Chapter 4: Tenets
Thirty minutes passed since Legosi and the others decided to keep moving. They were able to stay out of sight thanks to a combination of their night vision and whatever was going on with Legosi's eyes. When they did run into someone, they either hid in the shadows or behind something. They were running down one of the corridors when Miguno suddenly stopped.
"I huff I don't know how much longer huff I can keep going," Miguno said as he tried to catch his breath.
"I'm sorry Miguno, but you have to," Legosi said as he ran over to support his friend. "If we stop now, they'll find us."
"I know, I'm sorry," the hyena said sadly.
"If only we brought some water." Durham said as he sat down on a nearby pedestal.
"Well it's not like we expected any of this to happen," Collot said he helped Legosi support Miguno.
Guys, I found a door!" Jack barked.
The two larger canines lifted Miguno up by his arms and walked over to Jack while Durham and Voss kept a lookout. They found a chair where Miguno could rest while they looked around. After sitting him down, the group was amazed by what was around them.
In that one room were countless historical items that would make any museum jealous. From ancient weapons to great treasures that could have been around for centuries.
"What is this place?" Collot asked in amazement.
"I don't know." Legosi said as he stared at the treasures.
"Durham, Voss, you need to come check this out!" Jack barked.
The two entered the room and were just as taken aback as their packmates. It was like entering a treasury that was filled with artifacts from all over the world.
"Damn! This stuff must be priceless," the coyote said as he walked up to a display of pirate cutlasses.
"But what's it doing here?" Miguno asked as he looked at what seemed to be a Viking banner.
"It's likely those animals brought them here, just like with that gold orb," Jack said as he examined what looked like a brass basket rapier from the Italian renaissance.
"Wait, you don't think they're smugglers, do you?" Legosi asked.
"Oh man! If they are, then we're in it deep!" Collot said with a shudder.
"We're not exactly smugglers, though saying we don't smuggle things at all wouldn't be accurate either."
Everyone froze. They knew who the voice belonged to, but dare not turn around to confirm it. They were about to try and make a brake for it, but were hit in their necks with blow darts.
Legosi, who was now on the floor, looked up to see T'Challa looking down at him. He watched as the panther crouched down and smiled.
"By the way, I knew you were there."
Were the last words Legosi heard before everything went black.
Legosi, who was starting to wake up, felt a splitting headache as he opened his eyes. When he tried to see what was going on, he realized he was in a small room and tied to a chair. He tried to gather himself, but he was still too groggy to keep any kind of focus.
Just then, the door opened. When Legosi looked to see who his new visitor was, he saw a black wolf in the same set of robes as the others came in, a serious expression covering his face.
"So you're the intruder the mentor told me about," The wolf said in a gruff voice. "Tsk, you're just a pup."
Legosi tried to speak, but didn't have the energy to do so. Even now, when his life was in danger, all he could do was try to stay awake.
The black wolf noticed this and let out a sigh before lifting up Legosi's muzzle.
"Looks like you're still under the effect of the sedative," he said as he examined Legosi's eyes. "I told those idiots it was too strong."
The older canine gently let go of Legosi's face before pressing his forehead to the younger wolf's.
Legosi, who was surprised by this, suddenly felt calm about the situation. His body relaxed as his heartbeat started to steady itself.
"Sleep now little wolf," the black furred predator said in a calm tone, his voice becoming almost hypnotic.
"One…" he said, his words echoing in the chamber.
"Two…"
Legosi's eyes got heavier as the older wolf's forehead felt like a much-needed pillow. Then, as if falling under a spell, the younger carnivore closed his eyes as he listened to the elder's soothing voice.
"Three," the robbed figure whispered.
And just like that, Legosi allowed the realm of sleep to take him once more.
"So, how's our guest?" a new voice asked.
"He's still too out of it to answer our questions," the black wolf said as he turned to the doorway. "I've told you time and again that you only need a little bit of the sedative because of how potent it is, Mentor T'Challa."
T'Challa smiled. "That may be so, but I'm not the one who sets up the darts brother Dai. Still, you're right about them using too much. His friends haven't even woken up yet."
Dai let out a sigh before crossing his arms.
"So what now?" he asked.
"I want you to continue watching him for now," the panther answered. "I've told the others to do the same with his companions."
"Very well," the black wolf answered. "May I ask what you plan to do in the meantime?"
"I will be getting everything ready for when they wake up and answer our questions. I'm not sure how they found their way here, but I don't think it was by accident," T'Challa explained.
Dai nodded to his superior.
"Before you go sir, I have one more question," the wolf said in a serious tone.
"What is it?" the panther asked.
"What are we going to do about their lives? All six of our intruders are nothing more than pups. Middle school pups if their uniforms are anything to go by. Surely the school will notice they're missing," Dai explained.
"You needn't worry, I've already taken the necessary steps to prevent such things," T'Challa said with a serious look on his face. "Luckily, it's only been about four hours since school finished for the day, so there's still light out. What's more, I had two of our brothers search their rooms, or rather, room."
"Room sir?" the black furred canine asked.
"Yes. As it turned out, all six of them share a dorm room. Now, usually this would be a cause for concern since an empty dorm room never looks good. However, our brothers took the liberty of creating body doubles for each of them. I highly doubt they'll be here through the night, but it's better to be cautious. For now, I have someone keeping an eye on things in case things get suspicions."
"So they live together," the wolf said with a thoughtful look. "Depending on what happens, that could either be advantageous, or extremely detrimental."
"Exactly, which is why I need everyone monitoring them," the black feline said as he turned to leave. "If anything changes, let me know immediately. And when you're questioning them, make sure to be gentle and use small words. I'm sure they'll be fine once they wake up, but it's safe to assume they'll still be under the sedative's effect."
"Yes, Mentor T'Challa."
Another two hours had passed before Legosi started to wake up again. His eyes were still heavy, but his head was a lot clearer than before.
"Wh-Where… am… I?" he said in a daze.
"It's alright young one, there's no need to rush things."
Legosi shook his head before looking forward. There, he saw that same black wolf from before sitting in a chair across from him.
"Y-You… weren't… dream?" Legosi barely said, clearly unable to form a coherent sentence.
"No, I'm not a dream," Dai answered before putting a hand on Legosi's shoulder.
The black wolf's voice was much softer than earlier, his hand promising safety and reassurance.
"Listen, I know you're confused right now, but I need you to try and focus. I promise to answer all your questions so long as you answer mine. For now though, I want you to take a deep breath and try to get your bearings. Can you do that?" he asked in a comforting, yet serious tone.
Legosi managed a small nod. He closed his eyes again, but this time, to focus on his breathing. He let out several deep breaths until he finally felt some semblance of clarity. When he opened his eyes, he was able to see and hear much clearer now, despite still feeling groggy.
He looked at the older wolf again and this time, he was able to see a lot more features. The wolf black wolf had burning orange eyes, a rugged and battle-hardened face, and a scar over his muzzle. He also had an air of dominance and professionalism that Legosi had never felt before.
If Legosi were to assign a word to describe the elder, it would be soldier. Yet, despite how intimidating he was, there was something calming about him as well. For some reason, Legosi felt like he could confide in the man without fear of judgment. Much like an old friend or someone he had a familial bond with.
"Looks like it worked," the black wolf said. "But I need to make sure."
Dai reached into one of the pockets his robe had and pulled out a small flashlight. He lifted Legosi's face and shined the light into the right eye, then the left. He then examined the younger wolf's face for any irregularities.
When he didn't find any, he moved on to the ears. After testing Legosi's hearing, the black wolf untied one of Legosi's arms so he could check the wrist for a pulse.
"Ok, so far I'm not seeing any side effects and it looks like your senses are back to normal," the black furred canine said before sitting back in his chair. "But are you able to talk?"
Legosi, understanding what the older wolf meant, tried to speak.
"Wh-Where… are… friends?" he muttered.
Dai narrowed his eyes. He got up and had Legosi open his mouth before using his flashlight to examine it.
"Throat's a little dry," the black furred canine said before backing away. "Hold on a moment."
Legosi watched as the stranger left the room. After a minute, the black wolf came back with a water filled paper cup.
Dai was about to give the water to Legosi, but when he noticed the younger wolf's arm was still free, he decided to try something.
"Hey, can you lift your arm up for me?" he asked.
Legosi looked down at his free arm before looking back up at his elder. He gave a quick nod and tried to move his arm. When he did, he realized how heavy it felt. Almost like someone tied a forty pound dumbbell to it.
"I was afraid of that," Dai said with a sigh. "I swear I'm gonna kill those guys later."
Seeing no other alternative, the black wolf brought the cup up to Legosi's mouth so he could drink. Once the younger wolf finished, he put the cup on the floor before returning to his seat.
"Hopefully that helps," Dai said as he scratched the back of his head, a look of frustration covering his face. "So, think you can talk now?"
"I… think so," Legosi answered, his voice finally back to normal.
"Good, then we can get on with the questions," the older predator said in a serious tone. "First off, who are you and how did you find this place?"
"My… My name is Legosi, and I came here because of something I saw on the club sheet," Legosi answered.
Dai's eyes widened at this. He had found the one, but decided to put it to the side for now.
"What about your friends? Can they see the same things you can?"
"No… they can't," Legosi said sadly before his ears jumped and he gave his captor a serious look. "Where are they?! Did you hurt them?! Please let them go!"
"Please, calm yourself," the black wolf said as he motioned for Legosi to lower his voice. "Your friends are fine. They are just sleeping since the sedative is still affecting them."
Legosi looked down as tears began to form. Hearing that his dormmates were safe made him feel like he just received a miracle.
"I'm… so glad. I'm so glad they're safe," the younger wolf said as he began to cry tears of joy. "I was so sure I'd gotten us killed. But they're safe. Thank you for telling me. You can do whatever you want with me, just please, let them go. That's all I ask."
Dai scratched his head. He honestly felt like shit for making this poor pup cry, even if they were tears of joy. For him to cry like that just showed how worried he was for his comrades. For Dai, someone who sheds tears for others is someone who is worthy of acknowledgement.
"After getting your answers, I can now promise you no harm will come to them," Dai said with a smile before standing up.
Legosi looked up at the older male with widened eyes. When he saw the smile, all he could do was cry even more.
Dai nodded at this and got up to untie the gray pup. Once he was free, Dai walked him over to the nearby bed where he could rest while the rest of the sedative made its way of Legosi's system. He was about to leave when he heard the younger carnivore call out to him.
"Wait, can you at least tell me who you are and where I am?" Legosi asked.
"I'm afraid I can't tell you just yet," Dai answered. "For now, get some rest while I speak with the mentor."
Legosi nodded before laying down. He was so happy that he was able to fall asleep without any bad thoughts whatsoever.
After another two hours, Legosi woke up feeling a lot better. He was able to stand up and stretch the same way as he does first thing in the morning. When he did, the door to the room opened and in came the panther from earlier, along with Jack and the others.
"JACK!" Legosi barked before tackling his childhood friend to the ground. "Jack! I'm so glad you're safe. I know that other wolf said you were safe, but I wasn't sure!"
"Legosi, I'm fine," Jack said with a small laugh. "We woke up about an hour ago."
Legosi looked up and finally noticed the others standing over them.
"You guys!" Legosi yelled as he stood up. "Thank god you're ok!"
"We're fine, we're fine," Durham said as he waved Legosi off.
"We still don't know the whole story, but they said we're free to go after we answered some questions," Collot said with a smile.
"Yea, but they wanted to show us something first," Miguno added.
"Show us something?" Legosi asked as he tilted his head in confusion.
"Well, show YOU specifically," T'Challa said, cutting the reunion short.
Legosi stiffened before turning to the panther. While he was grateful that the panther didn't hurt his pack, he was still weary of him.
"No need to be on guard young wolf," the black feline said as he motioned for Legosi to calm down. "I simply ask that you come with me."
Legosi nodded before following the panther out, Jack and the others close behind.
The six packmates were taken to a large room where there was a giant mural. They were in complete awe of the giant portrait and its contents. The mural showed animals dressed in the same robes as the panther and his group in some kind of epic battle. They were fighting other animals that were dressed in red and being lead by some kind of giant beings that were surrounded in a golden light.
"This mural… shows the true history of our people!" T'Challa said in a serious tone.
"The true history of our people?" Legosi asked.
"Tell me young pups, what do you know of our world or its history?" the panther asked as he turned to his guests.
"Not much," Durham said, still staring at the mural. "Just what we learned in class."
"Well, I know that in ancient times, carnivores and herbivores lived apart from each other." Jack barked. "When they met for the first time, the herbivores were terrified of the carnivores, but when those same carnivores protected the herbivores from a rockslide, they realized there was nothing to be afraid of. It's also the time when the carnivores had the strange instincts to protect the herbivores."
The panther shook his head.
"Well, I'm sorry to say that what they have taught you is a complete lie. The true history of our people is one of endless conflict. Though, it is not with each other, but rather our creators and those who follow them," he explained.
"Our creators?" Miguno asked.
"Yes, our creators," T'Challa answered as he motioned to the giant figures in the mural. "They were known as the 'Isu' and they existed long before any animal walked the earth.
"The Isu resembled hairless apes and their civilization was a thousand times more advanced than ours. It was even greater than the roman and ottoman empire put together. However, not wanting to do the work that such an empire requires, they created us animals to do all the heavy lifting for them. They treated us like pets or slaves and forced the first of our kind to be completely subservient to them."
"They did this using special treasures known as the apples of Eden. They worked by tapping into the hidden neurotransmitters in our brains the Isu bred into us."
"However, that all stopped when some Isu couldn't keep it in their pants and mated with their animal slaves. This mating created Animal/Isu hybrids that no longer had those neurotransmitters and therefore were immune to the apples of Eden."
"When they realized this, the hybrids started a rebellion against the Isu that lasted for many years. Thousands were lost on both sides, but the war came to an end when a giant solar flare hit the earth, causing a cataclysm that wiped out both sides. The only ones left were three Isu and a few animals that were scattered to the winds."
"Two of the Isu felt like this was a punishment for all the horrible acts they committed and decided to give the earth to us animals as penance. The third however, was an Isu supremacist and argued that this punishment wasn't meant for the Isu, but for us for daring to go against them."
"In the end, the two Isu sealed the third away because they knew the truth. That it was indeed their punishment since there were far more animals than Isu and for the fact that one of their own was still vindictive despite the tragedy."
"So, in order to make amends, they created more of our kind until the earth was filled with all the animal species we know of today. With their task done, the last two Isu sealed themselves away until a time comes when they may be needed once more, leaving everything to us."
Legosi and the others were speechless. Not only were such events never talked about, but it all seems too fantastical to be real. That is, until they remembered the golden orb that they saw that aardwolf gave T'Challa. It was the same exact object as what they saw the beings holding in the mural.
"S-Sir," Legosi said as he slowly raised his hand.
"Yes Legosi?" the panther asked.
"If what you said is true, why doesn't anyone else know about this? Also, what does any of this have to do with your group? I just… don't understand," Legosi whined.
T'Challa gave a comforting smile to the group before continuing.
"It's alright Legosi," he said in a reassuring voice. "I know this is a lot to take in, but please bear with me."
"You see, despite the wishes of the two Isu, the third Isu, a female named Juno, continued to meddle in the affairs of the animals, albeit in a more subtle way now that she is sealed. Even to this day she continues to bury into the minds of animals and uses them as her pawns."
"Wait, wait, wait, are you saying this Juno chick is still alive?" Durham asked. "How is that possible? You just said the Isu were around long before any animal."
"Simple, the Isu are immortal," the panther answered, causing everyone's eyes to widen. "The Isu cannot die, no matter how much time passes. However, even though they are immune to diseases and old age, they can be killed. The problem is that since she is sealed away, any attempts on her life are pointless."
"Um… Mr. T'Challa," Miguno said as he raised his hand.
"Yes, little hyena?"
"I'm a little confused about something. If Juno is sealed away, how is she influencing us? Also, does she need to be unsealed in order to kill her?"
T'Challa's smile grew wider. He loved it when someone would ask questions like this since they were interested. It made him feel like a real teacher.
"I'm glad you asked. You see, this is the part of the story where our group, as well as the organization we've been fighting for centuries come into play."
"First, let me tell you who we really are. We are 'The Hidden Ones'. We are those who live in the shadows of society and fight to protect the freedom of our people. We believe that we should be the ones to decide our own fates and that our ability to choose is what makes us who we are."
"Our enemies are known as the 'Templars'. They follow the teachings of Juno and believe that the free will we animals have is the reason why our world is in such a terrible state. As such, they search for the pieces of Eden in order to enslave us and have us serve Juno once more."
"Juno created this order by leaving clues or sending messages for certain animals to find. Animals she knew desired order above all else and who she could easily influence."
"They would rob us of our animality, destroy our futures, and sap us of our spirits. We, The Hidden Ones, vowed to never let that happen. We would fight and kill all those who would take away our freedom and our will."
The room went silent. No one could utter a single word after hearing such a story. None of the six canines wanted to believe it. They were hoping that all this was just a lie or some stupid conspiracy theory. Those hopes were dashed however when T'Challa pulled out the golden orb.
"I can see that you still do not believe me," the panther said as he held the orb up. "I don't blame you though, so allow me to rid you of those doubts."
The orb began to glow and when it did, Voss stiffened up before walking over and bowing to the black furred feline. T'Challa then gave the fennec fox several commands such as sit, beg, rollover, and other commands that were considered demeaning to a canine.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" Durham yelled.
"Please stop it," Jack barked.
Legosi was about to say something, but when he saw that Voss was about to lick the floor after T'Challa told him to clean it with his tongue, the wolf ran over and picked up his friend. He then glared at the panther, demanding that he release Voss immediately.
The dark furred carnivore nodded to him and forced the orb to stop, snapping Voss back to reality.
"I'm so sorry," T'Challa said as he bowed his head. "I know what I just did was inexcusable, but it was the only way to prove my words."
"Voss, are you ok?" Legosi asked, ignoring what T'Challa just said.
Voss explained that he was fine, but that he didn't remember any of what just happened.
"That thing in your hand, is that an apple of Eden?" Jack asked as he turned back to the panther.
"It is," the adult predator said with a nod. "And what you witnessed was just a small portion of its power. Should the Templars succeed, all of us here and those we love will become exactly what Voss was. Empty husks with no will of our own, bending to the whims of our masters. Whether it's to clean or fight to the death for their amusement, we will gladly do it with no questions asked."
"Why are you telling us all this?" Collot asked.
"One of you possesses the gift," T'Challa said before pointing to Legosi. "You, Legosi, possess the sight. That is why I ask you to join us, to join the assassins."
Legosi's eyes widened. When he first arrived, he wanted answers to what was happening to his eyes, but for it to be a sign that he was meant to be an assassin, how? Could he really be like them? Could he really kill someone?
As his head started filling with these thoughts, the wolf held his shaking arms. The world started to become dark as he imagined himself standing over a fresh body. He could hear his heart beating faster and faster as he began to grasp for air.
Legosi was sure he was about to throw up until he felt several hands on his back. When he turned his head, he saw Jack and the others standing beside him.
"Legosi, don't think for a second you need to go along with this guy," Durham said with a fierce look.
"He's right, we won't let them turn you into a murderer," Collot barked with determination.
"If these guys are all about free will, then that means they have no right to stop you from leaving," Jack said as he held Legosi's hand.
Voss tugged on the wolf's pant leg before putting up his fists as if he was preparing to fight.
"Your friends are correct," T'Challa said as he took a step forward. "I know the burden we bear is not meant for everyone and that just because you have the sight, doesn't mean we are your destiny. You are free to choose whether or not you stay or leave this place, forget about us and continue living your life."
Legosi looked to the side. Even though everyone says it's his choice, it feels like it isn't. It's as if whatever he chooses, he'll lose something important and his life will change forever.
He could return to his ordinary life, but what about the innocent animals who could suffer because he did? He could stay, but what about his grandfather? What would he do if he found out his grandson was a killer or worse, died while on a mission? And what about Jack's family? If he stayed, he could protect them, but would they even want an assassin doing that? He just didn't know.
"Legosi," Jack said worriedly.
The others all called out to him as well, but Legosi wouldn't answer. They tried shaking him a bit, but still got no response. It was only another minute of silence that the wolf finally spoke.
"T'Challa," Legosi said as he clenched his fists before looking up at the panther. "I… I want to join you. Please make me an assassin."
"What!" the rest of the pack barked.
"Legosi, you can't be serious," Jack said in a worried tone.
"Come on man, if this is a joke it's not funny," Durham growled.
"I want to join too!"
The room went silent once more. When everyone turned their heads, they saw Miguno taking a step forward.
"Sir, I don't have this sight thing Legosi has, but if you'll let me, I want to join," the hyena said in a tone so serious, everyone thought he was someone else entirely.
"Miguno, what are you saying?" Collot asked. "You wouldn't hurt a fly, you and Legosi. You two are the most passive out of all of us, but now you suddenly wanna become killers, why? This isn't some game you know."
"I know that, and so does Legosi!" Miguno yelled. "I know what I'm saying is stupid, but we just saw what those people could do if they find those apples! My mom and dad, your family, everyone gone! I… I don't want that!"
"Yea, but-"
"He's right Collot," Legosi said with the most determined look anyone had ever seen the wolf make, including Jack. "If it really was up to me, then I probably would just leave, but I can't."
"This isn't just about me, but about everyone I love. I can't just stand by when I know there's something I can do to protect them. I'm scared, don't get me wrong, but I'm even more scared of one day waking up and seeing my grandpa and Jack's family as slaves."
"In that case, count me in," Jack said, getting everyone's attention. "Legosi is my best friend, so you can be sure I'm not just gonna sit back while he risks his life."
"Are you sure about this Jack?"
"Of course, we always have each other's backs. That's the promise we made after all. Besides, you'd be way too lonely without me around," Jack said with a laugh.
"I don't know about that," Legosi teased as he stuck his tongue out.
T'Challa let out a small chuckle at the sight. Seeing just how devoted these two were to each other made him glad to know there were still animals out there who were capable of such comradery.
The panther then turned to Voss, the fennec fox nodded to him, signaling that he was going to join as well. When he turned to Collot and Durham however, the coyote just let out a sigh.
"Fuck it, I'm in!" Durham said with a deadpan face as he put his hands behind his head. "It's not like I had a lot of plans beyond sports and if I was gonna do something with my life, being a badass assassin doesn't sound too bad."
"You guys are insane," Collot said as he shook his head and put a hand to it. "Then again, I hang out with you, so that makes me insane too. So yea, I'll join too, if for no other reason than to keep an eye on these idiots."
T'Challa let out another chuckle before nodding.
"Then let us proceed," the panther said with a smile. "Everyone, begin the initiation."
A few minutes later, the group was in another room with a fire caldron in the center. Standing next to it was T'Challa and several other assassins.
"Today, we welcome six new members into our brotherhood," the panther spoke in a commanding voice. "Today, our family grows and with it, the strength to protect the freedom of animality. For decades, our kind has gathered around this fire, fighting off the darkness. Now these young souls have made the decision to join that fight."
"Listen now to the tenets of our order, for they will guide you," T'Challa said as he turned to Legosi and the others. "One, stay your blade from the flesh of the innocent. Two, Hide in plain sight. Three, never compromise the brotherhood. Do you swear to live and die by these tenets?"
"We do!" the pack members said simultaneously.
The mentor nodded to them before asking them to present their left ring fingers. When they did, T'Challa pulled out a branding iron from the fire. The canines gulped, but kept their fingers out. It hurt for a moment, but when it was over, all six of them had the arrowhead symbol on their fingers.
"From this day forward, Legosi the gray wolf, Jack the labrador, Collot the Sheepdog, Durham the coyote, Miguno the hyena, and Voss the fennec fox are dead! In their place, six new assassins are born into the world. May they know our creed."
"Nothing is true, Everything is permitted!"
