05-07-2016, 01:52 PM
Odin sat astride Sleipnir, who clomped along beside their two companions. The night’s chill was still in the air, but the sun was climbing higher, warming their skin. The dirt road was mostly deserted. The few exceptions were hardy types: hunters, trappers, military scouts. The forest quickly grew thicker and darker in this direction. Slowly the canopy darkened their path until it seemed like twilight.
They heard the rain crackling the leaves at the tops of the trees before they felt anything. The tinkling grew to a pattering, and finally they felt a few drops falling on their heads. Sadly, it didn’t stop there. The skies continued to darken until noon looked like midnight. The skies opened and the heavy rains beat their way through the canopy until it was providing no cover for the travelers.
“Should we find someplace to wait this out?” yelled Odin over the crack of thunder.
“No point,” replied Gad. “These rains can go on for days. They are notoriously hard to predict. The real bad news is that it is going to make our tracks even easier to follow. Be on the lookout for trouble.”
Rolf sniffed the tracks. Two humans and a horse. The tracks were even easier to follow than their scents, but the rain made it had to smell if there was a human riding the horse. There most likely was. It was always better to be prepared. Rolf barked out his orders and the pack moved out.
An hour later and Ziff reported back. They had found the travelers and had them surrounded. They were keeping their distance until Rolf gave the order. Rolf gave one bark and Ziff took off to report the news.
A howl ripped through the air from the south of the travelers and was echoed back from the east and the west. “Crap. Dire Wolves,” muttered Gad. “They are trying to herd us north into the swamps where they can split us up. Quickly follow me.” Gad let them to a nearby cave. It was shallow, only going about 10 feet back, but still able to protect them on three sides. “We’ll make our stand here.”
Odin slid off Sleipnir and sent him to the back of the cave. There was a time when the horse could have easily fought beside him or flown off, but those times were no more. Using the short calm before the wolves arrived, Odin transformed into his true self. While he was still advanced in age, his back was straight, and he held himself with the posture of a warrior. His walking stick also retuned to its true form, Gungnir. Now ready to fight, Odin peered into the storm-created night. Slowly, the darkness revealed multiple hulking forms; Each as tall as a horse and bearing fangs as long as daggers. The dire wolves cautiously approached their prey.
They heard the rain crackling the leaves at the tops of the trees before they felt anything. The tinkling grew to a pattering, and finally they felt a few drops falling on their heads. Sadly, it didn’t stop there. The skies continued to darken until noon looked like midnight. The skies opened and the heavy rains beat their way through the canopy until it was providing no cover for the travelers.
“Should we find someplace to wait this out?” yelled Odin over the crack of thunder.
“No point,” replied Gad. “These rains can go on for days. They are notoriously hard to predict. The real bad news is that it is going to make our tracks even easier to follow. Be on the lookout for trouble.”
Rolf sniffed the tracks. Two humans and a horse. The tracks were even easier to follow than their scents, but the rain made it had to smell if there was a human riding the horse. There most likely was. It was always better to be prepared. Rolf barked out his orders and the pack moved out.
An hour later and Ziff reported back. They had found the travelers and had them surrounded. They were keeping their distance until Rolf gave the order. Rolf gave one bark and Ziff took off to report the news.
A howl ripped through the air from the south of the travelers and was echoed back from the east and the west. “Crap. Dire Wolves,” muttered Gad. “They are trying to herd us north into the swamps where they can split us up. Quickly follow me.” Gad let them to a nearby cave. It was shallow, only going about 10 feet back, but still able to protect them on three sides. “We’ll make our stand here.”
Odin slid off Sleipnir and sent him to the back of the cave. There was a time when the horse could have easily fought beside him or flown off, but those times were no more. Using the short calm before the wolves arrived, Odin transformed into his true self. While he was still advanced in age, his back was straight, and he held himself with the posture of a warrior. His walking stick also retuned to its true form, Gungnir. Now ready to fight, Odin peered into the storm-created night. Slowly, the darkness revealed multiple hulking forms; Each as tall as a horse and bearing fangs as long as daggers. The dire wolves cautiously approached their prey.