~Chapter three~
Outside, no one was watching the wall; no guards at all. The wolves should have known better after their encounter with the lizards at their old home. Somehow they must have forgotten to post sentries in all of the excitement of the finished wall.
There was the loud clinking of metal on stone as a grappling hook flew up in the air and thudded against the wall top. The line strained for a moment before sliding back over the wall and landing heavily back on the ground. It came flying up once more and the clinking sounded again. This time it hooked onto the wall and soon strained from the weight of some animal. After a minute another hook flew up to land behind it and two reptilian heads peered silently over the edge.
They were scaly but not slimy looking at all. The scales looked very dry and a little bit crusty. The two creatures had beady black eyes that searched around the fortress hungrily. One of the creatures, the one that had come first, turned to the other and hissed out, “We must find weakness. Remember this Slist. They neglect wall watchers. Wood doors easy to break through. Don’t forget.”
Slist nodded obediently then heaved himself up and over the ledge. “Why I must remember, Hisk? You one in charge.” He complained after a minute of standing there while Hisk heaved himself over to join him.
“I’m one in charge and I make rules,” Hisk hissed, “You do as told or be reported.” He stalked off down one length of wall while Slist headed off in the other direction.
Slist began muttering to himself, “Course he think he get to boss just for he being captain.”
Meanwhile, below in the grounds, everyone was getting ready for a small picnic. Furnil and Tonka were wrestling in a bunch of bushes while most of the others were off visiting the elders under the large oak trees. Of course Pungle and Tongle were no where to be seen and Dilandi could be found searching all over for them.
Jano, one of the younger warriors, was scanning the newer parts of the wall for mistakes. He had pointed out almost twenty flaws since the beginning of the building of the wall alone. Countless others had been discovered by him on the main building. From this alone you can tell he was a bit of a neat freak. He kept each of his daggers in particular areas and always kept his clothes clean and strait. But those who knew him knew not to underestimate him. He was still one of the best warriors, especially because of his perfectionist qualities.
“There.” He said, standing up and walking over to a small crack left between two bricks.
Mathuna walked up, beginning to frown. “What’s wrong with it now?”
He grinned guiltily, “Just a small error. They didn’t push the blocks close enough together.”
“Ah,” She said laughing, “Of course, even the largest bear could fit through it. We should patch it up at once.”
“It’s not like that.” He said glaring at her, “It could be used for… Hey!” He noticed movement up on the wall and caught a glimpse of an unfamiliar blood red material.
Mathuna followed his gaze up to where a scaly head and black eyes were now peaking over the edge. “Dear. What is it? You know, don’t even tell me. Get Rogue and Dane and go get it.” She ordered.
“Of course, my lady.” Jano bowed and ran off obediently.
Mathuna continued to watch the figure but it disappeared quickly. Thinking, she headed off towards the stairs, hoping to cut it off. She grabbed a kitchen knife from her belt that she had planned on using during the picnic. It would fare well enough as a temporary weapon. She just needed something to protect her while she stalled this intruder until her warriors arrived.
Rogue, Dane and Jano could be seen running past windows, strapping on their weapons. Rogue risked a glance out a window and could be heard cursing all the way down on the grounds. “What is she thinking?” He shouted, “We’ll end up with a dead leader!”
Mathuna could easily hear him shouting, but she ignored it. She couldn’t ignore the many eyes that were now watching her as she advanced slowly up the steps. These were her wolves and it was her job to protect them. She definantly wasn’t going to let some strange creature wander around her fortress unwatched.
The top of the creatures head was clearly visible as it tried to hide behind the siding. It must be waiting for me to round the corner. She thought. It isn’t going to get me that easily.
She got down on all fours and crawled forward with her kitchen knife. Let’s see who’s getting who now. Just as she came around the corner, she realized that the scaly body was rounding it at the same time.
Kranul shook his head as Bron gave him a paw up. He dusted himself off clumsily before leaning over to inspect the unconscious reptile. It was a bit smaller than a wolf, but it had a more muscular build. The lizard’s arms were slightly on the short side with claws that reached out like small daggers. Unlike what he had expected, it’s scales were very dry and hard, not moist like any other lizards.
“I’d hate to be cornered by a few of those. They’d rip you to shreds before you could draw your sword,” Bron exclaimed. He had obviously been checking out the lizard too.
The lizard’s tail twitched, springing up into the air towards Kranul. He jumped backwards and let out a whoop. He froze for a moment afterward as he stared at it. He was brought back when Bron patted him roughly on the back. “Oh, I didn’t know you’re fur could go that big.”
He glared back at him as he flattened down his fur. That usually happened when he got frightened, and sometimes, like this one, it could get embarrassing.
“Yeah, well I’ll take it upon myself to give me orders to go tie him up with the rest, since you seem so busy yourself.” Bron’s voice could be heard getting fainter as he walked off with the lizard hanging limp over his shoulder.
Kranul nodded slowly, “Yeah. Yeah, okay.”
“Well, they’re all secured. Now we just wait until they wake up to question them.” Bron said to a younger, dirt brown wolf. “So Ph-” He paused and stared at him questioningly for a moment, “What’s your name again?”
“Phanomel, sir. You can call me Phan or Nom, but please don’t call me Melly.” The younger wolf replied with an agitated look. “Everyone always does. Thinks it’s funny, they do.”
Okay. I might just like this kid... Eventually. Bron thought. “So, you mind taking first shift with Tisko?”
“Um, sure sir, but what are we supposed to be watching for?” Phanomel said stupidly.
Or possibly not. He’s almost as lost as Neto. Bron let out a heavy sigh, “Just walk around the beasts and when one of them wakes up you come and let us know. Alright?” He said the last word very slowly as if he expected Phanomel to be confused by it. Instead, the young wolf nodded and wandered off towards the trees where the reptiles were tied.
A beautiful black wolf materialized from the bushes to stand behind Bron. She smiled warmly after the clueless young Phanomel. “He’s really intelligent, even if it doesn’t always seem so.”
Bron spun about and almost let out a shriek. “What are you doing here? If Kranul finds that you’re here-“
“He isn’t going to get mad at me. I can talk him out of it even if he does.” She said, interrupting him.
“No!” He half shouted, shaking his head crazily. “It ain’t you he’ll take it out on. It’s me! He told me to protect you while he was off... What’s he doing’ now anyways?” He took a hold of her arm and tried to guide her back towards camp.
Filia waved over at Tisko and Phanomel casually. “I’m not quite sure. Last I saw he was wandering off into the woods.” A look of worry overcame her now, “You don’t think they could have gotten him, do you?”
She could barely catch Bron’s nod before he was off, running back to camp. Unease flooded over her and she followed him, forcing her legs to move faster.
