Wenn & Wolf Tales

wwe1010
~~~ Chase ~~~

Silently, Ancient Eagle was winging his way through the clouds while making every effort to bring his anger under control and concentrate on the task at hand. He sent his mind questing, not for the Lady Wenn, but for his pendant she wears. After a moment, he sensed that it was moving away from the Keep in a northerly direction. With a defiant screech, the great Eagle soared to follow toward the north, feeling he grew closer to the pendant, and therefore his lady love, with each beat of his wings.

Far below, he spotted a group of riders hurrying along a road. Watching the group, his enhanced sight detected the flash of white cloth from one of the riders as the hem of her dress slipped from beneath a dark cloak. Wenn rode tied to the saddle, as her body bobbing to and fro. Hesitantly, the great Eagle sent out thoughts to the pendant and to Wenn. His questing mind encountered a drug-induced shielding which he could not get past at this distance. The great bird stayed within the clouds, watching the group and waiting for a clear area. Scouting ahead of the party, he spied a clearing and as the party approached it, he folded his wings and silently plummeted, death from above.

Approaching with great speed, the eagle dropped to treetop level and streamed toward the company. At the last second he issued forth a scream of rage as his taloned feet snatched two riders from their mounts and lifted them into the air. With a few flaps of his giant wings, he climbed back up and released the two, ignoring their screams as they fell to the tree covered ground far below. The great Eagle pivoted in the air and flew back toward the remaining six riders. Several of the remaining riders hastily scrambled to get their bows ready and to nock arrows. One of the riders, the one holding the reins to Wenn's horse, drew his hand out into the air and began to gesture, drawing to him magical energy as he smiled wickedly.

Ancient Eagle winged toward the group, the hum of several bow strings was heard. A flight of four arrows sped toward the diving white target. At the last second, the Eagle rolled to the right and then back, barely missed by the deadly projectiles. One arrow still managed to scratch across the underside of one wing, but he ignored the pain and continued his dive. The leader of the group extended his arm up and pointed to the plummeting Eagle while he hissed out a few words. There was a crackling noise and a lightning bolt issued from his hand, striking the Eagle directly in the chest. For a long moment the giant eagle was suspended in mid air and the magical lightning coursed through him. Finally the bolt stopped and the giant bird fell, crashing through the trees some distance away. The other men cheered and started after the bird but their leader stopped them with a word. Quickly they remounted and continued on.

In the distant forest, the giant Eagle's form shifted to that of a man once more as Lord Wolf invoked his birthright. Through the haze of his pain, he hastily reached out with his mind and found the closest node of magical energy. Tapping into it quickly, he fed its energy through his own and down his link to the pendant. Before the blackness claimed him, he hoped that the power sent to Wenn would be enough to clear the daze she was in. With his final thoughts on Wenn, he slipped away into the darkness of unconsciousness.

~~~~~~

Wenn came to suddenly, awakened by a force that struck her heart beneath the wolf pendant. She gasped aloud but her sound was lost in the pounding of hooves as her captor galloped on. She was being tossed about furiously but thought little of it at the moment. Her heart and mind were filled with two things, Lord Wolf's love and his pain. Her eyes filled with tears from the overwhelming sense of him and knowing he was injured. She gathered her wits as quickly as possible. She must escape. She must find her love and get healing to him somehow, even though she knows not where he is. She forced herself to go slack again as she felt herself do when her captor made her drink the apothecary's mixture.

The memory came unbidden, perhaps shaken from her mind by the bashing she was taking, tied as she was across the saddle behind her captor. She was snatched so suddenly from the bliss of marrying Wolf. The touch of his hand still felt on hers even as she let out an anguished cry to him. Then she was in some forest. Standing in the snow before her, was a figure in a black-hooded robe. Ere she could try to resist or run, henchmen cloaked her in black and held her fast as her hooded captor reached out a black gloved hand to pour the elixir down her throat. As her mind began to fog, the same glove tucked the wolf pendant securely within her bodice. "We'd not want this to fall from you, would we?" Someone lifted her and flung her over the horse... and they were off.

At last the ride was over and Wenn was pulled from the horse. She did her best to appear drowsy and must have succeeded for her captor bid one of his henchmen to carry her. He slung her over his shoulder without care. Through half closed eyelids she watched as much of their path as she could, with hopes of retracing their steps to escape, though she had yet no idea how.

Inside a dark keep, the henchman fairly tossed Wenn into a chair and she allowed herself to rouse awake a little but could not risk a grand reaction. Her captor walked to her, extended a gloved hand and lifted her chin so she had no choice but to look at him. She blinked and squinted her eyes to watch as the figure took his free hand and pulled back his hood. Wenn's eyes widened and she swallowed hard for she looked into a face that could be a brother to Lord Wolf. His face was neither young nor old, easily as handsome as Wolf, but with jet black hair rather than Wolf's white. It was not her love's warm and caring forest emerald eyes that stared at her... but cold, grey eyes without depth. Wenn pressed herself into the chair as much as possible, repulsed by what she did not see in those eyes and by the twisted likeness he bore to her beloved.

The gloved hand slipped from her chin down her neck and Wenn shivered at this touch. The fingers slid beneath the chain and drew the pendant out into the gloved hand. "So, you must be Ancient Wolf's latest amusement." A frightening grin crept across the man's face. "We shall give him plenty of entertainment when he comes for you." Wenn thought only that Wolf cannot come. She felt his injury or part of it and he may be dying for all she knew. Her fear and this thought caused her vision to blur with tears and she looked down to hide them. Her captor swore under his breath, then laughed as he swept away in his black cloak and bid two henchmen to take her away to some room where she was tossed in and heard the bolt slide into place on the outside of the heavy door.

For a moment, Wenn did nothing. She was wild with fear for what shall become of her and worried over Lord Wolf. Then she became angry and desperate. She scrambled to her feet and looked about the room. It was just a bed chamber, nothing notable but for one large window. She crossed to it and opened the panes. It looked out on a courtyard and she saw guards posted on the battlements. Even if she could drop from the window without injury, she would never make the gate without being seen, stopped... or worse.

Wenn was then overcome with grief. She dropped to her knees and curled her fingers tightly around the pendant. Her other hand kept slipping into her pouch of stones, sifting, but the stones were silent, as they had never been before. There was no help there. As the light of day faded into night, she prayed fervently for something, someone to find Wolf and help him for she was now fairly certain she could not get there herself. She had naught left but hope... and very little of that.

~~~~~~

Quietus Dark Wolf walked toward his chambers, with a dark smile upon his brow, after leaving Ancient Wolf's lady. So far things had gone as planned, he thought to himself. He had no doubt that Wolf would recover from his injuries and continue the hunt for his lady. Thanks to the pendant she wore, Wolf was sure to find them and fall into his waiting trap. Softly he chuckled to himself, though there was no humor in it. "Brother dear, it will be so good to see thee again!"

Silently he entered his chambers and looked around at the lavish furnishings, seeing them not, for his attention was drawn toward the object in the center of the room. Walking to the black stand carved in the form of a dragon with its head pointing toward the sky, mouth open as if in the midst of a cry, he smiled softly. Resting within the open mouth of the dragon was a large crystal, polished to a clear sheen. Stepping to the crystal, he looked within its depths and concentrated for a moment, seeing the area around the dark keep spread out before him. With a thought, the view changed and swept all four sides of the keep. Seeing no movement, he paused, looking up and the picture clouded over and vanished. Stepping back toward the door, he stuck his head out and yelled for a guard. In but a moment, the guard appeared. Quickly he told the man to insure that the guard on the walls was doubled and that he was not to be disturbed no matter what!

Stepping back into his chambers, he closed the door behind him and locked it. With a few spoken words, he placed a hold portal spell upon the door, insuring he would not be interrupted. Then, moving a chair over to the crystal, he sat and slowly allowed himself to slip into a light trance. Opening his eyes, he once more stared into the crystal's prismatic core and sent his mind through it, he searched for the other. His mind drifted for several long moments before it found the one he was seeking. There was a moment of recognition as the two minds touched and the mental bond between them strengthened. "Greetings, my love." he said. A soft feminine chuckle but cold and cruel, drifted down the bond to him. "Greetings to you, Dear One. How does our Wolf and his bitch fare?" Quickly Quietus told her all that had happened so far. She again chuckled coldly, "It would appear that my dear Wolf has not changed in all this time. Still, I do not want to take any chances, Quietus. This must work! I will be free of here!" her voice dropped to a low menacing growl, "Wolf will pay for what he has done to me!" Quietus smiled wickedly, "You will be free once more, my Juliana. I swear it!"

~~~~~~

In the distant forest, the ragged figure of a man lay in a pain-induced slumber. His once white robe was torn and covered with blood yet he clinged to life. In his fevered state he dreamed of far off Lyric and a time long ago. He walked the streets once more, following a darkly robed figure, trying to catch it for he was sure it was someone he knew. The figure turned down a dark alley and Wolf ran to catch up. Upon entering the alley, he saw the figure standing within the shadows with its back toward him. Slowly he approached and reaching out he touched the figure on the shoulder, turning the stranger toward him. As the figure's face came into view, he saw his own face staring back at him with an evil smile.

With a start, Wolf awakened, cold sweat covering his body. By the dimming light, he could tell that several hours had passed and night approached. With a groan he tried to sit up but found even that simple movement beyond his means as pain flared in his side. His body hurt and upon feeling his side, he found the sharp edge of a broken rib protruding from his flesh. Carefully, he reached once more for the magical leyline and tapped into its power. Drawing the energy into him, he began the painful process of healing himself. During the healing process his slipped into a light trance and the hours passed.

Finally, though weak still, his body was once more whole. Opening his eyes he was greeted by the patient, yellow eyes of a large grey wolf. The wolf, seeing him awake, threw back his head and howled. The howl was taken up by others and soon the night rang with the song of the Pack as they greeted the night and their leader. Smiling weakly Lord Wolf managed to sit up and reach out, gently laying one hand on the grey wolf's shoulder as the howls slowly stopped. From his own mind and in the wolf speech, his words were conveyed to the grey. **Brother, I am glad to see thee. There is much work to be done, I fear. Our sister, she that is like me, has been taken and we must find her.** The grey wolf remained silent yet the look in its eyes did tell all that was needed to know.

Once more the man was shrouded in a bright light hiding his transformation into the large Arctic Wolf that is part of his birthright. Bones and flesh melted and reformed in but a moments time. As the light dimmed, the proud Arctic Wolf looked around with his forest emerald eyes and tasted the scent of the air. Turning, he sniffed the grey wolf in greeting and then lifted his head to the sky, letting loose a howl which was soon joined by all the pack. Silently as the night, the Pack then slipped into the dark forest. The hunt had begun!

~~~~~~

Wenn awakened curled up in a ball on the floor beneath the open window. She did not remember falling asleep nor did she know how long she had been thus but it was not yet day. She was shivering and groaned as she tried to uncurl herself to stand. The pounding ride and sleeping on the cold damp floor made every movement a strain. At last she stood and looked again out the window as dawn crept onto the horizon. Still wrapped in the black cloak, she tore it away and tossed it angrily aside. Despite her chill she wanted nothing of that creature to touch her. She smoothed her hands over the white silk of her wedding dress but the smudges on it soon faded to her sight as tears blurred her vision.

Shaking her thoughts forcibly, she began pacing, trying to decipher this situation and how to proceed, if indeed any options were available to her. She thought she heard something in the hall outside her door and stopped abruptly to determine what it might be. Wenn tiptoed silently toward the door and closed her eyes, scenting the air as experience in her wolf form had now allowed her to be more sensitive to such things. She smelled food and heard the footfalls of one person. She smelled another, stronger, a guard outside her door perhaps. Neither carried the scent of her captor which lingered in her mind like a nightmare.

The food scent was getting stronger so Wenn slid away from the door, lest what she was about to do shed light beneath it. Wenndolyne placed her hand over her wolf pendant and concentrated with all her mind. She was shrouded in bright light for a moment then the light faded. The lady Wenn was gone but a red wolf now appeared in her place. Wenn, as wolf, listened and scented the air again. She hid near the door, barely breathing yet her heart pounded loudly in her ears.

When the bolt was tripped and the door opened she leaped past the guard and knocked over the other, the tray of food crashing in the corridor. Wenn had only a hint of the layout of this keep but it would have to do. She found an empty corridor far from her room, slipped into a shadowy corner for just a second and crouched to catch her breath. No time to tarry however for her captor, once notified, could no doubt whisk her back in the same manner by which he took her from her Love. She whimpered quietly at this but began stalking the corridors again, searching, scenting for a way out. Wenn turned a corner and a guard spied her. She froze then began to back away awkwardly, cowering. As the guard swore aloud and approached, she could tell he knew not her true nature. He must have thought she was just a stray. This gave her courage. She grinned a wolfish grin, then began a low growl and bared her teeth to him. As he reached for his sword, Wenn leaped at him, high, causing him to topple and then she bounded away down the corridor. At last she saw morning's light streaming through a doorway and carefully wound her way out, staying out of sight as much as possible.

Wenn hid behind a stack of kegs outside a kitchen. The smell of ale was so strong to her, she found it difficult to think. She peeked her muzzle around a keg trying to judge the distance from her to the front gate. Soon her sensitive wolf ears heard the shouting in the corridors. An alarm had been sounded. For now they thought they were looking for a mad dog or a stray wolf. She had no more time to calculate and bounded toward the gate with all the power her aching muscles could muster. Guards spilled out of the keep into the courtyard, chasing after her and yelling. Several shouts were made to the gatekeeper to drop the gate but Wenn was through it and crossing the bridge over the moat before the gate slammed into the ground. The thud shook her stride... but she charged on.

She had never really tested her wolf form, but found this boundless stride almost enjoyable were it not for the forces chasing her. Wenn disappeared into the woods, running as long and hard as she could but it could not go on forever. At last she slowed and finally dropped to the snow. She panted hard trying to cool off and catch her breath. She wondered how long before her captor would know she was missing and drew her back to his keep. Her head slowly dropped to her paws and she slept at last, from sheer exhaustion.

~~~~~~

Lord Wolf and his pack tracked the road, the horses' scent. There was no joy in this hunt as he and the others moved swiftly. After topping a ridge, the dark keep not yet in view, Lord Wolf stopped in his tracks and sat back on his haunches. The others padded to a stop and looked about. Lord Wolf's head perked up, his ears twitched, he closed his eyes and sniffed the air. He lowered his head again and stood up. He padded slowly, his emerald eyes gleaming. Wolf seemed to stalk some prey as he veered from the road into the trees. The rest of the pack followed, only the crunch of snow beneath their paws could be heard, and barely that. A few wolves stayed behind, near the road, as watch.

Her scent was strong on the breeze now and he could run to her. The pack was on his tail as he weaved through the trees deftly until he saw her small red wolf form lying in stark contrast to the snow. He turned to signal the pack to stay put as he approached her. She was asleep, or so he hoped, he could not be sure. Wolf lowered his head to sniff her neck and nudged her muzzle. For one brief second, he feared something desperate had befallen her, but Wenn felt something that awakened her and she scrambled awkwardly to her paws. She was about to scream or howl then saw a wolfish grin she knew and emerald eyes that shined with love for her. She shook her fur all around and her head too, trying to clear it. The muscle aches had returned, stiffened by sleep, but she cared not, for her love had found her and he looked healthy, healed of whatever she had sensed before.

Wenn sat back on her haunches, and the pack, now realizing who had been found, howled to their victorious hunt. Lord Wolf took no time for this and nuzzled her while saying within her mind that she must shift quickly to her human form so he may remove the pendant. The pendant, like all other items not intrinsic to the form were there but not accessible. She had to transform first. He could release the spell and then the pendant would be removed, thus preventing her captor from finding her again.

Lord Wolf stepped back a pace and sat on his haunches. Wenn lowered her head and closed her eyes to concentrate. A bright light shrouded her wolf form and began to expand then fade. This time, no cry to him, no sound at all. When the light had faded, Lord Wolf expected to see his lady Wenndolyne standing before him. But there is nothing. She was quite simply... gone.

The pack watched him pace the area of snow where she had lain. He muttered to himself, cursing under his breath. Wenn's captor must have discovered her missing and rather than send out a search party, he cast a spell to bring her to him the next time the pendant's power was invoked. "Blast me!" He had done it to her himself. He had handed her over as if for the asking.

Lord Wolf sat back on his haunches again and let out the most haunting howl, an oath against his error, a grieving sound, for once again his love was gone. The rest of the pack joined in to make a sorrowful chorus. When they were through and silence tried to fall upon the snow again, Wolf heard another sound that brought him much grief. It was little more than a whisper on the breeze, but very recognizable to him though he had not heard it for nearly 500 years. It was a soft feminine chuckle, cold and cruel, that came to him and with it, a deep coarse laugh. He shook his fur all around trying to shake off the memories these voices carried and for what they may do with Wenn just to get him to come to them. He knew his enemies, much too well, and must plot carefully his rescue and revenge.

~~~~~~

A bright light appeared in front of Quietus and transformed into Wenn as a cold smile crossed his face. For a moment she looked around, unsure of her surroundings, then her eyes fell on the figure in the chair before her. With a half-choked sob, her shoulders slumped as she realized that once more she was within the dark keep and a prisoner. Quietus, smiled charmingly to her, his cold loveless eyes belying the smile's warmth. "Nice of you to join us again, my dear. Did you enjoy your brief meeting with my brother?"

Squaring her shoulders, she stood proudly and looked to Quietus, a defiant glare upon her features. "I am not thy dear, nor is Lord Wolf thy brother."

"Oh but there you are wrong, M'Lady. For Wolf was whelped from the same bitch as I. Though his Sire was of lessor stock than my own, still we be brothers as ye reckon such." For a moment, she was taken back by his words, for Wolf had said naught of a brother to her. Still, the resemblance was too close for it not to be the truth. Yet, was not this stranger a Magi, so could he not change his features at will, even as Wolf could? If Wolf had a brother, then why hide the fact from her?

"Tis a lie! If Wolf had a brother, he would have told me of such." she responded. She must trust in Wolf she decided. If he simply had not told her, there must be a reason for it. Perhaps this stranger did try to cause her to doubt Wolf? A good job of it he was doing, she had to admit.

Quietus, chuckled softly at her words. "There is much you know not about our Wolf. There have been many others before. You are but the latest of his... play things. In time, you to will be replaced." His words dropped softly but cold, "Even as he sent his first wife away, so shall he do to you." Quietus sat back, allowing his words to sink in and watching Wenn. He had to admit that the old Wolf had good taste in women. This one was almost as beautiful as Juliana. He had tested her while on the journey and although she did not possess much talent for magic, she was a perfect conduit for the magical energies of the nodes.

There are those that can pull directly from the nodes, that place where the magical leylines crossing the world meet as well as from the leylines connected to the magical weave surrounding the world. Those were the Magi, powerful in the working of magic and such. These that worked with the nodes, were easy to spot for their hair was oft bleached white from working with the vast powers found there. Also, there were those that could tap into the nodes but did not possess the knowledge to manipulate the energy. These were like natural channels or conduits, having the ability to feed the energy through them and pass it along to a Magi. A Magi, supplied as such, did not have to tap into the node himself and thereby was free to work his magic without the hindrance of concentrating on the link to the magical energy.

"You apparently would rather decline the hospitality that I have generously offered you, so, we shall have to place thee in a more suitable chamber." Wenn, deciding to not give him the satisfaction of a response, glared at him and remained quiet. Quietus motioned and a detachment of guards moved to Wenn to escort her from the room. "Take her to the chamber below. See that she is cared for and fed. If she escapes again, someone will pay with their life."

The guards led Wenn down into the lowest level of the keep then through a long corridor. Stopping before a heavy oaken door, one guard opened it and motioned for Wenn to enter the cell. Wenn stepped forward, noticing that the door and door frame were covered with strange writings and symbols. One of the guards entered the cell with a torch and placed it in a holder on the wall. The cell was little more than that, barely eight feet square with only a cot to sit upon. The guard quickly left the room and with the sound of finality, the door closed, the bolt was thrown home, as she was left to herself once more.

~~~~~~

The Pack slipped through the woods without a sound. The white arctic wolf leading them appeared merely a specter against the snow, slipping through the under brush. Topping a rise, the forest thinned and gave way to a field of tall dry grass disturbed only by the road and a large black keep to which the road ran. For a moment, the white wolf paused and surveyed the area. His keen sight noticed the guards walking to and fro upon the walls. The field offered very little cover to anyone approaching the dark keep.

Wolf sat upon his haunches, the pack doing the same here and there, awaiting directions from the alpha wolf leading them. For long moments the arctic wolf watched the keep as the Pack rested from its long run. He had seen this keep before, in a land called Lyric. The keep should not be here, for it was sealed away with the rest of Lyric long ago. Still, here it sat like a none too gentle reminder of that time. Memories flooded his mind of a time when the keep below him was his home. The original Wolf Keep had been built from the very bedrock of the earth, raised by magic and loving thought. It was meant to be a place of love and comfort for him and his then new wife, Juliana. Yet it had become a place of hatred and betrayal as his wife tried to kill him and claim his powers for her own. In the end, he had killed her and those with her. To insure that the knowledge he had taught her never left the land to harm others, he had sealed the land away in a place where there was no time. Remembering the soft feminine chuckle heard upon the breeze earlier, he wondered if perhaps he had erred and she yet lived?

Rising finally, the white wolf padded back into the forest and there hidden from sight among the trees, he called on his birthright and shifted his form again to that of a man. He paused and drew in a deep breath, calming himself, and closing his eyes, sending out his mind to the pendant. Faintly, he sensed it but his mind could not fully reach it, try as he might. Cursing, he realized that Wenn must be in a place protected from magic. Long moments passed as he pondered this change of events. Undoubtedly, his enemy wanted him to go the to keep or else he would have left no trail leading there. He was sure there would be a trap waiting for him and the best way to avoid a trap is to ride straight into it. He smiled to himself as a plan began to take shape within his mind. He would have to wait for the cover of night, but that would give him time to rest for though he had healed himself, he was still weak. Smiling he looked to those of the Pack that were near. "Rest my brothers and sisters for tonight, we hunt!"

(dj/dp)