Gray Cloaks and Oakleaves (An RA Fanfic)

Chapter 13

Hey, Michael here! Sorry guys, I've neglected this story for some time; no excuses except I've been a bit disinterested in writing. Also, I was inspired by a comment to write a story about Brotherband; although I probably won't be doing that anytime soon, I might put some in this story, so please let me know what you'd think! Anyway, on with the story!

The forest was red with the late-afternoon sun, with the sounds of battle raging from within. In a fight for survival, Harry lunged forward and impaled the first wolf with his ash-wood spear shaft, causing it to drop with whimper. The other two continued to circle him, but he went on the offensive and sidestepped laterally before stabbing at the one closest to him. The wolf didn't react quickly enough and was impaled likewise. Harry retracted his spear but had not seen the other wolf stop and pounce on him; Harry had blocked the incoming blow just in time to catch the jaws of the canine with the shaft of the spear and knocked it back several paces. Unperturbed and out for blood, the wolf charged again, but the stocky boy was ready this time, and had dropped onto one knee as he planted the spear to the ground, and braced for impact.

The wolf didn't stop quickly enough and was pierced by the sharp iron spear head by almost a foot deep. Grunting with exhaustion, he retrieved his bloodied spear and held it over his lap as he down amidst the dead bodies that had attacked him just moments ago.
"Damn wolves," he said aloud to himself. "All I wanted to do was to check my snares so I could get a bite to eat."

But another voice, one both cheerful and sardonic, replied a bit of gruffness. "Life is a bit like that sometimes; you go out to get some grub, and then YOU become the meal!"

Turning his head, Harry saw the figure of what appeared to be a little man on a little, shaggy gray pony. The little man wore a hooded cloak that made it impossible to see his facial features and made it seem almost...well, almost like he was appearing and re-appearing, like he was literally fading in obscurity. Upon seeing this strange man in the dusk, Harry immediately considered the man to be a sorcerer and instinctively readied his spear at the horseman.
"I suggest you get back, sorcerer; I assure you if you get any closer, I'll show you just well how well I know how to use this thing."

To his surprise, the horseman simply pushed back his cowl and laughed. "Don't worry, young man; judging from these," he said as he gestured to dead bodies around him, "I'm sure you're very capable with your spear; you might even hurt somebody with it." To the stocky young man's surprise, he found himself lowering the spear. "Good, if you don't plan on skewering me, let's go to my cottage for some supper, now that you've missed yours, shall we?"

To this, Harry followed the horseman out of the forest and into a new life, preferably one with a hot meal.