Character Short Stories: Rajawal the Defender

Rajawal the Defender

The night was damp, past-fallen rain splashed underfoot as I made my way through the cobbled streets into the tavern. My long ears laid flat against my hair in unrest from my day of walking, cloak coated in mud. The tavern door pushed open, warm light flooding my retinas. There was music and lively chatter as I stepped inside- all of it drowned out from the thundering of my heartbeat. 

It wasn't hard to find the Zveira I had been sent for. My mother had told me of the young man that had once aided her on the roads against a band of thieves, but this now seasoned warrior that she held with such regalia wasn't what I was expecting. 

His tall stature paired well with his muscular frame, his arms covered in tattoos and scars that told his stories past. Long black hair cascaded around his face, a brimmed hat veiling his eyes. Two black wolf ears peaked through the top, twitching excitedly as he conversed with his companions. Despite his appearance of a warrior, his... company wasn't what I expected.

He charmed the people around him through hissed words and a glistening fanged smile. The men around him clung to his sentences, while women clung to his broad arms.

"Rajawal?" I removed my hood and confronted the man I needed during this dark hour.

His crowd hushed, turning their attention to me. His left ear jerked in my direction, slowly turning his head. The wolf Zveria tilted his chin up examining me for the first time.

Icy eyes pierced my soul as I felt frozen to the floor. I stood up straighter. He rotated a toothpick in his mouth decidedly as he spoke.

"Hello darlin'. What can I do you for?"

His word choice sent blood into my cheeks. He smirked, undoubtedly listening to my heartbeat fluctuate between worried and flustered. 

"You once helped my mother, Qiessee, years ago on the road. Our village is being ransacked by Centaur and she said I would be able to find you. We need your help." I did my best to speak firmly, but my cotton tail twitched nervously at my own demands. This wolf was 3x my size, and I was in no place to be making such heavy requests of strangers.

The people around him laughed as if what I had said amused them. My heart was pounding as I tried to remain calm. Rajawal raised his hand to them without breaking eye contact with me. 

"I remember your mother. She was in between villages, in the woods by herself midday. If I hadn't been nearby on a bounty for that very band of thieves, well... who's to say if she'd be here now." His tone was somber but reminiscent.

 It had been nearly 15 years since this had happened. My mother spoke of a warrior who single handedly took on 6 men in a fight while protecting her, treating her honorably and having been a silent type. This didn't seem like the same man. His eyes seemed softer, though still haunted. Stoic?! He could charm a snake from a basket with a mere whistle. How could time have changed someone so much?

"So... you'll help us?" I dared to hope. 

The dark figure sighed, shaking his head. "I'm not the fighter I used to be. I don't take pleasure in hurting others as I used to. But I'll be damned if it's said Rajawal the Defender will no longer defend." 

My eyes lit up like the stars, perking my ears upright. "Oh, thank you!" I hopped closer to him and clasped his hands in gratitude. The wolf stepped away from his companions, looming over me with a devilish grin. 

"Come now, buns, we've got a town to save." Effortlessly, he swooped one arm down and scooped me up onto his shoulder. My face went hot as he carried me. He shouldn't have acted so familiar, and yet... he must have noticed how worn my boots are from traveling to get there as fast as I did. I exhaled relief to be off my feet, having a new feeling of safety as he took me back home to save my people.

*

Rajawal made short work of the bandits. The rest of the Rabbit Zveria cowered behind their burrow homes at the bloodied man who heaved over the bodies of my village’s defilers. Red had now painted his face and arms. He had vanquished those which had tormented us so quickly, that I hadn’t even had the time to hide for my own safety. I watched the violence unfold before my eyes like the petals of a flower in bloom. He had perfected killing to an art. And like every artist, he was in his own world while creating his masterpiece.  

But it was pieces. Bodies, strewn and mangled. It should have been a horrific sight that made me quiver, but these people had defiled us, robbed us, ransacked our homes and littered our streets. They knew they could simply because Rabbit Zveira were cautious, complacent, timid people. 

But watching him woke something in me. 

“Teach me how to fight!” I hopped up eagerly to him, stamping a heavy foot to get his attention. 

The hulking Wolf Zveria slowly turned over his shoulder and blinked to ground himself to reality once more. 

His icy gaze glanced over me briefly before reaching into his pocket and faced forward once more, placing a new toothpick in his mouth. 

“No.”

“What?!” I was shocked for some reason at the response. 

“No. Rabbits don’t have the strength needed to win a fight.” His voice was definite as Rajawal stared onward. 

My shoulders slunk, knowing he was right. We were soft folk. But I lit up with rebuttal. 

“Yes, but we are fast as well. If I can dodge all of your swings, you have to train me!” 

The dark haired Wolf swished the toothpick in his mouth in thought before sighing. “Alright.”

We squared off, my nerves steeled. 

We mirrored each others stance, raising my fists up as he did. He looked much more sure in his pose than I felt though. I’d never swung my arms at anyone my whole life. 

I saw him tense the muscles in his right arm as he prepared for a hook. It swung in the air towards my face, to which I ducked just in time for. 

A blow surprised me as his fist made contact with my rib cage, hearing something crack inside with a sharp pain. My breath got caught in my lungs, realizing he swung with his left hand this time, and that the first swing was a distraction. 

“Oh, moons, fuck!” Rajawal seemed genuinely shocked that he had already hit me by the second swing, and was swooping in to catch me as I buckled to my knees, gasping desperately. 

Small vials of health potions were stored on his belt, which he unsheathed and poured into my mouth without hesitation. 

My breathing normalized as the potion took effect and mended my broken bones. 

He sighed, his eyes coated in deep concern as he propped me up in his arms. “See, bunny? This is what I mean. You’re not a fighter.” 

I felt embarrassment flush hot in my cheeks as I stared at the ground in frustration. “But I can learn.” 

“And you think I’m the guy to teach you?” His gaze was hard, but his voice had softened. Rajawal shook his head. “My fighting days are behind me, little one. I can have my pack patrol this area for a while to make sure your village stays safe, but I can’t help you anymore than that.” 

My eyes began to mist in frustration. I wasn’t ready to accept defeat just yet. I turned and sat facing him now. 

“Take me with you. I promise I won’t get in the way, and I’ll study your technique and movements! You can send me home if I ever hinder you. I swear it.” 

He gave an amused, sympathetic smile to me, as if he was unsure if he wanted to take a stray in or not. Rajawal took a deep breath in and smiled in defeat. 

“What’s your name, buns?” 

I sat up straighter and grinned. “Shikita.” 

His eyes softened. “A beautiful name.”

There it was again. The fast pace of my heart filling my cheeks up with a burning blush. 

I had traveled with Rajawal for many months, wandering across the continent of Sirah Naga with his pack and helping others. It felt strange at times, to be the only Rabbit Zveira amongst the Wolves… but they were always gentle and patient with me, teaching me to speak up for the things I wanted. Wolves always spoke their minds, did as they pleased. The culture shock of being amongst them and learning their ways was exciting every day, wondering what I’d learn. 

I had learned many things simply from watching Rajawal. But today, I wanted to test that knowledge. 

Rajawal had been sharing his lodging with me for the most recent weeks, as we had grown closer during our travels. It made it easy to find him before lunch time. 

“I want to show you how far I’ve come.” I stood tall before him, by breath no longer wavered when I made demands of him. 

The Wolf raised an eyebrow, his cold gaze glinting with amusement. “Well, that’s simple.” He shifted and reached into one of his travel bags, pulling out a map and laying it down for me. “You started over here, in your village. Then you came to find me here-” his finger glided across the leather towards the tavern where I had first met him.

I took my glove off and smacked him with it in frustration. “You know that’s not what I meant!” 

Rajawal coiled up to block the harmless hit, laughing playfully. 

“I want to fight you today!” I stood my ground, but there was a hint of laughter I was forcing down as well. I wanted him to take me seriously. 

Rajawal leaned back and locked his fingers behind his head with a sigh and a smirk. “Today, huh? You’ve been following me for months and you think you’re ready for a rematch at last?” 

I nodded with confidence. 

“Okay,” he shrugged. 

We walked out into the woods and found a clearing where we could spar. 

We faced off, mirroring each other's stance. I raised my fists up to guard my face just as he did.  He looked focused, crouched low and leaning forward slightly, tensing for his attack. I was ready. 

I had familiarized myself with his entire body. Each muscle responded with a ripple, flexing moments before it would ever take action. He was now perfectly predictable. 

Rajawal dashed forward with a right hook, followed up shortly after by a disarming left swing. I ducked and weaved the blows with effortless speed. 

His calf twitched, signaling he was about to crouch for a kick to sweep my feet out from under me. I jumped up as he did so, planting my feet on his broad shoulders and kicking off backwards from him, putting distance between us. 

Only his eyes showed any sign of impression, but his body did not hesitate to show me that kind of praise. Rajawal was quick to close the distance once more.

The wolf ducked low, grabbing me by my waist and hoisting me up. Next would be a slam. I had been most eager to try this move out on him. 

As he came to grab me, I leaped willingly into his arms, using our combined momentum to slip out of a secure hold and clamber onto his shoulders. He seemed confused as to how I went from standing in front of him, to sitting on his shoulders with both my thighs around his neck. 

Rajawal placed his hands on my knees to try and remove me, looking at me in bewilderment. I swung my body forward while tightening my hold on him with my legs, twisting myself around and flinging Rajawal to the ground. 

He stared up at the sky in a daze for a split second as he processed what I had done to him. He blinked before giving a wicked grin, baring his fangs, and flipping over with a reinvigorated speed. 

“Bunny, bunny… where did that come from?” His amusement spread across his face as he was quick to pin me to the ground while I was already there from our fall. 

I wriggled to get out from under him, reaching my leg up and attempting to kick his head with my foot. To my horror, he caught my ankle without breaking eye contact with me. 

My heart quickened. My breaths grew shorter as I looked at the wolf tower above me. Rajawal’s eyes glinted with mischief as he pulled my leg high over my head, leaning down towards my face. 

All I could do was watch his long black hair tickle my face as it curtained around us. He didn’t say anything. His mouth hovered by my cheek, reaching out with his tongue and tasting me. It sounded like he caught his breath, a low rumble purring from his throat. 

“I could eat you up, buns.” Rajawal’s words sounded like a threat, but his voice sounded inviting. I felt my body melt into nothing but a fast beating heart underneath him. 

He growled as his lips traced my jawline down to my neck. I closed my eyes, unsure if he would lose control and eat me, or something much more sinister were to conspire. Wolves were not known to play well with bunnies. 

But he chuckled and sat up. I opened my eyes to see him happily laughing while sitting on my hips. 

“You’re cute, buns. You did well today. You have a lot to learn still, but I am willing to teach you now.” Rajawal offered a warm hand to me, guiding me up off my feet. “Let’s go home.” 

Rajawal woke with a start from our bed.  Sweat beaded his smooth complexion, eyes wide with concern. 

“What’s wrong, my wolf?” He had startled me, and I placed my hand on his shoulder to help ground him. 

“Another Blood Moon.” He spoke hurriedly, hushed. 

“What’s a ‘Blood Moon’?” Puzzlement crossed over my face. I had never heard of such a thing, but it sounded eerie. 

Rajawal tucked his knees up, resting his arms around them and taking a deep breath. “An omen. They come to me in my dreams before a tragedy happens somewhere in the world.” 

I blinked, trying to comprehend. I had learned that Rajawal’s pack were dream walkers, but Rajawal was the strongest at it. He had traveled many places across Mune, wherever there were sleeping wolves that he could connect with. He had saved many innocents in the dark of the night by being able to travel this way. His powers fascinated me- but never had I heard him use this term before. 

“How many times have you dreamt of a Blood Moon?” My voice shook to know the answer. 

He scoffed. “Mune is at war. I’ve walked the shores of the Blood Moon almost all my life. Every morning a tragedy happens. Innocents slaughtered. Women raped. Warriors butchered who thought they fought for what’s right.” Rajawal paused. 

“But tonight was different. I wasn’t on Mune. I wasn’t in a wolf. I was me. And I was on the Second Moon… It’s surface pooled with blood all around my feet. There was darkness all around me, beckoning me under. The Second Moon felt… alive.”

“You said Mune was a living being, wouldn’t make sense that the moons were as well?” I pondered, hoping it was something that sounded reasonable and not made up. Rajawal and his pack were spiritually in tune with magic, the pack shaman having shared stories and teachings from his predecessors that had been passed on through a Kitsune long ago. I had learned so much more of the planet with the tribe in a couple of months than I had learned my whole life in my village. 

But Rajawal shook his head. “The moons are rocks that simply got pulled into orbiting Mune. Circumstantial space matter. They shouldn’t feel alive like that.” 

I couldn’t understand what he was saying. It didn’t make sense. 

“In your dream… you were on the Second Moon? And it was red?” 

I heard my companion sigh as he turned to face me in the darkness. “Do not worry yourself with it, buns. It’s probably nothing.” 

I blinked up at him with doubt, but he quickly erased any unease I had with a kiss to my forehead and laying back down once more. 

“Sleep, little one. Worry not your pretty head.”