Supernatural: Chronicles of the Order 4

Chapter 29: Dynamite Warg Race

(DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own Supernatural because it belongs to Eric Kripke and Warner Bros. So, enjoy the show! Rated M for graphic violence, adult content, and adult language.)

I was up the next day since I saw Shigeru save me from the brink of despair as I was in the bathhouse cleaning myself up. Even though there was no time for a bath for me, I was merely taking a shower as I was ready to leave Maugrim and resume my trip home to Alecrast. By the time I was finished, I dried off as I got dressed in my clothes that were cleaned earlier. When I stepped out of the bathhouse, I noticed several Orcs getting ready to go towards the further grounds of Kishtazi Keep where I noticed several Wargs being brought here from other regions of Maugrim. It wasn't long until I noticed a banner in Orkish writing that said "Dynamite Warg Race" in white letters while being emblazoned on a multicolor background. From what I gathered, it was the start of the biggest warg race that ever emerged as I saw several Orcs arriving with their wargs and concession stands getting set up for the three-day race.

Just as I was about to look even further, I noticed Reiko carting the twins as they were dressed in winter garb. As usual, I couldn't let myself fall under the pressure as I was staring at the outfits that the twins wore. I couldn't get enough of them as I picked up Aora and noticed that he was getting more teeth in the back. I even noticed that he was getting hungry as I saw him point at the produce stand where the apples and various plums were put on display.

"You sure know how to point at things," I said.

"He's been doing that since he was given breakfast," said Reiko. "For a while, it's been Ghimru that was worse than Aora, but it's the other way around."

"Apple!" we heard him say as I put him back in the stroller with Ghimru.

I went towards the produce stand as I bought an apple for Aora as planned. By the time I paid for it, I noticed a trio of Draaza men walking as they were also getting their merchandise set up like everyone else in the Kishtazi Keep's further grounds. They were an odd bunch as they were most likely to be staring at me for all the strange reasons imaginable. When they saw me return to Reiko and the twins, they were still stunned to see me here as they could never get enough of my presence here on Maugrim so far.

"Look at that guy there with his family," said the albino one as he was busy setting up the cash register. "He must be the one who blew up that factory on Cordo Island three days ago."

"Hey, Ranquin, get the lead out here," said the one with the orchid comb. "We have customers here just to pay for our booth's wares, not play around too much."

"Sorry, Banquo. It's just that I've heard stories about Sam Winchester and his effort to kill off Esau back in Gale Canyon on Alecrast seven months back."

"There's nothing wrong with Sam Winchester coming here to Maugrim," said the one with the blue comb on his head. "Besides, having the legendary man with the raw power is good for business after all."

"And that's right, Goneev. Everyone knows that Sam Winchester is most likely to be attending this year's Dynamite Warg Race so far."

"Truthfully, Sam Winchester may be returning up to prominence, but there are those who still pine for that bastard, Darbus Toller."

The news about Darbus Toller still on top was a thorn to anyone's side as the talk about him still being an untouchable celebrity unnerved those who opposed him. By the time I took Reiko and the twins back to the main house, we noticed several wargs in their stable pens as they were being prepared to take part in the upcoming races. Even with several veterinarians that came from the Medical Corps to oversee the overall health, we noticed one of the wargs growling and snarling at everyone as we noticed Tauzer staring at it with such disappointment. He was wanting to bring that warg into the race, but it was out of control as it refused to let anyone in to calm it down.

"It's hopeless to let it out while he barks and growls like that," he said.

"Is something wrong with it?" asked Reiko.

"No, but his tamer isn't around to ride him this year."

"Tamer?"

"Tamers have to form a bond with their warg in which it'll never be broken, even after his or her own death. As for the one in the pen, I got complaints from the Medical Corps in which they refuse to go in there with him."

"And what happened to the warg's tamer?" I asked.

"He was killed on a mission to Stohess four months ago in which he died protecting a Terran woman from a plethora of Darbus' dolls. In the end, the warg in the pen will never be tamed after hearing about the death of his master."

I stared at the warg in his pen as I sensed the grief and sadness within him. I never expected to see him growling like that as I decided to enter into the pen against everyone's wishes. When I stopped in front of the warg, I saw him coming towards me as he was ready to attack me, but he stopped in his tracks at the last minute. He sniffed at me as I placed my hands on his wolfish snout the moment he stared directly at me. He didn't bite me as he stayed his jaws in which he sat down and stared at me as if he knew me from long ago. Even Reiko and Tauzer were worried that the warg would attack me, but I managed to tame him down as he let his rage go away for the time being.

"Blimey, take a look at what Sam did," said Tauzer.

"The warg didn't bite him at all," said Reiko as she was grateful that I was alright.

"Normally, Barca would attack everyone in hindsight since his tamer died on Stohess, but he has a friend in Sam after all."

"Thank goodness..."

"What's going on here?" asked Reuben as he came into the stables. "What the hell is Sam doing in there with Barca? Didn't everyone know not to mess with him?"

"He's alright, Reuben," I said as I came out of the pen. "He was still grieving over the loss of his master, but he'll pull through in this year's warg race."

"You're lucky that you dodged a bullet, but there won't be a next time when it turns on you and eats you for dinner."

I stared at Barca as I noticed him walking towards the pen's gate and stared at me. He was someone who had his reasons to see me as more as just someone who alleviated his grief as I was most likely to be the one who would tame him in order to participate in this years warg race. Just as I was about to stand in front of the pen to see Barca, I was barred by Reuben as he was adamant into blocking me from seeing the warg that was tamed without harming anyone.

"You're not going back into that pen," he said. "That animal is dangerous and it'll attack at any time without knowing."

"You know nothing about his grief, do you?" I said.

"I heard from Raukor that Barca often attacks the staff even after they feed him and clean his pen. As for the upcoming race, I'm filing a petition to block Barca from competing due to-"

"You will not do so," said Tauzer. "I've seen tamers come into the warg pens to bond with the beasts and come out with bites, scars, and scratches, but Sam came out of Barca's pen unscathed. It's ironic that the beast in there lost his tamer, but if Sam hadn't stepped in, he would act vicious towards everyone here and that includes those who are betting and seeing this year's Dynamite Warg Race."

"Fine, have it your way, then. But if the damn thing turns on everyone, I will have no other choice but to have it put down, is that clear?"

I saw Reuben leaving the stables as I followed him outside where the concession stands were operating from. In a undermining sense, I had a feeling that he returned to his old habits as he was also worried about the warg that was kept in his pen. Still, I was put under the microscope as I was not about to give up on Barca's willingness to make a comeback. It was about to be hell for me as Reuben had other things in mind. He was concerned about my health as he was aware that I was no longer the white shroud I was three days ago, but I didn't have time to hear another stern lecture from him.

"You can't bar me forever from rehabilitating that animal back there," I said.

"I hate to burst your bubble, but you can't just ride him after what was seen in his pen," said Reuben.

"You're still concerned about me, aren't you?"

"If you're going to today's long race with Barca as his substitute tamer, the answer is no, Sam. You may have emerged from the brink of death, but there's no way in hell that you're gonna go out there and race with that warg who bore his teeth earlier."

"I sensed something in Barca as if he knew me from long ago. When I came into his pen, he stopped as if he knew someone that existed during the Elder Days."

"You're lucky that you didn't become warg food, but you're still not racing with that animal."

"I'm fine, Reuben. I've been like this since I no longer became the white shroud and I haven't cracked under the pressure yet."

"Last time I saw you, you were on the brink of death and you're tempting fate the second time?"

"I'm more than fine because I even drank from the Holy Grail that Shigeru brought to me before he disappeared. You may think of my notions to be corny, but damn it, I'm willing to be Barca's substitute tamer for the race. I have my reasons to be here, for I'll see them through till the bitter end."

I left for the main house as Reuben remained speechless the moment I made my statement. With Reiko carting the twins and Tauzer following them, they were also ready to return to the main house as we saw dozens of fans from all over the galaxy just to flock to this year's warg races while some of them placed their bets on the highest bidder. It was an extravagant three-day event as the warg races were an intracle part of what went forward on Maugrim. In such flamboyant measures, it was a day of festivities as we would soon go back home to Alecrast in order to further erode Darbus' influence, for his days would soon be numbered the moment I made my appearance…


Shion was in the main hall of Kishtazi Keep house as she was seeing the reports of what happened on Cordo Island three days ago. After hearing about the last factory's destruction, the further erosion of Darbus Toller's influence would soon come to a grinding halt as the head of the Kishtazi Clan, Raukor, was ready to see a moment of fresh hope coming all over the Ashizoka System once again. The mighty leader of his clan was no stranger to seeing Darbus' artificial creations running amok as he didn't want to take the first plunge without the Hunter Corps coming.

"It's a grand time to have my races commence without attracting the attention of that smarmy bastard and his dolls around here," said Raukor. "Even the gods praised the destruction of that final factory here on this planet."

"Even though the three factories here have been destroyed in this part of the Ashizoka System, Darbus still has a hold over the rest of the public," said Shion. "As for what Sam did to destroy the factory by renouncing his joys and talents to even save his friends, his emergence as a white shroud was short-lived the moment Shigeru came in to save him."

"It was that Holy Grail of legend, wasn't it?"

"For centuries, the Grail had been sealed in one of the hidden chambers near the Kingdom by the River's palace by Torune Mitani, but it seems to me that Shigeru unsealed the chamber so he can fulfill his mission."

"Looks like the gods favored and beckoned him to save our patron savior from the brink of death, which was a godsend indeed. As for this year's Dynamite Warg Race, the upcoming bet is the frontrunner, Femto, whose tamer and clan has a brutal dynasty with its legacy as champions of this sport. As for Barca, who lost his tamer at the hands of Darbus' soulless dolls, he's about to be either retiring or put down after displaying his infernal behavior at the stable hands and staff from the Medical Corps."

"According to some of your staff at the stables, Barca now has his substitute tamer for the long race, which he is good at."

"What?" Raukor was stunned to hear such words coming from Shion as he was about to retract his words about Barca's fate. "No one has ever dared to tame him since Sheikar's death four months ago during his mission to Stohess. It's as if a miracle occurred in the form of the Savior of Destiny at last..."

"It's more than just a miracle, Raukor. It's a new awakening that occurred since Sam was saved from despair. In other words, it's a new rise to overthrow Darbus' influence from other parts of the galaxy."

"Then let us give thanks to our miracle who saved us from the tyrant's dolls."

Raukor raised his goblet as he was expecting high hopes from me till the bitter end. As for the festivities for this year's Dynamite Warg Race, there was high demand coming from the further competitors. After all that has happened, there was no stopping of hope as the time to end Darbus' influence was coming to a closer halt than expected. Just as Shion was about to leave, she noticed a painting on the wall as it showed a human riding on a warg as a light shined on them. It was an old painting, but it would soon be an omen in the making as well.

"You have a likeness for art just as much as warg racing," she said.

"That painting has been there since my ancestors ran my clan's keep for centuries," said Raukor.

"It's ironic that one of your ancestors had plenty of inspiration to paint this drawing that could soon be a boon to you."

"Truth be told, Lady Shion, it's just a painting and nothing more. As for the race, it'll commence in the favor of those who enjoy the thrill of the wargs running all over the place."

"Not all paintings are just the same. They can be signs of something more appealing as they even predict the impossible feats ahead."

Both Shion and Raukor continued to stare at the painting on the wall as there would be a true omen in the making. With the factor of what would occur in this year's Dynamite Warg Race coming into fruition, it was a grand opportunity to have a substitute tamer for Barca as the minds of many were made up in this matter...


I was in my quarters as I saw Reiko tending to the twins after they got a much needed nap earlier. In such a strange notion, I was thinking about Barca as he was most likely to have me to be his substitute now more than ever, for the long race was the start of the festivities of the Dynamite Warg Race that kept pace all over the Kishtazi Clan's grounds. When I sat down next to the twins' playpen, I saw them sleeping as I later noticed Reiko coming towards me. She was concerned about what was going on as she also felt pity for Barca's plight. It was a bizarre twist of fate for me as I was about to come to a strange decision to be part of the long race that began the three-day event of this year's Dynamite Warg Race.

"It's all over the place since you calmed down that warg in his pen," said Reiko.

"I only did it because he was grieving over the loss of his former tamer," I said. "He was in shambles after losing his only friend who cared about him. It was a miracle that I didn't get eaten alive back there, but Barca is no stranger to suffering."

"Guess what!" yelled Dirk as he bursted into the room. "Lord Raukor just signed you up as Barca's substitute tamer, but Reuben's totally pissed!"

"Well, let him be pissed. As for my predicament, I'm gonna have to go with what is put in front of me."

"If you're that confident enough, then why haven't you taken riding lessons yet? That's what Reuben's been raving about since he saw you go in that pen to calm Barca down."

"I looked into many books about riding lessons and I'll try to remain focused on the race at hand. I know that I haven't rode in a long time on beasts of burden, I've been on a donkey ride once when I was still little before being tossed into Gehenna for the future years."

"You rode on a donkey? I hope that it didn't fart along the way..."

I laughed at that notion as I was in high hopes about the race that I was about to participate in. Still, I also had a few naysayers that didn't believe in what I could pull off as the time to start the long race was about to begin in two hours, for I was about to go forth in hindsight…


"Absolutely not!"

Reuben was not about to let me out of his sights anytime soon as he was concerned about the event that was about to occur in two hours. He was standing in front of the concession stand where the three Draaza men were operating in as he wasn't about ready to concede defeat anytime soon. When he was about to go and confront the operators of the Dynamite Warg Race, he saw Dean sitting at a picnic table as he was enjoying the best food that appeared all over the place. It was also at that moment that Reuben was ready to air out his complaints directly as he wasn't about to fall flat against my whim anytime soon. With the upcoming race at the ready, there wasn't much time to pull me out of the event yet as the time to discuss this mess was already put into motion than much anticipated than normal.

"So, why the sour grin?" asked Dean.

"It's this first race coming up," said Reuben.

"According to some of the tourists and customers, the one favored to win today's long race is Femto. As for the bottom runner, Barca, the staff found a substitute tamer after the last one was killed on Stohess four months ago."

"Yes, I know exactly who it will be and he'll be riding on Barca."

"It could be one of Raukor's retainers, I suppose."

"No, from what I heard from those Draaza vendors, Sam's riding on Barca."

Dean was stunned to hear that from Reuben as he never expected me to undertake something like this in the Dynamite Warg Race. At that moment, he remembered the donkey ride he went on with me when we were children as it was a good one indeed. With a glimmer of hope coming at a brisk pace, Dean was adamant into having me compete in the long race as it was also a time to be on top once again.

"It's about time that Sammy got his ass in gear," he said.

"And you're okay with it?!" cried Reuben.

"Hey, ever since Darbus paraded all over the place smearing Sam's name over the past seven months, there has been crap that went on that made us wade in our own mess. Now that Sam's recovered and back in the game, this long race is a huge step into putting Darbus in his place after hiding away on Shiganshina for a while. Besides, if he pulls off an upset against the favorite, Femto, while riding Barca, then he'll have his reputation being restored to him again and that includes this upcoming accolade in tow."

"We're pulling him out of there."

"Attention, people!" yelled Raukor over the intercom. "The race is about to begin, so place your bets on the winner on the field in today's long race!"

Dean and Reuben left the picnic table as they were going towards the long track where dozens of spectators were sitting just to watch the match. With the middle seats already filled up, they were noticing Reiko, Magda, and Paninya there with the children as they were ready to watch the race up close in which there were jumbo screens to view the long race in full. It was going to be the best race on record as everyone noticed the wargs and their tamers getting ready to go out on the track. When Barca showed up, the spectators were stunned to see me out into the open as they never seen me race with the warg I calmed down earlier, for it was a first in the record books so far…


I was going towards the long race as I had Barca in tow. Even when I was fitted in protective clothing, I had to adhere to the rules and regulations here as I was determined to stay on task and not cheat in this sport. I rode on a donkey once as a small boy, but riding on a warg was a formidable challenge for me as I was ready to mount Barca before going on the track. Just as I was about to do so, I noticed a heavy-set Orc appearing with Femto's tamer as they were ready to take up the track just like me and Barca. Both of them were ready to win this year's race as their prized warg was part of their clan's dynasty of winning.

"Well, Barca's substitute tamer is in the form of a tall, lanky, stringy Terran," said the heavy-set Orc as he was ready to have Femto's tamer take the field. "Raukor made a terrible mistake into putting someone like you in the fray since Sheikar's death on Stohess."

"Erhaan, we need to get moving!" yelled Femto's tamer as he got onto the warg's back.

"So, you're the Orc in charge of bringing Femto here, aren't you?" I said.

"Don't get the wrong idea, stringbean," said Erhaan. "I've been in the warg racing industry and I won seven trophies with the long races with my prized wargs, but I won't be saddlesored by a substitute tamer who's tripping bigberries with Barca. Everyone knows that he could never be tamed by anyone else."

"Barca was grieving the loss of his former tamer, but it was a godsend that I stepped in his pen to soothe him."

"Don't give me that muckraking crap!" Erhaan was ready to push me around with his weight until Barca growled fiercely at him. "That mutt here won't stand a chance against Femto and he'll win this year's Dynamite Warg Race! In the end, no one will stand in our way to win an eighth trophy in the long race!"

"It doesn't matter who win or lose in this race because I only do this to give Barca a chance to race in this year's event, not to gloat at my rivals."

"You better not be jinxing me, stringbean…, or perhaps you should be called Big Bird because of your height that is almost up to that warg you're gonna mount, so I suggest that you get your tall ass out of the way."

I watched Erhaan leave as I got onto Barca's back and went towards the track with the other competitors that were waiting for the trophies at hand. When we got to our racing lines, we saw the opening ceremonies commencing as the numbers of scantily-clad women danced in droves along with several men dressed in armor following suit. It was also the factor of impact rolling as various spectators roared in the stands. By the time we all got out there to the start of the track, I noticed Femto and his tamer in the first stand as he was poised to win for Erhaan. It was going to be a very heated race as it was also going to be a turning point in the making.

"Attention, racers," said Raukor over the loudspeaker. "This year's Dynamite Warg Race will commence starting with the long race for the first day while the lap race and final domination complex will commence with the second and third days. As for the wargs and their tamers, they will adhere to all rules and no cut-corners. Now, let's start this thing!"

"On your marks," said an Orc as he was standing on the sidelines. "Get set..." He was shaking as he was about to press the start button. "GO!"

We all took the track as Barca and I were running fierce with the other wargs left in the dust. The only rival that was in front of us was Femto and his tamer as they were tearing up the track without stopping one bit. Even though I never rode like this before, I remained sharp as I was riding on Barca and catching up to Femto and his tamer up on the first leg of the long race. I was sensing everything all over as I had my instincts that mingled with the raw power that I had while I kept on the track without stepping into traps. When we caught up with Femto, we noticed him to be slightly ahead as he was starting the second leg of the long race. We were going with all we got as we were there to be in this year's race that proved something for both me and the warg that I tamed.

When we were into the second leg of the long race, we noticed several members of the Medical Corps arriving on the sidelines as there was something wrong back there. Still, I didn't have time to go back on that as I didn't want to hear another stern lecture coming from Reuben earlier. In the long run, I had to keep up with Femto and his tamer as I was riding Barca very carefully. It was a dead heat between the top runners as one of them was about to come out on top anytime soon, for the spectators were watching so far…


Tauzer was in the stables as he was inspecting them carefully. Seeing the stables cleaned up, he was seeing the detail all clean until he noticed an empty vial on the ground. When he picked it up, he had a sinking feeling that something was wrong as the vial smelled of poison as he noticed the participating warg pens have been kept clean except for the fact that their water troughs were seeing traces of white hand, which grew on the grounds of Gedris Keep, whose head of the clan owns the frontrunner, Femto. Even though Tauzer saw the other pens tainted with soon-to-be-fresh scandal, he noticed that Barca's pen hadn't been tended to as he noticed the footprints standing next to the gate. He had a feeling that the one who poisoned the other wargs didn't step foot to go towards Barca's pen as he later spotted one of the members of the Medical Corps approaching.

It was none other than Minara who showed up as he was part of the veterinarian group who oversaw the welfare and safety of the wargs in the race. When he noticed the vial of poison in Tauzer's hand, he saw the Gedris Clan's seal on it as it was incriminating evidence that the head of that proud family was cheating just to see Femto win the long race. The scandal that was about to break was most likely to be going off without everyone else knowing as it was about to get ugly in the works.

"Erhaan's boys weren't messing around, but they were scared to death to approach Barca," said Minara. "It seems that the desperate head of the Gedris Clan has begun to play dirty just to clinch that eighth trophy."

"That sloppy bastard…," said Tauzer. "He sent his boys to poison the wargs in the race, but they were cautious when they stood away from Barca's pen."

"And the poison, known as white hand, can be very lethal in large doses, but the small doses can incapicate someone with such painful difficulty."

"And what about Sam? He's racing with Barca while Erhaan's jockey is racing with Femto."

"Then it boils down to the wire when Erhaan's poisoning hand made a big mistake into fleeing after seeing a glimpse of Barca."

"My father needs to know about this immediately."

"I'll dispatch the Medical Corps to the other wargs and their tamers. If the white hand isn't treated from them, they'll end up paralyzed or injured if we don't do something right away."

Tauzer and Minara left the stables as they noticed Erhaan sitting at a picnic table gobbling up some food he had on his plate. The incriminating scandal in the making was beginning as the head of the Gedris Clan was about to be in hot water after what he tried to do in the long race earlier. Even though he was in the moment of enjoying his food, he could never get himself out of his behavior as he was at the mercy of both Tauzer and Minara, who noticed the poison vial on the ground in the stables in the first place.

"Is something the matter, boys?" he said as he had a mouthful of food.

"You were playing dirty, weren't you?!" yelled Tauzer as he drew out his axe.

"I followed your rules, didn't I?"

"And what rule allows you to cheat?" asked Minara as he showed the empty white hand vial.

"Tohror, that imbecile! He should've poisoned Barca with all the rest!"

"You knew about this, didn't you?"

"Damn it all!" Erhaan swallowed his food as he was shaking in his seat. "Alright, I'll come clean to you because I had debts to pay in order to bring Femto to prominence."

"So, you cheated in this year's Dynamite Warg Race without telling my father about this, you fat, sloppy son-of-a-bitch!" cried Tauzer. "We all know what happens to cheaters who are desperate enough to win something just to keep the winning dynasty intact. It happened to those who lost their accolades, their titles, and respect due to allegations of cheating!"

"Enough!" yelled Raukor as he walked towards everyone. "I heard all about it!"

Erhaan was in the hot seat right now as he saw several Orcs in police garb getting ready to arrest him on the spot. It was the downfall of his reigning dynasty as he couldn't get away with cheating so he can allow Femto to win the long race. Still, he wasn't about to wriggle out of his situation slowly as he was in the doghouse for his conduct so far.

"Erhaan…," said Raukor as he was disappointed in such behavior like that. "I never expected you of all people to resort to cheating before, but your reign of clinching an eighth trophy will come to a halt and Femto will be disqualified."

"If you wanna disqualify someone, you should disqualify that Terran!" he yelled.

"I've heard of such cheating scandals that came to light in the form of steroids, performance enhancers, and even deflated footballs; but poison?! You were resorting to this kind of low since you owed debts to those who were hitting you up for further interests, weren't you?"

"And what are you gonna call this scandal of mine this time, Raukor? Poisongate?"

Raukor smiled gleefully as he saw the Orcs in police garb take Erhaan away without finishing the rest of his food. Still, action was needed as the time to dispatch the Medical Corps was at hand, for everyone saw them coming towards the track to assess the situation over there. Still, the concerns about the wargs in the race was most likely to be another scandal in the record books of unsportly behavior, especially when it came to the competition looming in the form of warg racing…


Barca and I were catching up to Femto and his tamer as we caught them on the last leg of the long race. We were sprinting towards them as we finally took the lead with such intensity to the extreme. There was no slowing down as we were going towards the finish line. With Femto and his tamer catching up, they were starting to buckle under the pressure as the were tiring from such a long run. When Barca and I made it to the finish line, we saw the crowd cheering as we pulled an upset victory the moment we hit the watering stands. Both of us were tired as I got off from Barca's back and led him to the trough where he drank plenty of water to satisfy him after winning the long race. What we didn't expect was that a shining light was upon me and the warg as it was an omen that lived on in the record books the moment we saw the crowd cheering at us.

When I noticed Femto and his tamer coming in second, they were staggering as they were tired from such a long race indeed. Even though the long race was over, I noticed several members of the Medical Corps arriving as they were assessing the situation carefully. Even though I won with Barca, the both of us weren't out of the scrutiny umbrella yet as we even noticed Kazuo arriving to see us unscathed from enduring such a powerful race like this. At the end, it was a bittersweet victory for me as I was slowly coming up to prominence once again. It was the most enduring moment that I ever had in my life as I was most likely to be moving forward after being gone for seven months now.

"Looks like you won the hearts of the crowd," he said.

"I had to follow the rules on the track and the race," I said as I removed my protective helmet.

"The other wargs and tamers had been hospitalized due to what was found in the stable."

"What?" I was stunned to hear something from Kazuo as I had a feeling that something was wrong in the making. "Did something happen when I stepped out on the track with Barca?"

"Minara told us everything when he and Tauzer found a vial of white hand in the stable, but Barca was left unscathed because the poisoner was afraid to go into his pen. As for the handler for Femto, he has been officially disqualified after sending one of his men to do his dirty work by cheating just to let his prized warg win the long race and secure an eighth trophy. Luckily, you pulled an upset by winning with Barca and all the prize money that was betted on Femto."

"Sam!"

I saw Dean sprinting towards me as he was in a hugging mood. He never expected me to ride a warg like Barca as he hugged me warmly after enduring such a long race on the track. It was a grand finale to the long race as I was also happy that I raced through it till the bitter end, but the troubling scandal factor wasn't out of play yet. When I saw Femto and his tamer being ushered off by the handling staff, I saw Raukor enter onto the track as he was thankful that Barca and I were safe and unscathed after what went on in the stables earlier.

"You are the king of lucky omens, Sam Winchester," he said.

"And I just heard that most of the competitors and their wargs were hospitalized," I said.

"I saw on the jumbo screen that the wargs dropped like flies, but how come you and that oversized Fido weren't hurt?" said Dean as he was suspicious and curious at the same time.

"You can thank Erhaan Gedris for that sloppy fiasco," said Raukor. "Even though he hired someone to poison some of the wargs in their pens just to clinch at an eighth trophy, the poisoner didn't get a chance to go towards Barca's pen because of how scared to death he was."

"Poison?"

"Tauzer and one of the members of the Medical Corps found a vial of white hand in the stable in which that poison can only be grown on Gedris Clan ground. Luckily, there's an antidote in the works after what happened here today. As for Erhaan Gedris and his prized warg, Femto, they are both disqualified after what went on earlier the moment we saw the rest of the racers and beasts suffer from poisoning."

"Looks like cheaters don't come out smelling like a rose after all… As for Sam, he made it unscathed just to show us that there is a clear winner after all that's been scandalous so far."

I was happy for the first time in a while as I was noticing Barca walking towards me. He was happy that I raced with him as he generally licked me in the face. It may have been a brief time for me, but I would soon return home after all that glory that I mustered earlier…


I was in the bathhouse as I was taking a shower after racing with Barca on such a long race earlier. After having the opportunity to be the warg's substitute tamer, I was most likely to part with him as I had to go straight home and go up against Darbus in the later days. When I rinsed off and turned off the hot water, I stepped out of the shower as I got dressed in my nightclothes for the evening. I was happy that I was back in the game until I heard my vidphone going off. By the time I picked it up, I answered it as I was about to hear an unsettling voice soon enough, for I was dreading it to the extreme.

"Hello?" I said.

"It's been a short while since you bombed the factory with that raw power of yours in which it cost my father an arm," said a familiar voice over the phone. "By the way, nice placing on the long race, but don't get the idea that you're getting off that easily."

"Virgil Truax… You don't mess around, do you?"

"You may be coming back up for air after being out of the loop for seven months, but what about the return journey back to Alecrast? Everyone knows that Darbus is the top dog around there and the higher-ups of the Order of Letters refuse to see him as the glorious spectacle he truly is. As for you, you're garbage, you're yesterday's news, and you're last year's top model in which you think that everyone there is welcoming you back with open arms."

"I shirked my responsibilities once, Virgil, and I won't do it again. As for the people of Alecrast, they've been waiting for me to return and I will not fail."

"Do you absolutely think that they can welcome you back by rolling out the red carpet? Darbus is the hero and you're nothing but dust. Still, you're without a home to go to 'cause nothing good will ever come out of what you bring to those who await your return. Darbus Toller and his legacy have the upper hand and you will be sent packing back to your mountain sanctuary on Shiganshina, so I suggest that you back away or else Darbus and his Master Race will make your friends and family suffer for it."

Virgil hung up from the other line as I put away my vidphone and left the bathhouse. By the time I saw Barca return to his pen, he was staring at me as he didn't want me to go home yet. It was a bittersweet goodbye, but I would never forget him as I reminded him of the races he once ran before his former tamer's demise. In the end, he was about to be retired as he would soon have a place in Raukor's grounds as a sanctuary to run free until our next meeting. When I noticed Raukor walking towards his pen, he stared at the warg as he saw him to be much calmer than normal, for he saw the omen in the making so far.

"So, after all that is happened, Barca hasn't bitten or attacked anyone since you calmed him down," he said. "It's also a godsend that you came up as if the Terran God Himself put you here to ride the feisty warg in the long race."

"And Barca will see me again soon…," I said. "Besides, it was the long race that he's good at the moment we clinched that trophy."

"And the ones who gambled on Femto lost all their bets in which they've even added to the prize value of my keep who hosts these races."

I looked at Barca in his pen as I entered inside to bid him farewell. By the time I touched his nose, I saw him stare at me as he didn't want me to go so soon. In a twist of fate, I would return to him as I had to return back to Alecrast soon enough. By the time I walked out of Barca's pen, I saw Dean standing in front of me as he was awaiting my next move in which he was ready to leave Maugrim like the rest of us. I sensed that he was ready to go as I was about to leave for Alecrast in hindsight, for I was dreading the return journey that worried me to the bone.

"It's time to go, Sam," I heard him say to me.

To be continued...