The Path of the Protector

City of Waterfalls

Emily did not celebrate much at Cliffton, as she knew they faved a treacherous climb up a very dangerous cliff. The 3 of them left the village early in the morning, amd were surprised that packs of climbing gear had been provided for them.

They were barely 3 miles from the village when Emily first smelt the rogues, and was surprised another dozen had joined their number.

"What is with all the climbing gear?" Josephine asked a little surprised.

"Do we not have a cliff to scale before we reach the top?" Brian asked making the Lycans smile.

"Maybe a few thousand years ago, and only if those buffoons did not tell you of the stairs." Josephine replied chuckling as they indeed approached the sheer cliff. They went to the very southern tip of it, where the Elders had warned them to avoid because of the dangers, and began climbing a very steep set of stairs.

The climb still took several hours to make, but it weaved endlessly up through the rock, allowing safe and easy ascent to the top. "Why would they not tell us of this?" Ashley asked.

"Because they are sticklers for tradition, and this was once protected by Werecats. They have all but disappeared now, and we use it frequently to safely make this trip. If the challenge is required, we can go back down and get the gear you need. I assure you a few of us will die in the ascent however, it is not an easy climb." Josephine replied as they turned another small landing and continued up.

They got to the top and Emily was very surprised at what she saw. The Rogue Lycans lead them to the path along the edge they had been expected to climb at, and they could see the meadows for several miles before the city.

"I need to take my people along the perimeter to the other side, any closer and they will see us. However there is another Rogue Village not far from here, as the next portion is truly dangerous. Even for us, we approach the Feral Rogue territory, until we can cross the chasm. Once on the other side it is an easy walk to Ahnkara. Do not be too hard on them, they do not know any better." Josephine said before leading the 3 dozen of them along the edge into the trees.

Emily lead Ashley and Brian onto the path, and they covered the 3 miles to the city of waterfalls in a relatively short time period.

As they approached they heard a horn sound, and knew their arrival had just been announced. 'Does it truly mattered we used the stair?' Emily asked Selene.

'No, the villages themselves are they keys. The journey between them has just been perilous in the past because of what has happened over time. We made the climb because it was a days climb over dangerous terrain, or 3 months to travel around it.' Selene replied quietly.

They entered through the gates, and none of the 3 corrected them when they said that they had made the climb in the fastest time ever recorded by their village. It was amazing to Brian how connected these villages were to the outside world.

The celebration inside the city was exuberant, but Emily was not in any particular mood to celebrate. She knew an ally she had spent two days speaking with was left to the colds of the wild lands, and hoped she was faring well.

Josephine walked into one of the 7 Rogue villages, and they all tolerated her presence as she approached the center of their village. There was a stern looking old man that eyed her warily, as they knew there were several dozen more with her not far from them.

"That is close enough, why do you come here with such an army?" he demanded from the other side of the fountain.

"We do not travel as an army, but as the Guardians of the Protector Selene. She has agreed to clear the name of any of those who are unjustly rogue. We however approach the lands of the Feral Rogues who are truly cursed of Artemis, and wished to inform you we would be traveling through your territory. Join us or not, we work for the betterment of all Lycans who would see a new day dawn." She replied to him honestly.

The old man nodded as his people relaxed at her words. "It is not often a large party only passes this way, but if that is your intent we will not fight you. Is what you say true? Will we finally have the scales of justice righted with the rise of the Protector?" he asked as everyone gained hope.

"It is true, my village showed her how our young inherit this injustice, and she has given me her oath she will correct it with the Goddess at Ahnkara. Any who wish to join us are welcome, as we strive to ensure she survives the savage beasts between us and there. If we must offer our lives to ensure all of us get the chance at a better life, so be it. Let it be known as well that Princess Emily has offered all former Rogues a place inside the Royal Pack. However those who have earned their status shall not be wiped clean of this stain." Josephine replied as a cheer went through the assembled crowd.

They knew that thise who were truly cursed as Rogue eventually became Feral, as they were truly cursed of Artemis. The descendants of those who survived, inherited the stench because thier parents no longer had a pack that could take them.

Most of the village volunteered, and would follow thembto Ahnkara. They hkwever did nkt celebrate, as they had many preparations to make before the sun rose the next morning.

3 miles from the City the Rogues met up with Emily and the 3, knowing they had one more village before the march to Ahnkara would occur. Josephine and a dozen others remained on this side of the crossing, they would be the close quarters team that traveled with her.

"Majesty, may I present Elder Tomas. He has sent word to the other villages nearby, and has decided to join the remainder of our journey." Josephine said making the introductions.

"Tomas, an honor." Emily said shaking his hand. She could tell he was another descendant now, but she was not sure how. She however looked at one of them, and knew his hands were stained with the blood of the innocent. "You," she said pointing at the man. "You are not welcome umong those who are innocent of the judgment they have received. The blood of the innocent stains your soul, and nothing shall wash it clean. I would not make the journey, as you will not enjoy the results." she warned him darkly.

He was the only one of the 6 she had not met, and Tomas nodded. "Inform Castian and Judah as well Connor. They were your accomplices in that attack, and we knew it was likely only a matter of time." Tomas said.

Connor nodded and bowed before her. "Apologies Majesty, it was not always possible for all of us to remain pure." he said before he darted across the bridge that seperated them from their path.

Emily was shocked at that, as she had not expected it to be taken so well. "What will happen to them?" she asked Tomas.

"They will likely sacrifice themselves before the madness sets in. Now that they know they have beem judged worthy, they will sacrifice themselves in her name while they still can. Most of us in the villages strive to follow the teachings, however on occasion in the heat of battle, innocents are lost." he said as Selene saw the three boys coming back across the bridge.

They passed within a foot of her, and she looked at them hard before she growled at them to stop before they escaped hearing range. Emily could feel her really close to the surface, as her glowing purple eyes looked at them. "Kneel." she commanded of the three of them.

Each approached cautiously and knelt a foot away from her, all lowering their heads before her. "Apologies Majesty, we strive to end our torment before we no longer can." Connor said as he trembled slightly before her.

"We shall see Connor, we shall see. Before you do that however, may I see?" she asked him.

"I hide nothing from the Goddess' Protector." he said raising his eyes so he could look at her.

With that Selene grabbed his head, her paws covering the sides of his face as she peered deeply into his eyes. She peered into his soul, right to the stain on innocent blood, and watched the events unfold before her eyes.

The 3 Wolves that knelt before her were the last survivors of a brutal attack, and had finally claimed victory from those that had killed many of their friends and family. They threw a torch onto the carriage the man had jumped from, and it caught quickly. It was engulfed in flames before they heard the screams of a young child coming from inside of it. She watched as they tried to save the young man, two of them sustaining burns so severe they wore the scars as a constant reminder of what they had unknowingly did. The third was thrown clear when the powder kegs detonated, killing the child instantly.

Emily removed the paws as she wiped the tear falling from her eye as she looked at him. "What you have done is tragic, however there was no malicious intent on your part. The blood of the innocent may stain your souls, but you are absolved of wrong doing." Emily said to them.

"Thank you milady, if you would accept ys, we wish tonswear our oaths of service to protect you alongside your Guardians." Connor said bowing before her. The other two nodded as well as they continued kneeling before her.

"That path leads to great honor through great peril. Are you sure it is a path you wish to follow?" she asked each of them.

"It is Majesty." they each replied in unison as she nodded to them.

"Than I accept your oaths, and will hold you to them until we die, or have peace once again. Rise and join their ranks, your training will begin this evening." she said as they crossed the bridge.

They walked all day, and the Lycans knew they approached the final village before the final stretch to Ahnkara. Emily had seen nearly 4 dozen wolves forming a moving perimeter around them, and the presence of so many drove most of the Feral Lycans away from them. Theybwere generally solitary animals, and knew they could not overpower such a large group.

They were discussing how to best coordinate the Rogues circling around the village when Josephine caught the scent of several dozen warriors beginning to surround them. The outer perimeter collapsed to the core group, as horns sounded all around them. It was clear the village was in full attack, and the Rogues were preparing to respond when Emily transformed.

The village warriors were at a full charge with swords gleaming when her roar pierced the air, her Alpha Command forcing all of the Wolves that heard it to their knees. It was so powerful even the Rogues and nearby Ferals responded to it, none of them wishing to challenge her power.

"Enough! Why have you disobeyed my command?!" she demanded using her Alpha powers as she stormed up to the man leading the charge.

"We believed it to be an attack Majesty." he said falling so that his forehead was firmly pressed against the ground as her increased and focused power washed over him. Not one of them could stand as her Alpha Powers washed over them all.

"Excellent, since you are here now, you can escort my party and I to your village. Josephine, your followers will be joining me tonight. We have much to discuss before we complete this journey." She ordered as she allowed her power to fade.