Moon, Fire, and Whispers

Prologue

A black Lupus silently stalked down the stony slope, carved from rivers that flowed no longer. Their only remaining remnants were puddles that tasted of minerals. The moon sat full round above him, dark gray smudges across its surface. It almost appeared to touch the top of the ancient rocks.

Its light suddenly faded as the wolf passed beneath the overhang of a cavern. He could smell smoke inside, and he blinked as the ash burned his eyes.

He walked in shadow for many heartbeats, hearing only the clacking of his claws and the dripping of water that echoed through the void. Ahead, he could see light coming through a small opening in the roof of the cave and slowed, nostrils flaring as he tried to find the scent... but all he collected was ash and dust.

Looking back and forth with his paws prickling, he walked forward into the moon-soaked clearing and sat, muscles tense. His gaze flickered across every shadow.

Until one of them moved, ever so slowly, like the rising of the moon.

♞

Kayden bit back a retort as it sprung up on his tongue. Not now. In front of him, a dark figure bared its fangs, as though reading his thoughts. Or maybe it could see his face. He failed to stifle a shiver as the lanky shape slunk through the shadows, just beyond the milky light cast through the opening in the cavern. He could barely see the spines running along its back when he squinted his amber eyes.

The silk-like voice spoke with an air of authority. "You really think you're in a place to be making demands?" No reply. "You wouldn't have come here if you weren't desperate. Couldn't get your allies to help you?"

For the first time, Kayden spoke, his voice coarse, echoing around them. "The Dark doesn't support gray magic any more than the White does. Both sides follow the Code."

A low growl vibrated the room and made the fur on the male's back stand on-end. "That's because neither of them are bright enough to see the change they could make if they combined their magic- Black and White. Kayden, we both know that the Gray is more powerful than the Yin-Yang."

"Not while you remain contained within the Staff."

The clicking of talons ceased as the hulking form paused. He paused and licked his lips, considering for a few painful moments. "And you'll help to free us?"

He blinked, feeling a flash of hesitance bite his gut. This is what I came here to do. "Yes... but only if you agree to grant me my request."

"You know how much promises mean to us..." Finally, the figure stepped into the light, illuminating a scarred muzzle the size of Kayden, wings in no better shape, but loosened to either side of him in glorious splendor. Besides his battlescars, the dragon was a magnificent beast of midnight, shimmering with cobalt blue. His claws were polished and silver. Kayden noticed a long jagged mark crossing from the bottom of his left jaw and across his shoulder, almost to the wing. And for a moment, the young Lupus was almost foolish enough to ask what its origins were. "Your wish shall be granted. But first, you must do your part."

Kayden stood a little taller, amber gaze hardened, black shoulders rippling with wiry muscle. "I'm ready to do as you say."

♞

The west edge of the clearing was shed with orange morning rays, illuminating just inside the mouth of the dens. Beyond, the sounds of sleep were gently thrumming. The forest was eerily silent, branches bare except for a few shriveled leaves scattered along the long twisted limbs. Moss crackled at the base of the trunks and drooped off of the edges of dusty boulders. A bird lifted off somewhere in the woods. Sitting in the shadows, a grizzled gray-brown Lupus watched the open space quietly, barely visible to those in the camp. There, he would stay until more Lupine would slide out of their dens and into the morning sun, stretching cramped muscles and sharing a few words. The Lupus' green gaze traced across the clearing, then he leapt nimbly down. He lacked the grace he once had in his younger years, but he was still fit enough to lead his pack. Lucky, too. None acknowledged him as he slipped through the mulling crowd. A few picked at the bony remains of carcasses, hungry, but too tired to complain. We're all getting to the end of our rope.

He paused and looked down, seeing dried blood leading his way toward a den tucked up among the roots of a tree. His paws carried him across and up the lip. As soon as he dropped into the shadows of the den, he could smell the acidity of vomit and feel the feverish heat sink into his pelt. The putridity of it should have forced him back to the fresh morning air, but a prickling curiosity brought him further into the musty room.

The Lupus turned down one of the tunnels and poked his head in. Inside, a figure squirmed in a bed of tattered, dead leaves. Bile dried on his chin hair, and moss and cobwebs packed a wound at his throat. He stepped inside and crouched his large frame beside the frail beta. He pressed his nose close, feeling heat radiate off of the wound, pussy and inflamed with infection.

"Elohim." A voice said, sharp yet gentle, behind him. He raised his head to inspect his packmate, who had just entered the small den. Her sea-green eyes were filled with concern and clear exhaustion. "It isn't safe for you here. What are you doing?"

You know very well what I am doing. "How is he?" Elohim asked, though he already knew the answer.

The gray freckled wolf did not answer. "There are many of the Pack like him. The Healer's den is full. I had to send a few back to their own dens."

"Do you have someone to help you?"

"Hade is." She said softly, to which the Alpha nodded solemnly. "He was injured in the fight too, you know. He's too young to be caught up in this now."

Before their conversation could continue, the beta began to convulse, back arching while his eyes rolled back in his skull. Foam and sick bubbled at his lips. Elohim stepped back, feeling his nose sting, as he made room for Farren to slip past in haste to his side. But she couldn't do much of anything at this point. They could only hope that the Lupus would come out of his sickness. Both of the wolves stayed as rigid as stone until the trembling stopped and his body relaxed, breathing shallow.

It wasn't until there was silence in the hollow that the gray-brown Lupus realized that he was trembling- just a little. Somewhere else, someone coughed and another whimpered.

We're going to lose so many more, come the end of this war.

♘