Chapter 6: Brothers

Steel against steel echo throughout the forest, blood spilled, dying the trees a lovely red. Warriors on the battlefield collided.

“keep these wolves back men! We can't allow them to gain a foothold this close to the kingdom!” the commander yelled. He wore a full set of armor, the helmet in the shape of an Akita, their great nation. They had to defend this fort. If it fell, the wolves would have a clear path into the Kutta Kingdom.

“Fall back!! Run!! Retreat back behind the gates!!” A soldier terrified, shouting like a madman as he ran out of the forest

The commander stared, bewildered. These soldiers were hard veteran, Faced death many times. What could make one of them act in such a cowardly manner.

A howl could be heard from inside the forest. More soldiers came running out, retreating back to the safety of their fort.

“It’s Carmilla!!! Bīng huáng hòu is here!!” one of them screamed.

As if to give truth to those words a figure leapt out of the woods, landing on the soldier back. impaling her katana through his head. As she stood back up her long, braided light blue hair fell down her back. She wore light armor with a fur coat. Even from this distance the commander could make out those piercing blue eyes.

The commander eyes grew wide. not by fear but by excitement. The Ice queen was really here. They could end this rebellion here and now.

“MEN DO NOT FEAR!! THE REBEL LEADER FOOLISHLY CAME ALONE WITHOUT THE REST OF HER MEN. KILL HER AND WE END THIS WAR!! KILL HER AND WE CAN RETURN HOME VICTORIES KNOWING WE KEPT OUR WIVES AND CHILDRENS SAFE!! KILL HER AND ALL OF AKITA WILL KNOW YOUR NAME!!!”

The commander raises his sword high. his words rallied the men. Their strength renewed they roared with new vigor as they charged at lone warrior!

Carmilla ran towards the soldiers. Not showing a hint a fear. She was fast. As if she chasing down prey and wouldn’t let a single one of them escape.

The renewed courage the soldier had, immediately vanish as they witness why Carmilla was known as Bīng huáng hòu.

Carmilla quickly cut down the first soldier she reached, slicing both his arms clean off. She steps to the side as a spear thrust forward to impale her. She returned the act by impaling her katana through the soldier neck. She didn’t miss a beat, grabbing him by the hair she forced him to his knees facing a group of soldiers, she forces her blade forward. Releasing a spray of blood in their direction. In that moment her chest glowed a bright sky-blue as the blood quickly froze becoming shards of ice impaling the soldiers.

The rest of the soldiers hesitated. Carmilla didn’t. A smile on her face as she continued to push forward. Getting close to the fort. A warrior’s chest shined bright red as he releases a stream of flames at her. Carmilla, easily overcame his magic. Freezing the flames, she leapt upon the frozen fire then jumped again on top of the gates next to the commander himself.

The commander readied himself, seeing what she was fully capable of. He knew this wasn’t going to be an easy fight, but for some reason she didn’t pay attention to him. She continued to stare inside the fort. Was she looking for something? No. The expression she had was different. As if she already won the battle.

That when she finally turned to him.

“you did good. I must say, I am impressed by how fast you took this fort.” she said.

The commander was still confused. That is until he heard a young male voice behind him.

“it was easy enough. The others are getting rid of any guards that are remaining. All the women and children that are still here are being gathered in the center”

The young man walked past him, completely covered in a black outfit from head to toe. The only thing he was able to notice was those same piercing blue eyes.

The commander tried to speak but couldn’t. What was wrong with him? Was this fear?

“oh, you still alive?” Carmilla asked, finally noticing the commander presence.

She walked forward and lifted him into the air.

“wait? How could she lift him so easily?” he thought. But it all became clear when she turned him around.

His body was still there. In the same battle-ready position, he took when she landed next to him.

She spoke in a calm gentle voice

“I believe you said, in that wonderful speech of yours. That if I were to die then all the women and children will be kept safe. I want you to know that even though I’m still alive. I have no plans to harm any innocent in my revolt against your king. So your woman, your children. Will be safe.”

She held the commander head high for his men that were still outside the gates to see.

“I BELIEVE YOUR LEADER ALSO SAID THAT I FOOLISHLY CAME ALONE. BUT WOLVES ALWAYS TRAVEL IN PACKS” at those words she yelled another howl could be heard from the forest.

The commander’s last sight was a pack of eyes staring back at him from the woods. The last thing he heard was his soldier screams as they were slaughtered outside their very own gate.

~

“Was that really necessary?” The Young man said to his leader.

Carmilla, The Ice Queen. She been planning this revolt for years, slowly uniting the wolves of other clans under her banner before finally making her big move. Each of the Bhediya clans were stretched along the border of the Kutta kingdom. True, right now there was peace between the kingdom and It was this peace outside that Carmilla took the opportunity to attack the king from within. Carefully she visited each clan convincing them to join her cause. And they agreed. Too long the bhediya had been wrong by the kutta, treated like outcasts by what she would call an “inferior” breed.

“I gave him comfort by letting him know, no harm will come to those he died to protect.” she answered.

“you know damn well I meant showboating his head like that.” Wolf snapped back.

Carmilla stared at him for awhile. “take that off.” she said.

“w-what?” he asked caught off guard.

She reached for his mask “take it off. Let me see your face”

“stop it” he said trying to resist her but failed as she got the mask off.

Wolf had short light blue hair that went along with his blue eyes. He stared at Carmilla. An annoyed look on his face.

“I still want an answer” he told her.

She continued to stare at him a little while longer. “you really do look like your father.” she said.

Before wolf could say anything back she turned, walking away she continued to speak as Wolf followed.

“Yes It was necessary, by doing that I not only struck fear into the hearts of his men. But also into the people here. They will return to the Akita. Letting everyone know that they’re next. That the king himself was unable to stop us from coming this far. By bringing all the clans together, I forced the king to spread his men thin to reinforce the borders the bhediya have abandon. The people will see that he is losing grip on his power.” she said to him.

The gates open letting Carmilla army in. Bhediya from the different clans entered, bloodied from the massacre outside.

“are you sure you want to let these people go? Wouldn’t it be wiser if the king remained unaware of how close we are?” Wolf asked.

Carmilla shook her head “the whole point is to let them know. Like I said I need the people to see him lose control over his region. Wolf. Power is everything. Without power how can you protect those around you. Today these men lost, they were weak. Once these people return to the castle, within a short few day. Everyone will know how weak the king himself is. This fort was the last line of defense and it fell within a short few hour. The people will lose trust in him.” Carmilla smiled revealing her fangs.

“And when we finally dethrone him. When all of kutta is finally under my control. Not only will I make things right for our kind. But I will show the people that I DO have the power to keep them protected.” she said.

“it's sounds good” Wolf replied “but you’re forgetting one thing. The Fang of Kutta”

Carmilla stopped at the mention of him.

“It is said that his skills is on par with the black lion of kai. How do you hope to fight him? He is Kutta greatest warrior. So great that the king rarely lets him leave his side. Only in dire circumstances does he let such a warrior out onto the battlefield” Wolf watched for a reaction. But if there was one Carmilla hid it well.

“and its because of the king own paranoia that he will fall. I’ll admit. If he had sent out The fang of Kutta sooner. This war would’ve been over. As you said. His strength matches that of the black lion. I have no doubts one on one I would lose”

She looked up towards the sky as snow began to fall.

“but everyone has a weakness. And I finally have his” she spoke those words in a low whisper. Wolf barely heard her.

“CARMILLA!!” one of the wolves approached them. He kneeled before Carmilla.

“what is it? Something to report?” she asked.

“we’re being attacked from behind” the soldier reported.

This shocked both Carmilla and Wolf.

“from behind? Are you sure? What are their numbers? Do we know who leading them? Any casualties?” Carmilla question the soldier relentlessly

“so far we only have news of a single hooded person. We've found two of our scouts knock unconscious. When they awoke they informed us that it was just one warrior. Apparently, he told them he was in search of someone from your clan.” He answered.

“from my clan?” Carmilla looked puzzled

Wolf too was wondering what was going on. How the hell was anyone able to sneak up on them from behind. Naturally they have a keen sense to small someone would’ve picked up this person scent. Unless....

“could it be...the Fang?” Wolf asked.

But Carmilla shook her head “no there no way the king would ever let him leave his side and even if he did. Why circle around us? No... this is someone else.” She gave it more thought “Tell me about the person they were looking for? She asked.

“well, from the description they gave it seem they’re looking for.” the soldier looked at Wolf

He pointed at himself “me?”

“WOOOOOLF!!!” a voice boomed from around them.

Everyone was on guard. Wolf surveyed the entire area until he spotted the hooded figure waving at him from on top one of the store houses

“huh? What is wrong with this guy” wolf thought to himself

“well ain’t he ballsy” Carmilla said with a grin.

As the figure leapt down three soldiers immediately rushed him.

The hooded figure faked left avoiding one warrior, then quickly disarmed the second delivering three hits rendering him unconscious. The third was bigger. Wielding a giant Ax the brute brought it down with such force the ground where the figure stood split. When the dust settled the only thing the man had hit was the hood the man had used.

“whew that was close” the once hooded figure landed on the warrior Ax.

Wolf eye widen in shock as he saw who it was.

Monkey jumped over the warrior landing in front of Carmilla and Wolf

“hey there bro-”

Monkey was interrupted as Carmilla attempted to slice his head clean off. Luckily Monkey was able to avoid the attack. She continued her assault until she was able to get Monkey to fall. She brought her blade down for one final strike.

Wolf came between the two. Blocking Carmilla sword.

“what are you doing Wolf?” She asked.

Monkey smiled “thanks for the save brother”

“brother?” again Carmilla looked confused. Even more confusion shown on her face as Wolf started to laugh.

“Amazing. Seriously what are the chances?” Wolf turned his head towards Monkey, a smile spreading across his face “what would possess my little brother to come out all this way right in the middle of a war?”