Spending the night with a pack of giant wolves who only hours ago were moments away from killing him is by far the oddest and scariest moment in Matthew's life. With neither the pack leader nor Arthur in any shape to move, the group had no choice but to set up camp there and then at the bottom of the slope the wolves rolled down when fighting.
The camp fire was small, just enough to provide some much needed heat against the fast approaching night. Sitting by the fire, he watched as Al fussed over Arthur — the white wolf's fur stained deep red all across his body — while Gil moved to kneel with him at the fire. Despite Alfred's assurance that the pack won't attack them again, both Matt and Gilbert remained rightfully wary.
As Gil pokes at the small fire-pit, Matt catches a glimpse of his sword as he keeps it drawn and resting on the ground beside him, and a rustling in the branches over head reminds him that Gilbrid is keeping watch from a perch above.
But while their group stayed close to the flames, the pack were more distant, large eyes glaring out from the edges of the light as they guard their injured leader. The distrust from both sides was clear, and Matt sighed as he settled in for what he knew would be a sleepless nights rest. He had offered what little healing magic he knew to help Arthur — one of the few magics he's admitted not greatly skilled at — but Al had sleepily assured him that Arthur would be fine as he lay down next to the belly of the now slumbering beast, and Matt wondered at how his twin wasn't the least bit afraid of the large paw that moved to drape over him.
Come morning Matt sighs at the bleak light trying to break through the dark trees blocking out the sky above. Finding the fire now dead, he stands and stretches, thankful for the few precious hours of half dozing he got in, while he finds Gilbert already alert and leaning up against a near by tree, watching over the twins as he eyes the wolf pack near by, his sword stabbed into the soil at his side just in case. Looking up at a rustling, Matt can just about see Gilbrid hopping between branches restlessly, before he decides to brave approaching Alfred still sleeping pressed up against Arthur's belly.
"Al?" He asks quietly, not wanting to disturb his very dangerous bedmate, crawling as close as he dares to get. When he get's no response he tries again a bit louder. "Al wake up."
"Mmrggghh." His twin groans, and Matthew almost chuckles at how this reminds him off all the times as kids he'd have to wake Al up before he'd be late for training.
"Come on Al, it's time to get going."
Blinking slowly at the world around him, Alfred realises he's faced with a wall of white fur as he slides back from Arthur, turning to squint over his shoulder at his brother. "Mattie?"
"Morning sleepyhead." Matt can't help the tease slipping out before he shuffles back and stands, turning to grab his bag.
Finally awake enough to remember what's going on, Alfred rolls himself out from under Arthur, the movement enough to finally wake the wolf who blinks over at the pair curiously.
"Hey Artie, how you feeling?" Al asks as he stands, dusting some dirt from his tunic.
Matt stands quietly to the side as he watches his brother smile and sigh.
"That's good." He says as the wolf stands, and Matthew inwardly shrinks away. Despite how long they've been traveling together, he doesn't think he'll ever get used to just how big Arthur is. He's nearly as big as a horse, and, looking over to the rising forms of the pack, Matt is suddenly reminded that Al's wolf is actually kinda small.
Alfred suddenly looks over as one of the pack approach, eyes glinting and a deep growl rumbling from its throat. While Matt steps back cautiously, he sees that Alfred doesn't seem the least bit worried as he listens to the voices only he can hear.
"Really? Alright then." He shrugs, turning to Matt and Gil he grins, "Their ready to show us the way."
Nodding Gilbert finally pushes himself up off of the tree, seamlessly tugging his sword from the ground as Gilbrid flies down to land on his shoulder, he moves to stand beside Alfred.
"Good, the sooner we get out of these woods the better."
Looking over, Matt watches as the pack is already on the move, spreading out into the woods before them. The one that spoke to Al suddenly turns and runs off, leaving only the slowly healing leader and another shorter wolf by his side to wait for the group to follow. Curiously, he sees the small one rub her muzzle against the leaders neck before slowly moving off.
"We can keep up." Al suddenly says, before grinning to Matt and Gil, "These guys move fast, so we need to stay close if we don't want to be left behind."
Alfred huffed as he leaped over another large log, his bag slung over his shoulder bouncing against his back as he hurries to keep the pack leader in sight as he jogs through the woods. He knows from Arthur that the wolves would be fast, but he's pretty sure these guys are purposely making it hard to keep up with them.
On the plus side, having a pack of wolves as their guides is also keeping the smaller creatures from trying to pick them off. And, Alfred was quickly finding it easier to under stand each of the pack members more and more as he listened in to their talk.
Keeping pace at the leaders side, Alfred, not one for liking awkward silences, decides to try to make small talk.
"So," he huffs, "you guys have the run of this place huh?"
Glancing to the knight, the leader glares, 'Hardly.'
"Really? Cause I thought wolves were like the top predators or something."
'True.' The leader says as he weaves his way through the trees, 'No natural creature would dare challenge us. Well,' he corrects, eyeing the blond, 'most wouldn't. But there is far more to these woods than you seem to understand.'
"Yeah, like what?"
Rather than answer he looks over his shoulder to eye Arthur easily keeping pace at Al's heels.
'Answer me this White One, why do you care for this Lower? He binds you, yet you'd offer your life for his, Why?'
Glaring right back Arthur huffs, 'Why do you care?'
'I'm curious.' The leader smirks, 'If I'd killed him, surely you'd have been freed. So why?'
Arthur growls lowly, 'I don't have to answer to you.'
'No.' The leader agrees, turning to look forward once more, but he seems set on getting under Arthur's skin, 'But your quite far from home aren't you? And so young, why come here?'
Stepping closer to Alfred, Al looks up to Arthur as he huffs, 'I go where Al goes, just as your pack goes where you lead.'
Though Alfred knows the leader is trying to annoy Arthur, he's also curious about it's last comment.
"Young?" He asks, looking between the pair. Now that he thinks about it, he doesn't actually know how old Arthur is.
'Oh?' The leader drawls mockingly, 'Don't you know? Your pet is hardly older than a pup.' He smirks as Arthur growls, eyes flicking over the faint blond markings on Arthur's shoulders, 'Judging by your coat I'd say you've not even seen fifteen winters.'
'Seventeen.' Arthur corrects dangerously, not that the leader is concerned.
Scoffing the leader turns away, but Al can still see the smirk on it's face.
'Ah yes, my mistake. I suppose the runt of the litter is always slow to develop.'
'Shut up!' Arthur snaps, and Al has to fight to keep Arthur from attacking the leader again.
'Very well.' It drawls.
They fall into silence once more for a time, before a howl not too far away sounds and the leader suddenly picks up the pace.
"Hey wait up!" Al cries as he breaks into a run just to try to keep up, but the leader ignores him.
Diving through low branches and over bushes he desperately tries to keep the wolf in sight, but the grey giant quickly becomes as smaller and smaller dot in the distance as the pack disappears from view.
Climbing up a gradual slope, the dense trees slowly give way to rocky terrain covered in moss and spiny, twisting bushes that threaten to scratch up his legs as Alfred finally stops running, doubling over as he tries to catch his breath.
Climbing up the rocks to stand beside Alfred, Arthur glares around, finding the pack completely absent.
"Great." Al huffs, "They ditched us." Looking back the way they came, Al knows Gil will have no trouble catching up, and sure enough only moments later his eagle flies over the tall trees to circle over head.
Despite the predicament, Arthur remains calm.
'No, they're not far. That howl was a call to hunt, that's why they ran.'
"Really? And you didn't think to tell me before hand?"
Smirking, Arthur nudges Al with his muzzle, 'The run is good for you.'
"Urgh, now you sound like Gil." Al frowns, slowly catching his breath.
Just as he speaks, the very man jogs through the trees behind, Matthew right at his side.
"What the hell kid?" He snaps, climbing up the rocks to smack Alfred up side the head, "What have I told you about charging off by yourself!"
Rubbing his sore head, Al shrinks back, suddenly feeling like a rookie trainee all over again being scolded for not following orders. Though this time he has a wolf who bares his teeth at the strike in warning.
"Sorry," Al says while also patting Arthur's leg to calm his friend, "but the pack all just started running and I didn't want to lose them."
Looking around at the lack of Grey Wolves Gil sighs, "Well fat load of good that did. Guess we'll have to carry on with out our 'guides'."
Turning to give his less athletic twin an apologetic look Al asks, "You good?"
"Yeah." Matt huffs, moving to slowly follow after Gil. "So what now?"
Before Al can answer Arthur speaks up, 'I can follow their scent, they haven't gone too far.' His nose twitches as he sniffs the air, frowning slightly. 'But the smells here are rather unfamiliar, it's hard to tell if they've made a kill or given up on the hunt.'
At the mention of a kill, Alfred feels a pang of hunger through their bond and gives the wolf a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, we'll find something for you to eat soon. But until then, lead on."
Nodding Arthur moves forward, following his superior nose to track the missing pack.
Traversing the rocky area is easy for the snow wolf raised in such harsh terrain and whose large size makes the sudden juts and rises of the ground simple to hop over, but for the three humans it's a much different story. While Arthur easily leaps up to the next raised area, the others must carefully pick routes around the taller rocks or find handholds to scramble up.
Pausing to look back, Arthur patiently waits for the trio to reach the ledge at his feet before climbing the last of the hill, coming to stare out over the pitted land of cracked rocks, bushes and small trees. Looking around, they now stood even with the tree canopy of the surrounding forest, the bleak sun mostly hidden behind dark clouds casts long shadows over the flora.
But what catches Arthur's attention is the pack, each member standing upon a raised point, the leader glaring out across the rocks as he watches the group finally catch up.
As soon as the trio reach the top, Gil instantly senses something is up, his hand flying to his sword as he positions himself between the distant pack and Matthew behind him. Al can also tell something is up as he moves to stand beside Arthur.
"What's going on?"
'You.' The leader growls, his pack baring their teeth in combined threat, 'Did you really think I'd be so willing to bend to a pathetic Lower like you?' His growl deepening as he looks to Arthur, sneering at the Snow Wolf, 'You have allowed yourself to be tamed! You've forgotten who you really are! We wolves do not bow.' he snarls, stomping his front paws out in righteous anger, then smirks, 'You should have killed me when you had the chance runt.'
"Wait-" Al cries, but he can't stop the pack this time.
Raising his head to the sky, the leader howls, a loud and ethereal sound that sends a shiver down Al's spine. It's just like when Arthur creates a blizzard, he can see the leaders brown eyes glow, but it's not just him, for a second later each one of his pack joins in, their calls combining together as their eyes all shine.
"Ahh!" Jumping back, Al winces as he feels a thorn scratch his right ankle, and, looking down his eyes widen as he sees the spiny branches of the bushes around them moving and reaching out to grab onto them.
"Oh shit! They're controlling the plants!" He cries, struggling to pull his arm free of a vine that shots out of a crack in the ground to grab him.
As the howl ends the group all struggle to fend off the growing vines and branches that latch onto their arms and legs. Gil and Al swing their swords to slice through the plants, while Arthur uses his size and power to bite through or simply rip his legs free of the restraints. Matthew on the other hand, uses his dagger to cut away the vines while also casting a protection spell to bounce the vines off of him and prevent himself from being trapped.
But, as they soon find out, the vines are the least of their problems.
Their howl ended, the pack turns, hurriedly running away rather than attacking as they bolt down the steep rock face behind them and head for the safety of the forest below. Preoccupied trying to fend off the vines, none of the group have time to question the packs strange behaviour as the ground beneath their feet begins to shake.
"What the hell?" Gil frowns as he fights to keep his balance and slice away a thorny branch nipping at his legs.
Earthquakes are extremely rare, and he's never felt one this strong in all his life. The ground isn't just shaking, it's rumbling as chunks of rocks break apart and tumble down into the trees all around them.
"Whoa!" Alfred cries as he stumbles, feeling like the ground is shifting beneath him.
Having managed to cast his crude spell, Matt looks all around as he watches the ground shake, the vines harmlessly being repelled whenever they touch him. Suddenly the ground lurches to the side and he's almost sent tumbling head over heels as he realises what's happening.
"Oh Gods, we need to run!" He shouts, grabbing Al's arm and desperately tugging him towards the new slope leading down to the trees.
But before he can explain any further, part of the jutting rock side breaks away to slam into the trees in front of them; an arm the size of a small castle flattening the forest in an instant.
Eyes widening at the sight, Al's mouth gapes, "This thing's alive?!" But he doesn't have time to stand and stare. Thinking fast, he calls out, "Artie, grab Matt, we need to jump!"
Not questioning the knights judgment, Arthur skids forward as the ground rises at an alarming angle an bites down on the back of the blonds tunic, easily lifting him up into the air.
Both their training kicking in, Gil and Al drop into a crouch, their dominant hand out behind them to steady them as they slide down the too steep ground, heading for the sharp, rocky, shifting land, they time their jump just right. As the once flat ground becomes a sheer drop, Al grabs for a skinny tree now at a right angle to the ground and uses it to swing over and down to the broken boulders below, while Gil angles himself to a deep rut in the shifting wall, kicking his leg out to slide then jump to a moving line of rocks running towards the ground.
With Matt securely held in his jaws, Arthur easily makes the biggest leap before the others do, jumping between the moving sections of rock, he carries the twin down to the broken boulders, Alfred landing to his right and rolling down to heavily land in the soft dirt just as few seconds later.
But the group have no time to pause as the rock limb begins sliding through the forest, a wall of uprooted trees, soil and rock hurtling toward them.
"Run!" Gil shouts as he smoothly tucks and rolls from the rocks, springing straight back up to start running away from the fast approaching land mass.
Alfred scrambles to his feet from his side as Arthur continues to carry Matt.
But the rock arm suddenly bends, like an elbow, creating a V shaped funnel blocking all routes out, the creatures large body looming over them.
Halting in their tracks, they look back, and that's when they see it.
Towering over them, the vines from before rapidly growing out and rippling across it's back, a beast of rock the size of a mountain stares down at them as jaws of yellow rock open towards them.
With no where left to run and faced with jaws of death or a moving landslide, they're trapped.
Authors notes: *Rises out of the ashes* I LIVE!
Hello yes, I'm back! Geez I am so sorry for that unexpected hiatus, but let me tell you it has been one wild ride for me. Between the last update and now I sprained both my wrists (the right one one week, then the left right after the first was getting better) so I couldn't write for like 2 weeks, then I got a terrible flu, the kind you think your dying from, then I got distracted by an event as I tried to get back into writing and work on some one-shots, then I got a job, quit the job, got distracted by another event, then felt really bad that this story had been left for so long, so here we are!
And after all that I leave you with another cliffhanger, cause that's how I roll. On the plus side part of the next chapter is already written so updates should now return to something of a regular schedule. Hopefully.
R & R people.
Until next time, stay awesome!