Crucible's Quest

By Asa Hosmer

Two werewolves, Crucible and Cinnamontail, lose their way in the world of Middle Earth. A raven befriends both of them and helps send them on their own adventures throughout Middle Earth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 26, 2023
• ISBN: 9781662468858

Book preview

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Crucible's Quest

Asa Hosmer

Copyright © 2023 Asa Hosmer

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2023

Cover art by Skyler Jenkins

ISBN 978-1-6624-6886-5 (hc)

ISBN 978-1-6624-6885-8 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

To all my family and friends, to all my coworkers, and especially to all my fellow furries in the furry nation for without your love and support, this book would not have been possible.

All the Characters

About the Author

To all my family and friends, to all my coworkers, and especially to all my fellow furries in the furry nation for without your love and support, this book would not have been possible.

All the Characters

Crucible: the arctic werewolf and mate to Cinnamontail

Cinnamontail: the female werewolf and mate to Crucible

Fire Tail: son of Crucible and Cinnamontail

Bright Eyes: son of Crucible and Cinnamontail

Juniper: daughter of Crucible and Cinnamontail

Red Talon: the raven

White Wing: the raven

Blue Streak: the raven

Orange Tail: the raven

Crimson Claw: head of the council of the Seven-Werewolf Nation and mate to Queen Metal Fang

Queen Metal Fang: queen of the Seven-Werewolf Nation and mate to Crimson Claw

Caduceus: senior healer of the Seven-Werewolf Nation

Queen Bright Fire: the queen of the Unicorn Nation and mate of Dark Tail

Dark Tail: the winged unicorn and mate to Queen Bright Fire

Polaris: son of Queen Bright Fire and Dark Tail

Red Snow: the king of the Polar Bear Nation and mate to Black Paw

Black Paw: the mate of Red Snow the polar bear king

Fluff: daughter of Red Snow and Black Paw

Illuminata: the King of the Black Dragon Nation

Parodius: the head of the Middle Earth council

Philaphones: the healing phoenix

Puscifer: the winged dragon

High above a densely thick forest covered in a thin veil of fog, a raven flew. He was as black as coal and as large as had ever been seen in all of Middle Earth. His feathers shined in the sunlight as he flew out of the corner of the raven's eye. He could see a tree. It was large and full. Suddenly, the tree started to shake violently as if someone was trying to tear the tree out of the ground. The tree shook back and forth, to and fro. Branches and leaves fell from the tree, and then the tree finally went down hard as the raven flew over the forest. He heard a loud wailing and growling coming from the forest floor.

Gggrrr.

Filling the valley, it sounded like an animal that was hurt and crying out in anger for help. A flock of birds flew out of the forest as fast as they ever could. The raven could see all types of creatures, large and small, running and scattering in all directions and away from the wailing sound. The raven, being so curious as ravens always are, just had to find out why the tree went down and what that wailing sound was all about, so the raven turned his head to the right and banked hard right and down to the forest floor, and then he pulled up and perched himself on a large branch of a tree. The raven shook his wings and flipped them tight to his body.

As the raven looked around, he saw the tree that fell. The tree was shredded into a thousand pieces, and then the raven heard a low growl. He saw a dark shadow but could not make it out. The creature stopped moving, his ears perked up, his muzzle went up in the air, and he sniffed, sniffed, sniffed, sniffed. Suddenly the creature whipped his head up, and around to his right, his body followed. The raven was startled, and his wings flew open, and he called out loudly, Cccaaawww.

The creature's eyes were bright blue in the shadow. The creature took three steps out of the shadows. The creature's fur was all white but dirty, and there were blue streaks in the fur as well. The creature's fur was long all over, and some of the fur was matted to him. His fingers and hand paws were long, and his claws were as sharp as razors, and his teeth and fangs were as white as snow and as long as could be. His gums were as black as night, and his tongue was long and red as blood drool came down his teeth and fangs like rain. His chest heaved up and down as he breathed, and some wooden shards from the tree were still embedded in the creature's fur.

The raven could scarcely believe what was standing in front of him for it was a white werewolf, the biggest the raven had ever encountered in his life. The raven and the werewolf just stared hard at each other for a brief moment. The werewolf spoke first. Raven, why do you stalk me? So, Raven, come down here and let me feast upon your carcass.

The raven took one wing and put it on his belly, looking down at the werewolf and just laughing heartily. Ha ha ha ha. Werewolf, I am Red Talon the raven. He showed his one red talon. This sun, there is no feast for you here, werewolf, for you cannot catch me, said the raven.

It is good that I know your name before I feast upon you, Red Talon, said the werewolf.

Wait! Werewolf, if you do catch me and feast upon me, I know not your name, said the raven.

Very well, for I will give you that much for I am Crucible the arctic werewolf. And as he said his name, Crucible leaped up like a cat and swiped at the raven, and missing the raven, Crucible landed on all fours. The werewolf looked up at the raven. He was on another branch just that fast.

The raven looked down at the werewolf and said, What is that? Is that all you have? Is there nothing more, Crucible? Crucible just glared at the raven and started pacing back and forth. Drool was dripping out of his mouth.

He then let out a loud growl. Grrrraaww.

As Crucible leaped up again, Raven said, Crucible, you will be mine, and again and again—eight, ten, twelve, times—Crucible leaped up, but there was no raven to feast on this sun. The raven looked down at Crucible. Well now, are you quite through jumping around like a kangaroo? said the raven. By now, Crucible had collapsed on the ground and was looking up his chest, heaving up and down and out of breath.

Why are you here, Raven? said Crucible.

Why, indeed, why do you tear apart these trees? said the raven.

Crucible just looked away from the raven with a shamed look on his face. I do not know why I tear the trees apart. I am full of anger and rage, and I do not know why. Crucible was banging his hand paw on the ground as he said it. I have been on the hunt for three full moon cycles, and yet I do not know why I hunt, said Crucible.

Yes, said the raven. Crucible, you are full of rage, and your scent is quite strong in the air.

Crucible looked at the raven. Please, Raven, do you know why I hunt and find nothing? And I do not even know what I hunt for, Crucible said, hitting the ground harder and harder.

No, said the raven, I do not, but if you promise me you will stay here by this white pine tree in the valley of the Spooky Tooth Woods, I will go and find you the answers you are looking for.

Crucible thought for a moment. Yes, Raven, said Crucible, I promise to stay right here by this white pine tree until you return.

Good, said the raven, I will return in three full suns. Crucible smiled a little. The raven went to spread his wings.

Wait, said Crucible, for a moment please.

The raven looked down at Crucible, cocking his head to the left some. Yes, Crucible, said the raven.

I have not feasted or had drink in a great while, Raven. Can you find it in your heart to bring me some feast and drink? Crucible said.

The raven looked at Crucible for a moment. Yes, Crucible, I can bring you feast and drink as much as I can carry. And with that, the raven flew off.

Crucible yelled out, raising his hand paw. Thank you, Red Talon, and I am so sorry I tried to feast on you, he said.

The raven looked back at Crucible. That's okay, Crucible, maybe next sun, maybe next sun, said the raven as he flew out of the valley of the Spooky Tooth Woods.

The raven was headed over the Choctaw Ridge Mountains and back into the Valley of the Five Claws, the biggest valley in all of Middle Earth. The raven flew for quite some distance. As he flew, he heard what sounded like a creature that was crying. Raven's hearing was quite excellent, so being so curious as ravens always were, he flew down to the forest and began to circle. As he did this, he heard the sound again, but this time, it was much louder and with more sobbing, so the raven landed and perched himself on a branch. He looked and looked but saw nothing.

The raven called out, Where are you? Are you all right?

He listened for a moment but heard nothing back. He waited and still nothing. The raven called out again but louder and still heard nothing back. The raven's curiosity was getting the best of him now. At the same moment, he smelled a scent in the air. It was very strong, so the raven flew down to the forest floor. The raven knew better but did it anyway. He landed and hopped around. He looked and looked and still saw nothing, but there was a creature lurking in the woods. The creature was low to the ground and somewhat under a wall of shrubs. The raven had not noticed that there was a nose and a muzzle sticking out of the shrubs. The creature's eyes were closed, and its ears perked up in the direction of the raven. The creature opened its eyes ever so slowly. The creature's eyes were a bright yellow. The raven had not noticed them for they were behind him. The raven hopped around some more.

The creature thought to itself, Oh, a raven, that's a tasty feast. Its front and back claws were deep into the ground. The creature wiggled its rump and set its haunches ready to spring out, and the creature's tail flicked back and forth, and drool started dripping from its mouth just a little closer. Raven, come on a little more, yes. The creature was set ready to spring out as fast as lightning. The creature sprang out of the shrubs. Its hand paws spread wide and its arms out as far as they could go.

The creature gave out a loud growl as it sprang out. "Gggrrraaww!"

The raven jumped up to fly away but could not for the creature had him. The hand paws and arms of the creature were tightly around the raven's body, and they fell to the ground hard with a thud. The raven knew instantly he was now going to be the creature's feast. The raven closed his eyes tightly for he did not want to see death coming, so the raven turned his head to the left and showed his neck saying, Creature! Make your kill swift and clean for I am your feast this sun. The raven held his breath and waited for death to come. The raven waited for several moments, but nothing happened. The raven said it again. Make your kill swift and clean, creature! And again he held his breath, but death did not come to the raven this sun. The raven then opened one eye and then opened the other eye and looked up, and much to his surprise, there looking back at him was a she werewolf in front of him. Her hand paws were still around the raven's quivering body. The she werewolf began crying and sobbing almost uncontrollably. Tears began streaming out of her eyes and down her furry cheeks and onto her hand paws and onto the raven's feathers.

Why do you cry so much, she werewolf? said the raven.

The she werewolf with tears streaming down her face said, I do not know why, Raven, as she let the raven go free. The raven then hopped up and flipped his feathers and wings around somewhat. The she werewolf then pushed the raven away. Do not look at me for I am ugly and not nice to look at and my scent is of a skunk.

No, no, you are not ugly. You are very nice to look at, and your scent is nice and inviting to my beak, said the raven.

My den has thrown me out and said that I could not come back until my scent was gone. Why, Raven, why am I so happy as a kitten one moment and then full of hunt the next, and then I am cold, then hot then sad or full of rage? She started banging both of her hand paws on the ground, and with that, the she werewolf snatched up the raven and pulled him in close. Well, why, Raven? The raven was being choked by the she werewolf.

The raven said, If you feast on me, you will not get the answers you seek. And with that, the she werewolf freed the raven.

Oh no, she said. I am so sorry, Raven. The she werewolf tried to fix the raven's feathers. Do you see what I mean? And with that, the she werewolf began to cry once more.

Yes, she werewolf, I see this well, said the raven. The she werewolf looked at the raven.

Raven, she said, for I do not know your name… She sobbed once again.

Oh, I am Red Talon the raven. He showed his one red talon to her. He said, And I do not know what your name is.

Well, I am Cinnamontail, the she werewolf from the eastern side of the Valley of the Five Claws. The raven could see as the she werewolf stood in the sunlight her fur was a cinnamon golden brown. Halfway down her arms and legs, including her hand paws and feet paws, were all white, and her claws were black and shiny; her nose was black as well. Some long, furry hair flowed over one side of her face and muzzle, and a long, wide strip of black fur went from the top of her head all the way down her back to the back of her tail. Most of her tail was brown, but the tip of her tail was white, and it was long and fluffy. Her ears had a black edge to them and one white dot on the back of each ear.

The raven said, Cinnamontail, I must be going and get you the answers you are seeking.

The raven went to spread his wings to fly.

Oh, Red Talon, one moment if you please, said Cinnamontail.

The raven looked at Cinnamontail with a puzzled look on his face. Yes, Cinnamontail, he said.

I have not had any feast or drink in a great while. Her muzzle went down, her eyes went up, her hand paws and her arms folded around each other and one leg over the other, and her shoulders went up. She also batted her long eyelashes at the raven. Can you bring me a fat beaver? said Cinnamontail.

Yes, he said, only if you promise me you will stay right here. I will be back in two full suns.

Oh yes, yes, I will stay right here. Oh, thank you, thank you so very much, Raven, said Cinnamontail as she jumped up and down, clapping her hand paws together. The raven then flew off. Wait, Raven! How will I repay you for this?

The raven looked back. You will know what to do when the time is right. You will know, said the raven. The raven knew he had to go to the queen's court of the Seven-Werewolf Nation. The raven flew in the Valley of the Five Claws; he flew for a little while. He knew he was getting close to the queen's court for during the great war, the raven had taken injured and dying werewolves there to be healed up by the healers, who were werewolves that had lotions and potions and mystical powers to bind and heal all the wounds of war. As the raven flew, he saw the magnificently large and pristine building of the queen's court, and it was not the way he remember it during the war. The building was clean with many ornate statues and many tall trees that shed the ground and many pretty gardens and flower beds of colorful flowers everywhere and green grass and walkways all around the grounds and birds flying and chirping all over the grounds, but during the great war, many hundreds, if not thousands, of werewolves lay dead or dying on the grounds and inside the great council hall massive building. The healer werewolves went from werewolf to werewolf, binding their wounds, and some werewolves had arms or legs being taken off. The werewolves' blood lay thick and heavy as it dripped off the table onto the floor, and the stench of death was heavy in the air, and the wailing, moaning, and screams and cries of the werewolves could not and would not soon be forgotten, and as for the dead werewolves, they were taken out behind the massive building and laid into a massively large grave with much reverence—a large statue made of pristine white marble and granite of a werewolf standing and holding and cradling another werewolf in his arms and looking toward the sky. Marking the massive grave now, the raven thought to himself. If there were ever Hades on Middle Earth, that would be the place. The raven flew through a large open window; as he flew in, he saw many ornate and beautiful tapestries that hung on the walls of werewolves on the hunt and many statues of werewolves that lined the walls as well, and many, many torches lit the great council hall. As the torches flickered, the light seemed to dance all about in the great council hall. The raven also saw a row of queens' thrones, seven in all, and in the middle of the seven thrones sat a lone queen, one of seven werewolf queens. The raven circled around twice and landed then flipped his wings tight to his body, landing in front of the werewolf queen. The raven had to show respect for the werewolf queen. The raven bent down