The Epic of Brightblade Warpony

Chapters VI

That afternoon Brightblade Warpony and Flame-maned Epona continued their trek; Brightblade was silent. "Why do you not continue your tale?" Epona asked.

"I need some time to gather my thoughts," he replied.

Before Epona could respond, a raven flew out of a nearby tree and perched on the Warrior's Horn. "Khaar! It is good to see you again, Warpony!" the raven kawed. "Are we nearing the end of our quest?"

"You'd have to ask Epona," Brightblade replied. The raven was silent. "Epona," said the Warpony, "I'd like you to meet Breeks." Breeks looked away from Epona, trying to look like he was simply admiring the scenery.

"Not very talkative for a raven," Epona commented.

"He clams up like this every time I mention you," Brightblade explained. "He seems not to like you, have you two met before?"

"No, of all the birds I've known, none have been this disagreeable. How is it you came to know him?"

"That will be revealed when I continue my tale. I met Breeks shortly after Ramon and I left the village of the rats."

---

The rats had replenished our provisions with dried fruits and nut cakes. Our water bottles were full and the wine bottle filled with the bitter herbal brew that was administered to me during my illness in the valley. The rats had also given us directions to the Temple of Light. It lay southwest of their village, beyond the Pack Lands where the wolves dwell. Though most wolves are peaceful, the rats warned us of the pack led by the one calling himself Kerberus. They also warned us not to stray to far to the west, for the lands west of the Pack Lands are ruled by Death and should be avoided at all costs.

The contrast between the green hills of the rats and the dry plains of the Pack Lands was sharp. At the base of one hill the soft green grass abruptly gave way to tall, brown, sharp bladed grass growing in clumps. Much of the ground was bare, and many rocks, some of great size, projected from the ground. The rocks were more numerous than trees, but the trees that did grow in the Pack Lands were impressively tall and gnarled.

As we progressed further into the Pack Lands, Ramon began to grow nervous. "I think we should have asked Cassandra to send some guards with us," he said. "Those wolves could be right on top of us before we even knew they were there." I was about to agree with him when we heard from behind us, as if on cue, a threatening growl. We turned and found ourselves facing two large wolves with their fangs bared. I turned to run, Ramon was riding on my back at the time, but found my path blocked by three more wolves. I heard a vicious bark from my left and instinctively turned to my right and ran. Strangely, there were no wolves blocking my way.

Ramon kept me informed of the status of our pursuers, who numbered six in all. They kept an even distance from us, even when I put on an extra burst of speed or slowed from fatigue. It was as if they did not intend to catch us but instead drive us to some unknown fate.

Before I realized where I was running, Ramon and I found ourselves in a shallow canyon between two broad outcroppings of rock. In front of us the outcroppings came very close together, I had to slow my pace to avoid running into the cliff. It was then that I noticed that the tops of the outcrops were lined with wolves, we were surrounded.

A large, dark furred wolf stepped forward from the pack. "Greetings, my victims," he began to speak but was cut off suddenly.

"KHARRRR!" cried a raven as he dove at the large wolf. The wolf, Kerberus, leapt back and ducked to avoid the raven's razor sharp beak. The entire pack seemed frightened, or at least nervous. (Breeks' chest seemed to swell with pride as Brightblade related these events.)

After his dive, the raven circled around and perched on my head. "Kharr! Flee, while you still have the chance!" he kawed in my ear. "Quickly!"

I trotted as quickly as I could through the narrow of the canyon. The canyon floor rose, or the cliffs dropped, I couldn't tell which, but we soon found ourselves in oped country again. We could hear the angry shouts of Kerberus as he tried to marshal his pack against us. "Quickly, toward those rocks!" the bird kawed.

As I galloped toward the rocks I asked the raven, "who are you and why did you help us?"

"I am Breeks," he replied, "and I helped you because you are the Warpony."

Chapter V * Back * Chapter VII