Revelation

IV: The Lone Wolf

The sun rose above the hills to east casting its golden beams down upon the land giving life to assortments of life including two young friends that were about the start their quest across Verona.

Storm and Madeline finished packing up their bags and were getting ready to begin their search for the elementalists that are going to be the next generation. Storm tightened a strap on his pack and set it aside making sure his dual knives were secured. Madeline was sitting in a chair polishing the wood and metal tips of her battle staff before slipping it into the sleeve strapped to her back. Storm slid the blades out and was polishing each blade carefully readying them for what they may have to face. Storm remembered what he wanted to ask Madeline last night and asked, "Madeline, do you think that finding the people, that are the generation, will be hard?" She set her pack on the chair before replying, "I honestly am not sure. Some may be easier than others and others may be harder. It could take a week or months." Storm looked back to his knives as he slid them back in the gauntlets. "I was just thinking that if this takes awhile we may want to let Hubert and others close to us know what we're doing before they think that we've left them." Madeline nodded at his insight. "I think you're right," she said, "it would be the right thing to do before we disappear." "Plus we'd be stuck with each other so we'll have to get used to being in one another's presence constantly." He added on. Madeline smiled and laughed a little. "You've always been one for comedy when it comes to something that is serious." She said in reply to Storm's remark. He shrugged at her answer and stated, "It's just a way that I alleviate pressure on situations." They both slung their packs onto their backs and headed for a room where they would be sent back to Oaktree to begin their quest.

Ragha and Mora stopped next a small lake with a waterfall cascading into it trying to catch their breaths and gather their surroundings. They spent the last two days running from where they attacked Storm and had been sent running like little kids when they saw a member of the High Council appear. Mora was the first to recover and said, "I don't think this will make Böromer happy to know that the brat escaped again Ragha." "I know. I need to find a way to get back at him. I know a friend that's been causing some trouble in a nearby village. They've been able to stay concealed in a body for a long time and now they're getting the run of the village. Perhaps we could recruit them and have them help eliminate the mongoose. We still need to report to Böromer though to notify him of the shift in plans." Ragha hated to report bad news, especially since this would be the second time the mongoose had eluded his death. The two of them continued to walk, but this time to the village with Ragha's friend.

Storm and Madeline arrived just outside the entry gate of Oaktree when they were sent from High Council. They both lowered their hoods and walked up to the gatekeeper. "Goodmorning Rufus." Madeline said through the window. The beaver sitting in the chair reading the latest town reports looked up from them. "Well, if it isn't little Madi and Storm. It's been a couple days since I've seen you around the town. What've you been up to?" He asked her, happy to see her again. "I've been out and about. Would you mind letting us in? We're going on a trip and we would like to say our goodbyes to friends before we go." She said. Rufus nodded and got out of his chair. "Sure thing, Madeline. Don't be adventuring too long that you forget me back here in my hut." Madeline smiled, "I won't Rufus. Take care and be safe." Storm and Madeline walked through the open doors waving back at the kindly beaver. The two of them stopped by Saul's stand first before they went up to the monastery to greet Father Hubert and the other members there. Saul was dusting off and polishing glass trinkets and setting them into a box to be sold later in the day. When Madeline was about to walk up to the stall Storm held his arm in front of her. "I'm friends with Saul, so I have a plan to introduce us. Just follow my act." He said. "Okay." Madeline said. The two of them walked up to the stall calmly and when they got to the stall Storm put on his hood and leaned his elbow on the counter. "Good morning sir. I'm looking for a mongoose by the name of Storm. Do you know if lives around here?" He asked nonchalantly. Saul turned around from polishing the glass to answer his question, "Storm? He hasn't been seen for the past couple of days. He usually comes to my stall each morning for some supplies. He lives in Trinity Monastery just up the road. Why are you asking about him?" Storm pulled off his hood, "I'm asking because I am him." Saul burst out laughing and playfully hit Storm's arm, "Why you young scamp. How could you play a trick on one of your oldest friends? I was beginning to worry where you disappeared to." Storm stood up from leaning. "You're the only one I can really joke with Saul. I went of to see the High Council about something. That something is why I am dressed like I am and why I'm going on a journey with Madeline." Saul raised his brow, "A 'journey'?" Storm waved his hands, "No not like that. We've been chosen to locate some people for the council. We just wanted to let you know about it so you wouldn't worry." "Oh I see now. I guess this means I won't get to see my young friend for awhile then doesn't it." Saul said glumly. Storm placed his hand on Saul's shoulder. "I'll be back. Don't worry about that Saul. Just make sure you treat whoever they send for the supplies with the same respect you give me." "So give them an earful about how they behave?" Saul said with a straight face. Both of them broke into more laughter at the raccoon's remark. "I'll miss you Saul." "Same as I will about you. Make sure to bring me a souvenir from your travels." "I'll do that Saul." The two of them finished their goodbyes before Madeline and Storm began walking to the monastery.

When they were out of hearing range Madeline asked, "You and Saul are really close aren't you Storm." "Yes he is. Saul has been like a father to me ever since I started picking up the supplies. Then of course he's almost been like a brother too the way we can joke around. Overall he's part of my extended family I guess." Madeline just nodded understanding what it was like to not knowing ones parents very well. Both of her parents had left her with Hubert due to a sickness going around. They both died from it leaving all they had to her. Madeline made the old house into rest stop for travelers and a home to those without one. They continued their trek to the monastery in silence.

Father Hubert was showing a new member of the monastery around when they both heard the ringing of the bell and a knock on the front door. He turned to the new initiate, "This can be your first practice in answering the door." The little chipmunk nodded and hurried to the door and pulled the door open. "Hello. What are your names and businesses here travelers?" She said. Madeline kneeled down to the chipmunk's height. "My name is Madeline Aquios and my friend is Storm Vairëheim. We're here to see Father Hubert." She said. "Come on in then. He's been expecting you two for the last hour or so." The chipmunk said while pushing the door to open it further. "Father you have two visitors under the names of Madeline and Storm. You told me you were expecting them." The two stepped in after the chipmunk to be welcomed in a warm hug from Hubert. "It's so nice to see you two again and in such good health! I got Godric's letter yesterday about what happened. I'm guessing that you're here to get what you need and then head of on some adventure." The two of them nodded. "I guessed that much. You've both grown into fine, young people as I've watched you. Before you head off on your journey let's have a small banquet to celebrate this event. Does that sound fair enough?" Hubert asked. Storm and Madeline exchanged looks. "It is the least we could do for the guy who let us stay here and cared for us." Madeline started. "That's true. We will find a way to repay him for that in full though. I think it does sound fair." They both nodded to Saul agreeing to the banquet idea. "Splendid!" Hubert said, "I'll ask the cooks to begin planning out the meal. We should invite Saul as well, since he's helped the monastery out so much." Father Hubert left them to tend to their own business still listing names of people that should be invited. Storm and Madeline began to gather any personal items they wanted to take along on their journey. Storm slipped the book; he got from Saul, into his pack and noticed the black-leather box sitting on his bedside table. Storm picked it up and put it in his pocket rather than his satchel. He went from his room down to Madeline's. Before entering her room he knocked on the door. "May I come in?" He asked. Madeline replied, "You can." Storm opened the door to see Madeline organizing items on her bed and packing them into her own satchel. Storm walked over and asked, "Finding everything you need?" "So far I am finding everything." She replied. He sat down in a chair next to her bed. "It's been awhile since I have been in this room." Storm said, "The last time was when we made that fort and told stories around a lantern during a thunderstorm in the summer." He saw the corners of Madeline's mouth go up in the formation of a smile. "I remember that night. Father Hubert came in to see a bed sheet tent with pillow walls and two silhouettes laughing against the lantern light. Of course, he laughed when we poked our heads out, but then made us take it down and sent you back to your room." She said reminiscing about their childhood together. "It was always fun to see his reactions to our shenanigans. I don't think he ever got tired of us two messing around. Do you think he did?" Madeline flipped the flap over her satchel and tied it shut. "I don't think he did. I almost want to say that he enjoyed it. Maybe it made him feel like a kid again watching us goof off every day." "That's true." He said. After Madeline double checked her room for anything she may have missed before they both left the room with the warmth of the memories still in the air.

As the sun fell and the moon rose high into the black skies to greet the stars, the main hall of the monastery was lit and filled with laughter and the smell of food. Old friends were reacquainted, while others were introduced to new people. Hubert was busy helping people to find seats around the tables and guide cooks with food platters to serving areas. A few of the town's residents brought assortments of instruments and were playing them to provide background music. Games had been set up for younger kids and adults were playing pitch with friends. The celebration lasted for the entire night and into the early morning. Storm and Madeline had excused themselves to get a few hours of rest before they had to leave in the morning. When the sun began to rise the two of them were saying their goodbyes to everyone and then they began their trek to Echo Forest.

Ragha and Mora were standing in a dark room with a few lanterns and a window with green drapes. Ragha looked towards a figure sitting in a chair, "So, will you help us out with this task Tretch?" The figure shrugged, "I'll see what I can do for you. You've helped me in the past, so the least I can do is try and help you out with an insect that won't give up without a fight." Mora looked away from the window. "We better hurry up Ragha. The sun is starting to rise." Ragha nodded. The figure stood up into the light revealing a tiger with rust colored fur and sable stripes. "If you don't mind, you two, I have a town to terrorize." With that Tretch walked out of the building leaving the two of the sil'lis to their own business.

Storm and Madeline walked along the path enjoying the calm breeze as it came through the foliage of the trees and bushes. Madeline made a small twirl with her arms outstretched. "We're finally on our journey and on our own." She looked back at Storm while walking backwards. "You seem somewhat unenthusiastic. Is something wrong?" She asked. Storm looked at her, "I'm just thinking back to when the sil'lis attacked me. I remember the fight as clear as I see you now, but I don't know how I learned any of those maneuvers I used to fend for myself. It was like someone else took over for me and then took me through a trial run." Madeline slowed down and turned back around to walk beside her friend. "What do you mean?" Storm looked up at the sky piecing together how he could explain what happened. "Think of it as someone taking control of your self-conscious and using your body to move yet you are able to watch as it happens. I felt this power break through some barrier in my head and surge through me allowing me to survive. The power was familiar though, but I don't know why I could attack and defend against the sil'lis." Madeline continued to watch Storm as his eyes showed the mixed emotions of confusion and turmoil beneath the blue of his eyes. She noticed something else that wasn't really an emotion, but rather something that was a person almost that didn't seem like Storm. "I guess I don't know how you feel Storm, but I can somewhat grasp the idea of what you're feeling. You had a weird experience that wasn't you acting, but it was still you. Tonight, when we take a break and set up camp, let's try and practice with our elements. They may come in handy when they're needed, and the training may come in handy with figuring out what happened to you." Storm looked back at her. "That sounds good. Hopefully we can figure out what happened together." The two of them continued to walk along the well used path enjoying the flowers they hadn't seen before along with how the wind's song was heard differently through so many trees as they continued onward into the unknown of their known world.

A shadow flitted past in the overhead trees carefully making sure the two people below it weren't aware of its presence. The shadow continued to jump silently across the branches watching the two travelers as they trekked through the forest. The two of them stopped near a stream with an open clearing. One said to the other, "This looks like a good place to set up camp for the night." The one that spoke seemed to be a young girl the shadow decided. They set down their packs and pulled out a couple tarps and poles that they used to set up a tent. One of them went in first saying, "I'll change out of my robes and into something that is more normal. You can do the same once I'm done." "That sounds good. These robes don't really blend into the average town." Said the other traveler, which seemed to be a boy. After a few minutes the one in the tent came out dressed in a light-grey, long-sleeved t-shirt with the sleeves pushed up to her elbows and a pair of tan shorts with a skin-tight material covering her legs. The boy went into the tent while the girl went into the river. She let the water run around her legs as she enjoyed the warmth of it, which the sun heated. The boy came out with a similar look except his shirt was a little more skin-tight and was made to go to the elbows with a grey and blue design. He also had a pair of tan shorts, but he didn't have skin-tight leggings like the other. The shadow reclined on the branch it was on and continued to watch the two travelers.

Madeline stood in the river shallows and splashed some water at Storm. "Come on Storm. The water is perfectly fine. We might as well enjoy the nice weather while we can before the winter comes in a couple weeks." Storm walked over and sat on the edge with his legs dangling in the water. "What about understanding our elements?" He asked. Madeline crossed her arms and smirked at him, "Is Storm afraid of a little water?" "I am not. I just thought we'd want to work with them as soon as we could." Storm replied. Madeline walked over and pulled him in by his hands. "You're just high strung from the past couple of days. Today we're going to relax and enjoy ourselves. Our own celebration, but just the two of us." She said noticing the same mixed emotions beginning to lessen in intensity and then replaced with the same Storm she knew. "You're right. I'm just anxious about the journey and need some time to reset my senses." Madeline let go of his hands and walked back out into the deeper water. "Come on. We have a celebration to enjoy." She said as she dived underneath the clear river water. Storm swam in after her and joined in the fun with his friend.

Storm and Madeline sat around a small campfire they set up to dry out the clothes they used to swim. They both laid back on the grass in the clearing to look at the stars. Every so often one of them would point out a constellation or a star that would shoot across the others. Storm looked over at Madeline with her hands behind her head with the reflections of the sky in her eyes. "Madeline do you mind if I ask you something?" She looked over at him to reply, "Go ahead and ask. I don't mind." Storm cleared his throat, "When you woke up to see me awake in the bed I noticed a spark of happiness through the cloudy emotions of the previous night. Along with that happiness I saw compassion. I would like to know the extent of that." Madeline looked back up at the skies. She was going over in her head what Storm asked her. 'To what extent? I know I grew up in a monastery, but over the years of being friends with Storm I've grown close to him. He feels like a brother to me, but even at that, that doesn't seem to fit. I want to let him known, but I don't feel that right now is a good time to let him know how I truly feel.' After thinking the question over Madeline responded, "I feel like you're my brother and best friend Storm. We grew up with each other that made us closer than most others have dreamed of." Storm looked away and up to the sky. "Thanks for answering honestly Madeline. I was confused about what I saw and didn't want to misinterpret it." Madeline didn't know what was going on in Storm's own mind, but she could tell something wasn't quite fitting into place. After laying in the grass for about an hour they both got up to sit around the campfire for a light dinner. After the fire began to die down Storm threw some dirt over the coals to keep them alive, but unable to catch anything on fire. He walked over to the tent and held the flap open for Madeline to enter. She walked in and folded back a blanket. Storm entered the ten and sat down beside her on the other side while setting a lantern down to provide some light in the tent. He turned his back so Madeline could get into her sleeping garments and under the blanket. "Alright you can turn back around Storm." She said. Storm removed his old tunic and replaced it with a softer shirt along with a softer pair of shorts. Madeline shifted onto her side as Storm extinguished the lantern's flame. She shut her eyes when Storm said, "Hey Madeline." She rolled onto her back to look in his direction making out his outline. He leaned over and gave her a short kiss on her cheek. "Goodnight." He said before he leaned back over to his side. Madeline laid there stunned at what Storm did. Madeline had wanted to do the same thing when she saw him wake up from being unconscious. She rolled back to her side quietly smiling to herself as she fell asleep. The shadow watched from the tall hickory tree as the lamp illuminating the travelers slowly died leaving the smell of smoke and light breathing of the two in the night. The shadow pulled a cloak out to keep out the cold away before it fell asleep as well.

The light of dawn began to peak through the trees and into the tan tent where Storm and Madeline were sleeping. Storm shifted and stretched his back careful not to wake up Madeline. He dressed quickly in a clean shirt and pants before heading out into the brisk morning air. Storm walked a few yards away and found a smaller clearing where he could start practicing with his element. At first Storm tried a few things to see he could summon any lightning. After many failed attempts of trying Storm sat back against a log and closed his eyes to concentrate. "I don't understand how I am suppose to do this." He said to himself. 'Then let me help you.' Storm jumped to his feet when he heard the voice. "Who are you?" The voice returned, 'Calm yourself Stormsurge. I am here to help you. The same feeling you felt when the sil'lis attacked was my presence. I'm a past memory of someone that you remember and wanted to be like. Now let me guide you to be able to use your powers.' Storm was nervous when the voice in his head told him that it was the presence that used him. "How do I know that you won't take control again?" Storm asked. 'That happened due to the seal placed on this memory of yours. When I tried to break free I accidentally used a little too much power to break through, and that caused me to do that. I don't plan to do that again. I am here to help you train until you remember everything about your past.' Storm relaxed a little when the voice explained itself to him, but was still wary of what happened before. "Where do we begin?" 'First off sit down and calm your mind. When you do this project yourself into your mind.' Storm sat down again with his legs crossed and closed his eyes letting the wind move around him allowing Storm to calm his mind. 'Now take a walk with me through your memories.' Storm saw a white orb appear in front of him that then lead him down a hallway with pictures of places. 'This is where your memories are kept. Although they aren't always hallways. This is just how your mind manifests them into seeable objects.' The white orb and Storm spent a few hours reviewing memories and trying to get the distorted ones back into a watchable format. Storm and the orb stopped at the end of the hallway. 'This is where you keep your earliest memories. You have remembered quite a lot about yourself that you didn't know before. This is where you'll learn about people that were close to you before arriving at the monastery .When this is all done I won't return to you Storm. Any questions left will be your mystery to solve.' Storm prepared himself as he walked closer to the picture. Before he could touch the moving picture his conscious self was stirred by a nearby rustling in the foliage. This caused him to be pulled out of his sub-conscious and back into the small clearing. Storm looked around to see what the noise was, but couldn't find whoever made it. This didn't leave him happy mainly because he was close to probably finding out more about Morgan if she was a person that was in his childhood. What made him more curious was why he didn't have any memory of the monastery other than waking up in a room there. The white orb didn't help with making him remember where he learned any of the fighting moves let alone how to use his element. Storm returned to where he was sitting and stretched again after sitting in the cold for so long. As he began to turn around he felt a strange tingling sensation running down his back and along his arms. Storm shook out his arm and was astonished when a flick of lightning shot out and hit a rock nearby. This sudden discovery made Storm realize that with the more he knew about himself in the past, the more able he was to become who he was in the present. He flicked his wrist again and was pleased to see another bolt shoot out, but he made it stop after four feet. After trying a few test moves Storm began to create moves that would help with attacking and defending against attacks, along with being able to summon lightning.

Madeline woke up to the sun fully shining through the tent that warmed the air outside of the blanket. She pushed it aside and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. She looked over to see Storm wasn't where he was last night. She figured Storm was out doing his early morning routines like he usually did. Madeline got up and out of the tent to stretch her back fully. "I guess I could try using my element a little before Storm comes back." She said as she walked over to where the clothes she used to swim him were hanging. Once she changed into them she stepped into the river again feeling the current of the water tugging at her legs. As she concentrated on the currents Madeline began to feel the current move with her hands above it. She moved her hands up bring with them a ball of water that spun as it hung in the air. She let the water drop back down creating a small splash. Madeline then spent a few minutes creating snaking tubes of water out of the water and back in and making pillars of water. She heard rustling behind her and turned her head to see Storm pushing aside a bush. Madeline let the water return to normal as she walked out of the river to greet Storm. "Good morning. How did you sleep?" She asked. "I slept well. What about you?" Storm replied. "Not very different than when we were in our own beds. I did some practicing with water for awhile. Did you try anything with yours?" "That's good. I did try some moves to use lightning, but I didn't get much figured out. I did learn; however, that in order to fully be able to use lightning I need to remember all of my past memories that were blocked." Said Storm in response. Madeline thought about how it was like to have some of her memories that were there, but she wasn't able to access them. She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry about that." She said, "You'll eventually remember the memories." Storm nodded with determination in his eyes. They packed up the tent and started out again on the path to find new places in hope of finding another elementalist.

The sun rose high in the sky shining down through the trees as Storm and Madeline kept walking through the foliage. "I was hoping to have found a village by now or some sign of life." Storm said. "I agree. I didn't think the Echo Forest was this big. We haven't really been in an forests though." They kept walking when Storm's ears picked up rustling in the trees behind them that were like footsteps. He stopped and set his satchel and pack. "I'm going to scout ahead to see if there are any sign posts with maps or something. We can take a break here for lunch as well." He walked out of view of her. After Storm figured he was a far enough distance he looped back around out of view and made sure he was behind Madeline. He climbed up a tree as quietly as he could and once he was in the foliage he noticed a figure crouching on a tree branch watching Madeline. Storm took slow leaps across the branches and tapped the figure on its shoulder. "Excuse me, but may I ask what it is that you are doing?" He asked. The figure tensed before Storm tackled them out of the tree both landing on their feet, but two people; instead of one, now cornered the figure. "Who are you?" Storm asked again. The figure relaxed and pulled down the kerchief over their mouth to reveal that it was really a wolf and a girl at that. "My name is Serena Cyndre. I have been following you because I wanted to know if you two had the power to help me." Storm lowered his arms, but still kept his guard up. "What kind of help?" Storm asked. "I come from a village that is not to far from here. There should be a signpost with the information ahead. For the past couple of years a tyrant that calls himself Tretch has ruled my village. He is an elementalist like your selves, and I was hoping that you would be able to help me." Serena replied with desperation in her voice. Madeline and Storm exchanged glances. "If can guide us to this village we will see what we can do to help you." Serena's face brightened up with joy. "Thank you so much!" She went back into the tree and came down with her own little pack. "We can start when you two are ready to go." She said to Storm and Madeline. Storm took out three apples and tossed one to each of them. "We can start off right now and eat on the way." Serena polished off a side of the apple before biting into it and walking ahead. Madeline walked up close to Storm before whispering, "We aren't exactly the best elementalists you know. We just started." "I know, but this is most likely one of the new elementalists that we're looking for." He responded, "Hopefully they won't be too difficult." They kept walking until they reached the signpost Serena said was just ahead. "Now if we keep heading southwest from here, then we should arrive at the town within the hour. That should be about dusk." She said reading the map's directions and symbols. "Lead on then Serena. We could probably get there, but we'd prefer to arrive there within the decade." Madeline said. The three of them then continued towards the setting sun now outside the forest and in an open plain dotted with trees.

The moon started to rise against the scarlet and violet sky as the trio of travelers arrived at the town's edge. "Here we are Madi and Storm. The town of Hollowridge." Serena announced. Before Madeline could tell her that she preferred Madeline they heard people screaming not to far away. Serena's ears shot up and whispered out one word, "Tretch." A rust colored tiger was chasing a rabbit and a hedgehog down a town street. Storm dropped his pack to perform a move and shot a blast of lightning that hit the tiger in the side causing him to fly to the side and into a stack of barrels. The rabbit and hedgehog stopped to look at what happened. Storm yelled to them, "Go! We'll keep the tiger occupied." The two of them smiled hastily before running away. Storm went to a defense stance waiting to see what the tiger would do. The barrels shifted and Tretch pushed himself out of the wreckage glaring towards Storm with jade green eyes ringed with gold. "Something tells me that wasn't a good idea." Storm muttered to Madeline and Serena. Serena nodded. "You've got his attention, now all you have to do is stop him." The tiger pushed off the ground and stood up. "So you're the one I was suppose to look for. I hope you're prepared Stormsurge because what Ragha didn't manage to do." Tretch said before slamming his foot into the ground creating pillars of rock spiking towards them.