Vuroth's Tear: Even the Gods Cry

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Velana had led the others outside the city and headed into the forest to the east. She silently continued deep into the woods for hours while Aven, Donovan and Analda talked amongst themselves. When the forest began to get darker as the sun began its descent Aven began to get fed up with the Lycan's silence.

"Vel, where are we going? We don't have the time to stroll through the wilderness anymore." He said and stood silently waiting for an answer.

"Yeah, how much longer are we supposed to go? My legs are starting to hurt," Analda spoke while she rubbed her calves.

Velana stopped and turned to them, she looked around and sighed, "This will have to do," Her expression was one of worry and concern, "I need you to be silent when they come, not a single word from any of you, understand?" She seemed to be looking more at Aven and Donovan than Analda.

"When who comes?" Donovan sighed, "Vel, what the hell is going on?"

She ignored him and turned around, looked up and howled. It began as a human sound, but as it drew out it got deeper and more beastly. It got so loud that the others covered their ears. When she finally stopped, she took a deep breath and looked at Aven. Her eyes were yellow and reflective, and her teeth were more wolf than human.

"What the hell was that about?" Aven asked, ignoring the Lycan traits as they faded away and left her looking human again.

A howl in the distance echoed towards them in response to hers, "Just have a fire and remember to keep your mouth shut when they get here," She snapped before letting out another howl.

The howls continued back and forth a few more times before finally there was silence. Aven had a small fire burning and sat on the ground with Analda crushed against him. He was curious if she was holding him so tightly because of her feelings toward him, or if she was frightened. Analda rested her head on his shoulder and watched the fire burn, jumping slightly when it cracked and popped. He knew now that she was scared and squeezed her tighter to reassure her.

Aven heard a branch crack in the woods just outside the light of the fire. He looked at Donovan and saw that he had heard it too. Analda had dozed off on Aven's shoulder and Velana sat facing the dark woods instead of the fire. Another crack and Aven gently shook Analda awake with a finger to his lips so she knew to stay quiet. He stood ready to pull Quicksilver while he squinted to see into the darkness.

Velana stood and looked at Aven's white knuckle grip on his sword, "Relax, you'll be fine," She paused, "probably."

"Probably?" Aven whispered, now even more uneasy. He heard branches breaking and an enormous wolf stepped into the light. Aven jumped back and pulled Quicksilver free, "What the hell is this?"

The beast growled and pulled its lips back to reveal a set of sharp teeth, behind the beast, there were three more pairs of glowing eyes, three more distinct growls.

"Aven, put your sword away," She gave him a scolding look. Very slowly, he replaced his blade in its scabbard and stared, watching the beasts.

The beast stood on his back legs and slowly shrank, the fur seemed to evaporate. The sound of bones cracking and shifting echoed into the night until finally, a man stood where the beast had been just moments before. As he stepped forward, two identical men and a woman came out of the darkness with him.

"Sanub, it's been a long time," Velana smiled at the man before looking at the twins, "Toth, Resh, you boys have grown."

The obvious leader, Sanub, kept a scowl on his face, "Velana, I should have known it was you. No self-respecting Lycan would be this close to any city."