"… There has to be another way…"
My head popped up to look up at Curtis. Devon stopped, turning to look to him as well. Curtis seemed shocked, like he hadn't realized he was the one that spoke. He almost looked alarmed that we could understand him. Of course, Devon shared a similar expression.
"… What do you know about our ways?"
"I mean, I don't… Not really. I just know what Abby-" Curtis stopped himself, shaking his head. "Not important. But this doesn't seem right… Isn't there some other way? For you to stay?"
I couldn't help but stare at him. He had this intense, determined look on his face. Why was he trying so badly to stop this? We all stood in silence and Devon was about to speak when a soft voice piped up from the edge of the woods.
"Perhaps… There is another way…"
We all turned to see the elder white wolf slowly emerge from the treeline. As she came closer, I could see that the time I had been away had not treated her well. She looked much more frail and weak. Her eyes held a certain glassiness to them, but the wisdom they held was still all too evident.
"Kala…"
The old she-wolf nodded as she stood before Curtis. Kala sniffed at him and then managed to sit in front of him. Her eyes drifted to me and a small weak smile crossed her lips.
"Let me tell you all a story… About Eva and her brother, Eren…"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Filene, what's the matter with her," an older wolf growled, the hint of a whimper hidden in his voice.
"Ezekiel… Let us speak elsewhere," an old, brown wolf whispered.
The two stepped outside of the cave. A brown wolf was standing over his mate with great worry covering his face. His mate panted heavily before him. Her ash gray fur heaved up and down with each labored breath. She seemed to be in a distressed state, not really aware that her mate was there.
"Benry…" A young white wolf whispered from the mouth of the cave.
She came to sit beside the worried male and seemed to try to console him. He turned briefly to see her before looking back to his mate.
"I fear the worst, Kala… Aras… She's in so much pain…"
"She'll be okay…"
"How can you know?" Benry's voice came out in a light growl as he shook his head. "This is her first litter and I can't- To see her like this and not be able to help her… I don't think I can-"
"… You must have faith, my friend..."
The two sat in silence and could only watch helplessly as Aras struggled. Her faint whines and whimpers were the only sound in the cave. Ezekiel returned with Filene behind him. Kala turned to meet with her mentor and the older she-wolf gave her a solemn look. Kala's eyes filled with sadness and turned to Ezekiel. The leader turned away from her and went to his son.
Ezekiel whispered something to Benry and he jumped to his feet with a snarl.
"No! There must be something we can do!"
His eyes flashed to Filene and Kala with rage and fear. Kala cowered slightly. She could feel the intense emotions of her friend mixed with the Alpha bloodline and they both shook her to her core.
"… If Aras is strong enough," Filene started softly, "Her pups will survive… But she-"
"Stop."
Benry let out a deep growl before returning to his mate's side and resting beside her. They all watched him for a moment before Ezekiel turned and left, Filene following behind him. She tried to convince Kala to come as well, but the young she-wolf refused. Benry remained silent and Kala tried to step up to him.
"Benry…"
"Leave me, Kala."
The low growl that echoed through the cave and the flash of his eyes meeting hers sent shivers down her spine. She paused before nodding softly and leaving the cave, her head low and tail dragging the ground. The whole pack was silent and it seemed they all grieved for their leader's son and his mate. Much time had passed when the painful howl broke the silence. Ezekiel went into the cave for his son and the two exitted. Benry walked weakly, leaning on his father for support as grief had wrecked his body. Kala tried to call out to him, but he didn't even acknowledge her.
Filene called Kala to come with her and they entered the cave. Tiny cries faintly echoed from the walls as they came to Aras's body. Two little pups cried out, shuffling on the cave floor in search of their mother's warmth.
"Twins…".
Kala felt the tears burn in her eyes as Filene spoke. She stepped up and buried her face into her sister's neck, letting the tears spill out freely. Filene stepped up beside her and took one of the pups in her jaws, giving Kala a sympathetic look. Kala nodded gently as she took the other. Ezekiel sent for a few males to move Aras's body and prepare her for the ascension home.
Ezekiel and Filene entrusted one of the other new pack mother's to raise the two pups that would carry on the Alpha bloodline. Benry's heart was filled with loss for his mate, but he knew he needed to care for her pups. He did his very best, albeit he was sterner than most.
The pups grew up well and Benry's heart began to heal with each passing day. Then, a great illness spread through the pack. It had taken his father long before his time, forcing Benry to take on the role of Leader. He did his best to protect his pack from the illness with Filene at his side, but many lives were taken. His world was shattered once again when his own son, Eren, was infected.
"Eren… Please… Stop," his sister, Eva, begged.
Eren was writhing on the ground in pain and his sister tried her best to comfort and help him, but it was all to no avail. Filene came up to Eva's side and began pulling her away.
"Come, Eva… Your brother needs his rest…"
Eva nodded reluctantly and followed her back out of the cave, always glancing over her shoulder at her twin. Kala came in after they stepped out and went to Benry who sat in the shadows of the corner.
"… Benry…"
"I know."
Benry's voice was empty of any emotion, no matter how heavy the grief laid on his face. Kala tried to comfort him, but he left quickly, brushing past her. She watched him leave with sadness in her eyes. She knew his heart was heavy and it hurt her knowing he had closed himself off. Kala wanted nothing more than to help her leader and, to her, brother. She turned her eyes to the pup in pain.
"Come, little one…," Kala whispered, lifting him by the scruff of his neck and carrying him out of the cave.
Kala took him a long way from the pack. She made sure she was on the territory edge before stopping and setting the pup down. Her emotions overwhelmed her and she could maintain her composure no longer. She watched as one of her sister's pups writhed in pain. He was dead the moment the illness hit. His mouth foamed with every raspy breath he took and his eyes were already glazing over. He hadn't been able to eat or drink for days, now. It took all he had to fight this long.
Kala looked up at the darkening sky, begging for some relief. But there was no answer for her… Her gaze returned to Eren and she pressed her forehead to his one last time.
"Go home… Be with your mother…"
The sudden snap sent the birds nearby fluttering wildly into the air. The whole wood fell silent and empty. Kala felt weak, her knees buckling under her frame. She fell beside the limp body at her feet and let her head rest atop him. Pain wrecked her entire body and she felt that her heart would burst.
She remained like that for quite some time; how long, she didn't know. Rustling in the bushes behind her caused her head to pop up. She felt the familiar warmth against her neck and she relaxed into it, continuing to let the tears fall out.
"… Come, Kala… It's time."
Benry's voice was soft and she nodded slowly, rising to her feet. He made sure she was stable before lifting Eren's body gently from the ground. He shared a sympathetic look with Kala before they headed up to the mountain top; to Heaven's Gate.
The pack had already prepared the other wolves that had been taken by the illness. As Benry approached they bowed their heads and Kala went to join Feline and Eva. Eva's eyes were on the ground, but with Kala's approach, she nuzzled into the she-wolf. Kala embraced her before looking back to Benry. He placed Eren's body with the others and paused briefly. He turned back and took his place alongside Feline as the beam from the moon descended. It's light fell upon the fallen wolves and their spirit's slowly rose from the bodies.
Eren rose and had a panicked look on his face. His eyes met Eva's and he ran to her. The two embraced one another with whines and whimpers. Eren then turned to see his father and Benry smiled gently. He ran to Benry and nuzzled up into his father's fur. Benry slowly came to embrace his son, whispering reassurances into his ear. Kala couldn't force herself to look at him. She felt guilty for what she had done.
Her eyes shot open suddenly as she felt Eren nuzzle against her. Tears overwhelmed her once more as she cried, embracing him. The two let out soft whines and cried together. Kala caught a familiar figure standing just inside the light and looked up to see Aras waiting. Eren turned around and, although he had never gotten to see his mother, he knew who she was. He ran up to her and she happily embraced him. She looked to Eva and Benry with a soft smile and then to her sister.
Aras nodded lightly to Kala and then turned back towards the beam, Eren following. As the last of the wolves began to do the same, the pack's howls began to ring out into the night. Aras passed the barrier and Eren approached it, but paused looking out into the distance. Kala watched him with confusion and her eyes widened with shock. Eren's eyes met hers and then he bolted off the stairway. She looked up to her mentor, but she was lost in song. She looked to Benry, hoping he had seen it, too, but he was the same. All around her, her pack mates were singing their songs of farewell. Kala looked back up at the moon as the light faded away. She shook her head and convinced herself that she imagined it.
The pack finished their songs and slowly began their descent. Feline left with Benry and Eva, leaving Kala who stayed behind. She glanced back up at the moon, the scene playing through her head. She shook her head again and then glanced down at Eren's body. She let out one last soft howl before following after the rest of the pack.
The wind seemed to sing and dance through the trees. The leaves caught up in it's melody, dancing through the air. They whisked over and around the wolves, especially around a young brown pup… The wind carried its dancers away into the night and deep through the forest. They ran along the waters until they entered a bright bustling city. Dodging cars and people, the wind came to a gentle stop outside a hospital. A young boy had just awoken from a coma after an accident that the doctor's feared he would never recover from. His parents cried tears of joy, thankful for their miracle…
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Curtis's eyes filled with tears. I stared at him and then my eyes fell back to Kala. She had a small smiling curling her features.
"I sense Eren's spirit inside you…," Kala started softly. "He is more like his sister than even we knew… Choosing to help another even though he could go home to an eternal peace…"
"Eva's brother… Saved Curtis… But that's imp-" I started, but Kala cut me off with a light chuckle.
"After all you have been through, young wolf… Can you really assume anything to be impossible? You are a wolf who was once a child of the human world… And, here before you, a human who was once a wolf of our world…"
Curtis had been staring off into space like he was trying to wrap his head around it, but it appeared that what Kala said was true.
"Curtis?" He turned to me quickly as if I had pulled him from his thoughts. "Is it true? You had an accident?"
"... I was about 6… I fell off my parent's balcony… My mother told me when I was older that I was in a coma for weeks… They thought I wasn't going to make it and the doctor said there was no chance of recovery… They were about to sign the paperwork and turn off life support when I suddenly woke up… The doctors couldn't explain it…"
His eyes trailed back to Kala who merely smiled gently with a nod. Kala turned to me and she motioned toward the book.
"I believe what you need to solve your problems is under the last page."
My eyes widened with shock and I saw the same look on Devon and Curtis's face. Curtis went and picked the book up cautiously. He flipped it over and opened the back cover and looked at me in surprise.
"Abby… It's a note… From Elevie."
I stepped up beside him and he kneeled down in the grass with me, showing me the small note.
"I don't know why you need this or what it'll do," Curtis began reading, "But I had a dream about you. There was something really bad that happened and you were lost. The next morning, I told the shrike about it and he said this would help you. Hope it works out for you."
Beneath her note was a spell. Curtis looked between Devon and Kala and then down at me. He went to the note and started reading the spell.
"Tradition Bro-"
"Curtis, wait!" He looked at me confused. "You don't know what that spell will even do! What're you thinking!"
He stared at me for a moment before smiling softly.
"Abby… When I first met you, I didn't know what to think of you. But when you started telling me your stories, I felt drawn to them, like something was calling to me. And I felt drawn to you. I wanted to protect you… To comfort you… In all honesty, I thought that I was falling for you." He let out a small sigh before continuing. "But something just didn't seem right… Now, having heard Eren's story, it all makes sense. It wasn't me being drawn to you, not entirely at least. It was Eren being drawn to his sister… I know that I have feelings for you, Abby, but I also know that your heart belongs to someone else." Curtis turned to Devon with a small nod of acceptance.
"If this is something I can do to make you happy, and I'm sure make Eren happy as well, I want to do it for you."
I could hear the sincerity in his tone and it brought tears to my eyes. I felt his hand run along the side of my face and leaned into it before nodding slowly. Curtis smiled and turned back to the note, clearing his voice and speaking firmly.
"Tradition Broken… Life Regained… Words Unspoken… Now Refrained… Repay the Price… In Another's Place… Returned Twice… Love's Embrace…"
A bright light erupted from Curtis's chest, causing me to cry out. It blinded me as it engulfed everyone. The light faded and Curtis fell backwards, barely able to catch himself as he let out a gasp of air. I helped support Curtis and he pulled himself back to his knees. I looked at the beam and another wolf stood where Devon had been. His features were so similar to my own, it felt like I was looking at a reflection of myself. The wolf smiled gently before turning to Kala.
"… This old wolf has raised them both well in the end," she smiled, rising to her paws, "But it is also this one's time to go home…"
I watched as she stepped into the beam, her body withering away into a dust-like state and leaving only her spirit. She embraced the other wolf and turned back to me with a small nod. The two of them left into the beam without another word. I watched as they disappeared into the light and the darkness fell around us once more. Only the faint light of the dying lantern to illuminate the world around us.
"Abby…?"
My heart jumped at the sound of his voice as I looked towards where Devon's body had laid. I raced to him without a second thought as he slowly rose to his feet. He turned to face me and I saw those dazzling blue eyes I'd always loved.
"Devon," I whined, overwhelmed with happiness.
I leapt at him and toppled him over, nuzzling into him fiercely. I suddenly stopped, remembering the gunshot wound and looked to see that it was gone, like it had never even happened. Devon smiled at me softly and I felt him press his face into my neck. I took in a deep breath, letting myself take in his warmth once more. Tears of joy rolled down my face and I felt like I'd collapse from all the happiness in my body.
I saw Curtis move from the corner of my eye as he stood, brushing off his clothes. He looked at me with a smile and I turned to face him.
"Guess this is good-bye again, huh," he chuckled softly. I tried to speak, but it didn't seem like he could understand me anymore. He held up a hand and shook his head with a smile. "I know, Abby… You're back where you belong."
He gave a soft nod to Devon before going to pick up his pack from the porch. He took the lantern and headed for the edge of the woods. Curtis gave me one last look before disappearing into the woods. I watched as the light of the lantern got smaller and smaller until it was gone. I let out a howl that echoed through the air as my final farewell.
"Abby… We need to go to the pack…"
It still gave me a rush, being able to hear his voice again. I turned back to him with a worried look as my nightmare flashed through my mind.
"Something terrible is happening isn't it?"
"Dark magic is still affecting the forest... The prey is scarce and what we do find is diseased… Benry is about to move the pack..."
"Tobias."
I growled out his name as I remembered what he had done. Devon gave me a confused look so I explained what he had said about taking revenge on the wolves.
"He must have cursed the land…"
I watched as Devon's face grew worried and I stepped up to him, burying my face in his fur. He embraced me and stared into my eyes as I pulled back.
"Whatever we face now, we'll face it together. Okay?"
I smiled gently and he shook his head with a chuckle. His smile set my heart aflutter once again. We bolted into the woods, breaking the treeline and I took a deep breath, relishing in the scents I had long missed. My heart beat wild with excitement in my chest as I saw Devon race up past me. We were going to have to face the curse that Tobias placed on the land, but I knew that as long as we were together, we could handle anything. I was finally home and I wasn't giving it up ever again.
***** A/N: If you like what you've read or are enjoying things so far, lemme know! I appreciate any feedback anybody wants to give! Thanks! *****