There is complete silence as the army halts. They are a small, ragtag bunch, but Blair knows they'll be sufficient. After all, Uarraig had stolen her father's crown with a tiny coup.
She steps out in front of her forces. Her armor is awkward-fitting, shaped for a man and much too large. She places her hands on her hips and surveys her army with a fanged grin.
"First, allow me to thank you all for your support. My father and I will remember these alliances when we are once again in power. When Uarraig falls, he and his closest followers will be tried as the traitors they are. I hope the rest of his forces will desert him in honor of their loyalty to King Foirtchern and join us in uprooting these scoundrels."
The army briefly voices their agreement, to which Blair nods and holds her hand up for silence.
"Regardless of the outcome, I am honored to go into battle by each and every one of you. May our deaths be few and our success great!"
She turns back towards her birth right. Her race is nomadic, but for the last century or so, they had kept to this certain area—until Uarraig took control. Now the field, which used to be painted with their colorful tents, is completely empty. Growing up, she used to think this sight would break her heart, but now she is thankful it is empty. It makes for a perfect camp spot for her army.
She looks over her shoulder. "Rarn."
A brown wolf steps out of line and lowers his head. "Madam."
"Accompany me to Lookout Rock. I want to see exactly what we are going against tonight."
"Yes, madam." He turns and nods his head at two gray wolves from the ranks. "Surge and Vix will watch our flank."
"Fine." She nods and takes a deep breath, closing her eyes. Her form shifts. Her slender arms grow furry. Her nose and mouth lengthen into a muzzle. A tail sprouts from her behind and she drops down onto four paws, all within a blink of an eye. The armor now hangs even more cumbersome on her wolf form. She steps out of it with a grunt of annoyance and shakes out her golden fur. "Let's go."
Rarn walks beside her and the other two follow shortly behind. The rock is not far, but it is at the other end of the field. Blair walks to the edge and looks over the ravine below. She can see young whelps frolicking in between the tents, chasing butterflies and each other. For a moment, she can see herself among them; rough-housing and tumbling into her father's tent. She shakes the memory away. Remenessing the past wasn't going to help anything.
"If the humans can stay quiet, we should have the advantage."
"Yes...maybe fate will be with us and we can take Uarraig with no casualties."
"Oh? Take me where?"
Blair and Rarn whip around and look at the smirking red wolf. He takes a step closer.
"Don't worry, I'm not killing you yet, and your compatriots are fine."
"Uarraig, surrender or you will face my army." She bares her teeth.
"I look forward to watching you try and fail, child. It'll make my day to kill Foirtchern's little girl." He chuckles, circling them slowly. "We'll meet your forces tonight on the field...unless you want to risk innocent casualties?"
Blair narrows her eyes. "Fine. I look forward to your beheading."
Uarraig grins wider, showing off his jagged teeth. "So violent minded...You know, you'd make an excellent queen." He winks at her.
"Keep dreaming. I wouldn't marry you if you were the last Faolduine alive. I'd sooner propose to an Ailurian!"
"You'll regret refusing this easy out, child." He snorts, turning away. He looks over his shoulder at her. "My men will pick their teeth with your bones."
"Yours won't have the heads left to bite with when we're through."
Uarraig rolls his eyes. "All bark and no teeth. You're the one causing all these deaths across races. That's on your head. Not mine." He swishes his tail and walks away.
Rarn looks at Blair. "Don't mind what he said, madam. He's trying to get in your head. You're doing the right thing."
She sits and looks back over at the village. "Am I really? I'll be killing my own people, for what? A title? A stupid crown?"
"You're killing who you must to save the rest. You think they are happy living under that dictatorship? He's constantly waging wars with all nearby villages, no matter the race. He's slaughtering his own kind left and right for not following his rules. What few die under your war will be on his head. You'll be saving the lives of future generations."
"Still...I should have waited. Vasco told me I wasn't ready...I should have listened." Her ears lay back against her head. "But he's gone and I went completely against him." She starts sniffling.
Rarn rests his paw on her shoulder. "I don't know who this Vasco is, my lady, but I'd assume he'd want you to follow through with what you have started and not surrender."
"Yeah..." She sniffs. "I just wish he was here, too."
"Come on, let's get back to the camp. I don't trust that scamp to wait until nightfall to attack."
"He won't." She nods and stands up. "I just hope wolves, humans, and a handful of Faolduine will be enough against an entire army of Faolduine...They have the advantage."
"Don't forget how many will desert to you when they realize who the victor will be." He smiles gently at her. "Don't fret. It will go our way. I'm sure of it, one way or another. We may even lose the battle, but that doesn't mean the war is lost."
Blair starts walking back towards their camp. After a few steps, her ears prick at the distant sound of metal on metal. "Feathers..." She starts sprinting in that direction.
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