Morgan scratched as his chin, eyes watching the labourers for any slip in their work. What they were dealing with now had cost him a fortune to buy, and he couldn't have them stuffing it up on him. It wasn't difficult to put together, but he was worried they might do something stupid. It all seemed to be going as planner though, and he gave a relieved sigh.

He doubted the other two groups would be making a conscious effort to take one of the creatures alive. Many of their reasons for being here had seemed dubious. That was why he had made sure Francis had kept the ones they could trust as the main thrusting group.

The Mercenary Captain had an evil glint in his eyes. Seemed like he was more here for the thrill of the hunt and the kill, rather than what he had been hired for. And the Mercenaries under his command had brought their own supplies. He wasn't about to complain about that though, but he couldn't be sure what they had stashed away in there.

It had been a pity he needed to send his First Mate off with the second crew. But they needed a good show of leadership to be able to hang together. Most of them didn't look like they were really mercenaries.

In fact, few on this voyage did, beside the Mercenary Band they had hired. The only one who looked he could hold his own was that big fellow, Lugh. But he was always following around that little runty man, must be a younger brother or something.

Morgan dismissed these thoughts, he needed to focus on what was about to happen. He needed to capture one of these creatures. Fifteen men had gone with the other two groups, and he took twenty-five himself. Leaving the soldier to guard the doctors.

Twenty-five of the people he trusted the most from amongst his crew. He hoped it would be enough to capture one of the beasts. Killing them in the middle of the day had been one thing, and he wished he could have waited until day had come. But trouble would have started during the night. Sleeping with a watch wasn't really an option, on such open ground. These things moved like lightning.

He remembered with a shudder, the way the beast had charged up the knoll, dodging the muskets as they were fired, and then leaping over the front rank of men to bear down on him. He pulled the coat tight. They weren't stupid creatures. They had known he was the one giving the orders. With him gone that day they might have stood a chance. Only his reflexes had saved him that day.

Regret had settled later. He had only done the deed because they had attacked him first. But after seeing them properly, after studying the carcass in his cabin for some time. He realised it wasn't much more than a regular animal. Something you would find in the forests, running with the bears. But history had these creatures nowhere in its pages.

It was like they didn't exist. And he had killed about twenty of the creatures. In cold blood, under the brilliant light of mid-morning. These creatures seemed to only live here. He couldn't put his finger on why though. But something had stirred his mind into thinking as they had sailed closer to the island.

Two things came to his mind they had returned. Firstly was the fact that the island wasn't really very far from the main shipping lines, yet it appeared on no maps he had ever seen. Until just recently it had been shrouded in mystery.

The second thought to enter his mind was of the island itself. They had sailed in from a slightly different direction this time, to have a proper look at the island. From what they had seen it was clear the island was segmented. Great mountain ranges seemed to separate one section from another, with the cliffs in the centre visible from each side. But what was really surprising about the island was that each segment had different weather patterns. On one side violent storms threw themselves against the coast, and snow and ice could be seen along the edges on the island. Around a little further and the trees were only just losing their leaves, the multi-coloured leaves of autumn clear for all to see.

Then they had come back to where they had landed last time, and the trees were still vibrant green. Unchanged from when he had last been here. That had been roughly half a year ago, maybe a little longer, but things looked unchanged, and he had the strange feeling that was the way they were.

The summer never left this part of the island.

The answer to this mystery, he knew, lay behind the solid walls of stone that rose from ground at the centre of the island. They didn't look like a volcano, but more like they were hiding something. His heart compelled him to go there, for no other reason than to look and see what lay beyond. He had no wish to spoil this land any more than he already had.

He knew it would suffer though. He hoped he could minimise its suffering though. Keep the balance of harmony in the island, while still managing to fulfil his promises.

His eyes searched back the camp, after daydreaming, and he saw that everyone was waiting on him. They were ready to go, and waiting patiently. He raised his arm and then let it drop in the direction of the forest. Slowly they all moved out.

* * *

Kabian watched the commotion below from the deeper shadows within the trees. The darkness blended across his grey hide making it so only his eyes were visible as golden orbs on the light of the moon. His mind wandered as he watched them.

Over and over he saw his father, Hakai; leap at the creature, only to be killed as he landed. His final breath misting over the creature that now stood before him. It had come back, and Kabian could only assume it was to finish what it had already started.

He growled low and anger flashed across his eyes. He was glad Estumi had come with him. Without her guiding hand he was sure that something reckless would have happened. Something that would have endangered his life. A few times he had considered rushing down and tearing the creatures throat out, but he knew he wasn’t likely to make it within a few paces of the creature before the thunder sticks killed him.

The creatures in the red hides were still standing in the same spot, or more to the point, kneeling. But they hadn’t moved, and their thunder sticks were constantly pointed at the forest. He was not yet fast enough to make it to the main creature before he was killed.

Kabian forced himself to turn away before his primal instincts started to take control. His pain was great, but he was sure the pain suffered by the other wolves would be just as great, if the creatures were allowed to kill anymore. He had a responsibility to look after them.

He had a responsibility to them. The thought kept playing through Kabian’s mind, mixing and twisting with all his rage and anguish. He was a clan leader now. It hadn’t really sunk in yet that it was true. He had watched it as it happened, but as if he was outside his own body. His scent was now on every wolf that had come with Koga. It was even on Koga himself, the old clan leader.

This baffled him, and added to the confusion of everything going on. It was happening so fast. The meeting had only been a couple of nights ago, and already the creatures had arrived at the island.

He closed his eyes and let the sounds of the forest wash over him. He could hear the bubbling brook not too far away, as the water crashed over the rocks and onwards to the Water. He could hear the birds as they took up nest for the night, or hunted for a midnight meal. The wind rustled through the leaves, and the wolves brushed against the ground and the trees, making barely any sound.

But above all of this he could hear the bustle of the creatures. They rushed around everywhere, always speaking loudly in those strange voices they had. Banging things together, and pulling things apart. They were noisy creatures.

He opened his eyes and started walking back to where the others waited. He knew within himself that he wasn’t prepared for what had been forced upon him yet. But he also knew he had no choice.

The only people who could help him were gone, and he didn’t know where. Koga had insisted on leading the wolves to the north. And Ohenoki, who had been guiding his paw through all of this so far, was yet to show up. The last he had seen the old grey wolf was when they had the clan leader meeting. Koga had been the last Kabian knew who had spoken with Ohenoki, but he wasn’t saying a word about what had gone on during that conversation. Whatever it was though, it was why he was beside Kabian now.

He wished Ohenoki was here now, to explain to him what he needed to do.

* * *

The wind brushed down through the top of the opening above them, cooling the wolves that had been baking in the hot sun all day long. Ohenoki looked up and around. He looked at the top of the cliffs, and his eyes wandered along its perfectly round edge, looking at the dark night sky. Clouds gathered around certain edges of the cliffs, but never came over them.

His eyes wandered down a little, at the crafted walls that were the inside of the Temple. From the top of the cliffs down everything was a perfect circle except for the runes and symbols that had been carved into the walls by some unknown force.

His gaze dropped even lower and he looked at the four entrances that spotted the base of the walls. One at each point, north, south, east, and west. Each one lead to a different part of the island. The south one was his entrance, to the land bathed in summer. He had entered it days ago. But it was hard to tell.

Time seemed to flow differently within the Temple. One minute you would seem to be moving fast, the next you were crawling at a snails pace. It was always strange coming in here, but he had not done so for some time, and neither had the three wolves sitting around him.

To his right was a wolf similar to himself in many ways, the only real difference being that Seichi was black, where Ohenoki was grey. They had been friends for many years, and they thought along the same lines. He had been pleased when he realised Seichi was still one of them, it would make his efforts these past days seem less futile.

Across from him sat his biggest worry. The great white wolf was massive, standing well above the other three wolves. Valter was also more powerful than the other three, but that was to be taken for granted, considering such a size difference existed. Ohenoki did not fear him because of his size though. He feared Valter because of the self centred mind track the great white wolf had. He only looked out for himself and his own, barely sparing a thought for the others.

And if having one of the members of the meeting completely opposed to what you asked wasn’t enough, the final member seemed to always follow what Valter decided to do. Not because it was the wisest or smartest thing to do. It was only because Ecazin looked up at the bigger wolf, metaphorically and literally.

Ecazin was the smallest wolf sitting around in the circle. He lived mostly of rabbits and chipmunks. Small creatures that were easy to find, but hard to catch. As such the little red wolf was fast, very fast. He may not have had the size and strength of the other wolves, but he could surely outrun them.

Valter had started to speak, his growl low and rough, and very strong.

“I will not support this, Ohenoki. It does not sit right within me. To trust the balance to such whims is unthinkable.”

“I agree, Valter,” Ecazin’s growl was a bit higher in pitch, and he seemed to drag each growl out for longer than needed.

“But we cannot sit here while this happens. There is more at stake here than you realise.”

Ohenoki knew it was pointless. He had hoped he could sway their minds, but he had not expected it. Valter was very set in his ways, and hard to shift.

“It seems to me Ohenoki that you are just afraid to die.”

“Valter, if my time comes, then it comes. I can do nothing about it.”

“Then why come to us asking for assistance?”

“Because I had hoped you would see reason, Valter. The humans threaten not only my wolves, but the rest of the wolves at the island.”

“No they don’t Ohenoki. You know they can’t pass through the walls. Monok made sure of that. He made creature sounds to keep the wolves in from the mountains, and he hid the trails within the Temple to all but us. What you ask is reckless.”

“You can feel it as well as I do Valter”

“I feel it too,” Ecazin’s eyes shifted around as he growled, as if fearful the cause of his feeling was over his shoulder.

“Close you mouth Ecazin,” Valter growled sharply and angrily.

“Valter, I too can feel it,” Seichi spoke calmly, keeping his tone level, “it has been getting closer these past few days. And you know very well what this feeling means.”

Valter seemed to shrug his shoulders.

“Right now, to me, it means nothing. It’s no more than a feeling. It might not even be right.”

Seichi shook his head slowly and lowered it. There was just no getting through to Valter.

The white wolf stood up to his full height and turned away from the other three. Slowly he started walking back to the northern most entrance.

“Valter, this meeting is not yet over.”

Ohenoki and Seichi called to him, but he paid them no heed and continued on his trek. They looked across at Ecazin, who had now started his trek back to his entrance, the western most one. Again paying them no heed when they tried to call to him.

“I fear we may be in trouble with this, Ohenoki. My trust is in what you say. But I would see for myself, before bringing my wolves across.”

“What I fear the most at the moment Seichi. Is that the one who will succeed me is not yet ready. I had been training one to take my place, but his life was taken from us, and I struggled within myself to find a new heir. But I think Monok has been guiding my paws in this.”

“I feel Monok has been guiding everyone’s paws, even these humans who have come here. But I think Monok hadn’t counted on him coming this close to our island.”

“I can feel his presence, out over the water, hanging back. He must be waiting for something. He knows we are here, why not attack?”

“Good question, but I fear only Innic himself may answer it.”

“Maybe he is wary of what happened last time we fought and the four of us brought to him down.”

“It may be that. But right now I think I need to see what is going on.”

“You are right dear friend. Let us depart and see what is happening, I can hear them calling my name. They seek me out over there. I need to aid them.”

Slowly and deliberately the two wolves started walking towards the southern entrance, heading towards where the humans had started making their way inland.

* * *

Innic lounged on the bed of the captain’s cabin, watching as the Governor poured over a series of maps he had been given.

“It's not here. Not on any of them.”

He shuffled the maps as he spoke, looking from one to another.

Of course it isn’t you fool. You think their god Monok wants them found? He hid them away from everything.

“Then why now? Why him?”

He was waving his arms around wildly now. The situation was confusing.

“And why are we now out here? With the Armada of all things!”

He waves his arm towards the window that covered most of the back wall. Outside, in the night, lights could be seen from many a vessel as the bobbed up and down on the currents of the ocean.

Innic gave a shrug.

I cannot answer that. Maybe the power is failing and it was just random chance?

“But why are we here?”

You’re here because I told you to be here. And you brought the Armada because I told you to bring it. And you’re going to continue to do as I say until I release you from your service. And that may be a very long time.

The Governor threw his arms in the air and fell backwards onto the only chair in the cabin. Thankfully it was padded. He slid down a bit as he sat there, and relaxed, calming himself down.

“Then why do we still wait out here? Why not just land and take the island by force?”

There are four reasons why, and their names are Ohenoki, Valter, Seichi and Ecazin. They can feel my presence just as I can feel theirs. They know something is going on. And until Arman reports back on what he sees, then I will not risk a landing. Too many lives will be lost for no gain. Not that I care for your soldiers, I just can’t sail a ship by myself.

The Governor shook his head; things were more confusing now than when they had sent Arman off to find out what was going on. He laid himself back in the chair closed his eyes, drifting off into a sleep filled with big black dogs and creatures from nightmares, fighting each other.