Wolven Supieriority ~The Journey~ Book One~~~~Chapter 4

Chapter 41

“Feed a Dragon, gain a Friend”2

It turned out the squirrel’s directions were poorly timed. Merrihcik had ended up running into a dragon and now he was faced with that and an unknown wolf.3

This wolf happened to think he could sway the dragon with kind words. This was the time that Merrihcik thought the other wolf was foolish instead of the other way around.4

Nala thought lowly of such small beings (though there were not many a dragon’s size), and laughed at their attempts to be brave. She had little respect for that, but at least respect was there. Somewhere. Deep, deep down. 5

Then there was Toplain… Braver than some knew, wiser beyond recognitition, and unknown to most young. The thought of gaining a dragon friend floated throughout his mind, not disappearing. Feed a dragon, gain a friend.6

“Madam Nalatu,” Toplain tried, “I did not mean to spy-only to find out what the roar in the distance was. I thought it wise to not interrupt your conversation, but instead wait ‘till you were finished.” 7

Nala did not trust the new wolf, and Merrihcik could see it in her silver eyes. She glared at the new one with disdain and anger. Spying on a dragon was unheard of! But it seemed that he was coming up with a speech of some sort…8

“Allow me to introduce my self, Madam Nala: I am Sir Toplain Amadeyus Corejto- Toplain, if you will. I am from Saiger Mountain, son of Frijah and Hadanan Kulerse, descendant of Grenvar Koladh Hibascer. I help all in need and befriend many.”9

As Toplain’s little speech ended, Merrihcik stuck out his tongue and gagged-one eye half closed. His expression was odd and insulting, but Toplain smiled a bit. 10

“That is the lamest thing I’ve ever heard!” Merrihcik spat, laughter creeping in here and there until finally he let it rip. “BAH-HA-HA! So…lame…HA-HA-HAA! ‘Help all in need and befriend many!’ Greeeeeeat! Don’t ya’ eat’m all afterwards? Make’m think you’re there friend so they can visit you so you have a nice little meal?”  11

But something about Toplain’s introduction seemed familiar to Merrihcik. He recognized the names somewhat, though when he was taught by the Elders he never listened carefully. He always got answers and stuff like that from the other wolves. Man, this Toplain was old. If Merrihcik was sure that the Elders had said Toplain’s name, then it was probably because they were so old that they actually knew him because Toplain seemed as old as the Elders were-maybe older!  12

Toplain just raised a furry eyebrow. “That was just a shortened version of it. If I were to tell you the whole of it you’d have died of boredom. I am not going to make an extra formal announcement.” He then turned to Nala and said, “You, ma’am, look powerful. If you are part of the High Council or are important, I am dreadfully sorry about the short introduction. It is just that this place is not safe enough to say anything that might be of use to some, benefiting other creatures.”13

Nala blinked, but held her eyes closed for almost a minute. Her eyes then fluttered open and she spoke, “There is no need to make tight formalities, old one. I am not one to listen. But, you are wise in your words-although they do not keep me from eating a snack!”  She snapped her jaws at Toplain, who did not budge. 14

“Now, now, madam!” Merrihcik cried out. “There is no need to snap!” Though usually rude and bothersome, Merrihcik had his moments when there was just a need for manners. 15

“Quite right, you know, quite right. There is no need to snap at me like that for simply being polite,” Toplain commented. “But, if you will forgive me, I’d like to get you say, dinner? My home is quite large, and is suited for some of the largest guests. Come, come. Nabire and the others are quite good with large meals.”16

“Food?” Nala considered the gesture. No dragon could turn down an offer for free food-especially if it was prepared for them instead of dead and whole. “I will come with you, but this better be grand.”17

“Alrighty, then. Follow me. You too, young wolf, you come too,” Toplain told them, and they were off to his home.18

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Nabire heard loud stomps nearby, and peeked through a window. 20

A dragon! He thought. Imagine that! But what are those two specks? Anyone can tell a dragon, oh, how I wish I had my master’s eye-sight! Wait…It’s him! Sir Toplain is returning with a dragon and-another wolf? I do not recognize that one. If my liege has brought a dragon, he must need food preparations. Guests always get food while they’re here. There’ll be no starvation in this home! Nabire smiled at that last thought as he rushed into the kitchen.21

“Chop, chop, my friends! Master, another wolf, and a dragon are on there way! Almost here! We need to start cooking-I’d hate to have another temperamental dragon in here. Last time was a disaster. We’ll start with the larger hors d’oeuvres, meat, of course.”22

The four other wolves that were in the large kitchen scrambled to their feet from their circle of speech and listened for more orders. 23

One of the chef wolves called out, “Hoi! Hoi! Jarlon!” A dark brown wolf rushed into the kitchen and slipped on a cranberry red apron from a set of hooks on one of the walls. It lay over his back, seeing as they hardly ever used only two paws. The other chefs wore the same aprons, but the head chef wore a green apron. He hardly ever showed up-but on occasion of a dragon or someone very important… 24

“LET’S GO, PEOPLE! DRAGON’S ON ITS WAY AND WE GOTTA’ GET MOVIN’! DON’T JUST STAND THERE! MOVE IT!” a voice from the back entrance to the kitchen roared. 25

A dark figure, in the light anyway, burst in through the thick bamboo door almost sending it off its hinges. It was huge, bigger than almost any wolf and some wild cats-but see, this was a wild cat. A lion, to be precise. 26

It was surprising to some that, in a house with many wolves and in the general area of which they lived in, a lion was head chef. 27

Nabire knew that today was supposed to be their day off, but he couldn’t stand the thought of not being there for a guest. Besides, if a dragon was on its way they had to cook and compliment. Nabire couldn’t stand around doing nothing!28

Quickly, Nabire rushed back to the window out front. The two wolf specks were now clearly visible, and the dragon was even bigger. 29

He could here the lion shouting out orders from the kitchen:30

“Meat! Here! BRYKNERS SPICE! On the Corl meat! Let’s go!”31

The young wolf shook his head as the small (well, number-wise) group steadily neared the Paladon.32

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“So,” Merrihcik muttered, “Is that your home?” He crumpled his nose.34

From the distance the Paladon looked tiny. Merrihcik wasn’t impressed. Although he was used to small, his pack lived in holes and stacked trees. But Merrihcik had not yet seen the full palace. 35

Nala’s eyesight surpassed a wolf’s and a foxes-except for Toplain. They were equal. She looked ahead to the Paladon. For her, the home was bigger than a normal wolf’s den. Her eyes, like many dragons’, could focus on something and say, “zoom” in. In that way she could tell how big the house was. 36

Do not judge what is at such a distance, young wolf,” the dragon advised. “You have to see what is truly there nearer to it.”37

“She’s right, you know,” Toplain put in. “My home really is grand- only to s’port guests and their needs. Such as beautiful Nala, here, and the food, too.” 38

As they neared, much closer now, Toplain spotted a brown head in a window. Nabire, as it seemed, was pacing from the kitchen to the fine-but incredibly strong-spider silk window. Toplain could tell from the fact that that same brown head he knew so well as Nabire always had a twitch in his left ear whenever a big guest was soon to arrive.39

All was silent except for the very faint clink of pans, wares, and dishes, until Nala spoke again. 40

“So, old one, you say you can feed a dragon a hearty meal? What food of sorts would you have prepare, pray tell?”41

Toplain thought for a moment before he said, “Almost all of it will be meat, of course. There shall be some other things that are not meat but still quite delicious. All can be fit for a dragon of your graceful size and larger for my chefs can cook very big meals. I have a feeling my best chef is there,” Toplain paused and listened to the roaring that could be hear clearly to his ears. “Though, I do feel guilty. I told everyone to take the day off but…” the old wolf trailed off, looking beyond the nearing Paladon to the Skies.42

The sun, of which all the creatures called Yamin, was setting signaling the day was almost over. In about forty-five minutes there would only be a faint glow then all would be dark. Toplain knew that tonight would be starless and moonless. How? Yamin was turning greyer every ten minutes. It had happened for a long time now- ever since Toplain had turned three months old. 43

It was inexplicable why the nights became like that so often, even for Toplain. But, the old one did have a decently accurate theory. 44

They were all silent, for the rest of their walk to the Paladon was only just a bit farther. Merrihcik did not make anymore comments and Nala just stared ahead.45

Soon, they were standing at the sturdy front door.46

Toplain scratched the door standing on his hid legs in a pattern of sound. The door was not harmed, which amazed Merrihcik. It opened although there was no one on the other side. It was one of the secrets of Toplain. He had many secrets that only one other person (Not including Nabire, and he only knew the common not so important ones) that knew about them. Among those was the trick of the door. 47

“Go in, young Merrihcik. Make yourself at home. The chairs around the table are quite comfortable.”  Toplain watched Merrihcik slowly enter the house. Nala peeked in through the door, her head above Toplain. 48

“A…table? What is that?” Merrihcik asked, confused, as he looked around.49

“To the right, little wolf. The flat piece of wood on four sticks- that is called a table. They were used by that of the Humons. Quite useful at times,” Nala said. 50

Humons were those who walked on two legs, and tended to only have hair on their heads. They were pale, and some dark, others in between. Humans, as they were once called. The Humons were dying out, yet still managed to threaten the creatures. The closest Humon village to the Gontin Woods was far across the Muinhar Plaines. It was small and poor. There were still soldiers there, but they had not had a real job for years.51

Merrihcik lowered his head and sat down on a red chair. He waited as Toplain turned to face Nala.52

“If you will follow me right this way, madam.”53

Toplain strode past Nala gently closing the door. She followed him and growled, “And now where are we going? I’m getting hungrier and wolf is starting to sound delicious.”54

“We are just going around to the bigger entrance. I know very well that dragons may fit in small spaces for a limited amount of time, but I would like to save you the trouble and time by going to a nice dragon sized entrance.” Toplain nodded his head to a large door on the left side of the Paladon. 55

He scratched in a different series and the door opened.56

“Dragons first,” he said bowing down. Nala went in and looked around.57

She fit comfortably in the Paladon. Nala did not have to crouch or bow her head against the ceiling. It looked as if the ceiling was low, but Nala compromised it. She was almost 62 feet tall, considering she was still young. The trees in the forest were over four thousand meters tall, and most were up to 237 meters around. 58

The largest dragon that Toplain or Nala knew was incredibly evil. Standing at 437 meters tall, weighing about 30 tons, he was the most feared creature next to one other. Nekotep, the feared name of the black dragon.59

There were a grand total of three black dragons known including Nekotep. They were not creatures you wanted to cross paths with. 60

“Interesting home, wolf. Why is it that I fit so well in a place like this of which the roof is so low?” Nala questioned looking at Toplain.61

“It is one of my many secrets, Nala. We shall talk over dinner. Come.” Toplain walked again past Nala leading her to the table. It had gotten bigger and there was a large comfortable looking seat that was intended for Nala. 62

Nala sat down and Toplain sat at the end of the table closest to the kitchen. He preferred to be able to see the front door. 63

“The food will be out soon,” Toplain said. “But I have a question for you, Nala. Why may a dragon such as yourself be so far away from the mountains?”64

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Nabire stuck his ear through the leaves, listening to the dragon.66

They were on the second course, third if the appetizer was counted, and Nala was contented and was starting to trust Toplain-even Merrihcik. She swallowed some Dewei and spoke, “I do not understand why it is this way. They sent me down here to travel someplace, though the fools did not tell me where. They were worried, I could tell. I did not want to leave. There are only seventeen of us-my kind-left. I do not want to make it sixteen. I am truly starting to consider going back. If they won’t tell me what I am supposed to be doing then I will not continue.” 67

“I will travel back with you,” Toplain suddenly said. “I will talk to them. We will see what you are supposed to be doing. What do you think they are worried about?”68

“I think they are troubled by the Humons. They are populating. I saw one in our mountains two months ago. They should not have been there. That is the first time, they say, in eighty years they have seen a Humon. Kilwumma has the heaviest barrier around it. The whole range has a strong one, once and a while a Humon got in, but we made it stronger over one hundred and thirty years ago. I was only about seventy-three years old then. To young to be much help, but I did my part. So now only twice has someone gotten in. That is why I think they are so worried. Maybe something else, but how am I to know? I am not of the council, but I do tend to overhear some things. They say I am still too young to know that of which they know. Kolhi is on the council from our tribe being the smartest, and most powerful out of the other 16 of us,” Nala explained. 69

Merrihcik spoke up, “I will go with you. But first…Oh no! What time is it, Toplain?” 70

The old wolf thought. Yamin was all the way down, which meant that it was totally dark outside. The Paladon was mysteriously lit, as if it were still pure daylight. Toplain told Merrihcik, “It is almost eleven. Yamin has gone down.”71

Nabire had never figured out how Toplain knew the time-especially when there were no stars and no moon. He listened harder.72

The lion, Shiroh, had left his directions and gone away. His work was done. The last courses were soon served and Nabire heard that the other wolf, Merrihcik, had a meeting to get to. “I forgot all about it! I’m dead!”73

“We shall accompany you,” Toplain told him quietly. “I know this forest as I know every strand of my fur.” 74

“Thank you! I’m late…The meeting is by the Hukiorn Stream, it’s important. The Elders say that every wolf in our pack must attend. I’m sure they would not object to you 75

two.”76

“Nabire!” Toplain called, though not loudly. “I am going to be away for while. I don’t know how long. I am going to gather the items I need and I will leave tomorrow morning with Merrihcik and Nala. Tonight we are going to a meeting and we shall come back here for rest for the remainder of the night. I entrust you and Hali to watch the Paladon.”77

Nabire listened and almost smiled. “Alright, my master. Have a safe journey. May I ask where you are going?”78

“Around the forest and then who knows where?” Toplain replied. “Good bye, Nabire.”79

The three around the table stood up. Nala went out the dragon entrance, and Merrihcik and Toplain went through the front. They met at the edge of the path to start their walk to the Hukiorn Stream. But did they know what was going to happen afterwards?80

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