Sanctuary

Ch.2

Not far off from the inn, a young woman observed in a small, secluded ally as her skin tanned from long exposures to sunlight. Her natural wavy, blonde hair fell to her shoulders, but was pulled into a high pony-tail with few stands framing her face. Soft, grey-bluish eyes watched from her hiding spot in the shadows of the buildings as the inn keeper and his wife made their way inside. Normally she wouldn't appear in town dressed in her village robes, but today was an exception. Once the area was clear and the town began to quiet for the afternoon, the young woman quietly snuck out of town, her garments swaying in the wind.

Once out of the town's borders and into the safety of the trails, the young woman began to relax. As she breathed deeply into the cool mists and scents of earth, the young woman recalled the events from earlier. It was a normal day when she found the hiker, who wanted to explore outside of the trails. Luckily for him, the woman was already on her way back from Trost by the river. Normally her brother would have left those wandering lost in the forest, but the young woman couldn't have blood on her hands. She opened her eyes and took in her surroundings of the forest, and simply stood in comfort of being home.

Suddenly a hand grabbed her from behind, and she was met with piercing black eyes and a burly man towering over her. Most people would have been terrified at the encounter, but the woman recognized the black dreads and sides burn on the white man's face.

"Kaian Braun!" The man growled, as he clutched her forearm, "Where have you been! I've been out looking for you!"

Kaian winced at the touch and looked at him, "Xaldin, I'm sorry! There was this man-"

"Don't tell me another hiker fell," Xaldin interrupted and began to soft his grip. "You're lucky the damn pyro and I noticed your little stunt, otherwise I would have left you out here for humans to snatch you!"

"Uncle Xaldin, that wasn't the case!" Kaian tried to explain as she pulled her arm out of the grip. With pleading eyes, she continued, "The man slipped on the slopes on one of the rock trails and fell near Gorger's Path. " Kaian looked down at the ground and muttered softly, "He would've bled out if I wasn't nearby."

"He might as well be dead given the state of that head injury" said another voice as a tall, white skin redhead appeared towards the two. "You've just wasted an afternoon rescuing a lost soul."

Xaldin and Kaian glared at the newcomer "Always putting your two cents in Axel." Xaldin grumbled and with a second pause, grabbed Kaian's arm and lead them both towards the village. "Both of you are lucky I don't rip your heads open."

"Lay off, Xaldin," Axel scoffed walking behind the trio. The redhead narrowed his eyes as a grin slowly appeared on his face. "Even if you did, that would be a risky move, as two of us are so valuable in the village."

"Two of us, Kaian and I. "Xaldin finished, shooting over a dark grin, "You just happened to stumble upon us and we took your sorry ass in." Axel gave the other man a dark look and slinked further back. Kaian rolled her eyes and reached with her other hand to grab the redhead. Axel took hold of the offer and soon the trio walked together in a line.

Kaian looked at the dark haired man's back, "That's not true Xaldin; everyone has a place within our village, whether we were born, or found our way in. What matters is how we function as family, no one is left behind" The other man tossed his head back as Kaian talked, but his features soften over her last words.

"You are your mother's daughter, speaking in words like she does." Xaldin said. Kaian blushed lightly at the comment and laughed. "My mom does know what she is talking about! After all, she tells me what life was like living with humans!"

Axel at this point picked up the pace and was soon walking alongside the group with the eldest man leading them. "I thought your mother grew up here?"

"Evangeline was born into a small pack that was pushed out of their home due to developments." Xaldin explained "Luckily her family settled in a small town near the South and grew up as a human."

"But kept her dynamic roots." Kaian added, the village entrance appeared not too far off. "Mom wanted to take us and visit her town one day, and to see where she lived." Her eyes looked ahead as her gaze fell somber. "Now we're not so sure if we can." She slowed down her pace causing both men to look behind them. Axel, being one of the recent members at first didn't understand until the elder man walked back. Xaldin placed an arm around the youngest member and gave her a soft smile as she looked up. Xaldin squeezed her side and walked alongside her towards the approaching entrance.

"Your mother is a strong woman." He said, as he motions Axel to walk ahead, "Cancer is a hard illness to fight once, the remission only shows you just how strong your mother is."

"I know, but…" Kaian trailed off and reached into her brown bag, revealing a small bag of dark green. "Dr. Vexen allowed me to have a written letter to get this," she lowered the contents into her bag. "The pharmacy said that it will help ease her pain from the treatments…this time around."

"That stuff will help," Xaldin agreed. Soon the trio reached the entrance and once checking in with the guards, entered the village Oblivion.

The Village of Oblivion is a secluded section located on private government property of the Preserve. Humans are not allowed to venture and the road leading up the village is not shown on maps. Only certain exceptions are allowed access to visit the village by car. All other routes are made by river, where dozens of boats rest alongside.

The village is like Midgrid; the only difference is that houses are built by hand, and the only landlines used are found in the council's huts. The mountains, now in closer view than in Midgrid, ground themselves in gander. Young pups are in awe every morning as the sun reaches the mountains. Oblivion is tucked by the river, with the mountains providing protection far off from wandering drones, planes, and any passerby that try to sneak in. While there is protection in keeping strangers out, it is not frowned upon for the villagers to venture towards human society. People like Dr. Vexen, have taken work in the larger towns, and their new knowledge has helped their own village adopt new ways without destroying tradition.

Kaian watched as Axel rushed off his farewells and venture to find his own friends, whereas Xaldin leads her towards the centre square. The square is mostly a common area, like Midgrid, but most of the gatherings happen. The Elder's council resides nearby the square for better access to the people. The square provides places for festivals, meetings, and a map for members to walk towards others' homes that borders of village.

Soon enough, they passed by the square and up towards one of the largest huts, the council. Inside, Xaldin led Kaian in, and together they were greeted by the Elders of the village.

The elders are the older generations of men and women who have led the village in their own times. These positions are high and powerful and help the head alpha on their leadership on the Village. This is where she came upon her guardian, the council, and head alpha.

"Thank you, Xaldin," the head alpha, a man named Xemnas spoke gently, with his lead omega right beside him, "I see that young Kai has been brought safely home."

"Another hiker tried to find our route to our village, Superior," Xaldin explained nudging Kaian in front of him. "This one found him and brought him down the slopes, but a search was made because she left the village without notifying anyone." Kaian just nodded in agreement and looked down, flinching at the truth while her guardian walked up in front of her. The man, scarred on his face and glaring yellow eye, looked at her in distaste before ruffling her hair with his scarred arms.

"What can I say Dilan!" The man with black hair and grey strands on his head laughed. The man gestured towards the other with his former name, "She's just like her mother, stubborn yet always wanting to help people."

"Xigbar, or should I say Braig, you of all people shouldn't take this lightly." replied Saix , the lead omega in the village and the mate of the head alpha, "As a guardian you need-"

"With all due respect here, Moonbutt," Xigbar interrupted, "nothing was done wrong, no one got hurt, the village is still safe, and!" He turned towards the higher ups, "We rescued a human, so in turn that should actually strengthen bonds with Midgrid."

Saix growled at the disrespect from the lesser status and began to step forward to show the man who he was dealing with, but Xemnas touched his mate in reassurance. Saix's blue hair tampered down and his x-shaped scar on his face began to relax while one of the elders bean to speak. "Xigbar is right, the village is safe and the human has been brought safely back; however, there are concerns with you Kaian." The woman in questioned looked up at the mention of her name, "You are legible to partake in the reaching of age ritual, but your dynamic instincts are lacking."

"The council believes that while your actions have been heroic," Xemnas continued, "you are still at risk of sudden transformation. In a normal setting such as ours, dynamics shift and change at an early age, gaining heighten sense, speed, recovery, and strength. This allows dynamics to train and have control over them by the time the coming of age ritual comes." He walked closer to the young girl and Xigbar and Xaldin attempted to shield her, but were dismissed in doing so by the head alpha. Kaian stood frozen still, unsure of what would happen.

Xemnas's tanned hands reached out and caressed Kaian's face before lowering down. With a stoic expression, he stated, "However, soon you will be an adult during the ritual despite that none of your instincts are at the level they need to be at for a young dynamic." He looked sharply at her uncle who glared in return. "Surprising how the young child of Evangeline has shown promise in our pack, yet her brother has regressed."

"Don't bring Gabriel into this," Xigbar said, "the boy will present!"

"Late bloomers have been known to happen," one elder spoke, her wrinkled hands gestured outwards. "But there are concerns when a man reaches twenty-two and has not yet even presented a dynamic status."

"We are still researching if there are any unknown illnesses within the family, Xigbar." Xemnas added "Hopefully we will be proven wrong."

Kaian hasn't spoken out of turn in the hut, but given the mention of her family, Kaian couldn't stay quiet for long. "With all due respect Sir," Xemnas nodded at her to continue, "My brother hasn't been well, given of the state of my mother." She back and submitted to show her respect towards the head alpha.

Xemnas gently smiled "My dear, most of our members have cross paths with violence, and yet all have overcame the battles, ones struggling to burst from within themselves. Gabriel has yet to open his inner self and come to grips with the circumstances."

"That may be the case, but also note that Evangeline, their mother, has fallen ill near death's door." Xigbar growled and placed himself in front of Kaian as a shield. "My sister's health isn't well." He glared at his alpha, "That itself will suppress anything."

As soon as Xigbar placed himself in front of his head alpha's space, his mate, Saix, quickly rushed upon and growled. Both men stared down each other but Xigbar, as a man of little stance, backed down in submission to the lead omega. "Stand down, Alpha." Saix demanded. "You know better to speak to your superior than that." Xaldin quickly grabbed the scarred man and pulled him back before the blue haired man could snap.

"Thank you, Superior," Xaldin said, nudging Xigbar to say the same. Kaian repeated the line and bowed. Xemnas nodded his head as a sign of dismal and the trio bid their farewells. Once out of sight, Saix looked at his mate. "The rituals of adulthood are upon us." The elders nodded in agreement and one with a soft tone replied. "There we will see if our theories are proven correct." Xemnas only nodded and guided his mate out of the council hut. With his own bows, deeper in order to show respect to the highest group he said, "No dynamic can resist the rituals, we will watch and observe. In the lightest sense we will keep our pups within the village."