Today is a big day for me!  I am finally considered big and brave enough to leave the den to fight for the Eye!

I am so excited to go out and gnaw on some fresh Freep limbs.  Grrrr!  My paws are big, my jaws are  strong.  Look out, Freeps, I am a force to be reckoned with and will make my Master proud.

Just need to figure out where to go…

Excuse me, sir.  Can you tell me where…?

Yikes!

Yes, sir!  No, sir!

Right away, sir!  (This guy sure is big!)

… Uh, what’s a maggot?

Oh, good, here’s my Uncle Wargazar.  He’ll show me around a bit, just until I get my bearings.  Then — watch out!  My mighty roar will cause the Freeps to tremble in their boots.

We run.

The wind in my face is amazing.  My paws pound the hard earth and I feel my muscles bunching and stretching, over and over as I reach speeds I’ve never dreamed possible.  The landscape is a blur rushing past as our long strides tear up the distance with ease.  We race past our fellow wargs on patrol, and in the brief moments when I stare for the first time with my head up, straight into their eyes, I can see the respect and admiration on their faces.  I run just a little bit faster, a low growl rumbling and growing in my throat.  I feel so strong, so alive, invincible!

OUCH!

What was that?

Ow, ow, ow!

I whip my head from side to side, trying to find out where the attack is coming from.  Lightning quick, a sword flashes from nowhere, ripping into my side.  My yelps echo back to me, taunting.  My jaws snap at nothing as I try to twist away from the freezing cold steel, the burning hot pain in my flesh.  Again, the blade of my attacker cuts into me as I circle, my claws and fangs trying to defend myself.  Oh, the pain!  I try to stop it, but a whimper escapes me.

Finally, I’m overwhelmed.  I collapse.  I hear Uncle Wargazar’s valiant fight, his growls of rage receding into silence.  All is dark and still.

After what seems an eternity, I start to feel myself come back into my body.  The hard ground is pressing into my shoulder, the sun is blazing into my eyes, blinding me.  I blink rapidly to focus my eyes, and pull myself stiffly to my feet.  Uncle Wargazar is standing nearby, regarding me sternly.  I stand before him, head down, trembling just a little.  I feel ashamed, but somewhere, deep down inside, a tiny part of me also feels enraged, calling out for revenge, for retribution, for the blood of the Freep who downed me.  I stand still, waiting for my uncle’s fury to decend upon me, waiting for his derision, waiting to be punished for showing weakness and failing the Eye.

Still there is silence.

I dare to glance up at him from the corner of my eye, feeling my strength slowly return to my body as I wait.  He is watching me.  I raise my head and look straight at him, waiting for the rebuke, willing to silently and bravely take whatever punishment is coming.

Finally, he moves towards me and places his muzzle close to mine.  There is no shame in falling in battle, he explains, so long as we rise again, thirsty for the fight and ready to seek vengence and the fresh red blood of Freeps.  We must never lose heart, for the Eye will always return strength to our broken limbs and vision to our darkened eyes, allowing us to fight another fight.

I have learned a very important first lesson, he continues.  To always — ALWAYS — be vigilant, watchful, alert, for the treachery of the Freeps.  Never relax our watchfulness, not even for a moment, for in our moment of distraction, our enemies will strike deep.

Uncle decides that I have had enough for today.  We head back to Gramsfoot, so that I can rest and ponder the day’s events.  I still savour the feeling of my powerful muscles moving beneath my skin, my heart pounding in my chest, the air blasting from my nostrils, but I am humble now.  I swivel my head from side to side as we run.  Within my heart there is turmoil, an uncomfortable mingling of feelings:  shame at my defeat, fear at the remembered agony of the blade ripping through my flesh, but a growing painful desire to punish the Freep responsible, to prove my worth and to redeem myself.

I am strong.  I am fast and powerful, brave and cunning.  I vow to myself that I will prevail.  Freeps WILL tremble before me.  One day.

A growl and a promise to myself grow in my chest as we run.  I am a warg, a proud young member of my race.  I serve the Eye, with claw and fang and howling voice.

I am Creep.