FENRER

Daybreak crept through his blinds and he stirred himself from his slumber when it drilled into his eyelids when he rolled over into it. Nightmares of Derelicts departed from his mind in the light. It took a few more seconds for him to focus on the tapestries on his walls, but he sat out of his wool blanket and stretched before considering outside his window. Smoke rose from some chimneys of stone, and he crawled out of bed to head for his desk. Glyphs and runes filled the pages and his small tomes for learning basic magick foundations. Dad said he'd take me hunting today... I want to catch a rabbit!

Fenrer went for his door, but stopped at the echoing voices rising from the Lord's office. He snuck out of his room to investigate the sounds.

"We need to get more patrols on the road to pave the way to safety," Father spoke in a harsh tone. Fenrer frowned at the green burrs when they stuck to the colors in the air. "I want eyes on the forest at all times. If anything changes, come straight to me. I also want someone to head straight to Sivaport to retrieve Prince Reyn. Once we have him, I want Sungrove evacuated of everyone who cannot fight and find sanctuary in Gyron's lands or the townships near Draken's Descent. I shall be sending word to the Tyronai's to send the younger ones — as far away from the king as possible on the islands. We've run out of time."

"Right away, Lord Pyren!" Eyestein, Father's most trusted housecarl, sped past without a second look at him and his shadow rushed down the stairs.

"Soren?" Mother's voice spoke up, and Fenrer peeked through the crack in the door when she set her hands flat against Father's desk. "What happened at the capitol?"

Father drew his massive hand down his nose to scratch his beard. "It's too much to explain here, Katya. I need you to send word about the evacuation. I won't stay here and put my people to the pyre when he comes," he whispered. "He's gone raving mad." He sighed, and weight settled on his shoulders and bled his skin against the burrs. "I saw this coming from bells away. I saw it coming, but I was a fool." He clenched his fist against the table and scowled. "Maybe I thought I could get through to him, but Fenrir always warned me that his brother would rather be king of the ashes than anything of sustenance."

Me? I don't remember saying that.

Mother's lips pursed and she adjusted the metal cuffs on her forearms. "So... what you suspected from before..."

"We need to get Prince Reyn out of there," Father reiterated. "I wasn't so sure, but after looking through the family records there can be no doubt. He's the spitting image of him, and I want him out of Sivaport and somewhere safe until we can wrest some control and bring some semblance of normal back to Haneka."

"I know."

Auras shivered with resolute energy when Mother tapped Father's face. "We can figure this out, Soren. But what about our son?"

Fenrer took his chance to step through the door. "What about me?"

Both of them whipped around. A smile grew behind Father's beard, but it refused to touch his eyes again. Thorns tightened further in the green streaks along the world. "Have you slept well, son?" He left his chair to kneel down on his level. "After the adventure you had, I wouldn't be surprised if you slept for days."

Fenrer frowned between them both, and studied the sword on Mother's hip to the buckler on her back. "I'm sorry..."

Mother joined them on the same level to embrace him. Her fingers tangled in his hair, and he burrowed into her warmth. "It's okay, Fenrer. We're glad that you and Prince Reyn were unharmed."

Fenrer let go of her when Father hugged them both. "Dad, about that Storm Warden who rescued me," he said and both his parents released him. "He was scared. He thought you were going to hurt him."

Burrs dug dark holes of grim understanding deeper into the green and the halls of the dawn. "There is bad blood between our people, son. He was a fine, strong young man. I do not and will not hold him accountable for the failings of people in power. Storm Wardens deserve that respect." Father set his hand on his knee. "They renounced such... trifling matters, for they deal with the real terror. Petty squabbles never compare to the battles they face everyday..." Fenrer frowned at the tears unhooking the thorns. "Everyday, they lose their own and still continue to fight."

Father closed his eyes and Mother gazed at him with softened grief. "What's wrong?" he questioned the silence. "Can we go hunting today? Will that help?"

"Woke up and raring to go?" Father's smile softened. "I... I'm sorry. I know I promised... but I need to talk to you about something, so how about we go on a walk?"

Fenrer lowered his head at the stern word, then nodded. "I understand. You tell me hunting requires a clear head." He breathed deep of the warmth. "Okay! Walks are just as fun as hunting."

"Go get some breakfast into you then, I have things I need to settle first." Father nudged his brow. "Katya."

Mom's hand wrapped around his fingers and guided him out of Father's office. "Mom?" he asked when she took him downstairs. "Where did the Wardens go? They left fast."

"I'm sure they made the journey back to Sivaport to make the voyage to the archipelago," Mom explained with a smile. Her light of morning soothed the apprehension in the air. "Come on, Yulana made your favourite for breakfast today."

Fenrer kept to her side through the estate. As they headed down to the kitchens, he grinned at his last memory of stealing a cookie. I don't think she even noticed it was missing. An aroma of sweet, fluffy warmth hit his nose when Mom opened the door into the kitchens.

Yulana packed large boxes and small containers of food items, but she turned without breaking her stone-cold amber aura. "Lady Katya, I'm almost finished with the provisions, so be sure to tell Lord Pyren to give it to those who will be leaving first," she said, then eyed him. "Here's the little troublemaker himself in the flesh."

Fenrer giggled when she pushed a plate into his hands. On one side of the plate, a steaming loaf, several strips of jerky, and a couple cookies. "Thank you, Miss Yulana." He stuffed the warm bread in his mouth and savoured the sweet, flowery taste.

"Next time you won't steal my pastries." Yulana tapped the top of his head with her ladle. "I told you not to try your luck, little lord. Greater men have fallen for less than cookies."

"It was worth the unlock." Fenrer beamed at her, but found himself faltering in the break of day when both her and Mother's expressions tightened.

"Okay, don't keep your father waiting," Mother said and nudged the back of his head. "I need to discuss some matters with Yulana. Go have a talk with him."

Fenrer made a quick retreat out of the kitchens to finish his meal and catch Father. It might not be a hunting trip, but a walk is just as good! No Nikos. No housecarls! Only me and Dad!

Energy coursed through his skin as he donned his outside clothes and bounded to the main landing to shove his boots on. He stuttered to a stop when Father waited for him at the foyer, his warhammer strapped to his back. Sunlit pride shimmered and lit up the burrs. "There's my little hunter. Are you ready to go?"

"Yes!"

Father took him around the inner layer of Sungrove before rounding around to patrol the quietest outer edges past the wall, close to the creek. Trees twirled in tandem along the ravine into their hunting grounds. He marked the path Father took in the back of his mind for later use, but he found himself drawn to the unease dripping rivers of tears through Father's colours.

"Dad?"

Father stopped in sight of the lumber mill, where the creek opened wide into a mighty river to rejoin the distant ocean. "Can I talk to you, son?"

"You already are."

Father chuckled and knelt down to him. "I suppose I am, aren't we?" His smile faltered. "Do you remember when we studied the map?"

"Yes." Fenrer tasted the previous conversation. "This is about that... evacuation, isn't it? Where are you going to send me? Lord Gyron, all the way to his lands?" Tightness gripped his throat, but he fought further to try and needle information. "Is it anything like Sungrove?"

Father's smile died. "His lands are deep in a forest and among crags. It holds a position on the Blackwater Channel which connects us to the ocean. He is the one who protects the crossing into the deeper south of Haneka... all the way to the wall." He winced and ravines formed on his brow. "I should've known nothing would get past you, Little Wolf. I have done something bold, rash — possibly even stupid. I have brought offense to someone in power, and above all else, I would see my people safe and out of the way of the consequences of my actions."

"Why?" Fenrer grabbed onto his pant legs. "What have you done?"

Father straightened himself out. "I have done many things in my life, son," he whispered and guided him past the small farmhouses on the edges of the heart of Sungrove — empty of people who went about their days in the center.

"Is this about Reyn?" Fenrer shivered at the last remnants of memories of pain. "It is, isn't it?"

"Yes... and no." Father lowered his head to him. "It is so much more complicated than that. I am... simply not strong enough to do much else but get my people to safety." He knelt back down to him and cupped his cheeks. "I will send you to Lord Gyron. He will protect you — he will blow up the bridge if he has to. Him and I... we prepared for this eventuality, you understand?"

Fenrer listened to the air weaving through the leaves and the silence of birds. "But." He drew closer to Father, who dropped his hands from his face when he held onto his forearms. "You're the greatest warrior of Haneka. You're strong enough to do anything." He tugged deeper when the burrs tried to avoid his touch. "You're a giant."

Father chuckled and brushed the top of his head. "Giants only exist across the wall," he whispered. "Giants haven't been in Haneka since Pyren. You saw his statue, to comprehend how imposing he must've been in life. I would've had to look up at him." His lips pursed and his smile reached his eyes. "Someday, Fenrer... you will tower over even me. Maybe not in the way you want to, but in spirit — because that is what matters. You will be brave." He held on tighter to his face and the terror on the hooks of the burrs pulsed. "I want you to... not make the mistakes I have."

Fenrer sucked in his cheeks to swallow his tears of confusion, but huffed. "I know," he insisted. "You're a giant, though. You're brave, strong, and you can do anything. You could tear the trees out of the ground if you wanted to." He shook on his knees.

Father drew back and engulfed him with his warm shadow with a faint smile, and Fenrer tugged on his arm. "It's okay..." He frowned at the pulse when it rose over the canopy in smokey tendrils. It tickled the back of his mind and immolated the auras. "Dad... the forest has gone quiet."

Moments passed in slow clarity when the clouds swallowed the break of dawn.

Flames rose higher than the shield in choking embers to burn the leaves. Fenrer frowned at the thin strips slicing through the air. Father lunged in slow motion as the arrows struck the heart of Sungrove with a scream.

In rhythmic beats it exploded on the ground. One struck the lumber mill and sent wooden chips into the river as the foundations fell apart with the fire. He whipped around to follow the numerous sounds and bloody aura, but he gasped wehn Father grabbed him to tug him back to the safety of the walls. Another wave of arrows crashed behind them and set fire to the wheat fields. His voice failed him when a ball of fire screeched above their heads to hit the other side of town with a roar. Glyphs spun out of its center to whip into the nearby houses and sent bursts of concentrated flames into the windows.

People screamed.

One of the housecarls leaped off the burning watchtower to rush to them. "Lord Soren, their artillery hit—"

Arrows afire burned the sky and sent black smoke into the clouds. Another volley. Another attack. Through the self-made cloud, they pierced the ground. Fenrer found his voice to scream. Father's large shape brought him close when multi-coloured glyphs rose from the walls. Steeltipped arrows broke the barrier and it whizzed in his ears as people shouted and wailed. He shoved his face into Father's shadow when Sungrove howled when the next volley pelted through the smoke.

Bark curled and burned in his ears, eaten by the fire.

Fenrer went to twist his face to the housecarl who made for them, to deliver their warning, but he jolted when Father grabbed his face to tug his attention back to him. "No, Fenrer. Look at me."

"Dad?" Numbness stretched through his chest at the arrows sticking out of Father's back. "Dad? Dad?" He fought to wrench himself out of his grip, but Father kept a hold on him without breaking focus — the true strength of giants. Another volley whizzed over their heads to strike flames into the roofs of houses and into chimneys. One house exploded outwards and a shape went through the window.

Lost. Confused. Alone. Hatred and fear dug knives into his temples as he cried with the screams of his people. On his feet, Father tugged him from the battlefield of the first volley. Smoke burned auras. Horns of battle roared through the crinkle of embers. "Dad..." Dams spilled on his cheeks as the heat washed over his face.

Father stopped between two storage houses. One fireball cracked into the wall closest to them and sent the flames further along their escape route, their home. Fenrer tried to fight his tears when Father unholstered his warhammer, ignoring the arrows dug into his back. No pain stretched across his features, only cold, calm focus. "Fenrer—"

Fenrer shook his head and tried to catch his escaping breath.

"I need you to go to your Mother." Father cupped his cheeks with one hand when housecarls rushed for the front gate with roars of war at the thundering footsteps of strangers. "Avoid the flames. Get to her."

"What are you saying?" Fenrer held onto him when pain sprinkled along the burrs and cracked them in the inferno, but Father never wavered. "What are you saying? You'll come back, won't you?"

Arrows came from the outskirts and the screams intensified. Swords clanged and sparked. Drums vibrated and shattered his bones, fingers, and sent power through the ground to break it apart at their feet. Father's expression steeled further when his fingers tightened on his cheeks. "Tell me our words, son."

"The dawn must always return." Fenrer rubbed his tears when Father used his other hand to brush his hair full of ash. "You will too, won't you?" He clung onto him when wood cracked and stone scorched. "You have to. You're the greatest warrior of Haneka."

"They're coming over the walls!" someone screamed in the distance.

You have to.

Fenrer flinched when an arrow slammed into the building they took shelter near, and Father tugged him out of its burning reach and held him with one arm. "I... I will return, my son," he said.

"Yes!"

"But, you have to escape here." Father pulled one arrow out of his back with a wince, but it carved a warrior's resolve in his cheeks. "Do that one thing for me, Little Wolf. Run. Rejoin your mother. By the Ancient's grace, I can only hope they haven't hit the back gate." Another fireball launched over their heads to hit one of the outer walls, and Father pushed him. "Go, Fenrer! Remember the words."

"But—"

Fenrer grunted when Father tossed him around the side and rushed into the smoke to join his fighting housecarls. Fury of the sun exploded through the green. He whimpered and found his fingers dug into the dirt to cake his nails. He said so.. He ran in the opposite directions while others tried to escape out of their burning homes and housecarls tried to fight them off the walls. The dawn must always return.

One shadow struck a housecarl down, but he continued to run.

The dawn must always come back.

People ran for safety.

He had to run, Father depended on him.

He ignored the shouting and screaming echoing through his ears and aura. Smoke slithered through the grass and windows. It salted the dirt at his feet, his home. He screamed when a tree fell down to block the path to the estate on the hill. Its bark curled and pus formed from the fire eating away at its heart. No... He fell onto his bottom and scrambled into a small alley. Legs tucked against his chest, he turned his head to another, piercing shriek.

Across from him, two figures swallowed another and tore apart fabric.

Oil slipped further down the petals.

Trees crunched and fell to the torment as he stared at the view on the other side. Auras whipped, twisted, and dug down to nothing as the shriek turned into wailing of terror and despair.

Something cracked above his head.

He screamed himself when someone grabbed his arm to tug him out of the view of the forceful auras. "No!" He squirmed when the building crumbled from where he sat moments before. "Let me go!"

"Fenrer."

He jolted at the voice. Nikos, face smudged with grime and ash as if he had crawled out of the flames himself. Fenrer sobbed when Nikos scooped him into his arms and dragged him from the wreckage.

"Nik, let me go..."

Nikos ignored him.

"I want my dad."

His grey aura tightened and shattered, but he said nothing.

"He's still back there! We need to wait for him!"

Nikos ran him through the flames. Glyphs of misty grey stifled the burning path where Nikos walked. Flames burst at their heels. Onto the stone steps on the hill, they rushed past the wolven guardians.

Mother's arms wrapped around him.

People cried and hid in the shadows of the manor. Fenrer lurched to leave and go get Father to see if he followed behind him. Another housecarl rushed up the steps, screaming something noiseless.

Mother's buckler inched into view as the doors closed and another volley raised higher than the rest. Golden glyphs pressed onto the hinges.

In one flaming moment, an arrow slammed into their head. Another whizzed through the gap and smashed into Mother's buckler, who snarled with pure hate to bleed the morning golds.

Everyone released a collective scream but him and her, and the doors slammed shut the flames.