Korra

By Aljan Darkmoon

Prologue

It was a cold winter, possibly the worst ever experienced in the north.  The snow fell in massive amounts, nearly blinding the grey wolf as he walked through the forest.  No wolf should be in this kind of storm, yet here he was. 

Roman Tash Tanner sighed.  His pack had gone ahead of him, nearing the Orca wolf pack territory, he was their rearguard.  Constant aggression between rivals kept all the packs firmly in a military state of war, but the Orca pack were old friends and allies of the Eagles and his pack were on their way to reinforce that bond.

Suddenly a shape jumped out at him.  Caught offguard and unable to evade in time, Tanner was tackled, grabbed by the neck, and thrown into a tree.  Wheezing he quickly got to his feet only to be knocked off his feet again, this time he couldn't get up.

"Who are you?" came a strong female voice.

I know that voice thought Tanner.  "Jaina is that you?"

"Tanner?"

Tanner raised his head as high as he could before pain gripped him.  "Have you heard how to ask questions then strike?"

"No, Alue taught me to strike first and ask question later."

Ah, the alpha taught her personally thought Tanner.

Out of the wall of snow before his eyes came a beautiful snow covered muzzle, followed by a pair of striking yellow eyes.  "You know what Kodi would say if he heard of this: a beta being tamped by an omega.  You'll hear no end of it" she teased.

Tanner growled. "You wouldn't dare!"

"Oh I would!  And you know it,"  Even with his eyes blinded by snow, Tanner knew her tail wagged.

"You have your mother's daring," said Tanner. "Dusty always faced danger with unblinking eyes."

"Ooh, that is all I share?" coaxed the female wolf, her yellow eyes daring him  "Come now, you know my mother and my father.  Is that all?"

Tanner sighed.  Okay you share Kodi's want for acknowledgment.

He wondered how Kodi and Dusty were doing along with the other Nome dogs and hybrids.  Ever since the Human declaration of wolf hunting and bounty, all wolves and wolf-dogs, like Balto and Kodi, fled Nome into the wilderness.  Through cunning and experience, they avoided the Human's planes and guns.  However they could not return to Nome, out of fear they would be shot on sight.  Tanner heard Jenna was almost shot at her Human's home. 

The neighboring wolf packs took the refugees in and their numbers grew.  However, with more numbers meant more territory.  And free territory was something none of the packs had.  So the Pack Wars began. Within two years of fighting, another pack joined the war.  They called themselves the Imperial Republic. 

Formed by a alliance of two wolf packs, they conquered and gathered other wolf packs as they fought each other.  An united pack of wolves easily defeated single packs already devastated from the Pack Wars.  The Pack War disappeared as wolf pack after wolf pack was defeated and their territory taken and added to the Imperial Republic.

Tanner growled at the thought of the thought of the Republic.  They now had armies of wolves called Legions, each one two hundred strong under the command of a single Legatus or general, who answered only to a group of wolves known as the Senate.

Did they not see what they were becoming?

They were becoming like humans!

"Tanner, are you alright?" 

The grey wolf came out of his thoughts as Jaina nudged his muzzle affectionately.  "Sorry, I'm just caught up in recent events."

"The Imperial Republic?"

Tanner nodded.

Jaina's expression turned grave.  "You going to the west coast?"

"Yes, to visit the Orca pack, an old ally of my pack, the Eagles.  We were also supposed to meet the new daughter and future alpha of the pack, Korra.  My pack went ahead but I could not find them."

"Tanner, I need you to be strong."  Her words caught his attention.

"Why?"

"The Orca pack were attacked by the Imperial Republic.  Your pack were captured by the 96th Legion of the Imperial Republic as they tried to help the Orcas.  I'm sorry."

Tanner was stunned.  No shocked.  He had been only a few hundred feet behind his pack.

"Impossible.  I was right behind my pack!"

Jaina shook her head.  "You lost yourself in the storm.  You are in the Aniu pack territory, south of the Orca pack.  My alpha's father caught your scent on the wind and sent me to investigate."

"Balto."

"Yes."

Tanner shook his head.  "It's not too late!"  He leapt up as if to go but Jaina blocked his way.  "Let me pass!"

"No Tanner, " she said.  "You'll lose yourself in this storm and die. Come to the Aniu pack.  Rest.  Eat.  And together we can see what we can do to rescue your pack."  She began to walk off.

"It's not my pack I'm afraid of or fear for," said Tanner as he followed her reluctantly.

"What?!"  exclaimed Jaina.  To a wolf, the pack was all he or she lived for.  To feel nothing at all for your pack was no different than having no soul.  "In the name of the goddess Larka, I pray you don't mean it." she said, her voice becoming as cold as the icy wind.

"It's in the name of Larka I pray I am not too late," said Tanner, meeting her eyes.  "Korra, the daughter to the alpha of the Orcas, was meant to come with the Eagle pack.  We were supposed to train her."

"Train her for what?" asked Jaina, stopping in her tracks.  

 "To become a Guardian."

Chapter One

In the darkness of the cave she lay, the young she-wolf named Korra could hear the screams and the cheering of the wolves who watched at the Stone Field.  The Stone Field lived up to its name—isolated and desolate, filled with only sharp rocks and ground which favored no one and hungrily drank its fill of the blood that was spilled there.  This was one of the only places known by any who could call themselves a free wolf amongst the Clans, where hundreds of wolves could watch for their pleasure. The contest of life and death between two or more gladiwolves ended with the price of either blood or, if the packs called for it, the sparing of a life.

The young she-wolf curled into a tighter ball, hoping that containing the last of her warmth could ease her trembling limbs.  Who wouldn’t fear her position? She was sentenced to die, like her brethren, in the Stone Field.

Unknown to her, one of her brethren, a middle-aged grey wolf named Usti, fought in the field.  He already bled from many wounds, inflicted by tooth and claw. The most severe ran across his belly.  His opponent, a red wolf, announced as Islandar, circled him—his eyes filled with the confidence of victory.  He was a true gladiwolf; trained no doubt by a former gladiwolf who gained freedom and took Islandar as an apprentice or a slave and trained him.

Usti gagged, coughing up blood.  He would not survive this fight.  Though he had fought bravely in the defense of his pack’s lands through many campaigns, he never touched Islandar; he never got within a foot of the younger wolf.  And apparently his comrades of the Orca Pack had met similar ends at the claws and teeth of the red wolf—Usti had seen their bodies before he was brought onto the sands.  The grey wolf growled as he saw the red wolf smile.  He hated the youngster’s impudence, despite being in the face of defeat.  He will make Islandar dance before the red wolf tore his throat.

The young she-wolf heard the running of paws and the familiar growl of Usti rising to a challenge.  Her heart fluttered faintly with the thought that one of her brethren was still alive, but it died just as fast.  Korra did not hear anyone else but her own breathing, she was the last of her pack.   Her blue eyes blinked back tears in the darkness, her thoughts flying back before the events which had led her here to the dreaded Stone Field as a slave.

***

“The Imperial Republic of United Packs are not here to discuss joining of our great nation,” said the Imperial.  “We are here to speak of other matters of greater importance!”

Korra watched the exchange between the Imperial, who stood in the center of the Council room, and the surrounding wolves sat or stood in a half a ring around the center. The Council room was a mammoth hallow cavern, the biggest cave on Orca territory and possibly in the entire region.  As was custom, the wolves sat in the ranks of monarchy; alphas sat in the inner most ring, closest to the center, betas second most, and the omegas on the outermost ring. 

Korra stood on outer ring of the Council room, despite her birthright as an alpha; she had arrived late and all other spots were taken.  Korra could care less, her ears were sharp, taking in every word with great clarity, she did not need to see the Imperial wolf to know his gestures and emotions; his words did all of that.

 “Speak Imperial,” said one of the elders of the Council, his old voice barely audible.  “What else would an Imperial want with the Orca pack other than joining your Republic, which it has tried by force?”

Shouts of anger and threats came from the surrounding wolves, male and female alike. Korra was jostled from side to side as members of the Orca pack seemed to press forward, threatening to overwhelm the single Imperial wolf and his two escorts. But the Imperial had not stepped back or even reacted to the violent threats around him, through his escorts already curled their lips and showed their teeth threateningly.  Instead he smiled and spoke.

“The Imperial Legions have their eyes and ears everywhere and it has come to their attention that the Human race is expanding.”  His words brought silence to the entire chamber.  “You are what stands between them and the Imperial Republic.”

“How far are they from our territory?” asked one Orca in the crowd.

“No more than a half a month away.”Said the Imperial.

“How many Humans?” asked another Elder.

“Tens of thousands.”

It was like a spark lighting a fire.  Growls and howls of disbelief and threats rang around the chamber.  Korra pondered on what the Imperial had said.  Humans were a strange race who did not walk on four legs and wore skins of other animals on their backs.  She bristled at the thought, sometimes it was wolf skin the Humans wore on their backs.  Humans do not care for any other race but their own.  But they are intelligent too; they created weapons and they used them with dangerous accuracy and deadly purpose.  If they want something, they get it.  It was common law amongst wolves, no matter what pack you were, to tuck tail and run at first sight of a Human.  It was not good news they had begun expanding again. the last time they expanded, the Orca pack had been forced to enter unknown territory, land that happened to be under the watch of the Druid wolf pack at the time.  Before talk between the packs could be done, five wolves were killed: two adults, two adolescents, and one pup.  War was declared between the Druid and Orca packs.  Having known the land better than the Orcas, the Druids had the upper hand in the beginning; however, the Orcas had a gift which made their pack very unique: the Sight.  The Sight was an ancient power born within certain Orca which could freeze their opponent if they made eye contact, make them obey a command, or even kill them on sight.  Many of the Orca had this gift and used it to turn the tide in the Orca-Druid War.  Eventually, the Druids were defeated and the Orca claimed the land as their own.

That had been a year ago, when Korra was in her mother’s womb.  Now the Humans were expanding so it seemed, but Korra was skeptical.  The Imperial Republic’s love forownership of land was legendary. Every pack in the region knew and feared the possibility of the Imperials coming onto their land.  When the Imperials did arrive in the region, a good number of packs joined the Republic. Barely half a year after the defeat of the Druids, the Imperials arrived on the Orca’s territory with two legions of wolves and demanded their land.  They said the Orca’s were weak, that they were savages compared to the Imperials, and they would not survive to see the next day.  Thus began the Orca-Imperial war.  However, the Orcas had the land on their side, just as the Druids did during the Orca-Druid war.  Through guerrilla tactics they outflanked, outnumbered, and slaughtered all but the legatus, the general, of the two legions.  Sparing his life, they sent him back to the Imperial Republic as a warning. 

A week before the Imperial’s arrival Korra had heard rumors of numerous packs being led astray by again, stories.  The details were vague but some of the packs were led to believe that their land was in danger so they sent all their warriors to fight the menace.  They never returned.  A few days later a rival pack or another pack whose allegiance was to the Imperial Republic took over the defenseless pack’s lands.  There had been other stories of packs being slaughtered by the Imperials though already defenseless.

 But it didn’t make any sense.  Why would the Imperial tell the Orca pack about the Humans expansion?  Orca would not move against Humans nor would the Imperials…unless, they wanted the Orca off the land they now lived in.  No, that couldn’t be right.  The Orca was one of the largest packs in the region rivaling even the Imperial Republic of United Packs, they had prospered after the defeat of the Druids in great numbers.  To try to kill all of the Orca was like trying to stop the sun from rising.  

Korra shook her head in frustration.

“Korra?  Are you well?”  The voice came from a black wolf beside her, Damien, a wolf her age.  She liked him, he was kind and mild tempered.  He like was a lot like her, however he was born a beta but he carried himself like an alpha nevertheless.  He did not hound her with flirting and courting like the other males his age and he proved to be an excellent hunter and a trustworthy packmate.  Korra was proud to call him friend.  

“The Imperial causes alarm yet it does him no good,” replied Korra.  She explained her thoughts and when she was done she saw Damien’s ears twitch as if from an itch.  He was about to answer when a council member rose to speak.

“Imperial, we are aware than anyone else in this region, Humans are not to be trifled with.  Yet we are skeptical.  It does not take a year for Humans to suddenly expend onto more land, no, it takes at least half a decade.  Surely you don’t make us to be fools.”

The Imperial’s eyes blazed with fury.  “I hope you are likewise calling me one, such a mistake would be unwise.  To call me a fool would be calling the entire Imperial Republic fools and they will rise to see the insult dealt with!”

Growls and snarls erupted from the Orcas, drowning out the responding growls from the Imperial’s escorts.

“Order!  Order in this council!” cried a Council Elder.  He turned to the Imperial.  “You came to say your words and you have said them, not to anger this pack.  We welcomed you peacefully and you will likewise show that respect!”

“You dare to order a Legionary—“ snarled the Imperial, his ears flattening his eyes becoming slits.

“You will leave now!”  the Council Elder barked back.

“I am Legatus Augustus Centurion of the Imperial—“ began the Imperial.

The Council Elder had enough.  He thrust his muzzle inches from the Imperial's and snarled, “Leave this Council!” 

Silence fell in the Council room. The tension was as tight like a vine burdened with the weight of many grapes; Korra couldn’t tell whose eyes burned with hatred more, the Imperial’s and his escorts or the Orca present in the Council room.

The Legatus glared at the Orcas around him, then smiled knowingly.  He turned to his escorts. "We are leaving." He snapped. As they left, he made as though to follow them but stopped.  He faced the assembly again. 

"You can't say I didn't warn you."  Then he was gone.

"Did you see how the Council Elders confronted the Imperial?  What can you tell me?"

It was late afternoon and the Council had disbanded after the visitation of the Imperial Legatus.  Korra and Damien had slipped out earlier before the other wolves and the wolf-pup Lacion, son of Drappa and Tria, was waiting anxiously for news on the slopes leading to the Council cave; pups were forbidden to enter.  He fell into step beside the two half-grown wolves.

"They came with a warning," said Korra sharply as she walked past, "That is all."

Lacion fell out of step, slowing to a halt, taken back by Korra's words.  He was hurt and confused.  What did he do deserve such a remark? 

Damien sighed and left Korra's side, causing the she-wolf to come to a halt upon seeing her friend leave her to go to the pup.  It was her turn to sigh, she could not stand children and Damien's belief her actions always needed to be explained, and to a pup of all reasons!  As she watched Damien speak to Lacion, she couldn't help but think of what kind of adult he would become.  A good father, always with a heart for pups--he would never deny them his attention. 

She saw Lacion's ears become erect and his curly tail wag at whatever Damien told him and he took off in the direction of the dens. 

"What did you tell him?" asked Korra when Damien reached her side.  "That pup looked as though he had received a gift from above."

Damien shouldered his friend, nipping at her playfully.  "I only told him what he needed to be told," he said, then he yipped as Korra grabbed him by the scoff of the neck and brought him crashing in the dirt.  Before he could recover, she was on top of him, pinning him.

She brought her muzzle close to his. "Oh?  Did you tell him you would play with him in the river with his friends?" she asked, teasing him.

   Damien snorted but grinned, "I wouldn't expect you to understand, you who care not for pups.  You would rather stand sentry guard then watch over them."

"My duty--" exclaimed Korra, but was cut off as Damien grabbed her by the throat with his teeth, his grip tight enough to control her but not enough to penetrate her soft skin and fur.  He rolled her to the side and was on her in a flash. 

"Your duty blinds you," Damien finished, bringing his face next to hers, to whisper into her ear. "From the possibilities that are in plain sight."  He pulled back to look upon the she-wolf under his paws.  

Korra's blue eyes stared into her friend's amber depth, understanding what Damien meant; yet she could feel the warmth of his body, her heart begin to quickened. She knew what it was, but she hesitated.  She did not know if her friend shared her feelings. 

Damien saw something in his friend's eyes and he sighed inwardly.  She did not understand his meaning.  He got off of Korra and gazed off into a distance.  He could feel the she-wolf's eyes, as trying to understand his words as she continued to lay there, as if still pinned.   When he first met Korra, both of them were barely half grown, still a pups, not yet ready to eye suitable mates. However now he and Korra was half-grown and both of them should be preparing to take up their responsibility to the Orca pack.   

"I understand," said Damien as Korra rolled onto her belly.

"Damien?"

Damien glanced in her direction before resuming staring into the distance.  "You are an Alpha, Korra.  You will have to lead this pack with the others who share the same birthright."

"Damien," Korra said softly.

"I am a beta, I will follow the alphas' decisions and trust in their judgment."

"Damien!"  The name was almost shouted as she rose to her feet, fearing at what her friend was implying, but it fell on deaf ears.

"What I wish is nothing compared to the--"

Damien never finished his sentence.  Korra was on him, shoving him off his feet, He stared at her in surprise and saw her blue eyes were fury.

"Never tell me what I can or cannot do," she shouted, her body trembling.

"Those are our destinies, Korra," said Damien, his voice steady.  "You cannot deny them."

Korra sighed softly.  "You are the one who calls me blind, yet you are the one who...nevermind."  She leaped off of Damien and walked off, unable to be around her friend any longer.  She knew Damien's eyes followed her until a hill hid her from sight.

***

Legatus Augustus Centurion and his escort had barely left the borders of the Orca pack when they were met by four scouts, all bearing the marks of the 105th Legion, the legion the Centurion commanded.

"Legatus," said one of the scouts, bowing his head in salute.  "I bring word from Legatus Caesar Brutus of the 96th Legion of the Imperial Republic."

Centurion was taken aback.  Caeser Brutus was one of the Imperial Republic's honored wolves, a legendary general whose rank and experience outclassed anyone who served in her legions, including Centurion.  "Legatus Brutus is here?"

"Yes, Legatus.  He told me he wanted you to speak with him personally, I'm here to escort you." said the scout.

Caesar Brutus, Legatus of the 96th, paced in the den his soldiers had made for him, waiting impatiently for Legatus Centurion to arrive.  Born a black wolf, though the years have begun to show; grey fur now ran from his forehead and down his back.  His tail was entirely black.  But Brutus was not bothered by this change but took pride in his new colors.  Some wolves in the Imperial Republic have also given him the title of "Aiony", Night and Day.

His yellow eyes stared into the shadows of the den, trying to see how the future would play out.

  The Imperial Republic was the greatest civilization in the wolf history, its numbers increasing with each wolf pack that joined its ranks.  Its hold of land was equally as large for each pack which joined the Imperial Republic forfeited their land in exchange to be part of it. 

However, not all wolf packs gave in to bribery and the promise of protection.  Some fought back, resisting the hold of the Imperial Republic until either they were completely annihilated or all hopes of resistance was beaten out of them.  The wolf packs whose fate was the latter, always ended at the Stone Field.  Few ever lived to fight another day.   

The Orca pack was one such pack, Brutus knew.  They would fight till life left their bodies, human or wolf.  They would do anything to protect and preserve the land they had come to call home. 

The 105th had two hundred wolves, all veterans from the Youser campaign, still fresh young wolves itching for a fight of honor and remembrance. The 96th had half that number, but all of the Legion wolves under  Brutus had years of experience and the strength of wolves in their prime to make up for the loss. 

Yet the Orcas outnumbered both Legions, Brutus knew.  The scouts who survived venturing into Orca territory counted nearly four times as many wolves, young and those in their prime, capable of fighting.  The reason for their numbers was simple and  Brutus shook his head in frustration because of it.

The Orca females fought alongside males.

It was simple.  Allow females to fight and suddenly a pack's fighting strength multiplied. However such a thing was unheard of in the Imperial Republic, moreover it was banned. Something about females being inferior then males-- Brutus rolled his eyes at the notion. 

Damn fools in the Senate he thought.  But what could he do?  He had tried to petition for females to enter the service and his motion was denied in great numbers.  And because of the male pride and the old fools in the senate, the 96th and the 105th may face their first epic defeat in the Imperial Republic history.

And then there was Legatus Brutus and his famous 96th legion.  Brutus did not like the younger wolf, solely because of how the younger wolf achieved his rank.  Unlike himself who had gained his title and rank through honor and blood on the battlefield, Centurion was given the rank of Legatus because of his father.  Or rather, his father's inheritance and will.  Perhaps the old wolf knew what his son would do with his inheritance, spend it all on useless endeavors, for in his will, Centurion was forced to be conscripted into the Legions.  However Centurion proved himself to be a smooth talker and handing out his father's wealth in bribes.  Within a year the young wolf had achieved the rank of Legatus.  Brutus suspected murder and wolfnapping to be the young wolf's tools in elevation but Centurion's reputation and constant bribes ceased any true investigation.  Though he shared the same rank as Brutus, the older wolf did not respect Centurion and he planned to put the younger wolf in his place.      

   "Legatus Brutus?"

Speak of the devil

Brutus turned to see Legatus Centurion entering the cave.  "Centurion," he replied in a cold nod.  The grey wolf watched his superior with unblinking eyes, unafraid.

Foolish thought Brutus.

"I hear you requested to see me," said Centurion.

"I did," growled Brutus.  He turned to the escorting scouts.  "Leave us."

Centurion felt a growl of frustration at being escorted like a prisoner of war.  "Was that really necessary?" he demanded.  Brutus turned a single yellow at the grey wolf.  "I am summoned to my own camp like a common slave!"

"You will be summoned in the way I see fit," snapped Brutus.  "I daresay, I do believe it worked.  You're here now, are you not?" said Brutus.  "But enough of useless chitchat.  I have come here bearing the will of the Senate."

Centurion growled at being spoke in such a way.  "Brutus, I am your equal!"

"If you were Larka herself, I would not care!" snarled the older wolf coldly, though in his mind he begged for pardon to the wolf goddess.  To invoke her name in such a way was sacrilege but Brutus saw it drove its meaning into the young wolf.  "You are beneath me!"

Centurion backed away.  This was not how he wanted to meet the famous Brutus.  What had he done to deserve such manners?  Did he know about the bribes he gave out or the murder of numerous high ranking wolves he committed to achieve the rank Legatus? 

Impossible.  Centurion himself had dispatched the last loose end who knew of his plans.

"But again, I bring word from the Senate?"

"The Senate?" Centurion felt his heart race. 

"Is there an echo in this den?" growled Brutus, silencing the younger wolf.  "They believe your single legion is not enough to conquer the Orca tribe.  They have sent me--"

"To assist me?" growled Centurion.  The damn fools of the Senate.  Once they sense failure, they always saw failure.

"No!" snarled Brutus, charging at Centurion and pinning him against the wall.  "Interrupt me again and I will tear your tongue out." 

Centurion felt his anger rise but as his eyes met Brutus's, he saw a wolf who would do whatever it took to achieve his goal.  Even if it meant harming his own men.

"Am I understood, Legatus Centurion?" growled Brutus.  "I assure you, your tongue won't be the first I've torn out."

It took all of Centurion's will to suppress the shudder that ran through his body.  Was it fear he felt?  He did not know.

"I understand."

"Good."  Brutus dropped Centurion to the floor. "Gather your legion.  I have plans for the Orca pack, plans both legions need to know."

Centurion turned to leave.

"Legatus," said Brutus, halting Centurion in his tracks.  "Your legion won a single battle, one that happened to turn the tide of the war against the Gehtai wolf pack.  But do not think your legion is better than mine."