by Candy Crum
"What a dick," Andy said, looking at the bear as he extended a hand to help Alexander up.
The Chieftain just smiled and shook his head. "I love that cranky bastard."
***
A few days had passed since the Arcadians had tried to sneak into the Dark Forest to steal resources and had hunted on their land, and Alexander had not seen the bear. Logically, he felt relieved about that; without the ability to charm larger creatures, running into a bear was the last thing in the world he should want to do.
Still, deep down he couldn't help but feel a sense of loss. There was just something about that bear that he liked. He had a lot of personality, a lot of strength. He also had one hell of an attitude, and it made Alexander laugh. He wondered just what other personality quirks the large bear was hiding.
Alexander had just finished building a fire when screams erupted from a short distance away. His head shot up as he looked in the direction where they had come from, and heard another scream get cut off.
"Warriors!" Alexander shouted.
Men and women that he had trained alongside began tearing through the village, running as fast as they could to keep up with their Chieftain. More screams sounded, telling Alexander just how close they were. As his people approached the site, he saw two large lycanthropes, each chewing on one of his people.
Rage filled him as he ran forward. He couldn't tell if the women were alive or dead, but he wanted to save them if he could. Alexander ran for the savage on the left—a large, black beast with a silver chest and stomach—while the other charged his warriors.
The lycanthrope repeatedly swung his massive, clawed hands at Alexander's head. He ducked and rolled out of the way several times to avoid being struck. It would only take one hit to kill him if it landed right. These creatures were powerful, and he didn't plan on dying today.
He pulled a knife from his belt as he dove to the ground in a roll; then he got back up on his feet, turned, and threw it. The blade sank into the beast’s rib cage, no doubt striking one of his lungs. He rumbled a deep, bone-chilling growl as he ripped the knife out and threw it back.
Alexander tried to dive out of the way, but it struck him in the leg, hitting his femoral artery. Though the creature had no skill in throwing knives, it had certainly been lucky. He pulled it free and attempted to heal himself before the lycanthrope attacked again, but he only had enough time to close the artery. He was still losing a lot of blood at a rapid pace, but the injury wouldn't be immediately fatal.
His movements much slower now, Alexander was unable to dodge the next attack. As the blow connected, the beast’s hand rolled off his shoulder and struck him on the side of the head, throwing him several feet. He landed on the ground, his ears ringing, and the world around him spinning, and knew the only reason he was still alive was because his shoulder had taken the brunt of the impact.
Another scream sounded, and was immediately cut off as the second beast bit into the throat of one of his warriors. Alexander tried to roll over onto his stomach, but his larger, much more powerful opponent stepped on his side, rolling him over, before planting a foot on his chest to hold him down.
Alexander swallowed as fear radiated through him. Staring upward into the eyes of what he was certain was death itself, he tried to think of something, anything to do, but came up short. He was too weak, and had lost too much blood. The beast reached a massive clawed hand into the air, ready to strike the final blow, but a loud roar distracted him.
Alexander recognized it as the sound of an angry bear. He didn't have long to think about it before another horrifying growl ripped through the night sky. Everything seemed to stand still as he turned his head toward the barrier surrounding the Dark Forest.
It wasn’t nearly as thick or strong as it would grow to be in the years to come, but it was still jagged and dangerous. His eyes widened as the barrier almost blew apart, and a large, black bear came busting through, the thorns and vines ripping and pulling at his skin and fur.
Within seconds, the bear was standing on its hind legs, dwarfing the lycanthrope in height and weight.
The bear swung a powerful front paw, connecting with the beast's jaw and knocking him off balance. The bear then dropped down on all fours and rushed his opponent, taking him down to the ground and sinking his teeth into the beast’s throat before ripping him to shreds.
Alexander's eyes began to grow heavy as he lay there, bleeding profusely from his leg. He heard screams and yelling, and then he heard nothing. He tried to move, but he couldn't; all he could do was lie there and breathe. He could feel his body trying to heal, but without active magic, it would take a few minutes for him to regain even the slightest bit of energy.
He heard footsteps approaching, and the bear collapsed next to him. He was breathing hard, and his eyes were heavy. Alexander could smell the blood, and knew the bear had torn himself apart breaking through the barrier; though it was hard to determine just how many injuries he had sustained while fighting.
Alexander felt hands on his body, and then heat flowing through him as the energy began to grow. His fellow warriors were healing him, giving him life once again.
As soon as he was able to move, he rolled over to face the bear, placing his head against that of the massive animal lying next to him. "Thank you for your sacrifice," he said softly. "You risked your life to save mine and those of my people, but today is not your day to die." The Chieftain placed a weak hand on the side of the bear's face, sending his magic through.
Soon, the bear’s breathing became even, and he began to stir.
"We are tied together, you and me. I can feel it. You are mine, and I am yours," the druid told him.
The bear just grumbled as he knocked Alexander over onto his back, and flopped his large head down on his chest.
***
Everyone was silent as the story of how the Chieftain and Zobig had bonded came to an end. They were all moved by how the bear had been prepared to sacrifice himself to save the Chieftain.
"When I had the vision of those men with the spears, and I was seeing through his eyes, I didn't understand it, but I knew something was happening between me and the bear. But when he saved me and came to lay down next to me, I could feel the relief flowing through him. Relief that he made it in time, that he had rescued me, and that was when I knew. There was no way he and I would ever be separated again."
Over the telling of the story, his familiar had lifted his head to lay on Alexander's lap. It wasn't often the druids saw Zobig be affectionate; understanding the Chieftain’s story through their bond, and seeing it play out in Zoe's illusions had apparently had an effect on the creature, just as the telling of it had affected the Chieftain.
For once, everyone got to see the softer side of the grumpy old bear.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Arryn pulled a sword from the weapons rack and inspected it. It was in terrible shape, but it would get the job done. They had decided to continue using the busted-up swords and other weapons for training purposes until the war was over. They didn't want to take a chance on ruining their new weapons before the battle even began.
Watching Roger work, Arryn had learned a few things about steel, and how it could be manipulated by magic. The problem was that solely using magic took a lot out of the magician, and very few weapons could be crafted at a time. Especially by someone who wasn't experienced.
Arryn wrapped her hand around the practice blade, knowing there was no sharp edge. Her eyes flashed black as she focused her power into her palm and fingers. Within seconds, the steel had begun to heat up and turn red. As it did, she slowly moved her hand down the length of steel, bending it back into shape.
As she got to the end—the sword was much straighter, though it still held a lot of nicks and dings—she pulled moisture from the air, wrapping it around her hand before freezing it. She then wrapped her hand around the sword, rapidly cooling it as she again moved her hand down the blade.
"Nice trick," her fa
ther said with a smile as he stepped into the pit.
She smiled as she flapped her hand around, trying to warm it without magic. "Yeah, well, the shitty thing is that it actually took more energy than larger things I've done. I've used a shit ton of magic before, and in comparison, this packed a punch."
He smiled. "Well, you're manipulating steel. The magic required to manipulate or transmogrify items is far more exhausting than regular magic."
She nodded. "Good to know. So, you ready to get your butt kicked?"
Laughing, he shook his head. "Are you sure about that? It's been a while, but I feel pretty confident I can still wield a sword. What about you? You're using a practice sword, and mine is real. What if I cut you, or worse?"
Arryn snorted. "Cathillian has stabbed me in the gut before; I have run him through a time or two, also. It'll be fine, I promise."
He stared at her with a shocked expression. "That's normal around here?"
She shrugged, nodding. "Trust me, there's no better instructor than pain. We only train that hard in the advanced warrior training. For those just wanting to learn self-defense, it's not that dangerous."
"What about Corrine? She's going into the warrior training. She's even starting early, from what I've gathered."
She sighed. "Corrine is an exception. Normally, the Chieftain would never allow one so young to take part in the violent training, but she's not a normal kid. She's been on her own since she was old enough to walk, and she’s taken care of herself this entire time. Because of her experiences, she’s aged far more in her short eight years then many adults I know. That's why the Chieftain gave his blessing, and why, when he asked me, I gave my blessing, too. If she doesn't like it, she doesn't have stick with it—but I've seen her determination. That little girl is going to be a force to be reckoned with."
Christopher smiled. "Well, if she's anything like her adoptive mother, then I would have to say you're right on that. She looks up to you. She idolizes you. I can't say that's a bad thing. You enrich the lives of everyone around you, especially mine. And I don't want to look bad in front of my daughter, so I'm excited to see just what I can do with you as my sparring partner."
Arryn was moved by her father's words. At her age, it was hard to think of herself as an adoptive mom to Corrine, though she knew that was how the girl saw her. Not as her best friend, not as her big sister, but as her mom.
Though Arryn had no idea how to be a mom, she wanted to do the best she possibly could for the girl—no matter the role Corrine had chosen her to play. She would be whatever she needed to be for her.
"Corrine is going to get her ass kicked in training, and hard. If she decides to stick with it, she will have more bad days than good in the beginning. But as she grows older, no one will be able to stop her. Just like you. You're about to get your ass kicked, and hard, but I'll teach you a few lessons." Arryn winked and smiled, and her father smiled back.
"Let the match begin," he said.
Without warning, Arryn immediately lunged forward. She thrust the sword out in front of her, and Christopher easily jumped to the side. As he did, he spun, swinging his sword around and aiming for her side. Arryn dropped to her knees, leaning back to allow his blade to go over her head. She came back up, and he was still open from his move. She thrust her sword into his stomach.
The blunted end hit him hard, causing him to grunt as he doubled over. Had he been any other opponent, she would have jumped to her feet and thrust her knee into his face—but she knew he had suffered at the hands of Aeris, and she couldn't bring herself to do it.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
Her father took a deep breath, steeling himself as he straightened. "Are you going to ask me that every time you make contact?"
She shrugged. "Had you been anyone else, you would've gotten a knee to the face. I'm trying to ease you into this."
He smiled and shook his head. "A lot has changed in the short time you were gone. Elysia and the mystic have helped me a lot. Don't pull your punches; I kind of like the idea of how you guys train. Besides, I used to be the best in the city with a sword—clearly, I'm a little rusty, but I'll catch up quickly, don't you worry."
She nodded. "Very well then. As of right now, you're not my father; you are my opponent, and I am yours. Don't pull punches with me, either, I assure you I can take anything you dish out."
Christopher took a deep breath, exhaling shakily before nodding. "Again."
Arryn once more rushed forward, raising her sword. At the last second, she dropped to her knees, spun around, and thrust the handle of her sword into the back of his knee, causing him to lose his balance.
As he fell to the ground, she twisted enough to throw an elbow into his face. Nothing broke, but she could hear bone grinding against bone as she made impact. Without hesitation, she lowered her blade to his neck.
"Point to me," Arryn said.
To her surprise, Christopher laughed as he reached for his nose. "That hurt like hell, but I don't think it's broken."
Arryn shook her head. "If I'm honest, that wasn't on purpose. I was at a bad angle, so I couldn't get the power behind it that I wanted. Definitely bad form, but if I had been back just a couple more inches, I probably would have broken it."
He laughed, then groaned as he rolled to sit up. "Good to know you didn't take it easy on your old man."
Smiling, she clapped him on the back. "I'm just an obedient child." She stood, extending her hand. "Ready to get your ass kicked again?"
He looked at her with admiration. Reaching out his hand and accepting hers, he said, "Absolutely."
***
It was a beautiful day; the sun was shining down through the canopy of the trees. But as Arryn sat in her favorite spot by the river, the clear skies now in full view, she couldn't help but worry about what was to come.
The truth was that no one had any idea what was coming, or when. Arryn had killed several dark druids on her way out of their encampment, including two of their most powerful, Aeris and Jenna. Jenna hadn't been a dark druid for long, she seemed to be a prodigy in the dark arts. She certainly never had any talent for pure nature magic.
So, what exactly was to come?
The dark druids weren’t the type to give up or back down, and Arryn had no reason to believe they would do so now. No one in the villages believed that, either. But what exactly could they do? Their numbers had dwindled with every attack, and there was no way they could hope to take the Dark Forest with the warriors they currently had.
That only allowed them the option of recruitment, and, desperate or not, Arryn couldn't see them scouring the farmlands and knocking on doors to ask for help. Outside of Arcadia, people were still terrified of druids, dark or otherwise.
So, were they preparing for nothing? Were they worried of an impending attack at any given moment for nothing?
The elders had discussed the timeline, what they might expect, and their proposal was to be proactive. The druids of the Dark Forest never went looking for a fight, but they sure as hell wouldn't turn away from one if it found them.
Things were about to change.
The Chieftain had decided that very morning that if the final war did not begin soon, he would set out and hunt down Alaric himself. He would take an army with him, of course, but one way or another, this fight would end.
The druids had had enough.
As for Arryn, she had made a promise, and she fully intended to keep it. It didn't matter to her if she was the one to deliver the final blow to Alaric and Jerick; deep down, she actually hoped it would be the Chieftain. But either way, her promise would be kept.
She rather liked threatening those who would bring harm to others; making them relive her words in their minds over and over again, until she made good on them.
She sat next to the water, in the lotus position: her hands lying on her knees with her palms facing up. She inhaled deeply through her nose and exhaled through her mouth as her eyes closed. Meditation was relatively n
ew for her, but she rather liked it. It allowed her to focus and get in touch with her magic much faster.
And the energy boost when weakened certainly didn't hurt.
Her eyes flashed both black and green as she used her physical magic, pushing it down into the earth to allow her connection. She felt down through the ground. Without digging, she knew the location of every rock, every piece of glass long buried, and every other hardened material.
With her nature magic, she connected to the wind and to the water in front of her, allowing the scents of nature to wrap around her as she focused on the elements.
As she sat, her heightened level of awareness clued her in to someone approaching. She reached out with her nature magic and sensed a familiar life force.
Cathillian.
"I can sense you a mile away," he told her as he passed over the forest threshold, onto the beach of the river. "You shine like a star with the magic you’re using. What are you doing here?"
She held her position. "I'm doing an experiment." She briefly looked over at him before giving him a wink and a smile. "Don't you worry. You'll see soon enough."
She closed her eyes again and felt him sit next to her. She knew he wasn't going away anytime soon; not that she minded, but she planned on giving him a hard time about it anyway if she had the chance.
"What are you doing out here?" she asked.
"The twins talked to the Chieftain this morning, shortly after you left. I felt you should be aware of the game plan."
She looked at him with genuine curiosity. "What's happening?"
He picked up a rock and played with it, turning it over and over in his fingers. "Bast and Cleo requested to be on the front line when the time comes. If we are attacked at random, there's no way to prepare for that, but they know we plan to initiate if the dark druids don't. If that happens, they want to be up front."
Arryn didn't even hesitate. "No. Absolutely not," she shook her head. "They have offered their services, and as far as I'm concerned, we are indebted to them. The arrangement was once they helped us, we would go help them. But this goes above and beyond. I won't allow them to stand at the front and take the first impact when this isn't their fight."
