Round up the Soldiers

Wayne McCoy · 02-24-2012, 09:52 AM

[html]

but our hearts will need us to be steady and strong

so we can stand and face the fire

burning higher and higher

Word Count → 532

The last few weeks had been full of transformation, and anyone who knew the reticent cowboy would know it. Training in the mountains had brought in new strength and brought out the dormant timber wolf inside of him. The night he lay with Dixie in the starlit valley had kindled a strange kind of protection and love in his breast for the girl, feelings he’d already had that only grew far deeper when he considered what they had been through together. His normal duties in the pack had even taken on a new spin, even if it was all in his mind. Life just seemed more important now than ever, and he was determined to live every moment of it to its fullest, putting in all the time and effort he could to make sure things were right.

A howl came from the direction of the courthouse, and Wayne set down the currycomb he’d been grooming Gypsy with. He brushed his hands against each other to dislodge some of the dust from the work and tipped his hat to the mare in an apologetic way; she’d just have to stay dirty for now. Throwing the tool back in the bucket with the others, he made his way toward the courthouse to see what Jazper was calling about.

As he stepped into the torchlit hall and caught sight of the golden lady sitting at the dark alpha’s side, recognition and pleasant surprise lit up his rugged features. He offered his trainer a broad smile in greeting, though he would not interrupt the idle chat between her and the Sole. His brown eyes scanned the others as they arrived, and he went to lean against the nearest wall as he waited for Dixie to arrive.

Soon, Jazper began to speak. He introduced X’yrin to the rest of the pack, and the Labrador mongrel lifted his head a little higher as his name was mentioned—not so much out of arrogance as much as genuine, humbled pride for the pack and acknowledgment as to the Ichikan’s worth.

Mention of a loner who’d washed up on the shore was news to him, and his ears pricked with somber interest. He’d been too busy working with the horses, especially as they were free-range again following the end of the traders’ festival, to keep up with the other goings-on in the pack grounds; it was something he realized he’d have to change, balancing his social life with that of work.

The last point was that of training—and the cowboy dipped his head in agreement. Anyone could see what even a few days’ worth of training could improve if they looked at him. As the dark leader fell silent, Wayne uncharacteristically spoke up, spurred on by a deepened sense of responsibility.

“Some of y’all might worry about learnin’ to fight—but everyone has t’ remember that Casa’s a pack of warriors, a brotherhood to defend the helpless and prevent wars. Anyone can learn enough to make a diff’rence, anyway—look ’t me.” He smirked faintly, shrugging his shoulders with his arms crossed over his muscular chest. “If a simple cowpoke can defend a piece of land, y’all can.”

Wayne McCoy

Login




Remember me Lost Password?