The Lone Kirin

First Casualties

Now that I think about it, I do remember these wolves from my mother's memories.

Arguan wolves.

Their species has relations with the faes of the woods. Capable of controlling wind enough to charge enemies from quite vast distances by leaping... well. Now I know why they are chasing me. I probably killed a few of them with my shot from before. And now they want revenge, and they think they're capable of taking it. Not as free of a fight as I thought, huh?

Not my problem, though. I should be able to out... wait.

Aren't there more than before?
Wow!
They are jumping through the trees... that's cool.
I should try that. Actually. No. I'd probably just break the branches.
There are about... 20 of them.
Ahh. 30. Wow.
Don't they know of my mother? Shouldn't they be more cautious?

And now even from this side of the river... Should I just attack before even more come out of the woods? Good idea, me!

I turn around and face the ones that come from my side.
I rear up and whinny as loud as I can. And reach approximately the outcome I expected. They all flinch simultaneously. So they do respect us. Well. I am sorry. Truly am. You all are cute. But challenging me was foolish. Unless your fangs can pierce my scales, then this would... ugh. Let's not think about it.

I rear up, charge the swirl in my stub and try to direct it at my foes coming from my flank.

As far as I can see, I still have no control over what precisely I shoot out, but I still manage to shoot out a gust of cold, as in a cone shape in front of me, the ground freezes.

Oops... Yet. I can hear several cries, and I feel a presence vanishing from my radar. It worked! Kind of.

I go after the... 7 others that got hit and found them huddled together in the underbrush.
And they are... children? At least rather young ones.
Ehhh. I am sorry?
Please don't make that face! You charged after me!
Not that I started this or anything! Please? Could you stop wagging your tail that weakly?
I don't care! At least I shouldn't. But I do. I should put them out of their misery, shouldn't I?

"AROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Ok. I've done it now.
That sounded pissed off. Ahh.
Couldn't I just leave the... That child just died... Oh god!
Caelus!
How am I supposed to live with such a burden, if this is something I have to deal with, every time I hunt?

All my gifted memories tell me that it is our duty as the more powerful species, to keep things in check. But does that account for everything? My pride kind of doesn't allow me to...

"AROOOOOOOOOOO!"

Ok. Leave them be?

...

...

...

...

Eh...
ugh...
Please don't.
All I hear is a whimper from one of the cubs, before getting tackled out of the underbrush.

Shit!

That pierced my back!

We roll around on the ground, a wolf of imposing form on my back.
How am I supposed to get an enemy off my back? Oh great! Now about a dozen other wolves join the fray.

This should be the part where I run. But should I? I already killed a few of them. And that one from before probably was their mother... I should take resposp...responsibility for my actions.

Grim determination.

That's the only thing I think about when trying to describe my current emotion. Ahh... Prophet! Your mother didn't sacrifice herself, for you to be killed... twice. And I don't know how this resurrection thing works, but I am quite sure that I won't get a third chance.
Yes. I will have to free myself from this on my own. I will have to live on my own. I will do it for my mother. She believed in me and my fate! That's why she called me Prophet!

I envision a sort of a shield in front of me. I charge the swirl as hard as I possibly can; my forehead feels as if it wanted to explode. And then it wouldn't react when I want to release it...

Ehhh?

Blackness...

Again?

Did I just blow myself up?

No... this doesn't feel like last time. This feels warm... Almost like in my mother's womb.

Ugh?

What is that?

Stop!

I shake my head. Water! This is water! Oh, please, no! How?

"Don't fret. You are safe here."

My eyes still blurred by sleepiness, I roll over and get up on my feet. I'm not actually in the river. But who is this? I don't know her voice... but I can sense where it is coming from.

[Who are you? And why did you bring me here?]

To my voice in her head, I felt... fear, coming from the mental link.

"Please. You were passed out after you blasted those wolves into statues. And the knockback threw you into my spring."

I blinked repeatedly. Now being able to see, I direct my gaze right at the person talking to me... Ehh... A.? Mermaid? Nymph? Probably the latter. But she is a fey! So why the hell would she be helping me, after I just slaughtered a pack of her guardians?

Oh... Precisely because of that, I assume. So should I act prideful? Arrogant? Ehh... Let's be a little oppressive.

[And what is your reason for you to help me? Or rather. Why wouldn't I just kill you along with the wolves? I guess you are the top fey around?]

A sense of dread could be felt, washing over to me. The nymph starts to quiver before me.

"Please don't! I kept these wolves because I wanted to keep my children safe! Why they decided to chase you, I don't know. Probably because of the shift that happened around here. You see? The leading creature around here, actually a Kirin, too..."

[I know. She was my mother.]

The feeling of dread only continued to grow.

"I am so sorry. I don't know what else I could do for you. The only thing I have to offer are my healing services. And I already restored your body to peak condition. Please. Just leave us be. Without my guardians, I will have enough problems as is."

Actually. That sounds like a chance. Is that what they call carrot and stick or something?

[Actually. I will impose on you for the moment. My mother and I only knew each other for about four minutes before we got separated. And I don't know a whole lot about things. The only thing I do know is that my ice magic is as potent as can be. Therefore, I will hunt around these premises for the time being. And you will provide me with a home and healing. In return. I will shield you and your children.]

She stared at me for a second. The feeling I felt was relief.

"Yes. Thank you, milord."

[Milady. And no. The boss over this territory should actually be the sky dragon Caelus. An associate of mine.]

"How foolish of me. Please forgive me."

[I do.]

This looks fine.