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.
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