Chapter 41: Shadow's Meeting

DUSK

    Chi had invited Dusk to her 'spot', which was a huge rock in a lake. Chi's bright eye looked into Dusk's.

    "Alright, Dusk," the unicorn said, lying down as well. "It's been a while since I did this, but looking at memories is my speciality. I used to do this for new members who wants to join us, I'm one of the oldest members alongside Lambda, Omicron and Pi. The evil Beta was with us, but that's another story.

    "Dusk, memories cannot be destroyed by others but by self, but simply to be bind to a place where you won't ever remember, and one day your brain is going to burn the memory because it's useless. You never used it. So, that's where I come in. I am to find those memories."

    "Interesting," mumbled Dusk, who was wet from swimming in the lake to the rock.

    "I will be using you to venture your mind," said Chi. "Not a very pleasant journey, but is there anything you'd like to avoid?"

    Dusk wondered for a moment. "I'd appreciate it if you kept off where my personal things are, like my family, arguments in the family. Anything related to family and love."

    After all, she was away from home. It could be forever.

    "Wow, that's tough," Chi whined. "I'll try though. OK, so, Dusk, calm down. Deep breaths. Good. Yes. Now, close your eyes... Just sleep. Relax."

    Dusk exhaled and closed her eyes, breathing as steadily as she could. She then inhaled once more before she realised she slept.

    Dusk opened her eyes. She was as a young wolf, crashing through the bushes, she looked left, and gasped. Whitney was on her left, her bloody snout and sharp eye looking ahead. Moona, Opal and Grace was with her. Dusk glanced right. The Pack Quest leader was there. Ice was running, growling, her beautiful white fur matted with blood. On her right was Bloom, Andromeda, Pearl and Milky.

    Before Dusk could hear what Ice had to say, the scene shifted and all was dark.

    The wolf suddenly was staring at the distant earth. It was brown-red, and suddenly her vision blurred. Her paws were paddling, bubbles surfaced around her. Dusk dived and then paddled to struggle to keep herself and the pup afloat.

    Dusk remembered it all too well, and then the memories shifted. She was in a meeting, it seems, she caught sight of Nyxtryx, who was laughing with Rocky. She smiled as Shadow called them to a silence. As Dusk swung her head to face him, she spotted Ironide, who was eyeing her. Dusk felt a pang of sadness. She and Ironide were never all that close like Nyxtryx and Rocky, but still...

    Chi did not let go and the meeting came into Dusk's mind. "We all know the chief is coming to the end of his days," he said. Dusk growled- Shadow kept saying that. This meeting was about six months ago.

    "We shall miss him, but I think he's still ready to rule," said Dusk herself.

    Shadow nodded, eyeing each wolf carefully. "I wonder if any of you are aware of the Pack Quest?" he asked.

    "Why do you ask?" Nyxtryx snapped, who lost an ear to it.

    Shadow looked outside. "It's no longer on going, is it...?"

    "No, and we forbid it," said Axel firmly.

    Shadow sighed. "Rygeane, ah, Rygeane, I'm not sure if any of you knew this, but, did you know I came from around there?"

    The room was tense. They didn't exactly care, but Shadow continued.

    "I was kicked out of the pack for trying to be powerful and strong, just because I was much more talented than the leader of the pack, he was jealous, he didn't like it, he sent me on a run and sent two of his underlings to attack me," Shadow growled.

    "What, are you trying to say you're trying to be stronger than Chief Darke too?" Ironide coldly said. "That you want to be a chief?"

    "I am thankful for his actions that saved me," Shadow said softly. The scar on his right side seem to be more visible, the fur thin.

    This is it, a melodious voice said in present Dusk's mind. She growled.

    "If you truly wish to be thankful, then make his final months last long in great achievements," Rocky grunted.

    The wolves nodded their heads. Dusk choked as she saw Fairye, an elder wolf general who recently passed after stepping down for Grey. "Shadow," she said, "I'm aware you're his advisor, but everyone need advices. If you need help, we, the wolf generals, are willing to help the chief."

    Dusk recognised resentment written all over Shadow's face when Fairye didn't mention about Shadow. He forced a curt, "Very well."

    Then, Shadow continued his findings about the Pack Quest, and then told Fairye another party should be sent out. "Assume it is as a present law," he said, looking into the pink-red eyes of the grey wolf. He was staring so intensely, but yet so naturally.

    "Oh dear, I believe so," she said, shaking her head. Dusk growled. She recognised it at once. It was a manipulative Shadow performed!

    "Then it is the Pack Quest we shall perform," said Shadow, who grinned. "Meeting dismissed."

    Suddenly, memory Dusk couldn't even remember what the meeting was about, the words Pack Quest ringing in her ears...

    Chi shook her head. "Terrible," she muttered. They were once more on the rock, and Dusk was shaken. Chi, however, looked much more shaken.

    "A-are you alright?" Dusk inquired softly.

    "Not quite," Chi admitted. "Memory searching takes time, patience and energy. It's painful process. After delving into all that..."

    She shuddered, her purple eyes wide.

    Dusk frowned. "I didn't get my answer yet."

    "No, not yet," Chi said. "Maybe another day."

    Dusk frowned. She knew that Chi had her own capabilities and limits, but...

    ...she wanted to know Beta as fast as she could.

Author's Note: Yes, more vile actions of the Shadow! Anyway, I'm having my first "official" examination tomorrow, and, yeah, that's what I'll be doing, studying, for over the days. I might not post next week. Thanks!

Chapter 40: Entry Into Nyx Pack

WISP

    He was still confused about his conversation with Shadow. After that, he visited his father. He rarely did so, except when his father summoned him. For the first time, he approached him.

    "...Father," he said after a long pause.

    His father turned, looking at Wisp with his grey eyes. "Wisp," he greeted.

    Wisp eyed his father. Could it be Shadow talked to me about that because father no longer has use for him? he wondered.

    "Father, hello," Wisp said, trying to keep his tone icy.

    Chief Darke coughed. His dark fur swept in the wind. He was more worn-down than Wisp had ever seen. "You've come to talk to me about something?" he asked. However, Wisp realised a change.

    There was a spark in his eyes. A twinkle of joy.

    "It's about Shadow," Wisp said, sauntering to his father's side.

    "What about him?"

    Wisp was silent. "He was talking to me about that he should remain as an advisor, but I got confused. Did you two argue?"

    "Argue? In the past, yes, but not anymore. When it was about Pack Quest, changes and all, but I've gotten too sick to even argue," Chief Darke replied.

    "I'm not sure why, but he insisted that I keep him advisor when I become chief," Wisp replied.

    "Being an advisor will give him a high status in the pack," said Darke, nodding sombrely. Wisp playfully nudged his father. His father was warm...

    "That wouldn't be long until you have yet a higher power than his," Darke said after a long but comfortable silence.

    "Huh?"

    Darke looked at his son. "I'm sick, I'm growing older as well, Wisp. When the moment comes, you'll be chief, you'll rule these wolves, but not as someone with great ambitions, but you must be someone to follow the rules and respect the Pack Rules and your members. You need to be wise, Wisp, and be strong..."

    "What about Midnyx?" Wisp inquired, sadness filling his voice.

    "I'm afraid we cannot launch a search party as we are in currently on the run from humans," said Darke.

    Wisp pouted. "Tell me about Shadow, please, I'm not sure if I can trust him after a talk..."

    "What talk?" Darke inquired.

    Wisp told his father about Shadow requesting to be an advisor still, calling Wisp inexperienced and needing of assistance. He tried to use the same exact words.

    Darke shook his head. "That, I cannot ease you, nor your relationship with him, but let me tell you a little about his past."

    In a low tone and in a voice barely audible, Darke said, "When it was a cold downpour, I remember a few wolves reporting back to me that there was a scarred wolf in the rain, unconscious, but alive. Sick, but holding on to life. I didn't know what to do, but when Snow suggested we nurse him for the time being, we all agreed. After all, it would be wrong for the predator to die like that. It's such a pathetic way to die. We didn't know why, but we did it. In a week's time, he healed.

    "One day, I walked over to the wolf and asked him for his name, and he said it was Shadow. I asked where his pack is, and he said they were dead.  Why or how he would not answer and shook his head whenever I tried to ask. Eventually, we accepted him because he had no where to go.

    "He said he came from around the Rygeane Ruins, and then he noticed that some of our wolves were weak, and he suggested that they should embark on a journey to Rygeane, which is quite far, Wisp. I myself, Shadow and a few wolves went over to oversee if it was a good thing. Seeing the ruins made me think clear. There was no objections. The rule was made.

    "Overtime, I start to wonder. Why is it that only females should go? Shadow told me not to worry. He had risen to advisor ever since the trip to Rygeane. 'Females had always been a burden of not having enough stamina,' he said, but I knew that females are equals, or sometimes even better. The proof is the story of the lions. Female lions are the ones who hunt. Females also strive for their child. I grew blind and cold to what's obviously wrong, I don't know how, but Shadow kept on leading me.

    "We argued. We bickered. Somehow I could not win. These memories had just resurfaced days ago, my head is clear, my daughter is lost and my health is failing. If anything, Wisp, stay away from Shadow."

    Then his father stopped whispering.

    "Chief, shall we move to-"

    Shadow, who just entered the scene, stopped short, and stared at Wisp and Chief Darke, and his eyes sparkled with emotion.

    An emotion called anger. 

Author's Note: What. It's Sunday already? What sorcery is this. SHADOWWWWWW.

Either way, I guess this is Beta's backstory after his downfall, and now we know more things about him. Tip: Shadow had manipulated the chief! Dun dun dunn.

Chapter 39: Shadow's Spell

DUSK

    Lambda intimidated Dusk, but she was surprised when he said, "We need to talk."

    Dusk and Lambda were walking through the woods. A distant sound of a woodpecker made itself clear in the air.

    "What is it?" inquired Dusk. The wind blew back her fur, and her irritating long fur- err- feathers.

    Lambda cleared his throat. "I'm sure Midnight told you that the advisor, Shadow, of your pack, is one of us, rising as a villain. However, out there, he is unable to perform magic because the land has little to no magic," he said. "He's trying to rise again. What can you tell me about him?"

    "Hmm, first he arrived," Dusk said, "then the Chief started making plans for new rules. He said he was being too lax, thus the rules."

    Lambda was nodding. "Mhmm, go on," he encouraged.

    "After that, a silly quest named Pack Quest was established, where we had to travel to a ruins called Rygeane, grab a rune and go," said Dusk. "Then, a week after the chief's mate went off for the quest, she passed. After that, Shadow was the closest to the chief."

    "I guessed," said Lambda, growling. "Manipulation."

    "Excuse me?" yelped Dusk.

    Lambda started to pace around. "Manipulation. Beta- the Shadow one- best plays magic in manipulation. Making things seem what they aren't, making things believable, that's what he's doing to your pack."

    "What's he scheming?" inquired Dusk.

    Lambda shook his head. "I shouldn't tell just yet, it might be wrong, but, again, I don't want panic to spread."

    Dusk sighed. She was hoping for an answer. Still, Lambda had explained many things. About the fake incident of hunters, about the attack of the water hole. Shadow was playing them all as fools. Dusk wanted more than ever to strike him down.

    Lambda nodded at Dusk's feathers. "You must be close to irritating him, what did you do?" he inquired softly.

    "I... I can't remember," said Dusk. She tried many times to remember why she was alone without the pack but she simply couldn't remember.

    "Either way," said Lambda, continuing, "he was trying to perform a spell on you. The Silent Misfortune, as we call it. Very difficult, and only skilled people can use it. It's words are very twisting, so Beta must have panicked when he was using it. Perhaps someone was stirring to life or that someone was approaching, then he sped up and slipped somewhere. Certain slips in the spell can cause many other things.

    "A storm, for the earth to part, but he must have slipped in a minor part that he didn't notice. If he did, he would have stopped and cancelled the spell. Instead, he gave you wings."

    "WINGS?" yelped Dusk. "What wings?"

    Lambda nodded. "Wings. To be exact- a wing. Growing feathers is the first step, then, over the days, you will feel sharp pain as your bones modify itself and starts to grow out. If you ever need any help, any of us can calm you and reduce or take the pain away."

    "Is there any way for me to get rid of this right now?" Dusk growled.

    Lambda nodded. "Your choice, by either using alberteau, the spell of change, or ignisis, the burning spell. Using the changing spell will stop whatever has happened there in your bones unwanted, but the feathers remain. Using the burning spell, it needs to be used repeatedly over time, but if there are no feathers, the bones wouldn't want to modify until the body is suitable."

    "That doesn't even make any sense," growled Dusk.

    Lambda's eyes twinkled. "It's not like anything here makes sense, right? Either way, the less painful and effective way is too complicated and one slip might change you completely."

    Dusk frowned. It was pain with or without wings or a risky spell.

    "I'll keep the wing," she finally said. Wing sounded weird being a singular.

    "It's your choice," said Lambda. "I advice you to meet up with Delta or Zeta some time around if you need any help with... your change. Theta can hide your wings if you're uncertain."

    Dusk nodded, not knowing who they are.

    The bushes rustled. Dusk was prepared for a fight when Lambda casually turned over. A horned steed entered the clearing. Dusk was flabbergasted. "A unicorn!" she cried.

    "Yes," said the unicorn. "I am Chi, but you can call me Chie as well. Lambda, you called?"

    Lambda nodded. "Chi, it's been a while, and I'm not sure if you'd still like to do it, but-"

    Chi whinnied a little.

    "Would you help me search this wolf's memories?"

Author's Note: I'm SO dead in the Blogger world. Don't worry, guys, I'm not going on a hiatus on this account because it's easy to access through my phone. Except I got busy and forgot yesterday and last week, so I'm terribly story. Ugh.

Chapter 38: Beta's Advice

MIDNIGHT

    Despite how late it was, Midnight was elated to see Dusk once more. After Lambda checked Dusk, he asked who gave her the feathers.

    Confused, Midnight approached Dusk and saw her left side was all feathery. "I thought they were fur," Dusk said, but Lambda denied it and repeated his question.

    When she could not answer, Omicron stepped in. "Obviously, it's Beta."

    Beta? She's the-

    Beta. Rune. Shadow.

    "The hawk?" inquired Dusk.

    "No, Shadow," said Midnight, which Dusk shuddered at all of a sudden.

    For an hour, Midnight filled Dusk in with magic, of Shadow, and in return, Dusk of the pack when she last saw them.

    Midnight felt tears in her eyes when Dusk told her how lonely Wisp was.

    "I left Mist too..." Dusk said, and the two spoke of no more.

    Dusk was years older than Midnight, but they relate well.

    When morning came, Dusk and Midnight both felt hungry, though not very. There was no one in sight.

    Not Cullen.

    Not Blaze.

    "Let's head out to find food," said Midnight.

    Dusk nodded, understanding why before they were off for a hunt. It was an easy one.

    The moment they exited the forest, they spied a plump brown hare and chased it off. As they ran through the less dense forest which no longer shone silvery light, they split paths and dashed for it. The hare was utterly confused where to go, and Dusk caught the hare by surprise, pouncing on it, and then grinned at Midnight.

    The two shared the plump hare together, and then headed for the forest again. When they entered, Lambda was waiting. "After last night," he said in a threatening deep voice, "you both still dare to exit without telling us?"

    The two were silent.

    "Nevertheless," Lambda continued, "Dusk, please, follow me."

    Dusk gulped, glancing at Lambda then at Midnight. She eventually sighed and followed the wolf with grey eyes, trudging deep into the woods. Suddenly, a doe popped out from the bushes once Lambda and Dusk left, scaring Midnight.

    She saw a magnificent doe, the doe's chestnut fur shining. Her jade eyes looking around, and then looked into Midnight's blue ones. "Oh, um," the doe said.

    Midnight looked at the doe, but it then skittishly pranced off. Midnight didn't know what just happened, but she casually walked deeper into the forest.

    "Hey," said the voice from above.

    Midnight looked up.

    Perched on the branches was a magnificent white wolf with purple-red eyes. "Midnight, I'm sorry," said Beta.

    "Huh?"

    Beta sighed, combing her tail with her claws. "I mean, I accidentally got you with my water sprays a little past... midnight, no pun intended."

    Midnight frowned. "Was it, like, a bad shot?" she inquired.

    "No, no, it's just that," Beta said, "I can't seem to control it, it was all rushing so fast..."

    Midnight's soft growl escaped her lips. "You were laughing."

    "Midnight, I always laugh."

    "You don't seem to be now." Midnight's tone was dead serious.

    Beta's light tone vanished. "I don't know why, I don't know why. Was I laughing when I accidentally hit you?"

    "You then turned into an elephant," said Midnight coldly.

    The white wolf was silent. "Ohh!" Beta chirped, her light tone and enthusiastic voice coming back into her speech. "By the way, it's called a mammoth. Prehistoric elephants."

    "Whatever," said Midnight. She then turned away to walk towards the forest.

    Beta looked at the black wolf, grinning dangerously. "One bit of advice from me to you, Midnight," she said, "watch your back."

    Midnight glanced over it. "You too, I guess."

    Beta's grin was unsettling. "Of course, I will."

Author's Note: Yay. Everyone is giving advices. Darn, this one is lame. School is getting a lot busier as well.