The Outcast

Bright sunlight filtered through the canopy above and cascaded down to dapple the forest floor, scattering gold and emerald constellations across the grass and earth. The ephemeral beams hung in the air, forming graceful, fractal pillars and arches finer than the works of any rabbit architect.

The thick undergrowth and low branches rustled and swayed as Sana's cloak brushed past them. She breathed the forest air deeply, taking in the sights and sounds of her surroundings. Ever since she was a girl she had loved nothing more than strolling amidst the strong trunks and wildflowers, simply observing the gifts of the Wyld. Though her mind wandered she reminded herself that this was no leisurely hike and focussed on her task. Now seeing the forest spread out around her was a reminder of everything she had to protect.

She had been given little help in this first step of her journey, sent out from Wyldroot with only vague directions that had led her to this area of the forest. She had now been searching here for the better part of a day. In the last couple of miles she had started seeing signs of habitation; carvings etched into the bark of trees, charms crafted from wood, bone and hide hung from branches, faded cloths draped decoratively in clearings. She had followed these markings and they had steadily become more frequent. She was now outside domain of the Clan and deep into the territory of a solitary outsider.

An outsider who did not wish to be found, Sana thought to herself with a sigh. She followed the sound of flowing water to a small stream and there decided to rest. She dropped her pack, built a small fire and filled a pot with fresh water. Sprinkling a handful of dried wyldweed into the pot she left it to brew as the water boiled.

A few minutes had passed before there was a mighty crash and a huge figure sprang from the shadows of the trees, landing heavily beside Sana and drawing up to its full height with a growl.

Towering over Sana was another bear, at least a full foot taller than her and almost half again as broad. Shaggy fur, dark grey, almost black, covered his body, with lighter, ashen grey colouration on his head and chest. Thick, pale scars swirled in intricate patterns across his arms, shoulders, back and chest. He wore a simple loincloth with a large ram skull belt buckle, heavy leather vambraces and an angry scowl. There was an iron hoop through his left ear and he carried a fearsome looking double headed cudgel of spiked stone.

"You're treading where you're not wanted, Forest Sister." The grey bear rumbled, "Leave. Now."

Sana looked at him coolly, "And a good day to you too." She lifted the pot from the fire and filled a cup.

The grey bear indignantly thumped his cudgel against the ground, "I could crush your skull with one blow, would you merely sit there and mock me?"

Sana sipped her tea without looking up. "I imagine you could." After pausing to take another sip she fixed her gaze on the other bear, undaunted. "You won't kill me, Brun Oakbreaker. I'd think that the last Scarcaster would have had enough of slaughtering his own kind. Now are you just going to stand there or are you going to sit and drink with me?"

Brun grumbled as he lowered himself to the ground. "What do you want?"

"Has your life of seclusion numbed you to the changing of the world?" Sana poured a second cup of tea and held it out to Brun, who grudgingly accepted.

"My link to the Wyld is as strong as it ever was. I know of what you speak." He swept his gaze across their surroundings, "I feel it in the trees. I hear it in the voices of the birds and the fish of the river. This land is poisoned. The white city is stained black."

Sana eyed him over the rim of her cup, "Then you know that the King's reign must be ended."

"My decision is already made. I will go to the capital and take his head myself."

"And rule the kingdom in his place?"

Brun snorted, "I care not who rules. Leave it to the royal court to decide."

"If there is no clear successor then the clans will go to war over the throne."

"Then let them fight. Any who come here can meet their end by my hand. I shall have no further part in it."

"I see your head is as hard as it ever was too." Sana snapped. "What is your plan exactly? March into the throne room swinging your cudgel around? You are just one man, Brun Oakbreaker. If you bring war to the capital you will find yourself facing the King's entire army. The whole city is fortified, the palace itself is near impregnable. Not to mention that Ariel himself is a warrior unmatched by any who live."

Brun turned away with a low grunt.

"What if I told you there was another way?"

The Scarcaster looked back at her, brow raised.

"If you have felt the Wyld stir then you should know that it has blessed our world with Spirit Stones once more."

"What of it?"

"I believe that they could be used as a weapon against the Rot and the King. The elders have dispatched me to seek the Stones out and use them to cleanse the corruption from the kingdom."

"You believe you can do this?"

"Yes. But not alone." Sana held a hand out to Brun, "Will you aid me, brother?"

Brun shrugged, drained his cup and pushed himself to his feet. "Fine. Let me gather some provisions for the journey. But I'll tell you this: if this plan of yours doesn't work then I will slay the King. Or die trying."

Sana smiled as she doused the fire and stood, "Agreed."

Thane stretched as he strolled along the roughly cobbled street that wound through Deepwell. The small farming town sat on the edge of Wolf Clan territory. He turned to walk backwards while he addressed River, "May as well rest here for the night."

"I'd rather sleep somewhere away from town." She replied, "We're still wanted fugitives."

Thane shrugged, "In the centre of the kingdom, sure. We can lay low out here."

River sighed, "Just keep your guard up. The King could have spies anywhere."

"Relax." Thane said with a grin, "This is Wolf Clan ground. The people here won't bother us." He pushed open a door beneath a vibrantly painted sign that declared the tavern's name as The War Banner and strode boldly inside. They were immediately met by a blast of warm air, the scent of ale and roast meat, and raucous cackles.

Glancing around, Thane noticed that the tavern wasn't particularly busy; most of the noise seemed to be coming from one table surrounded by a gaggle of wiry looking stoats. He crossed the room, dodging a short hedgehog barmaid as she scurried past with a tray of drinks. The bar was manned by a grizzled, one eyed pit bull in a dirty apron.

Thane placed a few coins on the bar, "Two ales. And a room for the night."

The barkeep gave a curt nod, wordlessly scooping the gold into a pocket.

Thane went to join River, who had seated herself at a table in the darkest corner of the room. He dropped into a chair beside her. "Like I said, no problems." River didn't answer, just gave him a sideways glance before fixing her attention back on the rowdy stoats. Her fingers tapped slowly on the table, with a sharp click-click of claws on wood.

A couple of minutes passed before the barmaid Thane had seen earlier came to deliver their drinks. As Thane raised the foaming tankard to his lips he couldn't help noticing the hedgehog fidgeting oddly. She backed a few paces away from their table, shot a nervous glance at the stoats and spun on her heel. She gave one last worried look back over her shoulder before hurrying away.

Thane swallowed, placing the tankard back down softly, as if it were fragile glass. "Strange." He felt River's hand tighten on his knee, looking at her quickly before following her gaze to the other table.

One of the stoats, who looked like the leader of their group, raised a tankard and cheered loudly, "To our good fortune lads!" He drank deeply, followed by his companions. "Would you believe? A stay of execution and a pardon from the King, all to hunt down one poxy wolf brat."

"Must be desperate to empty the royal dungeons for one fugitive."

"No matter, the bounty's good as ours!" This spurred another peal of cheers and laughter.

Thane slumped lower in his chair with a sigh, "Damn..."

"I warned you." River whispered.

"They haven't noticed us."

"They're going to notice us."

"Have they noticed us?"

As River continued watching the stoats one glanced her way. They locked eyes, and he opened his mouth as if to speak, eyes widening. "They've noticed us."

Thane never saw the huntress nock or draw; one moment she was sitting beside him, the next she was on her feet. An arrow sprouted from the stoat's eye socket, his body jerked and his chair toppled backwards with a crash.

There was a shriek as the hedgehog ducked behind the bar, the big pit bull next to her reaching for something under the counter.

"Fuck!" The other stoats spun to face the wolves, leaping to their feet and grasping for weapons.

"Down!" River kicked their table onto its side, sending their drinks flying. She crouched, pulling Thane down beside her, just as a bottle shattered against the table and was quickly followed by two knives and a small hatchet, which all buried themselves in the wood with a staccato series of heavy thuds.

River caught Thane's gaze and jerked her head sharply toward the table's edge. "One day without someone trying to kill me..." Thane grunted. He drew his bastard sword and rolled over the table, landing in a crouch on the other side. One of the stoats had rushed forward with a club; he tried to stop as Thane appeared before him, but the wolf swept his sword around as he rose, nearly slicing his attacker in half. The stoat's momentum kept him travelling forward as he stumbled, and he crashed head first into the table.

Thane flicked blood from his blade, moving forward with the easy confidence of a practiced swordsman. The next stoat came at him with a pair of daggers, attacking with a pouncing stab. Thane easily batted the dagger aside and countered, his strike deflected in turn. The wolf followed up with a shoulder charge and a heavy overhead swing. His opponent managed to catch the blow between his blades, but Thane twisted the sword, knocking both weapons out of the stoat's hands.

The stoat fell backwards with a gasp, rolling back to his feet, he came up holding a wooden round shield snatched from the corpse that River had shot. He clutched the shield by its rim, holding it out in front of him. Thane snarled, gripping his sword with both hands and lunging, driving the blade straight through the shield and into the stoat's throat.

A third attacker came from Thane's blind spot, hefting a bar stool. Before he could swing his improvised weapon River cannoned into his side with a forceful kick. The stoat doubled over, the stool clattering to the floor. With a graceful twirl River was behind him. There was a flash of steel as her hunting knife slid from its sheath and with swift, rapid strikes plunged into the stoat's thigh, back and shoulder. He dropped with a pained gurgle.

Thane turned to see last stoat already backing toward the door. He jumped onto the top of the closest table, launched off it, and planted a knee with all his weight behind it into the middle of the stoat's chest. The stoat was knocked backwards through the door, which splintered from its frame beneath him.

He scrambled back to his feet, looking wildly from side to side. "You'll regret this! Your whole damn clan is going to burn for what you've done! Bastard, whoreson, mutt!" He turned tail and began fleeing along the road into the growing darkness.

Thane sheathed his sword as River joined him in the doorway. "Well?"

The huntress raised her bow and drew back on the string. Thane heard the soft hiss of her breath and admired her form; body and bow both held still as a statue as she sighted down the arrow at her ever shrinking target. Her breath exploded from her lungs as she loosed the arrow. The bowstring sang and the arrow vanished, reappearing half a second later as it skewered the retreating stoat through the neck. His legs instantly went out from under him and he tumbled into the mud before rolling to a halt.

River shouldered her bow, "So?"

"So you were right..." Thane grumbled, rolling his eyes, "And I don't much care for it." He turned away, scooping up a tankard that had fallen near the door. He inspected it with a critical eye for a moment before throwing his head back and gulping down what was left of its contents. "So..." He held the empty tankard out to River, "Your round?"