Chapter 8
Hunted
I awoke to the softest melody of birdsong and whistling wind. Each blade of grass around my body tickled at my fur as the light of day goaded me out of my groggy state of mind. I felt awesome, refreshed like an internet page after you press F5. This was a better feeling of revival than being brought back from the dead. The fatigue of the previous day had faded into non-existence, like I had never even been tired to begin with.
Sleep was the fucking bomb.
Not wanting to waste this new found energy I crawled to my feet, my fairy sprites buzzed out from underneath my fur. Had they been sleeping in my fur? Well they're fairies; do fairies even need sleep? Not wanting to dwell on such a ridiculous topic I nudged Kuroko up from the floor.
"So now I'm well-rested for what seems like the first time in forever, what's next you guys?"
Asura yawned(?) "You want another task already? Eager aren't you, hmm?"
"But we are always ready to give. For now, toru."
I wasn't really ready for a whole new journey so I wandered idly for a small while; allowing my mind to awaken fully before plunging into another decision of good or evil. I took a moment to spy back across the canyon, to look at the camp that housed the creatures that tried to murder me not five minutes ago. Worryingly, the camp looked to be gone.
They could already be on my trail if they intended to hunt me down. I had to move fast.
"Okay sprites, give me a new task." I said.
"I offer you a sensory boost, hmm. This will heighten your senses to a level that surpasses most creatures in this land. All you need to do, is eliminate a threat to a trade route, hmm."
"I offer you hyper-reinforcement to your bone structure, toru. This will make your teeth, claws and skeletal structure close to indestructible. All you must to, is eliminate the next caravan to pass by the same trade route, toru."
Both offers were highly tempting, but c'mon lets be realistic this time; indestructible bones or a better nose? I think we all know what wins this round.
"I accept Kuroko's offer of the reinforcement, lead on fairy."
The black sprite bobbed in the opposite direction to the canyon, thankfully, and began to hum a small tune that closely resembled a sea-shanty I once heard; drunken sailor perhaps? Not wanting to let his happiness outshine anybody else's I joined in with the hum. Neither of us were all that good at keeping a tune nor were we giving much head to who could hear. But it was a grand feeling of camaraderie that I hadn't felt between the the two of us, Asura joined the tune and soon enough the three of us were trotting through the thinning trees carrying a dull tune that was not only out of time with one another's individual beat but sounded no better than two cats having intercourse.
However this was a feeling of companionship that thus far we haven't even brushed upon. What had been two watchers that would critique my every move and help by throwing insults and ignoring my pleas for help not five minutes ago had suddenly evolved into two glowing orbs that had become my first friends in this fucked up land of anthro-dogs, magical horses and Goddess gone wild.
It wouldn't last, I was sure of that, but for now I appreciated the time we had together as friends. Carrying the shanty further and further until we reached a main road with several weathered lead-off paths. Still being guided by Kuroko, who was now spinning around with his brother, my raggedy party of good, evil and clueless joy tromped down the main road.
Hardly a care in the world.
*
A lazy afternoon of waiting around on the side of the road? Good enough for me. It sure as hell meant less work on my end so why bother complaining? The journey took much less time this round. Kuroko had flown away to scout for the next caravan that would pass this way. The only dampener on this day was myself, or rather my stomach. I hadn't eaten since arriving here; did the resurrected dead even need food? That musing was quelled when my belly growled in protest at it lack of filling. What was there for me to eat? I wasn't about to crack open the phoenix egg and I doubt I had a spell that could conjure me up a hot meal; despite that probably being one of the most awesome things ever.
Kuroko returned after his lengthily absence. "Okay kid the next caravan is on its way toru." He said.
"Okay then, any tips?" I asked hopefully.
"I'm afraid not, toru."
Asura jumped up. "No, no, no! This is a frayed knot!" The fairy had a knot with frayed edges floating just below it.
There was a pause with power to shatter the heavens. I broke it by quizzing.
"Where the hell did you get that knot from?"
Too late. The tell-tale 'clip-clop' of hooves was just around the bend. The sprites dove for cover under my fur, I prepared to strike. But what had I prepared? Once more my lack of any real forethought had caught me with my trousers around me ankles. I joked to myself that this would one day be the death of me while in all seriousness it probably would be at this rate. More likely so when It was reveled that the caravan was at least five men (ponies) strong. Two on front guard, one pulling the cart and two on rear guard. The driver(?) was the only unremarkable one with a hardy gaze and lack of any distinguishing features. Three of the others had wings, with the exception of one who had something I was all to familiar with.
A horn.
A purple spiral that formed in the dead centre of the pony's head. So here were each member of this world's equine species. There were those without wings or horns, those with wings but not horns and those with horns but not wings. I swear to heck if I meet one that has wings AND a horn I will flip out, because that is just freaking overkill.
I started (a tad too late) to formulate a plot. My mind practically snored itself awake at this point, blinking the sleep out of its metaphorical eyes as it acknowledged just how much shit I was should I stay standing in place like I am right now.
First impulse, stay rooted to the spot.
I wasn't even scared; I had blanked. My brain had never been in a situation like this before. I killed the helpless, stole from phoenix's and slunk into a camp filled with murder-dogs. But I had never been in a confrontation I couldn't run from.
Death had been easier than this.
So I once again resorted to the only action I seemed able to carry out in this life. I rushed in blindly with my teeth bared.
My foolish charge was close to the opposite of what any skilled ambusher would perform, the guards thought that too as it would seem that having a wolf that was close to four and a half feet tall rush towards them from the front rose more than one eyebrow. I landed a head-butt on the first of the winged ponies (my brain reminded me they are called Pegasus) and he crashed to the ground dazed. I turned to attack the next only the be propelled backwards with inhuman strength.
My brain didn't even take the time to point out that saying inhuman made no sense in this world but it sounded wrong to say inpony. Even that organ that seemed to halt my progress more than it assisted with it knew I was in trouble.
I collided with the ground rolling into a collection of brush that scratched me up but stopped me from going further away. I got to me feet quickly as a hailstorm of adrenaline pumped its way around my system in a a desperate attempt to kick-start my brain, which by now had managed to put its clothes on and survey the area.
The source of my pains was clear.
The Unicorn had challenged me to fight.
Not wanting to shy away from such a test I strode towards the magic-user with my haunches tensed and ready to leap. The stallion (shame he's a horse, impressive length) brandished his magical extension with pride as he strode forwards to attack once more. Not wanting to let him have all the magical fun I stared intensely at his chest and thought 'GET BACK!'
Although he deflected the blast without being knocked back the Unicorn was visibly shocked at my use of magic; so wolves of my kind were less than common? All the more to press forward with the assault. I shouted at him again and again as each blast increased in a aggression while the Unicorn deflected away what he could. Being so preoccupied with my target I had forgotten about the others; the Pegasus I had smacked to the ground had recovered and taken flight with his companions. While none of them could use magic it was clear to see that they were far from helpless; on account of the blades they had attached to their forelegs. Ponies in combat, now I was once step closer to having seen everything.
They may have had the speed in a flat-out contest but I had the agility to keep out of the way. They dive-bombed in all way that most certainly tipped towards military efficiency in their formation and coordination. Every once in a while they nearly hit me but each time I managed to just about twist my way out of the situations that arose. The Unicorn continued to attack me with telekinetic bursts as I tried my best to escape the attacks of the air-force defenders, they were inching ever closer with each dive. I had to finish them off right now.
A spell could do the trick to increase gravity maybe? That was what I needed, gravity intensification would send them crashing down nicely to the earth once more. But that didn't seem right. A spell to just make gravity is too much to create; too much effort really. Why bother making more gravity to make them fall, when I could just pull them crashing back down?
I locked my eyes to the group of Pegasi as they continued to accelerate towards me. I had to time it just right; too soon and they would escape too late and the attack would be useless. So I would wait.
They got closer while I stood my ground.
The point-pony raised a bladed hoof.
I continued to stand my ground.
The two flanking ponies prepared their weapons to follow their leader.
I felt my horns light up as the words formed in my mind.
They didn't hesitate as the gap closed.
Legs don't fail me now.
Releasing the tension in my legs I powered into the sky once more and locked the fliers into my vision again. 'GRAVITY WILL STOP' encasing them in my signature red haze I pulled their wings backwards as they approached the floor. I wasn't aiming to break their wings I simply wished to hinder their movements as they moved towards the ground. They tried to follow me upwards but the force I applied to their wings prevented any such action from being taken. Through a stroke of my near endless Irish luck my raggedy plan succeeded. The formation of Pegasi couldn't pull up in time and crashed into the ground painfully as their wings stayed restrained behind them. Screw two birds, I just took out three horses with one stone.
Not wanting to lose momentum I danced across the sky until I was directly above the Unicorn, his horn was still trained on me like a pointy gun. I pointed my equally horny appendage (both the one on my forehead and between my legs) directly at his horn. As the separate flashes of energy collided together they spewed out a myriad of sparks and splashes of pigment throughout the area. The matter that keeps me afloat dissipated and the force of the two spells combined was left to keep me aloft; not a very stable way of staying in the air.
The Unicorn was winning. As to be expected really, he had skill and training; while I had only learnt to cast magic the day before. This entire mission had been suicide! I struggled to keep my focus and the spell faltered, giving the Unicorn caster even more ground against me. If the spell hit me now I would be killed or injured terribly. So this was the tipping point of my journey so far, the tip being did I really have the killer instinct? I could kill the dying and those to whom death is meaningless.
But could I slay one who had a full life left?
Could I make my magic that powerful?
Then in the back of my mind I recalled some of the last wise words given to me by Yiang.
"When you find the word and utilize your mind to turn it into power; that is when your magic will be feared by the even the servants of the Gods."
That was the key! The words!
I just had to believe they could deal the damage, I have to put the full force of my mind behind every syllable of every word of every spell that I ever learnt. I didn't have time to worry about who or what I was targeting, I just needed to deliver the kick to take them down. A simple telekinetic burst wasn't going to take this guy down when he had distance over me, or when the blast was spreading out in a conical manner.
Gears clicked into place as the true nature of Yiang's words melded into place inside my brain.
It wasn't that my my magic was powerful
"Shift!" I shouted at the pony, blinking out of place in a burst of red light and reappearing next to the confused Unicorn, crouched with my horn pointing towards his belly.
"Teleportation toru?!" Kuroko burst from under my fur.
It wasn't that my magic could kill any more effectively than another creature that could use such skills.
"Get Back........"
It was quite simply because each and every one of my spells.
"Ball shot!"
Was multi-purpose.
What was normally a wide spread burst of short range energy became a compact sphere about the size of an eye. Only it moved like a bat out of hell and hit like a freight train. The tightly packed ball dug into the Unicorn's belly with a thud that resembled that sound you get when somebody hits their elbow on a wooden table; accompanied by a cracking rib and a wheezing horse. He was thrown away in almost comical manner when the energy of the shot finished transferring itself into the pony's body. The Pegasi I had forced to crash earlier were only now finding their balance again and had struggled to their feet; only to have a Unicorn-sized cannon ball barrel through them and knock them flying like pins.
I smirked. "Add another strike to my scorecard."
"That was terrible you Irish bastard, toru." Kuroko groaned.
"If you're gonna make a one-liner then at couldn't you at least put some effort into it, hmm?" Asura muttered in disgrace.
"Fine then dudes, I'll try harder next time kay?"
"That would be much appreciated thanks, toru."
I calmly recollected my thoughts post-combat and considered the last threat. The driver of the caravan had pretty much been standing in a puddle of his own urine for the most part of the fight; now that the attention was all on him the streaks of yellow down the insides of his legs were the brightest shade of buttercup yellow. Twas a most glorious sight to behold; now I can say to people that I really DID make somepony piss themselves in fear!
Did I just say somePONY?..... Fuck it, makes sense I guess.
Not wanting to make this situation last any longer I sprinted forward and slammed my head into his and enjoyed the feeling of his brain slamming into the opposite side of his skull. Its the little things that provide the most pleasure.
Except in bed, in that case case he had better have the skills to compensate!
Not wanting to dwell on how I just made a comment about sex despite me never even so much as having kissed a being in my last life or this one I stepped away from the slumping body of the caravanner I had just nutted and nibbled at my fur to draw out its newest lodgers. My sprite companions zipped out of my fur with happy buzzes and sparks. Kuroko got straight to business while Asura glided over to the caravan to inspect the contents.
"Well you did as I asked and more boy, truly an achievement toru." He said as he circled around me dropping what looked like glowing specks all over my body. "As promised you are now gifted with a hyper-reinforcement, may it serve you well."
"Thank you Kuro, it was my pleasure to assist." I answered with a grin.
"Hey Lycan?" Asura called. "Found something you might like over here!"
I walked over to Asura to see what he could mean, the white fairy appeared from behind a small bundle of box's with one small sack hanging beneath him. The fairy lowered it onto the ground and opened the neck of the bag, inside was the most glorious sight I have ever beheld.
Food. So much food; most of which was vegetables.
I could only presume that as a wolf my diet was now predominately carnivorous but I would have began eating grass had I been left any longer without sustenance. The fairy returned to the caravan and this time came back with a small canteen that sounded nearly totally full. Asura hovered over the two containers and buzzed in a way that emitted a happy feeling towards me, all I could do was grin.
"Thanks man." I said with a smile as the fairy released the food and water from his telekinetic grasp.
Asura buzzed some more. "Don't mention it wolfy, we were sent to help keep you safe after all."
I nibbled into what looked like a leaf of some kind while the two fairies flew around the caravan diving in and out of the many boxes strapped onto it. At one point Kuroko dived inside a box that had held lingerie and came back up with a pair of pink laced panties stuck to one of his wings. He spent the next five minutes racing around trying to get it to come off while Asura made catcalls and I wolf-whistled, doing it as a wolf using my mind was the coolest thing ever just so you know. They eventually teamed up to find me a 'collar' to wear; I didn't object as I was busy eating at the time.
The stuff they came up with was enough to make me giggle once or twice. Everything from rope to whips; the sprites made sure the try and find everything that could possibly be made into a thing worn around my neck. Kuroko even suggested the panties that were still stuck to his wing. The two were about to give up when Asura bumped into a small container marked 'Carousel Boutique.' The fancy lettering and solid design of the case gave Asura plenty of reasons to poke his head into the box to inspect the contents.
He told us that inside were a mixed array of fabric and threads of all different colours. The fairy poked around inside for anything that may look the correct shape to be placed around a neck in a fashion that was both comfortable and stylish, or just humiliating. He sifted through several types of fabric, occasionally muttering about how dumb said fabric was, before discovering something that made him issue a small whistle of appreciation.
"Hey wolfy, what d'ya think of this hmm?" Asura asked as he floated back out from the box.
"What's this....? Dayum...." I murmured.
Held in his fairy grasp Asura had a silver bangle that had a single bright sapphire placed in the front. It wasn't overly intricate but that was the beauty of the thing; it didn't try too hard to get your attention. Asura bobbed over to me and offered the bangle, I held out my leg. He unclasped the bangle after a short while of fiddling and began to place it around my foreleg locking it into place with a small 'click'. We were joined by Kuroko, who gave a similar mutter of 'dayum' when he saw the bangle on my leg.
"That's a fine piece of kit you got there boy, toru." He said in appreciation. "But may I suggest we get out of here before these guys wake up? Provided you haven't killed them toru."
"Now I think about it, it would seem prudent to evacuate the scene of the crime wouldn't it? This way guys!" I said cheerfully and picked a random direction to start walking in.
My fairies flew alongside me once more as we left the caravan path behind us and looked towards the horizon. All the while humming a melody together, as friends.
Target Information:
Name: Unknown, Nickname: Lycan
Age: Unknown, Approx: 11-19
Sex: Male, Sexuality: Closet Homosexual
Race:Duo-ceratias Lupus
Colouration: Blood red fur with one eye of blue and one of green.
Companions: Fairies Kuroko and Asura (unknown origin)
Information so far: Target is unskilled and incapable in combat, relying on luck and on-the-spot thoughts to succeed in most given situations. He lacks the skill of thinking ahead but is highly adaptable in combat, often thinking of winning strategies in the middle of a fight. He also seems to be able to create his own versions of spells from random words and even if he has never cast the spell before he shows near mastery over its use in but a single cast.
Overall Assessment:
Physical skill level: Low
Magical skill level: High
Strength of Will: Undecided
Threat level of Target: Low
Threat level of Companions: Harmless
Chance of victory in battle with Target: 98%
Will continue observations until given further orders - Hunter.
For the journey of the Irish wolf was far from over.
As he survived with luck like clover.
Further he must dive into twisted fate.
To succeed before its far too late.
Now he must sustain his joyous song.
For this life will be so long.
Though his resolve may one day tire.
He will continue to fight with his spirit of fire.