Chapter 11:      

 

Aleu nodded as Steele finished speaking. "Okay..." She said. "...assuming that I believe you, how the hell do we rescue someone from... well, hell?"

Steele smiled. "I saw her."

Aleu's ears perked up. "...Aniu?" She asked.

Steele nodded. "Since we talked last I snuck away and took a look for myself."

"...how?" Aleu asked. "When I went exploring I just ran around in circles. It was an endless stream of the same hallway."

Steele nodded. "I know." He said. "...it was the same for me, but something was different this time. I think... I think it was her."

Aleu shook her head. "She wouldn't be able to help us here." She said. "She's been sentenced here, same as we have."

Steele nodded. "Well that makes sense, but something led me the right way."

"...is there a right way?" Aleu asked.

Steele smiled. "You're not going to believe this." He said. "I ran through the wall... at the T, when you have to make a choice, I just ran straight ahead. I should have knocked myself senseless, but I didn't. I went through it."

Aleu nodded. "Well that's not so strange, given where we are."

Steele nodded. "I think I was in Shade's inner-sanctum or something. That's where she was."

"...Aniu?" Aleu asked.

Steele nodded. "Yeah," He said. "I didn't get to speak with her. She was chained with fire."

"...fire?" Aleu asked.

Steele nodded. "She's in pain, in great pain. We need to do this soon."

Aleu nodded. “Yes we do.”

“So how are you going to save her?"

Aleu looked at him. "...faith has always been enough." She said. "Our father is merciful at times." She sighed. "If it does not work then... then we have waited too late."

Steele nodded.

 

The black wolf smiled as he walked into a small cave. He was accompanied by four other members of his unit. He walked up to Lytion. "M'Lord, Sixth Unit is back." He said.

"How did the ambush go?" Lytion asked.

"...not well m'Lord." The wolf said. "Their patrol crossed on the other side of the valley. There's no way they ever even intended to cross at our position."

Lytion nodded and turned to face an orange wolf sitting in the corner. "...isn't that where you said they would be?" He asked. "Didn't you swear to me on your life that you were telling me the truth?"

The wolf started shaking. "...yes... yes II d...did Lytion... sir." He said.

Lytion nodded. "So why weren't they there?"

The wolf smiled and shrugged. "I don't know sir a... uh... change in procedure?"

Lytion growled at the wolf. "I'll deal with you later." He said. He turned to the other black wolf. "Lieutenant, do you have anything else to report to me?"

The wolf nodded. "Yes m'Lord. We took one prisoner."

"...prisoner?" Lytion asked. "...why did you not just kill it?"

"She was alone." The wolf said.

Lytion nodded. "...strange." He said. "Bring her to me."

The Lieutenant nodded and two larger black wolves entered the chamber. In between them was a smaller red and white wolf/dog.

"..here she is m'Lord." The Lieutenant said.

Lytion smiled. "Hello there sweetheart." He said. "My men mean you no harm, I can assure you." He nodded at the larger wolves and they stepped aside.

The Lieutenant leaned over and whispered in Lytion's ear. "Be careful with that one m'Lord." He said. "She's a fiesty one. She killed three of my men and wounded two others."

"...by herself?" Lytion asked.

The Lieutenant nodded.

Lytion smiled. "...excellent." He said. "...my kind of girl."

He turned back to face the prisoner. Though the guards had backed off they remained ready to pounce on her at a moment's notice."

"I'm sorry about the way you were

treated." Lytion said. "My men obviously don't know how to treat a lady." He smiled. "What is your name?"

The wolf/dog glared at him. "...go to hell." She said.

Lytion smiled. "Thanks, but I've already been there. I think I like it here better." He smiled. "Come now, you must be more cooperative."

She growled at him. "...leave me alone, and let me go or..." She paused.

"...or what?" Lytion asked.

The answer came not from the wolf/dog, but from the orange prisoner behind him. "...or her mate will kill you." He said.

Lytion turned around. "...you know her?" Lytion asked.

The wolf nodded. "I was on duty when Nick brought them both in."

Lytion smiled. "Ah, I see..." He said. "Tell me, what is her name?"

The wolf/dog glared at the orange prisoner and mouthed the word. "...no."

"...Kiona." The prisoner said.

Lytion grinned. "Ah, Kiona is it?"

Kiona growled. "You traitor!" She yelled. "Why are you helping him!"

"...because if he does not I will kill him." Lytion said. "...you would be wise to take the same advice."

Kiona growled. "You're a murderer, and a sorry excuse for an actor." She spit at his paws. "I'll never help you."

Lytion nodded and turned. "Oh, and you lied to me." Lytion said.

The orange prisoner's eyes went wide. "...lie? ..to...to you?" He asked. "I.. I didn't ever..."

Lytion cut his stammering off. "Did you not tell me that second unit operated in the valley and that they would cross at the creek?"

"..well... yes... yes I did.."

"...and did they?" Lytion asked.

"...well... um... no." The wolf said. "..but that's not my fault."

Lytion nodded. "It's okay, I'll make it fast." He turned to the wolf/dog. "Let this be an example to you. I have no mercy." He said. "You're either with me..." He turned to the orange prisoner. "...or against me." He said.

"No, stop!" The prisoner said. "Please, I know how you can use her!"

"...shut up!" Kiona hissed. "...die with some dignity."

Lytion smiled at the prisoner. "...so how can I use her?" He laughed. "...besides the obvious of course."

"She's... she's the new Lieutenant's mate." The prisoner said.

"Ah..." Lytion said. "..the large black and silver one?"

The prisoner nodded.

Lytion smiled. "My, my, that is interesting news. What's his name?"

"...Achak." The prisoner said.

"...so were I to kill her and send her mangled body back to him in pieces it would substantially lower his morale and therefore his ability to lead his unit so... impeccably."

The prisoner nodded.

Lytion smiled. "...very good idea." He said.

The prisoner smiled. "...thank... thank-you m'Lord."

Lytion turned and growled. "...I have no mercy, remember?"

The prisoner screamed as Lytion tore out his throat. The scream died into a gurgle and the prisoner fell to the floor of the cave.

Lytion stood up and turned toward Kiona. "Sorry to have to do this darling, but he does... ha ha did have a point." Lytion licked the blood off his muzzle. "You will serve me better as a corpse."

Lytion took a step toward her and Kiona started to quiver a bit.

"..wait!" The Lieutenant called.

Lytion growled. "...why?" He asked.

"Why not trade her m'Lord."

Lytion turned around. "...what?" He asked.

"M'Lord Achak is not a member of the Talbourne. His loyalties to this wolf/dog are stronger than those to that pack."

Lytion nodded. "Yes, yes, well?"

"M'Lord I propose we keep her alive and trade her to him."

"...for what?" Lytion asked.

The Lieutenant smiled. "...for him." He said.

Lytion thought about it for a moment. Then a grin spread across his face. "...yes..." He said. "We will trade her to him and then we will execute him."

“No!” Kiona yelled. She leapt up and growled at the larger black wolf.

Lytion laughed. “My, aren’t we spirited.”

Kiona snarled and lashed out at him with her paws, striking him on the side of the head and knocking him to the ground.

Lytion snarled and leapt to his paws. “You hit me?!” He screamed. Lytion hit Kiona three times in quick succession and she stumbled backward, her vision blurry. He advanced on her again and his teeth tore deep into her forleg. He turned and hauled her to the ground, then smacked her across the face.

Kiona fell limp.

Lytion growled and raised his paw high over the immobile wolf/dog.

“Wait m’lord!” He called. “She’s no good to us dead!”

Lytion stopped and smiled. "Very well Lieutenant. Guard her, keep her safe." He said. He turned and smiled at Kiona. "We wouldn't want anything to happen to her now would we?" He laughed. "Tomorrow morning we will send a messenger to the Talbourne."

The lieutenant nodded. "Yes, m'Lord."

Lytion laughed. "...everything is coming together Lieutenant. Soon, the Talbourne will fall."

The Lieutenant nodded.

"...join me Lieuteant." Lytion said.

The Lieutenant followed Lytion out of the chamber.

Four of the biggest wolves Kiona had ever seen walked up to her and stared down at her.

"..what do you want?" She snapped. She shakily climbed to her paws and noticed her left foreleg didn’t want to support her very well.

The wolves growled and her ears drooped a bit. She nodded and followed the wolves as they walked her over beside the dead prisoner.

Kiona curled up on the floor and sighed, licking her injured leg. She watched as the large wolves sat down in front of her, standing guard. The dead prisoner caught her gaze then and a tear came to her eye. "...oh Achak." She thought. "...what have done?" She curled up a bit tighter and buried her nose into her shoulder. "...what have I done."

 

Dash turned and looked at his Lieutenants. They had all assembled and were standing side by side; Timbre, Ami, and Achak. Dash sighed. “So, what you’re telling me Ami is that the Shadow clan is moving toward the origin.” He said.

Ami nodded. “…looks like it Sir.” She said.

Dash sighed again. “We’ll mobilize our forces.” He said. “If we can catch most of them in one place…” He paused for a moment. “…we might

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