Staying strong in the midst of chaos is like a rock spire just off the coast from an outcropping at sea. The waves are crashing incessantly, battering the spire over and over. Just when it may seem as if the crashing is done, the sea unsettles and begins its bludgeoning once more.
The waves of misfortune, pain, and anguish that I have endured in the last year or so has left me like that rock spire. Battered and bruised are just two words to describe myself. Yet, here, in this moment, when just at the mark of victory, when we finally have a direction, and when everything is seemingly well, the chaos and dismay rear their ugly faces once more.
Lieutenant Bruhom, one of the only two remaining people I knew from my now decimated and extinguished home, is poised to be turned into an irreparable monster. He'll be stripped away from me for eternity to serve as a victim of a curse I wouldn't wish on almost anyone.
To be blunt, he was doomed to be an Elnorwolf, a bloodthirsty, uncouth, disgusting, distorted, and mindless beast. It was inevitable I fear. It seems heartache and disaster have taken a liking to my life and follows me only to hurt the people and things I love. Why? Why is this happening now?
"Its okay kids... I'll... I'll go away and leave you... I'll be fine." Bruhom catatonically stated as he stared at the moon that would soon become his slave driver.
Then as if on cue, Josiah stirred and sat up slowly. Drunkenly, he opened his eyes and slowly came back to reality. He looked over and saw the wound on Bruhom's neck and the grotesque fluids on the brute's hand.
"Oh no... this is so unfortunate..." Josiah managed to mutter weakly.
Elated that he had awoken, I turned towards the sparky kid.
"Josiah... Is it possible for him to control the transformation?" I asked hopefully.
"It's impossible to stop the transformation." He stated and my heart sank.
"But... I've heard tell that there were cases of people who learned to control themselves, even so much as to use it to their advantage, triggering the transformation on their own and still wielding their element." Josiah stated with a hopeful grin.
"You sure seem to know a lot about beasts." Sehaela stated, "How likely is it possible for Bruhom?"
"I have always been infatuated with the creatures of the wild, so I studied them particularly much more than my regular studies." He sighed, "It's possible but he's going to have to want it more than anything else in this world. The key has been it would seem to have an ambition like no other. A desire for success only in this task... to tame the cursed wolf within..."
I thought on these ideals and wondered if Bruhom was capable of such a drive and determination, but then I recalled the same teachings that Captain Dalragon had given me had also been bestowed upon him as well.
"Admitting defeat is defeat in itself, Bruhom." I stated with sincerity.
Bruhom perked up at those words. He instantly became pensive, deep in thought, but with a new found resolution. He stood up and picked up his sword.
"There is nothing in this world that will stop me from defeating this beast that will try to rise within me. I will not let it defeat me!" Bruhom growled with determination
"That's the SPIRIT!!" Sehaela and I managed to cheer in unison.
The brute turned towards us with a smile, "Long live the mighty words of Captain Dalragon."
"Who is this Captain Dalragon?" Josiah asked aloud and I was almost taken aback, forgetting he was awake.
"You wouldn't know him. He died due to the slaughter of my home." I managed to sigh
"Oh... I'm sorry for your loss. His words seem very influential, inspiring even." He offered.
"You have no idea." Sehaela giggled melodically.
I shook my head at the foreign thoughts, "We should set up camp here. The Elnorwolf won't return with us all here and together. Rest is important. We'll tackle the rest of the woods tomorrow in the daylight."
"Right. Good call. I'll take first watch." Bruhom offered with a grin.
"Right, I imagine we have only eight hours until dawn. Two hours of watch each. I'll get the last two. Sehaela you'll get the second two, and Josiah you'll get the third set." I stated and everyone seemed to agree.
"Before we start, does anyone want to tell me what you two have going on?" Bruhom asked as he eyed me and Josiah.
"A discussion for tomorrow, Bruhom." I sighed.
"Very well, let's set camp."
We all seemed to quietly set up camp. Everyone had their own thoughts to mull over that preoccupied their minds too much to allow for conversation. We all initially were startled by every noise we heard, but that soon subsided. We finished our own beds and we settled in for some sleep. Bruhom perched on a nearby moss covered stone and began his watch.
There wasn't any time spent before I succumbed to sleep. I didn't dream either. I wouldn't say I slept soundly but I definitely didn't wake fully until Josiah slowly shook me slightly, signaling me it was my turn to take the final watch.
I stirred awake and stood. Josiah said nothing as he lumbered over to his makeshift bed and crawled into it, swiftly falling asleep. I grabbed both of my war axes and went to the same stone that Bruhom had chosen previously.
I heard the early morning crickets as their chirps slowed down from the slightly rising temperature that always accompanied the dawn of a new day. I heard the rather loud snores of the giant brutish lieutenant Bruhom which almost made me laugh. Then there was Sehaela who was deadly quiet as she slept soundly.
It was very peaceful honestly. I was apprehensive to say the least. Not even a whole day had passed, and yet we'd all come close to death with Bruhom cursed for life. We were off to a wonderful start... not.
Time slipped by as I remained lost in my thoughts and soon daylight began to trickle through the holes in the trees. I stood up and stretched before speaking...
"Alright you guys... let's get moving." I stated rather loudly.
Josiah almost jolted to life - pun intended. He sat up and jumped to his feet lively.
"I'm ready!"
"Of course you are..." Sehaela groaned as she rolled over and slowly sat up.
"Bruhom... Bruhom... Bruhom!" I chanted before raising my voice the last time.
He growled and sat up slowly, "You're more annoying than Captain Dalragon at morning roll call..."
"Good. That means I'm doing something right."
"Hmmph..."
We slowly packed back up our supplies and sighed as we realized that we were without horses now. I led the group as we stepped through the forest, back onto our path. We didn't see much except a few small animals here and there. Nothing too menacing except a bear that Bruhom was glad to silence. We took a break as he skinned and took the hide and a few pieces of meat that he promptly salted. We slowly made our way out onto the road that I'd planned to land on.
"Feels good to see some semblance of civility." Sehaela sighed
"You got that right!" chimed Josiah
"PUT YOUR WEAPONS DOWN AND LAY ON THE GROUND!!" A foreign voice commanded from the trees of the other side of the road.
'Oh what now...' I thought as we turned towards the source of the voice.
Then about fifteen people came out with weapons bared, but they weren't bandits, marauders, or general thieves. They were guilded in noble armor and looked highly civilized. I didn't recognize the coat of arms displayed on their tabards.
"I SAID DROP YOUR WEAPONS AND GET ON THE GROUND YOU MURDEROUS SCUM!!!" The voice commanded once more
"Captain Saergon, I don't think these are any of those attackers." One of the commander's right hand men stated
"WHO ARE YOU!? STATE YOUR NAMES AND PURPOSE!" The supposed Captain Saergon stated after acknowledging the other's words.
"I am Zionai Mourn-Shard, heir to the Mourn-Shard Lord, and last surviving member of my family. This is Lieutenant Bruhom of the Mourn-Shard brigade, Sehaela Veyren, the last member of a highly exalted family of the Mourn-Shard estate, and Josiah Diagonsen, heir to the Diagonsen estate. We are heading to each estate that we can to warn them of a patterned attack that seems to be targeting certain estates." I stated officially as I laid my axes down, gesturing for the other's to do the same.
"Hmmm your warning is a day late I'm afraid. The Quaelsen estate has been attacked and decimated." Captain Saergon stated
"I am the only Quaelsen left." a female's voice chimed in from behind as she stepped out from the trees.
"Get back in..." the Captain started to say but was silenced by the girl glaring at the man.
"I'm sorry for your loss." I sighed sadly.
"Bring out the prisoner..." She stated turning back towards the woods.
I eyed the woods inquisitively as a man robed in a simple blue tabard was pulled from the trees and thrust onto the road hard. His hands, feet, and mouth were bound and he had multiple bruises and injuries.
"Maybe you can get some answers out of him." The girl said flatly.
"Lady Hevlauna, I don't know if this is..."
Hevlauna snatched off the mouth gag
"Titans must die!" the prisoner stated proudly.