//------------------------------// // 714 - Newer Model // Story: Lateral Movement // by Alzrius //------------------------------// “I absolve you.” Solvei kept her eyes on Toklo’s father as her master removed the curses that he’d placed on the aged adlet’s son, ready to leap into action if the grey-furred warrior made any attempt at treachery. Although his hands remained at his sides, his spear stowed safely across his back, Solvei didn’t relax. If anything, she found herself almost hoping that he’d try something, giving her an excuse to tear into his wizened old flesh. Instead, the old wolf took a step closer to Toklo once her master had lowered his hoof, reaching out to take hold of one of his son’s arms and lifting it up. He hesitated for a moment, nose twitching, before opening his jaw and nipping at Toklo’s wrist. A shudder ran through him a moment later, and Solvei saw his shoulders slump as he let out a sigh, lowering Toklo’s arm. “It’s edible,” he pronounced, a smile gracing his lips for the first time since he’d emerged from the forest earlier that evening. “Your flesh can be eaten now, son.” The younger adlet’s reaction at the news was nowhere near as reserved as his father’s had been, as Toklo fell to his knees with a moan of relief, cradling his arm to his chest for a moment before sinking his teeth into it. Confirming what he’d been told, a whimper rose in Toklo’s throat, squeezing his now-watery eyes shut as his ears folded back to press against his head. “I thought...I thought I was going to die like that,” he hiccupped. “That my spirit would be trapped in a body that would never be consumed, decaying into nothing and I’d never be reborn-” “That’s not something I’d ever let happen,” murmured Akna, crouching down next to Toklo and putting a hand on his shoulder. “Your afterlife, and the afterlife of all my people, is my highest concern. That’s why I came as soon as I was told you’d been found.” Solvei couldn’t hold back a snort at that. Her master had told her, through the link that they shared, exactly what had happened with the so-called shaman once they’d entered the silvery hemisphere that he’d made with his magic. That this “Akna” was lying to her own tribe wasn’t surprising; adlets were deceitful and untrustworthy by nature. But the idea that she worshiped the same goddess as her strong and proud master was almost insulting. What did her kind know about having faith in someone else? But that didn’t unsettle Solvei nearly as much as the idea that Akna could also become one of the utvalgte. In front of her, Toklo’s father dropped to one knee, putting his eyes level with his son. “It isn’t just your flesh that has been restored. You should now be able to take to the air without issue.” He raised his gaze to Lex then, Toklo also looking at the red-horned unicorn. “Isn’t that right?” Lex’s answer came in the form of a single nod, but it was enough to earn a renewed shudder from Toklo. But his father wasn’t done, grasping his son’s arm as he stood back up, making Toklo clamor to his feet also, Akna taking a step back to give the two some space. “Now that you’re free, I want you to go back ahead of us. Tell the elders that we’re fine, and that we’ll return in a few days.” Akna frowned slightly at that, but Toklo’s gaze was one of confusion as he glanced between her and his father. “But Panuk’s body...?” “I’ll bring it back,” answered his father. “You’ve done well to get it this far. Let me take care of the rest.” His face flushing and his tail wagging at the compliment, Toklo glanced back at Akna. “What about you?” But his father jumped in before the shaman could answer. “She’s going to make the trip back with us.” Toklo’s smile faded then. “With you? But wouldn’t it be safer if she went back with me now? These woods are dangerous, and she’s not a warrior-” “Not a warrior?” snapped Akna, huffing as she put her hands on her hips. “Do I need to remind you exactly who it was that fought back the yetis?” Flushing for a different reason now, Toklo shook his head. “No, but that was-” “If you say that was only because of the weapon I found, then I promise you, everyone here will make good on your flesh being edible,” she growled, fixing him with a flat look. “I just got finished telling you that what happens to my tribe after they die is my responsibility, which means that until Panuk’s body can be brought back and ritually devoured by his remaining kin, I’m staying with it.” “I...o-of course,” fumbled Toklo, giving her an apologetic grin. But when no one said anything else, he fidgeted in place for a moment, glancing back at his father – who was looking at him expectantly, clearly waiting for him to turn into mist and fly away – and Lex, who was watching the adlets impassively. “Um, is it alright if I say goodbye to the other ponies before I leave?” murmured Toklo, directing the question to both of them. “They weren’t unkind, and I-” “They’re not your friends,” interrupted his father sternly. “You don’t need to bid them farewell.” “But we fought alongside each other,” protested Toklo. “And they had one of their number stolen from them!” The grey-furred adlet’s eyes narrowed. “That doesn’t concern you.” “She saved my life!” snapped Toklo. “She-, uh...” His momentary burst of anger fading as he glanced back at Lex, suddenly cognizant of who exactly it was that Woodheart had saved his life from. Solvei felt a sudden rush of shame from Lex then, and it made her want to scream. How dare that little ingrate rub what had happened in her master’s face now, when he’d generously allowed him to go free?! It was so hideously galling that she found herself taking a step forward, intent on taking the insult out of his hide. But before she could make good on her intentions, Lex held a hoof out in front of her, a telepathic command stopping her advance. “Make your goodbyes and then leave,” hissed Lex, giving Toklo a venomous look, “before you try my patience any further!” Swallowing nervously, Toklo glanced at his father once, then at Akna – who simply shrugged at him before canting her head toward the other ponies – before breaking into a jog toward where they were huddled. Everyone waited until he was out of earshot, and then turned back to regard each other warily. For a long moment Lex and Toklo’s father eyed each other coolly, and Solvei wondered if the adlet was going to make a move. I hope he does, she growled inwardly. I’ll tear him to pieces before he can come close to Master! It was a thought that she’d had quite often over the last few days, going out of her way to viciously slaughter everything that had challenged them since they’d entered the forest. But it still didn’t make up for the gnawing guilt she felt over not having been there several days before, when a combination of those other ponies’ prying into her master’s secrets and a sudden ambush by monsters had left him badly hurt. But while he’d given her the power to heal his body, the pain in his heart wasn’t so easily repaired. That much had become obvious over the last few days. Watching him withdraw from everyone and everything around him – including her – had been more than once left Solvei on the verge of tears. The entire reason she’d become his was because she wanted to ease his pain, to soothe the incredible loneliness that was making him suffer so much, but when he’d needed her most she hadn’t been there for him! Since then, she’d cursed her own stupidity many times. She’d simply assumed that, with her master’s ability to summon her from any distance, she’d always be at his side when he needed her. That magic might be used to prevent him from doing so – or that he’d be so distraught as to shut her out completely – had never occurred to her. The result of which was that the pony whose pain she wanted to soothe was now hurting worse than ever before. Solvei had tried everything she could think of to make up for her failure since then. Each day, she’d stuck close to him, allowing nothing to come near his umbral form unless he explicitly told her otherwise. Each evening, when her master had finally changed back to his pony form and settled down for the night, she’d waited until he’d fallen asleep to curl herself around him protectively – able to press her frigid body against his warm one without causing him any discomfort thanks to the cold-resistance spells she’d placed on all of the ponies to protect them from the constant chill – gently nuzzling him whenever he’d shuddered or cried out in his sleep. Each morning she’d parted from him shortly before he woke, warning the others not to embarrass him by mentioning the sounds he’d made during the night. And all of it had been for nothing. In the end, it had been Drafty who had gotten him to start opening up again, her angry outburst toward the other ponies prompting him to come to her defense when that mare in the mask had struck back. And while it was only right that his mate would be the one to soothe him most, Solvei couldn’t help but feel frustrated at how inadequate her own efforts had been. But in the last few minutes, frustration had turned to fear... “So you’re going to stay with us while we bring Panuk’s body back?” Toklo’s father’s voice brought Solvei out of her ruminating, the old adlet giving Akna a disapproving look. The question made Akna sigh. “You know full well I told him that in order to prevent a panic, Yotimo. If he went back home and told everyone I was going into the forest with a group of ponies-” “They’d think it was a terrible idea,” he finished. “Because it is.” “It was also the only way to free your son,” she countered, “which is what you wanted most.” “And the only way to find the Shrine of the Starless Sky,” interjected Solvei, “which is what my master wants most. And his wishes are more important than yours.” The old adlet – Yotimo – frowned at her. “If we return without our tribe’s only shaman-” “I won’t be in any danger,” huffed Akna, crossing her arms beneath her breasts. “You were just saying how these ponies must be powerful if they’re able to survive in these woods, right?” “Something which will become less true if their leader isn’t able to restore his magic,” countered Yotimo, giving Lex a suspicious look. Again, Solvei felt a flare of emotion from her master, this time of frustration, causing her to bare her teeth at the wretched old fool. “It doesn’t matter if my master runs out of magic! He has ME!” She regretted the words as soon as they came out of her mouth. It was that kind of thoughtless announcement about his weakness that had driven him into a panic only a few days before! But before she could telepathically convey her remorse, her master’s voice resounded in her head. I’m the one who determines what matters, Solvei. Not you. Forgive me, Master, she whimpered, cringing as she shot him an apologetic glance. I didn’t mean to- Be silent, he snapped, his mental voice thick with displeasure as he gave her a cold look in response. In fact, go and make sure that Toklo’s departure is prompt. I’ll deal with these two on my own. Another rush of anxiety ran through her then. But- Go! ...yes, Master. Her ears folding back, Solvei turned and padded toward the others, but she couldn’t help but glance back as she left, her nervous tension continuing to rise. But it wasn’t Yotimo that she looked at, her eyes instead coming to rest on Akna. Nor was it fear for her master’s safety that ran through Solvei’s mind then, but rather fear for her own place at his side. After all, Akna had far more to offer him than she did. Before she’d met Lex, Solvei had been an ordinary winter wolf, her only notable features being her unusual golden eyes and how she’d been the runt of her litter. Everything that she could do now, she could do because of the power her master had given her as a result of their connection. All of her strength now – her heightened speed and physical prowess, her command of ice magic, changing her size and wrapping herself in black crystals – all of it came from him. But Akna was different. She was already a shaman among her own people, one who could speak to the spirits – just like her father had done – all on her own. She’d demonstrated that much when she’d casually brought a huge pile of snow and ice to life, something that Solvei, for all of the magic that her master had given her, hadn’t known was possible. She’d even tried to quietly copy what the adlet had done while her master had conversed with the humanoid, conjuring up a tiny wolf out of ice and trying to make it move, only for it to break into pieces after each attempt. By itself, that wasn’t a big deal; at most, it was something she could ask Master or Drafty about later on. But then she’d found out that Akna could transform into an utvalgte, and that she could be brought under Master’s power... Solvei knew she wasn’t a genius like her master was, but even she could see the obvious point of comparison. If her master could turn an ordinary winter wolf into a powerhouse, what could he do to an adlet who was already exceptionally gifted? An adlet who, by her own admission, worshiped the same goddess as him, and who could lead him to the shrine he’d been seeking? Intellectually, Solvei knew that she was being foolish. Her master had made it clear that dissolving the bond between them was – at least for now – beyond his power. Moreover, he didn’t seem particularly eager to tie his soul to anyone else, as he was still being very cautious in exploring the full nature of the bond the two of them now shared. So there was, when looked at dispassionately, nothing for her to worry about. And yet, that did nothing to quell the apprehension she felt. It had been an act of desperation – a battlefield necessity, performed to save their lives – that had prompted her master to bind the two of them together. What if, in one of the battles to come, he found himself needing to do the same thing with Akna? He’d surely recognized the possibility that something like that might happen, and how strong the adlet shaman would become as a result. How long would it be, after that, before she became the one he relied on? What if, when he found out how to break these bonds, he decided that he didn’t need a winter wolf who was clearly inferior to his newer minion? The thought shouldn’t have terrified her as much as it did – if that happened, then at worst she’d simply go home to her family – and yet Solvei found herself dreading such a scenario coming to pass. What she felt for her master...for Lex...it wasn’t just that she wanted to ease the loneliness that hurt him so much, nor was it simply gratitude for him saving her family. It wasn’t camaraderie from the battles that they’d been through together. It wasn’t even the connection that they had, as profound as it was. Rather, it was something far simpler. She just didn’t want to be apart from him.