A Dark Enemy Returns

Deep in the bowels of the jungle from the farthest eyes within one of the tallest mountains that overlooked the jungle. So tall that climbing it was a treacherous feat. It would take one who was skilled in climbing and strong enough to pull himself across the jagged rocks and the stoned edges. One slip of the foot or the loss of a grip and one would see themselves falling down to a treacherous end.

No one had dared such an adventure, not even the wolves. Every resource they ever needed was near the kingdom. The Patrols came close to the mountain, but nothing could be up upon it but eagles and falcons overlooking the massive landscape seeing the jungle and all its glory stretching as far as the eye could see.

The Sight was glorious to those that had such a privilege to gaze upon it. But that was of the extremely rare variety. To make such a climb no one ever tried but to those that did not have legs the ascent was more than simple enough. To move to the caves near the highest of peaks it offered shelter and a viewpoint to overlook out beyond the entry of the cave.

"You wretched abominations!" Cried a wolf within it as the pain he had been enduring for past hours were some of the worst he had ever been through. Not too long ago was he and his group of three wolves were on their daily patrol. King Rama had made it clear he did wish for the jungle again to be invaded in secret. His lack of action and enforcement had allowed his treacherous eldest sons to commit the worst crime in their kingdoms history. An exiled group had returned, and their secret refuge had allowed them to gain a foothold and dig a tunnel under the kingdoms walls to steal from within. Never again would the King allow his kingdom to be pillaged and looted in secret.

Not only did he order the ruins of the once human sanctuary to be turned into a fortress he had called for patrols across the jungles. The Borders were meant to be under control. Nothing but animals could come and go. Should anyone cross in the jungle of suspicious variety he was to be informed immediately.

Unfortunately for the patrol that had its rounds in the furthest of the mountainous regions they had kept a sharp eye out for anything. As their chosen route took them close to the base of the mountain they had stopped to take a rest while each one kept an eye out. Though a wolves eyes are sharp, and their hearing could nearly pick up the buzzing of a honey bee hive from hundreds of yards out what came out from the tree's as silent as a butterfly flapping around the patrol was seized within coils and fangs were introduced to the necks of two of them but the unlucky wolf who did hear the intruders from above him his fate had something worse in store for him.

For hours on end his captors demanded answers. How many patrols were there? What was the number of the population of the Wolf Kingdom? What resources did they have at their disposal? Though the Wolf tied to the floor wallowing as a fish stuck on land his fur across his body dripping with blood from cuts and tears. From spears to claws and knives they had stabbed, sliced, broken a few bones but the Wolf maintained his honor. He did not speak of any information of value trying the patience of his captors.

"May the Spirits return you to the abyss where your kind always belonged!" Spat the Wolf spitting a mix of saliva and blood at one of his tormentors. An Angry Hiss came from the one that had now been decrepitated and this offence was returned by a whipping strike from a long tail that hit the wolf hard enough the skin underneath his fur split and he howled in agony as it was too much to bear. He desperately tried to hang on but when he was coiled and dragged so far up the mountain and his patrol was so far from the ruins and they would be noticed until the day after was no chance of him being rescued. He knew death was coming for him.

"Seems our guest will not share anything. He has shamed our hospitality." A Thick and ancient voiced hissed disapprovingly as his presence was met with an immediate bow by his subordinates. He looked down at the helpless wolf who could show was last bit of defiance with a growl only amused the one who had personally captured him. How he longed to squeeze and break one of the first of the race that had all but destroyed his own many centuries ago. Too long have they been in exile. Too long have they lived in hiding with their numbers scattered and some of which had cast aside their old ways to settle in with those that were lower than himself.

His Ancestors had ruled the jungle. All races kneeled before them. They were above every living being. They had the power and influence to make all do their bidding. But when the wolves came so suddenly and due to the lack of insight of the incompetent leaders of that time blinded by ego and past victories they believed they had nothing to fear but the Wolves had proven very formidable and in the ensuing war had led to their defeat. The Empire they had reigned longer than the years at the time could be counted, and the wolves had begun their reign over the ruins of their own. It was time to return and take back what was rightfully theirs.

A Long-scaled muzzle brown above and yellow below it baring sharp venomous fangs baring a cold smile came to the wolf. He could sense the wolves defiance but deep within he could sense a touch of fear. The Longing to continue living. The Desire to still walk upon the earth and enjoy fruits of life that was all around him. How pathetic! Fear was the only thing any living creature could understand. Only one race was above all else. They did not know fear. They did not lower themselves to anyone. They were the rulers of all life. They bound nature to their will and when nature had taken its turn to remove them from their status they now had an obligation to return everything to its true order.

"Any last words, wolf?" The Scaled being that wore bloody feathers as necklace with a golden pendant around its scaly neck. Two massive arms with one holding a wooden staff with a coiled snake upon it. Two skulls made from the recently killed wolves wearing them upon his shoulders tied across his shoulders with a pelt made from one of his friends. Those were the first trophy's among the many that would soon come. He would wear them with pride. A Standing symbol of how the wolves that once defeated and made an eternal mockery upon their sacred history now were going to be exactly what they are along with the rest of those that only would live should they allow it and only to serve them either willingly or by other means.

The Wolf wheezed as his agony was on complete display now. He had used every amount of his strength to make his stand against the ones that took him and his two friends by surprise. He was repulsed and shocked to see their bodies become something so discreditable they were disallowed to even have their bodies buried with the honor they kept. He may not have such a burial either. His time was coming but he would at least make his last word final.

"You will lose. Long Live, King Rama! Long Live the Wolf Kingdom!" Shouted as loudly as the wolf could his voice echoing across the cave system letting those that dwelled within it to hear him, but his words were only idle to the one who then bitten the neck of the wolf and one last yelp from the piercing of two sharp fangs that bared a potent venom quickly ended the life of the wolf.

"Marvelous! The taste of wolf is exquisite!" The One who now finished the wolf for good hissed in delight licking the blood off his fangs with his long-forked tongue before returning them to his upper mouth. "See to it the body is taken care of. I shall need more trophy's and the Apothecaries will need the wolve for more of their potions and elixirs."

"At once, my lord!" One of the Tormentors bowed and seized the deceased wolf coiling the tip of its tail around the bound legs and dragged the murdered wolf into depths of the mountain where more of its race were preparing for the coming of a new age.

Satisfied by the taste of the wolf soldier the creature slithered towards the entrance to the cave seeing the sun was beginning to set in the distance. The Little bit of rays still left in the day shined upon the grim yellow slit eyes of the creature taking in the view seeing how the land has long changed since his peoples absence.

"Look upon the land, my brother!" Called the creature opening his arms out towards the jungle below that stretched out into the horizon with the sun going down slowly. "Our once proud Empire is out beneath us ready to be seized and the true masters of the jungle will soon return."

"Yes. This is all your doing, Lord Kaa." The Subordinate hissed in a beaming manner. He had not been born yet when the stories say how the Reptilians ruled this jungle with a iron fist. Their Coils had a tight grip upon the masses and for as long as those that lived throughout that age it was a golden time for their people until the wolves had come and destroyed it all.

Kaa only a short time out of his egg and lived as the shaman's apprentice at the time only had learned as much as he could when the wolves had come. Taking down his people in such brute force and without fear in their eyes with their blood thirsty howls and their swift attacks it was all, Kaa could do keeping out of sight when his master was murdered in front of him as he could only hide but soon after that he had fled with what was left of his people when the Wolfs had won the war and taken over.

Hissing with anger Kaa had never forgotten that day. He had sworn on the dead he will have vengeance. They all will have their retribution. He long since planned for this day. It took centuries of gathering his people. Reminding them of who they are. Giving them the promise of returning to where they always should be. All and any had crossed them would pay the heavy price they all had endured from the failure of those that came before them. They suffered for too long and now it was time to rise again.

"Take in the sight, brother. Soon it will all be ours once again!" Kaa cackled as his plans were only beginning. Already the first amount of blood of their enemies has been spilled. More will soon come.

"By your wisdom and your guidance, my Lord." Praised the Reptilian behind Kaa standing close with own wolf pet covering his red scaled shoulders.

Kaa turned towards him glancing proudly at him. "With your assistance, old friend the Reptilian's shall rise and forever more take our place in nature." He offered his hand, and the reptilian took hold of, Kaa's arm and they shook each other thankful for other being there. Though it was Kaa who had led those loyal the old ways back to their sacred grounds and his plans to take it back were the sole reason they were there, Kaa could not overlook that it was thanks to the first among those to follow him were the reason how he has gathered the bulk of his people back after being scattered for centuries and the ways of old lost among them.

The Two released each other as the sun outside had nearly disappeared and the cave started to dim to the point where normal eyes would not be able to see through the darkness but for, Reptilians the darkness was a great ally to them. Unfortunate for those in the past did not use it to their advantage when it was most needed.

"What is next, my Lord?" Asked Kaa's right hand Reptilian.

"We see to the message I received of those wanting vengeance upon our hated enemies. They are of lower life, but they may have a use for us." Answered Kaa as the darkness in the caves enveloped them both and all that could be heard was the soft hissing that came between the two of them and those deep within the caverns.

"Is it a wise course of action? You know of their despicable nature." Retorted the reptilian.

"Yes. They are as low as the rats that festered these caves but even rats have uses. They are many and have eyes and ears to see from the thinnest cracks and with a loss of one there are many to replace it. They might good for scouting and when I sound charge to bring down that wretched Wolf Kingdom they will be useful fodder." Kaa explained his lips licking in cruel fashion that could be barely seen.

"Excellent I stand by your decision, my lord." Agreed Kaa's old friend.

"Very good, Coatl. Send a messenger to their camp in the morning we shall meet their leader in neutral ground. From what I have been told their leader has kept a deep hatred for the wolves. She had too been exiled and shamed. I believe that loathing could be useful for the future. Though reigns may be in need to keep her in line should she agree to my terms. But we shall see, come tomorrow. Now let us rest and drink to the blood of our enemy. Our Return is nigh!" Kaa laughed maniacally as his plans were now set in motion and should he gain the hand of those that were calling for revenge due to an equal vendetta against the wolves his plans may come to fruition faster than even he would have hoped. The Time of the Wolves will soon be over, and the Reptilian's will rise once more and from the moment, Kaa would be standing upon the ruined palace with the wolf, King's head in his hands and snapping it in two and drinking the royal blood from within him he will seize his throne and make his own. His Ancestors once had failed. Kaa would allow failure at any point. They will take back the Jungle and have vengeance no matter how long it takes or what it could cost.