Road To Hatos

Reid marveled at the size and color of the Cionis full moon. The violet and orange hued celestial body loomed four times larger than the moon she remembered, and equally brighter. Reid and Kerod rode gallots south by the moonlight, leaving Vorkest, the land of the Canids.

“Hey Kerod, this language spell’s gonna wear off soon and we’ll have to use sign language. But you know the mission. We need to get into that warlock’s castle, find two batteries and get this GPS thing working!” explained Reid, examining the GPS ‘key’ while she rode.

“Captain, you have too much faith in finding these, ‘batteries’ in castle Veras,” grumbled Kerod, sniffing the air as they rode.

Reid paused at the truth of Kerod’s statement, but what choice did she have?

“I know bro, it’s just…I want to go home, and from what I’ve been told getting this GPS device to work is my best shot.”

“Aye, I hear you Captain, but I’m sure there’s more that compels you to that castle,” smirked Kerod.

“Yeah, if I can maybe rescue Naja, kill the warlock and his elf girl. They don’t sound like nice people, so I’ll whack em for king Stelio.”

“You seem nonchalant with your decision to kill for king Stelio. A stranger you’ve never met before,” said Kerod.

“What are you getting at?” asked Reid, facing Kerod.

“Well, from what I’ve observed, you and king Stelio appear very close indeed, heh heh!” chuckled Kerod.

“What? Let me stop you now pal, me and Stelio are close like two soldiers with a common enemy in the warlock, and since that bitch Mia put a spell-”

“Oh, she’s that bitch Mia? Hahaa! Great king Stelio, you alpha stud! Is there no woman who won’t kill for you? Haha!” bellowed Kerod, mocking Reid’s ramble about soldiers with a common enemy.

Reid, red faced in the moonlight went tsundere, “Hey, I ain’t got nothing going on with your king Stelio! and I ain’t no woman, Ima man dammit! Hmph!” pouted Reid.

“Yes, you claim to be a man, but can you explain why king Stelio’s scent is in your hair?” teased Kerod.

“Whaddya mean Stelio’s scent- Oh screw you werewolves, smelling everything,” barked Reid, rubbing her hair.

“Aye, Captain, I merely jest with you. But unfortunately our situation is no laughing matter. The king has enemies that side with the warlock Faynus and seek your key, and to do you harm.”

“Yeah I figured something was up when Stelio kept telling me to leave Vorkest. Kinda funny we’re heading right to the castle of the guy that wants this GPS key,” replied Reid.

“Aye, that’s why it’s a good plan, because the warlock Faynus won’t see us coming. We’ll infiltrate the castle, then you will get distance and fire a dart into the warlock’s heart with your thunderstick!” beamed Kerod, slapping Reid on her back.

“Man, you guys have a lot of faith in me and my thunderstick,” laughed Reid, patting the rifle strapped on her back.

Canid-la

The two riders laughed until they reached the hill overlooking their first destination. A small trading outpost town in Hatos, called ‘Fort Hatos’ for the sake of clearly marking a traveler’s journey in country.

“Crong, Reid, brithan yan-”

“What? Aww crap bro...the language spell is gone..i don’t know what you’re saying,” enunciated Reid.

Kerod caught her meaning and nodded, “Ok, Reid, we go Hatos. ‘Canid Brat yat’ there, help us. Go with us,” said Kerod, surprising the crap out of Reid.

“Dude! You speak English!” beamed Reid.

“No. Doctor Gantz write book. Teach Angris..Engrish..wordz. Famous book in Cionis. Many Canid read doctor book. Think if learn Engrish word, make strong magic, hahahah!”

“Dude are you kidding me? Major Gantz wrote an English book, here on Cionis? How long was he here?” asked Reid, amazed at Gantz’ accomplishment.

“Uhh..say again..slow?” answered Kerod.

“Bro, I’m sorry..I’ll speak slow..now..you said we’re going to Hatos?” asked Reid.

“Yes. Hatos there. Friends there, ‘Canid Brat Yat’ there,” grunted Kerod, pointing to the lights of the town ten miles south.

“Ok cool! Let's go meet the Brat Yat..did I say that right?” asked Reid.

“Ha ha, good, you say well. Come Reid, I teach you, ‘Canid-la’, haha!”

“Canid-la, hunh, well your accent sounds like a Tennessee hillbilly in China. So I know Canid-la must be a fun language, so why not,” laughed Reid.

“Ah? Captain Reid is Jerk!” laughed Kerod.

“Bro! You just now figuring that out? Ha!”

The communicating duo laughed and spoke broken English as Reid learned a few phrases of Canid-la on the ten mile ride to Fort Hatos.

Fort Hatos

Within two miles of the the town, howls echoed in the night air. Kerod smiled atop his steed and howled back, still in his ‘human’ form.

“Your friends?” asked Reid.

“Yes, Brat Yat, take horse!” answered Kerod leaping from his gallot and shifting to his dark grey wolf form.

Reid grabbed the gallot’s reigns as five howling wolves emerged from the dark to greet their comrade. Reid pulled Kerot’s gallot and followed the tail wagging wolves into Fort Hatos, with Kerod at the lead.

Entering the well lit town, Reid observed the architecture and the people of Hatos as he rode behind the wolves. Hatos was a modern town with an old west feel. On the dusty streets stood thin wooden buildings, with iron frames.

Gobras were the main population observed. Followed by another smaller race of lizard like people Reid hadn’t seen before.

‘Cool world~’

Kerod and the five Canid shifted to human form and lead Reid to a large fort style manor, a Canid embassy of sorts. From here the Canid “Black Fangs” patrolled the southern realm of Vorkest, and defended the outlands of Hatos, Vorkests’ allies.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Inside the embassy Kerod met with Canid officers. The embassy staffed ten Canid, most were admin. Reid listened for the few words he learned moments ago on the ride.

I or Me = Ge (and Ge-mon = My “Ge-mon gallot = my gallot”

Black = Brat

Fang = Yat

Elf = Win

Castle = Rakage

Warlock = Worrunt

Travel = Chad

We Travel = Chad-en

After the Canids’ meeting, Reid joined them for a dinner of wild bird (or maybe lizard) root vegetables and vine fruit. A few curious Canids offered greetings in English to Reid. They’d either met Major Gantz or read his book. They said nothing tougher than basic phrases, “Weather Cionis is nice today” or “I am” followed by a name or adjective.

Reid learned a few Canid words that night, and as he spoke he felt his voice brazing. When he checked his appearance in a mirror, his chin and jaw grew. The silver fog in his body neared it’s end.

‘Finally!’

“Reid! come, we rest. Morning Chad-en!” said Kerod, staring at Reid’s changed face.

“Right, we travel in the morning, Chad-en!”

“Ah, Reid syl vesyq stear soray, ha!” laughed Kerod.

“Dude! Wait I know this one..ok...syl = is, stear = male, soray = many time or again. So you said, ‘Reid is vesyq man again.’ What is vesyq?” asked Reid.

Other Canid’s laughed and pointed at their own faces while pretending to pose for a portrait. Three of them pointed at one good looking Canid who jokingly posed for Reid.

“Oh, vesyq means ‘handsome,’ haha I appreciate it, but I think I was more, Belyz Stearna,” said Reid, saying the phrase for ‘Pretty Girl.’ The Canid’s laughed loud and hard at the captain’s humor.

Good times, good people, but Reid and Kerod needed to sleep. A long road lay ahead to reach castle Veras, in the land of Orent.

Black Fang Escort

The next morning, first light. Reid awoke in his spartan bed feeling different. He checked himself.

“Hmm...Oh Cool! My mojo’s back!” he smiled, Except, he felt...smaller down there.

“Hey what gives?” he said visually inspecting himself and, “Aww come on!” he yelled, hopping out of bed checking a mirror.

Reid still had breasts, only smaller, and his face kept feminine traits, like a boy in puberty. Aside from that his body and muscle frame returned.

‘Damn! I still got fog in me. I must need more time.’

Content enough with his manhood, Reid prepped for the journey. He supplied both Kerod’s and his gallots, but waited for Kerod as a problem arose.

From what Reid could gather, the original Black Fang escorts they met last night were called away. Now four different Black Fangs spoke with Kerod, urging him to leave sooner than later.

Kerod hustled to Reid with a map in his hand displaying it to Reid, “Reid, here. We need go here to Ashtoni,” said Kerod, pointing at the city of Ashtoni near the country of Orent.

Reid understood and mounted his gallot, but Kerod continued.

“Reid, wait...If separate...go here, to Sheom,” Kerod pointed at the city of Sheom, in the opposite direction west of Ashtoni.

“Uh, I understand, but uh-”

“Kerod!” a booming voice called out. Four Canid Black Fangs emerged greeting Kerod with hugs and arm shakes. Reid didn’t meet these guys last night, these were the escort replacements.

Kerod mounted his gallot and the Canid escorts shifted to wolves and ran ahead.

“Come Reid, Chad-en!”

“Right! Chad-en.”

Before The Point

The travelers galloped for an hour before entering a mountainous ravine with a steep fall. The travelers walked single file. From his gallot Reid peeked below to the dark ravine bottom.

“Damn, that’s a mile deep fall!” said Reid.

Kerod pulled his gallot beside Reid’s. “Reid, Ashtoni..south east..Sheom west.”

“Right, you told me bro..”

“Reid...Cionis sundown...west.”

“Ok, sun goes down in the west, just like earth. Good to-”

“Reid...king Stelio...top male..” growled Kerod, pulling his gallot close to Reid’s.

“Uhh, yeah he is and..dude your kinda close-”

“Stelio, top male...but I lie to you when I meet you,” muttered Kerod.

“You lied to me?” asked Reid, confused.

“I say you not my type...I lie...Reid always my type, and today I will protect you from traitor,” whispered Kerod, staring at Reid with unguarded eyes, touching his face.

“Dude...WTF?” muttered Reid, backing away from Kerod’s hand to see the four escort wolves, as if on cue, charge and attack Kerod and him.

A white furred escort wolf slashed at Reid, who ducked reaching for his rifle. But the mountain strong Kerod blocked and bashed the white wolf’s head into the cliff wall, killing him. Kerod then grabbed Reid’s gallot reigns and yanked his giant steed to the cliff’s edge.

Swinging a half formed claw at the three advancing wolves, Kerod shifted to full wolf form and kicked Reid’s gallot over the cliff.

Reid clutched the whinnying gallot’s reigns as the beast toppled over the road cliff’s edge, and down the steep drop.

“Reid! Sundown west!” growled Kerod,

“Kerod-” Reid yelped clutching to life on the neck of the gallot as the beast tumbled down the mile deep cliff ravine. Out of sight, scent and reach of the remaining three escort wolves above...who tore Kerod apart.