The moonlight shone through the tree tops and played off the dew-covered leaves of the trees, leaving a dapple half-light across the floor of the forest. Hakai looked behind him quickly. The pups were still there. They struggled to keep up with the clan this night on the hunt, not used to the changes of the forest floor or the dark patches that hid tree roots.
The clan was moving slower because of this. But that would not affect their chances on the hunt. A few members of the clan had been herding these deer towards the chosen point for the past few nights, preparing everything for the pups’ first hunt. Hakai looked around him, and only noticed fleeting shadows signally the other members of the clans. They knew not to be seen.
“Keep up young ones. We haven’t got all night. We must time this right.” He kept his voice low; he didn’t want it carrying to the ears of their quarry.
The pups picked up their pace a little, still wary and still tripping, but moving quick enough now. They were making a fair bit of noise, but they would adapt. Hakai smelt the air. The wind was blowing into their faces, carrying the scent of the deer to his nose. He cringed a bit as he picked up the tang of the Undrinkable Water.
The clan had herded the deer to a small pool that formed at the end of the stream, just before they reached the Hot Sands. The trees grew thicker there, and the tang of the sea breeze masked most of the wolves scent from the deer. Not that any wolves would be directly up wind of the prey. A few would circle around slightly, to allow none to escape unless they wanted them to.
A shadow materialised next to Hakai.
“The deer are drinking at the water hole Hakai,” Mitsui whispered to him, “there are three of them, plenty for us. And a nice rock overlooking where the pups can watch from.”
“Good to hear. I will take them around.”
He dropped back to be with the pups.
“Watch the tree root there young one.”
He spoke a little late, as one of the pups connected the root with his paw and fell flat on his face, releasing a yelp.
“And be quiet. Follow me, our dinner is close.”
He moved off the left a little, angling away from the smell of the deer. The pups followed as close as they could. Soon they started to climb a small rise and Hakai crouched to his belly and started to move forwards slowly, creeping along a flat rock out to the edge. Each of the pups followed suit and soon all five were arrayed along the edge of the rock overlooking a sparkling pool.
The pool reflected the moon in its surface, between the canopies. Three deer were leaning down around the pool, on one knee, drinking from the cool refreshing water. They were calm for the moment, but that was soon to change. They were not overly big, but Hakai didn’t want any danger to follow on the pups hunt.
“These are what we have been hunting,” his voice was barely heard above the slight breeze, “these deer sustain our clan. And we hunt them every few nights.”
Hakai fell silent as one of the deer raised its head and looked around it. Its gaze then focused in the direction of the Hot Sands. Someone must have strayed too far around and the deer had caught the scent. After gazing in that direction though, it turned back to the water and continued drinking. Thankfully the wolf must have realised its error and moved back. Hakai breathed a slight sigh of relief.
“What happens is we track them until we find them at rest, such as now. Then slowly we surround them. They seem to be able to smell wolves very well too, so we must not get up wind from them. Then part of the clan will run out and startle them into the path of the rest of the clan.”
The deer seemed unconcerned in the lengthening night, and just continued drinking. Hakai could see a few shadows down wind of the deer towards the base of the rock. His clan was in position and ready to pounce.
“There are two ways to take them down. Jumping for their throats will take them down quickly if you manage to hang on. But it is preferable to give them a quick bite across the back of their legs. This will stop them running, and then it is simple to kill them. Just watch what the others do, and be ready to move when I go. You need to see this.”
Slowly he drew himself into a position where he was ready to spring, and waited for the chase to begin. A couple of wolves entered the clearing completely and made a few quick bounds in the direction of the deer. This startled them and they took off in different directions. But the rest of the clan was there to change this, and the deer were then running away from the rock, with a number of wolves at their heels.
Hakai leapt from the rock onto the ground below and took off, not noticing if the pups were following. But by the yelps and sounds of crashing behind him he could tell they were.
The wolves were making unsuccessful grabs at the legs of the deer. When suddenly from the side sprung Sakako and Makako. Sakako hit the side of the deer full on and unbalanced it, giving Makako a chance to grab its throat and pull it to the ground. They stayed there tearing into its throat to let the life blood flow out. It thrashed for a bit, then was still.
But that was behind them as the rest of the clan kept on after the other two. The trees started thinning ahead of them as they reached the Hot Sands. At night they would have no problems though, as the sands cooled without the sun. But the deer’s hooves wouldn’t have good footing in the soft sand. They knew this and tried to turn away. This only brought them closer to the wolves running alongside them, and one managed to catch onto a deer’s leg.
The deer fell and started thrashing around wildly, hooves striking out at its assailants. It struggled to rise but more wolves surrounded it now, and when one found an opening it darted in to rip at its throat. The second deer was down and only one was left.
Now it was only Hakai and pups chasing the final deer. A couple of wolves still waited on the edge of the Sands though, making sure the deer doesn’t dart quickly when it gets out.
The deer broke the cover of the trees and almost stumbled. It tried to turn as predicted but saw the waiting wolves and made directly for the water. The chasing wolves then broke the cover of the trees, their wide paws allowing them to traverse the sands without much difficulty, whilst the legs of the deer started sinking.
Soon it had fallen over; one leg almost broken where it had sunk to the knee in the sand and its weight had carried it forward. It flailed though, not willing to go down without a fight. Hakai slowed as he neared it. The pups slowed too, panting from the energy they had used in the chase. He looked at them. All four were still there with him, a gleam of exhilaration in their eyes. The other two wolves also came up alongside the deer.
It stopped flailing and quivered in fear. It knew what was coming and there was no way out of it now. “Stay back pups. I will do this one.”
Hakai moved around the deer until he was away from the hooves but close to the neck and lunged forwards, tearing at the vital artery running through the throat. As his teeth sunk into it a spray of blood covered the waiting pups. Hakai smiled, it was good to get them dirty on their first hunt.
He removed his teeth and looked towards the pups as he waited for the blood to flow from the deer and into the sand. Three of the pups were coming closer to the deer to have a look at it and watch the flow of blood, but one of them was looking out into the Undrinkable Water. There should be nothing out there to grab his interest, but Hakai had to turn and look at whatever the pup was seeing.
Out into the darkness over the water he could not see much as he scanned from side to side. But then he spotted it. Either the pup’s eyes were very keen, or his were losing their edge with age. Either way he could sense trouble from any distance.
There was a light in the distance. And there shouldn’t be any light appearing over the water for many hours yet. It was coming closer too, growing larger, and whatever it was on was becoming more defined. His brow furrowed and the hackles on his back began to rise. He turned to the two wolves with him.
“Grab the deer; drag it back into the trees. Take the pups with you, they get to eat first. Then tell Mitsui to come meet me at the edge of the Hot Sands.”
With that Hakai darted away from the deer and disappeared into the darkness of the night. The two wolves looked at the pups and signaled for them to head towards the trees before they grabbed the deer by its haunches and started dragging it to safety.
When they were under the cover of trees the two wolves raised a quick howl to call the rest of the clan. When they arrived the deer was then dragged further into the forest.
“Hiro, what is going on?”
The wolf looked at Mitsui. “I do not know old one, but the clan leader has asked for you to meet him at the edge of the Hot Sands. He has run off into the darkness.”
“I will go then. Pups, follow Hiro and the others to where the carcasses are being held, you get to eat first. I will join you shortly.”
Mitsui then moved off into the darkness towards the sand and in the direction that Hakai had gone. The rest of the clan started heading back towards the knoll, to a special place prepared for the eating of the hunt. But one of the pups lay low as they left and then slowly followed Mitsui onto the sands.
The pup waited for the others to be well out of sight before he moved. He stood up from his crouched position and sniffed at the air in the direction that the old wolf Mitsui had gone. Quickly he followed, trying to stay fairly close without being heard. This was difficult as he soon lost the track Mitsui left in the woods. The old wolf was a wily one.
Sniffing the air again he felt the tang of the water and headed that way, hoping he could see Mitsui on the sands. He walked out from the trees and looked around. Not noticing anything in the light of the moon he slowly started along the edge of the Sands in the direction he thought Mitsui was heading.
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A little while after he started some soft voices flowed to his sharp ears.
“No Hakai, I have never seen the like.”
“Neither have I, Mitsui. It worries me.”
The pup stopped dead as he listened to the voices. They were obviously talking about the light that had been spotted out on the Undrinkable Water. He had almost forgotten about it. The pup turned to look out over the water and saw the light again, directly out from where he was standing.
It was much closer, and actually seemed like a few lights floating just above the water. It was all very strange to the pup that had not been out of the den for more than a few weeks. But it intrigued him greatly. He took a couple of paces towards the edge of the water, making some soft noises in the sand.
They must not have been as soft as he though for he heard Hakai and Mitsui stop talking and rush in his direction. The two wolves burst from the trees and stood either side of him, teeth barred.
Mitsui was the first to calm down.
“Pup, you were told to follow the others.” Mitsui’s growl was low and threatening. And Hakai was now behind him with his teeth still barred.
“I know,” the pup cowered down between the two of them, laying on the ground and putting both front paws over his nose.
“It is too late to take him back now Mitsui,” Hakai sounded angry, but the pup could tell that the anger was not solely directed at him, “just get him into the trees. Something is happening out there.”
The three wolves then ducked back into the trees and watched what was happening on the Undrinkable Water from the safety of cover. Some lights were being lowered towards the water and then started coming closer. The biggest lights remained where they were though.
* * *
Captain Morgan looked out ahead of them from behind the wheel of his ship Heartland. The lookout at the bow of the ship had spotted what looked like an island in the distance as the day grew long, and he had angled the ship in that direction.
Now, as the night wore on the crew grew restless. The lanterns had been lit at the fore and aft of the ship to provide some light to work by, and the crew were making good use of it. But if they didn’t come into range of the island soon there would be problems.
The water had started to run low. There was plenty of salted pork, and the other various foodstuffs they had brought on the voyage were still in large supply. But the water had dwindled quickly. It wasn’t that they didn’t have enough water for the planned voyage. They had been well provisioned by their benefactors. The problem was that the planned voyage had fallen apart.
A freak storm early on had thrown the ship into disarray, and they had started sailing off course. For days they sailed in the wrong direction, a cloudy sky making it impossible to check the stars to guide themselves.
No land had been sighted for days as they corrected themselves. They had sailed so far off course that it added a week to get back on track. They must have hit a current that dragged them further from their bearing.
But hopefully now their problems were over. The lookout had said the island looked lush. They should have no problems refilling their water barrels and continuing on towards their port of call.
Not knowing these seas, Captain Morgan ordered them to drop anchor some distance from the dark silhouette before them.
“Ready a longboat!” he shouted as the anchor dived into the water to hold their position.
The crew gladly rushed over and started lowering the longboat into the water.
“I want three of you to go to the island. Take one of the barrels with you. Just grab enough for everyone for tonight, we’ll go back again in the morning to refill the rest. You,” he pointed at one of the sailors near the hold, “get one of those barrels over here and load it on the boat.” He looked around at the others for a few moments. “Reg and Sampson,” he called out above the noise of the rolling barrel, “grab your muskets and accompany crewman Doug here to get some water.”
Two guards who had been lounging at their appointed posts stood and saluted. Quickly they rushed below to grab their muskets. They didn’t keep them up on deck just in case the ship was to roll or a wave was to wash over. Then they would be useless.
Morgan didn’t take many guards on the ship, just enough to see them through should some pirates show their faces. Not sure if he should be thanking his luck or not that he hadn’t seen any. At least if they had seen some sort of ship they could have acquired some water from it.
Reg, Sampson and Doug all climbed into the longboat, the sailor looking out of place between to the two soldiers. Here he was in baggy pants and a wide sash belt with no shirt on, while they were all prim in their button up coats and boots. He shrugged to himself though as he took up the oars and started rowing them towards shore.
* * *
The three wolves watched as the light crew closer. It eventually reached the shore and they hunkered down more as they saw creatures in the light.
Two tall pale creatures stood to their full height on the water. Then they quickly jumped and splashed into the water, dragging whatever they were floating on up onto the Sands.
A third one stood as well in the light and took something onto the Sands. It was large and had a round shape to it. They started making sounds, sort of as if they were talking to each other. They varied the pitch and tone and then one of them made a harsh sound like laughter.
* * *
Doug rolled the barrel onto the beach.
“Oi, you coats. One of you gimme a hand to haul this barrel.”
Reg laughed out loud. “We are not haul-boys tar. That’s your job. We are just here to watch over you and make sure you don’t cut yourself falling.”
This last made Sampson laugh also. Reg then walked over to the longboat and grabbed the pole the lantern was hanging on and held it in front of him.
“You better load your musket Sampson. This place looks a bit wild. Don’t know what’s out there.” He shoved the pole deep into the sand and flung his musket from his shoulder. With the butt in the ground he started to load a wad of powder into it then dropped the shot in. He could see Sampson doing the same.
Doug was sitting on the barrel at the edge of the light taking the time to rest. He looked out into the darkness. A sound caught his ear. He looked in its general direction but couldn’t see anything. He jumped off the barrel and moved out of the light so his eyes could adjust to the darkness.
“Hey tar! Get back in the light,” Reg called to Doug.
Doug heard the sound again as Reg called out. He looked to his right. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness he could make out three large shapes heading towards him. Something about them frightened him. Barely could he make out the glint of their eyes as the moon reflected off them. He started backing away, into the light again. “Reg, there’s something here,” his voice quavered and he ran into the barrel, tumbling over it. He scrambled on all fours to where Reg and Sampson were standing and cowered between them.
Sampson lifted his musket in the direction that Doug had just come from but Reg laughed. “Probably something small. Maybe a monkey. I’ve heard tales about them on islands like this.” A growl came from the edge of the light. This made Reg turn quickly and quiet down. He held his musket tighter, finger on the trigger, and pulled the lantern pole from the sand. He slowly held it out high in front of him, shedding the light further from them.
Three huge figures were at the edge of the light now. All three of them could see them clearly. Two of the creatures’ eyes shone golden in the light. They looked like dogs. But no dogs he had ever seen. These were much bigger, easily twice their size. And the fur on their backs looked thicker, and currently seemed to be standing on end. Their teeth were barred and they were growling.
Sampson pointed his musket at them, but he was shaking. Even Reg was shaking now. These creatures before them made the men uneasy. And Reg hadn’t found anything yet that made him uneasy.
* * *
The wolves shied back a little as the light touched them, but they kept their fangs barred. The pale creatures had somehow trapped part of the sun within that object they carried, and used it to light their way. Obviously their eyes were not as good as a wolf’s were.
One of the pale ones was hunkered down between the other two, clearly in a state of submission, much like those shown by themselves when the need arose. It knew where it stood with the wolves. But the other two didn’t seem to understand.
They both stood there. One of them was pointing a long shiny stick at the wolves. The third was holding one as well, but couldn’t seem to get a good grip while he was holding the light in his other hand.
“Hakai, what should we do,” Mitsui growled at his leader.
Suddenly the one holding the stick pointed towards them tensed. It seemed like forever, but a flash of light appeared at the end of the tube, a noise like thunder echoed and Mitsui felt pain run down his right side.
The other one dropped the light he was holding and it fell to the ground, making a cracking noise then going out. It must have broken and the piece of sun got free.
A sharp sound came from the creatures. Mitsui looked up to see the one who had dropped the light turning around him, holding the stick forwards. Hakai had moved off quickly, rounding them. The creature was turning in his general direction, but couldn’t seem to place where Hakai actually was. Maybe they needed that light to be able to see at night.
Suddenly Mitsui felt his right leg give way and he collapsed onto his front right shoulder in a heap. Pain flared through his body as he fell. The pup, which hadn’t moved when the action had started, was suddenly at his side, licking at the wound that had somehow appeared there. He hadn’t even seen the creatures touch him, but there it was.
“It tastes funny Mitsui” the pup said.
Mitsui couldn’t answer. The creature turning around had heard the pups growl and was now facing the two of them. Its eyes must have slowly adjusted and it seemed to have the stick pointing in their general direction.
The creature made a sound, as if in triumph, when suddenly Hakai leapt on it from behind. His head twisted to the side as his teeth reached around to the front of the creature and tore at the soft skin below its head, which was obviously where this creature’s throat was. The creatures back arched and the stick was suddenly pointed in a different direction. Blood sprayed from its throat as it fell to its knees. The arm holding the stick flung wildly and tensed. The light and thunder happened again, and the creature cowering on the ground stopped moving and slumped.
The final creature hadn’t been noticed as this was going on. It had its thunder stick raised again. This time it was pointing it in the direction of Hakai, where he had killed the first creature. It began to tense. Mitsui pushed himself up and rushed over to Hakai. The pup fell away from him and he ran straight into Hakai, pushing him out of the way just as the thunder stick went off again.
Pain flared in his side again, but this time further back. Those thunder sticks were dangerous. But at least it hadn’t gotten Hakai.
The pup finally took some initiative and moved fast. He ran behind the creature that was standing triumphant in his shot connecting, and ran his teeth along the back of what must be its hind legs. The creature dropped to its knee, blood running down the back of its leg. The thunder stick dropped from its grasp and it fell to its side of the sand, reaching down at its leg. The pup then moved up alongside its head and tore a hunk from its neck, ending its life instantly. A fine mist of blood sprayed up from the wound and covered the young pup from head to toe.
Hakai was then standing above Mitsui. “What is wrong old one?”
Mitsui tried to stand again, but fell onto his side once more.
“I do not know Hakai, but I feel weak. I may not last.” Then his vision clouded and he collapsed, darkness overtaking him.
“Help me pup,” Hakai called, “he still lives, but barely. His breathe is shallow. We need to get him back to the den.”
The pup came over quickly and helped drag Mitsui onto Hakai’s back.
“Pup, you have taken your first kill tonight. It may not have been as we wished, in a hunt, but it is still a kill nonetheless. As per the rules of the Wolf Clans, you shall have a name. So I name you Kabian. Of the Blood Mist. Kabian Blood Mist.”
Then the two wolves started back to the den, Hakai with Mitsui on his back, Kabian trotting alongside him, looking back at the terror they had found.
* * *
Captain Morgan watched from his boat. He had seen the light go out with the rest of his men, and had also heard the gunshots. No good could come of this. A few men ran over to start lowering another longboat and a few soldiers came up bearing their arms.
“Stop it!” his voice was still commanding even though mournful, “there’s no point going over there now. We wait till morning. Then the day crew will head over to the beach and see what happened and bring the water back.”
The crew slowly went back to what they had been doing, and Captain Morgan looked back to the beach, shaking his head. He could feel that no good would come tomorrow. But they had no hope if they didn’t find water now.