The King's Remorse

The Midnight Wolf

I go in the opposite direction that Phoenix and Dove had gone. There is a slight bit of warmth seeming from the volcanic rock beneath my paws.

What am I looking for? They said Arcane was pretty big, so he shouldn't be that hard to find, right? I mean, like, just look for a giant wolf who has constellations and stuff.

I look high and low, searching for any sign of the Midnight Wolf. Behind each rock I can find, within each cave, under every bush and snag, I check every nook and cranny I see. The moon rises, bringing twinkling stars with it. I take a moment to look at it and bask in the silvery light. Far off in the distance, the trees are silhouetted. Closer, the side of Ragdon Volcano turns slightly grey.

Don't get distracted. You're getting distracted, Clap. You're getting distracted. Go find Arcane. Find the Midnight Wolf.

I break my gaze from the moon and return to trying to find Arcane. A rabbit-like creature darts across the path, though its fur is a clash of colors like a galaxy, and it has several antennae and far too many eyes to count.

My ears perk as I watch it run off and dive into what I presume to be its den. Then I look from where it came, expecting to see some creature, possibly Arcane, racing after it. But there's nobody. I can't see anyone on the rocky terrain of the peak of Ragdon Volcano.

"Uh, h-hello?" I trot around, searching the surrounding area.

"Hi," a voice says from behind me. I yelp out a short scream.

A wolf, seemingly almost twenty times my size, stands before me. Seven earrings hang from one of his rainbow ears, the first of which is a metal string with a diamond on the end and the rest of which are rings. A huge mane of black fur, streaked with every color, runs down his forehead and spine. His eyes are red and green, and one of his fangs is golden. His fur is made up of galaxies, stars, planets, and who knows how many constellations, though his tail is a solid bright red. Draco stands out in black, silhouetted by a gradient of white.

I frown. "A-a-are you Arcane? And why a-are there t-tears in your e-eyes?" I ask, tilting my head to the side.

"Yeah, I'm Arcane, alright." He doesn't meet my gaze and instead looks at a rock off to the side a ways.

"Why a-a-are there tears i-in your eyes?"

"'Cus I'm the Midnight Wolf."

"Wh-what does... B-but, like, why. I-I-I'm s-still confused."

"I can't blink; if I do, time will reset, destroying everything I perceive to be evil. It's a long story." Arcane's head hangs partway to the ground, and his monstrous paws shift, as if in an attempt to keep himself upright.

"Hey!" I turn around in the blink of an eye. Phoenix is sprinting towards me and Arcane.

"Hm?" Arcane looks up but doesn't react when Phoenix skids to a halt with a snarl.

"So here's what's gonna happen; you are going to bring back Ky right this instant. Dove, set him down."

"No, no, no. That's not happening." Arcane takes a few steps back before running away. Fear flashes in his eyes and he shakes his head.

"ARCANE! Get back here!" Phoenix roars, racing after the Midnight Wolf.

"Oh, no," Dove sighs, adjusting his grip on Ky.

"Clap! Stop him!" Phoenix looks over his shoulder.

"O-ok." I jump forward, and I'm in front of Arcane in less than a second.

"I said I'm not reviving Ky. I'm not doing it. Please, let me go."

"Well, you'd better." Phoenix bares his teeth and flames explode to life, surrounding the black cat in an inferno.