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Rekkdyr

"Your arm is looking better." Skempta grinned. I glanced down at the mess of scab and angry red flesh that was my forearm.

"Thanks to Vailadriel." I replied, glancing up at the arena. I could see my bastard sword thrust into the ground just beyond the wooden gate.

"Fairy knows her craft, I'll giver her that." the antlered orc chuckled. Her sword was next to mine, protruding from the ground with her large wooden round shield resting against it.

"What can we expect?" I asked, eying the gate opposite us.

"We are either about to face another team or beast, likely." She replied, smile fading somewhat.

I could sense she was worried about my effectiveness in combat, what with my injuries. Apart from my arm, my cheek and jaw were slowly healing. Half my teeth were still visible through a slowly healing tear, giving my hyena face an even more gruesome smile. The wound also made talking rather painful.

Luckily, Vail had determined my chest and lungs the worst of my injuries, and dedicated most of her healing magics to those. It was now difficult to tell they were ever wounded at all.

"...proving it takes more than a monster croc to take him down, Sir Rekkdyr Trollsbane, back from the edge of death itself!" the announcer cried to the roar of the arena. "Accompanied by the Mistress of beasts, the daughter of stags, the orc Skempta!"

The gates swung upen, and I wasted no time in rushing for my sword, freeing it from the earth.

I glanced at Skempta, and she gave me a tusky grin, gripping her shield and sword beside me.

"Now! These two have shown qualities uncharacteristic of their races! Let's see how their kin receive such deviance!"

All other gates swung open, and four new combatants entered the arena. Two gnolls and Two orcs.

The orcs were men, one wielding a massive axe, the other, a thrusting spear. They were dressed in what appeared to be thick Rhino hides, and each had a tribal look to them.

The gnolls wore absolutely nothing, and I could immediately tell they were both female by the fact they towered over me. They both gave a hideous cackle, as they swung about their wicked looking flails threateningly, eyes darting to me.

I couldn't help but feel ashamed knowing I wasn't too indistinguishable from them at the moment, as I stood nude in the arena. The one thing that differentiated me from them was their random bone piercings, including the wicked bone splinters in their elongated penis-like clits.

"The Bonefang gnolls have long allied themselves with Clan Bloodspear." Skempta said, eyeing the newcomers.

The gnolls rushed forward, cackling madly. I ran forward to meet their charge, hoping to use my longer weapon to my advantage.

I swung wildly, chopping high, and sweeping low, thrusting, and spinning ferociously.

A flail managed to wrap itself around my blade.

The gnoll gave a wicked laugh, yanking powerfully against my blade, sending the weapon flying free of my grasp. I dove forward immediately, not about to be caught weaponless and on the run.

I crashed into the surprised hyena woman, just as the others flail swung freely overhead.

I felt pain in my leg as she clawed out, tearing my flesh.

I managed to rip the flail from her grasp, before rolling away swinging up to meet the others flail as it sailed down for another attack.

Our weapons met, the chains wrapping around each other. We both moved to tear the others weapon free, but only succeeded in disarming both of us.

She leaped forward, biting hard into my shoulder. I roared, punching out with my injured arm, catching her in the eye.

She stumbled back, as the other leaped at me. I dove forward, skull-bashing her in the jaw. My eyes darted to my sword on the opposite side of the arena. They would be on me by the time I ran for it.

I managed to dodge a swipe from one of the gnoll women's claws, stumbling back. My own claws were no longer as dull as they had been when I had initially arrived. I usually tried to keep them filed and smooth, as proper folk grew uncomfortable at the unsightly weapons of a beast.

I managed to bat away another swipe, this time utilizing my natural weapons. The thought of fighting just like these animals before me pained me greatly, but I was beyond honor, now. It was fight or die, and I had a duty to live. I had to make sure Vailadriel escaped this hell.

The gnoll spun away yowling in pain as angry lines of red dripped down her forearm.

I rushed the other one, who was ready for me. She dove low to all fours unexpectedly, jaws snapping ferociously at my thigh. I fell back, feeling her teeth sinking painfully into my flesh.

I managed to grab a rock from the arena floor, about the size of my fist, and slammed the gnoll painfully in the ear, causing her to release her grip on my leg.

I wasted no time in falling upon her, slamming her repeatedly in the head with my stone.

Her ally leaped at me, slamming me from her motionless comrade.

I felt her jaws close around my arm as her claws set to work tearing into my chest and neck.

I managed to limit the damage by bracing my free arm between her chest and my own, limiting her reach with her monstrous arms. I noticed her bone pierced girl-dick pressing into my stomach.

It was a dirty move, but I reached down, gripping the large bone spine skewered through her sex organ, and I ripped it free, causing her to roar in agony, releasing my arm. I pushed her over, rolling on top of her, and driving the bone splinter deep into her jugular.

I stood, covered in the blood of my kin, as the life drifted from the dying hyena-woman.

The other one was stumbling around, trying to regain her feet. I bolted to my discarded sword.

The gnoll managed to gain her knees, wiping blood from her eyes. I chopped quickly, severing her head from her shoulders.

The crowd roared in absolute blood-lust, and I gave a hideously bestial growl in response.

I shook my head, regaining my composure, I turned to see one dead orc, blood fountaining from his chest, and the other bearing down on Skempta.

It was the spear wielder, and he seemed to also be utilizing his advantage of range, as he thrust wildly.

I circled behind him thrusting at his back. He managed to spin around, slamming the shaft of his spear into my weapon, knocking it aside freely.

It was all Skempta needed, however, and I saw the tip of her longsword explode through the front of the orcs chest.

She ripped her sword free, dropping the dying orc to the ground. The crowd roared in glee.

I fought the urge to growl again, clenching my eyes shut.

"Absolutely thrilling! What a fight! The civilized gnoll is perhaps not as refined as we thought!" the announcer cried. "But, this fight is not over!"

My eyes shot open, and I turned to a gate that was opening. Out stepped a monster of an Orc, accompanied by the largest gnoll I'd ever seen.

Aatu

Our days became a sort of routine, training coupled with travel and the random hunt. I learned quickly that Fornvarr had a far different way of hunting than that of my pack.

Admittedly, however, it was efficient, though far from the methods my father had always claimed humans used.

I once told Fornvarr of some of the stories and myths about humans my father told me, and he frowned. Many, he said, were correct, but only for certain groups of humans. Not all wear the skins of other animals.

One night, while sitting at camp, Fornvarr had asked me if the flames of the fire bothered me, as usual, I laid in the shadow of a large tree far from the fire.

I told him it did, that flames were unpredictable, and I could feel the heat radiating even from where I rested.

He asked me to come closer, that we may continue training with a new spell.

I hesitantly did as he asked, sitting once again by the open flames of our fire. Winter wolves have a rather negative reaction with fire. Somehow, our elemental nature just makes fire that much more frightening for our kind.

He sat, lifting one of the gathered tree limbs we were using for firewood.

"Bol." he said, and the branch sparked into flames. He tossed the burning branch into the fire.

"If you take your greatest fear, or weakness, and make it a strength. That is courage. Furthermore, enemies cannot use your weakness against you. So, I will teach you a series of fire related spells, starting with one that merely produces a spark to ignite flammable objects. This will lead to a greater understanding of the natural element of fire." He spoke, gazing into the flames.

I was already panting heavily now, sitting by the open heat source.

"What if I cannot stand the heat?" I asked.

Fornvarr's gaze left the fire, eyes falling on me. He smiled.

"You are a creature of the cold. You were born into a world of ice and snow. Your breath chills the blood of your prey. You know Frost. Have an understanding of it, and therefore, it cannot harm you. I believe the same immunity will come when you understand fire."

I gave a very human-like nod. The action gave me pause. When I finally returned home, I doubted whether my pack would recognize me. My mannerisms and body language had changed dramatically. I had also grown to nearly double my size from when I was last captured.

Now, I was a large, young adult wolf, nearly the size of a pony or small horse. With Fornvarr's aid, I'd seen regular, healthy meals, and even accepted a strange poultice every morning under his tutelage that he claimed would aid in physical and mental health. It appeared his efforts were paying off.

"Why, Fornvarr? Why do you help me?" I asked suddenly.

"Because, many among the human lands fear the large ghost wolves that roam the northlands. They hear stories of packs the size of small warbands setting upon villages and devouring the poor inhabitants. I, however, believe that many of these are just stories. Like your father tells tale of my kind, so to ours of yours. Some truths may exist in the words, but that cannot possibly be your entire species." he replied.

"But, why? I do not fall under your pack. Why risk an outsider, who you have seen kill before your eyes?"

"Have you ever heard the story of the arctic elf druidess known as the Frost Witch?" Fornvarr asked.

"No." I replied, consciously refraining from shaking my head in such a human motion.

"Not surprised. She was a powerful druid raised in the tundra's near your homeland to the northwest. Trained by my circle, she left our order when she was only a young girl. Forty-seven years to an elf is around the equivalent to a human of 9 years, or a wolf pup of just a few months. She left to return to her people, who were warring with a large and powerful pack of winter wolves from a small remote valley. Instead of continuing the bloody conflict that left her nomadic peoples decimated, as well as the pack of winter wolves, she sought a different solution."

I tried to imagine a young wolf pup solving a dire problem of an entire pack. I couldn't help but chuckle.

"Now, as I said, this girl held an unusually powerful connection to the magics of nature, and could already change her form. She took the form of a silver wolf, and went to the packs border. She was quickly set upon by the wolves, but the young girl held her ground, asking to speak to the alpha. I'm not sure if she impressed the wolves with her youth or bravery, but the alpha stepped forward. She told him she represented the elves, and sought an end to their conflict."

I couldn't help but picture my sister, Istas, eyes as silver as the moon, with fur to match. She was a young pup when I left, just like me. She was now probably grown into a full, beautiful she-wolf, perhaps even readying to birth her first litter.

"The alpha agreed, on the condition that she remain with the pack to prove their willingness for peace. The Frost Witch agreed without hesitation, asking only that she be allowed to return once every year to see her family and kin. The alpha found these terms acceptable, and through this young girl's sacrifice, peace came to both the wolves and the elves. I suppose, my point is, the girl viewed the wolves not as monstrous beasts to be put down, but as sentient creatures that could be reasoned with. I wouldn't be a very good druid if I ignored such wisdom." He finished.

I gazed into the fire deep in thought. The heat and smoke stung my eyes painfully, and I glanced away.

"Ah, so, fire. Here, I want you to ignite this branch with the spell I just used, Bol." He said, dropping a branch at my feet. I focused on the tree-limb, thinking hard on what I wanted to do.

"Bol." I said in a breathy whisper, directed at the branch. Frost escaped my muzzle, drifting in the air like a light whitish-blue cloud, before dissipating. The branch did not ignite.

"You have a mental block. Don't worry, we will get you slinging fire before you know it!" Fornvarr grinned, nodding for me to try again.

Ciara

Aklys and I stalked opposite sides of the camp. I could just make out her eyes reflecting the fire-light opposite me. Hopefully nobody else would notice them.

Thankfully, the slavers all seemed too interested in their drinking. I gripped my bow, slowly drawing an arrow from my hip quiver.

The undergrowth would make my first shot a bit difficult, but I didn't fear. I knew the arrow would find it's mark.

I drew back on the bowstring, arrow nocked and ready to fly.

I heard the low growl from Aklys' hiding spot, which also gave the intoxicated men by the fire pause. They glanced that direction, reaching for various weapons and the like. That was the signal.

The first arrow caught a man directly in the lower back, dropping him right in the fire.

The second caught a monster of a man in the kidney as he turned to face his new attacker.

Just as I was readying the third arrow, a large, white and black spotted leopard slammed atop one of the mans backs, knocking him to the ground and savagely mauling him.

An arrow from my bow caught a fourth from trying to bury his axe in the cat on top of his companion, and a fifth charged for me, finally seeing the tiny halfling girl felling his companions with a quick bow.

I dove forward, just below the mans swing from his club, rolling between his legs and coming up on the other side with my hunting knife. I drove the small blade deep into his calf, before tearing it free, and spinning around to slice across his opposite thigh.

He yowled in pain, stumbling around to get away from his miniature attacker. I fought to stay underfoot, slashing and spinning wildly.

Finally, the great cat leapt from her dead victim, crashing into the frantic man, and quickly ending his life with powerful jaws.

We finished off any wounded not killed by the arrows, and began to search the camp. It was a smaller band than the ones we'd encountered previously, lucky for us.

I don't smell him here. Aklys said in my mind.

"Damn. Probably already taken across the plains." I growled.

Perhaps. Though, that one elf did speak of an arena somewhere on the border of the Sutvalds. Any chances of them taking him there? The cat asked.

"I'm not sure slavers would think a halfling would make a very good gladiator." I replied. "Though it's definitely something we should consider." I added.

I think, our next move should be finding the arena. If nothing else, it is a stronghold for this organization, and may have information we could use. Aklys projected mentally.

"It's worth a shot. I'm not seeing any other options at this point. This is our fourth camp like this we have found, and still no sign of Camden."

I felt worry creeping up once again. I forced it back. Fear or worry would not do, not when I needed to keep a level head. For my brothers sake.

We quickly set off from the camp before any of the slavers allies arrived.

The next day, I awoke next to the large snow leopard. We had been camping without fire for security purposes, and the spring nights in the shadow of the Sutvald mountains were still chilly for a small halfling lass like myself.

The warm fur of the cat was so inviting, and I couldn't help but pull myself closer to the animal.

_Comfortable?_She thought, yawning.

The sudden mental intrusion startled me.

"Gods, cat! I've told you not do do that!" I scolded.

It was not easy getting use to the animals form of communication.

I do have a name, halfling. She replied, an unmistakable hint of humor in her voice.

"Sorry, Aklys. It's just, I'm use to my animals not being able to have conversations." I stated, sitting up against the early morning chill.

The large animal stretched luxuriously beside me, giant paws slowly reaching up to knead at my back gently. Acting like an oversized house cat wasn't helping things.

The druids would claim all animals have a voice. I once knew an old human that spoke to trees. She mocked.

I sighed, pulling my small fur cloak about me tighter. My breath caught on the mountain air in clouds, and a light dewy frost clung to the leaves and grasses.

"So, you and Camden, huh?" I asked finally, changing the subject. I had been meaning to ask that very question since I first learned of the animals true nature. "Might I ask why?"

Aklys sat up next to me.

You mean why do I choose to mate with someone of another species? She asked.

"It's just, you are a powerful, magical spirit of nature, granted a physical form. You could rip orcs to shreds with those razors, and I've seen your jaws crush bone and rip flesh with ease. Camden isn't exactly the pinnacle of masculinity. He is a tiny, sorta scrawny halfling. He can barely reach when you two do, you know, make love. What do you find attractive about him?" I asked at length. I loved my brother, but I just couldn't understand the cats sexual attraction to him.

Feline laughter echoed through my head.

_Naettura are able to mate with all creatures. It is not a matter of physical attraction, though I fear you sell your brother a bit short. We do not create monstrous half breeds when we mate, however. The Naettura's mate is capable of passing on certain traits, such as personality, or magical potential that is foreign to the Naettura's natural abilities. The offspring will usually take on the appearance of the Naettura parent. So if I were to carry your brothers children, they would likely be Snowcats like me._She explained.

"Yes, but that doesn't answer my question. Why Camden?"

He freed me from a terrible fate, and I was grateful. I found him as he travelled home from the academy, and asked that I may join him in his travels. I wanted to see what made this wizard different from all the others I had encountered in my life. I have lived a very long life. All to often, in my experience, humans who study magic grow distant from the world. It's why we Naettura exist, in a sense. More than one wizard has lost his life at the hands of a guardian spirit, because he overstepped his bounds, and threatened to throw the world into chaos. But that was not Camden.

I listened to the cat, thinking. Camden sure did have a heart, but I found it hard to believe he was the only wizard like that.

_Camden is not one who seeks power, strange as it may be. Any power he desires is not for self interests, but to help others. It is a trait to admire, and one, I feel, many underestimate. To answer your question, the reason I love your brother is because he has a beautiful soul, and saw me for what I am, not what I appear to be._Aklys stated, eyes gazing off into nothing.

Damn cat was eloquent, I'll give her that.

"Looks like you see him for what he is too, not just what he appears to be." I smiled.

Looking at the beautiful, powerful animal beside me, I couldn't help but grin. When we found Camden, I would stop giving him hell for fucking a large housecat. Hell, I would probably pay for a week in a fancy Inn with feathered beds for the two of them to have at it.