Born of Fire: The Dawn of Legend (90 page)

VayRonx had successfully picked up the scent of their quarry several kilometers back and had been leading the others at double the speed in hopes of being able to catch up with them.

“VayRonx, can you tell how long ago they passed through here?” VyKia asked.

“It has been a day or more at least,” he replied, lowering his head slightly to take in more of the scent.

“That’s not as close as I was hoping to hear.”

“Be happy we managed to pick up the trail at all,” said NyRo. “There’s so much wild country between here and the tower that they could have traversed anywhere.”

“Possibly, but not likely,” VayRonx said, glancing back. “Don’t forget LyCora is with them. She has traveled far more than the others, so she would know where all the settlements along the way would be. Isn’t that right, VoRenna?”

VoRenna sighed. “I never thought I would find myself the victim of my own success.”

Everyone else laughed for the first time in a long while. Since the attack, morale had been low, but that did not stop them or anyone else from pressing on an effort to rebuild their lives.

“It’s a funny thought,” said TarFor with a chuckle. “Those composing their merry little band: a blue, green, lavender, gold, and even red flame. I’m starting to hope we find them soon so they can protect us.”

“It’s true they have grown into fine young warriors,” said VyKia. “Still, they have much to learn.”

“In light of recent events, it would seem that’s true of us all,” VayRonx declared.

“We have worked so long and hard to keep them safe from the truth, and in the end it found them anyway,” VoRenna said. “Perhaps we should have just reared them with it.”

“To what point and purpose?” asked BaRone.

“To prepare them for all of this.”

“As if someone could be prepared for such a thing,” TarFor scoffed. “None of us could have known that the events of that day in ClyVen would reach so far ahead of us.”

“And yet it has,” interjected VayRonx.

“There was no way for you to have known, VayRonx,” BaRone said sympathetically. “No way for any of us to know.”

“Perhaps, but the burden of guilt still weighs heavy on my head all the same, for I have to consider that any other choice of action on my part could have perhaps in some small way altered the course of events.”

“VayRonx, I understand how you feel,” said VoRenna. “We all do, but mighty as you are, not even you can stop the approach of an oncoming storm.”

“Difficult words for any leader to accept,” he said with a sigh. “Still, you are not wrong. Now we must do everything we can to halt what approaches and threatens our children.”

A low, bellowing call from far off to the right grabbed their attention.

“Sounds like a KarVora,” said NyRo.

“There’s a herd just up ahead,” said VayRonx. “I picked up their scent further back.”

“Do you think it’s the one led by the bull that RemoKy told us about?”

“Possibly.”

“How long has it been since you had yourself a proper battle?” TarFor asked with a grin.

The alpha glanced back, giving him a wary look, to which the man’s smile broadened. Annoyed with her brother’s taunts, VyKia shot a flicker of flame at the back of his head, causing him to shriek to everyone’s amusement.

“You daft woman!” he cried.

“Serves you right for teasing him like that,” she said, leaning forward.

“Remind me again which group is the one made of children?” VoRenna mused.

“I get the feeling their group dynamic is probably one of greater maturity compared to ours,” VayRonx added with a hearty laugh.

“Not with EeNox and LyCora,” TarFor said. “Those two traveling together is a recipe for the complete deconstruction of any form of tranquility!” Everyone laughed heartily. “Hey, VoRenna, that girl of yours has already passed the age of her first season. Has she expressed any interest in a mate?”

“No, and despite numerous hopeful young men and women, I suspect she will probably wait until her second before she does,” VoRenna said with a sigh.

“You sound disappointed,” BaRone noted.

“I am a little.”

“But it’s quite common these days for girls to wait a season or even two before starting a family,” said VyKia.

“True, but she’s so closed off and detached that I fear she may never truly learn how to open up to someone else who could love her like only a mate can. I don’t want her to have to be alone like I have been since I lost my mate.” She could feel her heart sink with every pervasive memory from her youth pushing its way to the forefront of her mind, making her feel the sting of old wounds. With great effort, she forced those undesired memories back down in the unseen places of her heart.

“You’ve done a fine job at raising her, VoRenna,” VyKia said sympathetically, placing a hand on the side of her neck. “It wasn’t easy, not for any of us, but we managed all the same.”

“I only wish I had been able to do half as good a job as you did with AnaSaya,” she said, turning her eyes up to her.

“Don’t give me too much credit,” KyVina said, leaning back. “Sweet as that girl is, she is completely lost in any sort of real social setting. Something I know is my fault for hiding her away from the world the way I did.”

“We all did what we felt was right by them,” BaRone said. “None of us really knew what we were doing, in the end.”

“But you’ve done the best job out of all of us, BaRone,” VyKia said. “DiNiya and EeNox are pillars of good nature and maturity. You should be proud.”

“Oh, I am,” he said with a mocking grin. “But of them, not me. It wasn’t easy, raising two children on my own, and yes, I knew I always had the full support of the tribe, it still wasn’t the same without her there.” He looked down, his face burdened with a solemn expression.

“SeroFiya would be proud of you.” TarFor said. “You’ve done a fine job with those two.”

“Oh, yes,” he replied sarcastically. “One is completely phobic of any real responsibility, while the other was emotionally scarred so terribly that she can no longer ignite her flame; a fine job, indeed. I don’t even know what I’m doing half the time.”

“No parent does,” VayRonx said. “Only so much of it is instinct. The rest you have to learn as you go and hope you can pick it up fast enough to stay ahead of them before they eventually surpass you. It’s a breakneck pace that slows for no one.”

“Well, you would know, old friend,” BaRone said, smiling down at him. “You raised three fine children who have all grown into strong leaders in their own right.”

“Yes, but in leading up to those illustrious statuses were many arguments and sleepless nights, battling them constantly as they pushed for more freedom while you just try to make them understand that all that they deem oppressive on your part is just an effort to keep them safe. All the while you laugh at yourself from the inside at the futility of trying to explain that very notion to them when you yourself were just as foolhardy and prone to rebel against anything established when you were that age. But like with any storm, if you dig your claws in and stand firm, you will have weathered it and be better able to predict the next one.” Everyone regarded him with silent respect, for once again, the titanic carnivore had reminded them why he had been made alpha of KaNar. His sheer might was rivaled only by his wisdom, something that brought peace of mind to most who were fortunate enough to hear it. “We were always honest, which is why in the end they always knew they could trust us and our judgment. But with those six, well…trust is a hard thing to earn back. I only hope we are rewarded with the opportunity to do so.”

“We will,” VyKia said with a smile. “They’re our children, after all.”

A glow of resolution returned in VayRonx’s eyes as he raised his head up high once again. “Thank you.”

“Of course,” she said, smiling warmly in turn.

Their moment of renewed conviction was short-lived, for no sooner had they found themselves reinvigorated then they heard the sound of heavy oncoming footfalls. VayRonx turned just in time to see two green flaming horns charging towards him.

In the blink of an eye, he tossed BaRone off, who was caught by TarFor and thrust on NyRo behind him, just as VayRonx dropped his head and collided with that of the KarVora. Despite his immense bulk, he skidded several meters back until he dug his claws into the ground, bringing he and his attacker to a grinding halt. Flexing his leg muscles to anchor himself in the soil, VayRonx let out a deep growl and burst into flame, sending the bull tumbling back. “What is the meaning of this?”

“As if you have to ask, TarBoranx,” the bull said, righting himself back onto his feet and making another charge.

This time VayRonx barely managed to sidestep out of the way, but not before the bull managed to graze his right thigh with one of his two-meter-long horns. Glancing down at his leg, he felt rage boiling in his veins but knew he was dealing with a dangerous adversary that, if not careful, could prove fatal. Still, he was far from concerned about the prospect of defeat. The two mighty DyVorians circled each other, sizing each other up and looking for the opportune moment to strike.

“You’re a bit away from home,” the bull said, snorting flame.

“We’re merely travelers passing through,” VayRonx replied in a tone that suggested he would rather resolve the matter without further bloodshed.

“Is that right?”

“It is, indeed. Now stand down!”

“You dare order me in my own territory, TarBoranx? For that alone, I will impale you where you stand!” The bull lunged forward as VayRonx jumped to the side and brought his enormous jaws down on his back, causing his adversary to let out a bleating cry as he struggled to break free. However, a TarBoranx’s most powerful killing tool is its jaws, known for being almost impossible to be free of once they had you.

The bull winced as he felt the large round teeth push into his back.
Damn it
, he thought.
I only have another few seconds before this bastard severs my spine
! Suddenly, VayRonx unknowingly brought his right leg into reach of the bull’s horns. Seizing the opportunity, he jutted his head to the right and drove the tip of his horn into his enemy’s calf; VayRonx immediately released his vice-like grip and threw his head in the air, roaring in pain. Not wasting a moment of the sudden shift in tactical advantage, the bull reared up and rammed the side of his body full force into the big carnivore, sending him toppling down.

“VayRonx,” BaRone cried. “VoRenna, NyRo, quick, you have to do something!”

The two of them ignited their flames and prepared to rush in when VayRonx’s voice rung out, “No! This fight is mine!”

“This fight is
over
!” the bull yelled defiantly as he arched his head to the side and brought his horn rushing down at VayRonx.

Seeing he had but a heartbeat’s worth of time to react, VayRonx caught the bull under the jaw with his foot, and with an incredible display of strength and speed, pushed him up vertically and locked his jaws around his throat.

“You’ve got him!” TarFor yelled, thrusting a fist in the air.

VayRonx unleashed the full ferocity of his flame and effortlessly lifted the bull into the air before slamming him back down with such force that the ground beneath collapsed into a small crater. The bull lay motionless. The green flame rushing off VayRonx slowly subsided then vanished as he was left breathing heavily, exhausted from the hard-won battle.

“Is he…?” VyKia began.

“He lives,” VayRonx answered. “Don’t you…alpha?”

The bull opened his eyes and exhaled loudly before slowly rising to his feet on shaky legs, wincing at the burning pain in his back and neck. “It would appear so,” he said with a sigh. “But I’m not sure why exactly. You could have easily killed me just now.”

“More easily than you think,” VayRonx replied with a bit more arrogance than he normally showed.

“So why didn’t you?” the bull asked, stepping out of the indentation in the ground and standing before the towering TarBoranx. “Why spare me when I was the one who attacked you?”

“Because this is your land, if I’m not mistaken, and I am not here to usurp your dominion nor am I hungry. Well…that last part is not entirely true, but I have more pressing issues to deal with than an empty stomach.”

“Oh,” said the bull, raising an eyebrow. “Such as?”

“Such as tracking and locating several members of my tribe who may have passed through here recently.”

“You don’t mean those children, do you?” the bull said, half-joking.

All eyes suddenly went wide. “Did you say children?” asked NyRo.

“Yes,” the bull replied nonchalantly, not understanding the significance of what he had just said.

“What did they look like?” BaRone asked.

“Were they all right?” VoRenna pressed.

“Well, to answer your second question first,” the bull replied, “just fine, which is a lucky break for them, seeing as how they were almost trampled by me and eaten by that wicked savage of a Ridgeback that stalks these plains.”

VayRonx let out a deep, menacing growl, forcing the bull to shrink back slightly. “Easy now,” he said in a reassuring voice. “Neither one of us touched them. We didn’t get a chance.”

“Explain,” VayRonx said sternly.

“Well, to answer your first question,” he said, glancing back at BaRone. “They looked like SaVarians at first, but then they…changed!”

“Changed?” VoRenna asked.

“Into DyVorians! A VyoNyvora, like you,” he told her. “A TarBoranx like you,” he added, glancing over to VayRonx, who reared his head back. “I didn’t recognize the other three, but they were not DyVorians of these lands. I don’t think that long one was even a DyVorian at all.”

“So it
was
them,” BaRone exclaimed. “They actually made it this far after all.” There was a surge of excitement amongst the group, for it was yet another account from someone that they were safe and most importantly alive.

“You all must be from KaNar,” said the bull.

“Correct,” replied VayRonx. “I am Alpha VayRonx.”

The bull shook his frilled head and laughed. “That explains why I lost. I suppose I should consider it an honor to have fought the strongest warrior in this corner of the world.”