By the time everyone had settled in for the night, it was 0200. Sakura stirred awake just before noon, her eyes fluttering open as she instinctively scanned the area. The twins, bundled together like penguins braving a snowstorm, were still fast asleep. Their winter coats shimmered faintly in the daylight, and Alec's paw twitched as he drooled in his sleep.
Michael was perched on the cliff's edge above them, basking in the sunlight while keeping a vigilant eye on their surroundings. Jack was on all fours in the bushes, retching loudly, his ears pinned back in discomfort.
Sakura sighed and took a deep breath, her senses sharpening. She noticed the soft, warm fur beneath her and turned her head to see what—or who—she was leaning on. Athen's massive seven-foot-long wolf form lay beside her, his dark fur rising and falling steadily with his breaths. His sharp, blue eyes were fixed on Jack.
"What's goin' on?" Sakura asked groggily, stretching her arms overhead as she yawned.
Athen turned his head toward her. "Oh, good, you're awake. We were just about to head out."
"Wicklow Mountains National Park?" she asked.
"Yeah," Athen replied, returning back to human form. "I hope you are ready for it."
After Jack finished puking, he slumped down beside the group in human form, rubbing his temples with a groan. "Ugh, me head's killing me."
Sakura tilted her head, curiosity in her crimson eyes. "What happened last night? And why are ya suddenly speakin' with an Irish accent?"
Athen rolled his eyes and leaned back against a boulder. "He did what every Irishman does best—drank until he couldn't stand."
Sakura chuckled, her tone teasing. "Where'd ya even get alcohol? At the store earlier?"
Jack smirked, reaching into his pocket to reveal a flask. He held it up proudly. "Yep. Michael and I kept watch, and, well… I might've had a little too much fun."
Athen's glare sharpened. "Fun? It was Michael's watch last night. When it's your turn, you'd better not pull that stunt again. Our job is to keep her safe, not nurse your hangovers."
Jack took a casual swig from his flask, ignoring Athen's disapproving stare. "Relax, mate. I know my limits. I wouldn't mess up during my shift."
Athen's jaw tightened, his icy gaze fixed on Jack, clearly unconvinced. He made a mental note: Jack's not to be trusted alone on guard duty. After a moment, he exhaled and spoke with a measured tone.
"The twins need to start taking shifts at night anyway. They can assist and learn while it's your watch. That way, we can all share the responsibility evenly."
Jack groaned, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "Fine. Whatever you say, boss."
"Ya know, lads, I don't remember much about me primary school years here," Sakura said. "But I reckon I can help somehow with the search to find me father."
Athen leaned back against the boulders, crossing his arms as he studied her. "What can you remember?" he asked, his tone gentle but curious.
Sakura stared into the flickering flames, her brows furrowing as she dug through fragmented memories. "Aye," she began, hesitating. "I never spoke to anyone back then. Fear followed me like a shadow every day. No one taught me how to talk to other children, so friendship was always off the table."
"Feck 'em, babes," Jack interjected, taking a swig from his flask. "It wasn't your fault no one wanted ya around. They were supposed to teach ya to socialize by a certain age, but those social workers messed up. Vomited up their responsibilities, didn't they? Now ya stuck with us, whether ya like it or not."
Athen frowned, snatching the flask from Jack's hand with a sharp motion. "That's enough drinking for you, lightweight," he said firmly.
"Why so rude?" Jack shot back, his tone defensive and slurred.
"We've got a job to do, and you're sitting here getting pissed," Athen argued.
"I've earned the right to drink," Jack snapped, his voice rising. "I almost lost me boyfriend to that damn psychopath!"
Athen's expression softened slightly, but his voice remained steady. "Hey, take it easy. That's still Sakura's father you're talking about. For all we know, he could have a logical explanation for why he betrayed us. Maybe the robotic tech fried his brain. That's why we're here—to find out."
Jack's eyes narrowed, his voice low and heated. "There are no grey lines with betrayal, Athen. He made his choice, and I'll make damn sure he rots for the rest of his life when we catch him."
A tense silence fell over the group. No one had expected Jack's anger to bubble over like this, revealing an aggressive side none of them were used to. The fire crackling was the only sound as they exchanged uneasy glances.
Michael perched on the cliff's edge, his sharp eyes scanning the sprawling forest below. Suddenly, his ears twitched, and he snapped his head to the right. His body tensed, and he growled, "Shit, they're here."
Athen and Sakura whipped their heads up toward him, alarm flashing in their eyes. "What's going on up there?" Athen called, his voice echoing through the clearing.
Michael's answer came not in words but in the deafening crash of something tearing through the underbrush. A hulking robotic wolf burst into view, its gleaming steel frame catching the sunlight. Red eyes burned with artificial malice as they fixed their gaze on Michael.
The metallic creature lunged with precision and speed, its heavy frame barely disturbing the ground as it charged.
Michael braced himself, rising to all fours with a snarl. His claws dug deep into the earth, anchoring him in place. "How the hell did you bastards find us?" he roared.
The robotic wolf refused to respond; it only bared its serrated teeth as it closed the distance. He lowered his head and smashed his metal skull against Michael's collarbone. The pain was unbearable; Michael gave in and fell back. Instead of collapsing on the grass, his body rolled with the robotic wolf and fell beyond the cliff below.
The twins, oblivious to the fight, slept soundly underneath them as the shadow of their doom loomed closer. Sakura reached out her arms at a far distance and shouted, "Hey, watch out!"
Jack leaped into action and pulled them to safety as Michael and the robotic wolf smashed to the dirt floor. The twins shook themselves awake in terror of the beast struggling to stand before them.
The mechanical sounds of whirring gears and snapping branches filled the air as the beast prepared to strike, and Michael crouched lower, ready to meet it head-on. The pack was about to face yet another battle, but this time, they were prepared to defend Sakura with everything they had.
The twins were on their feet instantly, snarling as they flanked the robotic creature. Alec charged first, his powerful jaws snapping at the wolf's leg, but his teeth skidded off the reinforced metal. Alex darted around, attempting to attack from behind, but the robot spun faster than expected, slashing at him with serrated claws.
Athen immediately stepped between Sakura and the fray, his massive wolf form towering over her protectively. "Stay behind me!" he growled.
The robotic wolf's voice crackled. "Kenjiro knows his daughter is alive. He's sent me to retrieve her."
Sakura gasped, her hands trembling as those words sank in. "Me, father?"
"He won't have her!" Athen roared. He lunged forward, slamming into the robotic wolf with enough force to send it skidding backward.
Jack joined the fight, circling the enemy and coordinating with the twins. Shaking off his shock, Michael re-entered the battle, clawing at the wolf's exposed joints. Sparks flew as metal met flesh and fury.
The robotic wolf howled, its voice cold and mechanical. "You cannot stop Kenjiro. He will come for her, and none of you will survive."
"Like hell, he will!" Michael snarled, landing a decisive blow to its side, creating a dent in its armor.
Athen seized the opening, ripping into the creature's shoulder with his fangs. Jack and the twins followed suit; their combined strength overwhelmed the beast. With one final, earth-shaking crash, the machine collapsed in a heap of twisted metal and flickering lights.
Athen turned to Sakura, breathing heavily, his wolf form towering over her protectively. "Are you okay?"
Sakura nodded, though her hands were still trembling. "Aye... but me father... he knows I'm alive?"
Athen shifted back into his human form, his gaze steady and resolute. "We won't let him take you."
Michael panted heavily, taking a moment to steady his breathing. "One werewolf's actions don't reveal Kenjiro's exact location, but they do tell us one thing—we're too close for comfort. His rebel pack could be nearby."
Athen nodded grimly. "Yeah, we need to stay on high alert out here. No more slip-ups."
Sakura crouched by the fallen robotic wolf, studying it closely. "Is this werewolf from the island?" she asked, crimson eyes narrowing at its features. The remnants of its flesh suggested it once had a light brown coat and piercing dark brown eyes.
Athen sighed, his voice heavy. "Yeah, unfortunately, it is."
Sakura tilted her head. "How can you tell?"
Jack stepped closer, pointing to the lifeless creature's eyes with his paw. "Our kind has a distinct glow in our eyes. It's something that can't be passed on to ordinary wolves. And look at its tail—thicker than a regular wolf's. Plus, we're not... well, filthy."
Athen chuckled dryly, adding, "Oh, and normal wolves don't talk."
Sakura's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she realized she'd forgotten that detail. "Right... of course," she murmured.
Alex approached the robotic wolf, sniffing its body cautiously. "He's from Chibu Island. Our village."
At this revelation, Alec's ears drooped, and his head lowered in sorrow. "Why would anyone from our village betray us like this?" he whispered, his voice trembling. "After everything we've done to protect them, why would they join Kenjiro?"
"They're afraid," Jack replied quietly. "The world is a terrifying place, and they probably thought siding with Kenjiro was their best chance at survival. Desperation makes people do terrible things."
Athen scoffed. "Cowards, all of them. They sold their souls to the enemy."
The group fell silent, each lost in their thoughts. The betrayal of one of their own cut deeper than any wound.
Michael's sharp eyes caught a faint red flash from the robotic werewolf's body. Was it a recording device? His curiosity turned to alarm as he pushed the beast onto its back for a closer inspection. The sound of approaching helicopters from the nearby town sent a chill down his spine.
Athen noticed his tense posture and frowned. "What's wrong?"
"There's something on its body," Michael replied, examining it more closely.
Jack lowered his head to inspect it. "What? Let me see." Without waiting, he clamped his jaws around the device and yanked it out, leaving a spray of sparks in its wake. He dropped the gadget onto the ground, and the pack gathered around for a better look.
Athen crouched, narrowing his eyes at the engraved lettering on the device. "Wait a second... it says Azumi Corp."
Michael furrowed his brow. "Azumi Corp? What's that?"
Athen's blood ran cold as the realization struck him. "Shit! It's a tracking device. We've been compromised. We need to move—now!"
Panic swept over them. Sakura instinctively leaped onto Athen's back, clutching his thick fur tightly as he prepared to run. The pack bolted from the clearing, paws pounding against the forest floor.
The roar of helicopter blades grew deafening, and shadows swept over the treetops. Men leaned out of the choppers, their rifles aimed downward, ready to strike.
Sakura tilted her head skyward. "Athen, they're right above us!"
"Hold on tight!" Athen growled, pushing himself to run faster than ever before. Trees blurred past as the pack raced for their lives, the ominous sound of the helicopters closing in.
Athen pushed himself to the limit, weaving deftly between the trees as gunfire cracked through the forest. "Keep your head down!" he shouted to Sakura.
The pack ran tirelessly, their powerful legs carrying them across the terrain. After what felt like miles, they finally crossed the borders of Wicklow Mountains National Park, the dense forest giving way to open plains. Gradually, the sounds of gunfire ceased.
Breathing heavily, Sakura dared to glance back over her shoulder. The helicopters pursuing them were retreating, their thunderous rotors fading into the distance. Animals scattered across the plains, seeking shelter from the commotion.
"Wait!" Sakura called out. "They're gone!"
Athen skidded to a halt, his claws digging into the earth as he turned to confirm it with his own eyes. The rest of the pack followed, their breaths heavy but relieved.
"Well, would you look at that..." Athen muttered, his gaze fixed on the retreating helicopters.
"What happened?" Jack panted, still catching his breath. "Why'd they stop chasing us?"
Athen allowed a small, knowing smile to cross his face. "We're in a national park now. Most forms of hunting are illegal here. I remembered that from our high school field trip."
Sakura turned toward him, her face lighting up with admiration. Without hesitation, she leaned forward and kissed his big, wet nose. "You're incredible, Athen," she said warmly. "Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
Athen blinked, momentarily stunned, before his smile grew wider. "Wow, yeah," he replied, his voice softer now. "Let's keep moving. We're not out of danger yet."
The pack moved effortlessly across the open plains, their strides smooth and synchronized as they approached a sprawling bog. Dragonflies shimmered in vibrant hues, flitting gracefully among the bilberry bushes and tufts of bog cotton.
Majestic falcons perched in the nearby trees took flight, their broad wings slicing through the air as they soared above, circling to observe the unusual sight of werewolves below. Sakura stared at their sheer size, but the thought of one diving down with razor-sharp talons sent a shiver down her spine. She instinctively lowered her head, unwilling to risk becoming their next meal.
Despite her unease, she couldn't deny the park's beauty. The serene wilderness held a magic she had never experienced before. She wished they could linger here for a fleeting moment, soaking in the tranquility, even if just for a little while.