Aύok in elven form walked through his dismantled city. At one time, it was a true sight to behold, with beautiful buildings weaved in with nature. When he arrived back to his home those weeks ago, he began destroying what beauty was left. He knew the minotaur were going to come and it was only a matter of time till they arrived in force. With Lykos’ help they could easily dispose of what forces they first encountered. But without coordination and a way to replenish their fodder, it would be only a matter of time till they were cornered and killed.

Aύok passed his people as they worked. All of the druids who preferred their elven form would travel with him, leaving the majority of his clan behind. Most had given into the wolf’s lust for strength and battle and they would stay behind for their choices. He knew he had to leave the city in ruins and show nothing to the minotaur of the world beyond the small mountain they considered their empire.

Aύok and Lykos were their gatekeeper to the outside world, but they were out growing their mountain, enslaving the humans. Aύok looked to the north away from the known world.

“If they continue expanding, what other lesser races would they enslave?” Aύok asked in a whisper

“What does it matter?” a gruff voice responded.

“Listyn…” Aύok started meeting the eyes of the gray lycan, his armor shined perfectly, blue gems lining the creases of his armor which connected silver plates together expertly to resize to match his elven or lycan form, two curved swords sat in their scabbards, one on each side of his hips.

“Prince Aύok.” Listyn said with a slight bow of his head. “As you have predicted, the bulls have come in force.” His face twitched, as an uncontrollable growl rolled out. “They have arrived with a force larger than any we have encountered before.”

“Good, as planned.”

“When do we feast?”

“Feast?” Aύok narrowed his eyes and let Listyn feel the weight of the gaze until he backed down and lowered his head, keeping his eyes to the ground.

“Fight… When will we attack to purge them of our land?” His voice spoke with less confidence and with submission.

“What of my brother?”

“Prince Lykos has massed his fodder and prepares for an attack. It looks to be at night fall when he will test their will.”

“Good, you will command the fodder and then lead the remaining clan into battle.” Listyn raised his head and the submission vanished.

“Remaining clan into battle?” Listyn’s lip twitched in anticipation to Aύok’s answer. Aύok casually looked around at his people as they continued their work as if blind and deaf to their conversation. After scanning the area, letting Listyn wait in silence, Aύok met his eyes.

“Yes.” Aύok stared back at Listyn whose shoulders straightened, his clawed hand balling into fists.

“I am to stay behind while you… frolic with humans?”

“Precisely.”

“You will abandon us? Even after centuries of our relentless loyalty?”

“Yes.” Aύok said in a bored manner.

“We gave you everything we are. We accepted you as our leader, our…. Father of the wolf, our Alpha, and you leave us to die? To die by bulls?” Listyn stepped closer to Aύok, his white canines showing.

“You will abandon your son to die as fodder?” Listyn stood tall his muzzle almost touching Aύok’s elven nose.

“Son, I have lost you the day you decided to abandon your elven body for this beast.”

“You cursed us, and blame me?”

“Your mind is weak and unworthy of the gift you were given. You cannot take your true form even now.”

“You dare.” Listyn’s claws gripped his hilt, unsheathing his sword, the point aimed at Aύok. With their eyes locked Aύok narrowed his gaze and his pupils dilated, consuming the yellow iris until his eye was a deep black. A small blue ring slowly pulsed where the pupil was and Aύok spoke slowly as Listyn’s eye crackled with light blue.

“You will command the fodder. You will kill them off slowly to consume as much time as possible. When the last mindless beast dies. You will attack, armor less with all who have chosen the beast and you will all kill until your last breath. You will accept your fate and so will they.” Aύok’s eyes continued to pulse as he paused watching the blue thunderstorm in his son’s eyes.

“I will do as you command Prince Aύok.” Listyn responded in a droned voice.

“I give you control over my sire bond of the fodder and the beast kin. Do as I will.” The blue ring faded and his pupils faded back to their center revealing their natural yellow. He watched as a light blue ring pulsed in the center of the blue storm as it faded and Listyn’s eyes resumed their diluted yellow color. Aύok continued to watch as his son adjusted to the feeling.

“I hear them, I hear their every thought. I feel them.” Listyn looked to his right and without a word beckoned to a small lycan missing patches of hair. It crouched by Listyn’s side; its eyes focused on the ground.

“You have lived with this for all these centuries? Knowing every thought?”

Aύok nodded and with a quick thought dismissed the mindless creature.

“How?” His eyes darting from left to right as if listening to a conversation.

“Silence the fodder’s thoughts and they no longer become thinking creatures, but mindless tools. It breaks their mind of self-knowing but as long as I didn’t silence their primal thoughts, they stayed useful to the clan.” Aύok looked away from Listyn’s questioning gaze.

“You have been altering our minds since the start.” Listyn said without accusing.

“I have, but still the wolf consumed many great and strong minds. Those of us who have stayed strong and held off the wolf will start again.” Listyn nodded and understood, hearing the primal thoughts of his clan who chose the wolf.

“You have the sense of free will, but I stripped you of what little that remained. Die with honor and at the side of your kin.” Aύok clasped onto Listyn’s forearm and then pulled him into a strong hug. His hand went to the back of his head and patted it, trying to remember the feeling of his son’s elven hair one last time.

“Good bye Listyn.” Aύok released him from the one-sided hug and after one last look into his son’s diluted yellow eyes. He walked away, leaving Listyn staring back at him, knowing he just broke the last of his son’s mind and shattering what connection they had as family.

~

Aύok reached the forest’s edge and looked back. He felt all their minds, but to see them gave him comfort. Only three hundred of his kin proved to be in control of their mind and kept their mental barriers strong to keep the wolf at bay. They were his closest advisors and closest friends. Most had royal elven blood pumping through their veins which helped as a natural buffer. Their way of life before the humans flowed with magic, but as time passed and humans spread, their wars scattered the creatures of magic into hiding and with it their talents. Although their veins flowed with the aptitude for the magic that once was, their practice of it faded with time. Choosing their druid ways with nature rather than destruction, altered their skills. Although they were still strong in feeling the essence of life, the blood magic of the wolf dulled their heightened senses. Their continue practice of essence kept them strong and one with nature, easing their minds. Taking in the sight of his kin, their armor, brown with green gems and green highlights blended into the forest. Bows and swords casually were held as they waited for his next move. With a thought his voice spoke in all their minds at once.

We move fast and silent, scouts have sensed bull patrols near the mountain pass.

Nods greeted his eyes and turned back to the open wasteland. Thin dead trees littered the dry cracked earth, large boulders sticking out in random patterns. Gullies with scattered bones of long dead wolves and other unknown creatures acted as non-ceremonial mass graves. Small wisps of winds picked up loose dirt and they danced along the ground, dissipating when brushing up against a rock. Sweat beaded their forehead even as the sun worked its way behind the mountain. Aύok focused on the mountain and with all his strength pushed off the cracked dirt and began to run as fast as his armor would allow.

Their armor cushioned for comfort to allow for transformation made no sound as they ran. Their wolf blood pulsing at the thrill of wind flowing past their elven ears pushed them on harder. Their speed already fast for a humanoid was enhanced by the blood of the wolf.

Miles were crossed in minutes, their senses alert for any sign of the bulls. As the sun dipped below the mountains, the wasteland was plunged into darkness. Bright stars scattered the sky as bright colors of blue and purple clustered around larger stars. Soft sounds of howls echoed off the empty land followed by horns reaching the sensitive ears of the runners.

Let Lykos attack first. Send in the fodder when his forces leave the battlefield. Aύok sent his thoughts out and a response came only a few seconds later.

Understood Prince Aύok. Listyn thought back.

Small attacks only, we are only at boulder pass.

It will be done.

Aύok came up to a small sea of gigantic boulders. A half a mile thick and as long as the mountain range along the forest, made it an obstacle that armies were forced to go around rather than across. It prevented the bulls from crossing and having easy access to the forest, but it also was a treacherous travel with uneven footing and gaping holes to fall into.

Only by the cover of night could they have crossed boulder pass without being noticed. Aύok’s eyes scanned the darkness, his keen eyes catching movement. With a thought they all stopped moving and stood still. Aύok focused his senses and tracked the movement. The scouts looked out over the boulders as they walked past, but their eyes passed right over them.

Half-bloods.

A voice said in his head. Aύok nodded knowing that a pure blood could see as deep into the night as them and they would have been seen immediately. The half-bloods and half bulls continued walking slowly away and they faded into the darkness. Aύok started forward again seeing flat land in the distance.

The only building in the area is an old mill that is no longer in use. Scouts use it as a way point between watchtowers. Be quiet and ready your bows. Once clear of these rocks, there will be nothing to hide this many of us till the mill. Everyone nodded to Aύok’s words in their heads and they gripped their bows, cocking an arrow. A small light in the distance marked his goal and he led his druids silently into the night.

­­~

“Wolves through the mountain? I swear they are now just making things up to make us patrol this useless piece of land.” A half-breed complained pissing on the wall.

“Right you are, I have been walking up and down this stretch of the mountain for over a year, and not once have I even heard a howl.” Another sharing the same wall said. A series of grunts and squeals came out from the half bull drinking at the bowl.

“A cow? You have someone waiting for you when this patrol is over?” The smaller half-breed laughed readjusting his belt and weapons. “What’s her name then? Let’s hear it.” Another series of grunts followed.

“I thinking your messing with me about that half bull talking. All I hear is a farm animal.” The larger of the two said still relieving himself on the wall, his eye watching the two suspiciously.

“Rina? Not sure if I heard that right. You spoke too fast.” The smaller one said ignoring the other scout. More grunts sounded and the smaller scout began to laugh.

“Ahhhh now I get it, he says she hasn’t told him her name, but her friends call her Rina. You are really something. You’re just going to take her and make her yours huh? Good luck with that, have yet to meet a cow that will go along with that one.” More grunts sounded and the smaller scout paused.

“Did you say a heifer? Well, you like them younger huh. Good luck putting a calf in that one. Find yourself a nice cow, once they had a calf or two, they no longer get that picky.” The half bull snorted and the small scout laughed again.

“I’m just foolin’ with you, I hope everything works out with you and Rina.” The scout patted the half bull on the head with a grin.

“Are you done with this ridiculous back and forth with yourself yet? It’s starting to really get on my nerves.” The larger scout said readjusting his sword at his hilt.

“He talks, he really does, just because you don’t understand it, doesn’t mean he isn’t talking.”

“He is a half-bull, actually more like a three-quarter bull. He’s a fancy pet and nothing more.” A grumble came from the half bull and the smaller scout moved himself away from the sharp horns that protruded from its neck.

“He didn’t mean it, don’t let his sour mood infect you. You and your herd are friends to us and he doesn’t mean anything by it.” The smaller scout watched the half-bull’s mane twitch and shiver down his back. His right hoof stamped the ground and tufted up a small patch of brown grass. The bull let a bellow that was deep and rumbled through the darkness.

“Great, now you did it. You pissed him off and his herd is going to show you their thoughts on that.” The smaller scout said stepping away from the angry half bull.

“What is going on?” Another scout said coming out of the mill followed by three more half-bulls.

“Thick horn over there pissed off the herd.” The smaller scout said nodding in the scout’s direction then hooking a thumb over his shoulder in the direction of the stomping half bull. Sounds of hoofs beating the ground came from the darkness and ten half bulls formed from the shadows.

“Time to show these useless oxen their place.” The thick horned scout removed his swords and faced the herd of half-bulls.

“Enough.” A commanding voice said breaking the tension. All twenty scouts dropped their relaxed stances and their backs went rigid, their heads held high and their fists hammered their chest in unison. The half bulls shook away their anger and sat, their backs as straight as their humped back would allow, their heads straight and ears twitching, listening for the next command.

“Back to the darkness, we cannot allow anything to slip between our sight.” A small bellow came from the lead half bull and the herd dispensed into the darkness without looking back.

“The wolf legion goes into battle and its scouts bicker over nonsense. Muck duty, immediately.” The pure blood captain said, his head lowering to meet the eyes of the half-breed.

“You cant…” the half breed started, but was cut off.

“I did. You are nothing, half-breed. And will continue to be nothing as you die with a shovel full of shit in your hands.” The pure blood said raising his head to look at the other half breeds he commanded. Their eyes stared straight, focusing into the darkness at nothing, avoiding the captain’s attention.

The pure blood took in a deep breath and grinned.

“Fear smells so…” The pure blood stopped and looked into the darkness and breathed in heavily. He cocked his head to the side and his hears flicked trying to pick up any sound.

“Do you smell that half-bull?” The pure blood asked still looking into the darkness. The half-bull acknowledged with a grumble. He looked to the east and the watch tower was lit up in the distance. He breathed in again.

“It’s not man flesh from the tower.” The thick horned scout kept his swords in his hands and sniffed the air trying to distinguish the smell. The pure blood walked a few paces and tried to track the direction of the wind. As his eyes scanned the darkness, his sharp hearing caught a small orchestra of bows followed by light whistles. His eyes went wide as a host of armored men stood, their bows hummed again, arrows cutting the silence. He felt the stings of metal as the arrows pierced his armor as if it was simple leather. He grabbed the shaft in his arm and pulled, but the arrow would not budge, his bicep muscles tearing in the process. He snapped the shaft at the base so it wouldn’t be in his way and called out to rally his scouts. He coughed up blood instead of words and looked over to see the scouts slumped against the walls and laying on the ground. Arrow shafts sticking out of vital locations on each. He knew they died between breaths, not even knowing they died. The half bulls laid dead on the ground in a similar predicament. The lead half bull let out a small bellow, calling to what remained of his herd, but it was a garble of blood before it fell to the ground, an arrow crushing its wind pipe. The captain fell to one knee, his body refusing to support him. He didn’t feel the pain, but he saw the arrows in vital locations along his body. He touched the shaft on his breast plate and pain surged as the arrow point tickled his throbbing heart. His eyes blinked away tears he didn’t feel flowing. The armored men approached silent as mountain cats hunting their prey. He never heard the man approach him, but saw his foot come into his blurred vision. He looked up to meet the eyes of his killer. They were bright yellow and a blue ring danced along its edge.

“Take your last breath bull, the wolves have come.” The voice said as he forced the shaft of the arrow deep into the captain’s heart, silencing his final beats of fear.

~

The druids cut the arrows from the dead so the slaughter would be a mystery to the ones who found it. They slit the throats of the decease to make sure they were truly dead before they left the mill in darkness. The half bulls that remained in the area were quickly put to their death; their tracks easy to follow. After Aύok was sure the area was clear from prying eyes he made his way through the forest made up of thin trees which would lead him to the hidden cave entrance. The oak tree forest thinned and revealed a small meadow filled with high grass and yellow and purple cone flowers dancing in the light breeze. In the distance against the black form of the mountain stood a tall, but crooked weeping willow tree. Its thick limps bending to the reach the day’s light as it lived partly in the shadow. A small stream of water trickled out of the rock above it, giving it an endless source of water. Its six-foot, fine-toothed flat leaves tickled the high grass and flowers near its edge.

Aύok breathed in deep and smelled nothing but the sweetness of the flowers and bark of the trees. Without making a noise he walked toward the towering weeping willow with his druids at his back. He parted the leaves and stepped into pitch black. His eyes adjusted quickly and waited as his druids followed him into the hidden cavity the tree provided. Aύok placed his hand on the rough gray bark and lowered his head, letting his essence flow from his body. The brown branchlets tremored and slowly parted at the back revealing a boulder. Roots and vines slowly pulled the boulder to the side. Aύok looked inside the dark tunnel and with a thought he created an orb of dull, gray light. His keen eyes could only see a few feet inside the cave entrance before the sea of blackness. He moved his hand forward and with another thought the gray orb shot into the darkness and hovered a few hundred feet in the distance allowing just enough light for their eye sight to adjust to the darkness. With a nod of his head his druids flowed into the mountain. After Aύok crossed the threshold, he knelt and placed his hand on an exposed root that lined the dirt path. He closed his eyes and sent his essence flowing through the roots.

“Thank you, old friend.” He removed his hand from the root as it vibrated lightly and disappeared into the dirt. The large boulder began moving again until they were sealed away.