Humans don’t travel past the mountain border. You’re an agent of the miscreant, a servant of Gota!
Lifting Roarke by the hair, the beast prepared to strike the final blow.
- Your kind has done enough. I will not allow you to poison these lands and its inhabitants with your toxic words. Your foul quest ends here!
The pain in his scalp pulled Roarke’s mind and vision into focus, hanging a foot off the ground, he was face to face with his attacker. Smoldering hate gave a red glow to the eyes that faced his own, like pits of ember, scorching him. Warm waves of breath washed over his face, each exhale like bells ringing, counting down to his seemingly inevitable demise. Raising his free arm, the beast flexed his claws, like black knives in the faded light under the canopies. An axe beginning its descent to the cutting block, so did the claws that would claim Roarke’s life.
- No!
Chaos, everything seemed to happen all at once, moving instantly but at the same time not moving at all. Gracefully, almost floating, Korri came bouncing into the scene, clearing the invisible border held by the surrounding wolves. Seemingly beyond the laws of gravity, she reached Roarke and his would-be executioner. Twisting in the air, she kicked away the arm holding Roarke whilst landing her other foot square in the face of the wolf-man. Who had, in his fury, grown unobservant and because of this, was taken by surprise. Feet up off the ground, the wolf-man flew ten feet before hitting a tree, that upon impact gave off a loud moan as to protest its involvement in the current altercation. Quickly recovering, the beast flew to his clawed feet, snarling and ready to pounce. As what had transpired became clear, he was joined in his anger by the growling of the circling pack.
- Korri? What is the meaning of this!?
- Stay your hand, Ama, this human is with me.
- What is this treachery you speak!? You caught me off guard, squirrel, don’t think it will be so easy next time.
- Ama, I don’t want to fight you, but this human, Roarke, is not to be harmed.
- Roarke!? The deceiver has warped your mind! The humans are not to be trusted!
A cacophony of snarls indicated the pack’s support.
- Please Ama, calm your heart, I am not your enemy, and my mind is my own.
Loosening her stance where she stood in front of Roarke, she raised her hands in an attempt to plead peace.
- I’m sorry sister, the human cannot pass. Step aside, I don’t want to you hurt if I can avoid it.
Korri stood her ground, tail jerking from side to side.
- No.
Ama looked at her with eyes filled with sadness, rather than with hot rage.
- So be it, sister.
Ama dug his claws into the ground, preparing to spring into action, his movements mirrored by his reluctant adversary. The very forest seemed to hold its breath, silence permeating the area. The already heavy air seemed to thicken by the heartbeat, as the two combatants stood waiting, neither one wanting to initiate what would surely mean the death of one of them. Roarke was sitting on the ground at Korri’s feet, holding what he thought must have been at least three broken ribs. His focus was set on the tense shape of Ama’s muscular frame until something caught his eye. Almost invisible against the verdant backdrop, a beetle landed on his boot. Folding its wings in under its green armor that shimmered in golden hues when it caught the light, it sat motionless.
Roarke looked at it, feeling a memory rise up but not quite breaching the surface. Deeming the effort futile, he looked up only to see more beetles occupying the air. Upon closer inspection there were at least one flying around everyone, human, wolf, and Kappa alike. Korri’s stance had once again relaxed and she was sharing a look with Ama, standing some distance away. Inhaling
Lifting Roarke by the hair, the beast prepared to strike the final blow.
- Your kind has done enough. I will not allow you to poison these lands and its inhabitants with your toxic words. Your foul quest ends here!
The pain in his scalp pulled Roarke’s mind and vision into focus, hanging a foot off the ground, he was face to face with his attacker. Smoldering hate gave a red glow to the eyes that faced his own, like pits of ember, scorching him. Warm waves of breath washed over his face, each exhale like bells ringing, counting down to his seemingly inevitable demise. Raising his free arm, the beast flexed his claws, like black knives in the faded light under the canopies. An axe beginning its descent to the cutting block, so did the claws that would claim Roarke’s life.
- No!
Chaos, everything seemed to happen all at once, moving instantly but at the same time not moving at all. Gracefully, almost floating, Korri came bouncing into the scene, clearing the invisible border held by the surrounding wolves. Seemingly beyond the laws of gravity, she reached Roarke and his would-be executioner. Twisting in the air, she kicked away the arm holding Roarke whilst landing her other foot square in the face of the wolf-man. Who had, in his fury, grown unobservant and because of this, was taken by surprise. Feet up off the ground, the wolf-man flew ten feet before hitting a tree, that upon impact gave off a loud moan as to protest its involvement in the current altercation. Quickly recovering, the beast flew to his clawed feet, snarling and ready to pounce. As what had transpired became clear, he was joined in his anger by the growling of the circling pack.
- Korri? What is the meaning of this!?
- Stay your hand, Ama, this human is with me.
- What is this treachery you speak!? You caught me off guard, squirrel, don’t think it will be so easy next time.
- Ama, I don’t want to fight you, but this human, Roarke, is not to be harmed.
- Roarke!? The deceiver has warped your mind! The humans are not to be trusted!
A cacophony of snarls indicated the pack’s support.
- Please Ama, calm your heart, I am not your enemy, and my mind is my own.
Loosening her stance where she stood in front of Roarke, she raised her hands in an attempt to plead peace.
- I’m sorry sister, the human cannot pass. Step aside, I don’t want to you hurt if I can avoid it.
Korri stood her ground, tail jerking from side to side.
- No.
Ama looked at her with eyes filled with sadness, rather than with hot rage.
- So be it, sister.
Ama dug his claws into the ground, preparing to spring into action, his movements mirrored by his reluctant adversary. The very forest seemed to hold its breath, silence permeating the area. The already heavy air seemed to thicken by the heartbeat, as the two combatants stood waiting, neither one wanting to initiate what would surely mean the death of one of them. Roarke was sitting on the ground at Korri’s feet, holding what he thought must have been at least three broken ribs. His focus was set on the tense shape of Ama’s muscular frame until something caught his eye. Almost invisible against the verdant backdrop, a beetle landed on his boot. Folding its wings in under its green armor that shimmered in golden hues when it caught the light, it sat motionless.
Roarke looked at it, feeling a memory rise up but not quite breaching the surface. Deeming the effort futile, he looked up only to see more beetles occupying the air. Upon closer inspection there were at least one flying around everyone, human, wolf, and Kappa alike. Korri’s stance had once again relaxed and she was sharing a look with Ama, standing some distance away. Inhaling
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