The Red Wolf's Mate

Chapter 67- Brownie Realm Surprises Part 1

Chieftain Ioane Mahoe- Brownie Realm

The scene before me appears calm, serene even. I know better though. The landscape of my kingdom is beautiful but I'm far too aware of the ugliness, which I know is slowly creeping throughout my land, and will eventually effect my people. I've been keeping that foulness at bay with my magic but I know I can't hold it back forever. I need to find a way to stop it, permanently!

That damn corrupted brownie and his witch cohorts have introduced a dark shadow into my kingdom. One which I'm trying to combat although it's proving to be difficult. I will succeed though!! I must!! I have to discover the original source of their darkness so I can destroy it but the origin is proving elusive to find. I have a feeling deep within my inner essence that something devastating is lurching our way like a fuse crawling toward us ready to explode!! I take a deep breath and close my eyes in an attempt to calm down and focus.

My mind wonders  with everything going on, one issue after another piling onto my 'plate.'  I'm standing before the full length window in my office and slowly re-open my eyes to gaze across the breath-taking landscape, which is home to some many brownies, who turn toward me for protection and guidance as their chieftain. 

Kukai, I can't let them down! I have to take care of them! They are my fellow brownies!

I have my best trackers, investigators, spies, you name it I have them out diligently working to discover plans, spells, curses, portals, origin..............damn my head hurts. 

I've been keeping in regular contact with Alpha Maureen's Beta, Jax. The reports have been mixed. It seems like for every step forward there's two steps back.

Kukai!!

I dart my eyes to different land markers around my kingdom  that I can view from my office window, which is located high about everything for the purpose of an easy vantage point for the chieftain.

I suddenly hear my office communication alarm sound.

 Kukai!

That alarm doesn't go off unless it's serious! Otherwise, the building intercom system or our tribal communication link is used. 

I dart over to the alarm and pick it up.

"Chieftain!! Chieftain!! Help us please!!" a young male voice, probably around 8yrs old whisper yells through the system.

"Little one, what's wrong? Where are you? I'll come immediately!" I quickly instruct, trying to get the needed info to help him. 

"Chieftain, I'm scared! My little sister and I were playing near the Healani Tower, you know the one near the northern border?"

"Yes, little one I know it. What's your name? What's wrong? Why are you scared?" I urge, wanting to make sure it's actually something before I act in case he got scared over a bug.

"Havika. My name is Havika. Wolves Chieftain! We were playing and heard strange noises so we went to see what it was. We tried to be quiet while we looked around. Then, we saw them. Strangers! We knew they were not brownies! They saw us across the field. They all turned their heads toward us at the same time. Freaky Chieftain! Then one of them started running really fast straight toward us and he snarled!  He snarled and changed! He changed into a wolf Chieftain! We ran as fast as we could toward a tower entrance and found a door with a lock. It's some kind of storage room, somewhere on the second floor, not sure which wing. We just ran! We heard a wolf enter and run around. I think the chemical  smell in here helped save us. I think it covered us from them. I smells in here sir."

"Can you still hear the wolf?" I ask with my adrenaline pumping and hoping it's a no! 

"No Chieftain! That's why I'm finally reached out to you, sorry. I hope I didn't mess up. I tried to be brave for Aholi though and we were really quiet while we heard the wolves running around the tower. It's been awhile since we hear them. But.........but we're too scared to leave the storage room. P..p..please come get us." he pleads. It breaks my heart to hear the fear pouring through his voice. 

"I'll be right there. Just hang on. Stay there. I'm coming to you," I instruct him. 

"Yes sir."

I disconnect our communication link with the alarm system and swiftly turn toward my office arsenal, which I keep hidden within strategic locations.  While I quickly select my weapons I open my tribal communication link to Kaholo, the head of our Koa Warriors. I brief him on the situation with the children, instruct him to deploy scouts, and have fellow warriors on standby. 

I load up as quickly as I can and then walk toward the center of my office. I halt on the giant, velvety blue rug. I close my eyes and concentrate on the location where I want to go, which is the top of the second floor staircase of the Healani Tower, eastern wing due to it being close to fields. I'm hoping I'm selecting the correct side so I can get to the kids quickly. 

Coldness and bright light surround me. 

Then, the coldness and brightness is suddenly replaced with warmth and humidity. I open my eyes and instantly lift my arms up, ready with my weapons. My protective magical shield is engulfing me. I stay absolutely still for a few moments, listening, observing, smelling to see if I can detect any wolves nearby. After sensing no wolves I slowly make my way toward the first storage room I see, straining my hearing for anything indicating the young ones are inside....or possibly something else. 

First storage room, empty!

Second storage room, empty!

Third storage room, jackpot!!!!

There they are, huddled as far toward the back of the room as possible. Havika, the brave, protective older brother standing in front of his smaller, scared sister. He is clutching a mop handle so tightly that his knuckles are white, arms shaking with determined eyes. I notice both of their faces are tear stained and my anger increases ten fold toward the scum who have entered my kingdom. These unwelcome horrid creatures frightened young ones.  They're obviously  vicious and cold-hearted  to snarl and run down young ones.

"Chieftain! You're here!!" Havika harshly whispers once he realizes it's me. His sister rushes from behind him and all but sprints toward me. 

I allow Alohi to carelessly charge at me and she throws arms around my waist while beginning to cry again. Havika stays back and I notice his shoulders slumping like he's suddenly very tired. He did well! He kept his wits about him and protected his sister. 

"I'm proud of you both. Havika, you did well. So brave. We must hurry though. Come now," I urge them, trying not to upset them further yet needing for us to move.

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Author's Note

The brownie race is inspired by the Hawaiians and their culture. I have used some Hawaiian words, based brownie locations inspired from Hawaiian land marks, and referred to true Hawaiian groups in an effort to be consistent. The Hawaiian references have been done due to inspiration and was by no means meant to insult. 

kukai- means poop in Hawaiian. I use it more like cursing 'shit', not like a little kid saying poop. 

Koa Warrior- an important part of ancient Hawaiian Society. The Hawaiian Koa warriors were the elite fighters of the islands, and their name originated from the tree they would use to fashion their weapons, the Koa tree. Not only would the tree provide the Koa their name, it would provide then as with all their battle tools, which were vast and diverse, suitable for all types of battlefield combat. The Koa themselves, were deadly serious about the art of war, and their preparation was extreme and diligent.

healani- Hawaiian name which means "haze from the heavens." I named a land mark in the brownie realm Healani Towers. 

kava- Hawaiian name for war

lumi- Hawaiian name for room

*I used them to refer to the war room Chieftain  Iaoane Maheo refers to for a meeting location 

haukapila- Hawaiian for hospital