Chapter 13: The Last Wolf, Legacy of the Forest

"When the howling stopped
Only four remained
To haunt the woods
They once reined.

One to grow old and leave for love
One to die young
One to wander wild
And one to keep the legacy."

Year: May 30, 2308
Location: Wolf Territory, Asiana Pack

Keith took two days to cross the forest and another three to locate the old camp. Once he found the camp he settled down to wait for the full moon, which was still two nights away. He spent the days wandering the camp and becoming familiar with its strange layout.
The camp lay in a shallow dip between the foot of the mountain and a strange horseshoe bend in the river. Ruined houses sat here and there from where the more human ones would have lived and sandy dips scattered here and there would have served for the wolves.
As the full moon rose above the deserted camp, an ancient looking wolf-woman limped into the camp and sat down on a large, flat rock at the center.
Keith rose uncertainly and approached her but if she knew he was there she made no sign. He stood behind her quietly as the moon rose and fell but still she said nothing.
Finally as the sun peeked over the horizon she turned to him with piercing amber eyes "You are no wolf, why have you trespassed?"
"Lady Lupus, I merely seek the pack history" Keith replied, bowing slightly "I must seek the black mutt"
"Her" Lupus murmured, her eyes unfocusing as if lost in memories "She destroyed the pack, though I wonder if she didn't have the right."
Shaking herself, she motioned for him to sit "It will be a long tale"

Year: DigiAge 0
Location: Valley of Beginning, Ancient Digital World

"Where are we" Strike was the first to mutter as Zev rejoined the group.
Zev shrugged, ignoring him and helping Time to her feet. When she was settled he went to help Ryan up then went and settled back on garurumon.
Time climbed up behind him, still looking shaken "The angel said to come here, you had to see...understand"
Zev soothed her a moment before glancing around them "So what do we need to see?"
"That way" Time murmured, pointing towards the mountain as Ryan and Strike padded over to hear her.
"Nothing better to do" Strike muttered, digivolving his partner to firamon and climbing on his back. Ryan shrugged and picked up impmon, who had digivolved back after the crossing, before climbing on behind Strike.
Without a word the two digimon took off towards the mountain while the riders bent low to keep from being blown off.

Year: Unknown
Location: Unknown

Rekke was dozing in the chair again, surrounded by his newspapers collected over the decades, while mausumon was leaning his small body against the only the window.
"The spirits grow restless; how long must we wait for Beḷaku to come?" the mouse digimon muttered as he finally turned back to his partner and let the curtain fall back into place.
Rekke opened one eye to regard the digimon, his hands behind his head as he leaned the chair back to stare at the ceiling, "It does get lonely here…even Samaya doesn't visit anymore…"
"When was our last visitor? A year? A century?" the mouse digimon dropped to all fours on the table and curled his tail over his nose, "Time does not flow properly here…"
"I don't control time, that's her thing…at least we have space to live…"
"Yet what life is this to be condemned beyond time? I grow weary partner…"
"As do I but this is home…" Rekke shifted slightly, careful not to tip the chair completely over this time, as a bright light filled the tiny room. When the light faded he could make out a child-like angel digimon hovering over the only open floor-space.
"Lucifer, come to see your children again?" Rekke's voice was neutral as he let the chair dropped back to all fours and stood to greet the digimon.
"Peace child, I know you grow weary of your banishment…" Lucemon regarded the boy a moment before taking a seat on the table, his bright eyes scanning the room, "You have used your time well though and brought an end to the war."
"At what cost to us?" the mouse digimon hissed, his eyes narrowed as he watched the angel, "Must we live apart until we sink to madness?"
"You understand the choice here; your sister is still needed to guide the destined." Lucemon sighed as he turned from the boy to his partner and back, "The world is not ready to handle both time and space."
"I know that but…" Rekke sighed and dropped back into the chair, picking mausumon up and placing the little mouse digimon in his lap as he turned back to the angel, "How long must we wait?"
"I do not know, that is for your alpha to decide…" Lucemon rose then and vanished as he had come.
Rekke squinted his eyes at the light and sighed again, absently rubbing his partner, "I prefer Samaya's visits, they don't leave me blind…"
Mausumon snorted and curled deeper into his arms, the mouse's voice barely more than a squeak, "I'd prefer to sleep, at least then we don't have to mark time passing…"