Hardlanding: Kingdom of Secrets

·4·

The group of wolves split up, heading to various locations in the academy. Nightinggale and Sky stuck together, the smaller wolf leading her friend to her dorm room.

"I sent Don a message while we were traveling. He should be waiting there with the rest." Nightinggale said as she bounded ahead of Sky.

The older wolf chuckled at the younger girl's excitement before following after her. Nightinggale scratched at the door, tossing Sky a wolfish grin as she wanted to surprise them. The door opened to reveal Ashlie, a frown on her face before it was replaced with shock at the two wolves at the door. Her tail shot up in alarm as Nightinggale leaped over her head into the room, Sky following her.

"Wha-?! Hey!" Ashlie yelped as she crashed to the floor, the other occupants of the room turning in confusion.

All of Nightinggale's excitement changed to concern as she took in the tears running down UNi's face and her missing closest friend.

"What's wrong?" She demanded as she became normal, her voice serious as she marched over to UNi, her left arm in a flexible brace and the only the clue to her previous injury.

UNi frowned as he looked away, clenching his fists tightly before he crashed into her in a hug, a wail escaping his lips as more tears filled his eyes.

"They killed them!" He cried as she hugged back, patting his head.

She glanced at Sky, who nodded before sending pointed glance to the room before curling onto Nightinggale's free bed next to Ashlie, Dashlie, and Tommy. Nightinggale grabbed UNi's hand and pulled him towards the window, dragging him outside of it before climbing. He followed her slowly, pausing to wipe his glasses off before scrambling to the top and sitting next to Nightinggale.

"Who killed who?" She asked quietly as he leaned into her side, his eyes downcasted.

UNi dropped two rings into her hand, both too big for his fingers. One was a simple sliver band, a purple W decorating it. The second was white, a black K carved into it in the same style as the first. Nightinggale felt her blood run cold as she recognized the rings, and she turned to UNi, dread filling her.

"These are Kathrine and Wiliker's rings, aren't they?" She asked, UNi turning to face her in shock.

"You know my siblings?!" He cried.

"Don, I know your hovering nearby. You mentioned the spell on him was already cracked, break it and I'll take care of the rest." She thought as she sat the rings down next to her leg.

"On it." She heard echo in her head.

She took a deep breath before smiling sadly at UNi. "Once there was a girl,"

~~~~~~

The little girl struggled down the street with the large basket. Although she was tired, she continued on, taking care not to bump into the many wolves traveling down the street. Feeling a hand get placed atop her head, she looked up to see her brother smiling down at her. He took the heavy basket from the girl, instead handing her a much smaller basket filled with different plants.

They never knew their dad, and they lived with their mom, the Alpha of their pack. They helped her take care of each other, learning self defense and to care for others. They took trips to the castle, playing games with the the prince, who was her brother's age, as their mother spent time with his dad. The prince's older brother would humor them, leading games for them.

The older prince went missing, leaving his younger brother and the rest devastated. The younger brother ended up taking the throne when his father passed, continuing to meet up with the young girl's family.