Introduction:
Greetings readers, allow me to introduce myself once again, I'm Jeffwolf, and right here, right now, a saga will finally be concluded. Almost a decade ago, a little story called "Erdan" was written and posted by an author named, "Wolflover111". He made a short tale of an orphan boy who befriended a general, and though the two of them became an unofficial father and son, their story ended in tragedy. That is, it would, if another author named "The Cool Kat" found enjoyment in that fan written fable, and wanted to know what happened next for those two main characters. So Cool Kat wrote a sequel, "Erdan 2 a father's love". A much larger story that continued the tale of that boy and the general, and brought a happy ending for the both of them. But this saga had much potential, and sadly, a new entry wasn't written until many years later. I, "Jeffwolf" beloved "Erdan 2", so much to re-read it multiple times. And it was only until these last couple years, that I decided to take up the mantle, and continue this saga of an orphan boy becoming a hero.
This right here, is the first piece of the final entry in the Erdan saga, the long awaited ending. I originally intended to write this story in the fall of last year. But last September my mother suffered a stroke, and since them my family has been on a long road to recover. It's because of this that I couldn't deliver on my original plans, and to the fans of this saga, I apologize. I can say that there is great hope and promise for my mother to be whole again. And I believe great stories have the power to last for years, even generations. The tale of Erdan the wolf boy has stayed in the hearts of those who loved his adventures, and finally the saga will now be complete.
This is, "Erdan 3: A Legend's Rebirth". Enjoy.
Prologue: A boy, a story, and a tragedy.
A great and wise master once said "Old sins cast long shadows". Often people throughout the ages has said that the past doesn't matter, that the future is of more importance, or to forget what's passed and enjoy the present. But that's not how history is, now is it? I believe the past is much more than simple records of people of ancient times and what they did. History, whether in the near past, or the distant ages, is and continues to be a living, breathing element in our world. The past is not only the means of our present, but can also serve as a sign of what's to come. It's been said that history repeats itself, and that those who don't take to heart the fruitful labors and lessons of ancestors of pasts, are only doomed to suffer the ill situations that brought misfortune to those no one remembers in the now. Whether the past brings prosperity or ruin, is ultimately decided by the individual. Such principles have strong effects, even in the worlds of fiction.
((()-()))
Flames rose up into the lower atmosphere as sparks of orange and red flew skyward, only to disappear midway, wiped from existence only mere seconds after coming into being. The fires' heat broke through the pitch dark sky. Standing in the middle of this sight of destruction and purging via hellfire, stood a man. A mountain lion, who just now was witnessing the result of this cruel, despicable, unforgiving world. As the adult wildcat continued to fix his gaze at the now burnt black homes, the fires reflected in his pupils, fueling a now scorching desire to inflict the most painful of karmas, upon those of-
"Sir? Sir?" A voice asked, as that same man opened his eyes. Bringing his thoughts to a halt, and replacing the burning scenario of past, with a cold and soft present.
The mountain lion looked and realized his second-in-command approached him. "Sir" The lower ranking one said. "We've almost reached our destination, sir."
The leading wild feline looked at his men, who were climbing upwards on a snowy and bitterly cold mountain. After taking mental note of their progress toward their planned destination, the leader sighed, before replying.
"Very good, tell the men to wait for my order once the target is in sight."
The lower ranking warrior nodded, and then proceeded to spread his master's orders among the men. The leader looked behind him, noticing that the most inexperienced in their company was lagging behind.
"Come on now!" The commanding mountain lion ordered to his younger feline.
The struggling one, who wasn't even of age, tried his best to pick up his pace. But the chilling cold and heavy winds were a struggle for one still young. Regardless he continued climbing in the footsteps of his leader, as his master's leathered poncho was blowing along with the snowflakes of the ancient mountain. The party continued upwards through the snow covered forests and stone cold mountain ranges.
((()-()))
Meanwhile, within a humble house made of wood, a central fire illuminated the main, large room. Of which featured simple décor carved from the gifts of nature. Baskets containing vegetables, wooden chairs, tables, and a woven blanket with the pattern of three wolves, one large, one medium, and one small. Rocking back and forth while relaxing, a mother held in her paws a piece of fabric she had been working on in secret all day. As she imagined the face of this gift's soon future owner, the door opened as her husband walked into the house. The man of the home strolled in with logs in his arms, ready to keep their warm fire a glowing for the rest of the night.
"Here we go." The father wolf said as he placed the logs down to keep their heat source alive. "That should be enough for now."
The light from the flames spread across the man's broad build, though a physique like his was expected for one of the best builders in their village. He then approached his wife, kissed and hugged her before setting down on a chair of his own. His noticed the gift his wife held in her paws, freshly finished.
"How'd it turn out?" The husband asked.
"Quite well, I can't wait to see what he thinks of it." The mother said as thoughts of their only son washed into her mind. Realizing their young was nowhere around, she asked "Where is he?"
Her husband smiled and answered "He's still outside. He wanted to look at the snowflakes for a bit before coming in.
Just five feet from the main entrance to his home, a young wolf, of thirteen years sat on the ground. He didn't mind the cold, given his thick, grey colored fur coat. The boy didn't mind at all, not when he could see first-hand the beauty of his home. Hundreds of snowflakes descending from the sky, each one floating downward at their own pace. Whenever a sight like such was near, this boy always took a moment or two to visually bask in awe at a wonder of nature.
But then, "Erdan, come inside now!" a voice shouted from inside.
"Ok dad." The wolf boy shouted back before getting up and quickly walking inside.
Upon entering his house, and after closing and locking the door, the boy gave a long, large yawn. After a day of helping his father with woodwork, the pup was ready for bed.
But before he could walk to his room, his mother gained his attention. "Erdan, wait."
The boy turned to face his mother, questioning "What is it mom?" in a tired, half asleep tone.
"Come over here." The mother wolf happily asked.
The boy lupine slowly made his way to take a seat in front of his parents, though he would prefer to take a short trip to his bed. Erdan grabbed a wooden chair, and sat as the warm fire warmed his skin.
Nervous, Erdan asked "Is something wrong?"
"No, everything's fine, son." The father answered.
"There's something I want to give you." The mother informed.
Puzzled, Erdan tilted his head in confusion, he was a wild dog after all, so actions like such are simple habits for his kind. The boy's mother mentally prepared herself, and she begun.
"Now Erdan, you know what today is, right?"
"Yeah, today is the day, uh, well, was the day of my birth." Erdan answered.
"Yes." The mother lupine said as anticipation spiraled in her mind. "Now, normally our people have a small family feast to celebrate a person's birth. But, there's a tradition other cultures have, that our village doesn't really do."
"What's that?" Erdan asked, feeling even more puzzled then before.
"In other cultures, it's tradition to give a gift to someone you love on their birthday." The boy's mother explained.
Erdan's face brightened up as he said "A gift! Really?"
"Yes." The mother said. She then pulled out a piece of red fabric, and held it out in wide open paws. Erdan picked it up, feeling the nice, smooth material. The bandana had a deep red color, with dark blue designs woven into a nice pattern on the cloth's body.
"Thanks mom, but, uh, what is it?" Erdan asked in a grateful, yet curious tone.
The mother slightly giggled before answering. "It's called a bandana, you wear it around your neck."
Erdan tried to put the garment on, but kept failing, due to lack of knowledge of such a thing.
The father had seen enough and said "Here, let me help." Before showing his son how to wear his new gift.
Erdan felt the cloth wrapped around his neck, which felt a little strange.
The mother then said to her young "I remember my mother once wearing a garment like that. She said hers was worn by her mother. It was a gift from a wandering warrior who saved her life when our people were nomads."
"It feels kinda weird." Erdan stated.
"Well, you'll get used to it in time." The father replied.
"Do I have to wear it?" Erdan asked.
The mother then asked "Y-you don't like it?"
"No, I do, really. But, all the other kids are gonna make fun of me for it." Erdan answered as he took the cloth off and gave it back to his mother.
"Well, can you at least wear it inside, for me?" The mother asked.
Erdan felt a shred of guilt, and answered "Ok mom."
The mother had mixed feelings of the last five minutes, but all she wanted was the best for her son. Erdan then gave the cloth back to his mother, who then placed it on a nearby table for safe keeping.
Erdan then had an idea pop into his mind and asked, "Mom, dad, can I have a story before bed?"
Both parents looked at each other, and the father said "Son, you're not a little pup anymore, you're thirteen."
"I know, but I'm growing up, so this may be my last chance for a story before bed, please?" Erdan asked earnestly.
The father thought about it for a second, sighed, and answered "Well, ok. Which story do you want?"
Erdan perked up and answered "You know, my favorite."
"But I've told you it a hundred times?"
"But dad." Erdan replied with a hint of disappointment.
The father sighed again before saying, "Well, alright, but just this one last time."
Erdan then got comfy, getting ready for his last bedtime story.
The father wolf cleared his throat, and begun the old legend.
"A long, long time ago, the world we know was nothingness. Until a person came from great beyond, looking for a place to call home. He settled in this world, and with his amazement, created the mountains, plains, valleys, and oceans. He made the beautiful world we live in now."
Erdan sat, and kept his eyes closed, imagining the events of the story unfold from the structures of his own imagination. The mother smiled, seeing that although she gift didn't warrant the reaction she wished for, she could see the joy her son felt form listening to his favorite tale one more time before he comes of age.
"But even though this new world was filled with beauty and bounty, he was all alone. He wished to be loved, so he created the people that inhabit this world. Big and small, thin and large, all kinds of people of various shapes and sizes. But this Great Creator knew that true love can't be forced, so he gave those first people the gift of free will. With this gift, the people could love their maker, who blessed them with a marvelous home, and create like he did though wood and stone."
Erdan imagined how those first days were like, with the world and all in it living in peace and harmony. But he knew that the legend would take a dark turn.
"But the larger, stronger people took advantage of their smaller, weaker neighbors. They did everything to improve their lives, but by treating the smaller animals with cruelty. Even killing whole towns for self- gain."
But then, Erdan remembered a hopeful turn that was soon to come.
"Seeing the injustice below, the Great Creator could not tolerate how people have abused his great gift. So he created another animal. One that would have a divine role; to protect the weak from the wicked. A race that's value for others was made into its very selfness, the mighty wolves. These new warriors were strong, fast, and guarded the weaker animals with their lives. And for years, they upheld the Great Creator's wishes."
Erdan always enjoyed this part of the legend, since it was his favorite in the story. Even though the legend ended in a dark climax.
"However, the temptation was great, and the wolves themselves succumbed to abusing and bullying the weak for their own gain. The Great Creator felt sorrowful and betrayed. And soon, he left to his residence in the clouds, never to return to the chaotic world, that he was ashamed of creating. But it's said the he still watches over all who value what he treasured, peace, even to this day."
The father finished the story, the ancient legend his son loved over all other tales of past and make believe.
His son asked "Dad, Mom, do you think wolves will be heroes again?"
"I don't' know son. I really don't know." The father answered.
Erdan then asked "If we're wolves, does that mean we have a divine duty as protectors?"
Both parents looked at each other. True their son listened to the legend many times, but never before has he asked a question like this.
"Who knows. It is a legend after all." The mother said.
Erdan then yawned, showing the tiredness finally take effect. Then Erdan made his way to his bed. As he snuggled in his sheet and blanket, his parents join him. Unknowing that the bandana fell of the small table it was placed on, and slipped through the wooden boards, landing underneath the house.
"Goodnight son." The father said before kissing his son's forehead.
"Goodnight, my little Erdan." The mother spoke before doing the same.
Erdan yawned, and tiredly replied. "Goodnight Mom, goodnight dad." And closed his eyes as he drifted to sleep.
Both parents went to their own room, ready to end the day as well. As the father patted a nice smelling powder on his bare torso, he couldn't help but notice his wife sitting upright in their bed.
What's wrong dear?" The father asked as he climbed in bed with his wife.
After a moment of silence, she questioned, "Do you think this is a good life for our son?"
"What do you mean?"
"He has no friends, everyone in the village thinks of him like a strange accident, and I know he feels… closed in." The mother sadly answered.
"I understand most, but what do you mean 'closed in'?"
"Honey you've seen how he looks out to the distance. He wants to see the world, he wants to know what's out there."
The husband stayed quiet, letting his partner speak her mind, he was always a good listener.
"I…I think, I want us… to move out."
"Out of the village!?" The father questioned.
"What kind of life does our son have here?"
"He has us." The father commented.
"But he should have friends, and people around him who love him, and see him for the, bright, lovable boy he is." The mother lupine begun to cry. "I, I feel I've failed him."
The husband quickly comforted his love saying "Hey, hey, you're not a failure."
"I don't want to live here, if it means my little boy will grow up shunned his whole life."
The father thought about it for a minute before saying "Then let's move."
"But where?" The mother asked with tears down her face.
"I might know a place. Gongmen City."
"Would it be safe?" The wife asked.
"I remember when I was ten years old, my mother had a friend who moved there. I think she made a good life, and had a family, from what my parents said. It's a city where wolves are respected, and treated like equals." The husband explained. "What was her friend's name? E-Elin? H-Holles? I can't remember, it was so long ago."
The wife stopped crying to think, then she said to her love "If we do move, it'll be very difficult to make a new life for the three of us. And what will the village say?"
"I don't care what the village says. You and our son is all I care for, if they all think us outcasts, then fine. Let's go to a place where we will be respected. Somewhere our son can live happily."
The wife thought hard of what her husband was talking about. But exhaustion took hold of her, so she said "Ok, let's sleep now, and plan in the morning."
"Ok, goodnight." The husband said as he kissed her and they both fell asleep.
((()-()))
The winds continued to push down harshly on the young mountain lion, who after what felt like an eternity, at last reached the top of the steep range, joining his company at his master's side. The young one took a knee and a breather as the large wild cat looked back at his younger accomplice. He saw the tiredness in the boy's face and body.
Before long a voice saying "Sir, we've scoped the village." Bringing the leading warrior out of his period of thought.
"And?" The leader said to his second-in-command.
"We can confirm that this village is indeed entirely inhabited by wolves, sir."
The leader then looked down at the snow covered village, with wooden houses that had smoke from warm fires that rose out of roof gaps in their ceilings, that had smaller roofs on top, that allowed smoke to escape, but also kept rain and snow from entering these homes. Within his gaze towards the settlement before him, his eyes stared with a deep hatred that made his blood turn colder then this very mountain, and brought his mind into a dark recess many would not imagine is possible for mortal minds.
"What are your orders, sir?" The second in command asked, seeing the men were anxious to be finished with this ordeal.
The large leader then replied "Approach swiftly and without sound, on my order, begin. Kill everything. Leave no roots."
"Yes sir." The second leader answered before informing his men, and soon the masked mountain lions quietly took their positions, awaiting their leader's order.
The man looked out to the small town before him. His warriors ready for the operation they planned and trained for. He then looked back to the younger lion next to him.
"Stay close to me, understand?" The leader said sternly with a tone of authority.
After a second long pause, the apprentice nodded, acknowledging that he understood his instructions. The man then looked back to the village, gave a long, deep sigh, and lit the torch in his paw.