His axe spun, blood and black fur flying from his blades. Dead wolves laid by his feet as Draxz cut through the pack that found its way through the front lines. His axe sliced through the throat of the last lycan and he breathed heavily from excitement, his eye darting from side to side waiting for his next victim. When none came, he relaxed and watched the black wolves run off into the darkness from where they came.

“Reform.” Draxz grunted to the pure blood at his side who raised a horn to his lips and blew out three long notes. The legion shuffled back into their tight formations, the injured removing themselves from the front line, their eager replacement excited for their turn to spill blood.

“Forward.”

The horn released a long note and the sounds of metal and footsteps followed. After a few yards a howl sounded from the red woods and gray lycan joined the battle.

“About time Aύok.” Draxz said with a grin, the sounds of death mixing with laughter from the blood lusting minotaur. Draxz pushed forward followed by two elite royal guards Goren had forced upon him.

“Go for their throats, anything else they ignore.” Draxz said to them as he made it to the front line. They nodded silently and their sharp blades shined in the moon light as they were unsheathed. Draxz held firm the guards on either side showing a break in the wall of shields. Looking like easy prey the gray wolves changed direction and rushed Draxz’s way.

“Time to see if you can use those fancy swords and armor.” Draxz laughed holding two double edged battle axes with sharp points protruding from the top.

“Uuk-rahh!” Draxz shouted, his axes still dripping blood from the previous kills.

“Uuk-rahh.” His legion responded as one.

Draxz broke from the line and ran towards the oncoming lycan, their snarls and yips a beacon. The royal guard was quick on his heel followed by his legion, abandoning their formation. As the lycan grew closer, Draxz lowered his head, his horns pointed towards the pack leader. He shifted his weight as he lowered his body and with one powerful step, he launched himself forward into the lycan before it could defend itself. Draxz’s horns skewered the wolf’s chest and his forward momentum forced the dying wolf back into its rushing pack. Wolves bounced off the dead wolf while Draxz pushed deeper into the horde of claws and fangs. He stopped suddenly and the dead wolf slid easily off the horns, falling onto two oncoming lycan. Surrounded by sneering beasts, Draxz laughed and roared loudly into the air, the wolves staying back, cautious of their new prey. When he finished his blood-filled war cry the wolves broke from their trance and leapt at him. Draxz’s axe blade easily caught the first wolf to his left at the neck, snapping the bone. His left axe rose, catching a second wolf in the chin, sending the creature in an awkward bloody back flip. He dropped his left axe down hard on the approaching wolf and the flat of the blades sent the mindless creature flying into the approaching minotaur to finish off. A sharp pain to his right thigh sent his right axe down, severing the spinal cord of the attacker, its jaws going slack. A flash of movement forced him to level his left axe catching a pouncing lycan in the throat with the blade tip. Using the momentum of the leap, Draxz side stepped and turned, using the wolf’s weight to spin him and remove its self from his axe tip. Without hesitating, Draxz shifted his weight and brought the handles of the axes together and rotated at the hip, the blades of each axe catching a descending wolf in the midsection. The power of the attack split the wolf in two and showered Draxz in blood and intestines. Another wolf launched itself, its sharp fangs aimed for Draxz’s neck. He caught the movement out of the corner of his eye and he shifted, his horns blocking the fangs from meeting flesh. Dagger claws raked his chest, creating small lines of blood. Raising his axes from the ground, he stabbed the beast in the chest with the axe points and thrusted it away. The elite guards caught up and danced around the wolves, their armor deflecting fangs and claws while their swords sliced precisely at their throats in return. Draxz finished off the wolf with two gaping wounds in its chest, using the axe more like a club, connecting the flat of the blade to the side of the fallen creature’s head. With his foes dead or dying he glanced back at the royal guards. He saw one defending himself from a lycan as another sped in from the side. Knowing the tactic, Draxz aimed and released one of the axes. Draxz watched it go end over end and the blade sank deep into the side of the beast before it made it to the royal guard. The axe’s momentum threw off the beast’s trajectory and it flew harmlessly to the side. Draxz charged and caught another wolf un aware, decapitating it before it knew he was there. Walking over to the gray lycan with his axe still buried deep into its side, it moved, but its rear legs gave out under its weight. With its hands, it removed the axe with a yelp of pain, but still couldn’t move its rear. It crawled to face Draxz. Bloody drool escaping from its mouth while it growled, trying to make one last stand. Draxz cocked his head and grinned as he placed his axe on his shoulder then looked around at the massacre of gray wolves around him. He looked back down at the lycan crawling his way, pain showing in its eyes, but with a drive that forced it forward regardless of being near death.

“Till your last breath? What is driving you?” Draxz knelt down eyeing the wolf who began to crawl even slower, leaving a deep red puddle in its wake.

“This is new.” Draxz stood back up when the lycan collapsed at last from blood lust. Draxz picked up his fallen axe and eyed the devastation. Not one fled.

“Were you sent to only die?” He whispered to himself. Looking curiously over to the red woods where he knew Aύok stood commanding his horde. The sound of metal slicing through bone snapped him from his thoughts. He looked over and saw the royal guards slamming their blades into the heads of the dead creatures.

“They are dead already.” Draxz said laughing. “Reform!” A horn went off with three notes and minotaur shuffled around him as he walked behind the lines, the royal guards looking with frantic eyes, blood covering their armor and weapons walking at his heels.

~

Lykos’ wolf side enjoyed watching the destruction of Aύok’s fodder. His brother’s tactics were dull and sloppy. So much so, that it raised suspicion. Lykos let his next wave attack as Aύok continued the headlong assault to the right flank of the minotaur line. He kept his fodder to the left so the wolves wouldn’t collide with each other and start an unnecessary battle between them. Lykos allowed his general to take control of the fodder so he could watch the battles unfold. His black wolves moved with grace and picked off the weakest members at the front lines and dragged them from danger to feast before going back for more. Aύok showed Lykos how to use the fodder as a delicate knife over the centuries. He would dismantle wolf legions effortlessly and toy with them till they retreated or died.

What Lykos saw the gray wolves doing was nothing of the sort. They ran straight at the wall of metal and horn and their dead began to form a wall of its own. They used the wall of their own dead to leap deeper into the lines causing chaos for the un prepared smaller bulls that made up the majority of their front lines. He watched the nemesis he had come to respect separate from the main force. He towered above the smaller bulls, making them look like young adults with only two other formidable sized bulls at his heels. He grinned watching the dance of the one-eyed beast as it roared and made the fodder look insignificant. He moved faster and the claws and fangs never bothered this berserker as he let them taste his blood. As fast as the skirmish started, it ended with the pack of fifty fodder lying dead around the three large warriors. Lykos continued to watch from the shadows as one eye stared off into the redwoods. From this distance, he could not see his facial features, only his stance as he heaved, blood dripping from his black matted hair. Lykos saw something he couldn’t place. Disappointment? He watched one eye return to the depth of the force. Lykos glanced back over to the red woods trying to search the night. The night was dark and even with the gift of the wolf and his druid sight, the distance was too much and the night too dark. The land was flat, but the moonlight would play tricks on him as the wind blew softly.

What are you up to brother? Lykos thought out. He was closer to his brother than he had been in years, and he missed hearing his voice. He paused waiting for a response. Had the wolf won out? He knew the blood of the wolf conquered his mind from time to time when he was at his weakest. Had his brother been fighting the same? Had he lost in a moment of weakness? Lykos allowed his mind to walk down a dark road as the wolf whispered.

Kill, while he is weak. Kill to be one pack. Lykos shook his head and the growling whisper was broken. No, Aύok was always the stronger. He would be the first to give in, not Aύok. They both knew it and he accepted it. He looked out again to the red woods and closed his eyes. He lowered his head and willed essence from the earth around him. After a few moments he opened his eyes and he felt like the essence would begin to seep from his eyes. He began to see clearer as the night turned to day before his eyes. He felt the life of the trees and small shrubs all around him. He felt the feet of the minotaur and the fodder far in the distance on the ground. He focused his attention to the red woods and began to release his own essence out in that direction, connecting with the root system of the intricate redwoods. He felt his long-forgotten druid kin, his mind paused by his nephew. He felt the uneasy shifting of his feet and he moved on till he realized his brother was not among the remaining force. He withdrew his own essence and severed the connection he created with the redwoods not wanting to lose his mind within the ancient trees. Once back in his own mind he turned to his force. His deep orange eye dilated and a blue ring pulsed around the edge.

Return at once! Lykos shouted in his mind. The druids nearby flinched and cowered as if his voice sounded as a god into their ears. The druids and fodder closest knelt, their head down, patiently waiting for the next command. The fodder kicked up dust in the distance as the rolling darkness of hair and claws flashed in the moonlight. The fodder began to bark and wine in protest as they left the blood lust they were in. With another quick thought, they dark sea became silent, even their footsteps became a whisper compared to the thunder it was. His fodder ran past him quieter than the wind flowing through the trees above him. Lykos could hear roars of triumph from the bulls who believed to be victorious. He filled himself with the surrounding essence again and after a few moments, night became day again. He felt all ten thousand four hundred and seven… now six as the wounded fodder had its last breath. He felt their breaths and their beating hearts. He looked out over the battlefield and saw the gray fodder similar to his force plunge into the depths of the line of the small bulls. They rolled over the smaller horned creatures as if they were small pebbles holding a line against a rising tide. The gray storm of death made their way to the larger, more formidable bulls. Even they were no match for the overwhelming numbers that suddenly assaulted the right flank. He pried his eyes from the bloodshed and focused his mind, thinking only of his brother.

Aύok, what have you done? With is eyes still closed he force the thought with his essence and it found the thin, fading connection the brothers made between them so many centuries ago. The bond strengthened at his thought and with the consumed nature’s energy he forced it along the thin line as is covered the many miles between them. At last Lykos breathed as he felt his brothers will. The feeling made his heart leap and a small smile tugged at his lips with the relief. His words flowed into his brother as they connected and he felt him stop walking.

I have reached the mountain. The thought said in Aύok’s voice.

Lykos paused unsure of how to respond. He remembered their plans of conquest to retake the human lands, then to expand to the forgotten world beyond.

Then I will go north into the old lands as planned. Lykos thought back

The bulls will follow, with wolves in their wake.

We will be ready when they do.

Stay strong Lykos, we will be reunited in time.

Stay vigilant Aύok, take back our lands.

Their essence intertwined for a brief moment and it was the closest feeling to an embrace. Their connection slowly faded as he felt Aύok turn and leave the circle of swirling essence they created among the small roots dangling from the cave’s ceiling. Lykos slowly reeled his mind in and when he was back in his own head fully, he stood, holding back the tear he didn’t know started to pool by his eye. Lykos breathed in deep and then released his held breath and the rest of the remaining essence.

“We run north.” Lykos said out loud, his voice sounding in all their heads as well.

“Nothing returns from the north.” A druid said, his elven head still bowed.

“This time we go with the horde. Let us discover what keeps our fodder from returning.” Lykos responded without looking the druid’s direction.

Lykos looked back over the battle as the fodder pushed completely through the right flank and swept around the edges, collapsing the legions onto the center wolf legion that he knew well. As the sun began peaking over the horizon, he tried spotting the leaders that had caused him so must frustration over the years, but they blended in with the other large, formidable bulls. The left flank he left scrambled to reinforce the broken flank. The wolf legion held firm but slowly flowed back behind the smaller bulls. A deep resonating howl echoed from the redwoods and he recognized his nephew. He watched the remaining five hundred druid elves run out of the forest naked in a craze. They were as tall and as formidable as one eye in their druid form even without weapons and armor. His nephew, naked in his lycan form ran between the druids with un paralleled speed. As they ran, they let the wolf consume them and soon the tsunami of death clashed with the fodder and the pebbles holding back the tide were swallowed in a sea of gray and red.

~

The minotaur heard the howls and they were followed by the sounds of thunder. The night was long and bloody, their stamina being taxed to the limit. Draxz and his generals withdrew away from the front lines, their legions replaced with the expendable half breeds and half bulls, the newer recruits forming a wall between them.

“Tha sun rises, an with it a victory.” Duudra said, his smile flashing. “We put tha black dogs down an Lykos called them to run with tails tucked between their legs.” Nods from the group were all the congratulations he received and his smile widened. “Was a good night for killin’ no?”

“It was glorious…” Teeru said a grin tugging at the corners.

“It is far from over, Lykos may have lost the night, but Aύok continues to send wave after wave without pause.” Narok said taking the joy out of the air. “He is relentless tonight. His tactics, unlike anything we have come across. Our half breeds and half bulls are taking heavy casualties, but the fresher lines are holding and now with the new recruits to fortify their rear, they are holding.

“Their only purpose here is to die.” Draxz said, his black hair matted with drying blood and gore.

“Yes, but their numbers help combat the endless horde of the wolves. Every half bull is worth two wolfs. The numbers now must be in our favor.” Narok responded walking over to the map, the flags already rearranged.

“You weaken our pride, keeping us back from the bloodshed.” Draxz said glancing over at the map, his wolf legion now at the rear, the other flags in front to account for the increase of Aύok attacks.

“We are the…. Front line if…. Lykos counters….” Teeru said nodding at the map.

“His words ring true and you be knowin it Lord Draxz.” Duudra said justifying the new layout.

“Fodder verse fodder is the way this must go Lord, the wolf legion must be rested for when the real battle begins. We will push deeper into the wolf territory and our skills will be un matched. We will rid these lands of this scourge once and for all.” A horn blew a line of notes in the distance and Narok stopped talking. He then moved the last yellow flag in front of the wolf legions, the green flags dotted between them.

“Even the new recruits will see battle before most of the wolf legion at his setup.” Draxz said with venom in his voice his hand gesturing to the table.

“This is war, not skirmishes we are accustomed to.” Narok said looking over to Draxz.

“I’m not for likin’ it either, but he isn’t wrong.

“It’s as it…. Should be.”

Draxz looked over to his generals who he saw as brothers and shook his head in defeat.

“You are my generals because I trust your words. We all crave for the battle. If it’s the right choice in all your minds, so be it.” He looked back down at the map and began to notice the thin line of flags along the mountain with large spaces between the watch towers.

“What of these areas?” Draxz said pointing to the empty places to the west along the mountains.

“We have a small scouting force that is traversing the area. Mainly half breeds and half bulls. Boulder valley is impassable and if they did somehow get a sizable force to cross the large area, our scouts and watch towers could see the approach long before they reach solid ground.

“And if they crossed at night?” Draxz said his eyes not moving from the map. No answer came and Narok put the pieces together.

“The half bulls and half breeds without our sight in the dark would be blind to them.” Narok whistled and a soldier appeared instantly from the tent flap.

“Send Marlik and his cohort along boulder valley, and tell him I wanted him there before the night started.” The horned soldier slammed his fist to his chest and ran off.

“Aύok’s tactics may be the distraction he needs.” Narok said placing a flag along in the space between the watch towers. “The valley is wide and treacherous; none has ever been seen crossing the valley. Why would they now?”

The generals looked at Draxz, but he could only shake his head not knowing the answer. As he stood in his own thoughts, horns began to blow erratically and desperately. They left the tent and looked out over the battle field. Howls filled the air in the distance and from the red woods spilled the gray hair horde in a number greater than they could have imagined.

“Your blades will taste blood sooner than you had thought Lord Draxz.” Narok said admiring the over whelming numbers running their way.

~

Draxz and his generals moved from the tent to the rear of the legion.

“Shield wall!” Draxz roared and a horn went off. As one his battle-hardened legion moved and their shields intertwined. Their matte black armor was dull and the rising sun only shined off their blades. Scratches and dents from thousands of skirmishes littered each soldier. Each mark a badge of honor worn proudly for their brethren to admire. Old wounds scarred armor less arms and legs, horns scratched and nicked. Each pure blood in his legion proved their worth with spilt blood.

The legion held firm, their eyes without fear as they watched the horde continue to pour from the redwoods. Thousands of wolves covered the open ground and still more flowed in the endless river.

Half breeds backed into the shield wall and the legion held firm. They would only step forward, never back. The shield wall behind the first line tucked in close, their spears nestled between their brethren’s heads, preparing to kill all who attempted to pass their impenetrable barrier. A half breed lost its nerve as the first of the horde clashed with the front line. He ran into the wall of shields that stood as tall as him without a crack or weakness to exploit. He swung his war-hammer hard on the shield with all his might, but there was no sign that someone on the other side noticed. He repeated his attack, and on the third swing, the shield moved as if its owner shrugged slightly. The half breed raised his weapon again, but a sudden sensation over took him. Pain flowed rapidly from his chest and warm fluid covered his abdomen. He looked down and his armor had a puncture and his own blood poured from torn metal. His mind caught up to the feeling and he fell to his knees, his last thought was the on the screams of battle that sounded behind him.

“Hold!” Draxz shouted over the sound of chaos and death. His legion not needing to be told as they watched the raging horde pour into the front lines of the half breeds. The front line held the initial collision but the wolves used their first lines as stepping stones and began spring boarding over the half breed shield wall. Like a tidal wave, the wolves all began to flow over the initial front line. A second half breed shield wall stopped the next surge, but soon the wolves repeated the tactic. Half breeds began to fall to the overwhelming numbers surging at them. The first line collapsed under the pressure and vanished beneath the starving swarm. Blood covered lycan joined the push forward and more half breeds fell under their overpowering mass. Half bulls skewered the wolves, but died being outnumber ten to one.

Draxz watched his fodder being pushed back. For every wolf they killed two hungry jaws replaced it. His fodder was massacring the wolves, but deaths meant nothing compared to how many still flowed from the red woods.

“Spear volleys.” Draxz commanded and two horn notes went off. The wolf legion recruits behind the half breeds lowered their shields and prepared to throw their spear.

“Now.” A horn went off and the recruits released their spears in unison. Their spears flew over the hundreds of lines of half breeds and found targets within the mass of gray hair.

“Again.” The horns sounded again and the recruits let more spears fly, killing hundreds more of the congested beasts. Draxz repeated the volleys until their spear reserves depleted. Hundreds of wolves died in the volleys and at last Draxz noticed the lack of reinforcements flowing from the woods.

The half breeds attempted to hold on as the remaining horde continued their push, but in time they were consumed into the massive death toll. When the wolves killed the last of the half breed lines, they were held back by the pure blood recruits.

“Wolf legion, spear volley.” Draxz commanded and horns went off. All but the first shield line hoisted their spears and held at the ready. With a signal from Draxz the horn went off and the wolf legion spears flew in unison over the recruits and found a victim, many found two from the force of the throws.

“Again.” Horns went off and again the legion rained spears upon the dwindling force. The legion readied another spear, but Draxz stayed silent, his legion standing firm, their spears ready to be thrown in an instant. Draxz watched his recruits holding a shield wall, making progress with the remaining wolves.

“Forward, two Steps.” Draxz commanded and intricate notes went off.

“Uuk-rahh” Sounded from the recruits in the distance and they pushed forward their first step forcing the wolves back, others dying beneath them. They held strong as the wolves retaliated and again the war cry sounded and they pushed forward. Wolves fell quickly to the recruits, being no match for the stronger and quicker pure bloods. Draxz grinned and turned to Narok.

“Our recruits learned well.”

“Still sloppy, that second push allowed a few through.” Narok responded, his face stern. The shield wall continued to hold the horde that now numbered in only a few thousand.

“We will see the end of Aύok at last Narok.” Draxz said still grinning at the devastation before him. “Our recruits will finish the remaining force in short order.” Narok only nodded at the words and stayed focus on the battle.

“At ease….” Draxz began as a loud, bellowing howl sounded from the red woods. Large black vultures scattered from the redwoods in a swarm creating a black swirling cloud above them. Their calls of frustration followed the howl. Draxz looked back to the red woods and watched as large shadows appeared from the dark forest. Tall gray lycan stood at the edge, their eyes reflecting the rising sun in and eerie sight. The tallest lycan bellowed again and descended down the hill towards the remaining horde. Draxz watched the large beasts cover the ground quicker than the smaller wolves, their legs springing them twice the distance of their smaller counterparts. Behind the line of creatures ran tall humanoid men and women. They ran naked, screaming, their hands in fists. The lycan line appeared only slightly larger than the humanoids as they ran.

“What are these?” Narok began watching the naked giants flowing from the woods. As Draxz was about to respond the giants began to transform, their heads becoming elongated, their faces consumed in uncontrolled discomfort. Their shoulders budged and their knees bent inwards awkwardly, their momentum forcing their torso forward and their hands became claws as they touched the dirt. Without missing a step, they charged forward, muscle and hair replacing the smooth tanned skin. By the time the hundreds of giants reached the smaller wolves, they were all a snarling line of muscle, claw and fangs. In was not until the horde collided back with the recruits did Draxz realize the size of the new creatures. The new lycan force charged into the pure blood recruits and with ease they dismantled the shield wall. Sharp claws dug into the thick shields and with a simple pull, the pure bloods lost their grip on the shield, leaving them exposed. Their swords at the ready were easily dodged and claws ripped out their throats, the smaller lycan rushed through the openings and pounced on the unprepared. Draxz watched the shield wall be decimated in fascination then snaped back to attention.

“Spear Volley.” Horns went off and the legion released the spears. The rain of death fell upon the horde. To Draxz amazement the larger lycan either dodged the attack or showed no sign of even being hit. The spears looked like annoying arrows on the larger creatures and they were quickly removed. With a howl, the larger beasts stopped their attack and removed the spears from their body or from the fallen smaller wolves. After another howl, the large lycan gripped the spears and threw them back at the legion.

“Shields up!” Draxz roared as he watched the counter attack. Shields went up and spears rained upon them.

Spear tips bounced off of the raised shields and slid, finding gaps. Sharp tips drew blood from the minotaur as they passed. Draxz stood tall, watching the spears as they fell upon the shields. Listening to grunts of pain he followed the path of the last spear and let it fall, its path aimed for him. He eyed it and stepped to the left and it struck the ground behind him.

“That is new.” Draxz said with a small laugh, eyeing the new attackers who already were back to ripping through the recruits.

Draxz noted not a single of the larger wolves had died in the attack. Their gray hair turned red from the blood of their wounds and the decimation of the recruits. Limps flew into the air, weapons still gripped tightly in fists. The recruits pushed forward, their pride and lust for kills over taking their mind. Draxz watched as his wolf legion stood still, the recruits pushing forward.

When the last of the recruits fell to the creatures, the battle field held an unnerving silence. Wind blew gently over the dead, slight groans from the dying carried along with it. Their ears twitched from the sounds, their eyes locked on the remaining few smaller wolves gorging themselves on the dead, the larger lycan standing tall, eyeing the legion’s shield wall. Only a few hundred feet separated the two forces but the tension between the forces grew thicker. Draxz looked to his right were the spear still laid buried in the dirt. He casually removed the spear from the ground and eyed the tallest lycan that stood at its center. With a fluid movement, Draxz launched the spear into the air and his aim was true. The spear sunk deep into the chest of the beast; its point fully embedded. Draxz grinned, the creature stood still as if made of marble. It looked down at its chest and removed the spear as if it was a minor inconvenience. Blood flowed from the wound as the point was removed, causing a blood trail to descend his abdomen. The large creature held the spear out to its side and Draxz felt its eyes reach his. A small movement on the creature’s chest made his eye flick to it and he watched in shock as skin slowly reknitted itself shut leaving a bald spot of fresh skin, that already began to grow new hair. Draxz smile dropped and his eyes narrowed, noticing the line of large lycan who stood snarling, but woundless.

“What is this?” Draxz said in a whisper. He watched the lycan look to its left and then to its right and without a howl or signal the creatures picked up weapons from the fallen recruits. Some used sword and shield, others dual blades, some war-hammers. Each lycan held its weapon with ease in its clawed hands. Once they were all holding a weapon the leader gave a slight nod and the smaller wolves stopped their meals and ran full force across the hundreds of yards, blood from their meal still dripping from their chins.

The legion slaughtered the attack of the remaining wave of smaller beasts effortlessly. Against the well organized and battle-hardened pure bloods, not a single wolf even caused a wound. The line of lycan stood still on two legs, slightly hunched ready to attack. Without a sound or wave of a paw the weaponized lycan ran, the gap diminishing in a few bounds. Right as the lycan reached the shield wall, spears lowered to skewer the first wave. With ease the lycan leapt, their strong legs launching them well over the first three tightly packed lines of pure bloods who held their weapons ready to meet the attackers. The force of lycan descended upon un expected troops before the front lines had time to adjust their spears. Confusion and death followed.

Lycan accepted thrusts from spears and swords as their own weapons found vital areas, killing pure bloods in a single attack. The shield wall turned and began to press, lycan being surrounded on all sides. Spears and swords collided and horns found fangs. Some locked in such close combat, weapons were dropped and their primal instincts kicked in. Wolves ripped the throats from the minotaur with their fangs as horns pierced through hearts. Draxz watched his legion lose their tight formations, the wolves making short work of any pure blood who wasn’t quick enough to raise a blade or shield.

Draxz gripped his double-edged axes and strode forward, his generals following his lead. Each picked out a target and went running to. Draxz set his eye on the largest of the beasts as he killed pure blood after pure blood, a war-hammer in his clawed hands twirled fluidly and quickly has he turned. Draxz thought the wolf was dancing, the war-hammer a light stick in its claws. It was too graceful and moved unlike any wolf he had ever seen. Swords sliced the creature, but the wounds never stopped the dance. Draxz stood, almost in a trance as the last pure blood fell to the large creature, its war hammer coming in fast, crushing the helmet inward, its jaw unhinged as it fell. The lycan halted its dance for a moment, noticing the pure bloods keeping clear of the range of the hammer. The beast breathed in deep, the wound on its side healing. Its eyes found Draxz and it stood up eyeing him up and down. Draxz held up his weapons, ready for the creature to attack.

“What are you?” Draxz asked curiously.

“Your better.” The lycan responded in fluid words. Draxz halted his progress.

“You speak beast? Are you the only intelligent creature here?” The lycan let out a noise that sounded like a harsh breath with small yips between them. Its tongue lulled slightly out of its mouth.

“You are the beast here, bull, not I. We were here long before your kind and will be long after your last breath. Even now, your race crumbles and your blood lines grow thinner. You are more beast than I, even now, for I am Listyn, son of Prince Aύok, come to put you beasts in your place.” Listyn closed the gap faster than Draxz had expected. His left axe rose just in time to catch the force of the hammer, deflecting it from colliding with his exposed neck. The force of the swing dented the axe blade and his arm throbbed with discomfort. Listyn’s fluid movements put Draxz in a slight trance, his blades trying to find and opening in the blur of movement. Draxz stepped back as the hammer hummed past him. His eye followed the hammers path and pick the moment to attack. He threw his axe and charged in; horns leveled at Listyn’s chest. With ease Listyn nocked the axe from its trajectory and lowered his war-hammer horizontally. Draxz’s horns nicked Listyn’s chest, but the metal bar of the war-hammer at the base of Draxz’s horns held him in place.

“Foolish beast.” Listyn said with a smirk, twisting his weapon. Draxz’s head tilted, locked in place and Listyn spun him till he fell on his back. The war-hammer caught in Draxz’s horns and it slipped from Listyn’s grasp. Draxz rolled on the dirt and then dug his feet and hands in to stop his momentum. He looked up to see Listyn looking down at him, his head tilted.

“Again?” He taunted. Draxz filled with rage, charged, his head lowered, horns aimed again. His legs pumped and he ran with all his force. He felt Listyn’s weight, ready to feel the river of warm blood flow down his head. But all he felt was the world moving. The ground rushed under him as he flew over it. When he hit the ground, he struck a rock and pain spiked through his side.

He rolled over and forced himself to rise on all fours. His pride stripped away, he looked up to see Listyn running on all fours, snarling, his sharp fangs glistening. Draxz stood up just in time and braced himself as Listyn punched, sharp claws raked his chest and fangs punctured his shoulder. Draxz felt the pain surge through him as his tough flesh did nothing to stop the ferocious bites. When Draxz hit the ground, he pushed with all his strength and threw Listyn off as he rolled, flesh ripping from his shoulder as Listyn’s momentum carried him off. Draxz forced himself up, his right shoulder bloody and painful. He balled his right fist and moved his arm. It protested in pain, but he could still use it. Listyn rolled onto all fours and leapt again as soon as his paws were firmly planted. Draxz gritted his teeth and raised his arms ready to halt the rushing wolf. As Listyn closed in he pushed off the ground and he flew, his angle poised for Draxz throat. Draxz caught Listyn and midair and the fangs missed their target. Listyn yelped and claws dug into Draxz’s chest and then let go. Draxz moved with Listyn’s momentum and released him. Listyn hit the ground and rolled, a spear deep in the side of his throat. Narok ran past Draxz followed by another pure blood. Listyn went for the spear but his hand found a blade, severing it off at the wrist. Narok raised his weapon and brought it down heavily on Listyn’s neck. The wound was deep but Listyn retaliated, his bloody stump in place to catch Narok’s follow up strike. Down came his powerful weapon and his forearm split, the blade going deeper into his neck, guided by the previous attack. The blade held firm in the bone and Narok stepped back, looking down at the claw that dug deep into his calf. He removed the sharp claws and limped away from the bloodied wolf.

“Cut its damn head off already.” Narok grumbled to the pure blood who severed off the hand. He wrestled with the weapon and then once it was free from the bone, chopped again and again until at last the large wolf head came free of its body. Narok limped over to Draxz and nodded.

“Thought he had you there.” Narok said nodding towards the river of blood flowing from Draxz’s shoulder. Draxz grunted in response and looked over the battle field where only a few more wolves stood. He watched them fall under the wolf legions numbers, the wolf heads severed and raised up high as they celebrated. Narok placed his hand on Draxz’s good shoulder not looking back at the legion.

“We lost a good number of true warriors today. What happened today will be counted as a victory because we were the last ones standing. But…” Narok paused and look back over the battle field littered with thousands of dead half breed, half bull and wolf legion recruits. “Did we win?” Narok met Draxz’s yellow eye and then looked down. Narok removed his hand and limped away.