Under the Wolf's Shadow

by A. Katie Rose

  Many leagues away, yet closer than the ominous cliff-face, a single lone mountain–almost perfectly coned-shaped from this distance–stood high. It filled my sight, its slopes almost vertical. Rugged and littered with smaller cliff faces and huge boulders that once tumbled from its crest, it held no passes upward I could see. We’d need to cross beneath its feet to reach the cliff and hell’s doorway.

  The beacon inside my soul grew into a blazing fire over the last several days, calling me ever on. Darius. The closer I drew to him, the brighter that flame burned. Winter solstice was but three days away.

  “Pessimist,” Darius answered my thought with amusement coloring his tone.

  “You don’t know that I’ll live,” I replied tersely.

  “You don’t know that you’ll die.”

  “That’s the difference,” I said, aloud. “I do know and you don’t.”

  Ly’Tana gazed at me, quizzically as Kel’Ratan panted at her side.

  “Darius,” I answered her unspoken question.

  Little Bull leaned his muzzle toward her ear. “You know he’s listening to Darius when his eyes glaze over.”

  “Oh,” she replied, licking her grinning lips. “So that’s what that means.”

  I sighed. “That joke is older than Darius,” I said. “Give it a rest.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Aren’t you older than dirt?”

  “I am offended.”

  “Don’t it suck to be you?”

  I took a moment to lick Ly’Tana’s frost-laden face and nuzzle her ear. She wagged her tail and her green eyes glowed bright, but she’d grown thin over the last wretched weeks. Yet, we all had dropped weight. The three week journey to this spot took its toll. Prey grew scarcer the higher we climbed. Elk vanished and all that remained up in this frozen wilderness of snow, ice, rocks and stunted trees were huge, horned shaggy cattle-like creatures Rygel called yaks. They fed well on the thin mountain grass and moss, digging their meals from under the snow with great cloven hooves. Their thick hair kept them warm against the bitterest cold and frigid winter winds.

  They also proved to be wary animals, and hunting them wasn’t easy. The last one we killed and shared out among us was five days ago. While there was enough meat for all of us to fill our bellies, we hadn’t eaten since.

  I spotted a herd milling about a mile or so away from the foot of the strange mountain, and absently planned a hunt. We’d certainly need the food before trotting over its feet and bypassing that monstrosity.

  Kel’Ratan lay down and chewed an ice ball that had formed between his toes. “These bloody things are a nuisance,” he muttered.

  “What do dragons eat?” Thunder asked, pacing up beside me and also staring at the herd. “Those buggers?”

  “Probably,” Rygel answered, sitting down to scratch his neck. His hind leg thumped the snow rhythmically. “We should catch one. We need the nourishment.”

  “Entice one to us,” Silverruff suggested. “In that spot, they can see us coming. They’ll be gone before we even catch their scent.”

  “Good idea,” Rygel answered, his ears perking. “Maybe I will.”

  Ly’Tana leaped atop a nearby boulder. “That’s about the only way we’ll get one, I’m thinking.”

  “We haven’t a bleeding hope otherwise,” Thunder said, sitting down to chew his own ice balls from his right hind foot. “How will we get past the dragons, anyhow? That’s their home, right?”

  “We won’t,” I said, my gaze captured by the dark cloud winging toward us at the same time Rygel said, “Yes.”

  “Snap,” Kel’Ratan muttered. “If I must face a dragon, let it at least be with a full belly.”

  “Sorry, Red,” I replied. “Let’s hope we survive the next ten minutes.”

  “That isn’t–” Ly’Tana began, her tongue caught between her fangs.

  “It is indeed,” I said grimly. “Get ready.”

  “What?” Little Bull exclaimed, rising to his feet. “Dragons?”

  “How’d they find us?” Kel’Ratan demanded, forgetting the nuisance between his toes and leaping in two strong jumps to stand beside Ly’Tana atop her rock. His neck and back hairs stood on end, his tail a stiff brush behind him as he snarled.

  Five dragons split apart, winging their way to either side of our hill, east and west. They no doubt aimed to hem us in. Two remained to the forefront, the occasional flame spurt shooting from beyond their muzzles. Their huge wings beat up and down, dark against the white and grey of the mountain. As they drew closer, I noticed not just their incredible, graceful beauty, but their colors. They ranged from near black to a light, golden bronze. Most of them were as big as Rygel’s dragon, but a few were slightly smaller.

  The pair in the forefront swooshed past, low overhead, their shut muzzles angling down to see us better before banking sharply up and around. Long necks snaked between front legs held tight to their bellies, their green-gold raptor eyes surveying my small pack.

  From the air, they judged–no doubt weighing the threat we might offer them. Dimness and cold arrived on their wings as their shadows dropped us into near darkness for several heartbeats. With the sun behind them, they swooped low overhead, their huge spade tails trailing behind.

  I didn’t snap my head around to watch, but I heard two drop lightly to the snowy, frozen earth not far behind us and to either side. The central two demanded my immediate attention as they cupped the frigid air with their wings and descended, and I tried looking everywhere at once. The rest of the dragons remained airborne, circling around and past, low overhead.

  Kel’Ratan and Silverruff, closest to the two on the ground, reacted instantly. Fangs bared, they jumped in four quick, sharp leaps to the left and right of us. Their intent: protect Ly’Tana and me. Should the dragons prove hostile, they’d die first.

  The dragon proved the quicker. One single fist snatched Kel’Ratan and held him high, struggling, cursing, snapping his teeth at the taloned grip that held him. Silverruff tried to dodge aside, but failed. A dark grey dragon snagged him up almost without effort, swinging him up and high, its nostrils blowing smoke and steam into the frigid air. Twin lamps, green-gold, with vertical cat’s pupils, appraised him with indifference. It stared as though it gazed at a species of insect it had never encountered before.

  Ly’Tana leaped from her rock to snarl at the dragon who held Kel’Ratan hostage.

  “What the hell is this?” I demanded sharply. “We’ve done you no harm.”

  A huge grey-bronze dragon alighted to the snow not far from my bristling body. On all four legs, it furled its great wings over its shoulders, its handsome head swiveling here and there, assessing, judging. Smoke poured nonstop from its nostrils as its spade tail whipped from side to side. Its front talons scraped absently at the snow as its keen eyes and keener intelligence surveyed the threat to its own kind.

  The slightly smaller gold dragon backwinged to settle just behind that one’s right flank. Like a soldier attending its superior officer, the dragon sat down, its tail curling about its feet. I ignored the rapid reminder of Bar and his black-tipped tail flicking back and forth, and instead captured the leader’s eyes with my own.

  “What’s the meaning of this?” I demanded.

  Snarling, Rygel leaped to the fore, his intent to put himself between me and the dragon.

  At his movement, the dragon’s great head swung toward him. “Cease, wizard!” it snapped, flame erupting in a short burst from between its parted jaws. “Turn yourself into a dragon, or use any magic, and your friends are dead.”

  Rygel halted in his tracks, still growling. Little Bull flanked him with his ears flat to his head, his long fangs bared, defiant.

  “Put him down,” Ly’Tana howled, running back and forth in front of the dragon who held Kel’Ratan captive in its fist. “Kel’Ratan, are you all right? Put him down, dammit.”

  Thunder set his back to her, protecting her vulnerable hindquarters, prepared for any move the dragons m
ight make against her. His growls never ceased, his hackles high as he protected her rear. His grey body dwarfed hers as he paced her.

  “Yes. I’m not hurt,” Kel’Ratan replied, his voice faint. “But looking at the ground so far away is making me nauseous.”

  “I can second that,” Silverruff said, his tone bewildered. “I think I’m afraid of heights.”

  When Rygel stopped, the big dragon’s head turned back to me. Its cat’s eyes regarded me with anger and anguish, yet oddly I felt no threat. Its claws scraped the ice into slivers as it dropped its head lower, angling toward me.

  “What do you want?” I snarled, my hackles still high.

  “Hail, Prince Raine of Connacht,” the dragon said politely. “Hail, Princess Ly’Tana of Kel’Halla.”

  “What?” Ly’Tana barked. “How does it know us?”

  “Hail, Prince Rygel of Khassart.”

  “I reckon they know a great deal about us,” Rygel said, sitting down. He remained on the alert, yet his stance told the dragons he no longer threatened them. Body language at its finest.

  I risked a glance over my shoulder. Those dragons still in the air dropped lightly to the snow and folded their wings over their shoulders. Like their huge leader, they stood or sat quiet in a huge ring around us, staring down at us with varying degrees of anger or worry.

  “What do you want from us?” I asked, turning back to the grey-bronze leader.

  “I am Jhet,” he said. “I do apologize for this very rude intrusion, but it was truly necessary. However, I must request you turn yourself into a human, Prince Raine. Our folk do not understand wolfish speech and I must converse with you.”

  Jhet turned indicated the rock Ly’Tana had stood upon with a graceful gesture of his right talon. “So you may not suffer any discomfort, I will heat this rock to keep you warm. Your companions may also return to their human forms if they so desire. May I?”

  Rather than answer verbally, I wagged my tail and backed up. Ly’Tana left her post of confronting the dark dragon that held Kel’Ratan and returned to stand beside me.

  As Jhet blew a narrow gust of flame at the boulder, Rygel regained his paws and trotted closer. His hackles lay flat and his ears perked with interest, he waved his tail gently as he stared with great interest at the flames.

  “Such control,” he muttered. “Check it out. No more fire than necessary.”

  “I’m glad you find this educational,” I growled.

  The snow and ice melted instantly, creating a pool of water that sloshed at the foot of the rock. I squinted my eyes against the heat, feeling the sudden need to pant and cool myself. Damn, the air heated up but fast.

  Jhet ceased his fiery breath and again waved his talon. “Please.”

  I altered my form at the same instant Rygel changed both himself and Ly’Tana into their human selves. The deep cold bit hard into our flesh despite the thick furs covering us, and I think we all lunged toward the hot boulder at the same instant. The heat radiated off the granite as though from an open oven. We breathed gusts of relief at the warmth baking our skins.

  When I stopped my teeth from chattering, I bent my neck to look up at the huge dragon. “Greetings to you, Jhet,” I said politely. “I am surprised, however, of your consideration for our well-being.”

  Jhet didn’t exactly smile, yet his lips curled back from his huge ranks of backward curving teeth. “Why ever not? We dragons are civilized creatures and rudeness is seldom tolerated.”

  I waved my hand at the hostages, still gripped in dragon fists high above the ground. “Why, then, was taking them necessary?”

  Jhet glanced at Kel’Ratan and Silverruff briefly. “I had to ensure you would behave yourselves.”

  I gaped. “What harm can we possibly do you?”

  Jhet snorted laughter. A brief burst of flame belched from his nostrils. “Sorry. Your folk include a wizard of Lord Rygel’s repute and you, the gai-tan child of the wolf god Darius. You have magic in your fists. Oh, please. What could you not do to us?”

  I grinned. “When you put it like that . . . .”

  Jhet tossed his head at his companions. “Let them down. I think we can all talk together without animosity.”

  The black dragon holding Kel’Ratan lowered his talon and gently set him on the snow, on all four paws. The grey-washed dragon who had seized Silverruff also lowered his hand, allowing Silverruff to leap out of his grip.

  “There,” Jhet said. “Satisfied as to our peaceful intentions?”

  “I thank you, Jhet,” Ly’Tana replied, offering a brief curtsey. “But pray tell, how do you know so much about us?”

  “And what do you want?” I asked. “If you know so much, you also know of my errand. We had thought to not trouble you, or involve you in any way.”

  “You involved us by simply coming here,” the dark grey dragon hissed. “You brought trouble upon us.”

  “Peace, Mraz,” Jhet said. “They didn’t cause the problem, the criminal did. This is not their fault.”

  “Criminal?” Rygel asked, his tone sharp.

  “I’m not at liberty to tell you anymore,” Jhet said. “I’ve been commanded to bring you to our monarch, who will explain.”

  “Jhet,” I said slowly. “I have but three days to accomplish my task. I dare not come with you.”

  Jhet lowered his head until his lower jaw stood a mere rod above the snow. “I know of your task, Raine,” he said quietly, his green-gold eyes firmly on mine. “Had not this criminal done what he did, we’d allow you passage without interference, for your intent is to free Darius from prison. We might applaud your effort, for we, too, worship our Mother. Come with us, and don’t make us force you. Don’t permit our new relationship to turn ugly.”

  I hesitated, glancing first at Ly’Tana, then Rygel. Ly’Tana smiled and offered a quick shrug, her thin cheeks hollow and pale. Her emerald eyes glowed with courage and confidence. She took my hand and squeezed it. Rygel nodded in answer to my unasked question.

  “I’ve a feeling about this,” he said.

  “A bad one?”

  He shook his head, his wheaten mane clinging to his neck and hood. “Not at all. I think this is meant to happen.”

  “I thought Ly’Tana was supposed to know these things,” I complained.

  “I’m all for it,” Kel’Ratan chimed in. “As long as they feed us.”

  “I concur,” Little Bull said.

  “What did they say?” Jhet asked, his eyes glancing from me to my brothers.

  I grinned. “If we must come, then you must feed us.”

  “Done,” Jhet replied, rising high above me and extending his talon. “Will you do me the honor of accompanying me, Raine?”

  I hesitated. Accepting his offer meant I’d–er, fly. Wolves and flight didn’t mix well. Refuse I must, yet how could I?

  As though understanding my worry, the gold dragon hopped forward, wings flared, and extended his right front hand toward Ly’Tana. “Lady, I’m Jax. I would be most pleased if you’d fly with me.”

  Grinning, Ly’Tana accepted his offer and stepped onto his exposed palm, grasping a razor-tipped talon for balance. “I love to fly, Jax. Thank you.”

  Jax enfolded her into a light grip, tight enough to hold her safely, yet not so tight he crushed her. Leaping back, his wings extended, he rose sluggishly from the ground until he caught an updraft. Circling higher, he snaked his head between his front legs, waiting for the others. I caught a quick flash of Ly’Tana’s red-gold hair in his fist before he climbed too high for me to see.

  The other dragons walked forward with introductions, talons extended: Mraz for Kel’Ratan, his former anger gone; Khen, a gold-bronze dragon for Silverruff; Tahan, a dark, granite-colored beast for Thunder. Bae, a dark bronze dragon politely offered to pick up Little Bull, who sat back in alarm. “Big Dog?”

  “Want to fly?” I asked, grinning.

  “Not really,” Little Bull answered, eyeing the huge talon extended toward him. “I’m a four on
the floor kind of guy.”

  “What’s wrong?” Bae asked.

  I translated Little Bull’s remark.

  “Four on the floor?” Jhet repeated, confused.

  “All four paws on the ground,” I explained.

  “Oh. I see.”

  “Come on,” Bae encouraged with his own smile, smoke curling from his nostrils. “Try it. You just might like it.”

  “I am so gonna regret this,” Little Bull said, shutting his eyes and stepping onto the dragon’s palm.

  Bae glanced toward me, confused, his green-gold eyes begging for a translation. I obliged.

  “You won’t,” Bae said. “I won’t let you fall.”

  “Fall!”

  Little Bull tried to back out, but Bae held him in a prison made of sharp talons. He howled in despair as the dragon leaped into the air and spread his wings wide. Beating his way skyward, Bae held his enclosed talon up to his handsome muzzle, talking to Little Bull. I hoped he offered him encouragement, for my own body quaked in apprehension.

  “Well, wizard?” the last dragon, one with a light bronze hide asked, leaping forward with wings half-furled. “I’m Tiger-Eye. Care to join me?”

  I glanced up sharply at the unusual name, but halted when I caught a glimpse of the strange slash of his pupils. He’s aptly named.

  Rygel grinned up at him. “If it please you, may I fly with you in your own form?”

  Tiger-Eye glanced askance at Jhet, who dipped his huge chin in a nod. “You may.”

  Tiger-Eye rose from the ground, his wings wide just as Rygel changed. His now-familiar dragon form grew and blossomed on the white ice, doubled in size and spread his mighty wings. The shadow he cast made me shiver. The rock Jhet heated rapidly cooled and no longer kept me warm. His spade tail lashed from side to side, his jaws spreading. Flames erupted from behind his wicked teeth, yet he aimed them up at nothing.

  Tiger-Eye circled high above, his own fire blasting forth as Rygel launched himself skyward. As though friends from birth, Rygel and Tiger-Eye dove and flamed at one another, dancing, laughing, diving toward the earth like dropped stones only to snap wings backward and soar a rod above the snow at lightning speed.