Bloodlines

[Bro-man]

Alright everyone this is my new story of. Took some time but I like to you know that I had help on the way. Proofreading was done by 'The Grim Reapers Friend' and he helped me out significantly. So, without any further ado, here is my new story.

Bloodlines

Prologue...

From the words of Thorum's journal

It's been many months since the fateful day. Every general, soldier, monster, machine, and warrior were presented in that great battle; and one that would have decided the fate of the war. The alliance had come together to push back an onslaught from Utgar's forces. The battle seemed to be against our favor and we managed to hold out until reinforcements from Einar arrived. However, what Utgar and the Alliance didn't expect, for they never thought it would be possible, was a force that would consume them all. Valkrill arrived and sought the destruction of all his enemies. His black orcs and fel demons swept across the battlefield and attacked all sides, causing much chaos in their wake. In a desperate move to counter the unrelenting horde, Sgt. Drake Alexander and Grimnak the blue grut warriors, fought side by side against Valkrill's horde. Both sides, working together- it was something that was unheard of, and no one thought that it would last. But, despite all odds, it did. Both Drake and Grimnak manage to hold together and defeat Valkrill's force and end the terrible battle.

With both sides sustaining losses and the alliance fractured, it will take time to heal and regroup from such a battle. But as I lay awake in this late hour I can't help but wonder what is happening within Utgar's ranks. Who else might have a change of heart? Who else would be willing to work, putting aside their differences, to come together, for the greater good? These questions will be answered for another time, however, for there are more pressing matters that I must write of.

It's been nearly five months since that great battle and much has happened during that time. Vydar no longer wishes to be a part of the alliance and has separated himself from the cause. The other generals believe that Valkrill is behind this and are trying to convince Vydar to return to the cause. Other than this development everything else on the battlefield has been very quiet. There has been no serious activity within Utgar's lands He is most likely recuperating the losses he has sustained, but something else is amiss. Utgar has not sent any large armies our way or to Einar's lands. It unsettles me that he has not made a move since then. I greatly fear that a new force is being brought forth but no confirmed reports have been made. Jandar has sent extra patrols along his borders to keep an eye on any incursions. Sgt. Drake Alexander is also part of the patrols, heading into the northwest province of Nastralund. His route leads him near an old chapel, which is dangerously close to where Utgar has his patrols. I pray for his safety and hope that the beasts of the wilds will not bring him harm.

***
Northwest province, chapel grounds...

This part of the land had known peace for so many years. Even in the beginning the land was unscathed and was well protected. The people residing here are mostly farmers. However, they are hard workers, and they produce the largest crops for all of Nastralund. Facing no serious threat from the war, the villagers believed that the war would never come to them. However, not all things last forever, and on this cool moonlit night, right in front of the chapel, Drake and his men would be in the fight of their lives.

***

"The undead are advancing!" One of the airborne called out as he fired his machine gun against two undead skeletons. The creatures quickly fell from the hail of bullets.

"Stay together guys! Don't let them get close!" Sgt. Drake yelled out as he pulled his pistol and shot point blank into a zombie. As the creature went down Drake looked to face the next opponent. He stopped to watch as more of the undead kept coming from the nearby forest. Drake's eyes widened as more of the undead marching towards them, their numbers never seemed to dwindle. As he fired his pistol at the next target he kept remembering the day's events. His patrol consisted of over fifty airborne: top men that had tasted their fair share of the war, and those that he trusted the most. When on patrol the villagers had told them of some disturbance at the chapel. Sgt. Drake, his men, and a small handful of Kyrie volunteers, went to the chapel and found something very wrong. The graves from the nearby cemetery have been disturbed and the caskets undone. The volunteers were frightened but Drake told everyone to search the grounds and to stick together. Only moments after he gave the order a cry made everyone jump with fright. They all turned and one of the volunteers was attacked from behind by an undead skeleton, its teeth sinking deep into the kyrie's neck. After that everything went downhill with undead appearing out of the forest and attacking them. Fear has gripped the hearts of the volunteers. The sight of their friend being torn apart, something that they had never witnessed before; the sheer brutality that the enemy would bring upon them, made them cower in fear. Soon many began running, hoping to outrun the undead. This delighted the undead, however, and they continued to press forward and chase them down. Drake and his men held the line against the undead horde but they were all running low on ammo.

"Everyone pull back to the chapel!" Drake yelled as he slowly moved backwards toward the chapel doors. The men complied and slowly backed themselves toward the chapel, continuing to fire at the advancing undead.

"Drake! The villagers are distraught! We got to get them out of here."

Drake turned to his right and saw one of his men, with a thick mustache, wielding a shotgun.

"Mullen! Get the villagers into the chapel! We got to keep them alive!" Sgt. Drake yelled while grabbing his sword and lopping off the head of another zombie. The body soon crumbled to the ground before Drake turned and sliced a skeleton clean in half.

"With pleasure!" Mullen yelled back while firing his shotgun into a zombie, blowing its head clean off.

As the fighting continued, unbeknownst to Drake and his men, a force was rapidly moving within the forest, heading in the direction of the fighting. The figures moved fast, faster than horses on the plains. Their claws went deep into the dirt as they moved, propelling them forward. Their hind legs pressed deeply into the ground. When they kicked the ground with each step they brought up dirt into the air with them, making them surge forward to reach their target. At the lead one lone figure moved forward to a tree and climbed up. Once at the top the figure bounded from one tree branch to the other, traveling much faster above the ground. After several minutes the figure stopped at the last tree, overlooking the battle below. The figure was joined by the others, both in the trees and down below. High in the sky the clouds overhead began to part, revealing the full moon. The moon's light began to come forth and reveal them to the others' presence. The lead figure smiled and howled to the night sky, making all the combatants turn to the forest. The wolves had come.

"Everyone into the chapel! Now!" Drake yelled as the men ran for the chapel doors. The wolves descended from the forest and charged into battle. Blood would be spilled this night.

***

Nearly twenty years ago...

Planet Feylund, 7th age...

A sharp cry pierced the night sky within the great forest. It came from a large den, resided near a cliff of a mountain, with many wolves guarding the entrance. Another sharp cry pierced the night air and the wolves continued to wait in silence. Cries like this were not uncommon but were something that many of the older wolves knew by heart. Their Alpha, their leader, was giving birth. Deep inside the den the Alpha was crying as new life was brought forth. She was settled onto a large pile of hay and leaves, making a makeshift bed. Next to her were several female wolves, tending and helping her through the birth. One held the Alpha's paw while another kept some water nearby to help her leader. A third was near her legs, guiding her leader as she prepared to receive the newborn child. Another cry escaped the Alpha and the pain agonized her to her very core. After the cry her head fell to the ground, her body out of energy to spend, sweat pouring down her face.

"Very good Alpha. You're doing good." The wolf holding her paw spoke as she tried to comfort her. The other quickly dampened the alpha's head and removed some of the sweat that was on her brow.

"I can see the head. You have to give one more push." The last wolf spoke and was nodding her head to the others to be prepared.

"It hurts! It hurts!" The Alpha cried and tears welled up in her eyes. This was, after all, her first child.

"I know it hurts Alpha. But just one more push and it will all be over."

Breathing in deeply the Alpha began to push. She could hardly take it as she struggled to breathe out. Then, at once, she cried with all her might before collapsing to the ground once more.

"There, there. It is done." the wolf said as she held the child in her arms. The other wolves looked at their Alpha and were pleased with her, showing her compassion and comfort. Her chest rose up and down, gulping air that became more hoarser with each breath. As the wolf held the child, and after cutting the cord, she smiled and turned to her Alpha.

"It is a girl, Alpha. A girl." She smiled while looking down at the newborn child. The Alpha's breathing soon returned to normal but something was amiss within the room. The wolf holding the newborn was not smiling as she looked at the child before turning to the others. They too showed concern and gave worried looks to one another.

"What is wrong?" The Alpha spoke as her head remained on the bed. "Why isn't she crying?

"Get out of my path! I need to see her! I need to see her!"

A voice yelled out from outside the den and the wolves turned to see another wolf enter inside. He wore small parts of armor along his chest, which has some blood upon it. The wolves lowered their heads as he moved forward.

"Oh my love! Forgive me!" The wolf spoke fast as he came to his wife's side, concern etched in his face for his love.

"I was out hunting with the others when I heard the news. Did I miss it? Am I too late?"

The wolf turned his head to the female who carried his newborn. He froze for a moment as he saw his own child, his firstborn. The child was silent and he could only stare at the new life before him.

"Give her here." The wolf leader spoke and the wolf handed the child over before bowing her head and giving them space. The other two did as well as the wolf leader held the child within his hands. The Alpha raised her head and looked to her beloved.

"Khosumet?" She said while he remained staring at his child.

"Shh, my love. It will be all right." the Darklord said as he brought the child closer to him. He looked at his child, his little one, her eyes closed tightly. She was covered in short brown fur and had small tiny ears and a tiny little muzzle that made him smile as he looked at her. He then closed his eyes before speaking softly to her.

"You are the daughter of a great pack. You are blessed under the great moon goddess, who shines brightly this night. You are a fighter little one. So fight. Fight." As he spoke the three other wolves lowered their heads and closed their eyes. Soft prayers passed from them as their lord remained where he was. A moment passed and nothing happened. They feared the worst until a tiny movement came from the child. A small paw lifted up into the air. A second later the child opened its mouth and cried, its first. The cry filled the room, outside the other wolves perked their heads as they heard the child cries. Khosumet smiled at his newborn and lowered his head to her.

"Listen. Listen to her. A fine set of lungs. She is perfect my love," the Darklord said as he lowered himself down next to his wife, who also was shedding tears of joy. She raised a hand and placed it onto her child. The two held there for a moment as the other wolves exited the den to spread the good news.

"What should we call her my love?" the Alpha said as she continued to hold her child with her beloved. He smiled and he lowered his head and gently rubbed it against hers.

"Rain. Her name shall be Rain."

[TGRF]

Looking good. Apparently I didn't do a very good job proofreading, I'll have to double-check myself next time. (Note to self: Do not proofread at 10:00 PM)
You're prologue has me wondering. It seems that Khosumet has joined the battle against Drake, being for Utgar and all, but could we perhaps be wrong? Only time (and Bro-man) will tell.
~TGRF.

[Bro-man]

Alright here is the new chapter guys I hope you enjoy. Again proofreading was done by TGRF. Without his help I'm not sure where this story will go.

Chapter 1

The Troubling news

Spoiler Alert!

Jandar's castle...

Jandar was in his study, overlooking various reports and day to day business that ran through his kingdom. He never tired of them, in fact he always wanted to know what was happening with his people. Be it a drought, an incursion, unrest in a settlement, he always wished to know what was befalling his people so that he could calm them before disquiet spread among them. He worked over a parchment concerning daily trade between his capital and the roads leading to Ekstrom, where is closest ally, Ullar, resided. In the back of his mind he always knew that his family and Ullar's had been close friends for many years. Recently a small number of skirmishes between Ullar's elves and the Marro had increased in his region and Jandar pledged many Omnicrons and knights to help in support. Ullar was very grateful for this and had sent his strongest hero, the elf wizard Sonlen, in aid to oversee defense. Jandar knew Sonlen well. He and his company, consisting of Sgt. Drake, Raelin, Shiori, and Major Q10, had gone to the deep south to investigate a wellspring and later gained Aquilla and her small army to the Alliance. Sonlen was very powerful and wise, and Jandar knew that he would be beneficial in the defense of his lands.

Going over the next sheet of paper he was interrupted when a sentinel runs through the door and stopped in front of his leader, breathing heavily and trying to catch his breath. Jandar was always prepared for these messengers. It was not uncommon for at least five to ten messengers 'to' come in to give reports or tell of a small disturbance in a local village. On some occasions villagers would even meet with him and have an open court to settle disputes between parties. If one felt wronged then they would seek judgement from their leader and he would have the final say.

"If this is about that incident of the two villagers on the exchange with the milk cow and ten chickens, I told them I would settle it when I am able," Jandar said without looking up from his work, his thoughts more focused on the paper then to his messenger. The sentinel continued to breath heavily as he stepped forward and placed a single parchment on Jandar's desk. The sentinel said nothing and that caused Jandar to stir from his work. Looking at the parchment before him, Jandar opened it to see what it said. Inside he read of the reports of many of the patrols that he had sent out recently. He stopped at the end and his eyes widened when he read the final words on the paper.

'Drake's patrol, Northwest province, no check in or report.'

Jandar raised his head to the sentinel who remained quiet, his breathing returning to normal. Jandar rose from his chair and looked out toward the open window; the sun was still high in the sky. Jandar looked back at the parchment in his hands.

"They have not checked in? How long have they been out of contact?"

"It's been nearly two days, um...sir." the sentinel said as he stood at attention for his leader. Jandar remained where he was before putting the parchment down onto the desk. He then settled himself down onto the chair and brought his index finger to his chin, pondering what might have happened. He knew that Drake was strong and was loved by the men and had respect from the other generals. Losing him would bring down the morale of the men significantly and be a major blow to the army. Jandar began figuring out ways to send a small group or force to investigate. His eyes narrowed as he recalled that his army was spread thin as it was, and wouldn't be able to send any troops to help. In that moment, when Jandar felt he could do nothing, he looked down at the paper on the situation with Ullar. His eyes widened as he remembered Sonlen. Thinking quickly, he brought out a blank sheet of parchment and began writing on it.

"Sentinel!" Jandar said as he continued to write. "You will find Sonlen in the courtyards. Deliver this message to him. Also find the fastest flyer you have and have him meet him at the north gate." Jandar then finished writing the parchment and handed it to the sentinel.

"It will be done." the sentinel said, and he went out the door as fast as he came in. Jandar closed his eyes and sighed. Sonlen was a close friend of Drake's. He would never let him down. As the burden of worry eased off of his mind, Jandar looked at the next paper and began reading it. He groaned to himself as was about the very two villagers and the bad exchange.

"Sentry!" he yelled to his guard at the other side of the doorway. The guard turned his head to look at his leader. "You can bring those two in now." Jandar spoke in softer tone and the guard nodded before leaving from his post. Jandar slumped in his chair and gave a small sigh.

This was going to be a long day.

***

Courtyard...

Everyone was going about their daily business, either be it on their next order, getting new armor, or training in the fields. Everything and everyone was busy in the army. Well, almost everyone. In a far off corner of the courtyard, not too far away from the training grounds, a single man was sleeping off the day's events, his hands resting behind his head. He was an airborne, and a Tommy gun was lying next to him. On his belt buckle was a holster and within it was a Smith and Wesson model 29, a gift from Jandar. The gun was designed to fire .44 magnum cartridges and was strong enough to blow someone's head clean off at close range. The Airborne was quiet with his helmet covering his face, shielding him from the afternoon sun. He wanted nothing more than to relax and he didn't care if he got yelled at for slacking off. The whole war was a pain to him anyway.

Soon he heard a noise that began to get closer and closer. He tried to shut it out by turning on his side. The noise persisted, however, and it just made him more irritated. When it didn't stop he got up from his spot and turned to see who was making the noise, revealing bright blue eyes under his helmet. What he saw was something that made him more confused than angry. A single kyrie was going about calling for someone, carrying a single parchment in his hand. The man smiled as he saw the note and he quickly got up off the ground and grabbed his gun before heading over to the kyrie.

"Hey, you seem to be lost?" the airborne said as he approached the kyrie. He turned to the airborne who gave a warming smile. The kyrie nodded to him.

"Yes, I'm trying to find Sonlen. I was told he would be around here," the kyrie said, looking around again to see if he could spot the elf among any of the groups nearby. The airborne continued to smile to the unsuspecting kyrie.

"There is no need to worry. I know where he is." the Airborne said and the kyrie perked up at the good news. The airborne was lying, but he wanted to have some fun with the gullible kyrie. "I can take it to him if you wish." the airborne said while offering his hand to receive the parchment.

"That is good you know where he is. Can you take me to him?" the kyrie asked; but suddenly the airborne swiped the parchment away before the kyrie could say anything else.

"That is alright, I can take it to him." the airborne smiled as he opened the parchment to see what it read. The kyrie protested and tried to get the parchment back. "That is for Sonlen's eyes only." he protested but the airborne ignored him and began reading the paper. As he read his expression changed from smugness to concern.

" Sonlen,

I need you to perform a service for me. Recently we have received reports from our patrols along the borders that everything is clear. However, Sgt. Drake, who you know so well, has not made a return report. His last contact was two days ago and I need you to investigate this matter. I fear that something has happened and I strongly believe he is in trouble. Please meet a sentinel at the north gate. He will take you the northwest province. God speed and good luck.

Sincerly,

Jandar"

"Give that back!" the sentinel shouted but the airborne continued to ignore him. Just as the sentinel was about to yank it away something grabbed a hold of the parchment in the airborne's hands. The strange force quickly grabbed ahold of the parchment and yanked it away from his hands. The two turned to see the message heading toward a hooded man, standing at least the same height as the airborne. The airborne looked in surprise when he saw a small red dragon on the man's shoulder, apparently fast asleep. He was going to say something until the man lifted his hand up to stop him.

"I was told that you were looking for me?" The man said as the parchment landed in his hands. He spoke in a calm demeanor and it made the airborne uneasy. The sentinel nodded and stood at attention while the airborne remained as he was. The hooded man turned to read the parchment, taking at least ten seconds to read the whole message, before turning his gaze back to them.

"I see the trouble. I shall go at once." The hooded man turned to walk away and the sentinel was ready to take off when the airborne stepped forward.

"Hey! I'm not blind here! There is trouble isn't there? Something has happened to Drake-" before he could finish the hooded man turned and ran straight up to the airborne and placed a hand against his mouth, silencing him before he could say more. The airborne looked down; He hadn't realized how fast the man was. However, the sudden movement has caused his hood to fall off and reveal brown hair that went down his back. The airborne noticed that he had pointed ears and remembered who the sentinel had been trying to find. Sonlen was standing right in front of him, with an angry, and fully awake, dragon on his shoulder. As he lowered his hand the airborne almost stuttered when trying to say his name.

"You... you're..." the airborne started, but Sonlen nodded slowly, before looking straight at him with fierce green eyes.

"I suggest that you be quiet. You're catching unwanted eyes," Sonlen said and the airborne looked around and noticed several soldiers and warriors glancing in their direction and wondering what the fuss was about. The airborne nodded and turned to Sonlen. Instead of the elf staring back at him he saw him turning to the sentinel instead.

"If you would be so kind as to fetch two flyers to meet me at the north gate?" he smiled to the sentinel. He quickly saluted to the elf and took off into the air. Sonlen turned to the airborne and his smile remained, which made the airborne more nervous.

"What is your name, soldier?" he said as he backed away from the airborne.

"My name is Jake."

"Well met. Since you happen to read sensitive information, and have shown some concern for the general's welfare, you will have to accompany me while I'm on my search. Grab you gear and come with me." Sonlen turned around and began walking away from the dumbfounded airborne.

"Wait, I don't need... You can't order me like that! You can't just..." Jake stammered as he tried to make sense of what was happening. Sonlen turned around to meet the airborne, his smile still on his face.

"I don't need to order you, soldier. I will need some company on my trip anyway. Congratulations on volunteering for this special mission." Sonlen began to chuckle while walking away from the baffled man, the little dragon on his shoulder gave a small cry to the sky before leaping into the air and flying beside its master.

Jake stood there in utmost shock. His whole day, his plans for relaxation and comfort had now gone out the door. As he quickly grabbed his gear and went to follow the mysterious elf, only one thought kept going through his mind.

"What the hell just happened?"

[TGRF]

And so the quest begins. It seems kind of strange that Jake wouldn't recognize Sonlen... I mean, how many guys walk around with dragons on their shoulders?
But at any event, I look forward to some action!
~TGRF.
P.S. You seem to be missing some of the corrections. I'll see if I can't make it so that you can just copy and paste the corrected version.

[Bro-man]

Originally Posted by The Grim Reaper's Friend

And so the quest begins. It seems kind of strange that Jake wouldn't recognize Sonlen... I mean, how many guys walk around with dragons on their shoulders?
But at any event, I look forward to some action!
~TGRF.
P.S. You seem to be missing some of the corrections. I'll see if I can't make it so that you can just copy and paste the corrected version.

I followed on all of the corrections you gave. Would you like to point out what I missed?

[TGRF]

I can't run through the whole thing right now, but an example would be:

Going over the next sheet of paper he was interrupted when a sentinel runs through the door and stopped in front of his leader, breathing heavily and trying to catch his breath. Jandar was always prepared for these messengers. It was not uncommon for at least five to ten messengers 'to' come in to give reports or tell of a small disturbance in a local village. On some occasions villagers would even meet with him and have an open court to settle disputes between parties. If one felt wronged then they would seek judgement from their leader and he would have the final say.

Anyway, it's not a big deal. I'll make the next chapters so that you won't have to edit in the changes yourself.
~TGRF.

[Bro-man]

Originally Posted by The Grim Reaper's Friend

I can't run through the whole thing right now, but an example would be:

Anyway, it's not a big deal. I'll make the next chapters so that you won't have to edit in the changes yourself.
~TGRF.

Thank you so much for that.

[Bro-man]

Alright everyone here is the new part! Credit again goes to TGRF for amazing proofreading. Here is the next part and I hope you all enjoy!

Chapter Two

The Search

Spoiler Alert!

Northwest Province, several miles from the Laur border…

The landscape of Nastralund was breathtaking. For miles on end the land was covered in fertile fields that shone with an orange hue from the last light of the sun. A light wind blew across the land, rippling the fields in an endless wave. As the sun began to hit the end of the world, the land began to change colors, changing from the bright and vibrant orange to a cool and breathtaking shade of blue. The stars soon began to shine brightly over the land, casting a low light across it. Everything was absolutely beautiful, and high in the sky four figures were able to witness it, before descending down to the earth below.


The two sentinels carrying their precious cargo landed about a hundred yards away from the main village. Sonlen thanked the sentinels and they quickly departed. Sonlen began walking toward the village and Jake could only watch as the two sentinels disappeared into the night sky.
“Hey, how are we suppose to get back now our rides are gone?” Jake said as he turned to Sonlen, hefting his pack and making sure it was tight on his shoulders. Sonlen kept moving forward and Jake frowned when he did not reply. He ran up to his side and slowed to the same pace as the elf.


“Hey, I asked you a question,” he said. The elf remained silent; the only response was the little dragon staring at him with curious eyes. The more Jake stared at the little creature the more it seemed to lean towards him. Jake rolled his eyes at the dragon and continued walking towards the village.


“I already told you.”


Jake heard Sonlen speak and he turned to see him stir underneath his hood. His eyes narrowed when the elf didn’t look him in the eye.


“No you didn’t!”

“Actually I have. You weren’t listening,” Sonlen replied, his voice low and calm. This made Jake even more irritated by the elf’s behavior.


“You didn’t say anything to me!”


“That is because you are impatient!” The elf raised his voice, making Jake stop in his tracks. Sonlen turned to him, his left eye showing underneath his hood. “I have been keeping track of many of the men in the army and ensuring that they are in top condition and well prepared for any mission. You are the worst excuse for a soldier, Jacob William Ross.” Jake’s eyes opened wide when he heard his full name and Sonlen knew he had struck a nerve. “I know of your record. You disobey orders, you slack off on your duties, and you have a terrible habit of being short tempered.” Jake looked away from Sonlen, his hand turning into fist when he heard all the mistakes he made. Sonlen sighed and turned his gaze away from Jake. “You are a good solider when it comes to helping others, but you fail in executing basic orders and principles that are given to you. It’s no wonder you tend to work alone,” Sonlen finished and he began walking again toward the village. Jake remained where he was as he gritted his teeth in anger.


“Hey!” Jake called out, making Sonlen stop in his tracks. He didn’t turn to the airborne but waited until he spoke to him.


“There are a couple things I’d like to say,” Jake said in a low tone. Sonlen turned his head slightly to the left to listen. “First off, my name is Jake, so don’t forget it. Second, I only came here because you forced me to. And finally, I don’t give a damn what you say about me! I do care for my friends but they only slow me down when it comes to our missions, that is why I do what I do. So to hell with what you think!”


When Jake was finished Sonlen remained where he was. An uneasy silence surrounded them and a small breeze began to blow around them, blowing some loose dirt into the air. Sonlen turned his head back and began heading toward the village.


“I guess what they say about you is true then. I guess the name ‘lone wolf’ definitely suits you.”


Jake froze when he heard that name. He hated being called that but he knew that it was true. He looked down. He knew that the name would always remain with him. He shook his head and began walking behind Sonlen, keeping his distance from the elf.


“By the way, relating to your first question, the sentinels won’t return until tomorrow morning. I hope that satisfies your question,” Sonlen said as he entered the village.


“Well that is not very reassuring,” Jake muttered to himself, his mood now bitter with the elf. They were only on the mission for five minutes and already the mood between them had soured. Jake knew this was going to be a long night.


***


Ten minutes later, inside the village…




As Sonlen and Jake walked past the small homes, Jake kept taking in everything around him. Every home he passed reminded him of the medieval century villages. It fascinated him in a way, reminding him about the villages that had still existed when he fought in France. As he kept walking past them, however, he kept noticing something off. If this was a village, where were the villagers? Sonlen took notice of this as well, looking from building to building and wondering where everyone had gone. His little dragon took off into the air and began circling them overhead, hoping to find any trace of life. Jake moved ahead, removing his Tommy gun from its holster and preparing it just in case of a fight. They moved several yards forward when Jake spotted a silhouette in a nearby home. He moved quickly to the house, Sonlen walking behind him. Jake stood at the old wooden door, holding his Tommy gun at the ready. He quickly rapped on the door, only to find that it opened on its own. He looked inside, noting that the room appeared to be empty, only to look on the side and see a kyrie on the floor. He had his feet up to his chest and was rocking from side to side. His eyes were wide and he didn’t seem to respond when Jake went to his side. Jake placed a hand on his shoulder and tried to get his attention.


“Sir, are you okay? What happened here?” he said softly, trying to calm the kyrie down. There was no response; the kyrie continued to rock himself back and forth. Jake stood up and went to the door where Sonlen waited, shaking his head.


“The guy is certainly shell shocked. The question is what caused it?” he said while looking back at the kyrie. Sonlen looked at the kyrie and looked around to the other homes.


“It appears that the people are in their homes. They are too afraid to come out. I think we should—” Sonlen began when he heard his winged friend come closer and cry out to him. Sonlen looked up and the little dragon was motioning his head down the road. Sonlen and Jake looked in the direction and saw some flames in the distance, next to where a chapel stood. The two looked at each other and both nodded to one another. Just as Jake was about to head out the door something grabbed at his hand and he pulled back in surprise.


“What the hell are-” he stopped when he saw the same kyrie holding onto his hand. Tears were coming down his face and his eyes were blood shot. Deep bags were under his eyes and it appeared he hadn’t slept for days. He held onto his hand for a moment before uttering something that made Jake strain to hear it.


“Don’t go down that road. Only death… awaits you.”


The kyrie let go of Jake and put his hands to his face, sobbing into them like a little child. Jake took a step back and wondered what kind of pain the kyrie must have gone through. He then turned to Sonlen, who was already making his way down the street. Leaving the kyrie where he was, Jake moved closer to Sonlen and readied his gun.


“You know this might be a trap?” Jake said as he checked his gun.


“It may certainly well be.”


***


Ten minutes later, Chapel grounds…


Jake and Sonlen slowly approached the open grounds of the chapel. As they entered they could see that a great battle has taken place. Hundreds of undead was strewn across the grounds, some still having burns on their bodies. Jake felt an uncomfortable twinge in his gut when he saw many body parts of the undead. A small, dwindling fire was nearby on a pile of corpses; it looked very recent. Jake took note of several large craters in the ground, most likely from grenades. As they moved forward, examining the bodies, Jake could not help but look at the forest nearby. As he stared he kept wondering what might be out there. He couldn’t help but imagine there were dozens of pairs of eyes, watching them, waiting for them to make a move. He shook his head and turned to Sonlen, who was examining a dead corpse of the undead.


“You think we are being watched?” Jake asked while still keeping an eye on the forest. Sonlen lifted the arm of the dead corpse and began examining it.


“Were certainly are,” he stated while still examining the corpse. “Be prepared for anything.” Sonlen then stood up and went to check on the next corpse. Jake bent down and looked at the corpse of another undead. The creature had three large gashes across its chest and head — were they sword wounds from Drake’s sword? Jake looked to Sonlen and began looking at the remaining bodies that were around them.


“Their wounds are the same,” he began as his little dragon came and settled onto his shoulder. Jake nodded and looked at the other undead bodies. “Something else must have caused these.”


“Yeah, you’re right. I saw some grenade impacts and that might have caused them to be blown apart, but there were only a few I could account for,” Jake said as he stood up.


“There are no bodies of the other airborne either,” Sonlen said as both of them turned to the Chapel before them. As the two moved toward the chapel, Jake noticed that some windows were shattered; many glass shards were on the grass below the windows. Some bodies of the undead were also in front of them. As he walked past he noticed that there were no lights inside and everything was very quiet, except for the small crackling of the fires around them.


“I take it they held out inside.” Jake said as he neared a corner and stood in front of a large archway, the doors open on either side. The inside was pitched black and there seemed to be no sign of life inside. He swallowed hard and feared the worst if they were dead inside.


“The doors were forced open,” Sonlen said as he looked at the doors. Jake looked over and saw large claw marks scratched into the wood and on the main locks of the door. Sonlen looked and peered inside the room. Jake wondered if the elf could see better than he could. The elf stared intently inside and his eyes began to widen. Jake took notice and saw a slight movement of the elf’s ears. They began twitching backward and he whirled around and took a stance, the little dragon beginning to hiss and his body rising up to look bigger.


“They are coming!” Sonlen shouted and he began to chant something under his breath. Jake turned and pointed his Tommy gun toward the woods. As he looked down the sights his eyes widened as his worst fear became all the more real. Several figures had begun walking toward them from the forest. At first Jake thought they were undead, but as they got closer to the fires they were certainly not the undead, but wolves. Several dozen began walking towards them, each standing roughly between six to seven feet in height. More wolves, much smaller in size, came out and started walking slowly alongside the bigger wolves, growling at Jake and Sonlen. When the pack was nearing twenty feet away, flames began to wrap around Sonlen’s hands. Sonlen readied himself and he turned his head to Jake.


“Jake! I need you to do exactly as I say when I say it! Do you understand?!” Sonlen said as he waved the flames around him, making the wolves stop for a brief moment in their tracks.


“Dammit I hate taking orders! Alright just tell me what you want me to do!” Jake yelled back as he held his finger on the trigger.


“I need you to remain calm, and to… ugh—” In that moment Sonlen was stopped mid-sentence. Jake turned and stared in surprise as a rope wrapped tightly around Sonlen’s chest, the flames on his hands disappearing as he lost concentration. In a brief moment he remained there and nothing happened. A split second later he was flung to the ground and the rope dragged him into the chapel, the little dragon crying out for it’s master. Jake turned back to see that the wolves were now a few feet in front of him. He lifted his weapon to fire, only to feel a tight grip around both of his legs. His body whip-lashed as his legs were pulled behind him, making him land hard on the ground. He only had a second to look up in shock and surprise: a wolf was standing over him. For another second the wolf appeared to be smiling at him. A second later Jake was forcibly dragged across the floor and into the chapel, crying out as he moved. His body ran against the hard stone floor, kicking up bits of wood that were in his path. He rolled onto his back and fumbled for his army knife on his chest. The room was dark when he finally grabbed the knife and moved it against the rope around his feet.


“C’mon, c’mon, c’mon!” he yelled as he began cutting through the rope. After a few more seconds the rope snapped and his legs were free, but his body continued to slide on the stone floor. As he slid flames shot out in the middle of the room, blinding him from the sight. Sonlen was standing on his feet, the flames dancing around him. Jake opened his eyes and the flames around him began to disappear. He stared in horror as a he suddenly saw hundreds of yellow eyes staring at them. As the light from the flames faded out of existence the eyes of the wolves remained briefly before they disappeared as well. Sonlen cast another ball of fire and sent it towards the pack, lighting the room briefly around them. The wolves moved fast and dodged the flaming projectile. Jake rolled onto his belly and looked for his Thompson machine gun that had fallen from his hands. He spotted it on the ground nearby, at least ten feet away. He scrambled to reach it, crawling on his hands and feet to reach his weapon. When he reached it he heard a cry and he turned to see Sonlen on his knees with several wolves grabbing his arms and holding him in place, his little dragon was no where to be seen. As the last light began to fade, Jake grabbed his fallen weapon and stood up to face the wolves. The room was pitch black and the sound of heavy breathing was all over the room. Sweat began pouring down his face and Jake waved his weapon from side to side, looking for any target. Footsteps began to approach him and he lifted his gun and fired toward the sound. The gun shots created a brief light in front of him and he saw multiple wolves running forward. He fired again but the wolves kept coming, kept dodging the bullets. He was about to fire again when his body was flung forward and hit the floor. He rolled onto his back, only to have his chest pinned to the ground. He tried to lift his gun but his arm was also pinned. His finger on the trigger, he began firing, hoping to spook the wolves. As the gun began firing Jake could only stare at a large wolf standing on top of him. The wolf wore a large mask that seemed more intimidating by the second. With each flash of the gun the wolf was raising a large claw into the air. Jake screamed out as the claw smashed against his head. His mind flickered and he soon blacked out.

[TGRF]

Yep, something is definitely up with these wolves. Knocking people out instead of just slitting their throat? Hmm...
Another well written chapter, Bro-man. I was thinking the abandoned village made a good scene for a zombie apocalypse.
~TGRF.

[Bro-man]

Alright here is the new chapter. Enjoy! Proofreading credit goes to TGRF.

Chapter Three

Capture

Spoiler Alert!

Northwestern Province, Chapel grounds…

It was late in the night and the moon had risen high into the sky, its radiant light shining throughout the land. The landscape was blanketed by a dark shade of blue and the stars high above shone brightly for all to see. Though many were asleep during this late hour, missing this glorious night, there were others who prowled in the darkness.

Around the chapel much work was being done. Around two dozen wolves were working to clean up the undead. The bodies of the undead were being dragged to a large bonfire, where many corpses were piled high. The flames stretched up high to the sky, renewed with each new stack of the undead. The stench of the undead made it unbearable to stand nearby. As the wolves continued their work, a moth, about the size of a small apple and resting on a slender tree, was entranced by the dancing flames. Its body was gray with a hint of green around the wings, appearing from a distance to be nothing more than a small leaf. Lifting its tiny wings and descending from the safety of the trees, it headed toward the chapel grounds. It hovered over some bodies before landing on top of a skeleton’s head. It remained there for a brief moment before one of the wolves came and picked up the deceased body. The moth took off into the air and hovered as it watched the wolves clear up the remaining bodies. A glimmer of light inside the chapel caught the moth’s eyes and it eagerly went to investigate. Its tiny wings beat faster and faster as it headed through the doors, passing by some oblivious wolves that mingled around the chapel grounds. Dozens of torches lit the room, lighting the whole area in a dim light. The moth hovered in place to see at least twenty figures standing near the center. Off to the side the moth noticed more figures sitting idly by. The moth moved closer and saw one lying on his side with his hands bound behind his back. The light around the room, and the light from the moon outside, caused a strange brightness to appear on the man. The moth, made curious by this, moved in closer to see the figure. The moth hovered just above the man’s face before landing gently on his cheek. The moth stayed there, appearing to all the world but a small leaf on the man’s face. A few moments passed and the man began to stir, spooking the small moth. The moth then took to the air and exited the chapel through the open window, climbing higher into the night sky toward the full moon.

***

Jake was beginning to wake up. He tried to open his eyes, but a small numbing pain on the front of his skull made him keep them shut. He began to remember the day’s events: his relaxation back at the castle, the message from the kyrie, Sonlen taking him to this god-forsaken place, getting surrounded at the chapel, the hard landing, his fingers digging into the wood and stone floor while being dragged across it, and finally encountering the wolves and the mysterious masked leader before being knocked out. Once the thoughts subsided, Jake took a deep breath and opened his eyes, looking around the room. His vision was blurry for a few moments until his eyes adjusted to the low light. He saw many wolves standing in a semi circle around a single body. Jake realized, as it started to stir, that it was Sonlen. Jake tried to get up but found that his hands were bound. He tried wiggling his hands but the ropes were tight around his wrists. He moved his body, a process that was difficult because his hands were behind him. He was soon able to sit upright, keeping his gaze focused on the wolves.

“Hey lad. You’re awake.” Jake heard a soft voice speak from behind him and turned to see who it was. He turned to see a group of men, all tied up in the same manner as he was. He then spotted the man who had spoken and saw that he had a distinguishable mustache. It only took him a moment to recognize him.

“Mullen? Guys? God it’s good to see you all!” Jake said as he looked at the group of men. As he stared at them he saw many were placed into a line, while others were tied back to back. Besides the remaining airborne Jake also took note of some bound kyrie ; he guessed it solved the question of where the other villagers had gone. As Jake looked around he could not see any other familiar faces among the crowd of men.

“Wait, where is Drake?” he said while looking around for any sign of the general.

“Drake was taken into another part of the chapel, most likely to be tortured for information; however, we haven’t heard any screams come out the back room,” Mullen said as he looked at the ground. Jake knew that they were all worried what the wolves might be doing with the general. As Jake wondered about Drake another thought crossed his mind.

“So how is it that you were all captured? Why keep you guys alive?”

“We came into the chapel to hold off against the undead assault,” Mullen began as the others remained silent. “We managed to hold them off at the doors but it was only a matter of time until our ammo reserves were depleted. They burst through the chapel doors and with our guns dry we didn’t stand a chance. When they had us pinned we thought we would not survive. Instead, we were bound and have been here since. They feed us every now and then, but as to why they want us alive. . . well, you got me. After they captured us, however, we noticed something off. The undead that attacked us were all gone. Some of the guys say they saw the wolves attack them and lessen their numbers, but we can’t be sure if it’s true. I mean, why would the wolves attack their allies?”

Jake nodded and wondered what the wolves were up to. Just as he was about to speak again a set of doors on the far end of the room opened, making everyone turn their gaze. They watched in surprise and relief to see Drake was still alive but being escorted by two large wolves. They moved until he was forced to the ground in the center of the room, sitting alongside Sonlen. Everything was silent for a moment as the wolves began to depart. Some moved to the shadows while others went for the chapel doors. Only a half dozen remained, surrounding Drake and Sonlen in the center. Jake looked at the wolves and noticed some kind of armor was on their shoulders, and a few had chest plates. He also noticed one holding his weapons, including his holster to his 44. Magnum. A few more seconds passed in uncomfortable silence until someone came forward from the shadows. Jake’s eyes widened when he saw that it was the same wolf that had knocked him out, for the wolf wore the same mask he had seen previously. As Jake watched the wolf approach its prisoners, he noticed that the wolf was a bit smaller than the other wolves around it. The wolf also had a long tail, something the other wolves didn’t have; why would this wolf be different than the others? What made it so special? The wolf soon stopped in front of the two and was completely still.

“Finally, you are both assembled,” the wolf said, its voice muffled behind the mask. Both Drake and Sonlen looked up to gaze at the wolf. The wolf looked at the two before turning its head to another wolf nearby.

“You caught the little pet?” the wolf in the mask asked and the other wolf lifted a small bag that began to shake around in his hands. The wolf in the mask moved forward to inspect it and the small red head of the dragon popped out and squawked at the wolf. The moment it did the wolf placed two fingers on top of its head and pushed it back into the bag.

“Back in you go little one,” the wolf in the mask said before turning to the prisoners.

“Now then, since you’re here, we can finally talk about—”

“Whatever it is you want you can forget it!” Drake snapped, cutting off the wolf in mid-sentence. “If you want to discuss terms then you can leave my men out of this!” Drake was soon stopped as a wolf came and held his head down. The wolf began to choke Drake’s neck from behind forcing him to stop talking, but just enough for him to continue to breath. A chuckle emanated from the wolf in the mask as Drake struggled. The wolf leaned forward and looked directly into Drake’s eyes.

“You’re in no position to give me terms. Besides, what I propose is for your men’s ears also.” The wolf in the mask took a step back and turned toward Sonlen, who continued to remain silent. The wolf tilted it’s head to the side and leaned closer to Sonlen. “You and I have much catching up to do.” Sonlen looked at the wolf and his eyes seemed to widen. The wolf then turned its attention to the group of men.

“First things first. Where is the human that accompanied Sonlen?” All of the wolves eyes diverted toward the group of men, some of which began to shake at the wolves’ stares. One of the men stood on his knees and raised his voice to the wolves.

“I am. I’m the one you want,” Jake said as the men behind him whispered for him to keep quiet. The wolf in the mask turned to another wolf and motioned towards Jake. The wolf headed over, causing some of the men and the kyrie to back away. They all huddled together in a corner like sheep before the fangs of the hunter, yet Jake remained were he was. The wolf grabbed his neck and forced him onto his feet. The wolf walked behind Jake, making sure that he would not escape, and the two made their way to the center of the room. As the wolf escorted him to his leader Jake remained calm. He held a small smile as he got closer to the unsuspecting wolves. Unbeknownst to the wolves and their leader Jake was wielding a switchblade in his bound hands.

He was about to give them a surprise they would never forget.

[TGRF]

Jake continues in his determination to mess up prelaid plans...
~TGRF.

[Bro-man]

Alright everyone! Here is the next chapter. Proofreading finished by TGRF. Enjoy!

Chapter Four

Instincts

Spoiler Alert!

Moments earlier…

Jake watched as the wolf leader began talking with Drake and Sonlen. He was quite surprised at how calm the wolf leader was, despite all the things that had happened. The wolf leader and the other wolves were too focused on them. This was his chance. He lowered his hands and began fiddling at the back of his boot. It was difficult at first, due to his hands being bound behind him, but he was able to get his fingers into the back of his right boot.

“What are you doing you daffy bastard?” Jake could hear Mullen say behind him as he began pushing his fingers deeper into the boot.

“They took all of our weapons and gear, right?” Jake said as he continued to fumble around until he found what he was looking for. “Well they didn’t take all of them.” He felt his fingers wrap around a small object and gently pulled it out of his boot. He carefully held the object in his hand and turned to see Mullen stare in surprise.

“A switchblade.” Mullen said softly, trying not to alert the wolves nearby. Jake nodded his head as he pressed the button on the side. The switchblade popped out from the side and made a soft click when it came out. The switchblade was eighteen inches in length and was quite slender and easy to conceal, which made it efficient and deadly. Jake moved it slightly so that the blade pointed upward. Holding the blade, he began the slow process of cutting the ropes that bound him, a delicate procedure in which any bad movement would cause the blade to slip from his grip . As he worked on the bonds he could tell that the other guys were watching his work. There were a few audible whispers but not enough to make the wolves take notice. A few of the soldiers shuffled next to Mullen’s and could only watch as Jake worked on his bonds. He could feel the switchblade go deeper into the rope and thought he could hear a few strands break. He could feel the bonds around his wrists loosen and he knew he was almost there.

“Wait a minute lad,” Mullen said softly and Jake paused at his work. He craned his neck to see Mullen and several of the guys close to him. Mullen eyed the wolves nearby before he stared back at me. “Cut our bonds, we can help.” The others nodded at Mullen and his plan but Jake could only shake his head.


“Are you nuts?” he said said while turning to see if the wolves were keeping an eye out on them; thankfully they were not. ” Look, I already got an idea in mind, if you get involved you’ll be killed.”

“Well whatever it is, I know for certain it will need us in it,” Mullen said, making the others nod in agreement. Trying to convince them was doomed to fail. Jake knew that when Mullen had a course set he would not be deterred. He cringed at the thought and knew that they would do anything to help Drake.

“Alright fine… but if you die then I’m blaming you,” he said and began twisting the knife in his hand, away from his own bonds so that it pointed toward them. Mullen and four others nudged themselves closer, moving their bound hands towards his blade. He began to work on Mullen’s bonds first but moved slowly so as to not cause any attention. As Jake worked he kept his attention on the wolves. When the leader spoke to Drake he snapped back and that caused him to pause in his work. Jake looked at him as he demanded that the men be set free before one of the wolves grabbed him from behind and made him silent. The wolf leader said something softly to Drake, and as that happened the bonds on Mullen snapped and Jake began to unwrap the ropes on him. He went to move on to the next man until he heard what he had known would come.

“First things first. Where is the human that accompanied Sonlen?” the wolf leader said and Jake quickly stopped his work. The men behind him began moving back to draw less attention to themselves. The wolves stared at them, waiting for one of us to respond. Jake quickly pushed the blade down and it clicked back into place. He lifted himself up, sitting up on his knees, and raised his voice for them to hear. “I am. I’m the one you want.” The wolf leader turned to one of its subordinates and he headed toward us. The guys behind Jake began speaking quickly, not sure what they were going to do with him.

“You’re out of your mind lad. You’ll get caught,” Mullen said to Jake, keeping his voice low. The nerves were getting to them and Jake’s split decision had only made things worse. He had no choice in the matter, this plan had to work. He could only remain silent as the wolf approached them and stopping in front of him. His height was intimidating to Jake. Being placed on your knees and having your captor stand over you is bad enough. However, with a hulking wolf standing over you it is even more terrorizing.
“On your feet.” The wolf grabbed Jake by his hair and forced him to stand. He cringed for a moment until the wolf grabbed the back of his shirt and began escorting him toward his leader. Jake remained calm and breathed slowly as the wolf moved him forward. He clutched the switchblade tightly and he was lucky that the wolf didn’t notice it. He began trying to loosen his bonds by shifting his wrists back and forth, hoping the rope would break away when he struck. The wolf holding him stopped and he was standing a good ten feet away from the leader. The light in the room was very eerie but only shone in the center of the room; Jake wondered how many other wolves were hiding in the shadows. He quickly eyed the wolf holding his gear and saw his Magnum in its holster, he stood close by and was within arm’s reach. Jake turned to focus his attention on the wolf leader, who was already standing over Drake like a predator. The mask was motionless and showing no emotion whatsoever.

“This human will be set free. He will be followed to your leader’s capital. He will relay the message that we will meet your leader in due time but this agreement will be under our terms.”

“Like hell I will!” Jake yelled, interrupting the wolf leader, making him turn his gaze to face him. As he stared Jake noticed two small slits within the mask, however the dim light made it hard to see the wolf’s eyes. “I’m not going to tell them anything! I won’t say anything about your bull-” He was caught mid breath when the wolf holding him grabbed his neck with its thick paw. The wolf was so large that its paw encompassed the entirety of Jake’s neck. He struggled to breathe as the wolf held him there.

“Don’t you dare speak unless spoken to… human. Speak again and I will rip that tongue from your mouth,” the wolf behind him said in a low tone and Jake noticed its teeth inches from his head. It growled low as it slowly loosened its grip on his neck, allowing him to breathe easier. He smiled and tried to turn his head to look at the wolf.

“Easy for you to say. For a bag of fur like you… I’d like to see you try.” He spoke without thinking of the consequences. The wolf holding him punched him in the side, making him double over and cough up. He then placed his paw again against his neck and kept it there, all the while slowly adding pressure.

“Don’t provoke me human,” the wolf said and he snarled at him in irritation. Jake struggled for breath as the wolf put extra pressure against his neck and he wondered how long he was going to hold it there. He felt his eyes roll back and he was looking up at the ceiling, almost blacking out as the wolf kept holding him; the wolf was not going to let up.

“Stop that Jun. We need him alive.” A voice broke the tension and he instantly felt the pressure lift from his neck. He gasped for breath; despite the hand still on his neck he felt much relief after the pressure lifted. He looked at the wolf leader who was still watching him. As it looked at him he noticed its lower jaw move beneath the mask; could it be grinning at him?

“You have quite the mouth don’t you, human?” the wolf leader said, the voice still muffled by the mask. The leader was expecting him to say something but instead he simply nodded his head. The wolf leader turned his head slightly to the side and a low hum escaped from him.

“Oh? Playing the strong silent type? I like that,” the wolf leader said and a low chuckle escaped from him. Jake swallowed hard and wondered what the wolf was getting at. “I take it you have more surprises in store?” The wolf leader turned to face Drake and Sonlen but his head was halfway, keeping a close eye on Jake. It seemed the leader knew he was up to something and wanted to see how it played out. Jake was happy to obliged.

“Yeah… you’re right.” He clicked the button on the switchblade. It instantly cut through the remaining rope with a quick snap and his hands were now free.

“I do!” With a free hand he grabbed the wolf’s hand, holding his neck, and bit deep into his hand. The taste of fur entered his mouth and it tasted nasty. The wolf holding him could only stare at him, disbelieving at how he had escaped his bonds. It was only when Jake added pressure to his hand that the pain finally snapped into his mind. He screamed in shock and pain and on reflex pulled it away. With the wolf backing up Jake focused on the wolf next to him, the one holding his holster, and went straight for him. The wolf raised his left arm to grab him but Jake quickly grabbed it instead, surprising the wolf. Using the switchblade in his other hand he brought the wolf’s hand forward and stabbed the switchblade into flesh. The wolf yelped as the switchblade went straight into his hand and he pulled away. The instant he did, and with the two wolves distracted, Jake made a grab for the holster and his right hand found the magnum. He pulled the gun away from the holster and turned to aim at the wolf leader. When he finally stopped turning, his mind processing what he was staring at, the wolf leader was no longer standing but in mid flight, heading straight for him. “So fast,” was all Jake could think before the wolf made impact. The leader struck him in the chest, causing his feet to leave the ground at the impact. His body collapsed like a wet rag, folding forwards as he fell to the ground. With the added weight from the wolf, the impact forced all the air from his lungs. He gagged from the force and felt his gun slip from his hand, clattering harmlessly on the ground. His eyes went to search for it but soon focused on the wolf when it snarled at him in rage, its head within inches of his own. His entire plan was shot and he now had a large wolf on his chest. As the seconds ticked by, what seemed like minutes, he could only wait there as the wolf leader continued to pin him. As the wolf leader stared at him a loud noise from the wall made the leader stir and turn his attention away from him. Jake heard men screaming and he turned his head as best he could to see what was happening. To his surprise he saw ten airborne charging straight at the wolf, and in the lead was Mullen. He didn’t know how he had done it but he had managed to remove the bonds of some of the men and they were making a desperate attempt to attack. The wolf leader on top of him growled and he saw movement from the shadows of the walls. Four wolves dropped down and stood in front of them, four more from the circle joined them and created a barricade of bodies. The men continued to scream and they barreled head first into the group. A brawl ensued between the two forces and he could only watch as the sides exchanged blows. A fist into a wolf’s head, a punch directed to an airborne’s stomach, a man running into a wolf’s stomach and forcing both to the ground, and a wolf grabbing two airborne by the heads, the wolf’s claws encompassing them both, and slamming both their heads into the ground. The fighting was over as soon as it began with many of the airborne pinned to the ground. Mullen himself was held high in the air by one of the wolves, its paw wrapped firmly around his neck. Mullen kept punching his arm to make him let go but the wolf did not. The wolf leader above Jake chuckled. As he did Jake noticed his magnum just lying a few feet to his right. The distraction by Mullen and the others had paid off.

“It appears your little plan failed. It was clever but not clever or cunning enough,” the wolf leader said, turning to face him. In that moment he saw Jake reaching for the weapon. With all his strength Jake made a move for his gun. Grabbing it he forced it toward the wolf leader but the wolf leader had already begun to back away from him. Since his legs were free he lifted them both over the leader and pressed them hard against his back. As the wolf leader fell back down he lunged forward and grabbed the leader’s neck, pulling him forward towards him. The sudden movement made the leader jerk back but he was firmly held in Jake’s hand. With the leader held he forced the gun against the wolf’s head, firmly placing it near his temple. It only took a matter of seconds but now both of them were completely immobilized. The other wolves saw this and took a step forward to help their leader when Jake yelled to all while cocking the gun.

“Let those men go or I will kill this bastard!”