Note: Here's the second chapter. All characters and this story belong to me.

The Gold Wolf's Son

By: I. L. Murphey

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Chapter 1: The Catacombs of Vedo-Xomoqye

Sounds of feet stepping over years of dust echoed faintly against the walls. The hall is pitch dark, save for a single small light illuminated from a torch in the man's left hand. The man is alert and he is walking along the dark hall with ease as if he has been here before.

And just like before, he stopped before a burnt pedestal with a basin on top. He placed the torch on the basin, and the whole hall is illuminated with an orange glow that was coming glowing orbs hanging in the high ceiling. The man now can see his surroundings more clearly. All over the floor is old debris that belongs part of the walls and ceilings, looking as though they have fallen out years ago.

And just like before, the two stone gargoyles quickly appeared behind two large boulders and they try to attack him. The man withdraws his gun from his holsters and shoots the gargoyles between their eyes; they crumple to the floor like dust.

"I hate these damn gargoyles," the man grumbled as he puts away his gun and lit a cigarette. He appears tall and in his thirties; he has dirty-colored brown hair that fell to the back of his neck, and bangs fell over the sides of his face. His eyes are hazel, and his face appears as though it has been into many battles. Sitting on his head is a brown old hat with a wide brim. He is wearing a brown and yellow sarape over a dark jacket with his gun belt hanging to his dark pants.

He steps over the dust where the stone gargoyles has fallen, taking care not letting any part of his feet touch it like what happened last time he was here…

He continues walking down the hall, and he turned left and then right; this place is the Catacombs of Vedo-Xomoqye, where people once bury their heroes and loved one here.

He walks deeper and deeper into the hall, and he soon stopped in front of a huge door. He turns the knob gently and he steps into a large dimly lit room full of stone tombs. The tombs are arranged in rows. He passes each tomb, smoking silently, until he reaches the last one at the far side of the room.

On the tomb are words that are almost faded but he can read them, "Here Lies the Gold Wolf, Alessandros, son of Elessor. Long live the king."

The man smiled smugly and with such strength, he slides open the lid of the tomb and he reaches what is hidden inside…

They were old letters: the papers are yellow and words are hard to read that the man had to bring papers close to his face to read them.

"'… I was lucky to escape the Nightwalkers,'" he read aloud, "'they almost took the sword but if it weren't for Thaddeus, all would have been lost. I was so sorry to leave him, God bless his lost soul. I am leaving the sword inside Alessandros' tomb. If you are one of our companions or at least their accomplices, please find the son of Alessandros and present the sword to him, it may help him in the Quest. If you are an enemy or if you wish to take the sword for selfish reasons, this letter is a jinx and you will soon find yourself covered with boils and die a slow painful death.' Huh. As if I want this sword for myself."

The next letter tells him of the location where it is rumored where Alessandros' wife lived before she disappeared at the same time of the king's disappearance.

The man's hand reaches inside the tomb again and he picks up a sword mentioned in the letter. The sword has a blade with a blue hue to it, styled to resemble an arrow. Its grip is formed like an angel holding a peridot. He gives the sword a couple of swings, and fingers the tip of the blade. The blade left a wound on his finger.

"Old, but still sharp," he winced.

"Good job, Zeth Indigo," said a cocky, cold voice behind him. "Now hand the sword over."

The man named Zeth Indigo spins around and cursed softly. Standing on one of the tombs is a tall man with dirty blonde hair wearing dragon armor and dark green clothes. Hanging from his belt is a long sword. Beside him are two huge creatures that have heads of wolves, body and wings of bats, and legs of horses. His eyes shone with haughtily at Zeth.

"Finally, after all these years of searching, the famous sword of the late Alessandros: Heaven Light Blade has been found," the stranger said with a smug smile. He holds up his hand in front of Zeth. "Hand it over, Indigo, if you value your life."

"No thanks, Saen, I might need the sword to give to Alessandros' son," Zeth smirked. "And even though I value my own life, I wouldn't give the sword to the likes of you."

Saen sneered, "Alessandros' son may be an old man by now; how would the sword be useful to him?"

"Oh, I dunno," Zeth said flicking his cigarette away, "perhaps maybe it'll help him get rid of your boss?"

Saen's calm expression did not change, but he spoke with a dangerous silk voice, "Kill him."

The chimeras beside him sprang forward while Saen disappeared in a black cloud. The monsters growled ferociously toward Zeth, ready to pounce him, when he quickly drops the sword and draws out two of his guns. The sword fell to the floor, but it did not break.

With rapid speed, he shot the first chimera dead and it crashed against other tombs. The second missed the bullets it leaped high in the air and tackled Zeth to the ground, knocking one of the guns out his hand and his hat from him. Zeth could feel the monster's warm breath on his face, but he is not ready to meet his death. As they struggle, he pulls his remaining gun to the chimera's chest, and shoots a space near its heart. It roared with pain, and Zeth kicks it off him.

He hurriedly grabs the sword and makes a run for it. He realized that his gun and his hat had been knocked out from him, but he cannot go back for them now. Though fatally wounded, the chimera chases him, jumping from one tomb to another.

Zeth is now running down the hall, the sword in his hand and the gun in another. He saw the gargoyle's dust remains ahead and he got an idea. He shot at one of the dust, and the gargoyle dust sprung into life. Before the chimera's jaws can reach Zeth, the stone gargoyle tackled the beast and they ripped and pounced at each other. The chimera reduces the gargoyle into dust and before it can find Zeth, a bullet hit it square in the forehead. It saw Zeth Indigo with his gun up before it fell to the floor.

A black cloud appears and Saen appears from it. He saw his fallen minion and he shook his head.

"That was very rude of you to kill him, he was a very good minion," Saen said in mock pain.

"I have no time for games, Saen," Zeth said seriously still holding up his gun. "I got the sword, not you. You can leave this place empty-handed."

"On the contrary, Indigo, it is YOU will be leaving empty-handed," Saen takes out his long sword.

Zeth shoots again, but the bullet flies past Saen's head hitting inside a hole on the wall.

"Is that it? I thought you were clever!" Saen drawled.

"I am," Zeth smiles.

Saen's eyes widen when he noticed the walls and ceiling began to tremble. Dust and stones began to fall in.

"You set out the alarm system!" he shrieked. "You knew this place is going to blow up!"

Zeth shrugged his shoulders and he runs toward the exit. Saen, now screaming with fury, started to chase after him but large boulders blocked his path.

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Zeth hurries up the steps and into the bright sunshine. He landed flat-faced on the grass as he listens to the faint explosions inside the grey tomb where he emerged from.

Sighing with relief, he gets up and brushes the dust off his clothes. He looks at the sword in his hand one more time before setting off, with a wide green valley ahead of him.

"Now to Heather Village…" he said, lighting up another cigarette.

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End of Chapter 1

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