Unexpected Heroes

Chapter 53 - 11 months, 364 days later

A/n To save you reading hundreds of chapters, I've done a nifty time skip!
APOLLOS' POV.
WOOOHHHOOO! LAST DAY!
I rush to throw my clothes on, and run to the stairs.
Ug! This'll take forever!
Then I see the banaster, and slide down on it.
I slide around the turns like a train on a train track.
I land running on the bottom floor. My feet slide across the floor as I try to get to the kitchen for breakfast as quick as possible. 
I find breakfast, and devour my baked oatmeal with chocolate chips.
I run to the door, slipping into my white armour...Pretend the armor is coloured just like Pandora!

I pull my helmet over my face, and make sure it covers all of my head.
I release my wolf and tiger firends, who're also clad in armor.
We run out, the beasts on my heals.
I smile, and release Pandora. She's about the size of a house, but doesn't seem too much bigger to me.
Otice is shorter than me by two inches.
He always says, "I think Fire and Winter create a height gene... otherwise how would you be this big, my boy!"
I haven't heard from anyone for  a year today, but I don't mind. I have my wolf, my tiger, and Pandora to keep me company when Otice leaves. I'm working on another beast, but it's a little wary of the other two.
Many people think a tiger and a wolf can't get along, but they do! Or mine do, at least.
Pandora looks sharp in her armor. It's a facial mask, a chest gaurd, a tail gaurd, leg gaurds, wing protectors, and neck gaurds of padded steel. Her saddle and bridle are the only space that aren't armored.
She warbles contently.
I walk up to her, and stroke her.
Her golden eyes shine brightly, like polished molten gold.
I can't see any of her scales, but her warble is so distinct it's easy to find her.

Otice walks in, and sighs, "No luck?"
I try again, for good measure.
A flash blinds me. A white fox with random black streaks is in front of me, with the same gold eyes that me and all my bonded beasts have.
Otice smiles.
We laugh as the fox, the tiger, and the wolf begin to play.
Otice shakes his head and laughs, "A fox? I thought it would've been a mink, or a horse, concidering that it wasn't sure about the tiger and wolf."
I crouch down, and my bonded animals rush to me. They're appropriately called "Shifter's Shadows", but I consider them family.
I smile as the fox yips at the wolf and the tiger. They run off, and begin to play like nature intended everything to get along.
I turn to Otice.
He gestures for me to kneel.
I kneel on one knee, head bowed. My breath is frosty, because of the longer winter than normal.
I feel the gentle breeze made by Otices' sword swishing to my shoulder, head, and other shoulder. Kinda like what they did to knight people.
He calls loud enough to startle birds, "Apollo Farthing, you are now a rider, a shifter, and a WARRIOR! Go help your people win this war. Bring them home, Apollo. Bring 'em home!"
I look up into the old mans' face, and reply overflowing with pride and joy, "I will fight to my last breath to save us from our enemies. I will never surrender. I will bring them home victorious."
Otice tells me to rise, and claps me on the back. I smile , the wolf howls victorious, the tiger roars, and the fox does it's yipping cry.
Otice smiles, and directs me to a chest in the snowy alleys between Mage housing.
I open it with curiousity. My Shifter Shadows are behind me, for moral support. Pandora is peeking down the alleys with a large golden eye.
I pull out a beautiful white broadsword. I find a matching sheath, and attach it around my waist.
Otice smiles, and whispers, "Time to go back to school. Unfortunately, you have to go back. Fortunately, you are in the last grade. Libby will be there too!"
I smile, and the wolf grunts.
I stroke its' bushy head.
Otice asks, "Can... can you promise me something?"
I nod.
He finishes, "Keep luring out more Shadows, okay? You have a gift, so I'd hate to see it wasted. "