Wolf in The Desert of Ice

The General

"I know, I know" Shiek sighed

, "So, what are we going to do now? Those two will go tell whoever is in charge of them what happened here"

"why didn't you chase them? I know you are fast enough to catch them before they get to their outpost" Oki said, less as a question but more to mock him

"I had a magic arrow, in my side!"

"I don't see a wound"

"Because I healed now, doesn't change the fact that I was shot! With Magic! Who the hell brings a magician to the desert anyways"

"You are too weak Shiek, being incapacitated by  a lowly magic like "Green arrow" are you even really a shifter?"

"Look here dragon lady, I might heal fast but that fatass still got me pretty good, a bit more power and my guts would be on the floor right now"

"whatever" Oki said closing the conversation

"Ok, so back to my point, what are you going to do now? Killing a magician for humans is like killing a hundred people, if you stay here they will kill you"  Shiek's concern is clear "Oki, come with me. South, to the endless forest, the elves rarely venture deep within the trees, many of my kind live hidden in there"

"And how do you know that? You said that you always lived in the desert!"

"I never said I was always alone. There were others but they went south long ago" Shiek turned towards the exit "Now answer my question will you? We have two option, either try to go west and blend in with the humans, try to live a normal life. Or we go south and live in the forest with my kin, if you want to do something else entirely it is fine as well, I'll go with you" He had made sure to face away from her, as his face was beet red.

"Why would you say that? You owe me nothing." Oki replied, she was also thankful he was not looking, in their short stay together she had grown fond of the kind and ragged young man, just a crush she thought, but he always found weird ways to make her blush. "I just want to, if I have to leave the desert might as well do it in company" Shiek replied turning to face Oki again, "So what are you going to do?"

"Well that's obvious, she is going to go west and join Reynir" Spoke a voice behind him.

Both teenagers immediately turned, behind Shiek was a tall man, with a stout face and shot ashen air and a rough beard, wearing leather armour, and with an unsheathed sword laid idly. "The Boy is right, killing a mage is a crime equal to slaughtering a small village, and being a shifter well, isn't much better" the man continued talking steadily "Sorry to interrupt your lovers quarrel, but you have killed my mage, and I can't just let that slide now can I?" Both the teens still frozen, he walked inside the cave and sat down in the middle

, "A competent shadow mage, and her Shifter dog, found in the middle of the desert come to serve mankind, doesn't that sound nice?" Shiek studently moved, he dashed across the room grabbing Oki's hands "We cannot beat him, look at his sword, it enchanted, only big shots have one of those" he whispered in her hear before letting her hands go and turning to the man " And who would you be, to walk in the home of a shifter and not ooze the slightest bit of fear" "Oh please, I thought you would be smarter, doesn't the sword give it away? I Have hunted shifter's twice your size why should I fear a pup barely old enough to be called an adult"

"Why should I follow your story human?" Oki suddenly spoke out " Well it's either that or you die here, like I said that magician was not cheap and it's not like I will loose any sleep over killing a stray and a girl, but,  your magic was quite impressive so I am offering you a chance" "But why does Shiek need to be my slave? Why can't he be a normal companion"

The man laughed " please his hair, and his eyes give it away, anyone would recognize the white hair of the wolf shifters, or if you preferred  I could kill him right now and you could travel alone, choice is up to you young lady" "We, will go with the first option. I will be a mage for you. BUT Shiek does not leave my side, and if anyone tries to harm me or him, or tries to separate us I will flee, and so will he right?" "Right" Shiek replied quickly.

"Well than that settles it, from now on you will call me general, and I will call you, Shiek and Oki. Now follow me I will lead you to the base" And after that he got up and headed out the door "You have five minutes to gather your things"

The two teens looked at one another before hurrying to gather what they could from their belongings.