The guardian and his last chance. Realization

III

As I walked over a bridge, I looked down at the streaming water below. The water twirl and foams. As I straited up my head, the wind hit me hard. With it came all the scents. I could differ smells of food, exhaust, and people. That of of anything made me certain, that I was on the right path. 

"Thanks, all mother."Softly I breathed. I shifted my grip on the axe. I put it thru the loop that is in my belt. It hanged balanced in its loop. I can even run like this. But often as I ran with the axe, I had it in a grip under its head. When I passed a bend in the road, I could see the source of all the scents. A big village or small city. I looked at the houses, as I passed them. On the outskirts are newer, moderner buildings. My nose wrinkles in disgust. Those buildings don´t look so homie or comfortible. So stiff and square. As I looked for the shop I know must be there, I passed many of the community’s people. Most of them were human. The wolfs I passed, theirs scent plus the low growls they made it clear for me what they were. My steps were long. Mothers took a detour with their children when they saw me. It was just the she-wolfs that still was on the same side when we walked past each other. Most humans looked a bit scared, when they saw me. I knew it was the axe and my body build. At 8 feet high I easily towered over most people. My chest and back are broad with hardened muscle.

Soon I found my price, a shop with the name pawning jack. I know pawning is no word, a correct word at that. With a grinch by the sight of the small size of the door, I sighed. I made a deep breath, and pushed the poor excuse of door open. For me to come in to the shop I had to bend bot my legs and my back. The way I entered, startled some of the customers. As I walked up to one of glass displays. I could differ the sound of low growls. My eyes saw antics, clayware, silverware and many more things. On the wall behind the glass display some posters and flags were framed. One of the movie posters made my blood boil a small bit. “O, are u interested in the poster.” A man said as he walked up, on the other side of the glass display. “It´s a first print for dragon heart. I say this it is not cheap.” He flashed a seller’s smile.

I shook my head. “Not here to buy.”

“Ooo.” The man said. I saw as his eyes fast looked over me. “I don´t think u has anything worth my and your time here.” Then his eyes got big like saucer. I know he has seen my axe. “But that axe, may be worth some bucks.”

I both swore and sighed in my head. It was the same in every pawnshop I come to. All people think that I have nothing of worth, then they see my axe. They have tried it all to buy it from me. I put down my rucksack on the counter. I rolled my shoulders to lose the feel of the straps. I took out the pelts. And sat them in front of the man.

“The axe stays on me.” I said in low voice. I pointed to the pelts. “Wolf skin, just a day old.” I said. My voice echoed in the local. As everybody was looking at us. The word wolf got a response of low growls, from some of the quests. The man stood there in chock. A new man came up. He said just one word to his coworker. The first man left in a hurry.

This man was older, his eyes looked at the skins. In his sky-blue eyes I saw experience. “U must forgive my employee.” The man sighed. “He is new. I´m the owner, jack.” He said with a customer-oriented smile. Sincere he was, indeed. “I tell my workers” he said with laud voice. “that they should never judge people by theirs looks or what situation they are in.” He touched the fur of one of the pelts. Then his eyes locked in mine. “So, selling or pawn?” But I knew this question was just a ruse. Jack knew what I wanted to do. “Sell, these are good pelts but I need to call our local game warden. I think u know why.” I just nodded. He walked away. I could hear him talk to a man called Jackson. The man came back. “Mr hunter will come so soon he can.”

I nodded in response. As I felt tired of my journey, I turned around and sat down. I crossed my legs. And let my arms lay in my lap. My eyes shut close. I rested as I waited. Me hearing let me hear, all conversations in the room. Some wolfs growled low as they talked about hunters. They mean the humans who wants nonhumans dead, all non-humans. Truth be told, I trained humans to defend themselves in anger for my kin´s demise. But the wolfs in the shop, are confused. Because I don´t smell of wolfbane or silver. I want to smile. But I don´t. My kin gone, torn in to legends and myth even in the non-human world.

Soon someone came in to the shop. The person walked up to the display I rest against.

“This is troublesome, stranger!” the person said. His voice was filled with authority. “I need u to answer me truthfully about these pelts.” He seems to be a person who always get what he wants. “Rise up, poacher.”

“No poacher, game warden.” I said as I rose up. Slowly turned against him. On his chest I saw a shield. This man was indeed a man of law. “I hunt to survive, not for fame and fortune.” I scratch my nose to hide it twitching from the clear stench of wolf that came from this man. “Truth to be told, I don´t like to take innocent blood or life.” This must be the first time this man had to look up to a person’s face. He broke his glare to look at the pelts. He loosened the string on the black furred pelt. The man who wanted me to sell my axe, comes over to help lay the pelt out.

“Four wolfs!” the game warden said in monotone voice. “I can´t see any signs of traps or bullet holes on the skin.” He threw on gaze on the three pelts thar are still on counter. “I am guessing that I will find the rest in the same condition.” His eyes locked with mine. “How did you kill them?”

He is sincerely curious. “My father told me long ago, that we have right to kill if needed, to protect ourselves and our families.” I said as I pulled the axe from its loop. The head I put at foot, my hands on its handle relaxed. “He taught me how to use the axe and use our strength. The answer to your question is I killed these wolfs, who was after my life, with my hands and axe.”

He looked at me in disbelief, then shrugged his shoulders. “If they attacked u, I have nothing more to say than” he got a smile on his lips. I heard some growls. “thanks, stranger.” His gratitude was sincere, and that made me frown of disgust inside. Some of his packmates seems to agree with me. “Jack can have the pelts.” I sighed. “But it is I who will pay you.”

Too chocked to hinder the word from leaving my lips. “What?!”

“Wolfs are protected here.” The warden said as his gaze was on the black fur. “These wolfs were clearly man-killers.” He sighed. “I´m thanking you for this, if words came about an animal attack. The hunters of this town and myself would have to track them down.” He put his hand in the pocket, and pulled out a bundle of cash. I´m still a bit shocked about the sharp turn. “If I´m correct the worth of wolf-pelt in this condition, is around 100 dollars.” I saw how he flicked around the bundle. And took out some bills. He stretched out them to me. I could count them even before I got them in my hand. His smile got bigger as my eyes got bigger in disbelief. Even if it´s true that the pelts, fresh ones can be sold for 100 a piece. I looked at the 500 dollars I am holding, with disbelief. “Take the money, stranger.” He stretched out an open hand after putting the rest of the money in his pocket. “You have done a good deed to our town. It must have been luck that these four wolfs didn´t attack some children or others who couldn´t defend themselves.”

I flung up the axe and put it in its resting place at the same time I put the money in one of the chest pockets of the jacket. I locked at the hand. With a groan inside, I took a good grip on the warden’s hand. He may be shorter and smaller than me, but still he had the wolfs strong built. A smile twitched on my lips. “My name is Dragol, mr Hunter. Now I need to stockpile some things before head out on my journey again.”

Mr Hunter just nodded. “If you stay one night, I can recommend the B&B, Wolf howl.” We both let go of ours grip. “Say to Clarise that Jackson recommended.”

I shrugged my shoulders and left. This was indeed a good choice to make.