Prologue
“Goneck, although I am sure that you have thought over it many times, I am inclined to ask of you whether you acknowledge and are aware of the dangers and harm that could come upon you if you continue with the task that you have just proposed.” Brothfear said.
“I am well aware of the dangers that may daunt my task.” Goneck replied serenely. “If and when it comes I will be ready to face it.” Brothfear nodded and wagged the tip of his tail unconsciously, obviously impressed and satisfied by this answer.
“Well then due to the certainty with which you have just answered my question and many other factors we have approved of your proposal, you may journey at whatever time you think best. We ask one thing of you before you leave and that is that hopefully you will you take your human to meet The Circle for they will greatly appreciate it and your human will receive much knowledge from them as well.”
Goneck nodded from the spot where he was sitting on his haunches, looking up at the Mirgten wolves. They all encompassed gentle faces, which held illustrious knowledge and compassion. Most of them were aged ones whose fur had turned into a metallic grey color and the fur around their eyes had grown longer, giving the onlooker an impression of ones who had seen much and experienced the weariness of the world on their shoulders. There were six Mirgten members in all. Of them, two were alphas, female and male. The latter were aged wise senior wolves who had been elected out of their wisdom to govern alongside their alphas.
“You may go.” The alpha wolf said; he spoke with an air of authority and pride. He, Brothfear, and his mate Yunatun were large wolves. Brothfear had long thick fur, which exaggerated his large size to an even more impressive bulk. He had a remarkable coat of white fur that shined like silk when catching the light from any object. The fur around his collar was thick and broad that made his chest look considerable and gave him an appearance of the most illustrious fabrics of the kings of old being wrapped around his neck. He had large ears and a long and bushy tail that increased his size in length. Brothfear was an amazing warrior, as well as wise. He could be considered reckless at times, but the good of his tribe always came first in his conscience.
“Wait.” the female alpha wolf called out as she climbed off the ledge from where her mate and she usually positioned themselves. Goneck stopped and watched her as she went into a tunnel that led into another chamber in the large cave. Yunatun could be considered to be almost his exact opposite at times. She had a soft brown coat. Her physique was large, but thin. Her coat was long as well, but not dense. Her eyes were soft and had an almost silver tinge to the usual gold rings that colors the wolf’s eyes. She had a long handsome snout and picturesque ears. Their pack had often said that their alpha male could only be complete with Yunatun at his side for she was his source of judgment and guidance. Brothfear’s recklessness was kept in check by Yunatun, and when his decisions were unsettling Yunatun would always be there to calm the hearts of the ones at question and come to terms with them and in more than one occasion her decision had been far better than the one of her mate. She was more than just a mate of an alpha wolf. The wolves of their pack looked to her for wisdom just as much as they did from Brothfear.
She soon reappeared with a chain. Goneck knew immediately what it was. It was ‘The Crest of Exodiox’. She carefully slipped the necklace over Goneck’s head. She then picked up her paw and stamped it firmly on Goneck’s right paw, he winced at her powerful press, and removed it after a moment. Goneck looked down at his paw and saw the same crest as the one that was on the necklace. He looked up with sparkling eyes at the calm face of the alpha.
“Don’t let us down. We have great faith in you Goneck Feliv. Good Luck.” Goneck bowed in gratitude and made his way out of the cavern and back out to the forest. Many wolves were roaming around, far more than there had been before the great slaughter, the pack’s increasing size was thanks to the discretion practiced by all the wolves, but the growing population of the wolves would prove a problem for they were running out of habitat space and every day brought them closer to interactions with a human. Goneck winded through the various heavily trodden trails and made his way to his home.
Goneck sought out the den in which he and his family occupied and clambered inside. When the wolves had settled here, there was only need for two dens, they were large enough to house at least twenty full grown adult Giant Wolves, but the increasing number of wolves has forced them to create another five more. Most of the dens reached underground for under there the air was cooler and it also saved them the work of building the dens upward and making them more at a risk of being seen.
“Father, the Mirgten agreed to let me go!” Goneck shouted as he ran toward his father, Duketup, whom he singled out from all the other wolves that occupied the cave. Usually it was law that only the alpha male and female wolves could have the privilege of giving birth to young, but his father was the younger brother of the Brothfear, and he had allowed his younger brother to create a family of his own. Brothfear thought that it would be a good way to expand the pack, but this was allowed solely with the condition that Brothfear and Yunatun’s offspring would stay as heir to the position of alpha.
Duketup looked up at his son’s arrival and pushed himself up to his feet. Goneck ran up and stopped in front of his father and sat down politely.
“Did they?” Duketup asked. He lowered his great head to Goneck’s level and nuzzled him. “I’m so proud of you.” He slowly lowered himself to the ground and Goneck came up to him and settled himself between his father’s front legs.
“So am I.” said Goneck as he got up suddenly and clambered up his father’s neck and sat on his collar, placing his forepaws between his ears. Duketup laughed and rolled his head to the side to look at his son. “Father, to tell you the truth, I don’t know when I will be back. It might be twelve full moons later, or even the whole fourteen.” Goneck looked at his father hesitantly. “Is that ok?”
“Of course it is son. I already knew this.”
“You did?” Goneck asked a bit relieved.
“Yes. Just remember to comfort your mother before you leave, it’s not going too easy for her to let her only son leave and not see him for that long. You’ll be half grown by then, who knows, maybe even more.” Goneck nodded and jumped off.
“I’ll be sure to do that.” He said solemnly. Goneck stared into his father’s gentle eyes and felt a deep sense of satisfaction come over him. His father was proud of him and that was all Goneck needed to know.
“Just be safe son.” Duketup said finally after a long silence. “And if you ever need anything, you’ve got me and the whole pack behind you.” Goneck smiled and nodded. “Now go find your mother, you should leave soon after that, no reason in prolonging you journey.” Goneck obeyed and ran along to find his mother, Shandalir whom he found sorting some scrolls in the mass cavern. Goneck explained what had been decided and his mother reluctantly, but proudly agreed to let him leave. Goneck gave his mother a heartfelt lick on the cheek and left the cavern. He then left like a shadow detaching itself from its owner and departing without certainty of ever coming back.
The next part of the novel is under the name of 'Elements'
