((These are the stories of Fleet Wolf and his life. Please don't take them. Just enjoy reading them.))

Though a summer night sky a bright spark flitted holding no heat, yet burning bright white. The spark, a dying deity?s final breath, wandered the planet landing where it wished. Following along unseen currents of energy the spark bobbed in the night sky lazily over land and sea. Nearing a swirling whirlpool of magic, the spark was pulled hungrily by vortex of energy.
The spark?s white light was drowned to a pale watery red as the vortex pulled it down behind twisted basalt mountain ranges. Plummeting silently, the spark impacted a barren dessert void of life save for one fire. That fire belonged to mage that was preparing for a trip. The downward spiral of the spark led to the doorstep of the mage, and it laid there a dim red light in the night. Feathered, white haired ears twitched as the mage collected a myriad of items and laid them lovingly inside a leather satchel. Fine, silver gray fur covered the mages body, and a simple flowing robe of goldenrod hung on the slightly stooping frame belying the gender of the mage.
Warmth seeped from the spark flowing into the small house blanketing every room in a thick, palpable feeling of hope. Being touched and wrapped up in the warmth of this energy, the mage walked for the front door slowly looking for the source. Opening the door, the sparks red light bathed the canine features of the mage in a rosy glow. Purple eyes glittered as they took in the sparks glowing light. A curious grin touched the long muzzle as old, shaking paws reached down and picked up the spark cooing at it. The mage spoke in a light, alto voice as she carried the spark inside.
?Well then, not every night a gift from the heavens lands on my door step. You seem to have travelled quite a ways away from home.? The mage spoke to the spark. Tilting her head she nodded to some unspoken question.
?I am travelling to a far region of this realm to help bring a life into this world. I can take you along with me.? She winked to the spark and chuckled lightly.

The life spark found a new current blocking its falling path. Magic more potent than a mage using waning soul energy, this was magic rising from the birth of a new life. The spark shifted from rosy red to electric blue and floated over the Hagra-Na River and past the plains and cities of the Greater Den Wolf.
A small village called Chewiey was the calm pool the life spark floated to. It floated on the surface of magic and bobbed like a blue cork in the night. A heart beat tugged the spark to a small underground den.
A skylight window looked up at the stars on the cool, clear night of Nanueh. The cold rains had stopped, and the winds blew most of the clouds away during the day. Through this simple, pane glass window the spark hovered in its brilliant blue glow unseen by mortal eyes. Several female Lupinosse bustled around one silver gray female on a low earthen bed covered in straw.
Canine ears twitched back and forth on the attending females. Their muzzles creased with concern. Tonight was the night for whelping. Their charge was not fairing well. She was only bearing one son tonight, and not the usual three pups. Yet this one puppy fought every step of being born.
The spark hovered over the window a moment longer and then descended into the room. It swirled on the air currents churned by the nursemaids. The silver female howled in pain. Labor pains wracked her muzzle and forehead.
One nursemaid came to her and began placing silver needles into the females? ears. ?Bare with us longer Silvrannah. You?re pup wishes not to leave the comfort of your womb so easy.? She placed a near humanoid hand covered in brown fur on Silvrannah?s shoulder.
?I blame Fleeran. Stubborn fool he is. It will grow up just like him I wager.? Silvrannah?s rant was weak and tinged in pain. ?Lupis! Smack his sorry tail for allowing him to sire a stubborn pup in me.?
The spark could feel the newborn struggle and kick and turn at all the wrong times. It was a restless soul indeed, and one that seemed out of place in this land. Silvrannah screamed again, and blood was flowing. The nursemaids were now panicking. One began shouting for the village healer, others where grabbing cloth and potions. A small, silvery gray tail had crowned but nothing else.
The mother?s soul would be lost while her pup?s soul came into the world. The cost was adequate, yet the spark noted that the nursemaids thought otherwise. An older, wizened female opened the door to the room and stepped in. The bustling ceased and the energy was tense. The healer radiated calming energy to all who saw her. Several nursemaids gasped as they saw the kiss within a heart branded on the healers? chest. They bowed low.
The healer stepped up to Silvrannah. Stooping down, she peered at the little tail and the rump firmly blocking the pup from crowning further.
?You?re pup is a fighter. Strong spirited. We may have a strong leader to pull our land together again. Yet the pup is tearing you up dear. Let?s see if we can calm his spirit.? Her silver white paws touched Silvrannah?s belly and chanted softly. ?Soofvre. Soofvre. Soofvre Nakre.? The pup slowed its struggle and soon was quiet.
A foot was now through, then a leg, then the other. But the infant began to stir. The healer resumed her chanting. Her soul was aligning to call upon the energies around her. The life spark was the first touched. The healer paused in chanting for a moment at the strong energy she felt and just smiled while resuming the chanting.
?We are blessed tonight, ladies, by a special gift. Canis and Lupis look upon Silvrannah?s pup. Gift of our Elders, please, if you may, enter the pup and sooth its fiery spirit. The mother will be needed for it to grow strong and hardy.? Her voice was old, but soft.
The life spark glimmered and descended into Silvrannah?s belly. It touched the puppy and the life spark was reborn anew. The soul that touched it was not complete yet, and the life spark made it whole now. The pup emerged and slid into the waiting paws of the Healer.
?Blanket?? The healer wrapped the puppy in the blanket offered and allowed the nursemaids to place the infant into Silvrannah?s waiting arms. The healer turned to the task of healing the mother. A small yelp, a cry, and a word in one breath announced the pups completed emergence into life.
What was the word you ask? The word spoken form the newborns lip was ?Why??

Ten lunar years rose and set on the den. The life spark infused the little boy with health, energy and wonder. It had merged with his soul completely. All who looked on him just grinned and smiled. He could run faster than the other children. His blue eyes shone when they looked upon anything. His nose could smell bread four miles away on a still day, and he had a hunger for knowing everything.
The boy was yet still pudgy, his body adapting to the rapid growth the Lupinosse went through as adolescents. He was already a good four feet tall, and his puppy coat was blowing away with the wind to reveal a startling silver gray and onyx brindle. His mane was sporting slate blue forelocks with highlights of crimson, which now blew in the breeze of Harma?s weather. It was the summer season for Lupinoss.
?Fleet! Fleet! Where are you boy? Fleet!? a loud, low voice boomed out. ?Come to your father. We have dirt to be dug, and your mother needs help with the Pillmoo.?
Fleet stopped his running and sighed. ?Aw why me? I hate digging. I just want to run.? He slumped his furred shoulders and shuffled back to the sound of the booming voice. He really hated being the son of a Grounder. He kicked a dandelion and stopped. The plumy seeds floated off in the breeze catching his attention. Fleet hunched down on all fours to look at them closer.
He loved how the floated in the emptiness of the air. He felt a longing to just float away with them. He blew on the dandelion and more seeds swirled away. He began to giggle and laugh.
?Fly! Fly! Fly away, seeds of the mortals. Don?t let your lives be weighed down by the cares of this mortal realm. Seek freedom on the wind. Arakne Talne Voo.? His muzzle formed the words easily. Fleets small mind didn?t realize the litany and magic pouring forth. Nor did he pay any attention to the twirling dance his body performed. His paws were light on the ground, moving fluidly over grass, rock, dirt, and air. Fleet was now a foot in the air spinning in joy.
?Fleet! Fleet!? The voice bellowed then gasped. ?Fleet!?
Fleet heard the pounding of heavy footsteps and opened his eyes. He saw a cloud of dandelion seeds swirling around him and his father running for him. His arms were outstretched to catch something. That was when Fleet looked down and saw he was floating. He screamed and the litany was broken.
His fall was short, but comforted by the strong arms of Fleeran waiting to catch him. Fleeran pulled Fleet closed to his huge, black furred chest. Fleet could smell the strong rich earth smeared into his fathers fur.
?Easy son. I have you.? His voice was low and rough.
Fleet clung to him. ?I?m sorry father.? His voice was muffled from his muzzle being wedged firmly under his father?s left armpit.
?Why do you apologize my son? You cannot blame the dandelion spirits for having some fun with you. Now come along and give me a paw with the digging. The west plot is nearly done and your mother is nearly finished with the spiced fish strips.? Fleeran added as a little incentive.
Fleet?s ears perked up at the mention of spiced fish strips. Mother knew how to make the most wondrous, smoky trout spiced with chili and garlic. He licked his muzzle and followed his father.

Silvrannah smiled at her two hard workingmen. Fleeran was showing Fleet the proper amounts for mixing fertilizer in with the dirt. He was also repeating the litanies of tending the earth his father passed down to him from his father and so on. Both had rich, dark soil on their noses.
?Now Fleet, listen to my words and watch my actions. Whatever you plant will grow with ease if this is done properly.? Fleeran took two paws full of fertilizer and dumped it into the trench. Then he took three seeds and gently pushed them into the fertilizer. ?Remember Fleet, you must plant three seeds of a kind.?
Fleet looked at him with a questioning tilt of head and ears. ?Why??
Fleeran just chuckled and motioned for Fleet to do what he just showed him. Fleet scooped up the fertilizer, dumped it in, and pushed in three seeds.
?Now then, cover up the seeds with dirt Fleet and repeat this blessing. ?One seed for Lupis our Guardian. One seed for Canis our Mother. And One seed for the Phoenix who watches us all. Phoeneeshe Blesmer Plantera Tel Servon.?? Fleerans low voice chanted in perfect rhythm.
Fleet did his best, but the rhythm was a bit off and some of the words mispronounced, but Fleeran just smiled.
?All right you two. The ground is not going anywhere this century. Now who wants fish?? Silvrannahs voice called out in light notes. She was almost tackled to the ground by her mate and son.
?Easy you starving mud balls or I?ll fetch my ladle!? she cried in mock anger.
?Ladle? Mother, what happened to your iron skillet?? Fleet asked as he chewed on a strip of spiced fish.
Silvrannah laughed at the question and fixed Fleeran with a stare of amber. ?It was no match for your fathers head.? She laughed. ?Last time you?ll be sneaking a sniff with that young collie girl from the village of Hooskeeh during the mating season.?
Fleeran just chuckled and looked innocent. ?Was only one sniff, and she offered. But that was a season ago dear.?
Fleeran looked out at the marvelous rows of mounded dirt. ?The fields have been planted now. I believe it?s high time we took Fleet here to his first Soulstra fair.?
Fleet?s ears would have flown from his skull if not attached. He had heard so much about the fair, but the fields had to be watched and tended often.
?But father, who will watch our fields?? Fleet asked.
Fleeran just grinned. ?Your Uncle Street Wolf was injured during training. He will rest here and keep any pests away.?
?Fleet. Run along to the den and clean the dirt out of your fur. Soulstra Fair is only once a year and we must look our best.? Silvrannah instructed.
Fleet stood and ran off to their little den. Fleeran stood and walked over to Silvrannah. He wrapped one strong, Earthre arm around her ample hips and pulled her close. He gave her ear a lick and a nip, and spoke to her in a low voice.
?We need to find a Soulstre. I found Fleet floating in the air chanting.? Fleeran voice was a mix of awe and fear.
Silvrannah sighed slightly. ?Fleeran, a few things were kept secret about his whelping from you. I will tell you on the way. For now, we must get ready. It?s a day?s trip to the plateau.?

The air was cooling as the three walked the well-trod paths up the side of Mount Soulstra. Clouds were high in the sky, keeping the weather cool. They each wore a sash in a similar style to a full kilt. Polished brass buckles with a large wolf paw print hung on the chest at the right shoulder, and one just bellow the navel. The sashes were died in deep crimson red, the den color for the Greater Den Wolf territories.
Fleet itched and pulled at them. He had never liked clothing. His mother?s paw would appear out of nowhere and refasten a buckle here, a knot there. Silvrannah and Fleeran chatted in low tones about Fleet?s birth. Fleeran?s brows kept rising and falling with each detail he didn?t know.
?So, he is blessed by magic then.? He sighed heavily. ?How could our son be touched by this corruption?? he muttered.
Silvrannah looked at him shocked. ?Fleeran! Magic is not evil. Yes the Soulstre have risen in the councils by using their magic against their own people, but our son is no monster. The healer told me herself that he was given a gift by our Elders.?
Fleeran grumbled even more but held his peace. They had reached the top and the Soulstra Fair spread out before them. They both had paws on Fleet keeping him from running into fair alone.

Fleet?s blue eyes darted to all the wonders he could see. Flashing armor on strong Earthe Lupinosse, with weapons and bows polished and taught. Rivre vendors hawking their wares and food in the air made him forget about the itchy sash. Mother held his paw and guided him down rows of yurts while father disappeared.
They passed a band playing festive music. A beautiful female in silver fur, dressed in blue and red silks festooned with bells, shook a tambourine and sang.
?Come one, come all, to the high time of song and dance. This is the day the Phoenix bore us Lupis the Courageous. He slew the magical Drakkonre and took the lands for us. Nay forget the daughter of the Phoenix, Canis. Mother to us all, she bore Lupis seven great sons and one wild fire daughter. They lead us one and all! All hail the Great Dens of Lupinoss! Gather round, lift heads to the sky, sing out the sun, dance the day away, and howl in the moon. Now is day to chase away the winter gloom and bless the spring bloom!?
A tall, mysterious Lupinosse, red furred, and decked in leather clothing played a lute in time with the girl. A shorter Lupinosse, with patches of orange and white fur, garbed in the tribal wear of the Rivre played the drums. The music made Fleet skip and hop as he walked.
?Joy in the air all around us, let us bring joy to the air through us. May we all dance in joy to the air in us! Selanre Movran Tolne.? Fleet sang out.
Silvrannah froze as she heard him sing a litany of magic. Patrons all around became merrier. Happiness seemed to abound in the air.
The silver furred dancer noted the change in the crowd and noticed the little boy singing as well. Her gray eyes saw him for not what he was, but what he would be. She saw his aura. She almost missed a step in her dance but twirled to cover the mistake.
Silvrannah hurried along and drug Fleet behind her. He didn?t seem to notice being pulled by mother. At the end of the yurts, they finally reached a luxurious yurt marked Soulstre Guild. She stepped in with Fleet right behind her.
A tall, gaunt Soulstre male sat on a large, goldenrod colored pillow. His topaz toned robes draped on him like a tent. He was surprised to have a caller. Yawning once, he stood slowly. His squinty red eyes saw that the caller was Silvrannah.
?Come for a crop blessing for Fleeran?? his voice asked dusty and stiff.
?No Jarna. I need you to look at my son. I think he has magic.? Silvrannah stated in a thinly veiled tone of panic.
?Nonsense. I see no Sousltre blood in the lad. Have you been working too hard in the sun peasant?? he asked a bit irritated by the Silvrannah?s claim.
?No. I have not. He has cast two litanies in the past two days. He was floating with dandelion seeds and we just passed a large crowd. He sang with the music and the people became happier. Tell me that?s not magic!? She exclaimed.
The Soulstre growled at the way she spoke to him, but he did step closer to Fleet.
?Bah, floating seeds and a crowd becoming happier during a festival. You Earthre all have mud between your ears.?
He pulled a clear crystal sphere hung on a silver chain from the depths of his yellow robes. He held it to his red eyes and squinted at Fleet through it.
?Let?s take a look at our so called magic user.? He saw Fleet wreathed in blue fire and sparks. Wings with metallic blue feathers flowed from his back. And a figure, shrouded in mist stood behind him. He gasped and let the crystal drop.
?I knew it. My son can do magic.? Silvrannah whispered in fear.
Jarnal looked down at the crystal and blew on it. He looked for cracks. It must be defective. He looked again and the image did not change.
?Don?t jump to conclusions. I have a damaged crystal. I do have a test I wish to perform on him though.? Jarnal said quickly. Best to cover all possibilities he thought.
Silvrannah looked at Jarnal skeptically. She held Fleet close. ?What type of test??
?Merely an observation will be done. Follow me.? Jarnal gathered his robes and walked out of the yurt. The crowd was indeed festive nigh bordering on unbelievable jovialness. He walked to the stage and waited for the performers to notice him. His leather shod paws tapped in impatience.
The female singer looked down at Jarnal at the end of her song. She motioned for the two males to take a rest. She crouched by the edge of the stage. ?What do you want mage?? she asked, distaste in her musical voice.
?Watch you tone minstrel, or I?ll?, Jarnals threat went no farther. The female dancers gray eyes lit up and odd humming was heard.
?I am no mere minstrel, mage. Heed you remember that. Now what do you want with my attention?? she asked again.
Jarnal motioned to Fleet. ?I have a boy here who?s mother claims can do magic. I wish to perform a test of observation. I want you to sing a specific song. Does your group know the tale of Fen the Ebon Knight??
The minstrel narrowed her gray eyes at the mage. ?Yes we do. Mind you, if the crowd loses their mirth and riot, I will come for your hide.? She warned with a hiss. ?Send the boy up.?
Fleet was ushered up the steps to the stage. His blue eyes looked around at the crowd. They were all now watching with interest as a new addition is put on the stage. The minstrel spoke in quick tones with the men. They looked at her as if she was daft. She held them with her gaze and they gave way. She approached Fleet.
?What be thy name lad?? she asked with a smile.
?Fleet Wolf.? He said in a whisper.
She simply nodded. ?Now then, I need your help. I seem to have forgotten how to dance to the song we are playing next. Maybe you can help me. Just listen to the music and let your body move with it. Okay??
Fleet just nodded and the minstrel rubbed his head gently. She approached the center of the stage and raised her voice. ?Lads and Lasses, Mages and Mundanes, Nobles and Peasants, I, Silver Foxingale, have been asked to perform a tale for you. The tale is a bit old, and my mind has lost its way for the dance it needs. My little friend here will accompany me in the dancing. His name is Fleet Wolf, and he will be dancing to the Tale of Fen the Ebon Knight.?
The crowd grew quiet at mention of the tale. Silver picked up her antler tambourine and began to shake it in rhythm. The Rivre played his flute low and hauntingly; the Red haired one strummed the lute in slow time. Fleet listened and felt the music drag on his heart.
?Gather round the fire light, for tonight?s tail will require the light to guard you tonight. I speak of a tale of love, lust, loss, and evil divine during a time of hope. My tale is of a spoken truth that love will lead you to follow any path to capture your desire. In the times of the Phoenix, when Lupis graced the lands, a young male sought his mate in the land of the Elder Glade. He set his amber eyes on a fair beauty, tall, fair, unmatched by Lupinosse kind. She was Foxingale, fair mother of healing to all. ?
Fleets feet began to move slowly, and his body would twist and dance slowly. His paws moving in rhythmic motion in the air a slight mist started to appear on the stage.
Silver noted the boy?s movements and continued the tail without faltering. ?She would see the amber eye?s stare and glow from across the flowing Phoenix River. Day and night those eyes would be there, basking in her beauty, a hunger never wavering. After an eternity of waiting and watching, Fen crossed the Phoenix River. He braved the rushing water that tore at his body with the fierceness of the Phoenix. He emerged with nothing but fur and soul bow. Foxingale gazed upon Fen and did see a strapping young male before her.?
The mist swirled and thickened. A brown furred male appeared in the mist, wet furred, and a soul bow in his paws. Before him sat the white, lavender winged beauty, the Mother of Healing, Foxingale. Fleet was dancing steadily in rhythm.
?Fen approached her, like a hunter stalks a doe. This was the mate he had been hunting so long for. Foxingale, wiser than this mortal, just sat on a rock and let him draw closer. She fixed Fen with her violet gaze and spoke, ?You tread on ground not meant for the mortals of Lupinoss. You stray, dear hunter, and bring weapons in my presence.? Fen would run that day in fear, but love, nay lust brought him back again and again. Each time, Foxingale repeated her words and he would fly.
Foxingale spoke of the devotion and attention of the mortal to Lupis on the eve of Soulstair. Lupis was enraged that one of his mortal children would look upon his divine daughter. He would forbid Foxingale from the Elder Glade and instead sat himself in her place. Fen returned, as was his habit, and did not behold the beauty of love, but the black form of anger that was Lupis. ?
Fleet began mouthing the words Silver spoke. The music was picking up pace as the tale wound on. Fen was now in the presence of Lupis, their revered Elder.
?You hunt my daughter, mortal. You are not fit to have her, and I will see to it, you never enter again to my glade.? Lupis decreed. Fen would harden his heart against the words of his Elder. He raised bow, drew taught the soul string, and let loose a soul bolt to strike down Lupis. ?She is the one I want and you will not stand in my way!? Fen would cry. The bolt flew true but the Elder?s hide was stronger. His yellow eyes would glare, nostrils flare, and paws rising to the air, shouted, ?Be gone my rebellious child, you rise in anger to your Elder in lust, so shall ye be banished till your dust. I throw ye to your doom at the steps of the lands of gloom.? Lupis would rip a portal to a world unknown, casting our lover to his doom.?
The crowd gasped and a few ladies screamed as the mist shifted and a dark, swirling portal appeared before all and the image of Fen was pulled into it. Fleet chanted now in his own voice. ?Come and gone the foolish lover, now lost for all eternity. Return he will come, on the wings of night, red eyes glowing, poison in his bite! Retrune. Retrune Comne Fenre Tel Damnre Soultre.?
The portal in the midst seemed to solidify, and take on shape. The air around the fair was growing colder. Silver stopped the tale and stared at the portal in shock. The men stopped the music. Fleet was chanting and dancing on his own now. The portal grew, and black lightning lanced out and a black wind blew out. Red glowing eyes appeared.
Silver lurched forward and grabbed Fleet to stop him. But it was too late, the portal, locked in time by Lupis was opened by song and the chanting of a boy. A black furred head came out of the portal, red eyes glared at all around the fair. Then, a black armored body followed. Fen stood on fiendish legs giving him a towering presence of twelve feet. He howled.
?I have returned home! I have returned home father, and I come for your blood!? Fen shouted out.
Silver crouched over Fleet and held him protectively. In her paws was a silver flute. Placing it to her lips, she played a series of sharp notes. Silvery light danced in the air and flew at Fen. Fen felt the assault and laughed. He looked down at her and Fleet.
?Foolish minstrel. Your magic is useless against me.? Then he saw the boy. He crouched low and put his slavering muzzle close to Fleet?s face. Fen sniffed once. ?Thank you for releasing me boy. May you grow strong so I can look forward to dancing on your grave.? With that Fen vanished.
Silvrannah rushed up the stage to her son and the Minstrel. She was trembling. ?My son has magic. Evil magic.? She cried.
Silver stared at Silvrannah. ?Nay lady, your son does have magic, but it is not evil. Your son is more than a mage as well.? Her next words were whispered to Silvrannah. ?Your son is a deity.?

Eleven lunar years have set since that day at the fair. The Eight Great Dens fell into war with on another stirred up by the demon Fen Stridar. Battle was the daily norm for a Lupinosse. And what has become of Fleet? We would find him in the Capital City Wolfrena, staring at a pile of books in the Great Library.
Fleet sighed as he looked out the stained glass windows. No longer a growing pup, Fleet sat over a pile of tomes, at the age of 21. How could Grand Alpha Wolf expect him to read all ten tomes of Elder knowledge in a week? It was too much! He blinked his eyes, and adjusted a pair of spectacles. He went back to the task of reading the Lupinosse glyphs.
His coat was a beautiful black and silver brindle now. His mane had grown to a long ponytail that hung down the back of a lean and muscled body. A short sword hung from his side. He wore the red Den Wolf warrior tunic and Hakemah of his Den. Fleeran was proud to hear his son asking for military training. He really hoped that Fleet would forget any notions of magic.
Fleet sighed. That was not the case. Incidents of him singing litanies and casting magic erupted during many training sessions. Grand Alpha Wolf, the Great Dens Elder was now interested in this boy that did magic on the divine level. Ever since then, Fleet still practiced the sword, but he also was subjected to the library full of dusty books.
The Den was proud of him. He was a rarity. He was not a Soulstre, and he could do magic and they wanted him to train as much as possible. The glyphs swam before his eyes and he shut the book. He wanted action. He wanted to fight. He slid the tome off the stack and it thumped to the floor heavily. The sound echoed in the hallway.
He just stared at the fallen tome and contemplated if he could chuck it out the window. The squeal of hinges on the door startled him. He quickly grabbed the tome and placed on top of the stack. A messenger padded up to him.
?Apologies for disturbing your studies honored one, but you have a request from General Street Wolf.? The young man handed him a scroll and then padded out of the library. More squealing sounded as he shut the door.
Fleet unrolled the scroll and recognized the generals clawing. He was to report for escort duty. The Grand Alphas were meeting in two days. He was given special privilege to escort Grand Alpha Wolf to the meeting.
He jumped in joy and knocked over the table in his mirth. He started to pick up the tomes, and then he shrugged. Someone else could pick the books back up. He had his wish now. It was high time for action!