Renn woke up.
'Looks like you have overcome the strain. Seems like my instincts have not fooled me.'
Renn still was in a daze, still immersed in the wondrous world that revealed itself to him.
'Raghnall' he called.
'Hmm?'
'What I see know, no, I mean what I feel now, is that your perception of the world?'
'Indeed it is. You have earned the same depth and understanding of nature that I have earned through hundreds of years. But it still lacks in coverage compared to mine.'
Renn was awestruck 'Then how far can you reach your senses?'
'Let that be a little secret of this old man, alright?' Raghnall smiled.
His respect for the wolf in front of him grew. He couldn't fully understand how great of a gift it was from Raghnall to teach him his perception, but he still felt deeply how precious it was.
A true gem of knowledge, wisdom and experience. He was moved to tears. Hot tears dropped down and he sensed how the plants, earth and tiny existences absorbed the heat and the energy that was contained in his tears. He knelt down.
'Raghnall, you have shown me the beauty of the world. You have opened my eyes. I will never be able to pay this back, but I'm so thankful, from the bottom of my heart. Thank you.' he said, his eyes still wet.
'Argh, stop whining, you are a grown wolf and a man now. Act like one!' Raghnall reminded him slightly embarrassed.
'Yes!' He said and pulled himself together. 'Yes, I will!'
'Very good, you know have made your first steps into the true energetic reality. As you are a high human, you won't be able to transform into the true energy form yet, it will cost you considerably more effort to learn and master it than a wolf would need. But the high humans have developed a much-advanced school for more complex usage of true energy affinities than we practice. That's related to our different physiques, but nonetheless, it stays a fact, that you will be able to flourish in their school in a way you won't be able to achieve here.'
Renn nodded earnestly. 'I understand. I will set out right after I telling my family goodbye.'
Raghnall blinked. When Renn turned around, Raghnall spoke once more. 'It could be, that Kaede will accompany you. She possesses extraordinary talent as a wolf. She would also profit a lot if she could study with you. I will talk with her and see what she thinks.'
Raghnall then vanished. But this time, Renn realised that "vanishing" was not the right description. With his newly acquired senses, he "saw" that suddenly the before dimly glowing body of Raghnall turned into a bright flame, which moved at a sheer incredible speed.
Renn also followed hastily suit.
When he reached his pack, Raghnall already finished speaking with Kaede.
He turned to Renn 'Kaede and I have discussed-'
'There really was nothing to discuss, chief wolf! I'll be glad to travel and visit the high humans and learn a foreign way of affinity-usage and culture!' Kaede interrupted, completely euphoric.
Agacie gave her a stern gaze, reminding her to keep her composure in front of the chief wolf.
Raghnall continued amusedly '-will Kaede accompany you to the high human's order. If she carries you, you'll be much faster. But I'm afraid she will have to stay in her true energy form while you move in the human territory since we don't know how much of a stir a light wolf would create.
Both Kaede and Renn blinked agreeing.
Agacie, Phileo, Thal and Asik were there to send them off. It was a touching scene in the setting sun.
Phileo would have especially liked to spend more time with his nephew and niece, but this was the way of the wolves.
Agacie also understood this and her motherly love could only support their personal development and wish them luck and success.
On the other hand, his brothers were challenged by their siblings' determination to grow. They both were also resolved to not slack and do their everything to grow.
They all gave Renn and Kaede their blessings for the journey and gifted them a bit of their own true energy, as a symbolical keepsake. For Renn, it felt like his family's presence was in him
After saying their goodbyes a final time, they left in direction of the human kingdoms, without looking back.
Raghnall waited until both of them were far enough away before he howled loudly, a sound which resonated both in the physical and the true energetic world. He was calling the entire main pack to gather.
Everyone dropped everything they were doing and quickly followed the call.
Raghnall then climbed upon the speaker's stone and looked down at the hundreds of wolves.
His heart was filled with pride, but also dragged down by the impending danger and death.
'I have called you to gather. because I have to tell you about the urgent catastrophe, which will come upon us.
A death-bringing-shadow is on his way.'
A murmur went through the crowd. Although most didn't know exactly what it was, everyone had heard about it in some horror stories, tales or actual memories from their ancestors, like Agacie had one. Nevermind how ignorant one may be, he still would know that a death-bringing-shadow spelt danger and death like the name itself said.
The crowd got uneasy and more and more agitated before Raghnall calmed the crowd with an authoritative growl.
'I understand your uneasiness and your worries. That's why we, the council, have decided to move away from this place.'
'But this place has been our home since forever!!'
'How can we leave our home?!?'
'Where are we even going?'
Raghnall gave a bone-shaking growl, reverberating in everyone's hearts.
'I very well know, that our roots lie here. Although it may be a long time ago, I too was once born here and have since then always called this place my home. But there is no other choice. Either we abandon this place or we die with it. But remember well who we are, members of the light wolves and fellow wolf races. We were born with a duty and a task to fulfil. We are not allowed to extinguish lightly.
We have existed since aeons and our identity was never bound to a place. Our duty and task, our past, present and future determine who we are. But I won't force you to leave this place. I leave you with your own decision to make.
Will you leave? Or stay?'