Kabian crept quietly to the edge of the forest, where the Hot Sands began. The sun was starting to get low on the horizon, making the clouds over the Undrinkable Water turn deep shades of orange and purple.
The Sands were starting to cool down, but a brief touch with a paw said they would still burn his pads. He withdrew his paw back into the shade of the trees. Soon enough he would be able to walk out onto the Sands. But before then he needs to come up with a plan.
He walked along the edge of the trees back to the area in front of where the creatures had camped on the Sands. Hinjo and the others were waiting there. He hadn’t bothered going to Estumi, they were still tired and in need of healing time. Where as Hinjo and the wolves of the Oak Wood were still fresh.
He made his way to where Hinjo was standing.
“The time is nearing Hinjo.”
“I hope you are prepared Kabian. I do not like letting you go by yourself. But you seem to have a better grasp of what’s going on than I do.”
“It is safer than risking all your lives. Just follow through with your part and we should all survive.”
“Do not fear about that Kabian. Just keep a focus on what you are planning.”
Kabian nodded and looked out on the Sands again, running his plan through his mind again.
The wall the creatures had made stood right along the front of their camp. Creatures crouched behind it still, but weren’t as focused on the forest as they had been when they arrived.
Behind them was a section of open ground, then a large enclosure they had created. Most of the creatures seemed to be inside the structure, hiding from the heat of the day it seemed.
Off to the sides where wooden boxes, filled with various things, and sitting in haphazard ways. He studied them closely again. Kabian noted some of the creatures tended to sit in the shade created by the boxes and talk amongst themselves. Some were there now, sitting on the sand, passing something between them.
They sounded jovial, happy to be where they were it seemed. Kabian had tried hard to make sense of what they were saying, but they spoke far too differently, and at this distance he couldn’t hear what they were saying properly. The creatures at the wall though, they never made a sound. Sometimes they raised their hands and made some signals, but Kabian couldn’t understand them either, they were far too complex and nothing he could accomplish with his paws.
Kabian’s eyes finally wandered to the cage. The wooden cage that sat just behind the enclosure, off to the side of the boxes, where the creatures could keep an eye on it easily. Kabian could see them occasionally glance at it. At one stage he saw one of the creatures stand, walk over to the cage, and push something through the bars. He couldn’t see what though.
At this distance it was also difficult to make out what was in the cage. He knew though. It was the reason he was here now, along the edge of the Sands. Two wolves were in the cage, from the Oak Wood Clan. The reason why the older members of the clan were here with him.
His chest ached as he thought about the cage. Tomi was in there. She had been his only link back to the world he knew. Sure Ohenoki was a wolf and taught him some things, but Tomi was what had kept him sane. He couldn’t bear the think what happen to her if she was left in the cage.
Kamide was in there too. Weak and injured, close to death. But he was only a secondary thought in Kabian’s mind. Hinjo and the other wolves of the Oak Wood were here to rescue them. Kabian was here to rescue Tomi.
He paced back and forth through the leaves and low grass. Every now and again he lashed out at a tree with his paw. He was getting restless waiting for the sun to set. He needed to get out there and save her. He also knew though that if he went while the sun was high in the sky that he would be dead within moments.
So he had come up with a semblance of a plan. Soon it would come into fruition, when the sun finally sank below the horizon and Monok was looking down on them. Monok couldn’t let anything happen to Tobi.
He looked across at where Hinjo was no speaking with the other wolves. Kabian noticed that some of them glanced at him occasionally. They still thought of him as the outcast. They couldn’t shake that fact. They also knew though that he was their best chance to get Kamide back for them. They would follow him only as long as they needed to.
Kabian wasn’t fazed by this though. He hadn’t expected them to come; he thought they were more likely to follow Poi. But they seemed to be against Poi, which suited him fine. Poi had a grudge on Kabian and he wasn’t sure why.
Hinjo had wandered over to him now, coming up quietly behind so as not to disturb Kabian. Kabian hadn’t sensed him there, his nose too focused on the smell of Tobi that still filled his nostrils.
“Kabian, I think it is time. Once you give your howl we will come down to help.”
Hinjo’s voice was very sombre, and he spoke calmly with Kabian, nose nearly touching the ground. Kabian had the distinct feeling Hinjo didn’t expect him to come back from this, but they would wait anyway. Kabian just nodded.
“Alright Hinjo. I will go now. But you must be careful. If the timing is off things might turn disastrous for both of us.”
Kabian gave another longing look at the pack. This was the second time he had been with most of a pack in the last few nights. Both times amazing things were happening. Firstly Koga had given his whole Clan to Kabian. Now they were going on a daring rescue mission against an unknown foe.
Kabian left along the tree line then, making his way as quietly and quickly as he could to a spot further down the Sands out of sight from the creatures. There were tracks there now. They hadn’t been there when Kabian had scouted the spot earlier. He looked around and sniffed the air.
Sure enough there were some of the creatures about. They were just down onto the sands behind a rocky outcrop that Kabian was going to use to conceal himself. He walked slowly down onto the rocks, careful not to make any sounds as he moved each paw.
He stopped almost above them and looked at what they were doing. His nose told him one of the creatures had defecated not far from this spot, and it annoyed him to no end. To have their scents hanging around areas he visited.
He watched them. The creatures didn’t look like they would be leaving any time soon. They had thunder sticks on their backs and were passing something between them that glowed. One would put it in his mouth, inhale, and then exhale in a cloud of smoke. It would then be passed on to the other creature that would do the same.
Kabian sniffed again. The smoke tickled his nose and made him cough slightly. Kabian held his breath all of a sudden for fear the creatures had heard him. He backed away slowly along the rock, trying to get back into the shade of the trees where he could hide better.
He could hear hurried sounds of moving coming from below. The creatures must have heard the sound Kabian had made. Familiar clicking sounds could be heard and he realised one of them was likely holding his thunder stick at the ready.
He could hear the other trying desperately to scramble up the face of the rock, its feet and hands scraping on the rock’s face. A head peeked over the edge of the rock and looked directly at Kabian. The creature screamed and dropped out of sight.
Kabian stopped holding his breath and moved quickly back into the safety of the trees. He turned and moved fast, going around a few trees, until he was a short distance down from the rocks and hidden within the leaves. He made sure he could still the top of the rock though.
The creatures were now on top of the rock, both with thunder sticks at the ready. They moved around as if looking for some sign of Kabian. One of them went to move closer to the forest but the other held him back.
They walked backwards away from the rock and got back down on the Sands. Slowly they made their way along, wary that Kabian was close around, too fearful to stay where they had been. Their little smoking leaf had been left at the base of the rock.
Kabian made his way out when they were gone from his sight. He moved out along the Sands carefully, making his way to the base of the rocks where the creatures had been. He sniffed the smoking leaf and coughed hard. The acrid smoke seemed to make his lungs and throat close up on him. He couldn’t understand how the creatures could inhale the smoke so easily.
He turned away from it and was glad to breathe in the fresh air from the Water. The salt stung his nose a little, but it was a welcome feeling. He paced his way down to the edge of the water. He looked back down the sands to where he needed to go. He had thought long and hard on the best way to get there and decided that this was it. Though the creatures knew he was around now, and the difficulty would likely increase.
He stepped into the Water. It was cold and caused him to shiver a little. The sun was gone, but the heat from the day was still hanging around. The coolness of the Water was a welcome relief. He took another step forward. He kept moving until the water was up to his stomach.
The waves washed over him, making his fur sit hard against his back as the water soaked him. He pushed his way further out into waves though. He needed to get away from the Sands. He would be too easy to see along the Sands. He needed to come in from behind them. The creatures were too busy watching the forest they wouldn’t see him.
Soon he was paddling out, ducking under the waves as they rolled against him, until he was far enough from the shore that the waves were mere ripples making him bob up and down. He had perfected his paddling while looking for fish near his cave. Constantly being knocked into the water by the waves as they crashed over the rocks. Kabian knew how to be careful with waves now.
He turned and started paddling through the water making his way down to where the creatures were. He could see their lights not too far away. Though it would take him much longer to paddle there than it would if he was running. But he had the time right now, Hinjo was just waiting for his call.
Kabian felt a little exhausted by the time he reached the back of the camp, but he pushed on, he knew he needed to. He could see on the shore the creatures had moved away from the boxes and were now over watching the forest for anything that might happen. Maybe finding those creatures over the other side was a blessing from Monok. They had alerted the rest of the danger and now they weren’t watching their captives, but focused on the forest instead.
He rode the waves in, not trying to waste any more of his energy. He knew he would need to push himself soon as he aided Tobi and Kamide in escaping.
The creatures were busy over the other side of the camp, and were making quite a bit of noise. Kabian easily made it to the shore and pulled himself onto the Sands. He shook to get the water from his fur.
Crouching low, belly to the sand, he inched his way to the cage. Kabian could see into the cage clearly now, it was just at the edge of the light. Tobi was looking out over the creatures, trying to see what they were doing. Kamide was lying on the floor of the cage, his breathing ragged, his eyes closed as he tried to sleep.
Kabian crept up to the back of the cage in the darkness of the night.
“Keep quiet,” he whispered sharply at Tobi.
She turned around and jumped a little. She remained silent though and just stood there looking at Kabian in the night.
“Tobi, stay quiet and just keep an eye on Kamide and the creatures. I am here the break you out.”
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“Kabian? You have come to our aid?” She kept her voice low as she spoke to him, and looked over her shoulder a number of times to make sure the creatures were still just watching the forest, “But how did you get here?”
“I came through the water,” he started making his way around to the side facing the creatures, “I swam out and came in on the waves. It was the only way I could think to get to you.”
He looked at the front of the cage. They didn’t seem to have bothered with anything overly complicated. The bars of the cage were too close together for Tobi to stick her head out of, and a few bars ran around the bottom parallel to the ground, stopping her from reaching the lock with her paws.
But it was easy for Kabian to deal with it. It was just a simple metal latch threaded through a few rings. Slowly he started pulling the rod towards him with a paw, making sure that it didn’t make too much noise and alert the creatures.
“Kabian, how are you getting us out of here? Kamide is in no condition to swim.”
“Do not worry Tobi. Hinjo and I have organised a way to get the two of you safely from this place.”
“Hinjo is with you? Where is he? Did he swim out too?”
“Calm down Tobi. No, he isn’t here. He is in the forest, waiting for my signal.”
“I am surprised he came with you. Did Poi not try and stop him.”
“Yes, Poi tried. But that is a story for another time, when we are safely away from here. Koga is waiting for us at the meeting place; we need to get there as soon as we can.”
The rod fell free and the landed silently in the sand. The door of the cage moved a little.
“Tobi, come forward, lift the front of the cage up.”
Slowly she came forward, her eyes on the creatures, and her shoulder pushing against the cage door. She lifted it up more and more, going slowly. Even the slightest sound could alert the creatures and they would have no time to get out.
“That’s good, stop there.”
She jerked to a halt and looked at Kabian quizzically. He stayed crouched down and made his way into the cage. Kabian nudged Kamide a little, trying to get him awake, but it was almost impossible. So with great care he tried to slide his body under Kamide’s so that he could lift the leader of the Oak Wood Clan.
He managed to get himself under Kamide’s front paw and into a position where he could pull the wolf along. He moved out of the cage with great care, dragging Kamide with him on his shoulder. Kamide muttered and seemed to wake a little, the weight shifted and Kabian realised Kamide must have adjusted the way he was sitting on Kabian.
It was a little easier now. Not much but a little. Kabian looked at Kamide’s face and could see the pain in his half open eyes. They were dull and almost lifeless, but a spark was still hidden deep within them.
Kabian got out of the cage and pulled himself to a standing position. Tobi came from the cage, grabbing the door with her paw before it crashed into the rest of the wood. She then let it slowly close.
Tobi came to Kabian; all three free from the cage now, and gave Kamide a push to place him more firmly up on Kabian’s back. She looked at Kabian and Kamide and smiled a weak smile.
“I wasn’t in there long. But I could not stand to be there any longer. Thank you Kabian.”
Tobi rubbed her muzzle against Kabian’s, her tongue flicking out and briefly licking the whiskers on his nose. Kabian’s breathing increased a little, but all he did was shiver slightly.
“Tobi, we are not out of this yet. Follow me and do what I do.”
The two of them then made their way directly behind the enclosure that the creatures had created. Kabian prepared himself for what was about to come. He brought his body low, digging his paws into the sand. It would be a struggle to carry Kamide as he started running.
Then all of a sudden Kabian let out a long howl.
Tobi looked around, glad that none of the creatures were in their direct sight. She then looked at Kabian only to see him already making his way to the west, along the Sands. Kabian looked over his shoulder and motioned for her to follow.
The creatures screamed around them and footsteps sounded, rushing toward the enclosure. They were at the cage suddenly. They saw it was empty and looked around. Then Kabian and Tobi heard a sound like thunder. But it wasnt in the direction they expected.
More howls started from the forest edge. Growling and yelps, the sounds coming towards the enclosure. Wolves had rushed from the forest. More thunder sticks sounded and soon they could hear the sounds of the wounded and dying.
Kabian dropped his head low, and keep moving.
“Kabian! What is going on?”
Tobi ran up beside him and spoke in a worried growl. Kabian looked at her and could see the fear and distress in her eyes. He shook his head.
“This is the price they were willing to pay to set you both free.”
“They? Who is it Kabian?”
“The Oak Wood wolves, Tobi. The wolves that followed me down here. They are putting their lives into this mission. To see both of you from the cage.”
Tears were welling in Kabian's eyes. Tobi could see that he meant well. That this wasnt his decision. They must have chosen to do this themselves. Tobi nodded solemly.
Kabian and Tobi fled, carrying Kamide on his back. Trying to make the best speed they could on the shifting sands. The shots died down behind, and the howls of pain stopped. Behind them started the sounds of pursuit though.
Once out of sight of the camp Hinjo met them on sands at the edge of the water. He had two other wolves with him. Kabian stopped before him and collapsed slowly to the ground, being careful not to injure Kamide.
Kamide's eyes opened while he lay on the ground. He brought his legs under his body and managed to make himself stand up. He started to speak to everyone, but his voice was weak, and Kabian, Hinjo and Tobi all moved in closer to here.
“Is that you Hinjo?”
“Yes, Kamide, it is me.”
“What are you doing here? You should have let me die.”
“There was no way we could do that.”
“What do you mean no way? Of course there was. You could have followed Poi.”
“You know we could not. Not knowing what he had done.”
“That still doesnt explain why you all came though.”
“Kabian was coming to free you. We couldnt let the outcast be the only one to free our clan leader.”
Kamide was visibly shocked by this. He blinked a few times then realised Kabian was standing beside him, and almost underneathe him.
“You came to my rescue?”
Kabian shook his head.
“I did not come here for you Kamide. I came to free Tobi.”
Kamide smiled and nodded his head in Kabian's direction.
“Yes, I have seen they way she looks when going off to give you some meat. Poi always wanted me to stop her. But I couldnt bring myself to do it. It was always making her so happy. I am glad you have come for her. It shows me what I must do too.”
The sounds of pursuit were getting closer. The two wolves that had been with Hinjo ran between the persuers and their leader. Kamide turned around, and seemed to find some hidden reserves of energy. He stood straighter, and walked forcefully between the two wolves. They looked at each other, and went to go ahead of Kamide. But Kamide barked at them sharply and they backed away.
The persuers were nearly on them, in moments they would be able to see them. They were shouting in their strange tongue, making all sorts of weird noises. There must be a few of them, probably most of the ones who had been at the camp.
Kamide stopped and turned back to the other wolves. Hinjo called out to him.
“What do you think your doing Kamide?”
“What I must Hinjo. I will not live past the end of this night. Run from here now. And Kabian, please look after Tobi and my clan. I cannot look after them anymore, and they will not follow Poi. I hope they follow you.”
“Are you sure Kamide?”
“There is nothing left in Hinjo. I will die by morning, or I will hold these creatures off letting you escape, and die knowing my family is being cared for. Follow Kabian. Do this for my memory.”
Kamide turned away again and started moving towards the creatures that were coming.
Tobi came and nuzzled Kabian again and then the two of them started moving towards the trees. Hinjo stood watching Kamide walk away though, his head down and his eyes showing he was upset. Tobi went back to him.
“Hinjo, Kamide knows what he is doing. If he wants to die in battle, then let him. Keep his final wishes alive.”
Hinjo nodded, threw another look in Kamide's direction, and then came after Kabian. They ran and ran, flying through the trees, heading back to the area in front of the campsite where they had started their evening.
As they ran that spoke to each other between their gasps for breath.
“Hinjo, what were the howls I heard?” Kabian let out a growl, “You werent supposed to go anywhere near the creatures. Just draw their attention away.”
“Oh, dont worry about that. We just let them think they were getting the upper hand every time their thunder sticks fired into the trees. The wolves were just making noise. Noone actually got hurt.”
“That is good to hear then.”
They arrived back with the other wolves who were all looking expectantly at them. The wolves looked left and right as they appeared from the trees. Then they looked sharply at Hinjo, then at Kabian. As they looked at Kabian a few started growling deep, hackles rising.
Calls of “I knew he couldnt be trusted”, “Outcast” and “Poi was right” came from within the crowd of wolves that had come down with Hinjo. They started toward Kabian, but Hinjo forced his way between them.
“Its not what you think,” his voice was full of sadness, “Kamide chose to stay behind. To help us get out of there. I personally saw Kabian carry Kamide from the camp.”
The wolves seemed to relax. A few were still agitated, but most were now going into submissive poses in way of apology.
“And Kamide asked us to do something,” Hinjo stood with his head held high and his chest out, making sure everyone could hear what he was saying, “his last wish is that we follow Kabian.”
The gathered wolves gasped. Some didnt show much shock, and must have seen this coming. A few turned and ran away. Hinjo shook his head. Taking the lead Hinjo then laid himself on his stomach on the ground, and waited for Kabian to rub against in.
Kabian again went through the ritual that he had gone through with Koga's clan.
“Now Hinjo, the Oak Wood have joined with the Crystal Glade.”
“Kabian, in no time I have known, has a wolf lead so many other wolves, and at such a young age. Can you handle the responsibilty that is being laid before you?”
“No I cant Hinjo. All I can do is try though. And pray to Monok that there are wolves beside me to help me and guide me.”
Tobi came over and rubbed herself along his side.
“I will stand beside you Kabian,” she said in a soft growl.
* * *
Kamide wondered if he had done the right thing as he stood there waiting for the creatures to come. He knew Ohenoki was looking after Kabian for a reason. Koga's scent was over him too, but mixed with Kabian's own scent. He could only surmise that Koga had given himself over to Kabian.
And then there was the matter of Poi. A wolf that had betrayed his own clan, and attacked his own kind. He was glad there was someone who managed to annoy Poi as much as Poi annoyed everyone else. He just hoped Kabian was up to the task when he finally had to face off against Poi again.
Kamide shook his head and focused on what was about to happen. The creatures were coming, and he was near death. The hour was upon him. All the pain had vanished. He knew it was there, but now it was just a distant memory in the back of his mind. And a flood of energy had come with the removal of the pain.
He stood straighter now than he had since the stag had wounded him. He stood straight and proud, knowing that he would die during this fight.
The creatures were in sight now. A full five of them had come after the fleeing wolves. Kamide could see the drag marks from where kabian had carried his weight. It was also likely what these creatures were following to find them.
He stood in the middle of the Sands, not scared for what was about to happen. He knew about their weapons, he had heard the noises they made, but he was not afraid. He would die this night anyway, may as well go down honourably in a fight. He braced his feet on the sand and barred his teeth. The hackles on the back of his neck rose and he let out a very low growl.
The creatures saw him and stopped. They raised their thunder sticks and moved slowly toward him. One pointed at him and let out what must be a laugh. The others seemed to relax a little as the creature pointed out the huge gapping wound in his side.
Kamide thought it strange, but then realised they must think him faking his bravado. All they had ever seen of him was laying in the cage with the wound. They would learn not to underestimate a wolf.
He watched as they lowered their weapons, pointing them into the sand. They started to spread out, most likely in hope of catching him. But the moment their weapons were facing sufficiently away from him he moved.
He leapt to the right first, springing from his standing position for over five body lengths to land on the chest of the creature who had pointed and laughed. He tore into the creature's throat and pushed himself from it. He twisted a little in the air and landed on the sand facing the rest of the creatures. He could feel the blood from his wound flowing down his side, but it was just a warm feeling, there was no pain.
He moved again before the first creature had hit the ground. He ducked to the side then rushed around behind the creatures. Two of them managed to turn in time, but the other two were caught on the back of the legs by Kamide's teeth. His teeth tore deep, ripping muscle and tendons. The creatures dropped to the ground screaming in agony.
The remaining two had both recovered enough to bring their weapons up to face him. They fired, thunder echoing from first one then the other. Kamide moved by instinct, forgetting what he was doing, and the first shot exploded into the sand near his feet. He moved again, not even thinking about what he was doing but acting subconsciously. The sand was blasted away behind him.
The warm feeling was now covering both his right legs and was pooling around his paws. He started to feel a little sluggish, and his eyes began to go blurry. He shifted his weight and launched himself again, landed full force onto the chest of one of the creatures.
He forced it to the ground, still standing on his chest, and raised his head. He let out a long howl and then collapsed onto the creature. Darkness covered his eyes and all the feeling of his body was gone. This was his dying moment. The last thing he knew was the scream of the creature he had landed on.
* * *
Francis pushed the creature from atop him. He stopped screaming. The power of these daemons was amazing. Even near death this one had managed to kill one man and cause another two to stop walking. They werent likely to walk again, and if they didnt get back to camp soon, likely to die.
He blinked the stars from his eyes. He had been so close to death then. It had stared him in the face, and then its eyes had gone dull. He knew he was lucky. The blood from the creature had covered his coat and trousers. He gathered himself and managed to stand.
The sailor that had come with him was frozen in place, completely scared by what had just happened. Francis clipped him over the ear and he moved, shaking his head.
“Go and get the others. And bring the surgeons out.”
The man was still in shock, so Francis gave him a push towards the camp.
“RUN FAST!” he yelled at the man who was now fleeing from the site of the fight.
Francis looked at everything that had happened in his mind and wondered why he was here. He shook his head at the thought. Whispering to himself he spoke to noone.
“Why do you want me here priest? The other two can take care of themselves. Why am I here?”
He sat himself on the ground, his girth making a nice flat area around him on the sand. He looked towards camp and could see the torchs coming towards him. There was nothing to now but wait for the surgeons, and hope the men would stay alive.