~Part One ~ The Last Days Of Summer~
~Chapter Ten~
The forest path was silent, the otters and squirrels having long since passed, the shadow of the sun cast over the forest sending streams of blood red light across the path. All three of the travelers, Ari, Aren and Kylin, lay silent in fear. Aren lay in the dirt at the side of the path, staring into the lifeless eyes of the former squirrel.
The eyes were wide open in a mix of terror and shock, while it was obvious that it had been murdered, by who was an unanswered question that haunted the otter. Kylin sat up, glancing around warily, Ari clinging to his fur in fright. A small movement caught the corner of the ferret's eye; instinctually he didn't move his body, following the movement with only his eyes and the he saw it.
"Aren!" He shouted and dove forward, shaking off Ari in the process, dagger out; Kylin caught the shadow as Aren brought up his in defense. The shadow fell dead into the dirt with its neck viciously slashed wide open. "We've got to go!"
"Why?" Aren asked as he was yanked and to his disbelief the ferret began running off with both otter siblings resting on the ferret's back, both clinging. The ferret ran with speed born of desperation, glancing back Aren found shadows flying towards them, eventually revealing themselves to be cloaked vermin, each one with a dagger out, intent on their prey.
"That's why." Kylin answered into between breaths, it was obvious the ferret couldn't go at his pace for long, no matter how much adrenaline was pumping through his veins. Glancing down Aren saw the dagger resting in Kylin's belt and after a quick look at his sister's terrified face he knew what he had to do.
"Hold on tight." He whispered into Ari's ear softly, but loud enough for her to hear him. With that he dropped off the ferret's back, taking the dagger in the process. A quick roll an the otter tackled the nearest figure, driving the dagger deep into its throat, with a gurgle it fell to the ground, its life blood pumping out through the wound. Kylin had hesitated a moment as he felt the otter's weight lift off, glancing back he saw Aren drawing the dagger out from the figures throat. "Run!" Aren cried out, seeing the ferret's momentary hesitation.
"Damn!" Kylin cursed softly and began running, he knew what Aren had wanted and he couldn't let them all die. He glanced back to find the otter being tackled from behind, Kylin turned away, unable to watch the otter's almost certain death.
"Die!" One of the shadows screamed as it sunk its blade deep into the otters shoulder; Aren struggled with the group, lashing out with his dagger wildly. He looked up to find another figure standing before him, a quarterstaff out and flying downwards towards his head. A sickening crack and the all went blurry before fading slowly into a deep dark red that flooded his vision, finally leading into an enveloping darkness.
Aren A silent whisper crept softly through Ari's mind as she stared back at her brother, watching the dagger sink into his shoulder, watching his blood crawl over the forest floor and finally seeing the staff come down upon him. Silencing the struggle as she clung to Kylin's back watching the fading scene of battle, completely helpless to do anything.
All was quiet then, save for the cracking of leaves under paw as Kylin ran on northwards, cutting through the forests in desperation as tears fell from his charges eyes for the fallen. Silently they ran one, their destination unknown to all, stray tears flying to ground. All they could see was the dark, cold forest that enveloped them.
Slowly reality invaded Aren's senses as he felt the wounds sending sharp barbs of pain through his mind, with that his eyes snapped open and his found himself being held roughly. Looking around with his still blurred vision he found himself surrounded in a forest similar to the one in which he had been cruelly knocked into the realms of unconsciousness. Slowly as the world became clear he found himself before a great tent being held by several beasts, all dressed in identical black cloaks, an assortment of vermin were present, some watching while the majority of them simply went about their business.
"Ah, good you're awake." One of the beasts holding him, a large, male rat, sneered as tickled the otter's throat with his dagger, but there was something else obvious in the rat's tone, utter hatred. "Make a move, just give me the excuse."
"Put him down, Alon." A voice issued forth from the tent and Aren found himself on the ground, his limbs too weak to support himself and his shoulder burning. Taking a quick glance he found his stained with blood from numerous cuts all over his body, a dagger was still buried in his shoulder, bound tightly in his flesh. Aren looked to the tent to find a figure coming out.
"You!" He cried in a voice that was half surprised and half anguished as he saw the ferret that had come from the tents dark depths.
"You recognize me? Interesting." The ferret murmured as he took a weapon into his paws from a hanger within the tent. It was a long wicked whip, metal plated with barbs in various places.
"You bastard! I'll kill you!" Aren screamed and with the last bit of his strength he lunged out at the ferret, the one he had known as Kylin, vermin he had left his sister with unknowingly. The otter however got nowhere, the whip flashed out and Aren found himself thrown back into the arms of the cloaked beasts, a shallow wound across his chest.
"No that was quite stupid my friend." The ferret flashed a grin, showing off his sharp, bloodied teeth. The ferret held up his whip menacingly as the otter was hoisted to his foot paws. "I wouldn't advise trying that again if you wish to live for any length of time."
"What'd you do with her scum?" Aren demanded in a weak voice, glaring up at his newfound enemy with all the hate he could muster, his vision once again was clouding over.
"Don't worry otter, we have her. Throw him in with the other slaves. Chain him next to the healer." This was the last thing Aren heard as his vision dimmed and he fainted from exhaustion.
"Aren." A voice called softly, a beautiful melodious voice. He was home again, the ocean crashing just a few steps from where he stood next to her, his family was there, all of it, his mother, his father and Ari, all of them standing happily on the sands under the brilliant, endless blue sky. Suddenly the otter felt a figure cast its shadow over his back.
"Aren." The same soft voice called again, no beast's mouth moved within his view however. He turned to find a dozen shadows standing with their backs to a dark forest, red skies over. Glancing down the line of beasts he found all of them looking at him, looking closer he saw many sorts of beasts, mice, ferrets, other otters, a badger, a weasel and then finally he saw her there, a cloak on. Ari looked into his eyes and spoke softly to him. "Wake up Aren." Are snapped hi eyes open to find himself staring down the muzzle of a gray furred vixen.
"Ahhhhh!" He cried and fell off the bed upon which he had been resting. The vixen, which looked too big to be a fox by Aren's standards, stared down upon him disapprovingly, shaking her great head. "Get away vixen."
"Vixen? No my friend I believe you are ill informed. I am not one of the crafty breed, I'm a wolf if you please." The wolf bowed low to them ground and that was when Aren saw it, both of the wolf's paws and foot paws were chained. She was a slave and as he looked down he found the same chains snapped about his wrists and ankles, looking around he found slaves of all species, vermin and woodlander were chained next to each other in a long line of oppression.
"Sorry. Who are you?" Aren asked curiously, looking the wolf up and down. She wore a beautifully beaded garment, which was very practical. The beads formed a camouflaging pattern and the clothes were very durable and easy to move about in, she had a medical bag at her side, a few stray herbs poking out the top of it. A few tattoos were painted of her muzzle and parts of her exposed fur.
"Rikaaj and I believe your name is Aren if I am not mistaken." The wolf stuck her paw out and Aren shook it in a friendly manner.
"How'd you know my name?" He asked curious at the wolf's knowledge.
"Oh I have my ways." She muttered smiling softly only to receive a rather confused look from the otter. "I'm not a seer, only messing with ya. One of the guards told me your name, said your accomplice shouted it before killing one of their spies."
"Whose spies?" Aren sat back up on the bed, bringing himself up to eye level with the wolf, his voice suddenly becoming gravely serious in tone.
"The creature that's taken over much of the south and enslaved near every beast you see. This is the army of Viand, the bastard." Rikaaj growled audibly as she stared over towards the large tent that Aren recognized as the place where he had talked to the treacherous ferret.
"The ferret, is that his real name, Viand?" Aren asked, throwing angry glancing towards the still tent, the sun had sunk, throwing silhouettes on the tents side.
"The ferret? No, that's his strong right paw. Sadistic little . . ." Rikaaj stopped herself just short of the hatred she was about to vent, she knew that if she were too she's only bring herself pain. "No, Viand is a pine martin. A nasty one too, used to be just as bad as the ferret, a torturer and a warlord, but he took over this kingdom from his father by slitting his throat and he isn't as bad as the ferret."
"Who is the ferret then?" Aren asked, staring deeply into the wolf's eyes, giving away his desperation.
"His name is Jalin, sick bastard. I swear I've seen him enjoy creature's pain too much, it really is disgusting and if you ever see him smile . . .well you can guess why that is." The wolf shuddered visibly and quickly changed the topic. "Here, lie down. I need to treat the rest of your wounds. I'm almost finished."
"Okay." Aren whispered and did as he was told, his eyes on the shadows that moved within the tent, his mind going through the information he had gotten from the wolf. Sighing heavily he mentally beat himself up for ever having trusted the ferret, going against every lesson and every instinct he had. Now his sister was a captive somewhere or worse she was dead by the ferret's paw, he swore he would wreck revenge upon Jalin if it were the last thing he ever did.
"Don't worry, plenty of beast's are with you on that one." The wolf muttered silently as if she were reading his mind, Aren looked up to find Rikaaj staring at the tent as well as she did her work.
"Huh?" Aren asked confused by the unnervingly perceptive wolf.
"You wish to have revenge upon that ferret do you not?" She asked pointing to a figure that moved through the tent with a swagger of authority.
"Yes." The otter answered monotonously.
"Look around the camp, near every beast in this camp would love to have heir revenge upon that mistake of nature, the slaves, the captains and quite a few of soldiers. That ferret would be a dead beast if everybeast weren't so scared of him." Rikaaj sighed heavily and went back to her work, throwing a sidelong glance at a tall, covered cart that rested on the other side of the camp. "What's in there?" Are asked as he observed her looking at the cart, a look of longing plainly showing on her features as she went back to work.
"My family." With that both of them fell silent as a pair of guards walked past, menacing them with their swords, for the rest of the night the slaves were silent, they could feel the guards eyes upon their necks, watching every move, every gesture, every word that passed among the slaves. On the morrow they would be moving north towards their final destination, wherever that was, it wasn't knowledge for a slave to know.
~Chapter Ten~
The forest path was silent, the otters and squirrels having long since passed, the shadow of the sun cast over the forest sending streams of blood red light across the path. All three of the travelers, Ari, Aren and Kylin, lay silent in fear. Aren lay in the dirt at the side of the path, staring into the lifeless eyes of the former squirrel.
The eyes were wide open in a mix of terror and shock, while it was obvious that it had been murdered, by who was an unanswered question that haunted the otter. Kylin sat up, glancing around warily, Ari clinging to his fur in fright. A small movement caught the corner of the ferret's eye; instinctually he didn't move his body, following the movement with only his eyes and the he saw it.
"Aren!" He shouted and dove forward, shaking off Ari in the process, dagger out; Kylin caught the shadow as Aren brought up his in defense. The shadow fell dead into the dirt with its neck viciously slashed wide open. "We've got to go!"
"Why?" Aren asked as he was yanked and to his disbelief the ferret began running off with both otter siblings resting on the ferret's back, both clinging. The ferret ran with speed born of desperation, glancing back Aren found shadows flying towards them, eventually revealing themselves to be cloaked vermin, each one with a dagger out, intent on their prey.
"That's why." Kylin answered into between breaths, it was obvious the ferret couldn't go at his pace for long, no matter how much adrenaline was pumping through his veins. Glancing down Aren saw the dagger resting in Kylin's belt and after a quick look at his sister's terrified face he knew what he had to do.
"Hold on tight." He whispered into Ari's ear softly, but loud enough for her to hear him. With that he dropped off the ferret's back, taking the dagger in the process. A quick roll an the otter tackled the nearest figure, driving the dagger deep into its throat, with a gurgle it fell to the ground, its life blood pumping out through the wound. Kylin had hesitated a moment as he felt the otter's weight lift off, glancing back he saw Aren drawing the dagger out from the figures throat. "Run!" Aren cried out, seeing the ferret's momentary hesitation.
"Damn!" Kylin cursed softly and began running, he knew what Aren had wanted and he couldn't let them all die. He glanced back to find the otter being tackled from behind, Kylin turned away, unable to watch the otter's almost certain death.
"Die!" One of the shadows screamed as it sunk its blade deep into the otters shoulder; Aren struggled with the group, lashing out with his dagger wildly. He looked up to find another figure standing before him, a quarterstaff out and flying downwards towards his head. A sickening crack and the all went blurry before fading slowly into a deep dark red that flooded his vision, finally leading into an enveloping darkness.
Aren A silent whisper crept softly through Ari's mind as she stared back at her brother, watching the dagger sink into his shoulder, watching his blood crawl over the forest floor and finally seeing the staff come down upon him. Silencing the struggle as she clung to Kylin's back watching the fading scene of battle, completely helpless to do anything.
All was quiet then, save for the cracking of leaves under paw as Kylin ran on northwards, cutting through the forests in desperation as tears fell from his charges eyes for the fallen. Silently they ran one, their destination unknown to all, stray tears flying to ground. All they could see was the dark, cold forest that enveloped them.
Slowly reality invaded Aren's senses as he felt the wounds sending sharp barbs of pain through his mind, with that his eyes snapped open and his found himself being held roughly. Looking around with his still blurred vision he found himself surrounded in a forest similar to the one in which he had been cruelly knocked into the realms of unconsciousness. Slowly as the world became clear he found himself before a great tent being held by several beasts, all dressed in identical black cloaks, an assortment of vermin were present, some watching while the majority of them simply went about their business.
"Ah, good you're awake." One of the beasts holding him, a large, male rat, sneered as tickled the otter's throat with his dagger, but there was something else obvious in the rat's tone, utter hatred. "Make a move, just give me the excuse."
"Put him down, Alon." A voice issued forth from the tent and Aren found himself on the ground, his limbs too weak to support himself and his shoulder burning. Taking a quick glance he found his stained with blood from numerous cuts all over his body, a dagger was still buried in his shoulder, bound tightly in his flesh. Aren looked to the tent to find a figure coming out.
"You!" He cried in a voice that was half surprised and half anguished as he saw the ferret that had come from the tents dark depths.
"You recognize me? Interesting." The ferret murmured as he took a weapon into his paws from a hanger within the tent. It was a long wicked whip, metal plated with barbs in various places.
"You bastard! I'll kill you!" Aren screamed and with the last bit of his strength he lunged out at the ferret, the one he had known as Kylin, vermin he had left his sister with unknowingly. The otter however got nowhere, the whip flashed out and Aren found himself thrown back into the arms of the cloaked beasts, a shallow wound across his chest.
"No that was quite stupid my friend." The ferret flashed a grin, showing off his sharp, bloodied teeth. The ferret held up his whip menacingly as the otter was hoisted to his foot paws. "I wouldn't advise trying that again if you wish to live for any length of time."
"What'd you do with her scum?" Aren demanded in a weak voice, glaring up at his newfound enemy with all the hate he could muster, his vision once again was clouding over.
"Don't worry otter, we have her. Throw him in with the other slaves. Chain him next to the healer." This was the last thing Aren heard as his vision dimmed and he fainted from exhaustion.
"Aren." A voice called softly, a beautiful melodious voice. He was home again, the ocean crashing just a few steps from where he stood next to her, his family was there, all of it, his mother, his father and Ari, all of them standing happily on the sands under the brilliant, endless blue sky. Suddenly the otter felt a figure cast its shadow over his back.
"Aren." The same soft voice called again, no beast's mouth moved within his view however. He turned to find a dozen shadows standing with their backs to a dark forest, red skies over. Glancing down the line of beasts he found all of them looking at him, looking closer he saw many sorts of beasts, mice, ferrets, other otters, a badger, a weasel and then finally he saw her there, a cloak on. Ari looked into his eyes and spoke softly to him. "Wake up Aren." Are snapped hi eyes open to find himself staring down the muzzle of a gray furred vixen.
"Ahhhhh!" He cried and fell off the bed upon which he had been resting. The vixen, which looked too big to be a fox by Aren's standards, stared down upon him disapprovingly, shaking her great head. "Get away vixen."
"Vixen? No my friend I believe you are ill informed. I am not one of the crafty breed, I'm a wolf if you please." The wolf bowed low to them ground and that was when Aren saw it, both of the wolf's paws and foot paws were chained. She was a slave and as he looked down he found the same chains snapped about his wrists and ankles, looking around he found slaves of all species, vermin and woodlander were chained next to each other in a long line of oppression.
"Sorry. Who are you?" Aren asked curiously, looking the wolf up and down. She wore a beautifully beaded garment, which was very practical. The beads formed a camouflaging pattern and the clothes were very durable and easy to move about in, she had a medical bag at her side, a few stray herbs poking out the top of it. A few tattoos were painted of her muzzle and parts of her exposed fur.
"Rikaaj and I believe your name is Aren if I am not mistaken." The wolf stuck her paw out and Aren shook it in a friendly manner.
"How'd you know my name?" He asked curious at the wolf's knowledge.
"Oh I have my ways." She muttered smiling softly only to receive a rather confused look from the otter. "I'm not a seer, only messing with ya. One of the guards told me your name, said your accomplice shouted it before killing one of their spies."
"Whose spies?" Aren sat back up on the bed, bringing himself up to eye level with the wolf, his voice suddenly becoming gravely serious in tone.
"The creature that's taken over much of the south and enslaved near every beast you see. This is the army of Viand, the bastard." Rikaaj growled audibly as she stared over towards the large tent that Aren recognized as the place where he had talked to the treacherous ferret.
"The ferret, is that his real name, Viand?" Aren asked, throwing angry glancing towards the still tent, the sun had sunk, throwing silhouettes on the tents side.
"The ferret? No, that's his strong right paw. Sadistic little . . ." Rikaaj stopped herself just short of the hatred she was about to vent, she knew that if she were too she's only bring herself pain. "No, Viand is a pine martin. A nasty one too, used to be just as bad as the ferret, a torturer and a warlord, but he took over this kingdom from his father by slitting his throat and he isn't as bad as the ferret."
"Who is the ferret then?" Aren asked, staring deeply into the wolf's eyes, giving away his desperation.
"His name is Jalin, sick bastard. I swear I've seen him enjoy creature's pain too much, it really is disgusting and if you ever see him smile . . .well you can guess why that is." The wolf shuddered visibly and quickly changed the topic. "Here, lie down. I need to treat the rest of your wounds. I'm almost finished."
"Okay." Aren whispered and did as he was told, his eyes on the shadows that moved within the tent, his mind going through the information he had gotten from the wolf. Sighing heavily he mentally beat himself up for ever having trusted the ferret, going against every lesson and every instinct he had. Now his sister was a captive somewhere or worse she was dead by the ferret's paw, he swore he would wreck revenge upon Jalin if it were the last thing he ever did.
"Don't worry, plenty of beast's are with you on that one." The wolf muttered silently as if she were reading his mind, Aren looked up to find Rikaaj staring at the tent as well as she did her work.
"Huh?" Aren asked confused by the unnervingly perceptive wolf.
"You wish to have revenge upon that ferret do you not?" She asked pointing to a figure that moved through the tent with a swagger of authority.
"Yes." The otter answered monotonously.
"Look around the camp, near every beast in this camp would love to have heir revenge upon that mistake of nature, the slaves, the captains and quite a few of soldiers. That ferret would be a dead beast if everybeast weren't so scared of him." Rikaaj sighed heavily and went back to her work, throwing a sidelong glance at a tall, covered cart that rested on the other side of the camp. "What's in there?" Are asked as he observed her looking at the cart, a look of longing plainly showing on her features as she went back to work.
"My family." With that both of them fell silent as a pair of guards walked past, menacing them with their swords, for the rest of the night the slaves were silent, they could feel the guards eyes upon their necks, watching every move, every gesture, every word that passed among the slaves. On the morrow they would be moving north towards their final destination, wherever that was, it wasn't knowledge for a slave to know.