[Pale_Horse]

Part 1

"I say, this ooze, is most impossible to rid ye self of." Says Horris, with a turned up nose. "And, this foul odor is wretched."
Zavier swings open the old wooden door. It growns loudly, as it is moved from it's natural spot of rest. Holing it open with his right hand he motions for Horris to enter first. "I will pay extra for a full basin, to bath in, if thy are able."
The room is full of chatter, and drunkards cheer. Attention is focused on a central caged pit, within are a pack of four wild dogs loosely tied to a rod in the far left wall, and middle aged male, with a rather large white wolf on the other end. This man is ragged and frail, wearing a pelt of a bear over himself. Their is an essence of wisdom and strength upon his visage. A silver mane shines like diamonds under the long dead grizzly helm.
The pack is dirty, flee infested and covered in mange. The old rope frays litlle by little by every tug the dogs make. One of them, furred in onyx salivates wildly. Its yellow teeth are like daggers, easily able to rend flesh, let alone snap bone.
In the distance, the crowd parts, making way for a towering man with long golden locks. His huge frame easily supports his sparkling Mithral armor. He raises his hands and slowly turns his body around to parade to the masses, a clever grin of perfect teeth glisten in the dimmly lit tavern. After circling back to the point of origin, he says with a hint of arrogence and a deep commanding voice.
"For crimes against our people, by your kind, my lord has sentenced thee to battle, you are to fight to the death. If by thy chance, you best these mongrols ..... which I find unlikly, you will be free to go on your way, to where ever hell, thy came from. Does thee understand my words."
"Your words are empty and meaningless, you and your 'Lord' will never destroy thy spirit. We have done no wrongs to you and your people. When thy body lies cold, my gift will be givin back to the land, and one day start anew in another. The lord ye follow is one of distrust and malice. You may release my spirit from its shell, but destroy it, this i decree, nay!"
"So say ye, replies the mammoth , which sparks a round of laughter.
Zavier gives a unpologetic glance to his follower. Horris turns his head down and closes his eyes to advert from the sight of the duel.
"One day, we will be known for the greatness of our kind, and not for the missguided deeds of one man."
A look of hatered beigns to show on his brow. A sliver of yellow shows from behind the tightly shut lids. A low deep growl begins to errupt, but is soon muffled, and calmed. It is replaced by a long sigh of shame.
"You have a gift my friend, in time you will learn not to fear it, and when that day comes, all who have wronged your people, will fear, you.
The Paladin turns sharply and strides over to the bar in the corner.
A long wooden bar old, and termite overrun, barely stands from the weight of a fat patron who is passed out in his own regergatated meal. Behind it a man who is no stranger of combat, stands with his back to Zavier, urinating in a mug. Flies circle his hindend, but are detured by the ocassional backfire.
"I demand you set that prisoner free!" Zavier orders to the barkeep."
The bartender replies. "Now why would thee, want to do that?" as another blast fills the air. A fly drops to the ground dead.
At this same moment Horris, walks head down to the arena. Bets on just how long the druid will last are low, but a side bet on which dog will inflict the killing blow is growing in price. The black furred dog, seemingly the alpha, is in the lead with a steep twenty gold over the next of fourteen.
As if feeling the presents of another, the druid scans the masses, finally gazing into his eyes. A look of sorrow is shadowed under Horris's hooded cloak.
The prisoner wispers the words,
"Do not mourne for thee, for Tetra is with me."
A dagger cuts threw the air from the golden haired paladin direction. The dogs are loose. A small brown dog jumps threw the air attacking the white wolf. She is countered by a strong wind gust in the form of a twister. It is sent flying backwards spinning head over tail smacking hard into the metal cage wall. A deafening yelp echoes threw the tavern. Bones crack and flesh rips away along with fur. The cage wall buckles from the force, then explodes. the bitch showers the crowd with her remains. Again cheers all around, the betting becomes fierce. Knowing that the druid is now an elemental as well as summoner, patrons begin to bet on which dog will have its life ripped from him.
A halfling picks up the innards and throws them at his friends face, this starts a playful game of dodge in the stands above the pit.
The spirit wolf, is fighting for it's master, while the druid defends himself against the leader.
With no weapon, a druid is still a dangerous enemy, if not for the minions at its side then for its use of either elemental magics, or becoming a spirit of nature itself. Of course few are granted this awsome power to become such a magnificent creature, and even less are able to control its raw power and instincts to defend the very ground under our feet. For this it is both a gift and a curse.
The wolf Nanook, clamps hard on the second attacking dogs throat, severing the neck in half, a gurgle mixed with bubbles of blood popping is all that is heard. The ground becomes moist with the flowing liquid, but still it creeps across creatinga pool.
Their is a rage that starts again within Horris, but this time all causion is thrown to the wind, no worries, no cares, just utter hatered, and rage. The world turns monotoned, the cheers and hollering become distant. Darkness consumes him, willinglly he, allows it to take control for the first time since that day so long ago. Every muscle burns, his skin crawls. Bones elonggate and reset. hair sprouts in a amber hue. Its a sped up puberty, but only human no longer. Teeth become fangs, a tail forms, sences heightened, reaction is quicker, strength is overwhelming, speed to rival the strongest winds.
His gear slowly fades and blends into the fur which once was his flesh. Everyone is transfixed on the battle to notice. Horris drops to his knees racked with unforgetable pain. This time, this one is different, he feels it, the hate produeses a toxin. A toxin so strong, he can taiste it, mixing churnning like bile in its purest form. This vile thing wells up in his mouth till he no longer can contain it. It seeps out the corners of his maw, sriking the ground and eating the very wood away at his paws. This, this is rabies! Allied with a primal fury, their are few who can match, let alone survive against its power.
Zavier's magic laced gauntleted fists are holding the barkeep suspended two feet in the air. A golden aura surrounds him, granting him holy strength. Our paladin is no tiny man, but neither is he a powerhouse barbarian. Still the server of ale is suddenly over a shallow body of rank yellow water, with a dizzing smell of a stain on his cloth breaches.
"Now! Do you want to apologies for hurting thy feelings? Ye men of the holy order do not take kindly to using thy lords nam........"
A howl silences all within the tavern, shocked thinking this captured druid is a changling as well. Never has anyone seen a druid with suck a verse number of skills at hand. Then they notice, he himself, as well as the spirit wolf, are looking in a direction from where the horrid cry originated.
A golden brown blur, rips threw the poorly constructed cell. A yelp, followed by a earsplitting animal cry, lets all know that the pack of wild dogs are no longer. In their place stands a nine foot golden haired wearwolf, dripping with acidlike saliva from its huge maw.
The prisoned kindred rises to his feet bleeding profusely from the belly. From the waist down he is covered in his life. No longer having the strength the spirit vanishes. As a last line of defense a swirling wall of wind incases the elder druid.
Zavier makes ready his axe and his shield is magically blessed and enhanced. He knows combat is near. With but a thought a red glow engulfs him. His cape is thrown off, slowly catches a breeze and floats away landing on the wooden floor some ten feet behind.