Spirits of Starlight chapter 1

The world stood silent around me as I wandered through the woodlands that bordered my home village. Bracken rustled and twigs cracked as I ambled along, with no real destination. 1

The village lay ahead, spread wide in a clearing amidst the trees, which formed a semicircle around its perimeter. It was still and quiet, with fires smoldering to embers and watchdogs yawning sleepily outside their masters’ huts. 2

It occurred to me that we had little use for the dogs when it came to guarding, for it had been years since we had enemies attack. 3

I glanced at the sky; a somber black pinpricked in the distance by starlight, and wondered how long peace would last. A sigh escaped me and I turned towards home, suddenly weary and tired.4

As I entered the village, several mangy canines raised their heads, one or two uttering savage growls. I ignored them and walked over to a smallish, lopsided dwelling, with ivy vines and other plant life creeping up its unstable walls. 5

There was no door, only a tattered boar’s hide, which formed a kind of short curtain. Seated at the entrance, his head raised and strange eyes gleaming in the pale moonlight, a large husky stared me down as I approached. 6

“Easy, Halo. It’s me.” I murmured softly.
In answer the dog flicked his ear, his gaze never once leaving my own. 7

Halo Silhouette he was called, and he was my father’s pride and joy. Of all the animals in our village, none were as strong or handsome as he. Halo was pure husky, with rust-red fur and eyes of silver. His voice, rarely heard, was deep as the call of thunder. 8

He was a prize animal, my father would so often say. 9

I approached the dog slowly, and reached out to gently pat his tall ears. When I was younger, I always feared the beast might snap at me if I should try to touch him. 10

My hand brushed the furry head, then stopped suddenly as something cold and wet pressed against it. Halo nuzzled my hand, rumbling happily. I smiled and scratched his chin. 11

“Good boy,” I said. As I turned to go inside, a rust red shadow followed. 12


Farfalla watched the leaves of the woods stir as a breeze began to blow. Her eyes turned; one way, than the other. High above the moon’s bright glow became overshadowed by thick, woolen clouds, making the world below darker. 13

A black form slid from the night and stopped just behind Farfalla, it’s face hidden by a mask, which looked like a lion.14

“Far, the winds may shift. If we do not act fast, we will be discovered and lose the element of surprise. Why do you delay?” 15

Farfalla’s reply was as dark as the night around her. “Why do you question me? You think I’m not aware of what’s happening around me? Go on then, move. Get killed. See if I come to give you aid.” 16

She did not turn, keeping her eyes on the moving leaves. Her voice was as cold as ice, and far sharper than any blade could ever be.17

The speaker winced, but still pleaded, “Farfalla…milady, please, we need surprise to do this right. This is an ambush of sorts, and ambushes are done with surprise. But I cannot lead the warriors; they’ll only follow your orders. Please, please milady, we should go now!”18

“Hrmph.” Farfalla ignored his request, murmuring under her breath to no one in particular, “RaeFiend, take the left flank, and RoseFrost take the right, I’ll take the middle. That will work perfectly.” 19

She turned to the figure in the lion mask and said, “Sorrel, take word to my captains. RaeFiend is to take the left flank, RoseFrost the right. I am to take the rest. Here is what I want them to do…”20

21

I don’t know how long I was asleep when Halo’s hard paws smacked down on my chest. Gasping in shock, I shot upright and fell back as the big dogs weight knocked me off balance. “Wha-Halo, what in the name of…what are you doing?!”22

Halo, who usually slept with my parents, was whining and snarling, the hair along his back stiff and his ears flat against his head. His fangs were bared, and his tail was tucked between his legs-a most undignified display. 23

I had never seen him like this. Crouching down, I stroked his neck and whispered, trying to calm him.24

“What’s the matter, old boy? It’s all right, see? It’s me, Kyan. You’re alright, calm down.” 25

I went to pet his back when Halo suddenly whipped his head around and sank his teeth into my hand. I bit my lip to keep from screaming aloud, as blood ran from the hand onto my feet, and his paws. Halo’s eyes were wild and frightened-he had not meant to hurt me.26

I pried my hand free, shuddering in agony as I did so. In the pained silence that followed, I heard it.27


Low and mournful came a howl, followed by the beat of drums. I drew in a sharp breath. There were no wolves in the woods bordering the village. There had never been wolves there. Yet no dog could howl like that…28


I swallowed and rose from where I’d fallen. Creeping out of the house, my wounded hand forgotten (save for the throbbing pain), I looked about. 29

At first, it seemed as if everything was fine. The dogs lay under the serene sky, the fires were burning low and the homes were standing tall against the gloom, sanctuaries of safety to those within. I looked to the woodland edge then, and saw them.30

Crawling forward, their bodies flat to earth, came countless masses of wolves. They slid like wraiths towards the village in an endless wave. Fear rose in my throat as I watched them, their tawny, black, gray, silver and white pelts palely lit by moonlight, which began to fade as clouds traveled across the moon’s face. Suddenly, several of them stood up on their hind legs!31

“Scared, boy?” A deep, rasping voice broke through my thoughts. I began to turn when a hand-no, a paw-slammed into my chest. 32

A huge black wolf reared in front of me, its eyes a wild and fearsome shade of blazing amber. Its thick sable pelt was painted for war, and in the long mane hung a bright red feather. 33

I knew immediately that this was a male, and he was in the mood to kill. 34

Baring his fangs, the wolf thrust its head toward me, its voice coarse as a cat’s tongue. “Afraid of me, are you? Pitiful human. Terrified of what you don’t understand, like all your species.”35

“That’s unfair, Sykelv, and you know it!”36

The wolf froze for a moment, claws digging into my shirt, and then, slowly, he turned his head. “Quiet, my little blossom, this doesn’t concern you.” The wolf’s voice was a harsh bark now, I noticed. 37

‘Blossom…’ I thought, ‘a friend of his, I wonder? How can they speak anyway? It must be this hand, the pain's making me hear and see things.’ 38

The voice that had admonished the male wolf came again. “Let him go, Sykelv!”39

“You’re bossy today.” To my surprise, the wolf let go, spinning around on his hind legs and landing on all fours, facing in the opposite direction. 40

His bristling mane seemed to stiffen even more, if that were possible. “Why should I let this worthless trash get away? He doesn’t deserve to breath the same air as I. what use is he? His kind is destroying the world, and you take their side? Who are you with? Are you going to answer?”41

I slid down into a sitting position, bewildered and dumb with fear. I was barely aware of the screams as the people woke to see the wolves-which were stealing into their homes-lunging at them with frothing jaws.42

It took a few moments for me to come to my senses. I started inching away, watching the black wolf apprehensively. 43

He must have heard me moving or saw me out of the corner of his eye, because a second after I started crawling off, his massive weight pinned me to the ground. 44

“Where’re you going?” He snarled.45

“Sykelv…” I saw something move. “Get off him, you’ll hurt him.” 46

“Oh my fleas, Sykelv!” A goofy-looking gray wolf appeared, staring wide-eyed at the black male on top of me. The wolf’s tongue hung out from the side of his mouth, and his eyes were just a tad too big. 47

He looked like a cartoon. 48

He began to cackle, then fell to the ground, thumping the earth with an over-large paw.49

“What’s so funny, Tucker?” The black wolf, Sykelv growled. He wasn't surprised by the wolf's sudden appearance? I blinked.50

Tucker stopped laughing long enough to gasp out, “RAPE!!!”51


There was a moment of silence. Then the night was rent with laughter. Five, scruffy wolves, each one as comical looking as Tucker, rolled about, cackling like laughing hyenas. Sykelv flattened his ears angrily. 52

During the confusion, a pretty she-wolf padded into my line of vision. She wasn’t small, but slim, with a brown coat, white chest and white ‘stockings’ on her front legs. 53

Dipping her head, the she-wolf sniffed my face. Sykelv, as if just noticing her, growled deep in his throat. She answered by snapping at his nose. “Knock it off, Syke, or you lose that nose of yours.”54

I felt a pressure at the back of my neck. The wolf was pressing down. “Make me, lightweight.” I heard him snarl. 55

I expected the female to back away. This black male was huge, and dangerous, and she was so tiny compared to him. She laid back her ears in a gesture of submission, but the words she spoke were anything but an obedient answer. “As you wish, o’ wise and powerful one. Father!”56

I winced as Sykelv’s claws buried in my back. 57

It was only then I realized there was no other sound, no screaming or the baying of dogs. All was deathly quiet. I could feel my hand aching where Halo’s fangs had dug into the flesh. 58

I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I had not noticed the arrival of the ancient wolf until Sykelv leapt off my back and lowered himself to the ground, where he lay, prone.59


Huge, silvered with age, yet still muscular and strong, a male wolf flicked his tattered ears at those around me. 60

Looking at the she-wolf, the enormous beast rumbled softly, “What is it, little one? Why did you call me?”61

“Sykelv was hurting that boy,” She nodded at me, “he meant to kill him.”62

The big male stared at her. “Killing is not permitted. We are here to take back what is ours, not to butcher. I suppose he challenged you, then. Sykelv, come closer.”63

The black wolf seemed to hesitate, and then crawled forward. “Yes Lord Imere?” 64

The elder looked him over. 65

“You are a strong warrior. Bold, brave, and reckless one, as I have seen. Perilous, they call it. You have no love for anything, nor compassion. Your only goal is to defeat and fight, to win at all costs, and to kill. But orders are orders, Sykelv. You disobeyed my orders when I told the troops not to kill any of the village creatures. By rights, you should be punished. Brave RaeFiend, your brother, he told you not to go over your head. You have dishonored his name, and broken my trust. Until I am sure you can follow orders and do as commanded, you’re under arrest. Jackal, CoveDyke! Take him away.”66

Two lynxes, yellow-gray and at least half the size of the wolves, prowled forward from the shadows. I watched as they came up on either side of Sykelv, hissing curious oaths into his ears as they lead him off. 67

He shot a glare at the old wolf, and gave an indulgent look to the she-wolf, then he raised his head and strode off proudly, determined not to lose face. If wolves can smile, then I know I saw the beginning of a grin upon the she-wolf’s face.68

“I feel guilty now, Father.” She whispered. 69

“Don’t. You were only doing what I told you to do. He knows that as much as any other.” The old wolf turned towards me, and I realized that in the past few minutes, with everything going on, I had been forgotten and I could have gotten away.70

The elder spoke. “Human, you have seen and heard too much. I cannot let you stay here with that knowledge. Sykelv was foolish to speak, as was Tucker and his companions. You have heard us, seen us. You know things that we prefer to remain secret. I am no murderer. You will come with us. It is the only way I can ensure our safety.”71

“You…speak…” Now I felt like an idiot. I’d been listening to them talking for at least an hour, but I assumed that it was the pain got to my head. I glanced at my hand. It was bloody and swollen, probably soon to become infected if I wasn’t careful. 72

The she-wolf blinked and whispered something to another wolf, which had come up. The other, a reddish female, laughed and nodded. She padded forward and touched her wet, cold nose to my nose, and in a husky voice murmured, “Wish to live, son of man? Live to see the dawn’s colors light the skies and night to spread its cloak? Is that what you desire most, boy? Live?”73

My mind went blank. As if in a trance, I stared blindly ahead and said automatically, “Yes…I wish to live…”74

“You like dogs, yes? Ever wonder what they see, how they see things? Why not learn for yourself?” The voice was intoxicating. I nodded numbly. 75

The red she-wolf uttered something strange in my ear, which sounded for the most part like gibberish, but the end was something that caused me to start. 76

“…I shall bring thee life again, man, close thy eyes and be reborn, take thou the wolves’ proud form!”77

I blinked; wanting to ask what she meant, but found I could not speak. I gasped as the she-wolf sank her fangs into my throat, gagged on the blood that spilled to the earth. The world, the faces of wolves, the trees of the forest spiraled. 78

Everything blurred as one, becoming an indistinguishable red mass that throbbed and pulsed like my dying heart. My eyes flickered, and for a brief instant, I found myself looking at the brown she-wolf. 79

But she was no longer a wolf, as I was no longer a man.