The Path of the Protector

Protection

Emily awoke a few hours later to the clanging of swords, and was surprised to see Helen on the balcony with a cup of coffee waiting for her steaming hot. Helen was wise enough not to say anything until after Emily had taken a deep drink of the stimulant.

"Morning, your Protectors seem to be up to the challenge when they are rested." Helen said as Emily looked out at all of the training warriors.

It took her several minutes to realize that the warriors were coordinating their attack against just the two of them. Brian and Ashley were in their own link that could not penetrated by any of the wolves attacking her. They used maneuvers that she would not dream of, and appreciated the deay dance they were part of.

For over an hour Emily watched as none of the Lycans pulled back their viscous attacks, and both of them met each one they needed to. They used every trick they knew between them, and it fonally became clear they were protecting a dummy in the center of them. When Emily thought that it could. ot be possible for any of them to last much longer, a gong sounded and the attack stopped immediately.

Ashley and Brian both dropped to their knees, totally spent after having spent 3 hours in that death match. The Lycans cleared the way for Danielle, who came to inspect the dummy that was between them.

She spent her time examining every inch of it before she plugged a machine into it. It recorded every impact, and Emily saw her eyes go wide at the result. She covered the reaction as the Lycans around her cleared the field and prepared to attend to their daily duties.

"Breakfast should be interesting, it will be ready inside of half an hour." Helen said as she stood and left Emily to get changed and prepared to depart.

Emily walked into the dining hall with her bag 20 minutes later, and was surprised tonsee Danielle waiting for her. "Majesty, if you would follow me please. There are a few things we need to cover before the departure ceremony." she said sternly before leading the way to the armory.

Emily was amazed at how much the decorations changed as they moved into the areas inhabited more by warriors than others. She followed Danielle through the hallways to a room filled with armor. Danielle passed all the racks to where the weaponry was stored and past all of it as well. She stopped before a Walnut Armoire, and opened it to reveal elegant armor. It was just as elegantly decorated as the armor of her Protectors, but the color scheme was dramatically different.

"This armor is made specifically for Lycans, and survives the change with us. Ashley's is the same, however Brian will not receive this particular metal unless he agrees to be a Lycan as well. Your Protectors will carry the weapons for you until you have been properly trained, however until than you do need to be protected from what harm could come." Danielle said as she handed Emily the chest piece and helped her put the armor on under her traveling clothes.

By the time they finished changing and returning to the Dining Room, the entire village had gathered to bid them farewell. It was an elaborate breakfast, and it was clear something was brewing as the Elite Warriors talked seriously in a corner.

After everyone finished eating, Danielle and Helen approached the stage. "The lives of our warriors have always been known, and we have excelled at training for what is to come. This morning we tested the two who have sworn to serve as Protectors for the Queen, and the results are encouraging. We are all aware the scores required for the ranks of warriors, but I will inform our newcomers. A Lycan Pair cannot be considered warriors until they prevent 50 hits in that battle. Elite Warriors will not allow the target to receive 25 hits, none of them critical. Guardians have always been declared those that prevent all but 10 hits over 3 hours. Before today we had never encountered the performance displayed today. Protector Ashley, Protector Brian, please step forth and receive your rank." Danielle said proudly.

Helen held two newly cast golden shields, and Emily could sense the confusion from the Lycans gathered at them. She listened discreetly, and knew the guardian shield emblem was silver.

"Because of the performace delivered by the new protectors, a new rank has been required to be made. Protectors Ashley and Brian, you are awarded the rank of Elite Guardian. Allowing absolutely no impacts to your charge has shown that perfection is achievable!" Danielle declared as the stats showed that the pads had received the equivalent of 7 scratches, none of them meeting the minimum set threshold for a light punch from a human.

The roar of applause that erupted from the gathered Lycans nearly overwhelmed her defenses as it was both the man and Wolf at the same time. Emily applauded with their cheer, and was just as surprised as they were when Helen placed the pins on their collars.

"Normally we would celebrate such an occurence for several days, as this has never before occurred. But your tasks cannot be delayed, and you must depart soon. Know that if you succeed, we will celebrate everything we have achieved as should all Wolves." Helen said embracing them to stand as Emily walked forward to join them. "Remember Majesty." she said as the villagers formed a corridor for them to walk through.

It was well past mid day before they felt the need to stop and have a light lunch before they pressed onward. All three of them were using their senses to the best of their ability, and Emily noticed a near constant stream between Ashley and Brian as they shared info. After they ate they walked through the thinning trees as they came out of the thick band of trees that surrounded the heart of their territory.

Brian had had this described to him, and knew that most people would not believe that such beautiful places no longer existed. The meadow seemed like it went on forever, the grasses and flowers stretching as far as the eye could see.

Emily could not.yet see the river, but sje knew they would reach it by lunch tomorrow, as their speed was increasing the longer they were out here traveling through some of the wildest lands there were. More than once they had to fend off wild cats, and even a bear since they had left the second village. Each time Ashley and Brian sprang into action, facing each threat as if it meant to kill their charge. After a few of the encounters Emily began to feel as if she were protected by a ferocious bladed blanket. Soft and warm on the inside, and deadly to be on the outside. Brian crafted a sled of sorts, and they collecred each of the animals that had been killed. They would ensure that they were made use of at the next village, as he did nkt believe in waste.

He drug the sled behind him, and had set it up so his could be free within seconds.

They made camp in a small clearing that night, the animals submerged in a creek that was running extremely cold. Emily slept soundly that night, her Protectors taking turns keeping a fire going as the first signs of winter were beginning to show. It was still several weeks away from snow, bjt an unusual cold front was creating thunderstorms and tornadoes as it approached. The night was cold, and the fire also helped keep the animals at bay.

Emily found herself in a damp cave, and knew it was no where the moon goddess would bring her. She could see blood red eyes all around her, amd a pair with an Amber glow sitting in a chair on front of her. Selene took shape next to her, and it was clear by the way her hair stood she knew exactly where she was.

"Hello mother, long time since you have dared to show your face." Selene hissed while her fists clenched. Emily could tell she wished nothing more than to destroy the woman before her.

"Come now daughter, it has been so long since we discussed things. Can you not let the past be the past, those creatures are long dead now." Sehkmet said dryly thinking that would be that.

"Okay, lets forget you ordered your filthy creatures to kill father. Now let us consider they just killed grandmother not a week ago, you have not changed and neither has my answer. This time however, I shall not stop." Selene snarled barely able to control her anfer as she ripped them from the dream vision.

'Selene, I need to know what is going on.' Emily said as she woke up at their shift change. Ashley had just taken over, and Brian was settling into his sleeping bag as she sroked the fire.

'There is a lot of history, and not all of it you are ready to know. Once I share it with you, it will drastically change who we are. Once we comete this the binding ritual will be complete, and you will be able to survive the truth. Just know, the last time I was in mortal form was the last Vampire War.' Selene said before withdrawing to the back of her mind.

Ashley looked armt her as she growled, and knew Emily was awake almost as soon as Brian fell asleep. "Need to talk?" Ashley asked curious as Emily sat up.

Emily got out of her sleeping bag, and walked over to the fire. "Why do I get tje feeling we are on the precipice of something terrible?" she asked almkst rhetorically.

"Because we are right in the middle of it, and it has not fully hit you yet." Ashley reied to her friend. They had been roommates, but had focused on almost entirely different topics in school. Ashley had intended to return home and join the security forces as he had, and hoped to one day run a command of her own. Emily had focused on business law and finance, so she could make real money she had always said. They had their common PT course as well as other Military Courses they had to take, but for her it had been a stepping stone to get through secondary school without much debt.

Emily chuckled at how bluntly she had phrased it, although she knew it was true as well. "Yeah, you are probably right. It does seem that this journey just seems to be keeping most of it at bay. Like the only way the trouble will effect us is if we succeed in getting to Ahnkara."

'Because if we survive the next few tasks, our journey will be just beginning. The first few are to test if you can truly work together, after we reach this destination your journey will be much more dangerous. Believe me, the dangers that you would have faced had you followed the initial path, must still be faced. We will just be better prepared to face them.' Selene said so that borh Emily and Ashley could hear her.