CHAPTER 53
You're up early for a royal." Sonic grumbled. He and Viper were sitting at the elongated wooden table in the dining hall where breakfast was being served.
"I'm just full of surprises." Marcos sarcastically retorted as he sat down at the table, obviously uninterested in baiting Sonic on.
"Good morning." Amy was entering the dining hall. Sonic looked up quickly to greet Amy with a smile. Mark only nodded as he began biting into an apple, while Viper greeted her in kind with a morning hello. She sat down next to the white fox. "Have Shadow and Espio come down?" Amy asked as she placed some cheese on a slice of bread.
"They left already with Flade." Viper answered as she bit into a slice of pork.
Amy was about to ask another question, but was interrupted as Thorn entered the room and came to her side. He had his usual distasteful expression, the same one he always seemed to wear when talking to any of the 'outsiders' as he called them. "Loom has requested your presence in town." He turned to walk away.
"Where should I go?" Amy asked as she stood up quickly.
"I was instructed to tell you nothing else." He said blandly.
"Another exercise." Amy realized. "I better get going."
"You'd better tell that old fox to hurry up with your training." Sonic pointed out. "It won't be much longer before the moon is full and we will have what we came for."
"There are some things and some people who just can't be rushed." Thorn said with a grunt as he thought of Loom, he'd never once seen him rush.
x-x-x
Amy had made her way into the small-town village that surrounded the castle. Her eyes were scanning everything looking for any ideas or clues that would lead her to Loom. She knew this was another test. She'd been given similar tests since she had become a pupil of his. Though she followed his instruction at every turn, her mind always ran back to that first day of real teaching. The history of the Lycans, the truth behind their abilities and their magic, all these thoughts lead her to one very important mission, helping Espio. If she could learn to understand Lycans and werewolves on a deeper level, maybe she would find a way to help him. She still remembered Loom's words.
"He would be free to fill joy again, and even to love." Before Amy had time to rejoice at his admission, he gave her a cautionary warning. "Just knowing something doesn't give you the ability to change everything. You have to understand it, and understand yourself." He looked her in the eye. "Your own mind is clouded with loss, and the same magic that binds your friend can be found in the human world as well. It may not manifest in the same way, but it can take the same toll. You cannot help him until you have helped yourself. Resolve your own despair first and then perhaps you will have the power and the ability to show him the same path."
Amy had known right away what Loom meant. The pain made her heart clinch. How was it possible that Loom knew she was holding in such anguish and fear? His ability to see through her, frightened Amy at times. If he could see her fear did that mean Shadow could too? Was that perhaps the reason he had not approached her or even spared a passing glance since their reunion? The thoughts were making her eyes begin to tear up, she quickly shook her head from side to side forcing them away. She couldn't fall into despair now, she had to focus, she had to learn all she could from Loom, and then maybe she could make herself useful, and Shadow would see that she could be valuable to him.
Amy inhaled deeply in an attempt to clear her mind. She had focus on the task at hand. "Hum…" She ran through the options of what she would do now. "I need help." She determined as she looked around for someone who might be able to point her in the right direction. There were quite a few people walking around the village; Amy's eyes landed on a black hedgehog, she was sitting on a bench. With just a glance Amy could see she was very beautiful with white streaks in her quills and single stripes on her arms and legs, and her quills ran down her shoulders, they were so long that Amy was certain they must go to the back of her knees if she were to stand. "Excuse me." The black hedgehog looked up suddenly pulled form her thoughts. She was met with the smile of an unfamiliar pink hedgehog. "I don't mean to bother. My name's Amy." She smiled.
"Hello." The black hedgehog responded. She smiled, but somehow Amy felt a ray of sadness from the girl. "My name is Moon."
"Nice to meet you." Amy nodded. "I'm actually looking for a work shop that belongs to a black cat named Loom. Have you heard of it?"
"Oh of course." She rose to her feet and just as Amy had imagined her long silky quills bellowed down the back of her knees. "Would you like me to show you the way?"
"Yes please, I would really apricate your help." Amy said with a grateful tone as she followed Moon across the square and towards several rows of cottage like houses and shops. The two turned a corner and were now strolling down the back alleys which were one block over from the main street. Amy stared at the lovely female in front of her. She was so beautiful and kind as well, Amy couldn't help but wonder why she was surrounded by such a sad aura. Amy sighed and let the thought pass, she was starting to notice her own pattern of sticking her nose into other people's business more often than she should.
Amy began to look at each shop and house, hoping she would spot a clue that might point her the right direction of her teacher's location. Amy's eyes finally landed on a sign; it had no words but instead the side porfile silhouette of a wolf's head being circled by a shooting star. It seemed so familiar, then it hit her, the clasp on Loom's cloak, it was a shooting star, just like on the sign. She knew her instincts were correct when Moon stopped in front of shop. "This is Loom's shop." She nodded her head to Amy. "I'll be taking my leave now."
"Oh thank you again." Amy said as she turned so her eyes could follow Moon as she walked past, before turning back to the shop.
She went up to the door. She tapped on the door, but there was no answer. She checked the knob, it wasn't locked. She gently pushed the door open. "Hello? Loom are you here?" As she looked inside, she felt a sense of awe fall over her. The room was dim, the only light was coming from a few scattered candles and dark rays of sun flowing through the midnight blue stained glass window. The walls were lined with bookshelves, each filled to capacity with books of every size and color. There were three wooden island counters, the tops were covered in a layer of stone, and upon the first was what Amy could only identify as some kind of chemistry set, the second was lined with bottles, and had several potted plants scattered on it, the final counter was stacked with books, several were open, and on the back side she could see the gentle reams of smoke dancing from the burning of lavender incenses.
"You know trespassing is a crime don't you?" An annoyed voice came from behind Amy causing her to quickly turn around.
"His name's Quinn. He's my apprentice, and ten years your senior." Loom said as he sat down at a large dark mahogany desk.
"Ten years?" Amy's eyes widened. She felt she'd never get use to how the passage of time was different for werewolves. Quinn looked to be Amy's age and yet he'd been studying under the old fox ten years already.
"Why bring her here?" He didn't show her much attention. "She doesn't show the slightest bit of mental aptitude."
"She leads with something else." Loom answered simply.
Amy looked at the old fox. "What do you mean by that?"
"Did you know that our Lycan names have a meaning behind them?" Loom asked as if ignoring her question.
"Meanings?" Amy was trying not to be detoured, but Loom always managed to do it so effortlessly.
"Quite often you will find that a Lycan's name is given to them for a reason."
"Some of the werewolves back home do something similar." Amy's mind raced back to the cubs. "The cubs have names like Honey Paw, Fern, Grey Paw, and Hawkeye. All named after things they did as cubs."
"A new custom, and a special one." Loom nodded. "However, our naming's are a bit different."
"Our names are who we are." Loom motioned to his first apprentice. "In the ancient language Quinn means intelligent." He opened a book, the pages were faded and tan with age, the thick leather cover was black and showed its years of use. He picked up a ruffled quill which he dipped in a jar of ink.
"Are you saying that Quinn leads with his mind?" Amy asked as she stood before the desk watching the old one write in the book.
"Very good." Loom didn't look up from his writing.
"You're saying that when given a name at birth that determines who we become?" Amy thought this sounded rather damning.
"It is a tool to help tell us how to make our path in life," he looked up at her as he dipped his quill again. "But not where that path will go."
"But how can a mother make such a decision?" Amy couldn't imagine it. "Knowing the weight of such a choice, how do they know what name to pick?"
"It isn't just the mother who names the cub." He answered. "Her instincts guide her decision."
"Instincts?" Amy looked completely lost.
"Do you have something against those who aren't knuckle draggers?" Quinn asked as he arranged a stack of books. "Clearly if you had been paying attention during Loom's discussion of Lycan history and did even an ounce of studying on your own, you should know that the goddess, Artemis, possessed the gift of clairvoyance." He didn't see Amy's lost expression change and it only irritated him. "She could see into the future." He said in a condescending tone. "Lycans still carry some of the magic from her original curse. That magic has been mutating and changing with each generation that passes. Present day Lycan females don't have a clear view of the future, and thus far, there's never been a documented case of a clairvoyant, but for some unknown reason, that particular ability peaks during the first few days after a She-Lycan gives birth. She can't see the future of her cub, but she gets an intuitive feeling, a severe case of deja vu about her offspring, and it's from these small subconscious glimpses into their cub's future that they choose a name."
"That's amazing." The wonders of Lycans and werewolves never ceased to amaze Amy. "In essences, it almost like the cub picks their own name." Just by a cub's behaviors and actions that touched the mother's mind during her clairvoyant period, they could show a true part of their inner self and that would travel with them forever through the name they received.
"To think you couldn't figure that out." Quinn had a dull look on his face. "And you're supposed to be the reincarnate of Artemis?"
Amy ignored Quinn's comment. "Loom," She took a step closer to the desk. "What is the meaning of my name?"
"What does it matter? You weren't born a Lycan." Quinn said with one hand on his hip. "Your mother wouldn't have had any Lycan insight."
Amy looked over her shoulder at Quinn with an impatient face. "My mother didn't name me. My grandmother did." She had a little snap in her voice, but it was just barely audible.
Before the conversation could continue the three were interrupted by a familiar cat that busted through the door with an adrenalin filled look in his eyes. "Loom, Anarchy are here."
"How would those brutes ever get past the city gates?" Quinn demanded.
"They're here under a truce." Thorn's tone was tight with anger.
"Since when do they honor a truce, or any other common form of decency?" Quinn retorted.
"Even Mephiles isn't arrogant enough to attempt an all-out battle within the heart of the city. It's too risky." Loom closed the book he had been writing in. "Let's go." He rounded the corner of his desk heading towards the exit.
"Who is Mephiles?" Amy asked as she followed Loom.
"He's the leader of Anarchy." Thorn interjected as he and Quinn followed behind.
"Anarchy?" Amy recalled Thorn mentioning something like this when they first met. "Isn't that who you though we were when we first got here?"
"Yes," Thorn answered. "They are a bunch of untrustworthy high and might mutts."
"That's the poorest explanation I've ever heard." Quinn huffed at the orange cat, before continuing in an academic tone. "Anarchy is the name given to a small extremist group of wolves who believe Lycans are a unique form of demi-god created from the magic of Artemis. They detest the mingling of Lycan blood outside of the species. They do not believe Lycans should be allowed to associate or mate with humans or werewolves as such unions only thin the pure strain of Artemis's magic that is still in the Lycan bloodline. They also put a lot of effort and focus into tapping into that magic in order to prove themselves the superior species. They were once a part of the motherland clan, but their attempts to enforce their ideals through any means necessary brought about their exile. They still roam the moors and constantly attack our patrols and those who venture beyond the city walls. They'll stop at nothing to eradicate us and establish Lycans, and Lycans alone, as the apex power of the world."
"And you thought that we had something to do with them?" Amy spoke in an offended tone as she looked over her shoulder at Thorn.
"Hey you're the Wolf's Maiden and just because you aren't Lycans doesn't mean they aren't using you. Mephiles has been known to use anything and anyone at his disposal, just because he thinks humans and werewolves are beneath him doesn't mean he won't use them to do his bidding."
"Amy." Loom's voice distracted Amy from her disgruntled argument with Thorn. "Haven't you ever wondered why Lycans in the states believe themselves to be the superiors to werewolves and humans?"
Her eyes lit up as she made the connection. "They're members of Anarchy?"
"Very close. They may not share every aspect of the Anarchy beliefs, but the differences are minuscule to say the least. The Lycans there broke from the group before they were exiled and before they were known as Anarchy."
As the four of them came to the center of the village the main street was lined with all those who lived within the city. Amy stood on her toes to see past the other people lining the street. Coming down the road which would lead to the gates of the palace was a hedgehog, a polar bear, and an echidna. It was obvious the hedgehog was in charge; he was like nothing Amy had ever seen before. His stature was strong beneath his dark blue fur, his quills, which reminded her of Shadows, faded in to crystal at the tips, and his arms and legs had crystal shards jutting out, his muzzle had no nose or mouth, and his eyes…how frightening they were, blood red with sharp green pupils. The polar bear on his right was pale white and yellow with amber eyes, he wore a black toboggan, matching scarf, and black and brown leather mitts over his hands. Amy couldn't believe his size. He was so huge, surely his brute strength alone made him a terrifying opponent in a fight. The echidna on the right looked just as deadly as the other two. Her body was covered in a black body suite, and she wore a wrap around her head that pulled back her light cherry peach dreadlocks which her tipped in a cream color. Amy noticed a hot pink symbol in the middle of the black head wrap, but she did know what it meant. The emblem matched her lovely pink eyes which were outlined with soft white fur. The echidna was as beautiful as she was dangerous.
"What do they want?" Amy whispered to Thorn and Quinn.
Suddenly the three Lycans stopped in the middle of the street. Mephiles turned his eyes to the section of the crowd where Amy was. "It's just as Jet said," He looked right at the pink hedgehog. "You can smell the magic flowing out of her."
"Shall we bring her to you?" The echidna asked as she and the polar bear took one step forward. That single step forward was enough to make Loom take a stance in front of Amy along with Thorn and Quinn.
"That won't be necessary Shade." Mephiles shook his head. "I have no appetite at the moment. A meal should be enjoyed during the peak of one's hunger, otherwise it is a waste." He turned back to the path he had been on before. "Come Shade, Bark." He motioned for the echidna and the polar bear to return. "I will eat when I am ready." The two heeded his command without question.
"Even though you have no mouth you plan to eat someone?" Thorn snarled with his hotheaded temper.
"Hum," Mephiles turned his view back to the cat. "Let's see, yellow fur, hot tempered, and the uncanny lack of holding your tongue. You must be Luke and Tasha's brat."
"Don't say their names." The cat snarled. "You aren't worthy."
"Worthy?" Mephiles chuckled. "Don't you have it backwards? They were the unworthy ones. Afterall if they had been worthy, they wouldn't be dead."
"I'll kill you!" Thorn lunged forward to attack the hedgehog, but he fell to the ground unconscious from a knockout blow to the head.
Loom was standing over him, he looked at the hedgehog. "Don't you have more important things to attend too besides antagonizing the young?"
"Ah Loom, I see you're still wasting your time on lost causes." He lifted one brow. "Pity." His sight returned to his path and he and his two escorts continued their walk towards the palace.
"Quinn take Thorn to the palace." Loom ordered. He could tell Quinn was about to protest; he cut him off immediately. "Now." He turned to the pink hedgehog. "Amy you are to stay with me. Do not leave my side until I say."
x-x-x-x
Noxuna stood at her mate's side. "Why would he dare to come here? Even he can't defeat the entirety of the kingdom with just those two."
"Because, we have something he wants." Flade said as he made his way towards the front entrance of the castle.
"The girl." Noxuna suddenly realized what he was talking about.
"She's with Loom." He pointed out. "He won't risk losing two of his top Lycans in a fight he's not sure he could win. He'll do the next best thing."
She nodded. "He'll bargain for her."
"He'll try, and then when that fails, he'll take her by any means necessary. Even if he has to bring his whole pack."
"I'm surprised he didn't bring them this time."
"He considers their Lycan blood too valuable to spill without cause. Where would his superior Lycan race be without their precious pure blood." He said with a bitter tone. "But he'll water the ground with it if he thinks he can gain the power to overthrow our entire way of life, and then the rest of the world."
"Flade." She knew that things may come to blows, and her heart quaked for her lover.
"It's been a while since I saw that look in your eyes." Flade smiled and pulled her to him kissing her forehead. "My queen I did not know you could still make such a face." He ran the back of his hand down her cheek. "Have you forgotten what kind of wolf you married?" He asked.
Noxuna held his hand to her cheek. "A king."
x-x-x
"What the hell is going on?" Sonic demanded as he followed Torin down a staircase, and behind him was Viper, and Espio.
"We have uninvited guests." He answered. "And at a most inconvenient time."
"Flade's orders are to keep you all out of sight."
"What about Amy!?" Sonic demanded.
"She's with Loom, she'll be fine. The one I am concerned about is your black and red friend. No one has seen him since early this morning."
x-x-x
"It would seem not much has changed." Shade had one hand on her hip. "Same warm welcome as always." She was referencing the great line of wolves who stood protectively before the gates of the castle.
"Don't worry," Bark grunted with his arms folded. "I doubt we will be made to waste our time." At that moment the gates to the castle cranked open.
"Flade." Mephiles saw the black wolf standing there. "Ah and Noxuna." He saw the female at his side. "I'm surprised Flade has been true to his word about keeping you after all." Noxuna growled at him. "Looks as though Flade's line will end with him." He looked at Flade. "A barren queen must be a difficult cross to bear."
"What is it you want Mephiles?" Flade said with narrowed eyes. "I'm sure you didn't come all this way just to chat." By now much of the village had gathered round to hear the invader and King speak.
"Straight to business as always Flade." Mephiles relaxed demeanor didn't change. "As a matter of fact I have it on good authority that a Wolf's Maiden has found her way into your midst. I couldn't let such a thing go unconfirmed. By my own eyes I have seen that it is indeed true, and now I should like to take her with me."
"Mephiles stop this please!" Moon had stepped through the crowd and was now standing just a yard or so away from Mephiles's side. "You can't do this." She said as she clenched her fists with a desperate look on her face.
"Moon." Mephiles's expression seem to change for a second before it returned to its usual arrogancy. "Must we have this same discussion every time our paths meet? It's becoming a rather tiresome routine."
"Mephiles you don't have to do this. You can leave and forget about that girl." She said shaking her head. "You don't need her." She said trying not to cry. "Please leave things be and return to the hills."
"I'm afraid that's not how it works. You know I will never let go of the rights bestowed on our kind. She's the key to making it all a reality, and I will have her." He said as he turned his eyes to glare at the king.
"You think we would simply give her to you?" Flade probed as he crossed his arms.
"As far as I can see you have only two options. You can give her to me now and receive a place as a servant to the pure bloods or I will take her, and every street in this city will run red with the blood of the unworthy rabble who infest it." The crowd was filled with gasps and whispers at the declaration of his intentions.
"Even someone as bold as you must realize that you cannot overtake this kingdom with but yourself and the two at your side."
Mephiles hand began to squeeze into a fist. "Who said I was taking her today?" He shook his head slightly. "We are not barbarians; we are more than willing to give you three nights to make your choice. However," His eyes narrowed slightly. "I think a warning would be fair." He suddenly lunged forward his icy fist seem to light up with cold fire as he aimed his blow at Flade's queen.
Just as the icy flames were about to lick Noxuna's cheek, Mephiles felt a pain surge through his left side as a foot slammed into his ribs and sent him flying from his spot of attack. The hedgehog was nimble, he landed with a screech of his feet against the ground and one palm pressed to the dirt to prevent him from stumbling forward. He immediately looked up. "Who dares?" He growled.
Standing in the spot where Mephiles had once been about to attack now stood a familiar black and red hedgehog. "I could say the same for you." Shadow said as he stared at the mouthless hedgehog. "What kind of leader threatens a king, but attacks his queen? That pure blood of yours must be pretty thin."
The bird and bear who had accompanied Mephiles were about to attack Shadow, "No!" The pure blood snarled, causing them to stop in their tracks. He looked at Shadow with confused anger. "We're leaving for now." He turned his eyes to Flade. "Three days false king, and then I make the decision for you." He turned and began to descent from the palace with his escorts now at his side again.
Noxuna approached Shadow, he was bewildered by the surprise lingering in her stare. "How did you do that?" She asked.
"What?" Shadow responded.
"You were able to attack Mephiles without him sensing you at all." Flade joined his wife by Shadow. "No one has ever executed a surprise attack on him before."
Shadow showed no interest in Flades surprise. "Where is Amy?"
"She's safe." Noxuna promised.
x-x-x
"Loom I want to know what's going on." Amy said as she paced back and forth across the floor of his castle laboratory, the room had no windows and she had been rushed there so quickly that she had time to even bring up her concerns. "I need to know if my friends are-"
"Loom." Quinn entered the room. "It's safe now they have departed." He was about to say something else, but Loom shook his head wanting him to remain silent.
Amy turned to look at Loom. "Can I go see my friends now?" The black cat nodded in response, and Amy quickly ran past Quinn and down the hall.
Once she was out of ear shot Loom looked to his apprentice. "An ultimatum?"
"Three days to turn her over."