Chapter 5

As Cornell and Ada came home, Matthew stood waiting for them inside.

Over his chainmail tunic, he was wearing a thin chest armor made of steel. Engraved in the center on both sides was a large paw with three claws; The tribe and Maiko's symbol. A sword was also sheathed and strapped at his side. The look on his adult face was cold and somber as usual, but to the opponent, Matthew looked to be a serious warrior.

"You're not going to war are you, father?" Cornell asked.

"That I am."

Panic began to rise in Cornell, but he tried to remain as calm as he could.

"What do you mean? What about me and Ada? What will happen if you don't return?"

"You'll be fine."

"No!" As the first thought that came to mind, Cornell blocked the doorway. "How can you say this? How can you leave us on our own?!"

"As your father, I am entitled to make that decision."

"But you can't!" Cornell knew that he was starting to talk in circles. He had never wanted his father to stay here this much in his lifetime. What were the chances of most warriors returning back safely, even if they were fighting humans? What if Matthew was one of the many to perish? Why would he abandon both of them like this...? A mixture of feelings came over Cornell, hiding all logic from the situation. His voice was laced with apparent panic.

"Please...don't go...stay here with me and Ada! What if you get yourself killed, then what happens? Why are you doing this to us? We can't live on our own! You'll get yourself killed, I know it!!"

"Cornell, Cornell, Cornell!" Matthew interrupted over his son's voice. "Be silent...!"

Cornell did so, obediently. He looked down in disappointment and defeat, but Matthew lifted Cornell's face into his hands gently. His steely blue eyes gazed into his son's own.

"You are a warrior, Cornell. I can see it inside of you. There are not many in this tribe who have both the strength and the wisdom that you have. You will persevere your own... It was only I who couldn't. You have Ada for company. You will take care of your sister won't you?"

Cornell swallowed and nodded. Somehow he had felt as vulnerable as he had when he was a young child. He was also partly amazed when Matthew had mentioned Ada being his sister. Marcell had adapted to the title once Cornell deemed it, but Matthew was different. He adapted well with Ada's name, though she was called Cornell's "ersatz sibling" otherwise. Of course, Ada never learned what the word ersatz meant, and Matthew hadn't planned to tell her either.

Time worked its magic again. Over the years, Matthew did gain respect for Ada. In the times that he would sit alone and grieve for his lost wife, Ada would merely sit beside him and rest her head on his shoulder. She wanted to be of some comfort to the man she deemed to be her father. Even with the times where he was more aloof and cold to her than with Cornell, Ada would do her best to please him all the same. This Matthew couldn't quite fully understand. It was beyond the comprehension of the mere self-centered man-wolf. Now he was showing compassion for her. His face began to glow with a warmth and kindness that Cornell hadn't seen in many years. Not since his mother was killed.

Matthew held out his hand to Ada. Being an adult man-wolf, the claws on his fingers were sharp and strong enough to cut through Ada's arm easily and leave quite a deep and bloody gash, if they wanted to. Yet Ada put the thought aside and took his hand and was pulled into an embrace.

"I owe you my apology, Ada. Can you forgive me?"

"Um, sure." Ada murmured.

Matthew let Ada go and turned to Cornell. He reached around his neck and took off a pendant. Cornell eyed the jewel fondly. A sapphire little bigger than a walnut, carved to look like a crescent moon. It was fastened inside a ring of sterling silver and attached to a fine chain of the same material. Matthew had worn the pendant for as long as Cornell could remember.

"Now this is yours to keep," Matthew placed the pendant around Cornell's neck. "This necklace has been passed down by Crescent forbearers for eleven generations and you my son are the twelfth."

Before Cornell could say his thanks, Matthew had moved past him and out of the door. Cornell and Ada watched as he disappeared into the crowd of man-wolf warriors for the final war between human and man-beast.