The Crown Of Fire

Eddie XIII

He'd heard something outside.

It hadn't frightened him. It was just an odd noise to hear at this time of the night. He'd thought nothing of it until a shadow passed over the tent.

A shadow in the shape of a wolf.

It was when this wolf made his way past the tent that he got out of bed. He knew that the shadow belonged to Omdrus.

Aria and Alex were off god knows where. The white-haired girl was teaching the black-haired boy how to fight with a sword. And while that was good, Eddie knew that they all needed their rest if they were to fight the coming battle.

But alas, this shadow prompted him to do otherwise. He rose from his bed and approached Octavia. She slept so peacefully, he almost didn't want to wake her. But he knew that she'd be disappointed if he didn't.

"Octavia," he whispered as he shook her shoulder lightly. "Wake up."

She yawned as she opened her eyes. "What's wrong?"

"Omdrus is leaving the camp," he told her. "Come on, hurry."

He grabbed his belt with the sword still in its sheath and put it around his waist and let it settle around his hips.

Octavia too stood up and got her things before following him out of the tent. They went up the hill, following after the great wolf. They hid behind trees to keep themselves out of sight as they followed along with him.

But when he stopped much to the children's surprise. They were left scrambling to get to their hiding places.

"You can come out now. I know that you're there, Edward and Octavia." Sheepishly, they made their way out from behind the trees and approached the wolf. They could just barely see him in the darkness. His eyes seemed to glow. Eddie looked up to the sky. The moon was almost at its highest which meant that soon it would be midnight. "You should be in bed. You'll be busy the next few days."

The wolf, like all wolves had excellent hearing. He was bound to notice them eventually.

"Yes, well, I had a hard time getting to sleep and I heard you leaving and I wasn't sure if something was wrong," Eddie spoke. "Is there something wrong, Omdrus?"

"No, children. I'm fine."

He maintained his statement even though his head hung low.

"Would you mind if we joined you?" Octavia asked. The wolf let out a sigh as she and Eddie made eye contact.

"For a time, yes. But once I tell you to turn back, you must. I shall be glad of your company whilst I have it though." Omdrus told them.

"Oh, thank you, Omdrus," Octavia spoke. They began their walk. Octavia kept a hand on his fur, but Eddie hadn't felt comfortable enough to do it. He still felt as though he'd betrayed the great wolf in one way or another.

"Is the sword treating you well, Edward?"

"Hm? Oh, yeah, yes, thank you. It's a very good sword," the blond boy replied. Something told him to say all he could to the great wolf before it was too late and they were sent on their way. "Truly, I can't thank you enough, for everything you've done for us."

"There's no need to thank me, young Edward," Omdrus told him. "It was a pleasure to have known and met you all. And if you truly seek to thank me, you'll win that battle. All of you."

"We'll do our best, sir," Eddie promised. "I'm sure it won't be easy, but it won't be impossible."

"I know you will," the great wolf spoke. "I've got faith in you lot." he paused. "I fear that it's time for you to turn back."

They stopped as he continued. And they watched until he was too far ahead to hear them. And then Eddie dragged Octavia around a different route. They followed their great wolf from a distance, from where he couldn't fathom to notice them. And they hid behind the bushes a good distance away. Bushes that had a long around them as well to conceal their position.

The fires blazed. It was but an ordinary hill. Though now it had torches surrounding all the edges. And the beasts inside.

They were horrid beasts. Some looked to be elves but couldn't have been for they were far too dark in nature. And the other beasts, they couldn't say what they were. But they were vile and ugly, and evil. In the middle of them all, stood Seraphina.

"You fool!" Seraphina yelled with a vicious smirk breaching her features. "I didn't think you'd show. Bind him! And bind him well!"

He didn't fight as the beasts took hold of him and knocked him off his feet, binding all four of his legs together. And even his muzzle as well.

"Bring him to me!"

And so he was. Dragged over rocks and hard lumps in the ground until he lay at her feet. All the creatures had howls of joy. All seemed excited. But with one movement of her hand, they were silent. Then the cackles of the hyena began, and the thump of a drum began. They watched as Seraphina inched closer to the wolf, bending down next to him. She put her arm over him in what one would think a gentle manner. "Omdrus... I'm disappointed in you. Honestly, did you think you could save them? You've given me your life... for nothing." she couldn't contain her laugh as she got back to her feet. "Tonight, our laws are appeased! And a day from now, we take what's ours from the traitors! A day from now we take Ashiver... forever!" The creatures cheered for their queen. They cheered for their upcoming victory. With her blade in hand, Seraphina looked back to the great wolf. "And in the knowledge of that... feel your anguish..." She raised her blade, the two children looked on in terror. "And die!"

Eddie tried to block Octavia's gaze as he'd seen what was coming. But she wouldn't look away, not before the blade pierced the great wolf's chest. And the light died in his eyes as the breaths died in his throat. Only then did the girl look away, wrapping her arms around the boy for comfort. Her tears soaked the shoulder of his shirt, but he didn't care because he felt the very pain, the very grief that she felt.

"The great dog has died!" Seraphina shouted. "Generals, gather your men, for in a day's time, we march to battle, no matter short it may be."

Seraphina and her beasts cheered, unaware of the two children that hid behind the bushes. One feeling imaginable grief for a friend who passed. The other feeling unimaginable grief for the friend who saved him and sacrificed his life for him.

The one that vowed to avenge the great wolf, no matter what it cost.

~

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