The cursed Wolf Demala was hunting for his supper, a plump rabbit, when he saw a number of robed figures passing through the Karnen lands, and to his surprise, with them was a number of Lore’s and Goblins. They were obviously some of Ulicoth’s people, so he decided to follow the Dark Lord’s chosen to their destination at a distance, as not to be seen. Ulicoth had put a high price on his head for the help he gave to the alliance at the battle of Kealhal. In addition, many, although afraid, would certainly chance a limb to get their reward.
However, that was not what made him so cautious, for he knew that Ulicoth would be keeping a part of his mind on them, and any deviation from their planned course would alert him, so he kept his distance. When he saw their target was the Witch village of Kuople, he was ready to leave to alert the Wizards or Wizard, meaning Delsani. The old Wizard had asked him to keep his eyes open for anything out of the ordinary. He was sure that a small army running close to the borders of their land was very strange in deed. But as he headed for the Wiz-Wit city, he saw a girl running from the town’s outer walls and into Burtairel forest.
Knowing that she would not have a hope of survival on her own, he went in after her. He knew that even with his speed, help would not arrive in time to save the villagers.
“At least I could save one,” he told himself.
When he ran through the tree line, he saw that like most of the forests in that land, it was dark, though there were patches of light where the radiance from the sun had managed to break through the thickness of branches and leaves of the trees and shine down on the ground, where fallen leafs and tree roots bulged out from the muck and sat in a sullen stillness. Demala looked in every direction and found what he was looking for; he could see the outline of the child running in pure fear through the trees. In truth, he could hear the girl better than he could see her, so he followed as best he could.
Not long after, he heard a scream coming for the direction in which he thought the girl had taken. True enough, he found the girl in the arms of a Valcota. The Wolf made his presence known and chased the creature into the woodland. It fled with a squeal, for even the darkest creatures feared the Wolf, as he could not die by any action of theirs, and they knew it. They also knew he had other abilities they could not match on their own.
As the creature fled to alert its fellow leeches, Demala checked the girl for any injures other then the wound to her neck.
The bite had already begun to turn her into one of those beasts. He was surprised to see she was conscious, and was even further surprised to hear her already talking in their tongue. Then, as her eyes fell upon him, the words began to change. He could understand most what she was saying. In addition, as the words became clearer she said. “Help me.”
“I’ll try,” said Demala. “But you’ll have to climb on my back. I am a Wolf and can’t carry you any other way.
The girl reached up and took a hand full of his fur. Demala noticed her grip was very loose. He did not know if it was loss of blood, or perhaps she was afraid of him or afraid of hurting him in case he might turn on her, as to her mind he was probably just a wild animal.
“Don’t be afraid of hurting me. If you can take a stronger hold, do so,” said the Wolf. He felt her grip tighten. He knelt down closer to the ground to help her. She had almost climbed all the way on when Demala heard many ear-piercing squeals coming from all about them. He counted twenty, though there was a very good chance there were more.
The girl had just put her leg over his back and held on as tightly as she could when the very trees above shook with the weight of the creatures. More squeals came from above them, and for a split second Demala found himself wondering how many there were. Nevertheless, he had no intention of finding out. So with the girl holding on for dear life, he took off like the wind, shooting past trees, wild flowers, and large bushes.
When they cleared the last of the trees, they could hear the Valcota’s squealing, shrieking, and screeching after them, or perhaps at themselves for their own failure.
As Demala ran through that land, he could smell the burning of wood and flesh, among other smells he recognized with ease. He knew the difference between them well, for he had smelled them many times throughout his long life. And now he could feel the guilt of leaving those people to the host of Dempmage. Yet he knew there was nothing he could have done to save the village.
“But at least I can save one,” he repeated to himself.
As they crossed the border into Opredanas, Demala did not head for the Towers of Telian. Delsani had told him that he would be spending time in the city helping the Grand Wizard. So the abnormally large Wolf made a beeline for Cayer-Huld, holding out hope that he might make it in time to warn the Wizards and Witches, so they might be able to save what might be left of the village. Although he thought he knew the outcome, he still pressed himself to get there in time.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
As Demala practically flew across that land, he couldn’t help but notice that the red grass and soil under his paws was very mild, as though they had been doused with a light sheet of rain only a few hours before.
It was one hour before he saw the city gates, and this made his heart sing with joy, though he did not know how they were going to get past the gates, as he had never before been allowed in the city. However, when they were only two feet away from them, he was pleasantly surprised to see them open.
“How?” he said aloud.
Just then, he felt the girl’s grip tighten again.
“It’s you,” said the Wolf. “It’s opened for you. And just when I was beginning to feel special.”
He walked in, and immediately Wizards and Witches gasped as they went by. They did not go far before a Ves-guard saw Demala. He drew his wand and ran to him and said. “How did you -?” but before he finished his question, he saw the girl on the back of the Wolf.
He was not as shocked as Demala, for the Wolf understood the Wizard’s words clearly.
“What happened to her?” the Ves-guard said aloud, while also wondering to himself if the Wolf was who he thought it was.
“I’ll tell you, but first, please tell me if there is anywhere she can get help,” said Demala desperately.
The Wizard, finally realizing that he was right in his assumption, pointed his wand up into the air, and three round red lights shot from its tip. The orbs stopped in midair and started to write in the sky.
----------------------------------------
Ves-guard needs assistants, wounded girl at the city gates.
----------------------------------------
Suddenly, lights of different colors flew up in answer. And within a few seconds, Ves-guards appeared from every street.
“Quickly, take the girl to the hospital,” said the first Ves-guard.
The closest took hold of the girl, stood her up and Phazed her to the hospital as instructed.
“Now tell me what happened,” said the Ves-guard who first found Demala.
“You’ll hear all I have to say, but only in City Hall with the Wizard Delsani,” said Demala. “And no stalling; many lives are on the line.”
The Wizard raised his wand to the air again, and again a flare shot up, only this flare was green, and it seemed to go higher into the purple sky than the others. It went through the imitation clouds that floated just above the city that were contained by the dome that surrounded and protected that magnificent place.
At first Demala wondered why the Wizard shot the flare. ‘Perhaps he’s signaling someone that I’m here?’ the Wolf thought.
However, as the thought ran through, his mind he saw an object glinting in the sunlight. The Wizard saw him staring up at it. “It’s what we call a Tear-Fly,” he said contentedly.
“Yes,” said Demala, “I’ve heard of them, but I’ve never seen one.” He stared in awe at the giant winged water drop, and when it had landed, the Ves-guard ran to it. “Two please,” he said. The Tear-Fly grew to double its original size to accommodate the Wizard and the Wolf.
They were on their way to the City Hall, and would soon sit in the presence of the Council of Wiz-Wit.
They lifted higher and higher with every moment. Although their ascent ended only a minute into their flight, they could see most of the city. Demala was again in awe at the sights he saw, for the city was one of the most beautiful sights any could see. Streets upon streets of houses, shops, restaurants, and pubs. The Wolf saw people scurrying around, getting along with their abnormal lives.
The Wizard pointed out some of the sights as they flew on by.
“My name is Jert, and I guess that you are the Wolf Demala.”
The Wolf nodded.
“And this is your first time within the city walls, is it not?”
“Yes,” said Demala.
“Well, if you look there’s the Wiz-Wit Hospital (You Curse, We Nurse), the Sweet Shop (Tricky, Leety’s, Sweety’s), the Colweup River that runs through the city on its way to the ocean, the Pet Shop (Nothing Normal Pets), and the Mortuary (You croak, we stoke),” said the Ves-guard with a small snort of laughter. When the Wolf didn’t do the same, the Ves-guard said, “You know: You croak, we stoke, because we Wizards cremate our dead. It means, like, stoking the fire.”
“Yes I know. But don’t you think that name is a little inappropriate?” asked Demala, turning critic.
“Well, at first some thought so, but when the owner couldn’t change the sign, he made it so if there is a death in the city, or if the dead are brought here, the letters on the sign vanish for a week to show respect for the dead and their families,” said the Wizard.
“Tell me, are you an Anilang?” asked the Wolf curiously.
“No, I’m not, but the city is.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means what I said,” said the Ves-guard, grinning. “You know this city as Cayer-Huld, though by some it is also called Anilang City. You see, when the city was built, the two founders, the first Wizard Cayer Varthker and his best friend (the Warlock) Huldcend Sayer, were Anilangs who could talk to Dragons. They had a fairly good relationship with the Dragons of the Ouertal Colony. This made them believe that it would benefit Wizards and Witches alike to have them as allies. So they made it possible for everyone within the city to understand the Dragons when they spoke, and vice versa, so they did exactly that.”
“The last time I checked, I’m pretty sure that I wasn’t a Dragon,” said Demala mordantly.
“Oh of course not,” said the Wizard hastily. “Every now and then a new animal language is added to the city, and the Wizard Delsani has fought for your right to come here, since you helped at the Battle of Kealhal. With the help of the Grand Wizard who persuaded the Supreme Witch, the Council of Wiz-Wit soon fell into line and went along with the move.