The Wolf, The boy, and The Lance (open)

[Shugo]

"Stupid Heads", shouted a young boy as he walked away from a burning fortress. In his right hand he had an Iron Spear, and in his left he had a sack filled with supplies. It had been no less than five hours since the fall of the fortress, and the kid barely escaped with his life. Being kidnapped by bandits was hard, but being kidnapped by bandits at the age of ten was even harder.

The young boy knew better than to stay around the blazing fortress. All the books and stories he read told of the dead rising from their graves to feast on those who showed them disrespect. Shugoshi had no desire to end up as zombie bait, nor did he want to be eaten by wolves. Danger was in the air, and the young man was more than happy to have his padded chainmail to protect him from harm.

[Shugo]

Night soon fell, and the chilling wind of the Bern Mountains began to blow. The sound of wolves and Wyvern filled the air as beast from all over came to feast on the scorched flesh. The young boy had made his way to a nearby cave that was only a few miles from the fort. He did not get very far as his small legs and heavy mail slowed his movement. By a small fire the young boy rested as the light from the fire illuminated the cave and shinned throughout the mountains.

"Ok Mr. Lance", spoke the young lad as he spoke to his lance. "We have to be brave. Wolves hate fire, and Wyvern." The young boy stopped and began to think of the beast. It was his first time actually thinking on the Wyvern. Many of night he dreamed of ride on Wyvern, but never of fighting them. The image of their claws and fangs flashed into his mind, the terror of their breath, and the savageness of their roar. The young boy quickly curled into a ball, and gripped his lance ever tighter.

"We are going to be fine", he spoke to himself trying to suppress his fear. The young boy chanted the words over and over almost as if he was chanting a spell. The night was long, but somehow the young recruit found sleep. Young boy slept with his head against the wall, and his hands still gripping his lance.

[Shugo]

The sun rose over the horizon, and brought with it the new day. Shugoshii awoke from his slumber with his lance still in hand. The young recruit rose from the stone and stretched in the new morning light. The sounds of Wyverns and wolves had stopped, but the threats of the mountains still remained.

"Feels good to be free again", spoke the young lad as he finished his morning stretch. Without wasting another moment Shugoshi descended from the cave. He had no intentions of staying there any longer than he had to. The young boy shimmied down the cliff till his feet touched the road. For a moment he simply looked around checking his surrounding area hint of where he was. This action was soon postponed as a familiar pain rose up in his stomach.

"Ok breakfast time", shouted the young lad as he threw his arms in the air! His spear unfortunately went with them. "Mr. Lance", he shouted as he rushed to pick up his spear! As he picked up the shaft of the spear he heard a sound come from behind. The young boy quickly turned and span about. He pointed his spear at in the direction of the noise and shouted out as loud as he could. "Who cometh", he spoke mimicking one of the heroes in one of his mother's ancient tomes.

To the young boy's surprise from around the corner came a black wolf. The beast was bigger than he was both in height and in width. The Wolf had an old scar crossing its right eyes and a minnesinger gaze that would melt the courage of even Harkmut himself. Droll began to flow from the beast mouth as it began to size up its breakfast.

[Shugo]

Fear gripped Shugoshi's heart as he stared at the beast. It was the first time he had ever seen a wolf up close, and the first time he had ever been under a predators gaze. Shugoshi panicked on the inside. He had no idea of how to handle wolves. In the tales of heroes and legends the main characters always slew the wolves, but never actually told how they did it.

"Back", shouted Shugoshi as he raised his lance. His feet however were not firmly placed as fear rocked his legs.
He poked the spear forward trying to scare off the beast, but the beast would not be deterred. The wolf began to salivate as it took its first steps forward.

"NOOO!", shouted Shugoshi in a tremendously loud voice. The young boy had no intentions of becoming puppy chow. He immediately rushed to the left side of the road, and began to sliding down the path leading to the river.

[Shugo]

As Shugoshi screamed in terror the wolf charged forward. The young boy's fear told the wolf all it needed to know. The wolf swiftly followed its prey, as the boy slid down the slope so did the wolf.

Shugoshi landed on the bank of the river with the wolf not far behind him. The beast mouth was watering with excitement of its next meal. The young boy quickly rushed into the cold running water. In his mind the wolf could not swim, but the lad was dead wrong. The wolf hopped into the water without nary a worry following the lad as he waded across the river.

"Go away", he shouted as he made it to the other end of the river. Hunger and exhaustion began to drain the boy's strength. The wolf pulled itself from the water and was prepared to finish of its prey. Shugoshi soon realizing that running would do him no good raised his lance once more, and prepared to stand his ground against the beat.

"Don't come any closer", spoke the boy as he held the lance out. His legs were still shaking, but his form was perfect. The wolf began to approach slowly as it sized up its prey.

[Shugo]

The wolf jumped and attacked, and Shugo trusted his lance forward. The beast unwontedly impaled itself upon his spear straight through its mouth. Blood splattered every were as the beast let out one final howl. The cry terrified the young boy. Its voice sent a great chill down Shugo spine as the beast fell dead. The wolfs blood began to run into the river as Shugo laid there on the ground.

For a moment the young recruit simply sat there staring at the corpse of the wolf. His shock ended with the sounding of his stomach reminding Shugo he had not eaten breakfast. The young boy rose off the ground and grabbed his now blood covered lance. He pulled as hard as he could ripping the spear out of the best body. The young boy stuck the spear into the water for a second allowing the blood to rinse down the river.

"Thank you Mr. Lance", spoke Shugo as he pulled the iron tip spear out of the river. He then turned to the wolf, and took a great gulp. His stomach growled once again, and the young Shugo had no other choice. He took the iron spear, and began to use the tip to carve up the wolfs corpse. Needless to say meat was back on the menu.

[Shugo]

Two days had passed since Shugo had slain the wolf. The young boy had finally reached the main road, and had consumed the last of his wolf jerky. The sharp pain of hunger once gain filled the young boy's stomach when he heard the sound of turning wheels. Shugo stopped and turned around, and saw a traveling caravan moving though the mountains. This was Shugo’s chance. People and of the traveling kind.

"Hay", shouted the young boy as he approached the moving caravan. An old man sat in front and stopped his horse. He stared at the young boy as he grew closer and whispered something in the ear of his companion. His companion was a large man who wore leather armor. On his back was strapped a steel axe, and across his forehead was a steel circlet.

"Hay kido what do you want", spoke the burly man as Shugo reach their caravan. The young boy was breathing heavy as he had run quite a distance. Shugo took a moment to catch his breath before answering the man.

"Sorry", he spoke first apologizing for taking so long to answer. "I just wanted to know if I could catch a ride to the nearest town.”I been out in the wood for a while, and had no idea of where I am at."

"Nearest town", spoke the man as a devilish grin crossed his face. Shugo was exhausted, and did not notice his evil intentions. "Sure kid", spoke the man as he grabbed Shugo's lance. "Just let me put this up with the rest of the weapons and you can hop in the back."

"Thank you", spoke Shugo as he allowed the burly man to take his axe. True to his word the man placed the lance next to the other weapons lining the cart.

"Follow me kid", he spoke as he escorted Shugo to the third and last cart in the caravan. This cart however was covered with a thick canvas that covered the content inside. The driver of this cart was a beautiful woman with milky white skin, and long black hair. Her eyes were a sparkling blue that reminded the young boy of the ocean.

"Oh another one", she spoke as she looked at Shugo.

"Another one", spoke Shugo to himself as he stared at the woman. His mind however quicky was turned else were as he looked at the woman. A small blush crossed his face as he found himself entranced by her beauty, but he was soon pulled back to reality by his escort.

"Hay kid, come on", spoke the man in a hostile tone.

"Right", shouted Shugo as he rushed to the back of the cart. His fleeing action earned him a small gigle from the maiden.

"Back here", spoke Shugo as he turned the corner of the cart. His eyes however were met with the image of an iron cage that was stained with blood. "What the meaning of this", spoke Shugo before he was knocked unconscious by the burly man.

"You will fetch a fine price boy", spoke the man as he placed the unconscious recruit in the cage. "Alright we are loaded up", shouted the man. "I bet the nobleman in Lycia will be pleased. I heard he likes the color purple."

The caravan once again began to move. Shugo had once again found himself captured, and taken to a place unknown to him. For the time being luck was not on his side.
End Thread