Okay people, I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while, my dad's been sick as of late and we found out about a two weeks ago that his appendix had burst, and that if he wasn't healthy he might have died from his organs being poisoned by the resulting bacteria. He was in the hospital for a week, and still isn't full recovered; so my family and I have been in a slump, mine resulting in writer's block. By the way I do not want to hear complaints about not typing out everything a character says, think about what Kit would listen to. Now let me see…
!!
It has been three days since we left the cave. The wolf pack is leading us through a gap in the mountains. When we got to the deepest point, we ate lunch at a spring. Then we followed a stream downhill, until Brokefang stopped.
Ma seemed to listen to Brokefang for a minute, then put me in my sling on her back, and told Numair to leave the horses by a rock—with the pack protecting them, they were safe.
Numair and Ma (with me in my sling) followed Brokefang up a tumble of rock slabs that seemed to go on forever. But when we came to the top, we could see for miles! We could see Long Lake far below, a small village was constructed where a small river (most likely of the stream we had followed) me the lake. And not far offshore, a small, but well-built, castle, topped an island. The island was linked to the village by a bridge, I noted.
Numair took his spyglass from its case and stretched it to its full length, then held it to his eye for a better look. I dimly noted that my ma was explaining to Brokefang what the instrument was, and what it did. "This is Fief Dunlath, without a doubt," he proclaimed, and handed his spyglass to Ma. "I can't see the northern reaches of the lake from here. Is that where the damage is being done? The holes and the tree cutting?"
But Numair didn't get the answer, as after Brokefang seemed to answer, Ma said, "Soldiers at the northern and southern reaches of the valley? Then why not here if they want to put watch dogs at the passes?" Brokefang said something again and Ma translated their conversation.
"This is not good," Numair said, squinting at the castle, "There is no reason for this fief to be heavily guarded. Under law they are only entitled to a force of forty men-at-arms…May I see that again?" Ma returned the glass to his out-stretched hand..
I became bored as Numair and my ma continued to examine the valley, and was therefore, quite pleased when they followed Brokefang as he retreated back to the spot where they had tethered their horses.
I was surprised to note that a new, strange wolf had joined the rest. This strange wolf was a gray-and-white female, with a boldly marked face. Tail erect, and wagging gaily, Brokefang raced to meet her.
"Well, he's glad to meet this one," Numair stated as they followed the wolf more slowly. "Who's the stranger?"
"His mate, Frostfur. The boss female." Ma replied.
Where were you? What took so long? You said you were going only to the other side of the mountain and you have been gone for four nights. I heard Frostfur say. Normally I did not hear what mortal animals said, they never wanted me to hear them and so did not mind-speak with me, but this wolf was angry, and wanted everyone to know it.
Brokefang replied, mind-speaking so that only Ma and the other wolves could hear supposedly.
Apparently the gray-and-white wolf was not satisfied with his answer. The only two-legger we need is her. Why didn't you leave those others behind? We can hunt if we are hungry. We don't need food brought to us, like the human's dogs. She snarled.
Fury boiled in my veins like hot lava in a volcano, how dare she insult me! A higher being at that! Though I did not usually think of my self as higher being, this wolf—arrg! In my fury I reared up in my sling, to brace my forepaws on my ma's shoulders, as I screeched my fury at the she-wolf. (A/N: I will not provide a translation, my mother does not allow me to use such vocabulary. Let's just say she picked up the words from when she accidentally overturned one of Numair experiments…)
Ma seemed surprised to hear me say something so rude, but I knew that she could not understand what I had said.
Frostfur looked at us and bared her teeth.
"Enough!" Ma ordered. "We're friends. That means you, Frostfur, and these horses. If you disobey, you'll be sorry.
Frostfur met Ma's eyes, and then looked away. If she said anything, it was nothing she wanted everyone to hear. Then Brokefang nuzzled her reassuringly, and ran down a northward trail, the wolves and their companions following.
The path took us to a line that ran parallel to the lake. It was wide for a game trail, and looked to not only be used by wolves, if the marks on the shrubbery and the tracks on the trail were to be trusted.
Ma showed Numair a tuft of wool that had been caught on a bramble. "Mountain sheep," she proclaimed, "A wolverine, too—keep an eye out for that one. They're nasty when they're crossed."
I looked up the trail and noted with surprise that the wolves were taking turns lifting their legs (A/N: get the hint?) to a pile of meat. "Graveyard Hag, what are they doing?" Ma said, asking the question I so desperately had wanted to ask myself. She jogged to the front of the line and asked the wolves, "What is this? What is wrong with the meat?"
All of a sudden Ma laughed and trotted back to Numair, "The meat was poisoned," she said, "The wolves are telling the hunter what they think of it.. They like the way he curses and throws things when the sees what they have done!" She laughed, and with a grin, Numair joined her. I myself even joined in on the giggle fit that seemed to have overcome our party.
We made several stops to "express our opinions" marking each spot with dung and urine for the foolish hunter to clean up. At the last two stops Cloud and the horses also left "gifts".
"That should really confuse him," Ma told Numair and me, "He'll never figure out how horses came to mark a wolf scent post."
The wolves followed a lesser trail that lead from the main one that lead to a cuplike valley set deep into the mountains. The valley was hidden by tangles of rock, and the woods opened to a clearing around a pond. Large, flattened areas in the brush that were wolf beds, and crossing and recrossing trails were at the water's edge.
From a bunch of reeds came a challenge-bark, quickly followed by five half-grown wolves tumbling out.. They still had what was left of their baby fur, and their colors ranged from brown to frosted gray, I could see they were still working on trading their milk teeth for meat teeth though. They whined and growled nervously, as they eyed us, until the pack surrounded them, taking them from our view.
"He's Longwind, he was baby-sitting" Ma explained to Numair and me, as a gray, brown, and black full-grown male wolf pranced over to greet us. "Say hello to my friends. Cloud you know," she told the wolf. Ma walked toward the pack as Longwind did as she had ordered, but the pups backed away the second they saw her.
I knew bringing strangers was a mistake, Frostfur said with grim satisfaction, so that even I could hear her. Brokefang nuzzled his mate, trying to sweeten her temper.
I watched as Fleetfoot scooted one of the male pups forward, sticking her nose under his belly to move him. Russet did likewise, gripping a female pup and dragging her to my ma by the scruff of her neck.
Still clumsy on her feet, the female was the first to walk forward to sniff Ma's palm. The pup wagged her tail, and her brother came over, the other three pups following suit, timid and whining.
Ma introduced them to Numair and me, but when the introductions were made, I found that the pups would accept Numair, Cloud, and the horses, but not me. Nothing could change their minds on that aspect, when I even came near them, they would run, and hide behind the adult wolves. I finally gave up, and sulkily waddled over to the pond, my scales a tristful gray. I pretended to ignore everyone, playing with the stones at the water's edge.
Dimly, I heard my mother say to a wolf (I don't know which), "She's no more than a pup herself. I can't even talk to her as I could to her ma. She looks big, but as dragons go she's a baby."
All of a sudden, Russet trotted over to me and began to paw at my rocks, so I began to play with him, the fun taking my mind off the pup's fear of me. As we played my scales once again became they're standard gold-tinged blue.
Ma decided to play too, but not with me, she was playing with a pup she called "Silly", wrestling with him over a stick. She stopped in her playing however when Brokefang came up to her, and must have asked her to guard the pups for the next thing Ma said was, "We'll be honored to guard your pups."
After Ma had told them that the pack left, including Russet to my disappointment. Ma and Numair went about their business, Ma grooming the horses, while Numair cooked, while I tried to get handouts from Numair. But while I enjoyed the smell of frying bacon, so did the pups. Fortunately, their curiosity for the new scent was greater than their fear of me, and it seemed that as long as I was on the other side of the fire from them, they were happy. When the first pan of bacon was finally done, I was, for once, grateful for the pups; the pleading of their five brown eyes combined with my slit-pupiled ones caused Numair to hand over the contents of the bacon-filled dish.
(Umm…people I have a problem here…you see, Kit isn't mentioned in this part, the book quotes "After Numair, the pups, and the horses went to bed, Daine lay awake, listening to the chatter of owls and bats." Giving no mention of Kit's occupation until the morning after, so I'm just going to say that she fell asleep too, all right?)
Finally, feeling drowsy, and noticing that everyone else was bedding down, I curled up at my ma's side noticing hazily that Ma wasn't sleeping I drifted off to sleep…
I woke to find Numair crouching over the pond and was immediately angry, believing that he was playing with my rocks! But, when I went over to scold him with my intense vocabulary of squeaks, whistles and trills, I noticed he was not playing with my rocks, but doing something far different…Dotted with white sparks, faint black fire was streaming from his fingers, forming a circle on the lake's surface. I watched with interest, that was, until he sighed, seemingly making the fire vanish before my eyes.
I wondered what he had been doing, but my question was quickly answered as Ma wanted to know the same thing, and, unlike me, could voice her questions in a way that Numair could understand. "What was that?" she wanted to know, even as she was dressing under her blanket's cover.
He responded glumly, grimacing slightly as he got to his feet, "There's an occult net over the valley. It's subtle—I doubt many would even sense it—and it serves to detect the use of magic. It also would block all messages I might send to the king. To anyone for that matter. And since this city is hidden beneath the aura cast by the City of the Gods, no one outside can even tell the net is here."
"Wonderful," Ma said dryly, "so Dunlath is a secret within a secret."
"Precisely," Numair said, beaming at her, "I couldn't have said it better."
"And this net—will it pick up any magic?" Ma said, I could tell she was worried about usage of her own magic—what if they found a wounded animal along their way? "Will them that set it know you looked at it?"
"No. A scrying spell is passive, not active. It shows what exists without influencing it."
"What's here that so important?" Ma wanted to know, "Stormwing patrols, two forts, a magical net—what has Fief Dunlath got that needs so much protecting?"
"We need to find out," Numair agreed, "As soon as you've had breakfast, I think we should see the northern part of the valley."
Ma must have been eager to get going, for she ate quickly as Numair saddled Cloud and Spots, and set the camp in order. Ma then convinced Mangle to stay with the pack after she convinced him—and them—that he would be left alone. Ma offered to bring me along with them in the sling, but after listening to the one-sided conversation she had had with Mangle, all it took was a glance at the sling, and at the still-skittish Mangle to make up her mind to stay with him. I shook my head and trotted over to Mangle, showing Ma that I would like to stay to comfort the nervous packhorse. When I seated myself at Mangle's feet, I could feel him relax, he knew me and knew that I would not let the wolves hurt him while Ma was gone. Ma relaxed too, knowing that I could very well defend myself, and seated herself atop Cloud. I watched them walk away, Shortsnout, Brokefang, and Fleetfoot in the lead, with Numair and Ma following behind. That was the last thing I saw as I fell asleep, comfortable on the sturdy packhorse's back.
The next thing I knew, I was awoken by the sound of everyone except Ma returning to camp, when I whistled an inquiry to Numair about Ma's absence, he gave me an understanding smile and told me she was hunting. I gave a trill to let him know I understood, and went to go play with my rocks.
When Ma got back, it was nearly back, but I didn't mind, she had been in luck and had found two plump rabbits for dinner. The pack had left to find their own dinner, leaving the pups in Russet and Numair's care. Once Ma appeared russet got up and left to do his own hunting, I was sad to see him go—he was always so nice to me! Numair had already started a pot of rice—a food that I did not care for being what Ma called a meat-eater—and smiled when he saw Ma. Ma said nothing as she had cleaned, spitted, and started cooking the rabbits, oiled the rough patches on my hide (a procedure I rather liked), groomed Cloud and the horses, and wrestled with the pups. All the while Numair wandered to the other side of the pond, stretching out on the ground, and lying, looking at the overhead trees there.
Soon Russet came back, grinning happily, a handful of bright feathers in his fur. I guess pheasants don't have very good eyesight, I pondered. Ma pulled the brightly colored feathers out of his fur as he panted happily. When Ma was finished he licked her face in gratitude and trotted over to greet me.
I faintly heard my ma ask Brokefang to help her with the badger's assignment, as I played with Russet.
Soon though Russet was tired and went to go take a nap under a nearby tree, so I went to go watch Ma. When she came back to "the rest of the world " as Numair phrased it, she stretched and told me, "At least I see colors, that's something."
I trilled in agreement, though not exactly sure what she was talking about.
The pack returned, their hunger satiated from their hunt, as we were just banking our fire. They must have fed on a careless sheep for I heard Ma tell them of what harm that could cause them. They seemed to have tried to assure her, but only seemed to make her worrying worse. With a frown still on her face, Ma went to bed, and I curled up on her side and slept.
In the morning, Ma, Numair, and me, left the wolves behind, to ride into Fief Dunlath. We reached the village at noon, entering the stable yard of the town's small and tidy inn. Ma took the pack in which I was hidden, and slung it over her shoulder, following Numair inside, as the hostlers took their mounts from them. We stood in the common room, blinking as our eyes adjusted from the bright light outside to the dark common room, as someone in the back yelled, "Master Parlan, we've guests!" quickly followed by the inn keeper coming out, and bowing to Numair.
"Good day to ye, sir. Ye require service?" he asked, his brisk, mountain accent obvious.
"Yes," Numair said, "I'd like adjoining rooms for my student and me."
And me! I mentally said, indignantly.
"Forgive me, mistress. I dinna see ye." He apologized, bowing to Ma. Then looking her over he said, "Ye said—adjoining rooms, sir?"
"Yes, if there's a connecting door it must be locked." Numair replied.
The innkeeper bowed, his eyes on Ma. "Forgive me, sir—locked?" he said.
Numair looked down his nose at the man, as Ma blushed. "People have sordid minds, Master Parlan." It did not matter that his clothes were travel-worn, he spoke like a person used to servants obeying his orders. "I would like my student to be spared idle gossip, if you please."
Parlan bowed low, and informed us that they had two very nice rooms overlooking the kitchen garden that were very quiet (whatever that meant), and that there wasn't much excitement in these parts.
"Excellent," Numair said upon hearing the news, "We'll take hot baths, as soon as you are able to manage please. And lunch, I think, after the baths." A gold coin appearing in Numair's hand, only to disappear in Parlan's.
"Very good, sir. Follow me." He said, as he led the way upstairs.
I began to get impatient, it was hot in this bag, and I wanted out…Badly. So I chirped and wiggled around a little bit to show Ma my impatience, only to be hushed as she said, "Hush, I'll let you out in a moment."
Parlan opened the door, and we walked inside—well, they walked, I was carried. Ma let me out and I began observing my surroundings, the room was small and neat, and the bath clearly satisfied Ma, but when the maid came with lunch, it was back in the bag with me—I would get the leftovers later. After lunch Ma decided to have a nap and I decided to take another look at the adjoining door to Numair's room.
I began to scratch at the lock, apparently waking Ma with my lock picking, because she said, "Leave it be, Kit. You've seen locks back home." But I ignored her, some primal instinct telling me what to do. Sitting back on my haunches, and stretching so that my eyes were level with the keyhole, I gave a soft trill. The door swung open, surprising Numair on the other side of the door, wearing a clean shirt and breeches holding a sheet of paper.
Frowning he asked, "Did I know she could do that?"
Though the question sounded to be directed at himself, Ma replied, "No more than I did."
Though Numair glared at me, I continued my inspection of his room, I had already become bored of Ma and mine's, and was curious to see if his had anything more entertaining—it usually did. "That door was locked for a reason," he told me sternly, but I once again, ignored him, and continued snooping trough his bed. Turning to Ma he added, "I do need to speak with you. We've been invited tonight to dine at the castle." I perked up at the hearing of two words: dine, and castle. Eating was my favorite thing to do, besides annoying Numair and playing with my rocks. And castles were always fun to explore!
"Why?" Ma implored.
"It's typical of nobles who live out of the way. A newcomer is worth some attention—its how they get news. I don't suppose you packed a dress."
Ma and Numair left to find the village's seamstress, and when they came back, Ma was not happy. Numair was forcing her to wear a pink dress. I shuddered, thanking all the gods that I did not have to wear dresses. Ma shoved me back into my bag as a maid came in to do up her stubborn curls, only to disappoint me further when the maid had left, by informing me that I would most certainly not be allowed to attend the dinner that night. Upon that news I promptly turned the gray color they knew meant I was sulking, and hid under the bed. I heard them leave just as I drifted off to sleep…
Okay people, I've been thinking I should change the name of the story, so here are the options I have so far (I know, not very many…but that's why I have the "other" option up!):
A: from a dragon's eyes
B: the POV of our favorite dragonet
C: other (with this one please leave a name suggestion)
Okay then, thank you, now I need to tell you yet another reason why I am not updating fast, because I am not getting reviews! What's my motivation? Now please tell me my motivation by clicking on that little purpleish-blue box! For the less intelligent…REVIEW!!…Thank you…