From the Ashes

34

Walking down the long tunnel, she could see the silhouette of her father standing amongst the light like a fallen Angel.

Quickening her steps, she was suddenly yanked back down a hallway that diverted off of the main one. Pulling her wrist out of the boys, she didn't have to turn around to know who it was.

Her betrothed since birth.

"Must you always be so difficult," he groaned, turning around to face the young girl,"I'm just trying to help you, your covered in blood."

"It's not all mine, you know," Lovota threatened, spitting to the side, blood drooling from her lips.

"You don't have to act like that with me," he smiled, reaching forward,"you can act... human, it's ok."

Growling, Lovota grabbed his wrist before he could touch her face. Ripping the cloth from his hand, she worked on cleaning up her face herself.

"It wouldn't be so bad, would it?" The boy smiled, Lovota could tell the lie didn't easily slip from his tongue,"you wouldn't be alone anymore."

"I'm not alone," Lovota said, dropping the rag,"I have the wolves."

Reaching up, she knocked the wood gently, working in the Morse code of her people. Dragging her nails against the wood, Lovota listened for the sound of footfalls.

Than, it came, a girl younger than herself opened the door, a little boy secured around her leg.

"If it's my parents you are looking for," the girl stated,"they had left for a hunt. I am in charge of the shop till they return."

Mindlessly memorising the features of the girl standing before her, Lovota knew not of who she was. But, it had been a while since she was last here.

Maybe she was but a child when the battle occurred.

Dark blonde hair knotted around her plump face, as brown eyes narrowed with skepticism. Her shirt rid up her left side, Lovota could make out a tattoo beneath the fabric.

The stranger only had one arm, the other, but a small stump at the shoulder blade.

"Ai laik Lovota kom pakstoka kru," Lovota answered through the mask,"Ai laik hir gon ai pakke, taim yu don fant tapt underveis."

Eyes widened, the girl swung the door wide open, her lips slightly parted in awe at the realisation of the warrior standing before her.

"Apologies," the stranger whispered,"please, come in."

Briefly nodding her head, Lovota leant her head as she made her way through the doorway. Looking away, she almost smiled beneath the mask.

It was as she remembered it, walls almost falling in on themselves, as the shelves and racks around were lined with weapons, bottles, and armour.

"This way," the shop owner called, limping towards a door at the back of the shop, the boy clinging on with small fits of laughter.

Opening the door led through to the barn, which connected to the shop through a small, makeshift tunnel. Inside, Lovota could see the glowing eyes watch her.

"My parents refuse to sell them," the stranger called, reaching up and lighting a lantern,"said they could not be controlled by anyone but... members of the pakstoka kru."

There, curled amongst themselves with gleaming white coats were wolves, chains around each of their necks - securing them in place. Only five, seemingly young, but the girl was grateful anyways.

"Ai vil teik hogeda fai gon em," Lovota announced, looking into the wolves eyes,"en hesten."

Pointing towards the grand fjordhest, its cream tones polished in the light, as its hair was a mixture of black and blonde.

"Of course," the stranger announced, slightly jumpy as one of the wolves snapped at her arm,"um... payment-"

Dangling from Lovotas outstretched hand was a necklace of yellow gold, ending with raindrops of a gemstone crimson red.

Just a little gift she took from the mountain on her way out.

Catching the falling necklace with her hand, the shop owner inspected the jewels in the light, as Lovota unclasped the wolves chains from the wall.

Their eyes, like sunsets caught in the line of an opal, stared up at the stranger obediently.

Opening the wide, barn doors, the stranger led the horse outside, the necklace wrapped around her fingers for security.

Walking behind her, all Lovota could hear was the sound of metal clanging against eachother, and it truly irritated her.

Reaching down, she pulled off each of the wolves collars independently, before handing them back to the shop owner.

Pulling herself up onto the stocky horse, she gripped the beautiful creatures long hair.

Whistling softly, the wolves stood at attention, their canines no longer bared. Tails moving softly from side to side, the shop owner took a step away from them, her brown eyes wide with caution.

"Won't they just run away?" She called.

"I'm the Queen of the Hell Hounds," Lovota stated, as her fingers unconsciously braided a strand of her horses hair,"the wolves know an alpha when they see one."

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Authors note:

This chapter is dedicated to a friend called raegzskye
Yes. I have friends. They are idiots for choosing me as a friend, it's not my fault.

Lovotas horse breed: Norwegian fjord horse
Lovotas wolves breed: Eurasian wolf, grey wolf

Translations
Wildren - Wild children
Ai laik hir gon ai pakke, taim yu don fant tapt underveis - I am here for my pack, if you have found any lost along the way
Ai vil teik hogeda fai gon em en hesten - I will take all five of them and the horse