The Journey, Warrior

Chapter 11, Damn They Are Big!

Cole nodded and spurred his horse on. They raced on through Edena, charging through the portcullis and down the cobbled path, Nekonata heard a loud whistle coming from behind, he saw Pat on Malhela. Nekonata slowed down:-

"I can take you to where you need to go, the flowers have been seen at the entrance to a cave in the cliffs, it's closer than the fields."

"Lead on Pat," Nekonata called out.

Pat swiftly turned on the horse and started galloping around the side of Edena Village.

"We need to make haste!" Shouted Nekonata, "No rest tonight!"

The contingent followed in close formation, Nekonata rode at the head with Pat.

Slowly the terrain started to turn from grass to gravel and rocks, they slowed down so they didn't hurt the horses. "Single file here!" Pat called out. Nekonata turned and nodded and the soldiers fell into line.

Suddenly Nekonata heard howl's coming from the woods on their left. He raised his hand to signal everyone one should stop.

"Damn they are big!" Whispered Nekonata. He looked down to his girls, their ears pricked up, fur standing, after a moment they both snarled viciously.

"Mountain Wolves," Pat told Nekonata. "They are much bigger than your girls," Pat said looking down. "Not long ago Vivi made a pact with them, that he would offer them wards of protection if they kept the perimeters of the Village clear of danger. Their chief has passed away and there has been some upset about who should be the next in line."

Nekonata nodded, "Do they speak our language?" Pat nodded his head. "Do you know the mechanics of how they would choose their next leader?" Pat shook his head and Nekonata nodded again. "We move slowly, make sure your weapons are at the ready and do not draw unless danger is imminent!"

Pat nodded and started to lead the way again, they arrived at the cliffs to find that the mountain wolves had made it their den. "The flower you need is inside the cave... there is like a rock pool in the middle of it and inside that is an island where the flower grows... you'd have to swim to reach it." Pat whispered.

Nekonata nodded. He moved slowly forward towards the cave entrance. The wolves were protecting their mates and their cubs. One of the female wolfs was moaning and complaining of severe pain. Nekonata thinking quickly decided to take advantage of this. He turned to Pat, "Stay back with the troops, be on alert. DO NOT attack unless I give the thumbs-up signal." Pat nodded and moved back slowly and cautiously under cover of the tall grass.

Nekonata sheathed his sword and stood up with his arms raised, the wolves reacted quickly, surrounding their families in a semi-circular formation. "Mine being is here to help, I mean you not any harm. All I ask is for help in return."

A white wolf stepped forward. Santaya and Kristolia moved forward and bowed to the wolf. "What help could you possibly want from us Human?" Snarled the White Wolf.

"The orange flower, it is a curable remedy I need for a very very dear friend. If you help me, I can help her." Nekonata nodded towards the wolf in pain.

The white wolf growled and the rest of the wolves moved to make a path for Nekonata to walk through. He slowly walked forward and knelt down. "May I ask your name?"

"Auburn is her name." The white wolf answered.

"Auburn I am going to touch your stomach, you will feel the warmth from my hands it will ease your pain and relax you." Nekonata touched her stomach and his hands glowed purple. Auburn relaxed immediately, a cubs legs appeared from her rear end, and then slowly a head started to show.

"Auburn the only way for me to help you now is if I pull, I need you to take a deep breath and to push then I will pull." Auburn nodded faintly and did as she was asked to the best of her ability. Nekonata pulled as she breathed,


After a short while, Auburn's baby was born. "It's a male," Nekonata said quietly placing the cub in front of Auburn. The baby cub was white and light brown in colour, it also had purple eyes. Nekonata felt a strange connection with the cub, one he did not understand.

"He is bigger than all the other cubs. He looks stronger and healthier." Commented, the white wolf.

"He has a good strong life ahead of him. He will make you proud. He will grow to be the biggest of your kind ever to exist."

Nekonata stood up slowly and stepped back away from Auburn and looked at the white wolf. "The golden flower, please? May I swim through to get it?"

The white wolf looked behind him. "Walk... Trust in your instinct and you need not swim."

Nekonata unclasped his cloak and let it drop to the floor. His armour shimmered in the fading light of the sun. He walked forward slowly, testing his footing on the water, he slowly moved forward the water crept over his feet but he didn't sink, it was like he was on an invisible path. He reached the island in the middle of the cave lake, and Nekonata knelt down he dug into the soil with his hands until he found the root of the flower. He carefully lifted the flower from the ground and placed it into a small satchel.

"I will name him Tunstall!" The white wolf said to Nekonata. "You have done my kind a great service today. We will forever be in your debt. If you ever need help, send your one of your girls and we will come."

"Thank you!" Replied Nekonata bowing slightly. "I must be on mine way, mine friend is in dire need of this cure, I thank you once more."

"Human!" The white wolf called out. Nekonata stopped. "My name is Convel." The great wolf bowed slightly.

With that Nekonata ran through jumping over the wolves that were laid down, he met his contingent of troops, and together they all set off.

"No rest!" Nekonata shouted. "Straight back to Edena, stay information!"

Nekonata and Pat stayed at the front to lead, the rest of the troops fell back into columns of 4 abreast.