The rain came to an end as the longboats touched the shore. The slid up onto the beach with a scratchy sound and came to a sudden halt. Morgan was jolted forward slightly, but held his balance. Off to both sides he could hear the sound of the other longboats making shore, and of booted feet landing on the wet sand and running off.

He pulled his tri-point hat from his head and gave it a shake to get the loose water off it. He then settled it back on his head and adjusted it with both hands. He gave his coat a quick sweep with his hands, to remove the excess water, but the oiled leather was holding up well, as it always did.

He brought his head up finally to look around at what was going on. A sailor called out to him quickly, telling him to get off the boat. He stepped from the prow of the longboat and onto the beach, he feet squishing into the water his boots held and he his boots squishing into the wet sand. There wasn’t much water in his boats, the collars on them kept most of it, and his coat was nice and long. He couldn’t believe a ships captain would go out onto the ocean without such good wet weather clothing.

He stepped off to the side, pulling his coat close around him. The sailors moved past him and dragged the longboat further onto the shore. He watched as they put a spear deep into the sands, and then tied a rope from it to the prow of the longboat, wary of the boats being dragged out to sea if the tide changed.

His right hand reached inside his coat and felt for his flint-lock pistols. They were completely dry, and of this he was glad. If they had gotten wet it would take much too long for them to dry out, and they would be useless to him in the short term. And that scared him a little. The beasts out in the darkness would not be put down easily, and without his trusty pistols he would not last til morning.

He glanced to the east, the light of pre-dawn making it easy for them to see what was happening. The lanterns had all been put out, and were now sitting off to one side. The sun would rise soon, in less that an hour. Hopefully it would dry everything out. But this place had an eerie feel to it. The sailors had muttered as they had drawn near. It looked unchanged, as if time was standing still in this one spot.

He admitted, there was debris on the beach, and the trees were growing some fruits in places that he hadn’t seen last time. But on the whole it was exactly the same as they had left it. The perfect picture of summer.

He took the time now to survey what was happening.

The soldiers, the few he had. The few that Lord de Frauglin had allowed him to take. Were surrounding what could be called their perimeter. Their muskets had been kept in special leather sleeves while the rain was falling, careful for any water that might make its way within the delicate instruments. As usual their powder was carried in small wax packets, safety was always first.

Their muskets were held at the ready now. Everyone had seen the best they had brought back. No one was allowed to board the ship without a full understanding of what they were doing. Quite the opposite of the way it was usually done, where a captain would just fool a bunch of sailors into to taking him where he wanted to go. But that usually ended in mutiny when they realised they were going to their deaths. He wanted to make sure everyone knew exactly what they were in for. And they were scared. But the gold offered made it worth while coming. The risk was there, but if they survived, they were likely to not need to work again.

The sailors and mercenaries who had come along started unloading the longboats. The soldiers jumped at every sound they heard in the bushes along the tree line, but they didn’t fire randomly, they were too disciplined for that. They wouldn’t fire until they actually saw what it was. And there was a good twenty metres to the trees. But the others just went around their business.

A number of sailors had been left on the two ships, as they couldn’t be allowed out their unmanned. But every other hand was here on the beach. They were setting up a small base here, where they could deal with everything. Some doctors had come along, thankfully, and were going to stay on the beach here, with some soldiers to protect them. They would be the most important people on this trip.

The water barrels were rolled off to one side. Crates of food dragged up onto the beach. More weapons had been brought too, in some crates that were carefully carried and placed out of the way. Some of the men had gathered the debris and were placing it in a pile. They couldn’t light a fire yet, but when it had dried, they would be getting one going, drying off the clothes and any muskets that had water in them.

A number of burly men had grabbed axes and were standing up beside the soldiers. They looked edgy, shifting the axes in their hands and licking their lips. Their eyes said that no one wants to go out there yet. They looked at each other. A noise in the trees made them step back, but the soldiers held firm.

The soldiers took a step forward. Just one, shuffling their back foot closer to get their stance normal again. Then they took another. Just putting their front foot forward, and then shuffling their back foot up behind it. Muskets never waivered from the trees. They inched their way closer to the trees.

The axemen still didn’t move though. Every noise made them startle, even when a brightly coloured bird flew from the tree tops they took another step back. A few were gathering some courage though, as the soldiers moved closer a few of their grips seemed to tighten around the axes.

The soldiers halted about five meters from the trees, pointed their muskets low and to the bushes. They wouldn’t go any further. They wouldn’t enter the trees yet, not until they were sure they would be relatively safe.

But the axemen, with the courage showed by the soldiers, gave a primal scream. It broke them from their paralysis, caused by their fear. Toward the trees they rushed. They leapt over the small shrubs bordering the trees and swung their axes. They bit deep, two men to a tree, swinging alternately. It didn’t take long for them to fell a tree. And then back behind the soldiers each group went.

More men rushed in quickly, throwing some ropes around the branches. Then the trees were dragged down to the beach. Branches were stripped from them, men started to turn them into usable wood. It would take all day, but together they would get it done. Morgan had told them at the start, which they needed a low wall of some sorts, which they could crouch behind. But more importantly, they needed a shelter for the wounded.

He continued to watch as they worked for a bit. Some of the men didn’t seem to be taking part as much as they should, but he wouldn’t hustle anyone into work yet. They had just landed there. If they weren’t working by lunch though, then there would be trouble. He smiled though, as he saw the captain of the other ship take charge.

He was a portly man, where Morgan was solid. Francis wore his weight well though, not allowing it to humble him too much. He was a little strange though, being from Tuerleroi, he liked to dress such as the men from the deserts. But no one minded, he did his job well. Morgan had been lucky to find him in port at the time. He was a dependable man who got things done. He would stay with the doctors though; he wasn’t suited to going on hunts.

He turned from the site and started to walk along the beach. Good hands were looking after the men, and he had no worries there. No one noticed him head off either, too busy were most of them, and if anyone did see him they wouldn’t care. He was in charge of this exploration. Not what he usually did by any shot, but they didn’t go against him. If he wanted to walk off he could.

He drew one of his pistols as he walked. He wouldn’t go far; he just wanted to have a little look further along the beach. He held the pistol tight, remembering the weight of the creature as it lay atop him. It was enough to crush him if it hadn’t been dead. A man would be pinned under a creature such as that.

The creatures jaw still held in his mind too. If it had had a chance to get hold of him, it would have broken bone, torn through flesh. It was almost more lethal than any other creature he had seen. Bears were similar to them, but bears were larger, and much slower. This was fast. And they were agile too. He wouldn’t be surprised if they couldn’t catch one alive. A good trap would need to be set.

And they had hidden within the trees so well. It was only on the open ground that they had really had any chance against them. With space between themselves and the trees they had been able to pick them off. He can’t imagine what had happened to the first three men who had gone ashore. He had been careless, sending them in at night, but everyone had been so thirsty. He hadn’t wanted to risk a mutiny, so far from anything.

He came up to some rocks, washed clean by the rains. He walked around them; he could walk on top from the back, as the front hung out over the sands, pointing toward the water. He climbed up onto it, going to the edge and looking out at where they had come from. For so long this place had been left alone. But now humans were here, and they ruined everything. But he had no real choice. He had to do what he was asked; there was no one way or another about it.

He turned to walk down from the rock and looked at the sand. Next to his footprint, disturbed slightly by his walking, was a paw print. A large paw print. The creatures had been here. They must have walked these beaches, sitting on the rocks.

He looked up and glanced into the trees. Slowly he reached into his coat and drew his other pistol out. He held both in front of him, pointed up, ready to react should anything happen. He walked sideways down the side of where the rock and the sand met and followed his own footprints back to camp. He never once turned away from the neither the tree nor the rock.

As he neared camp he saw a silhouette outlined by the rising sun appear on the rock. It stood tall and proud and it made his skin crawl. One of the creatures had been watching him. Before he could call out though it was gone, back into the forest. He sighed a little, for he knew how close to death he had just come.

* * *

Kabian made his way off the rock and into the trees quickly.

He had watched the creature as it walked out from the rest and had come to the rock. He couldn’t understand how these creatures could be so violent. Or how they could be so dangerous. They had no claws, and their teeth were small. And they didn’t really look like they could do much in a fight. He couldn’t understand how they fed themselves, if they looked like they would struggle to catch a deer.

He entered the trees slowly, making sure not to startle the creatures by making any loud noises. From what he could see, only the one had seen him, and he had only stood there for a moment. With the sun rising now they would have to be on their guard, as it would be more difficult to hide than during the night.

He went in to where Estumi and Yoshi were waiting for him. Estumi kept Yoshi close by, saying it was Kabian’s will. She was worried about him. One of his fellow clan members had been killed, supposedly by wolves. The two who were supposed to be here now weren’t. And Yoshi feared that they had suffered the same fate as Rinta.

It was very worrying. Estumi was concerned that Yoshi might do something rash, when he was needed here. But Yoshi just seems more stunned by the fact that it had actually happened, rather than that it was someone he knew. Wolves had killed wolves for no reason. Satsumi had also come back with a wound to his heels. But they were just superficial.

He had been chased off though, after telling the Oak Wood Clan about the creatures being here. Kabian knew what had happened. Last he had seen Kamide he was severely injured, and that was only two nights ago. Poi must have been taking charge, and for some reason Poi deeply hated Kabian. A hate that for no known reason went beyond that of him being a mere outcast.

Satsumi and Takuyuki were watching the creatures from the other side. Being as careful as Kabian was not to be seen. They had been in front of the creatures, but when the ones had stood there with the thunder sticks, and the others behind them with those large shiny teeth on the branches, he had made them split up. He was glad they had too, when the creatures had rushed up and started destroying their forest. It would last long though. He couldn’t see these creatures being here for the forest. They were here for the wolves, that much was obvious.

They smelled of fear, it wafted off them. It was overpowering almost every other smell. A few smelt of courage, and a few had a rotten stink, as if they were neither brave nor fearful, but here for other reason. And then they each had their own individual smells too. A smell that set them apart. Much like the way the wolf clans were separate.

Kabian was a little surprised he could smell their emotions, but it just flowed off them. It was their very essence. And the human who had come to the rock surprised him the most. He didn’t smell of fear or dark thoughts. He smelt strong, powerful. And he walked as if nothing could touch him. He was cautious too; he always kept his eyes right where Kabian was hiding, even if he had not known Kabian was there. He demanded respect, and Kabian would give it to him. He also felt this creature didn’t mean any true harm, and didn’t really want to be there.

Kabian, Estumi and Yoshi moved off to get a closer look at what was going on. The creatures seemed busy. Surprisingly so too. They were removing trees everywhere. Estumi let out a quick howl, calling the other two. The creatures stopped work and cowered in fear for a few moments until the howl died, then they went back to what they were doing.

Kabian stopped when they were back around close to the creatures, and the others met them soon after. All they could do now was wait. Estumi sent YYYYY off to tell Koga to come and see them now, worried about what the creatures would do. There were more down there than was in any single clan. A count told them there were about fifty creatures down there. If not more.

Kabian studied them for a little while as they worked, watching what they were doing, and trying to judge their positions as if they were in a wolf clan. There seemed to be two clan leaders, the one who had walked over to the side, and the large one standing in the middle, who was shouting orders at everyone else.

The creatures with the red skins on, holding the thundering sticks, seemed to be much more above the others, if below the leaders. They smelled of fear, but not as much as the rest. And they did what they were told to do straight away. The sounds from the creatures were strange in his ears, but he could see from their movements when they were talking at each other. They seemed to need to face each other to be able to communicate, which would cause them problem in a fight of any kind. They were not a very well thought out creature.

The ones in the varying brown and grey skins were working hard, and were the mainstay of the group it seemed. They were doing things much like when a den was filled with grass for a bed for the female.

Kabian looked at the leader again. Not the large one, the one who had walked over to the side. It had slipped his mind before, but now he was gnawing his foot off. This was the same creature that had been here before. The creature that had killed his father, Hakai. The one that had destroyed his entire clan. Kabian wished now he had killed him when he had the chance. Even more so he demanded Kabian’s respect now, but he also had Kabian’s hatred.

* * *

Morgan climbed onto the wooden crate. He pushed himself onto it, and then stood up tall, brushing his coat a little, and readjusting his hat. The clouds above him still threatened rain, large and dark, bunching up from the sea and pushing over the land. It would probably rain again tonight.

He wiped some sweat off his brow with his sleeve as he looked over what they had managed. The heat had made the day sticky after all the rain. But still they had pushed their way through. A wall had been erected, only low. A few tree trunks placed atop each other and made stable with some of the longer branches. It wouldn’t really offer much protection, but it made the people feel better and now some of the soldiers were crouched behind it, muskets resting on top of the wood for supports.

They scanned the forest warily. Noises had come from within a number of times during the day. Loud, long howls, much like the dogs from home did, but deeper and with menace behind them. They were not far away, and in Morgan’s eyes they knew the humans were there. Watching and waiting. Maybe trying to catch them off guard. Maybe waiting for someone to walk away from the group again.

He pulled his gaze from the trees, knowing full well staring at them would do no good. He couldn’t remove the threat with his eyes. The hut they had created game into view then. It wasn’t much, a few posts, and few pieces of canvas stretched over the top and fixed to the ground as best they could. The sand held firm for now, but when it dried, things would be loose. It wouldn’t hold in high winds, and they didn’t know the area. But for now it would do, until they could move it somewhere more stable.

Everyone, beside the few soldiers along the wall, was now arrayed below him. There were quite a number. Ten soldiers had come with them, thanks to Lord de Frauglin. They would be needed with their discipline. Twenty or so sailors had come ashore too, to flesh out the number as needed. They also had five doctors with them, surgeons and the like. They were more here to study the creatures, than they were to help the wounded. But they would do as they were told.

The remaining twenty or thirty men were made up of mercenaries. Men himself and Francis had found, willing to come out this way for the money that was offered to them. They didn’t have much in the way of weapons, except for one small group, who were a proper mercenary band. But they brought all their own equipment. This had helped them out greatly.

They didn’t have enough weapons to arm everyone with the same. Not even enough to arm everyone with a gun of some sort. They had swapped and traded once the crates with the weapons had been opened. Muskets here, pistols there, and everywhere that they couldn’t be was a cutlass or a dagger.

He knew neither would do much good in the long run, but the men felt protected with them. And a man feeling protected with a dodgy weapon weigh more than a man who wasn’t sure of himself using the best money could buy. They wouldn’t all need to fight anyway, there would need to be people to carry the supplies, to bring the wounded back to their makeshift hospital, and carry messages from one group to another.

He realised then why he had stood up on the barrel, with everyone staring up at him.

“We are finally ready! We have sailed for a few months now, and we have found the island again. But there is no rest for us now. The creatures have even been watching us as we worked. We have no time to rest. Lord de Frauglin has asked us to bring one of these daemons back to him. This is going to be tough. I think our best chances are if we split up.

We will travel in three groups. From the ships we saw a cliff towards the middle of the island. I suggest we aim to gather at the base of these cliffs. Go slow, there is no need for mistakes here. We will meet at the base of the cliffs the day after tomorrow.

Captain Francis will organise the groups.”

He waved his arm over the crowd and turned his back. He looked back over the forest while he could hear Francis behind him, shouting orders out, and organising them into their groups, making sure that their weren’t too many of any type of crew member, or things might get out of hand.

His thoughts were on the forest though, and the dangers he knew they held. The beasts were surely watching him right now. He wasn’t sure if they were stupid creatures or not. Last time he had been here everything had happened so quickly that he was still surprised he was alive. It had bore him to the ground with easy, and he was not a small man. The forest would hold many surprises for them.

He turned back to the crew and walked over to the group that had been organised for him. He started checking his own equipment, his pistols, and his clothes. And he prepared for what was sure to be an ordeal.

He walked over to a nearby crate, unopened as of yet. He waved a couple of men over with crowbars and they prised the lid off. He looked inside and smiled a little. It was undamaged from the long trip, which was good. He called some more men over, and started them pulling it from the crate.

* * *

Kabian shifted as he watched what was going on below on the Sands.

Koga had arrived a short while ago, bringing with him his entire clan. They were now waiting further back. The two from the Holy Guardian Clan had no arrived yet though, and Yoshi was in a panic. They were holding him in check though, waiting for the watchers to come back with news.

Koga stood to Kabian’s right, Estumi to his left, and they silently watched the creatures shuffle into three groups, each about the size of a wolf clan. They quickly identified the leaders, they weren’t hard to spot. The creatures couldn’t do simple tasks unless someone was yelling at them. That was, except for the creatures in the blood red skins. They seemed to be working independently.

Koga spoke quietly then, keeping his voice low this close to the creatures.

“It’s decided then? We will need to split ourselves up. The sun will set soon. We won’t have to worry about them in the dark.”

“I suppose we will have to. We cannot allow even one of them to go unwatched.”

“That makes sense Kabian. Now, here is what I think. I will take some of the pack and take the ones heading towards my home lands. You will take the pack with the leading creature in it.”

Kabian’s head whipped around sharply.

“Yes, I have been watching, you nearly couldn’t take your eyes off him. I assume he has been here before. You can kill him if you wish, but be careful. And lastly I think Yoshi should lead the final group.”

Both Kabian and Estumi snorted at once and looked sharply Koga.

“He needs direction. He is enraged, we know this, and I don’t want him doing anything careless with the Crystal Glades wolves. I would rather direct his rage towards these creatures. I know all the other clans and who is in them. He is one of Sugano’s favourite sons. He is strong and when he has his mind on the job he is level headed. He will not disappoint you.”

“Let it be as you say then Koga, they are your clan,” Kabian was cut off sharply by Koga.

“Not any more they are not. These creatures herald a new age for us. And a new age calls for new leaders. I am putting my clan in your hands. I merge Scarred Tree with Hot Sands.”

“Hot Sands is no more. And Koga, you cannot do this. I am little more than a pup. They will not follow me.”

“Some will. But the rest will just do as I say. No one here would go against my word. And with myself and Estumi guiding you, they will see you’re in safe hands.”

“Very well then. If I cannot change your mind, let me at least change something. The Hot Sands clan is no more; they died when these creatures came last time. The first time we saw these creatures I earned my name. Kabian. Kabian of the Blood Mist. If you want me to run this clan of yours, let us call it the Blood Mist Clan instead of the Hot Sands. And may the blood of these creatures soak the sands and the soil.”

Koga seemed to smile, he seemed happy with the decision Kabian had made. He went down onto his belly, tail flat, nose pressed to the ground. Estumi followed suit.

“I’ll accept that Kabian. There is only one last thing to do then. Rub your body against ours. The mark of a leader is that all wolves below him carry his scent,”

Kabian hesitated and looked at Estumi. Koga seemed a little strange in his eyes, but Estumi motioned with her head for him to do it, so he could do nothing else. He rubbed his side against both wolves, marking them with his scent now. Koga stood when it was done.

“Let us go back to the others then. You will have to do each wolf. And I think even Yoshi will join us in this.”

Slowly they made their way back to where the clan was waiting, it was not far. Koga and Estumi stayed a step or so behind Kabian. The wolves looked up from their resting spots, a few of the sitting ones stood. But they pretty much ignored what was going on. It was obvious that Koga was following Kabian, and they would easily be able to smell that Kabian’s scent was on all three wolves.

Yoshi came up to them. He could obviously smell it too.

“What is happening now Kabian?”

Koga stepped between Kabian and Yoshi.

“Well Yoshi,” he said loudly enough for everyone to hear, “once the member of my clan take the scent of their new leader, then the Blood Mist clan can start hunting down these creatures before any more wolves die.”

Yoshi glanced over his shoulder to see all the wolves start to lie down, tail between their legs, nose to the ground, waiting for Kabian to rub his scent on them. After a word in his ear, Kabian pushed past them and started rubbing his body against the other wolves, leaving his scent on them all.

“You know something don’t you Koga,” Yoshi spoke quietly, a little in awe of what was happening, “you’re normally very cautious. Something has changed in you. And you know something the rest of us don’t.”

“You just haven’t asked the right questions Yoshi. Nor has Sugano.”

“You are willing to throw your whole clan behind what you know?” He was eyeing Koga cautiously now, his lips pulled back a little as he thought about what was happening, his teeth bare.

“Yes I am.”

“And it’s that simple? Just to throw your whole clan away?”

“I am not throwing my clan away Yoshi. Just bringing fresh blood to the lead of it.”

“I have to say, I am amazed with you. But I will not throw myself away yet.”

Yoshi moved away from Koga and Estumi, and stood off to the side as Kabian came back, finished bringing the wolves into the new clan. Koga looked hi over then turned to the other wolves.

He screamed at the sky, letting out a primal howl. He screamed the name of the clan at the sky.

“Blood Mist!”

The other wolves followed suit, until all the wolves were howling the name of their new clan into the sky. Yoshi stayed off to one side. They let it die down a little bit at a time. Then when they had stopped, Koga addressed them all again.

“Let the hunt begin them. Yoshi, take some wolves to the south. Estumi chose some to go with you and Kabian and track the lead creature. I will take the rest and head north, protecting our homeland.”

He turned slowly to Kabian while the other wolves rushed around getting organised.

“Do you realise you control more territory than any other clan leader ever has? You now run the entire Sands, as well as everything that was once mine.” He then turned, barked at the wolves that were still standing around, and took off to the north. Yoshi had already gone. And Estumi waited with the remaining six wolves, waiting for Kabian.

* * *

Their fired were burning brightly as the sun was setting, the lanterns ready for the long journey through the night. The other groups were in position to. They began to walk forward, inching towards the tree line. As they drew up level with the first of the trees noise broke out everywhere.

The creatures were howling again. But this one was done by many more creatures than earlier. And it sounded full of blood lust in his ears, and the ears of his men.

They all stepped back.

Morgan just shuddered.