Hey guys and girls. LionPrankster here with the next chapter. My grandpa passed away on the 5th of January and I want to dedicate this story to him because he was the person that taught me how to behave around animals and how to understand them. I will also use this privilege to thank to one of my closest friends who might or might not be reading this. When he heard the news, he said nothing, he asked nothing and he did nothing. I just realized that he knows me better than I knew I knew myself before this incident. I prefer to be left alone and deal with the pain in my own way, and he understood it perfectly. But, even though he said nothing, I saw the worry in his eyes and I want to thank him for that.
Now, please do enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 12 – A Sentinel
The blazing sun shone brightly over the canopy of the forest in Jasper Park. Winston was up and in the middle of a meeting with the other leaders of the packs and his wife, Garth and Lilly. He was speaking as silently as possible but as firmly as he could:
"Okay, so the cubs will be sent to the Northern territory today. I will send your team, Hutch, to take them there and guard them. You, however, will come back here, because I need you here. Each of you, go announce the families that have cubs that it is time to prepare. The Wretches won't be waiting for long and we need all the time and wolves that we have. Everyone understood?"
All the wolves nodded and Winston added:
"Let's move then. Oh, and by the way…Garth, toughen the training of the Omegas a little. We don't have time to loose and we need them as tough as possible." Garth nodded and then their meeting was dismissed as each and every wolf taking part in it went to accomplish the orders. All except Eve, who remained by Winston.
"Winston dear, are you okay? You already look tired and it is only morning" Eve said in a sweet tone as she sat down beside him.
"I am quite okay, although the worry and the stress eat me from inside out. But this crisis will end soon. We just have to take care to make this war a quick one. Attack as hard as we can and overwhelm them. There is no other way…" Winston said as he put a paw on his forehead, feeling a headache approaching.
"I'll go fetch Barbara. You go and rest now. She will deal with the headache" Eve said, giving a kiss on his cheek. Winston nodded and went inside his den and lied down. In a couple of minutes Barbara came around with some herbs in her mouth and helped Winston with his throbbing head. Then she let him be and rest. When he saw that he was alone, he said out loud, almost in a joking manner:
"Who said being a leader is easy?"
He laughed at his own joke for some time, before the sleeping herbs that Barbara brought had effect and then he fell asleep.
-the Southern territory-
"Sir, our scout has returned" a big black wolf said in a slow and raspy whisper as he entered the den of the former leader of the Southern pack.
"Send him inside" a voice said in a monotone from the shadows of the den. The wolf bowed and left. A moment later another thinner wolf came inside. His black fur was covered in mud and leaves. He bowed deeply and said:
"Sir, I have done as you instructed and now, I have returned."
"What have you found out?" the voice from the darkness spoke again, in a calmer yet hurried tone.
"All the packs of Jasper have united. The tunnel is guarded at every moment. We can't pass through there. However, there seems to be a lack of guards on the border with the territory of the Sentinels. They-"
A loud growl interrupted him from speaking. The shape that was the darkness of the den began moving. It became an enormous black wolf with deep red eyes.
"Never speak that word in front of me ever again. And you know we can't go through there. You remember the wolves I sent to follow the daughter of their leader? They walked on the ground that They used to poses. They died a couple of hours after they returned. You know we can't step on that part of the park. That was the curse the damned Arthy released on my team when we surrounded him. I was the only one to escape alive and you know it. Now, go back. We need to find a way in. If nothing turns up, we will attack in a couple of days. If you find anything, we might attack sooner. Go and tell the wolves to ready for battle. They won't know what hit them" the massive wolf said as the thinner scout bowed deeply and exited the den.
"They will soon taste the power I have and they will regret ever being alive. I wonder, however, why was the daughter of their leader on Their ground…" the wolf said, speaking with himself.
-the grounds of the Sentinels-
"Okay you two, I think this is it. The last match" Sally said as Kate and Humphrey got into fighting position again.
"Begin when you're ready" Sally said in a calm voice. She didn't even get to finish her sentence properly, before Kate and Humphrey already traded the first blows in the air. They were once again in the forest and this time they were using any means necessary, except injuries and words, to defeat their opponent. They were already jumping around from three to three at a very high speed. They didn't even see Sally anymore. They were too focused on the fight.
"I have never seen any other wolf fight light this. And I trained a lot of Sentinels" Arthy's spirit said as he appeared beside Sally and looked at the two of them fighting.
"Yes. And Kate isn't even a Sentinel" Sally added with a smile. Arthy nodded with a grin and looked back at the two mates as they fought. Sally watched as Arthy's shape faded away in the sunlight. The last this she heard was him saying:
"He really grew to be a good wolf and Sentinel…"
After his form faded completely, she turned her attention back to the two, who after all this time, were still fighting. It was the longest fight yet. However, it didn't last. They clashed once again in midair, not too far away from the earth and they fell. Both of them had the jaws around the neck of the other.
"Part" Sally called simply and they let go and got up.
"So, who won?" Kate asked in an excited voice.
"It was a tie. It looks like you are now on the same level when it comes to fighting…and you can dash through the trees at neck-breaking speed…and you aren't tired after training and fighting for several hours without breaks…which means only one thing. Come with me" Sally said with a smile as she walked to the two trees that formed an arcade. She stopped when Kate and Humphrey were under the two trees.
"Kate, Humphrey asked me to perform a ceremony I haven't performed in a very long time. Will you take part in it?" Sally asked her with a smile.
"What is this ceremony and why didn't Humphrey tell me about it?" Kate asked with a surprised smile looking at Sally and then at Humphrey.
"Humphrey wants me to marry the two of you in the old way of the Sentinels. It is also the ceremony with which I invest Humphrey with the rank of a Sentinel" Sally said. Kate nodded and Sally continued:
"Very well then. Please stand one in front of the other. We are here today to unite the destinies of two lives, of two wolves. They have already gone through a lot and have a lot to go through still. Humphrey, please say the vows that will bind you to your mate." Humphrey cleared his throat. His eyes began glowing from blue to golden. His fur lightened in color and beams of light began covering it. In a matter of seconds, Humphrey's fur got coated with a robe of solid light. Both Kate and Sally were awed and had no words for the scene they were witnessing. Humphrey spoke, his voice a little stronger than normal:
"I, Humphrey, son of Arthy and Senna, the last Sentinel, promise you, Kate, that I will love you forever, that I will protect you from danger to the best of my abilities and, if I have the choice, I will lay my life on the line to save yours. I swear this on my name, on my duty as a Sentinel and on my life as your mate." He then lifted his paw and put it on Kate's forehead, his eyes never wavering from her eyes. Under his paw, light burst, covering her forehead.
"Kate, it is your turn to say your vows that will bind you to Humphrey" Sally said.
"I, Kate, daughter of Winston and Eve, promise you, Humphrey, that I will love you forever, that I will do my best to protect you, that I will stand by you in good times and in bad times and I will follow you in battle, in life and in love. This I swear on my life as your mate" Sally said, with an eerie tone to her voice. She then lifted her paw and touched Humphrey's forehead. Her fur began glowing too and a coat covered her fur too, while a small bean of light appeared on her forehead as a simple crown. On Humphrey's head, a similar crown appeared.
"I, Sally, bind together these two lives that swore to each other in front of me that they will love one another forever and they will protect one another to the best of their abilities. The crowns symbolize your unity in mind and in decision and the robes symbolize your union in love. May your hearts and minds work as one and may fortune and happiness follow you on this path that is your destiny" Sally said touching both of their foreheads, over their paws. The light in their furs started to fade as did the golden color of Humphrey's eyes. After a couple of moments, Sally let her paws fall to the ground and all three of them exhaled at the same time.
"Okay…Kate, I believe you have some question as to what you just witnessed and what you took part in" Sally said with a smile. Kate nodded and Sally said:
"In most Sentinel weddings, the fur of the Sentinel is infused with light at the moment of the vows. But, for some reason, for Humphrey, the light formed an actual robe and crown. His eyes also changed. And the voice you heard was the voice of his soul. In a Sentinel wedding, the vows are said by the souls of the two wolves. As you might have noticed, a robe of light and a crown formed around you too. The reason this happened is because when a non-Sentinel is wed to a Sentinel in the Sentinel way, he or she receives some of their power. By that I mean that now both of you can feel when the other one is in danger and also you senses are sharpened. Also, the effect of the random mind connection I mentioned when you began your training will become stronger. With practice, you will be able to transmit small commands between your minds. Also, these vows, once completed will never break. They will act as a compass to one another in case you will ever be separated." Both Kate and Humphrey thought a couple of moments about what Sally said. Then Sally continued:
"Now, Kate if you will step away for a moment as I invest Humphrey to the rank of Sentinel, it would be for the best." Kate nodded and walked a few paces away. Sally turned back to Humphrey and closed her eyes. Her markings began glowing from red to blue as did her eyes. She put her paw on Humphrey's head and his robe of light returned right away, as did his golden eyes. Sally began speaking in an eerie voice and as if she was far away:
"Humphrey, son of Arthy and Senna, you have completed your training as a Sentinel, even though the time was almost a third of a normal training time and you suffered great emotional pain. You lost a lot, but gained a lot. I hereby give you the title of Sentinel, the defender of peace and truth, of selflessness and courage, bringer of hope and dreams. May you wear it with pride and may it serve you well. You destiny is to walk on a path that has never been walked on, to open new paths for the ones following you and to guide them. Guide them with courage, with compassion and with fairness. May the sun, the moon and good fortune smile upon you."
Sally let her paw fall and the blue color faded. Humphrey's eyes returned to their normal color and so did his fur.
"You are now officially a Sentinel. Bear this title with pride" Sally said with a smile. Then she waved to Kate to come beside Humphrey. After she came, Sally said:
"Congratulations to both of you for finishing this training. I suggest you get a good-night sleep and be ready by tomorrow morning. You will need to be ready to start your return journey. Also, I have made a decision. I will join your pack but I will not come now. I will take a couple of days to prepare and after that I will come to your pack. You can tell this to Winston for me?" Sally said with a smile. Both Kate and Humphrey nodded with smiles.
"Very well then. Off you go. Take a break. You deserve it" Sally said as Humphrey and Kate walked away to the main grounds of the Sentinels.
-a few hours later-
"Dear?" Eve voice could be heard. Winston woke up from his slumber and saw Eve beside him.
"Yes? What is it?" he asked with a confused expression.
"There is a goose outside that wants to talk with you. It says it is important" Eve said. Winston nodded and Eve went outside. A moment later, Marcel came inside.
"Hello monsieur Winston. Do you remember me, yes?" Marcel said with his smile.
"Yes Marcel. What is it?" Winston asked.
"Humphrey sent me. He will be returning tomorrow. He has completed his training by now. He said that the Wretches will attack the day after tomorrow and that you should be ready by then" Marcel said, his grin falling. Winston sleepy face became worried.
"How does he know this?" Winston asked.
"He didn't say. But he said that he is quite certain about it" Marcel said. Winston nodded and said:
"Thank you for sharing this. I will let the wolves know. Eve, come here please." Marcel nodded and left. Eve came in and Winston said:
"Prepare the wolves. We have one more day before the Wretches attack. Also, Humphrey returns tomorrow. Make the necessary preparations for the attack. Double the patrols. Also, let the others that we spoke with this morning know that Humphrey returns tomorrow. By the way, where is Hutch?"
"You sent him with the cubs, remember? He will be back by morning" Eve said with a smile. "Now get some more rest. If what you said is real, you will need all the energy tomorrow. I will take care of the rest for once. Sweet dreams" Eve added. Winston nodded and got back to sleep. Eve let him sleep and went to spread the news.
-back at the main den on the Sentinel grounds-
Kate and Humphrey were lying one beside the other, Kate's head on Humphrey's front paws and his head over hers in a protective way. His tail was intertwined with hers and their bodies were so close to one another that they could feel the other breathing.
"It looks like we finally made one more important step in our journey" Kate said with a happy and content sigh.
"So it looks like. And you know what?" Humphrey said, raising his head a little. Kate looked at him and he said:
"I am happy that I could recover my memories and I could at least understand my pack, my origins and my power. But, the happiest I am because you were here with me and because we are walking this path together." Kate smiled and licked his neck. Humphrey closed his eyes and, after some time, they fell asleep together. And so, another step on this journey had been made, other paths have been revealed and two destinies that, until now, were merely touching each other, have now become one.
Aaaand…scene. Thank you everyone fore reading and I want to know your opinions about this. Looking forward to read them.
Until next time, LionPrankster, over and out.