The Mad Queen

Chapter One-hundred

The bond between Lupine and Kintara wolves is a unique and strong one. The wolves are not pets. The Lupine do not see themselves as above them. The two creatures are equal in their love for each other. They are part of each others soul.

The bond goes stronger the longer that they spend with each other. Getting to a point where Lupine and Wolf can feel each other's pain both emotionally and physically. Though the wolves can't be hurt by weapons or poisons, thanks to the bond, they can be hurt and killed by other wolves. The bond can also be manipulated by a dark magic long forgotten. Magic that stems from the remains of the power Luna used to bond the two races together in the first place. Though many Lupine don't understand how to access the magic, it can still be done. Those who magically interfere with a bond are automatically sentenced to death. It is one of the worst crimes that can be committed in Lupine culture. Interfering with another Lupine's wolf in any way is already frowned upon. The bond is sacred and special and to tarnish it goes against everything that being a Lupine stands for.

The History of the Lupine

Entering the vast emptiness of the deserts was one of the scariest days of my life. The feeling of being so small and inferior is a strange one. Una and I had run for hours, trying to get as much distance between us and the other teams as quickly as possible. We had even carried on into the night, running faster when it was slightly cooler. I am lucky that my body had adapted so well to the Lupine training and that the Lupine gift made an appearance when it did. If that hadn't of happened, then I would have been a broken mess very early on.

We had finally stopped the next morning. The wolves kept guarding whilst we slept in the shadows of a large rocky stack. One of the many red cliffs that fill the desert lands. We had slept most of the day, exhausted from the day and night of running. That and the adrenaline that had been filling our veins. As it turns out, one team is a Valmir team and the sister of Hadya. Una is sure they'll be out to get us. However, in the week we've now been out here we haven't run into any other Lupine. It is still a strange feeling. Being out here. The deserts are so endless. The horizon wobbles from the heat with no sign of ending. The ground is hard and dry with the only sign of any life being the Dryweed that grows mostly everywhere. That is what we've been eating. Una has said that we will not be hunting because we can't have a fire. Nothing that can make it easier for us to be tracked. We did find a patch of red potato which I had to force down raw. It was hard to chew and tasted like dirt. Like most food I've eaten so far, it was hard not to retch when eating it. However, my body desperately craved the energy it would provide. So, we packed as much as we could.

We had looked at the map not long after we woke up. The circle where the flag could be covered a massive area and began about two-hundred miles from the capital. Luckily, I know how to navigate as does Una so we haven't been too lost so far. Though it is harder to navigate these lands than home. We just have to journey North, pretty much.

The Sun begins to set and I stretch my muscles. They are aching and tired but we have another night of running to do. Luckily, there are no clouds so the moon is bright every night. Bright enough for our eyes to adjust and see almost perfectly. Also, the temperature is so much cooler so it makes running that bit easier. We sleep during the day or rest. Finding shadows beneath the stacks or, if there aren't any, using out bags to cover our skin so it doesn't burn. Even with some of the ointments to block the sun's heat, I still find my skin going slightly pink if I spend too long beneath the rays.

"You ready?" Una asks me as she stretches. I nod my head and let out a groan as I throw my bag over my shoulder. I can't see Razan or Lucian. But I can sense my Razan close by. The two are probably patrolling.