Wolf Encounter

The soldiers loaded their crossbows and aimed them at Lauren. Askari jerked his head and pawed at the ground. Amias and Odi moved their horses forwards a little. "What do you want?" Odi asked the soldier in the front.

"We have orders from Icas Thornton to bring the 'Moonstar' to him, immediately." The captain made a noise that sounded like "traitor" but Lauren couldn't be sure. Askari protectively backed up a few steps. "Dismount," The captain ordered. Amias, Odi, and Lauren hesitantly obeyed.

"You're not taking her," Amias told the captain. "We've been waiting too long for you to be taking her away now." Two soldiers grabbed Amias and Odi and restrained them. Lauren glanced at Amias and mouthed: talk.

Amias got the hint and started a raging speech to the captain. He was talking so fast that the only things Lauren could make out were "Fallon" and "Cardell", but she couldn't get distracted. With the soldier's attention diverted, Lauren drew her sword and approached the soldier holding Odi. Amias heard the sound of metal and he looked over to see one soldier dead, and Lauren holding her sword. Odi drew his sword and swiftly killed the other soldier, leaving only the captain. Lauren carefully approached the captain, with her sword still drawn.

"Return to Cardell Castle. Tell Icas Thornton that the Moonstar is here and the prophecy is slowly but surely coming true and there is nothing he can do about it." The captain nodded and ran off into the forest.

Lauren sheathed her sword and sat down on the grass, breathing heavily.

"Are you alright?" Amias asked.

"I mean I did just kill somebody but yeah I'm good," she said sarcastically. "No, I'm not alright!"

"It's okay," Odi said. "You handled yourself very well for someone who has never used a real sword before."

Lauren nodded. "Who were they anyway? I mean I know they're Nites, but why so few of them?"

"Probably just a patrol. They are looking for us," Odi said.

"Or a hunting party," Lauren said motioning to a set of paw prints leading off the path a little bit. She stood up and pushed through the brambles and walked into a clearing. Lauren gasped at the sight she saw.

A black wolf was caught in a poachers' trap. The wolf's paw was caught in the trap and was bleeding badly. Lauren approached the wolf who looked at her. "I'm not going to hurt you," she said.

"I know you won't," the wolf said, making Lauren shriek. Amias and Odi caught up to her and stood in awe.

"You found one!" Odi said.

"One what?" Lauren asked.

"A Starglow wolf! There must be only ten left in the whole country!" Odi answered.

"What's a Starglow wolf?"

"A rare breed of wolves who have black coats and can talk," Amias said.

Lauren looked back at the wolf. She knelt down beside it and pulled back the metal teeth of the trap, allowing the wolf to remove his leg.

"Thank you, Moonstar," it said. "I have been searching for you."

"You have?" Lauren asked.

"Yes, I am here to aid you on your journey to take back Eddeathra. My name is Mlinzi."

Swahili for "Guardian or Protector" Lauren thought as she nodded. Sounds fitting.

"My entire pack has been hunted by the Nites. I lost my brothers and sisters and my parents."

"I'm so sorry," Lauren said. "Why were they hunting you?"

"For the same reason, they were trying to keep Askari away from you. I am part of the prophecy along with you and Askari."

Mlinzi and Lauren continued to talk as they journeyed across the Stelpond Forest until the sun started to set. Amias stopped the group and dismounted. "We will set up camp here," he said. "Tomorrow will be very exciting for you since you've never been here before," he said with a smile, looking at Lauren.

Lauren nodded and pulled out a makeshift sleeping bag. Odi gathered wood and started a fire. Amias went out hunting for food which caused Mlinzi to lay next to Lauren, as he was scared of someone hunting. Askari stood nearby, keeping watch.

After a few hours when Lauren fell asleep, she was plunged into the strangest dream she ever experienced.