“I'm going to get some water. I'll be right back.”
“Don't go off on your own.” Wilde's voice calling out a few moments later, causing me to turn back. “Bring him with you.”
His wolf getting to his feet and padding over through our half packed up campsite. Bumping into me.
“I'll be fine, it's not that far.”
“I know that,” he says. “But it'd make me feel better knowing you're not going alone.”
Feeling the need to head back over for a hug. Starting to - trying to, at least - but his wolf deliberately getting in my way and not letting me through. About one heartbeat away from swatting it with the shield.
“See?” says Wilde. “He wants to go with you. He likes you.”
The wolf grinning up at me in its own way.
“Alright, Nico, I appreciate it. ” Giving the wolf the same look it's giving me. “C'mon, boy, let's refill these canteens.” Reaching my hand down to give its head a pat. The wolf watching my hand come closer. Closer. Closer. And then his jaws snapping a finger's width away, causing me to pull back. The wolf giving me that look again. No, even more mirthful this time. Visions of yet another dead Ranger pet dancing through my head.
“Don't worry, he's just being playful,” says Wilde, filling his face with another spoonful of the remaining stew, while obviously only partially paying attention. “He likes you.”
“Nico,” keeping my tone under control, “could you bring me the pot and those bowls. I'd like to wash them.”
“Uh, sure.”
Turning to leave the camp and the wolf taking the lead, bumping me again, sending me stumbling a pace over. Really put his weight into that one. From his size probably entering the troubled teen years. Pushing boundaries and being more rambunctious than necessary. He probably thinks it's Nico, then me, then him, and he's jockeying for second place. Time to show him the real order around here. The two of us walking, making small leaps across scrub grass filled cracks in the rocks in the direction of one of the small rivers originating out from Swan Lake several hours to the north and west. Reaching out and giving the wolf a pat on his hindquarters. Not slowing my pace, continuing around and leaning down to make a show of considering my frozen four legged friend.
“Let's get you and me straight. I know you're much smarter than the average mutt so you should be able to follow along. This dominance game that you're trying to play, bumping into me, those little growls – I didn't miss all those, I ignored them – but that wasn't a friendly little nip earlier so don't even try pretending it was. Here, I've been nice to you: those scraps of food, scratching your ears, but you seem to have mistaken kindness for weakness. And you've responded with some rather ungrateful, mongrel-esque behavior. The kind of behavior that makes me question just how smart you actually are. I know you're supposed to be helping Nico with something, or other, but, frankly, I don't give a shit. If I wanted to, I could kill you whenever and I'd tell Nico some story. He'd be upset, but I'd be able to fix that, too. And then we'd go get a new dog. A more well behaved dog. Like that.”
Snapping my fingers and giving my most wolfish grin. Placing my index and middle fingers on the paralyzed wolf's nose and giving some not very gentle taps. The eyes of Koln's chosen furball remaining fixed on mine.
“Does this put everything into perspective for you?”
Gently scratching his muzzle while waiting for the spell to end. Life reentering the animal. Shaking his coat and taking a deep breath. Still staring at me, but not making a move to bite. My fingers still lightly scratching. His tail drooping and looking away. The two of us continuing the short ways to the bank of the river. Kneeling down and using some cloth as a filter to refill the canteens. The wolf not drinking. Mostly sulking, but also giving me some rebellious sideways glances, the tips of his teeth showing here and there. Not under control. A dog shouldn't- wait, he's a wolf, not a dog. Young, egotistical and proud. Being temporarily overmatched isn't enough to break that sort of spirit.
“Hey.” The wolf looking at me. “You don't have a name yet, do you? I can't believe Nico still hasn't given you one. Or is that because you're being stubborn?” The wolf managing to look quite stubborn at being called out for stubbornness. “I know something about dealing with things that like to be stubborn. You probably have more than a little of your old man in you, I'm guessing. What would be a good name for a stubborn little dog, like you?” Using my fingers to play out a waggly tailed little doggy merrily going on its way. The wolf staring at me.
“How about Floopy? Do you like that one?” Tiling his head at a fifteen degree angle to the left. “I could go to Nico and say you're just the cutest little doggy with the waggliest little tail and Floopy would be a great name. And if he doesn't like that one - I can't imagine why he wouldn't - I've got some others to choose from. Every single time you growled at me yesterday I tried to come up with another name. Jelly Bean. Trash. Hoppity, after that little dance you did when you fetched that rabbit - he was so impressed with your performance. Dumbshit. Malimoose. Actually, I don't know about that last one, that name has a certain faux dignity. Let's bring it down to your level. How 'bout Mimo? Nico and Mimo. He may even consider picking that one just to shut me up.”
The wolf's ensuing growl low and full of menace.
“Oh, you don't like any of those choices? Hopefully now you understand there are fates worse than death. Let's keep this little incident between you and me and nothing so unfortunate will happen. Going forward, I'll play nice if you play nice. I'll even keep giving you treats, ones that'll put that rabbit head to shame.” The growl tapering off and the wolf considering me for another few moments. “You didn't seem to complain about the stew.”
Giving another full shake of his coat and looking away. With any luck considering our business satisfactorily concluded. Taking a long drink from the river and then rinsing off the dishes. Making it back to our campsite without incident, no deliberate bumps or growls, and even permitting me scratch his ears without complaint.
***
So you have come.
The voice of the giant spectral wolf booming inside our brains. His figure starting to materialize from the paws on up, initially wavy and pale, but becoming more solid as the moments pass. Much less ephemeral here than he had been his last appearance.
I am pleased to see that you have understood my urgency and that you are not wasting time. That you have done so is to your credit. Our remaining time is growing ever shorter, but the fated hour has not yet struck. Treasure each moment that still remains and make use of the time you have left.
The Great Wolf Koln fixing Wilde with his stare.
Did you bring what I required?
“I have them. What do you want me to-” Wilde beginning to say.
Excellent. The mental yell cutting him off. Timely and diligent, a splendid example of your people, and another sign that I have chosen wisely. However, know that for this trial timeliness and diligence are mere prerequisites. Your task today is vital to halt that which is gathering. Are you prepared now for what I may ask of you?
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Koln not thinking loudly anymore. Giving us a moment to think. The two of us sharing a quick glance.
“Yes,” he says. “But what is-”
Good. Cut off, again. As I have said, this trial requires much more than timeliness and diligence. Already starting to repeat himself. This may go long, again. The primary requisite for this trial is courage. Courage of body, and courage of mind. The courage you show today will define you in ways you do not even know. Courage to meet the challenges awaiting you, and courage to pick up those that falter. Courage is the most important characteristic that you will need to confront that which is coming. Courage is the backbone, the glue, holding together everything, when everything else fails. Courage to chart an unknown path, and courage to see it though. Courage, it has been said, is the-
“So what do we gotta do?” Yelling at him. Unable to help myself. Feeling the beginnings of a headache starting to come on from his blather.
Impatient Outsider. Koln's reproach coming from every direction. You cannot rush this. You cannot rush enlightenment. It is necessary to first understand-
“I thought you said time was growing shorter. Right, Nico? That's what he said.”
Koln giving the impression that he was in the presence of a particularly impudent bug.
“Um, you did say that,” Wilde confirms. His voice dropping to a whisper. “What are you doing?”
Whispering back. “We don't have all day to stand around listening to this. Let's cut to the chase, we don't even know what we need to do.” Raising my voice. “Great Koln, courage is important, but it is defined by action, not talk. We are ready for your trial.”
Amusing. His howling laughter echoing in our skulls. Foolish, but amusing. Your yapping female has guaranteed that you will require great courage. As my agent in the world of the living, I need you to retrieve certain relics that I am presently unable to touch. Don't disappoint. Step through the arch in order to find what I seek.
The voice in our heads not adding anything else and the forest glade currently in the process of filling with all manner of little woodland creatures. At the center, next to the slightly translucent Koln, two trees a few paces apart that curve toward each other, forming what has to be the arch in question.
“Lucy.” Wilde reaching out his hand and squeezing mine. Squeezing back. His other hand giving a solid pat to his wolf. The three of us approaching the arch. Steeling myself for what is to come. Stepping through and the pressure in my hand disappearing. Looking to my right. No Wilde. No wolf. Turning back around. Still in the clearing with Koln.
“What the hell is this?”
What's the problem, Outsider?
“I think I passed your trial a little too easily. Where are they?”
You? Amusement in his tone. It's not your trial. The trial is for the one you call Nico, and for my son, Vesper.
“Vesper?”
My ten thousandth. I have high hopes. He and your friend are an auspicious match.
“I should be in there.” Pointing at the arch and getting a derisive snort in return. Staring to pace back and forth. “You know, I couldn't help but notice, but for all your talk last time about this imminent threat and now, apparently, with time growing short, you haven't exactly laid out any sort of specifics about what this threat is, or when it's supposed to happen.”
The threat is dire and the time is nearly upon us.
“That's worthless - you're only repeating yourself. Do you want me to play twenty questions to drag it out of you?”
Foolish Outsider. Did I not just say the threat is dire?
“Okay, gotcha, the threat's dire, whatever it happens to be, but you don't know when, exactly, do you?”
Soon.
“I rest my case.”
Your case? This isn't some empty, jargon filled debate. Your unwillingness to listen - your lack of belief - demonstrates perfectly why you aren't suited for this trial.
“Yeah, I don't buy it. There's something funny about this whole thing. Who do you even think you're talking to, here?”
A tiny, meager morsel. Barely even a crumb to whet my appetite. The mouth of the great spectral wolf slavering. Very well, if you wish to join the trial, then step forward for my assessment. That is, if you have the courage to do so.
Yeah, yeah, whatever. “How's this, close enough?”
The beasts eyes and tooth filled mouth closing. Drawing in a deep breath. Stopping momentarily, then smelling some more. Sitting back on his haunches and craning his neck over to look down on me.
You reek of death, Outsider.
“I've heard that before.”
But for this trial you are still unsuited You do not possess the soul of a wolf. If anything, you - ah yes, I can see you now, skulking amid the carrion. Not a wolf - nothing like that - you're a jackal, opportunistic and cruel.
“A jackal? I hope you'll forgive me for laughing at you, then. What's the threat? Is it something real, or is it something based on some funny feeling you have in your whisker - or is it simply some fable you're spinning.”
Foolish Outsider. The mental admonishment this time without bluster, more reflexive than anything. The future is always uncertain, but the surety of the threat is real. Even now they're starting to gather deep beneath the surface, their painfilled and gleeful chattering fills the corridors, loud enough that it found it's way to me. Among others.
“Underground?”
Deep in the ruins of old. They've received an omen, an important piece of their prophecy has been fulfilled, the one they call their unrelenting adversary has been dispatched. Whether true prophecy, or simply insane ramblings they mindlessly repeat - and an actual omen, or not - they're starting to make preparations. Fanatic, and fanatical, they're determined to make the rest of it true. And it must not come to pass.
“Fanatics? Them? Hardly. And a prophecy? Please. The only thing those disgusting vermin care about is who, temporarily, sits on top of their little heap - and that's the one currently hording the most slaves and trinkets. They're cowards, at heart. We go down there and we send the wretched things scurrying and squealing. Job done, prophecy over.”
Just like that?
“Just like that. There's no secret or special method. All that's needed is the willingness to do what must be done.”
You are a surprisingly amusing guest, and your friend Nico, sincere. The sound of his laughter filling my head once again. I may be coming to like you Outsiders. When I can touch and taste the world again, I believe I may even continue on with our current arrangement. Your bones have a satisfying crunch, but, unfortunately, you make for empty meals. Alright, little jackal, you have my permission to join the trial. Vesper and Nico are a few minutes ahead, but you still should be able to catch up. Prove to me you possess courage of action, and not merely courage of words.
Hitting the arch with a running start-
***
-and immediately being hit with the disorienting feeling that accompanies teleportation on the other side. Partially doubling over, trying to keep my lunch down while regathering my bearings. The soft grasses and weeds under my feet replaced with weathered, cracked stone tiles. In front of me a squat stone structure built into the hillside, with bas-relief carvings framing the entrance. With the nausea mostly under control, doing a slow turn and trying to determine my location. A craggy, rocky valley. The sky looks the same, so it should be relatively close. Completing my three sixty survey having learned nothing more than that. Unable to determine which direction is north due to no visible landmarks. Moving a few steps closer to the entrance.
The carvings around the entrance, wolves in various poses. Sitting, walking, running in packs and, that one there, a heraldic picture, rampant. The style seems similar to – my gut clenching, hit by a stab of dread – the other, more substantially famous animal temple in the area. Gripping my knife and putting my back to the building. The only movement in the valley a breeze blowing a small of amount of sediment some distance away, and some stones shifting.
A trial, Koln had said, but no cultists out here gibbering for offerings and sacrifice. It looks abandoned. With the avatar of their affection in his current state most of his cultists had probably scattered - or maybe Koln's hunger had always kept their numbers low. My attention drawn back to the entrance. Nico, hopefully, is being cautious. Shaking my head. Not really in his nature. Then, hopefully, Vesper has decided to issue a warning. Shaking my head again. Undoubtedly more loyal to his out-of-commission patriarch than his recently adopted caretaker. Trying to shake that last bit of stubbornly persistent, stomach churning nausea and hurrying inside the entrance in order to avert disaster.