Chereads / The Land of Ancients / Chapter 5 - Chapter 4: Visitor

Chapter 5 - Chapter 4: Visitor

The rain fell, and it continued to fall for a long time, lightning dashed across the sky and thunder rumbled and boomed between intervals.

The rain pelted everything in its path without letting up, there didn't seem to be an end to the rain.

A fire had been lit in the fireplace to keep the house warm, the fire ever so often would flicker with the passing of strong winds raging from the outside. The howling of the wind could be heard from cracks within the house, no water had been able to leak through the ceiling nor the walls.

-BANG!

The door of the house swung open with a bang a large man entered through carrying a stack of wood within his arms. The sound of him panting could be heard, probably from trying to find wood and also from how cold it's getting.

His crimson vibrant eyes can be seen under his hood, they glow an eerie color for a moment before a magic circle appears within his hands and steam rises from the wood. "There the wood should be dry enough to burn now." Conrad says with a smug grin.

Angelica looks at Conrad and smiles in his direction, "Yes that's why I had you go out and gather wood since you wouldn't get wet with your fire magic." Conrad looks back at Angelica with a hurt look. "Ah, so I'm just a walking fireplace for gathering and drying wood now aren't I?" Without missing a beat Angelica responds "Yes."

"'Sigh' I should have guessed you would say that, anyways how's little Art faring with this weather?" Conrad switches the subject while placing the newly dried wood next to the fireplace.

"He's doing good as usual, never cries which is nice, but also concerning at times since it's rare that he'll cry." Angelica responds after some thought.

"Guess our blood really does run through him, ay? He's weird just like us." Conrad says loudly with a broad smile and a boisterous laugh.

"Shhhh, you'll wake him up, with your monstrous volume." Warns Angelica.

"Ah- haha, sorry my bad honey." Conrad quietly says while scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.

**

Smoke rises from the wood placed within the fireplace, it travels up and exits through the chimney and disperses into the air. Looking into the house, a faint and warm glow emits from within, it resembles a fragile candle fighting against the wind.

What Conrad did not realize was that he was followed on his way back, the reason behind why he did not notice this being following him was because the being held no hostile intentions towards him. It attempted to garner his attention, but alas the storm blew away any attempts being made.

It hobbled and limped its way through the treacherous storm threatening to blow away it's candle of life.

-Thud!

The being raised its head trying to figure out what it had bumped into, it resembled a wooden door. 'Have I finally made it to where I tried to follow?' The being wondered, but it had very little time to think as the storm threatened its fragile existence.

It attempted multiple ways in order to garner the attention of the dwellers within the building behind the door, but to no avail.

'I don't want to die!' It pleaded desperately

It was beginning to give up on trying to enter the building and accept its fated death. It was then that the door suddenly opened and warmth rushed towards the being which had curled up waiting for its inevitable death.

**

"Shhhh, you'll wake him up, with your monstrous volume." Said my mother.

'Too late for that, I've already woken up by him entering the house, I've just been faking it because I'm bored.' Its been a few days since the rain started, and when I say a few days I mean like two weeks so far by my count.

Luckily this house sits on a hill, so even if floods occur we'll be fine for the most part. During the time we've been stuck in this house because of the storm, I've been able to start forming simple words and I can finally walk on my two legs.

I also noticed some strange occurrences happening within my body but I can't pin it yet.

'I don't want to die!' A voice suddenly pleads into my mind.

I start hearing subtle thuds and scratches against the door, but it seems that my parents haven't noticed the sounds, which is odd.

I lift my body and start trying to grab my parents attention. "Mama, Papa!" I then start pointing at the door.

"The door? Do you want the door to be open?" My father looks at me in question.

I nod my head at his remark and it confuses him more but he shrugs and walks to the door. Before he reaches the door he tilts his head because it's then that he begins to hear the subtle sounds. 'I'm impressed Art was able to hear that, interesting.'

The sounds stopped and didn't continue which concerned Conrad and so he hurried to the door and proceeded to open it. When he opens it he pokes his head out and looks out trying to find what caused the sound, he didn't notice anything until he heard a slight whine and whimper.

"Hm? Oh my, you poor thing did you get lost in the storm?" Conrad says while he looks down and sees a fluffy ball curled up. It was a wolf pup which had pure dark fur, it was dirtied and wet from all the mud and rain that it traveled through.

"I have never seen a wolf with such a dark coat of fur. How intriguing." Conrad quietly mutters while staring at the wolf. "Oh? And it's a girl too!"

"Honey, please stop being weird and bring the poor thing inside." Angelica states to her oddball husband.

"Okay okay I'll bring her in!" Conrad closed the door while holding the pup in his arms and slowly set her down near the fireplace to warm up. "Hey Art, want to see a puppy?"

'Finally they remember I'm here.' I think before I exclaim a bright "Yes!" and then get sat near the wolf pup. After a closer look this pup is really unique, her fur is a midnight red while her eyes are an amethyst.

'Human. Child?'

Eh? Did this wolf just talk? It even talked into my head. I look around and see if my parents heard it too, they didn't seem to because my mother is getting something to dry and keep the wolf warm and also bring it some food. My father looks to be keeping an eye on the fire for when wood is needed.

I closed my eyes and thought of a response to see if the wolf responds to it. I look back at the wolf and it has wide eyes and its amethyst eyes are looking toward me in shock and surprise. The question I had in mind was me asking what its name is.

A name appeared within my mind, I can only think this is the wolf communicating with me. "Lupa"

My father looked at me when I suddenly spoke. "Lupa? Where did that come from Art?"

"Wolf. Lupa. Name!" I responded. 'God I hate this terrible way of comminating while a child I sound so stupid.

Meanwhile the wolf which was named Lupa was quietly observing her surroundings of where she ended up. 'Maybe this can be my new home.' She though solemnly recounting her memories from before.

And so Lupa, the new member to this strange group of humans called the Lorenza's, turned to stare into the flames that flickered and wavered through the harsh weather.