My footsteps landed lightly on the tiles of the roofs beneath me. I ran as quickly as my legs could carry me across the roofs of the small town. Panting quickly, I ran from the growls and snarls from the beasts running alongside me on the ground. Their sounds caused the streets lined with people to flee in terror, crying out to others. Leaping to the next rooftop, the paws of the wargs running with me threw sand and dust behind them. Their golden eyes watched me carefully, while the eyes of the patrons amongst the streets glued to the giant beasts running through the streets. Whispers and mumbles from the streets echoed around amongst the buildings, the words carried by the smoke erupting from the chimneys.
Leading the wargs away from this horrid town, I jumped into the street. Standing up straight, the town's eyes now on me, watching me carefully, I lifted my hand towards the rushing beast. His golden eyes pinching while his lip lifted in a snarl. The heavy, pounding feet galloped towards me, acting to charge. Grabbing the golden fur, the beast continued to speed out of the town and into the setting sun. While I adjusted on Hod's back, Kav snipped and growled next to us. The cool wind brushed my cheeks, releasing the hood from my head. The three of us rushed from Everrock towards our next supposedly untamable beast in Brinegulf.
The gold in my pouch jingled lightly while I moved with Hod. The distance between the towns was immense, harsh areas of draught or frozen tundra. Slowing the beasts, we made our way towards the woods. I made a small fire of fallen twigs and leaves. Hod and Kav laid beside the fire, warming themselves after a heavy meal.
"You fought hard, Kav." I stated, the brown warg lifted her head to look at me. Smiling, I stretched out my hand to gently stroke her head. The golden, gleaming eyes closed as she relaxed, her ears twitching and flinching in response to my hand. Hod yawned, his jaw stretching open to reveal a rolling deep pink tongue and long, sharp yellow teeth. Laying his head across his paw, his back foot kicked out from underneath his stomach. Picking at the vegetables before me, Kav laid on her side. Her substantial weight created a small wave of wind that carried dead leaves away from us.
The next morning, our feet and claws carried us like whispers towards Brinegulf. Word of the Black Crow had spread like wildfire. The person who could tame deadly beasts; I had heard the name Warg Rider, Black Crow, Ghost, along with many others, all of them used to describe me. The unknown person who had appeared from thin air then would vanish without a trace. I would tame the beasts threatening towns; dragons, wendigos, even golems. However, there was a Witcher going around behind me, killing them despite no threat being present.
I had to beat the Witcher to Brinegulf; a warg had been spotted near a farm. They had described it as a black wolf with a small nose, eyes gleaming and reflecting the moonlight, rough fur that almost smoked with some emotion. I felt related to this warg. Hod and Kav knew the race was on to save the innocent animal.
The sky above gleamed with sun rays that warmed the skin contrasting against the cold wind beating across my cheeks. Hod's head bounced with each step as he threw himself towards the approaching town. I was clueless about the town, despite the pay I would receive should I take the warg with me. Hod's light brown fur waved and recoiled across his muscles. In the distance, a small black spot, the beginning sights of Brinegulf. I chuckled, my muscles slightly relaxing; perhaps the depleting journey had been worth it all.
Arriving in the bustling town, Hod and Kav stuck close to me. Their shoulder's bump into mine occasionally. I kept the hood of my cloak pulled up; I could look out, no one could look in. A large part of keeping my identity hidden was hiding my face. Keeping my hand on Kav, the coarse fur guiding me towards my gold and information.
"Where's the warg?" I asked the man at the table while I burst through the towering doors. The room was embellished with green fabrics, gold jewels, and ruby's.
I could hear the man shuffling in his seat. Hod shook his head, his ears gently slapping against his jaw. A sharp smell entered the room; pine and roses. Looking in the direction of the smell, a woman stood. Her red floor length dress shivering as she stared with wide eyes at the beasts beside me. Standing up straight, I dropped my hood to gain a better look at the room. Vast, ever reaching outwards with open windows that had their drapes floating in the wind. Kav shuffled uncomfortably next to me.
Placing my hand gently on her shoulder, she glanced at me.
"Where's the warg?" I asked again. My tone turning more demanding than before. Hod's lip lifted slightly to reveal the teeth waiting behind. The man, graced in purple puffed sleeves and a large gold chain that stretched from shoulder to shoulder. His face was pale from fear as he eyed the wargs carefully. We could both tell he didn't belong here, in this seat. He was playing pretend with the woman who watched from the doorway across the room. Heavy shuffling of metal grating against itself echoed through the halls. Guards approached, their weapons drawn. The metal glinting with the sun of a new day.
I closed my eyes and sighed. Hod and Kav growled, the muscles of their shoulders contracting in tight readiness. Their claws grating against the stone floor beneath us. Casting a momentary glance behind me, another man approached shouting orders.
"Put away your weapons, fools. The crow is here to aid us against the warg." He shuffled himself around Kav who reacted with a lifted lip, her nose scrunching gently. The men behind us obeyed, their weapons being sheathed in leather holsters at their sides. Their feet marched in tandem with each other as they slowly retreated to their posts. The guard with dark brown skin shooed away the terrified boy in the chair. Gently patting the Wargs by my side, their tense muscles relaxed. Their warm tongues reaching out to wet their noses.
The man pulled away his armor, piece by shrieking piece. Closing my eyes for a moment, I reopened them. The guard before me now walked closer only in his shin guards.
"The warg was last seen near the edge of the far field. The farm owner had noticed it sniffing around his cattle." He said, his hands shuffling through papers amongst his desk.
"Has it been seen any closer? In any greater detail?" I questioned further. The guard paused, looking on either side of me.
"None that have been reported. The report of the farmer is alone at present." He replied, in his hands, he held a tightly wound roll of stained fabric. Extending it towards me, I walked towards him to grab it.
While reading the report, the guard looked me over.
"The black crow." He chuckled sitting in the chair. "A woman. Warg rider. Beast Tamer. Silent Mist." He shot off, his hand gripping his chin in no attempt to hide his smile. Flipping the paper over was a drawing of the warg. The frantic drawing portraying something larger, more formidable than a warg, the lines of the drawing were shaken and wavering from fear.
"This is no warg." I told him. Hod growled low in his chest. The guard's eyes snapped up from the swords on my sides to my eyes.
"The Witcher will be here soon enough." The guard dismissed.
I scoffed gently smirking, my tongue protruding to wet my dry lips. Shaking my head, I looked at the drawing again. The feet and talons catching my attention.
"Where is this farm?" I asked frantically; the situation calling for speed and immediate action. The three of us galloped to the farm, the members of Brinegulf rushing to get out of the way. The Caragor weighed heavily on my mind. Faster, smarter, and stronger than wargs. I rushed off of Hod, my feet running beside his as we approached the door. A chestnut gelding stood carefully tied to the post nearby. I cursed myself and burst inside.
The house was dark, the fire in the fireplace roaring, lighting the miniscule house with an orange glow. At the table sat a shaken old man, his short hair white from age. His skin withered and weathered. His wide pale eyes staring at me with his hand lifted in a defensive manner.
"Where did you see it?" I asked, ignoring the white haired Witcher staring at me. The old man pointed out the window with a shaking finger and small gasps. I rushed back out the door, and towards the woods.
"Hod, Kav. Listen for my call." I demanded keeping them in the area. Galloping hoof beats followed behind me catching up to me all too quickly. Turning his horse to stop me, the Witcher looked down at me. His lips were pinched together tightly in anger.
"You stay here." He demanded. I shook my head and moved around his horse. The Witcher moved his horse again, shuffling around ahead of me.
"It can not be tamed." He said, still using his horse to keep me in place. The horse's eye went wide, his nostrils flaring in frustration and confusion.
"You can't fight it alone." I told him. Looking up at him, he turned his horse sideways. The hoofbeats pounding and softening the ground around us.
The Witcher watched my wargs carefully, I could hear their snarls and growls from where we stood. Glancing back to them, Hod took off towards us. Teeth bared and ready for action. Kav followed behind, the younger and less experienced warg wanting to take charge. Whistling quickly, Hod and Kav both stood next to me. The Witcher's horse now turning and crow hopping, ready to run for its life.
"The only way to rid this town of the Caragor is to do it together." I said, mounting Hod. The hair on the back of his neck lifting sharply. Kav watched me, her head leaning on my thigh while she licked her nose. The Witcher's jaw clenched, his golden eyes peering at me sharply. Turning his horse with a kick, we took off at a gallop. Staying side by side, I released my hold on Hod, the three of us easily passing the Witcher and reaching the woods. On the trees, I could smell the beast's scent. A thick, oily scent. Hod and Kav stopped, their noses lifted and flaring. Kav growled towards the right, her head hanging low. Dismounting, I calmed my wargs.
Looking in the direction, the smell strengthened. Groaning, I rubbed my eyes; it had been many years since I had encountered such a challenging beast.
"This way." I told the Witcher. His golden eyes glaring at me as he passed to go towards the beast. Following behind him, I watched where I stepped. To beat this animal, I had to stay as quiet as possible. In front of us, a twig snapped loudly. Bird wings flapped as they called out a warning to each other. I looked upwards into the trees; long, thick branches stretching towards each other.
"Stay here." I told the white haired Witcher, who ignored my words and continued further towards the sound.
Staring down at the Witcher, I moved further into the woods past him. The pale man watched me, his lips pursed in anger and distraction. Watching the brush shuffle and wave, I couldn't determine whether it was the untamable beast or the wind. Jumping closer, I listened. Sharp snorting rang out from below me. There he was; circling the tree I was in. The Caragor's yellowed teeth barred permanently; his small, yellow eyes bore holes into the branch at my feet. Leaping up the tree, the Caragor's talons helping him climb through the branches next to me.
Jumping down from branch to branch, the Caragor's hot breath against my back. Facing face to face with the brooding beast, the Witcher charged. The Caragor leaping over him towards me. His grey, spiked flesh laying against his neck and spine. His mouth dripping with drool and slobber; the long tusks pinning me against the forest floor. I could only produce my sword by my side, then pressing the tip upwards into his chest, a loud roar and cry shredding through the air. The Caragor backed away limping, his face fallen with pain.
Placing my hand out, I slowly approached the beast. The Witcher watched from his place, held back by some force of magic. The Caragor whimpered and moaned while I slowly pulled the blade from his chest. A non-fatal wound that could heal with proper aid. The Caragor's eyes switched from the pained expression, returning to the brutal expression with his flat spines lifting again. Plunging my sword into the side of his cheek, he cried out again. His grey, hairless, spine littered body falling between myself and the Witcher.
I pulled my sword free once more, I began to walk away.
"They get defensive over their food, you may want to step away." I told the Witcher while pulling my hood up once more. I released an unrelentingly loud whistle that echoed through the woods. Pounding footsteps of Hod and Kav as they came to claim their food. The Witcher now walked beside me, sword sheathed.
"I told you it couldn't be tamed." His low grumbled voice muttering. I sighed and continued walking to gain my coin.
"Always need to try." I told him. The Witcher gleefully mounted his prancing horse.
"The coin is mine." I said. He looked down at me before shaking his head.
His chestnut gelding listening clearly to his riders commands, galloped back into town. I couldn't help but rub my eyes after dropping my hood. I sat on the edge of the woods, waiting for my Wargs to finish their meal and return with a prize worthy of the Warg rider. Looking into the small town, I couldn't help but remember where I once came from. Flower petals fell from the sky that summer evening, I was taken into a small tavern with a kind owner who aided me in learning the world around me.
Kav galloped happily towards me, a long, sharp tusk dropped at my feet. Coated in blood and spit. Hod approached slower, his jaw hanging low. Blood dripping onto the forest floor while he panted. The three of us trotted back into town, the large tusk proudly resting on my knee. Stepping off my mount, the Warg's followed me as I entered the guards building. The Witcher stood in his black fur cloak.
Throwing the tusk onto the wooden desk, the guard looked at me once more.
"Warg rider. A beast finally untamed?" He questioned gleefully eyeing the tusk before him.
"I'll take my coin." I demanded. The guard looked up, his brown eyes revealing his shock. He looked between the Witcher and I then stared at my warg's still coated in fresh blood.
"The Witcher has claimed the coin." The guard looked back down at the tusk. Looking over to the Witcher, my lips pursed.
"I will take my coin, Witcher." I told him, holding out my hand. The white haired Witcher looked me up and down; his golden eyes glaring at me thoughtfully. Shaking his head, the pale, tall man turned and walked out the doors. His pocket full of my coin.
Glancing back at the tusk, the guard stroked it carefully admiring the curve and sharpness of the deadly curve. I stomped forward, my hand stealing the trophy from my kill. That coin should have been mine. My pocket should be heavy; vindictive thoughts rolled around my skull as I walked out into the streets. My fingers pulled the thick hood over my head once more.
The streets bustled loudly; horses hooves clomping while pulling wagons, the wheels scraping against the cobblestone, loud voices that quieted as I passed. Nearby the stables were clambering with metal clanging against metal, sizzling and hissing fires from the blacksmith; the smell of thick white smoke from the taverns. Strums of entertaining bards, banging of wooden cups as the patrons finished their piss ale.
The hot breath of Kav being carried into my hood by the wind blowing from the north. I walked quietly, focused on the next town, the next beast that would be mine. Hod snarled to my left, shaking his head, I knew he caught a scent. But of what? I needed a better look, more height above the town bursting at the seams with people and animals.
"Kav." I whispered, placing a steadying hand on her shoulder. Kav stood still, her small yellow eyes watching as she braced herself.
I leapt from her back onto the roof of the inn. My feet planted firmly and carrying me across the roofs once more. Hod and Kav trotted down the street, alarming the people of the city that the Black Crow was leaving, the Black Mist carrying away the wind and her beasts with her. Hod snapped; slobber falling from his massive jaws. Looking at him, I nodded for him to chase the scent. The two warg's galloped down the busy street. I followed as best as I could, leaping over the chimneys and onto the next rooftop. Birds escaped my speed only by their wings and coos.
At the edge of the city, I saw the whitehaired Witcher escaping at a gallop with my coin.
"Hod!" I called, my voice echoing through the brutal valley. The Warg's halted to a stop, their feet dragging the mud and dirt with them. The dark warg glanced up at me, then turned his head back to the Witcher. With a lifted lip, Hod and Kav stood below the building by my side. I climbed down the side of the poorly built stable; stones that I could use for footholds and places to put my hands. Finally on the ground once more, I mounted Hod. I patted him on his rippling shoulder.
"Let's not waste energy, we will never have to see him again." I watched the Witcher and he watched me. His chestnut horse stomping in anticipation. Turning to return South, I knew I could always return from where I originally came.