Pre A/N:
Incoming transmission…
Hello and welcome to this chapter anew, everyone! :D
We did say it'd take longer now for us to get them out, so yeah… that's why there's like this month gap. Anyways, quick response to the reviews and let's jump straight into it!
Plague Doctor: Welcome to this story, mate! Great to see you stopped by here too, remember ya from Shape Changer reviews! Anyways, about your first reviews, now. We'm really glad you enjoy so much the fact that Rohrrin is from Middle-Earth, we were quite curious about the reactions on this. I try to make the fights as realistic as possible, taking all possible factors into account, like tiredness, hastiness, and differences of sizes.
About your second review, now! First, we understand that it's just a suggestion, and we really appreciate it, so keep 'em coming mate haha! Now I'ma just explain what we were trying to do, so don't take it the wrong way, we really don't take this review in a bad name. The memories weren't exactly random, as they were connected to each other. We were actually giving more backstory to the whole ring of power thing, and how the Nazgul came back to life, not exactly on Rohrrin. I really did not want to leave those 2 unexplained, because they're some pretty massive things LOL!But, nevertheless, maybe they'll be 1 more, but depends on the situation, we'll decide then. Anyways, thanks a lot for the review and suggestion mate! Plus, you are right in what you said, memory time is kinda over, as we explained what we wanted to explain.
Gabor Sallami: Well, it is a bit sad indeed, but that's how it goes, not everything's rosy and beautiful, especially with Rohrrin, haha!
Enclave: Glad to hear that, mate! Hope you'll enjoy this chapter too!
Title is inspired by a song, you might have recognized it! "No Time to Die" by Billie Eilish. It's a great song and fits mostly for this chapter, so whoever feels like it, we recommend listening to it! (especially me lol)
Transmission ended.
Chapter 5: No Time to Die
I was sprinting through the tall, dark trees as fast as I could, leaving Lilly and Garth far behind. I even passed through some flowers and fruit bushes to lose my scent. They hadn't even bothered following me. See? You knew from the start they didn't care, don't pretend otherwise. You only have yourself, just like always. You can only trust yourself, just like always.
I slowed down to a walk. I could hear nothing around me, so I relaxed.
Yeah, it hasn't been otherwise. Ever.
I curled down against a tree. It was quite cold without Lilly… Oh whatever. I don't need her. I don't need anyone.
What was better when I was with them, anyways? I only had some wardens to keep pissing me off and comment on my every single action. I don't need that. Even when it looked like they cared, it was just a lie. You know it was. They don't look at you like one of them, do you really need to remind yourself of that every day? Stop being a gullible and stupid child, you had time to be one when you were 5. That time's over. You need to stop being an idiot and just focus on surviving. I stopped under a douglas fir, and layed down and curled up.
We're good all by our lonesome.
I shivered slightly, but I ignored it and went to sleep. Did I just say us instead of I?
##########
I opened my eyes, but I wasn't under the majestic douglas fir anymore. I was in a small clearing. The trees were… uprooted and chucked in all directions, like a tornado had passed through. I looked around and then recognized the place. The trees looked similar to some somewhere in the northern parts of the forest.
I then got up, and noticed I was human again. I even have my weapons?! That's… strange.
I quickly turned around as I heard whispers around me. I barely made out my name through the gibberish.
I drew one of my blades, and tried to keep track of the muttering, but I couldn't. I took a few steps forward. Nothing.
I looked around once more, but when I turned, there was a black humanoid a short way from me. It was like a shadow. I chuckled dryly and derisively.
"Do I know you?" I asked ironically. "Thought I killed you last time we danced."
"You merely weakened me. I was always here. We're always together, Rohrrin."
"So you're the 'us'." I scoffed. "You don't give up easily, do you? Am I that hot?" I smirked.
It growled lowly. "I make you this offer one last time, ranger. Either with me, either against me. We can be more powerful then you can imagine. We can finally be respected. We will be feared." it hissed.
I only scoffed.
"Answer's the same as last time, idiot. I won't let you control me or whatever the hell you call it. I'm fine without it. Thanks for the offer, but I'll pass." I smirked.
"Your loss, weakling." answered the creature, as it took a clear form. It was a hybrid between a boy and wolf. It had a tail, claws long as butchering knives, and fangs like small daggers. It was… blonde?
"Who's it this time? Some other unlucky soul that fell prey to you?"
"You will submit to our power, ranger! You shall serve!" it roared, in a mix between a child's voice and wolf's growl, getting into a fight stance.
"As long as I have breath in my body, my fate is my own." I said loudly and clearly, as I unsheathed my other sword and getting into a fighting stance as well.
The werewolf charged at me, as I smoothly evaded it with a turn, cutting its shoulder in passing.
It turned, and I was ready for a melee attack, but not for a damn fireball. Its hand flashed very briefly with fire, and the next instance, I had a ball of fire flying straight at me. I tried to dodge it, and for safety, I crossed my blades. I was lucky I did, because a part of it would've hit my shoulder. It clashed with my swords and threw me backwards. I rolled out of the fall and I flipped again to dodge another.
"Going ranged, then?" I muttered. "You asked for it."
I dodged another fireball, sheathed my blades, and pulled out my shortbow. I started firing arrows while dodging and flipping, as the creature didn't manage to dodge two of them. Better than nothing.
It got the arrows out of its hand and wrist, as I also prepared. It ran towards me once again, with an impressive speed, as I somersaulted over it at the last moment, and cut it with the tip of my swords from the air. It turned towards me and tried to overcome me with lightning-fast light attacks, but I kept parrying patiently, waiting for an opening.
It took a bit more time, but it finally made the decision to attack heavier. I seized my moment, I dodged, and feinting to go for his right hip, then I danced into a pirouette, and got a slash on its arm, and one on its back.
With that small victory came a cost though, as it turned right instead of left, surprising me. I parried one claw, but the other connected with my hand. I then flipped away, ignoring the warm blood gushing from my wrist.
I quickly made up a plan, as I rushed in first, as it tried to use magic to heal. I slid on my right leg, feinting to go for its foot. I jumped over its claws which came to meet me, as it made the mistake to try to hit my head from the sides with both its claws. I kicked it mid-air, then turned and landed, letting it take the momentum.
I immediately rushed as it tried to get up. It tried to shock me with lightning, but the moment I saw its hand flash with blue light, I slid to the left, and then jumped and hit it with my swords, one after the other, right on its head. Both of them connected, as I made it fall on its knees.
I got both of them out, then crossed them around its neck. I rolled on my back, hauling it down with me. I kicked its body off powerfully, decapitating it in the process.
"There, weakling. Watch and learn. I'm in control. Not you, not us. I, and I only." I said ironically, jumping back up.
I started hearing drawn out screams. The clearing started swimming in front of my eyes, as the screams got louder and louder. I closed them, as I barely kept my balance.
##########
I woke up, feeling heat on my shoulder, and my wrist was still bleeding. I really hope that was the last time I have to deal with the pile of snot. I feel calmer now, more… relaxed.
Before, my anger was… uncontrollable. I just didn't feel like myself at that moment. I'd have felt like saying "leave me alone" right then, but definetely not that aggressively.
Of course, my cynicism is also getting in the way, but… I didn't even give them a chance. At all. I just assumed from the very beginning that they were trying to use me somehow. Not that I'd trusted them more, anyways, but… I didn't even give them any chances.
It was if beside my cynicism was an additional barrier between me and them. And I slowly came to a conclusion.
That thing made me so angry and so impulsive.. I lashed out at Lilly and Garth while they were just asking questions. Garth did annoy me with those command-like demands, and I didn't want to answer any of their questions either, but I completely lost my composure. Something which I usually don't do. I was indeed annoyed, but… something enhanced my anger and used it. And it might very well been that piece of shit…
I owe them an explanation. At least a partial one. I'll leave the pack after, I have the ghost turn me into a human, and then… wander, I guess. What a way to forge my own destiny… pfft. I guess it is better than my family… but as a ranger I had a purpose. Here… I can't help but feeling out of place. What the hell am I supposed to do? Dammit… I'll cross that bridge when I get there…
I started walking to their den, but as I was getting closer to the lake I left them by, I heard…crying?
I made my way to see Garth was holding Lilly, and she was sobbing. Why? What for?! I approached the two carefully.
"Why are you… crying so badly?" I looked at her perplexed.
"ROHRRIN!"
She ran at me with such speed, and being so close, I couldn't dodge. I was also still cut on my wrist, so even my attempt at a somersault failed miserably.
She grabbed me… but… into a hug? I then felt Garth come over to hug us both.
"We were so worried!" said Garth softly. "We tried looking for you, where did you go?"
"Are you alright?" Lilly's question was probably the hardest to answer. "Your paw has been cut!"
"That's not important," I cut her off. "To answer your first two questions, I went by a tree. I don't know the specifics of where, and I went there 'cause I had to figure some things out, alone. I… don't know if I'm alright. I just…I was very angry yesterday, and I lashed out. You have a lot of questions I know, and you're not the only ones. I also have questions. I wish to be alone to have time to think.
"So you're leaving again?
"Yes."
I felt Lilly pull me in tighter.
"Rohrrin, I don't know where you came from, or who your parents were, but I want you to know they didn't treat you the best. They didn't care for you."
This completely took me off guard. I didn't say anything.
"The fact that you don't know what to say proves it. If you gave Garth and I a chance, we can show you what a real family is."
"She's right, Rohrrin," said Garth. "We will take care of you."
I was stunned, but I needed to figure myself out. I slowly wrestled my way out of Lilly's grasp.
"I need to go. Once I have all of myself figured out, I'll come back, and I'll give you all the answers."
"Do you promise?"
"Yes." Before I let them say anything I ran. I ran until I didn't know where I was. I found a bush and jumped in. I meditated, and soon fell asleep.
##########
The next morning
The sunrise's fiery-red fingers stalked through the thick, crude-green foliage, and gently woke me up. I realized it must've been quite early, but I got up anyways. I realized that I was quite high up the tree, as I started making my way down slowly, but surely. My paw wasn't bleeding anymore, but I still took no risks. Didn't wanna get myself killed now, when whatever that thing in my head was didn't manage.
When my paws finally felt the soft, sleek grass, I started stretching, and warming up for the new day. I then washed at a small pond I had seen from up the tree, and made my way towards the United Pack's dens.
Did Lilly and Garth really mean what they said last night? That I have been treated so wrong by my parents? I thought all of them were like this, that's what parents did… motivate you. I always saw it this way. My parents motivated me to become stronger, to have a better endurance through what they did. I had been too weak for it, that was the problem. If I'd have been tough enough, maybe I'd have been a better ranger… a better man. I could've saved my fellow rangers…
I bit my lip. I was too weak then. But maybe… just maybe… this life can be different. That thing in my head convinced me they were bad… of course, beside my heavy cynicism. I still am not totally convinced they really wish to help me, but I can at least give it a shot… They didn't act horrible the time I was with them… this much they deserve.
As I stepped through a bush, I noticed all the wolves were gathered around in a circle. What for, though? I didn't reveal myself, but got closer to listen in. Where was Lilly? I couldn't spy her white fur amongst the other wolves.
"Where have they taken them?" I heard Kate's voice panickily ask. Wait a minute, what the hell happened? I slid behind a giant rock which was closer and I listened harder.
"South. Rogues have a secondary territory, apparently. Our Omegas have spotted them escorting the prisoners." said Hutch.
"Who've they taken?" another wolf asked.
"Lilly, Humphrey, and other pups." I froze after Garth's first bitter word.
They've taken Lilly… no… I felt something started burning inside me. And I knew that burn all to well. Hatred. Not for Lilly… for whoever captured her. I wanted to kill them, to cut them into pieces. To see Lilly safe again. What even are these emotions? It's like a fellow ranger had been captured…
"We must attack now!" exclaimed Kate.
"We first must figure out what we'll do with the pups and mothers before we prepare an ambush! We can't just leave them here, maybe the Rogues are planning another strike! They outnumber us!" said Garth decisively.
"My family is on the line here, we need to do something!" screamed Kate.
Wait a minute, you couldn't just go all-in, was she stupid? That'd leave the Pack open for a second strike, which would be a free advantage for them. I'm not the greatest strategist, but I still don't let emotions haste my decisions uselessly.
"Mine is too!" Garth shouted back. "But we can't let that make us foolish! We don't think about the Pack, other families will be separated just like ours, or even worse!"
Kate remained silent.
"Any sign of Rohrrin?" asked Garth. I perked up my ears when I heard my name.
"No." answered Scar. "They must've taken him too." he added bitterly.
"That pup's always meddling where he shouldn't. Who knows what he tried to do… stop them by himself… I'd see him doing that." Garth exhaled.
"I would've probably tried that if I was human." I chuckled to myself"
"We'll decide what to do, now." said Garth stonily. "We can't afford to lose anymore time."
They all ran towards the Leaders' den.
Well, I certainly won't stay here and cower while they try to save the prisoners… they most likely have trouble with it, anyways, depends on their strategy. It's time to pay that ghost a visit. I made up my mind long enough. I can't save them as wolf, but I can save them as human. I still couldn't understand wholly why was I doing this. It… was mostly for Lilly. But it was for the others too. If I can do something about this, I won't back down like a coward. That's not what a ranger would do.
I stealthily made my way out and started towards Shadow Forest. Time to be the good ol' me again.
##########
I ran. I ran because I needed to fight. Fight for Lilly. She never hurt anyone. No one that has been taken did anything wrong. To fight for them, I need to be at my strongest. I was nearing the forest.
"SPIRIT!"
My scream echoed through the cave as I stepped inside.
I saw an azure haze manifest, and the she-wolf was in front of me.
"Tell me, who must I kill and why?"
I had a good hunch, but I wanted to be sure.
"When I was alive. I gave birth to a pup, Daria. My daughter was blind. Our pack was raided, overrun, and I tried to run with her. I brought my daughter here, and I hid her. One of the invaders followed us, and he killed me. A mother protecting her daughter, and he tortures and kills me for it. But my daughter survived. The hatred and anger I felt towards him allowed me to become a spirit, and protect my daughter. If you kill him, I will be set free, and can pass on." I got my answer.
"I will do what you ask. Just come on, and turn me human."
"But first… I cannot leave my daughter here. If they find her, she shall surely die. Other rogue wolves still walk around this territory."
I saw a pair of eyes in the back of the den, and started hearing a clear breath. So that's Daria.
"Dammit!" I thought. "How the hell am I supposed to keep her safe too, when I free the hostages?!"
"Rohrrin?"
I turned abruptly to see Kate's pups a short way behind me, looking curiously at the spectre.
"So that is the ghost of Shadow Forest." said Runt, intrigued.
"You followed me here?!" I said through gritted teeth. I was so focused on getting here, I didn't even notice!
I saw the spectre baring its teeth menacingly, as the pups started stepping back, fear overtaking them. An idea sprung in my mind.
"WAIT! Don't harm them! They can be of use!" I quickly said, stepping in front of it.
It looked at me questioningly.
"You three, you can lead Daria back to the pack, safely. If you see any wolves not of our pack, avoid them. All clear?"
They stared at me. "Who's Daria?" asked Claudette.
The spirit gave a short yelp, and Daria stepped out of the den. Her white fur was dirty, but looked a bit alike Lilly. She had great misty orbs instead of eyes. It was very clear she was completely blind.
"Lead her back…?" repeated Stinky, confusedly. "Why?"
"This is nor the place nor the time for such questions." I replied roughly. "Just get her back, safely. That's all you need to do."
"What about you?" asked Runt hurriedly.
"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Just… go! Now!"
The spirit whispered something to Daria, and by scent, the young she-wolf started following the pups the best she could.
"I hope you know what you're doing…" growled lowly the spirit. "Do you trust them."
"Yes. They're kind spirits." I replied instantly. "Unlike me…" added my subconscious bitterly.
"Very well pup… I shall trust you, as you choose to trust me. You do understand how I want the body disposed of, yes?"
"Don't care. I got places to go, and wolves to kill, so let's get this over and done with."
"Well you must know how to cast it or it won't work. All you have to do is capture, immobilize, and kill him when I say so."
"Fine. Less talking more action, though, I can't afford to lose time."
"Then here you are." She pressed her paw to my chest.
I then felt my bones shift and change. I looked down to see my paws become hands. The burning pain was there, but it lessened. A cloak drooped over my body. I got up with a flip. "Now, let's kick some ass."
"Before you do," began the specter. You must follow me deeper into the cave."
I did as instructed. As we walked deeper, it became darker. I had to squint slightly to see properly. When there was barely any light at all. The specter stopped. Her azure light lit the ground slightly. I saw a skeleton. A skeleton of a wolf.
"I take it that's you. Well… what's left of you?"
"Yes, take a piece of my skeleton, and I will be able to travel with you. Without me, killing the wolf would do nothing. You need me in order to complete the spell.
"Fine."
With that, I took a leg bone, and I made my way out.
##########
I jumped out of the cave, and quickly started making my way down the mountain, vaulting and sliding to get myself a bit back in ghost was running by my side. Or floating? Oh, whatever.
"The Pack is north-east, young one, you're heading north-west-" it started, but I interrupted it coldly.
"I know where I'm going, thanks. I'm getting my weapons, else I won't really be able to kill, satisfied?" I said dryly, while scaling a tree. "And it's ranger, not 'young one'." I added roughly, as I started to gracefully jump through the trees. It annoyed me enough that Lilly was babying me, I couldn't take it from a stranger.
The spectre didn't answer, and thankfully it was silent for the rest of the way there. I couldn't overlook how good it felt to be able to do this again. To be the real me once more.
##########
About 15 minutes later
I managed to find the stream I first saw myself as a pup in. It had been but a few days, maybe a week… but so many things happened since then that it felt like months, even years. I could almost still hear myself yelling "PAWS?!" in my mind when I first came here. Damn… that was pretty funny looking back at it now…
Dammit, Rohrrin, focus!
Taking my mind off the memories, I jumped around the trees more until I finally spied my sign on that oak. I landed down, and I started digging frantically. Every moment I lost, Lilly could die. How deep had I dug this?!
I finally reached them, as I got them out, and started equipping my blades and daggers I had, while the spectre was watching me interestingly from the side.
"This is certainly intriguing…" it said dreamily.
I ignored it and asked:
"Where is this pack, exactly?"
"North-east." it answered simply.
"Alright, but a landmark? Something?" I questioned, getting slightly irritated.
It hummed. "It was next to a huge, gorgeous spring, as I remember."
I sighed. "Good enough, I guess."
I pulled up my mask and started scaling the oak I was under, as I started making my way north-east.
While I was walking, I could hear the specter in my head.
##########
Some time later
It was already late morning by the time I had found that stupid spring. The ghost helped me some though, as it could scout some way ahead of me.
I landed on a lodgepine's thick branch, and the spectre started speaking.
"You have plenty of distractions around the territory that you can use, such as-"
"I don't need you to tell me what I have to do or not have to do." I interrupted it coldly. "Thank you kindly for the advice attempts, but I very well know what I'm doing," I added ironically. It huffed and fell silent, leaving, muttering something along the lines "arrogant pup".
The dens were dug around the spring mostly, and some were in caves along the mountain which the spring was graciously making its way down from. It was pouring down into a huge lake. I had a bit of sound distraction. The caves were a place where I could kill, but there was too many possible intrusions around there… guards, other wolves… I had to make the kill somewhere down here.
I saw something blue flash. It was a form of a wolf. The ghost appeared next to me again.
"That is your target. I marked it for you. If of course, you need that assistance." it said sarcastically.
I smirked and answered. "See, now you're helping. Can you make distractions?"
"I can. Just say the word "distract" and I'll do it where you look."
"Sounds like a plan."
"You mustn't kill him without making the ritual, or this whole trip shall be pointless." it added.
I nodded.
"I shall be on guard. Good luck… ranger." it said before vanishing.
"My target was on the other side of the mountain in a cave. Great. Let's see what we got there." I thought as I silently made my way around the territory. It's been so long since I did this… I forgot how much I liked infiltrating.
I observed there were gards patrolling all around the territory.
After less then a few minutes, I got to the other side of the territory and found a surveillance point in a towering oak. I peeked through the leaves too see the wolf that had a light blue outline around him. He was standing at the mouth of the den, overlooking the valley that stretched further north. There was only one guard patrolling here.
I saw I could climb up the mountain, as there were many rocks riddled across the way up, so I could sneak upwards. I just couldn't be seen by others. I made my way down, and to the foot of the mountain.
I hid in a bush as I heard the guard was coming. It started to make its way up lazily, as my patience was running thin. When I accidentally cracked a twig from the bush and he looked down, my patience went from thin to non-existent. My hand went automatically for a dagger, but I thought better. Wolves have an excellent smell, they'd smell blood, and I can't risk putting them on alert.
The instant the wolf looked away, I jumped out of the bush. With a well practised move, I gave it a hard uppercut, making it fall backwards, caught it from behind, then twisted its neck, while planting my right foot into its stomach to cut its breath short, so it wouldn't be able to make a sound. I silently placed its limp body in the bush I jumped from, and then I quickly started climbing the mountain, using my two short swords.
I finally reached my target, who was now talking to another wolf. I patiently waited for them to finish. They were discussing some troubles with the Healers of the Pack, nothing important. I left a bit of a distance, so they wouldn't hear me taking out the sword out of the stone.
After I heard the second wolf pawsteps fading away, I whispered "distract".
I heard something from inside the cave, as I heard the wolf turned abruptly. I listened for him to go inside slightly, sheathed my left blade, and then I propelled my self, landing on my right sword's handle end with the just tip of my foot, then somersaulted slightly to the left, to gain as much momentum as possible. I landed gracefully and silently behind my target. I quickly sneaked behind him, and with a side-flip, I slammed my heel into the back of his head, knocking him out with one kick. The light-blue shine around it also went out with its conscience.
I then quickly held him up by his tail, and ran out with him. I needed it alive, and it was the best solution I could get. I quickly went out and jumped down, then latched down on my blades.
"Please, please, let this work…"
I started making my way down, using all my strength to keep him from not falling with my left hand, while making my way down with my right hand. I made quite a bit of noise, as when I was getting out my sword, I let myself fall, then stuck it back in, causing it to grind against the stone. I kept listening anxiously for any wolves coming, but luckily, nobody came.
After a few minutes of meticulous descent, I threw its body down and jumped down myself. I put its body on my shoulder, my blade back on my back, and I ran into the forest.
After I felt I was far enough away, I found a small clearing, darkened by the trees' canopy. I put its body down, and the ghost appeared next to me.
"I must say, you really impress me." it started.
I scowled. "Yeah, whatever, what do we do now?" I asked hastily. I wanted to be over with this as soon as possible.
"You must immobilise him somehow, so he can't -" I didn't even let the spectre finish, as I bent down and quickly broke all the wolf's limbs at the two important joints: forepaw and shoulder. It started twitching. I raised my fist to knock it out again.
"Let it wake." the spectre stopped me. "I'll take care of its voice."
Her eyes shone, as something in the victim's throat shined.
"You could do this all along?" I exhaled.
"Only after you freed me from the cave." it said. "But you didn't need it anyways."
I rolled my eyes. "It would've been nice to know." It didn't answer.
The wolf woke up and immediately started panicking. It couldn't feel its limbs at all. I pressed my foot against its stomach to keep it from trying anything, while also denying its attempt to bite me with a good kick in the muzzle that sent out a few of the bottom teeth flying.
"Don't try anything, and it'll be over quicker." I muttered. It looked at me suprisedly, then took a look at the ghost, who was smiling eerily. To say that it looked petrified at the sight was a terrible understatement.
The ghost started chanting:
"By the power of the earth and sky,
By the shackles thou have chained me in,
Through the honourless death thou gave me,
I, through another's hand, shall be thy end,
And thy blood shall be the key to my freedom!" it shouted.
"Kill him." it whispered.
I slit its throat with my hidden blade, while I was holding it down with my other. Blood gushed out of its neck and onto my left hand and right hand, as I used it to hold down the wolf's muzzle with it, as it squiggled incessantly, as the victim and the ghost were shining brighter and brighter with a light blue light.
It finally burst, blinding me, and the light quickly died down, as he finally fell limp too. I took my hands off him. I looked at the spectre and it looked completely different. It was a quite a bit bigger than a normal wolf, and it looked like it had flesh. Its eyes were still shining the same ghastly blue, and it had bright outlines around its body. It had a physical form, but it still remained somewhat ghostly.
"Hold out your hands, ranger." the spectre said suddenly.
I did so, while looking at it suspiciously. She started chanting once more.
"Thy hands I shalt clean of blood,
And thy soul I shalt also purify,
Of the blame and of the guilt\
Of the murder I commited through thee."
It then licked the blood of my hands. I stood still, although I wanted to pull away from the cold sensation of its tongue.
My hands briefly shined a pale baby blue, before that also disappeared.
I nodded in thanks.
"Now, as I promised… your reward. Please, take of your… fur… and reveal the skin on your chest"
I undid my tunic, and dragged it down slightly. It put a paw on the left side of my chest, right above my heart, as it whispered something. When the spectre took it off, a blue wolf's print remained on there, before turning black, like a mark.
"Now, you must only think hard of yourself as a wolf, and you shall turn into that form. Same for human."
I nodded and pulled up and fastened my tunic. "Thank you."
It bowed its head.
"Now…" she whispered, turning the Pack's territory, "for my vengeance…"
"What vengeance?" I asked without thinking.
The she-wolf smiled. "I could go now in peace… but my burning hatred for this whole pack says otherwise! It tore down mine so many years ago… and this wolf gave me the miserable death I had while trying to protect my daughter!" she suddenly growled. "At least Daria lives even now, but this pack won't anymore!" the ghost laughed eerily.
Something pushed me form inside to clearly say:
"No."
"What?" She turned towards me confusedly.
"This path you choose to walk… vengeance… it shall give you no rest. Trust me, I know." I tried to reason. "If you go now, you shall find the peace you crave… if you choose this path, you shall never find it." I spoke. It was almost like my mouth was speaking without me, but something inside of me was making me say this.
"If you choose to try to stop me, you shall find your end too, foolish pup!" it growled lowly to my completely unfazed face. "I gave you your reward, you may go now, you don't need to lecture me about peace!" It turned and started walking away angrily.
I wanted to walk away too, but I just… couldn't. Hold up, why can't I just walk away from this? I always witnessed killing and more than often did it myself… but I just can't let this happen, why?!
An image of myself and the other rangers killing defenseless Harradrim healers flew through my mind…
Innocence.
Now I realized what was stopping me… if it'd been so many years, not even the same wolves are alive anymore probably… and this ghost will kill everything that lives, guilty for its death or not.
A broken memory of the pups playing in Jasper went through my mind's eye next.
Pups… children… it'll kill them all, even though they have absolutely no blame for her death… and their parents don't have to die for their ancestor's crimes.
I can't let it satisfy its bloodlust like this, massacring the whole Pack. I may have once been exactly the same, but now I'm not. And… she deceived me.
I aimed an arrow and pinned its tail. It turned, snarling angrily.
"I witnessed murders and killed enough, while not caring about whether they deserved it or not. Think, spectre! Do all those pups deserve a brutal death or a brutal life after you killed their parents or be forced to survive somehow?! The ones that killed your pack deserved to die, but they most likely are in the ground already. Do you think this is the way to get peace?! I might be no better than you, but I want to say no to this! I won't let you massacre your way through this Pack and probably many more. I stood on the side enough. You also deceived me. Used me. And I hate liars."
I don't know since when the hell I have emotions, but I've no time to ponder that now. I have to stop this.
It sighed, pulling the arrow out with its maw. "Does it have to be like this, pup?" it asked, almost sadly.
I didn't respond, only drew both of my short-swords and prepared to fight.
The ghost sighed, as it also got into a fighting stance. "I'm sorry." it whispered, before charging wildly towards me.
I waited for the right moment, to make sure she wouldn't feint, and then I somersaulted by her, cutting her side in the meantime. She faced me again, and tried to swipe at me, but I pretty easily dodged them all. She then tried to pounce on me, but she aimed slightly too high, allowing me to lean back into a bridge, avoiding her attack completely, as I got up and kicked her from behind when she already passed me.
I went into a back flip, and thought I'd land right on her, but I had underestimated her. She was fast enough to roll out of the way, as she forced me to roll out of the attack too, by trying to hit me.
I made the mistake to think I could turn and parry in time, but I barely managed to block. That second she made me stagger, the she-wolf took her chance and clawed my right shoulder, also pushing me. I took the momentum and went into a somersault, taking her by surprise, and kicking her in the right side of the head, as I also fell to the ground.
We both got up at the same time and started circling each other. She was staring daggers at me, while I kept an impassive look, as my eyes darted around any environmental elements I could use. I spied a thick oak trunk behind the spectre, and an idea came to mind.
I started being aggressive, as I forced the she-wolf to keep dodging my fast light attacks. A few even connected. I kept pushing her back, until I finally heard a soft thud, meaning she had touched the trunk.
I took the chance, and after feinting a powerful thrust, I jumped off the ground, landed on the trunk behind her, then jumped on her back, thrusting both of my swords into her shoulders. She immediately tried to throw me off, but I held on to her middle with my legs. When I felt she was tired enough, I tried to overthrow her, but didn't completely manage. I upset her balance, but she just managed to get it back and send me flying. I rolled out of the fall, but I dropped one of my swords. I got back up, ignoring the throbbing pain in my shoulder the best I could, but there was no time to recover my weapon as she was charging right at me.
I saw through her feint of pouncing, and instead would try to slash me. I was ready for it. I managed to pull off a deflect, and with another old move of mine, I turned as I was deflecting, and with my back turned I stabbed her shortly, but powerfully with my remaining blade. I was staggered her enough to be able to go for a jump kick from the left. She tried to block it with her paw, but it was in vain.
She fell down and I was quick to pin her down, by thrusting my sword into her chest. She tried to hit me from the right, but I just caught her paw, while stepping on her left one.
I bored my eyes into her, as I unsheathed a dagger on my thigh.
"I'm sorry it had to end like this too." I whispered. It almost… smiled.
"Restless spectre, may thee be free!" I shouted, as I stabbed her in the neck. I left it in until I felt she stopped moving. I got off her, and she slowly started disappearing, her body being blown into the wind like ashes, while I quickly grabbed my swords.
"Farewell, may you find peace." I whispered.
I then noticed that my shoulder was still bleeding, and improvised a bandage by pressing on it a large leaf, and ripping a bit of my cloak, I tied it there the best I could. I started making my way south as fast as the wind.
##########
A short time later
I finally had landed on a thick oak's branch, after a madly dangerous journey because of how fast I went, as I started analyzing what I had before me. The Rogues were in an open field, patrolling around a small area. But the hostages were nowhere to be seen. I had to find them, fast.
I spotted a small group of United Pack wolves nearby. I went above them, to listen in and find out whether they had a plan or not.
"Gotta try to find the hostages, but we should also take out those Rogues, we can't just let them live so they can ambush us another time!" said Kate fiercely. "If we can catch them by surprise, we'll be able to take them down, even if we are outnumbered!"
Garth nodded. "Their forces are sloppy, unorganized. We stand a pretty good chance, even if they are more."
"But hostages first." We need to somehow get them out…" They continued discussing, but I had already gone. I can get out the hostages most likely, then I can fight. I'll be fine by myself.
I circled the territory, keeping to the trees to stay hidden, when finally I heard a distant shout from the west: "Leave her alone!"
Dammit, it was kind of far.
"Go, Rohrrin, go, go, go, go!" I kept telling myself as I skipped through the trees madly.
I finally made it to the source of the scream, as I quickly surveilled what was there. Lilly, Humphrey were standing proctetively over a few pups which looked terrified, to say the least. They were surrounded by four wolves.
"Come on, now! Let us have some fun with the girlie!" sneered one of them, baring his teeth.
"Get away!" said Lilly, also baring her fangs and jumping forward.
"Oh yeah? What're you gonna do about it, Omega?" the Rogue laughed and hit her in the face, knocking her on the ground, while the others also guffawed stupidly.
"That was your last strike upon her, idiot." I thought savagely, something like a growl of anger rising inside of my neck. I didn't let it out, so I'd stay hidden.
One was further in the back, not in the other's sight, and that gave me an idea. I smirked and landed noiselessly behind my unsuspecting to-be victim, drawing one of my blades. With a somersault, I decapitated it from one move, as I caught its head from falling. I then took it, and chucked it at the cheeky wolf's scruff, who was baring teeth above the grounded Lilly.
"What the-" he turned, but when he turned at saw what hit him, through his dark brown fur it was clearly visible that he paled, and even from there I could hear his before calm breath turn into panicked pants.
The three remaining Rogues turned towards me, petrified. I lazily kicked their comrade's body out of the way with my foot, and stroked my blade slowly, looking at the blood that stained my fingers with a fake satisfaction.
"Who's next?" I asked in a cheery voice, as they all stared at me blankly, but when I took one step towards them, they all took off further west, leaving only dust behind.
I chuckled to myself. "Such brave soldiers!" I thought.
Lilly and Humphrey growled lowly at me, and assumed their protective stance over the pups once more. After what I just did… I couldn't really blame them. I disregarded that and quickly spoke, without thinking, pointing with my right hand:
"Lilly, on the eastern side, the other wolves from the United Pack are preparing an ambush. Stop them before they lose lives for no reason, and run like hell towards your territories!
They looked at me in shock, but didn't move.
"NOW!" I rushed them commandingly.
They all took off, and Lilly whispered a "Thank you." I also turned and started towards the battlefield. I had a nasty feeling I lost too much time.
I decided to use a short blade with my left hand and a dagger with my right instead of my two short swords, as my right shoulder was roughed up, and there was a lot of shoulderwork in handling a sword.
Lilly's POV
"Did he call you by your name?" Humphrey asked me, as we were sprinting as fast as our legs could carry them east, remaining behind the cover of trees and bushes.
"Yeah." I said, still slightly confused. "I don't know how, though…"
"Guess it doesn't matter now." panted Humphrey.
"The scar on his hand though… it looked awfully like the scar on Rohrrin's right front paw… And those bright yellow eyes… I don't think it can be that much of a coincidence." I came to the conclusion as I was running alongside Humprhey. "That might as well have been Rohrrin… it'd explain why he didn't remember anything about his parents, where he came from… because he wasn't always a wolf… He's so young too…"\
I was taken out of my thoughts when we finally did get to the other side of the clearing. What I saw filled my with sorrow.
More than a few of our wolves were dead or wounded, as only a few were still impressively battling the Rogues. Kate and Garth were in the lead, taking down enemy wolves one after the other, as a few Alphas still stood their ground. But they were just too many…
But the United Pack wolves were being permanently pushed back.
"Run north-west, as fast as you can!" I ordered to the pups, and they nodded and ran.
Humphrey and I jumped in the fight and tried to help as much as we could, but we were only about 10, and they were at least 30…
"If we die here… we'll at least die together." I said sadly, as the remaining wolves of our Pack stood together, facing the Rogues.
"That's how I'd always wanted to die." said Humphrey, smirking. "With my family by my side."
Kate also smiled.
As we prepared for our last fight, suddenly something rained down on the Rogues, as the ones in the front fell to the ground.
A silhouette landed noiselessly a short way from us. When it got up, I saw the scar on its right paw. It was that young human that looked so much alike Rohrrin.
It turned its head and said roughly.
"If you wish to survive, leave. Now. I won't tell you twice. I can't guarantee I won't cut you down too."
We all looked at each other. We were injured, tired. We wouldn't have lasted long even if we had fought.
We didn't even have time to make a decision, as the human dodged the pounce of a wolf, and already started killing.
Rohrrin's POV
I easily dodged the lounge of one, as I immediately slammed my short blade into his back, pinning him into the ground. I then just gave it all to hell, and ran aggressively forwards to meet my attackers.
I pirroueted by a Nazgul, cutting its neck with just the tip of my swords, then stabbing another in the eye, as I flipped over it, and kept on fighting.I kept cutting between their armor, dicing, dodging their attacks, deflecting their swords and spears, only thing on my mind being blood. I felt myself being hit, but I slowed down my adrenaline slightly, so I wouldn't bleed out as fast. I didn't even feel it at that point. I wasn't even feeling the pain in my shoulder anymore.
All I could do at that point was murder savagely anything that came in front of me.
That's what I was trained for, anyways. Murder… killing… I heard sounds around me, but I only defined the steps and hit attempts, as I massacred my way through one Nazgul after another. I finally got down to the last one, as it layed down onto the ground. It tried to get up and run, but one throwing knife was enough to put him down.
As I looked around me, I was seeing only bodies of Nazguls, and… of my fellow rangers.
I finally felt the blood loss get to me, as I held on to a tree trunk for support, dropping my weapons.
As I blinked faster and faster, I fell to my knees, trying hard to not pass out. The pain in all my wounds stung horribly as I tried to slow down my heart beat rate. I started seeing fuzzy forms of wolves to my right and a familiar voice was calling my name in the distance.
But I couldn't take my eyes off the bodies of my comrades. I collapsed, as one last thought flew through my mind:
I had failed them…
Wow, this one's long… (that's what she said)
There's a much clearer connection in this chapter to Wolf's first story: The Guardian's Pup. Whoever finds it, just leave it in a review, and you get a cookie :D!