Chapter 12
The sky was a light blue that seemed to stretch on forever. The occasional cloud made the day a little more interesting as various shapes could be seen in more than 1 at a time. The snow shone with a brilliance that, no matter how beautiful, got annoying. There was little wind, if at all, and it felt good for once. The usually cold air felt a little warmer for some reason, and there weren't any other animals around. Although once they got closer to town, they began to see the usual doggy faces that showed up when they walked into Nome. To tell the truth. Dan didn't know where the heck they were going, hopefully Sonja did. After all, Dan WAS following her.
"Sonja where are we going?" Dan asked ignoring some of the interesting looks he was getting from humans and dogs alike.
"Well where do you want to go?" She replied looking at him "Were just walking around right now"
"Why?"
"Because Dan, maybe we can find the white wolf somewhere"
"Then why are we going through Nome?"
"Were just passing through"
Help others find their way.
Open the path to their destiny if needed.
Never take matters into your own talons.
These were the three rules of the overseers. The watchers of all life. The reason why most are where they are. They are the ones who open up opportunities through certain people, events, places, where ever, whenever. It was their sole purpose to ensure that a man, woman, child, or animals role in the world is fulfilled. If God wishes a man to die, the overseers find a way to make it possible. A car crash, a shooting, an overdose of drugs. Anything that needs to be done. Other times a person may need to experience another lifestyle, to change his own. For this the answer is simple. Another life. A man might abuse a dog in the current year, only to fall asleep to find out he is a dog under the same circumstances. And until the one came along, then he might stay there. Other times it may be to save another that it happens, albeit under different circumstances.
Ethan was an overseer. He wasn't fond of making bad things happen to good people, but sometimes it must be done. This time was different however. This time he was supposed to be the angel, not the reaper. This boy may be the one that the others were waiting to come along. The one that would open the portal. But that was always unlikely. There was the other...
"Ethan, how is he doing?" Asked Dougal, a hawk wise beyond his years.
"He is doing well Dougal, thanks to the girl he has made the transition and is now searching for a hint"
"A hint of what?"
"A hint of what he is supposed to do"
"Isn't it your job to help him find that?" Dougal asked.
"It is, but when the right time comes, no sooner and no later"
Dougal nodded and flapped his wings and flew away. Ethan continued to watch the two kids slogging through the snow, and turned his head. His dark blue eyes shined in the sunlight. He flapped his wings and continued to fly over the two animals.
A/N: Ethan is the raven in chapter 9 for those who dont remember
Dan stopped and fell on his face. Sonja began to laugh before sitting down herself. Dan gave her a look that told her he wasn't in a funny mood. They had been walking around for the past hour, and nothing had happened. They had gone up hill, Sonja walked down hill, Dan had ROLLED down. Dan stepped on a stick, Sonja stepped on a pile of snow. So far Dan had been taking more damage in one hour than he had in a day back home. As he heard the flapping of wings he looked up at a near by tree and his eyes closed at what he saw.
"Ah shit" He cussed.
"What is it Dan?"
"A raven"
Sonja looked up and saw a raven perched on a branch of a dead tree.
"Good evening Daniel, and who is this fine lady?" Ethan opened.
"This is my Girlfriend, Sonja" Dan managed.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Sonja, I am Ethan" the raven replied "As you can see me and your Boyfriend have met before"
"I am sure that you have Ethan" Sonja said smiling "Now how may we help you?"
"I was wondering if I may assist you in any way" Ethan answered "In finding the white wolf"
"How did you know we were looking for her" Dan asked.
"That will be shown to you in a matter of time my fine Wolfy friend" Ethan replied "Now how may I help?"
"Unless you can help us find her right now, you can't"
"Lets see, wait here and I shall find her" Ethan flew away with the words "Stay there!" echoing through the air.
"Maybe we should stay here" Sonja said laying down "who knows, maybe hes bringing her"
"I don't think that we should" Dan replied laying down on his back "I don't know if hes actually going to get he..."
"Hello again my furry friends" Ethan's voice came as he landed on Sonja's back "She shall be here shortly"
"How short is 'shortly'?" Dan asked surprised at the birds speed.
"That depends on when you wish to see her"
"I think that would be right now Ethan"
"Then look behind you"
As Dan did he saw the figure of a wolf standing behind him. As it walked forward Dan gawked in amazement. And Sonja didn't do anything but look at the snow white wolf.
"I believe the time has come, has it not Ethan?" she asked.
"Indeed Aniu, the boy wishes his decision to be made"
"Wait! I never said that!" Dan quickly stated.
"Than why have you sought the white wolf?" Ethan asked, getting annoyed.
"Because, I have questions of my own before my decision is made, and I wish to know what my decision has to be made on!"
"DANIEL! The time has come now to..."
"Ethan, the boy is making his own choices, let him speak" Aniu interrupted him.
"Very well" Ethan backed down with reluctance.
"Well first off, what are you Ethan?" Dan asked "And don't say a raven, a real raven wouldn't have been able to come back so quickly"
Ethan looked at Aniu who nodded him, and told him to answer.
"I am an overseer"
"What is that?"
"An overseer looks over those in desperation, under circumstances no one understands, everyone, and no one" Ethan replied "It is our job to end lives, open opportunities, change lives, anything God wants to happen we ensure it does"
"Then what is Aniu?"
"Aniu is a guardian, she protects an assigned being until the protection is no longer needed"
"So you act as guardian angels?" Sonja asked.
"You can say that, yes"
"Are guardians birds as well?"
"Every kind of animal has a purpose when its life has ended, canines are guardians with bears and other animals, birds compose the overseers, and sea creatures are the spiritual animals that assist in calming issues that reside in the mind" Aniu answered.
"Then what are the humans role?" Dan asked "What does god have in mind for us?"
There was a silence, and then Ethan slowly answered.
"Humans die, and are reborn in another body. Your lives are an endless cycle"
"So we have no point?!?"
"Daniel you are forgetting that now you and Sonja are canines, you shall be guardians when you pass on"
"I don't care!" Dan yelled "There has to be something more!"
"Daniel, you as a race have an honor that us animals do not have" Aniu began to explain "What Ethan is leaving out is that your experiences gather together, your spirit learns with every life, and you should be grateful for that"
"So there is no heaven? We won't be angels when we pass on?" Dan began to tear up "Is everything we have been told growing up a lie?"
"No, there is a heaven Daniel, do not mistake what we are saying for something else" Aniu replied "For a human, heaven takes more than just dieing to get to. It takes experience, experience that you obtain through every life you live"
Dan sat in silence.
"You and many others, have just been given a shortcut to get there"