….
The wolf paced around its kill, the light dancing off its fur in incandescent beams. In the light, he could see it wasn't so much black as it was grey. Its fur mottled, covered in scabs and sickly. It was a mere shadow of the beast it once was. He raised his head proudly, snarling and snapping as he pushed forward, driving the sickly thing back.
He nosed at the body, trying to get it to stir. The snap of a branch as the grey wolf stepped forward brought his head up and he snarled, deep and low. He crouched himself over the red wolf, growling as he held his protective stance regardless of the fact it was already dead. All he knew was that this sick, grey, shadow of the proud creature they were would not come anywhere near them.
…
Chapter 6:
Warship Great Bear
Within Inner Sphere Space
The Rift, Far Periphery
Raylan walked into the exercise room to find Cole, shirtless and wrapping his hands. Instantly, Raylan began to doubt his decision. Even in his uniform, Cole had been intimidating but without his shirt and in standard P.T. shorts, he was a monster. Muscles tensed and flexed in knotted balls and Raylan was reminded of watching Vera taking her Trial of Bloodname. She had fought an elemental in hand to hand combat in the first round and nearly lost an arm for her trouble.
"Are you ready, Star Captain Raylan of the Wolves?" He asked, tossing the tape aside as he purposefully flexed his arms and chest. Raylan tossed his shirt aside and balled his hands into fists, a silent signal that brought a smile to Cole's lips. "Good…"
Raylan went forward, trying to put as many ducks and weaves into his motion as he could. He was wagering that, given his size, Cole would be slower on his feet and not quite as nimble with his hands. Raylan might not be able to hit as hard as Cole probably could, but he could out maneuver them.
Raylan ducked low as Cole took the first swing and prepared to give a combo to the big man's solar plexus only to find Cole's hand wrapped around his throat and being lifted up. The speed took him off guard amount before the floor knocked the wind out of him. Raylan grunted and rolled back to his feet as best he could.
A moment later, Cole was charging and driving his knee forward and giving Raylan only a moment to bring his arms up to block the blow from crushing his nose. Another blow slammed into the side of his head and sent Raylan sailing. Raylan twisted and landed on all fours, springing forward and driving his fist into Cole's stomach and twisting.
Cole barely flinched and Raylan brought his other fist into his chest, using the last of his momentum to drive Cole back. Cole took a few stumbling steps backwards but found his footing quickly.
Raylan was out of breath, his body suffering from the blows Cole had inflicted on him already and he knew he couldn't last long. The Ghost Bear was proving to be much more of a threat than Raylan had anticipated. He was much faster than anyone Cole had ever fought, and much faster than Raylan had anticipated. He needed to do something to get and advantage over the Star Colonel.
Raylan dug his heels in and charged in what looked like a bull tackle, but at the last minute leapt forward, tucking his arms in to make a spear like form with his elbows.
The blows hit him lightning quick, barely registering in Raylan's mind as Cole stepped aside from Raylan's attack. His fist crashed into his stomach, and a moment later Cole's knee hit the same spot. Bile clawed at Raylan's throat but stopped in a second as Cole's hand clasped on Raylan's throat and belt. The massive man lifted Raylan up and slammed him back down on his spine, cracking the vertebrae audibly.
Raylan groaned in pain, writhing for a moment before Cole planted his knee on Raylan's throat and he clawed at the massive limb as it pressed down on Raylan's windpipe.
"Do you yield, Raylan of the Wolves?" Cole growled, his tone almost mocking. Raylan snarled, feeling a surge of energy as fury washed over him. "Ah, there is the wolf I have heard of so much."
Raylan spun his legs up and caught the back of Cole's head with his toe. Cole rolled off and back to his feet, nimble as a cat despite his size but Raylan was on him in an instant. He wrapped himself around Cole like a python, his leg locking over the Ghost Bear's neck and chest and his hands grabbing Cole's wrist. He pulled the limb straight, putting more and more stress on the joints until they began to pop and creak painfully.
Cole lifted Raylan up and slamming him down multiple times, but Raylan held strong, pulling further and further but Cole wouldn't give in. Finally, the arm popped out of place and Cole grunted in pain but let Raylan fall from the limb.
He looked at the limb and Raylan could hear the big man panting but not out of pain. He snarled, his eyes wild and menacing as Raylan tried to get back to his feet. Then, the big man laughed and snapped the limb back into place.
"Well, I suppose we can call this a draw. You fight well, Raylan of the Wolves." Cole said, lifting Raylan to his feet.
"You could just all me 'Raylan', Star Colonel." Raylan said, panting as the pain and exhaustion hit him like a truck.
"It is better to know and remember were you come from, even when the whole universe threatens to take it away from you." Cole responded, sitting down and handing him a water bottle.
"I am not sure I understand." Raylan said, taking a long drink and feeling it burn like fire in his throat.
"When I was young, many years ago, my sibko was moved a lot. Much more than was normal. To this day I do not know why but we had not home, at least not like you wolves. You are of Strana Mechty, quiaff?"
"Yes, we are." Raylan said, maintaining his act even as he saw a slight twitch of Cole's muscle at the Sphereoid speech.
"Now, you have no homeworld. The other clans have taken that from you. Truth be told, you do not even really have a clan anymore." He held up a large hand before Raylan could ask anything. "I know about your mission. As I have stated before, Galaxy Commander Tseng and I are…close. She informed me of your mission. All of it. I know the three of you are dezgra for all intents and purposes. You can never return to your clan, not in the traditional sense. And even if you could, the Clan Wolf you left, the one that made you a warrior, it may not be there anymore. It may be something you scarcely recognize."
"Why are you saying this to me?" Raylan asked, feeling anger surging within him unbidden.
"Because I want you to understand this. You are Raylan, Star Captain of Clan Wolf. No one, no distance, no enemy can take that from you. Do you know of "the great work"?" Cole asked him, noting the anger in Raylan's voice.
"Yes. It is a Ghost Bear tradition. When one of yours comes of age, especially warriors, you begin a personal task of importance. I've heard that Galaxy Commander Tseng is a painter."
"She is." Cole said with a chuckle. "Although I would not make mention of knowing that. She is…very private about her personal life. Anyway, I, Raylan of the Wolves, am a historian. An Oathmaster of sorts, if you would like. Except I do not just record what the Clan deems glorious. I have recorded everything I have seen and everything I could get my hands on. And what I have learned is that remembering where we come from grounds us even in the most unfamiliar of times."
"I still don't understand, Star Colonel." Raylan said, looking at the big man in wonder and confusion.
"In the coming months, you will be in a land you have seen nothing but hostility in previously. You will most likely feel lost, perhaps even alone despite your three comrades. But never forget, you are Raylan of Strana Mechty. Raylan of the Wolves. In your heart beats the hunt and you hear the howl that pierces the stars. I want you to understand that no matter how lost you are, you will be remembered by at least one person as Raylan of the Wolves. Do not lose heart, even if you must stray from your path."
Cole put a hand on Raylan's shoulder and smiled at him and then stood up.
"Now then, Raylan of the Wolves, I hear your Star Captain Vickers is looking for you. Thank you for this fight. It has been refreshing. We will be jumping soon, and then it will be up to your dropship to take you the rest of the way. I wish you the best of luck, my friend. If we do not see each other before you depart, know you will be remembered in my chronicle."
"Thank you, Star Colonel Woods. I can only hope our paths cross again somewhere down the line." They shook hands and Raylan headed back to the room the three Wolves shared. He could only imagine what Cary Vickers could want from him.
…..
