Drew didn't sleep. He didn't talk to Blaze either, when he came in late, late at night. Even if he'd made up his mind to talk to Blaze he couldn't have done it. How did one even begin that conversation? So, I think the princess is hitting on me... What should I do? It was insane. It was all so insane. Did her words have any meaning though? Something had been terribly off. He didn't want to say it, let alone think it, but- she was acting a bit like some of the gladiators had right before they finally cracked under the stress. Wolf, I think she's sick.

Sick? No, no, no. She's not sick. She's just- just-

Loosing it.

I- it's not- Wolf broke off with a snarl. Drew could picture him shaking his head, teeth bared. Then he let out a keening cry that would've made another wolf weep. We check on her as soon as we get back. No matter what.

Agreed.

Morning couldn't come soon enough. Drew was ready to hit his head against the wall his agitation was so strong. He needed to move. Blaze, on the other hand, looked like he wanted to murder Drew when he woke him up.

"No one should be this cheerful in the morning," Blaze grumbled as they made their way to the barracks to wake up more soon to be grumpy people.

"There's a big difference between cheerful and eager."

"Hmpf."

"Listen, when we get out on the open road, I'm going to run ahead to scout. And I really mean run. You have to keep order while I'm gone."

"Okay."

"I'd prefer to not have anyone see me Shifted, alright?"

"Yes."

"Are you actually listening to me or are you asleep?"

"Yes." He's sure gonna be useful today.

It was only Drew's antsiness and unrelenting nagging that they managed to leave the castle on time. The battalion of have asleep soldiers and trainees looked like an army of undead as they rode down the empty street. Drew could see a few who were already napping in the saddle.

Angus had worked some magic and found two horses that didn't mind werewolves. While their brethren were pawing at the ground and whinnying, they acted as though Drew and Blaze were another pair of humans. Not that it made things much easier for Drew.

Riding a horse was unlike anything he'd ever done before. Luckily, the horse seemed to know this and behaved liked a civilized creature; following Blaze's horse at a steady pace.

The sun had just crept over the horizon, the sky a brilliant wash of pink and gold when they were far enough away from Praeverk for Drew to Shift. He handed his reigns to Blaze and ran off the side of the road into the thick brush and timber. Not many noticed him leave, and those that did didn't ask any questions.

Drew Shifted, loving the way the scents of the world were suddenly sharper and the details of every object were clearer. What he didn't love was having to carry his clothes in his mouth, but that couldn't be avoided. He began to run.

According to his map, which he was more grateful for than words could express, their camp site for the night was about fifty miles away. That would take the horses all day. Drew could accomplish it in about three hours; as long as there were no complications.

He paid little attention to his surroundings for a long while; he would look more carefully on the way back. For now, he just wanted to run and run and run. He caught the scent of a deer and newly veered off course to chase it. Later. We'll hunt later.

And how do we explain our absence to everyone when we return?

Either we lie or we tell the truth. I'll decide when we get back.

What an excellent plan, you idiot.

Their path seemed clear. Now, at least it was. There had been two fallen trees over the road, both easily removed, and a band of highwaymen were now running in terror of the giant wolf that had lept into the middle of their camp. He'd been gone closer to four hours, judging by the sun, but he wasn't too worried.

He heard the troop long before he saw them and was Shifted, dressed and waiting on a road-side stump when they rounded the bend. There were more than a few curious looks cast his way this time, but no said a thing when he rejoined Blaze.

Blaze wasn't riding in the front anymore, but a bit back and off to the side.

"Everything went well I assume?" Drew mounted his horse, not almost falling off this time. Improving already.

"Yes and no," Blaze said, voice urgent. "The troop was fine, but apparently Duncan didn't trust you to lead the mission alone because-"

"Oy! You on the side!" the roaring voice was soon connected to a burly man astride a warhorse, who was making steady progress in Drew's direction.

"Yeah, him," Blaze growled. Drew turned his horse as best he could and met the man halfway.

"Do you have a problem?" he asked, in the calmest voice he could.

"Where have you been all morning? I was told there would be another commander waiting for me."

"Scouting."

"You send a scout for that."

"They were half asleep; useless. And I would do a better job even if they were at their most alert." The man ground his teeth together, and Drew fought the urge to punch him, just for that.

"Watch your mouth, boy," he spat. "I outrank you."

"And I don't care. What are you doing here anyways? You're not needed." His eye twitched, face turning a deep red, and Drew fought back a smirk.

"Do you have any idea who you're speaking to?" His yell drew the attention of the nearby soldiers.

"Nope." I think he's going to burst a blood vessel.

Maybe that one on his forehead.

"I am General Andony Korlls! And-"
"And good for you, but this is my mission. I was given my orders directly from Crown Prince Duncan, so as far as I'm concerned, you have to listen to what I say."

"How dare you-"

"If you'd to settle this, I'm always open to one on one combat. It's been a while since I was in a good fight." That seemed to put Andony in his place. He shut his mouth, eyes blazing, and turned his horse sharply away from Drew. "Glad we understand each other!" he called after him.

Drew was still grinning when Blaze rode to his side.

"Well then."

"What?"

"You always have to be the one in charge. He's a general, Drew! He knows more than you; he could've been useful if you hadn't humiliated him in front of his men."

Drew turned, eyes gold and narrow. "You just don't get it, do you?"

"Get wh-"

"Unless you're the one on top, you have no respect. And with no respect, you have no power. And if you have no power, you can accomplish nothing and are useless."

Blaze gave him a long look. "I don't think anyone respected what you just did. And if any did, I wouldn't trust them." He kicked his horse and joined another row of riders, leaving Drew to ride alone.

Drew spoke to no one the rest of that day. Andony avoided him, Blaze gave him the cold shoulder. The only acknowledgement Blaze gave of his existence was a single knowing look when giant paw prints were discovered at the camp that night.

They rose early in the morning and Drew again rode alone. He had no urge to run that day, and didn't say a word when Andony shouted out orders. His listlessness remained up until they reached the edge of Gaelnad.

Pushing aside their fight, Drew rode to Blaze's side. "Do you smell that?" he whispered, looking about.

Blaze nodded. "Werewolves."

The reports had said the town was ravaged, but that didn't even come close to describing the state it was in. Every building had been burned to the ground, the only remains blackened skeletons still desperately trying to stand. A graveyard stood a little way off, filled with row upon row of freshly dug graves. And yet, there were still a few bodies laying about, their faces marred beyond recognition by fire and fang.

A few pitiful survivors hobbled about; wounded, filthy, hollow eyed. Drew caught sight of General Andony, riding up front and thought back on what Blaze had said. Maybe it's not too late to work together.

He didn't have to suffer through an awkward silence when he came to Andony's side, the General seemed to know what he wanted.

"We need a few scouting groups sent along the town border at once."

"Point out your best and I'll arrange for four groups." Drew began to run through his own soldiers. "And we need to interview as many people as we can, find out what they saw."

"That should probably happened before scouting." Andony slowed his horse, looking about. "Another group should start setting up camp."

"While the rest begin helping the town?"

"Exactly."

"Blaze, Damian, and Marvyn!" Drew yelled, wheeling his horse around. "With me for scouting!" Andony called for four of his men as well, and after a brief explanation, the groups split, each heading in a different direction.

As mild-tempered as his horse was, Drew was glad to leave it behind and head into the woods on foot. There were still traces of the battle among the trees; broken arrows, spears, discarded swords, here and there a body. The scent of werewolves was everywhere, despite the raid having happened four days before.

"Over here!" Blaze was a few feet away, examining a body while Drew looked for fresh scents.

"What is it?"

"Recognize him?" Drew looked down at the body; rotting, bloated, reeking thing that it was.

"How would I?" He held a hand over his nose, fighting back the urge to gag.

"I think he's one of Roksov's men," Blaze whispered."

"How can you possibly recognize him?" The eyes had sunken into the skull, the surrounding skin was a bluish tint, and fluid was leaking from the mouth and nose.

Blaze picked up a small stick and moved the head to the side. "See on the left cheek? That scar?" He poked it, and the skin burst open, maggots and smile oozing out.

That was all Drew could take. His breakfast hadn't tasted great the first he ate it, but it was definitely worse the second.

"I though you would've seen plenty of dead bodies by now, being a gladiator and all."

"I- I've never seen one like- like this." He wiped his mouth on his sleeve, breathing rapidly and reaching for his water.

"Hmm. Fair enough." Blaze followed Drew as he walked away, repressing a grin. "I never thought you'd have a weak stomach."

"Are you not bothered by it at all?"

Blaze shrugged. "I've seen plenty of dead bodies, in all stages of decomposition."

Drew shook his head, still nauseous. "You said he's one of Roksov's men? You think this is something he planned?"

"It looks like it."

He glanced around to make sure no one was within hearing range. "But he wanted to overthrow the king. How would ravaging some hardly heard of town with no worth help with that?"

"He's trying to frighten people." Blaze's face was grim, and a golden fire filled his eyes. "This is just basic intimidation tactics."

"But the townspeople did nothing wro-"

"He doesn't care." He stepped back and took a deep breath, trying to get his wolf under control. "I've been reading what little Rhoedazka propaganda I can get my hands on, and it's not just anti-Haedrik." He paused, his next words bitter on his tongue. "It's anti-human."

"What? But he said nothing about-"

"Because it wasn't necessary and he had no idea of knowing how we would react. We seemed to have signed on for more than we bargained for." A look crossed Blaze's face, and Drew understood.

"You want to back out," he whispered.

"Not- not exactly. I still think King Haedrik should be taken down- but not the way Roksov seems to be going about it."

"But we made blood oaths. They're unbreakable."

A smile flashed across Blaze's face. "Without divine intervention they are."

"Oh goody. We're gonna go ask a god for help- are you crazy?"

"Don't be so quick to judge, oh godless one. I'll be visiting a temple as soon as I get back."

Drew rolled his eyes and turned away. "Come on. Let's report our findings." So how are we actually going to break the blood oath?

Like Blaze said, with divine intervention.

Oh don't you start too!

The other scouts came to the same conclusion as Drew and Blaze; werewolves. They had found wolf corpses, pawprints, and arrows marked in the manner of the local packs. But they did miss one key thing. No one else knew of the connection to the Rhodaezka movement.

General Andony had already put the rest of the soldiers to work. The town didn't feel lively or hopeful, but it did seem less dead. The townsfolk seemed to be a bit more aware of what was happening. Amidst all the hustle and bustle, Drew didn't forget what Frenk had asked him to do.

He stopped the first person he crossed paths with, a woman with eyes that made her seem much older than she really was. "Excuse me, do you know of a Kaevey? Married to Jacques Knolstuck?"

"I know her." The woman's voice was ragged, flat. If she really did know Kaevy, she didn't seem to care anymore.

"Do you know where she is?"

The woman pointed, and Drew followed her gesture with dread. His eyes fell upon the graveyard.

"She's there, with her whole house too."

"Whole house?"

"Husband, three children, servant. I think they got the dog too," she scoffed.

"Oh... Thank- thank you for your time."

Her face softened momentarily. "Sorry, son. But there's no use mourning them. They're the lucky ones. They don't have to deal with this," she waved her hand at the wreckage around them and walked away, face once again hard and callous. How am I going to tell Frenk?

Not the way she did.

No kidding. But there was too much going on for Drew to even consider brooding. He was soon put to work rebuilding the main hall.

It would be used as temporary housing for as many as it could fit while other building were being resurrected. They weren't building the main hall in the same spot; the old one had been made of stone and would take quiet awhile to repair. The new one would be of logs; rude but functional. In the mean while, tents were erected in droves.

Drew's hopes of returning in five days proved to be just that; hopes. Four days passed by and they were still no where close to leaving. And as irritated as Drew had been at first from being away from the castle for so long, he soon broke down. How could he, or anyone, leave the townspeople while they were in such a pitiful state?

Another day passed, and another, and another. Slowly the town began to pull itself back together. Another day and another day, and there were a few other buildings up. Another day and another day, and hope at last shone in the eyes of the people. After two weeks of constant work, drew and the troops were allowed to return home.

As Drew was walking through the town gathering up soldiers, tools, and supplies, he caught sight of General Andony. He was talking to a woman around his age. She had three children at her side, all with downcast faces that couldn't be lifted with something as material as the twon being rebuilt. Drew couldn't hear what they were saying, but by the way the woman kept wiping away tears and hugged Andony goodbye, he could pick out the gist of it. Andony kneeled down to speakk to the littler children, hugging them and mussing their hair, and spoke to the oldest of teh three in a more serious tone.

When he at last stood and walked away, his eyes fell on Drew, who was staring so blatantly there was no way to cover for it.

Drew waited until Andony had walked up to him before speaking. "So that's the reason a general was sent to deal with a raid. You're sister?"

"Sister-in-law. My brother died six years ago." They stayed side by side as they made there way to the camp.

"They weren't too badly harmed in the raid?"

"Well, their shop and home was burned to the ground, but they're all alive."

Drew nodded, pulling together thoughts to bring about understanding. "That's why you didn't fight me. You just wanted to get here as quickly as possible and you didn't care who was in charge."

"And you had to challenge my authority because you've always had to claw your way to the top and I was threatening your hard earned power."

Drew stopped. "Excuse me?"

"I thought if you were going to point out my motives i might as well point out yours," Andony said, turning to him.

"I- I didn't-"

He smiled. "Don't be offended. It takes a desperate man know a desperate man. I was just like you when I joined the army. And from someone who was in the same place, I have to say, know you're enemies now and kep your friends as close as you can. And don't anything get in the way of what's really important." Drew had glanced away at this point, and missed the look Andony cast towards his sister-in-law and her children. He clapped Drew on the shoulder, making him jump. "Gather up your men. We leave within the hour."

Drew was quiet during the ride that day. Andony;s words chased themselves round his mind, Wolf snapping at the strays. Are we really so desperate than anyone can see through us?

No. Like he said, it takes one to know one.

And what did he mean, 'don't let anything get in the way of what's important'? We're already doing that, for the most part. We couldn't avoid going on this mission, but other than that we've been working for Roksov perfectly.

He wouldn't know about Angus....

Or Frenk and the rest.

But maybe he does. Maybe he's seen us training him.

Does he think that training Angus will get in the way of us rising in rank?

But he doesn't even know our real reason for being here!

"Any particular reason for the grim face or do you just always look like that?" Damian Fleet was riding by his side.

"What? No, no particular reason."

Damian raised an eyebrow. "You've never seen a town like that, have you?"

Who does this wolf pup think he is? Wolf fought for ascendance, Damian's words being the last thing to push him over the edge.

Leave him be Wolf! He's just making an observation.

"How'd you know?"

Damian shrugged. "You had the same expression as everyone else who'd never seen the aftermath of a raid."

"And you have?"

"My village looked like that once." He smiled grimly. "Only there were a lot less people, and no one came to help."

"I'm sorry for that."

"Oh, it's just one more reason..." A strange fire lit his eyes, but he shook his head and when he looked up the fire was gone.

An uncomfortable silence ensued, and to break it Drew used his extensive social skills. "What are you doing here anyways?"

"Like, here as here or why am I talking to you."

"The- the second one." Drew didn't make eye contact.

Damian blinked and Drew could practically hear him think, what an idiot.

Wolf, remind to never speak to anyone again.

It would be my pleasure.

"Because you looked lonely."

"Excuse me?"

"Don't give me that look! We're the same age; I might even be older."

"What does age have to do with this?"

"I was just trying to be friendly!"

"Wait- I still don't get why age matters."

A bright red flush had crept up Damian's neck. He wheeled his horse around and didn't turn when Drew called to him. What on earth was that?

I think humans call it socialization.

Sh-

Shut up, shut up. I know.

But as rough as that first conversation was, it didn't deter Damian for long. After they had set up camp for the night, he returned; this time with reinforcements. Drew saw them coming, and saw the lengthy conversation that had before hand.

"Blaze, we're about to be invaded." He kept his eyes on tent peg he was hammering.

"By?"

"Damian, Jakob, and Erel."

"How do you know?" Blaze turned his back to the rest of the cap and started the fire with a flick of his fingers,

"Because he approached me earlier and he acting the same way now."

"You don't sound too happy about this."

"No, I'm not!"

Blaze looked up. "You don't actually know any of the trainees, do you?"

"I know there names."

"That's not what I meant."

Drew paused. "Alright, I know what you mean. And you're right."

"You should get to know them. Damian especially."

He looked up. "Why is everyone treating me like a child today?"

"I don't know what you're-"

"You, Damian, General Andony. Is there something about me that makes people think I'm utterly incapable of functioning as an adult?"

Blaze blinked.

"Well?"

"I'm going to choose not to answer."

"Blaze!"

"Well, you're acting childish at the moment."

"I am-" he stopped short, glaring.

How about we fight them all? Wolf mused.

Who counts as 'all'?

Anyone. Everyone. However many it takes for people to stop belittling us.

I swear to all the gods, whether they exist or not, the next person who tells me I need friends or tries to set me up with-

"Do you two want to join us for dinner tonight?" Damian had finally approached. "We gather some extra supplies today so our stew should taste a little less disgusting than everyone else's." For a moment, Drew wanted to hit him. But he was being offered food, and he would never turn away a meal.

"That'd be great, thanks." Damain flashed a smile in response and returned to his own campfire. "What did I tell you?" Drew said, turning to Blaze once Damian was gone.

Blaze was beginning to look a little fed up. "I can't believe you're being so- so... Why can't you accept that there are just nice people in the world who go out of their way to help others and make them comfortable? Nevermind. Don't answer that." He sprung to his feet. "I'm going to help them make dinner." He stalked away, leaving Drew alone.

Drew stayed where he was, rocking slightly on his feet, teeth gritted. Damn them all. He surged to his feet as well, walking over with all reluctance possible.

And yet, he was greeted with open arms. 

Looking back on this chapter, I'm realizing that Drew's character is a bit inconsistent. (Sometimes very inconsistent) So I'm aware of it, I don't need critiques on that. (Honestly though some parts are so super cringy.)

Any guess as to how they go about breaking the blood oath?