Author's Note

A whole MONTH!! I did not want to update so late! Sorry guys the work I've been getting has been really distracting and energy draining, but I finished this chapter luckily, so yeah the same as the other chapters pls critique and point out any mistakes I may have missed pls

5. Progress? Part 1

A lone zebra filly who looked of ten years to observant eyes, danced around flames that glowed a brilliant emerald, a skirt made from cheetah fur being the only thing covering her, she danced with motions unknown by all outside her culture

The flames build up with her motions, incomprehensible mutterings, whispers and cries were heard from her, she turned and faced us revealing only the whites of her eyes with prominent red veins

She was no longer alone, there were others who cheered and danced with her, older, they looked older, zebra stallions and mares surround the fire and filly

Suddenly everything stops. The all stood attention, all except the filly with the frightening eyes. The fire were gone, no not gone, it moved onto the filly, consumed her but there was no burning, acting like a warm blanket instead. An aura that spoke of powers beyond mortal understanding.

A shadow loomed over the dancing filly who paid it no mind, our view turned showing the large figure of a lioness, her small chest bare, rippling muscles and a skirt of zebra fur and leather

Red and brown swirls and markings across her body, and bone piercings on her nose and ears.

But what one should focus on, is her face, a savage grin with many sharp teeth and….eyes that spoke of…ambition

• Owl ruins Caribou camp -

With a groan Dàinn woke up from his bed, his ‘bedmates’ lied at his sides, asleep from the exhausting activities of last night, he ignored them as sat up with his sheets falling past his shoulders revealing his chiselled physique that was marked with bright shining runes.

‘Is it morning already?’ He thought as he yawned and stretched, he looked down at one of his peacefully sleeping ‘pets’ and smiled fondly. Remembering his passionate night, he fondled their breasts a bit eliciting moans from their muscled fur bodies.

‘You two have earned yourselves my bed, for now’ getting off his bed by roughly squeezing himself out through the middle, earning whines of discomfort for his less than graceful actions.

He stood and went to check the outside, not caring of his full nudity, his runes glowed a dull yellow.

Opening the thick blinds of his tent he squinted his eyes from the morning rays, his vision becoming clear once more to be greeted by the many stag warriors and hunters of this camp, who were making small fires, cooking vegetables and feeding their mounts.

They were filled with energy this morning, spending it all on helping their fellow stag or on themselves with their sluts.

Dàinn couldn’t help but gaze at the imagine painted before him with pride ‘Soon this land will be guided into a true utopia’ conviction was clear in his eyes which shown a bright gold.

He's daydreaming of the Caribou’s possible future was cut short as he noticed something at the far edges of their camp, squinting his eyes to try and see the commotion, he could make out that there were stags of his camp coming his way. As they passed the surrounding stags, he notes how they looked surprised, sneered or laughed as they all looked behind the leading warriors.

This confused Dàinn before he finally noticed whom his warriors were leading. Crow soldiers being lead by a younger and well equipped crow who had an air of nobility, but that’s not what got his attention it was rather the three chained crows the soldiers brought with them: one male and two females, with one of the females being elderly – which didn’t stop some of the Caribou’s from laying their perverted gazes on her.

They looked a bit beaten up but not too badly, they too had the look of somebird of a high standing, the group lead by the stags came closer and closer to his hut, the younger male noticed him before cringing when he noticed Dàinn’s nudity.

They stopped closer to the Caribou god, whose brow rose as he gazed upon the crow group “What a pleasant surprise! Are the crows finally giving up? A wise choice!” laughed Dàinn, with his fellow stags joining in his laughter. The young crow noble sneered at him “We didn’t come here to surrender! But rather with a demand!” one of the stags that lead them was about to strike the crow “None make demands of our God!!” before he could he could act against the now weapon in claws crow soldiers, Dàinn simply raised his hand shooting a glare at the zealous stag, which stopped him as he nodded at their leader.

“Oh? And what demand would you have in mind that risks coming here with barely any means to save yourselves from us?” asked Dàinn his voice firm and commanding, the leading young crow glared at him, not noticing how nervous his soldiers were as they shuffle and twitch with their eyes rabidly darting around them, though most of the Caribou tribesmen were on the hens of their group – experiencing a much greater fear in their positions.

“Instead of wasting both of our resources on a long lasting war, I suggest an alternative, something I know someone of your position can’t deny” now this had Dàinn’s attention “What would that be?” the young crow smirked “A single duel, one to determine how this war ends” his words drew gasps from the Caribou surrounding them, murmuring and whispers ran rampant.

The only one with a straight face being Dàinn himself, the young crow continued drawing silence from the crowd much to his ego “I challenge you Dàinn! When I win you are to surrender your heads to us, and IF you win we will surrender to your kind without a fight” he lied through his beak about the last part.

Silence.

“Ha…”

“Heh…heh”

Dàinn’s muzzle scrunched up as tears started to build in his eyes.

“Hahahahahhahhahahhahahhaha!!!”

His fellow stags joined him in his laughter, the crows looked around worryingly, with the young leader seething at their reaction.

“Ooooohhhh! I never laughed that hard in these 8 years of my entire life!!” He declared, wiping the tears from his eyes, before looking at the angered anthropomorphic bird in the eyes “I accept. When will you be ready.” Was his rhetorical question, as the answer was set by him.

“Pick a spot savage! We’re fighting now!”

• Bravehoof settlement –

‘Okay that should make the las-What is she doing!?’

We’re Mannaz thoughts, immediately picking up on what the last prisoner’s intent is. With a simple crouched spin he dodged under the bears lunge causing her to pass through the door and crash in the outside snow, the cold not bothering her due to the glowing white runes Mannaz drew on her.

“BASTARD!!” She snarled as a she picked herself up, turned around to try and kill her supposed “enemy”, looking back inside the small building she saw no stag. Her mind frantic as she looked around trying to find him “That’s an odd way to thank your saviour” she heard his voice on her right, now seeing him a bit far from her with crossed arms.

‘I could’ve worded that better!’ Mannaz mentally face palmed ‘Whatever!’ “I’m not your enem-!” she charged again with claws ready to tear through him “Christ! Would you stop and listen!” he dodged and weaved through her attacks with ease, but a look of frustration can be seen on his face “DIE!!” she screamed trying harder and harder to claw him, growing more angrier at her missing hits “NEVER AGAIN! YOU’LL NEVER TORMENT ME AGAIN!” Now after a few minutes of her rampage tears flowed heavily from her eyes, her voice filled with desperation and fear as she was using up her renewed energy to attack the young stag – much to Mannaz’s concern.

Making his mind up Mannaz acted quickly, a quick burst of speed that made it look like he vanished, he appeared behind her and with a quick chop to the neck her eyes rolled to the back of her head as she was now out cold. All before she could even yelp in surprise “I can’t believe that actually works” picking her up by grabbing around her stomach, with much of her face and legs touching the ground, Mannaz ‘looked’ down at his legs and sighed.

“As much as I hate the fact that I’m going to go through puberty again, I’m still looking forward to my growth spurt if I’m lucky” he spoke to no-one.

Using he’s flight runes to hover above the ground he continued on to the large gathering of bodies he sensed at the edge of the town, the freed anthropomorphic women, before he stopped midway with a thoughtful and troubled look. A ‘glance’ at the large figure he was caring made the situation very apparent to him “I really didn’t think this through did I…” he said as he remembered the bear’s very violent reaction to him, and possibly the other women he saved could have the very same reaction ‘Now that I think about it…I didn’t show my face to any of them after freeing the slaves!!’ Mannaz wanted to punch himself in the face for this mishap.

He looked into the sunrise as his mind tried to workout a plan ‘Okay I’ll just approach them sneakily, drop off-FUCK! WHY AM I SLIPPING LIKE THIS!?’ he flew straight into where the large group is located. He sensed many bodies being dragged, all whom he thought were the more far gone slaves who’ve been broken, but there was another group and one that he mistakenly put in the same category with the first. The female caribou.

He “foresaw” their position in his unnatural and biological radar, in the very centre of the crowd of former sex slaves, a few were bleeding and bruised from the violence he NOW detected.

‘Shit!. Shit!. Shit!’ he landed in the middle of the gather amongst the cowering cows, producing violent cold winds that forced everyone to cover their eyes.

“What the-?!”

“Where did this wind come from!?”

“The caribou bitches! Don’t let them escape!”

Once things became clear they all glared into the centre of their circle with hate filled eyes, eyes that sooner turned to fear as they gazed upon the near fully armoured caribou before them, only his face was revealed his silver fur and shoulder length hair swaying in the wind. None of them paid attention to the unconscious bear next to him.

Nobody moved as they stared at the young stag, they noticed that he looked no older than twelve which helped them maintain their courage.

Slowly raising both of his arms in the air, which caused some the women here to jump or flinch, he made it seem like he surrendered drawing confusion and unquenched hate to him. He spoke.

“The Caribou of this settlement have been killed and you all have been freed from your cages” he said with a monotone voice, seeing as everyone remained frozen, with some members of the group looking ready to attack or run. Taking a deep breath “I repeat you’ve all been freed and your tormentors are dead, a chance is now before you to finally leave this damn place” he wanted to tell them that it was him who rescued them but he doubted they’d believe him.

“Not all…” was a very soft whisper that came from the middle of the circle, nobody heard her but Mannaz, he even knows which one said it among the group. “These doe” he grimaced “I mean cows, did nothing wrong to you they only followed what they were told!”

“I get it. You are all angr-“

“Shut up! You’re one of THEM!! We have no reason to listen to you!!” cried out a crow who came up to the front, vengeful eyes focused eyes on him before gazing at the scared cows he stood protectively ahead, than him again with killer intent.

Almost as if her words were a trigger nearly all the females that surrounded the inner group became enraged, murderous intent becoming clear to Mannaz, he would preferred it if it was only focused on him but that’s not the case. He cooled his expression preparing himself for the worst.

“Master save us!”/”Help me! I’ll be a good slut I promise!”/”Master Harald where are you!”

He’s cool expression immediately shattered as his face emoted like never before after hearing the many cries that came out from the cows mouths, mostly directed to him. He was disgusted, uncomfortable, angry and saddened by their pleads.

“Look at them begging like the whores they are to their masters!” the same crow women pointed out to the gathering of naked furry women “All the caribou are dead except for him and those bitches behind him, let’s fucking make it official!!” she encouraged the women, her swearing coming out as off as if she’s not used to it.

The surrounding circle of women all released battle cries as the charge, pseudo weapons, fists and claws at the ready.

Swearing under his breath, he acted quickly, in a matter of seconds he created a large rune all the way at his cave-home – marking it. Othala! Alternate! .

And just as fast created runes on his position via his fingers drawing them in the air.

Chain! - Enhanced! Kenaz! Alternate! – Laguz! Alternate! – Dagaz! alternate! (The chained runes appeared as a huge circle encapsulating the one male and many female caribou.)

A bright light consumed Mannaz and his group, no more like they were transformed into pure silver light, blinding their would be attackers and stopping them in their tracks. The light shaped into a beam that reached the skies twisting and turn before curving straight towards Mannaz’s home were the rune which acted as beacon glowed brightly.

The beam reached his home, and disappeared. No longer blinded the angry mob can only look confused and flabbergasted at the scorched ground were their enemies used to sit. All of which happened in a single second.

“….What the fu-!”

• The “young” stags humble abode –

The bright light died down revealing Mannaz and the many doe transported by his magic, the “kid” sighed while messaging his nose bridge.

“Oh this is just perfect” he sighed before focusing his senses on the group of doe he brought him, whom looked a bit shaken from essentially being warped, after they got their barring they started looking around with their attention moving from the cave entrance to now on him.

Pairs of big confused eyes stared at his closed own, before their confusion changed into happiness, lust and dog like admiration. All their reactions made Mannaz slightly uncomfortable, they continued to stare in silence for a while, the female Caribou barely moving from their position either sitting to be more comfortable or all on fours as they shook their rumps.

It took a while for Mannaz to realize what they were waiting for “Orders from him”.

“Ah geez” He cupped his muzzle in his hands, then proceeded to survey them, coming up with a good start on how he’s going to begin with taking care of them. Before he did, focusing on the caribou settlement he visited Mannaz paid close attention to the only occupants of the area and noted how they started raiding the many buildings of the area – gathering supplies, whether it be food or weapons, the clothing department was lacking as the Caribou barely wore any that didn’t only cover their crotches. He could feel their frustration. All their movements and more he gathered from his senses.

‘They’re safe that what matters now, their trauma is…something that is beyond me at the moment’ he thought ‘When they leave I’ll make sure to make their path as safe as possible’ he pointed his finger at a chubby doe with red hair, who looked sick with snot running down her nose, she jumped slightly at his sudden attention before adorning a goofy smile and running on all fours to him violently coughing as she made his way.

If it wasn’t for the runes he inscribed on her, she would’ve collapsed immediately from how sick she is, after she reached him whines could be heard from the other doe as she reached for his pants. He held her hands to stop her advance earning a look of confusion from her, before her eyes brightened up and shook her heard as if she figured out an answer to a easy question “Master! PLEASE may this slut clean your nice long cock!” she said eagerly, sniffling with her runny nose.

Mannaz blinked owlishly, before frowning “No. Stay still and don’t move your arms.” He said sternly, before a thought dawned on him ‘ Wait a minute…I’m a CHILD! The fuck!’ Cupping her face in his hands, which earned a happy squeal from her and more whines from the others, causing his brow to twitch ‘Now that I think about it I didn’t see any kids at the tribe, only adult caribou stags!’ he focused on her brain “seeing” the generational runes carved in her brain.

‘Could they’ve been moved to another location? Cause I definitely noticed smaller presences when I was still in my mother’ he pumped his magic into them overriding the runes, Thurisaz! Alternate!, a mental command from him as his rune appeared in the centre of her forehead, disrupting the runes hold and causing them to disappear entirely.

The red headed cows pupils constricted as her expression went from contempt to silent agony.

She turned around and vomited all over the rocky floor, drawing gasps from the other caribou cows.

Mannaz ignored her and focused on the group “Everyone one of you form a line to me!” They all looked to frightened to move seeing the red headed doe’s reaction as some sort of punishment for them, they started begging and pleading with promises of being better whores “Shut up! I said make a line NOW!”

They all complied with clear tears running across their furry cheeks.

A white aura surrounded the armoured caribou “child’s” body as his voice boomed with the proclamation of the Thurizas! Alternate! rune, his voice drawing the attention of the feline occupants of the cave.

The chubby doe stopped vomiting as she now stared at her shaking hand, her pupils still constricted but now reflected a new emotion in her mind: shame, a single question resonated in her head

‘Why do I feel…so…dirty…?’

• Owl ruins Caribou camp –

Dvalinn at first thought he’s son was joking when heard the news from him, he laughed thinking that the crows would really think to pull such a risky move, the female crows obviously but the males was a surprise to him.

But nevertheless Dvalinn was ecstatic to hear what was waged and how it will be resolved, did he trust the crows to honour the wager? NO! He would be a fool to trust them, luckily his son thinks the same recognizing this as a risky attempt to get close and eliminate the biggest threat – Dàinn.

But Dàinn accepted it, for even if the crows didn’t honour their words he will still receive pleasure from crushing their pride and having his way with the ‘brave’ and ‘capable’ female crows. Dvalinn happily notes that his son inherited his father’s fascination with “powerful” females. Especially the desire to conqueror them and put them in their place as they beg for their touch.

Dvalinn chuckled at the thought.

And now it was sunset, a pseudo clearing was made for the figures that stood near its centre, Caribou stags encircled them with weapons drawn to prevent anyone from leaving the fight. The other crows the young noble lord brought with him were squeezed into the circle, in their opinion its almost as if they were included in this fight ring.

“Alright Dàinn are you ready to face defeat” arrogantly announced the young adult crow, Dàinn didn’t entertain his clear disrespect of the stag’s kinghood, thus only silently stared back at the crow with cold indifference.

The crow still wore his leather and iron plated armour with his long sword in his right hand and a crossbow on the other, his leather hood covered his head, a belt that held glass bottles that were filled all kinds of fluids – glowing orange and thus is assumed to be magical.

The new king of the Caribou only wore an intricate looking loincloth, iron shoulder guard, with bone arm and leg guards. His eyes and the runes on his body glowed a brilliant gold. His weapon of choice was a large warhammer, it too had gold runes, that imbued the weapon with the power of cold and his divinity - a bluish aura was seen dancing with the gold light and a VERY noticeable layer of thick ice covered it.

Despite the arrogance the avian challenger displayed, he couldn’t help but internally admit that seeing the Caribou as he did make him falter a bit ‘Nothing but tricks, nothing but tricks, he is no god!!!’ a mantra that looped in the crows heads.

“Well if you won’t take the initiative I will!” He charged ready to decapitate the divine stag with his sword. He only got so close before Dàinn lightly swung his hammer, causing the bird’s danger senses to go wild as he opened his wings which stopped his advance, as the hammer’s swing targeted his head.

With his lost momentum he dodged by a ‘feathers’ length by narrowly turning his head, he didn’t get hit by the Caribou, but with a squawk of shock as he was blown away by its power as cold wind slammed into his head and shoulders thus putting him in an awkward kneeling position albeit forcefully.

“Well, well, well. Has the crow submitted? I have to say I’m flattered by your gesture of submission to me” Dàinn chuckled as the surrounding Caribou laughed, the stag in question spun his warhammer in one hand with such ease and speed, a message to the kneeling crow that the first attacks slow speed was done on purpose. A look of rage overcame the young crow as he stood up shakenly as the extremely cold winds of the weapon left him a bit stunned, Dàinn watched with amusement as the crow struggled to rise all of which further fuelled the birds anger.

The crow swiftly pointed his crossbow at the Caribou’s head, their close proximity wouldn’t allow an easy dodge in the crows mind, not bothering to even see his enemy’s expression to his action he fired.

And the arrow was launched and it was gone.

The crow’s eyes widened before he jumped back and once again creates some distance between them ‘What just happened I could sworn!-‘ “Are looking for this?” said Dàinn his left fingers holding the arrow by its head causing the crow and his companions to gawk, “What foul magic have yo-!” before the crow could finish the young king laughed loudly “I assure you there was no magic, you shot it and I…just caught it” now the crow had a look of disbelief ‘He caught it!? From such a short distance!!?’

Rather than deny his claim he just reloaded another bolt, stuck his sword in the ground before throwing one of his glowing bottles towards Dàinn, would didn’t bother to dodge, deflect or grab it mid air, as it impacted his frame engulfing his body in a twister of fire.

This caught the young crow by surprise, his companions(plus the prisoners/lords and ladies) and even the stags that surrounded the fight too. The bird lord expected him to dodge or even any other action to leave him open for any of his incoming attacks, arrow and sword.

“Is this really the best crow craftsmanship can produce?” a voice was heard from within the raging flames as Dàinn walked out of them: unharmed, well aside for his clothing as they were burned completely off. The stags cheered while the avian ‘guests’ had looks of horror and disbelief, Dàinn’s opponent was too shocked to even correct the stag’s uneducated remark of crow craftsmanship and alchemy being the same thing.

He couldn’t make any words at the stags survival, as all their enemies who’ve gotten hit by their burning bombs never survived, magic be damned as it burns magic too! A reliable tool to many crows, originally only accessible to the richer avians but considering their war with the Caribou, now every crow atleast has one, for his case four.

“No BLOODY way!!” he threw the last three he had at the smug stag, creating a pillar of fire three times bigger than the last one, forcing the circle to widen as the heat became unbearable, he’s vein stricken eyes watched as just like before the stag walked out completely unharmed, his warhammer too came out completely fine, golden runes shown brightly.

“Want to try that again? In a way you helped me, it was getting a bit chilly for my liking” he chuckled mockingly at the frozen bird.

Heavy breathing could be heard from the young crow, trembling hands and widened eyes as he stared at the Caribou stag before him with golden yellow light emitted from his body with flames further enhancing the spectacle “Are you…a god” he’s question already answered by his inner consciousness, Dàinn just smirked darkly “What do you think.”

A glance at his compatriots and the chained nobles they brought with them, looks of panic were very apparent on their beaked faces, all had a clear message: run.

Looking at his hands which stopped shaking and the stag that stood ahead of him, he made a decision. He fired a bolt at the stag which just bounced over harmlessly from the stag's furred skin, it’s arrow head misshapen, this further increased the crows hysteria.

He flew over Dàinn and let gravity pulled him down as with his sword raised above his head, reaching the unmoving stag and slamming the blade into the stags upper skull with as much strength he could muster. The blade shattered. With it his hope, eyes now filled with fear he tried to fly away but it was too late as the divine king grabbed his taloned foot with one arm and slammed him into the ground, sickening cracks could be heard as blood gushed out the crow’s beak.

Jeering laughter erupted as the stags mocked the downed crow, the others only stared in horror at their fallen leader, the white tipped haired male crow started crying at the scene, the female crow started fruitlessly thrashing in her binds and the elder female crow only sighed as if the outcome was foreseen.

“I didn’t even get any blood on my hammer, how disappointing” remarked Dàinn as he walked over to the fallen bird giving his head a small nudge with his hoof “You fought bravely albeit stupidly, but as a fellow male I give you the courtesy of you telling me your name, to be remembered as the “courageous” warrior who challenged me in MY history” all he heard were gurgles as more blood streamed out of the crows mouth “Well that’s sad to hear, an unnamed fool in my story of conquest”

Before the crow guards could fly away, they were immediately dogpiled by the large muscular stags around them, the males were held down while females were dragged to their tents screaming and kicking, the chained nobles never stood a chance as the only male was pushed on his knees while the females were pulled into the surrounding tents. The younger hen cursed loudly at the stag that was dragging her trying to kick him with no avail, while the elder one followed another stag without a fuss, her head facing down with three other stags following behind them licking their lips.

Dàinn watched it all with a smile

“Things are going swimmingly”

• Back at the cave of the savagethaw forest –

“Things are going swimmingly” muttered Mannaz as he and some the doe were busy making some clothes for his “guests”, after removing the runes in their heads, and their collars too, the doe became incredibly self conscious of their nudity minutes after shaking off the affects of his rune removals.

They still followed him around and his orders, but they actually showed hesitance and would sometimes question the meaning of his orders which he happily obliged, as time went they started asking more questions and displayed interest in his magic, hunting and hobbies. That and enjoyed petting his sibling chuntoths and showering them with affection which they didn’t mind.

Some wanted to learn how to make clothes as to cover themselves up, as well as make clothing for the others. He asked for their names which made them adopt uncomfortable and puzzled looks, they told him and he immediately promised he’ll give them real names.

Oh and their standing now, something that is quite alien to them as they stumbled and fell occasionally, but Mannaz believes after some time they’ll get used to it.

Things were going smoothly, though some of the gals randomly vomited sometimes whenever they recall their masters.

He started gathering more vegetables with some of the cows helping him, which was frankly not needed, as they all wanted to learn how to gather food. To be frank Mannaz still questions how this world works to produce such ripe vegetables in a cold environment such as this, he concluded it to being either some extraordinary evolution or bloody magic.

They questioned why he was gathering meat from his kills, but one quick show of his canines and sharp molars was all it took.

Being an omnivore in one life was awesome, he was glad to be one in this life too.

So now he stood at the forests edge facing a sunset, sounds of breaking twigs and the crunch of snow as the cows gathered berries and vegetation, he felt the sun rays warm him as he sighed ‘Guess Zonai will have to wait, I hope Jinako and others have made a safe trip back at their home lands’ the vixens were beyond his range, he wasn’t even sure if they were halfway at their lands as he remembered Nami explaining how far their land was from the Caribou, potentially taking 3 days to get there at worst.

For now Mannaz was responsible for the, he counted 33 doe living in his home, which he had to expend with additions in furnisher and room. Not to mention monitoring the free women that tried to kill them as roamed around as a large group with equipment they’ve raided from the vacant settlement, well burning settlement was more accurate.

Luckily they moved within the range of his enhanced senses, so he could keep an eye on them and make sure that nothing catches them by surprise. The runes he put on them were still active, he flinched when some of them tried to remove his runes by cutting chunks of their flesh off, they were stopped by the others who already discerned what they do when they noticed their immunity to the cold and new found strength, but that still didn’t curb the reluctance and hate filled looks the silverish white glowing symbols received.

The very same chubby doe with red hair was behind him eating and picking some berries while humming an unknown tune, her clothing was thick and fuzzy, hiding he body from the world which was a shame as only one person noticed something peculiar happening to her body as well as the other cows.

Specifically on her back,

he can ‘see’ the emergence of ruby red feathers.

‘If places like that damn place exist there’s bound to be more…’

End