Valadel

Chapter IX

Danticus lay next to the fire, the night sky above him and cool earth beneath him. His days had been filled with nothing but riding, and it felt very satisfying to let his muscles relax. They'd only take three breaks throughout the days, each only being roughly fifteen minutes, a fourth for dinner, which lasted as to how long Danticus could eat a goat leg. Tytus had insisted they travel as fast as they could, having only the completion of his mission as the priority.

He had almost become tyrannical, Danticus thought to himself.

He worried about the horses, being worked so hard but Tytus assured him they could handle the journey. They wouldn't be with the Kings stables if they couldn't. He rolled onto his back and looked at the dark purple canvas above him, the stars twinkling like diamonds. They say the glowing white dots represented the souls of those who had passed from the world, and up to the heavens. They were allowed to watch over their families after their death, and that the larger the star, the greater the soul. He found it odd at how some nights, he see stars in abundance, other nights, not one in sight. He rolled to his side and stared at the orange, glowing flame. He thought of the element as something magical, the ability to consume whatever you wish to throw into the orange and yellow light. Something dangerous.

"Danticus..." He heard Tytus whisper. His voice gave away his nervousness. Danticus sat up and looked behind his shoulder. They had left the desert, tropical region of Valdor and were now in the hills and forest land of Jorden. They're camp had been pitched across the way of a dense wood, and he could spot Tytus crouched in front of them, doing his shift of the watch.

"What is it?" Danticus whispered.

"I can hear twigs snapping and running feet. I fear someone or something may be watching us."

"More bandits?"

Tytus listened intensely for a moment, then shook his head. "Too quick and rapid..."

Danticus studied the tree line. He could hear something in the woods, the crackling of leaves and bushels shaking, but could see nothing. He grabbed Stormbolt, which had been laying next to him, and placed an arrow along the string. They remained silent, staying watchful of the woods, as if it was going somewhere. Finally, Danticus heard a growl. He pulled the string of his bow back and was ready to let it fly into whatever hid behind the treeline, and after several, intense seconds, a small rabbit came leaping out from the bushes. It hopped around a few times, and nibbled a twig. Danticus let the string relax and sighed, relieved.

"It is only a small rabbit." He said, trying not to laugh at Tytus' nervousness.

"What is a rabbit doing out of it's hole at this time of night?" Tytus asked.

Suddenly, a horned wolf jumped out from the woods, taking the rabbit in it's jaw and swallowing the little animal in one mighty gulp. The wolf stood tall, larger than both men. Two more jumped to the side of the one who ate the rabbit, and their eyes glowed a red hue in the moonlight, their signature horns rising from the sides of their head. On their four legs were smaller, pyramid shaped horns, and their tails had a sharp pointed spike at the end.

Oh how Danticus hated them.

They lowered to the ground, fangs bared and growls coming from their hungry throats. Before any assaulted, however, a fourth one emerged from the woods, it's fur a pure white. It had only one horn, centered to its head. Those kind were known as Snow wolves, the name coming from their snowy fur, and for them being native to the north. They were often the alpha of the pack.

"Thorn Wolves..." Said Tytus. "I'd rather deal with the damn bandits...."

"What should we do about Jazmyn?" Whispered Danticus.