AN: Hello spice and wolf fans and Vermillion Followers, giving you the heads up that this chapter is very long (12,345 words) nearly double the length of regular installments but not boring. For your convenience I have it broken down into six segments each with their own number title and dash to help read it in sections.
I've been wanting to get to this one for the longest time and now it's here! Why am I so excited? Because it' the start of many exciting showdowns to come, certain questions get answered and most importantly, the secret Ranger has been hiding from Holo, the one Matthias told Lawrence that got people riled up, is about to be revealed...
(Pleas no spoilers in the reviews on this one make it a surprise!)
Chapter 31
Wolves of Yoites
I
A Guiding Voice
A beautiful field of green, soft grass, delicate flowers and rolling hills laid the foundation to a golden sunrise. Laying amidst this paradise was a resting Holo who, due to the caress of the wind, opened her eyes peacefully and expressed her comfort with a gentle smile. Endeavored to sit up her eye perceived a lone figure standing at a distance calling for her attention. Recognizing him immediately, she arose and ran to him with the haste that plagues the soul of star crossed lovers.
"Lawrence!" she proclaimed with that desperate remedy for heartache.
Yet as she approached a crag as deep and endless as space and time itself opened between them inhibiting her from rejoining the man she loved.
Lawrence began walking backwards by which she pled for him to stay.
Her pleas were answered by his warm reassurance, "Not yet, but soon my love."
Reaching out with both arms she cried out for him once suddenly the sentiment of nature's paradise transitioned rapidly over to a violent blizzard overtaking everything within sight.
When Holo's mind released her from the mental constructions that symbolically depicts our wants and dreads, she was found exactly as we had left her, within the crag of the ravine. Wiping tears away while cursing her delicate nature that encouraged her mind to create such fantasies and illusions she rolled over to discover herself clothed and free of torment.
They were simple yet effective raiments against the cold; made from deer hide and buffalo skin. Yet what lay underneath was just as much if not more of a perplexing mystery. Pulling the hems away she found her bare skin to be fully reconciled and doused in that same, odd smelling remedy Ranger had carried with him that could command the body's healing ability to accelerate in an instant. Yet the grandest mystery still at play was who could have done this, and why do so anonymously?
Holo retreated from her hiding spot with the utmost caution while ever being watchful of Barzur, Amliki and D'nesh. Partially relieved yet vexed upon discovering their absence, she wandered around here and there with hopes to potentially discover an ally.
She spared a brief hour to examine herself in more detail, thus finding the back side of her clothing were tailored to accommodate her tail. This was no random act of kindness, she was being looked after which raised as many questions and concerns as there were alleviations.
But as she was about to venture away, a slight shift in the wind blew against her as if to guide her on a different path. The snow drops circulated into a faint tunnel shaped apparition that prepared the desired way. Then came a faint whisper of a woman, that carried within the voice of the wind, "…This way…"
Provoked by an overbearing yet mild compulsion, she followed the hollow the snow fall in hopes it would lead to the one who sought her safety.
II
The Talon's of Angipue
We now move further ahead through time at a point where, in the woods nearby, a man was sitting against a tree with one arm resting atop his knee with the other supporting a seething pipe in the base of his hand. Darkness consumed his features, yet when taking a draw from the smoldering weed, the brim of the nose could be seen and the familiar eyes of our battle hardened combatant were revealed.
The individual contemplated, meditated and reflected only to be pulled out of his trance when voices resounded off in the distance. The man arose, snuffed out the pipe, pulled up his mask and slid over his hood.
The voices claimed ownership of two Sawatti braves in the process of navigating back to their brothers in arms. The one taking lead was in bitter taste, for apparently their separation from their brethren was unintentional, and as is the course of human nature when frustrated, blame took the hour gaiety. Yet suddenly, when no longer hearing his companion giving responses, he turned around and found him not.
"Ouray?" he called to no reply.
Rapidly panning his eyes round about, the lonesome brave suddenly shrieked at the sight of a dark figuring advancing on him before all went black.
When the brave had regained his state of mind, being dazed and confused, he found himself seized and bound with Ouray at his back whose face was swollen and miserable. The terrifying growl from Kaytaff's jaws shrilled them with horror when seeing the beast's malcontent for mankind, who sat nearby, with his ears and eyes extraordinarily attentive to their slightest movements.
"Do not provoke his ire." taunted Ranger who during this time remained hidden away until emerging to reveal himself.
"What do you want of us?" demanded the brave who nearly covered his fear with anger.
Haunching down with that impeccable dark atmosphere he always kept in abundance, Ranger answered whilst the shadows overtook the shape of his eyes, "There were three hunters sent after to kill a specific wolf god. If I find them, I find her. Where are they?"
Pulling away his face in the attitude of defiance, the brave declared, "I shall never betray them or my tribe, I am of the great…"
Ranger, having no interest in the narrative of loyalty and tribal pride, took his knife and sunk it to the man's leg bone and twisted. The brave hollered with bewilderment while Ranger calmly snapped his fingers repeatedly before his eyes to regain his attention.
Seeing him in too great of pain to be of further help, and losing interest quickly, he walked around to Ouray, who shuddered and trembled in the face of the masked man's attention. Ranger came down upon him with same like brooding manner sparing no regard for his welfare and said to the petrified man, "Perhaps your mouth will yield tidings other than idle chatter."
Quivering at the reality of a dishonorable death accompanied by pain and misery, Ouray motioned his head to the northwest, "Follow the sign of Angipue's talon, it will lead you to the ancient village. That is where we saw one of the three dark ones last, that is where we believe he intends to hunt."
For the reader's information this sign called Angipue's talon was in reference to the constellation sewn into the firmament forming a pattern depicting the cosmic eagle Angipue soaring overhead. The talon was the low mark of the constellation which bore as a point of navigation to many natives of Yoites in the same fashion the Northstar has to sailors.
Without a word Ranger thrust his dagger into Ouray's chest, perforating the heart causing a near painless death, which by his standards was merciful. Coming around to the other brave who was less burdened by pain and had felt the dead weight of his comrade pulling against him, looked up to Ranger and challenged, "Torture me more if you must, for I shall never tell you what you seek!"
Pulling out his sword Ranger replied impassively, "You have no need to, for I believed him."
The blade then dropped and liberated the brave's soul from his body.
III
Reunions in Hostility
Further through the frozen wild lands did the intrepid yet vulnerable Holo take her journey. At first she followed the funnel of snow manifest in the wind, until, oddly enough, her own instincts began to guide her. At that point the phenomenon leading her dissipated.
She stopped here and there to either drink from nearby streams or devour berries and leaf buds along the way, but her hour of solitude was threatened when detecting strangers lurking about, by which she once again concealed herself from any clear and present danger. She hid herself behind a large log just nearby a steady slope and watched the commotion transpire.
'More braves?', she thought.
It was indeed so upon seeing more members of the human race assigned to the inuit class making their way through and conversing amongst each other, yet these ones were different. Holo could not wholly justify this inclination other than that the nature by which these individuals carried themselves testified to some degree that they were not of the same ilk as the Sawatii.
As she leaned up to have a better look, her footing slipped from unstable ground and she tumbled down the slope and came to hard stop at the base. Shaking her head and brushing herself off she arose and accused the terrain for some perceived favoritism. Then, when seeing a particular landmark that called to her memory, Holo became entranced and allowed her body to naturally proceed as her familiarity dictated.
That is when her senses brought her to a destination she knew, oh so very well indeed. Falling to her knees she let out a slight gasp with a glimmer in her eyes. It was the old village of Yoites, condemned and dilapidated, but still the place of which her earthly journey took its first steps.
She mustered the courage to take the next step into the abandon village while viewing
each structure as a dowry to a long lost inheritance. Many of its structure's architectural designs were ahead for their time. The people who had constructed these edifices had an advance knowledge in the chemistry of wood and stone, erecting structures so grand and sturdy they stood the test of time immemorial.
At the center of a courtyard of stone, stood a well worn statue of some canine depiction by which she took sit upon its base and said to herself, "How long has it been?"
With a mind flooded with memories, for each sight a memoir, she could only but smile tenderly and find joy that alleviated the burdens of her world and reveled in it all. Her once long desire to return to her ancient home, had been fulfilled.
Her keen detections snapped her senses to a horrendous reality in which she turned, gasped and dove off her platform which shortly after a section of rock blasted off. Rolling back to her feet she found the weighted ball and chain retracting and leading to Barzur whose drive to fulfill his purpose had once again put him in her path. The stakes and odds inflated beyond their original levels from first contact, for now she had not the means to access her wolf form and could be slain in a moments notice without so much a streak of perspiration burdening his brow.
Without giving her a moment to regain herself, he came in for another blow by which she dove with all her determination to survive. The scythe's margin of error was so narrow that it liberated a few strands of her hair invoking a loud shriek of terror. This alerted the ears of the inuits who had passed by to their presence within the old village and made haste towards it.
Holo got to her feet and bolted from Barzur making only a small league as her ankle was suddenly wrapped up by the ball sending her sprawling on the cold hard terrain. Soon after she was being reeled back in against her best efforts then kicked over and pinned down by Barzur's boot to her neck which she resisted against with her hands.
To her grace, an arrow flew in and struck Barzur's collar, and ricocheted off the hard spot of his bone. Grunting while looking up, he beheld the inuits afore mentioned rushing to her aid. This inconvenience loosened his press allowing Holo the opportunity to escape of which Barzur held off the pursuit while under fire.
Another missile was discharged towards the evil warrior who rotated the ball in a propellor like fashion deflecting its path. He redirected its momentum towards the inuit who, surprisingly was carrying a sword crafted by the hands of his own people, raised it up, caught the chain wrapped around the blade thrice then was pulled. With a break in his defense he was opened to a killing blow across the neck produced by the scythe spilling his life upon the ground.
Barzur was overrun by the other two who disposed of his weapon on account of it being tethered and tangled, and chose to engage unarmed.
These men soon discovered he was just as deadly by side stepping the attack of the first instigator, blew out the knee joint from behind with his boot, then moved to avoid a thrust from his comrade's blade. Barzur narrowly evaded it then pulled him past by the wrist then grabbed his eye sockets from behind, yanked back and threw his knee into the lumbar spine snapping it in two.
The remaining one hobbled on his disfigured leg and made a final ditch effort to preserve his life making a dedicated swing towards his adversary who responded with a faint lean away allowing the sword to just nick his garments then ferociously jumped through with a spinning back kick that connected the heel to his jaw. As the inuit fell back, Barzur followed up with a jump in the air and coming down and planted his knee to the temple crushing his brain.
The deed was done, the hinderance obliterated.
Unbinding his weapon and holstering it, he flexed out the kinks in his neck, breathed deeply, and walked after Holo's path.
…
Further within the village the structures became much more grand and alarmingly modern, with walkways of cement and two extremely large building conjoined by an arch between their rooftop dotted with lesser yet equally impressive housings and yurts. Architectural designs, by rationality of the simple minded, seemed too advanced for a current society deemed too primitive.
Yet Holo recalled this perfectly even during this hour of fear and chaos. The old people of Yoites were very industrialized for their age and concluded that when the moon hunting bear attacked, whatever survivors remained fled taking their knowledge with them which the current generations could not retain and build in the like manner as this.
In her frenzied departure, she stopped, stricken with a deadly form of Deja Vu. The yurts, the huts, the entire village, she had seem them all before in her nightmares. Alas her intuitions and premonitions where coming true. The burning village, the great wolves and alas that man of shadows who was always there seeking her life. It was coming full circle, the dreams, as she had interpreted them, were manifesting in reality. Barzur was the evil shadow with the brazen eyes set forth to enact her slaughter, how great were the horrors in her mind!
Her recollections were dashed when the man she perceived to be the death bringer in her nightmares was standing not too far behind. Turning to face him she held her hands up and pled, "Please, you do not have to do this!"
A burst of steam shot out his nostrils who then replied with a morbid combination of duty and melancholy, "There were many things I did not have to do."
He began walking forward as Holo began to back up. Suddenly, his boots fell still when detecting yet another intrusion. He turned his head to the right and beheld another man standing there. Who he beheld erected in the snow was none other than Ranger.
Holo let out a cry of relief and thanked the stars for this crossing of paths. Kaytaff sat near his master and growled at the yellow eyed devil with the hopes that his aggression would grant him the command to lunge. Holo pointed and informed, "He has my wheat pouch and seeks to slay us!"
Ranger did not answer, instead the two of them shared glances of the deepest animosity towards one another. These men, having never have met before this hour, already knew they were destined to be enemies.
Holo backed away with her hands to her chest and quivered. What was about to transpire was not a simple altercation, but a duel between two combatants equally skilled in their own regards. A fight unlike any she had seen before.
Ranger pointed to Holo and issued his somber command to Kaytaff, "Guard."
Reluctantly, the hound repositioned himself between them and Holo then sat and watched.
He then made his advance towards his adversary with a purposeful stride while Barzur did likewise. They circled about each other for a moment or two, sizing each other up and down. Then after another standstill of them simply staring each other down, Ranger slid his right foot back to adapt a simple fighting stance, drew his sword and wielded it on guard.
Barzur stood erect with a hand on his hip, then hinged back into a lean stance with his hands held to his weapon.
The wind slightly whistled and the snow danced in swirls about them. Holo gripped her knuckles and once again, for the space of what seemed like an eternity, all was silent.
Barzur struck first unfurling the ball down upon Ranger's head who tethered the chain around his hoisted blade. Barzur then yanked forward pulling the sword away while simultaneously advancing with the scythe going for the neck. Ranger stepped slightly past his opponent's lead foot and deployed an outside block, slamming his arm against Barzur's to prevent the scythe from finding its mark. Taking advantage of the outside position, Ranger quickly pivoted around with a swift roundhouse kick to Barzur's kidney.
With a coughing yelp the young warrior stumbled forward, but, once detecting his enemy's follow up attack, let out the slack and whipped the scythe around forcing Ranger no choice but to evade via tuck and roll. Coming down upon his feet, Ranger erected himself then withdrew his dagger to better the odds.
Barzur quickly unraveled the ball to unchain the sword and spared a moment to idolize the weapon, for it was the wish of his master to deliver this cherished relic into his hands. Knowing Ranger would not part with it on a whim, he plunged it into the ground as if to challenge his opponent to retrieve it. The duel was only seconds old and so far it has left our man underarmed and disadvantaged.
The scythe twirled around its owner, generating a serenade of whooshes and whips, who advanced forward while making a series of distracting movements to make his intended blow difficult to perceive. Ranger nearly fell victim by misinterpreting a downward strike, that his guard adjusted for, which redirected into a horizontal one by a quick spin in hopes to work around his defense. In a flash of impeccable reflexes, Ranger leapt back and put his forearms up taking a bi lateral slash across his flesh.
Barzur quickly followed up with another spin to maintain momentum and sent the infernal thing flying towards the masked warrior who narrowly rolled under then kipped up and retreated from the flailing scythe which chewed and spat up snow and ground behind him.
Finding his moment, Ranger turned and thrust his foot back into Barzur's gut then rushed to close the gap, for distance was not his ally. The fight moved much more rapidly as Barzur frantically attempted to match Ranger's attacks with blocks and parries, either with his appendages or chain combined with footwork. Ranger made a sudden thrust with his knife which was wrapped up and diverted, who tossed the dagger up, caught with his free hand and slashed a trench across Barzur's gut.
Barzur recoiled then hollowed out, when seeing the dagger plunge, to prevent the penetration from becoming more than superficial, then retaliated with an overhead strike for Ranger's face. He was thwarted when his arm became wrapped up by Ranger's who slammed Barzur's nose with a head butt.
Staggering back with watering eyes, Barzur found himself once again besieged by his better who took advantage of his disorientation and overpowered him with a flurry of strikes, jabs and slashes. Defending at best, despite being dealt blows, cuts and piercings, which were non fatal only on behalf of his excessive skill, Barzur made a frantic swing to preserve himself which Ranger caught at the wrist, slid under the armpit, hit him in the solar plexus with the heel of the left foot, then as he slid back, knocked out Barzur's feet with his right leg.
Slamming down on his back, Barzur had just enough coherence to witness Ranger coming down for the killing blow, who, naturally esteeming his own life and welfare above his enemies, shot out a kick that struck the man in the side of the head then rolled back up onto his feet with enough time to snap on guard before Ranger could re attempt in slaying him.
At a standstill once more, they circled, and circled, and circled some more while Kaytaff whined and barked and Holo bit her nails and remained on edge. Ranger found his opportunity right when Barzur's next step found his legs crossed, who side stepped in, cupped his throat at the same time his leg knocked out his knee bringing Barzur victim to a pristine takedown.
Coughing and panting, Barzur looked up at his adversary who stood triumphant and informed, "Your footwork could be improved upon."
Seething hatred upon the man, whose animosity was only the source of his master's enmity, he said, "I am sure there is much more I can learn from one such as you…Kinslayer…"
This comment seemed to leave the masked man stunned, which only his eyes were the testators of followed by a crook of the head, "'Kinslayer?'" This was not said in the attitude of ignorance but of familiarity.
His dither of thought allowed Barzur to sneak a boot to his knee which staggered him over with his back exposed. Ranger was grabbed from behind, brought down and forced to intercept the scythe going for his throat with his hand which was answered by Barzur whipping the chain around his neck. Before it synched, Ranger shot his opposite arm up between the links to protect his airway, but now was completely tied up.
They struggled and grunted all the while resisting one another's efforts. The scythe quivered and trembled like a withered leaf in the autumn breeze making leeway and inching closer and closer to Ranger's eyes. The tip was nicking agains his eyelashes before Barzur yelled in anguish and relinquished all holds upon him.
He turned his fury upon Holo who, during this section of the conflict, pulled Ranger's sword from the ground and thrust its tip into Barzur's back and would have dealt a deadly strike if not for her aim which caused the blade to glance off the bone.
Barzur was about to strike her down then suddenly diverted to avoid Kaytaff's lunge who provided reinforcement. The hound slid around on all fours then attempted another go. Barzur quickly timed Kaytaff's jump and belted him down to earth with the ball. The hound shrieked in pain and terror and, as soon as he was able, bolted away into the woods with his master calling after him.
Taking advantage of this subtle distraction, Barzur flipped upon Ranger, put him on his knees, who hit the chain with his forearm which whipped around and around until the end of slack dug the scythe into his radial sections. Ranger was once again reeled in then lasso'd around the neck and yanked into the ground while being pinned under Barzur's foot.
Holo rushed to the aid of her companion with futile efforts, for her throat was snatched by her enemy's iron grasp and forced down to her knees. In an effort to save herself from his iron grip, Holo attempted to make a swing for him whilst she still wielded the sword. Barzur used the chain's additional slack to wrap up her arm and keep it pinned to her side.
Gritting her teeth while being endeavored greatly to gasp for air, she managed to sputter in a final effort for survival, "H-his master…is Cyrus!"
Of all the motivations to double his efforts, none could have been more profound upon the mind of the masked man than this pronunciation. Fortifying his resolve against his enemy whom he now had a burning passion to destroy by affiliation with the tyrant Aswadi alone, he clamped down on the boot holding him down then twisted and pulled Barzur off balance. Ranger arced up slightly to snap a kick to the man's nose then, as his adversary recoiled, slipped the chain off and replaced his soles to the ground.
The asphyxiated Holo, with what remained of her sapping strength, lobbed the sword back to its rightful owner who caught it and rushed in for a strike. Barzur, aware of his impending doom, serviced Holo as a human shield and nearly caused Ranger to smite her down if not for his quick eye and control in which he pulled his strike by which the blade stopped at Holo's forehead invoking a shriek of terror from her lips.
Barzur, spared of mercy and sympathy, forced the encounter into a standstill by chaining Holo's neck, forcing her to her knees, synching and proposed in the language of altercation, her life in exchange for Ranger's actions.
Holo's threshold of fear surpassed its limits when reading his eyes, he seemed to be considering it. However, all fears were dispelled when recalling his declared devotions to their companionship. He had promised they would see this journey to its end together and never doubted him as a man of his word.
Instead, Ranger provoked him into making the first move, "I am all the more convinced Cyrus is your master, for who other's pupil could carry out such an act of cowardice?"
Enraged, Barzur launched the scythe downwards for Ranger who side stepped, allowing it to implant into the sod, then advanced, swooped down and took it up and with a gracefully aggressive twirl, spun it and slung it down deep for Barzur's head, who quickly avoided the death blow and was sunk into the collar. Ranger moved quickly to liberate Holo from the mail which indentured her neck then turned his fury upon the one who instigated it.
Barzur, still having his collar cleaved, stretched out the chain in both hands and used it as a means to block and perry the edges that sought his life. In a hasty decision to prevent anymore blows, the shadow warrior dispatched the ball end, striking Ranger's wrist and casting the sword from his grip, who, before it could retract, shot past Barzur's outside, reached back, grabbed his throat and threw him over his shoulder and slammed him into a downed log.
Ranger kicked his sword back up into his palm and marched forth to finish the fight.
Holo suddenly set out to warn Ranger of another force vastly encroaching their position. Another infernal wolf, who have been the greatest nuisance to the man so far, bestrode his back and latched onto his shoulder. Throwing our man off balance whilst impeding his progress, Barzur let himself up and hissed, "Telekna."
Ranger was still preoccupied with this dilemma, then upon noticing Barzur's recovery managed to flip the beast off his shoulder and pitched over to him. Warrior and flailing beast collided in a fan dangled fashion. Barzur, so maddened by this outrage, slaked his anger by slaughtering the animal himself.
This wolf however was only one of many as more were seen descending down the ravine. Ranger made ready to engage but Holo's delicate hand perched onto his elbow seeking his attention. She pointed deeper within the village and proclaimed, "This way!"
Reluctant at first but upon seeing Holo already creating a draw inclined himself to retreat with her. No sooner than when they left the chaos at their backsides that once more, without any signs of forecast, a blizzard began overtaking their world. It was the same as the ones prior, too thick to see through and too bountiful to let footprints remain hollow.
"Why come this way?", demanded Ranger who at some point in his stride pulled his arm free.
Pointing into the direction that guided her she replied, "That voice, do you not hear it?"
"I hear nothing." he retorted in his sour mood for he was still coping with being denied his kill.
"You mean to say you hear not the voice…"
"…of a woman?" he finished with awe and wonder.
"Yes, it has been guiding me as of late."
Ranger rested on one leg, "Has this voice been manifest through a blizzard."
"Aye, on all accounts. You have encountered this as well, true?"
"It was, before I found you at the camp, that such a phenomenon had shown me the way as well."
"We are not alone, someone watches over us."
Looking back when hearing savage barks of beast and yells of man that demanded our duo be found out, Ranger turned back and said, "We cannot take them all head on, not as we are."
"Perhaps if I can get a bit of blood." Holo informed pointing to his dripping lacerations acquired as of late.
Shielding his tarnished flesh from her chops he quickly refuted, "Holo, there is no telling what it may bring."
"What are you saying?' she jested with aggravated haste, 'Would I go mad in a fit of rage and power?"
He raised his hand to answer but instead grabbed her by the wrist and began fleeing at such a rapid pace that her stride began to drag as she could not match his speed. Taking her down an alley further away from the obtruding forces, he turned them around a corner then clung to its wall.
The patterings of footfalls resonated then dissipated past them and again they were safe for the moment. Turning to her he concluded a quick plan, "Let us try to divide their forces by separating."
Holo, however, was in opposition to this proposal and expressed, "Even with your skill and my cunning on their own merits are not enough to ward off the threat by any measure no matter how divided!"
Then eyeing through the fog, "If I can just get my fangs in a wolf or human, the tides can turn greatly."
Agitated, Ranger responded, "It is too risky at the moment, let us thin them out so that I may dispatch a few then see where fate will lead us."
Holo became disturbed and gritted her teeth, "I am not going alone! Not with him out there!"
Ranger listened intently.
"He has almost killed me twice, that man, the one I spoke of in my dreams. It is he!"
Perceiving all revealing aspects to her petrified state, Ranger took her by the shoulders and said sternly, "Holo, I will deal with him and I will not let anything befall you. Do not let these past failures stain your confidence. You are Holo the wise wolf and no other creature is more deserving of that title than you. We can prevail."
Taking a deep sigh with that melancholy that brings all the remaining courage a misfortunate individual will shine forth, she said, "Very well, I will see if I can lead some within the structures and lead them astray."
"Before you do,' replied Ranger as he began untying the raiment from off his shoulders, 'I believe these are yours." then presented to her, her husband's jacket.
Dumbstruck, she, with numbness in the arms, took hold of it, squeezed it tight and nestled her face within and breathed in that familiar scent. And once more, she dug into the pocket and withdrew her novel.
Choking with gratefulness she coughed, "Why is it, only in moments of great peril do you enact such kindness towards me?"
Actually contemplating her question, he replied, "Perhaps peril is the only window of which I can outsource my passions."
Slipping her arms through the sleeves and binding it up she said, "Tis' a shame, that in such moments, you are a warrior and not a cook. For I could go for a well prepared meal right about now."
Huffing, he pointed, "Let us be off, remember if you see that man, try to lure him towards me and I shall deal with the rest."
As he departed she had but one last question, "He called you Kinslayer, what does that mean?"
Ranger turned and replied with daring misanthropy, "It means that there is no one more deserving to die at my hands than him."
IV
Predators in the Dark
It was not even five minutes past since that last discourse between Holo and Ranger was eventuated that their plans of survival were compelled into fruition. The dissimulation provided by the fog provided a much needed advantage against the advancing Sawatti and their pack of wolves. And for the first time in centuries, the old village of Yoites had a combustion of individuals brewing through its desolate walkways.
Their relentless endeavors involved multiple formations of two to three braves to one wolf who sniffed the ground for a decent heading. At length the allure of Holo lurking about the mortared crevices was too great for the wolves ti ignore and, according to the will of their beneficiaries, obliged themselves to follow it.
Holo would glide from corner to corner, evidently thinning the herd as pre illustrated, which when secluded and swallowed up in the fog, were destined to never be recovered from the predator lurking in the darkness. Yet she paced through and through with that harrowing apprehension of the predator's foil who was as proficient as Ranger's echo.
One such trio of men and wolf ventured deep within the avenues and intersections of the old village then, as they had taken the next detour, the wolf abruptly turned his head around just catching the hems of Holo's fleeting form, then barked and dashed after it.
The shape of the Canis lupus was swallowed up in the wintery nebula of which only a brief silence was facilitated before a sharp whine bellowed out then ended rather abruptly. Petrified from the terrors of the unseen veil the Sawatti braves snapped at the ready and pointed their weapons at every dancing shape. These two men of different body and mind, displayed the exact mannerisms compelled by that fear which united them.
Uniquely, that same force which constrained them to hold position also impelled them to move forward. And once a substantial space divided the two, Ranger dropped between them, quickly swiped the head half way off the one in tow then, as the frontman turned, locked out his arm, swooped underneath the armpit while slicing his ribs clean, then spun around and cut down his spine leaving great drops of blood splashing between his trembling legs before he collapsed.
After wiping the blade ridge clean with the cuff of his forearm, he turned and investigated his surroundings with a deep attention to detail, almost as impeccable to the artist when wishing to portray the world in its utmost realism. And from there, just like that artist who carefully exhumes his own flaws by looking for that which would detract the eye from his painting, Ranger likewise found the same thing in his field of vision. There was a shape that did not belong. A shape that moved from plain view into obscurity, a shape that beckoned for him to pursue it.
Coming to a head at an intersection, he snapped his head to the right in the precise moment he was about to be pounced upon by a wolf, angled his sword and let a it's body pass over it. The beast had an escort, another member of the Sawatti forces was hot on it's heels and was able to catch Ranger slightly disadvantaged for his weapon was supporting the large animal. Thus when the brave attacked, it left him no choice but to relinquish and engage unarmed.
The brave brandished a club transfixed with jagged animal bones at its head, which are sharper than glass, that swung in multiple directions in hopes they would sink into Ranger's face. Alas, Ranger found his opportunity, leaned back to let his attacker overextend, clamped the arm and hinged back making the combatant stumble and fall into a waist high trough made purely of cement.
No sooner than when the Sawatii pivoted about face on his hind that Ranger had already shuffled in and hit under his chin so hard with a chambered side kick that his head snapped back and dislodged from the neck when it pivoted over the edge. Seeing that this stunt left his contestant internally decapitated, Ranger retrieved his blade and sought the dark shape hovering ore.
The dark shape was a character neither member of our duo had the capacity to meat. It was Telekna whom we have not had the opportunity to be graced with abundant foreknowledge about. The most that could be said in this moment was at the very least, his appearance. He did not appear very threatening upon first glance. He wore a black hood and cloak with red and brown decors after the manner of the native people upon the breast and belly. His hair was black and shoulder length which due to the braids, beads and feathers adorning his bangs, let the sides rest upon his collars and looked very mohican.
As the reader is about to soon discover, Ranger made a grievous mistake in pursuing him, for secrecy was Telekna's ally for reasons that are about to be disclosed. We see the man, who obviously has some favor gained from the wolves, drift into a lone corridor within a two leveled building, ascend the stairs and proceed down a hallway parallel to the bottom floor. Down the other end was another stairwell that Ranger used to intercept and throw him into a conjoining room.
Thrusting him into the wall with his bare fists, Ranger had him pinned off his feet while Telekna kept his expressions neutral while sincerely appearing unintimidated.
"I was hoping you to be the young man who had some promise in besting me, but I shall settle for you."
"Well, I am not at all disappointed." replied Telekna, nearly eager this exchange was taking place.
Thrusting a fist into his ribs, Ranger said, "I know I stand in the presence of the master of mutts, what I wish to know is why you so blindly attack me and my companion."
A slight smile past over his lips, "But you do know why these people and myself want your head. You should never have comeback, for their generations have not forgotten you."
He then whispered a name, that irately widened Ranger's eyes and compulsively threw him onto the floor. Then drawing his sword as Telekna recovered, said, "I shall cut the tongue out of any who say it, and cut the heart out of any who remember it! Starting with you, cross breed."
Telekna, obviously winded from the canning, pulled from a side pouch, a little white field mouse that caught Ranger off guard. With a sinister smile that could strike terror into the most battle hardened of individuals, Telekna said while pulling off his hood, "I am no cross breed, you stand in the presence of the god of death!"
The hood unfurled revealing two triangular ears of the blackest midnight atop his head, his gnashing teeth portrayed two fang like canines that bit into the mouse's head. It let off a tiny squeak along with a rattling and vibrating body as Telekna sucked out it's blood.
Ranger, realizing his imminent danger, backed up slowly then, as Telekna's form began quivering, turned and bolted for the door right as his enemy lunged and transformed. He was not even half a pace through the frame when his body was launched from behind by a giant wolf snout and thrown into the opposing wall making it splinter.
Ranger braced his feet and kept the snapping wolf fangs at bay which snarled and barked so loudly they nearly ruptured his ear drums. He was nearly seized if not for a loud creaking snap pulling Telekna's snout back. His massive form was too great for the dilapidated floor to support therefore he caved through it. Ranger recovered and perceived the terrifying growls that shook the foundation as a warning of his enemy's plight.
The Hood rapidly picked his legs up and fled right as the beast's jaws broke up through the floor, then, when it proved fruitless, struck again and again tailing after him and destroying the interior of which he dwelt. The whole edifice was collapsing in on itself leaving Ranger with no exit, but by a stroke of luck, when the ceiling and walls were giving way, a temporal gap between the wall and ceiling was created allowing him to dive to the outside.
The whole endeavor plagued him with all the scraps, cuts and bruises a sound thrashing accustoms one to. He made a terrible hobble when coming to his feet, most likely from a sprained knee. But it would have to take secondary attention when the crumbled and shattered fortifications began to stir. Rising from the crumbles of mortar and wood was the great wolf, clad in black prickly fur that looked course to the touch. Known only to a select inhabitance as Telekna the god of death.
Attempting to refortify his strength, but buckling under the terrible pain in his leg, Ranger held his sword at the ready. Great drops of drool descended from the fluttering chops of the great wolf who slowly stepped over the rubble and lunged.
Ranger bolted forward, slid under the gunning jaw and cut the nearest front leg. The stunt did not go unpunished for the quick maneuver sent waives of numbing torment throughout the right side of his body originating from his twisted knee. Telekna had made a slight yelping hiccup then sought to lunge once more when reacquiring his prey.
"This way!", came that familiar voice within the wind, a voice that called from everywhere, a voice that called for him directly.
Looking about he saw amidst the fog and heavy snowfall a passageway devoid of nature's fury, as if it was prepared for him. Diving for his life to avoid the next attempt from Telekna, Ranger chose to heed these directions from hands unknown.
Dashing through the snow mounded streets, consequently being agonized from it, Ranger, upon coming to a three way intersection, felt the wind push on him hard to turn left. At no liberty to protest against it he had done so. Telekna could be heard not too far behind, in fact as he glanced behind his shoulder, he glimpsed the behemoth bounding over the edifices to hunt him down.
The wind then blew down upon his shoulders forcing him down.
"Lay still." came the whisper.
The man heeded and went prone upon the snow, unsure what action this would have in store. Then within moments, he was covered up completely in white looking no different than a natural mound lumped against the wall. This was a life saving force of nature, for when Telekna made himself manifest, he moved on believing his prey had also moved further on.
Once deemed safe, Ranger arose and brushed himself off. He sat against the wall to massage his afflicted knee until he was called to action once more. Holo's outcries could be heard nearby.
V
Seeking High Places
It was within those moments when Ranger had his own battle to deal with that Holo found herself nearly cornered by the numerous mini search parties overturning things here and there. Naturally this obliged her to seek refuge indoors to perhaps hide or create new opportunities.
Within a dark chasm that was inside the grand building with arches conjoining its rooftops, she laid in waiting and would hunt to the extended limitations her human form allowed. She was cunning and not without a plan. Her aim was to lure at least one to her whereabouts, draw blood and use it to her might.
She had this plan nearly executed when, as a brave foolishly entered her chamber alone, was fatally stabbed from behind by Holo's trembling hands, for the slaughter of men in human form was something unnatural and not accustomed to according to her standard. Then, as she was to exsanguinate the dying man's mortality from his open wound, she fatally realized this act played a role in another's plan.
Barzur's scythe had nearly struck her down leaving her scrambling for safety outside the room into the hallways and up the stairs. The shadow warrior was hot on her heels to the upper levels hitting and striking the floors and walls attempting to get after her.
Coming to a main room at the parapet of the building, Holo found herself in a chamber with only one way in and out, and a small port hole to the outside. Turning around she found the hunter already there to cut off her escape.
Backing away from his advance while yielding the dagger, she growled most fiercely, but it availed nothing. Barzur impassively whipped the ball around low, tied up Holo's ankle and yanked her hard on her back. As he walked up to her, his footfalls resounded nearly in tandem with her beating heart, then in the moment of peril, just as he was about to deliver her into the netherworld, he sharply turned and deflected Ranger's sword (that was launched for him) from out of the air.
Ranger rushed in and with a hard tackle, drove Barzur into the nearest wall. Ranger thrust two fists into both floating ribs, then grabbed him by the eye sockets and slammed his head into the wall. Barzur, whose senses were heightened by pain and dread, grabbed Ranger's wrist, twisted around and reverted their positions.
Ranger sought a hook punch to his jaw, but the young man swiftly ducked under it, kicked him back in the chest and held him there with his foot, then leapt up off the opposite and belted him across the face with it before pristinely landing back on both. The scythe then swung and cut deep into the side of the Hood's shoulder.
Poor Holo, as she was trying to unbind her ankle, felt the chain's tension snap to and was being drug around on the floor during the commotion.
Barzur had Ranger dazed and was about to deliver another blow with the scythe but our brave Holo, seeking to enact her loyalties, pulled back on the chain, smothering his assault. This gave Ranger the ample time to sneak behind and strangle him with the chain. Barzur gagged and was in no usable position to provide a counter move. So he directed them back towards the wall, ran up it and flipped up and over his attacker.
Ranger anticipated where he would land and shot his elbow back catching him in the jaw. Stumbling with a grunt, Barzur retaliated in which Ranger stepped forward blocking the arm and simultaneously delivering a palm strike breaking his nose.
Barzur clasped his face and yelled while liquid red seeped through the creases of his hands in great quantities. Glaring back at the masked man who could only say with deserving comeuppance, "That was for striking my dog."
Crying out in rage Barzur rushed to overtake him but, as they were contending, Holo had unraveled her foot, ran up behind Barzur and clocked him in the back of the head with the weighted ball. He turned on his heel with his fist chambered to blast her across the face, but Ranger caught it, submitted the joint into flipping him over then reversed the motion and snapped his wrist the other way.
Barzur balled, then rolled over flipping his leg around to catch Ranger in the temple with it, kipped up then, when he noticed that masked man was favoring his right leg, concluded to antagonize it further by shuffling in and snapping a kick to the side of his knee. Ranger turned and dropped by which Barzur followed up by dropping his knee upon his perched ankle blowing it out of place.
Ranger yelped and jumped forward only to hobble, fall and roll. Barzur grabbed Ranger's sword, charged and pierced him through the body between the clavicle and imbeded it into the wall. The Hood, despite being in agonizing pain, reached forward, took hold of Barzur's scalp and drove him face first into the end pommel before him.
Grunting he instructed, "Holo…run!"
She did so but chose to escape via the port hole which led to the rooftops and took Barzur's weapon with her.
Ranger then liberated himself and slashed his enemy up the face which nearly left his cheek half cut off. Clasping at it, and realizing he could be slain in an instant at this point. The young warrior opted to flee and pursue Holo.
Ranger could not follow as he was. He sat down and began working to replace his foot so that he could bare to put some weight on it. With a painful pop which left tears welling out his eyes, the Hood was able to arise and go after them like a cripple.
Holo's plight removed her to the outer walls and upon the rooftops, climbing higher and higher to get away. When coming up the highest ledge she gasped when a hand pulled her down, Barzur had taken hold of her ankle. Managing to kick him off she pulled herself up to the summit of the grand building and attempted to walk across the conjoining arches.
Yet as she was near half way, she was employed to turn around and find the mangled face of Barzur haunting her path. Finding no other recourse than this, she wielded the scythe and made sport to bring it upon him. With an uncoordinated attempt she unfurled its designed purpose upon him who stoically caught it without so much a flinch of his accessories.
He began to walk towards her while reeling in the chain which strung Holo along who resisted with all her feeble strength. Alas she relinquished and fell back and nearly cast herself over the edge in the process. After having it perfectly wrapped, he pulled on his disjointed wrist popping it back into place.
Then, casting his gaze behind him, found that within the unrelenting tempest Ranger had rejoined the fight. His stance was handicapped, but he was present nonetheless. And this was the position of which Barzur stood, between his two targets atop a bridge of where certain death could be found on either side being pelted with snow and fog.
Ranger breathed heavily when he began to gimp forward while clutching at his side whilst dwelling in clothing that was soaked in blood. His foot barely able to sustain his weight, his knee too swollen to effectively bend, his shoulder and back pierced and shredded, but still he endured to the end.
Holo brandished her dagger at the other end of which Barzur took note then said to quell this standstill, "So this is how you choose to end? Enduring pain and suffering while living under the foolish notion that you can still make the difference for all?"
There was a brief pause as the wind filled the silence. Holo looked upon Ranger with a pleading countenance.
The masked man contemplated then finally made reply, "I cannot make a difference for all,' then raising his blade while motioning towards Holo, 'but I can make a difference for one."
Snapping the slack out of the chain, Barzur growled, "Then may the difference be the end of your lives."
The scythe launched and Ranger parried at the same time Holo moved in and thrust the dagger into Barzur's kidney. Ranger mustered to move as quickly as if unhindered to intercept Barzur's fury from ending her there. By the time he had gotten there, Barzur had struck her away towards the ledge, therefore he slid under his legs, swooped his foot out in the process then extended forward and caught Holo's hand before her plummet began. Barzur had landed on his back slid off the side but caught the ledge and began to hoist himself up.
As Ranger pulled Holo up she alarmed him saying, "Behind you!"
Ranger caught it and, with sword in one hand and Holo in the other, jetted his blade under his armpit right as Barzur pounced so that he would receive a deep piercing. While the shadow warrior threw himself off the sword, Ranger practically threw Holo up and over then returned to engage the adversary who was already in the process of reclaiming the fight.
The war's deadliness increased ten fold on the account that both men were robbed of sufficient room to imply their footwork. Atop of this, Ranger's shoulder wound was sending blood down his arm leaving off the fingertips making his grip upon his sword slippery. The true fault of this came round when he thrusted forward which Barzur parried off the knuckles with the chain sending the sword plummeting down into the faceless white.
Barzur moved forward, stepped the Hood's knee down and vaulted around him bringing the scythe down which Ranger's hand intercepted. Being a man filled with anticipation, Barzur suspected his blind spot would be taken advantage of once again by Holo who could be seen making a charge but instead caught a hind kick in the gut sending her sprawling back.
In a mad instant, Ranger pivoted back, hoisting Barzur over and off his shoulders, then, when seeing Holo falling off the side, seized the ball and tossed it over to her. Holo felt the weighted bead strike between her breasts, grabbed the chain and was now dangling over the side with Ranger being her only anchor. As he began raking her up Barzur came from behind to slice Ranger's throat but was blunted by his forearm that he deployed to take the split.
Grabbing his face, Barzur threw Ranger on his back letting Holo yell out as she fell then snapped back, nearly loosing her grip. The scuffle between them caused her body to wobble and fling from side to side as her only defense was to close her eyes and wait in terror for a final outcome.
Barzur took a full mount over Ranger's loins to keep him pinned and attempted to deliver a killing blow with the scythe while the masked man proceeded to ward it off with one hand while holding onto Holo's chain in the other. Barzur dug the scythe into the arm that supported Holo, then as Ranger recoiled, lifted the chain up, wrapped it around his neck then let it fall. Holo's body weight yanked Ranger's head back over the ledge and was now crushing his esophagus.
Barzur pulled the scythe and brought it down by which Ranger held him back with both arms and struggled in mortal combat. Barzur could see Ranger's skin becoming red and bulging with veins, his eyes squinting tight, his arms trembling and failing in strength.
Overcome with the highest degree of worry, Holo cried up, "Alpha!"
Alas, when all seemed nigh for them to fail, Ranger grabbed the hanging piece of flesh from his cheek, pulled and tore it down. All strength in an instant, fleeted from Barzur's frame as he screamed in anguish and lost balance. Within the same instant, Ranger shot his hips to push him off, grabbed the scythe, re worked his position and struck true.
Barzur was leaned back, gagging and coughing out mounds of blood that surged from his mouth and descended down his chin to where the scythe was laid to rest, through the back of the neck and out the front of the throat. While he was thus tormented, Ranger unfurled the chain and slipped to his feet while gasping for air.
Barzur, unsure still of all that had transpired, turned towards the horizon, sickly stood to his feet while reaching out with the one hand and grasping at the transfixed hilt with the other. Ranger stood close by to hear him sputter out one final cry of defeat, "…F-fath..er…!"
With a swift boot, Ranger kicked him over the other side. His body reached the end of the chain, came back and hit the side then due to the physics of his and Holo's weight, slowly slide down while Holo ascended at a gradual pace.
As soon as she was close enough, Ranger took her by the hand and lifted her up, then took the chain and let it drop, the consequence of which was hearing Barzur's body fall, glance off the sides of lower buildings and hit the ground. Holo looked down at her palms to see the them covered in the man's blood and was overcome with emotion. Then, without speaking, Ranger placed her wheat pouch in her trembling fingers; he must have taken it before Barzur fell.
Petrified with a face of marble, Holo did nothing but stare at it with unspeakable emotions. Ranger, panting and coughing, sat down with his legs over the ledge and said nothing. Holo took sit beside him and finally, let the tears fall, held the pouch to her chest, buried her head and began lamenting over all that had transpired.
Upon seeing her weeping to rid herself of all these hideous emotions and strong offenses, Ranger rested his hand on her shoulder and let her grieve.
VI
Old Friends and Forgotten Enemies
Through the same they used to obtain the rooftop did our wearied duo use to replace themselves within the building so that they may reach ground level undetected. Ranger, when he passed through, opted to lean against the wall and resign his burdens for a moment to lessen the weight of his injuries which were becoming unsupportable. This did nothing for Holo's concerns who pressured him to allow her to use the power of the wheat.
Yet Ranger forbade her in the moment, and it was then that he informed her of Telekna and his designs, thus a more correct recourse would be to gain further ground from the old village before any detectable action be taken. This heightened Holo's natural curiosity as to why a member of her own ilk would dawn such hostilities towards her and her companion and why such a union with Barzur would be contrived, what could they have in common?
A disturbing conclusion came forth in her mind causing her to lean forward and reply with caution, "Unless, the enemy they have in common is not I, but is you."
He bowed his head and kept silent, only diverting his strength to recuperation.
"Please,' she pled, 'no more secrets. The young one and a fellow Kenrou have sought your death, that cannot be on word alone. What unites them against you?"
Ranger lifted his head, his face in a state of constant bobbing motions, his eyes one half shut the other open, and said, "Will you believe all the words that I will tell you?"
"Yes, I will believe."
As soon as he began speaking, Holo suddenly rebuked him to be silent, "They are searching the building." said she.
Whatever weakness Ranger displayed, was now diminished as he girded up his loins and led the way. They both cleared the first doorway and back into the hallway. When they came upon the lobby on the upper level Holo snatched at his garment while warning in tandem.
To the right was an unsuspecting Sawatti brave, who was stunned to see them round the corner, while a series were down below pointing and shouting then proceeded to launch arrows at them over the railing. They ducked under letting them pelt off the wall then began moving away quickly.
Ranger turned to deliver canings upon the one in pursuit by kneeing his gut, using his back as a shield from another barrage of missiles, then flipped him over the railing to land a hard fifteen feet.
Ranger took Holo by the hand guiding her down the passageways whose body was so well ravaged that Holo could easily outrun him. Nevertheless she remained by his side. Yet given their current predicaments, when they came near an open aperture they were intercepted by two more and another scuffle ensued.
Eventually, after dueling for a moment, one of which grabbed Holo and threw her towards the window by which she exited over the sill. Ranger broke free and propelled himself after her. Catching her through the air, they were descending towards a conjoined rooftop below. To protect the fair girl he turned over allowing his body to take the full brunt of the impact. They broke through the brittle mantle and crashed through the building below.
Holo awaited the final drop of debris to rain down before lifting her head. After assessing the situation she became alarmed when hearing a terrible wheeze that ran her blood colder than the relentless weather outside. As she lifted herself off of Ranger's motionless body she beheld a broken piece of a wooden beam pierced through his back and jetting out the side of his stomach.
"Oh, no!" she gasped while shaking him to respond to stimuli.
He writhed terribly, as if unsure how to put up with himself. Holo kept shaking him by the shoulders and calling out for him. He yielded to say something yet his crackling voice was so stifled she could hardly perceive it.
"What did you say?" she panicked.
Leaning closer he said, "…m-move…!"
From behind came another brave who was drawn by the calamity but was soon struck down by Holo's dagger that Ranger had taken up and hurled towards his face.
With that past, Holo pulled him up, who grunted and complained in a manner unlike she had ever heard him do.
In due time he hauled to his feet, haunched half paralyzed and rested his whole body against the nearest wall while Holo scouted ahead. Upon her return she informed, "This way is clear, can you walk?"
Though she could not see his face, his eyes said all as they were wide, unfocused and accompanied by pale and diaphoretic skin. Taking his hand she decided for him and directed them outside.
The journey was heart wrenching for her, for he stumbled and wheezed and faltered nearly on every step. When at last when they stepped outdoors, he collapsed on his face and this time nothing could rouse him from it.
Holo, more distraught and feeling all the more helpless, shook his shoulders and yelled, "Please, you must get up!"
His labored breathing was all she could and his eyes remained shut. Pulling the cords of her wheat pouch free, she declared with earnest of soul, "No, this is not how it shall end!"
Consuming the fibers and ripping into her beast form, she picked up the lifeless man and began darting away. To where, she was not quite sure.
As she was darting along another being was approaching from behind and gaining speed. Holo turned in time to see herself getting shoulder checked by another of her stature. Planting her paws whilst sliding around, she beheld the black wolf Ranger fore warned her about.
Squaring off while brandishing their teeth towards one another, Telekna reprimanded, "That creature is not worth protecting, hand him over and perhaps I shall be so in the mood to spare you."
With a most fearsome growl, Holo replied, "If he is your prey, come and claim him then!"
No more discussion was necessary between the two. Telekna leapt forth in attempt to snatch the man from her jaws but Holo withdrew before it could be done. The two jumped at each other with the black wolf snapping his fangs making bites a plenty here and there. Holo took their brunt and shielded her mouth but Telekna was quick to slam his jaw upside her snout causing Ranger's body fly up and come down free for the taking.
Holo smote the death wolf away then caught the man just before he struck the ground then, in a risky move, laid him down near a log so that she could be at liberty with her jaws. Turning to face Telekna they circled while making threatening gestures after their canine customs and launched for each other once more.
They both lifted colliding their chests, wrapping up their paws while biting and lashing at each others faces with their fangs. Each time their paws came down it send tremendous shock waives through the earth, so great the Ranger's body would bounce on its own.
In a cunning move, Holo lifted up to provoke Telekna to jump, but quickly diverted down, clamped onto his flank and charged him over. Telekna thrashed and barked as he toppled down then dug deep into Holo's shoulder.
They both relinquished and would dart in and around each other making savage bite marks on every go. Holo would ensure her position was always maintained between the black wolf and the dying warrior, protecting him as any loyal pack mate would.
At length when a break was exhumed between their duel, Telekna raged, "Have you any thought as to what you are protecting?!"
Holo did not respond.
"That there is the creature who brought about the death of Yoites!"
Holo erected her head and stood tall as if to contemplate. She looked back on the man then back to Telekna and said, "I would believe you, if of course, my ears did not detect lies."
Stunned at her comeback, Telekna barreled and tackled her over with his jaws fastened around her neck. Despite the quick shock, Holo was at home in her wolf form, and as the two tumbled down a steep hillside, she managed to plant her hind legs beneath his belly and throw him over as she rolled back. Both of them made quite a stir, breaking and uprooting trees and smashing bushes in the process.
Coming to her feet they were about to deploy another round upon each other if not for the harsh wind picking up to hurricane levels. Holo tucked while Telekna was getting pushed further back until obscured from view.
The last she could hear of him was his howling vengeance and curses, "Shenu! This outrage will not go unpunished!"
Separated from the enemy at the moment, Holo's head snapped towards Ranger's last known position, a stranger was nearby. She leapt up the hillside with bounding grace fueled by her sensing another one like her just on top of her companion.
Breaking through the tree line with a savage roar, to ward off any threat, what she found was a lone individual garbed and cloaked after the inuit style she had been dressed in. Near the individual, kneeling by the wounded's side, was the masked man's sword, sheathed and cared for.
The figure lifted it's head calmly at Holo's encroaching form and pulled down its hood. What she saw quelled her anger. It was a man, with long silver hair complemented with two wolf ears to match. His face was soft gentle and well weathered supporting two radiant blue eyes that where overflowing with glowing kindness and wisdom.
Putting his hands up he revealed himself peacefully, "Peace daughter of Yoites, I am not your enemy."
Then arising while tucking his hands into his large sleeves he introduced himself sincerely, "My name is Nazani."
Holo's ears pricked and her eyes lifted, she quickly recalled this name. It was upon the plague of the silver wolf statue she read off in Valenfurt, who claimed his deity as the god of healing.
Continuing his proclamation, the silver haired Kenrou went on, "If you are willing, there is still hope for me to save this man, but not here. Let me take him to the Kahotoe village."
Detecting no ill intent in his words, the stunned Holo replied, "Lead the way then."
Then after biting into a green herb, the shaman said, "Let us be off then."
Through the blizzard the two great wolves dashed through, the brown and white Holo, and the other, her newly acquainted Nazani, who was silver with black edges along his chest and underbelly. Nazani carried Ranger through his jaws so that his life may be preserved that much longer by his miraculous healing touch, while Holo knew not her bearings for the blizzard clouded everything.
At long last, Nazani shifted down when approaching a small village consisting of yurts and huts built from mortar and cement with fire lights blazing through their windows. Dressing himself in his robe he lifted Ranger over his shoulder and rushed him through. Holo chose to do the same which caught the eye of all the inhabitance present. Some of the elderly ones called the young ones over and scolded them for looking at her unclothed form.
Nazani called out to the hut he sought entrance to, "Soldatna! Clear the way."
The door leading in, swung ajar and their stood a beautiful youth who rivaled the countenance of Holo, sporting silver hair and wolf ears just like her father.
Barging in he declared, "His life is all but faded, get your brother quickly."
The young looking girl had done so, then gave Holo a look of natural jealousy not uncommon among female wolves as she passed.
Nazani laid Ranger on the table and began opening up his vest and shirt. The door re opened in which an elderly woman shadowed the entrance saying, "Who have you brought to us, great shaman?"
Nazani looked back, "Anaksuq, this is a great warrior from a forgotten time, and this is Holo the remainder of Helushka's bloodline."
The elderly woman widened at Holo's lack of modesty, looked away and replied, "I shall return."
She did so with a robe and quickly placed it over her.
At that point Soldatna appeared with another young wolf man in which their father instructed, "Talkeetna fetch the elixirs, Soldatna get bandages and bindings quickly."
The two did as instructed, rummaging around and extracting from nearby compartments. Anaksuq approached Nazani and inquired of what use she could be by which the shaman said, "Hold pressure when I remove the beam."
Then putting his hand on Ranger's stomach and another on the penetrating body, he pulled and slid it out which Anaksuq held pressure with the linens. Holo watched helplessly as they stripped Ranger down and tried to sneak a peak when Nazani instructed, "Remove that mask it is choking him with blood."
Yet Holo could not quite see whose face it was under the mask between the moving bodies. Soldatna then made the comment, "Father, at long last you have brought me a real man to be my mate."
Talkeetna responded harshly, "No, he brought you the man who will forever be out of your reach."
"Enough you two!" barked their father, "Too much idle chatter and there will be no man at all."
Anaksuq looked back to see Holo, welling and petrified all while being ignored. The kindly old woman led her out and said, "Come my dear, let us have you properly dressed."
"No,' she responded, 'I cannot just leave him like this."
"You have nothing to fear great one, Nazani has saved many from the clutches of death, your friend is in good hands."
"Well,' said Holo as she exited, 'I would not say he is a friend."
"Nonsense, I know a brother in arms when I see one."
Holo was escorted further away, while she would cast her eyes back upon the hut where her 'friend' lay attended to.
Roughly an hour passed with Holo pacing around in a small yurt, dressed in a new outfit and Lawrence's jacket while fretting every moment that passed. In time, at long last of anticipation, the outside noises finally indicated Nazani was returning to her. He scarcely made it past the door before Holo bombarded him with questions regarding Ranger's health.
Bracing against her he reassured, "All signs are showing that he will recover in due time."
The news of relief hit her the same way had it been the opposite. She closed her eyes, held her hands to her chest and collapsed on a deer skin sofa. Nazani sat beside her and sighed deeply.
Rubbing his chin he said with aggravation, "Why is it, whenever I see him, I must put him back together with each time being worse than the last?"
Holo peered up, "You have met him before?"
"Oh yes, our paths crossed in an unforgettable way, but it was hundreds of years ago."
She nearly jumped from her seat, "Hundreds of years!"
Nazani perked his eyebrows, "Has he really told you nothing?"
"Only bits and pieces."
"What of his name?"
"Each one given was an alias, Alden, Alpha, Fivel."
Nazani chuckled and shook his head, "No wonder you are so confused then."
"Yes! Everyone seems to be in on the loop except me."
Calming her down the shaman said, "Before the old village of Yoites was destroyed and abandoned, the man you are with once lived among us, but that was back when I knew him as Chugiak the demon hunter."
