Secrets of the Starnik
Chapter 10: More Secrets and Favours
"They're WHAT?!" Rosie exclaimed. Dakota couldn't believe it more then the next member of his family. This had gotten big, too big for him to handle alone; he needed to let everyone else know. He brought his mother, stepfather and sisters to the side, leaving the others around the fire while they walked some distance away and out of earshot to break this horrific new.
"Keep your voice down!" Dakota seethed.
"Son, are you sure this is happening?" Scott asking wanting a confirmation.
"I heard everything; they wanted to bring back a friend, the one person who got the most down for the Ditori. Who else could it be?"
"How, how are they?" Myka asked.
"There's this clearing in South Dakota, I was searching for it all afternoon after we got home this morning."
"The place on that map?" Rosie asked. Dakota nodded.
"Wait, what map?" Lupa asked, what were they talking about? Myka was just as puzzled.
"Anyway, I found it, it's this clearing in the middle of the woods and there's some giant star there. I've only seen one like it in Myka's notebook."
"A pentagram?" She asked. "They're used in summoning things, spirits, demons, relatives; Lupa's circle back in Idaho was an ancient version of one, so it could even be used to summon back the dead." She added. This was a realisation that hit everyone hard; their arch nemesis was going to return if they didn't do something. "But they can't do it." She then quickly added again. "The witch would need to be as strong as me; there isn't a witch on earth other then me that can bring back the dead. Heck, my nose bled after I brought you guys back, it would kill the witch if they could do it!"
"Maybe they intend to." Scott added while in deep thought. "They'd get rid of any way that he could be sent back." That wasn't the only realisation that hit someone.
"This map?" Lupa questioned. "What are you talking about?" She looked to her sister, she only shrugged, then to her brother who seemed nervous and then to her parents that had a guilty look spread all across their faces. It was obvious. "You went Ditori hunting, again!"
"Lupa, it's not what you think…" Scott begged.
"This is ridiculous! You caused this!" She was furious.
"Honey, we may have gone hunting, but we didn't cause this. Do not talk to me like that." Rosie growled temperedly. She glared at her mother, probably for the first time in her life.
"Fighting is not going to fix anything." Scott said after a moment. "None of us caused this, if we didn't go then we wouldn't have found this out and if Dakota didn't extend the suspicions we wouldn't have known at all. This is nobody's fault."
"But what do we do now?" Myka asked.
"What do you think?" Dakota asked back. "We stop them."
"And put my family in danger?" Lupa growled still angrily. "What about Aria? Things have changed now Scott, this is more dangerous now."
"Aria stays in the dark about this, Faolan can take the pups back to your home, stay there and Aria will stay here and out of sight. We can deal with this together before it gets too out of paw."
"She'll know sooner or later dad." Myka added. "Aria will know everything."
"Not if we work together." He responded. "We're stronger together, we've dealt with them before, we can do it again. But only if we stick together."
"Kota, did they say when this was happening?"
"No, but soon, I'm pretty sure they saw me." He answered.
"Then we'll be careful." Scott added. "Son, tell Chance, she'll have to be in on this and Lupa, you tell Faolan and Myka, let Jack know. But not until you get home, we'll meet back here tomorrow to get started on this." Everyone nodded in understanding.
Heading back to the fire, they all acted innocent, even when Chance asked what it was all about. They only answered that it was something she didn't need to worry about and Dakota would tell her later as Lupa would do to Faolan. Aria however, she knew a lie when there was one. Her mother had lied to her constantly who and where her father was, she just knew when someone was lying, and she was seeing it all on her family's face. They were keeping something from her, that much was clear. But it must be nothing; otherwise they'd tell her, right? She was family, and as they've told her in this one family come above all else. They wouldn't leave her hanging and trailing behind.
Anyway, all night she could just tell there was something more serious to what they were talking about. Why was she left out of the loop? Dakota said it was a family talk, so why was she told to stay behind? She was family too! Everyone left rather early; she guessed it was due to tiredness from the day's activities. The pups had pretty much crashed out in the den shortly after eating, so they needed to be home.
That night, the talks were spoken, Chance took the news well, well…when I say "well", she took it as expected. In disbelief and shock. Of course she wanted to help, she was a part of their family and this issue now, she was in it for the ride whether she liked it or not. And she did. He explained to her how most of the time he wasn't around was because he was out Ditori hunting. She wasn't happy, he could have been killed. She settled after a moment and he swore that night he wouldn't keep anything from her again. No more lies.
Jack swore to be with his mate, whether in life or death, he would never leave. He was going to be there with her and her family in this battle. He fought beside her once; he was going to do it again. They were going to have that family they've wanted for a while now, and he was going to protect her until they did.
At the same time, Lupa and Faolan were having the same talk; only things for them were far more serious. He didn't want to leave her, but then he didn't want to leave their pups alone. He couldn't and she refused him to help. What he seemed to be constantly forgetting was that she was already dead. She had no heartbeat, no body warmth, no breath, she didn't eat and she didn't age. She was dead on the inside and alive on the outside. So while her mate grew old and aged, she would stay in her four year old youthful body for the rest of eternity. She made a promise though, the day her mate passing over she would too. She could come and go from the afterlife as she pleases, she'd still be able to see both her mate and living pups.
Trailing off the subject, Faolan wanted to be with her, to help her. Sure, this was a Starnik thing, something he didn't really understand. But he had fought with them once; he wanted to do it again. She refused him to, she couldn't die, she was safe, he wasn't. He had a life he could lose; it was his protective instinct over his mate that forced him to avoid the truth. "It's just the thought of you fighting and I'm not there." He sighed as they sat on the beach outside their den, their forepaws dipped in the water. "I was brought up in war, to fight like a warrior; I can't let you go out there on your own."
"Faolan, I can't die. I have new powers that can help, I'm safer then anyone. It's you I'm worried about."
"But I'll be here." He replied puzzled and tilting his head down to her.
"That's the point." She responded. "You'll be here. They found mom and Scott's den in the valley all those years ago, they found where my mom and dad lived before he died in Jasper, and they found the temple, a place they shouldn't have been able to find. There is nothing to stop them from find this place too." She looked ready to cry. "We have a family now Faolan, I love you too much to lose you again." He leaned down to her and kissed her deeply.
"You won't lose us, remember, I vowed to never leave you, not even in death."
"I know, but I will in life." She sniffed and leaning against his side, coiling her tail around his as they looked back over the lake and the distant mountains. "Shane, Sarah and Kodak come first." She added after a moment. "We needed to find a place where they won't come looking, no place is safe at the moment."
"But where, where is safe from them if they've found everywhere you've hidden?" She looked up to him, she had one place in her mind and it was certainly one place they would never be found. Their safety would be questioned from the place, but they certainly wouldn't be found. He met with her gaze, that looked was all he needed to know exactly where she was thinking. Just to be sure, she shared a mental image of the place. He reeled away from her, shocked she would think that.
"You can't be serious." He seethed.
"It's the only place." She said. He shook his head, refusing to think about going back there, let alone taking his two moons old pups there. He got up, still shaking his head and walked a little distance away. He stood a few wolf lengths from her, his back to her as he tried to get over the fact that in all honesty that place was the safest place for there pups. "It's the safest place for them." She repeated as she stood up, but staying where she was.
"I left that place for you." He growled and looking ahead of him. "I left behind my parents, my little sister; I ignore my powers, all for you and this life. You really expect us to go back?"
"Think about it, they've been hiding there for over three thousand years, where better place to hide."
"I was cast away remember?" He grumbled and turning to face her. "They told me to never return, and I did to try and find you after the Ditori took you. I pushed the boundaries, and you expect me to take our pups there? They're no more in danger here then they are there."
"There must be something you can do." She begged and readying to cry again as she walked back towards him. "There must be some way you can convince them." He turned his back on her again as she stood back in front of him. This was stupid. Shane, Sarah and Kodak were in more danger there in they were here. This was ridiculous, why bother with all of this? Sure, he wanted his pups to be safe, this was probably the only way, but there was still a percentage of danger for them going there. "The Dire Wolves can protect them; they are half Dire Wolf after all. Please Faolan, if not for them, then do it for me." She added and walking in front of him again. He was defeated by the look and begging in her eyes. Her mother instincts were kicking in at an all time high, she had to know her family were safe if she was to do this. With great regret and sorrow, he gave in.
"Not for them." He said. "For you." She couldn't help but smile a little as she leaned up and kissed him deeply again.
"Thank you." She said gratefully.
"I know a few ways that they might let us in, we'll deal with it tomorrow."
Now it was tomorrow, and as everyone promised, the family had gathered back in Scott and Rosie's den at day break. It was ridiculously early; the sun was only just coming up. But it was necessary; Aria wasn't awake yet so it was the perfect time to talk this over. Scott and Rosie were already outside, as were Myka and Jack a along with Dakota and Chance. They only waited for Lupa, but they were in for a surprise. She faded into reality, along with Faolan and their still sleeping pups huddled together at his paws. This was something new, bringing pups into a battle! It didn't go down well.
"Lupa, what's this?" Rosie asked quietly.
"The Ditori have found every place we've ever been to." She answered. "They've found this place, our den back when dad was alive, the SRC and even the temple. Who's to say that they won't again or even find our den right now?" She said.
"You can't bring them here." Dakota added. "It's totally not safe."
"We've got a plan, and you're not going to like it." Faolan answered his eyes set on Myka.
After a terrible amount of quietened arguing and convincing, a plan was made. It was a terrible plan, but a plan nether the less. It was doubtful to work, if it did it would be a miracle, but it was all they could do. The Dire Wolves, Faolan former pack, they were their only hope. They lived in a place they hadn't been found in over three thousand years, this was the safest place there was. But not from the occupants inside. Faolan and his former mater departed on bad terms, this was a low chance of it working. But they had a secret card to play that should even the odds.
Appearing outside the mountain they were hidden in, Faolan, Lupa, Scott, Rosie and Myka appeared. This was ringing back old memories, for all but one anyway. They all looked at the boulder concealing the entrance; this was the moment Faolan had dreaded, returning to this place he left behind. He was actually scared; they could kill him on sight! Well, this brings back memories." Scott chuckled as they looked around.
"Don't remind us." Rosie added as she looked up the daunting mountain.
"Why, have we been here?" Myka asked.
"When I was pregnant with you, yes." Her mother answered. "It's been a long time." This was getting them nowhere.
"Ok, I'll go in and talk to them, I'll howl if it's safe for you to come in."
"Be careful." Lupa kissed his cheek quickly before he walked towards the boulder and started to push it. It was heavier then he remembered and it took a great deal of strength to move it to the side. He had one last look back to his family before he walked inside.
He gulped as he entered the darkness, his body began to shake as he walked down the length of the tunnel, eyeing the symbols carved in by claw along the walls the further down he went. This was a stupid thing do, let alone think. How did he get Lupa to convince him to do this? He could be killed, he could just hope. The light at the end of the tunnel began to glint through and soon he stepped back into the familiar room that was the main dome. The large, domed room with the scriptures to the left on the walls, the sleeping chambers too, the secure dens Scott was once held in, the healing chamber, the archway leading to the Sanctum, and finally the sacrificial chamber. Even the small hole was still in the wall. This was dangerous, he had to be careful. But not so much as he first thought, for the dome was empty. There wasn't a wolf, Dire or not, or a soul around. He reached out his telepathic mind; all minds seemed to be present in the sleeping chambers. It was still early, so there was no surprise. Ok, what was he going to do now? Waking them up would not be a good thing. He could wait for them? What he really need was…
"I know a mind scan when I see one." An incredibly recognisable, rasping voice spoke in the ancient Dire Wolf tongue behind him.
"Oakllwar." Faolan answered as he turned to face the blind, grey and blue furred wolf stepped out of the sanctum. "I still see you haven't lost your touch."
"You are a fool boy." He growled as he neared. "You dare leave your pack, you then add to the horror and become mated with a Starnik and then you dare to return again for Scrying ingredients. Now you come back again."
"I return for forgiveness." Faolan bowed in respect, he had to return to his former Dire Wolf traditions. He was an elder, he had to show respect whether he was his former master or not. Oak stood not far from him, looking down at him with his clouded eyes and sensing what he was doing. "I return for the pack's forgiveness and for a favour."
"A favour?!" He spat loudly. His voice bouncing across the domed room. "After swearing to stay loyal to this pack and then leaving it, you ask for a favour?!"
"And to give you an offer." He added and lifting his head up. "One you can't refuse." Suddenly, there was a great weight on his back that had him pinned to the floor, followed but yet another familiar voice.
Welcome back, brother." The black and grey furred wolf snarled into his ear.
"Tarkeith." Faolan grumbled. It was then that he heard more mumbles, gasps and growls come out of the sleeping chambers behind him. He looked to his left as a figure stepped into his view but keeping his distance from him.
"Faolan?" A young she-wolf's voice asked.
"Natali." Faolan smiled weakly and happy to see her. His little sister, boy she'd grown up a lot, she was around three quarters the size of a normal wolf.
"Tarkeith, get off him!" She growled loudly and charging towards him. She was caught by a much larger wolf, a male with a female behind him. His mother and father. The pack had gathered around him, there was no escaping here. He seethed and groaned as he was able to roll over, taking Tarkeith with him. He was always the stronger and faster of the two. Tarkeith lashed out for his face, Faolan dodged and pinned his paws to the floor and snarled down into his face.
"I came here out of peace!" He shouted in normal wolf speak. "I didn't come here to fight!" He added and quickly jumping off and stepping to the side of his former friend. Tarkeith growled as he slowly crawled to his paws, he too knew Faolan was always the better of the two.
"You are exiled from the pack, and you dared to come back. This time, there will be no forgiveness!" Oak shouted. With a wave of his paw, each wolf around him started to snarl and growl as they crept towards him. He didn't want to, but he had no choice. He threw back his head and howled, he needed help. Just as the giant wolves were upon him and ready to strike, the earth started to tremble as he lowered his head. It shook gently, gradually getting louder and faster as it rumbled. They started to walk away from him, but quickly they jumped back as Lupa appeared beside him, a wild, deathly look in her green eyes.
"Get away from my mate you pathetic wolves!" She snarled.
"The Earth Angel!" Oak gasped and quickly dropping his front half to the floor as a bow out of respect and submission to the almighty being. The earth stopped shaking, but the sense of her presence was all too great. Each wolf copied their leader's actions; if he was bowing to someone then they should to. Even Faolan's parent's bowed to her. The sounds of the earth shaking gently ceased, but her aura was far too great to even be looked up, each wolf diverted their eyes. Natali's mother whispered her to bow, so she did, as did the parents to a few other young pups around and soon all thirty wolves were bowing to her. "Forgive us oh Angel, we beg for your forgive…"
"Oh shut up!" Lupa snarled. He quickly did just that, for once, it was his turn to be afraid of her. "My name is Lupa, daughter of the Starnik and the prophecy of the Earth Angel. If so one of you touches my mate then so help me I will cast you into hell, is that understood?!" Each Dire around her nodded and mumbled their forgiveness, silently praying to the gods that they be spared. Faolan could only watch, now being amused. He looked over to his sister, being the pup she still was she couldn't help but look up to see him smiling. He waved for he to come over, and she did, tail wagging and tongue flopping out to the side as he caught her against his chest, chuckling a little to himself.
"You came back." She giggled quietly.
"I told you I would."
"Arise." Lupa demanded, so they did, but avoiding her eye contact of she looked at one of them. "Speak." She hated this, but once again she found her inner god taking control of her.
"Forgive us, we are your servants." Lupa shook her head, trying to clear the angel out of her. She didn't want them doing this but for some reason it was beginning to feel natural, she was starting to enjoy it and she didn't want to.
"We have come to make a deal." She said after a moment and Faolan put down his sister. "The ones that slaughtered your kind three millennia ago, they are back and after my family. I want you to take them in and protect them."
"But they're Starnik." Oak dared to retaliate.
"Not my parents, my pups." She snapped back at him. "Faolan and I have had pups, the humans that made your kind extinct all those years ago are putting them in danger. As half Dire Wolf, it is you responsibility to take them in as your own and protect them, is it not?" It was tradition, Dire Wolves look after their own, and in these times it was vital they do that.
"Yes, it is." Oak nodded.
"Then you will take them, Faolan also until it is once again safe for them."
"Shaman, we've also come with a gift." Faolan added and letting his sister return back to their parents. "The one thing that all Shamans desire, the one ingredient that can never be found. We have it and are willing to offer it to you." If his eyes weren't so grey, they'd most defiantly see some sort or disbelief in them.
A couple of minutes later, Myka was sat back on her haunches, her right forepaw held out as Faolan squeezed juices from a clump of leaved over her wrist. Scott and Rosie sat either side of them while Lupa returned home to talk to her pups so they could understand what was going to happen. They were all in the Sanctum; they had the room to themselves for the time being. But in the mean time, that offer needed to be fulfilled. "Remind me, why I'm doing this again?" Myka gulped as she prepared for what was to come.
"Blood of the Starnik..." Oak answered as he watched Faolan perform the task. His size was so daunting to them, he was enormous, nearly the size of a human. "An ingredient many Shamans like I desire, something that can be used in the most difficult of rituals and potions. Obviously, that chance never came alone."
"But I'm not the Starnik, they are." She pointed with her spare paw to he mother and father."
"You're a direct descendent of them both, your blood is concentrated far greatly and would provide a better potion." Faolan chuckled as he dropped rubbed in the fluids made from the leaves into her fur and skin. He did this for a moment before flexing his paws and holding them over her wrist. "This'll only hurt a bit." She gulped and nodded before he quickly ran his claws over her wrist. She seethed and groaned loudly as Faolan quickly twisted her wrist upside down to let her rapidly flowing blood drip into the small cut out bowl beneath it. It tapped with each drop that fell, it was a good thing her mother was here, she couldn't self-heal or heal it herself.
"And the point of the leaves was for what?" Myka asked as she started to get used to the constant pain he lied about.
"It was to keep it flowing and fresh, to stop it healing over."
"Great." She sighed and rolling her eyes.
"Don't worry sweetheart, I'm right here." Rosie giggled. She took a moment to look up to the elder standing over them. As much as she still hated the Dire Wolf, she had to speak her mind.
"Thank you." She dipped her head thankfully. "Thank you for everything you've done for us."
"You're our cousins, Starnik or not, we provide what we can." He smiled weakly before walking away and out the sanctum. Faolan watched him leave, only to also see Natali galloping in happily with their parents standing in the archway behind her. He gestured for her to go to the pool and that's were they met while he washed his paws.
"Look at you, getting big now." He chuckled as he scrubbed his paws.
"I'll be bigger then you one day." She smirked and grinding her side against his playfully. "Did Tarkeith hurt you?" She asked this time while sitting beside him and taking a far more serious tone.
"Please." She scoffed. "Like he could hurt me." She giggled at him, her brother was funny. He waved his paws quickly to get rid of the water, chuckling deeply himself as he looked back at his mother and father still standing in the archway watching them.
"How are mom and dad?" He asked going back into their ancient language.
"They're ok, why do you ask?"
"Are they still angry with me?" He sounded nervous, she picked up on that.
"Dad, a little bit, mom, not so much. She still talks about you a lot, dad doesn't though."
"I didn't think so." He sighed.
"They're scared of your mate more then anything." She then added and laughing a little bit, it made him also laugh. "Is it true, you have pups?"
"I do, two and a half moons old. Your nephews."
"I'm an aunt?" She asked. "For real?"
"For real." He chuckled again. "And mom and dad are grandparents now."
"You make me sound old." An older female giggled delicately. Their mother stood over them; Faolan was only just half the size of her, a Dire Wolf fully ages around four years old so it was strange. "Hello Faolan." She smiled.
"Hi mom." He dipped his head in respect to his mother. She lifted it with her muzzle. "I'm sorry mom." He averted his eyes from her.
"It's good to have you back Faolan." She responded instead with watery eyes. She licked his cheek and nuzzled his neck affectionately. Myka, Scott and Rosie watched on in wonder. It was a lovely thing to see. Myka was no longer watching how much her paw was bleeding, she didn't feel a thing. It was then that they all hurt a sudden amount of noise that could only be one thing. Lupa was stood with her pus around her ankles, asking the obvious questions. Where were they? Who was that? What is that? And so on… He quickly jumped to his paws, nuzzled his mate as he reached her and stood beside her.
"Mom, Natali, these are my children, Shane, Kodak and Sarah." He pointed to each one of them. "Mom, meet your grand-pups."
"Oh Faolan, they're so sweet." She cooed as she walked towards them. Clearly her colossal size forced them to retreat under their legs and hide. It only made them all laugh; these next few days should be interesting.