Elemental Battles: Rage » Places

         Through the thick brush and grass as near limitless trees cover the sky, the group presses onward as the forest itself parts ways. What seemed like forever, Durandel spoke up, "So, are we nearly there?" He asked. Mydnyte shrugged his shoulders in response to this question. "I'm not sure, I've been here before but I came from a different path." He said. It was then the Aven chimed in with a much needed update. "Fret not, we're here." He said just as the last brush moved aside to reveal a busy village. Avens were milling about as lights came from hollowed out trees. It seemed they have entered Springwood's marketplace as stands held produce and trinkets with vendors overlooking their wares and selling them to the public. It was almost difficult to imagine that a war was going on.

Yet the hustle and bustle of daily life suddenly halted as the foregin group of wolves entered their homes. It didn't take long for the Aven to sniff out a Canicus as the public bared their fangs and growled at Durandel. The Lava Wolf became nervous as they were lead deeper into the village. He worried that these Aven will attack him on sight for being what he was. "Fret not, Master Canicus, they will not harm you. Not since you've entered with us." The Aven reassured. He then brought them to a particularly big, hollowed tree with an over hanging signage called the Springwood Inn. "It is here that I shall leave you, I know the owners they are kind and hospitable and will surely give you lodgings." He explained.

"Yes, except we have nothing to pay them with." Mydnyte interjected. "True, that is why Fox went to the trouble to make for you and your fellows, reservations." Mydnyte was bit taken back from the news and curiously he asked, "We were expected to arrive at this time?" "Not exactly, Fox didn't know when but did give the owners specific instructions but that is all I know. For now, I leave, please enjoy your stay here in Springwood. Alright Wolves back to the Woods!" He ordered as their escorts left their company returning to their previous duties. Mydnyte looked over his shoulder to the rest, "Well let's head inside and see what Fox has done for us." He said as the group entered the establishment.

Once inside they asked at the wolf behind the counter and apparently it was true. Fox some weeks earlier had explained to the Innkeeper that a Kamarian named Mydnyte would come with companions to meet with her a few weeks later. Fang remembered talking to Fox about it but never expected she would go out of her way to do this for them. While their group was larger than expected, they had enough room for them all. The Innkeeper lead them to their rooms and bid them a good stay. And their stay would be a bit long, they were a week ahead of schedule and would have to wait in Springwood for Fox to arrive.

_____________________

Nearly the week has passed, and they stay in Springwood is mainly pleasant. The Aven did little to give Nova, Blue, or even the Kamarians trouble. As for Durandel, he was often met with suspicion and angry stares. The Canicus did learn from biting tongues about what the Aven's call the Burning Edge. In the Northernmost part of the Acacias the Tenneth attacked with an impressive force of troops. The Avens were easily outnumbered but thanks to their knowledge of the Woods and the power of their element the Forest Wolves pushed back the Tenneth assault with minimal losses. The Fire Wolves were outraged they had the superior numbers but they couldn't even push past five miles of the Woods. Their Commander, enraged at this humiliation ordered his forces to begin burning down the trees. This method did provide assaults as the Tenneth managed to push deeper into the Acacias.

This forced the Aven Alpha to intervene and with a host of Forest Wolves, created a defense so strong they managed to block the Tenneth advance. They did this by moving the Dendrium Trees creating a wall of steel-like wood that was very resistant to burning. The Tenneth lost many Wolves during their foray into the Woods and finding themselves on the losing side of this battle retreated. Yet the damage was done as a good portion of the Woods were lost to the raging forest fires that Tenneth continued to perpetuate. This new forest edge has been dubbed the Burning Edge and restoration to these lost woods has been a slow-going process. Coaxing new plant growth has found itself a most difficult challenge. Never before have the plants been so ignorant of the Avens leading towards a scare that their element is weakening. This fear has since been translated into anger at the Fire Pack for their rampant deforestation of their home.

So Durandel spent most of his time indoors trying to avoid the burning glares of the Forest Wolves. It was the eve of Fox's arrival and as Durandel laid alone in his room there was a sudden skitter across the floor. Durandel perked his head up as the dim light of the lantern partially illuminated the room. The Lava Wolf wasn't sure what it was but didn't particularly care, it couldn't have been a little squirrel or something. Before he could completely dismiss it a shadow of movement brushed across his vision as the wolf perked up again. "Gods, I am going to get any rest tonight?" He complained as he stood up. It was then a crow appeared as it bravely showed itself to Durandel, even squawking at him.

The Bird walked up to Durandel as if on a mission as it stared up at the wolf. It's talons reached for him as if trying to signal him to come closer. It seemed the crow wished to give a letter to Durandel as the bird untied a knot detaching the string and paper from it's left leg. The Canicus was of course confused at this strange display and wondered just what was going on. The Crow sat there as it motioned it's head to the paper trying to coax Durandel into picking it up. Slowly, Durandel picked up the paper and with it a caw it seemed to have congratulated him. Durandel opened the paper and could see that it was note, from Ezra! Quickly Durandel began to read the note.

"Durandel, my friend, I am not long for this world, by the time you read this I am probably dead. It is my sincerest hopes that this letter reaches you in time to do some good. Much has happened while you were away on mission, one of which happens to be my incarceration, which is where I met my Jivanta cellmate, Chaim. We took a big gamble on this one. Once we managed to lure the Crow to our cell window, we had to use rats to steal for us pen and paper. From there Chaim sent the Crow to look for you and we worried it might not find you, but if you are reading this letter then our gamble payed off. Now it's your turn.

Durandel, Prometheus has done it, earlier this week Cendrillion named him Supreme Commander of his army and now Prometheus has access to hundreds of soldiers. I can only shudder to think what he might do with such numbers...actually, I had the misfortune of finding out. Prometheus's ambitions didn't end with his newly acquired title, he sought to become the Alpha himself. His new position left him dangerously close to Cendrillion and Prometheus used it well. By the way I write this letter, I'm sure you could probably understand what has happened. Cendrillion is dead...Prometheus is our new Alpha..."

"No..."

End of Chapter One

         

Nova

Focusing on the conversation up ahead, Nova almost missed Blue's question, and was glad when she repeated part of it. Clearly she didn't like his previous answer, as her voice was beginning to harden again. So much for jokes. "Well, if you hadn't figured out by how I initially treated you, she was quite distant. I don't know if I ever show any emotion except pain, but I figured that she was an Alva, and that kind of thing was natural" Nova explained candidly, doing little to water down the truth.

Still, it did seem a little harsh, and so he added that "she did have her heroic times, more than once. She threw her neck out to save the rest of us without any hopes of compensation or reward. When you threw yourself into the fight when we first met, I had no problem believing you were her, you acted so much like her. So I guess if you want to know what she was like, look at yourself."

Wondering how that last part would blow over, listening to the eerie howls echo through the forest, as the party began to hook left through the trees. No wonder the Tenneth burned places like this down, these trees were suffocating without a guide.

         

Battledemon

Blue looked over at Durandel, her mind already processing the information with what info she had already accumulated about Nova and the others. She realized, something.... and that was when she growled unexpectedly at the leaves moving around them. Her walls came back up and she seemed to distant herself from her present company yet again. "Did my mo- Battledemon," she caught herself before she finished the word and quickly replaced it was the more formal name of her mother. She growled darkly again, the shadows around her thickening with a suffocating hatred. "Battledemon, what was she like?"

She needed more information about who her mother really was and why she did what she did.... to her. What mother would.... Blue looked at Nova, expecting an answer to her question.

         

Nova

Taking advantage of Blue's tensing up, Nova quickly grabbed another mouthful of the smaller needles that revealed themselves when she changed position. It wasn't too difficult to keep them out of his tongue, he just had to grab them at the right angle. The hard part was knowing just how hard to pull.

"Heh, and you think I am?" Nova responded once he got his mouth clear, inspecting her backside to see if there were any other offending needles. "The only times I have opened my mouth is to wind you up or to get Durandel turned into a gem slave. There's a reason I usually travel alone. You want a good travel companion, look to Khan up there. He has the patience of the gods" Nova said back, looking from the back of her head up to where Durandel was walking up ahead, before walking up next to her to keep ahead of the closing trail. The Aven's warning was coming true, as they moved the foliage seemed to wrap around were they just were, concealing any tracks they were making.

         Durandel and Mydnyte

As they followed along the forestry continued to part before them revealing more of the trail. Durandel then thought about the legend of moving trails found in some forests. This must be what the stories were talking about, he just hopes they won't end up lost indefinitely like some of the wolves in those stories. Durandel then noticed Nova appearing beside him talking to him about their current predicament. "Yeah." He responded to Nova. He then looked up to see Mydnyte following close behind the head Aven. He then looked over to Nova, "Well, Mydnyte has always been a sharp one, right?" He rhetorically asked.

Durandel's attention was brought over to Blue who seemed to be quite upset. He isn't surprised, porcupine quills do hurt and walking with some stuck inside of ya isn't pleasant. He watched as Nova went in to help remove some of those quills. "You alright?" Fang asked. "You look distracted." Durandel flipped his head around to see Fang addressing him. "Oh, no, sorry it was just Blue...that porcupine stuck her good." Durandel responded. "Ah yeah, that happens sometimes. I remember one time a friend of mine bit down on one of them. It seemed like he was picking quills out of his mouth for days." Fang then chuckled. "Anyway, I'm sure she'll be alright her pride might be bruised a little." Fang added.

"Yeah." Durandel spoke as he looked back at the two. Nova seemed to be joking around with Blue. Durandel couldn't help but wonder why she was out on her own to begin with. Was her parents not around for her? And where is her pack? Did she even grow up with the other Alvas? And who was her father? The pup of BattleDemon is quite the mystery herself now that he thinks about it. "How much further do we have to go?" Mydnyte asked. "Not too much farther, since Springwood lies on the outer edges of the Acacias." the Aven answered. "Just keep up with us, we're closing the trail behind us as we move along and we don't want to have to come looking for ya if you get lost." the Aven warned.

         

Nova

There was just enough meat left on the deer for Nova to satisfy his hunger by the time he strolled over to the others. Not enough to get full, five hungry wolves is a lot to feed, but it would be easier walking without a full stomach. Finished, he wiped off his snout and followed Mydnyte's order to get moving along. Nova wasn't exactly sure where they were, a thought unsettling to a scout, but he figured it was somewhere southeast of the canyons, where they left Ash. Or, er, where he left Ash. Perhaps he had been a bit a jerk, now that he had a night to let his emotions wear off. But she would be safer back home, eh? More Dimitrios around to help with her canyon sized screw ups.

Deciding to test the waters after their confrontation this morning, Nova decided to field a question to the nearby BattleDemon, er, Blue. "So you must have done a bit of traveling yourself to end up here. Ever been to the Aven lands?" Nova asked as they walked.

         __________________

Deep within the heart of the Vulcan Mountains, lies Lake Eldrid, the Lake of Lava. It is here above the banks of this fiery pool is the unassuming town of Lakeside. Within this town, lies in wait, a revolution, one that is soon to come full circle. A building sits, occupied by local war hero and celebrity, Prometheus and his candid followers. The large, towering wolf enters the headquarters of his faction, leaving the locals cheering and crying out his name. They were so eager to please.

The Prometheans as these wolves are fond of calling themselves, part ways to give their hero ample space to move at his leaisure. Some though are eager and they too cry out his name. Prometheus nods his head and gives a smile, warming their war weary hearts. It was then he was approached by two wolves, his top Prometheans, the brothers Bero and Borvo. "Ah, Bero, Borvo, how goes the movement?" Prometheus asked. "As you suspected sir, you're recent ambush of Captain Dice's forward command has left the Ausi retaliation rather demoralized...public opinion has never been higher!" Bero proclaimed ecstatically. "Yes, another quarter of the population are proud Prometheans!" Borvo spoke in equal pep. "Good, good, all good news." Prometheus said jovially. "Yep, ol' Alpha Cendrillion can no longer ignore the people! You'll be head of the war effort in no time!" Bero added.

The three entered into Prometheus's private chambers as he suddenly stopped and sniffed the air. He then smiled, "You two are dismissed...keep up the good work, now go spread the word." Prometheus ordered. Bero and Borvo stood tall, ears, and tails and all as they marched off closing the chamber doors. Prometheus lumbered his way to the center of the room as he sat upon his chair. "Shadow Devil." Prometheus spoke to the room in a disagreeable manner. "White Smoke." A voice responded in an equally aggressive manner. Out from the shadows came, Kaveh, Alpha of the Kamaria Pack.

"I apologize for not getting up to greet you, but I'm sure you understand." Prometheus spoke. "Come, come, Prometheus you're still not sore from what I've done to you?" Kaveh asked in a provocative manner. He barked, "You have some gall to show you're face to mine!" Kaveh then sneered, "Whatever I left of that face you mean?" Kaveh bitingly responded. Prometheus growled, a rumbling and terrible growl. "I don't presume you're here to insult me Kaveh!? What does he want? Obviously it couldn't have waited if he sent you to infiltrate the Vulcans." Prometheus grumbled. "He wants an update, Prometheus, and he didn't want to hear it from some underling you have bumbling their way out to see him...it's far too risky." Kaveh answered. "Bah! I'll answer him but I don't need to be bullied by you to do it!" Prometheus snapped.

Kaveh growled, "Tell us...Prometheus, how goes your infiltration of the Tenneth? Are you nearing the completion of you're task?" Kaveh asked. Prometheus gulped, as fear slightly ran down his spine, "Everything...is going as planned. The wolves here have all but rallied behind me...they think me as a hero and...they clamor to see me raise them out of war and bloodshed. And soon I shall, my supporters in the Council now outnumber my opponents, thanks to singling out Ezra and Durandel as traitors. Public opinion of Cendrillion has reached all time lows and if he expects to regain any favor with the Pack...he will have no choice but to swear me in as Supreme Commander of the Tenneth Army." Prometheus spoke resoundingly. Kaveh chuckled, "Good, he is very pleased." Prometheus looked about the room, "Is he...here?" He asked hesitantly. "Not in person...but his powers extend far, he understands you through me." Kaveh grinned. "Still afraid are we? Don't worry you will never return to those prisons again...soon you will have undisputed control of the Tenneth, just keep up the deception." Kaveh then scratched his head with an extended claw.

"You have piqued his interest though." Kaveh added. "What do you mean?" Prometheus asked confused. "He recognizes the name of Durandel, it belonged to one of those fool wolves who escaped our original prison. He's quite interested in what you've done with him?" Kaveh asked. "Well, he went out on a mission to speak with some Ausi scum he knew. It was because of his affiliation with one that helped me to pin him as a traitor to the Pack." Prometheus explained. "I've sent some of my wolves after him, I'm not sure if they've captured him like I asked...they haven't reported in for a while now, that troubles me. Perhaps I should send more wolves?" Prometheus trailed off. "He doesn't want you to worry about that...odds are they'll come to you." Kaveh reassured. "Really? How does he know that?" Prometheus asked even more worried. "He doesn't. But he understands the kind of wolves they are, and they are quite the anomaly, it's rather hard to find true heroes in this day and age." Kaveh looked over to Prometheus narrowing his eyes.

"These wolves are a problem and he doesn't like problems. When they show themselves, and they might, he wants you to kill them. Once that is done then little else will stand in our way...all of Nigerius will soon be ours." Kaveh grinned. It was then knock came at his door. "Prometheus!? Are you alright? We heard barking!" Bero exclaimed. "Everything is alright! Go on about your business!" Prometheus ordered. The wolves walked away. "Kaveh...," Prometheus turned to see the Kamarian no longer there. He then gave a large exhale.

         Schemeko

Schemeko grinned at the thought as he looked at Shamus. He thought about going himself but, no, he needs to bail out those two imbeciles first. Then again the urge to cause some trouble may in fact hamper the Saffron. No, he will need to send someone dependable and trustworthy for such a thing. There was only one wolf that came to mind. "Perhaps I shall take you up on that offer." He then mused. "They should reveal themselves not too long from now." As soon as he said that, from the direction that Shamus was heading, two Hemlocks came into view. "Well here they are now, punctual as ever." Schemeko gleamed as the two Hemlocks reached the two.

One Hemlock, a she-wolf, possessed the more common green fur and sported a sour face. As for the other, he had a less common fur color color to the Hemlocks, a light gray. The She-Wolf replied in an ill-disposed manner, "Hello, Schemeko." Schemeko merely smiled, "Hello Sadie, and Hello Felonious!" The Gray Wolf, Felonious took a bow. "Greetings. Who's your guest?" He asked in a debonair manner. "This my friends is my new acquaintance Shamus! Like me, he too has a fondness for schemes, he's got a particularly underhanded one that he intends to enact." Schemeko responded.

"And I should care, why?" Sadie asked sounding as unpleasant as one could be. "Well, I don't expect you to care but I do hope that Felonious is a different matter." Felonious looked at him curiously. "You see my friend, I think we could form something worthwhile with this wolf and I would like you to, as put it to me, keep tabs on him?" Schemeko asked. "You would like me to accompany him?" Felonious asked. "Of course! There's no one I would trust more! After all I can't rely on the two imbeciles, and while lovely Sadie is efficient, well, lets be honest she makes for a terrible company." Schemeko laughed at Sadie's expense, causing her to give a bone chilling growl. "Now, now, now, sense of humor? Remember?" Schemeko said with a smile as Sadie scoffed. Felonious looked at Shamus and then nodded. "Of course, is there anything special I should do when we get to wherever he's going to?" He asked. "Nothing specific just be a good traveling companion and of course keep me updated if you can?" Schemeko responded. "Alright." "Alright! It's settled! Now if anything comes up I'll send for ya if I need you back real bad. Now off, off you two, have fun with your mischief!" Schemeko laughed.


"Come on, Sadie, we need to help Wylie and Vander again." Schemeko spoke as he wandered off. Sadie merely groaned at the prospect as she lagged behind him. Felonious then looked at Shamus and with a smile, "Well, whenever you are ready?" He said.

         

Nova

Annoyed that Ash was boxing him in, Nova returned her yelling with a scowl of his own. "You want to know what? That what is that you can go home now. Sorry again for tricking you, and thanks again for saving us from that landslide you created. Hope you have a nice gem filled life, Ash" Nova said brusquely, though honestly. Pushing past her to catch up with the others, and giving her a literal cold shoulder as his fur touched hers, he gave out a pent up sigh.

He considered asking her to pass on a note to his parents that he was okay the next time she saw an Ausi down here, but she didn't seem to be the type to do favors without a price, and he had nothing to give her. Ayesh, was he really going to walk away from home again? Here he was, practically at the base of the mountains, and yet he was walking away. He told himself that he was protecting them by trying to stop this war, but long term goals don't always satisfy short term feelings.

         Mydnyte

The Kamarians made short work of the Tenneth they pulled out of the frey. Mydnyte looked from afar and saw the battle was escalating. It was then he noticed BattleDemon making a break for it. "Curious." He spoke. "What's curious?" asked his ally, Fang Hunter. "That an Alva would retreat from the face of battle." Mydnyte answered point with his muzzle at the running Dey. Fang nodded but it was then the rumbling began. "What is it!?" Fang shouted. Mydnyte looked over head to see the rocks beginning to fall.

"It's a rock slide! To the shadows!" Mydnyte barked. The Kamarians disappeared within the shadows trying to flee. The quake made it difficult for Mydnyte to reach the others, by the time he did they too would be crushed. Fearing the worse, the only thing he could hope is for his friends to survive. "To your allies?" Fang asked as they ran. "No, we can't reach them in time without being crushed...I'm afraid we must flee ourselves if we are to survive. To the Alva, we can at least make sure she is safe." Mydnyte answered as they moved down the cliffs.

They followed the bloodied paw prints of Dey, her scent fresh in their noses. "The Alva runs far." Fang spoke. "Yes...she's running her self ragged, look, the blood is her own. Be wary of the rocks." Mydnyte said concerned over her well being. "Hurry, we must reach her before she runs herself to death!" Mydnyte barked. The two Kamaria Wolves picked up the pace. Eventually Mydnyte was gaining on BattleDemon as he called out, "BattleDemon...BATTLEDEMON STOP!!" He shouted. He hoped she would listen.

         

Nova

Taking a step back from the situation even as he began to run forward, Nova couldn't help by wonder if he had been cursed with bad luck for working with a Cancius. The absurdity of this whole situation was appalling, and in the perspective of all that had happened that day, Nova actually felt his fear of the impending wave of doom coming their way start to melt away. He barely even registered Dey's snark or Durandel's desperation. Really, could anything else REALLY go wrong in this situation? It really couldn't get any worse than this. He even started to chuckle as he thought of different ways it could get worse.

"Oh sure, sure, I think it'll work, Khan! And I think it is actually a volcano too, swarming with Alva and soon to be struck with Borak thunder! Don't forget an impending Dimitrios landslide!" Nova laughed unseemly, most of what he said getting drowned out in the roar of the wave. He then started to wheeze since running and laughing don't exactly go together. Two weeks ago the most danger he had been in was deciding if he wanted the chicken or the fish for dinner. He had had his life in peril so many times that day, that he refused to be angry at it any more. Besides, it looked like they were going to make it out of the flood plain. They were getting to be in the rocky wasteland leading up to the Onatah's that he had run into those Ausi raiders earlier.

"Up we go, lets ride it out!" Nova shouted, a little more levelheaded as they started up the hill.

         "Farewell, mate. Good luck to you" Nova said simply, as he watched the other wolf saunter off. As he turned to return to his own pack, the ice wolf tried to imagine the pain of not having a home to return to. Surely the lava wolf had a family, what would it be like not being able to return to them, nevertheless the friends, the home, and just the familiarity he was not permitted to go home to. Even in all of his wanderings, Nova always knew he could return to the Sharikeres with a heroes welcome from his friends. Hopefully it will be the same this time.

Nova decided to stick to his original plan and cross the river as soon as possible, as going along with the Tenneth upstream meant chancing the Tenneth again. The most dangerous pack he would encounter on the other side were the Hemlocks, their marshes skirting the Arlyne lands right next to the river. He had discovered last time he was in the area that, after Nernie Falls, the river slowed significantly, and the resulting stagnation formed the wetlands that the swamp wolves were so fond of.

A quick and easy ice bridge and Nova had forded the river, and from there he turned North-East, chancing the inland area as the quickest route back to the mountains. With any luck, he could make it to the Dimitrios before nightfall, that way he wouldn't have to camp in any hostile or unknown territory. What was he going to say when he go back? Stop attacking the guys who almost killed our alpha, raided our homes, and tried to have me killed to boot? Nova spent the next few hours trying to see how he could put an eloquent spin on that troublesome piece of information. And the more he thought about it, the more he realized there was a reason he was not a public speaker.