Chapter One:

A Course of Fate

Kamuy lie on the floor with his head between his white forepaws as he watched his young master turn over restlessly in his sleep. Tohan twisted uneasily as he sporadically rolled in opposite directions, before managing to finally entwine himself within the blankets of his bed. Kamuy began to whimper softly into the early morning light as Tohan, now immobilized in his bed, began clutching at his sweat-soaked sheets. It took only one uttered gasp before Kamuy rose to his feet and trotted to his young master's bedside. Kamuy placed his front paws on Tohan's bed and lifted his front half up enough to easily reach his troubled master. Kamuy poked his long, white muzzle into the web of covers, finding Tohan's left shoulder. Kamuy nuzzled him lovingly, but failing to wake him, he began to lick the sweat beads from his master's face.

Kamuy began to whine as he tried to pull more of himself onto the bed. Being well over the size of an average wolf however, the further Kamuy went, the more the bed tilted. Kamuy had almost managed to squeeze his horse-sized body onto Tohan's bed, when the whole frame snapped apart, sending both the sleeping Tohan and the large white-wolf crashing to the floor underneath the middle of the bed.

Tohan shot bolt upright, wide awake, gasping for breath. His eyes darted in every direction before settling them on Kamuy and his broken bed-frame. A few stray feathers from his pillow drifted out of the air and past the tip of Tohan's nose, tickling him as they fell away. Tohan looked steadily at Kamuy, who was now sitting on the floor beside him shaking the wooden debris from his body.

"Oh great," Tohan groaned as he surveyed the remnants of his bed. "Kamuy you know what mom said, if you broke another bed you'd have to sleep outside."

Kamuy eyed him and whined sadly before walking to his side and licking his dangling hand. Kamuy nuzzled Tohan reassuringly, as though trying to tell him something. All Tohan had to do to understand his wolf-friend was look into his large golden eyes.

"I know. You were just trying to wake me. . . I was having that dream again, or nightmare, rather. The same one every night. . . First I see a golden object, then I see this really tall guy, and the town catches fire. . . . I think it is definitely a warning, but I don't understand what I should do about it. Oh well . . . Thanks boy," Tohan sighed half-heartedly and ruffled the fur on Kamuy's head affectionately.

Tohan was half-lost in thought when his mother, Fa, came in. Her face steadily became more flustered as she surveyed her teenage son, his broken bed, and the enormous white wolf sitting beside him.

"TOHAN FLANDERS! What happened in here?" she shrieked loudly, bringing him out of reflections. Tohan looked up suddenly, noticing his mother for the first time. His expression suddenly turned to surprise, if he didn't make an excuse, his mother would probably punish Kamuy. Kamuy had only gotten on the bed to wake him up. . . He was just trying to help. Tohan was going to repay the favor.

"I don't know, maybe the frame just got old. . . ." he trailed off suggestively.

"Nonsense! Don't you lie to your mother! That frame is barely a month old and you know it! It was Kamuy again, wasn't it?" she said in that motherly voice that suggested he should be ashamed.

"Mom, Kamuy was only. . . I. . . he's saved your life before! Dad's too! I'm sorry about the bed, I'll replace it, just. . ."

Tohan's mother, whom up to this point had been tapping her foot listening to him angrily, suddenly cried out in shock,"Oh Tohan! You're bleeding! Are you alright?"

Tohan followed his mother's gaze down to his right bicep. Sure enough, there was a small, jagged cut steadily dripping droplets of blood onto the floor. Tohan gingerly touched his injured arm and started at the fresh blood on his fingertips.

"Strange, I didn't even feel a thing. I must have fallen on the piece of the bed frame. Mom, will you help me dress this?" Tohan asked innocently, knowing that she would forget all about Kamuy.

That was a fact about his mother, she acted rough and silent sometimes, but she was really a king, loving person. She and his father, Teo, had been in love since childhood. Kamuy had also once been his father's pet, and his father often told him stories about his and Kamuys'' childhood. Tohan's favorite story was the story of how Kamuy had saved his mother, Fa, from a monster in the Evergreen Forest that had been attacking people. His father had said that almost everyone in the town believed that Kamuy was behind the attacks, and a band of warriors had been assembled to kill him. His father had run away with Kamuy to protect him, although it did little good. Kamuy had almost died when a group of passing warriors fought with him, but he had been saved by a legendary dragoon! That dragoon, according to his father, had healed Kamuy and turned him into a puppy again. And so, in his prime age again, Kamuy had been given to Tohan. Every time Tohan thought about that story he couldn't help but be amazed. Of all the creatures of legend, none fascinated Tohan more than the dragoons.

Fa's expression softened as she eyed her nineteen year-old son's arm. "Well, okay, but don't think I'm going to forget about Kamuy. I'll have to talk it over with your father."

Tohan grimaced. She knew him inside and out and he could not distract her from discipline, no matter how hard he tried. Fa lead Tohan into the kitchen of their large, dome house and over to their water-pump sink.

Pulling a thin, cotton cloth strip from a sink side drawer with one hand, and pumping the sink full of water with the other, she sighed remorsefully. "I suppose you probably think that I don't like Kamuy anymore, don't you?"

Tohan felt slightly guilty for his behavior earlier; he knew his mother felt bad. Tohan didn't say anything, but Fa continued anyway. "I love Kamuy just as much as you do, it's just that he's getting really big again and he's destroying the house. This is your fourth bed-frame in a year Tohan."

Tohan sighed."I know, I know. But we can replace anything he breaks," Tohan added hopefully.

Fa shook her head, but smiled. "Always the optimist. You remind me of what I was like when I was younger. . . . However, even with the job your father has, we cannot afford infinite furniture. It's not so much the house it's just that I don't want anybody to question Kamuy's domesticated qualities. . . . The last time that happened, I almost lost Kamuy and your father. I couldn't bear to see that happen again, especially to you. I cannot bear to think about losing you. I can see that questioning look in your eyes. Yes, most people have changed since then, but there are those that would point the finger of blame at you and Kamuy if something like that was ever to happen again. I know them. . . Kamuy is no ordinary wolf you know, he's a breed of wolf called the 'Aranes'. They're a race that was created by the divine tree along with the Gigantos. However, like he Gigantos, they are supposed to be extinct. Kamuy is the last of his kind, and with his size, it's apparent what he is. I just. . . Want you and Kamuy to be safe from people's assumptions. Of the many glories of being human, there is a major weakness. That is the unwillingness of humanity to except that which is different. But sometimes what is different is most beautiful. . . ." she said turning and looking at Tohan with tears in her eyes and the bandage in her hand.

She surveyed her son; he was very handsome despite the oddness of his eyes. Tohan was of average height for a boy of nineteen, at just about 5' 8" tall, and just as average of build. His body structure was lean and pretty muscular from all his crafting activities, although his physical strength was far above average. Tohan's hair was in a common cut as well, the hair on the back of his head was neatly trimmed and feathery and it came down to a point on the nape of his neck. His bangs spilled over neatly and came down to the tops of his eye brows. His hair, like his grandfather before him, was auburn reddish-brown, but more brown than red.

Tohan's face was smooth and pointed and his features were somewhat small, but distinguished. In fact, pretty much everything about Tohan at eye's glance was normal, except for his eyes. Tohan's eyes were quite extraordinary, as they were two different colors. His left eye was a deep, but gentle shade of purple, while his right eye was a dark emerald green. This unusual coloration didn't affect Tohan's eyesight in the least, in fact it was possible and highly probable that his vision was one point above perfect, and so was his sense of smell. In fact, all of Tohan's senses seemed to be slightly heightened in some way or other.

Over the years Fa had noticed little oddities about some of her son's senses, like the fact that he seemed to be able to see pretty well at night as well as day, he could spot and describe things at fairly good distances away without problem, and the fact that he could recognize the scents of particular flowers and trees on the wind when Fa herself could smell nothing at all. She had never asked him about these things however, believing maybe it was just her who thought this kind of thing. However, as time went on and these differences became profound, other people started to notice them too. Tohan's unusual amount of strength was something often whispered about in places Fa went to. Yes, Tohan' strength was almost as unusual as his eyes. He seemed to be able to carry or lift twice what a normal man could, and especially for a boy his size. It seemed to Fa as if it ought to upset Tohan that he was different from many other people his age, or at the very least that the teasing and sometimes questioning looks and comments he got from the townsfolk would upset him. However, Tohan seemed quite undisturbed by all of this, and was content in himself. Fa sighed. She had no idea why her son was this way, she loved him all the same, but there wasn't a day of his life where someone didn't' make fun of him for it.

"Please don't cry mother, I'm sorry if I was rude to you earlier." Tohan now felt immensely guilty.

"Oh no sweetie, it's not that. I just wish people weren't so trapped in their own perceptions. . . ."

Tohan made the acute decision that it was time to change the subject to something happier.

"Hey mom, is it true when dad ran away with Kamuy you didn't speak for a week?"

Fa wiped her eyes and giggled slightly. It was her favorite story. "Yes, it is. That day when Teo came home, we realized how much we meant to each other."

Tohan couldn't help but smile; even though his father way busy these days, he knew he loved his mother more than words could ever tell.

"Which reminds me," Fa said, completely forgetting sorrow, "You are coming of age soon and usually boys your age are--"

Tohan felt like she had just hit him with a broom handle. He let out a sigh. "Oh mother! I just haven't found the right girl yet. I don't just want to give my heart to anyone. The girl I choose is going to be special. She'll steal my heart the first time I meet her."

Fa sighed. "What about Sara, the girl at the item shop?"

Tohan sighed again and shook his head. "She's not really my type."

Fa tried again. "What about May, the maid for the Harris'?"

"She's nice but I don't really think that she's for me.

"Why not? She's hard-working, independent, and decent," she furthered.

"She's just too loud and sassy for my tastes."

Fa shook her head. "Then what qualities are you looking for in a woman?"

Tohan grinned thinking about it. He knew exactly what he wanted for his dream girl and began rattling of the list to his mother. "Well, I want a girl that's sweet, that cares and respects all life deeply, that puts others before herself and likes to help those in need, someone who's loyal and trustworthy, but yet has an opinion of her own. . . ."

Fa grinned in reply. "Boy, a girl like that would have to have wings. While I'm thinking about it, could you go and do an errand for me?"

Tohan nodded."Certainly, what do you need?"

"I forgot to get firewood while I was in town this morning. I know we have enough money to buy it, but could you please just go out to the timberline and cut some?" she requested.

Tohan nodded again."Sure. I'll leave now if you don't mind." Tohan grabbed his brown leather boots and laced them on tight. "Come on Kamuy!" He called, making Fa cringe slightly.

Kamuy came racing down the stairs making the noise of a stampeding herd of elephants and shedding long, white hairs as he rubbed up against the walls on his way down. Tohan cringed slightly too, it looked like snow in the house.

"Sorry about that mom, I'll clean it up when I get back, and take Kamuy outside to brush him."

Fa gave a pained nod, eyeing the mess, before Tohan and Kamuy stepped out of the arched doorway and into the long hall leading to the water's edge.

Being aptly named the Water City, all the houses in Furni were built on the water, or more specifically many channels of water flow. The clay of their dome-shaped houses kept them afloat, but was still heavy enough to anchor them. Tohan and Kamuy walked the length of the hall and came to the rushing channel at the end. Tohan spotted the family's gourd-shaped boat tied to its post to the far right. After ushering the large wolf into the boat, Tohan climbed in himself and untied the rope. The boat, that he had carved himself from oak wood, was large enough to carry four people, but yet sturdy enough not to sink under their weight, hence Kamuy could ride in the boat too. Tohan grinned to himself. He had always been a talented woodworker.

The current of the white water carried the boat smoothly out into the main channel of Furni. Tohan looked around himself as he reached for the paddle behind him. Furni was a beautiful city, with its dome houses in all in neat rows, and its calm, ever-winding water ways. The white clay of the buildings would catch the sun and the whole city would sparkle. The water below was just as beautiful. It was crystal clear and gave off a comforting blue tone. To the left side of the boat, Tohan could see a school of bright orange fish swim lazily by and a patch of lime-green seaweed sway as if being blow by the wind.

After paddling to the other shore of the channel, he and Kamuy jumped out of the boat and tied the thick twine rope to an empty wooden post. Tohan leaned over the boat and pulled out his axe, which he nearly always kept there. Shouldering the axe and humming to himself, Tohan walked up the steps of the landing and onto the trail leading away from the city to the timberline of the Evergreen Forest.

Upon arriving at the timberline, Tohan and Kamuy turned due east and walked a mile to an area of wood that the people of Furni had begun clearing. Stumps of the many trees littered the ground along with fallen trees themselves that had yet to be cleared. Tohan chose a large oak tree stump as his base for the cutting and pulled a large oak tree branch of a nearby tree towards him. Raising his axe high, he chose a section of tree branch to sever. With one swift strike, Tohan cleanly severed a large chunk of wood from the rest of the fallen tree. Eight more strikes later, Tohan grabbed the nearest chunk of wood and placed it vertically upright onto the oak stump he had chosen as his chopping base. With one hand near the blade and the other lower on the handle, Tohan pulled his axe back in a circular motion at his side and when the axe struck its target, it cleaved the wood mass into two halves of equal size.

Tohan repeated the process until he had but piece to go, when he heard an old, raspy voice call his name. "Tohan is that you?"

Tohan turned to see an old man, around age seventy, with a white ring of hair on his otherwise bald head. The man's thick facial features gave him a warm look. His deep chocolate brown eyes and the wrinkles on his face depicted his age, but in Tohan's opinion, they also made him look wise. As the scrawny, frail, old man drew closer to Tohan, Tohan returned the greeting.

"Hello fisherman Morris? What brings you all the way out here?"

Mitchel Morris, the biggest local fisherman in Furni, stopped a short distance from Tohan leaning heavily on an ash wood walking stick and breathing deeply.

Tohan frowned."Mr. Morris are you alright?" he asked in concern.

The old man waved his hand in the air dismissively and laughed, although his laughing soon turned to wheezing."Oh yeah, don't worry about me lad. It's just that this was a bit of a walk, that's all. My back's not so good you know."

Tohan sighed deeply "Well, what did you travel all the way out here for, if you don't mind me asking?"

The old fisherman smiled as he sat down on a nearby stump."Er, well, I came out here to gather firewood, actually, I ran out this morning. Fish don't cook themselves you know. I have to gather it now, because I'm afraid I am slightly too old to be swinging an axe nowadays. Quite a walk though. . . ."

Tohan shook his head. Poor old man Morris, he had no family left to take care of him in his old age. . . . "Hey, don't worry about it. I've cut some extra wood, and I don't see reason why you can't have it. I'll load it up and deliver it to you later tonight," Tohan offered.

Tohan could see the relief in old man Morris' eyes."Oh bless you Tohan, you're such a kind young man. I'm afraid I just don't have it in my old bones to do all the things my body used to be able to."

Tohan smiled. Helping others always brought him joy."I understand. Here, I'm going to load the wood," Tohan said, grabbing an armful of wooden halves."Kamuy! Here boy!" called Tohan, catching the white wolf's ears as he was running playfully along the timberline. The white wolf raced to Tohan's side gracefully and stood there calmly as Tohan grabbed a saddle bag and began packing the chopped firewood. Tohan tied the bag to Kamuy's side then returned to his pile and retrieved another armful of wood.

As he was packing the second saddle bag the old fisherman began a conversation."Say lad, how's your father doing?"

Tohan grunted as he lifted the heavy saddle bag onto Kamuy's other side. That was one good thing about Kamuy's horse-like size; he could carry a large amount of weight easily. Grabbing the third and final leather saddle bag, Tohan began loading the last remaining pieces before answering.

"Dad's been really busy lately, he hardly comes home before midnight anymore. The people are running him ragged."

"Well, yes, I suppose he is busy. Being the mayor isn't easy. . . " the old man said, oblivious to the sound that was occurring.

THUD. CRACK. Tohan immediately stopped what he was doing; in fact he was no longer listening to old man Morris.

The air that hit Tohan's skin allowed him to feel the thousands of vibrations that were abundant within the air itself. The vibrations were like ripples in a pond; they started out small and then grew larger with each passing second, making Tohan's skin crawl. THUD. THUD. His ears made out the distant sound to be moving closer, due to the fact that the sound was growing louder. Several minutes had passed and the sound was gone, but Kamuy had suddenly started to sniff the air frantically with the hair on the back of his neck standing on end. Strange, it's gone, Tohan thought to himself.

"Tohan, are you alright?" Old man Morris had stopped talking when he noticed the concentrated look on Tohan's young face.

"Something's wrong," he said quietly.

Then it hit him. . . The vibrations had gone, leaving an eerie silence in their wake. All the birds in the forest had stopped singing. Kamuy began to growl loudly and stepped in front of Tohan. The vibrations suddenly returned from nowhere, and more immense than he had ever felt them. It seemed that the whole earth was rattling. Upon seeing a nearby pebble at the toe of his boot jump on and off the ground, he came to the immediate conclusion that the earth was shaking. The young teenager heard another loud, but distant 'thud', followed by a much, much closer cracking noise. Tohan recognized that familiar sound, it was the splitting of wood.

His superb hearing instantly allowed him to pinpoint the source of the noise. The vibrations in the air began diving downward as Tohan turned around only to face the rapidly falling, fully grown, Birch tree that had cracked at the base. He and Kamuy were safely out of crash range, but the old fisherman was not. Tohan's mind was racing and so were his feet before he even became aware of his actions."WATCH OUT!"

The old man's only reaction was to continue to stare in horror at his impending doom. Tohan was less than four feet away from old man Morris, and directly in the swiftly falling shadow of the tree's trunk when his racing, fearful mind suddenly went blank and his muscles twitched. As if driven by some unreal instinct, he thrust his hands above his head towards the falling the tree and within moments, he felt the smashing of uneven, rough-textured bark on his bare hands. The impact was so great the bare force alone scraped the top layer of flesh from his hands. Tohan merely stood still as a rock for moments afterward that seemed like eternity. He wondered if he had been squished to death beneath the trees mighty weight, and if he was dead. A loud, pained scream caught Tohan's ears, bringing him back to reality.

His colored eyes darted to the source of the noise, old man Morris. The base of the tree had fallen on his left leg and it was now wedged between the tree and the ground right below the knee. Hearing Morris' screams made Tohan acknowledge his own pain. His severely burning hands were now dripping trails of scarlet red blood that were slowly running down the length of his arms. The teenager's whole body quaked uncontrollably as he fought with the pain in his muscles to continue holding up the tree, which was only mere centimeters from his face. His elbows were as far back as they could bend without breaking.

"Oh by Soa. . ." he gasped as he started to push the tree upwards painstakingly slowly, wracking his muscles for the strength not to drop his burden and kill them both, seeing as old man Morris' head was directly beside Tohan's left knee.

"Ah. . .Ur. . ." Tohan managed to push the tree halfway above his head, and then, with a final burst of inhuman strength and equally unmerciful pain, he rolled the trunk off his hand and tossed it aside.

From somewhere he couldn't see, Tohan heard Kamuy barking. Straight after his recent act, as if on cue, his entire body gave out and Tohan crashed in a disgruntled heap to the ground, his mind reeling again. What had just happened? How on earth did he manage to hold a tree, all by himself, that was over a thousand pounds in weight? Moreover, how had he managed to move it? It would take a whole team of foresters to move such a tree. . . . He had felt slightly stronger ever since the dreams started, but he never expected to be able to do such a task. In all honesty, he had expected to die.

"Ugh, my leg. . ." Morris cried out hysterically in utter pain.

Tohan's body was in too much pain to move, all the while the same body-smashing hurt also kept his brain from focusing. With the last ounce of his willpower he cried out,"Kamuy, come here!"

However, there was need for him to call, for the white wolf had come the moment he fell and was now whining as he licked the top of Tohan's hand.

"Kamuy, listen to me boy. . .go . . .get . . .Mr. Morris first," He gasped through gritted teeth. The enormous wolf didn't budge, only plopped firmly down beside his master and tried to nuzzle him. Tohan coughed, still trying to ignore the pain in his body. "NOW!" he breathed at last.

Tohan watched his furry friend reluctantly get up and walk over to the howling old man and pry his way under the old man's legs, hoisting him up onto his back.

"What. . .in blazes!?! AHHH!" Morris doubled over in pain again.

"Relax. . .he's . . .go . . .ing. . .to carry . . .us" Tohan panted heavily.

Once Mr. Morris had grasped Kamuy's neck fur in both hands securely and let his broken leg dangle off to one side, the horse-sized wolf trotted hastily back to his master. Tohan had to flop his arm fruitlessly repetitive times before he actually managed to fling it over the white wolf's shoulder blades. Tohan pulled himself up with everything he could muster, but was only hanging by his torso over Kamuy's back. Kamuy turned his head and placed his nose under his master's dangling left knee, hoisting him safely up. Once his master was safely on his back, Kamuy leaned down and grabbed the remaining saddle bag between his teeth and lifted it off the ground, leaving slobber in its place. Tohan managed a weak smile from where he lie, slung over Kamuy's mid-back next to the two black saddle bags stretched over his pet's flanks. Kamuy knew the bag was important. Tohan often believed that his pet had a mind that could rival a human's. He and Kamuy had always been able to understand each other as well, as if they were on the same mind wave-link.

Kamuy carefully cleared the timber grounds and broke into swift, smooth, and surging bolt. They had almost reached the edge of the wood with Tohan biting his lip, trying to ignore the pain, and Mr. Morris still shrieking in pain, when Tohan's ears caught wind of a loud roar that rattled the surrounding earth. . . . It sounded so distant, yet so near. . .Kamuy seemed to have heard it too, for he began to run even faster while turning his head back frequently to look at the timberline nervously, sniffing the air as he ran. The last thing Tohan could remember was another, louder roar, before the cold, black, numbness took him.

"Wha. . ." he managed to mumble like a whisper on the wind.

A cold mist was on the breeze that night as Tohan walked the familiar streets that connected the houses of Furni. As the eerie silence that was all too familiar to the night washed down the streets, Tohan caught sight of something odd. None, not a single one street lamp was on. Usually the streets were overflowing with lights. A shiver crept over Tohan's spine as the luminous full moon was suddenly devoured by the darkest film of clouds Tohan had ever seen. Tohan tensed immediately in reflex as any and all light was instantly absorbed into the darkness.

Pure, undisturbed ebony wrapped around the sandy-haired teenager. The streets, houses. . . The darkness engulfed them all of them too . . .Tohan began to panic, it was like he was blind in the darkness, the complete and utter blackness. Then, there was light, as bright as the sun itself. This light to Tohan, was like a single star in the sky and as it glistened, it cast a field of light, of vision. A large tower, unmistakably in Furni, because of the gleam of white clay, loomed before him. Tohan's sharp eyes followed the tower all the way to the top, the source of the light, where the blinding, resonating ball beckoned to him. He had no way to reach it, but he knew this building. It was the Harris' tower, the home of the Captain of Furni's knights.

Almost instantaneously, Tohan snapped around to the terrifying sight of towering flame. The light had disappeared, but the darkness too. Now when Tohan turned around again, all he received was a continuation of the same horrible vision. Furni, his home since he was born, was aflame, and not just in one spot. The whole town, every building, every crevice, and somehow even the water was burning. Buildings crumbled and caved in, people were running amok aimlessly with no place to go, women were wailing loudly and frantically, small children separated in the fray were hysterically shrieking in vain for their parents. . . .Parents. Tohan's thoughts immediately turned to his own parents. Up until now, he had been isolated from the fray. He had to get to his home and find his parents. Without thinking, he ran directly into the bustling, panicked crowd.

People brushed Tohan roughly on all sides, as they frailly attempted to escape the searing flames. Tohan could not even feel his feet as he ran, much less anything else. Oddly enough, he didn't even feel the heat from the fires as he ran through them. . . . Reaching his blazing home, Tohan immediately recognized that his parents, by the sound of their screaming, were trapped inside their flaming house. He snatched frantically at the door knob, but to no avail. It would not turn; it was jammed from the inside.

"MOM? DAD? MOM!?! DAD!?! CAN YOU HEAR ME? ANSWER ME!" the teenager bellowed in horror.

Teo nor Fa responded to him, but both continued to shriek in agony as they burned alive. . . Until all noises faded into oblivion.

"MOM! DAD! MOM! ANYBODY! Mothe. . . Da. . ."The teenager fell to his knees, his eyes dripping with tears, for he knew why no one within the house answered.

A loud roaring noise, so familiar, caused Tohan to look up although water clouded his vision. A large monster, one that looked like a five story, walking petrified tree, was using its branches as arms to rip houses off their foundations, and its roots like feet to stomp on anything that was obstructing its path. Another loud roar, like a sonic blast, issued forth from a gapping black hole in the creature's grey-black trunk, obviously its mouth.

"Oh Soa. . . ." he whispered in shock and dread, he had never this creature before. . .

Upon closer inspection, Tohan now came to a startling discovery. . . Small dots, almost like fireflies in comparison to the monster, were rocketing towards the city from the skies in volleys of 300 or more per five seconds. Tohan's heart gave another lurch. . . Fire Arrows. No wonder the city was aflame. Another ear-shattering shriek. But where was Captain Harris? The guard?

Another cry, and then a very eerie, yet powerful loud howl caught the young man's ears. His heart jumped and he was immediately running towards the monster, and the noise.

"It can't be. Oh Soa tell me that it's not!" Tohan gasped as he ran, despite the ache in his side and the arrows raining down all around him.

Tohan had come upon the path to the Evergreen Forest when he heard the cry again. He rounded the bend, and there, sure as day, was Kamuy, growling with teeth bared, fur raised, and dripping blood, that violently contrasted his snow white fur, from several deep gashes all over his body. Kamuy looked unbelievably primal and savage as the enormous wolf sprung into the air and was about to close his jaws around a strangely pale, blond-haired man.

"KAMUY NO!" Tohan shouted, but a moment too late.

A large, pale green ivy vine bolted out of nowhere and latched around Kamuy's entire body. As it continued to wrap around Kamuy, it also began to constrict, causing Kamuy to lose mobility and collapse to the ground without breath.

"That will teach you to fight alongside humans," came a high, arrogant voice, as a tall, pale, bluish-white toned man came out of the shadows, floating in "man" however, had a thin, lanky body, with a pointed face and high set, but smooth features which were framed well with his mid-back length navy blue hair. The moment Tohan saw his ears however, he understood why Kamuy had attacked him in the first place. Not only that, but Captain Harris lie dying beside him. Kamuy had tried to defend Harris.

The dark elf wasted no time at all in striding past Kamuy, who was still struggling in the vines, and snatching Captain Harris, a small, muscular man with a bushy beard and mustache, by the coif, and hoisting him into the air. The elf sneered as he drew a jagged kris from his belt and placed it to the Captain's throat."Now listen, pathetic human, and listen well. Don't let that Arane's death be for nothing. Where is it?!"

Captain Harris spat blood as he gasped, "I don't know what you're talking about, I swear . . . ."

The elf kneed him hard in the gut while still not relinquishing his hold on the old knight."I'M LOSING PATIENCE! THE STONE, THEY KEY, WHERE ARE THEY!"

He pushed the Kris menacingly closer to the old warrior's throat, so that the skin began to slightly ooze blood.

"I, I'll . . . Never tell you!" Captain Harris hissed defiantly.

The sinister elf began laughing cruelly."Then say good-bye to them," he cackled as three more dark elves, less authoritative in appearance, surfaced, each carrying a hostage. One held a small red-headed girl about six, who was screaming and crying in terror. The second held a teenage boy with equally carrot hair, and the third held a stern, middle-aged woman who snarled defiantly at her captor.

Captain Harris' eyes widened in horror."No! Please Don't! They're innocent! They never knew anything about it! Let my family go!" he pleaded to his elven tormentor.

Tohan heard the woman, Mrs. Harris, speak, but he wasn't listening. He had run to Kamuy and was trying desperately to free him. Suddenly he heard the tree-monster roar again, but this time it was far too close, he went temporarily deaf. His bones were being crushed; his body compacted, as he was violently shook from side to side. The creature had grabbed him. . . It was shaking him fiercely as he was brought to its horrible endless mouth. He began screaming, he was going to die. . .

"TOHAN!"

The boundless mouth that was his doom suddenly became refined as it became part of a round face, with pursed features and worried blue eyes. His mother, Fa, was standing over him, shaking him gently, trying to rouse him. Tohan could feel the heavy beads of sweat dripping down his face. He was panting heavily.

"Tohan are you alright?" Fa said almost in tears.

He could hear Kamuy whining from somewhere to his left."Mom?" he asked hesitantly.

Fa nodded slowly."Oh thank Soa you're alright! What on earth happened?"

Tohan lifted his head up, and at once wished he hadn't, because his head began to swim with pain. Straining to sit up, he noticed that he was lying on his family's red-leather couch, in front of the hallway door in the family room. The large fern on the side of the couch closest to the door tickled the side of his head as he sat completely up. His head began throbbing, and as he covered it in his bloody, bandaged hands, his mother ushered him back down.

"You're not well enough, Tohan. Please stay still. Oh what on earth. . ." she repeated.

"I already told you Fa, he lifted up that huge tree! Say, what have you been feeding the boy anyway?" asked a familiar old voice.

Tohan twisted his head and saw Old Man Morris sitting in one of the chairs of their oak-wood dinner table, his leg propped up on another chair beside him. An old, grey-haired man, almost Morris' age was standing over the old fisherman, holding a silver orb that was gleaming like a pearl. The light it gave off was being absorbed into Mr. Morris' leg and apparently healing him. The frizzled old man was the keeper of the local clinic, Dr. Zipra.

"Mitchel, you're still delusional, I'm afraid, but that was quite a nasty wound. . .there is no way Tohan could have lifted a two ton Birch Tree by himself! Doctor Zipra, can't you heal confusion too?" Fa asked.

The old man sighed without turning."One moment. . . .let me finish what I am doing first and then I shall give him a mind purifier potion."He seemed bored, like this kind of thing happened every day.

"I am perfectly fine, I assure you! Your son lifted that tree off me! I swear!" he persisted.

Fa sighed."Mitchel, there is no possible way in Endiness . . . ."

The entrance door swung open suddenly and smacked roughly into the archway. A thin, slender middle-aged man, with auburn hair streaked with grey the same as Tohan's in style and color ran through the open frame. He had a high set and gaunt face with sparkling green eyes, that first settled on Fa, then Mr. Morris, and finally on Tohan.

"I came as soon as I heard! Are you all alright?" he gasped, clearly out of breath.

Fa frowned, but then sighed."Honey, you know it's chaos when you leave work, but I'm glad you're home. We still aren't quite sure what happened yet. Mitchel came here with a severely broken leg and Tohan was unconscious, his hands were peeled raw, and both of them were riding on Kamuy's back. Captain Harris told the townspeople about a series of pretty nasty earthquakes that have been happening everywhere, just this morning. The boys claim to have been caught in that last one about an hour and a half ago. . . He also says Tohan caught and lifted a fully grown Birch Tree! The boy's head is hard, I'll admit, but that is impossible. Speaking of heads, I have a big headache. On a more positive note, Dr. Zipra says that Tohan and Mitchel are both going to be fine. Teo, dear, do you want me to go prepare dinner for our guests?" Fa asked with a tone half-full of fatigue.

Teo sighed."I guess that it's only proper. I don't want you to stress yourself though. I'm going to stay with Mitchel and Tohan to make sure nothing else happens".

Fa nodded her head slowly and walked to the stove. The graying Teo approached his wounded son on the couch. Tohan couldn't help but look up and smile softly."Hey dad. Sorry to make you worry."

Teo returned the smile."That's alright, I needed to get away from the office anyway. I'm just glad you're safe, kiddo. So, what happened out there anyway, or are you well enough now to tell me?"

Tohan sighed, he still wasn't sure himself."Uh, well, actually dad, I don't know," he replied with a goofy grin.

Teo chuckled."Well, I guess it doesn't really matter what happened, the important thing is that you, Mitchel, and Kamuy are all safe now. Can you stand?"

Tohan shook his head."I get too dizzy when I even try to sit. Hey dad, you're the mayor, do you know anything about what is causing all of these earthquakes?"

Teo shook his head in response."I'm not sure, son. It seems to be some odd disturbance in the Evergreen Forest though. Captain Harris sent four scouts out into the wood three days ago to see what they might discover, but they've not returned yet. They said it could take as long as a week for them to make their rounds, but we've had no word on any sort of progress. I'm beginning to worry. . . ."

Old doctor Zipra suddenly voiced his opinions."Well, if you want my opinion, I think that we've been lucky that no one's died yet. . . Mayor, these sudden, sporadic earthquakes are beginning to become a major concern for all of us in the city. Why, just yesterday, an earthquake caused a tidal wave in canal five. Poor Jake Gyiths almost drown," he said in his old, but steady voice.

Teo let out a long sigh and massaged his wrist."I know Keith, but I assure you, I'm doing all I can. I've ordered evacuations on places that have the greatest flooding dangers and sent them to Deningrad. I've dammed up some of the canals so that if they do flood, they'll be routed directly into the back-up system and channeled into the sea. On a brighter note, I've just received word from Deningrad about that library access treaty. . . ."

Tohan wasn't paying much attention after that. Kamuy walked over to the couch and laid his gigantic head on Tohan's midriff comfortingly. Tohan made a weak attempt to stroke his fur."Thanks boy. You did great today."

Dr. Zipra was eying Kamuy out of the corner of his eye as Tohan scratched his ears. "That's all fine and good Mayor, I'm sure it will be enlightening for all of us. . . Mayor, have you considered the possibility that it might have been the wolf that injured them anyway? I've noted that these wounds have similar properties to claw scratches, and furthermore, many of the animals in the forest have been acting savage again as well. Just like before. The wolf does have a record of attacks. . ." Dr. Zipra interjected accusingly.

Teo stopped in mid-sentence and turned to face Dr. Zipra with a hurt expression on his face. "Keith, you know Kamuy is tame! He'd never hurt anyone, especially not Tohan at any rate!" Teo said in shock that the old doctor would even propose such a thing.

Keith Zipra just shook his head."That was certainly not the case with Bulgus."

"That was over thirty years ago! And Bulgus was trying to KILL him!" Teo shouted.

Zipra continued anyway, despite the growing protests from Teo."Think about it for a moment Mayor. This wolf has previous records of attacking people it's close to," he titled his head towards Fa, whom was now staring at them quietly, "and it attacked a squad trying to rescue you and severely mauled Bulgus! It has proven incapable of handling changes like these in its environment. The thing turned savage the last time this happened. Who's to say that it won't this time? Not to mention, do you really think the boy would tell you if the beast attacked him? I mean, he defends the wolf as you did when you were young, with a loyalty seldom shown to the most deserving of humans. And to top it off, he can't even remember what happened. Think about it."

Teo was now shaking from head to toe with outrage. In an effort to keep from shouting again, he turned and clenched his fists. Tohan watched on in anger himself; he was angry with the doctor's unfounded accusations on his pet and on his honor."First, and don't forget this Keith, NEVER insult my son's integrity again. Furthermore, mine or my wife's. We have told you everything we experienced truthfully! Kamuy never attacked Fa! And like I said before, what Kamuy did to Bulgus was in self-defense, and in defense of me! I did warn him. . . that was also in the past, so don't ever bring it up again. And lastly, we've seen no change in Kamuy. We have no reason to believe anything will happen to him! The last time this happened the Divine Dragon was loose; I seriously doubt there are two of them, and I don't think it is coming back to life!" Teo said dangerously.

Tohan could not recall the last time he had seen his father this livid. From the tone in his voice, which he rarely used, to the expression in his body language, Teo was on the verge of snapping. Tohan's mother, Fa, was on the verge of tears.

Dr. Zipra grimaced at the sight of the fire flashing behind Teo's emerald green eyes.

"What about Mitchel? He was there too!" Teo insisted. Turning to the old Fisherman, Teo asked sharply, "Mitchel, what happened? Did Kamuy attack you?"

The old man seemed equally annoyed."I done told ya all! The boy lifted a darn huge tree that was about ta kill us both, and then that there pet carried us here!"

Teo's attitude softened."Mitchel, there is no way Tohan could have done such a thing."

"I agree," Dr. Zipra added slightly apologetically towards Teo, "Forgive me Mayor, I guess I am just subject to a doctor's fears. I'm going to give him a confusion treatment and then take my leave, seeing as I can't be of anymore use here. Send for me if you are in need of something else."Dr. Zipra forced liquid from a glistening lime green bottle down a protesting Morris' throat, bowed to Teo, and then, giving Kamuy one last suspicious glance, exited the house.

"I can't believe he had the nerve," Teo muttered at last, breaking the silence.

"Neither can I! I don't understand why he thinks I wouldn't tell the truth!" Tohan spat with lingering anger.

Mr. Morris sighed."Ah, Teo, Tohan, some people would rather continue to drag the past around. That's why we continue to repeat old tragedies. Don't worry; it will turn out well in the end. . . I mean, look at me, I lost my parents at age 15, spent most of my younger years getting into trouble, lost my wife to the war in Serdio, and lost my daughter to some good for nothing, only to find out they both died- they'd been killed by some gang. If that's not a hard life, I don't know what is, but look at me now, I'm alright. It just goes to show, that you can get through anything."

By that time, Fa had finished cooking their evening meal and was placing it before them.

"Thank you Fa, my dear, it looks delicious!" Morris exclaimed.

I ndeed, the smell of hardy steak, fresh potatoes, and buttery corn was enticing; however something still wasn't sitting right with Tohan.

"Tohan, are you hungry?" His mother asked from ten feet away.

His stomach was not exactly pleased with the offer."No, I'm fine mom, really. I think I'll try to go my room and lay on my mattress."

Fa looked concerned."Sweetie, are you sure you're well enough to walk?"

Tohan nodded slowly, he was feeling slightly better."I think I can manage," he replied reassuringly.

"Okay, but I wish you'd use one of the upstairs guestrooms, they're closer. My father did have this house designed with three."

Tohan shakily found his feet. He stepped out, almost falling again. He hadn't realized he was still that weak. Kamuy panted slowly, as he nudged Tohan back into balance by pressing his head against Tohan's back. With Kamuy's help, Tohan made it slowly up the stairs into the first bedroom to the left. The walls of the room had been painted a delicate shade of lavender and the whole room had small, blooming violets to adorn it. There were only three pieces of furniture to equip the room; a large cherry wood wardrobe, a dresser, and a four poster bed accompanied by purple satin sheets. This had once been his late grandmother's room.

Escorted by Kamuy, Tohan shakily made his way to the bed frame, and plopped down on the mattress. It wasn't long until a crisp knock on the door caught his attention.

"Tohan can I come in?" the middle-aged voice of Teo called.

"Sure dad," he called back.

Teo surfaced into view carrying a large, silver tray loaded with food. He took a seat after he sat the tray down close to where Tohan lay."You should eat. It'll help you return your strength," Teo suggested gently.

Tohan shook his head."For some reason, I just don't feel like eating."

"You know, your mother is worried sick about you. You usually eat as much as Kamuy," he laughed as he walked to the opposite side of the room where Kamuy was lying on the floor and ruffled his neck fur. Kamuy licked Teo's outstretched hand in response. Teo continued to pet him, but was now meeting Tohan's eyes.

"In fact," Teo began softly, "you and Kamuy aren't really that different, both free spirits that deserve to know something better than a cage of misunderstandings. You and Kamuy both have amazing courage and are equally gifted. Kamuy saved your dear mother all those years ago, and you saved Mr. Morris' life today. Although I daresay that both of you have done far more for people than just save lives. Why, I cannot recall a time that someone needed help and you two weren't there to help! They should be grateful you two were there, not shun you because you're different."

Tohan gazed up at his father softly, intently listening.

"I guess that the point is son, that your mother and I couldn't be more proud of you. No matter what people say, you still have the kindness and the courage to help them. . . That is true virtue, Tohan. I bet, and you can mark my words, that someday you and Kamuy will be some of the greatest heroes the world has ever known. Say, what's this?" Teo said as his fingers found a smooth, and gold-studded, white leather collar around the base of Kamuy's neck where he had been stroking.

Upon closer inspection, Teo noticed a large emblem the shape of a rising half-sun with its many fingers a deep russet color, in the middle of Kamuy's collar.

Tohan smiled."Oh, that's a collar I made for Kamuy. I bought the studs from Susie at the item shop, I got the leather from forester Gyith, and I got the center piece from May. She found it when she was cleaning out the Harris' attic. What do you think dad?"

Teo nodded his head, still examining the collar."By Soa Tohan, you are a fine craftsmen. Wood, leather, cloth, is there nothing you can't work with?" he asked in amazement.

Tohan beamed. Tohan caught sight of the stars outside the window behind his father, smiling all the while. However, Tohan's smile rapidly faded as he looked outside onto the city.

"Tohan, what's wrong?" Teo asked catching sight of his son's fearful expression.

"Dad," Tohan began slowly, "Why aren't any of the street lamps on?"

Teo turned to follow his son's gaze out the window. His expression became perplexed."That's odd, I don't remember receiving any memos about something like this, and I didn't order any such thing. And I don't think a case of bad weather could knock out all of the street lights."

"Then, you didn't order this?" Tohan asked quietly, with a feeling of dread creeping all over him.

"No. Oh relax, Tohan! I'm sure it's just a bit of --"

Teo was suddenly cut off mid-sentence by a sudden and intense movement of the earth. Teo was knocked off his feet as various furniture around the house could be heard smashing against walls and the floor, shattering into a thousand pieces.

"WHAT IN BLAZES?!?" Teo managed to shout above all the noise as the earthquake came to an abrupt stop.

Tohan opened his mouth to reply, but he was promptly interrupted by a loud noise in the distance. . .it was a sonic-sounding roar. . . ."OH MY GOD!" Tohan yelled out in horror, "Tell me I'm dreaming!"

Kamuy had jumped to his feet and now stood in front of the window. He began to growl violently as he stared out the window at something neither Tohan nor Teo could see. Teo turned to Tohan.

"Tohan, is there something wrong that you're not telling me, because now would probably---- AH!"

Another sudden earthquake rocked the house with a force so violent that even the foundations began to quiver. Teo flew forwards into the front wall, barely managing to brace for the impact.

Tohan experienced something similar. He did not know whether it was the sound of the roar, or the constant motion, but every bruise and wound on his body revitalized with renewed vigor, bringing him ample new anguish. He writhed in pain."Argh. . . ."

"Tohan are you alri--"

"AHHHHH!" Fa let out a bloodcurdling scream from far below them.

"FA!" Teo yelled at the same time Tohan yelled,"MOTHER!"

"Tohan, stay here, I am going to help your mother!" Teo cried out over the noise before making his way out of the room, but not without great difficulty.

Tohan grimaced. What choice did he have but to stay there? He could barely move. Kamuy was still snarling when Tohan glanced over to him. He was having trouble keeping his balance, and he was a wolf."What is it boy? Do you think it is. . ."

Tohan never got to finish his sentence because the next wave of lurching movement was so strong that he and Kamuy were both hurled out the second story window and onto the dark streets below. Kamuy, with his gargantuan weight, obviously fell faster than Tohan, and therefore he was able to use himself as pillow to cushion his master's fall. Tohan slid off Kamuy's back to a slump on the street, reeling in pain. Not a single scratch had ceased stinging and to top it off he now had several new and equally painful scratches from the broken window glass. Kamuy whimpered as he licked Tohan's face.

Tohan looked into those deep golden eyes as he felt the panting cease. Kamuy had turned his massive head away, with his nose in the air, sniffing the wind attentively. He growled and crouched in front of Tohan once more, as yet another earthquake rumbled the Water City. Tohan groaned from where he lie on the clay-paved street, he could feel every jerk of the earth, and something else as well. . . . Tohan didn't know what could be causing the strange missile-like vibrations that hit his skin from the air. The answer, blazing hot, suddenly embedded into the ground in front of him.