Year of the Wolf

 

 

 

Prologue – For Those Who Died

 

Kostan for long time hadn’t enough time to understand that the battle was lost. He was running between valley and path to Icy Bluff and trying to control chaos of fierce combat. He never hoped for victory, but he really believed that refuges could be evacuated. So after lieutenant Kuono died, he decided to took over the command in gorge and ordered all remaining soldiers to block path for every cost. Before that the defence of refuges was under charge of most trusted of his wolves – his son.

Kostan had been second pawmaster of Uniea Clan, and after death of Vian – who was killed by Talkeet in fit of fury – should had become first tutor of clan martial arts. But when Talkeet took over the Uniea, Kostan fled to forest, sensing what disaster would bring death of Daie and Vian. He took son and daughter in law with him and most likely that why they all avoided slaughter in final battle with Aleu’s forces. But when in spite that his clan was defeated, Kostan was fighting still. Although his rank was more official one, not a military charge, he acted like a field commander. He gathered all what left from First Fang under leadership of lieutenant Kuono and he persuaded officer to breach back to old Uniea territory.

But that quest turned out to be much harder than they both expected. With every step to Home Cave they met more and more refuges, civilians and wounded soldiers – of Uniea and its allies. Kouno and Kostan had no other choice than take them all. That why they were so slow and Shadow’s First Team caught them so quickly.

Second pawmaster chose the field of battle wisely – he ordered refugees to cross Yu Range via Eagle Pass and hide in one of numerous valleys of eastern side. He, leading about forty wounded and tired soldiers, made an ambush on Ice Fields just beyond Eagle Pass. All what for they could hope was to slow down about eighty enemies.

Advantage of Talbourne wasn’t crushing – not much more than two to one. For defenders, aware of terrain where they stood, it shouldn’t be something impossible. But First Fang was just a shadow of that unit from few months before – most of wolves were wounded, all were tired, also army was half-starved. Meanwhile Shadow’s wolves are well prepared and fresh to the fight. It was an achievement that Uniea lasted over four hours, taking about thirty of enemies with them.

Path down to valley was a last stand, where Kostan left wounded Kouno. Lieutenant was living dead, with serious internal bleeding and rest of his group – in fact those were six survivors – were also unable to move further. Second pawmaster decided he wouldn’t help them in dying in more efficient way.

“Right, go!” panted dying Kouno. “Make sure that refugees made their way home. We will stop them… for a time being.” So Kostan ran east with all his might.

In column of refugees there was almost no military personnel. Just few wolves too wounded to fight in mountains, stayed there. One of them was Taisten, Kostan’s son. Running through dense forest to deeps of gorge, pawmaster had a clear premonition that his son was already dead. That feeling turned out to be right.

Just when sun hid behind the horizon, old wolf entered the clear space on bottom of valley. Bodies of wolves covered most of area, stopping white snow with few dozens of grey-red points. It was all what left from Uniea survivors. Kostan recognize friends and charges, counted that eventually no one got out from there. And if no one did, Taisten was surely dead. Proud sergeant of Uniea would have never left his clan.

But then his heart stopped for few long seconds. There was someone alive! Some silhouette was standing above one of bodies, bended down to dead. Kostan gulped – he recognized the survivor, as his daughter in law – Muista. He also recognized the dead one, as his son – Taisten.

Wolf came closer to that silent scene. Dead wolf looked as mirror reflection of father. They both were well-built canines of grey fur and sharp-carved muzzle features. Only difference was that old – over nine year old – commander had thinner coat with some hoary fur, while young soldier looked like avatar of young and health. Of course except those several parallel wounds on belly. And except of simple fact he was dead. His father noticed that on muzzle of wolf locked an expression of concentration and determination. Most likely greyfurred bled to death barely noticing it, fighting until the last moment.

Wolfess standing over him was beautiful and silverfurred bitch of blue eyes and gentle muzzle, then twisted by waves of cry. She was spotted with blood, but Kostan with ease concluded it wasn’t he blood. She was fighting too, in spite of her state and health, but it was too small to change the outcome of battle.

“Muista…” whispered Kostan. She raised he head, looked on him and burst with another cry.

“You too… But I was here for the end… I tried, but there was so many of…”

“Hush.” Whispered former pawmaster. He came closer and nestled to shivering wolfess. “We must go ahead.”

“Go ahead?” sobbed she. “What for? He is dead.”

“For time being we are not.” Replied wolf. He kneeled down and with decisive move took her on his back. In spite of age, Uniean was still a strong canine. Carrying his daughter in law maybe wasn’t the easiest thing to do, however he was able to transport her for a while.

Muista was weak even before battle. She always was a strong wolfess, but events after defeat of clan broke her. She was pregnant with Taisten, but sudden retreat from winter lair cause the miscarriage and loss of whole litter of five. But mother had no time to mourn her children, because she had to run farther. In incoming few weeks she lost most of her friends, almost died from hunger and complication after miscarriage, finally she saw death of her mate. Kostan was the last creature binding Muista with world.

“I’m sure he would wanted us to run… and survive.” Panted old wolf to wolfess on his back. In fact he knew it was a lie – if not presence of Muista Kostan would have just waited for persecutors and attack them from ambush. Just to take at least few of them and avenge dearth of his last child.

“There is no place to run, dad.” Sobbed Muista. Uniean was silent for a while, then replied.

“Taisten is not with us anymore. Don’t call me <dad>. Now I’m just <Kostan>.”

“All right… Kostan.” Replied wolfess. Then her cries stopped and she added with stronger voice. “You’re right, as always, you’re right. Please, stop.” Wolf stopped and she got down on her won paws. “Yes, we have to survive. But now I can go by my own.”

“You’re still…”

“I’ll be fine.” She snorted. “At least as fine as I could be… Let’s go to find some shelter. We must rest and…”

“…and?” asked Kostan, sensing some new, dreadful tone in her voice.

“We will avenge Taisten. Whatever it takes… Are you with me, dad… Are you with me, Kostan?”

I heart of old wolf something return on its place. He was no longer burdened with guilt, because he had a chance to repent. He survived death of all of his children – he felt as if that was a crime. But then he saw a way to make it up.

“Of curse I am!” he growled. “Death to Aleu!”

*

Shadow was gathering his soldiers and still waiting for Remer squad. Finally he noticed giant brownfurred wolf, exiting the forest. After him were coming twenty of his guardians. Talbourne marshal sighed with relief, however instantly he asked himself silently what cause that disobedience of his best soldier.

“I guess the same what always.” He replied himself a second after. “Revenge.” Then he called aloud. “Remer!”

“I’m here, sir!” replied brownfurred.

“Where have you been? We must form the unit and pursue remnants of…”

“No, sir!” interrupted him guardian. Shadow gasped with amaze. “A mutiny?” he thought, but he was wrong. His subordinate was not disobedient, but too enterprising. “There is no one left to pursue. There are no survivors.”

Marshal gasped again, looking on blood-red mouth of senior guardian. “O my God!” he thought. “He killed those refugees! All of them! Since death of his brother…” He recalled death of Wemer two months earlier. “…he is pushing Unieas mercilessly. We have to somehow hide that incident from Aleu. She won’t stroke us for that!” But in the same moment he understood that all errors and mistakes of Pursuing Company couldn’t be hidden forever. Lightning’s scouts will soon report it to Aleu, even if master scout promise to keep it in secret. “Damn it! I’m fighting Unieas and now I’m fighting to keep my wolves in order… and additionally I’m fighting Lightning, not letting him to blame me of all this mess… This war sucks! I’m sick of it!”

“Sir!” called Iamack. She was one of scouts assigned to Security Team from Lighting’s recon. Most likely she would report her commander about Remer’s… performance, as soon as they reach the Home Cave. But then she was still under marshal’s command and tried to act like his soldier. For a while… “Sir, I see the trail. We have at least one survivor. Shall we track him?” Remer narrowed his eyes, as if he cursed himself that he let a single creature to run alive.

“No!” replied Shadow with angry voice. “Regroup and head back. They await us in home.”

*

Cold evening turned to icy night and blizzard came. Kostan blessed that weather, because it prevent Talbournes from any further pursuit. He and Muista fond some shallow lair under roots of fallen tree and hid there, covering themselves with fresh snow.

Wolfess wasn’t crying anymore, just burning inside with her new fever. All weakness caused by wounds and earlier injuries passed, then leaving just efficient mechanism, ready to fight. Kostan slowly started to reconcile with simple thought.

“We aren’t meant to survive, just to die in vengeance.

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