The Myth of the Ice Queen:
Blood and Ice Wolves
Chapter 9 - The Cunning of Wolves
Muroc and Dokara whirled from watching the others trudge up. Dropping their packs, they leaped forward to aid Gairet. Muroc pulled out his twin axes in a quick sweeping gesture as Dokara drew his sword. Feyt marveled that Muroc's leg did not seem to slow him at all.
Seelus and Aterius started forward to help them. Aterius lowered his javelin, holding it pointed ahead and level. As he did, Feyt saw more wolves charging down at them out of the dead trees on the ridge.
"Aterius! To your right!" he screamed. He pulled his long-knife out and dropped his pack. He stepped towards the wolves, trying to plant his feet securely in the slippery snow, but as he did, a twang sound brushed his hair aside as a quarrel buried itself into the lead wolf ahead of him.
"Stand still! I'm shooting," Tauras exclaimed wildly, as the wolf he hit tumbled into the snow and thrashed.
Feyt swallowed feeling pale. That was too close. Stand still? All I want to do is run! Instead, he crouched, his blade held in both hands. I'm not losing my blade this time, he vowed.
Beyond Aterius, Feyt saw Seelus had turned about to help Aterius just as the wolves reached them. Aterius's javelin speared the wolf in front, then he dropped his hold on it and pulled his sword. Seelus stabbed his first wolf, but disappeared under the leaping bodies of three more. Aterius thrust his sword into another wolf. He pulled it out just in time to batter another wolf to the ground with a backhanded blow.
Behind the brunt of the attack, Feyt and Tauras had only three wolves left to deal with. Tauras fired again dropping the second wolf right at Feyt's feet. Feyt blinked, but immediately had to slash at another wolf. His first stroke crippled it. He plunged his knife in to finish it. As he looked up another wolf leapt at him with its snarling jaws wide open. A blade drove in from beside him stopping the wolf as it impaled itself. It blinked, licked its lips, and whined slightly as it died inches from Feyt's face. Shocked, Feyt turned to see Tauras holding the end of the sword.
"What's the matter? Didn't you think I knew how to use one of these things?" Tauras asked. He pulled his blade out and pulled Feyt to his feet. "They still need help, boy!" He shoved Feyt in the direction of Aterius and Seelus. Stumbling in the snow, Feyt ran towards the mass of writhing wolves and men ahead. He looked back quickly and saw Tauras was already loading another quarrel. Strangely, that comforted him.
Ahead of him, both Aterius and Seelus had now disappeared under the swarm of wolves. With the wolves’ complete attention focused on mauling the two men, Feyt was able to run right up behind them. He raised his long-knife and stabbed it into the back of the nearest wolf, then pulled it free just in time to block the jaws of another that snapped at him. His blade drew blood where it cut the wolf's mouth. Red spittle few at him. Twang. The wolf's head lurched to the side and he dropped.
Aterius had regained his feet and was swinging his long sword wildly. He killed the wolf on top of Seelus and the others fell back snarling and whining. Feyt stepped over a wolf's corpse to stand next to Aterius over Seelus in the bloody smeared snow.
The wolves circled back and forth, looking for an opening… but the next twang killed another. Losing courage, they turned and loped back into the woods.
Further uphill, Feyt saw Muroc, braids flying about his head, step on a thrashing wolf and dispatch it. Turning, his axe clove another's head as it leaped into his reach. Dokara was swinging his sword back and forth holding back a pack of wolves beyond him. Feyt's heart skipped a beat. Gairet's bloody arm was reaching upwards from the ground weakly.
"Gairet!" He started to run forward to help.
"Feyt!" Feyt turned to see Aterius pointing behind him at the ground. "Seelus!"
Looking down, Feyt choked. Among the red snow and wolf bodies, Seelus was a mess. The wolves had ripped him open badly. Stunned his eyes caught Seelus's. Oh, my God! He isn't dead yet!
Seelus saw the look on Feyt's face.
He knows! Feyt felt tears starting.
Seelus grimaced. His head fell back in the bloody snow. He lifted it again looking pained, but then he tried to smile. "Hey... Feyt-bait. I took your job... I screwed it up though...".
"Seelus," Feyt swallowed. "I don't know what I can do..."
"Don't worry." A gasp. "Never told you... we love the ... same God..."
"The One God?"
"Yeah... help...the others..." with a sigh, Seelus dropped his head again and went still. Large flakes of white snow fell gently onto his face and began to melt.
He's gone... Feeling shocked Feyt looked up as Tauras ran past him. He saw Aterius was also already halfway to where Muroc was backhanding another wolf with one axe while holding the other bloody axe over his head. Seeing their prey had reinforcements, the wolves Dokara was keeping at bay looked uncertain. Then Tauras drilled one of them through the heart.
First one, then two, and finally all the wolves trotted reluctantly back into the dead trees, weaving amid the black trunks until disappearing into the grey mist of swirling snow.
Feyt ran after the others. When he got there, he saw Gairet's face was bloody with a nasty gash, but his right arm was the worst. Torn badly above the elbow, his coat hung swinging below his bare bloody arm. Feyt could not help staring. Gairet’s arm was oozing a terribly dark red blood from beneath the rag Aterius was pressing against the wound. It dripped onto already bloody snow marking it brightly. Feyt swallowed hard, standing uncertainly still holding his long-knife. He felt sick. Feyt noticed steam was rising off them all and the corpses as well. He shivered. He was not sure that it was from the cold.
Gairet began to struggle. "Let me up," he managed.
Dokara quickly knelt and held him down. "No, my friend. Not yet." But Gairet struggled harder, his free hand pushing against a dead wolf next to him.
"Lie still, Gairet," Muroc roared. "Stop trying to get up. Aterius has to stop the bleeding."
Gairet stopped his attempts to rise. He gasped as Aterius moved a new rag onto the wound and began to tie it up with strips of cloth he tore from Gairet's shredded coat sleeve.
"Feyt!" Muroc called. "Run back and grab all the packs everyone left. We have to move out fast. Those wolves are going to be back. Go!" he added harshly as Feyt paused staring at Gairet. Muroc’s bark galvanized him into action.
As he ran back, long-knife in hand, he heard Muroc tell Tauras, "Watch Feyt. If a wolf comes out, you make sure you kill it, hear?" Inspired, or scared by those words, he ran harder. As he passed Seelus' body, and the wide bloody smears in the snow around it, he swallowed hard and looked away. Oh, Seelus. I am so sorry.
Reaching where they had dropped their packs, Feyt snatched them up, one by one, and slung them over his left shoulder. Three packs was a load! He was suddenly glad none of these packs were the large food packs. Feyt hurried back still holding his long-knife out and ready. He watched all around, desperate to see any wolf that may appear. He stopped again at Seelus' corpse. Seelus pack was nearby, beside the body. Feyt was indecisive. His hands were full, if he hoped to use his weapon, but they needed every pack. He was afraid to put his knife away just so he could carry another pack.
Feyt stared at the pack and licked his lips. He looked back where the others were busy with Gairet, and saw Tauras standing ready with his bow. Taking a deep breath he said, “Courage.” Quickly he slid his long-knife into its sheath, grabbed Seelus' pack and ran for all he was worth. Nervously glancing behind him repeatedly, he swore several times he heard a wolf leap out. Each time he whipped his head, but the wolves remained mercifully absent.
As he passed Tauras on the way back, Tauras smiled and nodded at him curtly. "Good work. Wait." He took Seelus' pack. "I'll carry this. You may need your other hand." Then he brusquely turned back to his watching. He kept his bow aimed behind them.
Feyt hurried up to where the others were. Gairet was deathly pale, as Aterius finished wrapping his arm. Dokara, grim faced, pulled the canvas tarp out of one of the food packs. He folded it lengthwise and they laid Gairet on it, tying it around him.
"How far to this cave?" Aterius asked Muroc.
"Gairet found it. It isn't far. But it is up the hill."
A flicker in the trees caught Feyt's nervous eyes. "Muroc! The wolves are back!"
Muroc cursed, then ordered, "Go. Aterius, you and Dokara get the food packs."
Aterius scowled. "Gairet had the other big pack. It is gone. He must have lost it when he was attacked."
"Worse and worse," exclaimed Muroc shaking his head. "Never mind. You two take the lead. Follow the tracks Gairet left coming down. Maybe we will find the food pack on the way. It is better to have your hands free to fight anyway. Keep your swords ready."
"What about Gairet?" Dokara motioned to where he lay. "Are you going to need help?"
"Help? Hah. I am a horse. I'll drag Gairet and stay behind you. Just don't slow down or I'll run over your skinny arse."
"Not likely," came the reply as he and Aterius started out.
Muroc continued bellowing orders, "Tauras! You and Feyt follow last. Feyt, can you handle all three of those packs like you have them? One handed?"
"Yes sir. I've got them." Feyt redrew his long-knife, just in case.
"Good. That's it. Keep your little wolf-sticker out and take last place. We need to keep Tauras's hands free to use his bow. If the wolves try another attack, yell and slow them down so Tauras can shoot. Got it?"
Slow them down? Just then, Feyt heard Tauras fire. An answering yelp was satisfying, but Tauras's look was not. Uncertainly, Feyt answered Muroc, "S-sure. I got it."
"Alright. Let's go then." With that, Muroc grabbed the upper ends of the tarp and began to pull.
Dragging Gairet on the tarp, they pushed up into the trees where the wolves in front had disappeared. It was slow going uphill, tripping over branches buried in the snow and slipping as the snow made the footing treacherous. Gairet rolled back and forth in the canvas as he was roughly drug along.
Another twang went off next to Feyt. Tauras grinned. "Put that one in his eye."
That stayed the wolves for a while, but not for long. Feyt could see them moving alongside the party, darting between the black trees. He was afraid. This had become a nightmare. It was getting dark fast now, and the snow was falling again, heavier than ever. As they climbed higher, they reached the ridge top and were suddenly exposed to the gusting wind. Feyt had not realized how badly it was blowing until then. The wind made a blizzard of the snow.
Tauras fired again and muttered something coarse. "Missed," he admitted. They kept pushing on, uphill. The snow was deeper here and more continued to fall. He could not see all the men ahead well even though it was only twenty feet or so to the furthest. Feyt heard noises ahead and the line stopped. When they began to move again, he passed the bodies of two more wolves. I wonder if anyone is still keeping count?
He was trembling steadily now, from cold, or fear, or just weariness, he did not know. The blowing snow stung his face and he wasn't sure any longer if he'd see a wolf until it landed on top of him at this point. Numbly, he kept on moving.
Twang. Tauras actually swore this time. Not like him at all. "Not sure that was even a wolf. Damn weather."
Feyt's thoughts roamed. What would Mum say if she knew I was out here? Or Serente? She'd be crying if she knew what was happening. Mum would be praying.
Of course! Mum would be praying. I need to pray. Mum said to ask and the God would give it to us. Oh, God. One-God, Only-God. See me. You know our danger. Please, save us. Help us. This whole hunt has become a disaster. Please, One-God. Help us. Feyt did not know what else to say. He hoped the One-God was listening.
Someone yelled at the front of their line. Feeling like he was in a dream, Feyt turned to look ahead. Blowing snow and dead black trees blocked his view more than a few feet.
More wolves. Fear knotted his stomach. He hefted his long-knife and swallowed hard.
I am going to take one more with me, he vowed.
Blood and Ice Wolves
Chapter 9 - The Cunning of Wolves
Muroc and Dokara whirled from watching the others trudge up. Dropping their packs, they leaped forward to aid Gairet. Muroc pulled out his twin axes in a quick sweeping gesture as Dokara drew his sword. Feyt marveled that Muroc's leg did not seem to slow him at all.
Seelus and Aterius started forward to help them. Aterius lowered his javelin, holding it pointed ahead and level. As he did, Feyt saw more wolves charging down at them out of the dead trees on the ridge.
"Aterius! To your right!" he screamed. He pulled his long-knife out and dropped his pack. He stepped towards the wolves, trying to plant his feet securely in the slippery snow, but as he did, a twang sound brushed his hair aside as a quarrel buried itself into the lead wolf ahead of him.
"Stand still! I'm shooting," Tauras exclaimed wildly, as the wolf he hit tumbled into the snow and thrashed.
Feyt swallowed feeling pale. That was too close. Stand still? All I want to do is run! Instead, he crouched, his blade held in both hands. I'm not losing my blade this time, he vowed.
Beyond Aterius, Feyt saw Seelus had turned about to help Aterius just as the wolves reached them. Aterius's javelin speared the wolf in front, then he dropped his hold on it and pulled his sword. Seelus stabbed his first wolf, but disappeared under the leaping bodies of three more. Aterius thrust his sword into another wolf. He pulled it out just in time to batter another wolf to the ground with a backhanded blow.
Behind the brunt of the attack, Feyt and Tauras had only three wolves left to deal with. Tauras fired again dropping the second wolf right at Feyt's feet. Feyt blinked, but immediately had to slash at another wolf. His first stroke crippled it. He plunged his knife in to finish it. As he looked up another wolf leapt at him with its snarling jaws wide open. A blade drove in from beside him stopping the wolf as it impaled itself. It blinked, licked its lips, and whined slightly as it died inches from Feyt's face. Shocked, Feyt turned to see Tauras holding the end of the sword.
"What's the matter? Didn't you think I knew how to use one of these things?" Tauras asked. He pulled his blade out and pulled Feyt to his feet. "They still need help, boy!" He shoved Feyt in the direction of Aterius and Seelus. Stumbling in the snow, Feyt ran towards the mass of writhing wolves and men ahead. He looked back quickly and saw Tauras was already loading another quarrel. Strangely, that comforted him.
Ahead of him, both Aterius and Seelus had now disappeared under the swarm of wolves. With the wolves’ complete attention focused on mauling the two men, Feyt was able to run right up behind them. He raised his long-knife and stabbed it into the back of the nearest wolf, then pulled it free just in time to block the jaws of another that snapped at him. His blade drew blood where it cut the wolf's mouth. Red spittle few at him. Twang. The wolf's head lurched to the side and he dropped.
Aterius had regained his feet and was swinging his long sword wildly. He killed the wolf on top of Seelus and the others fell back snarling and whining. Feyt stepped over a wolf's corpse to stand next to Aterius over Seelus in the bloody smeared snow.
The wolves circled back and forth, looking for an opening… but the next twang killed another. Losing courage, they turned and loped back into the woods.
Further uphill, Feyt saw Muroc, braids flying about his head, step on a thrashing wolf and dispatch it. Turning, his axe clove another's head as it leaped into his reach. Dokara was swinging his sword back and forth holding back a pack of wolves beyond him. Feyt's heart skipped a beat. Gairet's bloody arm was reaching upwards from the ground weakly.
"Gairet!" He started to run forward to help.
"Feyt!" Feyt turned to see Aterius pointing behind him at the ground. "Seelus!"
Looking down, Feyt choked. Among the red snow and wolf bodies, Seelus was a mess. The wolves had ripped him open badly. Stunned his eyes caught Seelus's. Oh, my God! He isn't dead yet!
Seelus saw the look on Feyt's face.
He knows! Feyt felt tears starting.
Seelus grimaced. His head fell back in the bloody snow. He lifted it again looking pained, but then he tried to smile. "Hey... Feyt-bait. I took your job... I screwed it up though...".
"Seelus," Feyt swallowed. "I don't know what I can do..."
"Don't worry." A gasp. "Never told you... we love the ... same God..."
"The One God?"
"Yeah... help...the others..." with a sigh, Seelus dropped his head again and went still. Large flakes of white snow fell gently onto his face and began to melt.
He's gone... Feeling shocked Feyt looked up as Tauras ran past him. He saw Aterius was also already halfway to where Muroc was backhanding another wolf with one axe while holding the other bloody axe over his head. Seeing their prey had reinforcements, the wolves Dokara was keeping at bay looked uncertain. Then Tauras drilled one of them through the heart.
First one, then two, and finally all the wolves trotted reluctantly back into the dead trees, weaving amid the black trunks until disappearing into the grey mist of swirling snow.
Feyt ran after the others. When he got there, he saw Gairet's face was bloody with a nasty gash, but his right arm was the worst. Torn badly above the elbow, his coat hung swinging below his bare bloody arm. Feyt could not help staring. Gairet’s arm was oozing a terribly dark red blood from beneath the rag Aterius was pressing against the wound. It dripped onto already bloody snow marking it brightly. Feyt swallowed hard, standing uncertainly still holding his long-knife. He felt sick. Feyt noticed steam was rising off them all and the corpses as well. He shivered. He was not sure that it was from the cold.
Gairet began to struggle. "Let me up," he managed.
Dokara quickly knelt and held him down. "No, my friend. Not yet." But Gairet struggled harder, his free hand pushing against a dead wolf next to him.
"Lie still, Gairet," Muroc roared. "Stop trying to get up. Aterius has to stop the bleeding."
Gairet stopped his attempts to rise. He gasped as Aterius moved a new rag onto the wound and began to tie it up with strips of cloth he tore from Gairet's shredded coat sleeve.
"Feyt!" Muroc called. "Run back and grab all the packs everyone left. We have to move out fast. Those wolves are going to be back. Go!" he added harshly as Feyt paused staring at Gairet. Muroc’s bark galvanized him into action.
As he ran back, long-knife in hand, he heard Muroc tell Tauras, "Watch Feyt. If a wolf comes out, you make sure you kill it, hear?" Inspired, or scared by those words, he ran harder. As he passed Seelus' body, and the wide bloody smears in the snow around it, he swallowed hard and looked away. Oh, Seelus. I am so sorry.
Reaching where they had dropped their packs, Feyt snatched them up, one by one, and slung them over his left shoulder. Three packs was a load! He was suddenly glad none of these packs were the large food packs. Feyt hurried back still holding his long-knife out and ready. He watched all around, desperate to see any wolf that may appear. He stopped again at Seelus' corpse. Seelus pack was nearby, beside the body. Feyt was indecisive. His hands were full, if he hoped to use his weapon, but they needed every pack. He was afraid to put his knife away just so he could carry another pack.
Feyt stared at the pack and licked his lips. He looked back where the others were busy with Gairet, and saw Tauras standing ready with his bow. Taking a deep breath he said, “Courage.” Quickly he slid his long-knife into its sheath, grabbed Seelus' pack and ran for all he was worth. Nervously glancing behind him repeatedly, he swore several times he heard a wolf leap out. Each time he whipped his head, but the wolves remained mercifully absent.
As he passed Tauras on the way back, Tauras smiled and nodded at him curtly. "Good work. Wait." He took Seelus' pack. "I'll carry this. You may need your other hand." Then he brusquely turned back to his watching. He kept his bow aimed behind them.
Feyt hurried up to where the others were. Gairet was deathly pale, as Aterius finished wrapping his arm. Dokara, grim faced, pulled the canvas tarp out of one of the food packs. He folded it lengthwise and they laid Gairet on it, tying it around him.
"How far to this cave?" Aterius asked Muroc.
"Gairet found it. It isn't far. But it is up the hill."
A flicker in the trees caught Feyt's nervous eyes. "Muroc! The wolves are back!"
Muroc cursed, then ordered, "Go. Aterius, you and Dokara get the food packs."
Aterius scowled. "Gairet had the other big pack. It is gone. He must have lost it when he was attacked."
"Worse and worse," exclaimed Muroc shaking his head. "Never mind. You two take the lead. Follow the tracks Gairet left coming down. Maybe we will find the food pack on the way. It is better to have your hands free to fight anyway. Keep your swords ready."
"What about Gairet?" Dokara motioned to where he lay. "Are you going to need help?"
"Help? Hah. I am a horse. I'll drag Gairet and stay behind you. Just don't slow down or I'll run over your skinny arse."
"Not likely," came the reply as he and Aterius started out.
Muroc continued bellowing orders, "Tauras! You and Feyt follow last. Feyt, can you handle all three of those packs like you have them? One handed?"
"Yes sir. I've got them." Feyt redrew his long-knife, just in case.
"Good. That's it. Keep your little wolf-sticker out and take last place. We need to keep Tauras's hands free to use his bow. If the wolves try another attack, yell and slow them down so Tauras can shoot. Got it?"
Slow them down? Just then, Feyt heard Tauras fire. An answering yelp was satisfying, but Tauras's look was not. Uncertainly, Feyt answered Muroc, "S-sure. I got it."
"Alright. Let's go then." With that, Muroc grabbed the upper ends of the tarp and began to pull.
Dragging Gairet on the tarp, they pushed up into the trees where the wolves in front had disappeared. It was slow going uphill, tripping over branches buried in the snow and slipping as the snow made the footing treacherous. Gairet rolled back and forth in the canvas as he was roughly drug along.
Another twang went off next to Feyt. Tauras grinned. "Put that one in his eye."
That stayed the wolves for a while, but not for long. Feyt could see them moving alongside the party, darting between the black trees. He was afraid. This had become a nightmare. It was getting dark fast now, and the snow was falling again, heavier than ever. As they climbed higher, they reached the ridge top and were suddenly exposed to the gusting wind. Feyt had not realized how badly it was blowing until then. The wind made a blizzard of the snow.
Tauras fired again and muttered something coarse. "Missed," he admitted. They kept pushing on, uphill. The snow was deeper here and more continued to fall. He could not see all the men ahead well even though it was only twenty feet or so to the furthest. Feyt heard noises ahead and the line stopped. When they began to move again, he passed the bodies of two more wolves. I wonder if anyone is still keeping count?
He was trembling steadily now, from cold, or fear, or just weariness, he did not know. The blowing snow stung his face and he wasn't sure any longer if he'd see a wolf until it landed on top of him at this point. Numbly, he kept on moving.
Twang. Tauras actually swore this time. Not like him at all. "Not sure that was even a wolf. Damn weather."
Feyt's thoughts roamed. What would Mum say if she knew I was out here? Or Serente? She'd be crying if she knew what was happening. Mum would be praying.
Of course! Mum would be praying. I need to pray. Mum said to ask and the God would give it to us. Oh, God. One-God, Only-God. See me. You know our danger. Please, save us. Help us. This whole hunt has become a disaster. Please, One-God. Help us. Feyt did not know what else to say. He hoped the One-God was listening.
Someone yelled at the front of their line. Feeling like he was in a dream, Feyt turned to look ahead. Blowing snow and dead black trees blocked his view more than a few feet.
More wolves. Fear knotted his stomach. He hefted his long-knife and swallowed hard.
I am going to take one more with me, he vowed.