"We drove them off, my queen, although it came at a heavy loss of life." Kimmik reported. "We suffered as many casualties as if we had lost."
"Noted." The queen replied.
Kimmik nodded, waiting to be dismissed. All round her healers hurried to and fro, a few of them in human form. A light twinge pricked Kimmik's side as a healer pushed a threaded needle into her skin. Kimmik held still as the stitches were put in, ignoring the pain.
"Anesthetic?" The doctor asked.
"No."
The queen tapped her claws on the ground, bringing Kimmik's attention back to her. "Any weres?" she asked.
"A few, but in their wolf skin. They were slain instantly the second they changed."
"Good." The queen replied. "They have weapons only their human forms can operate. And yourself?"
Kimmik was taken aback. "I'm well. The helm seems to have done as the smith said; it has protected me form danger."
"And the wound on your side?"
Kimmik glared straight ahead and clenched her jaw. "A warrior knocked the helm off of me. It will not happen again."
"Good. See to it that it doesn't." The queen sat and scrutinized her for a moment. Kimmik held still, forcing her impatience down. She could feel the stitches pulling her skin together. After a moment, the queen spoke again. "You are dismissed." She turned and leaped neatly down off the dais. Her guards flanked her.
"All done, captain Kimmik." The doctor told her, "Rest and it will heal quickly."
"I have no time to rest." Kimmik snarled. "Your work has been noted."
While the doctor stammered out an apology, Kimmik spoke with the voices.
You are the helm, correct? she asked. The whispering wraiths came to her again.
We are the twelve shadows. We defend you in battle.
Why did that wolf manage to knock you off? Kimmik asked.
We were not in practice, they replied disdainfully. It will not happen again.
Kimmik nodded to herself. Without waiting for the doctor's word she turned and left the throne room. Ryu let a out a shriek of protest and dove down, landing on her back with a thump. The two guards at the door dipped their heads as she stalked through. it was only once Kimmik was alone that she twisted to look at her injury.
Four parallel slashes were torn into her skin, stretching from her neck down to her tail. The blood had been licked away and the wound was stitched neatly. It was already healing, she could see that, but it burned with fire. Kimmik snarled as if to ward it away. She had no time for rest. Kimmik spread her wings and flapped them experimentally. She was pleased; none of the flight muscles seemed to be damaged to badly. With a grunt she heaved herself into the air, gliding when she could. Flight was not effortless with her body so damaged. Ryu flapped around her, looking concerned.
Kimmik flew through the castle, moving much faster than those on the floor far below. The walls of the palace reflected her as she moved past them, a black blur against the blue ice. When Kimmik reached the doors she folded her wings and dove down to the ground. An officer rushed out to meet her.
"Ah, Ros." Kimmik called out to him. The wolf bowed in reply. He was a tall and mighty looking wolf, with reddish fur. He wore the simple plate armour of a warrior, but it was branded with a sparkling ice stake and a crescent moon, the mark of an officer. Kimmik's herself was a little more ornate, but not enchanted. That armour was saved for the royal family.

"Give me your report." Kimmik ordered. "I could use some good news right now."

Ros frowned. "Unfortunately I have none of the news you are looking for." he said. "The southern wolf packs are pressing on our borders. Their raiding parties cross over our land."

"Thieves!" Kimmik snarled. "The second the foresters left they swopped in. I told the queen we should have never turned our backs!"

"Even so," Ros inclined his head. "We must train."

"Yes." Kimmik replied. "Where are the warriors?"

"They are training in the simulation room, below us."

"Thank you Ros." Kimmik turned to leave. "If anyone asks, you're keeping your rank. The queen has decided we need a change, but I am glad of where you are. Do not disappoint me."

Ros dropped into a submissive posture as Kimmik turned and left. She thought about him as she walked. The queen expected him to ask her for her paw, a prospect that hadn't seemed so terrible at first. Admittedly Ros was a handsome, fine wolf, and at a reasonable rank too, but she simply didn't feel anything for him. The only wolf she had ever felt something for was Dûrathin, and he had scorned her. Kimmik had killed him to achieve her rank, and the queen has forgiven her easily. It was that that made Kimmik want to do her best; if she didn't the queen might sanction someone slipping a claw between her ribs. Don't think about him, the helm told her, you have more important matters to concern yourself over. A mate will slow you down, curb your ambition. You will never raise high enough and the queen will dispose of you if she catches you not working.

She could try. Kimmik replied, but fear still nagged at her. What the helm said was true. She was in the prime of her life though, a young adult. Kimmik knew she had what it took to be a good captain of the guard, and maybe later becoming the queen's advisor. The thought quickened her step until she was hurrying down the hall.

The walls were made of ice, like the rest of the castle, but here they flowed right into the floor instead of meeting it at a right angle. The passage was lit softly from above and it glowed in the gentle light. Kimmik looked at her reflection in the walls as she slid past. She was a medium sized wolf, not large but not small. Hard muscles moved smoothly under her black pelt, and its silver strands gleamed. She stopped and gazed directly into the ice wall. The helmet sat neatly on her head, it fit perfectly. Her brilliant eyes glared back through the slits. Kimmik smiled, pleased with how she looked. Her armour fit her like a second skin.

The sounds of combat echoed around her, and Kimmik walked towards the doors. Two guardians bowed and opened them, revealing the chaos inside. The room simulated a battle ground. Sculpted trees and plants, mountains and animals all made of ice were dotted around it. A fake castle stood at the far end, cut in half so a commanding officer could see and instruct the fight occurring in its interior. Wolves were paired off all around the room, sparring with each other. Kimmik watched for a moment, frowning. The blows were too slow, the dodges clumsy. She threw back her head and howled.

The wolves stopped right away and looked at her. "Formation!" an officer called. They formed a tight block, every hair bristling. Kimmik stalked up and down the rows under the wary gaze of the wolves under her. Fear-scent flooded her nostrils and Kimmik revelled in it. She returned to the front of the formation.

"I will assume that you have all heard about the attack. I will treat you as though you were brave, courageous wolves, witch I doubt any of you actually are. This morning's attack went badly because you lacked one thing: discipline. I am here to teach that to you. Learn if you wish, answer to me if you don't, and remember this; it is better to die at the hand of an enemy then to disobey me and have me kill you myself." The room was dead silent. "I am relieving all the officers, corporals, lieutenants and sergeants. " Kimmik announced. A storm of protests reached her ears but they all quieted with a glare. "Do not fear," she said, "you will earn them back in time. Until then, I will lead you. By the end of today the ranks will be up. Now, I want you to all split into your old command groups. You will then go through the protective drills for the castle and the forest one by one. Go."
They all split quickly into their blocks and moved around the room, either waiting or drilling in their various formations. Kimmik called to Ryu. "Go relieve the demoted ones of their armour, and tell them to pile it here. Once you have finished that task, tell Ros I need twenty more plain sets of armour, as soon as possible. I don't care where he gets them." Ryu clacked his beak and took off, leaving Kimmik to watch the warriors again. They all drilled their formations perfectly, but the ones that waited were rowdy and discontent. Kimmik walked silently up to one such group.
"You." The wolves spun around, looking panicked when they saw her. Kimmik pointed out the four wolves that had not lost their position of waiting. They were on their feet and had their heads up and weight back. "You have just been promoted. Put your armour in the middle of this room. There will soon be a pile there, pick out the arms of a sergeant and ensure it fits well. You are in charge of this group until I say otherwise."
They hurried hastily to follow her orders, but Kimmik noticed one wolf glaring at her. Slowly she turned around. The wolf's muddy brown fur contrasted greatly with her bright green eyes.
"Is there something you wish to say?" Kimmik asked. She tried to channel her queen's voice, sounding like the wind blowing over snow. The wolf didn't say anything. "Speak up," Kimmik said, moving closer to her. "Or I'll be on my way."
The wolf found her voice at last. "You're promoting those wolves for simply standing." she sneered.
"No," Kimmik replied. "They were obeying orders, to the point of discomfort. That is what I need in my wolves. I have no tolerance for laziness."
The brown wolf snarled low in her throat. Suddenly, a thought came to Kimmik. She walked slowly around the wolf, smiling when it moved its head to follow her motion. "What rank were you?" she asked.
"I was a Corporeal."
"I thought as much. Know this, you were demoted for a reason, but that does not mean you cannot earn it back."
The wolf growled at her again, and Kimmik smiled. This one had spunk.
"I have already proved myself ten times over!" She answered. "I don't have to show that to you." Her muscles bunched and she tensed, about to spring.
Kimmik expected the wolf's move a second before she made it, and slid swiftly to the side. The wolf landed where she had been a heartbeat before, fangs bared and glinting in the moonlight. "I thirst for your blood." She hissed, prowling toward Kimmik with gleaming eyes. The scratch of her claws scraping the floor filled the room.

I hope this isn't bad, please let ma know. A bit of a filler chapter. This was to my pack as always, especially the journeying ones: AlphaKasumiRose WolfLover1670 @Alpha_Mena @GarwenTheBlueWolf