Holmgang Part I

Bloodclaw
Part I:

The sounds of battle were muffled inside the ceramite enclosed Land Raider, even to Goddvar's heightened hearing. The pack was clustered at the assault ramp around the black clad Freki Bloodpack. The old Wolf Priest was weaving himself between each warrior, smearing blood from his belt bound vial on the chest plate of the pack's armor. Raerek, who finished triple checking his flamer, beat a fist to his chest moments before the priest slapped his blood soaked hand against the double wolf on his chest. The stench of blood permeated Goddvar's nostrils, while his keen sense of smell told him the blood was only a few hours old. It was probably from some beast sacrificed in the belly of strike cruiser before they deployed. As initiates, this would be their first battle in the mighty Astartes, but none of them were by any means unprepared. Each of Goddvar's pack mates where once mighty warriors of their past life. They had died heroes and ascended to godhood. As Russ intended, they fought the eternal war that waged across the galaxy, until their Primarch returned to fight alongside them in the final battle. 

The priest approached Goddvar. The young warrior pounded his fist against his chest and bellowed out, "Honor brother Bloodpack!" The Wolf Priest's face went from stoic to a frown. 

"You know I dislike that name, pup." The force of the priest's fist against Goddvar's chest almost sent him on his ass. The old warrior grinned afterwards, his canines bared in an almost bestial manner. "When you die today, I will make sure your gear goes to a more respectful initiate."

"Let us hope you can keep up then old wolf!" The air tasted of blood and its coppery tinge. Freki wheeled about and pushed his way through the crowded crew compartments to the front again. The Land Raider rumbled and shook as it continued on through the wasteland towards their objective. All that Goddvar knew was that some Imperial commander had turned his back on the Allfather. Their task was to take a rebel command post, which up until the arrival on the Astartes, had remained untouchable by the loyalist on this world. 

Goddvar took his place to the left of Raerek. Behind them was the hulking Bornir, who even by Astartes standards was an intimidating size. The normally docile giant was now snarling with the scent of blood in the air, anticipating the coming battle. Their pack leader, Skon, eyed his warriors with a scrupulous stare. His ascension to the head of the pack was due in no small part to the perfection he demanded in himself and his skill in combat. A warrior without peer... or at least until I challenge him, Thought Goddvar. 

The Land Raider began to noticeably slow. The sudden crack of the hurricane pattern bolters and assault cannons told them they were close to their target. Goddvar could make out the distinct ping of enemy fire bouncing off the thick hull. Freki Bloodpack finished his silenced discussion with Skon and turned to the rest of the Space Wolves gathered at the raised ramp. "Warriors of Fenris hear me!" He paused as he raised the vial of blood and emptied it onto the plating underneath him. Its fast thickening contents assault the senses of every Space Marine in the cramped compartment. Almost instantly Goddvar could smell the stench of excitement. The old priest continued, "You have been given the honor of finishing this war in a single blow. You will be swift and merciless to the foes of the Allfather. You are all sons of Russ and if you should find yourself in an empty field of snow. Fear not! For you are on the way to see the Allfather and you are already dead!" The pack howled a dreadful cry. They were ready for battle and ready to die. 

The ramp hit the muddy surface of the embankment with a barely noticeable thud. The pack was already bounding through the meager defensive emplacements set up to stop normal men. Razorwire clung feebly against Goddvar's right leg. Over head autocannons and autoguns spat out rounds at their position. However, human reflexes couldn't target the grey blurs that were the advancing Astartes. 

Skon let out a loud snarl as he singled for their first and final charge over the large hill which had been giving them cover. Goddvar revved his chainaxe and started over the hill, but not before Igar shoved him to the side, taking the lead. Goddvar's temper flared and he chased Igar over the hill just in time to see his helmet explode in a shower of red mist when one of the autocannons found its mark. The site of their comrade falling enraged the pack even more and they pushed onwards. Raerek stopped at one of the small firing holes in the wall of the ferrocrete bunker. He pumped the promethium fueled flames directly inside. Flames erupted out other windows, drowning out the gasping screams inside in a roar of combusting air. Goddvar saw Bornir tearing a man's head off with his bare hands as the traitors around him ran in terror. 

Goddvar howled as he spotted his first victim. From the looks of him, he had the remains of a NCO's uniform in the PDF. His skin was white, almost grey, and his eyes burned red as he raised his bolt pistol to meet Goddvar's charge. Too late, Goddvar sent a bolt round into the man's chest, causing his upper torso to erupt in a volcano of blood and flesh bits. One! Goddvar counted in his head. The next kill was all the more satisfying as a traitor guardsmen tried to spear him from the back with a bayonet. The blade broke against the ceramite plating. Goddvar laughed as his chainaxe cleaved the dumbfounded renegade in two. Two! He leapt over a ferrocrete barrier only to land on the reinforcements meant to drive them off. The satisfying crunch of bones singled two more kills as the two ton Goddvar startled the enemy squad. With the wolfish grin that is so signature of the Vlka Fenryka, Goddvar lashed out with chainaxe and bolt pistol, killing the other eight men in mere seconds. Twelve by Russ! 

His celebration was cut short with the noise of a massive explosion to his left as a battlecannon just missed his position. The enemy Leman Russ spat out bolter rounds from its hull mounted heavy bolter, as its commander shouted orders from the top of its turret to the men below. He didn't give them time to reload before he sprinted head on. Autoguns and bolter fire licked at his feet as the mighty Astartes charged furiously into the defensive line. He was a mere ten meters from the already retreating guardsmen when a black armored figure appeared from behind the Leman Russ' turret. It's bolt pistol exploded the upper torso of the commander as the free hand dropped a bundle of krak grenades into the open hatch before leaping away from the hull. In seconds the Leman Russ shot flames from its openings and soon black smoke billowed out from fresh new holes in its armor. Goddvar cursed under his breath as the old priest cut down the last of the traitors who were falling back. 

"How are you going to meet your death when you move so slowly, pup?" Freki slid a fresh magazine into his bolt pistol's receiver. 

Goddvar simply cursed under his breath and moved past the old priest. I will show the old warrior, the universe will tremble in fear when faced with Goddvar! With another leap over a barrier Goddvar came face to face with Raerek. The two warriors nearly started fighting as they startled one another.

Raerek reared back his lips, "Twenty-eight so far."

Goddvar cringed, "Twelve, more if you count the kills that Bloodpack stole from me." 

Raerek laughed, "Cannot count them brother if you do not kill them, guess who gets to serve us tonight at the dinner table." His armored finger pressed against Goddvar's chest.

"Remove your finger before I remove your hand, Rek." Goddvar hissed. 

Raerek pointed his finger away from his chest and towards an open blast door. "Skon, Bornir, and some others disappeared into their just a moment ago. I think we should follow." 

The two moved into the gloom, their sight adjusting almost instantly to the low light emitted from the emergency torches that lined the wall. They both smelled something that raised the hair on the back of their neck. Blood, but not just any blood, wolf blood. Their pace turned into a sprint down the tightening ferrocrete hallway. Rounding three corners they spotted a grey armored figure slouching under a large blood splatter on the wall behind him. It was Arnskar the Black, named for his dark complexion, typical of the southern islanders on Fenris. He was still alive, but holding his hand over a gushing wound in his chest. 

He caught their gaze, "Just missed me first heart," he chuckled painfully as blood ran down his chin from his lips. 

"What happen brother and where is Skon?" Raerek knelt down to inspect his other wounds. 

Arnskar coughed up more blood before weakly speaking again, "They came out of the shadows before retreating back into them. " 

"Who Arnskar? Who came out of the shadows?" Raerek leaned closer.

Arnskar was fading, his superior body was slowly shutting down due to the wounds he received. In his final breath he muttered, "The betrayers..." Arnskar ceased.