Page 25 of The Wolf’s Secret Baby

Typhon

We awoke at dawn the following morning. We slept together, with Ambrosia nestled between Kull and myself. She smelled sweet. I brushed her lips with mine and squeezed her hand.

“Are you feeling good about today? Do you know what you’re going to do?” she asked.

“I’m not sure it’s possible to feel good about any of this but I think it’s clear what must be done,” I said. Kull murmured in agreement as he stirred himself. We rose and left the small habitat that had been given to us. We joined a feast and when we asked for Vali, were told that he would be able to see us after he had performed the morning ritual. We did not have to wonder about this for long.

Vali emerged wearing a long cloak that draped across the floor. He held a staff made of gnarled wood, as well as a stoic expression. Around his head was a simple crown, a circlet of smooth wood. A hushed awe came over his people and they stopped their conversations. Out of respect, the three of us remained silent.

“My people, it is time for us to once again thank Mother Nature for bringing another blessed day to us. We must always cherish every day because we never known when it is going to be our last. The world is filled with dangers and there may be people seeking to undermine the natural balance of peace. We are tasked with an obligation to fight against that where possible. I will not lie to you. There may be dark days ahead but that doesn’t mean this world is going to fall into darkness forever. We are the army of light and we can push back against the shadow of evil. Trust in yourselves and in the world around you. Mother Nature has given us everything we need to protect her. Do not stray too far from home today as I will address you again later but for now enjoy the offerings Mother Nature has blessed us with and enjoy each other as well,” as he spoke he gestured towards the food that had been placed upon the table. It did not interest me too much, for it consisted mostly of berries, fruits, and nuts. I don’t know how they managed to keep up their strength when they consumed so many weak foods.

“Perhaps Mother Nature gives them all they need,” Kull scoffed when I made the comment aloud. I chuckled in response. For some reason they thought of Mother Nature as a tangible thing. The Moon was the only goddess. Everything else was false but it wasn’t their fault for falling prey to such a concept. It was easy to fall into a trap. I wasn’t about to judge them for it. If it gave them belief and courage then it would prove to be a necessary tool in the fight we were about to wage.

Vali stripped off his cloak and handed it, his staff, and his crown, to another of his people. He then noticed us and came straight towards us. There was a grave look on his face. “It is time we decide our course of action. The longer we take, the more time Vance has to enact his plans,” he said as he led us to his office. It was a round room located in a hollowed out trunk of a wide tree. The wood was old and thick, while there were no leaves on the branches. Vali explained that the roots were dead. Upon the floor was a makeshift map of the forest, with locations marked for the various outposts. We stepped carefully over this and looked at Vali. His face was drawn as he stared at the map.

“I want to believe that there’s a way to stop Vance. Please tell me that I’m not a fool for wanting to believe this,” he began.

Kull and I shared a glance. “I don’t think you’re a fool but it’s not going to be easy. You have to ask yourself if you really want this fight, because a lot of people are going to die. If you want, you could run away and leave Vance to do what he likes,” I said.

“I can’t do that. The forest is under our protection and I’m not about to forsake that. What kind of leader would I be if I crumbled when I was first tested? No, we need to fight and we need to stop Vance from advancing.”

“What are those?” Ambrosia asked, pointing to the markings on the floor.

“Those are the outposts we’ve discovered. There could be more but I’m confident that we have marked them all. If the one we saw yesterday was any indication, these are all filled with soldiers ready to form an army. Once they’re good to go, Vance can lead them through the forest and do whatever he wants. With so many under his command they can seize a lot of territory in a short amount of time,” Vali explained.

“And if I know Vance, he’ll have specific targets in mind. He’s only going to begin this war when he’s confident of winning and not a moment before,” I said.

“So we have to make our chance count. We can’t afford a moment of hesitation,” Kull said.

I gazed at the map, thoughts and stratagems turning over in my mind. I frowned and pursed my lips.

“We’re going to need to find a way to hit them all at once. We can’t afford to wait to take out these outposts one by one. As soon as Vance learns what’s happening, he’s going to retaliate and if he gets that desperate he might even bring the soldiers to the fore.”

“Even before they’re ready?” Kull asked.

I rolled my shoulders. “I wouldn’t put it past him. It’s not as though he cares about their well-being. If they’re good enough he might accept that to deal with any threat against him and that’s another thing, we’re going to have to deal with him. He’s determined to wage war and leaving him alive is only going to delay the problem. It’s not going to solve it.”

Vali sighed heavily and looked despondent. “We are not that numerous. Our army cannot be everywhere at once. We are also not equipped for a full frontal assault. We have always fought using subterfuge and stealth. These are the advantages we have. In a straight fight I fear our chances are not good.”

“I don’t suppose they would be but I think there’s a way for us to fight according to our own advantages. If we presume that these other outposts are like the one we investigated it means that they’re only manned by a handful of wolves. You should be able to find a way to draw them out. Split up your forces and make sure that you subdue the wolves. Do everything you can to prevent them from escaping, otherwise they’ll return to Vance and he’ll learn what’s happened.”

Vali nodded. “We should be able to send teams to each of the locations and strike simultaneously. If we do encounter any difficulties then we shall retreat and send word of warning.”

“Hopefully it won’t come to that,” Kull said.

“What about the soldiers?” Ambrosia asked. “They’re people as well. What are you planning to do with them?”

I breathed deeply. “If Vance is convinced of their loyalty I am not sure we will be able to reason with them. Their loyalty will be to the Alpha. It might be better to destroy them before they become aware of what torture this life can be,” I said.

Ambrosia gasped and held her hand to her face. Kull was guarded. He pressed his lips firmly together. I could tell he did not agree with me but he did not voice his objections.

“You’re talking about a lot of people,” Vali said.

“I know. But they have been bred for violence and if Vance has his way that’s what they will be used for. Even if they are allowed to exist they will face a life of torment.”

“That’s not necessarily true. Just because you suffered, it doesn’t mean that they’re going to suffer as well. We could help them. I could help them. If we explain to them what happened then we might be able to treat them and give them a chance at a better life. We just have to keep them away from the other wolves. If they form their own pack then there isn’t going to be anyone to judge them, is there? They won’t be looked down on their entire lives and they won’t ever be made to feel like they should be less than they are. I don’t think we should resort to euthanizing them just yet.”

“Even if it prevents them from destroying your world?” I asked, looking directly into her eyes. Ambrosia’s soul was naked before me and she was not shy about her convictions.

“They did not choose this life. They may have been bred for this purpose but I like to believe that we can choose our own purpose in life. They deserve the opportunity to pick theirs. If we take away that choice for them then we are no better than Vance.”

I snarled at this. She knew exactly what to say to get under my skin but the truth of the matter was that she was right as well. They deserved a chance to live, and to be better than what Vance had planned for them. If they could be treated better than Kull and I were then they had a chance to be happy and who was I to rob them of this?

“Very well. Rescue them if you can. Ambrosia, perhaps you could go with Vali so that you can speak to the wolves when they are woken. They will be confused and their instincts will compel them to fight. They shall need someone to show them that there is a better way.”

“And where are you going?” Ambrosia asked, her voice becoming thin.

I glanced towards Kull.

“He’s going to challenge Vance,” Kull said without giving me a chance to answer for myself. Ambrosia’s mouth fell open and she shook her head.

“Typhon, you can’t! Why would you even suggest such a thing?”

“Because it’s the only way,” I thundered. “If we attack the wolves directly they will respond in kind and they will tear apart this army. They have no respect for stealth and it won’t be long before they uncover the hidden soldiers. Killing Vance is the only way to stop this. If we declare a war against him then he will just hide behind other wolves and it will be impossible to get to him. There is only one direct route and that is to challenge him. It is written into the code of the pack that an Alpha must always accept a challenge. There is no way he can refuse. It is one of our most respected rules. This way I can engage him in combat without raising suspicion. There is only one problem,” I left the sentence unfinished.

“Vance has never lost a challenge. He has been undefeated for a long time, and it is said that there is no wolf alive who can defeat him.”

“And what happens if you lose?” Ambrosia asked, her voice so frail because she almost didn’t dare to ask the question but I was not going to shy away from my fate.

“I will die,” I said.