literature

What Chilling Blows We Suffer

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She sped downhill unashamed, giggling as she bounced around like a pup. Merrill wasn’t expecting at all that Raphael would fall so easily to her so badly-planned little antic. A quick movement and she'd successfully smeared dirt all over his face. Remembering all too well the incident on the mountains, she preferred to stick to a creek as she dashed away - the water was going to provide them safe passage.

 

“Too slow, mud-face!”

 

The ranger teased, looking behind. He wasn’t there after the curve, position hidden by the trees, but she couldn’t hear him either. So she slowed down to a sudden halt, ears peeking up attentively. Oops, did I go too fast?

 

A few seconds of nothing besides chirping birds and the running waters filled the space. She whipped her tail impatiently. “Cricket?”

 

A sudden uneasiness crawled to her stomach, and Merrill marched towards the curve, getting more anxious by the minute. “Raphael!”

 

“Boo!” he barked loudly, springing out of the frozen reeds beneath the trees. Raph’s face was covered in muck. His primitive mask brought the Vicar’s pale eyes into sharp focus as he pounced just within her peripheral, laughing freely.

 

She squeaked as she jumped away like a startled cat, fur bristling, her squeal echoing through the trees comically. Merrill never thought her heart could start to beat so suddenly fast within this split-second, but she was sure it was what she was hearing after she landed back, wide eyes in disbelief.

 

Then she accompanied him, readily laughing as the scare washed away. “How did you even do that!”

 

Raph landed unsteadily along the side of the bank. It was good to see her laugh. The sound filled him with music.

He shook his fur out - distorting the grime rather than cleansing it - and chuckled with mock arrogance. You see, Sister, I have been trained by the greatest of Rangers this side of Adamant. In fact, you could say I am a Master of subterfuge. I only became a Vicar to give others their fair chance for glory.”

 

A branch behind them fractured and he flicked an ear back.

There was no growl, no warning. But Merrill watched it unfold before her very eyes in slow motion, breath suddenly and violently taken off her lungs.

 

It was almost impossible to make sense from where she came from. Spawning from the shadows like a demon, the strike was swift, sharp and precise. The landing was ruthless, and unlike the Arynian warden in the patrol, the target offered no resistance as one-hundred pounds of muscle came crashing down an unprepared body. All the air forcibly evicted from Raph’s lungs and he was left writhing in mute agony against the icy ground.

Who-?

 

“Make a sound, and your pack will find nothing but two carcasses with empty chests when they arrive.” She growled, menacingly, fangs bared near the young Vicar’s face pressed against the creek’s rocks.

 

Hekate stood, slowly, a looming devil that caused Merrill to move opposite, crouching down and tucking tail beneath the legs, belly pressed against the ground as she was being stared down with flaming eyes that held nothing but cold displease. Nausea came instantly, adrenaline rushing so strongly through her veins that it hurt. She could barely process what had just happened. This was a nightmare, wasn’t it? It must be. “M-Mistress-”

 

Hekate’s eyes narrowed. “Good. At least you still remember the title. Shameful that you did not remember the rest.”

 

Claws braced harshly, Raph’s brow contorted as horrific understanding washed over him.

 

Merrill had no idea if it was fear or else that led her to respond, but it came out quickly. “I forgot nothing-

A snarl sent the ranger’s eyes to the ground, avoiding the scorching wrath of Vektren’s Herald.

“I-I swear!” She couldn’t withstand such gaze. But now it was on Raphael’s own eyes that hers laid, and tears came.
He stared at her - understanding. But perhaps not fully comprehending.

 

“Really, my darling? I take it you took my patience for granted then?” Hekate growled back scornfully, then pressed one foot firmly into the alphakin’s neck as she spoke between bared teeth. Raph let out a half-strangled whining growl, daring to turn his gaze upward at his captor. “Or maybe too distracted. Should I get rid of it for you, sweetheart?”

 

“No!” It escaped her lips before she could think, and Merrill realized it had been a mistake. With sinking heart and wide eyes, she dared to look back at the Alpha, who seemed to have made her conclusions about it already.

The Red Devil’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “No?”

 

Merrill was out of breath. Think. Think. Think!

 

Certainly it was apparent to Raph, pressed into the unforgiving earth, that Hekate the Red Witch herself stood poised above his throat. Vaguely he realized he was about to die. But - they were deep in the heart of Aryn. Surrounded by steep stone and treacherous gorge. No Vektreni could breach so far into the border! Not without being seen or heard or smelt. This isn’t possible. It’s not. It can’t be. He couldn’t understand, though he tried.

 

Mortal terror locked Raph in place more securely than Hekate’s grip ever could have. As the witch and her escaped thrall debated his future, all he could stand to wonder was how everything had gone so wrong, so quickly.

 

As Raphael’s life stood fragile in fate’s balance, logic washed down Merrill, brought by the cool waters of the creek. Without taking reins of her fear, he’d die. They both would. And only heavens know what effect this would cause in the tides of the war. She had been one of them, once. It was ill knowledge - sickening. But she understood, in the vast line of thought within such short time span, that it was time to use it.

 

“My heart… took the best of me.” She wanted to look at him. Assure it was going to be okay. That she had a plan. But the fear of revealing her façade was bigger, and she kept to Hekate’s own smoldering eyes. “Please. Please Mistress. Let me redeem myself.”

 

If Hekate fell for Merrill’s act, it didn’t came across clearly in her icy tone, but she gave on to the conversation. “I’m afraid that it is too late for that.”

 

“I’ll bring her here.”

 

Raphael blinked, nose scrunched in a grimacing gape. Her? But what could that… No. Shock speared his gut like fish bones. It bit straight through his fear and put words in his throat again. Ulcerous, tar-filled words. “...Merrill-” he wheezed out, hoarse and pitiful, “Don-n’t-

 

Hekate shifted, gaze intent upon Merrill, but only silence remained.

 

“He’s her son. She’d even give herself willingly to protect him. And even if she’s a skilled warrior, she can’t do anything with two against one.” Merrill swallowed, eyes betraying herself and seeking Raphael’s, hoping he’d understand the true implication of it. He just stared, a fractured look breaking over him.

 

Again, there was no hint of belief or disbelief. The silence lasted for a few seconds, filled only by the running waters and deep breathing.

 

And then she stepped down from him. Raph sucked in a pinched breath, coughing as he lay sprawled. He couldn’t get enough air. Teeth bared, he glared up at Hekate. Heat pooled in his paws as his fur stood on end.

 

“Stay down. I believe you’re too smart to think that you can outrun me.”

 

Raph didn’t answer. He knew she was right. But did she really expect him to sit back and watch?

 

Burning gemstones lifted from the Vicar to the thrall, scrutinizing silently. And then… “Go. Now.”

 

Merrill stood slowly, eyes back to Hekate’s. “Merrill, please - don’t do this,” Raph entreated. Nearly begged, “She doesn’t own you, she can’t-”

 

“Now!”

 

Merrill ran. She didn’t look back. Didn’t second guess. She prayed for her paws to carry her swiftly, she prayed for Raphael’s safety. She prayed to anyone who could hear her.

 

There was struggle coming from behind her- splashing water, a snarl, a grunt, and then a low cry. She made her best not to look back and suppress the tears.

 

Please.


 Come Swiftly Too Late by WynBird


 

Adrian almost staggered into the clearing, his heavy weight a hassle as much as an announcement to his arrival. There never was so much terror, glistening sharp in his ever-so-confident eyes. Each time his heart beat, it felt like it was failing.

 

“Athena! Alcatraz! Here! NOW!” He bellowed, breathless, voice oozing a mixture of desperation and anger. He heard her close by, following on his heels.

 

Gwydion’s grove was a place of peace, but at his cry the songbirds scattered and an ill wind swept through the frost-stricken trees. “What is the meaning of this?” Athena demanded, taking her feet. Alcatraz stood as well, yellow eyes narrowed and ears perked, waiting for Adrian to speak. Already fear and fury were churning in his stomach.

 

The Master Vicar made no sumptuous greetings, paid no mind to authority, and didn’t expect them to demand it either. As soon he finally met both, his bark spilled saliva everywhere. “She’s here!”

 

Staggering forward, the Lady pressed against her mate for support. Her legs trembled as her chest throbbed haphazardly. Adrian was not alone, and Athena looked between him and Merrill in bated expectation. Alcatraz was still as stone as Athena leaned against him, he barely felt her there, glare boring into Merrill and Adrian.

 

Merrill’s throat was so dry, she might as well have ruptured several veins when she yelled behind her father, tail still tucked between her legs in panic. She never waited for anyone to speak, or ask. She wanted him safe. Oh how she wanted him to be safe soon.

 

“She’s here!” She echoed. “Hekate’s here! We were playing by the Grazelands and she ambushed- she has Raphael! She’s alone! Please, we need to-

 

“Merrill!” It broke Adrian’s heart to see her freeze like this, only further displaying her dismay as tears rolled endlessly from her eyes, at the verge of a collapse. But he needed to steer her into making sense. The panic in the young wolf’s face told Alcatraz and Athena both the truth. Raphael was in grave danger.

 

“She got us when were running down the creek by the Lonely Apple, I don’t know where she came from, she just appeared! She wanted to kill Raph but I convinced her I’d bring Athena alone back there, and she let me come, but she still has him and she’s alone!”

 

Athena gaped, hearing the words and still struggling to comprehend them through the sudden surge of fear.

 

The Lonely Apple! How did Hekate get there?? Alcatraz turned to Athena. They needed to save their son, he knew they agreed upon that without even the briefest exchange. So he went on to discussing the plan. “You are not going alone. We shall gather a fighting force and set up an ambush,” the Lord suggested urgently. Despite Merrill’s insistence that Hekate was alone, it was too suspicious that Hekate would somehow find her way deep into their territory with a plan as simple as this. Vektren had played with their pack for seasons, this was likely another game and they needed to be prepared for anything. But this time they would have the advantage. If Vektren had managed to sneak this far into the territory there could not be many, and this was their home. “We know the lands.

 

Athena nodded curtly, lips tugging into a determined grimace. Fear for her son molted into a blistering and terrible rage. But if Hekate wisened to a trap, Raphael would pay the price. They could not afford to be sloppy. And if Athena lost her head, her senses would soon follow.

 

Adrian struggled himself to remain calm, as non liable to stress as he was. The thought of Hekate sinking her fangs in his apprentice’s throat, because of him- It sickened the Vicar more than anything. It was his responsibility more than anything else.

 

“How long d-o we have, to - toplan?” Athena turned the question to Adrian rather than Merrill, though the Lady did cast a glance toward the young ranger. Merrill was in hysterics, and not beyond suspicion any longer.

 

“If she truly is alone, I wouldn’t risk taking too long, she might be a snake but even they know danger.”

 

Alcatraz frowned. It was a good point. The time it would take to gather a force might be suspicious. It wasn’t lost on the father that Raphael could be hurt or worse if Hekate suspected any tricks.

 

Adrian turned to his daughter, trying to ask as calmly as he was able not to pressure the girl into more panic. “Merrill, take a breath and tell us exactly what you said.”

 

She swallowed, following her father’s advice and then narrated as she replayed the scene in her head. “She was pinning Cricket down, said he was distracting me and she’d get rid of him. So I said I was going to redeem myself and bring Athena, because she’s his mother and would come for him. And then made it look like I would help her bring Athena down-” Another deep breath, hastily. “She fell for it, I think, I hope- So she told me to go. I think I heard Raphael struggling and trying to run but she knocked him back down.”

 

“Merrill, look at me.”

She did.

“You were very brave, and I’m proud of you. We are going to save him, alright? But you have to keep your focus.”

With watered eyes, she nodded with a sob, finally seeming to slow down.

Adrian’s attention diverged to the Alphas. “God knows what she might do if she even suspects Merrill is bringing a whole war party.” There was a hole in his stomach to even think about it. “It’s not worth the risk over Raphael’s life- I say we go, right now. She couldn’t possibly have sneaked more than one wolf. Alcatraz and I should suffice.”

 

He did not dismiss Athena’s prowess for combat in the tone of his suggestion, but right now… She was still healing, and age in addition to stress was being unkind to the Lady. He did know, however, that in a grim situation there was no match for a mother’s fury.

 

The Lord considered Adrian’s words, thinking to the Lost Patrol. The patrol was returned to them, but there had been several very strong wolves on that patrol and they had been rendered powerless. This was not an enemy they could afford to underestimate. But perhaps, as long as they were careful… after all it was true that there could not be many…

 

“And me,” Merrill interrupted, still disheveled from terror but with a sudden fierceness in her eyes. “I can help. I know how to fight! I’m not going to leave him!”

 

Alcatraz’s yellow eyes darted to Merrill as she chimed in. Her bravery was admirable, but his paternal instincts protested strongly. She had already been through so much, today and her entire life. At the claws of the very wolf they were going to face. And who knows what sort of residual power Hekate could have over her, to bring her mind back to her months of torture in the moments when it counted most, causing her to lethally freeze up. Not even to mention the distress she was in now. “It’s too dangerous.” Alcatraz growled.

 

Her ears flattened, resolve shaken, but she didn’t need to protest despite opening her mouth to.

 

“She must.” Athena replied, though it clearly gave her no pleasure to say so. “If Hekate doesnot see her - we willbeouted.”

 

Alcatraz wanted to protest again, hoping they could catch Hekate enough by surprise to not need Merrill to act as a decoy, but there was no time to argue, and it was true that precious minutes could be bought by Merrill and Athena’s initial appearance, perhaps causing Hekate to believe they truly were alone. If convincing enough could they even get Raphael to safety before the attack? He gave Athena a curt nod of acceptance before saying, “We need to get moving. We can discuss specifics on the way.”

 

She nodded firmly, and without further ado, dashed in the direction, leading them to the location.



Original skin by SimplySilent | BG from MiriStock
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Flufferooni's avatar
Oh for fucks sake