Chapter 10- New Arrivals

Shadow felt fixed on the wolf unable to speak. “So what is your business here”? The wolf asked slowly peering over at Shadow. He seemed to snap out of his transfixed state as he suddenly began speaking. “We were told to head this way, to the north”. The tall wolf looked puzzled. “By whom may I ask”? Shadow thought for a moment. “Luna, the bat”. The wolf stopped for a moment somewhat surprised. “Luna you say? I haven’t heard that name in over thirty years. Come with me, we have much to discuss”. Shadow followed the wolf as his father ran to his side. “Are you alright”? James asked worriedly. “I’m fine” Shadow replied looking up at the tall wolf. “My name is David by the way”. The tall wolf spoke out. “I’m Shadow and this Crystal and James, my father”. David nodded feebly. Shadow hadn’t noticed but he did look rather old; he looked oddly like Arnoue, although the thought of Arnoue deeply upset Shadow. “How do you know Luna”? Crystal asked. “She arrived here a long time ago, we took her in. She was badly hurt so we decided to mend her best we could. Surprisingly she recovered, but she showed so much hatred for humanity. So we taut her forgiveness and allowed her to speak with Mother Nature”. Shadow listened intensely. “She managed to gain a blessing of some sort; Luna explained that Mother Nature had given her unique powers. She left us to pursue her new life”. They stopped in a large part of the cave. Its floor was adorned with reflective crystal and ceiling and walls of hard locked frozen rock. It was an open room with wolves sitting groups talking with one another. Other’s feasting on corpses of fresh rabbits and deer. “Welcome to our home, it’s not much but it’s a place to stay”. David said quietly. Shadow looked around and met gaze with his father. He seemed concerned and slightly confused. “Something a matter”? Shadow asked. James shook his head and smiled. “No nothing”. David stopped in front of Shadow. “Could I have a private word with you and your friend Crystal”? “Sure”. Crystal and Shadow replied looking at each other then to James. He shrugged and looked up at the ceiling. Shadow followed David into a small corner where he seemed to turn tense. “What happened, where is Luna”? Shadow looked to Crystal and back. “We don’t know, but we recovered this before we were sent through a portal she used to guide us this way”. Shadow held up the Shadow Stone. David’s eyes lit up. “That stone has been gone for centuries”. Shadow looked at it strangely. “Its last owner was a wolf and that was a thousand years ago”. David shook his head. The real owner and creator of that stone was Simithra, one Mother Nature’s three sisters”. “I didn’t know she had any sisters”. Crystal said looking fixed at the stone. “They all died several thousand years ago, I don’t know the whole story but Simithra and the other sisters all came together and created the stone as a way to overpower Mother Nature and steal her position of power. This was long before any other being walked the planet”. Shadow was shocked by the knowledge. “Since that time the stone vanished after the sisters died, until now. Mind if I hold it”? David asked as he extended his paw. “No go ahead”. Shadow replied handing the stone over. “Only half of it remains”… Shadow began to speak but stopped looking at Crystal’s concerned look. “We never found the other half”. Crystal said. “Even finding just this piece is good; I’ll store it with the other artifacts”. David turned and walked away. “Chanoue has a piece too”. Shadow whispered to Crystal. She looked at him with a fearful expression. “That mean’s he’s one step ahead of us”. Shadow turned away and David came back around. “You two make yourself at home. There is a separate cave down the corridor behind me”. Shadow nodded and thanked him returning to James. “What did he want”? James asked. “He just wanted to show us a place to stay”. Shadow led James into the separate cave. It was small but warm providing space for all of them. They all lay down resting after a long days travel with the mysteries thickening even more.

 

 

 

Shadow awoke along side Crystal. They went out for breakfast finding fresh dear from the hunting party. David had been sitting in a corner all morning examining the stone intently. They walked up to him while fresh sunlight gleamed through the roof and warmed the cave. David was holding the stone up to the light examining it with interest. Shadow explained how he had communicated with Donvu through the stone. “So you say you’ve seen things inside this stone”? David asked still looking over the stone. Shadow nodded. David took his eyes off the stone to look down at Shadow with confusion then he returned to looking at it. “I’ve never imagined it being used as a communication device; this stone truly holds many secrets”. Shadow kept his eyes on the stone as well wondering where Donvu was at this time. “Which reminds me”. David said quietly. He stood up and walked back into one of the tunnels, after a few moments he returned with a large book in one of his paws. “What’s that”? Crystal asked eyeing the large book with interest. “We all wonder what it is, look at the front cover”. On the front of the book was a symbol resembling the Shadow Stone and a leaf behind it. “I was given it by a friend of mine. We believe it to be Simithra’s diary”. Shadow reached out for it and David handed it to him. “Problem is there’s nothing written on it, all the pages appear blank”. Shadow scanned over the first page and caught a glimpse of small writing in the top corner. “What about this? There’s some writing”. Shadow said pointing it out as David leaned over to look. It read:

 

 

As the years have passed I now rest among the great oaks, the seas moved to my song but now I am here to stay. Eternal peace beckons me, I wish for life to never forget my presence on this earth. My death marks the end of an era. This is my home for where I stay.

 

 

 Shadow looked up from the book. “What does it all mean”? David sat back in his spot and gave an absentminded arm wave. “We have seen the writing before but we never managed to decipher what it meant”. Shadow began to speak but the same small green eyed wolf from earlier came bursting in next to them panting hard. “Earl? What’s the trouble”? Earl panted hard catching his breath then stood up with fear in his eyes. “It’s Houdrine and his goons again; he’s out near the front”! David sighed. “This useless trouble again, he’s going to get someone hurt, I better go sort this out”. David stood up and turned to Crystal and Shadow both staring confused. “You can come along if you like”. Shadow followed after David along with Crystal at his side. They went out through the open cave to a large entrance engraved in ice and stone. Standing at the entrance was a white female wolf with a blue necklace and bared teeth. The wolf in front of her was fairly large with dark brown fur. Behind him were two other wolves, one black and one grey. “Get out of here Houdrine before I rip your eye out. Houdrine was missing one eye and had a scar across the spot where it once had been. His other eye was an emerald green. “Oh Shamile, your aggression outstands your beauty”. Shamile was not amused and she growled with anger. “I’m not into the flirty types especially someone like you”. Houdrine ripped his gaze up around Shamile to look at David approaching with a scowl on his face. “Oh if isn’t the glory hound”. David rolled his eyes and stamped his foot down between Shamile and Houdrine. “What do want this time”? Houdrine wobbled his head around amusedly. “Just to cause chaos, you know how much I love chaos”. David growled down at him being somewhat larger than Houdrine. “You won’t find any here. Scurry off and go scavenge off a fox’s kill”. David turned his back away apparently done with the conversation. Shadow watched as suddenly Houdrine jumped onto David’s back and bit into it. David barked and bucked Houdrine off him. Falling off, Houdrine called out with satisfaction and amusement. “Best not turn your back on me David”. David glared with intensive fury. He hated Houdrine of all wolves he ever met. “You’re an annoying git David, but your flesh is so tasty”. David turned his head to the wound on his back and rounded back on Houdrine. “Get out of here before we have to make you”. David said firmly through his clenched teeth. Houdrine gave a chuckle with his thin smile and walked away with his three goons following him. David sighed and closed his eyes. Shamile licked at the wound inflicted by Houdrine’s bite. “That little imp is unbelievable”. David stood up tall and patted Shamile calmly. Surprisingly David was wearing a warm smile. “Why’d you let him get away with that”? Shadow asked bewildered. “He isn’t worth it. Besides, he’s much more capable than you think”. Shadow looked confused at David wondering how a small time nut like Houdrine was any threat. “He’s a cannibal, he eats wolves or sometimes just kills for fun; its disrespect to Natures creatures”. “So you’ve met before”? Crystal butted in. David nodded. “Unfortunately. He comes around all the time bugging our brothers and causing mischief and chaos as usual”. Crystal pondered for a moment. “So he hasn’t hurt anyone till now”? David again looked over his shoulder at the bite. “This is the first time; I knew he’d do something like this eventually”. Shadow stared off to where Houdrine had gone. “Why don’t you do away with him or if you have connections with Mother Nature, why doesn’t she get rid of him”? David waved his paw in a rather casual way and scoffed. “It’s nothing we can’t handle, he will move on as the usual pathetic decibels do”. Shadow kept his eyes out into the snowy cliff side in wonder.

 

Shadow sat in the main room with Crystal. It had been three weeks since their arrival at the cave. The journal sat open like an alligator’s mouth over the table they sat at. They read the same entry over and over wondering what it meant more and more. “Maybe it symbolizes something”. Crystal suggested sitting back. “But what would it symbolize and what does it mean”? Crystal shook her head and stepped away. Shadow watched her then returned his gaze to the text. “I have to ask David something, come on”. Crystal said walking off. Shadow looked up in surprise and followed after her. David was sitting quietly with the Shadow Stone in his paws. “Yes”? He asked not looking up from the stone. Shadow wasn’t sure what Crystal was going to ask but what she did caught him by surprise. “We need help; an army of sorts”. David turned his gaze to her with a look of complete confusion. “For what, what do you mean”? David had not heard about Chanoue before. Crystal slowly told the story of how they came to the cave and about Chanoue’s plan. David looked rather scared and surprised. “I didn’t hear anything about this from Mother Nature. Shadow and Crystal exchanged nervous glances. “She should have dealt with something that big”. David breathed. He had been looking up at the ceiling breathing heavily with his paw on his chest. “This is a very important matter; we need a presentable piece of fine silk”. Shadow cocked his head and looked to Crystal who shrugged. “It’s something we use to make Mother Nature appear unless her arrival is planned”. Shadow’s eyes widened. “Were going to contract her”? David nodded now settling. “We must travel to the shrine up the mountain, several miles away. The silk should be in my cabinet, I’ll go see”. David got up and left and after a few moments stormed back in with a face of shock. “It’s not their! My cabinet is in a wreck”! He shouted. “Rumus! Rumus”! A medium golden brown wolf walked up quietly. In a calm voice he answered. “What is it David”? “We need fine silk, golden, we had some woven in my cabinet but it has disappeared and my cabinet is ruined”. Rumus seemed to become somewhat worried himself then spoke again. “I saw a strange one eyed wolf go to your cabinet the other day. I thought you had sent him there so I didn’t bother to tell you”. David looked down angrily and cursed to himself. “That was Houdrine, he must have stolen it. How he got in is beyond me”. “We should go after him then”. Shadow piped up. David looked scornfully around the room. “He could have already torn it up by now, we need to find a new piece, I know of an old fox that may be able to help”.

 

 

 

 As night fell over the mountains, Shadow laid down with Crystal and his father. Sleeping silently his mind began to fill with another dream. Shadow was standing on a high snowy mountain. He looked down in utter fear and closed his eyes. He felt himself falling; he waited for the crash when suddenly he stopped. He looked up opening his eyes. He was now in a pure white place with no visible walling or ceiling; it was just an empty space. Shadow instantly started searching for Donvu. But the white had suddenly now broken away into the luscious calm forest much like before with autumn leaves and golden sunlight. But this time the forest was damp and cold looking with rain pattering about. Shadow found himself standing on his hind legs suddenly. It was a strange feeling not having his front paws pad the ground. Standing by a large oak tree was Donvu watching curiously. Shadow looked from his legs to Donvu in the same pose. Neither of their legs were bent like they should be but stood strait like human legs. Donvu spoke more quietly than he had before. “Come, walk with me”. Shadow strolled casually over to him without speaking. Donvu broke the silence with his ancient voice. “You still have a piece of the stone”? Shadow nodded looking at Donvu’s drooped eyes. “But not the whole half”. Shadow shook his head. “Chanoue has it then, I feared this day may come”. Shadow’s ears perked at this. “You know Chanoue”? Donvu shrugged slightly. “I only know him by his actions”. Shadow nodded to himself. “How did you find that stone? It belonged to Simithra”. Donvu shut his eyes. “I came into possession of the stone by means of my great grandfather. He had it kept it with him for all his life when his father gave it to him. It performed miracles he said; it’s only showed me pain, no miracles”. Shadow thought back to the memories of Donvu’s past life and wondered what other secrets lay inside the stone. Then a sudden wonder leapt into him. “Is Travi somehow involved with Chanoue’s family”? Donvu peered over curiously at Shadow. “Travi was one of Chanoue’s many ancestors, an aristocratic Russian wolf with a troubled mind and thirst for war. I was linked as being Travi’s brother but I never shared his thoughts. Indeed I am a relative of Chanoue”. Shadow seemed to stop in dead place. This meant that Shadow was related to Chanoue. Before he could speak again he awoke with a start. His eyes were wide open watching James and Crystal sleep silently. “Did dad know all along”? Shadow thought watching his father. He didn’t want to ask and didn’t want to believe it. Was his blood truly linked to the evil that was Chanoue?

 

 

Shadow had been preparing to head off with David to see the fox he had mentioned. For now he was alone with is father. Crystal had gone to hunt with the hunting party. He watched his father lap water from the ice hole on the floor. He was lingering to question his father on the matter of Chanoue but couldn’t bring himself to ask for the truth. James looked up cautiously. “Is everything alight Shadow”? Shadow looked down and nodded without speaking. He couldn’t gain control of his thought and felt a mute sensation. Shadow and Crystal and David went out into the cold raspy storm that had cut across the land. The icy rustling storm shared familiar personality to the once bitter storm that raged over Shadow’s unknown home back in the meadow some time before his birth. All this was behind him though. The snowy mountains were barely visible through the snowy fog that moved through them like a stream. Shadow found himself extremely high up looking down over cliffs and sheer drops. Shadow had never been one to fear heights but this had been one of those exceptions. “Who is this fox, what’s his name”? Crystal called out to David over the loud high winds. “His name is Runuk, he use to craft all sorts of strange and mystical things, even golden silk”. The mountain tops were slippery from the ice and appeared shiny due to it. Shadow nearly slipped but gained footing. David stopped and sniffed the ground for a moment. “Buried in the snow, what a pity”. He mumbled and started digging around. Shadow and Crystal watched him as he stood up pulling away a large block stone from the ground still shedding pieces of snow. “He’s inside here, come with me”. David dropped down through the hole uncovered by the stone patch. Shadow and Crystal followed and dropped down into a small tunnel of rock. David was bent down small by the low tunnel. He crawled along quietly whispering for them to follow him. Shadow and Crystal crawled along as well. The ceiling and walls were all made of a mossy brick like stone. The tunnel seemed to end as David dropped down into a large room where they noticed two desks and a potion bottle on one of them holding a green substance. Next to it was a large rusty lantern. “He must be in the back; I’ll go get him”. David said rounding the corner. Shadow scanned around the room noticing a bookshelf and a dead rabbit on the floor. “Messy eater”. Crystal commented noticing it. “No I’m sorry David I do not have any silk at this time”. David rounded the corner along with a squat small fox with a large white fluff of fur along his neck like a beard. He was a light grey color with amber eyes then shined like gold. He looked old and rather shaky. Under one of his paws was a wooden cane which he propped himself on. “I need it soon, there’s an important task to deal with”. The small fox sighed. “I’ll try my best to make a new sheet of silk in the week”. The old fox’s eyes looked up noticing Shadow and Crystal standing silently near the tunnel entrance. “Who are these two”? He asked looking over his shoulder at David. “Friends of mine”. David mumbled. He didn’t seem inclined to explain and looking frustrated turned away. “He looks familiar”. The fox said quietly staring strait at Shadow. “Me”? Shadow asked confused. “Yes, my name is Runuk”. Shadow nodded and spoke firmly. “I’m Shadow, how do you see me as familiar”? Runuk sat down folding his cane along his side. “Another wolf I taught a long time ago, his name was Donvu I believe”. Shadow’s eyes widened. “He’s my grea- grandfather”. Runuk blinked. “He was a troubled one he was, I remember him from my younger years. He presented me with many treasures he was confused about, one that interested me the most was what he called the elixir of life”. At this Shadow moved forward a little not wanting to miss any information. “I’ve read about it and according to text entry it’s a potion that was created thousands of years ago by Elsa, one of Mother Nature’s sisters”. David had inched in behind Runuk listening to the story as well. “How do you think Donvu got it”? Shadow asked watching Runuk’s eyes glow in the lantern light. “That I have wondered as well, he never told me. He said he didn’t like to talk of his past”. “Strange”. Shadow commented trailing off. He remembered how Donvu had been connected to Chanoue and his family this whole time but shook the thought from his head.

 

 

 

Shadow and David and Crystal arrived back at the cave shortly after the storm died down. Upon entering, Earl, the small white wolf, ran up to them out of breath and in shock. “Move fast, hurry”! He shouted. David cocked his head upon seeing Earl run up. “It’s Shamile, you must see for yourself”. David followed Earl running after him as he rounded the corner. A large group of wolves had gathered around something lying on the ground. James was among them looking up rather terrified. Shadow had never seen this look. David walked slowly up as the crowd parted. On the floor, in a heap laid Shamile; torn and ripped open with blood washed across the crystal floor. David dropped down next to her in a state of shock and speechlessness. Shadow sat next to Crystal watching the scene. Earl sat up next to them, extremely short compared to Shadow. “I’m guessing they were extremely close”? Shadow whispered to Earl. He nodded slowly but didn’t look up at Shadow. “She was his mate, she was carrying a litter of I’d say six, that sick creep Houdrine possibly ate some of the unborn after he tore her open”. Shadow turned his head to look down at Earl who was transfixed on the body. “Houdrine did this”? Earl nodded again. “He’s a cannibal; it’s what he does but this… this is personal”. David stood up and turned his head. His eyes were no longer glossy but now narrowed to slits. The pure look of hatred spread his face. Shadow looked around looking for someone to speak up or do something. After what seemed like an hour, David finally spoke. “We’re going after him”. Shadow looked surprised to hear someone speak and looked up. David’s voice was cracked and sounded like that of a hiss. Earl moved slowly forward nervously. “David I know what you’re thinking but I-” “I said we’re going after Houdrine, I have a score to settle”. David shuffled past him. Crystal leaned against Shadow trying to bury her face from the disfigured body on the floor.