Chapter 1: Legacy of a Hero
What's happening guys? So like I promised here is the sequel to Fortunes of the Phoenix. If you have not read it yet I recommend reading it before reading this one. So this is my second serious fan fiction and I hope it will run longer than the first, hope you enjoy it.
"Why can't I do anything right,"cried the small runt of a liter of six. His fur was the exact opposite of his two stronger brothers, being pale white instead of jet black. The only color it contained was the black striping that ran all over his body, the most noticeable of which, was a scar-like stripe cutting through his right eyes. He felt it was the only thing that he and his father shared, and so he cherished it. Sure his brothers and sisters also had stripes, but none had the same right eye scar.
He felt proud of that scar, but he could say less about the rest of his fur. He always envied his brothers for their magnificent jet black, white striped fur, that even one of his sisters inherited. But he and his other two sisters inherited their mothers snow white fur. He would never admit it to his parents, but he was greatly embarrassed of it, he just didn't want them to feel bad. His father always told him that his fur represented one of the bravest wolf he had ever met, but he had never believed it.
His eyes were unique to his siblings as well, and it was the only thing he could really flaunt to them. They reminded him of a snakes sharp edged eyes, while his brothers and sisters, all had regular eyes. Eyes color was also similar to his fathers, a mystical emerald green that radiated warmth and reliability. But all of his brothers had that, and his sisters were bright violet just like his mothers. But he could have forgiven all of that, if he at least knew the meaning of his name.
"Draco," he would whisper to himself at night. The name meant nothing to him, but apparently meant a great deal to both of his parents. He asked all of his friends, and even some of their parents, and none of them knew. They all told him it was just a name that his father gave him on the day of his wedding. Then there were his brothers Cale and Pykros, those names were incredible to him, they sounded masculine and powerful. Sure Draco was good, but it just wasn't good enough.
He had asked his father multiple times why he had been named Draco, but his father would only look away pained and reply that it was a very important wolf. Draco thought that if that wolf was so important why had no one else heard of him. His mother also knew, but she was very emotional when she heard that name, so it was best for him to not ask her.
"I'll never be as fast as Cale, or as strong as Pykros," he cried softly to himself. It seemed like no matter how hard he tried he just couldn't be as athletic as they were. His father always told him that one day he would be as good as them, he just needed practice. But that comment was getting old, and he didn't believe it anymore. Draco sniffled softly and watched as his brothers sparred with each other performing exceptional pounces and outstanding blocks.
He couldn't bare to watch any longer. So while they were distracted, he slipped off into the undergrowth to go cry quietly. He found a soft spot by a creek to lay down and get a quick drink before sobbing. It just wasn't fair, they got all the strength and he got nothing. His brothers didn't even try to gloat about it, they knew it hurt his feelings when he couldn't keep up with them so they just tried to motivate him and keep him going, but it never worked.
As Draco cried, his sobs drowned out the sound of the slow approaching male behind him. But the wolf was so skilled even without his cries he would have been unheard. The male stopped behind Draco just enough to cast a reflection in the creek, a reflection that Draco instantly reacted to. Draco jumped up and tried to wipe his tears away quickly before facing the older male, but they were still clearly seen running down his face. The older wolf looked down worriedly at the young Draco and sat down in front of him.
"What's the matter son, is something wrong," he asked caringly. His voice was so strong, powerful, and confident Draco found it hard to believe that this wolf was his father.
"It's nothing dad it's just, I can't do anything that Cale and Pykros can. They're stronger, bigger, and faster than I am, and I can't ever get any stronger," Draco sniffled shoving his head into his fathers shoulder. His father smiled and placed his paw onto Draco's back comfortingly.
"It's okay son, in time you will be just as strong as they are," he tried to reassure. But Draco shook his head in protest and pulled away.
"You don't know what it feels like to be a runt how would you know," he asked sobbing. His father looked at him for a second but then shook his head.
"That's where you're wrong Draco," he replied. Draco looked up with tears still in his eyes and hoped for an explanation.
"It may sound surprising, but I was the runt of my liter to, smallest of them all, but look at me now," he said trying to cheer up his son. Draco sniffled and wiped away his tears, it was comforting to know that, but he just wished he would get strong faster.
"But how did you get stronger," Draco asked. His father looked out into the quiet woodland and sighed happily.
"We're more alike than what you give credit for Draco, there is something between us that we share more than any of your brothers or sisters," he smiled looking down at Draco. Draco was confused and demanded to know what he mean.
"What is it," he asked almost immediately. His father could only smile and laugh as if keeping a closely guarded secret from him.
"I will tell you on your birthday," he laughed. Draco wanted to pout at first, but then realized his birthday was only three days away. A smile shot across his face and his tail wagged excitedly.
"Really," he asked anxiously. His father nodded and laughed at Draco's excitement.
"We will go for a walk, just me and you, and I will tell you everything. But you have to promise me that you won't tell anyone, alright," his father asked sternly. Draco nodded and jumped up happily.
"Promise," Draco said nodding. His father smiled and nodded back.
"Well, you've had enough for today, go play with your friends," Draco jumped up excitedly.
"Thanks dad," he laughed before licking his dads cheek and running off to find his friends. His father sat by the creek smiling down into the water at his reflection. His jet black fur and white striping was the exact opposite to Draco's with fur and black striping. It was incredible how the symbols their stripes made matched exactly, unlike his other sons who hardly had any striping at all.
Beside his own reflection he envisioned two more wolves sitting alongside him. Two black wolves, one to his left and one to his right, were sitting beside him and smiling at him. The one to his right shared the white striping, and his emerald green eyes. The one to the left had the same determination and courage he did. In a way, he was a combination of two fathers, one true, the other adopted, but both were very important to him. They were the inspiration for his sons names, Cale and Pykros. Cale was his true father, who was killed when he was only a few weeks old, and Pykros his adopted father, killed only one year earlier.
It was a heartwarming sight to see these two wolves, especially Pykros to his left. He may not have been his true father, but he always acted that way, and even treated him that way. Then there was Cale, his true father, to his right. He had no distinct memories of this wolf, but one painful memory of his death. It was a memory he was shown the previous year, and had lived with his, constantly trying to replay every day.
But the two images faded away with the water leaving him alone. He sat virtually motionless for countless minutes until he heard some rustling behind him. He turned his head to see his two sons Cal and Pykros walking up behind him, sweating and panting form their rough-housing. He smiled at the two and greeted them happily.
"Hello boys," he said cheerfully. They smiled at him and started to drink from the creek.
"How was your practice today," he asked with a smile.
"It was good.."
"Until Draco got in the way," Cale started but Pykros interrupted. Their father shot them a stern look and they lowered their ears guiltily.
"You will have to excuse your brother, he is the runt and won't be as strong as you are just yet," he scolded. They looked down slowly and apologized.
"Sorry dad," they said simultaneously.
"It's alright, just try taking it easy on him okay? I know it's hard to control your strength but it makes him feel unwanted when he can't play with you guys," he said. They nodded in understanding and their father turned his head ponderously.
"Come with me boys, I want to show you something," he said stepping across the creek. The two nodded and followed closely behind their father.
"Have I ever told you boys the reason your names are special," he asked looking back at them. The two shook their heads and remained silent.
"Well, I guess you're about to find out. First you Pykros, you share the names of a brave warrior. He fought in the Phoenix War last year, I know you two have heard of it in your omega classes," the boys nodded and he continued, "Well, Pykros was one of the first from our pack to die during the war, but he gave his life to protect someone very close to him".
"Grandma Vee," they asked. Their father laughed and continued his story.
"No, but that is a good guess, it was me. I was about to be killed but Pykros jumped in the way and halted the attack, which was unfortunately fatal. He died that same day, and he was a very important person to me, ah here we are," he said as the three arrived at a very old an unused den. The den was perched atop a small rock hill with grass growing through most of the stones. He led the two around to the side where there was an engraving in the face of the rock.
'Here lies Pykros, former leader of The Phoenix, a great pack leader, a great friend, and a great father, I will always miss you dad. R.I.P.' It read. The two boys sat awestruck at the message.
"Who wrote this dad," they asked. Their father looked into the rock face and just smiled.
"It was me, I wrote it the day he died," he said with a held back tear.
"So, I was named after your dad," Pykros asked excitedly. Their father wiped away his tear and smiled at them.
"Well, actually you both were, Cale was my real father, but he was killed when I was very young, and I do not know if he even has a grave. But Pykros was the wolf who took me in and loved me like a son," he said remembering old images of his father.
"But what about Draco," they both asked. Their father's face froze and another tear appeared in his eye.
"Boys, your brother shares that name with one of the bravest and courageous wolves I have ever known," he said smiling, " but that is a story for another day, now we should be getting back," he said walking past the two.
The boys nodded and walked behind their father with their new found information stored in their minds. As the group walked, their father remembered something that Pykros had said the previous year, something he would never forget.
"Midnight, you will make a great pack leader," Pykros had told him. The words brought him to tears and he unconsciously whispered to himself.
"I hope I turned out just like you wanted dad, I'll always miss you," Midnight whispered aloud.
And here ends the first chapter to Chronicles of The Elders. I hope that it was good, and if you could review this chapter letting me know what you thought, that would be great. Once again if you haven't already, please read Fortunes of The Phoenix before you go any further. More characters will be revealed in the next chapter so please continue to read. Chapter 2 coming soon. Until then pd007 out.