Chapter 1, Nightly Plunder

Chapter 1 (Ardivar)

Ardivar stood in the burned remnants of a building. He dug his claws into the ashen floorboard, stretching. Shadows stretched across the city, highlighting the buildings still aflame. Ardivar hissed in laughter. He stares into the city at the buildings leading to the enormous wall of the merchants' quarter. Shrouded in smoke, the city appeared dark and foreboding.

Ardivar Glanced to his four pack mates, resting in the shade of the collapsed building. Only a few more minutes until they could start the fun.

"Pack leader, what is our plan tonight?" said number Two, the Darvas tongue licking its white muzzle.

" If we use the rest of the pack as a distraction, we can sneak over the inner wall. I am feeling snaky." said Ardivar.

"Pack leader, you are always hungry. Make sure you don't mistake a statue for a human this time." said Taliante, the young Darvan yipping in laughter.

Ardivar chuckled to himself, flicking his ears in annoyance. He had to admit that was rather amusing.

" Make sure you do not attack if you spot that human monster again." said Ardivar.

" You mean the Human mage? Or the large woman who fights with a sword?" asked Taliante.

" Both, just remember what happened to the last pack that attacked the gate." said Number Two, The Darvans ears flattening.

The shadows lengthened as the sun finally set, leaving the city of Drent in darkness. After one long moment, a high-pitched howl tore through the night.

" Why do they always do that? Do they want the humans to know we are attacking?" said Ardivar.

" It is a fear tactic to scare our prey. After hunting with you I'm seeing the merits of silence." said Number Two as the black furred Darva shook his large body, dust and ash flying everywhere.

" Lets go, maybe we can sneak in and steal the lord of the city." said Ardivar hissing in laughter.

" Why don't we just kill him? Its much less risky." said Number Five, his tone calm.

" Well, that is half the fun. How else can you get better at sneaking? And think about it, won't it crush the humans spirit if their leader abandons them?" said Ardivar.

He gestured with his head, pointing towards a large hole leading to the street. Clattering into the opening, Ardivar glanced over his shoulder to his pack, following close behind. Admiring the scenery, Ardivar sauntered past the wrecked building, burned to black piles of ash.

Projecting his thoughts outwards, Ardivar sent an order to his remaining forty Darvan warriors. " Its time for another attack, follow me." Ardivar said.

From the surrounding buildings, large Darva in leather armour strode from the burned remanents of the buildings, still standing. Lining up behind him. He waited until his force of thirty warriors and ten scouts were all there. Hissing in approval, Ardivar pranced down the main street of the lower city.

High on the walls to the merchant's quarter, torches lined the wall. Boom! the night lit with bright red light. Blinking, Ardivar snarled. There it was again, that Damned Human mage, No wonder most of the building's in the lower district were piles of rubble. It was that humans fault, using fire magic so often.

Ardivar turned left, away from that human. He took side alleys and streets for an hour until he reached the opposite side of the city. Swiveling around, he waited until all of his pack lined up in the street. Ardivar glanced from the pack to the wall towering two stories above them.

" We have a goal. I need you to follow us in and find their food stores. There is a building on the west gate I noticed last night that is well guarded. You will need to burn it to the ground." said Ardivar, projecting his thoughts.

A Darva, covered in ash with more than a few scratches on his worn leather armour, stepped forward. " Yes, Harut Ardivar, and what are you and your pack mates going to be attacking?" said the Large pack leader.

" We are going to be attacking the humans pack leader to weaken them." said Ardivar

All of his pack raised their ears, waving their tails. They seemed to like that. Good, it would be good to keep them in line.

" You will lead the assault on the food supplies. Do not Fail me Number Six." said Ardivar as he gestured to the Darvan covered in the fine dark film of a fire.

"Its Ashlynn, not Number six Harut Ardivar!" said the Large Darvan warrior.

" Nope, its Number Six. If you complete your task, you will earn the right to be called by your name." said Ardivar.

Ardivar crept towards the wall, the yipping laughs of his pack drifting to his ears. Over the rushing wind he could hear garbled speech as humans on the walls above him talked. With such a long wall, there was a patrol for each section. All he needed to do was watch the torches and wait to climb the wall. The three humans, only visible by their torches, trudged along the top of the wall. Ardivar slipped hardened claws over the stone wall, feeling for the crack.

" Wait until we reach the top. Six, I will signal when you can start climbing."said Ardivar.

"Yes Harut Ardivar." said Ashlynn.

Clambering slowly up the wall, his front and rear legs burned, the constant weight becoming pressing. Reaching to top in minutes Ardivar peeked over just as four solders walking passed two Abreast marching along the walls, their torches held above them. Slipping over the wall, he gently slid over the battlement, crouching on the wall.

"Its clear." said Ardivar.

Shortly after, his four pack mates joined him on the wall, hardly making any noise. At least they were improving. Clank! Hissing he, gestured with his head towards the Soldiers. Ardivar's heart skipped a beat as he glanced towards the backs of the patrolling soldiers. His heart racing Ardivar lept forward as the humans turned towards them. Hey! One yelled as he vaulted on its back, his teeth tearing into the side of the guard's neck. Just as quickly as it started, the fight ended with all four guards caught, completely unaware. The humans lay on the wall, blood flowing from their wounds on the stone like rain on a window.

The acrid smell of burning flesh filled his nostrils. Turning, he eyed his warriors as their claws changed hue. Ardivar shuddered as he walked past a human, its head nearly torn off.

" Hurry, the path is clear." said Ardivar, projecting his thoughts to the Darva waiting below.

The clatter of claws on stone as the large group hastily climbed up the wall. Darvan warriors poured onto the wall, spreading out. Number Six, the temporary commander, crept towards Ardivar. Overlooking the inner city, Ardivar gestures to a building in the distance. A flag waving in the wind over the domed building.

" The tall building with the flag, that building has almost twenty humans guarding, not sure how many are inside." said Ardivar.

He looked the taller Darva intently in the eyes, searching for signs of betrayal or disloyalty. If there is one thing Ardivar would punish, it was betrayal. Number Six, the tall dirt and ash stained Darva, drooped her tail and flattened her ears. Ardivar smiled, good. The Darva would do what he wanted. Ardivar watched as the Pack of thirty-five Darva descended the wall into the merchants' quarter.

Smirking, Ardivar turned his attention to the inner city. With the way clear, he snuck across roof tops. He led his pack, avoiding human patrols and waiting. Clang! Clang! Clang! Hissing Ardivar swiveled his head towards the Damned bell. Clang! Clang! Was the human asking to die? No, no, Ardivar had a mission tonight. He didn't have time to break the bell.

Eyeing the top of the inner wall, Ardivar dug in his claws between the stones scaling the short wall. Reaching the Top sat waited for his pack, focusing on the gate guards only one hundred steps away. He grinned. None of the humans even looked their way. In the distance, across the merchants' district, a building burned, lighting the city bright orange.

Ardivar smirked to himself. The humans would not be happy about tonight. He turned to his task, searching for the biggest of all the buildings in the inner city. Ahh there, A house that stood above all the rest in the middle of the inner city. Humans are so silly. That was like advertising you wanted to be eaten.

" The enormous building in the middle." said Taliante, Nope, her name is number four. Why did he keep referring to her by name?

" Very good, young one, you have pointed out the obvious." said Number Three.

" Stop talking on the job, we have a human to steal." said Ardivar.

They scurried across roof tops. Humans in groups of ten or twenty roved the streets, their torches making the groups easily avoidable. Clang! Clang! Clang! Halting on top of a slightly curved tiled roof, he overlooked the front of the enormous building. Below, a human on a horse clattered down the road, through the entry gate. Sitting in the shadows, Ardivar watched, looking for his target.

Scrambling from the tasty-looking horse, the human ran across the grass below to the enormous front doors. The human ignored the two guards with spears on either side of him. Knock! Knock Knock! The wood and metal doors swung open, revealing a human standing rigid. The Human dressed in bright yellow. What a terrible colour. How could that human sneak in that? The oddly dressed human went back inside, leaving the Messenger waiting on the doorstep.

"Why can't we just go inside and find the human?" said Taliante.

" All delicious things come to those who wait." said Ardivar.

Minutes of waiting and Ardivar was wondering if the human was making him wait on purpose? He would show that human what happened when they wasted his time. The face of the building in darkness, Ardivar glanced over the many dark windows. Through one window Ardivar caught the faint outline of the Rigid human. The Bright yellow human held up a candle, illuminating the room. He smiled, humans and their glass. From the top of the building, Ardivar could see the human as the man covered his body in a grey robe. How odd, the Rigid human was helping the other one get dressed. Maybe they were lovers? Humans and their mating habits.

Growling, Ardivar scratched the solid roof tile, and finally the human he was waiting for appeared in the front door. Smirking to himself, Ardivar waited until the messenger left. The human ran to his horse, carrying a rolled up paper in one hand. Slam! with the human leaving and his prey mostly alone. Ardivar clambered down the building to the street.

The guards went inside, following the other two. Ardivar had an idea. He strode up the street. Signalling his pack to follow, he strolled up the front path. Halting in front of the doors Ardivar Balled one clawed paw. Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Yes! What is it this time?" said a flustered Man.

Ardivar raised his paw again, Knock! Knock!

"Stop knocking, I'm coming to open the door!"

" Number Two, Number Three, take out the two with spears." said Ardivar

Hissing in laughter, Ardivar raised his paw again: Knock! Knock!

The door swung open, slamming inwards. Ardivar bared his teeth up at the human. The man's jaw dropped, and his eyes bulged.

"Guard-

Leaping forwards Ardivar dug claws into the man's chest. Climbing up the man's torso like an overgrow spider to clamp his jaws on the man's neck. Ugh! A half yell, half gurgle came from the human's throat as he fell to the ground.

The two guards reached lowered their spears, but were too late the two Darvan warriors slammed into them, their claws tearing into flesh and armour alike.

Ahhh!

"Hurry lets go, we cannot let the Human Pack leader prepare." said Ardivar.

Body shaking in excitement, he spit foul coppery blood from his mouth. The stench of the man voiding his bowels made Ardivar gag. Tilting his head, Ardivar held still, waiting for the alarm.

" Push shut the door and find something to nock out a human." said Ardivar.

"Will this work Pack leader?" said Number four As the young Darva grasped the statue of a human on a pedestal along the far wall.

"Number five, carry the stone and get in the front. It is your job to nock out our prize." said Ardivar.

Ardivar followed behind Number five the Darva holding the head sized stone statue in one clawed paw.

"Frank!, keep down the noise. Unless its life and death situation!" said a male voice..

"Dont kill the human, hit him gently on the head, Gently!" said Ardivar, trying not to hiss laughing.

He crept across to the far side of the room and up a rounded staircase. Ardivar sighed, he saunter along the soft floor. Smiling, Ardivar revealed in the soft floor under his paws. As he walked, Ardivar glanced to the small gap under each door. They crept until he found the only one so far with a light shining from beneath.

"Here. Get ready. We will distract him, do not get seen Number Five." said Ardivar.

Knock! Knock! "What is it, Frank?" said an exhausted male voice.

Knock, Knock! Hushed yipping filled the hall behind Ardivar.

" This better be important Frank, I haven't slept in three days." said the human voice.

The large short haired Daran warrior stood on his hind paws, towering over the door holding the large statue head in one oversized paw.

A red faced Human opened the door. He glanced around, his eyes bulging as he took in his guests.

Ardivar and three of his pack mates stood directly in front of the human. Runes formed, and they blasted Ardivar through the railing. He channeled mana, filling his body just before impact with the far wall. Sliding to the ground he gasped hissing, glancing up he noticed three of the Darva had tumbled down the spiraling staircase. Where was Number Five, this was bad.

Body shaking and back aching he rose to all fours cursing the human. The human walked out onto the balcony, staring down at Ardivar, frowning. An enormous shadow fell over the human as the last Darva standing slammed the head sized stone statue into the human's skull. Crack! Ardivar winced. Was that his head or the stone?

From the stairs a purple haze, faint and wispy, drifting down and entering Ardivar's body. Ahh! His veins burned, and his heart raced wildly. Delicious! His mind in a euphoric haze, Ardivar limped back up the stairs. Number Two cradled one paw, a wooden splinter sticking out. Number Three swayed on his feet. Number four shook her head, blood running down the side of the smaller Darva's face.

Ardivar glanced to the human hissing, the man's grey robe changing to pink, then red right before his eyes. The right side of the human's head noticeably caved in. Swiveling his head, Ardivar looked over at the statue, the sharp corner of the statue covered in blood and a grey substance.

" Damit number Five, you ruined the plan!" said Ardivar.

" Its not ruined, we can just wrap him up in something and take him, leaving no blood."said Number Five calmly.

Ardivar hissed snarling at Number five, the large Darvan lowering his tail, ears wilting.

" I decided I should not take the chance, if he did not get nocked out we were dead." said Number Five.

"I have a great Idea, Lets wrap the dead human in bedding and drag him out." said Ardivar grinning.

"Good idea Pack leader." said Number Four, rolling her eyes and flicking her tail, If only we were smart enough to come up with something so clever.

" Thank you, I came up with it all by myself." said Ardivar. He hissed in laughter. All of his pack yipped at the expense of their pack mate.

Ardivar and his pack dragged the dead human along the cobblestones, down the dark street. They tried to drag it up the wall, but the stupid corpse kept falling from the sheets to the hard stone below. Not to mention all of them had some sort of injury. Why hadn't he been more cautious? Of course, the lord of the city was a mage.

His veins throbbing, the burning slowly growing weaker as Ardivar snarled. He turned to his pack and back to the wall leading to the merchant's quarter. Limping, the youngest of the group, shook her head. Gesturing towards a half burned house with her dark furred muzzle.

" Lets hide the body in there, the humans shouldn't find it for a while." said Number Four.

" Thats a good Idea Taliante." said Ardivar.

" You remembered my name." said Taliante, her tail waving rapidly side to side.

Cursing himself, Ardivar watched for humans as the Darva dragged the wrapped human over to the half burned building. They used claws to pull up floorboards and then slid the human into the gap beneath before covering it.

" Now for the retreat. We are going to meet the main pack tomorrow night. If everything goes well, they might have a plan for a large-scale raid." said Ardivar.

Now much less burdened, they slipped over the wall back onto the rooftops of the merchants' quarter.. If His guess was right, killing the human leader was going to make the humans angry. Heart racing in his chest, Ardivar grinned. He couldn't wait to see what they would do. Ardivar veins throbbed with energy as they reached the wall to the lower district. Only to find the soldiers lining the walls, leaving no way to leave for the safety of the lower city.