I sat at the table in the guard barracks, alone. A bunch of the men were being used over in Edinmire, security was a priority for treaty and such, so most days I barely see anyone except when we switch posts. The nights were quiet, despite the howling, the pens were a priority of course but. . . I can't help but feel. . . underused.

'I'm so board!' I groaned, to receive no response.

I sat there, twirling a coin in between my fingers, some old piece of silver which had odd corners and square runes. It gave my mind something to pry, but still. . . if only I had something to do. . .

Damnnit. . .

I looked out the window to see it was past midday, my break was over, back to work. I stood up, fastened my shield to my arm and grabbed my spear. I left the barracks and made my way out, when all of a sudden two riders came charging in on horseback. They leapt off their horses and ran up to me.

'Where's Captain Donnel?' One of them asked, screaming.

'North post, why?' I asked.

'Edinmire is under siege, rally the reserves, they need support!' one of them said before they both took off northward.

I ran back to the Barracks and ran inside, I went up into the tower and began to toll the bell. Within moments, the men flocked together and started to form their columns. When most of them were there, I ran down to join the others but Captain Donnel was waiting for me.

'Rolland, posts five, three and eight are still manned, take command of six troop.' He ordered before he called the others away, leaving a formed body of me.

'Alright, you heard the Captain, take up the vacant posts and stand watch, to your stations!' I ordered and they began to disperse.

While they took places, I took off to the spire: the central tower at the center of the pens, it stood above the entire site and it was where the commanding officers took position, but for now. . . I'll have to do.

I stood in the tower, looking around and I saw each post was now manned, all flags were raised, and in the distance: Edinmire burned. Our defense was ready, when the wolves are at our door we will-! Something was wrong, Post Eight's emergency beacon was lit. Before I knew it: Seven and Nine's beacons were lit as well. I took my horn from my belt and was about to blow in it before a fire ball came flying into the camp. The tower began to collapse, I blew the into the horn as it all came crashing down, and I fell into the dark.

I awoke, choking on ash and smoke as I sat up. I passed out after the fall, the sun was gone and it appeared the fight was still on. As I got to my feet I found my shield was ripped from my arm and my spear was broken in two halves, I took both halves and stumbled out of the debris. I was hurt, I could feel pain through my right arm and blood trailing from my head, my armor was damaged but intact and I could still walk.

This could be worse. . . so much worse. . .

That thought lingered as I tried to get to the fight, but it came to me. Out of the smoke came running a dark furred wolf at full speed, knife in hand. He tried to take a slice at me but I fended him off blow for blow, I didn't want to kill him. . . but I would have to.

He rushed me over and climbed on top of me, he tried to drive his knife into my chest but I help him at bay for the moment. As the blade's tip started to scrape my armor, I knocked him to the side and I drove both ends of the spear into his chest. I could feel him struggling, fighting to push me off. . . but then the resistance stopped. He was dead beneath me. I stumbled off of him, seeing the blood on my hands, afterwards I stood up and preped for what came next. In the adrenaline and shock, I didn't feel it, but the knife he had was wedged into my side. I stumbled ahead to see another wolf, taking the sword off a dead guard's body.

He- no, she didn't notice me, but as I got ready to fight, I dropped the front end of my spear and dropped to a knee. She saw me and prepared to defend herself, but she fumbled the sword as she took a stance.

I got up and ran at her, knocking the sword out of her hand and climbing on top of her, I raised my hand and was ready to drive the stick into her head. But I froze, shaking, I could hear whimpering, from her. . . and. . . I lifted my head to see another, a white wolf: a young pup.

A mother?

I dropped the stick and fell to the side off her.

Murderer! Monster! Killer!

A cacophony ringing in my head, a discord of torment, my own voice singing my last testament. In my head it was clear, but I could only feel gargling of blood in my mouth, the cold numbness in my fingers. . . I was dying.

She pulled the blade from my side and held it to my throat.

'You will not take us again!' she screamed, and clear as day I understood.

'I. . . Won't. . . I won't. . . I can't. . .' the last words I muttered.

The air around us was thick with smoke, flames climbed into the sky. I was staring into the face of a Keidran before, what I thought to be, the long night closed in on.

A mother. . . a protector. . .

In the black, it was all a blur of voices and. . . movement. It was hard to breath, the pain grew. I wasn't dead yet, that was certain. Through all of the pain, I could hear her voice, quiet whimpers and grunts. She was talking to someone, the child most likely, but all the while it was. . . soothing. In the darkness, I was afraid, I was afraid there wouldn't be anything to bury. Afraid they would eat me, or just cast me into the fire, or just rot where I lie. This scared me, and it was all I could think about.

I awoke beneath a tree. I looked to the side to see the Keidran sitting next to her pup, I looked around to see the wolf pens, almost completely burned.

'You. . .' I said, startling her to spring to defend her pup, 'you. . . saved. . . me?'

She looked at me, confused.

'Thank. . . you. . .' I told her.

After I said that, she stared at me for a while, she came close and knelt next to me.

'You know our tongue?' she asked.

'. . . I learned. . . from you. . .' I answered, 'watching. . . listening. . . learning. . .'

'I know you. . .' she interrupted, 'You were the quiet one. . . you never hurt us. . .'

'No, but. . . I did. . . last night. . .' I began, 'I. . . killed. . . '

'. . . You defended yourself. . .' she said.

She went to her pup and began walking her away.

'Wait. . . I have something. . . for you. . .' I said, I pulled the coin from my pouch on my belt and held it to her, 'here, its. . . a Gift. . .'

She stared at it, puzzled.

'Its all. . . I have. . .it may buy you safe passage. . .' I told her.

'Money?' she said.

'Its. . . It's the least I can do. . .' I began, shutting my eyes, 'its. . . a thank you. . .'

I couldn't open my eyes, I couldn't see anything. This was the end, I was certain. But in the midst of this darkness. . . I felt. . . her soft, warm hand on my cheek. This was the first. . . and last kindness I felt from a Keidran. When I opened my eyes again, she and her pup were gone.