Wolves and Realms: before

the hero

Lillikain flew through the small space between the wooden door and the wall. Her feet landed softly onto the ground of the wolves' room. She gazed over at the two wolves. They were curled up together side by side, laying on leaf beds. Looking at Platinumcoat, Lillikain noticed something. He had faint dark circles under his eyes. That's when she remembered. On her second night in the treehouse, a storm rolled in. Platinumcoat stayed up for most of the night, looking over Gold. That night, he dragged the squirrel fur rug in and threw it over the yellow wolf to keep him warm. She could only assume he had been watching over Goldmoon every other night since then.

It had been a week since the two met and they treated one another like brothers. Goldmoon would often sit and dedicate parts of the day to just hanging out with Platinumcoat, only putting it off if his duties as an alpha called. Platinumcoat would watch Gold very often, usually smiling. Rarely, he'd look at Gold, an expression of concern or even fear on his face as if the alpha was some sort of ghost who had come to haunt him.

As Lillikain stared, she tilted her head and smiled. It made her happy to see them happy, even if they were only sleeping. She flew over to them and curled up in front of them. She was about to doze off when she heard a grumbling. It was her. Her stomach was grumbling. Time for breakfast. She spread her wings and took off, flying around the ajar door and out of the treehouse's new window which had been cut into the main room. Surprisingly, the space-bending magic translated the windows geometry quite well (meaning that the window was the same on the inside of the treehouse as it was on the outside).

She approached the forest ahead and then darted to the ground. Her eyes scanned the terrain for lizards. One by one, she swooped down like an owl and caught the lizards in her mouth. She perched down on a rock and began to feast but then, from further within the forest, she heard a scream. Without hesitation, she flew over to investigate.

Blood red fur, fiery eyes, jagged wolf skull: It was Hellbound. Under one of his paws, he had an adolescent wolf who had darkish beige and reddish brown fur. Tears streamed from the wolves eyes as it stared up at the demon. Without a second thought, Lillikain launched herself at the demon's face. She bit into one of Bound's orange eyes. He yelped in pain, removing his paw from the captive wolf. The demon collapsed, having lost balance during lillikain's attack.

Lillikain fluttered down and gave off a sigh of relief. She was so happy that the wolf had gotten away that she forgot she was perched on the demon's snout. With tremendous force, she was swiped off of Hellbound's skull helmet and onto the dirt and grass. "Well well well, if it isn't lunch. I suppose you think you'll get away. Well, not this time."

Hellbound pushed his paw onto the mechwings chest, pinning her down. His fiery eyes looked into hers. His pupils were thin and sharp like a snakes. The demon's head moved closer, his snout almost pressed up against her neck. She could feel the boiling breath of the unearthly creature. She closed her eyes and braced for death. Bound bared his teeth before opening his jaws and-

"Wait!" A voice had screamed. Both Bound and Lillikain turned to meet the talker. Stood just out of Hellbound's reach was Lilac. Lillikain started to worry. She was willing to risk her own life to save the wolf but now Lilac was here, ready to do the same for her. She had put her best friend in jeopardy.

"Lilac! Leave now!" Lillikain demanded, a clear tone of fear in her voice. She began to tear up. "Run! Forget about me!"

"No! I won't! I... I can't!" Lilac responded, tearing up as well. "P-please, take m-me instead." She stuttered.

Hellbound weighed his options for a short time before shattering Lillikain's keratin wings and releasing her. "I'm sure you can walk your way home" the demon taunted.

Lillikain ran to the edge of the clearing and watched from the side. Bound pounced onto Lilac. She didn't move. She didn't even flinch. The demon had her pinned down. His snout moved closer to her before his jaws swiftly closed in on her neck. The next thing Lillikain knew, he was gone. She ran into the clearing where the corpse was laying. Blood seeped from Lilac's unmoving body. Her eyes were dim and lifeless.

Tears rolled down Lillikain's face like rivers. Drop by drop, they hit the ground and mixed with the blood soaked soil. The teal mechwings scales became slightly more pale. She began to whimper before she let out a scream that pierced the silence of the forest.

"Why? Why did you do it?" She stuttered aloud to no one. "Why did you have to be a hero, Lilac?"

Something had grabbed her. A red paw. Hellbound. He laughed in Lillikain's face and then stared at the corpse beside her. "You know, I don't think that was enough fear to keep me running. How about we see what I can get from one more kill?" He positioned his jaws either side of her neck. Before he could bite down, someone pushed him. A wolf... No. Two wolves. Bound stood up to confront his attackers. Gold and Platinumcoat stood with stern, almost angry looks on their faces.

The blood red hound growled. "Why must you foil my plans?" He growled. "Nevermind. I happen to have something for you two." A crimson, thorny vine wrapped tight around their legs. The demon laughed as a wolf emerged from the bushes beside him. The stranger was the same colour as Bound. They had a decaying ring of thorns sat atop their head as well as two scarlet eyes. "Brilliant work Bloodbound. Bravo, bravo."

Bloodbound stood silent and watched Gold and Platinumcoat struggle to remove his vines. "Let us go Bound!" Gold ordered.

"No, no, I don't think I will" Hellbound replied.

Gold let off a growl. He looked at the vines around his legs. He closed his eyes as frustration began to take over. The sound of fire. When Gold opened his eyes, the vines were burned to cinders. Everyone, both Bounds included, stared at Gold, shocked. Hellbound and Bloodbound disappeared.

"What? Why's everyone looking at me?" Gold asked.

"You never said you were a pyronic!"And purple flames as well?" Platinumcoat bellowed.

"A what?"

"A pyronic. A fire element." Platinumcoat responded.

"I don't have an elemental power." Gold said, clearly confused.

"Yes you do!"

"Is it normal to have magic?" Gold questioned.

"All wolves have magic... Unless their banished to earth. They just need to master their element... But that's besides the point!"

"Have you mastered your element?"

"Not quite. But I'm an Electreus. I know some magic."

"Awesome!"

Both wolves stopped. Lillikain was sat on top of a rock, crying. Both wolves went over to sit beside her. Gold looked at her.

"I... I'm sorry, Lillikain. We should have come here sooner. We should have..." Gold started. A tear began to form in the corner of his eye. "This is my fault. It's my duty, not just as the alpha but as you're friend to be here for you... But I wasn't and I couldn't save her." The wolf looked over at Lilac's remains, feeling disappointed in himself.

"Let's get you back to the treehouse. We can patch you up and get you something to eat and drink. We can give Lilac the burial she deserves."

Everyone turned to the dead mechwing. Platinumcoat walked over and grabbed her gently with this mouth. Lillikain hopped onto Goldmoon's back. They all made their way back to the treehouse.