III
SHE FOUND HERSELF UP AGAINST A STRONG OPPONENT one night after abruptly being awakened with the sting of fresh wounds and blood running down her neck. This is not the first time Firekeeper had been put in this situation. Some years back when Firekeeper was resting outside of the Eagles Nest castle, North Western, a new male of her pack, had Firekeeper by her neck when accusing her of treason of warning the humans of a possible attack. That fight was resolved with some thought, but tonight Firekeeper felt as if she was in a more vulnerable position against an opponent stronger that North Western. Also not to mention Blind Seer isn't there to assister her, or protect her.
"How do we trust that you will get the job done? You are nothing more than a human, and like the rest of them, you to will eventually betray the beasts as well," the male said.
"My body is indeed human," Firekeeper replied, "but my heart is wolf." With this last statement the male lunged forward, but Firekeeper managed to jump out of the way. She then maneuvered to grab the wolf's neck and pin the male against the ground. He then leapt up and then forced Firekeeper to the ground; quickly she then pulled her knife out of its sheath and used the hilt of the knife to hit the belly of the wolf. This forced the male to get off of her. Firekeeper then took this moment to get into a stance to better defend herself as the male took charge once more.
BLIND SEER WAS OUT looking for food as Derian was putting out the campfire in preparation to continue their journey towards the Iron Mountains. "I found a few fish we could eat," Blind Seer said as he trotted back into camp, "and up the road are bushes that bear fruit." "Good," Derian said in reply. Blind Seer walked over to where Derian was and dropped the fish in his hand. I have to eat this, raw? Derian thought. Seeing the expressing in Derian's face Blind Seer said, "If you don't want it, I would be more than glad to eat it, besides, it would be a bad ideal to waste food." Blind Seer sat there amused at watching Derian eat the fish uncooked.
After that was over, the pair set off for the mountains. "Now, Derian, when we do eventually reunite with the pack, I must caution you to not mention how you are able to speak the language of the wolves. If the situation arises and it catches the attention of one of them, then resort to this. Just tell them that you had the talent to work with horses, and when we traveled to the Nexus Islands you undergone a fever that affected those who have any sort of talent. Tell them that it changed you and you are now forever able to speak the language of the beasts. Now, at least that's not lying completely. You did undergo the fever that changed you, and you were able to speak to beasts, just of a specific species, horse."
"So you have not told you family yet," Derian asked, "about you ability to control the force of magic?"
"No," Blind Seer answered, lowering his head in shame. "I'm afraid to."
They stopped walking.
"Why?"
"I'm afraid, that they will reject me, or at the very least think different of me, or act different around me, act as if they don't want me or care for me or avoid me."
"They are your pack, I'm absolutely positive that they will accept you." Derian said rubbing Blind Seer's head between the ears, "but I promise you, I will not mention that fact that you used magic to allow me to communicate with you."
They began to pick back up the walking. This last thing Derian said made Blind Seer feel much better, even with the lingering doubt within him.
THE FIGHT BETWEEN FIREKEEPER AND THE MALE went on into the morning. She had not pursued in the stalemate without harm being inflicted upon her. Firekeeper had been thrown around quite a bit, she had blood running down her are as she sustained many cuts along her side, arms, legs and back. Since the beginning of the fight, Firekeeper had given him many chances to surrender, but after so many failed attempts, an unwanted reality was coming to Firekeeper. She was getting the feeling he was not going to stop until she was dead, she knew she couldn't keep this up, and that the wolf had a lot more stamina than she, and most importantly, she knew she was going to do what she dread. The wolf made another pass by her and she took her knife to the male's side. Quickly the fur turned red as it was being stained with his own blood. The sharp pain he felt as the knife gashed his flank made him cringe. "Now, I give you one last chance, subdue to me, or be killed," Firekeeper warned and just then with a loud fierce sum growl the male leapt forward.