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Luza stood in front of the fire. She didn’t have time to climb trees or hide in the shadows, nor did she want to. The Arctic princess picked up a half burnt branch from the fire, the tip still glowing from the embers and heat of the blaze.
She felt her legs shaking. It was different standing defenseless without any help to fend off the attackers.
Still Luza held tightly on to the branch and pulled it back, ready to swing at the two wolves only feet away.
“We’ll make it quick Princess of the Northern Wood,” the larger of the two wolves snarled.
“Don’t worry your family will join you soon enough,” the other wolf cackled.
“I don’t think so,” Luza flipped her chin in defiance.
The two wolves approached together.
Luza looked into their golden eyes. She couldn’t help but smile as she heard the sounds of a familiar hoof not too far away.
* * *
Riley willed himself to the ledges. The approaching force were stride lengths behind, but yet he managed to get there, unscathed, and almost to Luza.
He watched the scouts close in around her.
Unable to cry out, he pushed onwards, hoping it wasn’t too late.
* * *
Luza always considered herself scrappy. She couldn’t wait for the wolves to make up their mind. With as much force as her two arms could swing, the branch made contact, grazing the face of the smaller wolf.
The impact startled the beast and he fell over from the inflamed tip breaking against his jaw.
The broken branch held tightly in her grasp. She prepared to strike again.
“You’ll have to do more than that to scare me,” he hissed.
Hesitating, the large wolf cut to Luza’s left. He nipped at her feet.
Shifting two steps back, Luza stood on the edge of the fire, prodding the second wolf forward.
She waited for him to nip at her again.
* * *
The influx of more animals arriving at the gate led to much disorder. Keira couldn’t look back. She didn’t have time. While some of the geese and hawks remained, clawing at the eyes of the few boars who had either not fallen or who had failed to leave, they paid no attention to the others that began to line up several hundred feet away from the gate.
Keira was already far from those fields. The birds that went with her gave her strength to run at a speed she had never done before.
She might have gotten across the island even faster had it not been for the Croatian sheepdogs she overtook near the faerie fountains.
The dogs didn’t see her coming. They heard her heavy steps, the shallow breaths she panted, but they only turned around just as she ran over them.
None of the dogs expected an animal of her size, let alone an oversized black she-bear. If Lane was exceptional, Keira wasn’t far behind.
* * *
The wolf dove at Luza. Unable to react quickly enough, the branch was the only thing separating her from the wolf’s teeth now inches from her face. He clawed at her sides.
“Owwwww!”
Sliding the branch into the wolf’s mouth she kneed and slapped at the wolf with her spare hand and feet.
“Give up,” he howled.
The former Arctic fox would do nothing of the sort.
Reaching into the fire, she grabbed for the first log that would fit her grip. Grasping onto the burning wood, she thrust it at the wolf and rolled away with the impact.
Despite a singed face, the smaller wolf recovered enough and rushed to aid the second.
* * *
Riley, now on the scene, lowered his head and drove his antlers into the wolf.
The impact shattered the wolf’s rib cage and unable to control his limbs, the wolf flipped over the ledge on to the rocks below.
The mighty buck turned in his tracks and honed in on the large wolf that was now crying in pain.
“Luza!” Riley called.
If she heard her name, she never acknowledged. The teen ran as fast as her two legs would take her, and tackled the wolf into the fire.
* * *
Riley watched in horror as his loyal friend fell into the flames. His instincts left him confused and uncertain.
He shrugged. Immediately, he lost his shape and form, returning to his human self.
His eyes watered, but he had no time to spare.
The attacking force had arrived and they were coming right for him.
Reaching for the curved knife in the belt of his pants, he drew it, and wiped away the tears from his eyes.
“Why Luza?” he cried out. “I’m so sorry I failed you.”
Doing what he could to contain his emotions, he whimpered loudly as more wolves came into view. Martens and lynx flanked to the sides with their eyes set on the birds waiting and hiding anxiously in the woods.
* * *
The dogs and other animals that lagged behind cowered at the sight of Keira bounding across the open ground.
They did nothing to stop her, nor could they.
Those that fell along her path were immediately struck by her large black paws with nails as strong as any knife or blade. Despite the brown muzzle, a white blaze on her chest, round ears, and a short tail that might have made Keira blush; the teen was the same girl who left Gilmanton days earlier.
Her eyes were the same amber bluish color, yet they were different. She was battle tested. Sure, she was only 14 years old, but Keira had seen enough bullies and faced enough hardship for a lifetime. No animal was going to stand in her way as long as she still had breath to breathe and strength in her limbs to guide her.
* * *
Riley waited impatiently for the wolves to arrive. They slowed their pace and even the martens and the lynx did the same.
“Why? What’s the purpose of slowing down? You have the blasted numbers and you already have Luza.”
He was angry and upset. Grime and dust covered his forehead and forearms. His jeans were shredded and even with several new gash marks, the boy fumed, ready to fight on.
Beating the hilt of the knife against his leg, he wanted to stab the blade in any animal that had sought to cause him and Luza harm.
“It’s not fair,” he glanced back at the fire. “You should be here with me.”
“I’m right here, my prince. Remind me to never do that again,” Luza was covered in soot. Her clothes were burnt, although her hair, face, and arms were unscathed. She gingerly walked from around the far side of the fire.
“What? How?” Riley’s face lit up. His jaw dropped and a huge smile formed.
“They made it look so easy on television. I should have known better.”
“Are you okay?” Riley looked her over from head to toe.
Luza wrapped her arms around the boy. She squeezed tightly and said, “I knew you’d come.”
KABOOM!
KABOOM!
* * *
Now no gate remains.
Keira did her best to ignore the fact their only means of getting to her father was now under piles of rock, underbrush, and trees.
She reached the ledges, the same spot she had seen the night before, only to find the place under much confusion. Whether it was the explosion or the two teens in the distance, the other animals had halted.
Not a tactician, Keira continued her advance. The red-tailed hawks and the geese followed her lead and attacked Sohon’s first army.
* * *
With their arms wrapped around one another, both teens had expected to see more smoke in the sky. Instead, they watched a massive black bear arrive on the ledges, leading a formidable fighting force of geese and hawks.
Luza clenched tightly onto Riley’s arm and said, “King Lane must have heard our cries and returned through the gate.”
Riley shook his head. “That can’t be him. The gates are gone. No Luza, that’s not Lane, that’s —”
“Keira!” Her pulse quickened. She was part flabbergasted, yet also unsurprised. “Did you know this?”
“How? I’ve been here.”
“Did you know she can change form? How is that possible?”
Riley didn’t have an answer. He looked on as the wolves, lynx, and marten had turned away. The animals repositioned themselves, preparing for Keira and her fleet of birds.
Luza jumped with delight. She turned back to the trees and screamed, “That’s the side you should be fighting on. You put your trust in a loon and look what it got you. It’s not too late to change course. Fight for her, fight for what’s right!”
The teen was ready to say more.
“If you don’t fight for her and we are defeated, then you are truly lost. No one will be able to save you.”
The blinking yellow, red, and green eyes from the trees above continued to observe everything playing out.
* * *
Keira knew it didn’t matter which direction she selected. There was no easy path to Luza and Riley. She bounded forward and attacked the first group of dogs in her path.
With a swipe of her paw, one black sheepdog fell, and another followed from Keira’s right.
Still the animals came forward, taking their shots at the princess.
The red-tailed hawks provided the necessary cover, focusing on the smaller lynx and marten. Only one lynx broke through.
The lynx jumped onto Keira’s back.
Ignoring the pesky cat, she growled at a group of dogs, who were wisely working in tandem to take her down.
Sharp claws and teeth ran down her spine. Despite the pain, she batted away another two dogs and then reached over for the mangy lynx.
He wouldn’t go easily and bore into the folds of her neck.
One Croatian sheepdog took the opportunity to leap at Keira’s throat from the front.
Two Canadian geese would have none of this attack and simultaneously pushed down the sheepdog and flapped their wings at the lynx, distracting the animal enough that it fell and landed a few feet from the princess.
Keira did the rest of the damage with her hind claws.
The lynx and the sheepdog rolled over never to rise again.
* * *
“Luza we have to leave now!” Riley demanded.
“What? Why? We’re winning.”
“There’s more coming. I know it! Trust me. We don’t have time.” Riley grabbed her by the hand.
Pulling back, Luza fumed, “We’re not going to run away with Keira right there, fighting for her father and for us. What’s wrong with you?”
Riley gripped tightly on to the curved knife.
“I can’t change anymore. This is it. If they get any closer . . .” He looked back at the battle.
He wondered when the animals would overwhelm Keira and turn back on them.
“Did you even try? How can she still fight but you can’t?”
The teen lowered his head. “We’re not going to commit suicide just to prove a point. She’ll be fine.”
“You’re going to leave her to die. How could you?”
Luza might have started in on Riley, but several wolves had come around, eager for the two teens.
They kept low to the ground and stealthily moved along the edges of the fire.
Riley held the knife in front of him. He kept himself between Luza and the wolves.
“Please,” he begged.
“Darn it Riley, give me the knife. You’re useless as a human.”
* * *
Talk about being in the fight, Keira never knew what it meant until today. Bilal was one man, but now she was taking on a force far larger, but in some ways less trained and skilled. No matter, Keira couldn’t do this forever.
Even as she ran down a wolf and punched out another dog, she felt her reserves waning.
She didn’t know how long she could maintain her form and at what cost it would be to the birds already dwindling in number.
Looking up from the carnage, she saw Riley, Luza, and a pair of opportunists.
There was Bilal’s blade in Riley’s hand.
“Why did they take it?” she asked herself.
There was no way they could take down both wolves with a single knife.
Keira closed her eyes and gave one additional charge, hoping she could get there in time.
* * *
“Stay back,” Riley motioned to Luza. “I told you, I can’t do anything now. They’d be on my back in seconds and I can do nothing to stop them.”
“How right you are, traitor. Don’t worry boy, it will be a second longer with our master’s knife, but only a second,” one of the wolves said.
“Just try you four legged oaf,” Luza cried. “I’ll kill you with my bare hands if I have to.”
“She’s a feisty one traitor. Should we deal with the Arctic fox first or at least what remains of one?”
“Shut up Luza. You’re just going to antagonize them.”
“Since her words mean so much,” the wolf laughed and then swung his head towards the other.
The silent grey wolf thrust his claws at the boy. Avoiding the knife, he drew blood on Riley’s legs. He staggered backwards.
Luza pushed the teen from behind to keep him upright.
Swinging with the knife in an up-down motion, Riley gave the wolves seconds to ponder the next course of action.
Again the same claws slashed into the boy’s legs.
Riley fell to the ground. The knife popped out of his hand.
The second wolf jumped forward, with his mouth agape, sharp jagged teeth ready to pierce the teen’s throat.
At the last moment, Luza picked up the knife and stabbed the wolf in the stomach.
She couldn’t hold on to the blade from the impact.
Inches from Riley’s throat, the wolf rolled over, dead.
* * *
Surprised at his fallen comrade, the wolf looked at the blade and his eyes grew big with fury.
“Rooooooooooo,” he belted.
Not waiting, he zeroed in on Luza and leapt, ready to end her life.
Luza had no time to react.
She watched the wolf’s mouth open and braced for the inevitable.
Riley already on the ground, shaken by the other wolf, could do nothing.
He watched helplessly.
* * *
The black she-bear came out of nowhere and dove into the wolf.
Unable to stop herself, she rolled the beast and herself into the fire.
Everything happened so quickly. Keira didn’t feel the flames, nor did she see them as she spun off the wolf’s body.
Back on her hind legs, Keira gave one final swat to the animal.
He never recovered.
* * *
“Where did she come from?” Luza marveled.
She waited for a response from Riley, but he was struggling to get the other dead wolf off his body.
Kicking free, he was visibly angry. His hair was more ragged than usual, his body covered in scrapes, bruises, and of course claw marks and bites.
“I told you I couldn’t change. I told you we had to get out of here. But no, heavens forbid you listen just once. Could I have gotten any closer to being killed?”
He struggled to stand and when he did, he rested his hands on his sides and took a deep breath.
“Are you done?” Luza pulled out the knife from the wolf’s stomach.
He put his hand out for the blade.
“No, this is mine. What good did it do you anyway?” Luza snapped.
“Lover’s quarrel?” Keira gasped in their general direction.
“Shut up Princess,” Riley glared at the she-bear.
“That’s a weird way to thank someone for saving your life. Ignore him Keira, he’s just having a bad day.”
“I don’t know about you two but we need to get out of here before we’re overrun. Any ideas?”
“I told you Luza.” Riley looked back at Keira.
“That’s great Bucky. Focus on now!”
Keira kept her eyes focused on the wounded in front of her and the entrance onto the ledges. She made quite a path of destruction to get to Luza and Riley. That was clear from the numbers of animals that had fallen. Still, she knew more were coming, and that time was not on their side.
“Did you remove the blindfold that night?”
“What?” Riley gasped.
“You heard me. Do you know the other way off the island?”
“I might have removed it.”
“You’re such a liar,” Luza struck him on the backside.
“It doesn’t matter. Can you get her out of here if I give you time?” Keira asked.
“That’s absurd. We should all go together,” Luza’s eyes were defeated.
“Yes,” Riley said softly.
“I’ll give you as much time as I can.”
“Princess, what about you?”
“I’ll manage. See you in the water,” Keira laughed. She did her best to hide any fear creeping into her thoughts.
* * *
Keira took several deep breaths as she prepared for the inevitable. She didn’t know if the plan forming in her head was going to be any good, nor give them the time they needed. Still she had to try something.
Riley gathered up the confidence to transform back into his formidable white tail deer self. He was exhausted and it took a large amount of concentration to maintain his form. His legs shook as Luza climbed onto his back. His matted coat was covered with dried blood, but it wasn’t as though Luza had much of a choice.
“Are you sure about this?” She looked at Keira, waiting for some form of reassurance.
“Rorrrrrawwwwwaar,” Keira belted out a war cry almost as loud as her father’s.
The cry echoed across the island.
Those fighting paused briefly. Some were in awe of the inspiring sound. Others were concerned of who it belonged too.
Keira didn’t keep them waiting.
She ran on all fours. From the trees, several geese and ducks swooped down to her flanks, and Riley followed closely behind.
* * *
The plan was simple — run. There was no stopping, no straying, just running to make a path for Riley and Luza to get on the trail near the apple grove.
“Apple Orchard. Apple Orchard,” Riley repeated in a mantra like state.
“This is going to get old quick.” Luza slapped Riley’s shoulders playfully. She squeezed her thighs and legs firmly against Riley’s back. Leaning in towards his neck, she did all she could to stay on and maintain any sense of balance.
“Not now,” Riley neighed.
He shifted to the left, following the she-bear’s wake.
* * *
Perhaps Sohon’s army was simply regrouping, but for the most part even the wolves moved aside at the sight of the trampling black paws.
It might have looked easy, but Keira was losing her momentum. The birds that flew beside her, helped mask that her pace was slowing after the initial sprint across the ledges.
Focused on getting to the side trail, Keira knew if she made it that far, Riley would be able to run unscathed along the narrow path to the apple grove and perhaps unnoticed to the water below.
All was going smoothly, but up ahead there was a refreshed army on the march. They were moving free off the tree line.
“How am I going to do this?” Keira said under her breath.
She didn’t turn her head for fear it would slow her down.
“They want her, not me. She must get away. She must at all costs. Think Princess, think. What would Mom do? What would Dad do?”
Then a new idea struck her. She managed a smile as well as any bear could smile in a sprint, dead tired from a morning of fighting.
“What’s the worst thing that can happen?” An uneasy feeling crossed her mind and the five letter word slipped out on her tongue, “death.”
“I can do this. I will do this.”
* * *
The small army of over one hundred animals approached the area. Led by the grey wolf with the jade necklace, columns of dogs and boars waited impatiently for the order to attack.
Keira stared out at the ready made force. She prepared to spring her plan into action.
Suddenly, Riley collapsed behind her. He wasn’t struck by an animal or a projectile. He taxed his final reserves and had nothing left.
Somehow Luza managed to roll off the buck as he transformed back into human form, without stabbing or harming herself. She hit the ground hard, but was more shocked then wounded.
“My prince!” She reached over to the teen and his dirt covered face.
He heaved over and clutched his chest. The boy couldn’t catch his breath.
“Riley are you okay?”
Keira halted her advance. She heard the commotion and while it was against her instincts she looked back to verify what she already suspected.
This would change everything.
“Help him Princess,” she bellowed, “just get him up.”
Luza did what she could. She propped Riley’s left arm over her shoulder and lifted as much as she was able.
He was standing, but barely. Luza struggled to keep him upright.
They were less than a football field away from the apple grove trail, and half of that distance to the rocks and the water below.
“I’ll cover you.”
“He won’t make it!” Luza yelled.
“In the water he will,” Keira couldn’t think of any other options.
“What? But it’s not —”
“Just do it. We’ll do what we can.”
Luza wanted to debate with Keira the effectiveness of such a plan. As she held Riley in her arms, she didn’t have the time or the strength. He was heavier than she expected and he was barely keeping himself together.
His doe colored eyes briefly glossed over.
* * *
“You don’t want a piece of this wolf,” Keira roared.
The geese, red-tailed hawk, ducks, and other animals loyal to King Lane gathered round the princess.
While Sohon’s army was significantly larger with four legged animals, Keira no doubt had the air superiority and double of her wolf counterpart. Even with the wounded, she did have strength in numbers.
“Give them time. That’s all I ask of you. I in return will fight for you,” Keira trembled under her own voice. The words surprised her, those of a mere teenager forced with a life and death situation.
She watched Luza lead Riley over to the ledge and to the rocks waiting below.
“Come on my prince, not much farther,” she cried out.
“Don’t let them pass,” Keira belted.
“You’re an idiot princess. My master doesn’t care about a dying buck and an Arctic fox who walks on two legs. The Great Loon knows nothing. You’re the prize. You are Lane’s flesh and blood. Don’t worry we won’t kill you yet, but we’ll bring you close enough that you’ll want to die.”
“That’s a mouthful. You must not get to talk much huh? Why don’t we just make it between you and me? Loser’s side surrenders.”
The wolf ignored Keira’s challenge. There was no emotion in his face, his golden eyes, or with his long snout and jagged teeth.
Five wolves came forward and the rest of the army followed.
* * *
Riley gingerly navigated the rocks. Luza practically carried the boy on her back. His strength was zapped and he could barely put one foot in front of the other. The timing couldn’t have been worse. As the water came closer to the duo, the sounds of the battle above them, made it ever so clear there would be no turning back.
* * *
Keira waited for the wolves. She saved what strength she had, knowing her reserves were equally taxed.
The red-tailed hawks and geese flew ahead.
She wondered how wise it would be to take on these five wolves.
What else could she do?
Her brain raced with ideas but it meant nothing. Three of the wolves bounded forward and attacked.
The birds were ineffective, dealing with other animals moving on their positions.
The she-bear stood her ground. Literally, she stood on her hind legs, and swung at the closest wolf. Connecting in the neck, the wolf shot back and slammed on to the ground.
With her side and front exposed, the other two clawed into the teen.
“Ahhhhh!” She couldn’t stand the pain of the claws and teeth digging into her. She managed to push one off and bit the other, causing the wolf to release its grip and fall back, although only temporarily.
Keira didn’t even want to look at her side. She knew she was bleeding. Her head was spinning. Wincing, the teen fought to stay alert and focused.
“My turn,” the jaded necklace wearing wolf snarled. He leapt in the air ready to strike.
At one hundred percent, Keira would have dodged the straight on attack, but she could barely keep her arms up.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
She collapsed and everything faded around her.