Episode 11: Erdan & Cheska's awesome weekend (Part 2)

The morning sun rose once again, this time in the distant future, spreading it's warm rays on the sea side city for all its inhabitants, whether they be citizen or tourist. And these beams of light shined through the slits in Cheska's bedroom window, laying on a sleeping Erdan's face. The wolf boy woke up and took a few moments to grasp on his surroundings. Normally he would awake and see the roof of his house back in the Valley of peace, instead he was in a room with walls that featured posters of action heroes and sports teams. And next to him was a bed with a sleepy wolf boy around his age, and then Erdan realized and remembered what transpired just yesterday. Erdan mustered his mind to wake up, stand up and do the same with his friend.

He walked to Cheska, who was snoozing in his bed and Erdan asked "Cheska? Cheska, it's morning!"

The sleeping lupine boy was brought out of his sleep and in an annoyed tone said "Ugh, Erdan it's seven-o-clock. Go back to sleep."

"But it's morning." Erdan replied in a confused manor.

"Dude, people in the future sleep in." Cheska muttered before dozing off again.

Erdan didn't want to disturb or be rude, so he snuggled back into the sleeping back his friend lent him and went back to sleep. After awhile the boys woke up, and Cheska saw that it was now nine- twenty-five. So he got up and out of bed, ready for some breakfast. He walked across his room, but he forgot about his new friend who slept over for the night. The native boy gave a big yawn right as his foot on Erdan's face!

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!" Erdan yelled as he felt something smash on his muzzle.

"WH-What the?!" Cheska yelled in shock and surprise.

"OH Erdan, didn't know you were there." Cheska said in relief.

Erdan caught his breath before replying "Is-is this how you treat all your guests?" He said in a half serious-half joking tone.

Then a knock on the door sounded and Cheska's dad loudly said "You boys alright in there?"

"Yeah, yeah we're fine dad, we're fine." Cheska said reassuringly.

After the moment passed Cheska said "Sorry about that, wanna get some breakfast?"

"Ok sure." Erdan answered while feeling his face a bit.

Cheska opened the door and got ready to step out before Erdan questioned "Is your dad gonna be ok with us shirtless?"

Cheska casually looked back and answered "Hey, this is our place, not the white house."

Although Erdan wasn't at all sure of what Cheska referenced, he could tell the native father and son were pretty laid back and chill. The boys went into the kitchen, Erdan sat at the table while Cheska opened the large white box and pulled out some wrapped objects. Then opened them and placed them on plates and inside a box with a little window. He pressed some buttons that made beeping sounds and the two foods were being cooked. Then the boy took out some orange juice and poured some in glasses for him and his friend. Then a loud beeping rang, and Cheska pulled out the morning meals for them both. Once everything was ready they began to chow down.

Erdan liked the taste of this so called 'breakfast burrito'. As well as the orange juice they had to drink. Then Cheveyo came into the room, dressed in lounge pants and a white tank top. He sat down at the table with the boys, eager to talk with them.

"Good morning." Chev greeted.

"Morning dad." Cheska replied.

"Did you sleep well Erdan?" Chev asked.

Erdan gulped down a mouthful of orange juice before answering "Y-yes I slept good. Although I had a rude awakening."

Chev then instantly looked at his son and said "What did you do?"

"Nothing, all I did was walk on his face without knowing." Chess answered.

Erdan rubbed his muzzle while Cheveyo said "Why am I not surprised."

They continued talking while enjoying breakfast. Then Chev asked his son "So, Cheska. I know that you still have a couple years of high schooling, have you thought about college yet?"

Cheska then made a conflicted face, then nervously asked "Dad, can I tell you something?"

"Of course, what?" Chev replied.

Cheska was nervous so his father placed his paw on his son's shoulder as Chess spoke. "Dad, I-I… I'm… not s-sure if college is for me. It's just that… when I we visited one last month, I- I just got this feeling. Like it's not where I'm supposed to be."

Cheveyo took a moment to think and replied "I understand."

"Wait, what?" Cheska said in confusion.

"I can understand what you mean. My parents wanted me to stay at the reserve, but I just knew my future wasn't there. If I stayed, I would have met your mother, and I wouldn't have you."

"But, everyone says you have to go to college for a good future. No excuse." Cheska added while Erdan stayed quiet, understanding that this was a family matter.

"Well the truth is. It seems that nowadays colleges take much more than they give. Maybe not all of them, but I know people who've lost so much hard earned money to college debt. And not to mention it's not a guarantee, foolproof plan either." Chev explained.

"But didn't you go to college?" Cheska questioned.

"Yes, yes I did. But back then I could afford those classes with a summer job. Times change, whether they bring good or bad is unknown. But there might be other ways to a good living." The father continued.

"Like what?" His son asked.

"Well you could learn skills independently, or choose wisely with classes you want to take. But if you want to try to find your own path to success, I'll do everything I can to help you." Chev finished.

Cheska then hugged his father who hugged back, and said "Thanks dad." Erdan smiled upon seeing this display of family love. Even a thousand generation later, fathers and sons still love each other greatly.

Chev lookeda t his son and said "Well, we are survivors, just like our ancestors."

After that touching scene, the boys returned to Cheska's bedroom. There Erdan asked "Hey, uh… where's you mom?"

Cheska then answered "Well, her and my dad divorced."

"Divorsed?" Erdan questioned.

"Yeah, it's when married couples split up and go their separate ways. My parents just grew apart, so they split up cause they might be happier that way." Cheska explained.

Erdan never thought that a husband and wife would ever want to leave their blessed union. Though this was the future, a world very different from his own. The boys got dressed, Cheska wore forest camo shorts and a matching camo banana that he folded and wrapped around his forehead. He also grabbed a gray short sleeved shirt, but due to the summer heat he'd stay top bare until needed. Erdan was given similar clothes with white shorts. He decided to try wearing his bandana like Cheska, and folded it before tying it around his forehead. Erdan would also keep a shirt but leave it off until needed. And once they were ready, the two young wolves headed out to meet with their friend at the school.

((()-()))

A twenty two year old lion woman walked down the street, fiddling with her phone when she bumped into something. She saw two wolf boys, both shirtless and in shorts for the heat.

"Sorry." Said the lioness as she helped the boy up.

"It's ok." Cheska replied.

The woman saw a small dream catcher on the boy's sling bag, then she said "Oh, you're one of those Indian people who hate America, aren't you?"

"What?" Cheska asked confusingly.

"You heard me, your people hate America since your land was stolen. Now you hate America and everything about it don't you!" the woman said loudly.

Cheska then took a moment to think and replied "How do you know if I hate America?"

"I've seen it on the news last night, some of your people protested at Rushmore about their 'hatred' for America." The lioness argued.

Cheska then replied "I'm from a different tribe then those people, and my father taught me to let the past be the past. You don't even know what tribe I'm from, do ya?"

The lioness looked at the boy, who was shirtless like an American native, and said "Um… Mohawk?"

"That's the most obvious guess you know, there were hundreds of tribes and native cultures. We're not all one singular people. And for your information; I'm of Onondaga decent, one of the tribes that created the Iroqois confederacy. A union of five tribes who created the law of peace. Men like Washington and Frankling sat down and talked with my ancestors, and learned from them and build this country from the bricks my people had laid." Cheska explained.

The lioness woman could only stay silent as this boy of native decent taught her of his people's history.

"That confederacy my ancestors made, was the precursor to the united states. How that for politicaly correct?" Cheska said.

The woman pulled out her phone and looked it up in her browser. Afterward she aploligized and begun to leave, But cheska shout to her that if she wanted to learn more, he'd be willing. With that done with, the two boys continued to the school. Erdan was impressed with how Cheska stood up for his people with truth and forgiveness, much like he did with Jimbo back home.

((()-()))

An hour and a half later Cheska and Erdan reached their destination, Ocean paw high school. There were students of all kinds coming and going around the school grounds. Cheska never understood why anyone would chose to have school in the summer, since summer vacation lasted three months, that meant he could avoid the ever judging eyes of teachers who know the teen's habit for mischief. Erdan and Cheska put their shirts on and went inside.

Kinzie waited in large and echoy main hall, then she saw two boys arrive from around the corner, they then approached each other.

"Well well, you actually came back here. Your risking getting caught by the teachers you know." Kinzie greeted.

Cheska sported a sly grin and replied "They won't catch me, I'm a free spirit."

Kinzie just rolled and said "How are you this morning Erdan?"

"I'm ok, although I had a pretty rude awakening." Erdan answered, remembering how he woke up.

"Ok we're done with that!" Cheska protested.

Kinzie then guided the two boys to the tech lab, where the time device was left charging. The deer girl pulled out a key, unlocked the door and the three teens walked in before the door was closed again behind them. One a table, plugged into an outlet in the wall was the watch. Kinzie pulled it out, inspecting it's condition now.

"Here you go." She said as she handed the watch to Erdan.

"Thanks Kinzie, I owe you one." Cheska thanked.

"Mm-Hmm" Kinzie muttered.

Erdan opened the device and looked at all the lit up dials and screens. It was all strange to him.

"Well, you ready to go Erdan?" Chess asked.

Erdan looked up from the device and answered "Y-yeah I'm ready."

But as Erdan took a few steps he tripped and his thumb pressed on the device's screen and a large bubble of light engulfed the wolf boy. After a second he disappeared as the light flash settled, Kinzie and chess were stunned at what just happened.

"W-what was that?!" Kinzie asked in shock.

"Umm, well." Cheska said as he tried to leave.

But his deer 'friend' blocked his only exit and said "I'm not letting you leave until you tell what's going on."

Seeing he had no choice, Cheska sighed and said "Ok ok, it started like this…"

((()-()))

Erdan fell on the ground, exiting from the collapsing light bubble from whence he came. The boy's face was met with soft dirt. After getting up Erdan noticed that the sky was dark, with red flames scattered across the clouds. He looked over the bushes and gasped at the sight before him. Wolves burning village houses and farming fields, a display of chaos and terror. Then out of the corner of his eye, Erdan saw a white peacock with a spear in hand, leading his men on a path of destruction. Fear overtook Erdan, he had heard of Zhong's dark past, but now he's seeing with his own eyes. The boy's fight or flight instincts took over and the young lupine rushed on all fours, only to trip and fall down a weak patch of dirt and grass. He fell down and tumbled into a cave of some sorts.

"AAAHHHGGG" Erdan screamed in pain, his arm scrapped a rock upon landing.

But as the boy checked his injury, a voice said "Who's there?"

Erdan turned his head and saw a large group of pandas hiding for their lives. Men, women, elderly and cubs hiding from the slaughter outside. Their leader came with a paper lantern to see what was going on and was shocked upon seeing who joined them.

"WOLF!" The leader shouted.

All the bears become fearful and their leader grabbed Erdan by the neck and slammed him against the cave wall. He then raised up a small farming tool, getting ready to protect his people.

"NO! PLEASE NO!" Erdan yeled in protest.

The panda got ready to strike, but then he saw the wolf was a boy, one with an innocent look in his eyes. After a minute the panda was overcome with mental debate.

"Please don't, I'm… I-" Erdan muttered.

The panda stared at him, sighed loudly and let the kid down before sheaving his makeshift weapon.

"I… can't. I just can't kill someone, let alone a kid." The panda sadly said.

Erdan muttered a thank you while gaining back his breath. But then they heard wolves approaching their hiding spot.

"Their coming." A panda man said.

"We're dead." A bear woman commented.

"Mo-mommy, I'm scared." A cub told his parent in fear.

Erdan saw that these people were gonna die, innocent and good people. It reminded him of when his home village was attacked, back when he felt as helpless as these pandas. But the wolf boy looked at the time device and realized that unlike last time, he could save these people. Erdan then rushed to the middle of the group, opened the watch and activated it. A massive bubble of light engulfed the whole group, and in a second they were all gone.

A wolf soldier came into the cave. Seeing there was no one around he shouted "Nobody here!" And rushed to his captain, who had received and wound in the face just ten minutes ago.

((()-()))

Erdan woke up on a grassy plain and the air felt different, yet familiar at the same time. The wolf boy tried to get up, but felt a little pain in his arm.

A large paw touched his shoulder and a voice said "Easy, easy now, you're ok."

Erdan saw it was the panda who spared him. "Wh- what happened?" Erdan asked.

"You saved us, thats what. With that… thing of yours, you saved my people." The panda explained.

Erdan looked around and saw the panda resting on grassy fields in what looked like the mountains. The area was bright and a bit chilly, but safe non-the-less.

"When we showed up here you hit you head and passed out. We saw the scrape you had and tended to you while you were out." The panda man continued.

Erdan looked at his right arms and saw bandages that covered the blood. The man then asked "Why did you help us, why did you save us?"

Erdan raised an eyebrow and asked "Do I really need a reason, you people were in danger."

"Yeah but, you're a wolf. I thought your kind only kill and rob?" The panda questioned.

"Well, I'm not like other wolves. My name's Erdan." The young lupine said, introducing himself.

The panda then shook the boy's paw while replying "I'm Li Shan, thank you Erdan."

Erdan was then greeted and thanked by all the other pandas, such a two twins, and old grandma, a young cub and a large panda who instantly gave Erdan a big panda hug. After showing their great thanks Erdan and Li shan had a talk.

"Are you all gonna be ok?" Erdan asked.

"Well, we'll just make a home here." Li shan said before pulling a picture out of his pocket. A small painting of his now late wife and child.

The man began to cry and once Erdan saw this he wrapped his arm around Li shan the panda embraced the comfort this boy was giving. After talking and soothing, Erdan explain how he feels Li shan's pain.

"I didn't think wolves could suffer too." The panda said, now calmed down. "You're not like them. You Erdan are kind and caring, and want to help others. I didn't think that was possible."

Erdan replied with "Hundreds of years ago my kind were all like that. I'm trying to restore our name."

"Well, I say you already have." The man said while smiling. "You could stay with us if you want?"

"Thanks, but I have a family that's waiting for me." Erdan answered.

But before he opened the device again, he said to Li shan "Hey, if you ever meet a man named, Zhong Yu, tell him you know me. He's my foster father."

"If he's just like you, I think I'd like him." Li said, although Erdan didn't say anything else about his dad. The wolf cub gave a friendly wave to the pandas, who waved back, and the boy used the device and was gone. Leaving the pandas in a safe place to live and grow.

((()-()))

A light bubble flashed and Erdan found himself back in the tech lab. There he saw Cheska and Kinzie surprised. He said "Hey, I think I got the hang of this."

"I told you, time travel!" Cheska stated.

"Amazing." Kinzie said.

Cheska saw the bandages around Erdan's arm and said "Dude what happened to you?"

"Oh this, It's just a little scrape." Erdan reassured.

"Well… this is… actually real. Huh?" Kinzie said. "So, you're really form the past?"

"Yeah, I'm ready to go home now." Erdan replied.

Kinzie wanted to study the device, but Cheska agreed that he'll bring it back, and in return she will keep this a secret. But Erdan remembered the small painting Li Shan had, then a thought crossed the boy's mind and he changed the dials on the watch and him and Cheska flashed away.

((()-()))

A light flashed and two boys found themselves in an alleyway within a city at night. They both looked around and Erdan was surprised it actually worked.

"Dude, where are we?" Cheska asked.

"There's something I need to get before going home." Erdan answered.

Then a voice sounded from the alley saying "Hey! What going on here?"

A wolf guard walked in and saw two boys talking in the back alley. "What are you kids doing here at night?"

Erdan, trying to think something up answered "We, were… uhh."

"You two should be at home. Come on I'll escort you back. Come on." The guard ordered.

As the two boys followed the guard they got to talking.

Erdan noticed the guard had something in his paw and he asked "What's that ya got?"

"Oh it's a present for my lady." The guard answered.

"You married?" Cheska asked.

"No, but maybe soon. I, I'm planning to propose. You kids wouldn't be interested." The armored man explained.

Erdan noticed the guy's paw shake a bit, so he pondered out loud "Are you ok?"

After thinking a minute the man replied "I'm… I'm not sure if I could give my girlfriend a good life if I marry her?"

"Why?" Chess asked.

"Well, I'm a royal guard, I spend a lot of time on duty. If I try to make a family, It'll be difficult for both her and me." The guard explained his worries.

Erdan then thought about his words and tried to give the man some advice by saying "From what my life has taught me; The hardest things we do, are the most worthwhile."

The man then turned around and smiled at the boy. "Kid your pretty wise for your age."

"Thanks. That's our house right there sir." Erdan said as he pointed to a nearby home. And then the man bid the boys goodnight and they went their separate ways. As soon as the guard was out of sight, Erdan corrected the time dial and the two flashed of again.

((()-()))

A young wolf boy walked out of the house he lived in for five months along with a very nice man. A man who saved his life, took him in, and cared for him like his own son. But just yesterday that boy received a letter, saying that nice man had a dark and violent past. And now he's dead for the sins of his past deeds. The boy closed the door, locked it, and walked through the city to start his long and lonely journey. Though he was unaware of the two older boys who saw him leave.

"Wow, that kid is you?" Cheska asked.

"Yeah, this was one of the darkest days of my life. Come on." Erdan answered.

When the cost was clear, Erdan picked the lock, a skill he learn a while back, and for the first time in almost two years entered the familiar home. It was the same as he remembered. While Cheska took a short nap, Erdan spent a good ten minutes walking around the place, remembering all the memories he and Yu/Zhong made back then. He looked in the study and remembered snuggling with Yu on stormy nights. When in the back garden, he thought of the star gazing and wrestling he and Yu did. When Erdan stepped in the kitchen, he remembered that drink that Yu had, but didn't want Erdan to try. So when Erdan found the drink, he took a quick taste… only to instantly put it back. It tasted terrible (Why did Yu like that stuff? Erdan wondered.)

Then he went upstairs and entered his old room. Upon walking in he stepped on something soft. He looked down and saw his red bandana, the same one he was wearing around his forehead. Erdan then went back and wore it like he always did, and after thinking a bit, he decided to leave the fallen cloth alone, since Zhong should find it soon so he can give it back at the right time. Erdan then went into Yu's room and found what he came for.

The young lupine went downstairs to find his friend asleep, still tired from everything they've been through this past weekend. He woke Cheska up and the two stepped out of the house.

"You ready to go?" Cheska asked.

Erdan took a nice long look at the house he called home before answering "Yeah, yeah I'm ready." And the two flashed off back to the future."

((()-()))

Erdan and Cheska were back in the ally they first met, in the Valley of Peace. After retrieving what he needed, Erdan went back to Cheska's home to fetch his clothes before going home.

"So, your back home, huh." Cheska said.

"Yeah." Erdan replied.

The two stayed silent for a moment. "You gonna be alright?" Cheska asked.

"Sure, although I'll try my best to stay out of trouble." Erdan answered.

Cheska sighed and happily said "I've been there before." Then chuckled before the two boys hugged and bid each other goodbye.

"Say bye to all the others for me, ok?" Erdan asked.

"Sure, I'll. And I'd be proud to call you my ciye, my brother." Cheska said with a smile.

"Thanks, and it would be an honor to call you as part of my pack." Erdan replied.

The two then shared a tearful hug. "Goodbye Erdan." Cheska sadly said.

"Goodbye Cheska, take care." Erdan said back.

The boy form the future flashed back to his ocean town home in 2018. And the boy from ancient China stayed at his small village home, with his family. Erdan then walked home, and found it was only a few minutes after he first left, so he finally returned home.

((()-()))

Zhong stepped in his room, tired and ready for a good night's sleep. As he was getting ready for bed, he heard his door slide open and in came his son, Erdan.

"Come to wish me goodnight again?" Zhong asked curiously.

Erdan then sported a warm smile and replied "Actually… I have a gift for you."

"A gift?" Zhong questioned.

"Yep." Erdan said. Then told his dad to close his eye and hold out his paws. Zhong felt something handed to him, then Erdan told his dad to open his one eye again. When he did, he saw something that left him speechless. In his paws was a familiar painting, one that displayed people who he loved the most many years ago, and lost more than twenty five years ago. His late wife Helen, and their two pups, Julie and Timber.

"H…how…how did you… how did you find this?!" Zhong said in complete surprise. His paws shook a bit as tears flowed from his eye.

"Well, let's just say I found it and was able to get it back for you." Erdan answered.

Zhong then hung the painting in his room, in Shu's house. Then he cried with both sorrow and joy and he hugged his son.

"Thank you. Thank you so much Erdan." Zhong cried out.

"You're welcome, dad." Erdan replied as he hugged his father, happy with the gift he gave to him.

Shu then came in asking "What's going on?"

Zhong cried "Come, come here Shu."

She saw the gift her son gave, and the family of three hugged each other before getting ready for bed. After the touching moment of family love, Erdan went to bed as Shu and Zhong stayed up a few minutes more.

She looked at the painting and asked "So that's them huh?" Zhong nodded and Shu said "They look happy. She's pretty, and your kids are cute."

She then kissed her boyfriend goodnight and went to her bed room to get ready for the weekend.

Zhong took off his vest and snuggled in bed, then looked at the painting and said "Goodnight Helen, goodnight Timber, and goodnight Julie, wherever you are, I hope you can hear me say, I love you all, forever I will."