this!”
“Shadow that’s enough!” Saba yelled.
Shadow fell silent.
“I’ll not have you talking to me like that. I’m the alpha, and I’ll decide what’s best for the clan.”
She sighed.
“Shadow, go out and join your unit, take your guards with you. I’ll be down in a moment.”
Shadow shook his head.
“I’m not leaving until you do.”
Saba sighed again and looked at him.
“Shadow, take your guards and rejoin the battle… that’s an order.”
Shadow sighed and hesitated for a moment, then nodded once.
“…as you wish my alpha.”
He turned and walked out of the chamber.
Saba sighed.
“What’s up?” Everest asked as he walked into the chamber. “…what was that all about?”
“The cave is under attack.” Saba said. “I have to go.”
A voice from the shadows startled Saba and she turned to face it.
“…oh you’re not going anywhere.”
“Who are you, and what are you doing in my chambers?” Saba asked.
“heh-heh.” The voice laughed. “…well, you’re not going to like that answer much I’m afraid Saba…”
Saba growled.
The voice laughed again and a black wolf stepped from the shadows.
“My name is Lytion, and I am taking over your clan… you can either join me, or die, your choice.”
Saba laughed.
“Many have tried to destroy us Lytion, many have tried and many have failed… what makes you think you’ll be different?”
“…because you’ve always had a certain little angle that you don’t anymore.”
Lytion smiled. “We’ll see about that.” Saba said.
She closed her eyes.
“Aniu, I could really use your help.”
Saba felt a tingle that started at her nose and traveled down her back to the tip of her tail, filling her with strength. Aniu’s sweet voice echoed in Saba’s mind, all at once calming and soothing her.
“…I will do what I can for you my child…”
Saba’s eyes snapped open.
Aniu’s voice sounded strained and far away. She’d never heard the great wolf sound like that.
“…I wonder what that means?” Saba thought.
She turned to face the wolf.
All at once, Saba felt alone.
She took a step back.
“…Aniu?” Saba thought.
The sound that filled her mind then was enough to shatter the poor alpha’s determination and resolve.
Aniu’s soothing voice was stretched in a high pitched wail of pain and suffering.
Saba’s vision exploded into starbursts of bright color and she fell.
Everest knelt beside her
“…Saba?”
Saba opened her eyes and blinked a few times.
Lytion laughed.
“…feel abandoned by your precious leader little wolfie?”
“What’s wrong Saba?” Everest asked.
“It’s Aniu.” Saba said. “…she’s in pain.”
“…but how can that be?” Everest asked.
“I don’t know.” Saba said. “…but I heard her scream and now… she’s not connected to me anymore.”
Lytion began to circle her.
“So what’s it going to be Saba, do you cooperate with us or do we kill you.”
Saba struggled to her feet.
“I’ll never surrender this pack to you.”
Lytion nodded and smiled.
“Aniu does seem to inspire great devotion in her followers… the other four Clan’s made much the same decision… but we’re here now, so you can see how well that came out.”
Saba started to shake.
Lytion chuckled.
“Aww… is the little wolfie scared now? You’re not so tough without you all powerful wolf goddess on your side are you?”
Saba growled.
“…tough enough.” She said.
“We shall see.” Lytion said as an evil grin spread across his face. “…we shall see.”
Shadow dodged a paw that was meant for his face and hit his assailant in the stomach, knocking him to the ground.
He bent over and snapped his jaws around the wolf’s throat.
The wolf went still.
Shadow looked up and surveyed the battle. They were getting pushed back further and further into the main chamber. If they fell back any more they would be on the first step towards the Alpha’s chambers.
“We’re going to have to hold them here.” Shadow thought. “If we lose any more ground we’re going to lose this battle.”
He was a little worried, as Saba hadn’t shown up yet. He considered going up and checking on her…
…then he looked around the chamber. Many wolves lay dead or dying on the chamber floor, and most of them were members of his team. The losses thus far had been catastrophic.
“No,” Shadow thought. “I’ve got to stay here and lead the team, they need it…”
He looked over the chamber again.
“…they really need it.”
One of the black wolves charged at Shadow and jumped at him. Shadow tried to duck the attack, but he couldn’t get low enough and the wolf slammed into his shoulder, knocking him back another two feet. The wolf advanced as Shadow regained his footing.
The wolf growled and was soon joined by another.
Shadow leapt at them, rejoining the raging battle.
Everest picked himself up off the floor of the chamber and shook his head, trying his best to clear it.
Lytion smiled and laughed. “I must admit I admire your dedication.” He said.
Everest took a deep breath and looked across the chamber at the fallen form of Saba.
He didn’t know if she was still alive or not.
He closed his eyes and took another deep breath. “It doesn’t matter right now.” He thought. “Whether she is or not I’ve got to survive this battle first… I’ve got to concentrate…”
…but try as he might Everest could not get the thought out of his head.
Suddenly, anger consumed him, anger at this wolf who had invaded his home, attacked his family and possibly killed his mate.
He growled and leapt at Lytion.
Lytion ducked and time seemed to slow as Everest realized his attack was too high.
Lytion twisted as he ducked and sprang upward in an impossibly fast motion.
Everest felt a sharp pain in his neck, and then time resumed its normal pace. He put out his legs to lack from his jump, but as his paws touched the ground his legs folded beneath him and he slammed to the ground. The momentum he had gained from his leap caused him to roll, and he slammed into the wall of the chamber.
He didn’t move.
Lytion turned and smiled as he saw Saba struggling to regain her footing. Red blood coated his muzzle and dripped to the floor.
He stepped back as Saba walked past him, as if blind to his presence, only to stumble and fall five feet from Everest’s side.
She crawled the remaining distance and then her strength gave out on her and she dropped to the ground.
Everest opened his eyes and blinked a few times. His vision was blurry and the room seemed to be spinning. Surprisingly there was very little pain, only a dull throbbing that pulsed throughout his body.
He sensed Saba beside him and tried to lift his head, but found that even this, the smallest movement required great effort.
Saba’s face and muzzle were covered in bright red slashes that oozed blood. Her left eye was swollen almost completely shut and dark red blood coated her shoulder, turning her beautiful white coat an angry crimson.
She laid her head on his shoulder, oblivious to the large amount of blood that had accumulated there.
“I’m… I’m sorry… Saba.” He said, every word requiring more effort than the last.
Saba felt tears rolling down her face and mixing with the blood on his shoulder.
“I… I wasn’t… wasn’t able to pro… protect you this time.” Everest said.
“Shh…” Saba said. “You’re… you’re going to be fine Everest, save your strength.”
Everest smiled rolled onto his side, raising his head to look at her beautiful blue eyes.
“Saba… I’m afraid that this is the end of my path. You… you still have… have a chance… you can beat him… Aniu will not… will not let this clan fall… I know it.”
Saba moved closer to him and sat down at his side.
Everest took a deep breath and, summoning much of his remaining energy, struggled to a sitting position beside her.
He leaned forward and nuzzled her.
“Oh Everest…” Saba said, then she collapsed into tears, unable to say anything more.
“I’ll… I’ll be… be waiting for you… Saba.” He said.
She buried her face in his neck and he nuzzled her once more.
“I… I love… love you… Saba.” He said.
Saba didn’t feel his breath on her neck anymore and she closed her eyes.
Everest faltered for a moment, and then fell to the side off her shoulder to the ground.
Saba took a deep breath and opened her eyes.
“…shall we continue?” Lytion asked with a smile.
Chapter 4
Kalia was sleeping when she heard the first sound; a yelp, not of pain, but of fright. She woke suddenly to find four black wolves in the chamber.
“What was I doing sleeping?” Kalia chastised herself. “I have a duty to perform.”
She stood up.
“What are you doing in here?” Kalia asked.
“Help us Kalia!” Sunny called. “They want to hurt us.”
One of the wolves turned his gaze to Kalia and smiled. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” He said. “Right now you are of little concern to us. Whether you live or die it makes no difference, but interfere with our plans and I will kill you.”
Kalia shivered, but held her ground.
“Who are you?” She asked.
The wolf laughed. “We are the Niju Clan you need know no more than that.”
“What is your business here?” Kalia asked, taking a step forward.
The wolf laughed again. “We are here to kill these three, and they will die, if you interfere, you will die as well. If you stand back and let this happen then you will not be harmed.”
Kalia growled.
“I can’t let that happen. They’re my responsibility. I could never forgive myself.”
The wolf smiled.
“…your choice.”
Kalia growled again and leapt at the wolves. She hit the one that had been talking in the face and he went down, but before she could leap onto him she found herself attacked from three sides.
Her training never taught her how to deal with this situation, and she almost
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