The Blood War

Chapter Twelve

A small cry echoed through the dark glade. Outlander pitched her ears, swiveling her head around. Another cry. She took off in its direction until she reached the mouth of a dark cave. She padded in slowly, letting her eyes adjust to the dark. "Scavenger," she called out. Another cry sounded, closer. She kept padding until the tunnel opened out into a wide area. A single beam of moonlight shined from a hole in the roof of the cave, illuminating a small quivering shape. "Scavenger," she said quietly, the hiss of the whisper bouncing around the cave's wall. The coyote turned her head slowly looking at Outlander from the corner of her eye. "Scavenger, it's okay. It's me."

"You weren't there," Scavenger whimpered. "I needed you, and you weren't there for me."

Outlander took a step closer. "I know, I know. I'm sorry."

Scavenger raised to her feet, turning to face Outlander. The coywolf shrank back, stomach bile climbing into her mouth. Scavenger's throat was missing. "You weren't there for me," she repeated. She was screaming now. "You weren't there!" Every step she took towards Outlander, she grew. Her fur became darker, her eyes changing from dark brown to a peircing blue.

"No. Not this," Outlander whispered, breathlessly. "Not you."

"You weren't there! You weren't there!" Scavenger's voice dropped an octave each time she repeated it until all that remained was a distorted growl. "You weren't there! You weren't there!" Skin fell from her body and blood drained onto the cave ground, revealing dry bones. "Anything but this," Outlander begged.

Death stared her in the face, towering over her. "Join me, sister," the newly transformed Scavenger growled. "Join me."

Outlander couldn't force so much as a whine from her snout. "Stop it. Stop it."

"Coywolf! Outsider! Whatever your name is."

Outlander opened her eyes and looked up. Snowbank stood over her, scowling. "Oh good, she's alive," he mumbled sardonically. Snowblind pushed his brother aside and cocked his head to the side. "You're trembling." Outlander took a deep breath and pushed herself to her feet shakily. "I had a nightmare." Snowbank rolled his eyes and padded out of the Omega clearing. Snowblind tossed his head in the direction of the Alpha den, where Snowbank was walking. "Come on. Our mother has agreed to see you regarding the death-wolf."

Snowbank liked to put himself above everyone in the pack except his mother, however, he was a strong leader, and always took actions based on what needed to be done for the pack. Snowblind was on the far other side of the river. While he wasn't constantly trying to help other wolves, he was considerate and treated everyone as his equal, including Outlander. Yet, everything was based on fact and logic with him, even to extreme measures. If food was scarce, he would gladly let the old and sick starve for the sake of feeding the pups.

While she appreciated his kindess to her, Outlander found Snowblind unnerving, while Snowbank was simply just unlikable. Their mother, Phantasm, was a mixture of both, harsh but fair. She was all white, exluding the grey of her old age, and more than capable of handling herself in the event of a challenge, not that anyone would dare challenge her. The pack loved her and respected her too much for that. But sitting here, before the wise and reveered Alpha, Outlander couldn't help but feel Phantasm seemed more like a judgmental executioner than a peaceful leader.

She sat upright and perfectly still, save for the subtle raise of her shoulders as she breathed. Her hed was held high, but her eyelids were lowered a bit to indicate relaxation. "I hear you have been having nightmares about the Bone Beast for a while now," she said calmly, almost motherly. Outlander nodded, "I have." Her voice trembled as she spoke to the Alpha.

Phantasm's eyes narrowed into a glare. "You know as wolves that hold tightly to the traditions of our ancestors, we take dreams and omens very seriously."

Outlander nodded again, much slower this time.

"So tell me," the alpha said raising to her feet. She stepped closer unti she was standing over Outlander. The omega flattened herself to the ground as the alpha's ears pinned back. "If you could have prevented this bloodshed by simply telling someone about your dreams, and didn't, isn't Stormwind's and Raven's blood as much on your paws as the death-wolf's? Why shouldn't I give you a just sentence and kill you right now?" Outlander felt her heart skip a beat. She trembled, unsure of whether she knew the answer herself. "Speak, half-breed!" The alpha barked. Outlander opened her mouth, but couldn't make a sound.

"We still need her mother," came a relaxed voice. Outlander turned her head slowly to see Snowblind looking at her with a discomforting smile. Something like twisted amusement and curiosity danced in his eyes. She's going to lead us straight to the Beast, aren't you, coywolf?"

~CL1

I guess it’s just a glitch with me, then. Hmm.

I like how you clarified that it was your post of chapter 10 by signing off twice. :)

- President Loki

The Blood War

Chapter Eight

A flash of darkness, a painted smudge of death against the green shrubery that stood as purity. That smudge that had haunted Outlander every second her eyes were shut, and now it loomed over her, its jaws inches from her face. Saliva from a non-existent throat dripped down into her eyes, blurring everything around her. It was all happening so fast, and yet so slow.

Clarity. Was this what it took to have a little peace of mind; the image of death closing its jaws around her throat? The howl of her dreams returned; a cry in the dark, a cry for help. She recognized it.

The death-wolf's jaws opened, speeding down towards her.

Shrill and helpless. She knew that cry, from when she was younger. The call that had sent her running to protect. Where? Where had she heard it?

Peircing blue flames burned from above, angry and sad and tired, all at once. Sharp pain shot through her neck, galloping down her spine. She shut her eyes, trying to force the pain out of her mind and focus. If this was it, she had to know. She had to solve the mystery.

She was young. It was long ago. The danger of wolves. The need to protect her family. Her mother? The wise wolf needed no protection. Not family then; not real family anyway. But it was real to her, it had to be.

The howl sounded again.

Outlander's eyes shot open, met with the icy flames. The howl of desperation, the prints of a victim, the smell of death. "Scavenger..." Something within her flipped suddenly. Something in her was unwilling to die. Something with a new, bloody purpose.

An unspeakable fire filled her veins, burning through every inch of her body. With the strength of an unholy rage, she kicked and twisted, breaking free of death's hold. Streams of blood tickled the gruesome gash in her neck as searing pain attacked from all sides, but she ignored it all. The bodies, the blood, the pain, the pack, they were all non-existent, just for this moment.

It was only her, and death.

~CL1

Hey swamp are you still here -pava

Working on a lot of different stories right now. I might not post Rampage for a little while. Also, yes, you can make a character who talks to animals. That’s not a thing I made up 😂

Swamp

Swamp guy is it ok if I make a person who can speak to animals or would that be to much of a rip off

Ok I wasn’t gonna use Kai either way cause seriously read my story and then think what I can do with Kai honestly nothing cause the chapter right now is focused in a dodo! -lava the dilo

Pls don’t use Kai.

Swamp

Words

wow I love rampage especially the dodo part lol.

-lava the dilo

Somehow we both came up with the same idea separately. I got to it first 😈

Swamp Guy

Okay, I think i might make this place my HQ

Swamp Guy

I love the rampages 2nd chapter -lava

Rampage may not come until I’ve finished every chapter. But if u want, I’ll start posting now.

Swamp

To dye your dinos you need a paintbrush and your choice of dye. Load the brush with the dye the same way you would do a gun and bullets. Not what you want to color with the paintbrush and it should work. I don't think it will work on xbox though.

-Jedi

I honestly thought THD was one of my best. I guess no one liked it

🐊wamp Guy

Okay, Apex. Please just rate my older stories like The Swamp, Jaws, Toxicant whatever, Tyrant’s rise. My newer stories don’t have as much likes yet bc their new

Swamp Guy

Swamp guy, I’m going to start rating stories depending on their likes. One like equals ten percent. Would it be ok if I did this for your stories?

-Apex

The Story Pirate’s Isle will start in Achatina soon. It’ll be like DT, seasons and episodes. It’s about Pirates on Ragnarok.

Swamp Guy

Lava* more words more more words

Okay, some news on my stories. Land of the Broken will finish, and I will take some time off from that storyline (don’t worry, it will return.) Rampage may have several other parts after I finish the first part of it. I’m also planning a new story and a sequel to the hungry dark.

Swamp