Warclaw (12 page)

"Yes okay but isn't this a little different from the original plan that you told me?" Warclaw nodded.

"Yeah it is a little different but with how the pack is feeling right now, we have to be careful. They are very suspicious. Now be quiet because the patrol is coming back." Marko quietened down.

"Wren will see you now. Could you please follow me?" Marko and Warclaw nodded at the wolf and followed behind him. Marko and Warclaw looked at each other and nodded before looking back in-front of them. As they walked into the main part of the packs new den, Warclaw saw that Wibeke had come back to the pack. Noticing that she was looking at him with glaring eyes, he smiled at her and she looked away. "Marko, let me do the talking." Warclaw whispered to him and Marko nodded. "Ah, hello Warclaw. It is so good of you to join us." Wren smiled.

"Hello Wren, I see that Wibeke has come back to the pack then." Wren glared at Warclaw, "I meant no offence by it Wren." Wren relaxed and Warclaw could see that his fur had gone back down his shoulders. Warclaw looked back towards Marko and nodded. Marko started to lay down on the ground when Wren walked over to him "What's wrong with you?"

"I feel ill, I haven't eaten in days, weeks and I haven't had water in days." Marko said trying to drag it out like a great actor.

"Wibeke take this wolf to where he can rest and eat. Bring food and water to him as well." Wibeke started walking up to them. Unknowingly to Wren and Wibeke this was just an act, Warclaw had something much bigger planned for the end of this pack.

"Warclaw," Wren said "why has this wolf had no food or water or anything since he has been with you?"

"The reason he hasn’t is because there was no food or water around where we were, so neither of us has eaten in days. But I can last a lot longer than what he can without food and water. Would you be ever so kind and look after him Wibeke, whilst me and Wren talk?" Wibeke looked at Wren for acknowledgement and she found it. Carrying on walking towards Marko, Wibeke looked at the health of the wolf and it did appear that he hadn't eaten in days, maybe a week and a half at the most; he was just skin and bones. When she got to him, she lifted him up and helped him to where the food and water was, just leaving Wren and Warclaw together... alone. Warclaw waited until Wibeke and Marko were out of sight before he confronted Wren about the Atlas Crystal.

"Where is the Atlas Crystal Wren?" Warclaw stated.

"I don't know where it is Warclaw, you have had it all along." Wren looked at Wren with confusion. Knowing that Warclaw would come to the pack with a reason, he had never expected that this would be the very reason. "Oh come on Wren. I know you have it! Mathew, the member of the pack you destroyed had it and now you have taken it. Where IS IT?!" Warclaw demanded.

"I don't know where it is Warclaw! I don't have it! We never found the crystal with the Alpha. Anyway how do you know of his name?" Wren questioned. Warclaw knew he had slipped up, but like a professional he carried on. "When we were on our way here, we had to go past the old pack land and saw the death that lay upon the ground. Marko had been captured by them many years ago and had escaped with me, not long after they captured me."

"How could they capture you? You can never be caught!"

"That is true but like every-wolf they found my weakness. Anyway less of the change in conversation where is the crystal!" Warclaw demanded again.

"I do not know where that damn crystal is! There was no crystal there when we defeated that Alpha!" Wren shouted.

"I will tare this place apart if I have to! You have no idea what the crystal will do if you don't give it to me!"

"What do you mean by that?" Wren asked, nervous of the answer he was about to hear.

"The crystal is going to end the world if I do not get it back and under control. It has already killed one pack, do you want that to happen to this one?!" Warclaw knew that by putting it in Wren's interest he would agree to give it to him. "Warclaw I don't have it. No-wolf in this pack has it!" Warclaw looked at Wren with anger.

"Did you not hear what I just said? You and every-wolf on this planet will die! Do you seriously want that?!" Warclaw had a fair point.

"I do not have it and I do not wish for the whole of wolf-kind to die. I will help you find the crystal but it is not here with us. It must still be with the old Alpha where he died."

"A problem with that theory, Wren. I and Marko have already checked and he doesn't have it. That means that it is back at Manto. That's the only place it could be, but Marko said it wasn't there so that means it’s at Wayland with one of the other members of the pack. We'll have to go back to Wayland to find it." Warclaw stated.

"I'll get the wolves together and let them know that we are heading back to our old den in order to save wolf kind." Warclaw nodded in agreement with Wren and walked off in the direction of where Wibeke had gone with Marko. Warclaw followed behind smiling in the knowledge that every-wolf had fallen for his plan so far.

Chapter 11: Beginning of the end.

As the pack walked back towards their old den, Warclaw held back with Marko. Looking at Marko, Warclaw could tell that Wibeke had made a good job of looking after him as he looked like he had put some weight on. It had been a few days since Warclaw had come to the pack in search of the crystal. He could feel in his canine bones, that a big event was going to happen soon and he needed the crystal right by his side. The crystal had been sending snippets of information to where it was but they were always riddles. The most recent one had been:

“
I am close, yet I am far,

You know me, but you cannot see me,

I look at you but do not see you,

I do not see dark nor do I see light,

I betray you, yet you do not see,

Look close to you and you’ll find me.”

Warclaw was getting sick of the riddles. He had been getting the same riddle for days now. It had been the same riddle ever since they had left the pack and headed towards Wayland. Trying to reason with the crystal was out of the question. It would never listen to him nor would it give itself away. Warclaw had figured as far as who had taken it and who had betrayed him. Warclaw wasn’t very happy about it because it was some-wolf that he trusted from the beginning. Now that wolf was a disposable asset in which it could strike him down at any moment. Warclaw continued walking in thought and concentrated on why the wolf had betrayed him and where that damn crystal was.

******************

Marko was the one to have taken the Atlas Crystal away from Warclaw. He had taken it before his father was buried, when Warclaw had left him to have some time with his deceased father. Marko respected Warclaw for that. When Warclaw and Marko had buried his father, he had figured out that Warclaw was only using him and that he would likely kill him after he was done. Looking over to where Warclaw was walking, Marko wondered whether he had realised yet that he supposed ‘ally’ was in fact one of his enemies. But it appeared that he hadn’t and that Warclaw was concentrating on something else. Marko could see it in his eyes.

Warclaw was a hard one to figure out, but because Marko had spent a couple of days, nearly a week, with him, he had gotten used to Warclaws patterns. Looking towards his eyes for a moment, Marko could tell that whatever it was he was concentrating on, was important. Marko knew he had to be careful because he could sense the crystal working, on what he did not know, but he was sure it was linking up to Warclaw. Marko knew this because of the expression on Warclaws face told to him that the Atlas Crystal was in fact connecting to him.

Marko had also figured that Warclaw had gotten the pack away from the den, from safety, and he wondered at what his motive was. He wondered why Warclaw would bring the strongest wolves with him and put them at the front. And why he would put the weaker members of the pack at the back. Warclaw was clever and he needed to position himself carefully. Marko knew to keep his guard up as there would be something dangerously powerful ahead. Although he didn’t know what it was, he knew that Warclaw would most likely be the cause of it. But why would he do it? He has nothing to gain and certainly nothing to lose. Maybe that is why he’s doing it. The crystal can control wolves; Marko saw it first hand with his pack. The only thing Marko could think of that Warclaw could gain, is getting the Atlas Crystal.

From what Marko had heard and had been told at the den, Warclaw had been causing a lot of problems with the pack and had nearly got the female wolf killed. Marko couldn’t remember what her name was but from the state of her, he guessed that it was Wibeke. What astonished Marko was that Warclaw had killed their last Alpha in order to keep him from getting the Atlas Crystal. And that he had also killed the old Alpha’s Luna, to make the old Alpha suffer more before he died at Warclaw’s merciless paws. Marko was learning some very dark things about Warclaw that he never wanted or expected to know. This Warclaw was some merciless and power stricken wolf and Marko realised that he needed to watch his back, as it looked like he couldn’t be trusted no matter what side of him you were on.

“Marko!” Warclaw barked, startling Marko from his thoughts.

“What?” Marko replied with what felt like his heart in his mouth.

“We’re here. Now get your act together, the others are starting to get suspicious. Follow Wren and Wibeke. I’ll follow the others. Oh, you know that when I do find the crystal and you have hidden it since we buried your father, do not expect to live. I trusted you and you have betrayed me. You will go with others and I will tell them that you are joining their pack…. my pack. Until I see fit for you to leave, I will keep a close eye on you. Now go on after them before you lose them!” Warclaw barked harshly.

Marko rushed after Wren and Wibeke, realising that Warclaw was much smarter than he looked. But not as smart as his reputation had said he was. Warclaw should’ve realised that Marko had had the Atlas Crystal on him, but he didn’t, not yet anyway. Marko knew that Warclaw was hot on his tail, slowly figuring it out. He needed to get him off of his scent. When he had caught up with Wren and Wibeke they were chatting quietly. “What do you mean Marko is working for Warclaw?” Wren asked Wibeke.

“Wren, it isn’t that hard to work out. Why else would he follow Warclaw if he hasn’t joined him? I smell a rat Wren. Something big is coming, something really big is coming. And it’s something bad and Marko is at the heart of it. We…” Wibeke stopped talking and looked behind her. She looked at Marko calmly. “I guess you heard what we were talking about, am I right?”

“Yes you are right Wibeke. Would you like to carry on or am I not permitted to listen?” Marko said with a hint of anger in his voice. Wren looked at Marko and smiled. “I take it Warclaw has ordered you to follow us whilst looking for the crystal, right?”

“Yes you are correct. But he hasn’t ordered me to do anything. And I haven’t joined Warclaw for your information Wibeke.” Marko kept his eyes on Wibeke watching her every move. He knew that Wibeke needed to be kept quiet else she’d alert the rest the pack and then Warclaw would definitely have Marko’s head. “Now, are we going to stand here all day or are we going to look for this damn crystal?” Wren huffed trying to change the topic. An atmosphere was slowly forming. “Of course, I shall lead the way.” Marko sighed, before walking in front of Wibeke and Wren. Marko started to head to where his father had been buried, with the two other wolves following behind.

******************

Hours had passed and there was still no sign of the Atlas Crystal. Warclaw was starting to panic; he knew it was here and that it was close, so why hadn’t they found it yet? Warclaw was getting worried, very worried. But Marko had gotten to it and hidden it when they had buried his father. Or had he?

Warclaw was starting to finally put the pieces together and was realising that he had been with it all along. What the crystal had said finally made sense! Warclaw thought ‘The first line of the riddle was “
I am close, yet I am far,”
which could only mean that it was with a close wolf that I knew.  The second line was “
You know me, but you cannot see me,”
well I know Marko has something to do with it, so maybe he has it on him and maybe that’s why I cannot see it as it’s hidden under his fur. What was the next line?’ Warclaw pondered as he walked ‘oh yes, it was “
I look at you but do not see you,”
which yet again links to the fact that Marko has it on him.’ Warclaw stopped walking as the realisation that Marko had betrayed him even more than what he thought. ‘That’s why the crystal said that “
I betray you, yet you do not see,”
! That makes perfect sense. I wouldn’t suspect Marko to betray me as he has earned my trust… note to self never trust any-wolf again’ Warclaw noted. The last line made everything that much clearer. “
Look close to you and you’ll find me.”
Warclaw had realised that he had been put his faith in the wrong wolf all along. Marko was exactly like his father. Devious. And now Warclaw wanted to put him right next to where he buried his father, six feet under!

Warclaw started to walk over to where Marko was standing. Marko looked around and saw Warclaw walking his way. Warclaw tried to conceal the anger in his eyes but he was unable to. The anger was too strong. Marko noticed the anger in Warclaw’s eyes and cursed. ‘Oh no, he knows I have the crystal. I must do something to get him off of my back and fast.’ Warclaw was still a distance from where Marko was, so quickly using this to his advantage, Marko turned to Wibeke. “Wibeke, could you look after this for me?” Marko tore the crystal off of its rope and passed it to her. Wibeke nodded and got Wren to put it around her neck so it was safe. As Marko turned round to see where Warclaw was, he was thrown to the hard ground. “Where is it Marko? We have spent ages looking for it, when you had had it all along! WHERE is it?!” Warclaw growled whilst pinning Marko to the ground. Warclaw spoke softer “Your game is up. I know that you have it so you may as well give it to me.” Marko stared at Warclaw in disbelief wondering how he had figured it out. “I don’t know what you mean Warclaw. I don’t have it on me. Check if you wish!” Marko shouted back in frustration.

“Yes you do! Now get up! And I think I will take that offer up!” Warclaw growled fiercely at Marko before getting off of him. Marko slowly got up and watched closely at what Warclaw was doing. Warclaw walked around him slowly, nudging fur out of the way to try and find it. He searched closely to his neck. But there was no sign of it. ‘How can I be mistaken? It has to be here.’ Warclaw thought to himself whilst checking Marko. “I told you it wasn’t here Warclaw. I don’t have it. I told you and you didn’t believe me!” Marko growled. Warclaw slowly backed away and stared into the eyes of Marko. In the eyes of Marko, Warclaw could see the reflection of Wibeke putting something round her neck. Warclaw growled and then turned round. He started to head for Wibeke. Wibeke looked around and saw Warclaw heading her way with the angry look on his face again. ‘Déjà vu or what?’ Wibeke thought to herself as Warclaw approached.

“Can I help you Warclaw or are we going to falsely accuse me again?” Wibeke chuckled. Unfortunately this was no laughing matter. Warclaw kept coming at Wibeke with vengeance in his eyes. He forced her down onto the ground, making her howl in pain. She looked at Warclaw with confusion in her eyes. ‘Why is he doing this?’ Wibeke thought scared. This had turned into another dire situation. “Give me the crystal Wibeke!” Warclaw growled ferociously. “GIVE IT ME NOW!” Warclaw growled again. As Warclaw looked down to Wibeke’s chest, he noticed the crystal glow a bright blue. Warclaw knew to back away straight away and run for cover which is exactly he did. As Warclaw ran off into the distance, Wibeke saw every member of her pack gather around her and watch as Warclaw ran away.

Wibeke looked down at her chest to where the crystal was and saw that it was glowing. Marko saw the crystal glowing and understood why Warclaw had ran away. Marko started to follow Warclaw in his direction but he wasn’t quick enough. There was a blast from the crystal that sent the wolves crashing to the floor. Some smashed against the trees and you could hear bones cracking and breaking as they hit them. Warclaw turned around and saw the blast. As he watched the blast throw wolves against the trees and down into the hard ground, he smirked. “It serves them right!” Warclaw chuckled. He watched the first blast enclose on itself before throwing out the last blast. The wolves that got had gotten off of the ground were thrown violently back down to the floor again. Warclaw watched in amusement. He watched them until Marko came running towards him. “Warclaw!” Marko manoeuvred himself into an aggressive stance. Warclaw charged at Marko and growled showing his immensely shinny white teeth.

As Marko and Warclaw clashed together, there was howling from where the crystal had blasted. Warclaw bit down on Marko taking chunks of fur and skin away from him. Blood started to spill everywhere. Marko bit down on Warclaws shoulder, releasing a red stream of blood. Blood poured onto the floor forming yet another puddle. Warclaw bit down hard onto Marko’s neck, crushing bone in the process. Marko’s body became weak and lifeless as it hung down from Warclaw’s mouth. It was the quickest death that Warclaw could have ever given Marko. Although Warclaw wanted to make it more painful for betraying him, Warclaw didn’t have the time to make his death any longer. He needed to get the Atlas Crystal off of Wibeke before she did something much worse. With Warclaw’s shoulder in shreds and blood pouring out from it, Warclaw ran back in the direction of the crystal. He ran with a slight limp but the adrenaline from knowing what was about to happen, kept him going and buried the pain deep within him.

******************

When Warclaw got to Wibeke and the Atlas Crystal, there were wolves scattered everywhere. There were wolves bent around the trees and they were not moving. There were wolves on the floor unaware of what was happening around them. As Warclaw reached Wibeke, she had woken up and was looking at Wren, waiting for him to wake up. Warclaw stopped. He watched as Wibeke lay down and tears start to roll down her cheek. He sighed. “I know you are there Warclaw. Why have you come back? To see us yet again weaker than what we already are? Or did you come to mock at our failure? Or to laugh as we watch our loved ones die?”

“No Wibeke. I came back for
my
Crystal. I told you what would happen if you didn’t give it to me and if you were to handle it. I kept the crystal in the dark to keep every-wolf safe from this.” Warclaw sighed and walked up to Wibeke. “I can save him, Wibeke. I can get the crystal to heal him. Do you want me to save him?” Wibeke thought carefully. Warclaw had done nothing but cause harm and distress to the pack. And now he was offering this? She looked from Warclaw to Wren and then back to Warclaw. Wibeke nodded slowly, tearing the crystal from around her neck and giving it to Warclaw. This was a risk she had to take, but who wouldn’t take a risk for someone they love?

Warclaw lay down beside Wibeke and placed the crystal on Wren’s head. He started chanting words that Wibeke didn’t understand. Wibeke watched Warclaw for a bit and then looked to her mate. She watched as the life slowly dripped back into him, one minute droplet at a time. Slowly Wren’s chest started to rise and then fall. She could feel his breath on the pad of her paw. His chest rose quicker and quicker. Wren started breathing normally and Wibeke hailed with a sigh of relief. “He’ll be awake in a few minutes.” Warclaw said before taking the crystal off of Wrens head. He got up and started to walk around the other wolves. “Thank you Warclaw.” Wibeke shouted to him. ‘There is no need to thank me; you don’t know what is yet to come.’ Warclaw thought. “No need.” Warclaw simply remarked keeping his thoughts to himself.

Wren made a whining noise and drew Wibeke’s attention back to him. Slowly Wren rose from his brush with death. He looked around and noticed that there were a lot of dead wolves lying on the ground. Willem was among the dead and so was Wanbi. Wren nudged Wibeke and nodded over to where their bodies laid. Wibeke gasped as she realised the true devastation of the blast. It had killed all of the remaining survivors from that storm that had happened only a month ago. There was just Wibeke and Wren. And then there was Warclaw. Wren got up slowly, making sure he had his balance. When he finally stood up he looked around and saw all the dead wolves littering the floor. He walked among them to see if there were any survivors. Wibeke got up and looked around at the devastation she had caused by helping Marko. This was not what she had expected to happen. And certainly not what was about to happen next!

Warclaw charged upon Wibeke from behind, knocking her to the ground for a second time. Wren was too far away for Wibeke to call for his help. Wren was too far to notice what was happening to his mate. Wibeke was crushed underneath Warclaw’s weight. She struggled underneath him, trying to get free and push him off of her but Warclaw stayed put. Wibeke looked around her for support but Wren was too far away, like Warclaw had predicted and had waited for him to be. Warclaw smirked. “A life for a life. Isn’t that what they say?” He chuckled. Suddenly Wren came running up to them both. But before Wren could help his poor soul mate, Warclaw chomped down onto Wibeke’s neck, ending Wibeke’s life in the most horrific and quickest way possible. Warclaw had waited for this time to come for a long time. He had waited for the moment when he could finally rid himself of that pest and finally deal with the real suspect. Wren. Wren was the one Warclaw was after all this time. Warclaw had only revived him to see Warclaw take away the person he held most dear.

Wren was angry. He howled. His pace got quicker until he had finally reached the murderer. "YOU! Why did you have to do that to her?!" Wren said trying to hold his emotions back.

"I've been waiting for the opportune moment to strike you down. Ever since you struck down my Winter. I've waited night and day. Year after year I have waited to get at you. And now I finally have that moment!" Warclaw laughed evilly. Wren felt a lone tear roll down his cheek and the memory of the day he took Winter's life. "I never knew." He paused in thought. "She was once a rogue! She shouldn't have been Luna!"

"Winter was no rogue! She never was. She was always Luna and you betrayed her! How could you? I thought you were ordered to kill Winter to make me weaker, but I was wrong. You wanted to kill her all along. You wanted the crystal all for yourself! Waya wanted to be Alpha. That was all he wanted and he didn’t have the guts to make it happen, so you did it for him. We tried to stop him but you had to kill her. She was the sweetest thing in the world. I have spent every waking moment tracking you and Waya down. Now I finally have the one that killed her in my grasp. And now that I have you, you are going to pay for what you did!"