Wolf Moon Part 20
"The Staff of the Rose."
Heero reverently breathed the words more than spoke them out loud.
Trowa stood by the fireplace holding the sacred staff. The walnut wood reflected the firelight on its polished surface. The three intertwined gold rings that adorned the top shimmered. Mounted in the center ring, a ruby stone carved into a flowering rose seemed to absorb the flickering flames to cast a reddish glow from within.
To someone outside the brotherhood's circle the staff would appear to be nothing more than a five-foot walking stick made from the basal elements of wood and metal and stone. But the tri-ringed rod harnessed the power of earth, wind and water to act as a conduit between nature and man and in the hands of the Cleric of Twilight it was a formidable force.
Zechs had taught Trowa the staff's secrets and Trowa had learned the lessons well. As long as the staff was used to help, heal or defend, it would obey its master but if it ever became a tool for conquest and oppression it would revert back to its natural materials and be of no use to anyone.
"May I touch it?" Heero requested humbly.
"You may hold it."
Heero waved his hands in protest. "No, I dare not do that."
A smile flittered across Trowa's lips. "It doesn't bite." he stated, offering the staff to the hesitant Tracker.
As Heero's hand closed around the staff, a tingle prickled through his fingers then radiated up his arm. "It feels...odd." he declared, not certain if the tingling was nerves or magic or both.
"The staff is reading your thoughts." Trowa informed.
"And your heart." Quatre added.
Duo circled the Tracker.
Heero clutched the staff and followed Duo with his eyes until the Duel Spirit walked beyond his peripheral vision then his ears took over until the scrutinizing Irishman reappeared on the opposite side.
"Mmmmmm." vibrated in Duo's throat.
Despite Heero's best efforts not to react he discovered he was shrinking back from the close inspection. *Why do I feel as if I'm being stalked like a fox after a rabbit?* he questioned in his mind not at all comfortable with the hungry aspect in Duo's violet centers of sight.
Duo completed the loop and stood still but didn't lessen the degree of his focused examination. "Mmmmm." he repeated.
"If you make that damn noise again, I'll use this staff to run you through." Heero issued the warning.
Amused rather than afraid, a sly smile tugged at the corners of Duo's mouth. Although he was tempted to make that "damn noise" again just to see if Heero would carry out his pseudo promise of bodily harm, he decided that praise was a better choice that provocation.
"Ya look noble. Perhaps you should become Trowa's apprentice."
Heero couldn't help but snort at the idea of him being the next Priest of Twilight. "I'm a hunter of wicked souls not disposed to prayer or patience but to swift retribution. There's no place for me in Twilight save the duty of security."
Duo tilted his head at a contemplated angle. "Do ya wish to be a hunter all your life?"
Again Heero felt ill at ease. "I wish not to be interrogated." he growled.
The sharp edge to Heero's tone took him by surprise. He hadn't intended to sound so stern and Duo had said nothing to warrant such a rude response.
Averting his eyes from the confusion on Duo's face, Heero handed the staff back to Trowa. "I'm sorry." he directed the apology to his fellow warriors, especially to Duo. "I have no excuse for my discourtesy, I...." He swallowed hard to steady his voice, "I humbly beg your pardon."
Quatre spoke for himself, Trowa, his lover and Duo, his friend. "Everyone is experiencing frayed nerves concerning our journey to Deep World and what sort of evil foes we'll surely encounter along the way. There's no need to beg our pardons for you haven't wronged us in any way."
Duo laid his hand on Heero's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Ya have the right to your own counsel for your life's direction, tis not my place to ask such personal questions." He nodded towards the front door. "Let's see if Wufei is ready to leave."
When Trowa and Quatre were alone, the Fair Manipulator gazed at the door then turned to his lover. "Do you think Heero's destiny is in Twilight?"
Trowa studied the ruby rose in the staff's center ring now glowing, not from the firelight, but of its own accord. "I'm not wise enough to know," he readily admitted, "but the Keeper of the Temple will read the signs. Zechs will know the answer."
*********
Wufei, Lee and Maya, in their human form, sat cross-legged amongst the apple trees. The previous night three additional wolves had arrived in Twilight but, preferring not to interact with the humans, they'd slept in the forest.
Now six wolves, veiled and unveiled, visited beneath the fragrant white blossoms and discussed Wufei's upcoming trek to Deep World.
"It will take a week on foot." Lee calculated.
"That's why we plan to pick up horses at Mary's Mill." Wufei stated.
Maya nodded in agreement. " Horses will be faster. Also your four feet would be quicker than walking upright but I suppose you wish to ride with your humans."
Wufei smiled at Maya's erroneous understanding of his relationship with his comrades. "The humans don't belong to me."
*Aren't you the alpha male?* the gray wolf with blue eyes asked telepathically.
"The Warriors of the Rose have no leader; each of us is equal to the other."
The second gray wolf, a female that was blue-eye's litter mate, shook her shaggy head. *Then how is anything ever accomplished within the pack?*
"We discuss the matter and come to a mutual agreement."
The third wild canine, a male with silver mingled in his black muzzle and the wisdom of older years mirrored in his soulful eyes, continued the extrasensory discussion.
*Humans are emotional creatures and can be unpredictable,* the Elder observed, *but these individuals you consider friends have proven to be trustworthy. I also sense a strong bond with nature that transcends their corporeal limitations. I do believe you have chosen wisely, Chang Wufei.*
"Thank you, Master Long." Wufei bowed to his uncle. "It is my hope that one day wolves and humans can coexist in peace."
Master Long placed his paw on Wufei's hand. *I fear that humans and wolves will always be adversaries. The natures of the beasts are far too contrary but I suppose your friends do offer a ray of hope.*
As if on cue, Duo and Heero walked up then paused at the orchard's border so as not to interrupt Wufei and his pack's private conversation.
Wufei was pleased to see his brothers-in-arms. He stood and beckoned them to join the group. "Come, meet more of my cousins and my uncle as well. You remember Lee and Maya?"
Duo and Heero bowed. Lee and Maya also stood and returned the acts of respect. "It's good to see you again." Maya proclaimed sincerely.
Wufei continued the introductions. "This is my uncle Long Zi-ling." he indicted toward the Elder wolf, "and my cousins, Chang Jin," he indicated towards the male wolf, "and Chang Xiang, he nodded at the female wolf.
Uncle and cousins lowered their eyes and dipped their heads in a "wolffen" bow to Wufei's human companions. Heero and Duo copied the humble posture.
Zi-ling fixed his nephew's gaze and Wufei tilted his head as he listened to the telepathic dialogue. "My uncle says he is pleased with the talents of my soldiers."
Wufei leaned closer and whispered. "My kinsmen have the mistaken notion that I'm your leader. I've tried to tell them otherwise but...."
Duo stifled a chuckle then cut his eyes at Heero before he addressed the Elder uncle. "We are honored to serve under Wufei's excellent leadership." he stated with another deep bow.
When Duo straightened up he locked his eyes, that were gleaming with mischief, on his canine commander. "I will gladly follow him into battle." he announced putting a hard emphasis on "follow" then teased lowly, "Better watch your back, Chang."
*********
With Twilight in the safekeeping of the pack, the quinque, bedecked with all manner of weaponry and traveling bags, bid their farewells and took the first steps on their long and hazardous trek.
*********
A whiff of bluish haze snaked around the orchard then swirled up through the tender leaves and spent blossoms that had begun to fade to float above the treetops.
When the last Warrior of the Rose disappeared into the forest bordering the bamboo house, the Shadow Spy gathered its vapors into a wavy representation of a hawk and took wing to report to his dark master that the quest for Deep World was underway.
*********
A stiff breeze buffeted the warriors' backs. To the east gray-rimmed clouds bellowed up in high banks against the irregular horizon.
"Think it'll rain?" Duo wondered to no one in particular.
Trowa glanced in an easterly direction and shrugged. "I have no sense of it.
"Nor do I." Quatre concurred.
Duo craned his neck and squinted in the afternoon sun. "Nope, wouldn't dare rain today."
The descent from the Twilight was not any easier than Heero and Wufei's upward climb two weeks ago. That day Duo had taken the aerial path and avoided the strenuous hike but this day he struggled shoulder to shoulder with his comrades.
The narrow, winding trail was strewn with glassy pebbles that rolled under boots. Sandy ground gave way and crumbled off the path's sides. Large boulders, most much taller than the warriors, jutted out at odd angles and in some spots invaded into the limited space forcing a single file formation.
Then there was the wrestling with bags and bedrolls, a crossbow and quiver, a sword and a staff that were determined to bounce off the boulders and frequently bang into arms and legs and squirming buttocks.
Duo strongly resisted the urge to transform and take flight but he was wary of the irate reception that would surly await him when he was once again earthbound so he trudged along in silence except for an occasional grunt of exertion or a crude curse of complaint.
Almost two hours later the trail finally leveled off and widened into a navigable road allowing the quinque to spread out and sparing arms and legs from further bruising.
On either side stands of oak, walnut and pine trees were intermingled with grassy patches carpeted with lavender, pink phlox, buttercups, lady-slippers and daisies. Clumps of fox grass swayed and ferns unfurled these frilly fronds.
Shafts of sunlight filtered through the branches that formed a leafy canopy over the road. Sparrows chirped. A catbird called its mock meow. Blue jays and crows competed to see who could make the most racket.
Squirrels played tag among the branches, scampering and scurrying then stopped to watch the trespassers walk by beneath their lofty home. A pair of red foxes also paused in observation before silently padding off to hunt.
It would have been easy for the warriors to ease into a false sense of security. Surrounded by the purity of nature it seemed that no malice could pervade such beauty or that sinister spirits would never be permitted to mare the serenity.
But the world with all its heinous sins against nature and man lurked just outside the forest. Just beyond the flowers and ferns nettles of discord laid in wait to sting the skin and prick the soul. No, the quinque dared not lessen their watchfulness or be lulled into apathy.
Although engaged in quiet conversation, Trowa and Quatre were fully aware of every sight and sound and smell. The Staff of the Rose tapped the ground, metering out the cadence of each step as the Cleric and the Manipulator walked side by side.
Heero balanced his crossbow on his hip. His eyes darted from tree to tree, no movement went unnoticed. His ears strained to pick out any unnatural sounds, even the snapping of a twig or branches scraping together in the breeze was keenly heard.
Like their vigilant comrades, Duo and Wufei also surveyed their environment. Duo employed his falcon-enhanced eyesight to scan the perimeter. Wufei sniffed the air and trusted his finely honed canine instincts to warn him of impending danger.
A shiver tingled along Heero's spine. While the Tracker's reaction was barely noticeable on the outside, Duo immediately felt Heero's reaction to the internal stimulus.
The Duel Spirit quickened his pace to walk beside the Lone Hunter. "What's wrong?"
Heero didn't seem surprised by Duo's intuitive inquiry. "Eyes on my back." he replied, knowing that Duo would understand the seemingly incomplete explanation.
Duo nodded, "I know." then he glanced back at Wufei with his right hand resting heavily on his sword. "I think Chang feels something, too."
Without changing his pace or turning around, Trowa stated succinctly. "Shadow Spy."
*********
Seven horses whinnied and pawed the ground, impatiently waiting for their riders to emerge from the cavern's gloomy entrance. Already assembled outside, three squads of human soldiers kept watch on thirty Soulless Slaves as the brain dead men and women milled about in an unfocused fashion.
A sturdier pair of Percherons was hitched to a cart loaded with sacks of flour, slabs of salted bacon wrapped in cotton cloth, buckets of potatoes and separate bags of carrots and onions and, of course, a large keg of wine.
Wooden boxes held broad swords and bows and lances. Quivers filled with arrows were tucked beside other boxes containing pots, plates, cups and carving knives.
Finally three flags embroidered with the Crest of Aragon and the tarnished shield bearing General Khushrenada's Lion and Stag Coat of Arms were carefully placed on top of the neatly packed provisions and covered with a tarp tied securely to the cart.
The Lord of Darkness proceeded Odin through the craggy opening in the mountain's side. On the limping henchman's heels General Septum, with his usual pompous attitude evident in his stride, began to issue orders.
"Round up those damned spawns of hell." he barked at a clearly nervous Lieutenant.
"You!" Septum yelled at two foot soldiers whose unfortunate placement near the woods caused them to draw the duty. "Get after those strays." he pointed at a man with one arm wandering aimlessly through a pine thicket trailed by two women dressed in tattered clothing that barely covered their nakedness.
Normally breasts jiggling under thin material and hints of firm asses showing through rips in fabric would poise a problem among males who could only relieve their lustful desires by humping each other. But sallow skin hanging loosely from gaunt frames and flesh peeling from bones was not sexy but sicken.
When the daywalkers were herded together and flanked by two squads with the third squad severing as rear guard, General Septum mounted his horse and took the point. With a great amount of effort, Odin climbed into his saddle and took his place at Septum's side.
The Lord of Darkness, sitting astride his black stallion and surrounded by his Elite Guard, reviewed his troops with an air of disdain.
Treize Khushrenada had once commanded hundreds of loyal men who would have given up their lives for him but now the exiled General was the leader of a ragtag army of humans and mindless zombies.
Now his body craved wine, his mind wallowed in madness and his putrid soul was festered with hate.
Now his heart was empty where Zechs Merquise's love once filled it to overflowing and the hollow hurt was unbearable.
Without a word Treize set his sights in Deep World's direction, spurred his horse and in his madness imagined that legions were following him into battle.
TBC...
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