Chapter 9: Realm of Hares and Wolves

~Meanwhile a day prior in a vale elsewhere~

The sun was rising over the trees in the forest of the peaceful vale. The river ran through the vale and past a nearby hut and further down the river stood Greg. He was standing almost waist deep in the shallower part of the river. He was trying his best to focus and nab one of the nearby fish starting to swim around his paws. Greg waited a moment more and then quickly tried to grab a fish from the water but failed and scared all the other fish away.

"Darn" Greg said, "thought I had that one".

"Yes you did" said a Old Rabbit Person wearing a straw hat and European looking clothing of some kind behind him, "it is because you still lack the focus."

"Master Yosig" Greg said, "were you watching this whole time?"

"Not whole time" Yosig said, "but I seen your failure."

"Well" Greg said, "what does this have to do with learning self-defence?"

"It's what you as a student are supposed to do" Yosig said, "it's to.. teach reflexes and what not."

"I'm not a student though" Greg said, "you agreed to shelter me and my friend as long as we agreed to let you train us on fighting and survival and whatever else." "Kind of a good deal when you think of it, shouldn't we be paying for that?"

"Money is a source of evil." Yosig said, "that's why I grow food of my own, I only train you because much better than doing nothing".

"Makes sense" Greg said, "still though we should leave soon, I need to find my pa."

"When you are ready you can leave" Yosig said, "until then take break Aliran, find your lazy friend and tell him to practice form."

"Um, I'm Greg, remember?" Greg said.

"Oh right" Yosig said, "you remind me of Aliran my bad, Gerg was it?"

"Greg" Greg said, "that's my name, it's been like, two days how do you keep forgetting?"

"I'm old" Yosig said.

"Oh yeah" Greg said, "that's a good reason anyway I'll get Lix." Greg then goes to the hut beside the river and enters into it. He walks over to Lix still snoring, he had a bandage on his head from when he dropped head first from the portal; It was quite the rough landing.

"Lix" Greg said, "wake up."

"Mphhm, wha?" Lix mumbled, "oh hey, it's the little hero"

"Yeah" Greg said, "Yosig wants you to get your tail moving".

"Yeah of course he does" Lix said, "aah, my head still hurts, is that a bad thing?"

"No" Greg said, "you hit it on a rock so it's gonna ache for awhile."

"I was bleedin" Lix said, "you sure?"

"Yeah" Greg said, "it was just a small cut, I seen it when I helped Yosig bandage your big old head." "The only thing to worry about is a concussion, but you seem okay."

"If you say so" Lix said, "never thought I would find myself friends with someone like you though, it's been a weird past couple of days."

"Friends?" Greg asked.

"Yeah" Lix said, "you kept your cool unlike me and helped me and yourself out, something like that deserves massive respect little guy." "I know you're just a kid in all, but you are more adult than most adults out there, myself included."

"Thanks Lix" Greg said, "that means a lot."

"Yeah" Lix said, "I have done some regretful things before coming to Skyweather to start over, and well, I wish I was more like you when I was a kid, kind and educated." "Anyway what does old rabbit guy want anyway? To practice standing in a way or something?"

"He said to practice form" Greg said, "so yeah, that I guess?"

"Alright then" Lix said, "when you are ready to leave this old hare-bag behind you let me know okay?"

"Okay Lix" Greg said, "I guess I'll go see if Yosig needs any help harvesting carrots."

"Yuck" Lix said, "never liked vegetables and that's all this guy eats, man I would love some steak."

"Same here" Greg said, "anyway later." Greg exits out of the hut and walks over to Yosig digging up carrots.

"Need help?" Greg asked.

"No" Yosig said, "today I have crops, you should practice dual wielding, I will help demonstrate soon for now practice on own." Greg went and done as Yosig asked. He took out his daggers and practiced on a dummy set up in the little training yard between the hut and the crops. He thrusted his right hand, then his left, he flipped the daggers in his hands, twirled and stabbed. Greg seemed to be quite proficient with both of his hands. It didn't matter if he was using his right hand or his left hand he was just as accurate either or. Greg eventually heard a voice he didn't recognize and realized that Yosig was talking to some wolf man. The wolf man was dressed in some sort of skirt looking outfit to Greg, but realistically speaking he was dressed like a Roman Legionary.

"Rabbit" said The Wolf Man, "we have come to collect your debt."

"I told you" Yosig said, "I owe nothing."

"Yes you do" The Wolf Man said, "protection, if it wasn't for me, Commander Commodus, my men would have ransacked your little farm by now."

"For the final time" Yosig said, "leave, I will not give anything." Commodus then strikes Yosig and draws his sword. Upon seeing this Greg rushes to Yosig's side and stands in-between the Commander and Yosig.

"Get outta here!" Greg said, "or else I'll take ya!"

"Ha ha" Commodus laughed "ain't that cute. "Say you have got some fight in you and you are a wolf as well, a strangely colored one but still, why don't you enroll in my army?"

"No way!" Greg said, "leave him or else."

"No!" Yosig yells, "do not fight Greg, I'll give them what they want."

"Aw too bad" Commodus said, "I was hoping you would be more difficult." "That kid doesn't belong with you though, you should send him on his way." Yosig gives a basket of produce to the Commander and shoving it into his hands.

"The boy will do as he please" Yosig said, "now go." The Commander leaves and Yosig clutches his side.

"Are you going to be okay?" Greg asked.

"Yes, will be fine" Yosig said, "I must rest." Lix was waiting by the hut.

"Wow" he said, "what the heck? That jerk, oh man I hope that jerk pays for that."

"Yeah definitely" Greg said, "anyway we we should just make sure Yosig will be okay, he got hit pretty hard."

"Yeah" Lix said, "anyway that guy though, who the heck was he, some army leader? Whoo boy that seems kinda bad."

"Yeah and he wanted me to join him in his army too" Greg said, "I dunno if we should stay here".

"It is up to you" Lix said "go or stay it don't matter to me." The day then dragged on until eventually nightfall, Greg was sitting by the river bank looking up into the stars. He had his crossbow at his side, he would pick it up and fiddle with it every now and again in the moon's light. Eventually he heard what sounded like footsteps, he turned with his crossbow aiming at whatever was behind him.

"Woah" Lix said, "easy there it's just me little guy, you are a bit on edge after today still huh?"

"Yeah" Greg said, "sorry Lix, I thought you went to sleep."

"Well" Lix said, "you were still out here so I came to check on you, uh say while I'm here you wanna see a trick?"

"A trick?" Greg asked, "what trick?"

"You can enchant your crossbow" Lix said, "learn some magic and you can do that, here let me show you." Lix took some bolts from Greg and showed him how easily he could turn the crossbow bolts into ice bolts.

"There" Lix said, "now when you shoot someone you'll freeze e'm."

"Hey thanks Lix" Greg said, "think you could teach me ice magic so I can do that?"

"I ain't a good teacher" Lix said, "but I could try I guess." Lix tried his best to teach Greg how to use ice magic or at the very least use magical elements to enchant things for himself. In the end Greg was able to get somewhat of a grasp on how to enchant and even use ice magic himself but he still had a way to go.

"Well it's a start" Lix said, "if you keep at it eventually you'll get good."

"Naturally" Greg said, "thanks again Lix, if those wolf guys show up again we'll show e'm what for."

"Hope we're gone before they show up again" Lix said, "if that commander was any indication they are a pretty tough force."

"Why are you always so cowardly?" Greg asked, "you should always fight for the right thing."

"Yeah" Lix said, "but that is a pretty good way to get into.. trouble." "Trust me I know, it's better to just ghost through most situations."

"Maybe" Greg said, "but have you ever wanted to be a hero, like my dad?"

"No" Lix said, "it's more work than it's worth and trust me your dad probably wouldn't say he's a hero." "No one ever can confidently say they are a hero because heroes can't have flaws and must always make good choices." "No one has ever been able to do that, it's impossible." "I'm sorry to spit off at the mouth here but, heroes, that's a fantasy thing, I know that cause I was a kid once too, I used to have those same dreams." "Unfortunately they are just that, dreams."

"Okay" Greg said, "I just wanted to protect Yosig that's all."

"Mhmm" Lix said, "but that's how it all starts, you stand up for one guy and then you are stuck fighting a war."

"You are getting pretty worked up now" Greg said, "maybe we should just get some rest."

"Yeah" Lix said, "I am a little tired so that would do us some good." Greg and Lix then retire for the night but the next morning Greg could hear commotion outside.

"What?" Greg asked, "what's goin on?!"

"I dunno" Lix said, "I'll peek through the window". Lix looks through the window and sees the Commander is back but with a couple of soldiers, they were harassing Yosig for more resources.

"The Commander wolf is back with some cronies" Lix said, "we gotta go."

"No" Greg said, "we gotta help."

"Kid! No!" Lix shouted but Greg was already out the door. He shot a wolf soldier and froze him solid. The other soldier drew a bow but Lix freezed him before he could pull the string. Yosig seeing an opportunity stomped on Commander Commodus' ankle and punched him in the snout.

"Ow!" Commodus yelled "you'll regret that!" Greg shot another bolt at Commodus but the Commander held his sword up and it froze his sword solid. Quickly Commodus took out a dagger and and grabbed Yosig and held it up against his neck.

"Alright pip-squeak" Commodus said, "you will give us what we need or else he dies!"

"Don't kill him!" Greg yelled, "alright you win."

"Good" Commodus said, "and you have quite the fighting spirit kid, you're coming with us."

"What?" Greg asked, "no way, you're not taking me!"

"Then this old rabbit will di-" Commodus said before he was interrupted by Lix freezing him solid.

"Great job" Yosig said slipping out from the frozen wolf's grasp.

"Thanks" Lix said.

"That was sarcasm" Yosig said, "now we will have to flee, cannot live here no more."

"Oh, I didn't-" Greg began, "I- I'm sorry."

"Do not feel sorry" Yosig said, "you did what you thought was right." "Even though the outcome is bitter, you did a heroic thing, I feel you have the spirit to do much good in the future." "Now let's float these wolves down the river and began to prepare to leave."

"Okay" Greg said. They were able to float the wolf soldiers downstream no problem but upon returning to get Commodus they realize he's missing. They search the area but he is nowhere to be found so they began preparing to leave instead. By midday they were set to leave and they began to travel down the dirt road and eventually came to a mountainside. They walked along this mountain side off the beaten path with the mountain on their right and a large stretch of forest on the left. Eventually dusk fell so they decided to set up camp in a nearby cave. It was peaceful enough sitting around the campfire and chatting.

"...And that is why" Lix said, "you always should do a double take before you drink, cause let me tell you that was not fun."

"Yes" Yosig said, "quite the.. insightful tale.

"Speaking of drinks" Greg said, "I'm going to refill my canteen." "That stream was a little back the way we came right?"

"Yes" Yosig said, "do hurry and please be careful."

"I will" Greg said.'

"Woah hold on" Lix said, "I'm goin with you just in case."

"Good call" Greg said, "let's get movin." Greg takes a lantern and leaves with Lix following behind. They reach the stream but then from behind something whacks Lix in the back of his head. Lix dropped unconscious and in the lantern's light Greg saw the Wolf Commander.

"Stand back!" Greg shouted taking his dagger out, "I'm warning ya!" It was no use however, Greg was at a disadvantage leaving his crossbow behind and Commander Commodus was much better than Greg when it came to close combat. Commodus was quick to disarm Greg as he attacked and just like that there was nothing he could do as he was taken away.

"No! Help!" Greg yelled.

"Scream for help all you want" Commodus said, "but you are now apart of my army kid, train them while they are young they say!" "You have that fighting spirit and every wolf are to be drafted."

"I'm not a wolf though!" Greg yelled, "I'm a Kobold!"

"You look like a canine" Commodus said, "therefore you are of wolf brethren." "And the befriending of wolves and rabbits in my eyes are strictly prohibited." And like that Commodus has taken Greg away, eventually Lix wakes up and get's to his feet.

"Ugh," he groaned, "what the heck happened? Ow my head now it's worse, ffft ah, oh that is not good." "Wait, kid? Kid?! Greg! Where are you!?" "Oh no this is bad, real bad, what am I goin to do?!"

"Retrieve him" The Watcher said appearing behind him.

"What? Me?" Lix asked, "I mean yeah obviously but what's stoppin you? You saved him before right? Y'know, when you killed that wolf, who else would have done it?"

"I only intervene as a last resort" The Watcher said, it is for the best I stay shrouded in mystery."

"But why?!" Lix asked, "they took the poor kid away and I ain't got a clue on where to find him darn it!"

"I can see you are stricken with grief and anger" The Watcher said, "however just standing here feeling sorry will not help." "The Commander, Commodus, took him, they are heading to a city of wolves." "It is their capital known as Alegana, it is in the north-east from here."

"Yeah" Lix said, "cause we'll march in there and just ask nicely." "You really should at least lend us a hand."

"Perhaps" The Watcher said, "I can manipulate the outcome from the shadows." "Get there for now, until then I have other matters to attend too." The Watcher then disappears and Lix is left alone, he scrambles back to the cave and tells Yosig what happened.

"...And then after that the jerk just left" Lix said, "we have to get him back, and if you won't help I guess this is good-bye."

"I shall help" Yosig said, "however you must do as I say you hear?"

"What?" Lix asked, "whaddya mean by that?"

"What I mean" Yosig said, "is that you will follow my lead, we can only do this stealthily and you have a lot to learn." "I will have to train you along the way to ensure success."

"Okay" Lix said, "I'll do whatever."

"Good, now" Yosig said, "you mentioned this Watcher, I know of him." "He is a legend as old if not older than time itself." "If he is helping you then that is either a really good thing or a really bad thing."

"Guess we'll find out?" Lix asked.

"Perhaps" Yosig said, "let us hope for the positive outcome."

"Yeah" Lix said, "don't worry little guy we'll get ya, just hang in there."

~Meanwhile several hours later back with Rik elsewhere, wherever~

Rik awakens clutching his head.

"Ow" Rik said, "that hurt, where am I?" Rik looks around and realizes he is in a cell. Bars, bar door and a little window with more bars, a traditional medieval style cell.

"Well great" Rik said, "as if things weren't already bad…"

End of chapter 9

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