Is this truly home? (Book 1)

Chapter 5

The last thing Axel remembered was him, Aruska, and Desmond heading to High Ridge territory; and then a soft familiar lullaby. Now, he woke up in a familiar forest. The air smelled so sweet, and he felt happy... But his happiness didn't last long, for soon there were 9 wolves who had surrounded him. Some were small, some were medium-sized, but the one that caught his eye was a great brown wolf that looked just like him, only bigger. The weird thing was that they didn't attack him; they just stood there as if they were waiting for him to give a signal or command. Then one of the smaller wolves that had reddish brown fur and a white snout walked up to him slowly and transformed into... Her. The girl from before! The one that was haunting his dreams and giving him riddles that left him with more questions!
"It's you! Where am I?! What is this place?! Why did you bring me here?! Who are they?!"
The girl then placed her finger on his lips to quiet him; and then backing up, she took her place back in the circle of wolves who all started to hum while circling him.
"Good job, Aries. You're on the right path. Listen to their stories, listen to our history, when the question you most seek to be answered appears; go to the mural on the wall. It will explain everything."
"What?! The more you talk in riddles, the less I understand! Although, I think I understood that one. Will I see you again?"
The girl walked to him, giggling as the wolves continued to circle and hum.
"Don't worry, Aries. You'll see us sooner than you'd think."
Before placing her hand on his head as she had done previously, she whispered one last thing to him.
"Your family loves you, Aries. Never forget that."
Axel woke up on a bed of moss and healing herbs that Storm would use in a crystal cave.
"Wow."
"Ah, good, you're awake."
An elderly white wolf wearing a crystal necklace was staggering over to him.
"Storm?! How'd you find me?! Did Eris send you to poison me?!"
"My dear child, Eris is not here. You are safe here in the Crystal Cave of Ancestral Spirits on the pack lands of High Ridge. One more thing. I am not Storm. I am her fraternal twin sister, Sunny."
"Crystal cave? High Ridge Pack? Oh, my moon goddess! Aruska! Where's Aruska?!"
"Aruska is talking to her father and the pack about letting you stay. Though, in my opinion, you already have my vote. Your father was a dear friend of mine."
"My father? But Eris doesn't love anyone but herself; and possibly the pain of others."
"Yes, she does. But she is not your real mother. Your family was slaughtered in a brutal battle, so Eris could get what she wanted. Your father, Alpha Darek, did his best to protect you and the rest of your family from the tyranny of Eris. Unfortunately, he lost... But so did she."
"What do you mean?"
"Her plan was to erase every trace of Darek's bloodline; but a very tiny part of her maternal instincts decided to take pity on a young soul who she felt would make a great warrior one day. Can you guess who that brave young soul was?"
"I... I..."
"It was you... Aries."
"My... My name. The only other person who calls me that is... Her. The girl from my dreams."
"Yes. Her name is Mara. She was your sister. She was the last person of your family you saw alive before Titan clawed out her throat, and you made your way to Eris."
"So... So those flashes in my dreams?... The soft hummings... Her throat having... Wait. How do you know all of this?"
"Like my sister, I am a healer. But I am also a crystal guardian. I help sad souls who have died painfully to come resolve their last lives."
"Like unfinished business?"
"Correct. Now tell me, Aries, what do you remember about that day?"
"What I remember... Well..."

Sun and joy
Pain and woe
Things I barely remember
And a song that was sung
Once upon a warm summer
Someone held me safe and warm
While a war kept raging on
Figures playing happily
Across my memory!
Someone held me safe and warm
As a war kept raging on
Figures playing happily
Across my memory!
Far away, long ago!
Glowing dim as the sun sets
Things my heart used to know
Things it yearns to remember
And a song that was sung
Once upon a warm summer

"There's so much. Fragments, pieces. Almost like... Riddles! Sunny! My sister, Mara, the one you told me about, she's been giving me riddles about who I really am. She wanted me to come here! There must be a reason!"
"I think I know. Come."
Axel followed Sunny through crystallized tunnels until they stopped at a certain pocket in the ground. In this large cave, there was a huge crystal that stood tall. When Axel went up to it, he saw himself but younger. Back to when Eris took everything from him. In that moment, he saw everything. His father and mother were getting taken down by Eris, Titan, and other rogues were killing his brothers, and worst was when Titan maliciously clawed out his sister's throat. After every memory had been fulfilled, he was crying and howling out his pain, which he never knew how to do because he was taught that emotions were a sign of weakness. Then, standing back up, he turns to face Sunny, who looks at him with concern.
"What will you do now, young one?"
"I don't know yet. But one thing is for sure; if I'm going to bring down Eris, I need the whole pack to allow me to stay. Otherwise, we'll all be dead by the end of the year."
He walked out of the caves and back into the forest so he could find Council Rock, meeting place of the Pack, so he could tell them who he really was and how he could help them end Eris's rule and plan on being Head Alpha. But while he did, he took time to think back on his life and all the events that would be leading up to it. Was he really prepared for what was to happen next?

Pain and loss
War and strife
Things she didn't want remembered
And her song that was sung
Once upon that warm summer
She had held me safe and warm
While the fight was far too gone
Figures dying painfully across my memory!
She had held me safe and warm
While the fight kept raging on
Figures dying painfully across my memory!
Far away, long ago!
Burning bright as the Moonlight!
Memories I know now are true
Memories I've longed to remember
And her song that she sang
Once upon that warm summer

He had arrived at the Council. Everyone was in shock; including Head Alpha Jackson, who would be stepping down. But amongst the whispers and accusations, Axel stood tall and sat next to Aruska; which had made her smile. It was then that Head Alpha Jackson spoke up.
"So, the rumors were true. You did survive. Or you could be an imposter to gain knowledge for Eris. How do you justify yourself?"
"It is true. I 'was' part of Eris's pack and her second in command. But after what I have seen in the Crystal Caves of Ancestral Spirits, I wish to no longer be a slave to the lies she has raised me on. With your permission, I would like to be a part of your pack."
Whispers continued to get louder because they couldn't believe a low life rogue who was raised with a mass murderer wished to be a member of their pack?! The very thought of it was hilarious and not to mention unbearable to think about. But there were some that were on Axel's side and could see from his point of view. One was obviously Aruska. She had seen his emotions and saw he had good intentions the night they first met. The other was an elder wolf named Heskaan. He saw potential in Axel and knew his family well before his father had become an Alpha. He was also the father of Storm and Sunny; so he was a very old and wise wolf. The third was Sunny. For she had been watching Axel through the crystals for years. His family's spirits, although were restless because of Eris, felt they would have Sunny watch over their youngest son. So now it was all up to Alpha Jackson. Before he could make up his mind, he looks to his beta, Desmond, who shakes his head at Jackson who tells him that it isn't a good idea. But since Jackson will be stepping down, he looks to his daughter Aruska. She has confidence in her eyes and then giving her a respectful nod and her to him it was decided.
"The young wolf known as Aries, son of Alpha Darek of pack Riverstone, shall become a part of our pack! This meeting is adjourned! Awoooo!"
"Excuse me! Alpha Jackson sir! My name is Axel. I know it's wrong to keep it, but I think it's a strong name that will become something in the future."
"Fine with me. But whatever questions you have from now on, go to your Head Alpha Aruska."
Aruska smiled and hugged her father and Axel. However, not everyone was in high spirits. Desmond, Alpha Jackson's beta and Aruska's bodyguard, was angry. He went outside High Ridge territory and howled. Once the howl was returned, the two wolves met on a low-level plateau in the dark of the night under a full moon. Desmond wanted to keep an equal distance from the wolf in front of him; for he did not want the stench of a rogue on him. Even if that rogue was... his brother-in-law... Titan.