Part Three: So Close to Safety

Walter walked alongside the two newcomers, who had eaten a little food and had gotten some rest now after their unfortunate experience. Walter and his bucks had learned that the doe’s name was Junafur and the little buck was her brother, Oaken. They hadn’t shared much about the wolf attack, and Walter did not press them as they trembled with fear when it was mentioned. Walter looked at Junafur trudging beside him. He thought her very pretty, even covered in soot. He especially liked it when she smiled, which he had gotten out of her a couple of times. Oaken had been quite shy when they had rescued him and his sister, but now he had gotten over it and was firing questions at Prince Walter and his bucks.

“How much further is the First Warren? My legs are gettin’ tired. I’m hungry, when are we gonna eats?”

“We’re almost there, young Oaken. And as for food? We’ll have it when we get there.” replied Walter, smiling at the small buck.

“Awww, but I wants it now! I cans’t wait till we gets to the First Warren!”

“You will wait, Oaken, just like the rest of us.” Junafur said, looking disapprovingly at her little brother.

They walked for a while in the forest until they saw a stone wall in the distance.

“We’re finally safe!” Junafur gasped, and Oaken jumped up and down excitedly. Walter chuckled. He liked these two. Oaken started to run ahead, but he stopped and stood there, ears prickled up. Uneasiness fell down on Walter, and he too listened. Then his fears were found to be true. A long, echoing howl split the air as Prince Walter unsheathed his sword. His private guard did likewise.

“Oaken! Junafur! Get behind me!” Walter shouted, and they ran behind him just as the first wolf came into sight. One of the bucks, Jonathan Fletcher, shot an arrow at it in an instant, but two more wolves popped up in its place. Soon there were too many to be shot off at once and the bucks used their steel to ward off the savages. One wolf lunged at Walter, and he just barely dodged it and sent his blade into its middle. It yelped out in pain but Walter didn’t have time for one breath before yet another rushed at him, razor teeth snapping. His bucks battled on. Walter spied some fallen already. He saw young Bobson fall to the ground, struggling as a wolf frantically cast slobber on his face, trying to end him. Walter rushed forward to help the young buck, but a wolf jumped on him from behind and he too was knocked to the ground. He felt warm, wet blood on the back of his neck.

“Noooo!!” he heard Junafur scream but the wolf had him pinned. There was no escape. What a pathetic way to die, he thought, so close to safety yet so far. He braced himself for the end, but it didn’t come. The wolf went limp on top of him. He saw a hand extend to him and he grabbed it. As he was pulled up, the wolf slipped off his back, clearly dead. The wolf had an arrow in its throat and Walter noticed Jonathan in the distance with a fist over his heart. When he turned to see who had helped him up, he saw Junafur smiling shyly. 

Walter looked around, the tide was turning. The wolves’ numbers were diminishing. Walter put his fist in the air and gave a shout. Then he was reminded of the wound on his neck as a shot of pain went through him. He grimaced. Then it slowly went into a smile as the last wolf fell. But that was at a cost. Many bucks had lost their lives, including Bobson. Oaken hid himself in his sister’s skirt, trembling. All the surviving bucks had some sort of injury. Walter sighed, If only my father would work to rid these woods of wolves, then stuff like this wouldn’t happen. He fingered the chain around his neck, it seemed a heavy burden right now. For on the end of that chain hung an emerald gem, the Green Ember, the symbol that one day he would be king. I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready to be king, Prince Walter thought.

He shouted for everyone to hear, “Let’s get out of this wretched place.”

To be continued...