Holiday Special: A Short Story

Unknowingly to Adam who was racing towards the armies meeting ahead, coming across the horizon like an all encompassing storm, today was the blessed festival of Sanguinala in the Imperium of man.

----

Far away, on Fenris children Adams age played.

'Come play with me Ottvik' said Egalda a short ten year old girl with long brown braided hair'.

'I cannot today Egalda, I promised mother that I will help her in the mead hall it's already Sanginala's eve. Replied a slightly taller boy with as much authority as he could manage.

'It won't be longgg' she begged cutely twirling her pony tail 'I still need to find a gift for uncle Haryyrl'.

'Only because you need to find a gift, but have to be fast if we go, what were you thinking of giving him' replied Ottvik smiling having no defence against the cute bundle of joy.

Both children pranced out of the town jumping in the powdery snow out into the nearby mountains passing the many wreaths and depictions of sanguinis laid up across the path.

'Where are you taking me' said Ottvik who was being dragged by his hand through the snow by the little girl who's size belied her strength.

'To the crystal cave silly, my friend Hagna told me there were the prettiest crystals inside, I'm thinking of making a crystal necklace for uncle Haryyrl.

Uphead the route curved snaking into the mountain passes up ahead.

'Odins beard looks it's a moose'. Exclaimed Ottvik.

'Ooooh it's so pretty' said Egalda, giggling as a snowflake landed on the nose.

They walked for fifteen more minutes before coming onto a glittering cave mouth made more inviting by the powdery layer surrounding it.

Entering the cave they saw sparkling crystals of all varieties small and large.

'Come grab yourself a crystal and let's go or my mums going to be angry' said Ottvik looking back out at the stormfront coming down from the top of the rante.

'Mmmmm No, none of the crystals are pretty enough' replied Egalda hurumphing.

Ottvik sighed following deeper into the cave, the crystals lighting the way ahead like a sea of stars glittering on a moonlit bay.

Having passed through numerous twists and bends they came across a opening in a tunnel. Stepping through th cave opened up into a large cavern a mass of stalactites seeming to frame the cavern almost like a cathedrals rafters.

Right below the furthest stalactite, Egalda saw a twinkling glimmer.

'Thats the one I want' she said almost squealing running towards it without a thought, happy smile on her face.

Ottvik sighed wondering after happy that he could go home now already knowing that he was going to get a blocking.

----

'HARGGGGGRRRRr'.

Out the gloom stepped a fenrisian wolf hackles raised, spittle flying from it's mouth a low growl echoing throughout the cavern which now seemed much to small.

Egalda tripped in fright, not in her wildest imagination expecting a wolf all the way down here.

Egalda scrambled backwards on her hands, tearing the hem of her dress against the rough abrasive surface of the cave floor.

'Calm down' said Ottvik, 'Don't show it any fear or make any sudden moves'.

The great wolf had started to edge closer, creeping towards Egalda on the floor.

'Slowly stand up, and walk back towards me', the stress clear as day in his voice.

Egalda stood up tears welling up in her eyes as she backed up, letting out little whimpers with each step the wolf took toward them.

As Egalda reached Ottvik he grabbed her by the arm.

'RRRRUNNNNN'.

Ottvik wipped round pullout Egalda along behind him like a flag flapping in the wind.

He sprinted down the tight cave champers scoring his knees and elbows on corners, the howls and scraping claws tight on his heels.

Turning a corner Egalda caught a glimpse behind her only to see the wolf catch the wall behind them now only within meters of catching them.

'Aaaaahhhhh' she screamed seeing the wolf, as Ottvik pulled her faster and faster.

Without warning. The floor disappeared below them, tumbling down into the depths of the cave system.

'Thunk'

'Crash'

'Wallop'

'Yowl'

'Crack'

They hit the bottom, the awful sound of a small cracking skull, driving Ottvik into a panic.

'Egalda are you okay, please be okay'.

He searched around in the darkness only to feel the warm texture of blood on his hands, he sat there horrified.

----

'Cough ... Cough'

'Ow it hurts' said Egalda

'Thank the skyfather you're alive' said Ottvik 'I thought you were dead'.

But if Egalda is fine then wheres the blood from. Ottvik felt further along the bloody stream beside him feeling it grow warmer as he got closer. His fingers brushed fur, he pulled his hand back quickly as if he had been electrocuted.

'The wolf it's dead beside us' said Ottvik moments later calming his beating heart in his chest.

Standing up they continued to wander in the pitch black feeling along the wall. Only to see a faint sign of light in the distance, they moved faster the fear of the pitch black egging them on, just wanting to be out of it.

Suddenly they broke into the light, not to see the light of the afternoon but the flickering lights of a vast city scape below.

'Why are you here children' a voice spoke from behind them.

'Wwwhaa--ttt' Ottvik spun round no one was behind them a second ago.

'Don't not fear me, I am Odin steward of these holds, but be wary as nightgangers move amongst these ruins, turn back'.

'Sorwrey Sir' said Egalda meekly.

'We were chased hear by a wolf it lays dead at the base of the drop behind us'.

'I saw all' said Odin 'I will guide you out'. Odin disappeared, reappearing a hundred meters away by an alcove.

'Come on then' waving them over.

They followed Odin up winding spiral stairs across long straight maintenance corridors and even up a service elevator.

Finally a hidden door slid open, back at the cavern they encountered the wolves in.

Odin motioned for them to step out, 'Be careful now children much lurks unseen beneath the ground; take your crystal and the cost of your actions and return to your families in peace. Then he was gone in a blink of an eye.

The hidden door slid closed leaving them alone once again in the cavern the chase has started from.

'Who was he' asked Egalda.

'I don't know' replied Ottvik, 'I don't know..'

Egalda walked more carefully this time over to the sparkling icy blue crystal this time only too here a small growl once again in the dark.

'gggwwrrrr'.

'Aaaaahhhhh' she screamed.

Ottvik stepped ahead of her quickly, ready to defend her, they being now too close to run, only lowering his guard as a small wolf pup waddled out of dark.

'Oh, it's just a little pup, that must have been it's mother earlier', he grimaced regretfully understanding the implications.

'Its a thunder wolf' she squealed, rushing to pick it up, it's head wringing round to nip her.

'They're supposed to be extinct' said Ottvik grabbing the thunder wolf pup by the scruff of the neck. 'You hold onto the crystal I'll take care of the pup'.

'Kay' said Egalda happily.

Ottvik, and Egalda walked back up through the winding passages, out into the mountain side heavy rain and sleet pouring down on them the storm having come in whilst they were beneath the earth.

'Come', shouted Ottvik through the pouring rain, they're going to be searching for us by now.

Ottvik and Egalda ran back down the foothill of the nearby mountain, soaking through as they wadded through the knee deep snow.

Out of the dark, they saw lanterns swaying from the gloom.

They sped up towards the light.

Out of the gloom, Ottvik saw his mother and Egalda's father come into the light.

'Where have you been we thought you lost' his mother came over grasping her in a hug.

'Almost' he replied finding comfort and security in his mothers warmth, 'Odin thought it better to grant us a second chance'.

Egalda's father turned to him sternly, 'thank you for looking after my daughter .... truly this is a blessing of sanguinius's day.

The End

(Pop us a power stone if you enjoyed)

Next Time on The Warp Debacle:

Out of the gloom the rhythmic roar of the engine sounded ...