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10. –A weapon of the wolves

I stared at Dorran dumbstruck.

Your…..brother? I stuttered. Not that I wasn't happy for him that he had family left, but I had thought we were both orphans.

Finding out that he still belonged to something made me feel apart from everything else.

I swept my gaze down to the dust layered floor.

Dorran, too busy talking to his brother and leaving me out of the conversation, did not notice the feelings of despair and loneliness rolling off of me in waves of emotions.

I suddenly had the hair-raising, spine-tingling sensation of someone watching me.

My head shot up only to be met with the worried gazes of Dorran and Faolan who had ceased their little heart-to-heart discussion to just stare at me abruptly.

I looked at them, annoyed. What? I snapped at the two brothers, unable to hide my discomfort.

What's wrong with you? Dorran asked gently into my mind only, leaving out Faolan.

I shook my head to show that nothing was wrong, I'm fine, now are you going to introduce me to your brother or not? I thought back, angry from being left out.

He grinned and turned to face his wolf brother, feeling guilty for not mentioning me earlier.

Faolan, this is Kalanie, she found me and stayed with me while I died. Faolans eyes turned from staring at me to stare at his brother, huge sapphires wide and alarmed.

Wait. You died? His gruff voice resounded in our minds with so much force that my vision blurred for a second as my brain seemed to rattle in my skull.

The brown wolf saw me wince and muttered a quick apology, his voice now soothing, decreasing the risk of me getting a headache.

I smiled gratefully at him then we both turned to Dorran, me wondering how he was going to explain to his brother who was thought to be dead how he, Dorran, had actually died.

Not here, we must find somewhere safe to spend the night then I shall tell you brother.

I snorted with disappointment, I had really wanted to hear his whole story from the beginning, but I guess that would have to wait until we were out of the destroyed village.

Dorran sensed my displeasure and motioned with his tail for me and Faolan to follow him out the door that I was standing in front of.

As he padded passed me he gently brushed his muzzle against mine to comfort me, knowing that I was extremely miserable after all that had taken place today, mainly the death of my grandmother. It hurt my heart to think of her, lying deep within the diamond tomb we had encased her body in. Her sightless green eyes closed, never to be opened again.

Without my knowing, a single glistening tear slid down from my silver eye, traveling the length of my long nose, the dripping off and making a solitary clean spot on the dirt-ridden floor. Reminding me that I was now alone in the world, even among thousands of other creatures.

I sniffed then followed Dorran out the doorway, Faolan trailing behind me. My tail drooped as we picked our way through the rubble, not caring when the shattered glass, or splinters stuck into my paw pads.

Anyway, pain is just an illusion of the mind that stops us from killing ourselves.

The choking smoke had cleared a bit so we were able to see ahead of us without things just suddenly appearing out of the gloom in front of us.

Even though it was dark, our wolf eyes could see everything in perfect detail. Thinking of us as wolves started to make me wonder how Faolan could be one too.

After all, he hadn't touched the egg when Dorran was dieing.

But then, was it the egg that had given us the power to morph into a wolf in the first place?

I thought back to the dream I had had the night before Dorrans appearance.

I had convinced myself by now that the black creature had indeed been Dorran in wolf form, unless he could shape-shift into another huge and furry creature, which, even if he could wouldn't surprise me.

So he had been a wolf before the dragon soul had gone inside him. Now that I thought of it like that, how could a dragon soul give someone the ability to turn into a wolf in the first place?

As I mused all of this information over, I wasn't paying attention to where my paws were treading and suddenly searing pain shot up my left forepaw.

I yelped in surprise, then when the feeling registered I couldn't contain myself as the sensation of blazing agony traveled up my leg. I howled as only a wolf could and my head shot down to see my now-crimson paw.

I clenched my teeth and as carefully as I could, slowly inched my injured foot off of the thing that had sliced it open.

After hearing my wail, Dorran and Faolan rushed over to examine my paw.

What happened? Dorran yelled, angry that I had hurt myself. I didn't like him shouting at me.

"I'm fine!" I barked back at him, taking him by surprise. Faolans eyes were as round as um, dinner plates as he stared with his mouth agape at me, looking like I had just sprouted antlers out of the top of my head.

You…you can talk normally while in wolf form? He stuttered at me, his gaze never leaving mine.

"Of course I can." I snapped back at him, with a little more force than I intended.

He shook his head as if to clear it then looked over expectantly at Dorran.

The huge black wolf shrugged his muscled shoulders and obviously said something into his brothers mind because the deep sapphire eyes sparkled with intelligence at whatever his sibling had told him.

Faolan nodded in understanding and looked back at me.

Let me see your paw then, he said cheerily into my head.

I closed my eyes tight and with one sharp heave, managed to yank my pad off the sharp thing. I hissed through my ivory, dagger-sharp teeth and let out a small cry of pain.

I glanced down at my wounded foot and through all the dark red blood, saw the shining silver blade of a sword that seemed to glow in the moonlight.

The worrying thoughts of my damaged foreleg instantly jumped to the back of my mind as I looked down at the beautifully crafted weapon.

Dorran, is it alright if I morph while my foot is in such a state? I questioned him, suddenly excited.

Yes, he replied, it may even help in the healing.

Curious, I asked, how so? Do wolves heal faster than humans or something? I was truly interested now; after all, my whole life had revolved around curing the wounded.

Sort of, he replied hesitantly. I could tell he hadn't wanted me to know that yet, although why I knew not.

I left the conversation at that though and shrugged it to the back of my mind. I would ask about that later.

I stood slightly back from the boys and once again thought of my grandmother.

Tears instantly sprang to my eyes, but I pushed them back and concentrated on shifting into human form.

Almost immediately the thick, silky fur was absorbed into my body.

My bones shortened, as did my snout, claws, and spine.

My wolf-ears slid down my head to resume their normal position, now smaller and curved.

My neck contracted and I was able to stand upright once again.

When I had transformed back into my human form I bent down and picked up the now-bloodstained sword.

It was surprisingly light and reminded me of the dagger that was now tied securely to Dorrans belt which he had given me to attach the dagger to.

The sword gleamed stunning silver, as if the moon itself were trapped inside.

Adorning the hilt was a complex series of patterns, each individually forged with the uttermost care and precision.

The weapon was elegant, or as elegant as any weapon could be. It was as if the elves had made it in their smithies hidden deep within Grimshaw.

The figures of wolves ran the length of the blade, the detail so astounding that you could see every individual hair on each wolves hide.

The beasts looked as if they were dancing, but as if ready to fight at the same time.

Images of the moon obscured the entire sword, each with it own unearthly beauty that was intensified as the rays of moonlight broke through the thick cover of the smoke and enveloped the blade in all of its supernatural magnificence.

The hilt fit my hand perfectly, as if it had been specifically forged just for me.

I swept my gaze from the weapon with difficulty and glanced over at the two brothers. They were both staring at me with their mouths agape.

But they were not staring at my face, no, their gem-like orbs were locked onto the jewel at the end of the hilt.

It was a glowing sapphire, beautiful in contrast with the silver blade. But as I watched, my finger gently swept over the precious stone, and as it did so, turned the crystal from sapphire to diamond.

It happened the same as the grave, with liquid silver flowing across the glimmering blue surface, turning all in its path to a sparkling star.

I stared at it in awe; its exquisiteness was astounding, as if the heavens had been sucked inside that one gem.

I turned to the boys again, only to see them exchange looks then slowly pad towards me.

Even in wolf from they were taller than me. If I had been any other person I would probably have fainted by now, but of course, with me being so far from average, I was accustomed to the height.

They both sat on their haunches and looked deep into my eyes.

Kalanie, do you know what this sword is? Dorrans mind echoed quietly around my head.

"I know not." I replied, mystified by their behavior.

It is a weapon of the wolves, and I am very curious to know as to why it was bestowed upon you.

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