To Dream of a Wolf: chapter two
#2 of To dream of a wolf Novel
Kane's brain is overwhelmed by sensation. Moving fast with trees in all directions the canopy overhead giving a subdued light to the forest of deciduous trees, the smells are just as dynamic. All this was so overwhelming by itself without Aided by the long narrow muzzle, long ears and fur that cover my body. The fact was Kane was now a wolf man. A strange hybrid, something between man and wolf. Fur covered his whole form ranging from gray to black with browns to fill out his pelt. The large ears and long muzzle where balanced by a long fluffy tail that was alive behind him swishing with each quick step he took with his oddly shaped legs. This was the dream the adventure that he took every night. Kane left his normal average life behind and became Bren.
Running through the woods with no fear bow in hand free from the constraints of a job or expectation. He wore simple garb, a three foot sward on his hip and a curved knives on each ankle. He was a huge formidable Silhouette if seen from a distance.
A familiar sent hit his nose. Though the earthy smell of the forest there was the scent of prey. Bren shifted his direction zeroing in on his quarry. There was a small clearing up ahead that let harsh sunlight to the ground. Bren stopped at the edge and surveyed the clearing full of thick vegetation that had grown in the absence of trees.
There on the other end of the field was a small doe. "There you are" Bren whispered pulling an arrow from the quiver slung across his back and notched it. Three fingers held the string as Bren slowly pulled back. Presser built as the string is pulled back to his ear. The is a moment of calm and silence. Then a release as fingers unravel and the bow straitens slinging the arrow though the air. Thump the arrow sprouts from the neck of the animal and body contorts lifting it high into the air before it disappears into the tree line.
Bren resumes his running across the clearing to where he last saw the deer. His long nose picks up the smell of blood. Shure enough there drop after drop head in a line through the woods. . The deer lay there brown and red surrounded by green. Breathe ragged and short. Blood pooling under the neck where the arrow still sticking out awkwardly. Bren bent low, unsheathing the knife at his ankle. With practiced skill he leaped forward and released the beast of its pain. With his hands stained red he got to work. He took little time in removing the innards from the animal. Blood stained his hands as he turned and cleaned the elegantly curved blade.
The wolf slowly pushed himself up from the ground replacing the blade the its designated placement. Then stooping low hi lifted the deer over his shoulders, front and hind legs on either side of his head. With one last look around Bren followed his own sent back in the direction he came. The trees flew by as blurs.
As Bren's breathing becomes painful the trees thin and the grasses and ferns grow thicker. Pure unfiltered sunlight started to shine its way through the gaps. As the gaps grew the trees thinned and shrunk until Bren hit the edge of the wood and entered the open field of a valley. The town just on the other side of the river. What lay between Bren and the town were mostly fields of crops that had just begun to sprout.
Bren ignored all distraction as he ran through the field. The road was not far and his long fit legs carried him gracefully. He took the ditch at the edge of the road at an angle. Pushing up the opposite bank. At the top he stopped for a moment. The animal on his back took a lot out of him, but the sun was setting and the bridge was just off in the distance.
When Bren came to the bridge he was forced to stop. The structure was a high arch that started nearly perpendicular to the ground. With the need to resituate his kill bren made the quick decision to clean thee deer on this side and then to cross. First he cleaned out the carcass of the blood and dirt from the ground. Then he cleaned himself in the orange evening glow.
After crossing the river he was at the edge of the small town. Leaning buildings lined the dirt path that meandered their way around the buildings. Most of the businesses in town had the similar siege. Carved wood with a faded red color in the recesses of the lettering. "There is not much to say of the place." Bren spoke under his breath. Down the road was the small butcher shop with only a tattered skin separating It from the outside world. Bren brushed it aside as he entered the shop.
The interior of the shop was covered stuffed animals. An impressive long bow sat by the door. The bear on the other side of the counter looked up from the blade he was slowly happening against a stone. "Bow by the door stranger. Then get over here with your business" the bears voice was a low baritone with infuses put on the vowels.
Bren set his bow. This one contrasted Bren's in make. First it was a long strait pice of wood that stood almost five feet. Bren's on the other hand was an elegantly curved shaft of wood that could get the same power out of a mere three foot length.
Bren's claws click agented the floor as he steps up the counter. "So stranger what brings a wolf down from the mountains? Alone at that."
Bren's hackles prickled with memory. "That is no business of yours." Bren stood tall and strait as a board.
The bear chuckled and set the knife down. "Honest people don't have secrets." His face went steely. Dark brown eyes cold.
"Everyone has secrets I'm just trying to outrun mine, stranger" Bren said with the smallest snarl
"Fine, fine keep you secrets. What can I do you for?" The looked to yed deer stioll slumped over Bren's shoulders. The dear was lifter and lain flat onto the scared and pot marked table.
"I'm hoping to get rid of this deer if you interested in anything other than my secrets." The bear smiles and looks down at the animal on the counter.
"You don't have to be so touchy, Boy!" the bear prodded the stiff animal inspecting every inch. "This is not a bad animal you have here"
Bren was still a little angry about the boy comment "of course it is, I killed it up there in the bloody damn forest." A jolt in his stomach "sorry, I retract that statement. I brought down the animal in the forest across the river." He bowed his head to the deer.
"By the look of it you a good shot too. Clean though the neck." A finger ran over the gaping hole. "You would find some good work in one of the larger cities. You could be a mercenary or a guard."
"I can't stay in a city for too long." The claws on Bren's hand start clicking the table impatiently.
The bear grunted and looked up from the deer "just saying there's better money there." He paused thinking for a spit second "40 gold pieces, yes that is a fair price"
"Fair? Maybe you're blind. This is a fine animal. 100 al least." Bren tried to look intimidating but the bear was huge. And stood his ground. Back and forth the bartering went. One after another finely steeling on 63 gold coins.
"Well that was quite productive" the bear gave a hearty laugh "you quite the haggler" the bear stuck out a paw.
"Thank you" Bren took it.
"Casten" their hands shook and fell.
"Bren" Casten's eyes lit up
"I knew it. You know there quite a price on your head." The smile was so smug you could have spared it on toast.
"And if you know who I am you know I can get away. You don't have any guards in this town that have a chance of catching me." Bren's heart was beating fast. Clawed fingers twitching to find the hilt of a blade in a moment's notice.
The bead didn't move, just stood waiting for something. "So you wanna get paid or leave yourself with a trail of blood." He began counting money from a pouch "you may think you know you way around a blade but I live for mine."
Bren relaxed fingers unclasping is depressingly light pouch. "Scaring a convict is not the best way to do business" coins slid across the table. "Rather dangerous if you ask me."
"That's why I didn't ask. Breen shuffled the coins into his bag and turned to leave. "And Bren." He turned back to the bear. "Don't go wasting all that work you'll be leaving town tomorrow." Bren strode out the door not wanting to see the bear's eyes anymore