Azin by Jordan Nuttall
down. Azin flew for several hours enjoying the last beams of the sun warming his feathers. The flight was so relaxing he barely noticed the sun drop below the horizon. A large part of him wished he could stay in the sky forever.
He might have kept flying if it wasn't for the white mountain wolf. He'd seen the wolf since he started his flight and it was still there. The wolf had been following him the entire time. The only way the wolf could have possibly known he wasn't just a bird was if he was being followed long before. Having failed to see him before made Azin nervous. It was about time he found out what the wolf wanted. Swooping downwards in long graceful arcs, Azin approached his mysterious follower. Once in close proximity Azin morphed back to his Elvin form and asked, "Why are you following me wolf?"
"The name's Fang," Fang snarled baring his deadly sharp teeth, their whiteness matching that of his fur.
"I'm sorry," Azin responded apologetically, "but that still leaves the question Fang, why are you following me?"
"My brethren in the Binal Mountains need help to reclaim their territory and I've come here to seek help from a beast Defra," Fang explained calmly, his body blank of emotions.
"How do the wolves of the Binal Mountains know about beast Defra? Not even the humans nor dwarves know of our existence." Azin questioned curiously.
"Word among animals travel much easier amongst us in the world than with the humanoid races," Fang said chuckling at his apparent ignorance.
"Why would I come with you to help? I don't even know your brethren nor have I ever even been that far away from our village. Besides for all that, there are many others far superior to myself," Azin told him.
"I can smell the anger emitting from you, it isn't as strong as it was at first, but I know it is still there. If you come and help us we will be your new family and give you a place you'll love. Leave these people who create such anger inside you," Fang replied as though it was no big deal. Azin's eyes went wide as he realized why he was chosen. Fang didn't want just immediate help, but permanent help. Fang must have felt as though he was perfectly suited for it by the anger he had sensed.
"It's not my family I'm angry at," growled Azin, showing his irritation with the mistake.
"If it is not your family, then who has caused you such anger?" inquired Fang.
"It's that damn Pikam," Azin said snarling and baring his teeth to emphasize his dislike for the elf. He couldn't have hid his anger towards Pikam even if he tried.
"Then I will help you kill this Pikam and in return you can come and help me and my brethren with our problem," Fang pressed onward still blank of emotions.
Azin drew back in surprise at Fang's blunt proposal of merely killing Pikam, "We can't just go and kill him because of what he did. It doesn't give us the right to take his life," Azin declared firmly, his shock evident in his voice.
"Why not, that is how we solve those kinds of problems in the beasts' society, you are a beast Defra are you not?" Fang questioned him accusingly.
"Yes I am," Azin replied weakly unusually embarrassed by Fang's apparent disapproval. The wolf seemed to have some natural ability to stir within others the desire to be accepted. It was an ability that occurred in very few beasts.
Azin resisted its pull and began to continue his protest, "But?"
"There is nothing to think about," Fang interrupted him quickly, "it is obvious from the hate emitting from you that he is evil and has done something horrible. Let your anger run its course. If you don't it will consume you and be unleashed at a time you are unprepared for," a strange smile formed on Fang's mouth as he spoke, "You do want him to pay for what he's done don't you?"
"Yes," Azin snarled angrily, thoughts of the burning family came back to his mind, his anger re-ignited. Earlier feelings of hesitancy were engulfed by hatred.
"Then let us go give this Pikam what he deserves," Fang growled confidently. Azin nodded his head and tried to transform into a bird, but once again found that he could not due to his anger. With this realization Fang's words seemed to dull and sense began to come back to Azin. He was about to begin calming himself, But Fang sensed his hesitation and quickly snarled, "Forget about being a bird, morph into something smaller and I'll carry you there, then we'll take vengeance upon the monster."
With the simple solution purposed Azin followed as ordered. Mindlessly turning into a mouse, he quickly climbed up Fang's soft fur. He perched himself in the middle of the wolf's back gripping a few strands of hair tightly. Without another moment of hesitation Fang lurched forward running swiftly between the trees. The cool evening's summer breeze gently caressed their faces while Fang made their way to Pikam.
"What kind of strange name is Pikam?" Fang asked, his eyes remaining focused on what was in front of him.
"That is the kind of name my people have, for us it is not strange," Azin squeaked in his high pitched mouse voice.
"Then what is your name?" Fang questioned further.
"Azin."
"You're right, your name is very strange as well. I don't think I'll ever understand you humanoid kinds," Fang's softly growled.
"And what makes your name so much better?" Azin countered trying to defend himself and his kind.
"My name is practical as is all the names amongst my kind. When I was born I had irregularly large teeth so I was named Fang, it reflects who I am. Your name however has nothing to do with your being a beast Defra nor with what you look like, nor even with who you are as a person for that matter," Fang declared triumphantly.
"Hey I'm not the one who came up with these names. Its been like this for as long as I can remember," Azin replied with a shrug and then switched subjects, "He's not too far from here, just follow that path straight ahead of us." Fang nodded his acknowledgement and bounded across the mossy forest with a kind of quiet that only four legged animals seemed to be able to achieve. Fang crept into an open meadow, hugging the shadows cast by the full moon glaring down upon the surrounding trees. Its reddish-orange glow sent a foreboding shiver down Azin's spine as his heart pounded in his chest.
"Which one is it?" Fang asked softly, peering intently at the surrounding shelters. His eyes gleamed with joy, the blood thirsty thoughts within now obvious.
Azin climbed off of Fang's muscled body and morphed back to his Elvin form answering, "It's that one over there."
"Ok, I'll go in and bring him out, you wait just outside for him to come and finish him off," Fang commanded not a trace of doubt evident. He made it sound like it would be the easiest thing in the world to commit murder.
"I don't know about this?," Azin began hesitantly, doubting himself again.
"You've come this far kid, no backing out now, let's go," Fang growled, his voice frightening and sharp. Azin nodded a little scared by what Fang might do if he refused. He obediently crept close to where Pikam's sleeping quarters were at while Fang snuck inside. Azin felt as if his heart would explode from his chest, his sweaty hands gripping and releasing the knife hidden within his pant legs. Suddenly a yell of pain emitted from within, followed by frantic scrambling amidst Fang's terrifying snarls. Pikam emerged from his tent, a look of terror plastered across his face. At the sight of Azin, Pikam froze in his tracks. Blood dripped profusely from his hand. A large fleshy chunk was missing from it where Fang had presumably bitten him. The sight caused Azin to freeze as well, doubt and nerves would not let him do as Fang had told him. Unsure of what to do he just stood still as Pikam peered into his eyes. Pikam's look slowly turned from terror to that of amusement.
"Ah it's only you Azin, come to avenge those poor little rabbits I assume," Pikam's laugh was malicious and piercing to his heart. Pikam raised his hand and filled it with magical red fire. Azin immediately morphed into a mouse and bolted forward, disappearing from his view. Pikam laughed once more, "You cannot hide from me little Azin, I'll just burn the whole forest and all of its inhabitants to get to you!" Pikam began to laugh again, but was cut short by a scream of pain as Fang's teeth sunk deep into his calf. A look of delig
ht appeared on Fang's face while he gripped down tighter.
"You mongrel," Pikam roared releasing his fire upon Fang's back. Fang whined, but continued to bite down harder. The smell of his scorching fur wafted into Azin's nostrils. Its repulsing smell caused anger to surge through Azin as it blasted his senses in an overwhelming instant. It brought back vivid images of all the cruel things Pikam had done over the years. The memories ended with the death of his friends. Reverting back to his natural form just behind Pikam Azin screamed, "Never again!" Pikam turned in surprise just in time to see Azin's knife flash through the air slitting his throat. A fountain of crimson blood splattered against Azin's face. Licking the warm streams flowing down his face caused a shiver of strange joy to vibrate through his body, as though some strange inner beast was being awakened within. "What is this incredible feeling," Azin exclaimed, his normally bright orange eyes turning to a terrifying dark orange.
"That," Fang replied in a slightly deranged gleeful manner, "We wolves like to call the joy of the hunt; you'll come to savor it as I do." As feelings of joy over Pikam's death reverberated through his body Azin's orange hair noticeably deepened in color. Thoughts of all the people that now would be spared of Pikam's evil delightfully raced through his mind.
"Azin what have you done!" he heard Pikam's father crying
He might have kept flying if it wasn't for the white mountain wolf. He'd seen the wolf since he started his flight and it was still there. The wolf had been following him the entire time. The only way the wolf could have possibly known he wasn't just a bird was if he was being followed long before. Having failed to see him before made Azin nervous. It was about time he found out what the wolf wanted. Swooping downwards in long graceful arcs, Azin approached his mysterious follower. Once in close proximity Azin morphed back to his Elvin form and asked, "Why are you following me wolf?"
"The name's Fang," Fang snarled baring his deadly sharp teeth, their whiteness matching that of his fur.
"I'm sorry," Azin responded apologetically, "but that still leaves the question Fang, why are you following me?"
"My brethren in the Binal Mountains need help to reclaim their territory and I've come here to seek help from a beast Defra," Fang explained calmly, his body blank of emotions.
"How do the wolves of the Binal Mountains know about beast Defra? Not even the humans nor dwarves know of our existence." Azin questioned curiously.
"Word among animals travel much easier amongst us in the world than with the humanoid races," Fang said chuckling at his apparent ignorance.
"Why would I come with you to help? I don't even know your brethren nor have I ever even been that far away from our village. Besides for all that, there are many others far superior to myself," Azin told him.
"I can smell the anger emitting from you, it isn't as strong as it was at first, but I know it is still there. If you come and help us we will be your new family and give you a place you'll love. Leave these people who create such anger inside you," Fang replied as though it was no big deal. Azin's eyes went wide as he realized why he was chosen. Fang didn't want just immediate help, but permanent help. Fang must have felt as though he was perfectly suited for it by the anger he had sensed.
"It's not my family I'm angry at," growled Azin, showing his irritation with the mistake.
"If it is not your family, then who has caused you such anger?" inquired Fang.
"It's that damn Pikam," Azin said snarling and baring his teeth to emphasize his dislike for the elf. He couldn't have hid his anger towards Pikam even if he tried.
"Then I will help you kill this Pikam and in return you can come and help me and my brethren with our problem," Fang pressed onward still blank of emotions.
Azin drew back in surprise at Fang's blunt proposal of merely killing Pikam, "We can't just go and kill him because of what he did. It doesn't give us the right to take his life," Azin declared firmly, his shock evident in his voice.
"Why not, that is how we solve those kinds of problems in the beasts' society, you are a beast Defra are you not?" Fang questioned him accusingly.
"Yes I am," Azin replied weakly unusually embarrassed by Fang's apparent disapproval. The wolf seemed to have some natural ability to stir within others the desire to be accepted. It was an ability that occurred in very few beasts.
Azin resisted its pull and began to continue his protest, "But?"
"There is nothing to think about," Fang interrupted him quickly, "it is obvious from the hate emitting from you that he is evil and has done something horrible. Let your anger run its course. If you don't it will consume you and be unleashed at a time you are unprepared for," a strange smile formed on Fang's mouth as he spoke, "You do want him to pay for what he's done don't you?"
"Yes," Azin snarled angrily, thoughts of the burning family came back to his mind, his anger re-ignited. Earlier feelings of hesitancy were engulfed by hatred.
"Then let us go give this Pikam what he deserves," Fang growled confidently. Azin nodded his head and tried to transform into a bird, but once again found that he could not due to his anger. With this realization Fang's words seemed to dull and sense began to come back to Azin. He was about to begin calming himself, But Fang sensed his hesitation and quickly snarled, "Forget about being a bird, morph into something smaller and I'll carry you there, then we'll take vengeance upon the monster."
With the simple solution purposed Azin followed as ordered. Mindlessly turning into a mouse, he quickly climbed up Fang's soft fur. He perched himself in the middle of the wolf's back gripping a few strands of hair tightly. Without another moment of hesitation Fang lurched forward running swiftly between the trees. The cool evening's summer breeze gently caressed their faces while Fang made their way to Pikam.
"What kind of strange name is Pikam?" Fang asked, his eyes remaining focused on what was in front of him.
"That is the kind of name my people have, for us it is not strange," Azin squeaked in his high pitched mouse voice.
"Then what is your name?" Fang questioned further.
"Azin."
"You're right, your name is very strange as well. I don't think I'll ever understand you humanoid kinds," Fang's softly growled.
"And what makes your name so much better?" Azin countered trying to defend himself and his kind.
"My name is practical as is all the names amongst my kind. When I was born I had irregularly large teeth so I was named Fang, it reflects who I am. Your name however has nothing to do with your being a beast Defra nor with what you look like, nor even with who you are as a person for that matter," Fang declared triumphantly.
"Hey I'm not the one who came up with these names. Its been like this for as long as I can remember," Azin replied with a shrug and then switched subjects, "He's not too far from here, just follow that path straight ahead of us." Fang nodded his acknowledgement and bounded across the mossy forest with a kind of quiet that only four legged animals seemed to be able to achieve. Fang crept into an open meadow, hugging the shadows cast by the full moon glaring down upon the surrounding trees. Its reddish-orange glow sent a foreboding shiver down Azin's spine as his heart pounded in his chest.
"Which one is it?" Fang asked softly, peering intently at the surrounding shelters. His eyes gleamed with joy, the blood thirsty thoughts within now obvious.
Azin climbed off of Fang's muscled body and morphed back to his Elvin form answering, "It's that one over there."
"Ok, I'll go in and bring him out, you wait just outside for him to come and finish him off," Fang commanded not a trace of doubt evident. He made it sound like it would be the easiest thing in the world to commit murder.
"I don't know about this?," Azin began hesitantly, doubting himself again.
"You've come this far kid, no backing out now, let's go," Fang growled, his voice frightening and sharp. Azin nodded a little scared by what Fang might do if he refused. He obediently crept close to where Pikam's sleeping quarters were at while Fang snuck inside. Azin felt as if his heart would explode from his chest, his sweaty hands gripping and releasing the knife hidden within his pant legs. Suddenly a yell of pain emitted from within, followed by frantic scrambling amidst Fang's terrifying snarls. Pikam emerged from his tent, a look of terror plastered across his face. At the sight of Azin, Pikam froze in his tracks. Blood dripped profusely from his hand. A large fleshy chunk was missing from it where Fang had presumably bitten him. The sight caused Azin to freeze as well, doubt and nerves would not let him do as Fang had told him. Unsure of what to do he just stood still as Pikam peered into his eyes. Pikam's look slowly turned from terror to that of amusement.
"Ah it's only you Azin, come to avenge those poor little rabbits I assume," Pikam's laugh was malicious and piercing to his heart. Pikam raised his hand and filled it with magical red fire. Azin immediately morphed into a mouse and bolted forward, disappearing from his view. Pikam laughed once more, "You cannot hide from me little Azin, I'll just burn the whole forest and all of its inhabitants to get to you!" Pikam began to laugh again, but was cut short by a scream of pain as Fang's teeth sunk deep into his calf. A look of delig
"You mongrel," Pikam roared releasing his fire upon Fang's back. Fang whined, but continued to bite down harder. The smell of his scorching fur wafted into Azin's nostrils. Its repulsing smell caused anger to surge through Azin as it blasted his senses in an overwhelming instant. It brought back vivid images of all the cruel things Pikam had done over the years. The memories ended with the death of his friends. Reverting back to his natural form just behind Pikam Azin screamed, "Never again!" Pikam turned in surprise just in time to see Azin's knife flash through the air slitting his throat. A fountain of crimson blood splattered against Azin's face. Licking the warm streams flowing down his face caused a shiver of strange joy to vibrate through his body, as though some strange inner beast was being awakened within. "What is this incredible feeling," Azin exclaimed, his normally bright orange eyes turning to a terrifying dark orange.
"That," Fang replied in a slightly deranged gleeful manner, "We wolves like to call the joy of the hunt; you'll come to savor it as I do." As feelings of joy over Pikam's death reverberated through his body Azin's orange hair noticeably deepened in color. Thoughts of all the people that now would be spared of Pikam's evil delightfully raced through his mind.
"Azin what have you done!" he heard Pikam's father crying