by Jim Galford
“You’ll be dead inside a week with the pack,” complained Greth, reaching out and snatching the rabbit from Raeln’s hands. “Defend your food, pup.”
Raeln stared at Greth in confusion and then held out a hand. “Please give that back.”
Laughing, Greth stepped farther away, holding the partially eaten rabbit in one hand. “Take it back, if you can,” he told Raeln. “Food is the only real currency out here. If you can’t keep me from taking it from you, someone a lot bigger and meaner than me will starve you or kill you outright. The pack-leader can’t be everywhere…you need to stand up for yourself.”
On unsteady feet, Raeln stood and tried to walk over to Greth. The smaller man nimbly darted away, even in the deep snow outside the tree shelter where they had slept.
“Enough of this,” Raeln told him, getting tired of the game as Greth dodged away again.
“Ilarra kept saying how great a fighter you are. Prove it. Take the rabbit from me if you can, Raeln. I know a bunch of people you’ll meet at the pack that won’t say anything before taking your food. If you can’t take food from someone who doesn’t really want to hurt you, then you’ll never be able to take it from someone who’s trying to starve you in hopes that you’ll weaken and they can tear into you later. You’ll either live with the deer wildlings or you’d die. I don’t want to see either happen.”
Moving his shoulders to loosen his arms, Raeln tried to flex his toes and ankles to get some feeling back into them. Tingling through both legs told him that moving fast would be impossible, at least until he had been moving longer. He could fight, but his body would not react as well as he would have liked. It would have to do.
Without Ilarra present, Raeln felt he had a distinct advantage over the scuffles he had gotten into with Greth in the past. The bond with Ilarra made him constantly fear for her safety, to watch her in the middle of any fight she could not distance herself from. This time she was miles away, relieving him of any concerns.
Raeln stared at Greth, who grinned back at him. Attacking the man over a joke was hardly what he had been trained for and he immediately regretted even standing up. Getting into a shoving match with Greth—something Ilarra had been forced to break up countless times—was one thing, but being asked to fight for food that Greth had been the one to gather was beneath Raeln.
“This isn’t worth my time,” Raeln told him, sitting back down in the mostly snow-free area. His stomach grumbled at his decision, but he crossed his legs and relaxed, refusing to be governed by his belly. “If we need more food, I’ll hunt this time.”
Glaring, Greth threw the rabbit back to Raeln. “You really have no idea what you’re doing out here, do you?” he asked as he came over, stopping to lean on a nearby tree. “There are people…”
Greth stopped and sniffed, then winced.
“Go on, little pup,” came a new voice from Raeln’s left, off in the trees. “Tell us about these people. What kind of people are there? I will give you time to warn you new friend.”
From the trees, six wildlings emerged. All of them were wolves, like Greth and Raeln, though two had patterning that spoke of an ancestry far from the mountains. The four grey wolves could easily have been from Hyeth given their patterning, though their ragged handmade clothing fit more in the wilds than in any city. At first glance, Raeln thought of the werewolves outside Lantonne, but these were more like himself and less like true animals.
The lead wildling was very nearly as tall as Raeln and wore little more than a leather loincloth and a sheet of leather hide as a jacket. Scars covered his arms, legs, and neck, with some fresh enough the wounds were still pink and raw.
One of the wildlings dragged the mangled body of an elf—though it was far too badly torn apart for Raeln to be sure by sight, he recognized the scent—leaving a long trail of blood in the snow behind them. The elf looked to have been torn apart by large animals.
“Remember when I said there were wildlings who’d kill you if you can’t fit in?” Greth asked softly, keeping his eyes on the newcomers. “Here they are…the very ones I was thinking of when I said it. Raeln, meet Olis.”
“Stop scaring the new people, Greth,” warned the largest of the wolves, apparently the one Greth had called Olis. His blue eyes studied Raeln cautiously, then dismissed him and went back to watching Greth. “Did you bring this one to join or were you planning on hunting in our lands? We talked about this already and I remember you running with your tail tucked.”
Slowly, Raeln stood, trying to make himself not appear to be a threat. Olis did not so much as glance at him, but three of the others watched him intently for any indication of danger. The remaining two were eyeing Greth cautiously while their leader conversed.
“Olis, we just want to get back to Lihuan’s pack without trouble,” said Greth, though his tone and posture spoke of a readiness to fight and a lot of fear he had difficulty hiding. “You swore to him that there would be no more attacks on pack members, especially over hunting disputes. This is mutual territory, not yours, not Lihuan’s.”
Olis grinned and motioned toward the dead elf. “There is no dispute about the land,” Olis told them. “We hunted down enough food for today, though it thought it was hunting us while it scouted Altis. I just want to know why you’re back before I send you to Lihuan.”
“I can come and go as I please, per your agreement with our pack,” answered Greth, bracing himself. He clearly thought combat would break out at any moment but was trying to stand up to the others. Raeln had no idea what he could do that would not make things worse. “Lihuan sent me on a task and I’m coming back to the pack to report in. Are you planning on stopping me from talking to Lihuan or is this just your way of saying ‘hello and welcome back, old friend’?”
“I wouldn’t dream of stopping you from talking to the fox that thinks himself a leader,” the wolf replied, his grin becoming more broad and malicious. “I ask a favor first, pup.”
Olis turned to look at Raeln, eyeing him up and down while three of the others fanned out to circle Greth and Raeln and cut off any escape routes.
“Your pack has scattered since you left,” he went on. “There isn’t a lot of food in this part of the woods to spread among all the mouths. Kill the stranger…or be killed by him…and the survivor can come eat with us. Either that or, for the good of the pack, we’ll be forced to kill you both. Just protecting Lihuan’s territory as per our agreement, you understand.”
Raeln looked to Greth for some clue what to do, but he appeared to be searching for a way to run without being caught by the other wildlings. At first, Raeln could not understand why, as none of the wolves were armed, despite the body they dragged with them. In all his years, he had met few humanoids that could fight effectively without some kind of tool, even if it were just a rock.
Then Raeln noticed the stains on the wildlings’ finger fur that spoke of being dragged through blood numerous times, until the color would no longer completely fade. Their claws were crusted with freshly dried blood. These were the savages he had thought Greth to be, and judging by Greth’s reaction, they terrified him as much or more than they did Raeln.
“Greth, you are disappointing me,” warned Olis. “I don’t give many pups a second chance to join my pack. Kill the newcomer or we kill you like I promised to do when you ran like a coward the last time we challenged you. It’s your choice, but decide quickly or we kill you both.”
Raeln adjusted his position to guard against Greth, thinking in a situation like this he knew where the man’s loyalties lay. Greth had always been quite clear his own survival was his utmost priority, and right now, survival meant attacking Raeln. Raeln could not even fault him for the decision.
Turning toward Raeln, Greth mouthed the word “sorry” even as he put one hand to the dagger at his side. Greth checked the claws on his other hand one finger at a time.
“A long walk just to have you kill me,” Raeln told him, trying to keep the other wolves’ locations in the
back of his mind. He could not face them all and would need to cripple one or more, then run faster than the others in snowy terrain they knew better than he did if he wanted to survive. “Couldn’t you have just stabbed me in my sleep? It would have been easier.”
“This isn’t about easy,” Olis snapped, laughing gruffly. “The pup hasn’t had his first hunt yet. The so-called pack-leader sent him out to prove himself without properly bloodying his hands. We’re making him an adult the way our kind should, by killing the most dangerous intruder on our land. He did come to us for a place in the pack, after all.”
Raeln and Greth circled in the packed snow where they had spent the night, both watching the other for the cue to attack. Greth’s hand never left his knife, but he made no attempt to draw it.
Thinking through their previous fights in his mind, Raeln analyzed Greth’s tactics. Their early fights when Greth had been a prisoner had been erratic, with Greth often reacting entirely out of a bestial instinct Raeln could barely understand, though he had a good idea the ways Greth would strike if he fought that way. Later scuffles Raeln had instigated to learn more about how Greth fought and now he was happy that he had. He had seen much of Greth’s capabilities and thought that he could take him down if he had to. Ilarra had lectured him about the fights, but they had been essential in learning what Greth could and could not do.
In Raeln’s mind, he predicted that Greth would draw the dagger but attack with his claws first. Greth seemed to think a foe feared weapons more than claws and would focus on the dagger while he struck with his free hand. When Raeln attempted to stop his off-hand, he would try to stab Raeln in the chest with the weapon or slash at his throat. If that failed, Raeln expected either a knee to his ribs or Greth’s fangs aimed at his throat. Raeln could not predict the man’s attacks further than that, but he doubted it would take long to disarm and disable Greth.
Kicking up snow as he charged, Greth attacked Raeln, using his off-hand’s claws to strike while he closed his other hand over the knife in preparation to draw it.
Raeln smiled inwardly and moved into the attack, catching Greth’s arm as he spun, throwing Greth off-balance. It took almost no effort to roll the man, sending him tumbling toward one of the other wolves in a plume of snow.
Though Raeln had expected Greth to fall and try to recover, instead he rolled as if he had fully anticipated the attack. Greth came up fast, driving his dagger into the throat of the wolf guarding the perimeter. Before the others had done more than growl, Greth spun and threw the dagger toward Olis.
Olis’s eyes did not even widen as he leaned to avoid the dagger, which clattered into the trees somewhere past him. Baring his teeth, he shook his head angrily. “Two chances, pup. You don’t get a third. Kill them both.”
Raeln heard the snow crunch behind him and off to his left as two wildlings moved on him. He steadied himself, but kept his eyes on Greth in case the man changed his mind and tried to turn on him.
The rustle of fur and clothing nearby prompted Raeln to react. He planted one foot and spun, sweeping his arm over the nearest wildling’s neck and chest. Throwing his weight behind the attack, he flipped the smaller wolf onto his back, then stomped the man’s chest with his paw, stunning him.
The second wolf leapt at Raeln, raking Raeln’s arm with claws sharper than he had expected. Pain flared across his arm and he felt his shirtsleeve dampen as blood ran through his fur, warm against the cold air.
Raeln ignored the pain as he had been taught when fighting, using his forearm to deflect the clawing attacks by the wolf he faced. When the wolf attempted to bite at him, Raeln swept his elbow across to strike the man’s jaw, knocking him off his feet, though the man immediately tried to stand again. As part of the same motion, Raeln kicked the wildling on the ground again, keeping him from standing up.
Spinning in place, Raeln grabbed the man that was on his knees by the scruff of his neck with one hand. With his other hand, he locked the wildling’s arm behind his back. Raeln checked on Greth and surveyed the remaining three wildlings.
Olis still stood to one side of the trees, watching with a bemused expression. He had done nothing since the fighting had broken out and appeared entirely unconcerned. Raeln dismissed him for the moment.
The other two wolves were torn up badly but still fighting Greth. The three men dodged and raked at one another, spraying blood as each blow connected.
“Enough,” Olis said, his voice carrying through the woods. “The pup is bloodied and the newcomer knows his place. If you can walk, follow me for dinner. If you can’t…don’t show your tail on my land again.”
Olis turned and walked away from the fight, dragging the elven body behind him as he went. The two men attacking Greth broke away immediately to pursue Olis, taking a few more painful-looking injuries from Greth as they ran. Even the wolf at Raeln’s feet began crawling away, while the one he held squirmed and tried to flee.
In disgust, Raeln released the wildling and watched him try to catch up to the others as they disappeared into the woods.
Greth, still standing where he had been fighting, nearly collapsed as his legs shook. After the last of the other wildlings had gone, he dropped to his knees, panting for breath. He clutched at ragged wounds all across his chest and arms. He very nearly put his forehead on the wet ground, curling up in agony.
“Greth,” Raeln said, rushing to his side.
Snarling, Greth took a swipe at Raeln and then curled back up. “Don’t touch me.”
Raeln backed off briefly and noticed the rapidly spreading blood stains in the snow around Greth.
“How badly hurt are you?” asked Raeln, kneeling beside Greth. Greth would not let him anywhere near his injuries. “Let me see.”
Greth shook his head and tightened his arms around his torso, saying in a raspy voice, “The camp is northwest of here. Go on without me. You can be there within an hour. Tell Asrahn that I’m out here and she’ll know what to do.”
Raeln reached for Greth and got another clumsy swipe of his claws in thanks. “I’ll be back as quickly as I can,” Raeln told him, getting to his feet.
The northwest looked little different from any other direction that Raeln could see, making him wonder how Greth could have any idea where he was in the woods. Dense trees blocked sight in nearly every direction, though Raeln could see the mountain peaks in spots to the west. They all looked the same to him, giving him no information at all about where he was.
Raeln started walking, hoping he could keep his footing well enough in the snow and ice to cut into the hour Greth predicted. One hour was bad enough if he was badly injured, but the extra hour for help to return with him….
Sliding to a stop, Raeln looked back at Greth, who was lying down in the clear area under the trees, still clutching his chest. From what Raeln could see, Greth was trying to prop himself against one of the trees.
“Idiot,” muttered Raeln, walking quickly back to Greth. “This is one of those wild animal things you keep saying I don’t understand.”
“I guess you’re smarter than I give you credit for,” Greth answered, his grin red with blood. “Go to the camp. They’ll send someone to bring me back. It’s about all that can be done. If you’re fast, Asrahn might be able to shove life back in my body.”
Raeln knelt beside Greth, catching his wrist when he tried to claw at Raeln. Twisting, he forced Greth’s arm aside so that he could better see the wounds.
Dozens of shallow cuts covered Greth’s shoulders and arms, but the most severe was a deep bite on his neck near the shoulder that bled profusely and the wound under his hand, near the base of his ribs. That injury bled even worse than his neck, seeping out past his hand.
“He got me with a knife when I wasn’t paying attention,” explained Greth, laughing weakly. He peeked at his side and quickly put his hand back in place. “If you weren’t such a big target, I’m certain they’d have kept stabbing me. I’m pretty sure I got his eye. Fair trade. At least you get what you w
anted from the day we met—you get to poke fun at me while I bleed. I’m pretty sure that’s what those glares you kept giving me meant.”
“Not at all. I just wanted you to try being nicer to Ilarra,” Raeln answered, gently checking the edge of the cut under Greth’s hand. Blood practically poured out when the hand was moved at all. “I’ve known enough men that lose themselves in the violence of war. Most of my life, I blamed it on Hyeth being so close to the raiders’ lands. I’d hoped someone from far away might be different, but you weren’t helping my world view any.”
“Sorry to disappoint. Dad taught me to be a wolf, not a prissy elf.”
Raeln smiled at that and grabbed his pack. Digging through it, he pulled out a thick pair of winter pants he had intended to change into at the first opportunity, once he was dryer and not in the middle of the woods. Rolling the pants up tightly, Raeln pushed the cloth against Greth’s wound in place of his hand.
“Shouldn’t waste perfectly good clothes on the dying,” Greth gasped, clenching his jaw as pressure was applied. “Those were actually nice. I meant to steal them.”
“They wouldn’t have fit you.”
“Not the point. Half the fun was going to be watching you go crazy trying to find them. I could have thrown them in a river and gotten the same satisfaction.”
Raeln held the cloth to Greth’s wound for a long time, until blood stopped oozing around it. Given Greth did not look any weaker, it gave him some hope he could keep the bleeding to a minimum long enough for them to reach the camp.
“Why didn’t you just attack me?” Raeln asked as he waited a little longer to be sure the wound did not begin gushing again when they moved.
“Thought I’d lose.”
He stared at Greth, who would not look back at him. “That never stopped you before.”
“This time was for real…those were for fun,” answered Greth. He coughed, tensing in agony as he did. “Besides, I don’t really want to talk about it. I’m dying here.”
“No better time. I doubt you’ll be as talkative if I don’t get the bleeding stopped.”