Hi readers,
So sorry it has been a while! I've been pretty busy and hadn't had time to sit down and do much writing. Anyway, here is the next chapter! I don't own Narnia or any Narnian characters, just my Oc's and this story plot.
Thanks!

Maugrim's Rancor: Chapter 4
An Orphan And His Dog

The gate proved to be a challenge Rancor was just not yet ready to face. After the beautiful white wolf had vanished behind them (and yes, Rancor was inclined to think her very beautiful) his resolve to approach the guards as boldly as she had slowly shrunk away.

He began to think he might have had more a chance of knowing what he was up against if he had just had brains enough to approach the white wolf and ask some questions before she was gone.

Shrinking away into the safety of the shadows, Rancor turned back into the dark alley way to continue his recon somewhere else. Maybe if he was lucky though, he would see the female wolf after her visit to the palace and stop her on her way out.

Rancor meandered about the city streets for quite a while after he'd left the gate, keeping to the unseen shadows and being careful not to be of any notice. It was during his prowl on the food market road that he realized just how hungry he was.

Bird meat along with several other kinds of things were hung, roasting at one particular booth for sale. The scent was just torturous! Rancor could feel his mouth begin to salivate. Wolves never carried money of course so he couldn't pay rightly for a slice of food. He tried desperately to lessen his wanting for the juicy meat but his stomach growled in protest. He couldn't snatch anything without breaking his cover! Then again...

The meat man unexpectedly turned and left his cart to go talk to one of the people at the booth across from him. This was Rancor's chance to grab something really small and get out of there!

Taking a swift look around and perceiving no one was watching, Rancor took the opportunity he had. He crawled under the booth and, once behind the display table, snatched a tiny slice of chicken in his jaws before turning to run. But right when he turned, he froze. A dirty street dog was right in his way! It was a rather large street dog, all brown, and female. She was cocking a discriminating brow at him, with slightly bared teeth.

"I saw that..." she growled. Rancor stared at her, having the strange impulse to tuck his tail between his legs just at the intense look she was giving him. Her eyes were piercing straight to his soul, causing him to begin feeling guilty and to despise himself for even daring to steal!

"I'm hungry," Rancor defended, "I haven't eaten in three days," he stated in a sharp growl between his teeth. The female didn't look convinced.

"You're a wolf aren't you?" she asked, suddenly beginning to pace around him, her nose sniffing his fur as she circled.
"What's it to you?" Rancor snapped back, his hackles rising threateningly. He wasn't going to let this street dog, however big she was, intimidate him.

"Just curious," she smiled a pretty smile. Rancor wasn't by any means charmed. She was dangerous and he had to get out of here NOW.

"Haven't you heard what curiosity does to cats?" he huffed, moving forward to slip past her. But she stopped right in front of him again, casting a demeaning glare on him.
"Get out of my way," Rancor growled lowly.

"Make me," she responded. Rancor spun his head around to look back over at the butcher who was now making his way back across the street.
"Seriously dog out of my way!" Rancor barked angrily.
"Put that slab of meat back where you found it and you don't have to worry about getting into trouble," she responded easily.

"I don't want to hurt you!" Rancor growled, getting desperate. The man was almost back! He had little time, if any, to escape! But the female street dog was not moving.
"You won't," the female responded confidently, causing's Rancor's blood to boil in frustration.

"What's this?" came the voice of the butcher and Rancor spun to spit the meat back out on the table and take off down the road. The street dog smiled after him and followed quickly as the butcher began shouting curses at the both of them.
"Get lost you street mutts!" he shouted, shaking a knife clutching fist at them as they scampered off down the dirt street.

...

Rancor ceased running only when he was certain that he was not being pursued. He'd ducked into another dark corner and stood panting when the street dog from earlier rounded the corner to stop beside him.

"What do you want!?" Rancor snapped, baring his teeth in spite at her. She'd cost him a delicious slice of meat and almost made him get caught! She shook off with a pant of her own then sighed.
"You did the right thing," she praised, "Come on," and she trotted briskly off.

Rancor watched her with a suspicious gaze, considering whether or not following her was such a wise idea. His sisters would be expecting him to meet back up with them shortly and he still hadn't heard anything about the Kings or Queens amidst the casual conversation in town. Still... she had something on her mind, and if Rancor was sure of one thing, it was to always obey a female. His mother and sisters had pounded that fact straight through his skull one too many a time. Sighing, he lowered his head and trotted after her.

The street dog led him through a series of back alleys until finally by a lone water fountain he saw a boy kicking rocks along the side of the road. His clothes were old and ugly, tattered and well worn. His face was covered in dirt and other smudges and he wore a small hat cap over his head.

He walked aimlessly back and forth with his hands buried into his pockets as he wandered back and forth. The street dog, lifted her head and barked a happy bark, her tail wagging back and forth and she loped over to the boy, running a tight circle around him affectionately. The boy smiled and rubbed her head, leaning down to his knees and saying softly,
"Hi girl! Where ya been?" he crooned, then he looked up and saw Rancor lingering in the shadows, "I see you brought a friend?"

"Hardly... " Rancor growled out, walking out of the darkness. He had already been seen, there was no point in hiding now. Besides, this boy looked harmless enough. Upon further examination of the street kid, he looked like he could be about 16.

"Caught him trying to steal from a meat stand. Apparently he hasn't eaten in a few days," the street dog informed, her tail still wagging happily.
"Oh, well here," the boy reached in a pouch and pulled out a nice slice of meat. Rancor smelled it instantly and again the saliva started dripping from his mouth. But he didn't approach to take it yet... this could be a trap.

"It's okay... I was saving it," the boy smiled, setting it on the edge of the water fountain for Rancor to take safely. Rancor hesitated but his stomach resumed its loud protests and he could ignore them no longer.

With hackles slightly raised, to warn any ideas of attack off, he paced forward to the fountain and lifted his front paws up onto the ledge, capturing the slice in his mouth and chewing it thankfully. The female dog was watching him with this smile on her face that said she knew something he didn't. What was with her?

Rancor finished swallowing and jumped down off the fountain ledge to face the dog and her orphan. He didn't feel comfortable enough to say thank you, considering if he had wanted that meat he could have just as easily taken it, but he nodded just the same.

"I haven't ever seen a wolf in town before," The boy stated, "What are you doing here?"
Rancor considered not answering and just walking off. He didn't have to tell this rugged pair anything. But... what if they could help him? Maybe give him information on where the Kings and Queens were and... perhaps some daily habits that he could more or less use to set up a trap?

"I'm here to bring honor to my name," Rancor answered truthfully. The boy laughed.
"That sounds tedious," he said. Rancor growled, taking insult.
"You think because I'm a wolf I cannot have honor?" Rancor barked.
"That's not what he said," the street dog barked back.

"Then what DID he say?" Rancor questioned.
"All I meant was... that honor is a hard and precious thing to earn, because true honor is very rare," the boy explained calmly.
"Well I'll earn mine, if it kills me," Rancor stated, with such fierce determination it made the boy shutter.

"How... how will you earn it?" the boy asked finally.
"By avenging my father's death," Rancor answered. He was tolerant to answer a few questions, but if they asked who his father was, he was leaving. Luckily, that was not what the boy wanted to know.

"So... by killing then? That's how you'll gain honor? That's how you'll appease your father's death? By more death?" the boy inquired. Something about this orphan's words struck an unnerving chord inside Rancor. Not only was this boy a little too wise for a random street kid, but he was also too smart...

"I didn't say anything about killing," Rancor retorted, looking suspiciously at the boy. Just because it was true, didn't mean it made any sense that this boy should have known anything about it.

"No, no..." the boy fumbled over his words, "No, you didn't.. but isn't that generally how you avenge someone's death?" he asked curiously. Rancor thought about it.

"I wouldn't assume that..." he answered finally looking away uncomfortably. He didn't like this conversation and he wanted to change the subject now.

"I have to go," he stated and turned to leave. But right when he turned to leave, a set of faun guards were walking into the alley, talking back and forth in conversation.

"Quick, follow us," the street dog grabbed hold of Rancor's tail to get his attention then, letting go, raced away with the boy. Rancor growled in irritation but followed. He had no choice!

The guards were right behind them and these two would know the city streets better than he did for a proper get away...

K, that's all I got for now! Sorry it was shorter than usual! Chapter five will be up soon!
Oh, and any comments would be nice!

-Stokin D Embers