The Call

Chapter 4

Golden orbs surround me from all sides, and low growling began to creep in, rising to barks filled with hunger.

Night had come, and the wolves were here. The God of Forest was true to his word.

I focused on the path ahead, forcing my legs to sprint. The adrenaline in my body did nothing to distract from the exhaustion setting into my muscles. But stopping was certain death.

From my left a pair of eyes became a lunging shadow. I threw my arm up and felt the teeth begin to sink deep into the flesh. A quick jerk to the right dislodged the beast but the pain remained. And my panic tripled.

Even more worrying was the hit my pace took in the brief scuffle. The smell of blood in the air brought a frenzy to the barking chorus. The light tap of their paws on the dirt became a full sprint. Hot breath on my heels. The snap of teeth in my head.

A weight like a hundred stones slammed into my back, the muzzle of a wolf draped my shoulder. The white teeth shining with my red blood. How I stayed standing, I've no idea. But I kept running as my hands reached back, trying my best to pry the beast.

Another set of teeth sunk into my calf and whatever blessing Struggle had given me failed and I fell to the ground. Cold dirt met my face, as the warm blood sank into my clothes. But I was beyond fear. I was beyond thought. I was every bit an animal as the ones so determined to punish my sins.

A swift boot sent the wolf on my leg reeling, and throwing myself back hard was met with a yelp as the wolf behind me also released it's hold. Scrambling to my feet I kicked down at the wolf that had been at my back but only connected with the night air.

Swiftly I reached my hand down, my vision staying on the wolves nearest to me as I patted around me for a weapon. Feeling a promising stick I snapped up in an aggressive stance. The wolves were more than happy to test my mettle.

Snapping jaws were met with the heavy thwack of my makeshift club. Our hot breath's mingling in the night air. The motion of the swing sending blood from my wounds and saliva from the beast's mouth.

Finding an opening I started to run again. More a spirited hobble after the wound to my leg, but I'd crawl to safety if I had to. However the forest's footmen would not be easily dissuaded. They were called just the same as I. A call for blood.

A larger wolf, with fur like midnight lunged forward. There was no hesitation in my retaliation as I brought the club towards it's skull. But the wolf was equally as ready, taking the stick in it's jaw it gnashed down, snapping it between it's teeth. Once more I was defenseless against the pack.

The black wolf began to circle me, I mirrored it's movements, both of us waiting for the other to make their move. The members of it's pack slowly closed in, seeming to become spectators of our struggle. And it was in this deadlock I noticed it's eyes.

Hawk, goat, toad, shifting constantly. Each blink and growl brought a new pair of eyes to meet mine. A true champion of the Forest God.

As if sensing my realization, my opponent let out a bark. A bark that sounded unmistakably like Kieran.

My heart skipped, but still I raised my hands and lowered my body, ready to face the god's gladiator. And in that moment the tension broke, and the fight began.

The wolf lunged forward, but I was ready. Turning my body I grabbed hold of the beast's hackles, continuing the turn I released, the wolf's momentum sending it slamming onto the cold ground.

If it was hurt it did not show, snapping up immediately it once more lunged and I once more went for the throw. This time however it stopped early, seeming to anticipate my movement. Before I could think to adjust my error was punished with a hard snap on my arm.

Beneath it's bite I could feel the crack of my forearm as it's teeth sunk and deep. The tearing of my flesh as it began to forcibly yank it's head side-to-side.

Bringing my other hand around I began to slam my fist into it's head. But it was not so easily deterred, seeming only to bite down harder.

Again and again like the hammer of a blacksmith my meaty fist slammed down between it's eyes to no effect. I had to calm, I had to think.

I breathed deep and stilled my thoughts as best I could. It's like father used to say. I thought to myself. Every man's tough till you find the soft spots.

Instead of a fist the wolf was instead met with only my thumb jamming deep into it's eyes. I felt it give quickly and the wolf yelped, releasing it's hold. With no hesitation I sent my foot into it's jaw. The beast's teeth shutting together with a loud clack.

I wasted no time tackling it to the ground, pinning it with my body and once more throwing my full weight into my blows. Now I was the aggressor.

I rained down fists for what seemed like hours, bones cracking, and the light slap of flesh filled the night air. Whether they were the wolf's bones or the one in my hand I could not say. The rush of battle finally numbing my senses to anything but the task at hand.

The pack was not so ready to lose their champion however. As it's body began to spasm and it's head began to lose shape the growling rose in a chorus, and once more a beast attempted to latch onto my back.

But their god was no longer here. Only dogs and the conqueror.

I didn't feel the flesh tear from my shoulder, only the weight of the wolf as I slammed it to the ground. Only the earth sliding beneath my feet as I sprinted up, heading once more for the town I knew was surely close.

I did not feel the pain in leg, or the warmth of the blood trickling down. Only the fire of determination in my breast.

I was an unstoppable force. The arrow let loose. The wind of a storm. No matter how many sets of teeth barred my way, I would smash through.

And for my perseverance I was rewarded. The light of torches shown ahead. The murmur of men as they looked upon the man running towards them. A veritable army of wolves on my heels.

 Arrows flew behind me as they let loose, and I heard the yelps as they hit their mark. With a final push I landed at the feet of my saviors. Unable to gasp a thanks before the fire left, the exhaustion set in, and my world went black.