10 Gullen Cove

       The coastal air whistled through the trees as the three walked along the bluff. The sun was barely over the horizon when they reached the outskirts Gullen Cove. The bluff hung several feet over the docks where three ships were stationed, men running too and from their perspective boats with supplies and shipments for the upcoming months at sea. Calder could see Gordon plodding around his ship, Captured Glory, keeping it ever ready for a voyage on a moments notice. "Ahoy Captain!" Calder roared leaping from the bluff and landing in the ship's crows nest with a resounding thump. "Ha ha ha," Gordon bellowed "good to see you my boy! I was told you'd be coming. Your mother's hawk, Cross-wind carried word mere hours ago." Calder repelled down the mast ropes and joined the swarthy man on the deck embracing one of the man's massive trunk-like arms and shook vigorously. "Yann and I have been making preparations for our trip at sun fall," Gordon said patting Calder on the shoulder, "we are ready to set sail and are only waiting for the evening." "You are prepared as always Gordon," Calder gleamed as Yann emerged from the lower levels, bending slightly to fit under the doorway. Calder sprang forward like an animal toward the mountain that was Yann, who caught one of his arms and twirled him around in a circle. "Heheh, I got you this time Calder," Yann chuckled raising him up to eye level. "You've gotten much quicker Yann!" Calder said swinging free landing lightly on the deck of the ship, "it's good to see you. It has been too long." "It has my friend, but we are here now and no time is better to have," Yann said, his voice booming naturally.
       "Hello everyone," Monique called fluttering down to the docks, wings lightly flapping in an even descent, Cassandra breezing along with her, a spell slowing Cassandra's jump as she came softly down with a soundless step on the edge on the dock near the boat. "Ah, the rest of our company," Gordon cheered turning two the two young angels. "Cassandra! The last time I saw you, you were but a mere babe clinging to your mother's side. Oh how you've grown." Cassandra and Monique walked carefully up the ramp to the boat taking in its worked yet majestic and sturdy appearance. "Thank you for the transport, captain," Monique said shaking Gordon's hand with a slight tact. "Oh now lass," Gordon bowled lightheartedly, "please call me Gordon like the kids do. I am only a captain while in the midst of merchants or business, and I was all too happy to help the boy and his companions reach the island. Now please leave your bags with us for we don't set sail for a number of hours, in the meantime you should buy anything you may need from the market in town. They have many oddities and items not found in the inner lands." "Thank you Gordon," Cassandra said hugging the stone pillar that was the sailor.
       Cassandra could remember, if vaguely, the times she had seen Gordon. He seemed as large and opposing as he always had been, although he had always been with a small group of other sailors who worked on the same boat. Morda was the capital and the largest closest city to the coast so many transports came through the city and each time Gordon had stopped at the church to see Mother Tanya who had recognized him as a pure soul, and Gordon knew it was best to ask her news of the town and the others that were connected to it because the two had a mutual trust. Mother Tanya could always count on Gordon for safe passage and shipment of anything or anyone that required the assistance of a merchant boat. Even though Gordon wasn't as strong as the angel, but felt he was strong enough to do what he needed, on a few occasions the two had defended the city of roaming bandits or outlaws who were ignorant to the presence of an angel in the city.
       "Yann, our preparations are ready and feel free to join them for the time," Gordon said patting him on the shoulder. "You have plenty of time to visit with your friends, but otherwise everyone relax and I will call you when it is time."

9 Out For Blood

      "Now tell me where they were headed you fool or face the same fate as the others," Snarled Gasta holding an elder villager up by the leg. The village that Calder and Cassandra had been in only days before was now in ruins, the brother werewolves had slaughtered the entire village in search of the two. The buildings around them now lay in ruins, bodies strewn about from the panic of the attack, a pile of bodies formed during the interrogation. The blood of the villagers coated the already vile beasts. Erikson stood nearby, the audible crunch of a severed leg shaking the last villager. "They are headed toward Morda," the old man cried, "please spare me. I beg you!" "Oh, don't worry. We have the information we seek, we no longer have need for you anymore." Gasta said lifting him up to eye level. Erikson pierced the old man through the spine killing him instantly. "We have what we need brother," Gasta said tossing the old man on a pile of bodies, "we've had or fill now let us go. We have prey to catch." They howled in unison and sped off down the road.--

       "Be well young ones, I hope the sage will be able to help you Calder," Mother Tanya said hugging each of them goodbye. "We will mother," Calder said smiling and rubbing his freshly cut hair. "We will be back as soon as we can mommie," Cassandra said hanging from Tanya. "Thank you for all you've taught me Mother Tanya, I wish to return to your service when we have finished our journey," Monique said hugging her goodbye. With that the three set out toward the outskirts of the large capital city leaving Mother Tanya standing there smiling at the young ones. "I have high hopes for the three of them," Mother Tanya said closing the door to the church a walking into town. She spent the day visiting with villagers, comforting, healing, and bringing happiness to all she encountered.
       Joyful feelings were soon replaced with screams of terror as villagers and guards rushed toward a home where the two werewolves stood on the roof holding up a man and a woman. "Where is the crimson headed traveler and his younger companion!" Gasta said throwing the woman into the crowd, "we are here for them and will cause no trouble if you hand them over now." Whispers of the villagers soon filled the area. "Get her to the church!" Mother Tanya said to a group of guards, "I'll deal with these beasts. I don't know who you are but you will not have the travelers!" "Well what do we have here?" Gasta snarled leaping from the roof, landing in front of Mother Tanya, "a single brave soul in the face of death. It seems as though we will have to teach this pitiful cleric a lesson." Mother Tanya placed her hands together and closed her eyes. "Praying won't help you now fool," Gasta laughed raising his paw to strike. Before he could strike Mother Tanya opened her now glowing eyes and placed her hand on his chest and propelled him into the wall of the city. "Brother!" Erikson roared dropping the man and charging toward Mother Tanya, "you will pay woman!" He swung at Mother Tanya who batted away the attack with a flick of her wrist, binding the arm in light. "You poor creatures, what has happened to your lonely souls," Mother Tanya said walking toward Erikson who was in a panic trying to free himself from his glowing binds, "I will free you from your torment and return you to our Father." She placed her hands on Erikson's head who howled in pain. Slowly he began to turn into a human. He was a frail man with long curly black hair. His dark eyes cried as he fell to the floor, "for so long I have lived in that form, a savage beast," the man said, "thank you." He drifted away, his body to weak to continue.
       "Now you, tell your master that if he so much as scratches those two that he will have the full force of heaven upon him," Mother Tanya said glaring at Gasta who was only now getting to his feet. "You will pay for this," Gasta said as he leaped from the town and over the wall.

8 Unseen Threats

Mother Tanya and Cassandra returned to the church with joyful conversation, Cassandra seeming more vibrant and healthy than she had in a while. They had two small bundles with an eclectic assortment of items and supplies that they set with the provisions Calder had already set aside in the resting room in the back area of the church that were sometimes used for travelers and others making religious pilgrimages that did not have enough money for an inn. Calder had finished the chores Mother Tanya had asked for him and was now playing with children in the grassy area next to the church running around with a small child on his shoulders the two of them growling like a two headed monster, the other children screaming and giggling as they fled from the monster. "I haven't seen him this joyful in a while," Cassandra said smiling as she and Mother Tanya watched Calder play with the children from a window inside the church. "It reminds me of when he was a boy," Mother Tanya gleamed, "so cheerful and friendly with the other children. It may have been difficult to leave Paradise, but it was right for him."

A small while passed with each of the children eventually shuffling off to their homes leaving Calder alone under a tree watching the city around him. "You should get some rest. You will be leaving early tomorrow morning." "Thank you mother," Cassandra said hugging her and turning toward the back of the church. "You three be careful. I do not want any of you to be injured or worse," Mother Tanya pleaded smiling at her child. "We will mother," Cassandra replied, "Calder will be there to protect us." "I hope it will not have to come to that," Mother Tanya whispered to herself.

---

"You have failed me Erikson!" boomed a dark figure his glowing eyes glaring at Erikson, "It shall not happen again, or else!" "I'm sorry master," Erikson whimpered averting his gaze, the wound he received from Calder gleaming from the light from the fire pits that lined the lair, corpses of various under-worldly creatures hanging above. "Gasta! You and your brother find Calder and bring him to me. The bounty on his head will bring us get power and riches. Do not fail me." "As you wish Master," Gasta howled bowing to him.The Dark Figure disappeared into the shadows leaving the two werewolves alone. "Come brother we have much to do and little time to do it," Gasta growled lowering to all fours and running off, Erikson tailing behind.

--

"Calder, be careful. The dangers you are sure to face will be perilous," Mother Tanya said embracing Calder. "Thank you mother, I will not let Cassandra or Monique come to harm," Calder assured. "I will be watching over you even if i cannot always be there to help you," Mother Tanya said kissing Calder on the forehead, "now be off, you have a long journey ahead of you and you must be prepared for anything."