CHAPTER 1 - 1

Runeblade

"Tadita.... Do you think I used to be human?"

The small horse swung her head to the side to peer at the humanoid grey fox sitting astride her back. "That's a silly question to ask," she replied to him.

"Well, I don't think it is," he muttered, looking around at the human buildings that crowded the crumbling, black street they rode upon. "I mean, nobody really knows, right?" He scratched at his back with a clawed hand, digging into the fur there to defeat an insistent itch.

She shook her head and returned to watching her footing. He couldn't always be completely trusted to guide her properly when he was so introspective. "I really don't know, Shu. Just because I was here before the change doesn't mean I know what happened. Hell, I don't even know much about myself from before the change. I was a normal horse back then."

The change she referred to was an event about a dozen years ago or so. Few people kept track anymore. This whole planet once boasted humans as its only truly intelligent life form. Nobody knew what had happened for sure and accounts differed, but the general story was always about the same. Billions of humans, going about their lives, when a wave of... something... Could have been magic. According to some humans it was some alien weapon ray. Anyway, this energy washed over the whole planet. Billions of humans vanished, leaving in their place humanoid animals.

It wasn't a changing of the people as much as of the world. The animals that took the place of the humans had no recollection or memories to indicate that they were changed from humans into animals. Their original humans' identities identities were lost. The animals could vaguely remember being animals, but even their memories from before the change itself were missing.

Not all humans were gone. The attitudes of many that remained created evidence for the creatures who claimed the humans changed into animals to be able to start anew. Most of the people who remained human were the worst of the human bunch. Criminals, sociopaths, and murderers would have been no problem, but this wasn't that worst bunch. The humans who were left were all ones who were psychopathically biased against the new animals. The fact that not all of the animals got along well either caused chaos for years. Billions had died in that time. Some by things as simple as starvation, others by outright combat. The stench of mass graves was a grim reminder of the pandemonium. The human race was all but decimated, leaving only a few pockets of people who toned down their hatred enough to get along, though the remnants of their civilization stretched far and wide across the lands.

Shu had never met any humans in person before, but images of them were everywhere. He had read their old books and looked up information so he'd at least know what to expect if he ever did meet one. Lacking fur, humans all covered themselves with materials. Clothing, they called it. Shirts, pants, shoes and socks because their feet were fragile. They were all things that humans apparently attempted to look more interesting in. Animal people appreciated decoration and those who couldn't store things with spells often carried pouches for money and material possessions, but such an all-encompassing covering would be bad for everyday life. Armor was bad enough. It chafed and rumpled fur and made one very hot. Wearing something all the time would be masochistic.

One of the biggest causes of deaths around the world was the fact that the animal inhabitants of the planet were also changed. Intelligence found places in their minds, some more than others. Their bodies changed just enough to allow for speech, and for some, more mobility, but other than that, they were still the same as before the change. The way this caused deaths was extremely insidious. The effects of the change even seemed flawed. Animals that were previously raised in horrendous conditions by humans for the sheer purpose of providing food had suddenly gained intellect. But though this caused them to seek better conditions of living, these animals were still psychologically conditioned from birth that they were food. They accepted and embraced this fate and many insisted on it fanatically.

For many years, the handful of remaining humans and many of the new humanoid animals alike could not stomach the idea of slaughtering and eating a creature that could have a pleasant conversation with you. Especially after the creature literally offered itself up to be food so it could fulfill its purpose. Malnutrition and starvation were a powerful force in reducing the population of the planet before the survivors finally gave in and took up the task of maintaining the herds and slaughtering those who asked to be when their flesh was needed as food.

The change had not been a come and leave thing either. Something maintained a presence... watching... still changing things... The most noticeable effect of this was the changing of human technology. It was said that no matter where you were, something changes within a stone's throw every hour. Of course, many things could be forced to change, so to speak. All of the humans' complex weaponry was obsolete now. Things such as guns ended up changing to swords, knives, and bows and arrows. Complex armor like flak vests became simple leather and mail. Huge machines of war crumbled to dust if anybody tried to use them in an offensive manner. That was the important factor though. Use. A gun was still a gun until a bullet was chambered and the weapon was fired at something that should not be hit by a bullet. Then you never knew what you'd end up with. Swords of many styles, shortbows, longbows, daggers... Even crossbows were deemed to be too complex by the powers that controlled things. Technology could frequently be used until it was misused, at which time it ceased to be technology. Even if not misused, technology would randomly vanish anyway, so nobody trusted it anymore.

But while crossbows were prohibited as overly complex, a time of spells and magic developed. Some spells simple enough for almost anyone to cast were well-known, while only a very few people mastered more complex spells. Even complex magical weavings with offensive capacity. Shu knew a few spells of his own and even Tadita knew some minor magics and a few good spells. There were very few creatures that didn't have at least one cantrip in their repository.

"Well, I can read their English writing. Not everybody can do that," Shu observed, looking at the crumpled, dusty, sun-beaten glass and metal wheeled box labeled as a 'Toyota'. It had obviously smashed into the smaller box labeled 'Kia'. These cars still littered the roadways, most never moved after the change. His ears went back as he spotted the skeleton of some sort of canid still strapped into the smaller Kia box, just inside where the bigger Toyota box had struck it in the side. He muttered a charm to bless the spirit of the poor creature and hopefully help it on its way, since the body never made it to the burial sites. Animal people had literally taken the places of humans everywhere, even in these moving cars. Without the knowledge and skills to control them, many had died even from that.

"With your blessing, I'm sure she'll find her way soon. She thanks you, kind fox."

Shu glanced up at the tree. Whoever had spoken was not a threat, or he would have sensed it long ago. He had that ability down pat. The speaker flapped down from the branch on broad, black wings. Shu smiled at the avian as it made tight circles above his head. "Good day, Crow. I know your kind can often see the spirits. May I offer a perch for you? My shoulder, or the top of my head, or my wrist if you prefer, but please do not perch on Tadita. I am Shu."

The crow took his offer after a moment of consideration, dropping in from behind the fox to land on his shoulder. "You have a strange feel about you, Shu," the crow observed. Many animals that were once normal animals, or descended from them, took no names, so Shu did not find it unusual or offensive for the crow to not introduce himself. "Take no offense, fox. I don't mean strange in a bad way."

Shu smiled pleasantly as Tadita looked over her shoulder again to take in the black bird's presence better. "I've been told that by enough people, I'm not worried. I'm just a fox who knows some things and plays some cheery tunes."

"You make music? I haven't heard music since I was a fledgling," the crow pined.

In response, Shu held up his hands. Energy flowed through him, coalescing between his hands. The crow to fluttered uneasily for a moment, but the manifestation of this energy was a simple wind instrument. Shu put the instrument to his lips and blew. First a small scale to warm himself, then a beautiful, haunting melody. The tune was not long, but it imparted a feel of power to it somehow, and thus a greater feeling of length. The instrument faded before it vanished back to whence it came.

"You... are quite the musician," the crow said, giving itself a shake to settle feathers that had ruffled in response to the tune.

"Thank you," Shu murmured. He was often somewhat spaced after playing music. This time, he had fleeting visions of a femme wolf smiling to him before she faded beyond.

There was a short period of silence before the crow muttered, "I'm sorry, Shu, but I have to find out..." Without warning, the bird pecked violently at his ear, tearing a small chunk from the edge.

"HEY! OW!!" Shu screeched, flailing his arms and dislodging the offending bird. Unfortunately, his motions also dislodged him from his seat atop Tadita. She danced to the side, trying to keep him balanced, but he toppled off and fell to the ground with an uncomfortable whomp. "GAH! Why did you do that?!" Shu demanded of the circling bird, sitting up painfully. His hand shot up to his nicked ear, feeling some wet. A few drops of blood graced the ground as well.

"I'm sorry, good fox! I'm sorry! I had to find out... I don't know what I had to find out... I'm sorry!!" the crow called, then took off winging powerfully back the way they had come, vanishing over the trees. Shu thought for a moment of throwing a rock after the trickster, but that had never been his way. He took weight off his bruised hip and winced at the feel of the pecked ear.

"Hold still," Tadita ordered him, "and take your hand off it. We go through this every time." He followed her orders, taking his bloodied fingers away from his ear and trying to hold it still. The horse gathered her own magical energies and nuzzled his ear gently, healing power making quick work of the small nick. "There... All better. Now stand up." He did so, and she nosed at the hip that he had landed on. Large bruises were more complex to deal with than tiny cuts, so she could only start the process, but her warm energy eased the discomfort immediately and would have his hip good as new in about an hour.

Shu sighed. "Thank you, Tadita. I don't know what I would ever do without you." He had no idea what had prompted the crow's actions there. He scanned the trees for the crow, but he caught no sight, scent, or sound of it. Climbing onto her back, he flopped forward against her neck. He would feel a little bit drained from her healing, but she knew this and would continue the trip without trouble. She had carried his unconscious form for days at a time after working to heal him from more serious injuries. He trusted her wholly. She was the one who had been in his life from his first days on the world and they had grown to be the best of friends and companions. With this small healing, he could rouse himself if the need came about, but it was best that he rest. They traveled on in silence as he dozed trustingly on her back.

* * *

Once the fox on horseback was long out of sight, a cawing rose from one crow. Answering calls came from far and wide, growing closer as black wings borne on a changing wind brought the voices closer. The first focus came to the trees and buildings around the two old cars. Silent black shapes perched as one gave the news in the ancient tongue. Each animal spoke a language unique to their species, even the humanoid ones, but there was also a universal common for all on the world to share. This common was shunned by the crows right now, lest close ears overhear.

Hoarse cries told the tale of a fox on horseback, of a blessing to a trapped spirit, and of music. The spirit's name was spoken. In a heartbeat, the sky became black with wings as the crows took to the air, all calling for the spirit. They ranged far and wide, calling to all realms in the tongue they knew. Soon they gathered again, further up the road. The cacophony of cawing was brief as all reported in, then silence.

One crow swooped down to the road where a number of drops of blood had fallen. The bird peered at the blood, cocking his head and looking at it from all angles. A cry from his throat blackened the sky once more, though the birds dispersed swiftly. It was not long before they began to return, bearing small objects. Shiny coins, twigs, keychains, stones, pieces of rubber, knick-knacks... Anything that could be carried by a crow in flight was chosen and brought to be deposited into a growing circle of objects on the ground. Coarse cries heralded the arrival of newcomers. Aged and wise birds who carried more strength of mind and spirit than most here.

Five crows landed, inspecting the blood before moving to look over the pile of objects. Keen eyes looked at more than just the physical world as they walked through the offerings. Finally, each of the new crows had selected an object apiece, carrying them out of the pile as a mass of wings took flight. The collected might of the birds reduced the pile to nothing but crumbling street in only a few moments as the evidence of the collection was removed and the objects spread over a wide area again. Once the objects were scattered, the trees and buildings weighed heavy with crows once more.

The selected objects were very carefully positioned and repositioned around the drops of blood. Each of the five crows took a place behind their object, bowing towards the center as they gathered power in unison. A sharp crack of magic left a smell of ozone in the air, but beyond that, nothing seemed changed. It would take time for the truth to be revealed. To protect the spell as it worked, the rest of the crows who were capable of weaving such magics took to the sky, forming a swirling vortex of black wings as they circled faster and faster. Power gathered once more and that section of the street was clouded in shadow, as if the crows above cast a beam of it. As one, the crows exploded outwards from the vortex and the spell took hold on the ground.

A simple spell, yet very insidious in action. Nobody would notice the place marked by the spell. Anyone approaching it would have a strong feeling of dread and would simply avoid the area. Even the elements would be loathe to affect there. The wind and the rain itself would shy away. The underlying spell that the five elders cast would remain safe.

Their work done, the crows returned to their daily lives.

* * *

"We're almost there," Tadita said as she picked her way around the wreckage of a number of vehicles. "Think they'll be happy to see us?"

Shu grinned to himself. "They usually are. They pretty much adopted us. You'll get to socialize with more horses too. They're great with horses, so you'll be a queen while we're here." Two weeks of travel since the crow incident had brought them closer to the sea and to the Green Valley Fox Clan lands. When he first met the clan, it had been arguing about names for over a year. Shu had used his skill at reading human letters and pointed out that the housing tract they had taken up residence in was called "Green Valley" and the name was an instant hit.

The tract contained two schools, an elementary and middle school respectively, whose buildings stood the toils of age better than the houses. Since the concentration of people in any place was always much lower than the capacity of the surrounding buildings, various groups tended to gather in larger communal buildings first and spread out to actual houses only if population warranted it. The other benefit of the tract was a large park in the middle of the whole thing that provided space for crops and for the horses and livestock. The middle school had a very flat field area for itself, while the elementary school's field was connected with the park in the heart of the housing complex. Altogether, the tract took a space of half a square mile.

Another very nice thing was that the end of the housing tract butted up against a huge park that covered a full square mile. Regional festivities were held several times a year at this park, with pure and mixed clans of all types coming in and forgetting all squabbles to celebrate and enjoy the company and good spirits.

Shu was arriving just two weeks before the summer festival. He always arrived early so he had time to socialize with the clan before other clans started to show up in the week prior to the festival. Even if he was unable to make the other festivals because of his travels, the summer festival was the one he was always present for. Good food, drink, shows, and performances, many by him as well, and maybe a chance to meet a lovely lass to spend some quality time with.

Approaching from the north, they were only a mile away from the edge of the clan lands when a mass of low-slung furred bodies became apparent in the distance. Foxes, all running on all fours, swarming up the street towards the two travelers. Like him, they boasted animal-shaped hind legs, making it possible for them to run on arms and legs. Not all of the humanoid animals had this, some had legs that were shaped like human legs. Two foxes were ahead of the massive skulk, approaching at a much quicker pace. The sheer mass of approaching animals, and the fact that this was completely unprecedented, caused Tadita to pause and skitter nervously.

"Do you think something has happened? Do they look hostile now?" she asked.

Shu squinted to see better as Tadita sidestepped a few times, considering running. He grinned finally and patted her shoulder, "Calm down, hon. Tails are flagged and they have a lot of younglings in the group. It's no war party and no bad news." He sat up straighter and awaited the onslaught.

"SHUUUUUUU!!!" shouted one of the two frontrunners as they approached within hailing range. He recognized them now. Serifa, a youngling who couldn't be called young for much longer, and her brother Taharn. They both skidded to a halt before standing upright, panting. "Oh, Shu, you're here! This is GREAT!" Serifa exclaimed. "We've been waiting for scouts to say you're coming. You're a whole day late!" she scolded.

Shu hung his head in compliant shame. "I travel a long ways. Even across the seas. You know that Serifa. Um, why the huge welcoming party though?"

Taharn shook his head, "Nonono. She's gotta tell you her good news first!" he pushed his sister in the back lightly. Shu turned his attention to her. She was growing up to be a very lovely young vixen from the kit he had met years ago.

His attention caused her to suddenly become very shy and fidgety. Her brother nudged her again before she finally spoke. "This year is my coming of age celebration at the summer festival," she murmured.

"That's wonderful!" Shu exclaimed. "You've grown up to be a beautiful vixen."

She smiled up at him. "Thank you..." She fell silent until her brother nudged her again, causing her to jump as she realized that the massive mob of foxes was approaching very quickly. A small look of panic overtook her as she took his hand lightly. "I get to pick a partner for my Practice Time at this festival..."

Shu nodded. All species of animal people had their own rites to do things. Many clans gave their younglings a Practice Time, a period to learn and enjoy the pleasures of the flesh before they actually went into heat and had a chance to conceive. It was a very important process that helped the growing younglings learn about their own bodies and begin to learn the responsibilities of caring for young as they helped with the kits and cubs of their elders. It also gave them a chance to find out that mating could be a nice thing before the relative chaos and confusion that their heat cycle would bring upon them. Even if they took measures to avoid conception, heat cycles made for very frantic, and in some species violent, mating.

"I know you'll pick a good partner for yourself," Shu said diplomatically. "Don't choose too quickly, pay attention to the suitors, and I know you'll make a good choice."

She shook her head vigorously, "No... Shu... I want..."

"YOU'RE LATE!!" screeched a commanding voice as the oncoming skulk suddenly arrived. Serifa laid her ears back in dismay and backed away from Shu while her brother threw a worried glance at her, then followed. "SHU FOXEN, YOU ARE A WHOLE DAY LATE! How DARE you make us worry like that?! Especially THIS year of all times?!" The voice completely belied the appearance of the speaker. The fennec was a tiny thing, the top of her head barely reaching the middle of any other fox's belly. Her huge ears, on the other hand, easily reached the underside of anybody else's chin.

This was Scarya, the Clan Mother. Though her name was properly pronounced "Skuh-RYE-uh", misbehaving kits frequently tried to get away with calling her "Scary-uh" when they thought she couldn't hear. Given the size of her ears, the actuality of her not hearing was very infrequent, and her response to this mutation of her name reinforced the mutation's meaning to these younglings. A Clan Mother was almost more important than the Clan Leader in many clans. While the Leader was the political front of a clan, the Clan Mother was the watchdog and the brains behind the scenes. She was the caretaker and often the most powerful magic user.

"I'm sorry, Clan Mother," Shu said, this time truly shamed. It was impossible to not feel bad at any scolding from this aged, but powerful, vixen.

"Don't you 'I'm sorry Clan Mother' me," she scolded as the group of foxes moved to completely surround them, the clan leader catching his breath as he let Scarya speak. "How could you be late this year?! The whole clan has been in a panic over it! You get your fuzzy butt down here and let me look you over. Give poor Tadita a break from carrying your lazy tail."

"But I LIKE carrying his..." Tadita began before she was cut off by a scowl from the elder fennec. Tadita took a step back in surprise, but Scarya tilted her ear low enough to block Shu's view as she winked to the horse. Tadita nodded slightly and swung her head back to peer at Shu, "You heard the Clan Mother. Get your lazy tail off my poor sore back!"

Shu gave her a shocked and pained look, "Sore back? Why didn't you tell me?! Oh, Tadita, I'm sorry!" He was off her back in an instant, leaning over it and trying to massage it to comfort her, when she broke into a laughing whinny.

Shu was suddenly grabbed by a plethora of hands and lifted into the air by the other foxes, protesting about Tadita's back before she assured him everything was fine and she had just been playing along. The grey fox was deposited in front of the Clan Leader and Clan Mother as many of the younglings gathered around Tadita and began to brush her and massage her like only the Green Valley Clan knew how.

"Shu Grey Foxen, our clan welcomes you back for the tenth summer since you first helped us find our name," the Clan Leader announced with flare. He was massive for a fox, more resembling a large wolf in his bearing. His coat was a very deep red with an almost solid black back. "This also marks our tenth Summer Festival, so we're throwing an extra-big to-do this year! We've had messengers arriving from clans more than thrice as far away as usual, letting us know they intend to be present." He tilted his head and looked at the grey fox. "I'm surprised you're late, especially since this is such a big year. Is everything okay with you, Shu?"

Shu blinked back his surprise, now feeling guilty for more than just being chided by the Clan Mother. "Clan Leader Takahu, I didn't realize that it had been ten years. My travels had me overseas before I caught a portal back to here. The magi mislocated the portal and put me further away than I requested, and you know I'd never, EVER push Tadita too hard."

"That's one of the things I love about having your lazy tail on my back!" Tadita announced from where she was being pampered.

"Well, come on then! I'm too old to be running all the way out here for such emergencies," Scarya muttered. Of course, she was the only one who had arrived without being even slightly out of breath. "Let's take a nice casual trot back. The rest of the clan will be very excited to see you two. The horses have been waiting to hear of your travels, Tadita, and you know they're always jealous of you because you hype up the way Shu treats you so much."

"Come on, Lazy Tail," Tadita called. "Get on! I always feel great with you around and I don't want you to get lost in a sea of foxes."

Shu smiled happily as the group around him parted to allow him to rejoin Tadita. Something seemed to have just washed over him and filled him with joy. Her coat was shining from their treatments already. He was extremely happy that she would be so pampered here. He always wanted the best for his companion. Hopping onto her back, he waved to everybody as the whole group turned as one and dropped to all four paws again to begin a lazy trot for the last three miles.

* * *

Just a moment ago... Hundreds of miles away...

The crow criss-crossed over the road below. The area was dusty, since the wind bore around it and the recent rains had split their path of falling for that patch of street. Today was two weeks. Today might be their answer.

Black wings carried the bird silently as it listened for any calls of warning from others before entering the spelled zone. It dove like a stone, pulling up a dozen feet over the ground so as not to disturb anything with wing gusts. A careful landing followed by cautious observation revealed that something had changed. There were three small, indistinct green objects in the circle of five tokens, shrouded in spell and reeking of magic.

The crow took off in a panic, not disturbing anything. The moment it had left the protected area, it began to call loudly, almost losing its voice in the excitement. The call was immediately taken up by every crow around, shouting at the top of their lungs in their old tongue. Wings beat the sky as the congregation gathered once more and the cries hushed in the center, though they still spread outwards quickly. Over the past two weeks, thousands more crows and even ravens had heard of the event and had gathered in the area. The crows were awed by the ravens. Normally they didn't share territory at all. The ravens were much more powerful than the crows, but the ravens were allowing the crows to keep control here. The blackening of the air above cast its own shadow on the ground as there were thousands more birds than spaces to roost.

The five old ones finally arrived, approaching the area openly from their five respective directions. With this many birds of power here, even the most capable casters would have a hard time overcoming their combined strength. They landed carefully just at the edge of the proscribed zone and walked in, each to their respective token. Certainly, the green objects bore powerful magic, but they were too old to be afraid. They knew that if they were to die here, then it simply meant their time had come.

One called to the congregation above and a new vortex of power was quickly formed. The five bowed their chins to the ground, tails high in the air as they concentrated on gathering this power to pierce the spells shrouding the objects from view. Energy lanced around them, foreboding and fierce, and finally a thunderous crack heralded a bolt of energy striking the mist of magic surrounding the objects. All five of the old ones were toppled over backwards, righting themselves quickly to observe the results.

It did not look good. The mist was completely unaffected by their combined power. Other than the silent flow of air around wings, the entire region was quiet for some time as the old ones conversed quietly to try to decide what had been wrought.

A cry of surprise suddenly came from up the street and was taken up into a panic as crows and ravens alike scattered from ground and trees. A Returned One was approaching! A spirit who had been guided to safety was back! This rarely bode well. Such manifestations could be the harbinger of tremendous catastrophes, and indeed, such spirits often had the power to create the catastrophes themselves. Prophecies of old claimed that the end of the world itself could even be caused by a vengeful Returned One.

No bird wanted to potentially be within range of the spirit's reach, but the five old ones stood their ground as the female wolf spirit approached with a supernatural speed. If she was to kill them, it would still inform the others. But she smiled. As a returned one, she could no longer speak to them, but she was obviously trying to be non-threatening. She made placating motions and pointed to the panicking birds overhead.

One of the old ones shook its head. They were not going to call an all-clear until they knew it was safe. She could be trying to deceive them. She shook her head and sighed, then gestured to the mist-shrouded objects, moving over and kneeling before the tiny things. She got down until her nose was just inches from the mist, peering into it with a smile. The crows watched her warily, now more concerned at her interest.

Sitting back on her haunches, she pointed up the street she had come from. She made a motion with her hands, of holding something before her mouth an moving her fingers along it. She pointed to her ear, and then the misty objects, and then along the road in the other direction. She looked at the crows and made a vast swirling motion above her head, pointing at each of the five tokens they had left. She pointed at the mist and smacked her fist against her palm, bouncing it off the palm and letting the fist go limp. She shook her head.

The crows grew more curious and more confused as she leaned down and appeared to take a deep breath and blow at the mist-covered objects. Of course, her breath had no substance, so no air moved. She pointed to the crows, then pointed at the green things, and made the blowing motion again. Finally she held out her arm, pointed at the crows, and waved both arms forward at the mist, before pointing at the crows again.

One of the old crows cocked its head at her, beginning to catch on. It moved to its token and flapped its wings lightly, stirring up a breeze and some dust through the mist. The wolf spirit nodded vigorously and pointed at the other four, then at their tokens. Sensing a better feeling about her, they moved into their positions and flapped, stirring up much more dust, but it had no effect on the mist, much to the obvious disappointment of the wolf.

She looked upwards, making the swirling motion above her head again, then pointing down to her arms, and making a single strong flap with them. The crows nodded. A call went out to the cacophony overhead and they slowly began to form a vortex of power. The five elders stood with their wings spread, gathering the energy their brethren generated. Ten wings went back at once, and flapped forward powerfully with the energy from the vortex in them.

Normally this kind of action and power would create a moderate tornado, so even as they flapped, the five elders took off like shots to avoid the fallout. But the power behind the wind was gone, sucked away somehow, and only a gentle swirling of breeze began in the circle. The elder crows re-approached cautiously as the spirit danced with glee. The mist was slowly tearing away under the empowered wind. Beneath the spell mist, three tiny saplings were revealed, growing quite healthy even from the very asphalt of the road.

There was a literal explosion of happiness from the spirit, positive energy expanding in a powerful wave and startling all of the avians into silence. She pointed to the tiny plants, then motioned far off into the distance, and touched her ear again. She drew a line from the plants, and again motioned into the distance, then pointed at the crows and made a breaking motion with her hands. One of the elders looked more carefully at the ley lines and powers and noticed she spoke truth. There was a link from somewhere else to the saplings, dampening their power. But even with all the congregated birds, breaking links like this was not one of their abilities. The wolf pointed to the link and made the breaking motion again, but the crows shook their heads sadly.

The wolf stared at them, frustrated, and literally grabbed the link of power and bit it.

* * *

"Ouch," Shu exclaimed softly, putting a hand up to feel his ear. The spot that the crow had pecked was suddenly sore again. His action caught Scarya's attention and she stared at him for a moment before going to the trouble to stand up and run upright beside him.

"Lean over, Shu. Hold on so you don't fall off. Come here," she said urgently.

Shu carefully leaned over to her side, lowering his head until she was able to reach his ear. His head spun for a moment as she grasped the spot lightly. It felt as if something were being torn from his ear, taking half his ear with it. The discomfort went away quickly though. He put a hand to his ear again in surprise, finding it whole as Scarya pushed him back upright and dropped back to all four paws to move comfortably.

"What...?" Shu asked.

"You had a magic bug on your ear. They do exist in some places and can bite pretty hard. You should be fine now," she explained.

"That was the same spot I got pecked by a crow about two weeks ago," Shu muttered, feeling sorry for his poor, abused ear.

"Pecked by a crow, eh?" Scarya muttered softly. "Um, the bugs tend to like recently-healed parts," she explained distractedly.

Shu shrugged and hugged Tadita, who had looked back at him in concern at the change in his attitude. "I guess I'll be okay now as long as no more bugs come to bite me."

* * *

The she-wolf spirit suddenly jumped back from the link, staring at it as it began to contract, its far end severed. She spun in a panic, shooing the crows on the ground and pointing up and making shooing motions. Her intent was missed at first as the elders stared at her confusedly. She looked at the rapidly-contracting link and finally spun on the elders, taking on a faux look of evil as she pounced at them. They scattered in a panic, crying alarm to all overhead and causing them to scatter. One looked back to see if the spirit was about to demolish them, but she was back to looking worried and fretful, trying to wave them away faster. It cried a second alarm for them all to fly for their lives as even the spirit began to run up along the street.

The link finally reeled all the way back in and the explosion of energy was intense. The three saplings grew at a tremendous rate, their bodies becoming three massive intertwined trunks as only a few seconds' time resulted in thousands of feet worth of growth. The rush of air and energy blew a powerful wind up the tails of the fleeing birds, scattering them and tossing them on the shock wave, but luckily nobody got hurt. Finally the wash of energy faded, the tree fully grown into a giant ancient tree in the course of a few frightened wing beats.

The birds slowly reconvened on the massive tree that stood well above the normal skyline of plants and buildings. It didn't feel evil. It brimmed with positive energy in fact. Circling down around the base, the elders finally found the Returned One, splayed across the ground. For something to have affected a Returned One this strongly was unprecedented! The ground had been torn asunder by the massive expansion of the tree, chunks of roadway scattered far and wide and old buildings ripped from their foundations. The spirit got to her feet slowly, looking around at the carnage and suddenly rushing off up the road.

The crows followed her and saw a massive slab of foundation that had been thrown by the growth. It was right where the two wrecked cars used to be, so had likely flattened them. The spirit got to the other side of the scene and collapsed in relief. Roots from the tree itself had sprung up and shielded the small car from the fallout, though the Toyota truck was demolished.

There was a new commotion from the crows and ravens above, following the slow descent of a tiny object that glowed with power. The thing fell straight from the tree towards the spirit, landing at her feet. She smiled, hugging one of the roots of the tree lovingly as if it were actually substantial to her... could it possibly be? She picked up the object: a tiny seed meant to be borne on the air currents.

The crows and ravens were all well beyond their league now, but they stayed and watched as the wolf spirit clasped the seed to her chest. They averted their gazes as the wolf suddenly flashed brightly and was no more, in her place a complex series of glowing runes. The runes swirled in the air, spiraling into the car with the skeleton of the wolf spirit's prior short life in it, surrounding the bones that many of the crows present had helped to pick clean. A flash of power and the bones vanished, replaced by an ornate sword with glowing runes along its blade. The runes dimmed slowly and finally vanished altogether, and then the sword itself slowly faded from existence.

The avian congregation had no idea what to make of the whole thing. Silently, they took flight, alighting in the new-formed tree. As they perched, they realized they were fed by the energies of the tree in an offer of companionship. They would become the tree's watchers. In turn, the tree would provide for their needs. A few left, the rest accepted, and the covenant was finalized.

* * *

Shu was greeted warmly by the whole clan as he arrived at the elementary school, which was larger in size. The members who normally lived and worked at the middle school about a half mile away had paused in their endeavors to come say hi. Even all the horses were out to greet Tadita. Shu left Tadita to the company of the horses and stable hands who were more than ready to pamper her into oblivion if she let them as he was escorted to the outdoor lunch area at the center of the school for an impromptu celebration.

Everybody was in cheery spirits and very happy about his presence, but something was beginning to nag at Shu. A feeling of dread and warning. He was concerned at first, since it felt very much like his danger warning talent was going off, but there was nothing solid to focus it on. He finally pushed the vague sense into the background when it grew no stronger nor focused. The food was absolutely delightful, the company exquisite, and everybody loved his stories from his travels. He was definitely the fox to attend to for the younger vixens. They were quite twitterpated over him.

As night fell, he excused himself to check on Tadita and spend some time attending to her himself. While the attendance and expert care of the clan was always delightful, nothing meant more to the two of them than the direct interaction with each other. Though her coat already shone, he brushed her down personally and gave her a rubdown with his hands, scratching lightly all the spots he knew she liked. He checked her hooves and ears and finally she laid down and he leaned against her side as they just sat and relaxed in each others' company.

"You know... I just realized that means that tomorrow night is our ten year anniversary together," Shu murmured.

The horse nuzzled him. "Do you regret being with me instead of settling down with a nice vixen and getting laid more?" she asked teasingly.

Shu laughed and smacked her flank lightly, making her jump. "Not all love needs to include getting laid, you know that quite well. Do you regret not pausing for a while to carry a foal?"

Tadita laughed in return, "Touche. Like you said, not all love needs to include getting laid. I wouldn't give up our travels for anything in the world. Here's to many more years of wonder, love."

Shu snuggled against her side happily. "Many more decades if we can have them. We should do something special for our tenth anniversary tomorrow night. I'll see what I can whip up."

"We should," she murmured, resting her chin across his lap. After that, they just fell silent and enjoyed each others' company as they had for almost a decade of nights already.

A timid voice interrupted their relaxation. "Shu?"

Shu cracked open an eye to see Serifa peeking around the corner. Tadita nodded greetings to the young vixen. "Hi, Serifa," Shu said with a smile.

She snuck around the corner. "I wanted to talk to you about my Practice Time choosing..." she murmured, dropping to her haunches in front of him and gazing at him shyly.

Shu smiled warmly to her, admiring her coat and her build. He decided that if he ever did settle down, she was just the kind of vixen he would want to have love him. "I've known you since you were a kit, Sarifa. I've seen you every year and spent a lot of time with you, so I'm sure you'll make a good choice. You're a wonderfully intelligent young vixen and beautiful to boot. But if you're not sure, I'll help out as best I can. Okay, lessee..." He became thoughtful.

"Well, no... I..." she said too softly for him to hear.

"When the males know you get your Practice Time, they'll all definitely be working for your attention. You're not limited to foxes for Practice Time, and you can even change choices as often as you want, or keep the same male for as long as your practice time lasts. Just be careful, because there's some species that you definitely wouldn't enjoy. Avoid cats, for example. They all tend to be uncomfortable."

"Okay, but I..."

"Oh, yes! Also important to make sure the male you choose is responsible and kind. Get to know him a bit before you let him help you practice. You can get a male who is just in practice time himself to get the discovering together, or you can get an older male with experience who can help you learn new things without any awkwardness."

Her ears laid back as she realized she had to be more forward. She finally looked him in the eye. "Shu, the thing is that I want..."

"SHUUUUUUUUUU!!!"

About a dozen screaming kits suddenly piled in, making Tadita wince with their exuberance. The end of Serifa's sentence was drowned out by them. "Shu!! Tell us the story about the dolphins again! I told Kateth and she said I was lying! So tell it again! Tell it agaaaaaain!"

Tadita shook her head with a sigh and a smile, knowing that there was no way to convince kits. "You go ahead and tell them the story, Shu. I'll go chat with the other horses."

Shu chuckled, looking at Serifa. She looked like she wanted to bite something. "Serifa, I know you'll do a good job. Just nudge me if you need any advice during the festival, okay?"

Serifa nodded silently, clenching her jaw and walking out as Shu started to regale the kits with the story. When she was out of the area, she stopped and pounded her fist against the wall, tears soaking her cheek fur. "Why couldn't I say it? Why could I just say, 'Shu, I want YOU'? Practice time usually doesn't last a whole year... I'll miss my chance..." She shook her head, tail drooped as she went to her family's home. Maybe she could do it tomorrow. She hoped she could. She had to ask him alone. If he said no, it would be far to embarrassing for her otherwise.

* * *

Shu allowed the clan to insist he slept in a comfortable den pile, instead of spending the night with Tadita like he normally did. Even when a guest, he rarely did this, but it was comfortable enough. Most everybody in his sleeping pile... literally a pile of foxes curled together... were quite exhausted from the night's little celebration, so he would thankfully be able to sleep in.

The night went well enough, but when light began to show in the sky, his sleep became restless. Visions filled his dreams, still-nebulous warnings from his talent, but growing more defined as they went. Striped faces with snarling teeth inside bloodied muzzles glared at him. The iron tang of blood filled his dreams as the screams of his friends were cut off by the wicked cut of steel. Tadita's face invaded his dream, fear and pain evident in her eyes before they closed. Then a she-wolf's face... one that felt familiar... he placed it. He saw the same face when he was playing music for the crow. She smiled as soon as he recognized her and faded away to a complex set of runes that shone brightly for a moment before fading, leaving his dreams dark.

Then his warning spells cut in full force.

He was awake in a heartbeat, though he was the only one who was. In the dim light of the cushion-filled classroom, he started by focusing on his warning. Nothing immediate, nothing close by, but approaching fast, very big, and very deadly.

"Wake up!" he hissed, starting to shake everybody in the pile. They began to stir and he began to hear a commotion outside. There was suddenly a better focus on the threat. They were being invaded!

He leaped out of the pile, "WAKE UP!" he yelled, "EMERGENCY!! GET UP! TO ARMS, NOW!!!" His yell got everybody scrambling in a rush. Though the clan was a peaceful one, potential threats were always there, so every community room was stocked with armor and weaponry. The call to arms had the clan members already strapping on armor pieces before a bloodied individual stumbled in.

"Wake up, to arms!! They've killed everybody at the other community! They're coming here!" the fox gasped. He was pleased to see that everybody was already awake and arming themselves. Ordered chaos covered the school buildings as messengers went and spread the alarm quickly. The wounded fox's pleasure did not last long though, as he succumbed to his wounds and breathed no more.

Shu grabbed a quiver full of arrows and a heavy longbow. He could hold his own with a weapon, but he knew they were still far away. Keeping the enemy away from close combat range would be beneficial. He was out the door with a minimal of armor, thinking that he was stupid to do so, but he wanted to be quick and take out what he could before they got too close. He joined dozens of other foxes heading up to the roof. The height would give them a superior advantage with range and the short wall would provide cover should they be shot at in return.

As he reached the edge of the roof, crouched low, he saw the enemy. Tigers, probably outnumbering the clan as a whole by a few hundred, were running across the field. He was very pleased to discover older younglings already bringing extra arrows up to the roof as quick as they could, panting from the weight of the heavy shafts. He was also pleased to note the tigers did not appear to have any bows or ranged weapons. At the same time, this could be a bane. A clan of such powerful cats who felt they had no need for ranged weapons was not to be trifled with. He shook his head at their sheer mass and shouted to the foxes near him, "Just start shooting into them! They'll be here way too quickly and cats can jump! The roof won't be safe!"

He started firing arrows into them as quickly as he could fire, his fingers becoming sore in short order. He wasn't at all used to drawing a bow. Swords were distributed on the roof as more fighters came up to be prepared for the roof to be breached. Soon the main force of the clan on the ground was also in position and ready, spears prepared to impale any chargers and swords ready to defend life, limb, family, and home.

Shu shook his head as he saw the tigers coming. They were close enough for direct shots now instead of lobbed shots, so he worked to make every shot count. The tigers knew the futility of rushing headfirst into a wall of spears, so they slowed to counter the spears and work on engaging in direct combat. Shu had been hesitant at first to be killing other people, but when he saw the tigers now wading through the smaller foxes on the playground fields below, blood flying with abandon and most of it being vulpine blood, his resolve locked at full strength and his shots became more deadly.

Archers had to be MUCH more careful in the mixed melee, but skill continued to put arrows through tiger flesh. Unfortunately, far fewer tigers fell than arrows pierced them, many of the tigers sprouting multiple arrows and still fighting full strength. Shu growled at the near futility as more foxes went down under the wave of feline enemies. He heard shouting and his ears twisted to focus on it. There! That tiger had much fancier armor. He was giving orders, staying mostly behind the lines. Shu took careful aim and launched an arrow in his direction.

Sadly, the tiger moved just before the arrow struck and it barely scratched him as it glanced off his scale breastplate at an angle. Shu felt the burn of the commander's gaze as he shouted for troops to get to the roof and take down the damned archers. Numerous tigers broke off from combat with ease and headed the short distance to the buildings. They would be on the roof in moments! Where was a sword? He grabbed to his right, but that sword had already been claimed. He looked to his left and found nothing. He looked around frantically for a weapon to hold, but found nothing.

Somebody shouted a warning at him and he realized that he was left alone at the edge of the roof. Alone, and holding nothing but a bow. There was no warning from below as a tiger made the leap to the roof edge in one bound. The snarling face glared at the lone grey fox and a sword raised to strike, but an arrow struck the striped feline right between the eyes, knocking him back and quite dead.

"GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE!" somebody shouted to him, but it was too late. The next two tigers that came up didn't just grab the edge and peek at him. They came the full jump to the roof, landing on either side of him and raising their swords almost as one to strike him down. No arrow was going to save him now. He put his hands up in defense, realizing this was likely the end.

Hundreds of miles away.... The whole tree shuddered, shaking the crows and ravens and setting them squawking queries to each other.

Shu saw the flash of that female wolf again. This time her face was in a snarl and she was angry. But her anger was not directed at him. She exploded into runes and he felt energy coursing through his body and out along his arms.

The tiger's swords struck, but they did not cut through fox flesh. The flash of power as they collided with twin runeblades shattered the swords and knocked both attackers back slightly. Shu crackled with energy even in his own body, arcs of power flashing around him. One of the tigers took a lethal swipe at him with a clawed paw bigger than the fox's own head, but an arc of energy caught the paw and deflected it violently. Shu took only a moment to get his wits about him before he began swinging the mysterious swords in wide arcs at his antagonizers.

The blades cut cleanly through armor and flesh and bone, downing the two tigers in an instant. More calls of alarm occurred as a much larger group of tigers had gained the roof. Shu knew of the carnage they had wrecked on his friends below. This had to stop!

Somehow he found much more strength and skill in himself than he knew before. Blades and armor shattered and tigers fell under his wrath, the vision of the female wolf drifting past his mind's eye on occasion, until the roof was clear of enemies. Shu rushed to the edge and looked at the continuing battle below. Throwing caution to the wind, Shu leaped off the roof, landing with a flash of energy that protected him. In a rage, he waded into the combat, batting aside enemy swords and striking down the felines with an ease and grace that he had never had the training for. His lone effort and spell-assisted fury turned the tide of the battle quickly. Every dead fox he had to step over only fueled his rage further and made him into a more deadly fighting machine.

The giant tree shuddered, leaves and entire small branches falling from its heights. The birds took flight, circling around it, having no idea what was occurring but staying out of the way of falling branches and ready to help the tree in any way it requested.

It wasn't long before the tigers were obviously on the losing side due to this one empowered fox. A deafening roar arced out across the battlefield as the commander called his troops into a retreat in their own language. Shu was tempted to follow, but even though this clan had been decimated, it was not honorable to strike a retreating enemy. He held his ground in a prominent position, waiting to see what happened next.

What did happen was not something he could have imagined in his wildest dreams. The building nearby that served as a stable broke out into chaos. Horses tore out, screaming for help as armed tigers riped into them from behind. To attack any companion animals was one of the most forbidden things on the whole planet. Shu could see that even the troops who had retreated were looking uneasy and the tigers attacking the horses were almost reluctant. The commander though looked highly pleased.

"SHU!!"

It was Tadita. She was running as fast as she could, but the tiger was faster. Shu took off to intercept, but the tiger caught her before, leaping onto her back and driving a dagger the length of Shu's arm through her abdomen. She went down in a heartbeat, tumbling as the tiger leaped off her. The tiger met the ferocity of both runeblades and never lived to reach the ground.

"TADITA!" He was at her side in an instant, examining the torn wound and trying to very carefully extract the blade. "Tadita, damnit, tonight is our anniversary! We have to have decades together! Hold yourself together! You'll pull through this!" Her breathing was already labored and her eyes beginning to glaze over.

"Shu..." she murmured, choking on her pain. "I'm sorry... I'll miss our anniversary." She took a deep, labored breath and stretched to nuzzle him. "I'll always love you though. Play a song for me.. please... before it's too late."

Shu sat in disbelief at this happening. He looked at the flowing blood and the discarded dagger. He could not deny his beloved her request.

He set the runeblades down, not even noticing as they vanished completely. His spell was fast as he created his most beautiful wind instrument. He knew it would be in tune. This came from the depths of his heart. He played the tune that had first caught Tadita's attention and drawn her to him, almost a full ten years ago. It was a song that he had only played for her thereafter. It was a melody full of joy and sadness at the same time, full of love and hope, full of companionship. Now, companionship and love lost.

Tadita kept her eyes on him throughout the whole song, her pain fading as the life drained from her body. Tears flowed copiously from his eyes as the song drew to an end and his beloved closed her eyes to release her final breath.

* * *

The whole tree shook in a powerful explosion of energy, blowing the birds away again, but they recovered quickly. They knew not how, but one of the three intertwined trees was now completely dead. Its branches bore long-dead leaves that blew away quickly in the wind. Its trunk was already decaying and decrepit. Something massive had just happened.

* * *

"How... touching," the commander spat. "Now you will die."

Shu had been so entranced by his own music that he had not been aware of himself being surrounded and the large dagger being picked up and tossed aside by the commander. A sword that was bigger than the fox himself whistled through the air to cleave the obstinate vulpine in twain. The crackle of energy that surrounded Shu in an instant shattered the sword, showering the surrounding tigers in shrapnel as it threw the commander a good ten feet onto his back. Shu was atop that tiger's chest in an instant, both runeblades in hand and crossed over the tiger's throat.

"What you have done here today was detestable. YOU all will die for your actions, not I. I can run farther and longer than any of you. I can track you down, and I will kill you all for this outrage."

The commander shook his head with a menacing snarl. "We were simply under orders. Even if we are gone, there will be more." He barked a single power word in his own language and Shu recognized the sudden grasp of teleporting spells engaging on all the tiger soldiers' armor. He saw red. He needed no backswing for his strike, and indeed that would have taken too long. He simply drew his hands apart, letting the magic of the runeblades create a clean cut through armor, flesh, and bone alike.

The whole troop of tigers vanished under the influence of the teleport spells. The commander's head stayed behind.

The fox stumbled back over to Tadita's body and collapsed sobbing atop her. He didn't know how long he was there crying, but eventually a light hand touched his shoulder. He looked up into the face of what must have been an angel. No... It was Serifa... just as beautiful though.

"Shu... I was so afraid for everybody, and afraid for you. How could anybody have done such a thing? Our horses... Tadita..." She collapsed sobbing on him now. "So many dead, so many hurt... Why would anybody do this?! Are they jealous of our festival? Oh Shu, I'm so sorry!" She shook her head and pulled herself together, realizing something absolutely critical. "SHU!! I have to tell you! I lo..."

"RUNE!!" he interrupted harshly. His hand extended and a runeblade suddenly appeared in it. He had a flash of a worried look from the wolf spirit, shaking her head, trying to encourage him to something, but he ignored it. They had taken his beloved from him, they had gotten away, and they had told him they were just part of a bigger threat. "My name is RUNE now. Shu is dead. What I was and what I had is dead." Pain came over his face. "The one I loved is dead..."

Serifa stared at him, having been interrupted again. Now she did feel like biting him. He disengaged from her and stood up, the other runeblade appearing in his free hand. Many of the remaining members of the Green Valley Fox Clan had gathered around.

"My name is Rune now! You have all treated me as family... You have been the closest thing to a family for me... I cannot allow this to go unanswered. Even worse, the tiger said there is somebody else commanding them. I vow that I will not rest until whoever is responsible for this is dead! I will avenge this clan. I will avenge Tadita..." He felt something within him. He felt a new power over magic that he had never felt before. There was so much he could do, and maybe, just maybe it would be enough to make this right again. "If you are in danger, think of me and call my name. I will come if I can. I will always think of all of you as my family. For now, I need to find out who is behind this and make them pay."

He couldn't stand to be here with Tadita there at his feet. He knew the clan would take care of her body. He knew his music had taken care of her spirit. He gathered his newfound energy and teleported himself. He didn't know where to. He didn't care where to.

"DAMN IT, SHU, YOU STUPID FOX!" Serifa shouted to the empty sky, "I LOVE YOU!! COME BACK AND LOVE ME BACK! DON'T JUST LEAVE ME HERE! SHU!!" She collapsed atop Tadita's body, sobbing once again.

What was to come of the future? Probably nobody knew.