Chapter 28: Corn

DUSK

UPDATED: 21st February 2016

    Running to the unknown, the wind blowing into her face, she felt so free. She knew she was lost, but, again, it was better than going no-where in the farm and be a pet.

    Dusk frowned. If only things could be in harmony, grumbled Dusk. She ran through the bushes, and she arrived on a plain. It looked familiar. Suddenly, it hit her.

    Eagles.

    This was her second stop before the Ruins of Rygeane. That means... there should be a farm around here! With corn!

    ...If she remembered right.

    She walked slower as she could see dots of yellows. As she could remember, the last time she stepped in here, there were dogs as well.

    Maybe they'll understand me?

    She halted. Doubt it!

    Dusk was confused. How did she get here without passing the Silver Woods or the farm first in advance? That's where they usually pass before the plains from camp.

    Camp!

    Dusk was elated. She was near the old camp! Maybe Midnight was waiting there!

    She might have missed it. The plain was huge, so surely she must find the path from thereon.

    The furry part of her side danced in the wind. They were getting unusually long, and much softer and wider than her fur.

    She had to find the farm. No matter what!

    She ran faster for it.

    She could barely remember the riddle, but she remembered the place.

    Suddenly, a number of yellow dots disappeared. "No!" howled Dusk.

    She ran faster, but before the could reach it, more blinked out, like fireflies, only, once the yellow dots disappear, they never return. She stopped when her paw suddenly caused her to stumble. She could only desperately watch as the yellow became less visible.

    How far could she be?

    She growled and stood back up on fours, and paced readily towards the fading dots. It was as if she was walking further away from it than closer. Why?

    There were little left of Dusk could see, and she was one who was keen on seeing things.

    Suddenly, Dusk faced blades of green and she grinned. I'm here! I'm here!

    Footsteps caused Dusk to shy away. Yellow suddenly fell onto the ground.

    It was corn. It was ripe. It was time to harvest them.

    Dusk sighed in relief. She made it before she lost sight of it altogether.

    However, she was far from safe. She decided to hide out a bit, around where she saw a water hole.

    Perfect.

    She might even get home in two days.

    Dusk smiled and walked out.

Author's Note: Yay. It's getting predictable! Good ol' Dusk. Well, we'll see how it ends, shall we? If you're confused about this chapter, it relates heavily to part one...

Chapter 27: Confusion

MIDNIGHT

    You cannot trust him, for he is Beta. Beta has been the main reason for corruption. Beta has been the main reason for the dragon's death- it was not Omega's. It was not Epsilon's.

     Shadow is not a shadow, he is a puppet master. He pulls the strings, he needs to use the puppets- he wishes to rise and burn his toys.

    The answers rang in Midnight's ears. She didn't want to question anymore dragons for ridiculous answers. She was sure it was useless.

    For all she knew, Shadow is Beta, he's evil and mad. She didn't need the dragons to tell her that.

    "So, how was it?" asked Pi, as the fox strode with Midnight on the way back to Lambda's territory. The pi symbol on her forehead shone silver. "The answers, did they reach you?"

    "Not of my logical belief," said Midnight, sighing. "The dragons speak in riddles!"

    "They ought to," said Pi, pushing through a bush. "They're ancient guardians. A little while back then, poetry is a very delicate and exclusive for the best and richest people. The dragons learned this, and we have no objections."

    Blaze piped up, "I like Agruare the best."

    "Dragon of the East," said Pi. "Noble, and, ah, unfortunate..."

    Midnight was silent. "Why?"

    Pi was silent. "Agruare and I are lovers," she finally said after a long uncomfortable silence.

    "What!" cried Blaze and Midnight, scaring a few birds from trees.

    Pi sighed. "It was such a long time ago many of us forgotten. Unfortunately, I couldn't forget, so can't Delta."

    "Delta?" asked Blaze.

    "One of us," said Pi, swishing her tail.

    Midnight remembered the other wolf. "What about Sigma?"

    "Sigma was a pup born with the blessing of the dragons," said Pi. "Delta, Sigma, Epsilon and I were close friends of the dragons."

    There were no reasons. "Before a decade ago, when the dragons were turned into stone, about five decades before, the day Sigma was born, a dragon blessed him with prosperity. Sigma always had enough, but he didn't know who to share it with. Thus, Delta opened up his heart. They were the first who interacted with the dragons directly by asking for their approval for marriage. The dragons approved, and Delta appointed me to lead her marriage. I was much older than them both, you see," said Pi.

    "Marriage?" echoed Blaze.

    Pi nodded. "Here, when you get married, it's a very honourable thing. You get a soul mate and a new form of your happiness."

    Midnight nodded, though shocked to know they were old, and married, after seeing Delta being so mild to Sigma days before.

    "I met Agruare in the marriage. He and I were in charge of the wedding, the runes, spells and all... We fell in love after a long conversation," Pi continued.

    Blaze sniffed. "Was Agruare evil?"

    Pi shook her head. "No, no," was all she could say as she walked towards a cave.

    "He still got bitter?" asked Midnight.

    Pi sighed. "Agruare was one of the ones who found out their life secrets and thus was able to live harmoniously here," she replied. "However, the curse could not reverse itself or make exceptions. Agruare... He had to go..."

    Midnight was silent. "Does dragon blessings leave marks?"

    They reached before the cave. It was Pi's den. The fox turned back, facing the two wolves.

    "Yes, Sigma has a mark," said Pi finally.

    "What about the one on your forehead?" asked Blaze suddenly. "Is that a blessing?"

    Pi frowned. Instead of replying, she hurried into her den.

    "Sister, I think Arguare blessed her," accused Blaze, frowning.

    "I want to know more about these dragons," fumed Midnight.

    Then, the two left and there was a loud shout, "Got'cha!"

    Midnight turned and yelped as something tackled her.

Author's Note: OMG I'm progressing so slowly... Noooo...

Darnit Midnight. Stop asking about the dragons and forget them for now.

Chapter 26: Sad Moments

DUSK

    "I need to leave," Dusk exclaimed.

    "What!" cried Sasha. "You're barely in good condition!"

    Dusk whipped her paw out from underneath her belly. "I know, but if I wait any longer, my pack and I will never meet again!"

    "It's too late for that," Ada said, "they're long gone."

    "My chief is hurt, they'll stay back for him," noted Dusk.

    Ada sighed. "Go if you must, but, again, you're a free wolf, who are we to stop you?"

    "Gareth can," said Kimi, shrugging. However, she didn't look so sure. Suddenly, Kimi cried, "Thala!"

    Kenny was running towards them, Thala close by his heels. "Kimi! Ada! Sasha!" the boy cried and then dropped down to a squat as the dogs came over to him, tails wagging. "Dusk!"

    Dusk reluctantly sauntered over to him. "How are you?" cried the boy, reaching for her. However, Dusk shied away, fearing he'd touch her side.

    Kenny abruptly stood. "Dusk?"

    Dusk growled and ran towards the door. She have seen Thala and Kimi do this whenever they wanted and Kenny would open the door for them. "Dusk, don't go," said Kenny, and thhe turned back, and shouted, "Mommy! Daddy!"

    "Kenny! I'm cooking!" Elena replied, her voice soft and faint.

    "Daddy!" cried Kenny. "Mommy!"

    "Gareth's outside, dear," cried Elena.

    "Dusk want to go," said Kenny. "Dusk by the door. Like Kimi and Thala."

    Pause. "Wait, ok, dear?" was the reply. After a few minutes, Elena rushed towards Kenny. She wore a simple yellow dress. "Dusk-"

    Dusk turned her head as she heard the hinges of the door creak. She turned and leaped for the opening door, only to pin Gareth on the ground, and, luckily, on a wool doormat. Despite the impact, Gareth reached of for Dusk.

    "Owowow," Gareth said. "What'cha do that for, Dusk?"

    "Gareth," said Elena, eyeing the man who was patting and scratching the wolf. "Dusk is a wolf. She has her own pack and family. She needs to leave..."

    The boys were silent as so were the dogs. "Elena, you know I only wanted to nurse her..." Gareth defensively said. He stroke Dusk on her head down to her neck and the wolf hummed a contented feeling out into the air. If she left, it would be never again she can share the warmth with the humans, or receive strokes of love and pats of acknowledgement. That was a price to pay for a chance to find her pack.

    "She's a free wolf," said Elena, sighing, and Kenny close to her, Thala and Kimi rubbing their bodies on Kenny's legs, gently reassuring him.

    Gareth's strokes slowly ceased. "You're right, Elena," Gareth sighed as he pulled Dusk's grey head towards his chest, messing her fur on her neck. "Oh, Dusk, I hope you know what you're doing and ready to go."

    Dusk whimpered. She hated goodbyes.

    Gareth then pulled his hand down and Dusk shivered as his sweaty hand swiped through her fur, neatly placing them downwards as they were. She shook her fur.

    "Show me your paw, Dusk," said Gareth, and Dusk understood. She held out her paw with white ribbons of bandages on it and Gareth. Gareth touched and pressed down on her paws, she growled when he did, but seeing no signs of  pain, Gareth let go and undid the ties of the bandages. "I'm sorry I never did get to help you with the gash on your side, Dusk."

    Dusk whimpered. Gareth rose up with Elena's help. "Feel free to visit, Dusk, we'll know it's you through Ada, right?" Elena said.

    "You bet!" cried Ada, barking.

    Thala and Kimi also cried out, "You can trust us too, Elena!"

    "You're welcome to the family," said Elena, stroking Dusk's neck, and the feeling of pleasure ran through Dusk. She felt warm.

    Kenny rushed forwards and tackled Dusk. Kenny wasn't very heavy, but Dusk was taken by surprise.

    "Dusk! I'll miss you!" the brown-haired boy cried, hugging Dusk. She winced, prepared for the pain the so-called gash on her side would give her, but she felt nothing but Kenny's warm hands when he touched it. The fuzzy white fur that patched there relieved Dusk.

    Even though they weren't so bonded, Kenny had tears in his eyes. "Go, Dusk, go," said Gareth, his somber voice lingering in Dusk's mind. Dusk sprang forwards and began to run. A few barking was heard, but Gareth herded the dogs together towards him.

    "Bye, Dusk!" cried the four dogs in the house, who watched with Kenny and Elena, "safe travels!"

    Dusk let a howl into the air, "Good-bye! May the stars watch over you!"

Author's note: Some of you are probably thinking "oh no, Rainbow died!". No, I was busy last week, sorry. More consistent posts coming on, so, yeah, have a good day, all!