I am providing this book for free here on Royal Road because I love my fans! Have a read for free! If you wish to buy to support me, or want physical media, buy from the links below please c: <3
BUY THE DIGITAL VERSION HERE.
BUY THE PAPERBACK HERE.
----------------------------------------
The physician apprentice, Zachery, had been the one to raise her and instinctively she felt a bond with him.
Zachery had been quite disappointed with having to raise her.
He’d complained and growled, and had been impatient about having to feed her every three hours for a the first month or so.
Despite that, they’d grown very close and hardly ever left each-others’ sides. Sascha loved her life with the druid clan, and she had everything she could ever dream of.
They also weren’t practitioners of magic, but rather they practiced Wishes. That meant that with enough willpower, they could manifest nearly whatever they wanted, with limitations.
However, many in the kingdom did practice actual sorcery, and they weren’t always the most friendly. Some of the officials did magic, and they’d bully members of her clan.
The druids were mistreated for being… well, different. They were set apart and kept to themselves.
Sascha spent the night inside the Medicine Shed at the foot of Zachery’s bed.
The white she-wolf tossed and turned that night; she could hardly sleep at all! When she did happen to get a few moments of sleep, she always ended up waking up with a terrifying jolt.
‘Ugh… I can’t understand why this keeps happening. I just want to rest,’ she thought.
After a while, she climbed up onto Zachery’s bed weightlessly and practically collapsed onto her side with exhaustion.
The druid physician’s close body was keeping her warm, while she also kept him warm with her own body heat… which was an essential thing for the season of late fall!
Actually, Sascha really had no problem with the cold it brought, except that it meant less food. That was what made it uncomfortable. A wolf with an empty stomach wasn’t the best thing to have in the camp. But that didn’t mean that the clan had to starve because of her. Because she was an animal her clan had to eat first, and unfortunately, the food supply had been so low lately that she had only been able to nibble on a few scraps of meat.
She was willing to make the sacrifice for her clan’s sake. Still, at least it had not snowed yet.
Again she woke up with a jolt. Zachery was so cold to the touch, which made Sascha want to warm him. She put her muzzle on his shoulder to hopefully make him feel better.
She couldn’t tell whether he was awake, but she kind of figured he was wakeful. What human could possibly sleep in this weather?
She couldn’t figure out what was keeping her up. Whenever she dozed off beside the fire pit she dreamed of only peaceful things. Like hunting with Zachery, frolicking in the prairies outside Rosewood Forest, and all the things a wolf would love to do.
Sascha fell asleep for just a moment. She saw nothing but pitch blackness. Suddenly a choking smell hit her throat.
It was so vivid!
She could have sworn that it was real and that’s why she was so scared. She had scented something similar to this near the fire pit. Sascha was awakened from her short slumber by Zachery’s stirring beside her, and she lifted her head from his shoulder.
It must have been the cold that was irritating him. But then a split second later, Zachery sat up and threw his blankets off.
He grabbed his robe to cover up his nakedness and ran out of the Medicine Shed.
“Zachery?” She barked, a feeling of dread sparking in her heart. Sascha knew he’d never understand her and that her words sounded like wolfish barks and howls to him, but she didn’t care. She often did this, just to communicate with him.
Instantly she shot up and bounded out of the shed after Zachery. That was when she noticed the same choking smell from her dream existed in the waking world. When she lay her eyes upon what surrounded the druid camp, her eyes went wide with terror.
A fire was engulfing the entire forest! Her nightmare had become a reality.
“Fire in the camp...!” Zachery screamed as he ran through the camp, and then started to break out in a fit of coughing as the black smoke hit him. “We must evacuate!”
Sascha had to do something. Anything! These were her people and she’d been raised with them. They were her family! Sascha started running wildly around the camp letting out loud howls of terror, hoping that it would get the druids out faster.
Within seconds the camp was swarming with humans, yelling with fear. Sascha looked to the camp’s entrance and saw the flames that were about to block the exit.
Quickly, she searched the druids for Zachery but no matter how hard she searched she could not see his agile body. Usually, she’d recognize him by the way his brown hair was styled, but he was nowhere to be seen.
It was as if the smoke of the fire had devoured him within seconds, and Sascha knew that she had never felt so scared and alone than in this one moment. Time seemed to slow down, and everything felt like a painful eternity. The heat of the fire stung her face as she approached it, and the sulfur was coloring her pelt dark gray.
Sascha dashed toward the exit of the druid camp as fast as her paws would carry her, starting to pant heavily from the strain and suddenly breaking out in a fit of coughing from the blasted smoke that was beginning to fill her lungs.
Before she could reach the exit the hand of a human reached out and grabbed her tightly on her leather collar. She must have been so focused that she didn’t see him or her.
The leather collar pressured her windpipe for a moment, thus making it impossible to breathe at all for that short period, and also causing pain to her neck and throat. It wasn’t new to her, though.
Whenever she hunted with Zachery or any of the druids for that matter, they would stop her like this to keep her from running at the target. The only thing different about this was the intensity of the pain. Sascha had been running very fast, so obviously it would cause great discomfort.
The man pulled her backward and forcefully led her to the other side of the camp. She quickly realized by the old man’s faint grassy scent that it was the druid physician Tairek.
Sascha respected him and trusted him with her life, but she couldn’t help but wonder what was on the physician’s mind. They were running in the opposite direction of the exit, and Sascha knew of no other way to escape the flames.
She glanced at the opening where the rest of the clan had escaped through, and her grass-green eyes widened with terror. The only possible escape had been fully engulfed in fire!
When they reached the other side of the camp, Tairek didn’t stop. He just pulled her through the thorn bushes, painfully trying to ignore the sting of them breaking through his skin.
Sascha was more protected because of her pelt, but that didn’t mean she was fully protected. The unforgiving thorns scratched at her face, legs, arms, and stomach; thus, the wolf began to bleed.
After Tairek and Sascha passed through the thorn bushes, they arrived at a clearing. She had never known that there was an emergency exit, and it didn’t seem that anyone else knew either.
Then again they probably did; they just didn’t want their skin ripped apart by the thorns and so instead went out the main entrance. It was hard for Sascha to see, for the choking smoke was blinding her. But Tairek led her through the clearing, as quick as he could without stumbling into anything... or off anything. There was plenty of smoke, of course; but there did not seem to be much fire in this area, which was good.
Suddenly, Tairek stopped in his tracks. It took Sascha a moment to take in the scene and realize what had caused him to do so. If Tairek hadn’t been looking hard enough, then they both would have plunged down a small cliff.
Despite the smoke, Sascha could see the bottom quite clearly and it didn’t look like anyone would live if they were to accidentally fall off the edge.
The cold, sharp rocks below were like knives sticking up out of the water while a river crashed into them endlessly.
“Stay right where you are,” an authoritative man’s voice sounded behind them like a crash of thunder. Tairek and Sascha froze when these words were spoken.
They heard multiple horses whinnying behind them, which Tairek knew was not a good thing. They surrounded them against the edge of the river cliff, ensuring there was no escape.
“Drop any weapons and turn around slowly,” the gruff-sounding man ordered harshly.
Sascha looked around and noted that the other men had crossbows pointed straight at Tairek, to ensure he did not try anything. Tairek knew that if he tried anything he would be shot without hesitation so he did what the group’s leader said and turned around slowly, putting both of his hands up in the air and letting go of Sascha’s collar.
The white female wolf turned around to see the men, their angry and somewhat emotionless expressions glaring darkly at her friend. “Tairek, w-what’s happening?” She whined with fear.
“Shut your dog up!” The gruff-sounding man yelled.
Tairek sighed lightly, not daring to move a muscle. “Easy there, Sascha. Easy,” he whispered softly so that no one but Sascha could hear.
She understood him and lowered her head with the continuing fear of the men holding the crossbows.
‘Oh please,’ she prayed, ‘please let everything be alright!’
It was hard to see the men and horses through the thick smoke, but she could make out their figures and everything she needed to know really. It was getting so hard to breathe! She could just see the orange waves of fire off in the distance. The wind was drifting the fire toward them.
“Kill the druid immediately,” the leader ordered abruptly.
The knights obeyed and pointed their crossbows at Tairek. Without thinking of the consequences, Sascha jumped in front of the druid physician protectively.
Even though she was not raised to know the ways of the wolf and knew little about them aside from their beastly behavior, she instinctively bared her large fangs at the knights with a deeply increasing rage.
Sascha felt as if she would kill them if they advanced any further toward her and Tairek. Right now, she only knew two things; one, she needed to protect Tairek, and two, she had to be brave to get through this.
If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
Those were the only two natural instincts that she would listen to.
Sir Cadoc cursed and his horse jumped away when he saw her white fangs reveal themselves from behind her lips. The other horses did the same, spooked by the wolf.
The knights had to gain control of the animals before dealing with the situation at hand. Sascha snarled, but it came out pitifully. It just wasn’t the proper wolf growl.
Wolf growls sounded somewhat similar to a hiss, but Sascha’s sounded like a small dog’s growl.
But that did not mean she would stop. Only the urge to protect Tairek at all costs was driving her. She was not even thinking about how embarrassing it really was.
“Do not think I will spare a druid! Your whole clan has been rounded up and will one by one receive a traditional execution,” the leader of the group spat furiously. “And so will you.”
Sascha looked up at the Captain Knight with fearful eyes. When she really thought about it, how was she expected to protect Tairek against six armored men? It was unheard of, and impossible, at least for a wolf.
“Kill the half-breed,” the leader ordered angrily. “It’s of no use to us if it’s part wolf.” Sascha gasped and shot behind Tairek like a coward.
They were closing in on Tairek and Sascha. Everything seemed hopeless; until the druid physician spoke up, which slowed the knights.
“Is that really what you think of me? Only a mere druid,” Tairek began coldly, and then added with anger, “What happened to 'brother', Will? Just because I chose not to join your team does not mean you can just deny that we are siblings… both sharing the same parents. You used to be a druid!”
Well, that was shameful.
Sascha could not believe that Tairek had such a hateful brother.
If Sascha had a brother who hated her, denied their blood relationship, and even supported her execution, then that would surely hurt. She could only imagine how much it hurt Tairek, despite how much he was hiding it behind his voice.
Sascha flattened her ears coldly when Sir Will replied. “I have no idea what you are talking about, fiend. The druids are a threat to my people, especially now that they are recruiting wolves to torment the villagers.”
The knight shot Sascha a very hateful look but then looked back up at his brother with a territorial look in his eyes. “All druids must be rounded up, and you’re the only one who hasn’t run into our little trap. Good job, I must say. But you still got caught.”
Sascha bared her teeth, making not even the slightest sound. She was truly a coward but also wanted to keep Tairek safe.
“Shoot them!” Will ordered his knights. Sascha knew she had less than two seconds to react.
Tairek jumped in front of the wolf, shielding her with his body.
“No!” Sascha howled, but it was too late. Before she could even process it in her mind, the crossbows had shot at her friend.
“No, Tairek!” She called.
Only two arrows had hit him, and the other four had hit the ground. One arrow was protruding from the center of his chest and the other from his upper shoulder.
The druid physician moaned with pain as he struggled to stand.
“I knew my time would come soon,” he smiled. “But I would never shame myself to die at the hands of you or your King.” Tairek chuckled and leaned toward the edge of the cliff.
It wasn’t a long way down, but it was far enough. “If I must die, I want to die on my own terms... and make it count!”
To Sascha’s horror, Tairek started to edge toward the cliff, eventually stepping off.
“Tairek…?” Sascha whimpered.
She peeked over the edge and only caught him being dragged under the water by the current.
Sascha didn’t know what else to do! She had lost him! What was she to do now?
Will had stated that the rest of the druids had been arrested, so where would she go now? What could she do about it? With the druid physician gone, she was in despair.
“Leave him, he’ll die off eventually,” Will said, and then added, “Kill the wolf, now!”
Sascha gasped with fear and whipped around when she heard those words. They instantly shot at her, but she leaped swiftly out of the way.
Jumping toward the horses made them rear, and a single knight was thrown to the ground after being caught off guard by Sascha’s sudden movements.
The white wolf ran down a nearby slope to the riverbank. Soon she hit the freezing water and at the same time saw Tairek struggling to stay above the surface far up ahead. Sascha risked her life swimming toward him in a loving attempt at rescue.
But he had been shot through the chest; there was nothing she could do once, and if, she reached him!
Then she remembered Zachery, the physician’s son and apprentice. He would know what to do, but he had probably been arrested by the King of Aerulis. She had to try her best. It may not be expected of her, but she felt that it was required of her in her heart.
She was only a few feet away from the struggling Tairek before she saw a drop up ahead, and instantly knew what it was.
Oh, why did there have to be a waterfall?
Trying to speed up her pace, she finally came within inches of the druid physician. Sascha bit onto his shoulder and bravely tried to drag him sideways to the narrow rocky shore.
She even outstretched her sharp wolf claws, swimming with all her strength to reach the river bank. But in seconds the earth fell out from under her. She and Tairek dropped down the waterfall and were consumed in the deep, black, confusing water below.
Her lungs burned as she became disoriented for about ten seconds. She frantically swam up to the surface.
Sascha gasped desperately for oxygen when she hit the air and climbed onto a rock by the shore, trying to catch her breath.
Her eyes were half open, blurred by the stinging ice-cold water that clung to her pelt and dripped into her grass-green eyes.
Remembering Tairek she lifted her head and opened her eyes wide, searching everywhere for him. Sascha spotted him holding weakly onto rocks near the bank of the river.
Sascha struggled on shaky legs to a standing position and then made her way up another rock that was attached to the bank.
Once there, she dashed over to the rocks that were holding the druid physician. She made her way carefully across them and then bit into Tairek’s tan shirt to drag his half-unconscious body to the shore where they would be safe from harm.
Tairek lay on the shore motionless. Her muzzle was now covered in Tairek’s scarlet red blood, but she tried not to think about it. A few moments later water came gushing out of the physician’s mouth and nose.
The water had gotten into his lungs, but Sascha was too inexperienced to know that was fatal. The druid physician moaned with extreme pain and looked at the white wolf with watery eyes.
“Sascha...” He whispered shakily, his voice gurgling with water. She lay at his side, licking his face worriedly. “You’re going to be okay, Tairek. I promise!” She barked. “I’ll take care of you.”
Tairek closed his eyes and sighed. “When my... father... died, he told... me... that he could... understand the language... of his dog that was whimpering beside him,” he struggled to speak.
“Don’t try to talk!” She growled, flattening her white ears.
“I... never believed him,” the physician ignored her, his eyes opening a little bit. “But it... is so. I can finally... understand you, my dear wolf. And I must have a word... with you before... my passing over into the... afterlife.”
“You’re not going to die!” The white wolf exclaimed.
“Do not... be afraid, young wolf,” Tairek gave her a faint smile, starting to unhook her collar. “My spirit will... live on in you. I will guide you... to your destiny.”
She pulled away in surprise. “What are you talking about?” She didn’t want to lose her collar either!
“Sascha, my dear wolf, I once told King Avyrus... of my nightmares about a white wolf,” he said and paused. Then continued in a whisper, “None of the other druids know this, but... you are the great white wolf.”
Sascha knew it was very painful for him to speak More painful than she could possibly imagine, she was sure of that.
Was Tairek just delusional because he was in the process of dying? “You know that’s not true, Tairek, please don’t tell me that.”
“Do not complicate things,” Tairek said sternly. “You are the great white wolf with... the eyes the color of grass that will save us all!”
Sascha flinched when he raised his voice. She did not want him to be serious, but she knew in the back of her head that he was.
She sighed and gave a curt nod to the physician, “Please, tell me more. I must know.”
“We never receive straight answers, so I cannot tell you much,” Tairek answered. “But... what I can tell you is that you will... have to save the druids from King Xanthus, even at the cost... of your life.”
The druid physician pulled something from his pocket and placed it at Sascha’s front paws. It was a tiny bag filled with what the wolf believed to be coins of some sort. “This bag contains five gold coins. You will need it.”
“For what?”
“You must go and see the... the Fighting Master Rei in Windstorm City. He can speak to animals, and if you... show him this he would be more than... willing to train you.” Tairek said, his voice becoming quieter. “You must go…”
Suddenly, the white wolf heard shouting and the sound of hooves off in the distance, and then Tairek gave a painful shout. “Run now! I’ll be alright!”
Sascha wanted nothing more but to stay with the druid. He had done so much for her. He had saved her life as a pup, given her a warm home in the druid clan, and convinced King Avyrus to assign her as one of the hunting dogs, among many other things.
How could she just leave him here to die?
“I will not betray you!” She growled sternly and then grabbed him by the shoulder with her teeth.
“The King has to be stopped!” Tairek snapped, but when Sascha did not listen he pushed her away with the last of his physical strength.
“Get out...” he paused in a fit of coughing, more water rushing out of his mouth along with a few droplets of blood. It was then that he fell into unconsciousness.
Or did he...?
“Tairek, please, don’t leave!” She shouted, tears splashing down onto the ground.
This was it.
She had to be strong.
She had to get through this.
She had to fulfill her destiny. Tairek’s life would have been wasted if she continued being a cowardly fool.
After inhaling Tairek’s still-warm herbal scent one last time, the white wolf picked up the bag of gold, tucked it into her collar securing it, and backed away from him.
“May you rest in peace, old friend,” she said as more tears streamed down her face, her voice beginning to crack.
This would never be easy, so she just braced herself and took one last look at the burning forest above.
Sascha ran down the river, forcing her legs to work at a very rapid speed. She needed to hurry to Windstorm City and have the Fighting Master teach her these skills that Tairek had mentioned in order to save her clan. There was only one problem... she did not know how to get there.