound calling for backup.
Arn parried one of the front Ursa, a massive white polar bear, blows with his sword. Spinning the blade around and then hacking it into another one of the Ursa's arms. More blood was spilled and the Ursa howled himself, in pain as he recoiled back and tripped over one of the fallen support beams for a tent.
Another Ursa, larger than the other three, moved behind Arn with a only a pair of oversized claws that were fitted over his own claws. The bear raked down with the three metal points, tearing Arn's cloak to shreds as the wolf barely avoided the attack. Side stepping to one side, Arn slammed his shoulder hard into the first of the bears; grabbing the arm of the other and pulling it with another force for the massive bear to be dragged forward. His own body used to block the third ones attack. And the bears weapon tore into his allies shoulder.
Arn was managing to hold his own, impressing the polecat. But it was clear he was outnumbered as another bear moved in holding a large harpoon. The attack was off, in order not to hit his companions as the other had. It still manage to hit Arn in the side and the wolf snarled in pain.
Duran couldn't see what happened next as there was movement from the corner of his eye and he jumped, rolling out of the way of a battleaxe. Duran caught himself in mid roll with a hand and pushed himself off, up and back onto his feet. Spinning himself with the roll to face his would be attacker. The bear wore the most armor of the group and Duran begged him for the leader.
"Halt!" Duran shouted at the bear. "I am Duran of the Felcrest clan. Envoy of the Empress and Ambassador for the Valley." The polecat straightened up and glared at the bear who had stopped in mid track. "Assaulting me is declaring war against the Valley itself."
Arn snarled loudly again and Duran did his best not to look over to see what had happened.
"I order you to halt." Duran demanded.
The bear chuckled a bit, holding his axe loosely in one hand. The bear tested it's weight. "A polecat here? In the North? And a fancy little thing, aren't you?" It smiled wickedly at him. "Tell me! Scroll keeper," the bear mocked. "Why do you travel with a Lupine?"
Duran quickly made the gears in his head turn, trying to find the best possible explanation for this. Then he heard Arn cry out once more and watched as the wolf fell over, holding his side and bleeding even worse than he had before. The strain of the assault only making the wound he received all the worse. Duran could see his blood spilling out onto the snow.
And it was then that Duran thought of something. Why was he helping this wolf out in the first place? The Ursa were still an open candidate for the treaty in the North.
"I am an Ambassador, on a mission of peace." Duran began before pointing a finger at Arn. "Until this bastard attacked me!" Arn grimaced, holding his side and looked away. "The wolves are filthy barbaric creatures that don't even know the meaning of peace." Duran turned back to the bear, bowing and pressing a hand over his heart. "I and my party had been on our way to make contact with the noble Ursa clan, in hopes of opening up lines of communication. When we hadn't heard back from you." Duran looked up. "We had gotten worry. But I see," and the polecat turned to face the wolf. "That our fears were unjust."
The bear laughed loudly at that, moving over. Duran watched him from the corner of his eye until the bear was standing next to him. Unlike the others, this bear was slightly brown instead of pure powder snow white. The Ursa clapped a hand onto Duran's shoulder, nearly buckling his legs with the force.
"Then it would appear we came at the perfect time!" The bear grinned at the wolf, enjoying the scowl he got from Arn. Not at being defeated, but for touching the polecat that belonged to him. "What shall we do with this... barbaric beast? Should we take him back alive?" The polar bear asked, looking down at Duran now.
"If I may be so bold..." Duran said, moving forward and picking up a fallen sword one of his old guards had been carrying. The blade was ice cold to the touch, just how Duran felt as he lifted the sword up, turning it around and with the tip of it thrusting it against the wolf.
The polecat leaned in close, close enough to bite Arn's ear if he so chose too and held the blade there with both hands. And finally, slowly, he pulled the sword back. The blade was coated in thick blood and Duran showed it all the bears around them before tossing it aside.
"The only good wolf, is a dead one." And Duran spat to the side. The Ursa's exchanged a look and the lot of them burst out laughing. "And I thought they smelled bad on the outside." And Duran shrugged at that, wiping his hand off on the cloak he still wore and let it too fall to the ground.
Loud howls broke out in the distance, responding to the one Arn had given.
"The others will be here soon." The leader of the Ursa's said looking at his band before turning to Duran. "Come, you will find our hospitality far more familiar to what your accustomed too."
Duran gave another bow and accompanied them as they withdrew. "Thank you, Lord Ursa. I would have the name of my savor."
"Lord?" The bear asked before chuckling loudly and patting the polecat on the back as they quickly retreated. "I am Braun, of the Ursa clan. Leader of this rag tag group." And the bear laughed along with some of the others.
"Why is the Ursa clan so far inland? Our reports state..." Duran tried to ask, panting a bit as he had to run to keep up with the bears.
"Not now, little one." The bear said with a shake of his head. "A feast first! For our new little champion. Our little wolf slayer," and the bears around him laughed and song praises of his kill.
Duran played along, looking back over his shoulder and at the diminishing camp in the distance. He could barely make out the other wolves there. Wondering if they'd be in time to save Arn.
Arn clenched his teeth tightly, shaking violently as his comrades came to his aide.
"Brother," Bella, one of the largest of the wolves; the female with the double bladed axe, said as she stopped to inspect his wounds. "We heard your howl."
"Ursa." Arn barely managed to say, coughing a bit. He clenched his fist tightly. "We need to move quickly, they... they..." And he toppled over in pain. Cursing himself. Shaking once more in anger.
Anger for his weakness.
Duran's sword had slid right along the front of Arn's throat, stabbing into the bloody snow. "Don't move," the polecat had hissed in his ear. "Feign death, play 'possum. Or they will kill you. And me both." And Duran turned the sword a bit so the blade would be coated in the blood spilling from one of Arn's wounds. "Arn, you have to do me a favor now."
Arn cursed loudly as the other wolves began helping him back up, treating and licking his wounds as they brought him back to camp.
"Please Arn, your the only one." Duran had begged.
Arn nearly fell over once more but Bella caught him, carrying most of his weight now.
"Please Arn."
The wolf snarled loudly, not at the pain in his side. But at his own weakness. At how it was Duran, in the end, that saved his life.
"Save me." The polecat begged, before pulling the sword free and showing the bears. Tricking them into thinking he had given the wolf a killing blow.
And now the polecat was out of the frying pan and into the fire as he was practically carried to the Ursa's nearby camp.