Thus, dusk came to the town of Brytwood. The darker turn of twilight never made anyone so anxious. The townspeople more than anything. Now, the whole Battalion was welcome to the settlement of hostility. They all had set up camp. They worked during the day, with the citizens helping. Every end of the road, every way out of this town, it was blocked off by wagons, heavy crates, and some finely crafted barricade gates made of wood for the time they had to do so. It would have to do. For it was said that the Jokul-Dogs were very intelligent creatures. Smart enough to ravage a whole town when they got hungry, apparently. "Captain, if I may." Hrokir, one of her best, had spoken from her side.
The Thane of Winter's Ark paid him her gaze, nodding soon after.
"If what they say about these dogs are true… how're we to defend against them?" He asked.
Davina smiled a bit, scoffing under her breath in amusement.
"What?" He asked, confused written on his face partially covered by his helmet.
"If it's true what they say about them, then these won't be Jokul-Dogs." She stated, crossing her arms as her men began to slowly gather after their hard work.
Hrokir still looked bewildered by this.
"You don't believe they're real?" He asked.
"I choose not to believe everything I read." She tried to think, soon to shrug her shoulders.
"Jokul-Dogs are spirits. Omens, as the stories says. They've never been fabled to prey upon our kind." She explained.
"Omens of?" Hrokir asked.
She rolled her eyes.
"Speaking of dogs. Where's the Emperor's?" She ignored his question of fearful paranoia.
A soldier stepped up.
"He's off at the other side of town with that Nord brute." That soldier claimed.
Davina stepped passed him and began to walk at an impatient pace to find him. Following that afterwards, she turned the corner to a road leading to a four way crossing between all the homes. It was there, she saw the redheaded man standing there with his hands held behind his back, looking as if he supervised the men finishing up the blockade while speaking to Aloysius. She went over, her presence joining theirs. She watched as Wrafe's auburn orbs for eyes traversed to her.
"Well, hello, Captain." He greeted, rather nonchalant for someone about to go on a hunt.
"Is everything taken care of?" Davina asked, crossing her arms.
"Indeed. I also took the liberty of ensuring Aloysius here made it all worth it." He stated, gesturing to the Nord with a little grin.
"Do tell." Wrafe stated.
"Right." Aloysius stepped forward, up to Davina.
"Since you're helping us greatly, you now have the Rythe Guild at your aid. You'll need it, for when we get you to the mountains. Unless you'd like dealing with your people's wrath alone." He held out a hand, his voice bearing a more subtly friendly tone.
That of an ally. She thrust her hand forward to shake his hand.
"I'd rather take them on with you at our side." She answered, being paid a nod from him.
"Ring the bell! The wolves, the dogs, they're coming!" A voice yelled from within the town, a peasant, which startled them all to direct their attention away.
Davina released his hand and turned to the other direction where she saw a man running down the road towards them.
"Do not do such a thing!" She heard Wrafe shout to the other individuals.
She silently agreed, due to the noise. Even with the amount already caused. She quickly walked up to the peasant, hissing through her bared teeth in immediate frustration.
"Shut up, you fool!" She whispered a yell.
"Unless you wish to doom us all. Get inside." She ordered.
He nodded and did so.
"I suppose this is where our hunt begins?" The Savencroner remarked.
She laid her gloved hand upon the grip of the blade tied with sleek leather, drawing it out with the steel scraping from within the sheathe to ring through the air.
"Yes." She answered, with a firm tone.
Then, there was silence. From just a simple wave, every light source, every torch in the town was extinguished. Thus, the entire place was only lit up due to the full moon high in the sky shining down upon them. The Valerian, Savencroner and other soldiers were mostly in the dead center of the town. Right at the crossroads. Her emerald orbs traversed amongst the dark woods in view beyond the walls they built and the homes. You could very well see the intimidating silhouette of the Cira Khan Mountain. The moon was high above it, too.
Then, something broke the silence.
A loud, visceral howl emerged from their quietness and sounded every individual throughout the settlement. It sent a great many soldiers into a strike of paranoia and anxiousness. Admittedly, though never verbal, Davina was as well. Not for the doubt that there was the mythical omens spoken of before, but the wolves in these lands always hunted in packs. And, they tended to be nearly the size of an average man. The Valerian squeezed the grip to her lengthy blade and had simply waited now. Wrafe, doing the same right beside her. His yellow eyes narrowed throughout the darkness of the woods as if trying to see through it.
"Tell me, are the stories true of your abilities in battle?" He asked, quietly.
What a question, she thought. She often was doubted for an obvious reason, and more often loved to prove her capabilities. But, she recognized now was no time for idle banter like she was in another tavern.
"Mostly." She answered.
"Then we should survive this night." He added.
He sounded confident of this. Which, she had gladly accepted such kindness in this straining moment.
Another loud, beastly howl aired throughout the lands. Followed by another, with a few more joining in the lunar ceremony for wolves.
"Shit…-" Davina muttered, acknowledging how many wolves this was. Nearly half a dozen. But, there was probably more. To her dread.
The entire town was then oppressed with a wave of chill. A coldness that hit them all like a bad blizzard, just without any visible snow. That was, until she looked down to follow a little flake of snow land upon her sword.
The air was filled with the sound of wood crackling, shattering under some form of pressure from the direction they were facing, far behind the walls. The men at that gate flinched as loud thuds were heard thereafter. They even backed up a bit.
"Hold. Your. Ground." Davina ordered from afar.
Their defense did not matter. Even if they were the strongest of men, the most skilled warriors, they would be broken. After an extremely loud crunch was heard throughout the entire place, a silhouette bursts from the darkness in the sky with the momentum of gliding forward from its leaping strength. Everyone's eyes were on this high in the sky shadow that then began falling to the ground. Then, it slammed into the ground, nearly shaking it from its weight and size. It had leapt well over the barricade, passed the men. It landed right in the street, between The Valerian warrior and the Nobleman along with the guild member. Davina was truly appalled by what she had just seen, her legs bending a bit as she squinted through the dust of the road flying around everywhere. A colder chill took over the area suddenly. A low, guttural growl was heard from within the mist of dirt turning into a blue and white cloud of disguise for the creature. Her eyes then widened as her brows furrowed, readying herself in her stance. Wrafe simply stood as he did, a hand held out to shield his eyes a bit. Aloysius came to the other side of the Captain with a battle axe and shield ready in a warriors stance. All the others, the soldiers, they had readied themselves too. Some were already staggered with fear and the rest were simply ready to obtain victory over whatever this Jokul-Dog would appear to be. Then, the mist was soon to clear once the jaws of the beast with razor sharp teeth opened to release the exhale of a cold breath.
Davina found these vibrant blue eyes staring into hers. She had to look up just a bit, even with as far away as she was. Her lips parted in awe as a shiver ran up her spine. This beast… it was a wolf, twice- Nay, three times the size of a normal man. Its fur is striped with shades of gray and little bits of black on its mostly white coat. Its paws with claws like talons. And, the tail slowly lowered to brush its fur against the ground as the beastly ice-wolf glared at the warriors. Wrafe, for once, was speechless in seeing the mythical omens of a creature. A spirit, so physical.
"Now!" Davina yelled, giving a fierce shout to her soldiers to attack.
The men immediately did so, charging from the back and sides. They went at the cold beast with all weapons in hands with yells of their own as they ran. The wolf snarled and suddenly whipped out, thrashing a violent move to swipe it's claws across one line of the men and immediately fling them aside, sending them clashing into the barricade. It turned its head to the other side, it's ears furrowing back as it's jaws opened and let out a horrifying scream of a demon, which immediately caused them all to stagger backwards in true fear. The ones from behind followed in their cowardice. Wrafe's brow raised at their actions. Despite the shocking sight, he didn't expect them to quiver before the challenge really began.
"If your men won't fight, then I will!" Aloysius said, eagerly looking to the Valerian for approval to start his own strike.
He was much more fearless.
"Hm." Wrafe merely made a curious noise.
"Kill the wretched beast." Davina demanded, sounding as if her worries were replaced with a temper.
Then, the "wretched beast" turned its head right back to the three. One of the soldiers had panicked and immediately sprinted off, running to the trio of warriors and stumbling down, leaving his sword and shield and soon crawling to cover to cower.
"Oh, he looks hungry. Bring it, foul dog!" Aloysius antagonized, slamming the side of his axe against his shield.
The redheaded man had claimed the dropped sword, examining it.
"Be ready then." Davina stated.
And, thus it came. The ice-wolf had suddenly begun running. It sprinted so fast, faster than anyone could possibly run even by a fraction. It was so fast, Davina could process what she had to do for the best move. The two at her side were smart enough to immediately make their move. She did as well, quickly drawing the sword to her side as a safeguard for what the wolf would no doubt do. Its jaws opened, going to lunge right for the Captain with its razors for teeth coming for her flesh. With this, the Valerian quickly swung her blade, thrusting it vertically through the air to aim right for its jaw. Its head turned, defying any hope the warriors had to give a fatal blow. It bit down onto the Captain's blade and jerked its own body forward to slam it's shoulder into Aloysius and send him flying and hitting the ground near one of the huts, groaning in great pain while Davina nearly stumbled from the far stronger motions forcing her around to nearly trip over her steps as it slammed its body into Wrafe, to whom managed to impale his blade into the arm of it before he went clashing into the wall of a home.
Davina got flung around a little, tripping over just from the sheer power it had to do so. She held onto her blade, just to keep her only means of defense from being torn away. Even despite her best efforts, the enormous and violent wolf suddenly jerked upwards to throw the Valerian. She had gasped and been absolutely horrified as her body was lifted from the air and the gravity of it sent her a level above the houses. She extended her arms out and back and then forward as her legs began to tip upwards while her head went down. Her body twisted in the air, moving to the side as she looked down and got to experience her about to land right onto a home. She slammed her shoulder and side right onto the roof, grunting as her armor clashed into her body as well. Her body immediately began to roll and slide off the roof, desperately trying to catch onto some piece of wood. She did, for a moment. But, the intense pain throbbing through her body had prevented her from hanging on for even a second. She just fell, landing onto her greaves but just falling down afterwards with a little cry of pure pain once she was able to rest and process it all. Her teeth bared harshly against each other as her eyes shut tightly. She released a strained exhale, cautiously breathing out. It almost brought tears to her eyes from how paralyzed this made her feel. She quickly sat up, wincing as she did. Her cuirass practically hung off one side of her as it had been dented heavily. She just gripped the end and yanked it off. The metal clanked against the ground as she was now knelt down, eyeing the wolf. To which, had tossed the sword aside and slowly began walking towards her from afar.
Davina could feel her heartbeat. She could hear it, thudding and pounding in her chest as her breaths were panting and the only things she could hear in that moment. Nothing else. Not the rustling of trees, howls of other wolves, the yells of other men, they were not heard. Her eyes kept on the beast. Then, lowered to a few weapons before her that her men dropped. She slowly crawled forward, the adrenaline rushing through her body so anxiously. Her blurred vision began to clear as she had reached out and picked up a battleaxe. She took a deep intake of air, pushing to stand up. Her tattered cape blowing back a bit with her messed up braid in the back doing the same with the strands. You could've seen her breath as she exhaled, a strangely content look going over her once panicked and pained expression. Her lips formed a straight line as blood stained a corner of it. Her brows slightly furrowed as she stared at the wolf. She was content. With the end. If it was to be, then it would be. She respected the beast for what it could do to a valiant warrior but, she had her hatred for it. For the history it brought to this town. Death. It walked further, growling lightly with frost coming from its footsteps that thudded against the ground. She stepped forward, her eyes dulling halfway open as she limped, feeling the sting rush up her thigh. She reached up, pulling the shoulder guard of armor off her shoulder. The arm with the weapon. She readjusted her arm, then stopping in her walk to the middle of the road. The ice-wolf began to walk faster, then began a run right at her. She prepared herself. This was how she wanted it, to die in battle. As a warrior in life- In her death.
"Mùspel klampi grípa." The words muttered under his breath then brought his own strength. Wrafe watched as the wolf was going after Davina, all of this happening so fast. He acted, whipping his hand back as this swarm of red embers sparked into his hand as he walked forward, a very long and jagged line of fiery yellow forming at the hand of his magic. It crackled, soon for him to quickly thrust his arm forward, sending the lash of fire right towards the sprinting beast, catching it right around the throat to burn into its flesh and fur. It roared in pain, stopping right before it got to Davina and being stopped in such a violent way where it started to panic itself. It tried hard to bite at the line, only to howl in agony as the wolf hit its side into the pillar of a home. However, it then got up and saw Wrafe, his vibrant yellow eyes making contact with the raging blue ones. It suddenly jerked its head back, taking a little leap while Davina rolled out the way, immediately recovering to try and attack it with the way she could. Wrafe was surprised with being pulled so suddenly forward, his boots leaving the the dirt for a second before reclaiming the ground and trying to pull right back. The wolf just pulled again, forcing the apparent sorcerer to stumble forward and hit the ground, soon being dragged a bit with Davina's attack being easily avoided. Her head turned, watching the line of fire below her before she had seen Wrafe rolling around to being dragged, impressively enough being able to dig the heels of his boots into the ground and stand again, even while being dragged.
She was quick to act next. She quickly stood and got her axe to simply run forward to try and catch the man's arm, which she did, quickly hooking the axe to her side and using both hands to get some grasp on the grip of the fire whip. They both pulled with all their might. The Valerian and Savencroner both nearly yelled from how powerful this beast was. They were both still being dragged with their bodies leaning back. Then, the wolf pulled a whole lot harder. To the point both Davina and Wrafe were- yet again- sent reeling forward in the air. It wasn't very high, just enough where the wolf felt the whip loosen and it unravelled, diving through it and at the two with its jaws opening and the baneful spirit going to shred them to pieces. What could they do in that moment. He couldn't act fast enough to do certain spells or speak to gain certain powers. She was the next and final act. As she saw certain death lunging at her and her ally, she acted with this agility few had. Her back straightened as her legs curled with her hand reaching down to rip her axe off the hook at her side, her teeth baring as she was even quicker to raise it up and simply let the momentum of the ice beast forced onto them to do the rest. She brought the battleaxe to come down, slamming it right into the side of the skull of the beast right as its teeth even got near her torso, doing so until the blade was buried nearly hilt deep under its eye. With that, all three of them fell as the final strike had been made in the battle of Brytwood.
Wrafe fell to the side, the wolf landing next to him as Davina stumbled into its jaws, through not being bitten whatsoever. Its teeth could only get halfway to bite to her torso. It didn't give any pressure. It was simply dead. She was quick to scramble out from its mouth, even kicking the head to the side a bit and leaving the axe where it was. She panted a bit, glaring at the Jokul-Wolf with a truly stunned look across her face. She scoffed, now realizing the beast was dead. She was flared up with excitement, soon to be so damn relieved as she just plopped down onto her back, welcoming the moment of rest. The Valerian had succeeded in her mission.
"Captain?" Wrafe's voice aired as he stood up.
He was soon to see that the Thane of Winter's Ark wasn't at all an exaggerated tale. But, rather, a true story in the flesh.
"The bastard's dead." Davina stated, looking so enthused by it with a smile on her face.
Even with how much she was hurting.
"What even happened?" He asked, looking amongst the beast as he approached her.
He held his hand out.
"I…-" She tried to find words in the distracting moment, looking up at him as she did.
"We beat him." Is all she replied with.
He nodded a little, then holding his hand out for her. She looked at the gesture, then at him as she caught her breath, a cold rush running through her body as she had then taken his hand, their thumbs going around the other as they clutched and had the other fingers go around below the thumb and even to the wrist. He pulled her up.
"That we did." He agreed.
He looked quite pleased with the situation as well. Even smiling. Despite how dirtied and disheveled his clothes were now. She almost laughed at the appearance he had, soon to clasp her other hand over his palm.
"A good fight nonetheless." She complimented.
She had been saved by him. She wouldn't forget that for a long time. It welcomed these feelings of acceptance for him, more than just a simple acquaintance. But, a true ally.
"May they all be as such." He replied, doing the same gesture.
They soon released one another, beginning to walk ahead and pass the wolf. Slowly, as exhausted as they both were.
"Your men proved to be nothing but useful." He remarked sarcastically.
She nudged his arm.
"We didn't need them." She said.
Davina felt somewhat unified with him at the moment. A rush of feeling invincible, it wasn't often two people get to kill the epitome of an omen of strength at a time of war. Even with the victory, the Valerian acknowledged one simple fact: Her men would be penalized for their abandonment. They basically indulged Death's work early. She was too tired. She'd have to handle them once she gathers them up. That aside, Wrafe was soon to speak again.
"I need to go find Aloysius. To ensure our alliance remains as is and not null and void because of his valiant efforts." Something in his tone implied his unimpressed opinion of The Bold.
She merely nodded.
"Alright. I'll meet you back at camp."
"Will do." He replied.
The Valerian and Savencroner parted ways. She was left to look down at her kill. The dead wolf had meant little now. The only thing she wondered was of the pack. Something wasn't right about that.
An ominous mist began to grow around her. Swirls and spirals of light fog surrounding the scene to where the buildings and homes would be no longer visible. Her emerald eyes quickly scrolled around, looking at her environment that suddenly turned eerie. She didn't say anything. She merely stood there, slowly approaching the wolf whilst looking around. She slightly knelt down to pluck the axe from the dead beings cheek. With a brutal crunching sound, she pulled it out. Then, she was startled by a very loud and low growl. It came from straight ahead. That blizzard feeling, it had returned. What a horrifying feeling it truly was. If it was the same effect as from the first wolf, she knew it must've been the pack. Which, she knew would mean the actual end. There was no possibility of surviving a fight with another encounter. Davina's eyes narrowed upon a silhouette thudding through the mist. Its footsteps are very well heard. It was a white wolf, lined with black and gray. Its vibrant pearly eyes staring at the Valerian with a strangely calm persona about the wolf. It made no lunge, no snarl or baring of its teeth. It just approached. Two shadowed silhouettes close behind it with not as close of an approach to her. She stood on the other side of the deceased Ice-wolf, gazing up at the much more alive one with a straight face stricken with a well hidden facade. Truthfully, Davina was anxious from the appearance. It made her shiver. As much as she tried not to show weakness to her more than formidable opponents, she couldn't help but shake a bit due to the cold.
The elder of a wolf stopped. He stared down at the raven haired woman with little emotion in its face. There were scars on the face of the beast. One on the eye, the lips, the neck. Many battles were had with it, it seemed. She stared back up at it, her eyes showing the fiery spirit within. It showed no signs of attacking. Even as the Valerian kept the battleaxe in her hand, her fingers clenched around the wooden handle. It simply closed its eyes and lowered its head, as if bowing to her with its rear sitting. The silhouettes, the shadows for wolves did the same to her. Her eyes widened a bit in shock as her head turned a bit. What was this, she wondered to herself. She only watched as the elder wolf had raised its head, standing on all fours once again before turning around to make its leave. It faded into nothing. The blizzard, its cruel chill, disappeared. She released a deep exhale, her eyes closing for a moment. The night had proved to be gruelling. Yet, the demand for progress in her journey was far from over. She dropped the battleaxe since it felt so heavy after all of this. She turned and walked away from the dead beast she slew herself. That's when the townspeople began to emerge from their homes. She stopped in her tracks, eyeing the lanterns she saw come from within the dark rooms. She heard their whispers. Their chattering of awe to see the dead Jokul-Dog, as Aloysius so wrongfully depicted it as. As history did, as well. She slowly stepped towards the developing crowd, not caring for how disheveled and battered she appeared to be for them. Her eyes were halfway open, darkened underneath from pure tiredness.
"Ah. The welcomers." She sarcastically remarked.