‘Pleasure to serve you, Star,’ said another, whose rotund belly was near bursting out of his emerald tunic.
They all wore the emerald colours of the House of Badgers and Star was most shocked to discover none other than the Night Badger marching through the ranks of Badgers, greeting all, adorning his House of Badger emerald tunic.
‘I thought you only wore battle leathers?’ Star teased as he moved closer.
‘Today I’m in house colours.’ The Night Badger spun on the slush into an exaggerated bow. ‘If it suits your lordship!’
‘Oh, shut up.’ Star was delighted to witness a handful of Badgers gasp at his insult. He guessed no Badger dared taunt the great fighter. ‘Will you come with me and see Scarlett?’
‘No, you go on, Star.’ The Night Badger grabbed a few Badgers, putting his arms over their shoulders. ‘I’ve got some drin—I mean catching up to do.’
‘Very well, don’t do too much catching up,’ said Star Wolf as he left the Badgers to their own devices. The queer glances and muttered responses he received from the Wolves, albeit only from one in a hundred Wolves, as he marched back into the castle grounds made him think about the severity of what he’d done. The Badgers, an enemy in years gone by, currently had a force thirty thousand strong no less than five miles from the House of Wolves. Let’s hope they don’t betray us.
His new mantra for every species he joined forces with.
STAR STOOD STILL, AT the edge of another set of landing bays, further out into the great forest counting each Fox spaceship as they landed every few minutes. Their slender, near-silent shapes noiselessly landed into the thick snow that had piled up on these normally unused landing bays. Star had to utilise the full extent of the Lupus’s resources to house the arriving forces.
‘I note we’re five miles further out than the Badgers and Leopards,’ the Scarlett Fox had commented when Star greeted him.
‘I noted them arriving way before your forces,’ Star said, with a bit of venom in his voice.
‘Do not be so eager to march to your death, young Wolf, but yes, you are correct. I suppose first come first served is the fairest way to run things.’ The enigmatic Fox, a creature Star still couldn’t decide how he felt about, had imparted some wisdom. ‘The Badgers are a stubborn, cruel bunch, a race who enjoys fighting. Don’t be like the Badgers. It’s not good for life expectancy.’
The more Star thought on the words the more he took them as good advice, there was a reason the Badger’s numbers had depleted. Over the millennia fornication and warring proved to be poor companions and the inevitable culls had hit them hard. Still, thirty thousand of them at his back was a great addition to the cause. Likewise, the fifty thousand Foxes, still arriving by the minute, were another force at Star’s disposal. Add on top of that twenty thousand Leopards and one hundred thousand Wolves and Star was well equipped for war.
As the hours passed the area housing the arriving Foxes became another slush bowl, the pure snow ruined and trampled away, and there Star stood amongst another army not made up of Wolves. ‘What would father say?’ he muttered.
‘He’d have died all over again,’ said Ash.
Star had smelt him pad up moments before. ‘Most likely.’ Star didn’t meet the veteran Wolf’s gaze.
‘Still, it’d have been amazing to witness the proud fool witness this!’ Ash elbowed Star in the ribs, his grey muzzle twisted into an awkward smile. He was another Wolf Star had neglected of late, ruling truly was a tireless and lonely task... Perhaps I should just...
‘I bet you’re wondering how you ended up in the middle of all this?’ asked Ash, seeming to sense Star’s mood. Ash’s black fur was losing a battle against grey, his features gaunter than Star ever recalled them, and yet still he carried his muscular frame with a prowess that commanded respect amongst the Wolves. Star guessed Ash was annoyed at him for banishing River to the dungeons. ‘And I bet you’re wondering how you ended up sending your best friend to the dungeons?’
Star nodded as he continued to watch the fleet of foot Foxes nip in and around their nimble looking spacecrafts. Snow fell, adding to the slippery mess underfoot, Star could feel the icy-cold biting at his toes even through his thick winter boots.
‘He deserved it,’ Ash said, ‘River needs to understand who’s in charge. Even if it’s painful for him to understand, his best friend is the leader of our planet, by birthright and by the will of the Wolves, you’ve been chosen twice over and his jealously will have to disappear or I will make him disappear.’ Ash didn’t turn to look at Star once he spoke the words, Star glared at the pained expression he wore.
‘You’d kill him?’
Ash turned to face Star. ‘For you I think I’d kill just about anyone,’ he put his paws on Star’s shoulders, ‘but go and talk to him and hopefully it won’t come to that.’
‘I will, but first I must finish my rounds with the Band of Breeds.’
TO BE SAT IN FRONT of a roaring fire, with a mug of ale in hand was a luxury Star Wolf hadn’t experience in some time. So strange, such things were his daily routine for his entire life and yet now, with war looming, he’d forgotten all about such indulgences. Someone who hadn’t was Kodiak, who was well into his ninth mug of ale, that Star had seen him consume at least. The Bear had been in the tavern for some time before Star if the reports from Wolves currently in the establishment were true.
‘A great victory awaits us!’ enthused the drunk Bear, as he sloshed his mug around over his head to rapturous applause from the Wolves and handful of Badgers and Foxes. It heartened Star to see different species mixing and building bonds – in the most part – in preparation for what was to come.
Star raised his mug in salute of the Bear’s great claims.
‘How many Tigers will you slay?’ asked a drunken Wolf from the crowded wooden bar.
‘A hundred!’ roared Kodiak, standing from an oak bench, designed to fit five Wolves, which barely contained his backside. He beat his free paw into his chest, smashing it into the Bear sigil across his purple tunic, which was sodden with beer stains. The smoky bar erupted into further cheers; Star Wolf had to admit Kodiak was superb for morale when he’d had a few drinks inside him. He was a different Bear compared to the quiet, sullen creature that skulked around the castle grounds during the daytime. The Bear always seemed to be brooding over one thing or another and yet here he stood singing and dancing like it was his last night in the galaxy.
‘Per day,’ Kodiak added, ‘for an entire month!’
The laughter reached fever pitch.
Only when it dissipated and Kodiak sat back down did Star start talking, ‘that’d be a great help to the war effort. If you kill three thousand Tigers by yourself, you’ll be honoured across the entire galaxy.’
‘Am I not already!’
‘Even more so I mean, one Bear to stand against all those Tigers would be the stuff of legend. A Bear who took on the Tigers without the help of a single of his kin.’
Kodiak may have been drunk, but he didn’t miss the insinuation Star laid down. ‘You’ve kept poking the Bear,’ Kodiak bared his teeth, only a fraction but a warning none the less. ‘You know that I am the Great Bear incarnate. You have no need of any other Bears; I am afraid they would only disappoint you. Without me the Bear will perish, I do this for them, don’t you understand. They mean everything to me.’
‘And what if you perish? Who will protect the Bear then?’ Star knew he was pushing his luck, but he needed to be sure of the total allegiance of every member.
Kodiak’s huge brown eyes burned with fury. The entire bar picked up on the heated debate and quieted to a dull murmur. ‘I will not die by the hand of a Tiger. The Tiger won’t kill me.’
‘How can you be so sure?’ Star continued to press, if the Bear was going to snap and run wild better to do it here and in open battle.
The massive Bear sighed, draining his mug and slamming onto the table, shattering the mug into a thousand pieces and splitting the table in
two. He picked up one half of the table, the size of half a dozen Wolves and most likely twice that in weight, and tossed it one-handed through the tavern doors, breaking everything in its path. Thankfully no one was in the path, but the point was abundantly clear. ‘No
Tiger will kill me in this war.’
Kodiak stood and skulked out of the now silent bar.
‘Thank Lupus you’re on our side,’ Star shouted after the Bear who turned
and let a wide grin spread over his muzzle. ‘To Kodiak!’
The bar burst into cheers, feeding the ferocious Bear’s never-ending ego as he left Star Wolf sat by the crackling fire.
‘WILL YOU JOIN ME TO greet Shadowfang?’ Star had asked Bloodhound when he found the sea Dog in one of the many kitchens within the castle. As it transpired Bloodhound was an adept chef and was imparting tips and wisdom on the cooks of the House of Wolves.
‘It’s the nose,’ Bloodhound had explained as they wandered to the southern reaches of the castle grounds before exiting over the drawbridge. ‘It makes cooking a doddle, if you pay attention that is.’ Bloodhound’s long, floppy ears flapped beneath his trapper hat; the fake fur trim unable to contain the Dog’s huge ears. Star had also opted for a thick trapper. The weather truly was deteriorating by the day, which gave Star an idea for the future should he require home advantage but hopefully it wouldn’t come to that.
The path, wide enough for several snowmobiles side-by-side, had been a mess of wet mud and puddles yesterday but by morning the entire path was coated in thick snow. Even the early morning sunshine couldn’t melt away the vast piles of white snowfall. Star and Bloodhound walked, both using their sense of smell to ensure they stayed on the path that led to the Leopard’s camp at the southernmost landing area from the castle. Star deemed it prudent to keep the Leopard’s away from the Foxes and Badgers, after all they were the most exotic and unknown species of the alliance and Star didn’t imagine they’d mix too well.
‘You do trust me, don’t you?’ Bloodhound’s question came out of nowhere, shattering the peaceful silence they had walked in for the last two miles.
‘You mean after the pirates?’
Bloodhound stopped in his tracks, he was a comical character to behold, snow boots, oversized winter coat, navy uniform and trapper hat masking a fearsome killer underneath. Yet his eyes were wide, he wasn’t going to move, and Star knew he had to answer seriously.
‘Look,’ Star said, having stopped too. ‘I do not doubt your loyalty to the cause against the Tigers. I don’t doubt anyone’s desire to destroy Tigers, that’s our one uniting facet but as far as I can tell it’s the only one that holds absolute. Each species has their agendas,’ and now the real reason Star couldn’t fully offer his trust, ‘but some species haven’t been forthcoming with troops.’
‘You think the more killers a member of your merry little band brings the more trustworthy they are!’ Bloodhound’s anger manifested as he growled and spat, just missing Star’s boots. ‘So, by your logic the Scarlett Fox is the most trustworthy creature on this planet right now! And I’m way down with Kodiak and the March Hare or the damn Lions!’
Star hadn’t planned arguing. His aim was to complete a final check-in with all key members and then wait for the Tiger to make their move. Despite the biting cold Star’s collar began to chaff. ‘That’s not exactly what I meant.’
‘No.’ Bloodhound drew his sword and pointed it squarely at Star, whose veins turned to ice. He knew he’d never reach his own weapon before being cut down. ‘Then what is it you mean? Do you wish me to swear an oath of blood?’ The Dog turned his sword back to himself and lowered it toward his upturned paw. Spittle was cascading down his cheeks, as he shook frantically, ‘I am not the one you want to worry about.’
‘I don’t doubt your loyalty, but I’ve got to ask why on Lupus haven’t you provided any troops to the war effort? Surely the Dogs have fighters amongst them?’
Bloodhound barked, a hoarse throaty sound as snow began to fall. The sun had disappeared half a mile back. ‘You’ve been to Ferox Cannis, remember? Did you see anything of note? We are a ragtag world, full of careless, selfish creatures. We would be loyal to a master, but the planet has none. I’m afraid the best fighters from my world are like those you encountered recently, pirates. Untrustworthy to the last mutt! I am ashamed of my own kind. There, is that the truth you wanted?’
‘I’m sorry.’ Star felt stupid for saying it but nonetheless his heart told him he needed to utter the words. And after that they said no more, not until they reached the Leopard camp. A wall of fires and huge marquees greeted them. Exotic spices stung Star’s nostrils, in a good way and reminded him of the chaotically beautiful marketplaces of Ranae. ‘Look.’ Star stopped and pulled Bloodhound around to face him. ‘I do trust you.’
Bloodhound nodded but his muzzle remained sullen, Star guessed he was annoyed for having to admit the hard truth about his own kind, but the loyal Dog kept quiet.
Shadowfang and the rowdy Leopards were in good spirits, music and dancing coming from every direction. The overwhelming warmth and palpable excitement of the camp washed over Star to the point where he’d almost forgotten himself as he sampled the culinary and liquid delights of this mysterious race. The Leopards were a magical species, even their thick winter clothing exuded luxury and class, sleek black leathers and jewel-encrusted armour commonplace.
After an hour Star thought it best to leave them be before he truly lost himself amongst the Leopard.
‘We are ready for your orders,’ Shadowfang had informed Star as he returned to the castle with Bloodhound. It was only when he’d returned to the castle he realised he’d forgotten to ask Shadowfang about the Leopard’s true agenda in all of this. Another time.
‘AND NOW FOR THE HARDEST chat of them all,’ Star told Sky as he hugged her in his private chambers, the first time he’d ever invited her to them. It was the briefest of visits, but he needed her to know he was going to right a wrong, that was just as close to her heart as his. Somehow it gave him courage to know she shared the burden of what was about to happen. If the discussion went poorly they’d both have to live with the inevitable outcome.
He’d put this conversation off till last.
His brief but pointless chat with the March Hare yielded nothing new. The crazy Hare was beyond drunk in one of the town taverns and barely uttered five sentences, but one of them had at least been that he was ready for action.
Likewise, the chat with the Lions had been short. Goldtooth and Blackfang had sat either side of the Red Lion, Goldtooth scowling all the while, as their legendary Lion spoke. ‘You do not need to come and corral us for battle.’ Star had obviously winced at the Red Lion’s stern tone for he added, ‘But nonetheless we thank you for the visit. When battle commences we shall be ready. I have some unfinished business with the Tigers.’
And now, with every echoed footstep, further down into the darkness beneath the castle, Star’s feet turned to stone. The torch in his paw wobbled as he moved, his pace slowed each time he took another pace down. Please be reasonable.
‘He’s in the farthest cell,’ said the dungeon master, a Wolf so old he probably predated Star Wolf’s father’s reign, which was saying something. As Star walked across the straw-covered dirt the old Wolf coughed and hacked away behind him. The stench of death was all around Star, most of the cells were empty but those that weren’t housed angry Wolves who snapped and taunted Star as he passed them. Some of the Wolves appeared void of cognitive speech, the blessing of the Universal Beacon seemingly gone from them. They were wild Wolves awaiting death.
Thankfully it wasn’t a full moon tonight. Otherwise the dimly lit corridor would’ve been bathed in moonlight via the solitary arched window above the dungeon masters chair. Those with Werewolf blood might have been a little more inclined to try and break free, the thick steel bars looked sturdy enough, but Star did wonder if they could hold a creature under the force of the moon; if you believed in that sort of
magic of course.
From the darkness of the last cell, the base of an inverted u shape made from the cells, a pair of eyes shone fiercely amongst the pitch-black. Star’s torch illuminated the fury housed within those Wolf eyes, the eyes of Star’s oldest friend.
‘Good evening River,’ Star kept his voice neutral, desperate to appear aloof. He sat on a wooden stool, purposely out of reach from the cell bars, ‘I trust they’ve been treating you well down here.’
A grunt from the darkness met Star’s words.
‘I requested you be given the best cell and fed regularly.’ Star coughed, stammering through his practiced speech, which was slipping from his mind. ‘You’ll need your strength for what’s to come.’
‘I do not need to be strong to die!’ River barked, at the bars in a flash trying to yank them free. For a second Star thought his friend’s eyes turned red. His mouth certainly foamed with white drool in great globules. ‘Just hang me and be done with it!’ He returned to the dark, curling up into a ball in the corner of the damp straw. Star hadn’t ventured down here before and was stunned that this was the best cell on offer. The entire dungeons were filthy, dark and damp. He wouldn’t wish the conditions on his worst enemy let alone his best friend. ‘Though I must admit I find it a little hypocritical that you’re not executing the damn Leopard too.’
‘Who said anything about executing you?’ River’s ears pricked up when Star spoke, a natural reaction and he growled immediately, Star couldn’t help but laugh. ‘You don’t need to try and hide your emotions around me, River. I can read you like a book. I am not going to order you killed. Some would advise me to, and none could deny you probably deserve it, and I have the authority to dish out the punishment, but rest assured I won’t.’
‘Why?’ a one-word response, full of innocence and hope. River had tears in his eyes and Star soon found his cheeks wet with tears.
The Winter Tiger Page 13