(words 2,725 inclusive this posting)
(I draw inspiration for my stories from the Chronicles of Narnia in all it's manifestations both canon and non-canon).
Disclaimer: The Chronicles of Narnia are the intellectual property of Clive Staples Lewis and his legally recognized representatives. We come here just to play in his garden. (Appended: The name Akela is borrowed from Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book.)
Warning: rated T plus for some graphic depictions of violence.
The Nail: suspension
chapter 3
"The Guardian"
Sergeant Akela, his adjutant in tow, raced south trying to catch Deadeyes but she managed to reach her destination first, a floodplain along the banks of The Great River. Waiting there for her, remnants of Jadis defeated army sat around campfires making a show of ignoring the monstrosity at their backs.
Finding a void in the thickets to serve as a blind the sergeant went out to have a look around. Having nothing better to do trooper Fain studied the anomaly dominating the field of sediment.
It was a tree to be sure but a tree the likes of which he had never before seen. It reminded him of a mushroom but a mushroom of almost immeasurable size. It's trunk was wider then a city block but probably no more then three leagues in height. It's leafy cap both flat and broad completed the allusion of a mushroom.
Some people say the olfactory sense of narnian wolves are without equal but Aslan in his infinite wisdom had gifted the satyrs with hearing as keen as any breed. Thus Fain was not surprise when he heard the sergeant working his way back through the vegetation.
"Seen anything of Deadeyes," the trooper asked.
The wolf ventured, "I made a complete circuit of the delta and she must be inside that thing."
"Inside? You mean it's hollow. How can you be sure," Fain inquired.
"You can't see it from here but there's a hole on the far side and these vermin crawl in and out of it like wasps on a hornet's nest. I've never seen anything like it," the sergeant grumbled.
"But Sergeant, I thought you said you were from around here," he asked of the wolf.
Akela looked up, a plea for understanding behind his eyes. "Back then, Private, we did what we were told, when we were told, and where to stand when we were doing it. Beyond that it was wise to keep one's counsel to oneself. So in answer to your question. Yes, I am from around here and no... none of my missions ever brought me this far south." Fain feeling sympathetic towards the wolf only nodded.
The satyr turned his attention back outside. "My people have farmed the land almost from the beginning. That is if you don't count the last three generations," he added with a dry chuckle. "As a kid, to amuse myself I use to pore over the old books and manuscripts so I know pretty much which trees are which but as to that one out there... your guess is as good as mine."
"That's the sight of the Tree of Protection," a melodious voice announce from behind them.
The satyr cursed himself for letting someone slip up on them so easily. Fain turning to face the threat was shoved aside by Akela as the wolf insinuated himself between his subordinate and the new comer.
A glint of amusement in her eye, a wolfen pushed her way into the grotto.
Akela was upon her in a flash. His mouth clamped around her neck in a display of dominance he tried forcing the she-wolf to her knees but she was having none of it.
Her bent front legs powering her upward she twisted from his grip. Dancing away on her hindlegs with all the grace of a dryad she dropped down on all fours next to the private. She gave herself a solid shake showering the satyr with tiny droplets of wolfs spittle.
The hair on her back brisling she gave Akela her full attention. "Have off You Clod," she warned.
The sergeant puffing himself up, proclaimed in an authoritative tone. "In the name of her Imperial Majesty Jadis, I place you under arrest."
Shying back she lowered herself almost to the ground. Her ears flattened against her head she began to whimper. The whimpering as she rose up became a giggle. The giggling grew into a long chortle that ended only when she had to stop to take a deep breath.
Head tossed back she asked in a confident voice, "Is this a joke? I do like a good joke but I'm thinking this is something else. You possess the bulk of one of Jadis foot lickers all right, but your no more one of her lackeys then the horned-one over there."
The private surprised by her pronouncement took a step towards her. "And pray Cousin, how did you come by that conclusion?"
"If you look out there Two-toes, You'll see a mob. A mob divided into them who give the orders and them who have to carry them out. Now,' she noted, 'that pendent hanging round drooly jowls neck is unlike anything you'll see in Jadis army."
Akela covered with his paw the sergeants medallion hanging round his neck.
"She's got you there, Sar - ah - ah - Akela," Fain stammered.
"And you Horned One, that lion's face embroidered on your jerkin makes a perfect bullseye for any archer out there who might possess a modicum of skill," she taunted the satyr.
Without thinking Fain placed his left hand over his heart.
Akela growled, "That'll do Prive... err, Fain."
"Sergeant Akela. Private Fain, even when you don't say it, you say it,' she chasten them. 'Don't look so surprised you two. I've been listening from hiding so I've got a pretty good idea who you are and what your about."
"Sharp as a porcupine's quill, this one is," Fain chuckled.
Akela feeling he was losing what little control he had over the situation blew his flews out in a sigh. "Sister, you have us at a disadvantage. It seems you know who we are but who are you."
"Oh dear, where have my manors gotten too,' she said batting her eyes flirtatiously. 'Name's Petal. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Petal, huh? Odd name for a wolf," Fain mused.
She continued in a lowered voice. "I have a twin sister, we two were the only ones who came out of a litter of six."
"You have my condolence," Akela murmured.
"You are most kind," she said earnestly. "Our sire in an effort to ease the suffering of his pack over the loss, christened his daughters Petal and Flower as a reminder better days lay ahead -
"Petal? Flower...? Oh, I get it flower petal,' Fain boorishly interrupted.
The sergeant gave him a sharp look.
"...Wait!" His eyes bulging, Fain croaked, "did you just say that thing out there was the Tree of Protection!"
"No. No-no no-no, are those horns rooted in your brain private? What I said was that's the "sight" of The Tree of Protection, let me try to explain. The day the Tree succumb to the magic of the witch, the locals planted a ring of saplings around the stump to mark the sight. Overnight the saplings taking root grew full and lush. So fast together where they, one to the other that the bark of their trunks fused together. Their crowns knitted so tightly, none but the smallest of birds and vermin could wiggle their way through. The Witch passing with her army and her winter to sack the capital was so put off by the Tree's lingering smell she never returned. The denizens of the area, so enraptured were they by this miracle they christened the shrine of bark and leaves The Guardian, along with a prayer it would evermore protect from evil this most sacred of places," she finished.
"A fine story sister but I have to inform you your guardian has failed in it's duty. That rabble out there has breached it's walls and taken up residence inside,' Akela said with a touch of smugness.
Petal's eyes growing wide with fear she breathed, "No." Closing on the sergeant she bleated, "You've got to get them out of there! You have to do something about this! Get this through that thick head of yours, this is possibly the oldest, most magic sight in all the first of realms. That, and the fact this is the day of transition between spring and summer, a day rich in magic can only make matters worse. There's no telling how much trouble these dark spawn can cause with the almost limitless power at their disposal."
Akela striding over to the wall nuzzled aside some leaves to get a better look outside. "I'm aware of these facts, Lady. It's partly the reason Me and the trooper are here. So if you don't mind, it would be most advantageous if you made yourself scarce. Some wet behind the ears civvy getting in the way is the last thing I need right now."
Petal drew herself up. "I want to help."
"You.' Akela bit back a laugh, 'You would do well to find a hollow tree or a clump of brush to hide in."
Petal marching across the opening paused just short of the exit. "If your refusing my help then I'm free to take any course of action I see fit."
"And what do you think you can do," the sergeant asked in a gruff voice.
Her nose held up dismissively Petal sniffed, "We Midnight Howlers were fighting the Witch when you were still huffing Jadis wind."
Akela blew a low whistle. "Your one of the howlers!" The wolf looked over to his subordinate. "If I had dragged this one before the Queen I'd have been amply rewarded."
Petal doubled back upon herself to faced them. "More likely you would have earned yourself a sizeable beating for dropping my cold bloody carcass at the witch's feet," she snickered venomously.
Akela nodded respectfully, "You've the right of it there sister. Jadis would have loved nothing better then to get her hands on one of you. I've seen her vent her rage on more then one search party leader who returned without even a tuft of hair." The wolf's face suddenly brightened," Say little sister are there any others of your clan around. I could certainly use their help in the coming engagement."
Petal's body sagged. "Besides my sister Flower, who by the way was blessed with her first litter this past spring and I will kill anyone who tries to put her in harms way,' the wolf said knitting her eyebrows together. 'With the peace, many have gone off in search of greener pastures. The ones who remain couldn't possibly get here before high-sun tomorrow. I don't think my voice would even carry that far anyway."
Akela mustered his patience lest he take the Lion's name in vain. "Very well, lets try this again," he sighed. "I assume your from around here - "
"Lets just say I know the area," she said evasively.
Akela through clinched teeth hissed, "Fine - that's fine." Biting back his frustration the sergeant continued. "Do you know of any stout fellows hereabouts I might press in to service. Preferably veterans of the Great battle."
Her body sagged again. "I'm sorry sergeant it looks like you've dropped your hook into another dry hole. There's been a rash of people reported missing in the area and the locals have made themselves scarce until Cair Paravel does something about the situation...
"That's why your here! Isn't it," she gasped.
"That was my mission originally but things have changed," he said in a low voice. "Have you ever heard of the hag Deadeyes?"
"Once or twice," she answered warily.
"Well, we trailed her south from the old castle to here. She carries with her something that has the scent of the royal family on it and I plan on taking it back from her... or die trying," the wolf vowed. "It looks like I could use your help after all. Can you scrounge up a few good narnians. Will you do that for me Petal?"
The trooper took a step closer. "Want me to go with her, Sarge?"
Petal with a condescending look sized up the scout.
"No, that won't be necessary Private. The scum out there would have a better chance of holding onto a spring breeze then catch a Midnight Howler, anyway I need you at the ready when the battle comes," Akela ordered. "Go now sister and may Aslan illuminate your path."
The wolfs smiled at each other in a way the trooper pretended not to notice. Petal turning once again towards the exit froze at Akela's command to halt.
"Petal," he faltered. "if your not back here an hour before sunset, don't bother coming back. There'll be nothing to come back too."
Her ears dipping slightly, Petal nodded before vanishing into the undergrowth.
a/n. Thank you all the nice people who took the time to read my story this far. As stated in the previous chapter, I shall henceforth be acknowledging Mister Kipling's contribution in this and future disclaimers. I'd also like to apologize for braking my pledge to try and keep the chapter itself under two thousand words but I didn't miss by much.
Now, if I may be permitted to ramble for awhile. In my writings I try to avoid words and phrases that postdate the chronicles of narnia. In truth I have, in my inferior way, tried to give the story an Edwardian flavor. To that end while searching the internet for a suitable replacement for the terms female wolf and she-wolf I came across the very archaic (if you exclude the nineteen eighty one film of the same name) term wolfen to describe a female wolf as a way to introduce Petal.
More a/ns Wolves and squirrels. Additional notes concerning Petal. Back when I was thrashing out the details of this story in my head, the role of Petal was originally meant to be played by a manic squirrel. A comedy relief who'd spend most of his center stage time chewing on the scenery. Sadly by the time I got around to writing this, squirrel characters seemed to be all the rage. Never being one to hop on the trendy train I abandon the squirrel in favor of another breed of narnian. Casting about for a suitable replacement, none quite seem to fit the bill. Sisters Flower and Petal already exist in my world of Narnia, as characters in a yet to be written chapter of another story so Petal already had a backstory. The main issue for me now is having to swop out large chunks of old story line to make room for new ones.
Even more a/ns Summaries and cover images. If the reader hasn't noticed it, I write a fresh story summary each time I post another chapter in the hopes of providing a more nuanced experience. I wish I could take credit for the idea but a fine author writing under the pseudonym John Jude Farragut beat me to it. Now about the cover Images. These I also change with each story update to give the reader a visual link to better understand what it is I'm trying to describe in words. Also, all pictures are composite images I make using Gimp so I can honestly say when prompted, Yes, I own this image. (Ha-ha. I win this one, John).
Once again thank you all for giving your time and I hope you enjoyed all the little doodads I added here at the end.
As always, Take care of yourselves, stay save, and don't forget to ware your masks for others. May Aslan keep you and clear all the major obstacles in your path.