The Horses were even more primitive than the Moose. Their wooden structures served as what humans called ‘stables’, bedrooms full of hay for them to rest and fornicate. All other Horse activities tended to take place out in the open fields. The Horses solitary air hangar was massive and poor at best, the three ships Star saw docked looked rusty and as if they hadn’t been flown in years. It was the most basic space base Star had ever visited.
He was required to traipse through several fields before he tracked down their ruler, scenting out the leader proved nigh-on impossible given the stench of excrement.
Ash, a previous visitor to Equus, explained the lack of clean land was an intentional safety device. ‘You try tracking down a Horse when all you can smell is sh—’.
‘I get the point,’ said Star Wolf.
‘The galaxy has many subtle nuances.’ Ash smiled. He backed off a few paces, to a respectful distance, while Star Wolf and Willar, the ageing Horse Lord spoke. Ash’s stocky, rigid frame caused his grey leather uniform to take on a stone like appearance, a seasoned Wolf in war and diplomacy.
‘What is it you wish to know?’ said Willar, in a high, bouncy voice as he reclined back on a long wooden cart loaded with hay. The only item of clothing he wore, a pair of baggy dark-brown trousers and the only thing keeping them from falling was a piece of rope. Ash explained later the Horses didn’t care much for anything too fancy, which made sense given the awful condition of the air hangar Star saw. They lived simple, peaceful lives. Star Wolf couldn’t help but envy them, but his stomach lurched at the thought of them coming under attack. If the Apex Wars had reached this planet the Horses would’ve been wiped from the galaxy in a matter of hours, a day at most.
Though his lounging position implied an aloof manner, one he tried to reinforce with carefree words, Willar, the tallest, bravest and strongest of all the Horses was terrified. His bulbous dark-hazel eyes were wet, threatening to burst into tears if Star had to guess. The Horse had an extensive black face, which housed a set of borderline comical square yellow teeth that chattered in between words. ‘You want the same account I gave the Tigers? They’ve been already doing their investigations, isn’t one pred—’ he stopped himself short, glancing to the dirt.
Star Wolf thought Willar would best him in hand-to-hand combat and yet the Horse knew the Wolf possessed the strength of fighting numbers.
‘I want the truth.’ Star Wolf went to stand beside the cart. Up close Willar had a pleasant aroma of floral soap, subtle but most welcome given the mounds of faeces Star Wolf had trekked through to have, what he was quickly realising, a pointless conversation with yet another submissive species the galaxy needed to protect. Maybe even from themselves?
‘Don’t we all.’ Willar stared off into the fast-emerging sunrise, before correcting himself. ‘Yes of course. I mean, we are all desperate to discover the culprit of this heinous act but I’m afraid as I told the Winter Tiger and his ambush of killers,’ he spoke brave words of scorn when face-to-face with a solitary Wolf, ‘we awoke one morning to discover Buffalo’s world destroyed.’
‘And none of your guards or your outposts saw anything?’
‘Of course not, what is it you think we Horse do? We are a peaceful planet, that goes about its business with simplicity and grace. You should try it sometimes.’
That brought an involuntary snarl from Star Wolf.
Which in turn alerted Horses stood a respectful distance, on the opposite side to Ash and the Wolf envoy. In a flash two identical dark-brown Horses, covered in chainmail from shoulder to knee, hefting huge axes squared off against Ash and River who both had laser guns honed on their potential attackers.
‘Stand down,’ said Star Wolf, arms aloft turning to the Wolves, ‘that was my fault. I apologise, Willar.’
Willar nodded and the two Horses stepped back.
‘The galaxy is a little on edge right now.’ continued Star Wolf.
‘As it should be, five planets being wiped from existence so suddenly and with consummate ease raises big concerns. What if they were food planets? How long will the galaxy’s fragile peace endure if food supplies become sparse?’
The Horse Lord understood the crux of the problem looming over every species touched by the Universal Beacon but he was hiding something. Those planets that merely served as food were blissfully unaware of the many subtle nuances of the heightening plight facing those with cranial function. Star Wolf couldn’t help but chuckle, thinking on Ash’s wise words.
‘The demise of the galaxy amuses you?’ asked Willar, hauling up out of the cart to stand on his hind legs, way above Star Wolf, a gesture missed by none. The gesture that was missed was the hand Star Wolf placed behind his back indicating for River and Ash to take their hands off the hilts of their laser guns.
‘Not at all, in fact quite the opposite, it is actually quite a relief to come across another species who understands the problems facing us in the near future if we do not capture or stop whoever has carried out these cowardly attacks.’
It was Willar’s turn to laugh, a loud nasally noise that caused smirks to etch over all the Horses — whose numbers were increasing by the minute — faces.
‘Is it my turn to amuse you?’ asked Star Wolf.
‘You misunderstand sweet Wolf,’ the Horse leader’s voice took on a sinister tone, ‘no one carrying out such atrocities can be labelled a coward. Quite the opposite in fact, the rest of us must either sit back and roll over or gather our combined forces to relinquish this evil from the galaxy once and for all.’
‘So who do you think is behind all of this?’ said Star Wolf, holding out slim hope that some animal would provide him with a straight answer.
The harsh tone left Willar, replaced with a wistful melancholy, ‘What I think does not matter. I’d be a fool to say even if I had a solid suspect in mind. I think we can agree on this,’ that sinister tone returned, ‘something more powerful than many species combined has emerged in the galaxy and is making a move for total dominance and no matter how many house guards join forces they can’t stop it.’
‘Not even the Tigers?’
‘Aye, perhaps the Tigers could stop all of this, but they won’t.’
‘Speaking of house guards,’ said Star Wolf noting the same oddity as on Alces, ‘where is yours?’
An uneasy glance passed between Willar and the two Horses, still holding their iron axes.
‘Why they are out with a supply train, food supplies are our most precious commodity and we can’t risk them being commandeered in space, what with all the recent troubles.’
‘Doesn’t that leave your planet exposed?’ interrupted River from behind Star Wolf, who spun to stare daggers at his loud-mouthed friend.
‘Who would want to attack the Horse?’ said Willar, beginning to walk toward the largest wooden hut nearby, ‘We are no threat, or match for anyone.’
RIVER, MUCH TO STAR’S annoyance, had been right. Equus was even more inhospitable than Alces. Star, as the guest of honour, had been led to the grandest stable, not that anyone would’ve looked upon the wooden structure and called it grand. Despite the basic build the building did function well, keeping the howling winds and biting cold of the open plains at bay.
Star Wolf was forced, not that Sky complained, to share the building with her when the Horse Lord informed him they’d filled all the others with Wolves. The stable was more than big enough to host twenty Wolves but that wasn’t done with a ruler in waiting.
As such Star allowed a fire to be lit in the open pit in the middle of the stable floor, it went against his natural desires, but he wasn’t going to let Sky go cold either. His oldest friend had coyly followed in the Horse messenger carrying her backpack, which was no doubt full of practical essentials, and placed it nearby the fire pit. They spoke for a short while before Star retreated to the darkest, coldest corner of the stable.
Before long he noticed Sky’s slender Wolf frame curled up by the fire, softly snoring. The orange flames danc
ed across the exposed silver fur of her forearms and hind legs, the dark-grey of her matching tunic vest and trousers absorbed the flickering light, her shadow stretching long across the dust and straw-covered ground.
‘Sleep well,’ muttered Star Wolf, drifting off himself.
THE SPLINTERING OF wood woke Star and Sky simultaneously, and before either spoke they joined together in the middle of the stable by the near extinguished fire. Another crunching of wood, off in the distance, snapped their heads to the south of the stable.
‘Wait here,’ said Star Wolf.
‘But you’re, I should,’ protested Sky before Star pleaded for silence with an index claw pressed to his muzzle. He took, measured, padded steps across the straw, edging closer to the sole entrance and exit point toward the north of the stable. With every step he could hear commotion outside, and the all too familiar stench of smoke from the fire pit. That’s not the fire pit.
He pushed the door, the wood creaked open, a fraction, to peer out into the darkness, only to be met with a blazing fire from a series of huts a short sprint to the east. He counted five huts ablaze, multiple Horses and Wolves running around them tossing water at the fire, before Ash bound up before him.
‘Nothing for you to worry about Star,’ said Ash, covered in soot, ‘a couple of Horses got drunk and let some candles burn out. We’ll have the fire out in no time, you go back,’ he gave a glance into the gap of the entrance, ‘to your sleep Star.’
‘It’s not what,’ the beginning of Star’s awkward response fizzled out as he comprehended an error in the information, ‘hang on. Those two huts there,’ he pointed to the two farthest away, ‘they’re too far a—’
Comprehension shot of Ash’s face.
‘Get inside now!’ he ordered, already pushing Star in the chest.
Had he not pushed him the spear, now protruding out of the wood would’ve landed straight in Star Wolf’s chest.
The spear, however, had nicked Ash’s shoulder.
‘Are you alright?’
‘Just a scratch Star, now please inside. It looks like we have another assassin on the loose.’
A bellowing howl left Ash, and in seconds every Wolf in the vicinity had stopped aiding with the fire fighting and was in front of the stable.
‘Wolves, someone is after Star.’
‘Again!’ chortled River.
‘Quiet,’ snapped Ash, ‘now spread out around the stable. We must protect Star at all costs. River and Stone, you go inside with Star and Sky. Now!’
It was a long, tense night for all involved and yet come morning nothing further transpired. Even the forced, fake apology from Willar didn’t dissipate the souring mood among the Wolves. Two planets down and so far all they’d learnt was that no one had seen anything and that everyone wanted their ruler in waiting dead.
‘To Silvis,’ said Star Wolf as they loaded everything aboard their spaceship. The overwhelming sense of failure and near-death had started to become a morbid loop of Deja vu for Star Wolf.
6. Silvis
The Gazelle were a majestic race, to Star Wolf anyway and yet a primal desire within demanded to be set free to roam among them and hunt, kill and devour. He needed to return to the sanctuary of Lupus, where he could hunt in peace. Hunting creatures not touched by the Universal Beacon was the only legal, and moral, way to kill and consume another living creature.
What Star Wolf wouldn’t give to bound after a deer, tire the creature into submission and strike with silent, lethal force and all whilst in the beautiful, tranquil and familiar surroundings of home. Longing for home filled him with a shame he couldn’t control, it was etched all too clearly over his long, proud Wolf features. The weight of his task was weighing him down. The knots in his shoulders were growing tighter by the day.
‘Cheer up, Star,’ said River, he appeared to be in a vastly improved mood now they were on a warmer planet. Star knew he wasn’t a Wolf who enjoyed the cold, which given his lowly upbringing was fair enough. Star Wolf always had the luxury of choosing between warmth and the freezing cold of the deep forests on Lupus; River was not so fortunate. ‘The Gazelle’s are much more amiable than the Moose and Horse fools.’
‘Someone’s been reading a dictionary,’ said Sky, another taunt that was missed by River.
Star Wolf was grateful for their continual company on a fool’s errand, a mission he’d formulated on his own through youthful exuberance. Since leaving Equus he toyed with the idea of heading straight to the Council and revealing all of his findings. Which are?
Another fool’s plan, even if he added the elements his father divulged; more so in fact. Calling out the Tigers for operating a warship would get them nowhere, they’d have no proof and by the time Council members were sent to investigate the Tigers would hide any evidence. I need to catch them in the act.
Which led to the next idea, one that felt less foolish than any other he’d had of late, plot the route of the planets destroyed and establish the next likely destination for attack. If the Tigers, or Space Krakens, were systematically eliminating planets then it stood to reason there would be a pattern. Another reason Star believed the Tigers were behind the acts and not the mindless beasts of ancient folklore.
‘Hello, Lupus to Star?’ said Sky.
‘Sorry, having you been talking to me?’ asked Star Wolf.
‘Yes, for like the past five minutes.’ Sky sighed. ‘You need rest. All this planet jumping and close shaves with dead is taking its toll.’
‘He just needs to Wolf up,’ said River, and regretted it as Star stood and thumped him with a right paw, opened with claws, to draw four lines of blood across River’s left cheek.
The three of them, alone in a Gazelle waiting hall of marble and silk awnings, stood in stillness. After a time the only sound was the faint patter of blood on the orangery-cream tiles. River tensed his muzzle repeatedly; Star could see him fighting back the tears welling up in his big black eyes. The hurt in those loyal eyes near gutted Star Wolf, what am I doing?
‘I’m s—' Star Wolf started.
River turned, without word, and exited through a door of hanging antlers attached via long ropes atop the doorway. The rattling of bone on bone amplified with each passing moment to the point that all Star could hear was the agony of a battle, crunches of suffering tearing at his wearied mind.
The entire time Sky stood in silence, tears streaming from her cheeks, the significance of the strike delivered by Star must have torn through her as well. She came from the same harsh background as River, they were in the House of Wolves at Star’s request and discretion, and despite all the bravado Star knew they both understood he had the power to dismiss them to the wilderness just as quick.
‘They’re ready for you Star,’ said Stone from the rattling door of antlers.
‘Are you coming?’ asked Star, barely above a whisper.
Sky breathed deep, wiping a paw across her eyes, ‘yes of course, my prince.’
Wolves didn’t really use royal titles so the mocking elevation of status stung Star’s fragile pride. Sky strode off and before Star composed himself to follow her he noted the confused expression Stone wore.
They padded for several minutes down long corridors, open to elements, row after row of white marble pillars holding up similar marble corridors above. The Gazelle’s ability to master marble was legendary, the intricate work through the Gazelle palace was exquisite but they, for all their differences, had the same problem both the Moose and Horse did; a real lack of fighting animals. All the lasers and spaceships in the galaxy couldn’t make up for cold-blooded killers when it came to one-on-one combat. No race in the galaxy had the resources to win a war with technology alone.
Animal power and open-field battles were where all great wars had been decided in the past. Twenty years of peace couldn’t eradicate those thoughts from Star Wolf’s mind. Yes, he was only a pup, no more than five, when the war ceased but he still remembered the stories and the few times he’d snuck into his fath
er’s war room to overhear battle tactics. His father had played a big part in ending the Apex Wars and Star wasn’t about to let him down now.
THE FAMILIARITY OF fear was all too evident in the vast, open to the elements, courtyard of the House of Gazelles. The rich terracotta shimmered in the sunlight bursting through the open canvas above, nothing more than cotton sheets, presumably in place to keep out the oppressive heat. Huge woven awnings of black and white on every wall depicted the Gazelle’s achievements. They hung proudly around intricately grooved black marble pillars that must’ve housed a roof in another generation before the current Gazelle king, Rozelle, ordered the collapsing of the roof.
He was a short creature, stocky by Gazelle standards, who looked like he carried the weight of a gold crown as if it were no more than a feather. A creature born in comfort and clearly used to having his own way, one who to his credit or stupidity, seemed to harbour no fear toward Star Wolf and his envoy as they approached through the crowded hallway.
Their march through the middle accompanied by the scraping of chairs as timid little Gazelles separated to allow their passing. The fact River had a face slick with fresh blood and set into a scowl, revealing glistening fangs of death, probably added to the palpable tension in the room.
‘The Wolf has come to hear my words I see,’ said Rozelle, in a deep booming voice that carried well past Star Wolf as he continued his walk to the extravagant slab of marble Rozelle was seated on.
It truly was a throne fit for a king, and the Gazelle’s like so many other planets had a royal family who ruled; unlike the more fanatical planets, like the Tigers, who ruled through fear and religious rules.
‘First the Tiger, now the Wolf, we are privileged,’ continued the Gazelle monarch, ‘whatever next, the Lion perhaps?’
Star Wolf: A Space Opera Fantasy (Songs of Star & Winter Book 1) Page 5