The Ashes Wake

Chapter 8: Romulus

ROMULUS

"The Royal Militia must cease its use of shadow wolves in its army. Those creatures are meant to be free and roaming their own lands, not doing the King and Queen's bidding."

Interview with Imperial Capital resident protesting outside Highborn Castle
5999 Year, Novus Season
-

The search party had been the longest one held so far. They'd been howling and running for hours; Rom's paws were raw and bleeding from the unyielding ground. He could hardly keep up with the other members of his pack. His breathing was labored and his lungs felt on the verge of collapse. His legs and paws were sore and uncomfortable as if he were using them wrong.

Up ahead, the call of Alpha Armina came loud and sorrowful. The pack's disappearing Sentinels had affected them all harshly, but her more so than the rest. Rom knew that the Alpha had strong feelings for Sentinel Ash and that his disappearance weighed heavily on her.

Her sadness was apparent to the pack, which was not well-received. Rom had overheard the newly appointed Sentinal Graypaw whispering about challenging the Alpha.

"Now is a perfect time to strike, while she is emotionally distraught. It is not an Alpha's place to act weak in front of her pack."

Rom was doubtful Sentinal Graypaw would challenge her despite his remarks. Alpha Armina was a skilled warrior and she had the best shadow-switch of the entire pack. She could slip into her non-corporeal form before one could twitch a whisker.

The forest crooned around Rom as he raced to his Alpha's call. The woods had grown dark and the miskats and Darklyes were out looking for a meal. Nothing bothered the shadow wolves though; they were the most feared creatures in the Frost Forest. Rom was rather fond of the Darklyes; they kept him company on his halfnight outings to the groves. They would land and sing besides him, chirping in their tongue that he couldn't quite understand, but nonetheless, the sound was comforting.

Lyzim, the most eastern moon, was half-full, while the other three-Ferrel, Nyade, and Selsto-were completely new and unseeable, hidden in the atmosphere. By the time he had located Alpha Armina on top of Demon's Hill, the rest of the search party was already there.

"Nice of you to join us, half-pup," the Alpha snapped.

Rom dipped his head apologetically but said nothing. Normally that was his tactic-say nothing and go unseen. He padded over to Moon, a gray furred huntress. She was nice enough, at least acknowledging him and occasionally making small talk.

She nodded to Rom when he reached her but said nothing, for Alpha Armina began to speak.

"Mfiti," the Alpha addressed the Lead Scout, "What is the report?"

The large wolf shook his head back and forth in an upset manner. "Alpha, my group has gone as far as the Pawstones, but there's been no sight or scent of them. I'm sorry."

A quick flash of misery crossed the Alpha's eyes. "And you, Moon? What of your group?"

Moon raised her yellow eyes to the Alpha's. "Nothing, my leader. We followed the entire limit line between our land and the Blood Pack, but we caught no scent."

Rom knew if Moon and the rest of the Hunters had found nothing then the Sentinels were long gone. The Hunters had the best tracking skills of the entire pack; surely, if they had not uncovered anything, there was nothing to be found.