-v
Chapter 30: Hidden Skirmishes
"Always look up!"
~Official motto of the Consortium
"Always look up! ...but also make sure to look behind you."
~Unofficial motto of the Consortium Intelligence Corps
"He totally will let us in!"
"You think so? We have only seen our ninth Cold Time."
"Heh… that didn't stop Redclaw's pack did it?"
"But this Seeker guy doesn't sound like…"
"Oh, you worry too much, brother! I'm sure we will get our chance to earn a pack name soon. We just need to be in our best form whenever they get here."
"Sigh… I hope so. It is safer in a pack."
The hidden runner kept still as he watched the two young fastbiters walk past his position, though from some distance away. Their blue coloration made them relatively easy to see, especially since they weren't bothering to move either slowly or quietly.
He examined the terrain around him as his feathers dutifully allowed him to blend in with the lush bushes. The runoff from the mountains made the immediate outskirts of the highlands a welcome respite from the barrens for wandering herds and packs, but it also made it a resting place for many a desperate youngling. It did not take the most brilliant mind to deduce that these two must have been orphans.
The hidden runner heard the slightest sound of a click behind him. Freezing for a moment as he made sure the fastbiters hadn't heard anything, however unlikely, he then responded with his own click.
He was not surprised when he felt his companion place a hand on his shoulder a few seconds later. This was followed by two firm taps made against his feathers. The question was obvious: I see two biters. Do you see the same?
The hidden runner nodded in reply.
His counterpart was silent for a moment, both in terms of vocalizations and gestures. In the resulting silence the banter of the two fastbiters echoed in the distance.
"Do you think those hidden guys are around? You know what the flyers say…"
"Flyers say a lot of stuff, brother. And if you give them food, like you were, they will gladly make up stuff to get more!"
"Well… either way I can't wait to hunt some of em'! It sounds like this big pack is going to do a lot of hunting."
As if to ask a question the other hidden runner tapped his companion's shoulder again. As soon as the hidden runner turned around he could see what his friend was gesturing at. He was gently stroking his spear. Should we kill them? Then he stopped and gestured at the sky. Or should we warn Wrok by flyer?
There was no hesitation as he responded in kind by stroking his spear for a few moments, gesturing at the distant fastbiters, and then pointing at the sky. First we kill them, and then we alert Wrok by flyer.
Before his companion could leave, however, he placed both hands on his shoulders and gave him the slightest hint of a head-butt. Good luck, my friend.
The two hidden runners then slipped away from each other, moving to flank the fastbiters from both sides.
It won't be easy to hit them at the same time. Let's see if they split up, even if it's just for a moment, the hidden runner thought as he kept pace with the fastbiters.
The fastbiters continued side by side for several moments as they encountered one of the narrow streams that permeated the land. As was the custom for such predators both of them began to sniff for any sign of scent-markings. It was a testament to their inexperience than they did not have one of their number stand watch while they were distracted.
The hidden runner looked around for good cover as he went within a longneck-length of the two predators. Sadly, though this area had an abundance of bushes and underbrush, the fastbiters had stopped in an area that had a sizable clearing. Any charge here would invite the potential for a counterattack as the element of surprise would be lost.
And a predator did not trade in its best advantage out of impatience.
If it weren't for their lack of paying attention, I'd assume they picked this spot intentionally, the hidden runner thought in slight irritation, If they weren't talking about joining our enemies I'd just as soon just chase them off. He paused in his thoughts when he caught a glimpse of his friend in a bush on the other side of the fastbiters. But I have my orders, and, with the way they were talking, I can't even pretend they wouldn't likely join up with Seeker and his ilk.
He took a deep calming breath as he looked in his friend's direction. Only the white hue of his sharpened stick's point gave his location away. Patience… we attack when they give us an opening.
He did not have to wait long for his thoughts to bear fruit as the banter of their quarry continued.
"Well, we aren't going to find any food here unless you want us to attack Ol' Hornface!"
"Yeah, we won't be of much help to Seeker if we are flat!"
Laughter erupted from the brothers then as the hidden runner caught the scent of what they were referring to. An old threehorn would most certainly not be an inviting target for two younglings.
"I can check for water-hoppers if you want to check for ground fuzzies."
"Don't trust your sniffer?"
"Don't antagonize me, brother! Besides, it is more that I don't trust your speed. Last time the hoppers out-hopped you!"
"Yeah... yeah… we will see who is still hungry by the end of the day!"
Okay, so the one heading away downstream has a weaker sniffer, but he's faster than the one staying where he is. I guess we're both going to have our own problems to worry about.
He could see a blur of green in the distance as his friend went towards the dense vegetation of the stream. This left him with his quarry…
Despite his eagerness to get this bloody task over with he could not rush his hunt. Any wrong move would leave him dead and would alert his friend's quarry. No… he had to move with singular purpose. Therefore he waited for several long moments as the fastbiter slowly turned away from his hiding place.
The hidden runner rushed forward, aiming for a bush that seemed an impossible number of lengths away, hoping that the fastbiter would not look back in his direction. Maybe this wasn't my best idea, he thought before he was even halfway there.
He could only watch in horror as the fastbiter began to slowly turn around…
Don't notice me. Don't notice me. Don't notice me... he thought as he dove into the bush. He held perfectly still the moment he came to a stop.
The only sound that greeted his ears for several moments was his panicked breathing. But as the moments passed and he heard nothing else he dared to peer over the top of the bush. The relief that he felt when he saw the oblivious fastbiter was incalculable.
The hidden runner moving towards the fastbiter, darting from bush to bush, these much closer together, whenever the fastbiter was looking the other way. Just a little closer. I've only got one shot at this.
The fastbiter was now within a few body-lengths of the hidden runner. Though, even with favorable wind, his scent would not go unnoticed forever. It was time to make his move.
The hidden runner gripped the spear with all of his might as he prepared to charge…
Like a thunderbolt, a deafening roar erupted in the distance causing both the fastbiter and hidden runner jump in surprise. It was the roar of the other fastbiter. A roar of panic. A roar of desperation.
His quarry did not even notice his attacker as he rose in alarm. "Brother!"
The hidden runner hurriedly burst from his position, stabbing at the fastbiter with his spear. He barely scratched his target with his first attempt, but his second proved fatal. The fastbiter had hardly realized what was happening until it was too late to react.
The hidden runner held onto the spear for dear life as the fastbiter thrashed and attempted to strike in the direction of his killer. It was only the spear's length and the fact that it was embedded in the fastbiter's neck that saved him from joining the predator in oblivion. Finally, in a few terrifying seconds that seemed like an eternity, the fastbiter grew still.
The hidden runner hurriedly placed one foot on the corpse and used the leverage to pull out his spear out and flee. If the other one is still alive, he's probably heading this way.
It was not more than a few moments after he took position behind dense vegetation that the other fastbiter came into view. It was only a moment after that, his brother in view, that he let out a mournful cry that was deafening in its intensity. What caught the hidden runner's eyes however was the fact that the blood-curdling scream came from a blood covered mouth.
Oh, no. He got... Focus! I need to deal with this guy first! I can't help anyone if I'm dead!
Any thought of vengeance soon died, however, as the fastbiter bolted from the scene. The only thing that he left in his wake was a torrent of enraged cries to the ancestors above. They had one new member as of this day.
The hidden runner looked down. For he knew that the ancestors most likely now had two new members in their eternal ranks.
Wrok's territory:
Why did I ever think being a messenger was a good idea? Isem thought as he flew above the trees, searching for the frustratingly elusive Wrok, This guy is never in the same place twice. He flew higher in hopes he could see more.
The flyer looked down upon the verdant scenery from his vantage point in the clouds, grateful for the great eyesight of his kind. It was only through that he could make out the miniature forms of hidden runners going about their daily lives down below. Some were eating from the communal catch of fish near the streams, others were chatting or milling about, some even were playing some kind of game he could not recognize, but there was no visible sign of the infamous pack leader. This could only mean one thing: he was again scouting with his underlings.
The flyer could only groan in exasperation.
Doesn't this guy have subordinates to keep an eye on things for him? Why does he have to do things himself? He's so much harder to find when he does this.
He flew in silence for a significant period of time as he used the thermals to gain altitude before diving to gain speed, and then repeating the process to maintain his speed while conserving energy. If it wasn't for the additional benefits that his duties provided then not even the free food from the hidden runners would be worth it. But he had to remember the other reason he was here.
Remember, you're not the only one getting food out of this, he told himself, Your sisters are getting food, too, which means their kids are getting fed and not starving like... He shook his head. No sense thinking about that right now. There's still a very hidden hidden runner to find.
With his tremendous airspeed it did not take him long to eventually encounter a familiar stream with verdant hues in its depths. This was the Green Stream and Isem knew that it often served as a forward scouting point for the pack of his benefactor. Now there was the not-so-simple matter of picking out Wrok from the other well-hidden ground walkers down below.
How am I supposed to find a particular hidden runner when I can't seem to find any hidden runners? he thought frustratedly when his first pass over the area revealed absolutely nothing.
He carefully steered into the wind in order to begin his second pass over the expected hidden runner vantage point. Maybe they weren't here? Nonetheless this area was his best chance. If they were not here, then he would have to search aimlessly until he found his benefactor.
It was at this moment that several bodies emerged from bushes down below. As if this was not jarring enough they began to wave their spears at the lost flyer. Their amused calls were not audible at the flyer's altitude, but he could see them opening their beaks nonetheless. Hidden runners were anything if not cocky about their abilities.
I'm starting to understand why other groundwalkers complain about these guys, the flyer thought, I'd find this very disquieting if I couldn't just fly over them. Now where is Wrok? He's never where I expect him to be.
He carefully circled the scene as he took note of the hidden runners that were visible. Several appeared to be taking positions on either side of the stream, hiding behind bushes and large ferns as if waiting in ambush. The only movement was from the scouts that had waved at him who were nodding respectfully in the general direction of a vine-covered tree before returning back to their duties.
Thanks for the hint, I guess. He flew quickly towards the vine-covered tree. Upon arriving he nonchalantly landed on one of the branches and watched the hidden runners below. One hidden runner, he noticed, had several lengths of vine laid out behind him appearing to examine another length before scraping the outside of it with his claws.
"Sometimes even the toughest-looking vines can be rather weak. So it is best to destroy a portion of it to make sure the rest is useful."
The hidden runner looked at the vine in disgust before tossing it aside. Then, without looking at the flyer directly, he grabbed another vine and began scrapping at one of its ends.
"What news do you bring, Isem?"
"Two of your scouts apparently ran into some trouble. One of them is now dead," the flier replied, "They encountered two fastbiters and tried to ambush them. One of the fastbiters was killed, but the other escaped."
Wrok tossed the latest vine into another pile before grabbing a new vine to assault. "This large pack that we have heard about might encounter this escapee, then? Did the fastbiter appear to be formidable?"
"No. The scout said they were both quite young. Orphans, he suspects."
Wrok nodded as he placed this vine in the same pile as the previous one. "So not part of a pack, then? In that case the risk is minimal. The important thing is that preparations are made to hold the Land of Hidden Streams and to make the enemy bleed as much as possible there. Did my team learn anything useful about good ambush points there?"
You're not going to at least acknowledge you lost a scout? "There are a few decent spots, but there's a surprising amount of open ground as well. There's only one path, but there's not much reason to stay on it."
Wrok nodded as he stared at his vine more carefully. The entire time he kept his gaze on his work. "We would take heavy casualties then if we tried to hold the lands. Perhaps a gradual retreat, then..." He then put the vine down as if considering which pile it should go in. "From the Land of Hidden Streams they will have two choices - try to pass into the Barrens with a large pack that needs to be fed or to follow the narrow green lands that hug the mountain line. If they choose the green lands, then they can be slowed. If they take the Barrens, then those lands can do the work for us..."
The flyer watched as Wrok continued to weigh his options while staring at the vine on the ground below. Despite his great eyesight the flyer did not notice any discernible difference between the piles of vines. Whatever Wrok was seeing was not perceivable through eyes alone.
"You will want to stay near the mountains, Isem. I would imagine Seeker will have flyers with him. So it is best to appear like an uninterested bystander," Wrok noted, "But even a bystander can see much and tell me much."
"Very true, sir," the flyer replied, almost chuckling at the thought. Despite the frustration that came with being a messenger, he loved spying. Ironically, it was usually the least stressful part of his job.
Wrok looked up then, startling the flyer. "You are troubled by this turn of events."
"Well, sir, we did just lose a scout, and there's a chance Seeker's soon going to know this area is being watched, though he'd be foolish to assume it wasn't. I prefer it when my enemies have plenty of chances to be foolish," Isem said. Whether I like it or not, I've got a lot depending on you winning, Wrok.
Wrok smirked a bit at this before turning his focus again to the vines. "And you have many enemies, Isem?"
"Your enemies are my enemies, sir," the flyer replied. The last thing I want is him questioning my loyalty. Its kinda hard to be a messenger if no one trusts you.
Wrok nodded at this. "Don't worry, Isem, I know that you risk much on our behalf. Rest assured that there is a method to what you may think of as madness." He looked up with a blank expression. "But you understand why I cannot tell you everything."
"What I don't know, I can't tell," the flyer replied. I'd prefer never having to test that, but, well, we've already had at least one flyer disappear.
Wrok nodded as he placed another vine in what Isem assumed was the 'keep' pile. "Go ahead and tell my deputies that we will follow my original plan and then take the opportunity to rest. This might be the last time any of us are able to do that in a long time."
"As you wish, sir. Are there any other messages you'd like me to take?"
Wrok merely smiled before looking up once more. In a change that seemed creepy and out of place his voice almost took on a teasing tone. "Tell Penol that I will return later tonight if she wishes to have a late meal. I hope there were no problems during my absence."
Oh my sweet one, you caught my eye
There goes another one, Penol thought as yet another male started to his would-be mate, I'm starting to feel sorry for some of these girls. No originality. I think I've heard the same song ten times already. At least Wrok put in some effort, even if it was to be intentionally annoying and overly forward... I've just gotta ignore them and focus on the fish. They're not going to catch themselves. She continued her walk along the edge of the river, looking for a promising spot.
You are more radiant than the night sky…
"Oh, piss off! She isn't interested!"
Penol looked over to where the commotion was and quickly spotted a confused younger male. A moment later she noticed a younger female that was pretending to be intensely interested in water in front of her despite lacking any fish and an older female glaring at the male.
"Uh, actually I was singing for you…"
The female's glare must have turned into something even more malicious as the male began to quiver. All the while Penol could see her hands firmly planted on her hips as the younger female by the river struggled to hold back laughter. Instead she smirked and offered her own commentary.
"He seems your type, Aunt Blue!"
The poor male seemed to have a sudden burst of insight as he sprinted off and avoided the older female's bite. All the while the younger female laughed to her heart's content. Obviously Aunt Blue, whoever she was, was not interested in what the male was offering.
Is this normal for courting? Penol wondered, If so, getting into this mess is only the second worst idea I've ever had.
Turning her focus back to the river she looked for a suitable spot for fishing that was yet not taken by the pack's numerous members. This was made somewhat difficult by each active fisher walking to the water's edge as she walked by, as if to indicate that she could take their place if she wished. It was only when females began making the same gesture that she realized it was a show of respect and not merely an attempt to court her.
Um, how am I supposed to act? Penol thought, not certain what she was expected to do. She didn't want to accidentally insult anyone.
"Penol, ma'am?"
She was barely able to hide her surprise as Greenshade's feminine voice came from somewhere behind her. She quickly turned around to see the hidden runner advancing towards her with a somewhat flustered expression.
"Is something wrong?" Penol asked, giving Greenshade a concerned look.
The deputy merely shook her head before offering an apologetic bow. "My apologies, Penol. I tried to get here sooner, but I had to rescue a male who was being chased by one of our less friendly pack members…" She briefly looked over in the general direction where 'Aunt Blue' had previously been. She then nodded back in Penol's direction as if asking for an apology. "A situation has developed between one of your guards and one of my scouts, actually."
"What!" Penol demanded in alarm, "What happened?"
Greenshade held up her hands placatively. "Nothing yet! I told them that it will be up to you, but Nuna was quite insistent. It seems that Euron really turned her head."
Penol's expression shifted from terrified concern to simple confusion. "Could you explain that again?"
Greenshade practically rubbed her beak in embarrassment. "Forgive me, Penol. I am not accustomed to this, but we did promise to you that nothing would happen to your guards without your consent. It seems that one of your guards, Nuna, is quite smitten with one of my scouts, Euron."
"Oh." That's almost a relief. I thought something might've happened to Nuna, Penol thought, Though this is still kinda awkward.
Greenshade continued but had to struggle to maintain eye contact. "So... he and Nuna humbly request that you will permit her to accept his proposal."
Nuna, we're going to have to have a talk. Penol let out an almost resigned sigh. "I have no objections as long as Nuna understands exactly what she's doing and what it means for her."
The deputy nodded in relief before giving the smallest hint of a smile. "I can tell them both unless you would like the honor, ma'am. Hopefully her willingness to join with us is a sign of things to come. Fate shows its blessing in mysterious ways."
Penol nodded, partially agreeing. "I'd like to talk to Nuna first. I don't want her to have any regrets because she let her heart outrun her head."
Greenshade nodded. "If you follow me... they are farther down the river. I think they were looking for a good nesting place in case you approved."
Whoa, Nuna. Slow down! I haven't even gotten used to the idea that you were even talking to one of these guys yet, Penol thought, When did this start happening, anyway?
Greenshade appeared to be oblivious to the former First Assistant's distress as she watched the couples fishing and congregating by the water. "It looks like we are in the midst of a second egg season. At least the males seem to think so. I think we have five interested females on one side and every unpaired male in the pack on the other." She then snorted in amusement. "I guess it is that way every Warm Time, though. Can't fault the males for trying. If my father had not tried that fifteen Cold Times ago, then I wouldn't be here, after all."
"Could they at least get some new songs?" Penol asked, "I swear there are maybe five songs they use."
Greenshade laughed. "Well, we are hearing the ones who are unpaired this late in the season. They are typically unpaired for a reason. Though that usually is nothing that time and experience will not improve."
"Let's hope so. They've got a lot to improve," Penol said.
The young hidden runner tried to calm her troubled mind as the banter of the other hidden runners faded into the background only to be replaced by the steady ambient sounds of the briskly moving river. Despite still having packmates around. My new packmates, her mind corrected. A distinct feeling of relative solitude washed over her as a familiar face appeared between two bushes.
There you are, Nuna. "Hey, Nuna," Penol said.
Though Penol had noticed Nuna this was not immediately reciprocated as she stared affectionately at a male who was slowly walking towards her with a handful of sticks. As he laid them down onto a growing pile he quickly offered her the slightest hint of a loving nip with his beak as Nuna giggled in response.
I feel like I've been missing something for awhile, Penol thought, Yikes. "Nuna," she said more firmly.
This finally made the female look up before giving a squawk of surprise. "Penol! Umm…"
The male merely tried to make the most meek looking smile he could manage.
Nuna then hesitantly gestured at who was obviously Euron. "May I introduce you to Euron? He is absolutely amazing."
Greenshade merely put her beak in her hands as she stepped aside and allowed Penol to handle the situation.
"How exactly did you two meet?" Penol asked curiously before moving towards the two.
Nuna smiled slightly as she spared Euron a look. "Well… Euron and some of his friends were showing me how they scout in the deep woods because I was curious how they found us so quickly. And, well…"
Euron finally worked up the courage to speak as he gave Nuna a playful glare. "She decided to hide while the rest of us were distracted. Despite that being against the rules for her safety." He directed a playful glare at the female for good measure. "We had no idea where she ran off to, and I sent the others to call the alert… but that was when she tossed a stick on me."
Nuna grinned. "I hid up in a tree. His head is up in the clouds so often it is a wonder he did not see me up there…"
Euron sighed. "Oh, don't you start…"
They both trailed off as they recounted the story with chuckles and warmth. It was not until they turned around and noticed Penol's scowl that they realized anything was amiss.
Nuna swallowed. "Everything alright, Penol?"
"You thought hiding was a good idea?" Penol asked, straining to keep her voice level. If something happened to you I wouldn't know where to start looking.
Euron swallowed nervously but willed himself silent. He obviously knew that his commentary would not help here.
"I… no, it wasn't," Nuna finally admitted, "Euron told me as much… but if I hadn't done that, then I wouldn't have really met him. So something good came from my recklessness."
"That you're here at all is because you were reckless. Would you consider us nearly dying in an ambush a good result of that?" Penol asked.
Nuna stepped backwards in shock. The only vocalization that Penol could make out in the female's attempt at speech was a sputtered, "What?"
Euron looked towards Nuna with concern before turning back to Penol questioningly. Despite his attempt to control his expression she could smell his agitation clearly enough.
"I saw you doing my job before we left," Penol explained, "That just doesn't happen unless someone is in trouble."
Nuna practically huffed before looking down. "It wasn't much; we were just trying to prank old Galva. Dravos took it way out of proportion!"
Greenshade, who had been silent the entire time, gently gestured at Euron to come with her for a moment. Somewhat reluctantly he complied, which allowed Penol and Nuna to speak in private.
The change in Nuna's demeanor was immediate as she had no need to keep up appearances now.
Nuna groaned. "Alright, it wasn't the first time we did something like that. But it was just for fun! We never did anything that could hurt anyone or…"
"But you still kept taking a risk. Sometimes it ends badly," Penol said, "Nuna, I don't mean to insult Euron, but what if he, well, wasn't so nice? I wouldn't have had a clue something was wrong until far too late."
Nuna grew silent at this as she took in her former packmate's words. It was a few long moments before she finally nodded firmly as if coming to a resolution. "You have looked out for us this entire time. Why?"
Penol just looked at Nuna, confused.
"I mean… you are now high hatched. You could have just let us be, but you took the effort to make sure that no males, uh, compelled things." Nuna suddenly looked uncomfortable. "The high hatched usually pay us no heed."
"How much do you know about me, Nuna?" Penol asked.
Nuna held out her hands a short distance apart from one another, as if to indicate a small amount, and then she looked around as if to confirm there were no prying eyes. "I only know that the Great Leader gave you your rank for some great reason. I suppose that matters little to any of us now, as we are on the other side… but one does not get rank without a reason."
"If she had a reason, she never told me," Penol said, deliberately avoiding saying Ignis's name in case they were overheard, "Nuna, before I became first assistant, even in trouble you would've found me beneath your notice."
Nuna tilted her head questioningly. "You got in trouble too?"
"Got in trouble?" Penol replied with a laugh, "I was hatched into it."
Nuna held her mouth open slightly as she tried to guess what she was saying. When she finally did guess she cringed as the words left her mouth. "Forgive me, but you were low hatched?"
"My dad was. My mom... Well, for most of my life her parents didn't even know I existed," Penol said, sounding rather embarrassed.
Nuna now stood wide-beaked in shock. "That… wow." She then looked down as if deep in contemplation. "So she chose love over her rank."
"She did."
And I thought I was dead when I was chosen, Penol thought.
Nuna sighed. "I… know what you are getting at, Penol. But I do love him. He is just so… well, he understands me. I didn't have that back home. And it isn't like I would ever be accepted back there anyway. I don't suppose any of us would be."
She looked up at Penol with determination. "I have no real family back home, Penol. The only thing I would have to look forward to is to be looked at with suspicion for the rest of my days for allowing us to be captured." She gestured at Euron's distant form as he talked with Greenshade, "But here… for my new family… I chose him. And what may come is up to Fate."
"Just promise me you'll be a bit more cautious where your kids are concerned," Penol said. I've got no good reason to say 'no', unless there's something Nuna doesn't know about.
Nuna let out a relieved breath as soon as Penol had spoken. The intense stare was gone and in its place was a content smile. "I give you my vow. Whatever fate awaits us all… I will do my best for them."
Penol did her best to hold in a squawk of surprise when the other female embraced her tightly.
Nuna pulled away and gave a low bow as a lower-ranked hidden runner would give a superior. A gesture that spoke volumes. The voice that left her beak, however, had all of the giddiness as before. "Shall I tell Euron, ma'am?"
"Yes," Penol said unnecessarily, Nuna being halfway to Euron before she could get the word out.
Penol then watched in silence as the young female excitedly ran up to the male, jumping up and down as she half-spoke and half-squawked the news. This made the male let out a great smile as he moved to embrace his love.
Only to be promptly tackled by her.
Penol could only watch with half amusement and half astonishment as the male, with Nuna still attached, tried to rise and give a respectful nod of thanks in her general direction. He half-succeeded before collapsing as he was attacked by a flurry of loving nuzzles. Greenshade, for her part, discretely moved away from the scene and held up her hands helplessly.
Um, I think I've got somewhere else to be, Penol thought, suddenly feeling uncomfortable, I'm starting to think Nuna doesn't do anything halfway.
It only took a few moments for Greenshade to walk by. "Well, I guess they will be busy for awhile…" She shook her head before bowing slightly in Penol's direction. "My apologies for taking up your time, Penol. This was just a delicate matter and I wanted to honor my promise."
"I'm glad you got me involved," Penol said, "I'm honestly still not used to having time." There seemed to always be something that needed to be done. Now I don't really know what to do with myself.
Greenshade paused for a moment. "If you wish, Ma'am, one of us can fetch you some fish. Unless you want to catch your own?"
I completely forgot what I originally came here for, didn't I? Penol thought, "I'd like to catch my own. Thank you, though."
Greenshade nodded as she took her leave of Penol and instead began to walk away and give orders again. "Alright, Alcon and Drabur! You need to take the west watch. I'm sure Euron will be busy for awhile."
Thanks for reminding me of my problem, Penol thought, Nuna managed to make her choice. Why am I having so much trouble with mine? I already made it, didn't I? I came here, and I've pretty much lost all chance of killing Wrok even if I wanted to. And I'm not entirely sure if I want to. I guess everyone else was right. I'm just this foolish kid that never should have been let anywhere near anything important.
She took a deep breath as she tried to will her thoughts to be silent. Instead an uninvited voice from the past made itself known. A voice that was uninvited, but still welcomed.
"Where do you want to go, Penol? Based upon what you have told me, I don't think anyone has asked you that before."
She froze as she allowed herself to process Wrok's words from days prior.
I guess Wrok was right about one thing. No one has ever once asked me what I wanted, Penol thought, almost startled at the realization, I guess Nuna isn't the only fool here. I've already made my choice, whether I like it or not, so I might as well learn to live with it.
She stared at her claws.
I do not have the hands of a scout… or of an assassin… or even of a good high hatched… but I do have hands. I can't change the course that I am on, but maybe I can do my best while I am here to minimize the harm…
She nodded in resolution.
"May Fate guide me."
As the hidden runner left the scouting area, her path returning to the stream, a lone hidden runner watched her departure with concern. But, as Penol's demeanor turned into one of resoluteness and confidence, Greenshade allowed herself a smile. Sometimes it is only when one sees their reflection in the actions of another that they truly see themselves.
Ignis's territory - the Leader's Caverns:
Ignis took a deep breath as the last of her advisors took a seat. The darkness of the caverns seemed especially oppressive as the small opening above cast their faces in ominous shadows. But the most ominous shadow was one that was unseen.
"I have been informed by my Left Claw of the situation with my First Assistant."
The Great Leader's voice descended upon the assembled hidden runners like dense fog on an unsuspecting valley. Although everyone could hear her words, no one could read her mood.
Viscond raised his head cautiously as he decided to test the waters. "Will Dravos be joining our meeting?"
The Great Leader gave him a look that none of the others could see, but his grim expression said it all.
"I will inform him of our decision once I make it."
If that isn't a hint I shouldn't mention the Left Claw, I don't know what is, Deputy Glise thought, a bit surprised at how Ignis was acting, Calm down, Ignis. You were perfectly calm when we were discussing what to do about Questor. What's different now?
As if to answer her sister's unspoken question, Ignis looked down and took a deep breath. "As you have no doubt suspected there have been some disagreements between myself and the Left Claw on this matter. But the situation that we are faced with does not care about the past. Penol is now in the possession of Wrok's pack, which both presents us with a problem and some opportunities…" though she said the word 'opportunities' as if she were announcing a death.
The Deputies looked at one another as if daring the others to speak first. There was no doubting their Leader's opinion of the situation.
Finally Clantor rose. "I take it that Dravos suspects that this… situation would increase tensions between Questor and Wrok and provide an opportunity for us?"
How so, Clantor? Does Questor even know about this situation? Glise wondered.
Ignis nodded. "That was the assessment of the Left Claw."
The Left Claw? Not your Left Claw? Ignis, just how badly did you and Dravos disagree?
Another Deputy, Gratus, rubbed his head nervously as he considered the Leader's words. "And… it creates an opportunity for Wrok as well. With all due respect, Great Leader, but it provides him a path to, um…"
"Aye," Ignis noted grimly, "It is the same as if I had offered him one of my family as a mate. That is why we, my kin, will be discussing another matter after this meeting."
Oh. I guess having non-family deputies turning on us is now a possibility, Glise thought as she made a mental note to prepare for a difficult discussion later, We'll definitely need to avoid that.
This made Clantor obviously tense up. He had been in charge of internal security during the last Cold Time so the implications were not lost on him. "If we can help, Great Leader, let us know."
Ignis nodded in appreciation. "Thank you, Deputy Clantor. I have no doubt that another meeting will be held on the matter come the morning."
"As for the current problem, do you know why Penol is now held by Wrok?" Glise asked.
Clantor looked at Glise with bemusement. "Isn't it obvious that she…"
"She did not go traitor if that is what you were about to suggest," Ignis interjected with a growl to her voice. "Dravos sent her on a 'diplomatic mission' to ensure this outcome. As for why my cousin agreed to do this…" She waved her hand as if she did not know the answer to that question. "She tried so hard to be what she already was at heart - a high hatched… I regret that she felt the need to do this. We already knew her loyalty."
Clantor wisely sat down without another word.
Penol made a poor choice, Glise thought, but no one should call her anything but loyal. It seems her problem was having too much of it.
"I suppose that a rescue is out of the question?" one of the deputies asked.
Ignis nodded sadly. "That is not possible at this time. But I will not rest until we make it a possibility. One day Wrok will fall by our claws… and on that day we must do everything to get her out of that pack alive."
"And then what?" Glise asked, thinking about what would come after, "I doubt Penol would be able to return to her old role even if she wished to do so."
"We can cross that stream once we get to it," Viscond suggested, earning him an approving nod from his mate.
"We simply need to clarify to our people that Penol was captured in an unprovoked attack on a diplomatic mission to Questor," Ignis demanded, "This will put pressure on one of our adversaries so at least something good can come from this sad mess."
She added under her breath. "And so my cousin does not suffer in vain."
Glise unknowingly found herself thinking along lines similar to her sister. I hope we can do something with what Penol has nearly condemned herself for. For the bravery she has shown she deserves to have made a difference, not merely have attempted to do so.
"Great Leader?"
Ignis sighed and turned around to acknowledge the guard. "Is there a situation?"
The guard nodded. "My apologies, Great Leader. But Seeker's flyer has arrived and seeks an audience."
"His name is Spotter, Malak." Ignis gently corrected, "Go ahead and lead him to our chamber. I am sure my advisors will want to hear his message as well."
Why do I have a bad feeling about this? Maybe I'm just being gloomy today, Glise thought, I hope that's all it is.
Glise watched in mute concern as the shadow of the flyer appeared through the passageway, slowly growing larger as the Bright Circle's distant rays cast their light at an increasing angle against his brown flesh. The end result when he finally appeared was that he looked like a living shadow with the red nictitating members of his eyes reflecting the minimal light.
"Thank you for receiving Spotter," the flyer said after giving a respectful nod, "Me.. I hope Spotter is not interrupting."
"This is a good time to interrupt as my advisors are already here," Ignis cut him off respectfully, "What news do you bring, Spotter? It is my hope that Mender continues to recover."
This made Petrie smile. "The news is good for her! She all good now and make it to big meeting! Now our packs are on the move to face Wrok."
Wait, what? Glise hated to admit it, but she was now rather confused, How is she 'all good now'? Mender shouldn't even be able to walk without help if I'm remembering what I was told correctly. She's lucky just to be alive. And did Spotter say "packs"? As in, more than one? This can't be good.
Ignis paused for a moment as her head tilted slightly. "Your packs?"
Petrie nodded. "It hard decision, but the fastbiters of the streams, mountains, and barrens decide to do what is best for us all. Just as Seeker lead packs against Redclaw, he lead packs against our enemies."
Ignis did her best to keep a neutral expression, but her deputies gave away their shock in varying degrees. Not even Glise was immune from the general sense of being blindsided.
"You guys are doing what?" Glise shrieked before realizing that she had spoken aloud.
"Do you expect packs to stand aside when everyone under threat?" Petrie retorted. "We killers. Wrok was stupid enough to begin fight, but we will end it."
And that's what I'm afraid of. The last time a bunch of fastbiter packs got together it didn't go so well, Glise thought.
Ignis nodded slowly. "We.. appreciate your help, Spotter. Please send our thanks to Seeker and his allies. But surely you can understand our surprise? There hasn't been a pack like that since Redclaw."
Petrie nodded at this. "That is why Seeker want to make sure there no misunderstandings. We, um, want to make sure we attack right hidden runners."
"Any suggestions on how to do that?" Glise asked, "It's not like we can introduce you to everyone first." Honestly, I don't know how we could possibly fight alongside each other without risking attacking each other.
"Well… you know me and Soar… and me can introduce you to other trusted flyers. Seeker thinking that we make sure that our allies and your allies not in same place at same time. It no problem knowing who to kill when everyone left is okay to kill."
"So you want us to evacuate our allies as you approach so that you can show no restraint." It was not a question that left Ignis's beak, but it was certainly an accusation.
Petrie's expression was unreadable. "We show restraint when Wrok dead. Until then he had better mind our claws!"
"And apparently we will as well," Glise muttered to herself, rather unhappy at just how easily things could still go wrong.
This earned her a look from her sister which was not entirely unsympathetic. All the same, she raised her hand slightly in a placative manner. The meaning was clear: let me handle this.
Ignis rubbed her beak for a moment. "You do remember how we entered the fight back then, don't you Spotter? The brutality of Redclaw's pack. The massacre… I know that your pack leader is an honorable biter, and it was an honor for me to fight alongside him. But it is also important that we appear honorable in what comes ahead. Otherwise our enemies could use the ill-will to gain new allies."
Petrie paused for a moment. "Mender's healer pack is with us. We should be able to take in younglings. But understand that battle has losses. Some will die."
Ignis face was dark, but her eyes lost their chill at Petrie's clarification. "Trust me, flyer, I know."
I still don't like it, but maybe things won't go as badly as I feared, Glise thought, not entirely convinced.
The tension having been broken, Viscond whispered in his mate's ear. Glise could not hear what was said, but whatever it was made her relax somewhat.
"Fate does shine on us," Ignis muttered before raising her voice, "We will need to make sure that our people know of your assistance, Spotter. It will give them hope, and that is what they need right now."
Especially after the news about Penol… Glise thought.
Petrie bowed. "It is good to be fighting alongside another again, Leader Ignis. No one seek battle, but it is best to face battle with friends."
Ignis nodded at this. Things were finally looking more positive after a day of bitter surprises. Nonetheless her gaze focused on her guard's spear in the distance. Its sharpened tip hinted at a fate that could await them all in the battles to come.
"When will your packs enter the lands of our enemies?"
Petrie's face twisted into a smirk. "They bleed before Bright Circle set tomorrow."
The Great Valley:
"Bah, I don't like this! The sharpteeth are joining together, the hidden runners are being scheming shits, and here we are just waiting for them to bite us in the back!"
"Quiet, Basher! Save this talk for the meetings."
"Yeah… yeah… that seems to be the only thing us herd deputies does anymore. What a pile of spiketail shit."
I guess being small has paid off for once, Ba, a small Stout Snout, thought as he did his best to hide. While being dwarfed by others was frustrating, the small iguanodon had to admit that every once in a while it was surprisingly useful.
Like, for example, when you accidentally walk in on a domehead argument.
One of the domeheads took a deep breath before turning towards his agitated colleague. "Look, I get it. I do. I am sure that we will get the valley to break off this alliance for good sooner or later. But there is no good way to do that right now without blowing our cover!" he then added in a whisper, "So please keep your belly-aching down…"
I can't believe it. They're outright trying to break up the alliance, Ba thought in shock, I've got to tell the elders about this! He started looking for a good chance to sneak away. Why would they want to do that? The alliance helps the valley. It definitely helped me. I might've died without those healing plants from the hidden runner lands last Warm Time.
As he peered from behind his small boulder, he looked at where the two domeheads were talking. Though the stream blocked the most obvious path - the opposite direction - there were a multitude of bushes extending on either side of the clearing the domeheads were now occupying. They also had the benefit of not causing a splash of water to blow his cover. Perhaps if he could sneak towards the belligerent one who was distracted…
"Look, Nyphon, I get why this decision was made. But it stinks to the clouds. Every day we don't get the valley to end the alliance is another day Wrok might decide to let everyone know what we were involved in."
Nyphon closed his eyes in exasperation. "For the love of… this is why we are waiting and seeing! Now keep quiet before someone hears you."
A bit late for that. Ba continued to try to move slowly away. It's a wonder no one else has heard these two. He reluctantly moved closer to the domeheads so as to avoid the stream which could have carried his diminutive form away, all the while trying to keep low to the ground so that his green hide would blend in with the scenery.
"We are in the middle of nowhere near the mud pits, who could possibly hear us here?"
I'd bet about half the valley, Ba thought, It's not like you're even trying to be... Oof.
It took Ba a split second to process what had happened but it felt like an eternity. One moment he had been carefully scurrying away, and the next his foot had collided with something hard and unseen and his head came down to greet the damp ground. His desperate attempt to scamper to his feet only added a splash to the mix as his frantic legs collided with the water.
Must get out of here! Ba squawked, giving up any attempt at hiding as he went into a full sprint. Bush branches both blurred around him and collided with his face as he sprinted past, but he did not let up on his singular quest to stay alive. His only option was speed now.
But as a sharp pain erupted in his side his desperate flight for freedom came to a sudden end. The ground and sky appeared to wrestle one another as his world spun with the intensity of a whirlwind. It was only a grey foot that stopped his uncontrolled roll.
"I don't want any trouble! I could just go on my way..."
Two words, however, removed all hope.
"End it."
The last thing Ba saw was a foot impacting his snout.
"What do we do now? If they think that one of us did this, then…"
"Shush! You have caused enough trouble today with your mouth!"
"But we need…"
"We will put a stick in him and make it look like a hidden runner or egg-stealer did this. And then, maybe, we can turn this to our advantage."
Hidden runner territory:
"See, it's right where we put it last!"
Logos could only roll her eyes at her mate as she helped drag the makeshift dugout canoe out of the dense bushes that had hidden it for the better part of a Night Circle cycle. Though its rough hull, being no more than a hollowed out trunk, scoured her hands as she heaved it upright; she couldn't help but feel a twinge of pride in their handiwork. In a way it symbolized their mission on the mudball they now called home: shaping the primitive elements into something promising while not disrupting the natural elements.
"Whoa!"
She struggled to hold on as Chronos nearly doubled over after tripping on a root.
"Easy, dear! You need to watch where you are going."
Her mate groaned as he redoubled his hold on the heavy hollowed-out log. "It is hard to watch my back when I don't have eyes in the back of my head anymore."
Logos gave him a teasing smile as she carefully stepped over the root that he had missed. "Excuses… excuses… we have had these bodies for how long now?"
It only took them a few more moments to deposit their log near the shore of the river. Despite the urgency of the moment, they both stopped to catch their breath as they each leaned against its hull.
Chronos looked over at his mate. "The flyer said that we are needed immediately in the valley. Do you think that the conspiracy has struck?"
Logos shook her head. "That is doubtful. If that were the case then Volant or Pterano would be telling us the news directly. I think it is more likely that the usual paranoia has taken hold."
Chronos smirked. "So a case of Mr. Threehorn being worried about us and making it look like he is angry at us instead?"
Logos snickered. "A logical deduction."
She was not surprised when Chronos tapped his beak against hers. It was a gesture she returned.
"Still doing the incorrect affection display after all of these seasons?" she teased.
"Of course," Chronos repeated the gesture, "Since it took the others six Cold Times to tell us that was how fastrunners showed affection and not our kind, it would be wrong of us to change tradition."
Logos pulled away with a smirk. "The tradition that we are seen as weird?"
Chronos snickered, "Of course!"
The moment was brief, but she cherished it for what it was. It wasn't often that they could be themselves except for the privacy of their cavern. Back in the valley there was always someone watching or someone needing helpful advice or assistance. But here in the Mysterious Beyond, dangerous as it was, they could feel like they were a duo of scientists again.
But, ultimately, she would not trade what she was now for the entire world. She had a family to attend to, after all.
"Well, we should get back before Threehorn impales us or our children decide to do some unauthorized experiments," Chronos agreed as if he had heard her thoughts.
Logos nodded in agreement as she joined him in pushing the log into the water.
"I think that longneck friend of theirs is the main variable in their unauthorized travels," she muttered as she jumped into the boat as it went into the deeper waters.
She could feel him land behind her as he handed her one of the makeshift 'oars' for their primitive boat.
"Of that I have no doubt."
Tap… tap… tap…
She patiently waited for her mate's rhythmic tapping of his feet before carefully slicing through the water with her oar. There is almost something hypnotic about the patterned movements of an oar through water... Something primal. Heh… imagine Command hearing me now. "Gone native: exercise caution in data analysis." is probably on our file in big red letters. The water did not say anything back to her unspoken thoughts, but the rhythmic beat of their oars against the azure fluid continued unabated. Soon enough they were entering the weak currents in the shallows of the stream.
Chronos stopped tapping his foot now that they had established their rhythm. "So the left way is the shortcut, right?"
Logos stared at him wide-eyed. Don't tell me that you forgot! You know that I am not good with directions!
He stared back with great concern before his beak went off-center in their version of a smile.
"Seriously, dear?" Logos grumbled as she continued to row.
"Ha.. ha," Logos snickered as he gestured to the right, "We need to go that way. The left path would take us straight into the disputed lands."
Logos rolled her eyes as she carefully moved her weight slightly to the right. Within moments their oar movements turned the ship towards the path which would eventually lead them back home.
"Rocks, dead ahead!"
Logos looked up at what her mate was staring at. Sure enough there were five large rounded objects in the middle of the stream. It looked like they would either need to move the ship closer to shore and go around or attempt to go over them. A quick tap on her right shoulder confirmed that her mate had the same idea as they began to hurriedly row towards the shore.
That was way too close!
It was at that exact moment that the rocks rose from the near-stagnant water. Worse yet, for some reason these rocks had spears.
Logos blinked as her brain tried to process what she was seeing. Those are… oh, no!
The world stood still as the silence of the afternoon was replaced with a cacophony of shouts and screeches as green feathers appeared to come from everywhere all at once… from the water from what were never rocks to begin with… from the shore… from bushes… in a horrifying instant she realized that they were surrounded.
It was an ambush.
She willed herself not to scream as a spear tip lightly touched her neck and several hidden runners secured their boat with hands and clawed feet. As the owner of the spear edged closer she could see his amber eyes and verdant feathers. But as his warm breath reached her own scales she could not suppress a shudder.
"Questor will love to meet both of you. Won't you come with us?"
Thank you everyone for your continued interest in this story. :) Before I respond to each review this time I wanted to pose a question to all of you: would you prefer that I continue to append a reply to the reviews at the end of each chapter, or would you prefer a reply to your review by PM? I am open to either course, but I think a shift to making replies by PM might allow for more interactivity. If you have an opinion one way or another feel free to let me know in your reviews. :)
Anagnos: You are quite right about your thoughts on the last chapter. Though the storm might not have struck yet in the form of a battle, the rainbowfaces have now been ambushed and skirmishes are breaking out at the site of the coming battle. All the while each faction is pursuing its own interests without a full appreciation of the larger picture. Thus we are left with a situation where the path to hell is paved in good intentions. Rest assured that the action will continue in the next chapter. (:
graystripe: Yeah, Ruby's parents have been observant enough in their years to know how to put Chomper in his place through underhanded means. :p As for Mender's past, the coming chapters are going to be focused mostly on the present. Although the lessons from her life are going to serve her well in the coming crisis.
Keijo6: Thank you for the detailed review as always. I have already addressed some of what was said in Anagnos's review, but I will confirm that this act is going to be quite a bit more involved than a few battles. In fact it is looking like there might be another 16 or so chapters coming in this mammoth act. I just hope that it will not take us 3 years to finish it all. :p
As for the slowness of the previous chapter, that was partially by design. There are numerous side characters that needed to be named and characterized and the events of the previous chapter provided a convenient opportunity to do so. The general slow down also provided a nice opportunity to reset the pace going into the coming cataclysm. The beginning elements of which are being presented at the end of this chapter.
gordhanx: Thank you for the review! You are quite right that the previous chapter was the calm before the storm as the crisis has arrived in force with this chapter. I must admit that I had a great deal of fun writing the other pack leaders (especially Howler and Luca) and in showing the diverse viewpoints that existed within the same species. But, despite their diverse interests, they all know that Wrok must be dealt with. If only they knew that there was another hidden runner they should probably be focusing on...
UnionRags123: Thanks for pointing that out. That is indeed kind of a whopper of a typo and I will make sure to correct it when I finally proofread the Seven Hunters for the completed PDF version of it.
Thanks again, everyone! I look forward to your thoughts on the latest installment. :)