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No Human in his right mind would have ever ventured, without any protection and with few provisions, into the dreaded Lands of the Beasts. It was one of the most unpleasant ways of courting death, to risk one's skin, a senseless risk of life...

Shaina gasped as she ran, without pausing for even a second, feeling the hot fiery breath of death against her neck, which combined with the cruel biting cold that was hindering each of her movements. The snow was accumulating around her eyebrows and she could not see very well, but in reality, she wasn't heading anywhere in particular, and therefore, it really did not matter. But she had to keep on running.

Her life depended on it.

She knew, though she could not hear it, that there was someone behind her. Following in her footsteps. Seeking her trail. Tracking the scent of her fear. She could not forget for one second that the one who hunted her would not have any qualms about ending her life, or that this time she was unarmed and alone. All alone.

She had to take several breaks throughout the day to catch her breath, but she did not interrupt her progress even when the sky began to turn red. It was somewhat later once she thought she was sufficiently far enough away from her pursuer, when she finally stopped to rest for a bit at the bottom of a snowy hill. Unable to stand any longer, the poor woman dropped to the ground, letting out a sigh of relief, while with shaking hands she approached the backpack, looking for something to put in her mouth. Its provisions were rather scarce, and if she wanted them to last until she reached the Borderline and finally could return to the Lands of Humans, she would have to ration them very carefully. She looked, not without an air of sadness, at the few remaining pieces of dried meat that were left. It would take a miracle for that to keep her alive for the next few days.

She gritted her teeth hard and could not help think of how many supplies, how many pieces of dried meat such as these had left behind when she had escaped from the camp of her people. How much would had been wasted. How much those repulsive blood thirsty Beasts might have stolen from them. She tried to move away from those thoughts, but it was useless. With anger still in her veins, Shaina took a bite out of one of the pieces of meat in her hand and then returned it all to the bag. She was not hungry at the moment and needed to stay alive if she wanted to escape, She would eat later.

When she was further from there, away from that hostile land and all its dangers, she would think about it. With that hope in mind, the woman got up and prepared to continue her progress, still trying to remain optimistic.However, at that very moment she heard a footstep in the snow, not far from where she was.

As a good Tracker, Shaina had learned to use her ears well and knew when to trust them. For this reason, it took her less than a millisecond to react quickly and rush to start running quickly away from the hill, realizing that she had dropped her guard and that despite all her efforts, he had found her. Adrenaline shot through her veins and made her run faster, but that did not stop the fear from altering her senses as she began to hear a faint continuous growl approaching from behind that terrified her. The sound of something much bigger and heavier than her as its footsteps echoed against the snow, and although Shaina was a rather well trained Tracker, the one following her trail was not a novice either.

She soon perceived the heavy breathing of the creature pursuing her and his warm breath hitting against her neck, on her hair, worn in a long red ponytail that bounced with every step she took. Realizing that it was time to do something and take action, Shaina turned around hoping to dodge the creature, but...

... it was too late.

The Beast was upon her in seconds and knocked her down so hard that it left her breathless. She gasped in pain and looked terrified when he had pinned her to the ground, face up, while she was trying desperately to escape. However, the dense black furry arms of that Beast were strong and soon she was completely immobilized.

-Let me go! -she tried to yell, with a faint voice, broken by despair and fear -. Let me go, plea...!

-Shut up! -the beast ordered, shaking her hard and causing her head strike against the ground. Shaina let out another scream, this time in pain, as she closed her eyes so hard she thought that she was about to break her eyes -. How can you even dare to ask me for mercy?!! Want me to be merciful with you? -the Beast paused as she moaned in terror -. You had no mercy when you murdered Loki! A young lynx with his whole life ahead of him, with so many experiences to live for! He was only a child!

The Beast ended that sentence with a roar of anger and Shaina had the urge to cover her ears, they hurt because of the power of those screams. However, to her dismay, she was still completely immobilized.

-No... you did not show mercy when you slid between the rocks like a coward and threw that spear! -the Beast cried, shaking her again with every word -. Why?!! Tell me, why did you do it?

The Beast's voice trailed off gently with a slight tremor in the woman thought she detected a certain amount of sadness. <<That's impossible>> she told herself, trying to remain calm. <<Everyone knows that these repulsive vermin have no feelings>>.

-What, you don't want to answer...? -her captor then asked, placing something hard and cold against her throat, which the woman didn't take long to identify, even with her eyes closed, as one of those dreadful claws -. Tell me why you did it!

-Be... because... -she whispered, with a faint voice, feeling a knot tighten in her stomach -. You... you killed all of mine -she finally finished, closing her eyes tighter and waiting for the wolf finish what he started.

She knew from experience that a simple movement of one of those sharp claws would suffice to open huge wounds on the tender skin of any man. Just a few seconds and before you know it, the victim bled out and died. In many cases, the Beasts would savage the bodies of their victims; they tore them open while still warm as if they were crazy while eating their still beating hearts, enjoying the bloody carnage.

Shaina knew. The Beasts were so. Savage and irrational.

And they never forgave.

However, that claw pressing on her throat retreated. And soon it finally disappeared from her neck.

-No -whispered the Beast, with a weary voice that hid an intense sadness that Shaina could not begin to understand -. We did not do that.

The woman opened her eyes with surprise, and watched as this repulsive Beast gently separated from her body, and moved back a few feet, turning away.

For a few seconds, while she was still lying on the floor, torn between the possibility that this was simply a nightmare, or perhaps a strange illusion after death, or that, incredible as it seems, what was happening was really happening. First, if that was a nightmare, it was an extremely twisted dream for her to have had with just a few hours of sleep. And secondly... the possibility that this was real was inconceivable.

She trembled as she felt her throat, and was amazed. There was no blood, no wounds, even the slight cut. Nothing.

Unable to sit still any longer, Shaina stood and crouched, while still watching the Beast with distrust. He had left her alive, yes, but... for how long? What where the dark intentions that pushed those repulsive incomprehensible beings into making their decisions?

-Why did you not kill me? -she asked, after clearing her throat a little.

The Beast turned to her and gave her a strangely sinister, amused and menacing look, which ran up and down her spine leaving a chill in its wake.

-Could it be that you don't agree? -the creature gently asked -. Do you prefer death? If so, there's an easy solution...

-A Beast would never forgive a Human -the woman replied, trying to sound convinced. However, the fear and disbelief at what she was experiencing stained her voice with an abnormal tremor -. It is impossible.

-Twice -the Beast said, in what seemed more like a low growl than anything else. He gave no more explanation, however.

Shaina remained there and got up, never looking away from the Beast.

For a few seconds, the thirst for revenge came to her mind and made her wonder if she had a rare chance to confront the creature and get out alive. She was unarmed, but maybe taking him from behind, as her enemy was now, had a chance... However, she soon discarded that thought as too risky.

At the end of the day, she was lucky to be alive.

-Are you ever going to leave? -the Beast asked, dryly.

-You said that you did not kill my people -Shaina reminded him, frowning -. But I saw it. You came at night and exterminated everyone.

-That was not us -snorted the other, impatiently -. Those that killed your people are the ones that were facing us. Those who captured the Human and the other wolf.

Shaina blinked in surprise.

-Oh, come on. If you were not able to see that, then you are not worthy of being called a Tracker.

She tried to remember.

It was true that she had seen the whole scene when, crouched behind rocks, she had waited for the best time to try and to kill the same Beast that just seconds ago had forgiven her. But she did not come to realize that, in reality, there were two opposing camps of Beasts. Or maybe she did, but her anger had blinded her?

-Why would a Beast face you? -she then asked, unable to entirely trust her captor.

-For a Human.

-I can not believe that, animal.

-You don't have to believe me -the Beast responded, growling softly again -. Ronod is the name of the lynx who gave the order to exterminate your people. The commissioner Sek probably mobilized his men, but he is no more than a pawn. You can believe what I say... or consider me a liar. In any case, go away before I reflect on if letting you live was a good idea or not...

-And what about you? -the Human asked, unable to contain herself -. Are you alone? -she added, with a suspicious, quick glance all around.

The Beast let out an exasperated snort.

-Humans have the obnoxious habit of asking too many questions -he simply said.

Shaina did not need to be told twice.

She took back her bag from the ground, and after directing one last look of distrust at the Beast, she then started walking briskly away. Although she had been spared, she would not rule out the possibility that he was playing with her, or that, after all, it was nothing more than a trap.

She was not able to breathe easy until she had lost sight of that strange Beast with jet black fur, who had said to be capable of betraying his race, protecting a Human and sparing the life of a woman who had killed one of his companions. Once she was far enough away, she let out a sigh of relief and started walking at a rate somewhat less alarming.

<<He has to be very stupid>> she thought to herself, smiling slightly.

Rukj saw how the woman moved away, with his arms crossed and trying to restrain the urge to run and kill her there after all. In fact, the Human had made it extremely easy, trusting her enemy so much and not stopping to ask about his motives. Actually, Rukj was only convinced of one thing and that was that at that time the Human was thinking, almost certainly, that he was stupid. But he knew exactly why he had let her go, why he had sliced his neck and hadn't bathed in his blood, as he had almost done fifteen years ago with the Argent Vindicator.

In the first place, as he had heard the reason that Human had tried to kill him, he realized that Loki 's death had not been entirely his fault but, rather, had been a reflection of Ronod's actions. Rukj was not sure, but he was beginning to know him well enough to think that the mad lynx even had foreseen that.

Secondly, there was a reason that had been essential in preventing a massacre from taking place. In silence, he raised his head and stared off into the horizon thoughtfully.

-I've done it for you, Loki -he wispered, with the certainty that he could still hear him -. I know that you would not have approved it.

In the distance, Rukj's acute wolf ears thought he heard a response, and excited, his heart beat more quickly. However, as soon as he paid more attention he discovered that it was only the soft moaning of the wind.

Dead never come to life.

That was something Rukj was too familiar with since he was a young wolf, the day when all his village was attacked by the troops of the Argenta Vindicator. After losing each and every one of his loved ones, he had spent many sleepless nights trying to distinguish their voices in the wind. But, ultimately, the black wolf knew that the wind was not going to bring back those who had perished on the battlefield.

<<I can not give up>> he told himself, trying to convince himself. <<There is still hope.>>

The night had cast itself upon the small clearing where Sek and his men had decided to establish their camp.

The waning moon hung in the sky like the horns of a bull while, in silence, the life of the caravan was slowly fading away. The tents were distributed and raised with barely a whisper, food was distributed without a word, conversation died quickly on the lips of its participants. The icy wind of the Lands of Beasts was pulling the silence from the mouths of all those men who, without knowing it, or maybe trying to ignore it, were betraying themselves that night. It slid through their clothes and stroked their faces, beat against their foreheads and ruffled their hair, trying to protest. But there was no answer.

Just a chill or some passionless comment amid that impregnable silence; an eternal silence that concealed death, betrayal and ignorance.

On the outskirts of the camp there was a wagon that, away from the heat of the fire, remained shrouded in darkness. Bulls, lynxs and other Beasts that accompanied the commissioner Sek in that caravan stayed away from it, as if they feared what might kept inside. And yet, many of them already knew what it was, which gave them yet another reason to be afraid.

This was the second time that Raon had known the taste of his tears. He had begun to weep moments after Ronod had locked him up, alone, separating him from Jarek, and although he knew it would not help him escape, he had been unable to avoid it.

He had seen how the spear of that red haired woman had pierced Loki's stomach with his own eyes. He knew that not even Rukj would be able to heal such a sever wound like that, so deep and accurate. If the life of the young lynx held any hope, then it was one filled with agony and close to death... Raon could not even imagine it. However, he could not stop thinking about it and how he would never see Loki again. That red haired woman had extinguished his life, forever.

He wiped away his tears with the back of hand again while curled up in a corner of that wagon, trying to forget the horrible scene that plagued him over and over again in his mind.

But, unfortunately for him, this was not the only ghost that was haunting him that night.

They had lost. Any ray of hope they might have before had vanished; Ronod had seen to it, snatching and destroying it completely.

The world would not change. Loki 's death was just a reflection of what was coming, a warning, the first of a long series of deaths in which, day after day, year after year, century after century, each of the races would be immersed until one of them completely destroyed the other. No, there was no hope for the world, and in the same way, there was none for Raon and Jarek either.

-I must admit that you were brave on carrying on your fight for long -Ronod had told him, from outside the wagon, before closing the door -. But often, courage is just another symptom of the utter stupidity. Your mission was doomed from the start. You should have known, Raon.

The Human had been slow to hear those words and to understand. He had not replied; he had simply raised his head and, with a lump in the throat, had asked:

-What... what will become of Jarek?

The eyes of the lynx were darkly lit with a glow of understanding and evil; Raon never remembered having felt such fear of what words someone might say, but at that moment he heard every one that came from the mouth of his torturer as if his life depended on it.

-You are a danger, that's clear -he answered, slowly licking a canine tooth -. If Mother Kara chose you from among all others, it was for a reason. And you are a Human, that's dangerous in itself... you know? -the lynx paused and, after a few seconds in which he pretended to think, shrugged -. I suppose that we will execute both of you. But do not worry: since you're so worried about what might happen to your beloved wolf, I'll make sure you will be present to see how everything happens, okay? Take it as a small and final courtesy on my part to nothing less than the seventh descendant of Aron the Vindicator -these last words were said with utter contempt, as he retreated a step and glanced at the two bulls who were escorting him -. Close the doors.

-No! -Raon shouted, trying to reach them before losing the only chance of escape he had.

But he did not succeed.

Now, hours later, he could not help thinking about his whole journey and asked himself what purpose was served. He recalled, with some nostalgia, the years of peace while he had lived in the Rukj's cabin, not so long ago, isolated from any hint of the outside world and all the problems that enveloped it. That last morning of hunting, during which he had seen the Trackers carrying Jarek as a mere trophy to be skinned and delivered to their race. Those sleepless nights talking with copper furred wolf, while the bond between them was growing increasingly stronger; while little by little, they had been building the foundations of a love which they now both felt.

That was of course the beginning of the trip, but he had not yet left the cabin. It had been the copper coated wolf which had made him change, think in a different way, progressively introduced to the outside world and its possibilities, although at that time he had not noticed.

Then the fire had reached the cabin and the flight had really begun. The stress of being discovered by his enemies, who could be counted from any side, the fear that the few people who knew and appreciated would be captured and tortured, or worse. The words of a young lynx with bright blue eyes. His responsibility to the world in which he lived... All those things so different from his previous life and for which; however, he had always been destined for.

Far as he could manage to remember, it was all pain and sadness, problems and conflicts, a constant flight to escape certain death, simply because of who he was, of having been born like that. The only reason worth fighting for was Jarek and, at that moment, he was not there. Ronod had snatched what little he had achieved in this life and in just a few hours, he would take away the only thing that still remained.

Something in him rebelled at the possibility of falling so quickly, being beaten so easily by that twisted red eyed lynx. After so many hardships, so much suffering, he wanted to believe that there was something beyond the road he had traveled, a spark of light at the end of the tunnel... but on the other hand, he could not continue anymore. He was so tired of running, fighting, suffering for a cause that was not his, that all he wanted was for everything to stop. He knew the only option that came to him that way was certain death at the hands of Ronod, but... what of the Humans living beyond the Borderline? Would they not have received them with open arms if he decided to take refuge among them?

<<Maybe, but they would not do the same for Jarek>> he said, letting out a long sigh of dismay. <<And I could not leave him behind, never. >>

Either of the two options was overwhelming.

It was as if he had to choose between tearing his heart from his chest or one of his lungs. One option would end his life, but the other will plunge him into utter agony.

Wrapped in these and other dark thoughts, Raon spent the whole night without sleep. All he could get comfort from was that somewhere else in the camp, a young copper furred wolf stayed awake with him and, in this way, even without being at his side, was supporting him in some way. But, if that had served any purpose, there would be no reason to have spent the whole night awake.

The hours crept slowly by, but despite that, the dawn came sooner than Raon would have liked. The glare of the sun emerging from the east was not only the symbol of the day had arrived, but also a confirmation of its final judgment. There was nothing to do.

The end had come.

Now, he, the seventh descendant of the Aron the Vindicator, one of the links in the Chain, the only Human who had been raised in the Land of Beasts... was going to die. And worst of all was that, even if he wanted to, he would not die alone.

Sek's men did not take long to find the wagon, and with a mixture of fear and hardness, led him outside holding his arms, preventing any escape. The cold wind in the morning and sudden change in light made him close his eyes, but he opened them soon again.

At least, at that time, he was not prepared to run again.As the two bulls pushed him through the camp, Raon tried to analyze the situation critically, being well aware that, although all hope seemed lost and any detail could be vital to their survival. Glancing around as he looked at the tents and the remains of a bonfire, the Human tried to get an idea of the layout of the camp. He discovered that the tents did not seem to follow any particular structure, but had been placed around fire without any order. In addition, there should have around a few hundred men in the caravan, which was not a negligible amount. <<Certainly, that is not a number that I can face against>> he thought, slightly disappointed.

The bulls led him slowly but inexorably towards a platform that stood just beyond the center of the camp. It was not very large and did not seem very solid, so Raon deduced that they had built it during that night, probably on the Ronod's order, who would turn that execution into a public event. The youth understood that, in part; if he and Jarek needed some great and convincing evidence that the Beasts war over race should cease, why wouldn't the lynx need more than just words to convince his subordinates otherwise? At the end of the day, a good show was always better than just a simple speech.

He soon was able to distinguish in the distance, a striking coppery glint that he had learned to distinguish very well. His lips curled into a slight smile, and for a moment, the sky seemed to clear a bit. The mere sight of him, there beside him, removed a heavy weight from him and made him feel infinitely more relieved.

But the relief did not last long.

Seeing him, Jarek tried to escape from the arms that immobilized him and run away, screaming his name, with a shocking mixture of fear and anger on his face. It was then, as if waking from a dream, Raon returned back to reality and realized that this situation was far from good.

-Jarek! -he shouted, trying to escape the bulls turn escorted him; but they were much stronger and he could barely move a few steps toward the place where the copper furred wolf was also to flee.

His screams continued for a good while and intermingled with Jarek's and the exalted comments and jeers of all those present. Suddenly, the silence that the young Human had perceived hovering for the last hours descended after a dreadful cacophony of threats, muffled grunts, howls and screams.

Along with the silence of the camp, that strange bitter state of passivity in which Raon had been plunged also seemed to fade. With strength, he tried to struggle from the arms of the bulls and was about to get away, but somehow they managed to keep a tight grip despite all his efforts.

Still, Raon was not willing to give up so quickly.

There had to be something, anything, he could do to get out of this situation. If only Rukj was there, he could advise him how to act, but now he was alone.

And, if he wanted to save them, he would be the one who take action.

However, he did not have much time to think about it.

Suddenly, in the midst of the tumult, something whistled through the air and sliced into someone very close to him, causing an unpleasant sound of pierced flesh and releasing the thick smell of blood. Raon instinctively closed his eyes, but soon opened them again, confused, noticing something wet and hot on his face. He did not need to take the hand to his cheek to know what it was; the bull on his right had surprisingly lower the grip that seized him by the arm.

-What the ...? -exclaimed the bull on his left.

Raon was thinking exactly the same thing.

Then he saw a wolf coming toward them from the front rows of the crowd who had come to see that performance with a huge bone mace in hand. The Human tried to get away from there, but bull insisted to keep him prisoner despite what was happening and he could barely manage to move a couple of steps as the wolf, with obviously unfriendly intentions, picked up momentum and charged into the two of them, mace in hand.

Raon closed his eyes, expecting the worst, and moved as the bull tried to dodge that mortal blow. However, a few seconds later he opened his eyes, not feeling any damage and found to his surprise that the blow had not been directed at him. Just a few yards from where he was, the bull that had led him to the scaffold and the mysterious wolf that had emerged publicly fought to death, rolling on the ground with a thick pool of blood spreading beneath them.

Raon had only to look around to realize that they were not an isolated case.

It almost seemed as if the whole camp had decided to plunge into a pitched battle; wherever he looked he saw Beasts fighting against each other, claws tearing skin, teeth biting flesh, swords breaking the air, axes and maces falling with deadly force against the bodies of their victims. The metallic smell of blood soon flooded the Sek's camp and agonizing cries of the unfortunate who had failed to fight well began to tear through the air.

Raon immediately realized that standing still in the middle of the carnage was not the most sensible choice.

Ignoring for once in his life the many questions that were circulating in his mind, he bent over to pick up the knife from the nearby corpse of a wolf and plunged into that jungle of blood, steel and death.