Burning the stars

AN: Well I did promise an update on the 8th, sorry couldn't keep that promise, this chapter was starting off hell to write but was ok now, I been kept quite busy, but it is here and am sorry to say there'll only be one of two more. So carry on reading please and thanks for bothering.

Things in ** ** are thoughts because i dont know how to do italics on this thing.

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The shifter’s charge was magnificent, muscles tight ready to spring at any enemy, teeth and claws sharp as they crossed the plain with speeds that men could only dream about. The first of the riders fell as he was carried off by a giant hawk, its tallons ripping the man’s shoulders and then dropping him to careen towards the earth at breakneck speed, a sickening crunch reverberated around the plain as his body hit the floor and his neck was broken. Arrows flew at them, taking down many shifters, the sharp poisoned tips doing their work quickly and efficiently, numbing the creature so that it could be disposed of quickly.

The king watched with satisfaction as the battle turned to his favour, the creatures were strong there was no question of that, but they did not have his superior battle equipment. Strength alone did not win you battles, his archers were taking out the attacks from the sky and his horsemen were doing pretty well with the ground attack. He nearly patted himself on the back for having thought of using the numbing poison he had found in one of the other kingdoms. However victory was not yet his as a giant black wolf carved himself a path in his direction. Nothing seemed to be able to stop him; with a single slash of his paw he struck down three of his men at once, the giant jaw easily disposing of the horse and rider.

Sooner than he would have liked he was faced by the imposing wolf. Steel eyes as hard as ice stared into his as the wolf pounced onto him, pinning him to the ground. He could feel hot breath on his neck, the sharp teeth of the wolf digging into the skin, saliva dribbling onto his neck as the jaws threatened to close and end his power hungry life. He watched the snarling face slowly turn human. Black armour covered the body which was now pinning him to the ground.

“Surrender! You have no chance to win this war.” The king laughed right into Blaze’s face.

“Foolish boy!” Blaze cried out as a short knife was rammed into the space where his breast plate met his shoulder plate; causing him to roll off the king in order to tug out the knife that was deeply lodged in his muscle. The blood shot out of the wound as soon as the knife was dislodged. Only a few minutes later, the scenery in front of Blaze’s eyes swam. He saw a dark shadow loom over him and then he lost consciousness.

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Orion paced the room muttering darkly to himself. He kept shooting glares at Catsun who was bend over Blaze’s still shape. When Corvin had returned with his mate’s still body Orion had cursed in a rather colourful way and then fallen into a dead faint. He had woken, also in the healers quarters, to see Catsun busying himself with his mate. He had launched himself at the healer knocking him flat and forbidding him to touch his mate with his lethal hands. That had Catsun blinking at him, face blank and no understanding why Orion was so upset. He recalled their conversation:

**“What are you doing Orion?”

“Stopping you from harming the father of my children you quack!”

“Harming him? If it wasn’t for me your precious mate would not be alive. Now release me I need to tend to his wound. It was very deep and poisoned.” Glaring at Orion, Catsun gave his shoulders a push.

“I don’t trust you. Your contraceptive pills didn’t work! Who knows what you’ve been doing to Blaze!”

“Orion…”

“You have no clue what you’re doing, and uncle calls you his head healer. You need to be stopped before you cause anymore damage.”

“Orion will you listen…”

“NO! I’m going to tie you up and make sure you cannot hurt anyone anymore.”

“Orion, stop being to obtuse! Your uncle asked me to give you fertility pills instead; they did what they were supposed to do. After all the tricks you played on me you deserved it.”**

Orion was still cursing under his breath about that. Imagine his uncle, the cheek! And Catsun playing along, well he wasn’t inviting the healer to his wedding, he sniffed, and that was for sure. Sending another deathly glare in his general direction he carried on pacing the room. A gentle hand was laid on his shoulder and he stared into the gentle eyes of his uncle.

“Orion, will you not come to dinner. There is nothing you can do here. Blaze needs rest, but he shall be fine. I could not find his pack though. Strange that they have disappeared.”

“Yes very strange. And do you know what is also strange uncle? My pregnancy. Wouldn’t you know that I took fertility pills instead of contraceptive pills.”

“Really? Well isn’t that just a bother dear boy! Oh well nothing to be done about that now. Come have dinner hmmm?”

“Could you have had something to do with the instigation of my getting contraceptive pills uncle?”

“Me? Orion you wound me little star. I would never do anything like that.” Orion raised and eyebrow at his uncle, but King Siccus kept his face absolutely straight. He couldn’t proof that his uncle had been part of it. He really was becoming quite pissé.

“Alright I shall come to dinner, but Catsun must inform me as soon as there is any news of Blaze.”

“He shall do that.” King Siccus nodded at the healer and then led his nephew out of the healing rooms. He smiled down at the blonde head and took him through to the small family dining room. Corvin and Rika where already seated at the table. Corvin had been invited with his mate as a guest of honour for bringing the young prince back.

“How is he holding up Orion?”

“He is not awake yet Corvin. But I am very grateful to you for bringing him back to me.” The raven shifter inclined his head. “I do not know what to do to thank you enough.”

“You have brought me Rika, you and Blaze. That is thanks enough for me.” Orion watched with a heavy heart as Corvin brought and arm around Rika’s shoulder and wrapped a protective wing around him. The signs of affection tugged at him. He wanted Blaze’s arms around him; he wanted to feel his face nuzzling his hair. He didn’t want their baby to grow up without a father.
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Blaze’s dreams were distorted, over and over again he saw King Tumulosus ram his dagger into his shoulder, felt the pain as it drove into his muscle and flesh. He cried out as he felt the poison seep into his body, it was as if little painful spasms made their way towards his heart, then everything would go black again only for him to repeat the dream of that hated face so close to his own.

Cry after cry came from his lips, it had been months now and he had still not woken. Trapped in a nightmare that would not release him. To all those around him, the damage seemed to be both mental and bodily for the wound did not seem to want to heal nor did his condition improve. Orion spend every free minute at his mates bed, but there were other things to worry about. The city was now under attack and under siege by King Tomulosus. Everyone able to bear arms was defending it, more shifter’s had come to their aid after having heard about the lost battle and the injury of a prince of their own, yet they could not hold of the cowardly techniques that Tomulosus chose to use.

It was dawn of the 6th month, the full moon had just passed when a shout came from the towers. An army had been sighted, an army of men dressed in black armour and furs, lead by a wolf twice the size that Blaze had been. The army was followed by a huge number of black wolves, each coated in their own set of armour and on each armour glowed a bright silver 8 pointed star, the symbol of the Heithion Kingdom. Blaze’s family had come to go to war.

They fell on King Tomulosus’ army from all sides, easily beating them, the only weak point of their armour, the joint between shoulder and breast plate having been reworked and secured, nothing could pierce the black metal. The evil king did not stand a chance. His men were beaten back, slaughter and any who faced the large black wolf was torn to none recognisable shreds.

A roar went up on the turrets of the city. They had won, the attacking King had fallen and was being dragged into the castle to sign his surrender while the dead were being collected and buried, those who had died from their side anyway.

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King Glacier had to hold back his mate as King Tomulosus was brought before them and King Siccus. Rafe lusted after the blood of the man who had dared injure his only cub. No one need mention that wolves were always protective of their children; all shifters were but wolves were very extreme.

King Siccus spoke; “You have been defeated. You will be executed so that you cannot cause anymore damage in this world. The execution will be carried out now. You have five seconds head start once we set you outside the castle wall. Then the prince consort of the Heithion Kingdom will come after you. If you manage to escape him you are free to leave.” A cruel smile crossed King Siccus’ face at the scream that escaped the over thrown king.

It need not be said that even though Tumolosus’ excecution was not swift it was sweet to all those watching as he was torn limb from limb by a magnificent black wolf.


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Reike: Glad you loved that update, hope you love this just as much. You're a star!

Anon: Thanks, if there's anything you need explaining just tell me. I am happy to.

asialisek: Wow, lovely long review there. Well here's one more. Glad you gobbled it up and am feeling my ego bloating after your review. *bows* Oh dear I'll need to find another story to write after this is over. Hmm shall have to think of something. I mean I still have Angel's Song but I mean I need to be able to switch between two stories. OH well, please carry on reviewing tis appreciated. *hug* oh and btw what are Kudos? Sounds dodgy.