Burning the stars

AN: Please Excuse the wait. I'll try to update next week, but then I'm on holiday so probably wont be updating. But this story will continue! Carry on reviewing thanks!

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Ryka had found a quiet place in a clump of palm trees, far away from his king and the camp. His reward had as always not been a reward, but a painful nightmare that only ended when his lord had found satisfaction. Shifting uncomfortably he let his wings settle against his back and his thoughts drift into the wide open plains and the rolling mountains of his home land. It was so hot here and the air was dry. His muscles ached from the last hours that he had to spend with king Tumulosus. It was too late when he heard the snarl and was pinned against the nearest palm tree by a furious, large (very, very large) black wolf. Ryka trembled, he was being attacked by another shifter and there could only be two reasons for that…either the shifter was starving and had pounced on the nearest prey possible, which he doubted since black wolves were not common to this country or he had done something very bad to insult the other shifter.

Shifter’s didn’t involve themselves in the human wars unless they were forced to, they had no reasons for wars, they respected each other (mostly) and most importantly they obeyed their laws that had been lain down a long time ago. The wolf took on his human form, but kept him pinned to tree. Hot breath hit his face and Ryka blinked.

“Where is my mate?” The wolf snarled.

“Your mate?” Ryka chocked out.

“Yes my mate. You took him, I recognise your scent, traitor.” The arm that was pressed against Ryka’s throat was pressed down harder. “Where is Orion bird boy?” Ryka gasped for air. The wolf had taken Orion as his mate…oh he had committed the worst crime possible and that smell that had been bothering him, the man he had kidnapped was pregnant with young. “I asked you a question…where is my mate?” The snarl grew more dangerous.

“If…” Ryka chocked, breathing was becoming difficult.

”What? Where is he?”

“Air!” Blaze stared into the face of the other shifter and only noticed now that his lips were turning blue, releasing the pressure on his throat he grabbed his shoulders instead and shook him.

“Where is my mate?”

“King Tumulosus has him, he wants to use him to make King Siccus surrender. I am sorry I did not know he was your mate or I would have brought him back straight away.” Blaze glared angrily at the other shifter. “Please except my deepest regrets, I will help you to get him out of there.”

“You would switch your loyalties so quickly?”

“My loyalties lie with my kind and our laws first and foremost. He is your mate and I made the biggest mistake in parting you from your pregnant mate.” Ryka pressed his hand over his heart. “Please except my help.” Blaze stared at him for a long time, then he nodded.

“I am Blaze, prince of the Heithion Kingdom.”

“My lord, I am Ryka. I was raised by King Tumulosus after my parents died, it does not excuse what I have done but I was deep in his debt and owed him my loyalties. But I owe no one my loyalties who keeps the mate of a fellow shifter prisoner. Follow me.”

“Will your king not punish you for aiding me?”

“Yes, severly.”

“You must come with Orion and myself.”

“But my lord…”

“Blaze, nothing more. And I insist, you will come with us, there is always place at the palace. Now lead the way.”

“Yes my lord…I mean Blaze.” Ryka found himself placed back onto the ground, quickly he lead the way towards his old lords camp with the impatient Blaze following him, however he felt like there was more then just one person following him and as he turned round, he saw the pack of black wolves following at a distance and gulped, he was glad they were no longer out to get him, his survival chance would have been equal to zero.

One might have thought that Ryka’s loyalties shifted far too quickly, Blaze mused but he wasn’t surprised, it would have surprised him more if they hadn’t shifted. Shifters helped each other, human wars were none of their business unless of course, like in his case his mate had been kidnapped by one of the war lords and so with it was very much his business. Ryka seemed to have been forced into this by the other king.

Soon Blaze could smell the smoke from camp fires and the sent of many soldiers. They were clearly nearing the camp and Ryka signalled for them to drop behind a few steps. After a short while Blaze could also see the camping soldiers, surrounding a roughly build fortress. Another signal told them to stop and stay where they are. He stepped out into the sight of the soldiers that jumped up quickly but settled down again as soon as they saw who it was.
“It’s only Ryka boys. Nothing to worry about.” One of the men with a scar over his eyes laughed. “The King’s pet wouldn’t hurt anyone. He’s too busy taking it up the back.” Ryka cringed but walked through the camp, accompanied by many a lewd comment.

He stepped inside the old ruined building which served as the King’s hideout and prisoner keeping base. His feet padded silently across the cold stone floor as he moved fluently towards the room that held the wolf’s mate. Turning the key in the lock and pressing the door open he was surprised as something hard hit him right on top of his head and made him black out.

Orion breathed heavily, bird boy was lying out cold on the floor, the door was open, and there was no reason why he shouldn’t just leave. He stepped over the unconscious figure and crept through the corridors towards the sunlight that was streaming through the door that hadn’t been closed properly. He clutched the bucket to his chest, that had been meant as a toilet for him, if he was forced to use a weapon against anyone, he would. He had no hesitations about knocking anymore people out. He peeked around the edge of the door and his breathing stocked, he wasn’t totally sure if he wanted to face a hoard of wild soldiers, armed just with a piss bucket. He wasn’t a coward, but Orion mused to himself, he wasn’t stupid either. He could really do with some help now, maybe some help from a pack of wolf and an enraged mate would be quite fitting now. He sniffed, where was Blaze? Shouldn’t his super wolf senses have sniffed him out by now? He was supposed to come barging in and rescue him from the hands of that terribly annoying king and his pet bird. His bottom lip wobbled and he felt tears well up in his eyes. Wiping them away with the torn sleeve of his shirt, Orion wondered why on earth he was so bloody emotional all of a sudden, and why on earth he was demanding rescue. He was a man! A non-pregnant man at that. He could take them all down, he and his bucket.

Blaze watched the door that Ryka had entered through, he was becoming impatient. Where was the other shifter, where was Orion? Had something happened? There was a movement at the door and out came a screaming Orion, swinging something that looked like a rusty bucket over his head. The soldier’s had all jumped up, gaping opened mouthed at the mad scene that was unfolding before them. The first soldier was knocked out by the bucket, that released all the others out of their stupor. With loud roars they attacked the lone figure swinging its bucket, but before any of them could even harm a hair on his head they were faced with an over two meter towering snarling wolf.

“ATTACK MEN!” They’re captain called and lunged forward with his sword drawn. He didn’t even stand a chance. His throat was caught in the great jaws of the canine and he was flung to the side, the sharp incisors tearing the skin and leaving him to spill his blood on the forest floor. The king’s men hesitated, never had they faced such a creature before, never before fought something so monstrous and then there was the snarling coming from the bushes as they were suddenly surrounded by a pack of snarling black wolves. The soldier’s took off at a run, not being paid mercenaries they valued their lives more then the poor cash that they were being paid.

“AND DON’T COME BACK!” Orion called after them brandishing his bucket and hopping around like a frog on ecstasy. He was suddenly wrapped up in a pair of strong arms that snaked around from behind him.

”Calm yourself. Everything’s alright I’m here now.” A wet tongue passed over his head.

“You know I was perfectly fine Blaze!” A chuckle came from the man behind him. “I’m serious, I had a weapon, I could defend myself.”

“With a weeing bucket?” Another chuckle rumbled through the body behind Orion.

“Well we can’t all have teeth that tear people’s throats out.” He pouted.

“Where’s Ryka?”

“Who?”

“The falcon shifter who went in to get you out.”

“You mean bird boy?”

“Bird Boy??”

“Yes, he kidnapped me. If you mean bird boy, I knocked him out and escaped.” Another chuckle and Orion felt his hair being ruffled.

“Well we’d better get him. Syaoran be so good.” The lead wolf gave an affirmative noise and disappeared quickly only to return minutes later with the unconscious Ryka slung over his back. “You will ride on my back.”

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Laith: As per usual thank you for your great review. *hug* my personal muse!

Tamingriki: I hope that it is some buttkicking for you there...there will be more proper buttkicking later! YEAH! thanks for your review!