Chapter 44: The Grimfang that Turned Away

[Imperial Camp — Northern Territory — Before Dawn]

The camp remained silent, too silent; the fire pits had burned down to glowing embers, their orange light barely illuminating the rows of tents scattered across the frozen northern ground.

Beyond the camp...nothing moved. The enormous white Grimfang had disappeared into the darkness, yet its footprints remained, deep, massive, and impossibly fresh.

Captain Cedric stood several yards beyond the camp’s outer perimeter, staring down at the enormous tracks pressed into the snow, his hand slowly tightened around the hilt of his sword.

"How far did it go?"

One of the knights swallowed. "We...we don’t know, Captain; it simply stopped and left."

Cedric furrowed in confusion and looked down; the footprints continued for nearly twenty meters. Then nothing. There was no indication that the creature had climbed, jumped, or changed direction.

It had simply...vanished.

Cedric slowly raised his head. "Wake the Duke, Lucein."

***

[Emperor’s Tent — Moments Later]

Kael had barely managed to close his eyes when hurried footsteps approached. "Your Majesty."

Kael opened his eyes immediately the moment he heard Cedric’s voice; he sat upright. "What happened?"

Cedric entered the tent and bowed. "We found the Grimfang."

Kael’s expression hardened as he stood immediately. "Did it attack anyone?"

Cedric hesitated. "No, Your Majesty."

Kael frowned. "Then why are you here?"

Cedric looked toward the entrance. "Because we found something stranger."

Kael followed his gaze; outside the tent, Duke Lucein was already waiting. The young duke bowed as Kael stepped outside.

"Your Majesty."

"What happened?"

Lucein exchanged a glance with Cedric before answering. "The Grimfang’s tracks have disappeared."

Kael stared at him.

"...Disappeared?"

"Yes."

Lucein pointed toward the edge of the camp. "It walked directly toward us and then...it stopped."

A cold wind swept across the camp. Kael looked toward the northern forest. "It stopped? But why?"

"No one knows."

Silence.

Kael’s gaze dropped toward the snow. "Take me there."

Cedric immediately stepped forward. "Your Majesty, that would be unwise."

Kael looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because if the Grimfang is still nearby—"

"I know what it is capable of." Kael’s voice remained calm as he glanced towards the enormous footprints. "But if it wanted to attack us...we would already be dead."

Neither Cedric nor Lucein could argue with that. Kael stepped forward. "Let’s go."

***

[Northern Forest — Shortly After]

The deeper they traveled, the colder the air became; trees rose around them like ancient pillars, their branches buried beneath layers of snow. Kael stopped as Veyrith was on his shoulder.

There, by the enormous footprints, he crouched and touched the edge of one, still warm.

"It was here."

Lucein nodded. "Less than an hour ago."

Kael stood as he looked around, muttering, "Then where did it go?"

No one answered. Veyrith suddenly shifted on Kael’s shoulder.

"CAW..."

Kael turned his head; the raven’s amber eyes were fixed on the forest, not frightened, just watching.

Kael whispered, "What is it?"

Veyrith suddenly spread his wings and flew forward. "CAWWWW!"

"Veyrith!" Kael followed him with his eyes, and the raven disappeared between the trees. A few seconds passed. Then—

FWOOSH!

Veyrith returned.

Something small hung from his claws as he dropped it directly into Kael’s palm. Kael looked down; his expression changed. It was a piece of black cloth, torn, fresh, and stained with blood.

Cedric’s face hardened. "That’s not Grimfang fur."

Lucein stepped closer. Kael slowly turned the fabric between his fingers; there was an embroidered symbol upon it, a symbol none of them recognized. Except Veyrith suddenly hissed; his feathers rose.

"CAW!"

Kael looked at him. "Do you know this?"

The raven stared at the symbol for the first time since Kael had met him... Veyrith looked afraid. Kael’s heart sank and then the raven gave a low, warning sound and somewhere deep within the forest—

ROOOOOOOOAAARRRRR!!!

The ground trembled.

Every horse in the distant camp began screaming; the imperial knights immediately drew their swords. Cedric stepped in front of Kael. "Your Majesty!"

Another roar echoed through the trees, much closer. Kael’s fingers tightened around the mysterious piece of cloth, and his amber eyes slowly lifted toward the darkness between the trees.

"Everyone...prepare yourselves."

The snow began to fall harder, and somewhere beyond the ancient forest...something enormous was coming toward them.

Then...

ROOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAARRRRRRR!!!

The roar tore through the forest as the ground beneath the imperial camp trembled. Horses screamed and reared against their restraints. Tent poles shook. Several knights stumbled backward as the trees beyond the camp suddenly exploded into motion.

CRAAASSSHHHH!!!

A massive white shape burst through the forest, then another, and another. Dozens of enormous creatures emerged from the darkness, their bodies covered in thick white fur, their claws digging into the frozen earth.

Their eyes burned an unnatural crimson, and their jaws opened. Rows of enormous fangs gleamed beneath the pale moonlight. For one terrible heartbeat, nobody moved.

Then Grand Duke Lior’s face drained of color, and his hand immediately went to his sword.

"ALPHA GRIMFANGS!"

His voice thundered across the camp; every knight froze as Grand Duke Lior turned toward the soldiers and roared,

"EVERYONE...TO YOUR ORIGINAL WOLF FORMS! NOW!!!"

The command shattered the paralysis.

"YES, YOUR GRACE!"

"SHIFT!"

"PROTECT HIS MAJESTY!"

One after another—

CRACK!

CRACK!

CRAAAAACK!!!

Bones shifted, fur erupted across skin. Claws tore through gloves as the imperial knights transformed into their original wolf forms. Within seconds, the peaceful imperial camp had become a battlefield.

Hundreds of wolves stood between Kael and the approaching Grimfangs, but even the bravest among them trembled because these were not ordinary Grimfangs.

These were Alphas.

Ancient predators and creatures that had once driven entire wolf clans from their ancestral territories. Lucein’s eyes widened as he stared toward the forest.

"Impossible..."

Cedric growled in his wolf form. "How many?"

Lucein swallowed. "I don’t know."

Another roar answered him.

ROOOOOOOOAAAAARRRR!!!

The sound shook the mountains as more glowing eyes appeared between the trees.

Grand Duke Lior stepped forward, his enormous wolf form positioning itself directly between the creatures and Kael.

"FORM THE IMPERIAL DEFENSE!"

The wolves immediately moved.

"FIRST LINE—HOLD!"

"SECOND LINE—PROTECT THE EMPEROR!"

"DO NOT LET THEM THROUGH!"

Kael stood behind them, his crimson cloak whipping violently in the wind; his amber eyes remained fixed on the approaching beasts. He could hear their breathing, deep, heavy, and hungry.

But something was wrong; they weren’t attacking yet, they were simply...watching.

Kael’s gaze narrowed. "Why aren’t they moving?"

Lucein, still in his wolf form, growled, "Your Majesty...don’t mistake their silence for hesitation."

One of the Alpha Grimfangs stepped forward.

THUD.

Another followed.

THUD.

The snow beneath its enormous paw cracked. It lowered its head. Its crimson eyes locked directly onto Kael.

Then—

Veyrith suddenly flew from Kael’s shoulder.

"CAWWWWWWWW!!!"

The raven spread his wings wide; the Grimfang froze. Every single Alpha turned toward him. Kael’s eyes widened.

"...Veyrith?"

The raven’s amber eyes burned brightly as a strange pressure suddenly descended upon the battlefield. The wolves lowered their heads instinctively; even the Grimfangs stopped moving.

Cedric stared in disbelief.

"What...is that bird?"

Grand Duke Lior’s enormous wolf ears flattened against his skull. His gaze remained fixed upon the Grimfangs as his voice dropped into a deadly whisper.

"Everyone...do not move."

Kael looked from the Grimfangs to Veyrith; the raven hovered above him, wings spread wide, amber eyes glowing unnaturally bright. Then the largest Alpha Grimfang slowly raised its head.

Its crimson eyes locked onto Kael, not the knights, not Grand Duke Lior, not Cedric.

Kael.

A low growl rolled from its throat.

GRRRRRRRRRRRR...

Every Grimfang turned, one by one. Dozens of crimson eyes shifted toward the Emperor. Kael’s blood ran cold.

"They’re...looking at me."

Grand Duke Lior’s enormous claws dug into the frozen ground. "Kael..."

The Alpha Grimfang lowered its body. Cedric immediately stepped forward. "Protect His Majesty!"

The imperial wolves surged forward.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

But the Grimfangs didn’t look at them; their eyes remained fixed on Kael. Cedric snarled. "Why aren’t they attacking us?!"

Lucein’s voice trembled. "Because...we aren’t their target; they’re after his majesty."

The largest Grimfang suddenly vanished.

FWOOSH!!!

"YOUR MAJESTY!"

Kael barely had time to react; the beast appeared directly before him. Its enormous claw rose and the air exploded.

KRAAAAAAAACK!!!

A violent bolt of pale-blue lightning erupted from the Grimfang’s palm, cutting through the freezing air like a divine spear.

Kael threw himself backward.

BOOOOOOM!!!

The ground shattered where he had stood.

"KAEL!!!"

Grand Duke Lior lunged. Cedric and the imperial wolves attacked from every direction.

CLANG!

SLASH!

ROOOOAAAARRR!!!

But the Alpha Grimfang swept one enormous arm outward.

BAAAAAAM!!!

The shockwave sent several wolves crashing across the snow.

"FATHER!"

Kael stumbled backward, his heart hammered against his ribs as another Grimfang leapt from the side. Kael raised his arm.

CRAAAAACK!!!

Lightning exploded across the battlefield. Veyrith suddenly screamed.

"CAWWWWWWWWWW!!!"

The raven shot downward like a black arrow; his small body collided directly with the Grimfang’s face.

BOOM!

The creature recoiled. Veyrith’s wings spread wide, releasing a wave of dark energy that forced the beast backward. Kael stared as the raven turned toward him; for one brief second their eyes met, and then the largest Alpha, Grimfang, roared.

ROOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAARRRRRR!!!

Its entire body became surrounded by crackling lightning; the frozen sky flashed white. Lior’s eyes widened.

"KAEL—MOVE!"

Kael turned, but the alpha Grimfang thrust its hand forward, and a concentrated bolt of lightning shot toward him.

FWWWWOOOOOOOSHHHH!!!

Veyrith intercepted it.

KRAAAAAAACK!!!

The raven was thrown violently aside.

"VEYRITH!"

Kael’s attention shifted for one fatal heartbeat; the Grimfang was already there. Its enormous claw came down.

Kael tried to dodge and fight but—SHRRAAAAAAAK!!!

The claw pierced through his side. Kael’s eyes widened, his breath vanished, and for a moment...there was no sound. Then—

"AAAGHHH—!"

His knees buckled as the Alpha Grimfang’s claws had torn brutally into him, blood staining the snow beneath his feet.

"YOUR MAJESTY!!!"

Cedric’s roar shook the camp. Grand Duke Lior charged with murderous fury.

"KAEL!!!"

The Grimfang suddenly ripped its claw free. Kael collapsed.

THUD.

Veyrith, still struggling to rise, let out a broken cry.

"CAW...!"

The imperial wolves surged toward their fallen emperor, but the Grimfangs did not retreat as every crimson eye remained fixed upon Kael. As though...this had been their purpose from the beginning.

And beneath the bloodied snow, Kael’s fingers twitched once, and his amber eyes slowly lost focus and the last thing he heard was his father’s voice screaming his name.

Then—

Darkness.