The Secrets of The Reverence Pack

Chapter 20: Kindness Returned

"Grandpa!" he whined. "Why do we have to drive there?! It would be faster if we just ran!"

"Patience, Shiro," his grandfather chuckled. "We wouldn't be able to carry all that's in this truck if we simply ran all the way here."

"I could!" He puffed up his chest.

"Now, now, Shiro," the man patted his knee. "It's not wise to have that great of pride."

"I thought you said that it was good to have pride?"

"Not when it blinds you from the reality," he told him. "That's where humility comes in. It balances pride. If you can master the art of pride and humility, then you will be a great leader."

"You say that about every lesson."

"It's all true, Shiro," his grandfather laughed again. It was great seeing him laugh. He had the happiness that spread to everyone else. "These are lessons that I had to learn to be a good leader."

They turned the bend of the dirt path, dark trees all around them. Many people in the city feared them because of how dark they were and how eerie the forest was. But he considered it his friend. For only the forest could help him sneak up on his friends and scare them.

"Are we there yet?"

"Almost."

"What's almost?"

"It's just right around the corner there," his grandfather pointed to another curve in the road. "Alpha Young is waiting for us right out front."

He bounced in his seat. He never had the chance to see another pack house. Not this one, at least. Alpha Roger's house was cool and looked like a big boat. He loved hiding around the building. But his grandfather always knew how to find him. He didn't know how he did it.

"Hey, Grandpa?" all of this had got him thinking.

"Yes, Shiro?"

"Why do we help other packs?" he asked. "I read in other places the packs fight with each other."

"Oh, there was plenty of that here," he told him. "Wars ravaged through this forest many times in the past. But, if there's one thing that you should know, it's that peace is always better than war. Allies are better than enemies."

"Why?" he asked. "What if we're stronger than them?"

"Because there's going to be a point where we need help," his grandfather explained. "Just like they need help right now. Whether it be supplies, or assistance with an enemy, kindness and generosity goes a long way. For it is something that may never be forgotten."

These were the same dirt roads that he was traveling. It was dark outside, and there wasn't any light other than the headlights that shined down, but he could recognize it easily. The trees had grown taller, but they were the same ones that he had looked at so long ago. He hadn't gone this way since his grandfather had brought him there. It almost felt as if he was brought back in time.

"Shiro," Jett's voice pulled him away from his vivid memories. "Are you okay?" He was racing through the dirt paths. Shiro was sure that he had been driving down them his whole life.

"Yes," he told him. "Just worried." He rarely told anyone when he was feeling a negative emotion, or any emotion at all for that matter. But he trusted Jett with this secret at least. And he was only getting weaker with the silver in him.

"Alex is backing up Geo and the rest of your warriors," Jett said. "Noble and Dynamic warriors are there as well. It'll be okay."

"This will be the first time my warriors don't have me to lead them," he admitted.