Going Under: Chapter 6

Setting Off

     Kardia would have jumped on Skia, but she stopped within inches of him. Something was different... He was injured?
     "Skia," she said with shock and concern, "what happened?"
     "It's not as bad you might think," replied Skia, he then added reassuringly. "you know Defenders; we're meant to take hits. I'll be up in no time."
     Kardia smiled.
     "Kardia," continued Skia slowly, "I have to assume you got here the same way I did."
     Kardia stepped closer to Skia and laid her body behind his. She then rested her head on his back. "If you were approached by one of Skotos' wolves, then yes."
     Skia shuddered at his name. Skotos was the wolf that Skia had told Korax of before: The Wolf of Darkness. "Kardia, I'm worried th-"
     "Yaly!" shouted Korax's familiar voice. Both wolves turned their heads.
     From the mouth of the cave, a raven the same size as Korax came walking through. The raven nodded her head. "Good evening, Korax," the female bird said softly. "Such an odd creature that wolf is."
     "Yaly, don't be so rude with our guests present. Don't you remember that wolves can get a bit snappy?" he asked comedically. "By the way, how is your brother?"
     Yaly laughed lightly. "My brother is fine - thank you for asking. Shall I give him your best?"
     Korax nodded his head. "Please do. Also remind him that I still hold him up to his word."
     "I can assure you he won't be happy to hear that," said Yaly with a twitch in her head. "Now, where did that wolf go - ah! Who do we have here?"
     Again, both wolves stared blankly.
     "'Yaly' is your name?" asked Skia, trying to be polite.
     "Yes, and it is a pleasure to meet you. You must be Skia, yes?"
     "Yes. It is Skia, Skia Lukos."
     "Skia Skia Lukos? What an odd name," responded Yaly lightheartedly. "You have been named 'Skia' twice?"
     Skia shook his head with a smile. This bird had a funny bone apparently. "I will remember that," he said with smile. "Jokes aside, you must be the one who found Kardia."
     Kardia jumped in. "Yes, I must thank you again, Yaly."
     "Yes, yes; it was and is my pleasure to help." Yaly bowed in a bird-like fashion by spreading open her left wing towards emptiness and lowering her head.
     "Yaly," began Korax, as he walked towards the mouth of the cave, "it might be best to take our conversation outside. We must talk and they must talk."
     "Ah, I see," said Yaly with a nod of her head. "Must we leave the lovebirds alone?"
     Skia's head jerked skyward and Kardia jumped up.
     "Yaly!" shouted Korax with a laugh.
     Yaly stepped next to Korax. "Please don't tell me that I was the only one who saw it! Didn't you see her head on his back? It was so lovely!"
     Kardia turned her face away while Skia managed to smile widely
     Korax laughed just as before. "Oh! Look what you've done, Yaly! Come now, you trouble maker."
     "Forgive me, Skia. As you might have already guessed, Yaly is a forced to be reckoned with." He then bowed just as Yaly had done before. "We shall be back shortly." They both walked out without another word.
     Skia and Kardia were silent. It had become awkward and quiet in the cave.
     "Skia," began Kardia slowly, "what was it you were saying?"
     "Yes," responded Skia awkwardly, lightly shaking his head trying to recompose himself. "I am worried that Skotos is thinking of something terrible." Skia paused, he then continued, "Miseo," he paused again, "I was off looking for En when Miseo approached on our territory."
     "Miseo? He is one of Skotos' Fighter, right?"
     "Yes," Skia paused, "but what made this encounter different from any other encounter was that Miseo was looking for En and myself." Skia shook his head; he felt terribly confused, "Miseo was short with details, which didn't surprise to me much, but Miseo had a different glare in his eyes. It was if he was planning something terribly wicked - worst of all, I felt as if there was nothing that I could do about it."
     "Well," responded Kardia as she laid herself next to Skia just as before, "what did you do?"
     "The only thing I could have done: I called for En." Skia became silent. "Well, you know En - he was there within seconds."
     "Skia, your brother chose the path of the Fighter. He's meant to be stronger, you can't always be beating yourself up about it. Besides, as a Defender, you have your own duties and obligations."
     Skia nuzzled Kardia softly. "Yes, you are right... But it just seems like, at times, he's just showing off his great and powerful strength." Skia felt himself growing bitter. "It's just that whenever En does something so simple or mundane, he's regarded as some great hero. I can understand that he's been chosen as successor of the pack, but it has gotten to his head."
     Kardia sighed. "Skia, I'm sure your brother will eventually understand."
     "When does 'eventually' come around?"
     Kardia didn't respond.
     Skia whimpered. "Kardia- "
     "It's all right."
     "No. It's not entirely fair to say that, it's not all righ-" Skia bit his tongue. "I'm sorry, Kardia."
     "Skia," Kardia brought her face close to his, "you must not worry yourself so much... Besides, we're together now, right?"
     Skia smiled, and he rubbed his muzzle against hers. "Yes, we are together now."
     Kardia licked his muzzle. "What happened after your brother showed up?"
     Skia's spirit was lifted at the touch. With a half smile, he continued, "After En showed up, Miseo seemed to be quite pleased with himself. En, as always, was itching for a fight.."
     "A fight..." Kardia trailed off, nodding her head as she did so. "Is that how you got injured?"
     Skia shook his head. "No, that didn't happen till afterward."
     Kardia tilted her head. "After what?"
     "Wait," said Skia with worry, "I want to hear what happened to you. You said you were also approached by one of Skotos' followers. Who was it?"
     Kardia spoke slowly, "Well, at first it was Thesko"
     "At 'first'?" Skia shook his head. "Let me throw a guess out there: her precious mate then joined?"
     "Yes. Stutos wasn't to far behind."
     "All right," Skia paused to think, "so far, we have one Fighter, one Fire, and one Wind- "
     "Wait," interrupted Kardia, "there was one other – a wolf I had not seen before."
     Skia tilted his head to the right in confusion. "Someone you haven't seen before? Could you sense anything obvious about him?"
     Kardia shook her head. "No." She paused to think. "He definitely wasn't a Defender, that's for sure. Thesko and Stutos had ordered him to guard me... And as you can clearly see, I've escaped."
     "Yes. Not much can ever stop you, nothing ever has." Skia smiled. "Sometimes, it really does seem like you would have been a good Fighter."
     Kardia managed to laugh. "Well, I'm quite happy with the path of the Healer." Her laughter turn to silence, and she spoke once more. "Skia, there was something about the wolf that caught my attention." Kardia looked up to the cave's ceiling as if to think. "I think he's being hurt by Thesko and Stutos."
     Skia looked at her in confusion. "Anyone who is on the side of Darkness can easily be hurt." he said matter-of-factly.
     Kardia rested her head back on Skia. "True... But they called him a horrible name."
     Skia eyed her cautiously. "What was it?"
     "Skia, they called him huan."
     Skia cringed at the name. It was a terrible insult for a wolf to be called a Huan.
     "Well, that certainly does say a lot. You couldn't get anything else about him?"
     Kardia shook her head. "No. Except that he seems rather young. Maybe 13 moons? He's definitely inexperienced. If he was more experienced, I would have not escaped."
     Skia nodded slowly. "Let's hope so. That would be one less problem to deal with."
     Kardia nodded her head. "Yes, I hate it to put it that way, but it's true."
     "Although, something is a little odd about Thesko and Stutos having a cub." He shook his head, "I just don't see them being...good at it?"
     Kardia laughed lightly at the comment.
     "Where were we?" "questioned Skia.
     "Yes, after-"
     "You told Skia to come and look at this wolf outside," spoke Yaly, interrupting them from the mouth of the cave, "and only then could he finish his story."
     Skia stood to his paws with swiftness. Any pain he had been in the earlier was just a memory now.
     "Let me look at him real quick - it might be someone we know."
     "That's true," said Kardia, standing up, "but what if it's that wolf, or Thesko and Stutos? What then? Let's be realistic: even together, we don't have the strength to fight both of them, or even one of them."
     "I know... But whoever it is outside, chance are he won't be going away soon. Let me go first." Skia's face grew grim. "I'll call you if something goes down."
     Kardia nodded her. "Agreed."
     Skia walked to to the cave's mouth andYaly stepped out of Skia's path, lifting her wing politely as if bowing.
     Skia's brow lifted in surprise as he saw the actions, but what was to happen next surprised him even more.
     As Skia exited the cave's mouth, Korax waddled to him.
     "Master Wolf, you've come." Greeted Korax with tone a of adoration.
     Skia caught on. He raised his head high and his tail raised even higher. Even so, he felt silly and foolish to be acting so high; it didn't feel right to him.
     "Raven," said Skia proudly, "who has come to visit my den?"
     "Master Wolf, we told him to wait by the trees until you have come out. His eyes are upon us now. Shall I call him forth?"
     "Yes, Raven; bring him forward." Skia made his way down the waterfall's path.
     Korax hopped to the treeline and spoke lightly. A wolf soon followed him out.
     It definitely wasn't anybody he knew. He had a gray body with black fur running up all four of his legs. It gave his legs a muddy appearance.
     "Master Wolf," said the wolf, stopping at the creek, "I have come looking for a wolf. I was wondering if you could help."
     Skia met the wolf near the creek and he eyed the wolf intimidatingly hoping that the young wolf would feel the pressure.
     "I see," said Skia slowly. "What does a young wolf such as yourself need with another wolf? A friend, maybe?"
     "Forgive me, Master Wolf. I have strict orders."
     Without thinking about it, Skia found himself growling. "Do you now? Tell me your name."
     The young wolf's ears went down at Skia's anger. "Master Wolf, I can't tell you that either..."
     Skia slowly approached the young wolf, his only intent being to intimidate the wolf. "What was that? Tell me again."
     The young wolf started to take slow steps backwards with every step Skia took forward. "T-t-t-te-tell you what?"
     Skia slowly drove him back to the trees. "Your orders."
     The young wolf bumped into the tree: He was cornered. With a whimper, he looked at Skia. "I'm not allowed to tell anybody of myself."
     Skia brought himself two wolf-lengths from the young wolf.  "Want to reconsider now?"
     The young wolf looked to the left and to the right. "I can't."
     Just as his lips finished the last word, he blasted off to his right. However, Skia was more experienced and he cut him off. The young wolf froze with Skia standing in front of him again.
     "A desperate attempt," growled Skia. "Tell me, is your heart racing?"
     The young wolf's eyes searched desperately for a plan of escape.
     "Look at me!" snarled Skia.
     The young wolf yelped in fear. "Yes! Please, please, I'm sorry! Let me go!"
     "Tell me your name."
     The young wolf quivered and whined. "I-i-i-i-i-I'm not allowed to tell you."
     Skia growled and began to circle the wolf. "Tell me: 'Huan' can't really be your name."
     The young wolf cringed at the name. Even worse, the circling was extremely intimidating and it filled him with fear. This is what the hunted must have felt like.
     "Master Wolf, p-p-p-p-p-please let me go."
     Skia slowed his walk and stopped behind him "And if I don't? Don't tell me you would try running again?"
     As soon as it was said, the young wolf began to run. Skia knew he would, and that was the only reason he stood behind him. Within a second, Skia jumped on the back of the wolf. With a yelp, the wolf fell with his back to the floor. Skia stood over him and sighed.
     "Tell me your name."
     The young wolf stared into what he considered the jaws of death. He was speechless.
     "Speak!" growled Skia. "Do you think I want to hurt you?"
     The young wolf whimpered and whine. "You're already hurting me..."
     "Huan! Tell me your name!"
     "Please don't!"
     "Don't what?" Skia stopped growling..
     "Just get off me!" the young wolf began to kick.
     "Fine...have it your way."
     The young wolf closed his eyes and expected to feel the life drained from his body. Nothing happened. He opened his eyes. Skia was off.
     The young wolf stood to his paws shaking.
     "No running, young wolf. Tell me who you're with."
     The wolf looked at Skia, who's eyes were full of confusion and regret.
     "I think you already know the answer to that, Master Wolf."
     "I certainly do," said Skia, coming closer to the wolf.
     "Yes..." the young wolf starting to take more steps back.
     Skia growled. "Don't ever think about i-"
     The young wolf then took flight once again. It was another futile attempt. Skia rammed his body into the wolf. The young wolf fell face forward with a yelp.
     Skia stood over the young wolf and snarled. "Speak to me!"
     "Mother! Puw'kit help me!" cried the young wolf with whines and whimpers.
     Skia felt grieved at his cries. "Your mother can't help you now! You answer to me now - now  speak!"
     The young wolf quivered with his back on the floor and said nothing. Skia snapped his jaws on the air beside his head. The young wolf yelped loudly and whimpered.
     "Not wanting to hurt you and the ability to hurt you are two different things - speak!
     "Ana! My name is Ana!" he shouted with desperation. "Please let me go!" Ana again began to kick.
     "Quit kicking!" snarled Skia.
     Ana whimpered and stared at Skia. "What else do you want? Please let me g-"
     "Not yet, Ana. We're finally getting somewhere." Skia stared at the young wolf. "What do Thesko and Stutos want with the wolf you're looking for?"
     "Oh, please let me go!"
     "Huan!" yelled Skia.
     "I don't know!" yelled Ana back. He whimpered quietly, "They haven't told me anything about their plans. All I know is that Skotos is trying to stop something."
     "Stop what? What is Skotos doing?"
     "I don't know," he said sheepishly.
     "You're lying to me!"
     Ana yelped and whimpered.
     "You better start telling me the truth, or I'll actu-"
     "Skotos is trying to stop the undoing of wolves!" Ana began to kick again.
     Skia grunted with each kick. "He's trying to stop the undoing of wolves...?"
     Ana whimpered. "I don't know anything else! Let me go! I won't tell them about you!"
     By them, Skia knew he meant Thesko and Stutos.  
     "I could care less if they knew of me," said Skia with a growl
     "They would care, Master Wolf," Ana said with a whimper. "Please... Please, let me go."
     "Not yet," said Skia, slowly he continued, "tell me what you know about other wolves in this area. Thesko and Stutos wouldn't be after only one wolf."
     Ana looked at Skia fearfully. "They are meeting with some other wolves south of here in two nights. Please believe me, I have no idea what they're going to talk about!"
     Skia nodded his head, "I believe you... To a certain extent. Tell me more. You know you're way around here. What are some wolves that they are chasing? Not meeting."
     Ana's eyes desperately searched for answers. "Yes, Master Wolf! There are two names I have heard: En and Mira. There looking for them, desperately. There had been sigh-" Ana became quite.
     Skia nodded his head. En... His brother. And then, this "Mira". But what else?
     Skia nodded his head. "There had been what?"
     "I wasn't going to say anything..."
     Skia snarled and Ana yelped as if in pain.
     "There had been sightings of the one they called Mira south of here! I don't know anything about En."
     "What else? What's her power? "
     Ana whined furiously. "She's a Speed, Master Wolf," as he finished he kicked as before. "Let me go. I have to get back to Thesko and Stutos." He fell silent.
     Skia looked at Ana with shock. "What kind of request is that?"
     "Please, Master Wolf... Niegiv Wolf, please."
     Skia growled lightly and slowly stepped off his body. Ana scrambled to his feet. With his tail curled, he backed away slowly.
     "Niegiv..."
     Skia turned his back to Ana, and slowly walked. Skia turned his head over his left shoulder and met eyes with Ana once more.
     "Take care, Ana. You are still young - remember that."
     Ana stared at Skia sadly. "I will, Niegiv," he said, gravely. And with that, he ran off southward.
     Skia resumed his slow walk back the cave's incline. Korax and Yaly approached him happily. Skia looked at them and smiled slightly.
     "Whose idea was it to call me 'Master Wolf'?"
     Yaly jumped up. "Yours truly!"
     "Yes," agreed Korax with a nod, "it seemed to work, too!"
     "Sure" Skia sighed.
     "Hm?" Korax tilted his head. "Is there something wrong?"
     "There could be... Where is Kardia?"
     "I'm coming," came her voice from behind the waterfall. "That was him - the wolf who was guarding me. It was 'Ana'?"
     "Yes. Did you hear everything else as well?"
     Kardia reached Skia, and she nodded softly. "Most of it," she shook her head, "the undoing of wolves? What do you think about it? What do you think about Ana?"
     Skia looked southward. "We're going to find out. About Skotos' plans and Ana." Skia paused. "Ana," he said quietly, "he knows the Language of the High Plains. He called for his mother's help by it and called me 'leader' with it, too. He's young... And it does seem like he's taken his share of abuse from Thesko and Stutos." Skia paused to think. "Have you ever heard of a wolf named Mira?"
     "Yes I have," said Kardia slowly. "Well, if you mean Mira Rasa, then yes."
     "'Rasa', as in Gira Rasa, from the Tall Trees Territories?"
     "Yes. Gira and his mate had Mira in a litter last season. You never met Mira?"
     Skia shook his head. "No."
     "Then you wouldn't know that Mira and her brother were the only two that survived Winter's Test?"
     "Oh, that would would explain why news of them hadn't reach my pack yet."
     Yaly's sleek head jumped in between them. "Silly wolves! You two are short on time! Quickly now, quickly now!"
     Skia eyed the bird annoyingly. "'Quickly' what?"
     "My eyes sees everything!" said Yaly proudly. "The wolf you chased off is running southward and you both are having a conversation! Ever heard of walking and talking?"
     Skia was irritated, but she made her point very clearly. Korax walked up behind her.
     "She's right, Skia. Please, is there anything we can do for you?"
     Kardia jumped in. "Yaly said that all birds relay messages to each other?"
     Yaly cawed and flapped her wings. "It shall be done! We ravens can relay anything you need."
     It was Skia's turn: "Good. Spread words with only those you trust. If we are to have a confrontation with any of Skotos' wolves, we will be outmatched." Skia nodded his head as if he was piecing something together. "Chances are, there are more wolves than Mira and En."
     Yaly for once seemed confused and serious. "Skotos? Who is this Skotos?"
     Korax flapped his wings. "I can tell you in a bit, Yaly, but later. We must be seeing these two wolves off."
     Irritated, Yaly agreed with a nod.
     Skia couldn't help but smile at the birds.
     Korax walked to Skia and flapped his wings. "Is there anything else? If not, I'm ready."
     "Kardia?" questioned Skia
     "No, I think I'm good."
     Skia smiled. "Good that makes two of us." He turned to Korax. "Well, my friend, until we meet again."
     "Korax nodded his head. "Yes, yes. Yaly and I will do our part, and you two must do yours."
          Skia nodded his head, "Kardia and I sho-"
     Korax flew into Skia's face and flapped his wings to annoy him. "Hurry along now! Time is short!"
     Skia sneezed, which sent Korax flying to the ground. Skia smiled at his accidental success. He turned his attention to Kardia, and with a nod, they both bolted off in a speed that only wolves could do. Korax stood up and shook himself off.
     "Are we going to see them again, Korax?"
     "Without a doubt," said Korax. And with that, both ravens flew off into the sky.