Chapter 4
The Wrogs
The Falort Castle- one Wolf year later
The Nanlons had been able to construct a towering wall surrounding the Falort pack camp. The Falorts and the other packs, though now more used to living in one place, were still accustomed to being nomadic and following their food source. Luckily they had been given all the food they needed from the Nanlons. The Nanlons had, in addition to building the wall and providing food for both themselves and the wolves, constructed a special door that would allow Madas easy access into and out of the castle. He still kept a watch on the mountain, which came in handy.
For one day in the middle of what is now referred to as May, Madas observed a horde of figures in the distance. He quickly double checked to make sure he wasn't seeing forest spirits. The horde in fact seemed to be closer now. He ran at lightning speed down the mountain, through the special door in the wall, and down to Rano's den. He told Rano what he saw. Rano listened intently. When Madas was done reporting he returned to the mountain.
Rano told Floriv to meet him at the east gate. Floriv looked at Rano, confusion clearly written across his face.
"What is a 'gate', Rano?" He asked.
Rano tried to explain it as best as he could. According to what a Nanlons had told him, a gate is a 'building that allows people to pass through a wall.'
By the time that Rano and Floriv got to the gate Madas had made it back up to his post on the mountain. He issued three sharp barks. The horde was closing in.
The Wrog Horde
The wrogs that were approaching with Asian and African wolves, foxes, jackals, and others of the canus genus, were grumpy. They had expected to see the Falorts and Falorian sooner. But, just when they were about to turn around and bring everyone they had gathered back they heard a noise.
Ragor commanded a quick-stop. He barked out a request of the Falort camp's position. He hoped that it was Madas who had first barked the Falort signal for approximate distances. When Ragor had first seen him, Madas was a young pup who was learning quickly from his dad Madas.
Madas listened to the request for the camp's position. He remembered that voice vaguely. He thought back to when he was a pup. A memory came about a wolf the size of a horse. He wondered if it was the same one. He gave the position to the wolf.
Ragor smiled. But when he turned to face his troops his normal facial expression took its place. "Quickly now. We are almost there." He finished his statement in thought. I can't wait to see Falorian once again.
Two days later Falort Castle- East Wall- Rano & Floriv
Rano was not sure what was going to happen or who to expect. He did know that he would have to fight if need be. Hopefully, though, it wouldn't come to that. Floriv would help if he was needed. If it wasn't too late.
Falort Castle- East Wall ten tail-lengths from Rano's and Floriv's position- Wrog Horde
Ragor was furious. Why had this stone monolith been built in the middle of the forest? He howled in frustration.
"Scouting party. Now!!!" He snapped at his lieutenant. The lieutenant gathered 5 of the Wrogs, 2 Asian foxes, and 3 African wild-dogs.
Ragor's looks told all that they needed to know. Find any wolf scent that was nearby. Then once they found it report back. If there was no scent, then they would have to check again.
The Gathering of the Clans of Germania- Modern-day Berlin
After many days of continual back and forth, the vote was tied. The decision rested with the newest member of the council. Strimotoc Managastar, who had replaced the void left by the Nanlons, was stuck with one of the toughest choices of his time. If he chose against the Allorians, they could exile him or worse. If he chose for the Allorians, then their gods would probably make him die in a freak accident. After much contemplation he decided to vote against the Allorians. He would have a better chance dealing with his gods if he did.
They would probably change his vote. Unless, another issue came back to haunt the council's leader.
Falort Castle- East Gate- Three tail-lengths from Rano and Floriv- Scouting Party
Toromundu, one of the Asian foxes chosen because of his world renowned sense of identifying scents, picked up the first traces. As they got closer to the wolves' position, he was looking through his mental storage of the scents of wolves. One of them was probably Falorian or one of his descendants. The other was baffling. The wolf who had the scent like this wolf did was long dead. His blood line couldn't have survived this long. He looked over at the others. It seemed like they were just catching their first whiffs. He raised one eyebrow. They all nodded. They detected the wolf whose was similar to Slovarion's. They knew how long he had been dead. But still, this was what Ragor would have wanted to know about.
The Wrog Horde
They had told Ragor everything that they had observed. They told him of the scent that was like that of Slovarion's. He looked startled. Every one had heard stories that his lineage had been maintained in secret. But these were always dismissed as rumors. There was a trait that only the descendants of Slovarion had. They were pretty near impossible to defeat. And they showed mercy, when it was deserved.
Rano and Floriv
Rano had been feeling tremors in the earth for some time since the horde had been spotted. Now he heard what sounded like thunder. He looked at Floriv. He looked apprehensive if not a little scared. Rano was too.