Chapter Thirteen: Death's Grip is Closing


It has been several days since Ookami and Siegfried had help escaping the murky dungeon of the Mordrivale kingdom. Siegfried didn't really care about going to the place of humans, but it did seem to take its toll on Ookami. Even though she was born of human parents, which was revealed by the forest queen Keita, she wasn't use to being near humans beside Siegfried. But, she was also taken by Fendrel and forced to love him. But Ookami wouldn't love him so he try with force. That was when Siegfried and Teranika came saved her and they got out of the kingdom alive, freeing hundreds of captured spirits as well.

The last few days have been quiet, if not boring. Aideen, the forest healer with the body of a deer, was still gravely injured by Fendrel. He rested in the den, laying on the floor. Delano would tend to his wounds and at first they seemed to be healing. But, the poison seemed to be taking its toll and slowly killing him. Delano estimated that he only had a few days left to live. This upset all the spirits in the den along with Ookami. Aideen was like a father to most of the spirits of the forest and basically the king after Keita died.

That morning, it was an overcast day. Ookami went out on a walk to get rid of some tension. Teranika went with her leaving just Siegfried, Kallias, Morag, Sappho, and Delano with the dying forest king. Every one of the spirit creatures were in their den sleeping. Althalos, the king of Mordrivale thrown out of power by Fendrel, was sleeping in Delano's den. Despite being human as well, the spirits seemed to take a liking to him. Siegfried was awake, sitting on the steps that led up to the cavern's mouth. He was looking at Aideen, who was having problems breathing. He could here the deer-like animal with many antlers wheezing and coughing as he tried to sleep. Ookami told him the each of the long straight antlers signified how old he is. Each one grew after he turned one hundred years old. In total, he had one hundred straight antlers on his head meaning that he was ten-thousand years old. Siegfried was astounded by how old he actually was. But even his age couldn't wear away the fact that he was dying.

Aideen opened his eyes hazel eyes and looked at Siegfried.

"Boy..." Aideen rasped out. It was clear he hadn't really the strength to speak. "Please...come near me."

Siegfried nodded and walked over to the dying spirit. He sat closely to Aideen on the side of his neck. He could hear his gasps for air and felt helpless for the spirit.

"I...I don't have much...time left in this...world," Aideen said quietly. "But...I wish to tell you something being you...are the only one awake in this place."

Siegfried looked at the deer-like spirit. "Please, Lord Aideen. Please tell me."

Aideen smiled faintly. "I've have seen many....many things in this forest...The trees grow...and many kings and queens that ruled....I even seen the start of this pointless war...."

Siegfried listened to Aideen's account of his life.

"But...In a way...I'm happy that I'm leaving this place....Alana was once a peaceful...beautiful place tainted...by the scars of war. The Alana that I knew...when I was a fawn will...come back very soon. But..the final battle must be fought still. The humans...are preparing for it."

"The final battle?" Siegfried asked. "When will it come?"

Aideen closed his eyes. "I cannot tell....But it is very soon."

Aideen lowered his head onto the ground and opened his eyes only half way.

"Keita...and the other leaders are calling me," Aideen rasped. Siegfried felt tears roll down his cheeks. "From this moment on...Princess Ookami is officially the leader and protector...of Alana. Delano, my precious pupil...is the healer of the forest. Please tell them that when they come...and say that the past leaders...say that."

"I will," Siegfried said quietly.

Aideen smiled faintly. "You know...you aren't that bad...."

Siegfried bowed his head in respect for the spirit.

"Good bye, Siegfried...." Alana whispered as he closed his hazel eyes for the last time.

He took one last shallow breath, exhaled it and he went on to the next life for spirits. Siegfried wiped away the tears fro his eyes and went to get Delano.

The old dark horse was looking at him as Siegfried entered the den. Althalos was sleeping on the wooden chair in the corner. Siegfried walked up to Delano. The horse's deep colored eyes seemed to know why Siegfried was in his den.

"Aideen went to join Keita and Airlia....didn't he?" Delano asked grimly.

Siegfried looked down at the ground. "Yes....He said that you are now the forest healer and Princess Ookami is now the Queen of Alana."

Delano sighed and slowly stood up. His legs creeked as he stood up. Delano looked at Siegfried, nothingness in his eyes.

"Wake up the human and the rest of the spirits, I need to talk to Ookami," Delano said. "They'll help you bury the body. But wait till I return with Ookami and Teranika."

Siegfried nodded and walked over to Althalos. Delano exited his den and went to the stone staircase to the mouth of the cavern.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It didn't take a fool to know where Ookami was thought Delano as he galloped through the dense forest of Alana. She and Teranika were under the Great Willow that was on a small rock island in the middle of the river that flows through the forest. It has been a sacred spot for the longest time, some even say that the willow's leaves could heal even the sickest of people. But, the leaves couldn't heal Aideen of the human poison.

When Ookami was a child, her foster mother Keita would bring her there to each full moon and she would tell her legends and stories. When Keita died, Ookami continued to go out to the Great Willow and honored her mother's spirit and all the other spirits who died against the humans.

Not long later, Delano saw the Great Willow floating on the river. At the river's edge, the elderly horse slid to a stop. Delano looked into the Willow and saw two figures. He lifted his head up and sniffed the air. He could definitely smell wolf scent. It had to be Teranika and Ookami.

The old horse took one step into the rushing water and immediately drew back his hoof.

"Brr!" He snorted and pawed at the ground. "Why must an old creature like me do this?"

Delano snorted and placed his front feet into the water. Grumbling the entire way, he swam across the river fighting the current. When he made it, he got out of the water and shook himself dry.

Delano's hooves clip-clopped on the stone of the rock. He jumped onto one of the massive roots and walked around the trunk till he saw Teranika and Ookami. The two were looking aimlessly at branches of massive willow tree.

"Aideen...." Ookami said, not even looking at Delano. "He's dead isn't he?"

Delano dipped his head in grief.

"Yes," Delano said quietly. "And he told Siegfried the will of our ancestors."

"What is it?" Ookami asked, still looking up at the branches.

"That I am now healer of Alana." Delano hesitated before continuing. "And...And you are now ruler of the forest."

Ookami's face did not stir, just remained emotionless. Teranika, on the other hand, stood up and began wagging her tail. The usually hard nosed wolf looked like a puppy who was chasing its favorite toy.

"Master!" Teranika said. "Th-this is incredible! You'll probably be just like Keita, if not better!"

Ookami stood up and turned her back on Delano and Teranika. The wolf and horse were confused by the girl's action.

"What's wrong, Ookami?" Teranika asked.

"Give the position to someone else," Ookami muttered coldly.

"Why?" Teranika asked. "You are now the leader of the spirits, aren't you the least bit excited?"

"Why should I be?" Ookami growled. "We're in the middle of a war. In only ten years, two great leaders have lost their lives. And I'm destined to fail."

Teranika looked at her and shook her head. "No you are not. You were raised by a great leader who loved and cared about you deeply. Besides, the spirits choose you, out of all the people in the forest to lead us through this time of fear and uncertainty. You are our eyes that can see through this darkness."

"No, I'm not!" Ookami snapped. She turned to face her friends, her red eyes brimming with fury. "I'm just a stinking human who was brought up by a spirit who deserved a better daughter than me. The ancestors are foolish for choosing me! I couldn't even save the life of Aideen. How am I going to ensure the lives of the other spirits?!"

"Ookami...please stop-"

Ookami interrupted Teranika," No! You know what? The ancestors probably expecting me to fail. They want me to die!"

"No they don't," Delano reassured. "You were raised spirit, they love you as much as any other spirit in this forest."

Ookami let out a chilling laugh. "Yeah right!" Ookami turned around and began to walk away. "I'm leaving this place!"

"You are dying, Ookami," Delano said out of the blue.

Ookami froze and turned around slowly to look at him. Her face has turned pale. "What?"

"You are dying," Delano repeated. "Airlia's spirit is slowly destroying your soul and body. The fainting...the coughing up the blood....That was from Airlia."

Ookami shook her head, her eyes full of disbelief. "No...No this can't be happening." She looked at Teranika, who seemed shocked that Delano revealed the secret. "Teranika...is this true?"

Teranika dipped her head. "Sadly...it is. Aideen told us after you fainted last time."

Ookami sat on the ground, looking at her hands.

"I'm...dying," She said as she shook her head. "Dying..." She looked at Delano, the words choking in the back of her throat. "How long do I have to live?"

Delano shrugged. "We don't know."

Ookami had a faint smile on her face and chuckled softly, "I was a fool...A fool to take up my dying sister's soul in my body. I didn't want her to die. She was my only true friend when I was growing up. I didn't want her to die. But...who knew that that decision would wind up killing me?"

She turned her head to look at Teranika and Delano, "Does Siegfried know?"

Delano shook his head. "No...He does not."

"Good," Ookami said quietly. "He should not know of this. If he knew, all he would do is worry about me. No man should have to do that."

Teranika and Delano nodded their heads.

"Come on," Delano said. "We need to go bury Aideen."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The grave site for Aideen was about a mile away from Ookami's cavern under a large oak tree. The hole was about seven feet deep for the deceased spirit. By the time Ookami, Teranika and Delano arrived to the burial site, Aideen was just placed into the ground and the group was about to pay their respects to the late spirit.

Ookami stood next to Siegfried and held he held her hand through Delano's entire speech.

"Aideen was a powerful and intelligent spirit who lived longer than most of us could imagine," Delano said. "He was a respected teacher and healer. But he also had one of the most kindest hearts in this entire forest. Even with this wretched war going on, he wanted to end it as peacefully as he could. But thanks to the poisonous blade of the humans sword, he died a most pointless and cruel death anyone could imagine. His successor, our new leader, Princess Ookami, will now speak."

Delano back up and Ookami stepped up to the edge of the grave, letting go of Siegfried's hand. Se looked down at Aideen's motionless body, took a deep breath and spoke.

"My brothers and sisters," Ookami started out. "Throughout these past one hundred years, we have seen the deaths of spirits. One after another, the humans slayed our friends, our family, even our loved ones. We have just witnessed the death of a great healer and leader, Aideen. He was a beautiful creature, who died a most unfair death. The forest and its dwellers cry for their fallen leader."

Ookami bent down and grabbed a handful of dirt. She looked down at Aideen and dropped the dirt onto his body.

"Sleep in peace, my friend," She muttered.

Ookami looked up at her friends.

"And, the ancestors have chosen a new leader of Alana," Ookami continued. "From this moment onward, I, Princess Ookami, protector of the spirits, am now the leader and ruler of Alana. I accept my new position with pride and honor, hoping to be as great as rulers in the past."

Sappho, the energetic tiger, reared up and yowled happily.

"All hail Princess Ookami!" She said cheerfully.

Kallias joined in by flapping her wings and yelling with Sappho. Morag tossed his head and joined. Delano was rearing up onto his hind legs and yelling the cheer. Teranika barked her encouragements as well.

Ookami smiled as she looked at her friends. Siegfried came up to her side and grabbed her hand.

"Congratulations, Princess Ookami," Siegfried said with a smile on his face.

Ookami grinned at her love and wrapped her arms around him.

Siegfried looked behind her and saw Keita, the nine-tailed fox smiling at him.

"Protect my daughter, Siegfried," The words echoed through Siegfried's head. Siegfried blinked and the queen was gone.

"I will Keita...I will with all my life."