The fact the Scarlett Fox gave the two warriors nicknames told Star a lot, either he was well acquainted with the Hare and Bear, or he was damn confident.
Kodiak turned away embarrassed, not before giving the March Hare a quick glance. The March Hare stepped forward. ‘I am afraid, to our eternal shame we didn’t pay close enough attention. We went aboard the ship, saw a Kraken’s head and left it at that, it was only the Night Badger who inspected the head more thoroughly.’
‘That’s a lie,’ said the Scarlett Fox, prompting Kodiak to spin on his heels and bare his teeth, ‘let me finish,’ responded the Scarlett Fox, paws out in a defensive position, ‘I too inspected the creature in more detail.’
The Night Badger grunted and move toward the Scarlett Fox, the palpable tension in the air was threatening to spill over into bloodshed in a sacred building and planet no less, ‘and what were your findings Fox?’ The Night Badger’s words were laced with venom, two more races with a long and bloodied history against one another.
‘I concur with your statement,’ said the Scarlett Fox.
‘So why didn’t you say anything?’ said the Night Badger.
‘The same reason as you.’
The Night Badger fell silent.
As did the coliseum, until eventually the battle-hardened Badger nodded, ‘I understand.’
‘I think we can all agree everyone in this coliseum is afraid of the Tiger,’ said the Scarlett Fox, his wiry frame swept a burgundy leather sleeve around the grand venue. ‘I’d consider none of you a fool or a coward for feeling such dread. They are the mightiest race the galaxy has ever known since the dawn of the Universal Beacon,’ he paused, a little theatrically, another great warrior who enjoyed talking, ‘but does that mean we should sit idly by and let them take over our very existence.’
Grumblings erupted in every direction, a seed of discontent sewn against the Tiger, the first time Star Wolf ever noted a hint of disgruntlement toward the black and orange
might. And white.
‘Where is the Winter Tiger?’ demanded Star Wolf.
‘The Tigers are not present today,’ said the Goat Master, ‘in fact they haven’t attended a meeting in a long time. Not since,’ he paused, a wash of unease spreading over his grey, sinuous features, ‘we banished the Wolves.’
‘In all your time chairing these meetings have the Tiger missed a meeting? In fact, since the forming of The Council of Worlds have they ever been recorded as absent?’
‘No,’ shuddered the Goat Master, his terror obvious, even more so because he didn’t know why he was afraid. Something was amiss with the Tiger’s absence and yet no one knew why.
‘Don’t you think it is odd, when have they ever missed or not spoken at a meeting?’ asked Star Wolf
‘Well, they knew you’d be putting them on trial.’ replied a fat Weasel from the fifth row, his flowing cream robes jiggling as he spoke. If he’d been any closer Kodiak would’ve almost certainly eaten him in one bite.
‘Exactly, and yet they are not here to defend themselves.’
‘Which begs the question,’ started a chequered suited Zebra, shuffling nervously at his silver cufflinks, another timid creature more concerned with his image than practical matters, ‘Where are they?’ A flash of the dead, naked Zebra Star Wolf saw on Ranae raced through his mind.
The stunned silence in the marble coliseum was deafening in the absence of speech.
Everyone in the vicinity knew something terrible was amiss, they had missed it and yet they didn’t know what it was.
‘Would the Council like to know the true intentions of the Tiger,’ asked Star Wolf, rage building up inside him and forming via tears in his eyes, which he had to fight back, ‘would anyone like to know where my father is?’ No one answered, worried and cowardly faces in all directions.
‘He’s dead, and at the hands of a Tiger no less – Blackfire killed my father.’
Roars of outrage echoed out.
‘Absurd.’
‘That’s a lie.’
Several creatures protested at once.
‘Blackfire and Sun Wolf are friends, we’ve all seen them on his very world conversing, I don’t believe this story.’ said an overweight Tapir, whose white shirt was threatening to burst open under the strain of his rotund gut.
‘They were friends, or so the rumours goes, it’s not something I ever witnessed,’ said Star Wolf. ‘Make no mistake Blackfire killed my father and I was there to watch the act.’
‘It’s true,’ confirmed Bloodhound. ‘I’d recognise the scent of that one anywhere.’
‘Plus his paw prints were all over Sun’s room,’ added Sky, an ever-diligent detective.
‘The Tiger has made their intentions clear; they would know Star Wolf would tell The Council of Worlds and acted anyway. I think it is safe to say the Winter Tiger is on the move, but to what end who knows? I fear we can all guess though.’ said the Night Badger, his grim gravelly voice cut through everything in its path, leaving all to ponder the uncertain future in a hush that made Star’s fur tingle.
The first shoot of courage came from an unexpected source, the Goat Master stood and moved before Star, ‘perhaps we were wrong to banish the Wolf so hastily. I hereby reinstate the Wolf into The Council of Worlds, if you will join us once more? I offer my heartfelt apologies. I for one, having discussed these matters with you and the Winter Tiger, should’ve been braver. The Council of Worlds completely understands if the Wolf has no desire to join us once more. Either way the Wolf’s vote and leadership now sits with you Star Wolf, what say you?’
A thousand pairs of eyes turned on Star Wolf.
Those eyes showed him respect, forgetting age, and hope, they realised they needed him. Now was Star’s time to move into the realms of legend, to become a Wolf worthy of song. A pang of guilt shot through his gut thinking of his late father and how his death was the catalyst to Star’s ascension within The Council of Worlds. A system still archaic and in parts broken, it shouldn’t take the death of one to elevate another; and yet that was how every species in the galaxy operated.
‘I will find the Winter Tiger and put an end to this, but I will need the Council to start assembling troops. War may well be upon us if our Band can’t cut off the head of the Tiger in time. Prepare for war, every one of you.’
‘You have the Fox’s forces, and if you’ll have me, I will join your Band right now,’ said the Scarlett Fox.
Star shot a look to the Night Badger, expecting him to shake his head, a Badger would never consent to go on such a mission with a Fox, and yet the Badger nodded his approval.
‘Very well,’ said Star Wolf, unable to hide the smile from his muzzle. Another legend added to his collection.
‘You have the Badgers too,’ chirped up a young Badger, the Night Badger scoffed at the grand statement from his kin. From what the Night Badger had told Star Wolf the Badgers forces were small at best, a thousand worthy fighters at their disposal at best. Still, Star took heart, if a hundred species offered that number they might have enough to defeat the Tiger in open War.
A big if but multiple species offered their support.
‘We are with you, Star Wolf,’ agreed the Goat Master.
‘I have someone to go and visit first,’ said Star Wolf, looking to Ash.
‘Who is that?’ asked the Goat Master.
‘The Red Lion,’ answered Ash.
Star, and the entire coliseum, gasped at the mention of the most famous Lion in the history of the galaxy.
‘So that’s your friend,’ Star Wolf muttered into Ash’s ear.
Ash smiled wide. ‘The very same.’
19. Leo
The lock on Lupenroad had been going on for nearly two hours now. Star Wolf was becoming acutely aware of his Wolves, and the Band of Breeds, desire to turn and flee from the vicinity and range of the Lion’s cannons.
One of Star’s engineers did raise a valid, albeit morbid, opinion. ‘What if the cannons are no longer run by the
Lions, what if they are long gone.’
If the rumours of the Lions demise were true there was a strong possibility that the enormous cannons guarding the planet were left to function at their own mechanical devices, or at the hands of another species. Thus explaining why the minute Lupenroad came within range the warning alarms, and flashing red lights, had blared around the ship until Star ordered them turned off.
The dashboard before Star Wolf’s Captain’s chair still flashed multiple warnings to remind him the situation hadn’t improved in the past couple of hours. Star had tried to open a line of communication with the planet, the usual greetings from The Council of Worlds, everything being met with silence.
Still, though, no cannon fire.
He opted to leave the transmission on a loop on The Council of Worlds channel, if the Lions listened to any channel that had to be the best bet, though it did also mean any other species could listen in should they be monitoring the frequency, which was a near certainty.
‘Can we outrun them if we come under fire?’ he’d asked another engineer.
‘Theoretically, yes,’ a classic engineers answer. Star was a Wolf of action, not theories, and the Wolf before him had sensed that, elaborating, ‘We’d need to leave within thirty seconds of the shot being fire from the surface. These are some of the most powerful weapons in the galaxy. Leo is a fortress in terms of defence. If the Lions do not permit us entry, we can’t move any closer than this.’
‘Ash,’ Star called upon the seasoned warrior once more, ‘please can you try again?’
‘Yes, of course,’ said Ash, sensing the tension on the flight deck he spoke a little louder, conveniently pressing his paw on the internal communications button for the entire ship. ‘Do not panic, the Lions will not fire. They are not a race bound by mindless violence. They are almost certainly preoccupied. If we keep a respectful distance they will answer when they are ready.’
‘And what if they do not answer?’ grumbled Kodiak, still refusing, not that anyone had pushed him, to wear clothing on his upper body. Star noted the great hulk of a Bear was picking up a significant gut; he needed some action, and soon.
‘Then we proceed to hunting down the Winter Tiger. The Lion’s help would be a luxury and of great value but with the likes of yourself Kodiak we already have more than enough to defeat the Tigers,’ said Star Wolf, grinning, ‘wouldn’t you agree?’
Kodiak paused, a heartbeat of unease, before re-establishing his fearsome demeanour, ‘of course. I can’t wait to crush the Winter Tiger with my bare hands.’
‘Very good, well then, we wait another hour and if we hear nothing we move on without the Lions, does that sound fair to everyone?’ asked Star Wolf of the entire flight deck.
Every creature in the vicinity nodded their individual agreement.
Ash leaned in closed, ‘well played. Don’t worry the Red Lion will answer the call, mark my words.’
‘TIMES UP ASH,’ SAID Star, unable to hide his disappointment, to have added the Red Lion to his collection really would’ve elevated their status into one worthy of song and story.
‘One last try,’ said Ash, wide-eyed and borderline desperate, it wasn’t a good look for the most respected Wolf on the ship, and not one Star wanted to see again.
‘OK, but be quick,’ said Star Wolf.
‘Hello, Leo, this is Ash of the House of Wolves do you copy? I need to speak with the Red Lion. I know you can hear me. Please do not ignore this message. He’ll want to hear what I’ve got to say. Do you want to be the Lion or Lioness that denied the Red Lion the opportunity to take revenge on the Tiger and kill the Winter Tiger? I repeat, this is Ash of the House of Wolves, a friend of the Red Lion’s and if no one answers my call I will, one way or another, get a message to the Red Lion telling him that the idiot controllers didn’t pass on my message. Do you copy?’
The Band of Breeds gave Ash some approving glances, a group that respected strength and straight talk, but still the line remained quiet.
‘It was a good attem—’ started the March Hare before getting cut off by static.
‘This is Leo, we copy Ash make your way to landing bay five and we will point you toward to the Red Lion – but be warned if this is a trap or he doesn’t like what you have to say you won’t be leaving Leo, ever. Do you copy?’
Star nodded.
‘We copy,’ said Ash.
STAR THOUGHT HE KNEW heat, having explored several planets in recent times, he was wrong. Leo was without a doubt the hottest planet he had ever set foot on. His desire to shave his thick pelt was overwhelming. Damp fur plagued every step, and he was beginning to think going natural would be a better option but that wasn’t the done thing of a creature touched by the Universal Beacon. Instead, he’d stripped down to a tight vest, hard leather with several iron plates sewn on for protection, not that it’d do much against a Lion. Still the small shred of armour gave him a little comfort. His shorts matched, both dark-grey, the colour of the House of Wolves, of his late father.
The faintest of breezes ruffled the flowing leather strips of his shorts, not enough to provide respite from the intense conditions.
Once they had docked at the instructed Bay they were promptly stripped of weapons and sent off out into the wilderness supposedly in the direction of the Red Lion. The snooty and downright arrogant Lion that had spoken to them over the communication system informed them that the Red Lion no longer resided near the other Lions on the planet. He had become somewhat of a recluse opting for solitude, more in keeping with primal Lions before the Universal Beacon touched Leo.
The arduous journey out into the scorching planes was beginning to take its toll on the group the only creature seemingly unaffected by the weather was Shadowfang, another creature accustomed to warm climates.
‘How long is this going to take?’ complained Kodiak, always the first to moan.
‘Just shut up and walk,’ snapped the Night Badger.
The two warriors squared up to each other for the briefest of moments, an insanely uneven battle, the Night Badger coming up to Kodiak’s thigh. Yet again Star froze, a fascinated bystander, morbid curiosity getting hold of him once more. His desire to witness great warriors do battle was unquenchable, it was a juvenile feeling and yet he could not fight it off.
‘That’s enough,’ said Ash, stepping in between the two, ‘you would be unwise to start a scrap out here.’
‘And why is that Wolf,’ responded Kodiak, turning his aggression on Ash.
Ash remained in a neutral stance. He didn’t even bother putting a paw on his laser gun. ‘Twofold,’ he responded, now squaring up to Kodiak himself. It was still a horrible mismatch but at least he was over the Bears hips. ‘One, Lupus forbid one of you got seriously injured, we’re are in the middle of an open plain there is no medical help anywhere near us. That would be one slow and painful death should it befall you.’
Kodiak growled, though his face betrayed the slightest hint of fear.
‘What’s the second reason?’ asked River, who looked evener damper than Star Wolf, if that was even possible, his dark fur slicker than oil.
‘We’re being tracked,’ said Ash, still calm, ‘and if one of these fools draws blood they’ll create a buffet for the five Lionesses on tails.
Star spun on his heels, eyes focusing on every minute detail around him, all he could see was burnt grass in every direction no more than three foot from the ground. He flared his nostrils, again with intense concentration, trying to pick up the whiff of something unusual. After he cut through every scent of the Band of Breeds, he detected the faintest hint of something unfamiliar, he’d never smelt a Lion before and the only way he could describe the strange smell was dangerous.
‘I smell it too,’ said Bloodhound.
‘Agreed,’ said the March Hare.
‘Let them come,’ boasted Kodiak.
The Scarlett Fox and Shadowfang exchanged a glance before placing themselves in-between the long grass and the four Wolves. Star was
equally offended and flattered that the two warriors would want to protect him, Sky, River and Ash, as if somehow all the Wolves were sacred and in charge; or perhaps it was just Star they opted to defend.
‘No sudden movements,’ said Ash, ‘it’s unlikely they’ll charge us given our numbers. They’ll just want to make sure we move through their territory.’
‘You’re assuming they’ve been told we’re going to see the Red Lion,’ said Sky, in a high-pitched squeak.
‘True,’ said Ash with a sympathetic glance to Sky, ‘nonetheless remain still. Wait.’
The Band of Breeds obeyed, ten creatures, most of who could claim to be a legendary warrior within the galaxy, and yet they waited for fear of stifling the Lionesses’.
The only movement on the plains, the slight shuffling of the straw-yellow grass, in every direction open fields, even if they wanted to run there was nowhere to go. Crickets buzzed, hidden in the depths of yellow and though the horizon created hazy heat lines, Star could see a ferocious pair of black dots, encircled by a brilliant orange, glaring at him. With every second another pair of eyes emerged, way more than five.
‘I think your count is a little off,’ said Star, turning around as the procession of black dots grew beyond count, by the time he had spun full circle he was staring at possibly fifty-plus Lionesses.
‘Five of us hey Ash?’ said a proud featured Lioness, she stood above all the other Lionesses now that they were all up on hind legs. They’d stalked through the grass, presumably on the bellies, undetected for Lupus knows how long. Star had only noticed them when Ash pointed out they were being tracked.
‘It’s good to see you, Your Majesty, as always you’ve snuck up on me,’ Ash walked toward the Lioness he named Queen, a head taller than him, a broad grin across his sweat-drenched muzzle. The Lioness Queen reciprocated the facial expression and they embraced in a long hug.
‘The heat doesn’t agree with you,’ she teased.
Star Wolf: A Space Opera Fantasy (Songs of Star & Winter Book 1) Page 17
