Vuroth's Tear: Even the Gods Cry

Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Analda awoke covered in the soft blanket of black fur that she had been using since she came with Jazel to the Lycan village. If it wasn't for the throbbing pain in her leg and head, she would have thought that her encounter with Sanub was a dream.

Suddenly it wasn't the pain she was focused on, it was the arm wrapped around her, the familiar chest that her head rested on that she paid attention to. She wrapped her arms around Aven as he slept, so happy that he was there with her, that seeing him in the woods wasn't just a dream amidst the nightmare of Sanub's assault. She closed her eyes and listened to his steady, soothing heartbeat, felt her head gently raise and lower with each of his breaths.

"I love you, Aven," She whispered with her cheek crushed against him.

"I love you too, Analda," He whispered back.

Surprised, she lifted her head and saw that his eyes were open, a grin spread wide across his face. She laid her head back down and he began running his fingers through her hair.

"I was so scared that I wouldn't see you again," Analda said, her lip trembled a little at the thought.

He lifted his head just enough to kiss the top of her head, "I'm here, and I won't leave you again."

She lifted her head and looked at him, he could feel her shaking, "Aven, please don't let Sanub near me again."

Aven wrapped his arms around her and held her tight, "He won't hurt you again, he's dead."

She pushed herself back, "He's dead? How?" She saw the bandage on his arm, "You killed him?"

He nodded, "He needed to die. He wouldn't have stopped coming after you."

She remembered what Sanub had said to her about how he enjoyed killing people that he found lost in the forest. She remembered the kicks, the choking, all of it and she hugged him and cried while Aven held her.

Dakah stood in the middle of the forest while Toth lifted onto his hind legs and sniffed the air.

"Have you found the trail yet?" Dakah was furious. How could a beast with a sense of smell like Toth lose the trail? The master would surely be furious with them both if they returned to him empty handed. He looked up at the sky and saw a bird gliding above the trees. How were they traveling so quickly? He looked at Toth sniffing and huffing while he circled the area.

"Well, I'll be damned. They are riding the wolves." He finally understood how they traveled so quickly, why they hadn't caught Aven yet, "Toth, where does the Lycan pack gather?"

Toth lifted his big, mucus soaked snout and looked at Dakah. He spun in a circle in excitement before lifting onto his back legs and pointing southwest with his deformed, clawed paw. He dropped back on all fours with a bang and let out a guttural growl.

"So, That is where we will head, then," Dakah was determined, he would find Aven and kill him for their master. When he returned with the pendant, his master would surely be pleased. A dozen husks stood behind Dakah, motionless and awaiting orders. He looked at Toth's spike covered body and knew it was impossible to ride on him.

It didn't matter, Aven and his wolves needed rest, ever since the master gave him the gift of the darkness, he and Toth could continue relentlessly. Dakah looked at the husks, they were still eerie to him, puppets animated by dark magic to follow orders without question or conscience. They were the muscle, while Dakah and to a degree, Toth still kept their minds. Toth's mind seemed to have become more beastly and trapped in the grotesque form. He could never again take human form.

"Toth, lead the way to the wolves!" He shouted. Toth howled or rather let forth a high pitched screech that tore through the forest and Dakah's ears, then the beast took off. Dakah and the Husks followed, running full speed through the woods.