Tales of the Wolf: Book 01 - The Coming of the Wolf (40 page)

A grand game of follow the leader issued forth.

Corax had the lead and a slight edge in experience with aerial combat but Tatianna had the edge in size and wingspan. Her knowledge of battle strategy could not be overlooked. It was only by the fickle hand of Hodios the God of Mischief that the sun came out, giving away her position.

Corax flew out of sight of the village and into the forest as he realized she had the advantage in the open skies. Her wingspan and keen eyesight would allow her to out fly him but they would not be as useful in the confined areas of the forest. He zigged behind a tree, zagged around some bushes, dove under a fallen tree and climbed to the tops of the great pines that grew this far north. Glancing back, he saw her match each of his aerial maneuvers perfectly.

Smiling inwardly, Corax’s respect for Red Eagle was growing. Not many Highlanders could match his flying. Red Crow himself had given him his name of manhood, Black Arrow. The old warlord had once described his flying as ‘a black arrow shot from the bow of Luna.’   

Keeping up his aerial acrobatics for at least a half-hour, he used every trick, fair and unfair, to shake her loose but to no avail. She stayed with him, matching every turn, twist, dive or climb he made. She was even gaining on him as he began to tire. The advantage of her wingspan and sleek body were adding up but he was not ready to give up. He still had a trick or two left.

Diving through a large fir tree, Corax startled several crows that lived there. Three crows bolted out of the tree and flew off in different directions. Doubling back quickly, Corax cut out of the tree in a wholly different angle.

Tatianna was not surprised when Corax dove into the large fir tree. He had made several such maneuvers over the last hour. However, following him into the tree she was startled by the four crows which flew out. Each of the crows was rather large, nearly the same size as Corax and by the way each moved, it was hard to tell which one was the Raven Warlord. Picking one at random, she sped after the fleeing crow.

Suddenly, Tatianna felt something heavy land on top of her. A flash of pain raced through her body as razor sharp teeth dug into the back of her neck. All she could see was red fur and the ground approaching rapidly. There wasn’t time to do anything except tuck in her wings and pray to Aurora that she didn’t break her neck when they landed.

Landing with a loud thump, a wave of pain swept through her body. She smiled weakly and thought,
‘Well, I must still be alive. I hurt too much not to be!’
 

Looking around the snowy clearing they had just landed in, she saw her assailant. It was a large red fox with bloodshot eyes. Its coat was matted with bristles, mud and snow. Saliva dripped from its half-opened mouth as it began to circle the injured hawk that was Tatianna.         

Hopping to her feet, Tatianna tried to flap her wings for balance. Intense pain raced up her left wing and left side of her body. It even hurt to breathe deeply. Without looking, Tatianna knew her left arm and a few ribs were broken.

Hearing a slight hiss behind her, Tatianna turned to face her attacker and a wave of pain washed over her. She realized that in her present form, she was no match for a hungry fox. Closing her eyes she dismissed the spell that held her to her hawk form. Normally there wasn’t any pain when she shifted forms, just a tingling of her skin and a weird sensation of the world getting larger but this time it was different.

Her broken wing didn’t want to elongate properly, so her bones couldn’t shift into their proper place which caused her to cry out in pain. The ribs on her left side were tender to the touch and any twisting of her torso caused a wave of dizziness to sweep over her. Instinctively, she knew if she passed out, then she would be the fox’s dinner for sure. When her head cleared enough so she could see straight, she was shocked to find that the fox had not run away. It was still standing there studying her.

Waving her good hand, Tatianna said, “Go away. Go find your dinner elsewhere.”

Tatianna watched in shocked fascination as a shiver ran up the fox’s body and it began to grow. The thick red fur thinned as it became red hair all over his body. The nose and ears shortened, until they became a blend of the best features of a fox and a man. The ears were still furry and long but they now sat on the sides of the head like that of a man’s. The nose and jaw were long and pointy, like that of a fox. Sharp teeth lined his mouth and a long pink tongue flicked in and out as he spoke with a soft and sinister voice.  “But I don’t want to go elsewhere for my dinner. I have already caught my dinner.”

“Who…who are you?”

He raised one hand to his chest in mock dismay. “You don’t recognize me? Have I been forgotten that quickly?”

Something about the way he spoke made Tatianna think that she knew this ragged Highlander. Was it his condescending tone or his air of superiority? That’s when his name popped into her head. “Red Ferret!”

Standing to his full height, he rubbed his clawed hands together. “I have dreamed about this day since you first stepped inside our village. The day when you used your witch powers on Hawkeye and the rest, turning them against me. Only I saw through your spell. Only I recognized your true form.”

Tatianna quickly took stock of her situation. It was not very good. She was at a severe disadvantage. She was tired, bleeding and suffering from a broken arm and several broken ribs. Jolts of pain raced up her body every time she moved. She had to buy some time until she could figure a way out.

Seeing Red Ferret begin to advance on her, she asked, “What do you mean my true form?”

Stopping in mid-stride at her question, a look of confusion crossing his half-human face; it was almost as if he could not believe that she didn’t know what he meant. Red Ferret spoke slowly. “You are the emissary of evil, the one foretold in the legend of the Chosen One.”

Raising her left eyebrow, Tatianna racked her brain for the legend he was referring to. She had never heard of an emissary of evil; not in any of the legends she had ever read or heard. Furrowing her eyebrows in confusion she asked, “What do you mean? What emissary of evil?”

“You mock me! You know the legend!” Taking a step toward, Red Ferret raised his hands threateningly.           

Shaking her head from side to side, she unconsciously scooted backwards. Wincing in pain with the movement of her body, Tatianna blurted out through clenched teeth. “I assure you, I don’t know of any legend that talks of an emissary of evil.”

Red Ferret stopped moving but he was only about three feet away, well within his striking range. Squatting down, a slight shiver ran up his body as he returned to his human form. “You really don’t know of any legends referring to the emissary of evil?”

Seeing him change into human form, Tatianna thought to herself, ‘That’s a good sign. But I must keep him talking until I can figure something out.’ 

Looking into his dark eyes, she shook her head. Using her sweetest and most submissive voice, “No, I don’t. Would you tell me about it?”

Rubbing his chin for a moment, Red Ferret grinned. It was not a comforting grin; it was the smile of a predator taking his time before killing his prey.

‘It’s not the warm smile of Hawkeye or the friendly smile of Bravefoot or even the fatherly smile of Anasazi but it’s a smile and that’s better than nothing.’

Sitting down cross-legged on the snow-covered ground, Red Ferret looked to the heavens as if searching for the right words. A moment later, he began his story. “After Luna brought my ancestors to this land, she left us. Some say there was another battle with the Arachne in which both the gods and the Arachne were imprisoned. I don’t know if I believe that but I do know something took Luna away from us for we have been unable to directly contact her for many years.”

 Tatianna knew this was true but chose not to interrupt Red Ferret. She just nodded her head slightly and listened intently.

“Many years passed and the prophecy of the Chosen One grew. All members of the Highland Nation hoped and prayed that their pack or tribe would be the one chosen by Luna to have her son. For he would be the one that would right the wrongs done to this world and would bring Luna back. This would bring great honor to his tribe.” 

Picking up a stick, Red Ferret began to draw a circle in the snow.

“But Terreth was not created by Luna or her sisters. Hyperion, Nox and Terra created it; they knew the true secret of the universe.” Pausing, Red Ferret glanced around at the silent snow covered forest. Lowering his voice, he whispered, “And so do I. Would you like to know the true secret of the universe?” 

Again he paused, this time he studied Tatianna. She was cradling her left arm close to her body, while her breathing was shallow and ragged from her broken ribs. Pain was written all over her beautiful face. Unmoved by sympathy, Red Ferret moved closer, his voice taking on a harder edge. “Would you like to know the secret?”

The odor of fresh blood and unwashed fur wafted through the small space between them. Forcing herself not to gag at the smell, Tatianna nodded her head. Anything to keep him talking. Just then, a slight sound reached her sharp elven ears. It sounded like a twig snapping.

Red Ferret, seeming not to hear it, rubbed his hands together in excitement as he leaned backwards slightly. “The true secret of the universe is actually very simple. In all things, there must be a balance.” 

Proudly and with an air of arrogance, he pointed at the circle he had drawn in the snow.

Glancing down, Tatianna noticed it resembled the ancient symbol of the Dhyana; three teardrops chasing each other inside a circle. It was known throughout Terreth as the sign of the balance.

 Red Ferret continued. “You cannot have light without darkness, or good without evil, or right without wrong. Everything must have a balance. So, if we are to have a great warrior known as the Chosen One to fight on the side of good, don’t we have to have one that will fight on the side of evil?”

Tatianna thought about that for a moment. There was a crazy logic to Red Ferret’s story but something was not right in his reasoning. Trying her best to keep him talking, she looked deep into his brown eyes. “Red Ferret, I’m curious. What makes you think I’m the Emissary of Evil?”

As Red Ferret stared back into her blue eyes, he felt something stir in his soul. His mind began to race with doubt. A little voice deep inside his head spoke to him.
‘What if you are wrong? What if she’s not the Emissary? Or better yet, how can she be the Emissary if she is to be the mother of the Chosen One?’

Red Ferret stood up quickly. His eyes were wide and his movement’s jerky as he quickly glanced around the surrounding forest. Seeing nothing but trees and the white snow he calmed slightly. Turning back to his fallen prey, he studied the beautiful elf. Something the voice had said seemed to make sense. Scratching his chin, he shook his head to clear it of such doubts, he was sure she was the Emissary. 

The voice came again. ‘Are you sure she is the Emissary? What if you’re wrong?’

Raising his hands high overhead, he yelled into the forest. “No, she is the Emissary and that means she must die!”

Tatianna’s voice soft and calm cut through the cold evening air. “But how do you know I’m the Emissary?”

Calming quickly, Red Ferret glanced down at her. Furrowing his brow, he answered her question. “You fit the description. The prophecy of the Emissary goes like this: When the Darkness returns from whence it was banished and the Gods are helpless to act, beware of the South. For an Emissary of Evil will come in the guise of a friend, stealing itself into the heart of the Chosen One and his people. Part warrior, part wizard and all rogue, the Emissary will be the true offspring of Darkness; fair of sight and foul of soul. The Emissary will betray the Nine and play a pivotal role in the final battle that will seal the fate of Terreth for all eternity.” 

Rubbing his hands together, Red Ferret shifted back into his hybrid form. “Well, my dear, it’s been lovely but I’m afraid that for the betterment of the Highland Nation, I have to kill you.”

Tatianna tried to concentrate. She wanted to call on the magic at her disposal but she just couldn’t concentrate. The pain in her arm and ribs were just too much.

Reaching down with both hands, Red Ferret grabbed her around the neck. His grip felt like a vise as he lifted her off the ground. Tatianna couldn’t breathe, she felt the blackness of eternity hovering on the edge of consciousness but each passing second allowed it to come closer and closer. With her good arm, she repeatedly hit Red Ferret. But in her weakened condition, they could not stop his hands as they squeezed tighter and tighter.

She was just about to black out when she was thrown violently to the side. Landing hard, pain race through her body but the pain jolted her back to consciousness. Looking up, she saw the hybrid form of Red Ferret engaged with a large black raven, Corax the Black Arrow had arrived!

The initial jolt of pain to her body had caused her to regain consciousness but now the pain in her arm and ribs were almost overwhelming. Her mind was beginning to slow down. She wanted nothing more than to close her eyes and forget about the pain. She was just about to give in to the coolness of unconsciousness when she heard a soothing voice in her head.

‘If you pass out now, you will be helpless. You will become a prize for the victor. Is that what you truly want?’

The thought of being someone’s prize angered her and drove the blackness from her mind. The only thought that she had at all was getting to safety. Gritting her teeth at the pain, she crawled further from the fight and cursed herself the whole way. “Damn it, Tatianna! Move your ass! You didn’t survive being chased by Blackfang by giving up! Now, crawl!” 

She crawled and scooted for what seemed like hours, which were actually only a few minutes. The distance, which seemed so great to Tatianna, was in reality only about twenty yards. Positioning her back to the truck of an extremely large fir tree, she turned back to watch the fight between the two warlords.

Corax the Black Arrow had shifted into his hybrid form. This gave him the size advantage but Red Ferret had the advantage of speed. Corax’s head was somewhere between that of a man’s and that of a raven’s, with human eyes and a beak of a raven. His beak was large and sharp, which he used to snap and peck at Red Ferret’s head. At first, it seemed as if neither could gain the advantage on the other. For every attack Red Ferret made, Corax was able to block or counter with his own attack. And the same could be said for Red Ferret. Neither warlord could gain a true advantage.