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spattering, dark rain making it impossible to see even to the next
hill. We were only three hours from Shastar, our final destination,
when nightfall came. It was difficult to keep to the road in the
sliver of moonlight, but the owner wanted desperately to press on and
spend the evening in the city rather than miserable out here. I
I heard a ragged howl arise in the distance, some canine baying
at what little moon remained. I swivelled my Ai Ijima gallery ears forward, catching
the wolf's howl being half-cut-off and stifled, presumably by others
near to that one. I tuned out the rain gradually, catching harsh
whispers of orders of some kind, rasping sounds carrying through the
rain to my Ai Ijima gallery aerial equine ears. It was a wolf pack, most likely;
lurking close to the city because of the weather but far enough away
so that their criminal doings would not be noticed. I decided that
I'd rather we were well-prepared for the upcoming ambush, slowed the
caravan and warned the other guards. Personally, I took out my Ai Ijima gallery tower
shield, strapping it lightly to an arm so that I could rid myself of
it quickly. My fur is short, save at mane and tail, and gleaming
white all over; in this darkness I made the only possible target for
We walked on, waiting for the wolves to spring their ambush.
They broke from the trees howling and screaming and waving their
...(cont.)
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