Gemralts: Hey everyone! *silence* Sorry for the very, very, very long wait. Don't you just hate when life gets in the way?
Vladimier Norton: I know what you mean.
Gemralts: Vladimier here submitted two OC's to my story. They are Malik and Sasha. Malik only gets a brief cameo in this chapter, but he will get more in the next one. In other news, happy 20k words! Not only is this chapter 10, but we have reached exactly 20,000 words! This chapter is made out of 2,000 words of content, which will be the new length standard.
Prim: *Reading chapter* Don't you think the technology is a little advanced for this era?
Gemralts: Maybe? Anyway, next chapter, we will be exploring Holo's and Snow's backstory. Yes, they have a past together. Lastly, I have a new twitter account for fanfiction!
Primrose: You can see him procrastinate in real time! The link is in the chapter progress section of his profile, at the bottom.
Ch. 10: Invasion
"I disapprove of this device," I complain. Both Lawrence and I are instructed to stay in the back lines and shoot using a modified gun with the capability to shoot at the guards on the wall while staying just out of their range. "It gives us a distinct advantage."
"Whatever it takes to beat the enemy," responds the commander.
They could use these to hunt wolves. We would not stand a chance, I think.
Don't underestimate our kind, Holo. We are much more clever than their fancy toys.
Attacking from a distance is not fair at all, though. We are even disguised so that we don't attract anymore attention. I would like to be in the front lines, like you.
You are fighting, just in your own way. Don't think too much of it, Holo.
"Holo? Are you with us." Lawrence is waving his hand in front of my face.
Emerging from my mind, I start practicing how to shoot before they start to attack. I get every target within the range of the weapon.
Lawrence is having more problems than I. "I can't see the targets clearly," he complains.
I instruct, "Use your enhanced wolf vision, fool. You gained more than just furry ears and a tail. You are not able to see the target, because you think like a naive human. Look at it not like a goal, but as if it was prey. Tap into your instincts."
Lawrence tries again, using my advice. He is able to control himself enough to shoot the target, multiple times.
After a few more tries to get him to shoot better, Lawrence is able to shoot reasonably well. When I am confident he will be able to handle a battle, I order for the horn to sound.
While the infantry is fighting the suicidal interception forces, my mate and I must incapacitate the archers on the wall. I easily take out a few before they get a chance to shoot. Lawrence starts to shoot badly, again. He won't accept that he will not be human ever again.
"Trust your instincts," I instruct, "You are not a human, Lawrence." Still, his accuracy worsens. I will try again, later, I think.
Let him go at his own pace. You should stop trying to change him. This might be the last time you are able to see the old Lawrence. Y'know, the one you fell in love with?
I ignore Prim's advice and Lawrence for the moment and go back to shooting. One by one, the soldiers die before they can even apprehend what has happened to them. This stirs unrest in their comrades, further helping our side. However, their superiors keep putting up fresh reinforcements to shoot arrows at us; they know the severity of their situation.
By the time our warriors get to the foot of the wall, there are not enough defenders to prevent them from scaling the wall and raising the gates.
Using my wolven speed, I run to the army in little time. Lawrence is laggard due to his overwhelming human attributes.
I see Prim running towards me from across the gate, without Verrater. "Prim, where is Verrater? He was to stay close to you, was he not?"
"He just disappeared. When we were about to go inside of the city, he said he had to do something and just left. He doesn't seem to be like the guy to desert. No use in looking for him now, though."
When Lawrence catches up with us, he wheezes, "I am not a soldier, I'm a trader."
Within its walls, I can truly see the city for the first time. Like most I have seen, it is made up of small buildings with occasional bigger ones dominated by a overbearing church atop a hill. The streets were made haphazardly with many sharp turns and irregular intersections.
I can see a citadel on the far side of the city with soldiers pouring out to defend their home, even though, before, they were willing to take ours.
Our group goes down the street that seems to be the fastest route. We come up to a turn, then a fork, and another. Ahead of me, there is a dead end.
Leaning on the wall, I say, "We must turn around." I am surprised to see that I am the only one there.
Prim... where is everyone?
I think we got separated in the maze of this city. If we all just find our way to the citadel, I'm sure we will find each other, right Holo? Holo?
Catch me! I'm falling!, I think, flailing my arms.
Holo, I can't touch you; I'm nowhere near you. I can do something else, though. Another force takes over my body and brings out my arms behind me and makes me do a flip to land on my feet.
Thank you, Prim. "Who are you?" I say at the cloaked person who seems to have retracted the door. In response, he motions for me to follow.
Carefully, I go down flights of stairs, around traps, and through secret passageways. I am taken into what seems to be a conference room. "Sit down, wolf," he says with a tone of dulled malice. Despite his somewhat short stature, he commands a feeling of control. He takes off his cloak. He has tanned skin. His eyes are black, as well as his hair. He wears a short rounded cap, a Muslim prayer cap. His clothes discomfort me, enhanced by his mysterious demeanor. He wears a cloth shirt, along with a wolf skin vest and pants. His jacket is made of wolf fur.
"I am-"
"I know who you are, Holo the wolf of Yoitsu. I am Malik Lone. This is the resistance," he says, referring to the complex. "We fight against discrimination by the Church. We also help those that otherwise cannot get help. We know what you are doing right now. We know all about the invasion. I want to know how you, a myth, got into the picture."
His way of talking reminds me of a wolf. "We were traveling north when we were caught in the Empire's offensive and decided to help their cause."
"Yes, but you are a myth."
"No, Yoitsu is a town and there are more of us. Not just wolf deities like me, Lawrence, Prim, and Verrater."
"Who are these people you are speaking of?"
"I thought you have caught them as well. They are other deities like myself that have joined the war. Lawrence is my mate."
"By mate, you mean husband?"
"Yes."
"Such weird people, you are," he almost insults. Malik is treading on thin ice.
"Young one, you are very disrespectful to your elder. This is frowned upon in your society, is it not."
"I have no need to show respect to a wolf."
"You are lucky that we are on the same side. After all, you do look very appetizing," I observe, licking my lips.
He says calmly, "I am not here to fight you. We are offering our support in manpower and our spy network inside the church. Do you want our help or not?"
"Fine."
That was very weird. What do you think of the situation, Prim. My subconscious is not responding, which is very disturbing. Prim? Are you okay? Where are you? There is just silence. I wonder why she is not responding. Even if she is knocked out, she would still be in my head. If her body was killed, she would just return back to my mind...
~POV-Lawrence~
"Where am I?" I ask. There is a bag over my head. It seems that I am being tied to a chair. Before this, I was knocked out by an unknown assailant.
When my sight is returned, I see a man that is certainly mad. He is unshaven and is attired with clothe-like rags.
"I am your servant, Master Snow," the haggard says, "I will free you from this inferior mind."
"Get me out of here you mad-man!" I command. I doubt this would persuade him to release me, though.
Like before, this person ignores me and starts a ritual of some kind. He puts various charms on me. Then, he lights three sticks of incense.
In a bowl, there is what I think is apple juice, probably made from green apples. As expected, he tries to force me to drink it. At first, I am able to resist. I keep my mouth closed and spit out anything he able to get in. He takes out a device and forcefully inserts it into my mouth, keeping it open. Pouring the juice down my throat, this person has won.
~S&W~
I wake up as if that happened just a moment ago. All I see is darkness. Pure black. I would try to put my hands in front of my eyes, but I cannot control my body or even feel that they exist. All of my senses have disappeared. It is like I have no body at all. I try to yell, but I have forgotten how to. The only thing I can do is think.
The most likely explanation is that Snow has taken over my body. Because of that ritual the person did, I probably was transported to this place instead of being blatantly unconscious. This must be where Snow was trapped. He was somehow able to influence people outside of this realm. If I can figure out how to do that, I could get help. Maybe if I will it...
Slowly, an image is conjured in mind. I assume this is what Snow is seeing. He is with Holo and Verrater at the citadel, on the far side of the city. There is another man, wearing clothes made out of wolves. Holo's sister is not with them. Holo does not suspect anything as they fight through the halls of the fortress. It seems as if Snow is using a different approach than before. I wish I could warn them, but this is the best I can manage.
Suddenly, I hear a voice. "Lawrence, is that you?" The speaker sounds familiar, someone I have met recently. I wish I could respond, but I cannot talk.
If only she could hear me, she may be able to help.
"Lawrence, I hear you perfectly. Just think it and I will hear."
This startles me. I try it out. Who is this and can you hear me?
"Loud and clear. It me, Prim, Holo's sister."
Prim? How did you contact me? Where am I? How do I get out?
"Lawrence, calm down. All your questions will be answered soon. You are inside a realm between the living and the dead. I can't get you out from here. Right now, this is the best I can do."
My eyesight returns to me. I see that I am standing in an area of light. A few yards out, the darkness reappears. In front of me is Prim.
"This should make it a little more comfortable for you while I try to free you from this place. Try not to step out of this sanctuary; I doubt you would be able to find a way back when you are disembodied, again. Just wait here. I may take a while, but just be patient."
Prim fades away, leaving me to think about the recent events. I have learned that Prim has some kind of ability to access and manipulate this 'gray zone' between life and death. She also knows that Snow is in control of my body when nobody else does. This girl keeps surprising me with every new revaluation. She is somehow smarter than Holo, and I am beginning to question whether she is really Holo's little sister.
Gemralts: That's it folks! Remember to r-
Vladimier Norton: Remember to review!
Gemralts: Don't steal my line! *Throws pie*
Vladimier Norton: *Retaliates*