Chapter 30 – Helix Executioner

The fresh forest air fills my sinuses as a breeze sweeps across my glossy white fur. The cool shade of the willow tree protects me from the heat of the sun as I lazily lay down outside of the village. Chewing on the burnt remains of my prey I ignore the small and sporadic flames lingering in the clearing next to me. A peaceful day of hunting unintelligent creatures for food has been normal recently. I never waste any part of a my prey. Because of my animalistic mind I even play with their bones when I finish eating. I clean my teeth with the flame incrusted rib bones. I sharpen my teeth with the thigh bones. I eat the highly nutritious and delicious bone marrow. Although I am top dog of this area because of my flames I still avoid any animals that show intelligence beyond hunting or scavenging. A prime example of the creatures I avoid hunting is the behemoth.

A small rustling from behind perks my ears. I look back to see my new friend. He still has those three scratches on his face but holds no more resentment after I apologized with some food.

“Vrrrroooo(Did you see the Helix Executioners recently?)”

“errrr(No what did they do now?)”

“Vrump Vrump(They have been much more active recently. I think they’re planning something.)”

“Ruff hoowww(Did you follow them? What do you think they’re planning?)”

“Vrooooooorrrooooorroooooo(No I am to slow to follow them. I was hoping you could do that. I also think we should tell the humans in the village. Maybe you can inform your master as well.)”

“Grrr ruff Grrrr ruuur(She is not my master! We are equals! But yeah Ill tail the next one that leaves the village then inform Alice.)”

Something I never realized until I tried communicating with the behemoth but more intelligent creatures such as me or dragons can communicate with other intelligent creatures naturally. Although the dragon could speak telepathically, if he knew I was intelligent enough he could have even spoken to me through grunts and roars. This is something I found out when I tried to apologize to the behemoth. When I gave him the food he made a noise and I subconsciously knew it was a thank you, and I spoke back. After that it quickly escalated and we were both surprised we could understand each other. He even told me some humans in this world such as beast tamers can understand animal’s language just like we can understand the human language. I knew this could benefit Alice and me greatly, if only I knew how to teach her or tell her to find out by herself.

Following the Behemoth’s directions I go to a trail that sits a little ways outside of town. The Behemoth said that they travel along this path most often. I station myself on top of a tree and wait. Keeping most of my attention on the path below I go into a half meditation. I regulate and practice my Dei techniques along with making fire inside my belly. I experiment in combining the two powers but fail to do so. I try to search within me for the black flames but always come up empty. It is as if they are gone and forever used up or they were never apart of my power to begin with. I also try to fuse my present and past lives powers into one again but am held back by something. I can feel that part of my ability actually exists but I have no way to reach it.

Two men wearing hoods over their faces walk below me. I can see the tip of one red and one black snake tail escape one of the men’s sleeves. It’s the Helix Executioners! They are a radical group against intelligent monsters and human monster relationships. They kill any monster tamers they come across or anyone who supports them. They intentionally kill non-threatening monsters such as the Behemoths and even monster that help the environment. They are wasteful in their ways and burn and destroy any monsters they come across for nothing but pleaser. They are also the same organization who attacked Alice and me.

I trail behind them staying behind trees and far enough where they can’t hear me but my superior senses can hear them.

“I can’t believe we still haven’t found anything about the third squad. We haven’t heard form then in over three months now.”

“How did they disappear when they are so close to one of the bases? I mean they were located in one of the bigger towns in this region.”

“Do you think they got taken down by that girl and wolf they said they would take out?”

“How could they? The girl was just some teenager and, although the wolf was an Alpha, the leader should have been able take them both down even without the help of his squad. I think it has something to do with the Wyvern attack. I bet the smell of their blood attracted the Wyverns and his squad was taken out.”

“So you think the girl and the wolf still died either way?”

“Hell yeah their dead. Have you seen any wolves around the town?”

“I don’t know it just seems to strange to me.”

“Well what are we supposed to do? We never got a description on the girl so we can’t investigate on that front and the wolf has not been seen. We also failed to arrive at the village by the time the bodies were cleaned up. Even if we did show up in time several of the bodies could have been taken away by the wyverns before anyone else even found the crime scene. I am telling you they have to be dead.”

“What if we find another Alpha?”

“That won’t prove anything unless the Alpha is with a girl. Even if that happens it could just be a coincidence. I am telling you just drop it. We have more important things to worry about. Remember to focus on the plan. It won’t be much longer before we can take down the chief and take over that dam village.”

“Yeah I guess. But first we need to find the chief. He doesn’t appear to be in the chiefs home any more. I think he is on to us.”

“Nonsense! Stop your worrying. Let’s hurry and report what we have found.”

I continue to listen to them but they are mostly quite or talk about nonsensical things.

After The attack on Alice and me things changed. She stopped being affectionate with me in public. She also never took me to work again and instead let me wonder the forest freely. We would meet up every few days and talk but it was always outside the village.

I followed their trail for the rest of the day until they set up camp for the night. They never noticed me once. It took three days at their slow pace to finally reach what looked like a hole in the ground dug out to be some type of underground cave. A pile of rocks surrounded it and the entrance was disguised by vines that coated all the rocks. The vines draped down over the five foot tall hole that went down at a steep angle into the earth.

I contemplated entering for a while after they went inside. Without the black fire I am not confident in my ability to survive. I have no idea how many people they have or how strong they are. I also don’t know if there are any traps. After a few minutes of watching I decide to head back to the village. It only takes me half a day to return.

Night has already fallen as the nearly full moon is high in the sky. Standing in the usual spot for Alice to meet me I make the loudest howl I can. She should be off work soon.

Shortly after I release my howl the familiar scent of lilies reach me. “Fenrir! I haven’t seen you for almost a week!” Alice rushes up to me and attacks me with a bear hug and several kisses on the top of my head. “Where have you been mister? I tried to contact you last night.”

My tail uncontrollably wags as Alice embraces me and speaks with a worried tone. Atleast when we are alone she still acts mostly normal. When she finishes her barrage of kisses I give her a big wet dog kiss back.

Alice wipes the slobber off her face and repeats her question. “But seriously Fenrir where did you go? You never miss it when I call you. Is something wrong?”

I nod my head for a moment then motion for her to jump on my back. She does as I say and I dart into the forest toward the hidden hide out.

After half an hour of travel Alice becomes curious. “Fenrir how much further are we going? If a person was walking this we would already be half a day away from the village.”

Dam it Alice you know I can’t answer such complex questions! I only know how to show emotions and nod yes or no! Even if you could read doggy sign language I am busy running. Oh well I might as well try. “Ruufff Ruugh!(It is about half a day’s travel for me. This would be about three days for normal people.)”

“Really it’s going to take that long!”

“Ugh?(You can understand me!)”

“haha you should see your face Fenrir.”

“Rufff rooo Rough ruff!(This is great I have so much I want to say to you! As soon as I bring you to the Helix’s hide out and back to the village I want to talk about so much!)”

Alice laughs uncontrollably on top of my back. After she finishes her laughing fit she wipes a tear away. “Haha Fenrir I can’t believe you fell for it. I actually have no idea what you’re saying. I am sorry, but maybe one day. The village chief says he could teach me but… well that would take a lot longer. We would be forced to stay at this village for a few years and I know we both wanted explore the world.”

In response to her I make a meaningless but emotional moan. I guess for now the only person I can talk to is the behemoth.

In response she scratches me behind the ear. “I’m sorry big guy.”

After that we run in silence but Alice continues to pet me for most of the trip. When we arrive within view of the vine covered rock pile I stop and lower myself so Alice can jump off easier. She jumps off and steps in front of me examining the rock pile.

In a voice louder than I wish she would use Alice says “Is this what you wanted to show me?”

I tap her shoulder to make her turn around. As she turns her face toward me I softly plant my paw on her mouth. Sadly since my paw almost the size of a frying pan it covers her whole face. I really wish I could just reproduce the noise of shushing someone.

Alice pulls the giant paw off her face to reveal a slightly grumpy face. Now whispering she says. “Did you want me to more quiet?”

I nod my head in conformation then move on ahead of her. I need to show her what is inside so she can understand the big picture.

“What is so important about these rocks? It’s almost morning Fenrir this better be good!”

I stay silent and poke my head into the vines covering the invisible hole. I already enveloped my entire body in Dei and have a large concentration of fire prepared to explode from every part of my body. I don’t see or hear anything so I bring the rest of my body inside. After I take a few steps inside a slight tugging sensation comes from my front most paw. I hear something begin to move to my left and turn my head toward it. The tip of a large battle axe is falling toward my head. In the second of fear I release the explosive power and a bright flash of light fills the surroundings as everything including the battle axe gets pushed away from me. Rocks fall off the walls and roll down the tunnel.

Deeper with in the hole I hear a few surprised voices and footsteps begin rushing toward me. Before anything around me has time to settle I dart back out of the man-made cave. Alice had already jumped back away from the cave and had her eyes set on the cave entrance when I released my full body explosion.

As I get next to Alice and turn around four people with leather armor and a variety of weapons all come out. On each of their left hands is the familiar tattoo of the Helix Executioners.

Alice’s eyes go wide and she mouths the word helix. I shoot a river of flames toward the four people to hold them off as Alice comes too. Snapping out of her short trance she jumps on my back and yells a command. “Run Fenrir! Let’s get out of here!” I zip into the woods running as quickly as I can back to the village.

Even if the group of people follow us at full speed they will still take at least a day and a half to get to the village. With my haste we begin to near the village after just three hours. However before we can reach the village I hear a familiar loud and booming cry.

“Vrrrrrooooooo!(Heeeeellllp!)”

The Behemoth is in danger! I change my course and rush toward the behemoth. In just a few moments I reach my friend and Alice jumps off of me. Three people with the vile Helix tattoos surround him. A fourth person is lying on the ground next to a smashed tree. I charge in with my claws a blaze and a fire shooting from my mouth. The flame from my mouth hits one of the people making him confused and panicked. A different person is caught in my lunge and I begin savagely clawing at her tearing her apart.

The third person shouts. “Holy shit where did that thing come from!” He jumps back and brings his guard back up. The man who was hit by flames drops to the floor rolling around and patting himself. My surprise attack was able to take one of them out.

“Vrrooo Roar!(Thank you wolf. I will take this one you take the one rolling on the floor.)”

I do as the behemoth says and attack the man still on fire. I pour more flames on him as I lunge at him with my claws. I can’t get a clean attack on him with my claws but with the accumulation of fire I still end his life quickly.

I turn back to see the remaining man get his head crushed by the behemoths massive and heavy foot. Alice stands a little ways in front of the Behemoth with her foot in the air. She must have snuck up behind the man and kicked him down in front of the behemoth.

Clapping resonates from within the forest as a woman with a katana on her back walks out from some tree. She is the same woman who attacked Alice and me before we came to the town. “Wow you guys sure have changed.”

“Vroooo.(They helped save me.)”

“Hmph of course they did.” She gives a slight bow to the behemoth then turns and points at Alice. “You woman come over here.”

Alice begins to tell the woman what I showed her and everything that happened while the behemoth and I have our own conversation.

“Roof! (So I found their base and showed it to Alice.)”

“Vrooo?(Really how far away is it?)”

“Hoowwl ruff! (For humans it is about three days away. But we must be careful. They spotted us and might be on their way here.)”

“Vrooooo.(Thank you for this information wolf. I will make sure the chief receives this.)”

“Ugh?(You know I have a name right?)”

“Vrooo(Yes I believe the girl Alice calls you Fenrir right?)”

“Woof(Ummm well actually I have a different name. I am Deadra, what is your name?)”

“Vroooo(Names are a human concept. I have no name. Simply call me as I am a Behemoth.)”

“Ruff(But what if I come across another Behemoth?)”

“Vroooo(Although that is unlikely you can give me a name if you wish.)”

“Rooo Ruff!(Ok how about I call you Scar because umm well the scar I gave you…)”

“Vrooo(Very well I am fine with that.)”

Off on the side Alice and the woman finish their conversation.

“This is interesting news. We must tell the chief, please follow me.” The girl starts to walk away with Alice but Scar stops them.

“Vroooo(Litel bring this wolf called Fenrir with you. The chief wants to talk with him.”

“You mean this wolf is smart enough to communicate just like you?” Scar simply stares at her without repeating himself. “Fine I will do as you say holy one.” She pulls a chain out from behind her and walks toward my direction.

“Vroooo(He does not need that. Allow him to move freely.)”

“Uhh oh yes of course your holiness.” She puts the chain away and begins walking toward the town. “All right follow me you two.”

Alice steps next to me while staring at the back of Litel. “Hey do you know how to speak with the monsters?”

Litel gives a passive answer. “Yes”

“Can you teach me?”

“No”

“Can you translate something Fenrir says while we walk back?”

“No”

“Can you do anything nice!”

Silence. The woman completely blows Alice off and continues on the path to the village.

Entering the village is easier with Litel guiding us. The guards don’t give us any trouble but still glance at me with worry in their eyes.

As we arrive in the center of town we come across a small humble home. It looks exactly like the other ones around it. Literally nothing sets it apart. It is made of mostly stone with bits of metal spokes sticking out from random places. There is a small wooden door and window covered in a wooden panel. There is no front or back yard as it is directly attached to the road. Litel goes to the wooden door and knocks three times.

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Also do people think I had to much dialogue or was it an ok amount?