“I wake long before the others do. The sun isn’t even up, but I can’t sleep. I have a bad feeling that the challenge that lays ahead of us is going to be much more difficult than the ones we’ve already come acrossed. Oh moon, you are a part of me as I am of you. Please tell me what lays ahead of us and will we all get out of it alive?”
??????: A little late to be moon gazing isn’t it?
Akkrah: Huh? I was seeking answers, elder.
Gramps: Please just call me Gramps and I’m not an elder of this pack, just passing through on my way to a very special place.
Akkrah: My companions and I are also passing through on our way to the Spirit Shrin.
Gramps: Oh, well then, you’ll all be taking the Spirit Path then.
Akkrah: That’s right.
Gramps: Well, I wish you and your companions all the very best and I hope to see you all again.
Akkrah: Same to you and if I might ask. What do you mean again?
Gramps: All in good time, Akkrah. Now you should go back to bed and I must be on my way. Good night.
Akkrah: Good night, Gramps. “Hmm. I don’t recall telling him my name and what special place is he going? !! Could Gramps be? (Looks up at the moon.) Yes, yes he is. That means we’ll see him very soon.”
Raz: Akkrah what are you doing up still?
Akkrah: Just getting some fresh air brother. Now back to sleep with us. We have a long way to go.
Raz: ………. Ok. Night sis. (Licks her ear and falls back to sleep)
Akkrah: Good night Raz. (Licks he’s ear back.)
(Morning sunlight pours into the den and nudge in my sides sturrs me awake from my sleep. I look up to see the leader of the Whirling Wind’s pack standing before me. I struch and sit up looking around to see that everyone else is still asleep.)
Akkrah: Is something wrong?
Kaze: Not at all. It’s just time to go.
Akkrah: Oh. Alright, I’ll wake everyone and we’ll join you outside. (Kaze nodds and sits outside the den.) “I’d better hurry and get everyone up and ready to go.” (Nudges Raz, who opens both eyes and looks up at his sister.)
Raz: Something wrong? I don’t sense any danger.
Akkrah: Nothing is wrong. Come and help me wake everyone up.
Raz: Time to go I take it?
(Nodds and gently shakes Lily and Dark awake, while Raz leans over and licks Autumn’s ear to get her to walk up. I nose Kyo in the ear and he jumps to his paws. Syke sits up and yawns, but is ready to go.)
Akkrah: Come on everyone. We can’t keep Kaze waiting forever.
(Nodds at her and starts walking for the entrance.)
Kaze: Is everyone ready to go?
(Looks each and everyone of them then back to Kaze and nods.)
Kaze: Let’s be on our way then. We have a half day’s journey ahead of us.
Kyo: Half a day’s journey?
Kaze: Yes. The spirit path is half way up the mountain. It’ll take us half a day to get to the beginning of the path. From there your on your own.
(Everyone just nodded and Kaze took the lead.)
“His and Sykes's pack where sitting outside their dens and nodded to us as we passed them. The elders including the two we talked too wished up well and safe journey. We wished them long live and happy years ahead of them. Then began our descent to Spirit path and from there the Spirit Shrine.”
