Talarine: Ally to the Angels

Chapter 1

Months began to pass as the pack settled nicely into their new home, but Tal was always happy to volunteer to go on as many patrols as possible. She found this place oddly quiet and it bothered her, greatly. So to clear her mind she ran along the forest without a care in the world. A low growl came from her as her brother joined her thoughts. Sister, what is bothering you so much? You've been acting very aggressive since Mother and Father passed and its almost unbearable to be around you.

It's none of your business Kid; I do as I please and there is no reason to bug me about it. Now buzz off! With that Tal took off snarling and ignoring her brother as he called out to her. When she deemed herself alone she let out a huff and just walked until she reached a cliff like area. It was winter time so the snow glistened beautifully as most of it was untouched; Tal let the sight take her away for a time then turned her gaze towards the town six hundred miles away from her new home. She knew that around this time everything in the town was covered by the snow and that everything was beyond beautiful. Her eyes raked across the lands, her sight enabling her to see the snow covered lands better then most mortals. She saw the beauty of it all and began to miss her parents as winter had been their favorite time of year. And winter time is when I was born. Soon, if I had not transformed, I would be Twenty. But I am glad I have stopped ageing. Tal's thoughts were soon interupped by a scream and a demonic laugh. She bared her fangs, she raced to save whoever had had screamed and saw that a large demon was reaching for a little girl not yet ten years of age. Tal lost all sensible thoughts and rushed the demon with a loud echoing howl like roar coming forth from her throat. Tal set upon the demon without mercy, showing it what it was like to be afraid of a monstrous creature. Tal drove it away from the girl and into the awaiting fangs of those who had answered her enraged howl. When the demon fell to the swarm of large wolves, Tal turned her gaze back to the crying child. She walked up watched as the girl turned to her, then the girl lunged and clung to Tal's front leg. Tal's mouth opened in slight surprise but as she watched the girl cry, her mouth closed and she attempted to comfort her as best as possible while in wolf form. Search the wreakage. Tal ordered the others.

It was shortly after the others had searched through the wreakage that the one they all called Alpha appeared in his own human form. "What happened?" He demanded as one wolf shifted and explained what they had discovered. Alpha turned to see that Tal was still looking at the young girl and sighed. "Child, if you want I can take you back to our town." But at that mention the girl clung tighter to Tal and refused to budge. "Or I can have you go back with Tal. But if you ride upon her back you need to cling tightly to her fur as she will run very fast and I don't want you hurt."

The girl looked to him and nodded, then was quickly aided on getting upon Tal's back. Tal looked once more to Alpha who nodded and took off racing through the forest to reach the town. Tal smiled as the girl giggled at the passing wind that was created by her racing form. Tal soon slowed as they entered town and she now saw that one of her pack-brothers had come with to explain what was going on. She recognized Daren as he shifted and listened in as the girl was helped down. The girl pointed to Tal and spoke, "Thank you Tal. I will never forget this." Tal nodded and soon both turned their gazes as her brother walked up. The girl met her brother's brown eyes and he stopped dead in his tracks. Daren and Tal shared a knowing look and then looked back to Drake as he slid to the ground with the girl walking towards him.

When Tal was finally able to return to human form she was walking towards the Blacksmith's shop. She was going to finish her apprenticeship even if it killed her. As she walked memories came up and she moved through them with ease. Almost everyone in the pack has now imprinted with someone...but I have not...maybe I am not meant to have a mate...

"Tal, you made it." The only female Blacksmith, that anyone in the town knew of, smiled at the young woman. "How about we rid you of any nasty thoughts huh?"

"Agreed, what will we be doing today?" Tal asked as she felt herself smile at the woman.

"Oh, I think its time you learn to forge what I like to call Valkrien Steel. Normally I would teach this only to my own children, but you are as close to a daughter as I will ever have and so it is time for me to pass on the knowledge to you. Come let us get started. But first I will tell you this: sing to the steel as you forge it. You will be surprised at what you can do." With that both women prepared the hungry forge and Tal began to work on the steel.

*******

Nineteen years seemed to fly by and this time spring was in full bloom. Tal smiled at the flower petals that had rested themselves on the forge as she walked in and laughed at the gift from her deceased master. She picked up the petals carefully and added a few of her own from her hibiscus plant. She released the petals into the wind as children raced around the streets without a care in the world. Tal smiled and shook her head as she began to tie back her now long hair into a ponytail. Tal's thoughts had been correct about her hair length not affecting her fur length and was all the more glad for it. Her hair shimmered with its natural blue highlights mixed into the almost abyssal black color that made it up. Soon the spring festival would start and everyone was busy with the preparations for it; but as Tal looked over at her forge, she set to fixing it up with wood and set it ablaze. A blacksmith's job is never done. She thought with a chuckle. As she began her work one of her nephews came racing in and she laughed at how bouncy he was this day.

"I can't wait!" He spoke quickly looking at his only and most favorite Aunt.

"For what young pup?" Tal asked watching him bounce on his heels.

"For the festival to start! I have an important part and I can't wait!" Out of his twin brother and him only Alcander had picked up the ability to speak complete sentences at a young age, signalling that he was more like his aunt. Tal chuckled at the excited young boy. He and his brother had been born shortly after their mother had turned twenty and so seeing the nine year old bounce around excitedly brought a smile to everyone's face.

Tal smiled as he raced out to help his father with putting up decorations and shook her head. She heard the deep laughter of Alpha as he walked in. "Well isn't he just a little spitfire today?"

"I would expect nothing less from my brother's offspring." Tal spoke in a serious tone as she leaned against the wall. "What do you need of me Alpha?"

"As much as I wish that I didn't need to ask this of you I feel that it may be best. Tal, I would like to ask you to deliver a package to Caldeum. There is a woman there who has requested that a particular item be delivered to her."

"I see. When should I meet you?" She asked no other questions as it was not her way. She preffered the no nonsense way of doing pack things and he knew it.

"Nightfall, in the field. From there you will journey to Caldeum and take the package directly to Asheara of the Iron Wolves. She will make sure that it gets to where it needs to be."

"Understood." Tal said as he left, then turned to her forge and sighed with boredom. She walked over to a metal cabinet and cursed her luck at seeing that she did not have the odd colored salt that her forge favored. She turned to her desk and stopped dead short upon seeing at least seven bags of what she had labled "Blue Salt", she turned her head to the side in a questioning gaze and picked up a note that sat upon the top bag. She opened the folded paper carefully and read the request written upon it. Tal sighed but put the bags away in the cabinet and took a pinch from one of the bags to throw on the fire. "Alright but I forewarn you. The metal is very picky about who it selects, I cannot control that." She seemingly spoke out-loud to herself. When she finished the armor and sword, she carefully and lovingly wrapped each piece in something that would keep it safe. She placed it in the agreed corner and left the forge that night. She quietly met with Alpha who then sent her on her way with the package.

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Unknown to her, someone was watching as her meeting with her leader took place and continued to watch as she left the town. He had recently rejoined his twin in the Courts of Justice but something, no someone, had called to him and now he stood watching as the one who was calling to him traveled across the land of Sanctuary. His name was Xypherius and he was built like his brother, Xypherael, but he carried a greatsword instead of a crossbow. "Talarine..." He whispered to himself as he watched her move swiftly through the underbrush.