Chapter 9.

did you miss Chapter 8? Find it here. 

Fella found them where she had left them, snarling and biting, well perhaps one was doing more of that than the other but they were both equally trying to kill the other. Vorcinerex was weary, she could tell by the heaving of his sides, the fury gave him strength but he was up against a champion of their enemy. The champion, to his credit did not seem tired or worried, he seemed as posed as if he was dancing around the fire with a mate rather than fighting for his life. There was a sudden flurry, and another of the massive trees was hewn, falling on itself as half its trunk was sliced. Vorcinerex reciprocated by tearing off the limbs of another and beating back the tall warrior at length.

Such was the trail that she had followed, misshaped tree after fallen tree. The light had sunk beneath the trees and now she walked in gloom. It was better for her that way, while she didn't doubt she could stop her enraged mate from striking at her, she did not trust the other fighter. The ridges of his skin glowed softly in the gloom and merely heightened her apprehension of the warrior. He was not of this plane, and he was not of their Mother.

There was a crack, followed at length by a deafening thud as the tree that Vorcinerex tossed the warrior into broke and fell. Trees taller than rivers were long, the ground threatened to tear itself open in protest of their weight. Still they went on, the warrior picking himself up as if he'd merely been tripped and stalking towards her mate. That sword of his dancing in front of him as if it were a short spear instead of a metal blade as large as her. Gashes sliced through trees, boughs fell, and crimson petals rained.

She lost sight of them behind a wide tree that they had not brought down and began to creep forward once more. There was little she could do to help her mate here, but she would tell him of the child's kidnapping once he was threw. He'd have no choice but to gather more tribes and strike out against the human kingdom for her. Of course, he'd have to finish with this warrior first, but Vorcinerex was Mother's favorite, she'd never let him fail yet.

There was movement up ahead, not the two fighting, but to the side a bit. Someone else had found them! Fella scrambled around the tree and towards another closer to the pair and their other guest. The two tumbled past, Vorcinerex landing on top and trying to tear at the throat of the warrior. The warrior glowed as they rolled and Vorcinerex's roar a short while after told her he'd failed in his attempt. There! There was someone else lurking, no not lurking striding purposefully towards the pair. A Minotaur, with dark brown hair and horns of black. She did not like the look in its eyes, or the jagged edge of its spear.

Fella sighed, she was hoping to avoid this but it wouldn't do well for her to watch her mate fall. Favored of Mother or not. Stepping around the tree she closed the distance between herself and the wrestling pair and across from the Minotaur building speed. It's eyes were red, a bad sign as far as eyes typically went.

Is it too much to ask that you didn't bless our enemies Mother.
She howled, her size doubling as she began loping towards the now charging bull. It bellowed a challenge as she continued to grow while the gap closed between them. She felt the air pressing against her as she sped towards the spear pointed at her heart, ten meters, five meters, now... She willed herself to the winds and became it. She passed around the barreling Minotaur, her claws formed as she passed and raked along its sides, it's hardened hide protecting it. She coalesced a meter behind it and immediately had to avoid a spear thrust. The Minotaur smiled a toothy smile at her.

"When did Trife favor the Vulk so! You're the second windwalker I've had the pleasure of killing this day," said the Minotaur.

So Hevhast had not survived, his tales would be missed but he had given his spirit for the tribe, no for his people. She reached for the red emblem hanging from her neck by a bit of cord. Gripping the cool metal and yanking, it fell away easily. Now that it was in her hand the metal shaped, the spirit within listening to hers and turning into a long double edge sword. We've work to do my son. 
The Minotaur's patience ran out and he barreled forward with a series of jabs, Fella parried two while giving ground then dove past the third strike turning to wind and passing around him the spirit sword remaining dancing in the wind and striking along the side of the beast. She formed and had to roll away from a fist. It was fast, and angry.

"Blasted wind! Stand still and fight me!" it bellowed.

She wasn't inclined to acquiesce.  She shied from another thrust catching the shaft and slicing down through the wood with her own blade. The minotaur pulled back and began to spin the shaft around his head and began using both sides to keep her back and from gaining ground towards him. She went to step into a lunge and ate an end to the snout, she tried to leap but took a hard strike to the side of the leg which dropped her. It smiled looming over her, its red eyes staring down at her.

"I hope Klanae appreciates my offering," it said.

Then it was gone, a flash of gray fur taking the creature bodily and planting it into the side of a tree. Vorcinerex huffed standing where the Minotaur once had been, his back to her as it watched the crumpled shape of her attacker.

She stood carefully her shin burning, she was already shrinking. She wasn't as experienced at holding her fury as Vor was. There was a sound like a wind catcher spun above her head. She felt the danger before she saw it, pushing Vor under the very tree he'd just sent the Minotaur sprawling. Arrows feathered the ground where they'd been standing. A new shadow loomed long over the gloomy cove where the champions fought.

Looking up Fella saw the belly of a great beast, it's wings spread wide allowing it to float above the forest. Archers lined it side, already aiming another shot at them under the cover of the tree. Even from here she could sense the power of the spirit on that abomination. Fate it seemed, was against them, it was time to change it.

The Minotaur stood with a groan. Fella noted with relief its red eyes had taken to black and it seemed slow to go on the attack. Vorcinerex moved towards it as if to finish the creature but Fella held him back. Her mate spun on her then, anger burning in his eye, she did not flinch before him she had mastered his anger and it held no sway over her. His eye cooled and he stayed his wrath, shrinking some as he recognized her.

"We must go," she said while pulling on his arm with her free hand, spirit sword held in the other.

He huffed once more, shaking his head roughly before finally allowing himself to be lead.

"What happened to the other?" Fella asked.

"I... I do not know. I saw that one attacking you and left it."

Fella searched the forest for signs of the other warrior but saw none, he had merely disappeared.

"Perhaps you scored a lethal blow."

"Yes, we should turn back and finish that other champion of there's. Our army could fight them with those two returned to the Fields."

"He is here, and they have Anae," Fella said stumbling. "They took her Vor! Stole her right from my arms. They've hunted us, slaughtered us, then on the day of our defeat they stole our child!"

Fella sobbed softly into the shoulder of Vor, she felt the loving embrace of her mate, and the tremors of his wrath.

"I had planned to give Bloodlust to Klanae when I'd finally met him on the field. Now I think it would be too great an honor for him. I will rip the throats from his people, feast on their spirits, and use their strength to break his kingdom and return Anae to our people."

He released her then, and began stalking deeper into the Eternal Wood. She had him then, he would unite them again, and lead them to war against these humans. They had been beaten, but all swords were tempered.