Survival of the Fittest

[Ulrick Hammerpaw]

Oh my friends, my friends, don't ask me,
What your sacrifice was for...

~

The Devourer?s attack was as violent as it was unexpected. Even Ulrick and the white wolf paused in their struggle. The badger was dumbstruck, rooted to the spot. His opponent seemed to have gone into some kind of trance, raising his arms and chanting something in a deep, guttural language Ulrick couldn?t understand.

Obligo and Roger were gone before Ulrick had a chance to properly register what was happening. Suddenly there was a scream. Tassle was flinging herself towards the monster, putting herself between it and the terrified Brooga.

Ulrick felt a great yawning emptiness inside him. Surely what would follow was inevitable? But still?

?Tassle, NO!?

Barely had he raised his hammer and taken the first step when the brave little shrew was lifted high into the air. Ulrick paused, uncertain as to how he should attack this creature. Then, in an instant, Tassle was gone.

The cave was filled with the roar of waters as the Devourer began to shift back beneath the waves, readying itself for another attack. The two wolves still remained motionless, chanting. It was Jonas that broke the spell. Grabbing his daughter?s wrist, he hauled her towards the tunnel they had emerged from earlier.

?Run you fools!? he yelled across the cave. ?Unless you want to end up like them??

Ulrick was aware of Brooga running past him towards the tunnel. No doubt Cricket was already making her escape too. The water boiled, spray flying wildly as the creature attacked again. Its tentacles filled the cave. The badger found himself backing away. He could feel a knot in his stomach. For the first time in a long time he could feel genuine, mind numbing fear.

A tentacle made a grab for him, but Ulrick leapt back, swinging with his hammer. The weapon caught a glancing blow and the monster pulled back just enough for the badger to make his escape into the tunnel.

?What?s the matter my good badger, too afraid to follow your little friend??

Ulrick drew himself up suddenly. There, blocking the tunnel, was the white wolf.

?Her offering pleased the Devourer, but she was so small. Perhaps I should feed some more of the others to it, once Mother has brought them back of course. And once she has them, maybe then it will let us leave.?

Ulrick gripped his makeshift hammer tightly. ?She did not deserve to die like that,? he growled, eyes flaming.

Why does this death affect me, more than the others? She was just another foolish hero, who got what she was asking for. A noble death. And, like Simeon?s, just as pointless.

The memory of his friend bleeding on the ground was almost too much for the badger. The mouse had fought to defend others, and it had led him to a senseless death. Just like Tassle. Perhaps this was why he had found her determination to lead the slaves to freedom so irritating, because he could see so much of Simeon in her.

For that matter, so much of himself. Back before a lifetime of battle and blood had taken its toll. Back to when he and his friends had sat in the Great Hall and listened to the Abbot praising their expedition, going to help those that could not help themselves.

In his mind?s eye he could see Simeon?s death played out again and again, but suddenly it wasn?t Simeon at all but Tassle!

?It?s only a matter of time now,? sneered the wolf. ?Mother and I will make our offerings and leave this place. I think we shall leave you until last, let you watch your friends go before you? Perhaps then you will have paid for killing my brother!?

Ulrick was only half listening. His fear on seeing the monster was quickly turning to white hot rage. Another young hero was dead because he had not acted quickly enough. Well this time it would mean something. This hero?s death would not be senseless. Not one more beast would fall victim to that creature of terror lurking beneath the waves.

He opened his mouth to say something, but his words just came out as a great bellow. The badger?s mind was running faster than it had for years, images flashing through his mind. He could feel the mists descending, the tunnel was beginning to take on a deep red hue?

Before he knew what he was doing, Ulrick had raised his weapon and charged the wolf. The badger swung the weapon so hard that as it struck the wolf in the stomach, the huge beast was sent staggering backwards gasping for breath. The hammer flew out of Ulrick?s paws and clattered away down the tunnel.

The time for words was long past. Ulrick fought like a crazed beast, scratching at the wolf with his powerful paws and snapping at his neck with his teeth. The wolf snarled, its own jaws snapping as the two hulking beasts rolled on the hard stone floor.

Ulrick was now totally out of control. The badger was tearing chunks of white fur out of the wolf. The great beast roared in pain as Ulrick managed to clamp his jaws around his paw. With a mighty heave, the wolf threw the badger to the ground, standing over his crazed adversary and howling in triumph.

?Why prolong the inevitable, fool?? he panted, clasping his wounded paw. ?You cannot defeat me, and Mother will deal with your friends very soon now??

Ulrick didn?t answer. Instead the badger aimed a vicious kick at the wolf, who staggered back again. The wolf was standing in the entrance to the tunnel now, his back to the cavern. Ulrick launched himself at the wolf again, slamming into his chest and forcing him back into the cave. With another great shove, the wolf sent Ulrick flying back.

The badger crashed against the wall of the tunnel, winded and unable to move. He snarled and snapped his jaws as he tried to get back to his paws. The wolf was standing bolt upright just outside the tunnel entrance, a look of sudden shock on his face. It took Ulrick several seconds to work out why.

Wrapped around the wolf?s waist was a tentacle. Another wrapped itself around the beast?s footpaw and began to gradually haul him back towards the water. Ulrick struggled to get up, but he was still gasping for breath.

The wolf suddenly started to panic, scratching and biting at the tentacle, desperately trying to break free, but it was no good. Wild screams echoed around the cave as the wolf cried out in terror, gibbering for its Mother and cursing the creature that was drawing it inexorably towards the waters edge.

With his back to the water, the wolf couldn?t see the great, dark maw open up for him, but Ulrick could. The sight was enough, the bloodwrath that had consumed him falling away as the badger felt the cold edge of fear again.

Flee!

Without stopping to see if the creature had vanished beneath the waves, Ulrick forced himself to his footpaws and ran for his life. He could feel his lungs burning, his aging muscles aching from the effort, but soon he emerged into another of the smaller caverns. Jonas, Dyera, Brooga and Cricket were there, watching as the badger practically threw himself into the cavern.

There was a brief pause as Brooga and Dyera gazed at him, at the last remnants of the fire in his eyes.

?Well?? asked Jonas, coldly. ?What happened??

Ulrick just looked at the vermin. How could he possibly explain to this beast what he had just experienced?

?You wouldn?t understand.? The badger growled darkly. ?But the white wolf is dead.?

With the merest of glances at Brooga, Ulrick stomped across the cavern and sat down heavily, leaning his head against the wall.