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The Lost Stars ChronicleChapter 24: Five More Men
“Seems like someone already killed our food.” Draco smirked.
“And cooked to…” answered Swift with a smile, pointing at the burned trees, “Maybe we should seek the ones who did this, ‘cause there isn’t only wolf blood here.”
Swift was a Wolfpack member and so could smell the difference between human blood and wolf blood.
“No.” said Drake with a smirk on his face, “We aren’t, we’re already stuck to long with Swift and Strider that I’m getting used to them.”
“Very funny,” answered Strider, “Is that what they call Dragon Master humor?”
Now it was Strider who was laughing. While he was sharpening his knives he said, “Seriously now, why don’t we search for them now? It would be a lot of easier as their tracks are still fresh.”
“Yes,” Swift replied, “why not now, Drake, tell me that!”
“Because he says so!” Drakkon yelled.
“Calm down Drakkon, we aren't going to search them now, we need rest as so our horses.”
“Sure, whatever you say, you’re the boss…” Swift said without any defense in his voice anymore. Swift wasn’t used to taking orders since he was leader of a Wolfpack tribe. Strider took his backpack of his horse and putted it under his head and tried to sleep. When he yawned he suddenly saw a trail of blood. He got up and told this to Swift.
“It would be better to go now, they might need some serious help.”
“I know, I know, but as long as Vince doesn’t wants to, I can’t do anything.”
Draco overheard this conversation and interrupted, “I’ll talk to Drake, be prepared to leave in five minutes, pack the horses.”
So five minutes later all five men were on their horses following the track of blood. As they approached the camp, they got of their horses and sneaked towards the camp. Voolmark and the others were too busy with Luxus to notice them.
“So, what’s yer problem?” Drake asked.
“Who are you?” Voolmark asked.
“Hey Strider, there’s some kid here who needs help!” Swift yelled to Strider.
“I might have something that might help.” Draco suddenly said, “Here you go, a little bit of Dragon's Milk, that will surely warm him a bit!”
“Are you out of your mind?!”
“Calm down, this might work!”
Draco putted his can of Dragon’s Milk against Luxus lips and helped him drink of it. Luxus cough weakly and Drakkon smiled.
“It isn’t normal for a Dragon Master to smile when he saved someone’s life.” Shainya said with a grim look on her face, “All they care about is slaughtering innocent people.”
“We once were glorious knights of the Black Templars, an elite Black Knights Order, but we did something wrong and we where banned...as for Draco, he spent a long time living with the Wolfpack.”
Then Vince walked over to Bjarn and Dractor.
“What’s wrong with these guys?” he asked Voolmark.
“Nothing.” said Bjarn and Sir Dractor together.
Voolmark smiled. All three of them were thinking the same thing. Could they trust all these sudden arrivals? Five men showing up all at once seemed awfully suspicious. However, it wasn’t like the Fellowship were successfully sneaking through Classic LEGOland unnoticed. Anyone could have followed the many tracks in the snow, and the avalanche and forest fire had been like beacons in the winter landscape.
“Voolmark’s already healed us…” Bjarn explained further.
He stood and nodded curtly at Vince.
“I thank you for your additional assistance. I’m afraid we were all in quite a fix. My name is Bjarn, and I am a Forestmen. These are my friends, Sir Dractor, Voolmark, Reno, Aros, Luxus, Shainya, and Anardan. We are heading toward Orion.”
Voolmark noted that though Bjarn had not told any lies, he had not mentioned that he was Lord Bjarn, and leader of the Forestmen.
“Pleased to meet you, I’m sure." smiled Vince, sticking out his hand, "I’m Vincent Drake, and these are my comrades Draco, Drakkon, Swift, and Strider. We are glad to help.”
Thirteen figures lay in the darkness around the guttering campfire, all but one asleep in their bedrolls. Anardan was confused about the sudden appearance of six complete strangers in their midst, all within the hour, and he couldn’t seem to filter through the mix of thoughts whirling in his head. The wolves, demon-like, running even to their doom, consumed in blood lust...the flaming woods, the Crusader merchant, and the five men who turned up out of nowhere...
Anardan pushed aside his blanket and stood up. The cold air made him gasp, and he pulled his woolen cloak tighter around his body as he shivered. Bjarn was on guard duty, his sword at his side, staring into the shadows of the midnight woods. His bow had been lost in the fight with the Timberwolves.
“Bjarn, you awake?”
Bjarn started slightly, then turned around.
“Oh, it’s you, Anardan. I must have dozed off. What’s the matter?”
“Something’s bothering me.” Anardan said.
Bjarn raised his eyebrows and turned around, waiting for him to continue.
“All in an hour or so, we’re attacked by timberwolves, and six strange men join our party minutes afterward. It doesn’t seem right!”
“What’s so unusual about it?” asked Bjarn, “Timberwolves might not be expected in this region, but some travelers isn’t so strange.”
Anardan pondered his words carefully before replying.
“Our quest determines the fate of Dametreos. If the Endless Winter goes on forever, what would we do? The timberwolves will multiply and spread, for they thrive on conditions like this. All the peoples of the land will be forced to abandon their farmlands and homes to move into cities or towns, where they will be safer. The crops will die in the cold. Even our Forestmen, who live with the land as best as any, cannot survive in this forever. The spirit of BloodVaine has more planned for us then ice and snow. Those timberwolves did not come all the way here into Crusader territory for nothing, did they? Our task is of vital importance. Who are these men who have so lightly turned up in our midst? I may be a fool, Bjarn, but what if they do not mean to help us? Even if they do, we cannot take them along. We need to get to Yellow Castle soon, you know this. It will be hard enough from there.”
The two sat in silence for some time, then Bjarn spoke, his voice heavy.
“I know. We go not only for our people, but for every mother’s son in Dametreos. I will think long on this. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Anardan could see how tired he was, for his head was drooping as he spoke.
“You’re exhausted, Bjarn. Killing those wolves must have got to you, you slew scores before we came. I’m still awake, and I doubt I’ll sleep for awhile yet. Go to bed.”
Bjarn gratefully accepted. For the rest of the night, he dreamed unsettling dreams of wolves and ice, caves and snow. Anardan fared little better, visions of eyes red with bloodlust darting across his field of vision. It was a long time until dawn.
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