The Language Of The Trees/ An Evalyce Novel [#NaNoWriMo16]

Chapter 9: Icecrusher

Dashmar, Year of the Lion Claw, 1727 CE

   Following Nellie's recollections, and with Merc as aerial reconnaissance, Ari and I set off to find the two kidnapped children. Nellie recalled being held in a village of 'normal' Dashmari that had been taken over by the 'bad' ones. From this, Ari and I took her to mean a pack like the Red Fern had been overrun by the bigger, rumple-nosed Dashmari. Nellie said the bad ones terrorised and tormented the smaller wolf-folk.

    Before we set off, Ari jumped the two children to the safety of the enclave. None of the miners had ever seen a Dashmari like Suri, or like the Flintclaw for that matter. Nevertheless, despite the drama recently past, Nellie's family happily took in the orphaned cub. We didn't know what to do with him, but both Ari and I had the feeling that trying to take him to a packhold would be an incredibly bad idea

    Another day of searching brought us to the Dusk Moon packhold, which fit what defining features young Nellie had recalled. Despite the presence of a few of the wolves like the Flintclaw, Ari chose to brazenly drive the wagon into the packhold clearing. He clicked the chokka to a stop and sat, waiting, hands visible on the reins.

    One of the  big rumple-nosed warriors strode towards us, followed by a cowed looking male with his arm in a sling. His left ear was a shredded mess. Half was missing, and what was left looked to be infected.

    "Halt!" the big Dashmari bawled. Ari looked down at the man with an incredibly patient look.

    "Naow do Ah look as Ah'm movin', then, man? Ah'm still as Ah can be wi'out bein' dade."

    The wolf's face scrunched up. He let out a low growl.

    "That can be arranged, destik."

    "Naow, there's nah call et'all fer that. We be passin' through, fixin' that as needs fixin'. Are ye the alpha, then? Is there aught here as needs mendin'?" Ari looked from Rumple-nose to Shred-ear and back.

    "You're not welcome here, Kymry," Rumple-nose growled at the same time the other wolf was giving a tentative yes.

    "Well naow, which do it be then- yea or nay?"

    Ignoring the bigger wolf, Shred-ear, nodded. "We have things to be mended, tinker. Please excuse our guests. They get touchy with strangers."

    "Nae worries. We'll jus' be here the night. We'll be gone afore ye know it. There be a place we may set up fer the night?"

    Rumple-nose was clearly not happy with the decision.

    "We need to search the wagon first." He made a move towards the back of the wagon.

    " 'Ere now. There's nae cause tah ransack our wagon. We're jus' passin' travellers, is all, lookin' tah 'elp," Ari murmured

    The Dashmari ignored him of course, and made to open the wagon's door.

    "Ah really wouldnae do that, twere Ah ye." Ari tried one more time to warn the man off. It failed.

    As the Dashmari pulled the door open, a muffled scream of rage could be heard from within. Merc boiled through the door shrieking protest. The man stumbled back, shouting in alarm as the disguised soot eagle laid into him with talons and beak.

    Ari whistled sharply. Merc abandoned his vicious assault and flew to Ari's outstretched arm. The Dashmari's eyes bulged as Ari blithely ignored the sharp talons slicing into his arm, and the 'blood' that began to leak through the sleeve. He was playing a game of intimidation. The talons didn't really hurt, not the way they would me, and the damage to his arm was quite minor, but our assailants didn't know that. Merc screamed again, shrill and savage, and the chokka screamed back this time. The Dashmari slowly backed away.