I buckled on my armor, then my sword belt. I donned my helmet and secured it in place with the chin strap. I experimented with several chomping motions, making sure the chip strap wouldn’t prevent me from using my teeth in a fight. Finally, I turned to Kitty Hawk.
“Ready to go?”
She had taken a dark towel and secured it around her throat in an improvised cloak. It effectively hid her white coat.
She nodded.
I paused by the door, listening. All I could hear were the snores from the unwelcomed and unconscious house guest at my feet.
I stepped outside.
Shadows stretched their darkened tendrils across the village. The full moon was low in the horizon; it was close to dawn. Nothing moved.
I motioned for Kitty Hawk to follow.
I had to sound the alarm. To do that, I needed to get to the Fire Tower. It was the tallest building in the village. A dog was always posted there day and night. The great horn was mounted on top. Its bellow would warn the village and the surrounding countryside against the danger.
We sneaked through the village, slipping in and out of the shadows. I stopped at the edge of a narrow alley. Studying the shadows, I found the alley to be clear. I slipped inside, Kitty Hawk at my heels.
Another dog entered from the other end. He looked up at me in surprise.
Was he friend or foe?
“Is that you, Dirt Claw?” he asked. “Did you find the pony?”
My right paw made contact just below his left ear. He staggered, raising one arm in a hasty defense as his other went for his sword. He opened his mouth to shout. My left paw cut upwards and smashed into the bottom of his jaw. I heard his bones crack. I struck him again, and again, and again, until he was reduced to a moaning lump on the ground. I kicked him once more in the head for good measure.
I stepped over the unfortunate dog and stopped at the edge of the alley. I peeked around the corner.
“Ember,” whimpered Kitty Hawk.
I looked down at her.
“You’re scaring me.”
I crouched down beside her. “These dogs are threatening you, my friends, my family, and my clan. I will do whatever is necessary to defeat them.”
She still looked frightened.
I gave her a soft smile. “Kitty Hawk, the only thing I can guarantee is that by first light, you will be safe.”
That seemed to work. She smile weakly back at me. “Ok,” she said.
I patting her reassuringly and stood up. I scanned our surroundings once more.
There was a Diamond Dog moving from one hut to another. Then another appeared, doing the same on the opposite side of the street. We slipped past the pair, unnoticed.
We found ourselves at the base of the Fire Tower. The great structure loomed overhead. A long spiral staircase wound its way along the side of the build and up to the top.
“Find someplace to hide,” I told Kitty Hawk. She looked as if she was going to object.
“It’s going to get very chaotic. Do you want to see me hurting others?”
She shook her head.
“Go hide. I’ll be back for you.”
I crept up the staircase, sword in paw. I stopped at the edge of the shadows. The rest of the tower was bathed in moon light. There was no helping it; I silently charged up the remaining stairs.
I nearly collided into the dog manning the post. “What? Who’s...” he started as his eyes flicked from my drawn sword to my face. I recognized him first, or at least that he wasn’t part of my clan. I didn’t need to see his Bone Clan collar shining in the moonlight.
I plowed into him. We crashed to the floor, rolling dangerously close to the edge. He futilely claws and scratched at my armor. I struck with my sword hilt wherever I could find flesh.
He kicked out and rolled away. We paused for a minute to catch our breath, examining the other across the narrow landing.
He snarled and leapt at me. I dodged to the right. His snarl turned into a terrified shriek as he slid out into open space. He fell, narrowly missing two huts, and hit the ground with a sickening splat. He did not move again.
I turned away from my first kill. I didn’t want to think about what had just transpired. Right now, I needed to alert the clan.
Grabbing the mouthpiece, I inhaled a deep breath and blew three short blasts.
The thundering notes shattered the silence
I took another deep breath and blew three more notes.
A spear came flying up from the ground. It struck my armor, and bounced off. I spotted the dog who had thrown it. I saw him bare this teeth, and then start climbing the stairs.
I sounded one more warning, and then took to the stairs. I met my opponent half way down.
The spiraling staircase worked to my advantage. The right-handed turn blocked most of my opponent’s sword movements. He attempted the awkward duel until I landed a cut on his arm. He promptly switched to his left paw. I drove down the stairs.
Suddenly he cried out in pain. I wasted no time and rammed my pommel into his muzzle. He collapsed, falling off the stairs, and landed on the roof of a hut.
Kitty Hawk was standing before me, spitting out a mouthful of fur.
“You bit him?” I asked in surprise.
“Yuck,” complained Kitty Hawk, trying to wipe her tongue clean.
I shook my head in amazement. “Thanks for your help,” I told her, “but go back to hiding. Things are going to get real ugly.”
She nodded and disappeared.
I finally got off the stairs and looked around. I could hear sporadic fighting. A howl sounded off to my left. A cry for help!
I raced to the aid of a clansman, and found him fighting three Bone Clan dogs. I leapt on the nearest one. We rolled across the ground until two more of my clansman showed up. As my clansman chased the three into the night, I looked around for another fight.
I slipped amongst the huts. There were individual contests going on everywhere. I helped out when I spotted a clansman at a numerical disadvantage.
I came to the main road through town and spied a pair of dogs sneaking towards the east gate. I jump out, sword brandished towards the pair. I found myself facing Silver Tongue and an unknown and very large dog.
“Ah, how are you doing, my boy?” said Silver Tongue casually, but his eyes betrayed him as he glancing around nervously. He readjusted a sack carried over one shoulder. “If you don’t mind, I’ll just be leaving. I’m not much of a fighter.”
“What’s in the sack?” I asked.
“Just some trade goods. Now if you don’t might...” He made to go around me, but I leveled my sword at his gut.
“Show me,” I demanded.
The sack kicked and squirmed. I could hear a muffled voice coming from within.
“Is that Kitty Hawk?” I snarled, taking a step towards the merchant.
He gave a helpless shrug. “Well, you see, you never appreciated her true value anyways.”
“Give her back! And I may let you live.”
“Now there you’re wrong,” said Silver Tongue. He indicated the giant next to him. “I got Brute Strength here on loan from the Bone Clan; amazing what a bag of jewels can get you. I’ll let you two go at it.”
I started towards the portly merchant, but Brute Strength stepped between us. From his hip, he drew out a blade twice the length of my own.
“Your opponent is here, little pup,” he growled.
He swung his great sword at me, the blade humming as it cut through the air. I rolled out of the way. Brute Strength swiftly brought the sword back around, and made to cleave me in two. I dodged again.
I saw Silver Tongue making his escape. I tried to pursue him, but Brute Strength drove me back with his blade.
“Keep your eyes on me, or I may just take your head,” he said.
I parried his next attack, and gasped as the shock tore through my arm. I felt my paw go numb.
Brute Strength brought his sword overhead, advancing on me.
“I got him,” cried a familiar voice. Spoke wrapped himself around the giant’s legs, and together they crashed to the ground.
I lept into the fray.
Legs and limps sprouted out in every direction. I clawed through them until I found my opponent. Spike and I went after him with tooth and claw, and me with the butt end of my sword. Brute strength managed to wiggle one paw free and, grabbing a hold of Spike and smashed him into the nearest building. Then he latched onto me and rolled in the dirt.
He kicked the sword from my paw. He lunged for my throat. I ducked my head and launched for his own throat. Our teeth clashed.
A large weight crashed into his side and slip us apart. Brute Strength quickly found his feet. Spike was beside me once more, breathing through gasps of pain and holding a spear. I snatched my sword out of the dirt.
Brute Strength eyed us, first Spike and then me. Then suddenly he sat down cross legged, paws resting on his knees.
“I give up,” he said.
I blinked. Spoke worked his mouth but nothing came out.
Brute Strength glanced between the two of us a second time. “What are you waiting for,” he said, “go get your pony”.
Neither of us moved.
Brute Strength sighed. He pointed at Spike. “The blow I delivered should have knocked you out cold. No doubt you have several fractured and broken bones. To still be standing beside your kinsman says a good deal about your strength and your loyalty”. Next he pointed at me. “If you fight this hard for your pony then she must be very precious to you. My clan leader has ordered me to follow Silver Tongue due to the jewels he paid us, but he is no longer here to “follow”. I am a Dog of my honor. When I see a wrong I mean to right it. Go, young warrior. I will resist no further”.
Spike and I exchanged glances. He only shrugged, cringing as he did so.
I sprinted after the merchant.
I caught him just before the east gate. Leaping, I tackled him to the ground, the sack tumbling away. I rolled the merchant over and held my sword point just above his throat.
“Give me a reason,” I growled.
He said nothing.
I bashed him in the face with my sword pommel.
I left the dazed merchant and went to Kitty Hawk. I carefully drew her out of the sack and cut away her bonds and gag.
“Ember, you came for me,” she cried, and wrapped her hooves around my neck. I embraced her in a one-handed hug. She began to weep.
The two guards from the gate ran towards us.
“Get the pony,” moaned Silver Tongue, clutching at his face.
I glanced at the two guards. They were dressed in full Firebrand armor, but I didn’t recognize the faces. They leveled their spears at me. I clutched Kitty Hawk close to my chest with my free hand. My sword danced from one opponent to the other.
This was going to be interesting.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” My father appeared behind them.
He was bleeding from several cuts, but there was no sign of weakness as he advanced on the faux guards. He whirled a spear overhead, its tip and shaft caked in dried blood. Rob appeared beside me.
“Surrender,” he growled.
The pair split and ran for the gate. My father dispatched the first one in an instant. The second made it all the way to the gate before he was ambushed by several clansmen.
I looked up in time to see the first rays of light brush over the village.
Many of the Bone Clan had escaped. Those left behind were bound and placed in the center of the village, with the exception of Brute Strength. He sat in the middle of street, unmoving. His great sword lay in front of him. My father briefly talked to him, and then left him where he was.
The casualties were counted: screeching wails arose as each of twelve dead clansmen were named. The eight enemy dead, six Bone Clan and two wagons guards, were dragged outside the village and burned.
The villagers snapped at the captives. They demanded vengeance.
I spotted Spoke, covered in bandages but cheerful. We talked briefly about the night’s events.
It was mid-morning when my father had Silver Tongue dragged before him. I grinned when I saw the blow I’d given him had swelled and turned a nasty shade of purple.
My father stood proud before the merchant. He roared at the fat dog, “How did you sneak the Bone Clan past my guards?”
“Simple, really,” replied Silver Tongue. “I sent a message to the Bone Clan with an offer they couldn’t refuse. Then, during the feast, I replaced your gate guards with my own.”
“Why!”
“It was only a business opportunity,” shrugged Silver Tongue.
“And what would be so valuable that you would bribe our enemy to help you?”
“Why, the pony, of course.”
All eyes turned to Kitty Hawk. She was standing beside me. I felt her press against me as the angry glares of the villages assaulted her.
My father studied her for a moment, and turned back to the merchant.
“And what would you have done with her?”
“Sell her to the emperor. He personally collects little ponies; pays a very nice price.”
“How much,” growled my father.
“How much what?” grinned the merchant.
My father snapped his teeth in front of the merchant’s face. “How much is the pony worth?”
The merchant looked around, gauging his surroundings. “The whole village and everyone in it,” he said casually.
The merchant’s words cut through me. I looked down at Kitty Hawk as if just seeing her for the first time. She was worth more jewels than what I could possibly fit into my hut. For that amount of jewels, we could hire an army and dominate every clan around us.
My father leaned in close to the merchant. “What’s to stop me from tearing your throat out right now?”
The merchant shrugged. “Your clan can’t survive without my goods. You need me.”
My father glared at Silver Tongue, before addressing the clan.
“Bring Silver Tongue and the elders to my hut.” Then he growled to Silver Tongue, but loud enough for everyone to hear, “We will negotiate your punishment.”
Silver Tongue was hauled away. My father turned and walked over to me. He stopped, looking first at Kitty Hawk, and then at me.
I straightened up and met my father’s gaze. His eyes were hard and fierce. Whatever he said would be final. There would be no argument.
“Tomorrow morning,” commanded my father, “you will take six of the clansmen, go to the capital, and sell that pony.”