Chapter uploaded: July 12th, 2023
Last edited: July 10th, 2024
A/N
Hello, AzureDragonZX here, once again.
And… Persona 3 Reload. It actually happened… Persona 3 is getting a remake!
This changes things for me. Not only do I have a potential new FGOAT to look forward to, but I may have to revise this story's overall outline. Believe it or not, the trailers have already destroyed some headcanons I had developed, affecting some existing chapters even! I don't know if I'll prioritize Reload's narrative once it gets released, as I'm 95% certain I'll still prefer the movie quadrilogy's interpretation of the P3 story in the end, but it'll be something to consider.
Now if only The Legend of Spyro trilogy got a remake/remaster…
But I digress. As you can see… I got carried away once again. What started as a second half to CH4 evolved into my (currently) longest chapter yet!
I hope you all enjoy.
More Than One Heart
Chapter 5 - Living with Determination [Part 2]
Sapphire stood still as she watched her older brother vanish into the night. It was odd seeing Sirius so unnerved, and it made her worry. She trusted his judgement, however. He must have realized something important related to both Terrak and the rogue.
A low groan from behind brought her attention back to said cloaked figure. Makoto, still draped over her back, was beginning to wake up. Knowing how difficult and dangerous it could be to move with her escort fully conscious whilst also unaware of his current state, she decided it was best to set the young man down.
Deep down, she was happy to see that he hadn't given in to his injuries or fatigue and was still trying to fight, but his aura was glowing very dimly. She couldn't risk him fading on her now. She had to act as his support.
"Are you still awake?" she tried asking him gently, to which he slowly opened his eyes and looked back at her.
"Mm… Barely." Makoto spoke in his native language, forcing the words out as best he could. The wolfess tilted her head and drooped an ear in confusion.
"I… don't understand."
'That's right… English,' the human thought to himself. He wasn't in Japan anymore.
He sighed in annoyance. The barrier keeping them from simply talking to each other was a nuisance… The wolves, whether it be due to an accent or how their vocal cords were shaped, sounded distinctly different from humans. Even now, he noted how strong and bold the wolfess' voice was compared to an adult woman's, even if she wasn't angry.
Makoto repeated his comment slower using the more well-known language and even tried lowering his pitch in hopes that it would be easier for her to discern his words. His Japanese accent was still apparent, but fortunately, she was able to follow along.
"So, you are able to speak Universal," Sapphire noted. "It will be difficult, but knowing that we can communicate is a start."
"Where… are we?" he asked, his head still a little groggy. Panning his gaze around, Makoto saw that they were still outside in the early hours of the morning, exactly where he remembered fighting the ape creatures. But his memory of what happened next was a blur. The wolfess crossed her arms and answered him.
"Still outside the city entrance. Everyone else left shortly before you woke up, but the ape menace is gone." An earnest grin appeared on her face. "Mostly thanks to you."
The gratitude in her voice went unnoticed as he changed the subject once again, still looking around the forest in mixed awe.
"What… now?"
"I wish I could give you an easy answer," she hummed in contemplation, "but our alpha left without elaborating. All I know is that he wants to speak with you, and it's urgent."
"All… right." Makoto instinctively began to walk past her, having a good idea of where they needed to go, but he stopped moving when a steel grip on his shoulder held him back.
"We're not entering the city directly; there's somewhere else we have to head. And you're in no condition to walk the rest of the way," she growled.
Makoto's eyes widened in confusion and surprise. Even if she hadn't raised her voice, there was a definite firmness in her tone. And when combined with her glare, it made him instinctually want to obey her orders.
Sapphire took a step closer and, without removing her paw, knelt down to look him in the eyes. Her expression softened but kept its serious intensity.
"I need you to trust me for now," she pleaded. "Can you do that?"
Even ignoring how tired he was, Makoto probably wouldn't have objected. The wolf clearly knew what she was doing, likely having lived in these woods for a long time.
"Mm… Okay."
She smiled warmly and stood up, gently scooping the human into her arms and placing him onto her back once again.
"Why do–" He didn't finish before she leapt into the air and landed on an overhead tree branch. Against all odds and reasoning, he somehow didn't slip off.
Makoto stared at the wolfess in shock. Her movements just now were seamless and instantaneous…! Sapphire saw his stunned expression and giggled, thinking to herself that he must not be familiar with her kind.
"Don't worry. Everything will be all right."
The young man wasn't used to having to rely on someone else like this. But in his moment of weakness, the protective gesture made his heart flutter. She was asking him to trust his life with her, and while he couldn't describe why, he felt safe in her care. Bathed in the blue light of the combined moons, the wolf ninja was nothing less than an angel to him.
Readjusting her grip, Sapphire took off through the treelines, following after Sirius.
Like how Makoto was able to 'teleport' in short bursts, the wolves seemed capable of something similar. Every movement was so swift and precise that they could be mistaken for walking through the air. Being a spectator, he got to see the world blur by from a perspective that he wasn't used to.
'Amazing…' he stared in astonishment. It was then that he discovered something even more impressive.
Her eyes were closed.
Sapphire wasn't looking where she was going this entire time, yet that didn't slow her down in the slightest. All around her nimble form, he could make out the same blue energy that the alpha wolf used before. Cloaked in the supernatural power, her movements improved, reacting to everything around her, regardless of if she was facing in that direction or not. It felt like the forest was bending around them with how she instinctively knew where to land with each step.
Leaping over the embankment, she landed on the ground on all four legs briefly before breaking into an even faster sprint. Makoto yelped in panic. She was moving so fast that on multiple occasions when making a shaper turn, she skid across the ground, almost falling onto her side!
Sensing his distress, Sapphire reached behind and tightened her grip on her passenger. A powerful wave of emotion hit him like a warm hug. She did her best to ease his fear by conveying a sense of empathy and reassurance that it would be over soon. It worked, but Makoto still prayed for it to end.
Looking around, he saw that the scenery had changed at some point. Instead of that massive forest maze that went on forever, this was more reminiscent of a typical backyard. In the distance, he could also see a familiar blue figure waiting for them by the entrance to a small building.
Within a nanosecond, they were standing beside him.
Landing on the wooden porch, Sapphire bowed to her alpha in respect. He grunted before beckoning her to rise back up and unlocking the front door.
"I'll be back shortly. Look after him until I return." His voice carried a sense of urgency and panic.
"All right, brother."
Lowering the rogue off her back, Sapphire helped him back to his feet. Once she mentally confirmed that Makoto was stable, she turned back around. But to her surprise, Sirius was already gone, having disappeared back into the city from the rear.
'Whatever is troubling him must be important,' she speculated.
Meanwhile, Makoto had mostly regained his balance. He had recovered faster than expected but was noticeably still taking deep breaths through his mouth and resting an arm against the wooden wall for support. Sapphire took his free hand and gestured to the front door.
"Come. We'll continue this inside. No doubt you want to sit down after everything that's occurred."
She made a motion to guide him in, but he pulled back.
"Thank you," he forced a smile on his face. While still tired, he somehow felt more awake now than before. "But I can walk on my own from here."
His comment did nothing to deter her.
"No. You're still very weak. I commend you for wanting to stand on your own legs, but there is no reason for you to force yourself anymore." She tightened her grip and gave him a stern look that shot down any further debate, refusing to take 'No' for an answer.
Despite his protests, she was eventually able to drag him into the small house. As they walked through the front door, a series of candles ignited in response to their presence, illuminating the house in a comforting glow.
Blinking at the sudden light, Makoto was greeted by a foyer of a building that, to him, gave off the impression of royalty. The main entrance was decorated with extravagant tapestry, and the walls were made of polished wood that shone brightly in the candlelight. Moreover, the golden furnishings were fit for a king.
Taking him to the living room, the wolfess began checking his body for any possible injuries and ailments they may have missed. She pressed a paw to his forehead to check his temperature, but the difference in species made it hard for her to accurately judge his condition.
"Hm… What is it?" He asked when he noticed her staring, irritated about something.
Sapphire reached out and grabbed at the hem of his pants.
"Your clothes, they're wet and dirty. You should take them off now before you get sick."
Even after everything he had seen, Makoto was still caught off guard by her forwardness. What she said made sense, but the look in her eyes told him that when she said "now", she really meant it… But he was not about to strip down in front of a complete stranger, especially one of the opposite sex.
"I'm tired… Not sick," he clarified while hoping the canine didn't notice his heartbeat pick up from embarrassment.
"The cloak comes off at minimum," she insisted. Like before, she wasn't backing down. "It would also help if we were able to see your face."
He contemplated the suggestion. Removing the cloak would reveal a lot of his identity. Was that a good thing? Did these wolves even know what humans were? He couldn't tell if that was a safe move to make just yet.
Makoto was about to open his mouth to deny her request when he remembered that his secret was technically already discovered. Sirius, the alpha male of these ninjas, knew he wasn't a wolf, so it stands that the female would soon learn of this as well.
Finally relenting, Makoto slowly lifted the garment over his head and let it fall to the floor. Like an artist unveiling his latest masterpiece, his pale skin was laid bare and his now dishevelled blue hair cascaded down his face and back. He gazed into her yellow eyes and waited for her to comment on his messy appearance, but the black "ninja mask" combined with her black sclera made her almost impossible to read.
"You really do look a lot like us…" She eventually said while reaching out to touch his face, tilting it to both sides. "There are differences, but it's no wonder our initial impression was that you were a wolf."
He blinked in confusion at the comment.
Why had everyone been mistaking him for a wolf all this time? They didn't look human to him… The fact that his hair was the same colour as their fur was the only similarity he could make.
A dog-like grumble emerged from Sapphire's throat.
"You don't see it?" she questioned, seeing the skepticism on his face. "…Follow me."
The wolfess took his hand again and lead him further into the impressive house.
They passed by many rooms, all just as extravagant as what came before. As they walked, Makoto also noted that the layout and size of the building appeared to be suited to a single individual. They had yet to run into anyone inside the house, so perhaps they came in while the owner was out? But that shouldn't be the case… At this time of day, anyone who lived here should be getting out of bed at least.
"If you're wondering whose house this is, don't worry. They don't live here for the full week, only during weekdays. We aren't intruding on their privacy." The wolfess answered his question before he even asked… That was impressive, he had to admit.
Eventually, they stopped at the master bedroom. This time, the door had been left ajar, and as they pushed it open, they were met with one of the messiest rooms either of them had ever seen, completely contrasting with the rest of the house. Seemingly nothing had been put away and there was very little open space to walk around.
Sapphire growled in frustration at the sight and kicked a small music player by her feet out of the way.
"How does he manage this every time!? It's not that difficult!"
Makoto let out an amused laugh at her reaction, and tried to dismiss the messy state of the room.
"It's okay, I've seen much worse… This much wouldn't be enough for someone to suspect a murder scene, at least." His comment was met with a horrified expression from the wolfess.
"P-Point aside…!" she growled, gesturing across the room. "There's something I want to see."
Makoto's eyes traced the direction of her raised finger, landing at a large mirror resting a few paces beside the bed. Realizing her intention, he nodded at the wolfess before slowly tiptoeing across the room, making sure not to step on anything. Once he finally stood in front of the mirror, he saw what was reflected in its glass panel, and it made him flinch.
His skin… was pure white.
He had been too distracted to notice it before, but his normal light peach complexion was gone, and in its place was white skin that was virtually identical in tone to the fur on the wolves' undersides. In addition, none of the scars or other blemishes he had accumulated over the years were visible, leaving a clean, fresh surface behind.
He brought a hand to his face to confirm what he was seeing was real. The sight was unnerving to him for a very specific reason.
"Just like… back then?"
In his old life, once all the battles had concluded, and he and his friends were able to go back to their normal school lives, Makoto almost immediately began to grow very physically weak. During the months that followed, his skin turned an almost ghostly white. As time went on, he also slowly lost the ability to talk and he spent all of his free time in bed. Everyone in his life, both at school and in the city, were always making comments about how horrible he looked or how he should try to get more sleep.
They were unaware of what was really happening to him.
Staring at his reflection, Makoto was reminded of how he looked in those winter months. He didn't look sick anymore, he actually appeared to be very healthy, but for some reason, his reincarnation hadn't restored his skin to its natural colour.
He slowly brought a hand up to poke his face, as if he needed to prove to himself what he was seeing was real. That one finger traced his jawline, ran across his chest, and over his right arm, eventually stopping below his shoulder where a birthmark he didn't recognize was waiting for him to discover.
He could have mistaken it for a set of scars at first, but the discolouration told him that wasn't the case. On his right bicep were four thick lines crudely etched on his skin, almost like claw marks. And when viewed together, the mark looked eerily similar to a dragon's wing.
"What is–"
Before he could finish that thought, a stray lock of hair fell over his face, simultaneously making him realize his hair had also undergone a change recently. The colour was still the same rich blue it had always been, but it had grown softer and gained more volume, billowing behind him in an impressive wave. Running a hand down his scalp, Makoto was shocked to find that his hair didn't stop growing at the base of his neck and continued down most of his backside. And it was soft… Very soft… As if there was a separate, downier layer underneath…
He had a mane of blue FUR now!
Taken altogether, while he could still recognize the person in the reflection as himself, much had changed. And he also had to concede that he did have a resemblance to his canine saviours. A VERY strong one.
"Are you all right?" Sapphire spoke up from behind, concern in her voice. He hadn't been doing a good job hiding his emotions and she had picked up on it.
"Oh… Y-yeah. I just… never noticed," he coughed, feigning ignorance. The wolfess chose to accept the excuse, even if she rightfully suspected that there was something more to everything than what he was telling her.
"I can prepare something for your throat while we wait for my brother to return," she offered. "Would that help?"
"Your brother?"
"The wolf who you stepped in to defend earlier. I didn't mention it until now, but Sirius, the current alpha of the pack, is my older brother."
Sapphire turned to head for the kitchen without waiting for an answer. It confused Makoto how she had no reservations about leaving him by himself. Were this his house, he wouldn't be comfortable letting a stranger in, let alone leaving them unsupervised.
"Why are you so willing to trust me…?" He said, voicing his thoughts out loud. The wolfess stopped moving partway through the doorway; he took her silence as a cue to keep talking. "Even if I stepped in to help you guys, this feels like too much for a simple 'thank you'. You don't know anything about me yet."
Closing her eyes, Sapphire read his aura directly. She saw that he had a strong and valiant spirit, but it was masked by doubt and uncertainty. It was as if his mind was screaming at him to give up a long, exhausting fight, while his soul refused to falter. It was holding onto hope… A hope that she had instilled in him.
So full of life yet scared and unsure of what to do… Sapphire gritted her teeth and stifled a tear. She didn't turn around to face him as she responded.
"We know that you have your secrets, as we all do. And we'll discuss that shortly, once you've calmed down. But we do know you're a good person at heart. This isn't the blind faith you may think it is."
She slowly left the room, intentionally not closing the door to avoid the illusion of him being confined, and showing that he was still a free person.
"I still do recommend changing out of those clothes, however." Her voice rang out from down the hallway. "There should be something clean in the dresser that you can wear in the meantime. They belong to the owner of this house, but he won't be returning in the immediate future. I doubt he will mind you wearing his clothes."
.
.
.
The sound of paw steps eventually stopped, and Makoto was now left to his own devices. How long that would last, he had no idea. For all he knew, the wolves would be walking back through the doorway within a matter of minutes. It was for the best, in his opinion, to do as she said.
Getting up with a loud stretch, Makoto ambled his way over to the dresser, being careful to not knock something over along the way.
The bedroom was very busy compared to the rest of the house. Gym and exercise equipment was stacked in one corner, a small workstation with tiny tools and gadgets was laid out on the table beside the bed… He had initially thought that whoever was here last simply forgot to put their belongings away, but maybe they left it like that intentionally? Everything was organized in small, separate clusters making it easy to identify everything. But at the same time, it gave the impression that this person spent all of their time in this one room, barely ever leaving the house.
There were at least a dozen smaller items littering the dresser that caught his attention. Picking up a bottle, he tried to read the name and description printed on its side, only to fumble. The script resembled English to an extent, but there were multiple characters he didn't recognize and some of the words were smeared off from natural wear.
Curious, he opened the lid and gave it a quick sniff, picking up on the combined, pungent scents of fresh leather and pine. A type of cologne or scented oil, from what he gathered. Scanning the large selection, he found that all the bottles and containers were some form of grooming product in fact.
Physically fit and active, indulgent in multiple hobbies, and took their outward appearance and personal hygiene very seriously… He was beginning to get a good idea of whose house this was. Everything matched the image he had formed in his head of them almost perfectly.
Moving down to the drawers to pick out some spare clothes, Makoto pulled out a white shirt. He examined the fabric closely, but he couldn't identify the material it was made of. It was neither cotton nor wool, but something else that didn't leave any signs of decolouration or even a single visible wrinkle, and it felt warm and smooth, almost rubbery, in his hands.
The pants he found in another compartment, similarly, were made from a foreign material. It vaguely resembled denim, but the blue fibres were so small and fine that they were invisible to the eyes, resulting in a similarly smooth surface. The pants were thick, seemingly enough to resist any wear from daily use, but without sacrificing any softness or flexibility and were likely still very comfortable.
What was most surprising was the overall size of the clothes. The individual they belonged to was roughly the same height as him, but they were significantly bulkier than he was. From this, Makoto figured that they might not even be a wolf, as he had yet to see proof that the canines could grow to that size. Furthermore, there was the strange matter of the large holes sewn into the clothing. Presumably for a thick tail and…
A pair of wings?
Just who was this mysterious person…!?
.
.
.
"A dragon wouldn't survive out here and you know it."
.
.
.
"There's no way…" Makoto muttered under his breath.
Slipping out of his shorts, Makoto got to work getting dressed in the spare clothes. Or rather, he attempted to. It felt as if the clothes were meant for someone more than twice his size.
When he tried to put on the tank top, most of his torso was left exposed due to how long the shoulder straps were. And even with the added muscle of his new body, it would easily slip off of him from any sudden movements. The legwear, however, was completely hopeless. Merely stepping into the pants and pulling them up to his waist, they would immediately fall to the floor if he let go without making contact with his skin. How Sapphire assumed anything would remotely fit him was a mystery…
Eventually, Makoto decided against wearing the shirt altogether and resorted to tying simple knots into the waistband and legs of the pants to keep them contained as best he could.
"Well this has become a real pain…" he groaned while running a hand down his back and through his new mane, wishing that he could make it disappear. "I am still human, but it's hard to recognize that anymore."
A light knock sounded at the door, accompanied by Sapphire's voice.
"It's me. We're both ready whenever you are."
It was now or never… Time to find out what this urgent business they had with him was.
"All right… You two can come in."
The door was pushed open with Sirius entering the room first with a pile of old books in his hands. His sister followed a few paces behind him. Like with her, Sirius froze in stunned disbelief when he took in Makoto's physical appearance without the cloak, briefly narrowing in on the mark on his shoulder. But he didn't comment on anything and set his thoughts aside for now.
This was the first time Makoto got to see any of the wolves in the light, and the difference in stature between him and them was obvious. He could understand now why they would think of him as a kid, as he had to crane his head up slightly to look them in the eyes. While nothing compared to the apes, they were both much taller than any human. Heavily armed and having a strong, unyielding body language, their presence alone would be enough for any other human in his position to cower in fear.
The "ninja clothes", as he chose to call them, that the wolves had were unlike anything he had seen before.
They all wore a pair of short-legged, blue pants that were held in place by a large, ornate black and gold obi wrapped around the waist. The pants were several sizes larger than normal and fully open across the thigh and pelvic regions, providing additional breathability for their fur and space for their tails. Two overlapping layers of fabric, in that same rich blue and black respectively, fell down from the centre plate of the obi, tapering off just below the knees. While the added layers did cover their undergarments in the front, their thighs were still almost completely uncovered, with the white fur underneath visible from every angle.
Every wolf also appeared to wear similar accessories, including blue leg grieves and arm gauntlets adorned with long silver spikes. Some, like Sirius, also wore a thick blue scarf that was accented in gold, pinned in place with a silver pendant of a howling wolf head. Makoto noted that every male he had seen so far had nothing covering their torso, exposing a thicker layer of white fur on their chest. Meanwhile, females like Sapphire wore simple sleeveless white shirts to cover their fronts. He couldn't tell if the bipedal wolves' biology was similar to a human's in that regard, but it was a safe assumption. Especially after that up-close, borderline intimate encounter with Raya…
Neither wolf standing in front of him had removed any piece of their gear. They both were each still carrying enough tools and weapons to fend off an army, like a pair of walking Swiss Army knives, and had the imposing physique to match. Terrak was one thing, but right now… Makoto actually believed Sirius to be more intimidating. However, that could be because he was currently unarmed, and the alpha was anything but.
Sapphire interrupted his thoughts by offering him a large mug filled with a warm beverage, which Makoto graciously accepted. The warm drink did wonders clearing his dry throat, and the taste was similar to fresh tea with strong hints of vanilla and nutmeg. He let out a deep sigh as he greedily drank the soothing liquid.
"You seem to be fairing much better now." Sirius complimented before placing the thick books down on the dresser.
Like magic, he instantly gained the attention of everyone in the room.
"I'm sure you've already learned my name, but allow me to formally introduce myself." The wolf stood up straight and placed a proud paw over his chest. "My name is Sirius. Alpha and leader of the city of Lycanus. The wolf at my side here is Sapphire." The female nodded at the mention of her name.
Placing his drink aside, the young man similarly stood up to introduce himself.
"Makoto Yuki. It's nice to meet you both." He offered his hand for Sirius to shake, doing his best to project a strong and clear voice despite the language and cultural barrier.
The wolf awkwardly stared at the hand in confusion, the gesture being foreign to him. Eventually, though, he responded by mirroring the action. But instead of a handshake, he brought his forearm further out and crossed it against Makoto's, a greeting his species was more familiar with.
Smiling at the amicable start, Sirius gestured for the human to take a seat while pulling up a chair for himself. Makoto obeyed and sat down on the edge of the bed with his hands in the pockets of the oversized pants. Sapphire, instead, chose to remain standing but stayed close to the human in the event he needed support.
"It's not my intention to make this an interrogation, but given how little we know about you, some things are inevitable."
"I understand, sir." Despite what he just said, Makoto was hoping this wouldn't take too long. He couldn't guarantee that he'd be able to stay awake for much longer.
Sirius, feeling much the same way, wasted little time getting started.
"Now then, as an outsider, you must have known that you had no obligation to step in to protect me earlier. There was no guarantee we would repay your actions; some would even consider your involvement tonight as suicidal." The wolf growled deeply to himself. "Regardless, you proved instrumental in the survival of my pack tonight and you deterred the Dark Army's suspicions of our great city. For that, you have my thanks, Makoto."
The human nodded even if he didn't understand how he was ultimately responsible for the apes retreating when they did. He knew it had something to do with the large crystals he had seen popping up everywhere that glowed whenever he got close, but how was that relevant?
"I have to ask, however," Sirius continued, "what were you doing in the Forever Forest on your own?"
Makoto broke eye contact and stumbled over his words.
"I… can't give an easy answer to that–"
"Try. After the selflessness you've displayed, I'm willing to listen to even the most absurd of tales."
He didn't doubt Sirius when he said that, but there were inevitably some things that would be hard for the wolves to comprehend. From what he inferred, they weren't familiar with human beings, so explaining concepts like the Collective Unconcious, Shadows, and his reincarnation would be a challenge.
He began recounting his story, using as simple of an explanation as he could. He told them how he had woken up somewhere dark and damp, left alone with nothing on his person and had to fight his way back to safety. After a particularly tough encounter against a large beast, he had fallen unconscious. And when he awoke, he was in the Forever Forest. Left wandering around for what felt like the entire night, Sirius' pack was the first sign of civilization he saw.
Both wolves were amazed by his tale, believing every word, but certain details struck them as odd.
"You didn't encounter any monsters while in the forest!?" Sirius exclaimed. "Not once!? How is that possible? Without the guidance of a wolf, any other species would be killed in a matter of minutes!"
"I got lucky…?" Makoto offered.
"More like blessed! I mean no offence, but in your condition, I can see it where a metalback spider spots you, immediately thinks you're easy prey, and devours you while you're still disorientated from your previous endeavour."
Blessed… Yes, that did sound accurate. He was used to dealing with supernatural and heavenly entities in the past, even having indirectly met God before. This probably wasn't anything different.
"All right…" The alpha grunted, moving to the next topic on his mind. "From what you've explained to us now and from what my sister has told me, we can assume that you've never physically seen or met another wolf before today and that you've been on your own this entire time?"
Makoto nodded. Even if he's only been alive in this world for a full day at most, everything he had experienced so far was new to him.
Both canines appeared impressed, judging by their facial expressions.
"This is beginning to make sense to me… How you're able to adapt to new situations so readily. How you're so willing to fight against that which you don't fully comprehend… It all ties back to that power you showed us."
Sirius got up from his chair and knelt down in front of Makoto, unintentionally startling him with his intense gaze.
"It's something that has shaped the entire course of your life since you first discovered it. Always having to be on the move, while not trusting anyone. Every day being a struggle to survive…"
The young man attempted to back up, suddenly uncomfortable with how direct the wolf was acting.
"I don't think you understand everything–" A paw gently caressed the side of his face, interrupting him mid-speech.
"You're right. I don't." Sirius smiled warmly. "And it's just as likely that you don't understand your current situation. That's why we need to confirm everything together."
Letting go and standing straight, Sirius produced one of his two short blades. Deadly as it may be, it was heavily scuffed from the recent fight.
"Just now, Terrak and his men thought you were one of us. A strong, yet inexperienced young wolf learning how to control his aura." The powerful blue energy reappeared, emanating off of Sirius' body and weapon like a flame as he showcased an expert mastery of his power. His very presence seemed to grow stronger as he did, akin to a deadly assassin about to make a killing blow, only several times more fierce, if that were possible.
Makoto felt his heart beat faster at the sight. It was both awe-inspiring and frightening; if not for the level-headedness he always had when it came to combat as well as his usual calm, unflinching demeanour, Makoto might have had a small panic attack. The wolf himself practically was a weapon. They all were.
'So, the weird magic they're able to use is called 'Aura', and it's something they all learn to control as they grow older…' Now that he had a name to go off of, this was something he could ask them about down the line…
"But that isn't the case." Sirius turned around and withdrew both his weapon and power. "You aren't a wolf, and that wasn't your life essence we felt. That was a power nobody had seen for several centuries. Not since the last purple…"
He got up and walked back over to the dresser, where he selected a book from the pile and began flipping through the pages.
Makoto knew where the conversation was headed. No doubt they going to demand details about his inner self and whether his Persona was a danger to them…
"…You can summon a Senary, can't you?"
Silence filled the room as he awaited Makoto's response. Sapphire also visibly reacted in confusion to the question but refrained from speaking. While Makoto had never heard that name before, the fact that Sirius used the word "summon" was telling…
"Persona."
"Hm…?" the wolf stopped flipping through pages momentarily and gave him a bewildered look.
"My power. I call it my Persona. I've never heard of anything like a 'Xen-airy', but I think that's what you mean?"
"I see… I'm not entirely surprised. Information surrounding Senaries is known only to a select few who chose to preserve the history of the old world… or who wish to obtain that power for themselves. In any case, it makes sense that you would christen it on your own accord." Sirius hummed. "However, I can't deny the possibility of your power being the same as the one described in the legends. I don't claim to be an expert, but we need to verify this information together."
He turned around with the book in hand, having finally landed on the page he was searching for, and presented it to Makoto. The ink on the pages was faded and the paper was torn in a few places, but one could still make out what appeared to be a quadrupedal reptile on the page, standing on a floating piece of land. Massive and indomitable, it looked every bit like the western-style dragons he had seen in storybooks, only without any wings.
"According to history, magic has existed for longer than our kind have walked the planet. Though only one species was able to harness it at first."
Makoto squinted at the small text in the corner.
"Saurians…" he read out loud.
Sirius grunted in confirmation.
"It was a primitive time, without a doubt. The war we find ourselves in today probably pales in comparison to how life was when the planet wasn't fully formed yet. But the Primordials, created in the Ancestors' own image, were able to thrive in the harsh land by bending the elements to their will. It was a fundamental part of their very being."
He went on to explore the six elements in detail, calling them by their original, non-translated names. Agi, Bufu, Zio, Garu, Hama, and Mudo.
"Unlike what is observable in nature, the saurians would warp reality onto itself using the mana cores in their bodies, and they used it to help form the world we see now, a world habitable to all."
It was a lot for Makoto to take in. Here he was, learning about the world's creation as if all the world history he learned in school was suddenly irrelevant.
"And it didn't last…?" he inquired, pretending this was all a review for him. It helped that there was some terminology that he recognized.
"All things come to an end eventually." Sirius pulled the book back and produced another, smaller one for Makoto, opening it partway. "And where the saurians left off, as we all know, another species rose in their place."
The drawing on the page this time depicted a towering mammal of sorts. Unlike the saurians, this creature stood on two legs and was wearing clothing. Though calling the garments it wore "clothes" was generous, as they covered very little of its bulky, hairy body, leaving nothing to the imagination.
The being in the drawing was standing in an open field wearing nothing more than a leather battle skirt, boots made from animal hide, and a pair of studded brown bracers. The leather armour offered negligible protection from both the outside elements and incoming weapon strikes. Instead, it looked like it was worn only to draw attention to the wearer's overwhelming size and physique.
The barbarian had a tall and proud stance, full of confidence and a ferocious energy that commanded respect. Around him were several more identically dressed figures, all sharing the same fierce, battle-hungry energy he had, and wielding large weapons that looked like they could crush a human skull with the slightest of taps.
Based on evidence from the drawing, it appeared that this group had just laid claim to a previously hostile land and was celebrating their victory. Their bodies were all covered in blood with sweat dripping from their brows, and any injuries they had sustained quickly became fresh battle scars to adorn their hulking bodies.
Taking in everything, Makoto couldn't take what he was seeing seriously. A species of scantily dressed, muscle-bound giants that looked like they belonged in a fantasy storybook?
…No, he had read actual fairy tales more realistic and believable than this!
Despite how ridiculous it all was, the wolf at his side gestured for him to continue. Sirius knew the book's contents were nothing like the modern day, but he was insistent that Makoto didn't get distracted and especially did not dismiss anything as fictional. This was an important–factual–part of history that should be acknowledged and respected.
Several pages went by as Makoto narrowed in on every detail, hoping to find something that stood out. On closer inspection, Makoto noticed that the fierce look in the barbarian's eyes didn't resemble that of a mindless savage; he could see an intelligence in them. Something about the primitive species actually reminded him of humans, but there were many physical differences that set them apart. Namely, they had short, barely noticeable snouts on their faces and significantly more body hair that flowed together like fur.
Thinking about it more, the image more closely resembled those apes, if anything…
Suddenly more curious, Makoto picked the book up in both hands. Most pages were nothing but walls of text that he quickly skimmed through. He relied primarily on the few available pictures to better understand who this ancient species was.
While brutish, there was a purpose driving these beings onward. They relied on more than just their overwhelming strength to survive. They had to be smarter and craftier than the wild animals around them. Over the course of several millennia, they spread their influence to most of the barren world, and they morphed it into a civilization that allowed them to put down their weapons.
As the encyclopedia went further ahead in time, the changes started to become more drastic. Instead of living in caves and mud huts, they began to build actual buildings. And their clothes went from minimalistic leathers to medieval-inspired clothing and armour. Furthermore, their biology was becoming more familiar…
Things were slowly falling into place in Makoto's head.
"What does this have to do with earlier?" he suddenly asked Sirius, putting the book down, not even halfway through. So far, nothing he had read was relevant to the current situation, or explained what the wolf had meant by a 'Senary'.
Instead of answering directly, Sirius reached out for the third and final book. This one was by far the most worn out, with several pages missing, folded over or scribbled on.
Sapphire, who had been mostly quiet until now, suddenly raised her voice in objection.
"Wait, isn't that–!?" The alpha wolf brought a paw up to silence her.
"I'll return it to you later." He looked at her firmly, knowing the reservations she understandably had. "He needs to see this. If my theory is correct, this should explain what I saw tonight."
He practically forced the book into Makoto's hands before anything else could be said, and Sapphire's voice grew quiet as she realized the connection Sirius had already made. It made sense to her now why Makoto was being questioned!
The small book's spine had several indents, letting it open naturally to the desired page. On it, there was yet another image depicting the mysterious bipedal species. This time, the figure was wearing a heavy suit of armour, indicating this was from an era past the barbarian stage in their history. Unlike what was shown in the previous book, the mammal was accompanied by another figure. A large, ghostly entity that hovered above him. The two seemed to be acting together as one, with the knight charging ahead valiantly while the ghost used its own power to decimate their foes in an intense wave of magic.
Sirius pointed at the ghost.
"This is a Senary. It ties back to the Predecessors and is believed to be a power only they could use. When the time came for the saurians to join the Ancestors in the afterlife, this was how magic was preserved in the world. An ability that ties to a being's soul rather than its physical body. And it could be called upon based on feeling and instinct alone, almost like a sixth sense, hence the name."
Sapphire then joined the conversation.
"It may be easy to dismiss the idea because of how loud and brazen they were for the longest of time," she admitted, knowing how contradictory it all sounded. "But don't forget, humans were very intellectually gifted. They were the ideal hosts for this special form of magic."
Before either wolf or the text explicitly said it, Makoto had already made the connection as to who these "Predecessors" were. But the fact that they were describing everything in past tense was not lost on him.
"You seem very invested in the humans and their history," he said to Sapphire, calmly referring to how worn out the third book was. She stiffened at his words and looked into his eyes as if checking one last time that he could be trusted.
"I cannot deny that…" she admitted. "Every living being owes a lot to humanity and all the innovations they brought to the world, but I've made it my mission to study their unique magical abilities."
Getting up, Sapphire crossed her arms as she got lost in her own thoughts.
"Unfortunately, knowledge from the previous era is very limited, as you can no doubt tell. There hasn't been a living human in countless eons, so most of their biggest secrets will likely remain unsolved forever. At most, there are… rumours of a certain legendary being born once every one hundred generations with the potential to awaken to their special power."
"Which brings us to the present day." Sirius paused, briefly pointing his gaze to Makoto's right arm once again, before continuing. "Earlier, when Terrak was moments away from ending us, I felt something from you, Makoto. And I think I know now what that was."
He reached out and placed a paw on the young man's arm.
"I know without a doubt that you are not that rumoured legendary being, but please be honest with us: Can you summon a Senary?"
It felt like more of a demand than a question.
'Should I tell them?' Makoto wondered. He already knew that Sirius' theory was true, but this was extremely confidential information. Even back home, he never told regular people about his power unless they had clear and direct involvement themselves. It was a reality most people were better off not knowing about. These wolves may have been generous enough to protect him from the apes, but were they deserving of information this big? Something with the potential to change the world? Nay, the universe?
Sapphire gently placed a paw on his other shoulder and gave him a pleading look. She also wanted him to confirm their shared theory.
"Makoto, I know you don't like being placed under interrogation so soon after all you've done for us. And I'm sure you've lived your entire life trying to keep this a secret from the world knowing that it may put you and your family at risk, but please. You can trust us. Your secret will stay safe in this city."
That look… Whether it be the craving for social interaction again or that he trusted her, there was something about Sapphire's genuine care and attention that made him want to drop his quiet and distant exterior and finally open up.
Releasing a long sigh, Makoto closed the book and handed it back to Sirius, with his answer ready.
"Yes… It's the same. My Persona… is what you all call a Senary."
The two canines took the revelation a lot calmer than expected and remained composed and silent. No doubt they already knew and only wanted him to say it aloud before making any requests.
"I can't channel my full strength at the moment," he elaborated, "but I've been able to use this power for a long time now."
Sirius hummed in acknowledgement. Finally letting go, he began mumbling to himself.
"So it's true… In our time of need, the Ancestors have blessed another with the legendary power of old… It's a miracle."
The alpha appeared to be on the verge of crying as he looked down at Makoto like a father reuniting with a son who he thought was dead.
"It's tragic… Being given the responsibility that you have without anyone to help guide you. It's a burden I would never wish on anyone…" He knelt down and without warning, pulled Makoto into a tight hug. "You've done well, surviving on your own for this long while concealing your true power from the world, lest it endanger those close to you… Your resolve has earned my respect!"
The wolf's admittedly kind words made little sense to the human. He probably did have a responsibility of some sort, the implications of him of all people being brought back to life were not lost on him, but Sirius didn't know anything about his past life.
The journey.
The battles.
.
.
.
The sacrifice.
"So… What happens now?" he eventually asked when it was clear that Sirius was still distracted.
"Yes, that is the question." The wolf finally let go. "It's sudden, but it's for the best that you remain in Lycanus for now. I understand your family must be worried for your safety, not knowing where you are and all, but it's too dangerous to leave you to fend for yourself anymore."
He placed a paw over his chest again and lowered his head in a formal bow.
"Makoto of Yuki, wielder of the Senary, I extend my protection to you. As long as you remain in this city, no outside evil shall strike you down."
The young man's expression turned hopeful.
"I… I can stay?"
The wolf nodded.
"We'll discuss it properly in the future, including formally announcing it to the pack, but there are preparations to be made first. This is a very rare occurrence for us all."
This was it… after all of his countless battles, it was all over. He was free again. Overcome by happiness and peace of mind, Makoto cried tears of joy and thanked the alpha. Sirius grinned in return, but from the corner of his vision, he also noticed that not everyone was sharing their jubilation.
"That's the matter, Sapphire? You've grown quiet." Makoto had been too distracted to notice, but as Sirius said, the wolfess had turned away in silence with something on her mind.
"There's one more thing that's been plaguing my mind ever since Makoto revealed his face," she whispered.
"And that is?"
She turned to face the young man.
"What are you, Makoto?"
He stumbled. "Huh? I don't–"
"Your species. What are you?"
Oh… That little detail. After reading that book, he doubted this would go over well.
"Hm, yes…" Sirius rubbed his chin, stupified. "I had intended to save that question for a better time, but it would be good to establish a baseline. Makoto, it may be an odd request, but can you tell us what your kind is called?"
The young man rubbed his hands together and closed his eyes. He had to sit down for this…
Both wolves grew worried that they had overstepped their boundaries once they felt his aura shrink in on itself, but eventually, he responded in the smallest of whispers.
"…Human."
.
.
.
The truth had come out now.
They didn't ask for him to support his claim as their natural empathic abilities told them everything.
Sirius, who had been maintaining a calm and stoic demeanour throughout the conversation thus far, visibly recoiled. Flinching as if he had been slapped. Sapphire, similarly, looked over at Makoto in shock.
The atmosphere in the room grew heavy and oppressive, and Makoto felt a surge of unease. He was about to ask if his being human was an issue when a loud growl filled the room.
Before Makoto could react, Sirius lept onto the bed and positioned himself directly over the human with a firm expression.
"Wha…?"
Two paws were placed on his shoulders, pinning him down.
"Don't. Move." The wolf ordered. The warm demeanour was gone.
The young man slowly nodded his head and submitted himself to whatever the canine had planned.
Sirius quickly got to work sniffing the human's face, leaning in close enough that there was next to no physical separation between them. His nose travelled all over Makoto's body, much to the latter's discomfort. But he stayed still, not wanting to know what would happen if he disobeyed.
After a full minute of interrogation via scent, the wolf stood up, still in a state of disbelief. He reached out and gripped Makoto by the face, forcing his jaw open, and peered inside his mouth for one last inspection.
"Wha ar–?"
Makoto fell back as the wolf suddenly let go and slid off the bed. Still trying to process the truth, Sirius' eyes glossed over and his movements grew shaky. He was about to walk out of the room before he stopped and turned to Sapphire, sharing an entire conversation with her through facial features and body language alone. Eventually, the wolf let out a small huff and left.
"Did… I say something wrong?" Makoto asked solemnly after a few minutes once he caught his breath.
The female tried to give him a placating look, though it was clear she was just as overwhelmed as her brother.
"N-No! He… just needs time to process everything. It's a lot to take in…" Like Sirius, Sapphire instinctively leaned in and gave his face a few sniffs, but backed off when she realized the action may have come across as accusatory.
Sensing the dismay and turmoil in his features, she ran an aura-clad paw through his mane in a placating gesture. Gradually, his heartbeat returned to normal.
"Feeling better?"
"I don't know… I'm just tired." He couldn't even force a smile anymore. "Hey, um… Don't take this the wrong way, but can you leave me alone for now? It's been a long day, and I…"
"No, you're right. This really should have waited until tomorrow." If she was offended by his comment, she didn't show it. "It's early in the day, but I recommend that you rest for now. We'll talk tomorrow once we are all properly rejuvenated."
Before she left, Sapphire bent over to pick up his discarded clothes, letting him know that they'd be cleaned and ready for him by the time he woke up.
"This house is where you'll be staying for the time being. It is a little far from the rest of the city, but you won't need to worry about the wildlife or any intruders. We'll also be sure to check in on you from time to time."
"Okay…" He didn't raise his head in time to see the look of pity on her face…
Moments later, he heard the front door close.
'Well that went well…' he thought to himself. That entire discussion had left him with more questions than he had when he had been reborn.
At the very least, he had a place to stay and he could finally rest. Tomorrow would likely be a busy day, but that was something to worry about when the time came. Crawling onto the bed, and giving a quick prayer, he gave his heavy mind a much-needed break.
Sleep came almost instantly. Even without the comfort of proper bed sheets, the animal furs were very soft. At some point, he broke off from his flat sleeping position and curled up into a ball, finding it more comfortable. The cluttered mess that was his mind didn't dream of anything that night, but he didn't care. Right now, this was all he could possibly ask for.
This was his personal heaven…
On the other side of the world, hidden in a dark alleyway, a small pile of rocks answered the call of a strong magical force and rose from the ground, levitating into a perfect archway. From the centre of the portal, two beings dressed in brilliant blue and black attire stepped forth. Their bodies were bruised and tired, but they had a mission they needed to complete.
"So this is Terrace Village," the older of the two mumbled. He took in the scenery that was accented heavily by the colour green, even during the intense rainfall. "It's as filthy as I imagined it would be."
No sooner had they stepped foot into the village did the rain soak their fur, washing most of the dried blood away, but it also ran across their still-fresh wounds. The wolf that spoke winced in pain and fell to his knees, clutching his forearm, as he was reminded of his injuries. His companion reached out in concern and caught him before he could hit the ground.
"Riley! Are you–"
"I'm fine, Zion." He removed his scarf and wrapped it around his arm before pinning it in place. "I can tend to it once we get back. Right now, we have to focus on our objective."
"…Right. Let's not waste any more time, then."
Closing their eyes, the two took a deep breath as their mighty auras flared to life. Bathed in the azure light, they expanded the scope of their vision. Every life signature within several miles, from the tiniest firefly to the largest gnorc, was visible to them.
They had an absolutely flawless lay of the land now. But there was one being that caught their attention. Someone whose aura they were intimately familiar with, and that shone brightly amongst the dull patterns of the other gnorcs.
"There he is."
Their destination now confirmed, both wolves took to the rooftops and began their pursuit.
While it was approaching daylight in their homeland, every inhabitant of the village was enjoying the last precious bits of the evening, if not already asleep. This was perfect for the canines, as it meant nobody would notice their presence. Combined with their graceful movements, they were practically invisible.
Eventually, they stood in front of the house of a certain purple gnorc couple. From what they sensed, only two of the three family members were home. One, who they knew to be Nina, was in the kitchen, distracted by some late-night baking. Her son, meanwhile, was upstairs and idle, but still awake.
Riley and Zion shared a quick nod, and the former placed a paw on the wooden doorframe. A gentle ripple of his aura vibrated through the house, getting the attention of the female gnorc downstairs, who, after making sure her baked goods were resting properly, strode over to the front door and opened it.
Neither canine had ever seen an adult gnorc before in person, and they forgot how massive they could grow up to be. In front of them was a purple giantess dressed in simple green clothing that smelled of flour.
"Oh my light! What happened to the two of you!?" Nina gasped, gesturing to their heavily bruised bodies. She quickly grabbed the wolves by the arms and ushered them inside, out of the rain. "You poor things. Hurry, by the fire, where it's warm!"
Under normal circumstances, the gnorc's strength wouldn't have been enough to get them to budge. But with their injuries, they had to lower their guards in case any wounds reopened.
"We appreciate the gesture ma'am, but this is unnecessary. We don't intend to stay long."
"Out of the question!" she chastised and gestured to their soaking-wet fur. "The climate here isn't anything like what you're used to! I can see you both shivering as it is!"
Forcefully plopping their wet bodies on the living room couch like disobedient children, she ripped the large weapons from their backs and rushed back into the kitchen.
"Mrs… Nina. Really. We're only here to deliver a message to you and your son. We have to return to the city immediately after!"
"I surmised that much! But we're not doing anything until I know you two have settled down."
Nina quickly reemerged carrying two plates of fresh berry cake.
"Your timing couldn't have been better, actually. I just pulled this out of the oven not too long ago!" Smiling, she placed the gnorc-sized plates down on the table alongside a pitcher of milk with two tall glasses.
"Spyro–"
"I'll go and fetch him now. He'll be down in a few minutes. In the meantime, both of you, eat up. Trust me, there won't be any left once my boy gets down here!"
"Ma'am–!" Riley almost yelled, biting his tongue to hold back any aggression in his voice, but Nina had already disappeared again.
"Gnorcs…" Zion grumbled while resting a hand on his forehead. Spyro's kind weren't known to take things slowly…
Falling back onto the couch in defeat, he shut his eyes and let the fire dry him off. Riley, meanwhile, took the opportunity to clean the weapons resting on his hips. Pulling out one of the many double-sided knives he had on hand, he was dismayed to see it heavily dented with tiny traces of vile black blood still lingering on the blade.
He *tsked* in irritation. The weapon, and likely every other one he had used tonight, would have to be reforged or discarded altogether. A shameful waste, and a bitter reminder of how ill-prepared they had been…
The two sat in silence, listening to the sound of raindrops cascading violently against the glass window. It would have been a relaxing experience if not for the obnoxious music coming from the ceiling…
"What should we do?" Zion suddenly asked.
"That's up for Sirius to decide. If I had to guess, patrols are going to be strengthened to where we only ever leave the city in larger groups. We'll be no different from the hunting parties."
"No, that's not what I meant." Zion waved a paw at the table where two large plates were still left untouched.
"The cake? Are you serious!?"
"It would be rude to ignore the dessert after she went to the trouble of serving it for us. And I doubt we'll be allowed to leave until we've eaten, much less before we deliver our message."
Riley crossed his arms in refusal.
"I'm not at all in the mood for sweets! Besides, do you genuinely believe this… sludge is palatable?"
Zion stared at the glob of baked dough in mild disgust. Juices from a pinkish-red fruit he didn't recognize were soaking into the cake, creating a wet texture that he absolutely did not want in his mouth.
"No. No, I do not," he admitted. At the same time, however, he could shake the motherly smile of Nina from his head, and he didn't want to disrespect her generosity. Against his taste buds' wishes, Zion found himself drawn to the cake again.
"Spyro apparently likes it, so it should be okay…?" he offered.
"Spyro grew up eating this. It's to be expected that he's able to digest it." Riley snorted.
"Yes but–"
"The moment we tell them about Terrak, they'll understand the urgency of the situation and how we have no time for such drivel. Eat yours if you want, but I'm not touching the other slice."
Riley's words gave him pause, but judging from the loud music still blaring from upstairs, they both still had a long time to wait before either gnorc returned…
Picking up a fork, he scooped a small piece and held it to his face. He couldn't see it, but his companion was secretly sneaking glances in his direction, admittedly curious to hear his verdict.
'We just survived an ape assault,' Zion thought. 'A slice of cake is nothing!'
He promptly shoved the whole bite into his mouth.
.
.
.
Simple… But not unpleasant. Enjoyable even.
The dessert was unimpressive by their standards, something he wouldn't go out of his way to eat again. They were both used to eating more extravagant dishes, but at the moment, Zion couldn't imagine something better for his tired body to enjoy.
A pleased murmur escaped his throat and he wagged his tail in content.
"It's good."
Riley's eyes shot open in disbelief.
"Truly!?" he barked.
"It's the best-tasting… ugly cake I've ever had," Zion confessed, already reaching for another bite.
The other wolf's jaw was agape in disbelief. The beige and pink mess was that good?
'…Zenith, let it not poison my body.'
Moments later, Riley also quickly found himself enamoured with the gnorc confection.
"Sorry for taking so long!" The voice from behind startled them, accidentally making them swallow their large mouthfuls whole. "My boy's still a little tired, so it took a bit more time to convince him to get up."
Suddenly remembering why they were in the gnorcs' house to begin with, Riley and Zion sprung to their feet and met her by the staircase.
"N-no. It's all right, ma'am," Riley coughed. "This was on short notice, on the same day he comes home every week, so we understand." Zion nodded in agreement, but not before sending his friend an annoyed look for acting so patient all of a sudden.
The loud creaking of floorboards was heard as Spyro left his room. The teenager slowly ambled down the stairs with his hands in his pockets. He hadn't bothered changing out of his clothes since arriving home, as evident by the dirt on his jacket or the traces of water shimmering off of the cape around his waist. His flame-inspired mohawk had also deflated from the rainwater and the golden blond hair was now cascading down the side of his face, covering his right eye.
"This had better be important, all right?" he said as he removed the headphones from his ears. Spyro's typically intense expression was now vexed and somnolent. He wanted nothing more than to sleep in after the long week, but now his personal time was getting interrupted for who knows what.
"Spyro!" Nina gasped. "These two came all the way here to speak with us! The least you can do is greet them properly."
The teen scoffed at her words but didn't object beyond that. He then knelt down in an apologetic bow that was clearly rehearsed and "politely" asked for forgiveness. He was waved back to his feet by Zion before he finished the sentence. As his gaze panned up, he took in the sight of something very different about the two wolf guards. Their fur was filthy and highlighted red in some places.
"Blood…? What's going on? What happened to you two–"
"Lycanus has been attacked." Riley interrupted, silencing everyone.
"A-Attacked?" Spyro echoed. The word felt like venom to say aloud. Spyro took a nervous step back at the revelation. This happened today!? He must have only just missed it! Nina, similarly, cupped her hand over her mouth in horror.
"Earlier this night, the Dark Army sent a troop of apes, led by one of their king's top commanders, to investigate what they deemed to be suspicious activity. Our alpha attempted to deter their investigation, but in the end, blood was drawn."
Both wolves took turns explaining the events that took place. Every so often Nina would interrupt to inquire for more details. Even if both Terrace Village and Lycanus were isolated from most of the world, and the gnorcs didn't have a reason to fear the Dark Army, that didn't mean they were ignorant of the evils that plagued other Realms. The two wolves tried their best to reassure her that the situation was being handled with care and that there was no looming threat.
"When did it start? Are you all okay?" she asked, her voice cracking.
"Miraculously, none of us died. And while it is too early to say, I doubt there will be any long-lasting casualties. Thank the Ancestors."
"The earliest sighting was approximately…" Zion paused to think of the best way to convey the timeframe of the events, due to Lycanus being on the other side of the world. "Three hours into the morning for us, and Sol was beginning to rise by the time we forced them out. This was less than an hour ago."
"Then that means… Spyro! You were there when this happened!" Nina exclaimed.
"He WAS!?" Riley hollered. Everyone in the room turned to the teenager with various amounts of shock or rage on their faces. With all the attention suddenly on him, Spyro stumbled back, almost tripping over the staircase and landing on his tail. "Spyro! You should have returned home a long time ago!"
The teenager himself flinched at the angry voice, shielding his face as he cursed, knowing that his secret was out now.
"I- Well… Nothing bad happened to me! I got back perfectly fine, and nobody saw me."
"How can you be so sure, dear?" Not even Nina was fully convinced by his excuses.
"I… Let me think about this…"
They gave him a full thirty seconds before he answered. If it were biologically possible, Spyro would have been sweating a waterfall.
"Okay– Got it! It's the most obvious thing in the world!" he proclaimed. "I'm a purple gnorc, right? If an ape saw me, in Lycanus of all places, wouldn't they try and capture or at least attack me? But nope! Not so much as a scratch! Hell, you dudes didn't know a thing about this 'till now!"
His explanation seemed to work on his mother, who eased off.
"Yes, that's true… I was so afraid all the effort we've put into keeping you hidden would be wasted."
"I wouldn't celebrate just yet," Riley growled from behind, still very angry. "He's lying. Or rather, he's hiding something from us."
"Hiding!? Me? I dunno what you're–" he paused for the briefest of moments as he remembered something else that occurred that day. Unfortunately for him, both canines noticed this and immediately pressed for more details.
"Spyro…?" his mother whispered, scared of what he had to say.
He scoffed and turned away. It was moments like this that he really hated how wolves could effectively read minds…
"Okay, fine! I did run into someone that night." He pointed at the wolves. "One of you guys. Or rather they crashed into me!"
"One of us?" Zion questioned. "Why would you need to be secretive about this?"
Spyro crossed his arms behind his head and leaned against the wall, going over his side of the story.
"Look, ever since that day last month when I felt that big surge of energy, Sapphire has been pushing me past my limits. Naturally, I felt I deserved the afternoon off, so I stayed back for the evening and worked on some of my side projects. When I finally did decide to go home, I ran into one of the night patrols before I made it to the portal. The dude seemed lost, so I made him a deal: I pointed him back to the city, and in return, he didn't tell Sirius about my late-night excursion."
Nobody dared interrupt Spyro as he talked, and paid attention to every word. His explanation made sense and lined up with the times Zion provided earlier, but both wolf sentries agreed that one detail didn't add up.
"You say he was 'lost'?"
"Uh, yeah…?" Spyro dismissively waved a hand around in a circle. "That forest is a never-ending maze. Literally! Anyone would get lost after a while."
Zion gave him a serious look in the eyes as he explained.
"Spyro… wolves don't 'get lost'. It's impossible. You could leave one of us stranded in the desert with no map or guidance, and we'd still find our way back to civilization."
"What? You're obviously exagg–"
"How do you think we were able to find out exactly where you live when neither of us have ever stepped foot in Terrace Village, and at this time of day, when no one is around to provide directions?"
Slowing processing everything being told to him, it eventually dawned on Spyro that he may have indeed been wrong and he hadn't run into a wolf earlier. In the worst-case scenario, it was possible that it had been an ape, meaning he may have ultimately been responsible for leading the Dark Army directly to Lycanus' main entrance.
Overcome by horror at what he may have done, Spyro began to curl up on himself, subconsciously trying to use his wings to shield himself from the grim reality of it all.
"Calm down, Spyro." Zion suddenly coaxed in a softer voice, trying to remain optimistic. "This person… Can you describe him?"
"Huh? Oh…" Spyro peaked out from behind his wings and brushed himself off. "U-Um… Wolf. Blue and white fur… Carries a sword with him… Not very social…"
He stopped talking when he saw that everyone in the room was staring at him blankly. His description was simple and sounded like he was naming off the most basic traits of any ordinary wolf to save face.
"L-Lay off, guys!" he roared, stomping his feet on the ground. "I wasn't paying that much attention!"
Riley growled in irritation and took control of the conversation away from his partner.
"Ignoring the obvious details, what would you say set this person apart from, say, the two of us? What more can you tell us?"
"Well…" Spyro hummed. "Okay, for one… Short. VERY short. Especially compared to you dudes. And… he was wearing a blue cloak, and his voice was very weird."
Instantly, the ears on both canines perked up.
"I see…"
"Do you know who that was?" Nina asked them, to which they both nodded.
"We can't name who it was, specifically, but it does make sense that Spyro didn't recognize him, as the individual is still just a little pup."
"A child!?"
"Indeed. Likely, the little one was trying to prove himself ready to become anointed before the upcoming twin full moons by venturing out late without supervision."
"Seriously? That was a kid?" Spyro mumbled. "I… never would've thought that."
Back in the forest, Spyro didn't think much of the wolf. In hindsight, it was odd how patient and understanding they were with him; most adult wolves had zero tolerance for rule-breaking. If it was someone not even his age secretly going behind everyone's back, they would probably understand his plight and wouldn't rat him out.
.
.
.
He froze.
"…Wait, you let young wolves out at night, but it's off-limits for me!?"
"It's 'off-limits' for all of you!" Riley barked. "That pup was a naive fool, acting without thinking of the consequences of his actions. No different from you! Sirius will surely puni–"
Riley slowed down as the night's events played back in his head. He remembered how close they all came to dying. And who it was that ultimately saved them…
A large purple hand fell on his shoulder, as Nina stepped forward.
"Please don't be so hard on Spyro. Or the little pup. They both made mistakes, but we know now that they weren't responsible for the Dark Army finding Lycanus."
Riley wanted to snap back and reinforce that they couldn't act so desultorily when so many lives could be at risk. But he stopped when he recognized that it was in her nature as a mother to want to protect her son. The brief pause in his diatribe gave him a moment to calm down and reflect, with Zion stepping in to reassure the gnorc that neither involved party was in trouble.
"Even if Spyro was here with you at the time, nothing would have changed. And truthfully, if not for that one boy, we wouldn't be here right now."
"The hell? The kid actually fought too?" Spyro blurted in disbelief, not sure if he should feel proud of the equally rebellious kid's guts, or surprised that his superiors would even consider letting him fight an ape.
"Against all of our wishes," the older wolf clarified, stressing each word with force. "He broke off on his own and we weren't able to stop him from getting involved."
Zion quickly added his own opinions.
"He's young and inexperienced, but whoever his teacher is would be proud. He fought with such grace and fluidity that, for the briefest of moments, one could mistake him for an adult. Assuming Sirius is willing to overlook this insubordination, I wouldn't be surprised if he does get anointed early!"
Riley then stood up and coughed loudly as he sauntered over to the kitchen wall.
"Tangent aside, we were sent to inform you that Spyro is not to return to Lycanus for another month. We cannot predict the Dark Army's movements, so we're taking precautions. We understand this may prove detrimental to Spyro with all the progress he has made recently, so please make sure he doesn't neglect his personal exercises in the meantime."
He grabbed the broadsword reclining against the counter and slung it across his shoulder, while also tossing Zion his longbow.
"Now if it's all right with the two of you, we really do need to return home."
They stayed behind a few more minutes, making sure Nina understood everything they told her, reminding her to tell Flash once he returned from work, and informing her on how there will be another messenger sent to inform them of when it was safe for Spyro to return.
"Thank you for your time, ma'am. Zion, let's go." Both wolves bowed in a dignified manner, the younger of the two remembering to thank her for the cake. They barely made it a foot out the door and into the rain again, when Spyro suddenly spoke up.
"Why…?"
"Hm?" Riley stopped to hear what he had to say, but his tone was clearly irritated.
"You never explained what the apes were doing in Lycanus. You said they were investigating something 'magical', but I've lived there for four months now. You guys only know the very basics of magic. Alchemy, material fortification, and the like. That much wouldn't cause an investigation that big."
"As we've already said, it was a false alarm. They mistook our kind's innate aura abilities for something far greater. They left of their own volition when they realized their mistake."
"Are you sure?" Spyro rose his voice and glared at the older canine. "I may not be able to read minds or whatever it is you guys do, but I have the feeling you're the ones lying right now."
A heavy silence rang out. Riley returned the glare with a piercing gaze as he was suddenly challenged. The heavy downpour had already soaked his fur again, but he paid it no mind.
"We have told you everything that needs to be said. Make of it what you will." He closed the door behind them. "Farewell, Spyro. We'll see you next month."
Spyro's jaw fell in shock, insulted by the wolf's cryptic response. Clenching his fists tightly and gritting his teeth, he let out a powerful roar. Nina gave her son a full minute to let out his expletives before trying to calm him down.
"They an odd bunch, those wolves. Very traditional and structured in how they live their lives… But maybe it's best that we don't pry into anything. They've devoted everything they have to keep us– you safe." Spyro's arms fell down in defeat and he grunted in agreement. Nina smiled up at him. "And look on the bright side, you have the month off. Plenty of time for you to finish that song you're working on, and any other projects."
Spyro vocally acknowledged the statement more than he actually agreed with it. Deep down, while his training was extreme, he could feel the benefits it yielded. And having to go a month without the stimulation bothered him greatly, especially when he was still plagued with uncertain thoughts and doubt.
"Mom… Say if… I don't know– Someone claimed that they were you, and could back up their words with undisputable proof, would it be wrong to believe what they're saying?"
"What do you mean?" she asked, not understanding at all what he meant. In recent times, after Spyro started having those weird dreams, Nina felt like there was an almost invisible wall separating Spyro from her and Flash.
Spyro practically lived and breathed another reality from them now.
"Never mind, I'm going crazy.–Pretend I don't exist." He held up a hand, forcibly ending the conversation before throwing his headphones on again and walking back to his attic room. "I'll have my cake tomorrow. 'Lost my appetite."
"Ah, Spyro…!"
"See you tomorrow, Mom." The doorway closed behind him. Not even a minute later, the sound of an electric-powered guitar vibrated through the house again, only softer and not as kinetically as before.
Nina clutched a hand close to her chest as she reflected on everything her son said.
"Maybe Flash is right. Something is going on with him that he can't tell us… Is it time we told him?"
A/N
Another chapter down!
I know what I said last time… but I just couldn't upload this one right away. After looking over what already I had with fresh eyes, it felt too blunt and hard to follow, even for me. Because of that, I gave this chapter a full rewrite that more than doubled its length! My average word count per chapter is currently around 10k-12k, but who knows? That might increase soon…
As an interesting bit of trivia, "Senary" is a term I'm both making up and borrowing from a certain other series. I needed a generic name for what people in this world would call a Persona when they've never had any human interaction to know that word. I originally had "Septima" written down, but couldn't justify it properly, so I reworked it using the same naming convention.
Anyway, that's all from me today…
Until next time, farewell.
~AzureDragonZX