Way of the Wolf and the Raven: Story 5 – Forbidden Unity

Story 5 – Forbidden Unity

Political rivals, revolutionaries, and those loyal to the royals wait for the opportunity and a good excuse to raid each other’s homes and businesses. The streets of France run red with blood and the bodies of its citizens. Behind the scenes, the Wolves and Ravens pull the strings and fight their own war as the country tears itself apart. My family takes up arms against another and joins the mob in an assault against a rich family in the city. The mansion’s once beautiful statues and exterior design are ruined by fire and graffiti. Guards that protect the family are overtaken by the mob. Some receive a quick death while others are publicly beaten and shamed.

The inside of the mansion becomes a worse wreck than the outside as people take the valuables inside of it and even fight over them. Butlers, maids, guards, and the other occupants of the mansion suffer the same fate as the outside guards as the mob gorges on their fill of violence and self-righteous justice.

“Liberty, equality, fraternity!” the mob chants.

While they indulge in their madness, they miss the most valuable people in the mansion. These people are neither politicians, businessmen, nor revolutionaries. They are Ravens, those who started this revolution. The Wolves are looking to root them out while also using the revolution to eliminate whatever Ravens we can. So far, the revolution hasn’t been going in our favor, however, it doesn’t matter if the Wolves can hold their grip on this country. Two other Wolves and I search for secret rooms in the mansion while the other Wolves search the rest of the house and keep the mob from interfering with our mission.

One of the rooms that we come across is one for one of the targets, Esme. We know that she was supposed to be here, and yet, there’s no sight of her anywhere, which worries me.

“I’ll check this room. Esme has to be around here,” I say.

“Do not show any mercy to her,” a Wolf says.

“You can trust me to do the right thing.”

The two Wolves walk away from the room as they search the rest of the mansion. First, I go into Esme’s drawer and grab a ring that I know is important to her. I then walk up to the bookshelf in the room and move it aside then use the handle on the other side to cover the entrance. Behind the bookshelf is a secret staircase that leads down to a secret basement where I find Esme who almost stabs me from the shadows.

“Matisse!” she says.

“Esme!” I respond before kissing her.

She embraces me before slightly pushing me away. “It’s not the time for that. We have to get out of here.”

“I have a few friends waiting outside covering our exit and buying our time. We can use the mob to mask our escape.”

Esme follows me as I lead her outside.

“Do you know where we’ll go?”

“Outside of Wolf and Raven controlled territory. Maybe someplace in America. I don’t know as long as we stay out of the big countries, we’ll be fine.”

“What about the house servants and my friends upstairs? Did…did they at least have a painless death?”

“It’s not something that you should think about. Just know that I didn’t strike any of them.”

“Going through these tunnels with you gives me nostalgia. It’s a shame that we’ll never have the chance to do it again.”

“Think of the bright side. At least we don’t need to hide our love for one another anymore.”

My hopes for the future are brought back to reality once we exit the secret entrance to see that the entire city is at war with itself. Very few citizens try to keep to themselves while others participate in the looting and purging of their enemies. Esme and I try to take the route with the least amount of people but it seems like everyone is out today.

“This must’ve been planned by either the Ravens or the Wolves so they could strike at their enemies,” I say.

“Look over there!” Esme says as she points to a group of people being kidnapped. “We have to do something.”

“I’d like to, but we can’t. We don’t have time.”

“Our father taught us that we should help whoever is nearest to us. Did you forget?”

“He was your father and no, I didn’t forget. He also taught us to not overextend ourselves because we would end up hurting ourselves as well as others.”

“Yeah but-”

“I’m sorry and this bothers me too, but we can’t help everyone here. We can only help ourselves.”

“…okay.”

We keep going through the crowd avoiding whatever attention we can.

“Here, find these two. They will net you a great reward and a luxurious place in the new France to come,” a random person says while holding our pictures.

Who’s sending these people after us? Do the Wolves and Ravens know about our relationship? I hope not. Now that we’re being hunted, the crowds of people become a blessing as we use the dense crowds to hide again. We cut off pieces of sacks and use them as makeshift hoods to hide our faces for added anonymity. The crowds stretch for a large enough distance that it allows us to get where we need to be while also breaking off at that point.

Our destination is a docking area where I have a ship waiting to take us wherever we want, however, when we get to my ship, I find its crew hung from the top of the ship with a single Wolf I know standing around it.

“Matisse!” the man says, “We know you’re out there! Your friends are dead and so will you, your lover, and more of this crew unless you come out and talk to us.”

“Matisse…” Esme says while pulling on my arm.

“Okay, I’ll try talking to him, but stay hidden. We’re here! Now let the crew go!”

“Not unless you show yourselves. Come out from the shadows already.”

“Why should I trust you when you’ve hung men like decorations?”

“Because we’ll hang more if you don’t. These were traitors and were going to suffer eventually for their crimes. You’ll suffer like they will unless you show yourselves in five seconds.”

“This is a trap, Esme.”

“But what about the crew?”

“I think he’s lying. I see that most of the crew is hung so it’s safe to assume that he’s already killed them all.”

“Okay, Matisse. I trust you.”

“We don’t believe you’re telling the truth,” I say to the Wolf, “You can have the ship and its treasures as compensation for our betrayal.”

“You’re going to need to pay us more to pay for your betrayal. A Wolf playing the part of an adopted son to infiltrate a high ranking Raven’s family knows too much from both sides. I hope for your sake that Esme doesn’t find this to be shocking news. We’ll find you wherever you are and wherever you will be. There’s no escaping us!”

By the time he stops talking, his voice is nothing more than an echo.

“What are we going to do now, Matisse?” Esme asks.

“Don’t worry. I have a backup plan. We can take a boat down a river that will lead us to another dock. The only problem is that the boat is in the poor district of the city where there are more revolutionaries and probably Ravens among them.”

“It’s better than nothing.”

Esme and I make our way through the city streets that begin to somewhat calm down now that many are dead and the law enforcement are out in force. Still, we try to keep to the shadows and move through the crowded streets with normal civilians so we don’t attract the attention of anyone especially with those assassins out to get us.

“I’m glad you’re the most honest man I’ve ever met, Matisse,” Esme says.

“You know that I would do anything for you, my love,” I say before giving her a kiss.

My parents trained me to be an infiltrator for the Wolves. We knew that Esme’s father was a charitable man whose heart broke when he saw a child suffering so we used that to our advantage and he adopted me for a time. While I pretended to be his son, I couldn’t help but warm up to his genuine kindness and generosity especially when he helped me up whenever I fell or felt the sad effects of being away from my family. Esme had a big part in turning me over to not divulge her family’s secrets especially since they didn’t have any dirty secrets that the Wolves could utilize against them. I felt guilty for having ulterior motives for being in the family and admitted them first to Esme then her father.

Her father didn’t seem mad or surprised at this. In fact, he seemed to have known about it since he knew that my family were Wolves and wouldn’t just lose their son. We arranged a meeting with them and pretended that I was leading him into a trap. Esme’s father and her mother talked to my parents about using me as a spy and his kindness touched their hearts once they realized how much they missed me and how much of a mistake it was to use me as a spy at such a young age. Unfortunately, the other Wolves and Ravens didn’t know about the events that happened during this meeting and fought each other thinking they were defending their own.

My parents and Esme’s family haven’t been found since, but we both hope that they’re still alive out there. We kept secretly meeting each other and are only now together for real after I joined the Wolves’ assault on her home for the excuse of “getting revenge” for my family and erasing her along with her allies’ influence from France as a whole. I tried to make plans that didn’t involve the destruction of her home along with everything in it, but the Wolves had other ideas. The revolution has taken the lives of many and the Wolves would like nothing more than to punish those they see as guilty or sympathizers for it despite their own plans to make a new France from the ashes of this one.

“The king will soon be in the custody of the people and the date of his execution will soon be decided,” a newsman says.

Many of the poor jump for joy and cheer their revolutionary chants at the sound of this. What madness it is that people would cheer at the death even at the death of their enemies. God have mercy on us.

A group of cloaked figures makes their way through the crowd while saying, “Make way, make way! We’re looking for traitors of the revolution!” Block off every entrance and deny every guard entrance to this district. They must not escape.”

“Matisse, those are Ravens,” Esme says.

“So, they’re after us too. Why not?” I say.

I take a bag of money out of my pocket, cut it open, and throw it into the air. This attracts the attention of everyone in the area and gives us the cover we need to get closer to where we need to go until one poor woman covered in blood comes to us asking for help.

She explains that, “They beat me and took my brother away because he didn’t want to participate in the riots. They’re going to torture him and pin him to a wall as an example to scare everyone else who won’t do as they say.”

Esme looks at me. Why do you have to give me that look?

“We’ll help you. Lead us to where they took your brother,” I say.

The woman leads us away to a horrific scene where a man is nailed to a wall with most of his skin off his body.

“Oh no! We’re too late! I’m so sorry,” Esme says.

“I’m sorry that I couldn’t get my brother to stay on our side,” the woman says.

“What?”

“He betrayed the cause of the Ravens, the cause of freedom for all mankind just as you did, Esme. Get her!”

I draw my pistol and sword as we’re ambushed.

Esme fires the first shot at our attackers as she draws her pistol and dagger as she says, “There’s nothing I hate more than false innocence.”

She then stabs one attacker in the chest, cuts the woman’s throat, then uses her gun to shoot another attacker. I, on the other hand, kill one of the attackers by countering their attack stabbing them in the back, stabbing another in the chest then disarm another and put my knife to his throat and pistol to his head.

“Tell your friends that we cannot be so easily manipulated and that we just want to be left alone. We’re cutting ties to both the Ravens and the Wolves,” I say.

“Telling them that won’t save your life. You both know too much as skilled members of your respective orders. Who’s to say that you won’t start your own order that’s in opposition to both Ravens and Wolves or expose us to the public? The resources it would take to erase our public identity is too great.”

Now that I have a better look at the man’s face, I realize that it’s someone that I've seen when I was in Esme’s family. “Wait, I recognize you. “

“What does that matter?”

“You’re a Catholic like us, man. Show some mercy and trust in us or at least remember that we used to talk to each other like friends.”

“The Church has abandoned us in favor of the government. The Ravens and their ideology are the only true one and those who betray it betray everything that is good in the world.”

I knock the man out with the end of my pistol since he won’t serve any use to us. We then head out of the city and come to the river where I have a boat waiting for us, however, the Wolves are also waiting for us with their weapons drawn.

We draw our weapons as well as I say, “Will you people just let us go already? We swear that we only want to live in peace! We won’t interfere in the affairs of your secret war with the Ravens.”

“No, because you still hurt our cause and everyone it helps by your betrayal and inaction. Every single person who doesn’t help us is against us whether they intentionally know it or not,” a Wolf responds.

“That isn’t true. You can’t get everyone to act in a way that benefits you and we have to accept that. Trust me when I say that I wish every neighbor could be a friend and that everyone’s mind could easily change, but people don’t work that way.”

“At least you still have part of the Wolf mindset.”

“It’s the Catholic mindset. The truth I follow and the God I worship isn’t dictated by a group of people that change their fundamental beliefs every century.”

“The Wolves aren’t vulnerable to corruptible clergy and nonpracticing laity like how the church is. Our beliefs are beyond mere religion and politics. It is pure truth.”

“We could say the same about our beliefs,” a person says as they arrive with a group of people who are presumably Ravens. “The human spirit yearns to be free and to do what it knows to be right. Therefore, the Ravens attract people from all religions and ideologies and it will unite all of humanity for a brighter future.”

“You’re both putting the ideology of your beliefs where God should be! It is not human ideology that will save humanity, but-” I say as the two begin to argue.

It’s no use talking to them. In fact, it’s better that I don’t get involved since they begin to fight each other, which gives Esme and me the distraction we need to get on our boat and row down the river to safety.

“I fear for the safety of the world with the Ravens and the Wolves manipulating it behind the scenes,” Esme says.

“Don’t worry about that. You know as well as I that they won’t control everything. No singular group can except for those in Heaven,” I say.

“That’s true. I just pray that they change one day.”

“They will just like every ideology that isn’t rooted in eternal truth. What the Wolves and Ravens fail to realize is that the common people can make the world a better place simply by living good and loving lives as God intends. Let’s not fall into the same trap they did and let’s live this way together.”

“Is this your way of asking me to marry you?”

“Well, yes. We are going to be living together for the rest of our lives, aren’t we?”

“Where’s my ring then? You can’t marry a lady like me without a ring?” she says in a joking voice.

“Here,” I say while showing her the ring I got earlier.

“You got my father’s ring!”

“He did say that I could marry you with it.”

Esme and I kiss before heading off to a dock in a small town. We pay to get on the ship and sail off to wherever this ship will take us. The captain notices the ring on Esme’s finger and gives us a small celebration on the deck. It’s nice that we get this after going through so much. I only pray that our parents see this from wherever they are. Perhaps, we may even find them where we’re going. Whatever the case is. I’m satisfied with where my life is. I don’t need to be in control of everything and everyone around me like the Ravens, Wolves, and those who want everyone to think like they do. I only need my God and my loving wife. What else could I possibly need to make me happier than I already am?

Way of the Wolf and the Raven: Story 4 – Righteous Lawbreakers

Story 4 – Righteous Lawbreakers

We unleash the fury of our guns and cannons onto the unexpecting British soldiers below us and within minutes, an entire platoon of them are dead. My company cheers in excitement and plan to celebrate, however, I know that they’ll come back with more so I start making plans for new defenses, counter attacks, and ways to hurt them on their own turf.

“Come on and relax a little. Vincent!” someone says behind me.

“Yes?” I say while still concentrating on my plans.

“Stop fiddling with those plans and celebrate our victory! You deserve it the most out of all of us for doing most of the planning. Leave the planning to the Revolutionaries.”

“They’re too busy dealing with the British in the main colonies. We need to fend for ourselves so that they have less to deal with. Besides, this is our land. I don’t plan on joining that union of states I heard they’re planning on making. I’m tired of being under monarchies and the persecution of heretics that make themselves the authority on scripture and tradition.”

“I hear you. I’m just saying that you shouldn’t worry as much.”

A shot rings out and hits someone in our group. Before we know it, we’re surrounding and our homes and farms behind us are on fire. Everything is a blur after that as I try to fight off our enemies while trying to save everyone I can and failing at every attempt. A burning house almost collapses on me after I useless try to save a family that was burning alive. Eventually, I somehow make it out of the area and rest underneath a tree. What’s even stranger is that I have minor cuts and burns on me as if I never put myself on the line for my people.

I’ll need the help of the colonies or at least help them first before they can help me to get my land back, but then they’ll probably want to take it for themselves or have some kind of compensation for taking it back for me. It’s either that or I submit to the British. I’m not sure what’s worse at this point. Ah! Someone almost shot me! Must be a British soldier who found me. We both exchange fire until it sounds like we both run out of ammo. My pistol does have one shot in it, but I want to save it for later and make the enemy think I’m out of ammo.

“How about we talk about this? You let me go and I disappear never to be seen again. It’ll make this easier for the both of us,” I suggest.

“I’m here for you so there’s no letting you go,” a man says.

“Here for me? What did I do?”

“You were the one who fired the first shot at the riot at Boston and also participated and organized the tea mess at the harbor.”

“I didn’t fire the first shot at the massacre though I am guilty of throwing overly expensive tea into the harbor, but why are you all the way out here instead of going after the others guilty of the same thing in the main colonies?”

“Don’t act like you know the reason, Raven. You and your kind have started a revolution that will only end in the bloodshed.”

“Oh, a Wolf. You’re far from your masters across the sea, aren’t you?”

“What? The Wolves are no friend of the crown. We merely tolerate them. We could’ve put the right people in power that would’ve given the colonies their independence if you didn’t mess up everything up.”

“Try telling a family who’s struggling to feed their children and a man whose life is being crushed underneath the weight of taxes to wait for something that they don’t know about it or know if it’s really for their own good.”

“As if you understand what that’s like. We know that you’re from a wealthy British family. It’s no wonder how you were able to get land, the tools and materials you needed to build a small town here, and the weapons to defend it with.”

“And what are you some poor homeless man I didn’t give money to on the street?”

“I probably was.”

“I thought the Wolves only recruited those in power.”

I hear someone running up to me and manage to block their attack with my sword. We then cross swords and duel it out.

“We’re not like the Ravens that just kill and force their own into positions of power like what you’re doing in the colonies.”

“And the Wolves don’t do the same? Don’t make me laugh.”

“They brought my family out of poverty!”

“They also put others into poverty or worse. Why do you think I’m here and joined the Ravens? At least they know the struggles the average citizen goes through and will let you live in peace without restraining you to the group.”

“The Wolves don’t restrain me. They gave me my own land in this new world for my family. The only thing I have to do is show everyone I come across the same kindness that the Wolves showed me. I can take whatever mission I want and I took this one so this new land can be at peace for my family and those who call it home.”

“It’s the same thing for the Ravens. We want to protect this land and the freedom it offers just as much as you. If you truly want peace, then stop this fighting, and let’s reach an understanding. We can make something out of this mess of a revolution by making the Wolves and Ravens come together and make a better future here.” I get some distance from the man before holding out my hand. “Deal?”

“Do you really think the largest empire in the world will just let us be when we’ve taken their land in this new world?”

“We can make them understand.”

The man seems to be curious about me and slightly lowers his sword. Come on and shake my hand. It’s getting tired from holding it out so long.

“Fine,” the man says as he shakes my hand.

“Thank you. Once the revolution ends, we can fight over the rules of the land.”

I really didn’t think that would work.

“We already have members in the colonial government as a backup. The Wolves will have our way in the end.”

“We’ll see.”

“What? Do you think the country will become a mix of a republic or a democracy like they’re planning? That won’t work out for you because the ones who solidify their place in the land will determine its direction.”

“You’re acting as if the Ravens aren’t doing that as well. I know most of the revolutionaries are Ravens or at least sympathetic to our cause.”

“Really? Name them.”

“If I did, then you would tell your Wolf buddies. Now, come on. Let’s get out of here. I’m tired and those British soldiers that attacked my home must still be around here. What’s your name?”

“Alden.”

“The name’s Vincent. A pleasure to meet you.”

“Sure.”

Vincent and I argue about whose group and way of living is better all the way to the nearest town. I’m not sure which is more painful. My minor wounds or the ear pain that he gives me. I even collapse to the ground and pretend to be in pain.

“What’s wrong?” he asks as if he’s actually concerned.

“It’s nothing. Actually, your constant inane arguments are starting to take their toll on me. I’m not sure if I can make it.” Ah! He kicked me! “What was that for?”

“Idiot.”

We make it to a doctor who treats my wounds and tells me to rest for the day. Strangely enough, the doctor doesn’t ask why I was injured, but I guess people are more concerned about the revolution ending and being free here rather than other people’s business. Alden and I rest in our own rooms in an inn and decide to plan on what to do next tomorrow morning. A noise in the night wakes me up. Listening closer, it sounds like the screaming of a woman. I grab my sword, rifle, and pistol and follow the sound of the noise to find some British soldiers, a couple dead bodies, and a few colonists all of which have blood on them.

“What’s going on here?!” I ask with my pistol drawn.

“These redcoats came here and wanted to take over this house. They killed these people who were just trying to defend their home,” a colonist says.

“That’s not true! We’re defectors that are trying to warn this town about the approaching threat of soldiers that were sent here to take the revolutionary army by surprise. You must prepare and be ready! They’ll be here in a few days!” a British soldier explains.

“Don’t listen to them! We should just ignore their lies and kill them for their crimes!”

“Please you must listen to us! Here. We’ll drop our weapons to prove our intentions.” The soldier drops his weapon while the others hesitate to do so. “Do it, boys!”

The rest of the soldiers drop their weapons and hold up their hands.

“I believe them. So, how did these people die then?” I ask.

“They died defending their home!” a colonist says.

“They did. They didn’t believe us and we had to defend ourselves,” a British soldier admits.

“Then give them a proper burial. We have preparations to make tomorrow.”

“But these British-”

“These British are risking their lives to save ours. Now, do as I say and leave them alone. Apologize too if you have any humanity in you.”

I leave the scene and go back to the inn and immediately fall asleep, but it feels like the night instantly switched to the morning because I’m waken up by a ruckus outside. What is this now? Did the British leave this town because it was so noisy? Going outside, I find a crowd gathered around an execution area where the British soldiers from yesterday are about to be hung. They’re being accused by the same people of yesterday of false charges. Damn idiots. I force my way through the crowd, draw my pistol, and point it at them.

“What is going on here?! I thought I told you to these men alone!” I say.

“Back away, crown sympathizer, or would you sacrifice your life for these men because you believe they’re innocent?” one of the colonists says while I’m surrounded by men with swords in their hands.

With a single shot of my pistol, I free the soldiers by shooting the part of the noose that’s connected to the top beam. I then pull out my sword before being surprised to find Alden by my side with his sword and pistol drawn.

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

“You didn’t think I wouldn’t about what happened last night or what’s happening now? People like you need me to take you out of messes that you started,” he answers.

We then fight and kill the colonists before we face the crowd who yell at us for what we’ve done.

“Listen to me! These men are innocent! They came here to warn us about a British force coming this way! You have to listen! Quiet down!” I say before Alden shoots his pistol into the air.

As the crowd quiets down, he says, “Let the man speak! What are you, the royal courts?”

“We decide what’s right and wrong around here and, in this day and age, the British are not allowed on our land!” one woman says.

“This is our land and we won’t let anyone tell us what to do,” another says.

“What are you all, gods? You can’t decide what’s right or wrong,” I say.

“Why not? The royals and the clergy do it all the time!” a man says.

“They may decide the laws and the rules in their respective fields but they do not decide what is right or wrong either. No human can. The times do not decide it either.”

“Aren’t you deciding it by telling us what to think?” one colonist points out.

“I’m not. I’m telling you the truth. If there isn’t anything that’s always definitively true, then you end up in situations like this where you’ll hang innocent men because you’re biased against them or you get tyrants like those in the British empire that thinks they can do whatever they want to the colonies just because they own them. You’re no different than them if you impose your false truth on others and do so for whatever excuses you have. The sun doesn’t become the moon on a Sunday, men don’t become women in July, and God doesn’t become the devil in the summer. If you understand what I’m saying, then you know that we do not decide what is true and what is right and wrong. We can only find the truth and live by it and when we do this, we are truly free.

That is why we’re breaking the laws imposed upon us by the empire. We’re taking back the God-given freedom that’s due to us. These men tell us that the British are coming to deprive us of what is rightfully ours. Shouldn’t we take up our arms and fight? Isn’t your freedom the reason why we broke away from the empire or did you come out here to live like degenerates like run away children? Stand with me against those who would oppress us and protect what is yours!”

The crowd cheers for me and starts to organize themselves.

“Vincent,” Alten says.

“What? Something wrong with my speech?”

“No. It’s just that if you’d say something like that earlier to the crowds that you lead and to me when we fought then the Wolves wouldn’t have tried to come after you.”

I turn to the soldiers, “How much time do we have?”

“A couple days at best,” a soldier says.

“That’s fine.”

“Really?”

“No, not really but it’s better than it being tomorrow.” I turn back to Alten and say, “Tell your allies what I said and bring as many as you can. I’ll do the same and plan out how to defend this town from there.”

Alten agrees to do this and we get our allies and all the guns and cannons that we can get. When we come together, our allies are wary of being together.

“This has to be a rare sight. Ravens and Wolves working together for a common cause that will create a home in a new world,” I say.

“It’ll probably be the only time in history that this will happen,” Alten points out.

“Then let’s make this battle look like it. For freedom! For truth! For all that is good in the world, we will have victory!” I say as the town yells in one battle cry.

The town, Ravens, and Wolves get into their positions as we eagerly await the British, and eventually, they come right where we want them to be. They fall into our traps as group after group falls to cannon fire and barrages of gunfire. Once larger forces arrive, we retreat into the town and use the buildings, corners, and stacks of boxes and wagons as cover. Again, just like the battle that destroyed my home, this one becomes a blur of fighting, death, and loss. The strangest things that I remember seeing are Ravens and Wolves, strangers and enemies sacrificing themselves for one another. I think I even saw Alten trying to save me, so it must’ve been a delusion.

By the end of the battle, the town lays in burning ruins along with its townsfolk with the only people left standing are a few Wolves, Ravens, and a single British soldier that told us about this attack.

“Finally…victory,” Alten says as he sits beside me.

He’s all burned and banged up like I was. Like I am now that look at myself. The pain of the battle kicks in as I find it a little hard to move.

“We just secured the independence of the colonies, but no one will remember it. Most of everyone who witnessed it are dead or half dead and it’s going to take a while to get to the next settlement,” I say.

“That’s fine with me.”

“That’s fine with me too as long as the colonies decide not to fight each other.”

“You know they eventually will like how the Ravens and Wolves will go back to fighting each other after this.”

“Yeah, here. Let me throw the first punch.” I give Alten a little push on the chest with my fist and he has the nerve to return it with an actual punch in my gut. “Are you never not going to kick me when I’m down?”

“It was a punch this time. Besides, the real battle between us is ideological, not physical.”

“Okay, then here’s an ideological first punch. Wolves is a dumb name to go by because we Ravens mock you by calling you dogs or mutts. You guys can’t come up with anything that mocks us in the same way. What are you going to call us? Birds?”

“How about fowl or chickens?”

“Fowl is a good one. I never thought of that to be honest with you.”

“Haha, you’re a moron.”

“Come on now, you have to come up with an insulting bird name for the Ravens. It’ll greatly help you mutts in your ideological war with us. Don’t you know that name calling is a powerful tool?”

We then start our long journey to the nearest settlement joking and talking as if we were all friends. Seeing this makes me believe that the colonies will have a bright future. No, I do believe it. The Ravens and Wolves will guide the people here to make it better than anything in Europe, Britain, and the entire world.

Way of the Wolf and the Raven: Story 3 – Peace Through Lawful Force

Story 3 – Peace Through Lawful Force

“This is a beautiful view,” one of my allies says.

“It is and I hope the food is just as good. You all deserve the very best,” I say.

My friends, family, and I enjoy the view that a restaurant on the side of a mountain that isn’t too far from my house that sits at the top. The best musicians I could find play their music and the children play in the view of their parents while also being far enough away so they don’t bother them as they eat. Moments like these and giving them to people is what I live for.

“How’s life? How’s the family?” I ask a friend.

“Good as always thanks to you. I am glad that you brought the Ravens here as an olive branch. This meeting of Wolves and Ravens will be the first step in establishing peace in this country,” she answers back.

“Yes, and there’s nothing that I want more than peace for my people. Speaking of which,” I say as I ding the celebration bell to get everyone’s attention, “I hope you are enjoying the best fruits of my home. To ensure the constant quality of these fruits, I think it would be best to get down to business. Do not worry because this will not take long. We did come here to make peace after all.

Our country is in a state of chaos. One side is from a foreign power that wishes to instate its ways into us while another destroys us from the inside. The Wolves came to me promising to protect our traditional values while also improving them while the Ravens promised to give the people more freedoms and to improve the country saying that the mistakes of the past should give way to the solutions of the future. I sided with the Wolves for a time but now look at us eating and enjoying each other’s company. To be honest, the Wolves and Ravens should’ve been working together since you both seem to have the same goals, which is the destruction of my home.”

Everyone in the party seem to be shocked by what I said except for my guards. Good.

“What are you talking about, Farron?” one of the Wolves says.

“I thought we were here to talk about peace,” a Raven points out.

“We are here to talk about peace,” I confirm, “My terms are this. Take your forces out of my country or face immediate punishment. I will not have your age old war corrupting my country as it has the others. We’ve resisted your influence for generations and we will continue to do so.”

“How can you do this to us? What about the help we’ve given you?” a Wolf mentions.

“Your help was a debt that I had to repay. My country doesn’t need you just because it is no longer a poor one compared to the others. Now, there will be no more arguments. Make your decision.”

“Farron, you cannot-”

I take my pistol out and shoot it into the air. Everyone appears to be startled, but they do not move.

“Guards!” I say as my numerous loyal guards surround me, “Take these people out of here. Do not hesitate to shoot anyone who resists.”

My guards do as I say and I watch as they escort everyone in the party out. I watch from my mountain as they leave not to make sure that they do leave, but because part of me doesn’t want to let them go. Among them are family and friends that I spent many precious moments with. If they change their ways, I will run to them to welcome them back into my home. For the next week, the houses on the mountain lie empty without residents or anyone to take care of them. They are home to nothing more than dust and the shadows of old memories. Passing by them is like is passing by a graveyard or an old, abandoned town that was once illustrious and is now in ruin.

I pray that one day my loved ones come back and that my nation may know peace, but criminals begin to start trouble in it and I go out to meet them in person. Weaker leaders sit behind their gates and desks to give out orders while I go out to personally punish criminals wherever I can while my police force takes care of the rest. Right now, I must attend to my parish that is facing a protest. Here, I find heretics defacing the church with rotten food and paint while the church’s parishioners defend it with the police. To my surprise, my appearance doesn’t stop the riots though it does at least comfort my allies to an extent.

“Sir, you must go back home or at least someplace safe,” an officer says.

“If I cannot stand up for my God and the people He sent me to protect, then I am worse than scum,” I say as I stand in front of the crowd that’s defending the church.

As I stand in defense of who I love, I get rotten fruit and glass bottles at me some of which are already broken. I then take my pistol out which prompts the police and the parishioners behind me to take out their guns as well. This prompts our enemies in front of us to take out their weapons, but they at least fall silent.

“Just as I thought. You animals will only be quiet with a show of force,” I say.

“We’re the animals? You worship humans, give generous amounts of wealth to the whore of Babylon, and enforce her laws upon us,” one of them says as they all begin to speak up.

“You’re a faithless man!”

“You don’t know what true faith is!”

“You’re a slave to religion and priests!”

“You accuse me of all these things and yet you deface statues of God, His holy Mother, and the saints that dedicated their lives to bringing the true faith to this country,” I counter, “You are free to leave and go to other countries where your heresies and heathenistic ways are welcomed, but here, the true faith sits at its rightful place as the only accepted religion as it is in Heaven. Either leave us alone, repent and be welcomed back, or continue this violent display of your wretchedness and face the consequences.”

The crowd becomes riled up again and starts pushing against us. We protect ourselves and fire into the crowd before they have a chance to shoot first. My police force is trained to handle these kinds of crowds and kill only a few while injuring most of them. They prioritize those who have guns while ignoring those who run away in fear.

One of the injured rioters says, “How could you kill those innocent people you monster?!”

“Innocent people don’t attack their fellow citizens to get what they want,” I answer.

My police force cleans up the bodies and arrests those who remain while my citizens shower me with praise for my actions and being here. Praise I do not deserve.

“Sir! You must go back to the main command base. Your judgment is needed there. There are also more riots and terrorists attacking our people all throughout the country according to what we hear on the radio,” an officer says.

“All this happening at once can’t be a coincidence. Damn Ravens and Wolves. I know they’re behind this,” I say. The Ravens and Wolves have started revolutions and wars that have toppled countries and started new ones. There’s no doubt in my mind now that they’re behind this. “I trust my police and military to do the right thing. Tell them that. I’ll go back to the base to see what’s happening.”

I cross myself in front of the church and make a silent prayer as I ask for strength before heading to the base. Once I arrive there, I find one of my generals tied up along with an officer and his wife standing by him.

“What’s going on here?” I ask one of the senior officers.

“This general forced this officer to give him his son for the general’s personal pleasures to put it lightly. This happened in secret and I didn’t know about it until the boy killed himself and the wife told me all about it,” the senior officer explains.

“How did the general force you to give up your son?” I ask the father.

“He said that he would cut my pay and even have me fired if I didn’t do as he asked,” the father answers.

“Are you the only one he did this to?”

“Yes, since he had a particular eye for my boy since he more beautiful than handsome.”

“I see.”

“Do I not get to defend myself?” the general asks, “The boy and I loved each other like a husband and wife. I do not know why he killed himself.”

“You piece of trash! I should-” the wife says before I stop her and give her my pistol.

“His punishment falls to you.”

“Thank you, sir,” she says before shooting him.

“Thank you so much! That man was evil to the core,” the father says.

I then take the pistol from the wife and shoot the husband as well. Everyone is shocked by what I did, but the wife isn’t as upset as I expected her to be.

“You’re a failure of a father because you gave up your son to him. Your son’s blood is on your soul just as much as his.” I turn to address everyone in the base. “If anyone else is going through similar trials or knows of it, bring it immediately to the attention of your superiors or myself. Root out everyone in our ranks who take advantage of children and their families so I can personally execute justice on them.”

“Sir, yes sir,” my soldiers respond in unison.

From the command base, I listen in to what is happening and coordinate my forces. So far, my police and military are taking care of the riots and terrorists with civilians even taking care of some of the situations by themselves before official help can arrive. Everything appears to be going well until a certain report comes in of escaping criminals that sound like they could be people that I know. I go out by myself and hope that those that I knew did as I asked and left the country. When I arrive at the place of their last sighting, I find the remnants of a battle with the bodies of civilians and police littering the streets.

“Is this what you call bringing peace to this country?!” I yell while knowing that my enemy will hear me, “You brought foreign policies, goods, faiths, and people from countries you considered better, but it was all fool’s gold.”

“It was real gold and truth, Farron!” a familiar voice says as they bring another friend from the wreckage of this massacre.

Both of them are injured and in sorry states.

“Are you blind to what is around you?”

“Are you? If you had followed our plan, then none of this would’ve happened. You swore an oath to be a Wolf.”

“I am no Wolf and I am no Raven. I am Farron, slave to my God, servant of my country, and protector of my home. You have one last chance to leave.”

“Even if we do, the other nations will attack you for its resources and land or because you look like a tyrant from our perspective.”

“Then let them come before I come for them first.”

The two people that I used to know then walk away. When I go back to the command base, I hear that the situation in the country has calmed down, but I also hear that the other countries will be sending troops to take me out of power. Every history book in the world will call me a murderer, a tyrant, and worse. I do not care about them because I know that I’m doing the right thing.

To rally my people against our enemies, I arrange a public speech where I say, “Those who wish to destroy us and force us to accept their values and ways of life surround us on all sides, but they will not overtake us! Even though we have the world against us, we have God, all of Heaven, and each other. None can stand our might and virtue! None will be left to fight against us! Stand with me and together will be victorious!”

My people cheer in righteous excitement. I am glad to see their confidence in me and willingness to fight. My very home and people are at stake and I will give my life and everything I must to protect it even if that means becoming a villain to the rest of the world.

Way of the Wolf and the Raven: Story 2 – Unifying Truth

Story 2 – Unifying Truth

These days are days of lies and manipulation, unfaithfulness and secularism, subjectivity and materialism. The great nations of the world wage war with one another unofficially behind closed doors while their citizens slave away in corporations that pay them a less than honest wage. There’s only one solution to this problem and this solution is one that brings people together and is the foundation of my faith. This solution is the truth. By learning more about each other and focusing on living the truth, I believe we will all come together and put our petty feelings of hatred for one another aside.

I have been with a secret organization known as the Ravens ever since I was a teenage boy in seminary. The Ravens seek the truth, understand it, and bring others to it by fighting for the freedom to find it and express it in all countries across the world. We foster understanding where there is hatred and promote peace where there is violence. As a priest of the Catholic faith, I try to become like my God and spread the truth no matter the cost. I publicly stand up to the corruption within my country despite the police force that they send against my peaceful protests. Many whom I’ve led have been injured and even tragically killed. I offer up my penances for them and for my enemies who hate us in the hope of us all eventually reaching Heaven.

After one mass, I sit at my desk in my office of my parish’s convent to get some paperwork done. I have plans today to meet up with fellow Ravens to make sure that they’re doing their fair share. Nothing is worse than having friends that act like enemies behind your back. It is then that I hear the sound of what sounds like a scream. I carefully go to investigate it and get startled by the dead body of a nun who works with me here that gets thrown at me. Her throat is slit while her eyes and mouth are wide open as she died in a terrified state. Before I even have a moment to mourn her death, I almost get a knife shoved into my throat from a masked man in the darkness that I thankfully manage to stop by grabbing the hands of my assailant before the knife stabs me. It’s a shame that I had to drop the nun’s body to the side so carelessly to save my life. So, he’s an assassin. What a pitiable profession.

“Who are you?!” I ask.

I quickly take out my knife and stab the assassin who backs off. Taking advantage of this, I stab their hand before they can attack me again then kick them to the ground.

Putting my knife to his throat, I ask again, “Who are you?!”

“It doesn’t matter. More Wolves will come for you and yours for your crimes,” the man answers.

“Crimes? I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Maybe not against your God, but you have against this country. The ideology that you’re poisoning the people with is tearing us apart.”

“It is the warring secular ideologies that are tearing the country and the world apart. If you will not say, who you are then tell me who sent you.”

“I won’t say anything. You might as well kill me.”

I punch the man to knock him out.

“No, I’ll spare you.”

I feel like I should’ve killed him especially since he killed my assistant, however, he could tell me something valuable later. For now, I call the other Ravens and inform them of what happened. They help find a place to bury my assistant without letting my parish know and bring the assassin in to one of our locations for questioning.

He wakes up, struggles for a bit to free himself, then says to me, “Why did you spare me? I killed your scout and was trying to kill you.”

“You knew that she gathered information for me, so that must mean you’re a Wolf and not just a pawn from the capitalist or communist party,” I deduce, “Am I correct in my assumption?”

“It’s a lucky guess. Tch. I slipped because of my surprise. You won’t get anything else from me.”

“If you say so. Are you hungry? Thirsty maybe?”

“You can’t bribe me to get me to talk.”

“It’s not a bribe. It’s an honest question.”

The man’s eyes open as he realizes that I’m honest. He tells me what I want, I bring it to him, and feed him and give him his drinks myself.

“Tell me about yourself. My name is Arne.”

“Nobin.”

“Ah, a name that means-”

“None of your business.”

“It isn’t but I’d still like to know. Don’t think that I’m trying to get more information out of you that would help me find the person who sent you. My fellow Ravens are close to finding the leader of the group of Wolves that have been harassing us by cross referencing the information we have from my scouts.”

“You’re a more valuable target than I thought if you’re coordinating the Ravens to strike at prominent Wolves.”

“Me? Not at all. I’m a poor soldier of Christ at best and fool who’s over his head at worst if anything.”

“You’re right about that over your head part. If it’s true that you’re no leader, then what are you doing leading protests and the local group of Ravens?”

“I’m just doing what I think God wants me to do. Besides, the other Ravens are caught up in the primary political conflict with the Wolves.”

“That’s what I don’t get about all this. Some of our own have even switched sides besides they don’t agree with our politics and allegiances to our country.”

“That is why I’m trying to unite both Ravens and Wolves, communists and capitalists, foreigner and natives with one another through the truth.”

“Why would people be brought together by it when people will just believe whatever they want to?”

“Think about what you learned when you were younger. That knowledge gave you the freedom to decide where to take your life next.”

“But the truth of your beliefs constricts.”

“We all constrict ourselves when we settle on our beliefs. For example, an atheist will constrict themselves from believing in God and doing things that God would approve of since the atheist has made himself god. Truth is more accurately a guide that prevents us from falling into the slavery of falsehood. Has not the truth of your life guided you to where you are now and prevented you from falling into where you didn’t want to go?”

“If this is what we’re going to talk about, then I might as well not hold back anything I know. Besides, the other Wolves will consider me dead at this point.”

Nobin and I talk for a good few hours about his past, how he became a wolf, and what his goals in life are while I share the same. We laugh and eventually take off his restraints so that he could feel more comfortable. A sudden explosion above us shakes the celling interrupting our conversation.

One of the Ravens comes down with pistols that he gives me and says, “The Wolves have found us! I called for reinforcements but it will be a while before they get here.”

“I told you that the Wolves will consider me dead,” Nobin says, “That includes getting rid of my body as well. It’s a part of how we keep our deeds and the identities of our deceased secret so they can’t be linked to us.”

“How did they know you were here?” I ask.

“Some kind of experimental tracking chip that put in my leg. To be honest, I didn’t think it was a real thing and it was just part of the initiation process.”

“Here, take this,” I say as I hand him one of the pistols.

“You trust me with this?”

“If I’m wrong, then God will prove me a fool now get ready!”

I fight alongside my fellow Ravens and Nobin with our backs against the wall. At the end of it, both the Wolves and Ravens lie dead except for Nobin and me. Another explosion blows a hole in the ceiling. I tackle Nobin out of the way of the falling debris then shoot the remaining Wolves with him. Our backup Ravens arrive shortly after and secure the area.

“Thank you for saving me. I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve been causing you,” Nobin says.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s not your fault,” I say.

“No, it’s this chip’s fault. Let’s get it out before more Wolves appear.”

A Raven who is knowledgeable in the medical field and takes care of the poor in the area who can’t afford to go to hospitals gets rid of the chip in Nobin’s leg and we destroy it.

After that, Nobin says, “I’m sorry for all this. Not just this, but also killing your assistant. If I had known that the rumors were true about you risking your life to save your enemies, then I would’ve…”

“I accept your apology. I can also hear your confession if you truly wish to be free of your sins.”

“I’m not Catholic though.”

“Okay, but you will be in time if you follow the truth to where it leads. It might be a slow process; however, I believe you will get there.”

“Are you fighting for the truth just so people can become Catholic?”

“What they choose is what they choose. I can only pray for them and try to change their mind with my actions and words, but I will not force anyone to become Catholic just because I know it to be correct. If I did, then I’d be a hypocrite and just like the enemies I fight against.”

“Father,” one of the Ravens says, “We know who the leader of this group of Wolves is. We’ve cross referenced the information we’ve gathered plus the new information by our informants in addition to the identity of these Wolves that attacked us give away his identity.”

“Do we know where he is?”

“Our informants do.”

“Then take me there now. It’s about time that we ended this.”

“I’ll come too and help in whatever way I can,” Nobin says.

“You don’t have to, but if it’s what you want to do, then come along.”

The Ravens, Nobin, and I go to an abandoned warehouse where our informants say the leader of this group of Wolves is and manage to meet them there.

“We’re just going to walk up to him?” Nobin asks when I tell him and the other Ravens my plan.

“Yes. I want to try the peaceful method first by talking,” I say.

“That’s crazy. He’ll kill you.”

“And you tried to do that too, but I changed you, so maybe he’ll change as well.”

“But why didn’t you try to change those other Wolves that attacked us?”

“Because there were more than one of them. The pacifist option isn’t exactly viable when there’s a group of attackers all trying to kill you.”

Nobin looks like he’s struggling to believe me and I hope I can actually change this leader. I cross myself then approach him with my arms raised while we have the guns of him and his followers aimed at us.

“Let’s talk,” I say.

“Talk? What’s there to talk about?” the leader asks, “Wait, I know what we can talk about. Thank you for presenting yourself to me so I can kill you without having to send any more assassins after you. In another context, this would’ve been cause for worry, but this is truly a blessing, father. Now, go to your weak God.”

One of his Wolves, one of my informants, shoots his hand before he can fire. The rest of his Wolves then turn their guns on him.

“What?! How did you do this?!” he asks.

“When I invited them over to dinner. When they tried to kill me and I showed them mercy. When I showed them that we have more in common than we first thought. The Wolves and Ravens don’t have to fight. We can unite in our search for the truth and help each other.”

“It’s funny that you say we can unite in our search of truth when you really just want people to worship the same God as you.”

“I won’t force people to believe in the same things I do even though I know Catholicism to teach the truth.”

“Do you really think people will come to your truth that in a world with thousands of beliefs?”

“I do.”

“Ha! I doubt it. In a world ruled by political, racial, and religious tension, the truth doesn’t matter. People are too busy caring for their own and sticking to the beliefs that make them feel comfortable. No one will listen to you and the few that do will not help you change anything.”

“Your Wolves who’ve turned on you prove otherwise.”

“Then there’s nothing more to be said. Do as you wish. The Wolves will always hold dominion over the whole world and influence events without the public or you and the Ravens knowing.”

The man quickly takes something from his pocket, bites it, and dies of poison.

“What a shame,” I say as I cross myself for his sake.

“What should we do now, father?” one of the Wolves that turned on their leader asks.

“Join the Ravens. The Wolves will punish you severely or think you turned on them if you return to them since your leader is dead.”

“We will humbly serve then.”

Nobin approaches me and says, “I would like to join too. You might not have much use for an assassin, but I’d still like to help in any way I can.”

“Of course. You are welcome as well.”

“Oh, and my name is Elvin.”

“Can I just call you Nobin? I’ve been calling you that in my head since you said it.”

“Haha, okay. You can.”

“Then let’s embark on this new chapter of our lives together as the best of friends.”

“Wolves and Ravens working together what has this world come to?”

“It’s happened before in history. You just have to read the right history books that we Ravens have that aren’t written by the capitalist and communist propagandists.”

“It feels like it should surprise me that the history books are filled with lies, but it doesn’t. Wait, don’t the Catholic schools teach the same history?”

“They do, and I’d tear them all down myself except for the ones that raise proper Catholics. I’d also tell them about the true story of the Blood Wolf.”

“Wasn’t the Blood Wolf a dictator who killed thousands of his own people and other foreign people who threatened his rule?”

“That is a lie. He was a just and honorable man who defended his faith, family, and country.”

“Okay, now you’re going to have to explain this to me in detail.”

“I will over our celebration feast. How does that sound?”

“It sounds perfect after all we’ve been through.”