“We lost two on this evening’s raid, and we lost them due to our own hesitation to strike. I know that your style of warfare is different from mine, but if we are to succeed against the Raiders, then we must be as one. This is your family now. Fear and hesitation of what comes will lead only to more of your comrades dying.”
“I don’t need to tell you that this race of monsters is very powerful, and as your commander I can’t promise a miracle victory. But if you follow me, then you will no longer make war. You will be war. You will exude it. And these will be your brothers. If that’s what you want, then stay here. If not, then I ask you to leave us and run further west.”
“Um, Master Sepp…”
Kristiyan’s voice surprised him, as he wasn’t used to ‘conscripts’ talking back.
“What is it.”
“Most of us are ready to fight with you. This I know. But. Many of us are from different tribes: The Great Crag, Goldgrass, Shattered Paw, many places. I already trust in your judgment, master, and we’ve seen the awesome power of Flame-wielder, too! But I cannot trust the wolves of another tribe, even though mine is gone.”
A groan levitated above the crowd.
“If that is how it must be, then we must forget our old tribes. Master. For that, we need a new name and a new symbol. If you deem us worthy I would like to wear on me the sign already gracing the Flame-wielder’s collar.”
Kristiyan was referring to the SS rune, of course.
“All you must do, Master, is lead us. The rest I cannot expect a foreigner and a Human to understand, so forgive me, Master Sepp.”
Kristiyan walked over to Dietrich’s side and turned to face everyone.
“To all those of you who stay, you will be part of our new tribe. The Lightning Rune Tribe. We will no longer fear the Green Demon.”
Squiggles
Hans looked at the challenge lying ahead of him: A wall of white mountain peaks under a bleak, gray horizon. Soft flakes of snow fell out of the sky to cover everything under a pristine white blanket. His boots crunched as he walked along a path. Sometimes the mountain path was lined by wooden guarders, sometimes it wasn’t.
Lapine grandma’s map said he was getting close to the plains, where he hoped to find a place to live somewhere among the animals there. Grandma’s map said there were squirrels and minxes further ahead. Just no wolves, slavers or ‘Grimeskins,’ whatever those were. In the dead quiet, his breath was louder than usual. If the ‘northern plains’ were the only safe place in the world, then he would stay there, and hopefully prove his worth to whoever took him in.
As he peered over the first ridge, Hans saw tiny, white-covered paths struggling against the massive wild. They were paths that lead off far, far away. There was a long way to go.
Lifeboat
“No one here, huh? That’s funny.”
The sand-lined road into Nebukkez sat unguarded. Qok stopped the oxcart, likely concerned about the bad sign.
“You know of any other ways to get to your destination?” The old bird called back to Hex, who was now his only remaining passenger.
“There aren’t any. It’s either Jasra or maybe Tyraeus.”
“Alright.”
Qok tugged the reins and oxen jerked forward past the border and into the desert kingdom.
Even late in the year most of Nebbukez scorched. This was actually Hex’s first time in Nebukkez, and it would hopefully be the last. Compared to Ahuran, Nebukkez was small, weak and very ill-prepared for what was coming. The sooner he got out of this kingdom, the better.
An oasis town hardly seemed to notice the travelers’ presence, and Qok stopped to refill a water jug and rest. The stallions of this land were fussy about others taking from their oases, which was probably why Qok loaded hay, for the livestock, into the cart back in the last town in Ahuran, Ilam.
“You can sit back now. I don’t think anyone minds us passing through.”
“Alright. Just let me know if you need me,” Hex said as he sat back in the cart and watched the oasis get smaller and smaller on the horizon.
The new climate restricted travel to evenings, mornings and late afternoons. Hex and the emperor’s driver sat at the front of their cart and watched sand dunes come and go from their view until a wall of palm trees ascended on the horizon. The scent of alluvial silt greeted Hex’s nose. They were passing through an oval-shaped swath of farmland which on the map reminded him a lot of Deltia.
The Caliphial Highway was blocked, and so Qok went on a smaller road that took them through the lowlands and then into the barren quarter, which was hot, uninterrupted desert. Only a sea of sand lay between them and Jasra port. They camped during the day, and Hex did his best to remain asleep at night, much to Qok’s insistence. The silence of the desert made Hex’s mind wonder on to other thoughts. All the more reason to never come back to this place.
“Hey,” the old bird squawked back in the dead of night.
“There’s some kind of trouble ahead.”
Hex roused from his nap and Qok motioned him back to the cart.
“Go back to sleep. I’m taking a southern detour. We’ll be at Jasra soon.”
The Kitsune didn’t worry about it. Qok knew these roads well, although Hex had a good idea what might be happening up north.
The next morning, a stark desert sunrise brought Hex up again, and he saw a line of armed, black equines forming a chain across the horizon. The chain stretched from east to west. Hex’s eyes followed the line westward to a minaret and some other domed buildings.
“Jasra?” Hex blinked.
“Yeah, but… I don’t think I’m going to make it back to Ahuran in one piece.”
Qok’s voice was heavy with concern. He was right, of course. If he took the same path, Qok likely wouldn’t make it back to his home.
“I hope you don’t mind me asking Hex, but is Deltia your next stop?”
“…It is.”
“You mind if I trade these oxen and go with you?”
“Um, well…”
“I won’t tag along. I’ll be out on the next ship to Bandar.”
“Oh… No problem then.”
Yes, the sooner they got out of this place, the better. Those oxen seemed to be just slow as hell, and they trodded along the brick lain path to Jasra while some kind of battle was occurring at a speed much faster than this pace.
“Come on…” He growled aloud, losing his patience.
“Hey, Qok… We’re not gonna get there in time…” Hex finally said to the bird.
“It’s the monsters,” Hex explained to the bird. “They’re fast on the way and this shitty little country isn’t going to hold for long! So push it!”
Qok looked over at him. “I’m going as fast as we can.”
A plume of smoke rose up over one of the buildings on the pinkish-orange horizon. There was no city wall, which meant that if the monsters broke through once everything was over. As they drew closer he could see residents panicking. Hex tried hard not to do the same.
“Qok? Just… Just leave the oxen here.”
The avian stepped off the cart and reluctantly looked at his oxen. He reached forward, pet their snouts and turned to Hex.
“Come on…”
Civilians were panicking, grabbing belongings and running for the seafront. Hex and the old bird elbowed their way past the city when a flaming ball descended from the sky and exploded on some apartments nearby, causing the building to crash and spitting debris everywhere. The throng of equines screamed and scattered around. A black fire rose from the rubble and another plume of smoke swirled up over the crowd. The Hwa-Chong bombs were already in use. Obviously.