Takers Prologue

Prologue to a short story about Thorn, a shape-shifting warrior. WIP. Rating for safety.

  No one truly knows when the first Taker was born nor the circumstances of his creation. It is said that Lupine, the goddess of wolves, appeared in the realm during the Black Age in order to restore the balance between wolves and humans. Her children were dying out because of them and so she mated with a human, joining and binding the two together to create the first Taker. She dubbed him the Black Wolf, keeper and protector of his people. He was given a mate and after a few generations the Black Age ended.

        Through the ages though, the legend faded and soon only remnants of it remained. The Black Wolf was all but forgotten. He appeared again during the Fifth age, when Lupine got disgusted with the barbarian way the Takers were living. Again he restored order, leaving behind a prophesy about his final coming. However, this too faded with time, until only these scraps remained:

Dark as night, he will come
Power and might combined
He will right the Wrong
Rule all in Peace

His mate will save him
Warrior of special blood

To return to peace
Lupine’s desire.

        Meleah Thorn leaned against a dirt wall in the darkened room, tapping her foot impatiently. ‘How long had she been waiting?’ Thorn wondered as she heaved a sigh of annoyed irritation. If Trigger hadn’t insisted (well begged actually) that she meet Vassily here, she would have been long gone by now.

          “I loathe waiting,” she grumbled.

        After another few minutes, Thorn pushed herself away from the wall and moved to leave. Trigger’s request or not, she had better things to do than stand around in the dark.

        She only got halfway across the room, though, before the crudely made wooden door swung open. Light flooded the room, revealing the shadow of medium height man with a long blonde horsetail, light blue eyes and a clean-shaven appearance. He was dressed simply, allotting to his station, and neatly; only the shaking of his hands gave away his nervous demeanor. He shoved the door shut before he began to speak.

          “Ah, Lady Thorn, so sorry about the wait. There were more guards than usual in the common room. Can’t afford to arouse suspicion, especially these days, you see,” he babbled.

        Thorn nodded her understanding, and then gracefully slid into a chair placed in front of an oval table in the center of the small room.

          “Trigger told me you wished my help?”

        The man glanced nervously towards the door.

          “There’s no one out there listening,” she assured him, “it’s safe to talk.”

        He nodded, “I need your help, desperately. It’s my granddaughter. She disappeared two nights ago. I’m worried; one of my regulars saw the King’s guards haul her off towards the palace. I believe one of the princes took a shine to her, but she’s only 13! She’s not old enough to be mating! It’s clear what he wants, and in the palace if she refuses, she’ll be forced. She’s too young to go through all that! Please you have to help me.

          “I know it’s treason to go against any of the royal family’s wishes, but my granddaughter…she’s so young…” he trailed off, choking back a sob. It wasn’t hard to figure out how much this man loved his granddaughter.

        It took Thorn even less time to make her decision.

          “Don’t worry; I’ll have her back to you tomorrow. I can’t promise nothing has happened, but anything I can prevent I will,” Thorn told her grimly.

        Standing, she absentmindedly fingered the knife in her waist sheath and stalked to the door.

          “Wait, I forgot to tell you her name,” he exclaimed.

        She turned, looking at him expectantly.

          “Leidy.”

        Nodding decisively, Thorn strolled out the door, dodging her way through the common room, and into the night.

        Vassily stared after her thoughtfully. ‘If she can accomplish this, she may be just what Ravyn needs.’ Sending a quick prayer to Lupine, he then returned to the common to drown the masses in food and drink.