Ash: The Wolves of the World's End

Chapter 18

     Ash led the pack in a single line, following Bard as he plotted a course out of the mountains. The blanket of snow was beginning to wane as their paws padded through the thin, crunchy snow. Ash could see grass in the distance, still green for a time. The weather was changing as well, becoming less frigid and more humid.

     Selena trotted close behind him, watching him closely, in case his leg shot out in pain again. He had protested, claiming that his leg was fine.

     “It’s not natural for a wound like that to heal so quickly,” Selena had replied. She was right, there was something odd going on. Had Lupa’s magic somehow healed him?

     Lupa’s appearance puzzled him as well. He could feel something different running through his blood, something powerful. What it meant was another question. Ash had probed his mind repeatedly throughout the drudgery of the day’s march, searching for a voice in his mind. Every time, his search had come up empty. By the time the pack had decided to stop for sleep in a grassy expanse near the edge of the forest, Ash was becoming fed up with Lupa’s unwillingness to reveal herself.

     “I’ll take the first watch,” Bianca quickly volunteered. He growled a thankful acknowledgement as he laid himself down on the grass.

     “Enjoy it while you can,” Bard commented, lying down a couple paces from Ash. “Where we’re going, the ground is frozen all year long.”

     Ash grimaced and turned his eyes to the night sky. The stars shone less brilliantly then they did in the mountains, but the aurora still burned through the air, like a fiery snake.

     Ash? He started at the voice. It was almost impossible to hear, but yet it pierced him through the heart. The voice was beautiful and wild, yet sad and ancient. Turning his head to check his surroundings, and finding everyone asleep, he addressed the voice.

     Lupa?

     Yes Ash. It’s me.

     Questions flooded his head: What’s going on? Why didn’t you talk before? How did you know my name?

     I don’t have much time, Ash, so I’ll try and explain quickly. It takes a lot of energy to speak to you, and I am much weaker than I once was. I had to spend a good deal of that energy healing you.

     Do you live inside me? He asked, somewhat frightened.

     Yes, came the reply. For the time being, I am a part of you. I will guide you to the World’s End, and if you wish, to the other side. But there are things we must discuss first. First of all, the Fire.

     A rush of excitement shook Ash. The Fire, continued Lupa, is my gift to you. When you need it the most, I will show you how to use it. When you burned Samson: that was me acting through you.

     There is more you need to know. It’s about my dark brother. Fenrir. Ash cringed with horror, drawing his tail closer to his body. The name seemed to draw all the warmth out of him. His old pack had told him the stories, but that was all they had been: stories.

     He is in league with another wolf. You must always be on guard.

     Why? He prodded. What should I do?

     There was a long silence in his mind. Ash felt as if the voice had taken its leave, returning him to the vast, dark sky and the soft grass. Immediately, he felt alone and unprotected.

     For now, you must sleep, came the reply. You will need all the rest you can muster.

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