A Therian's Trail: Ch. 21 Book 3

Instructions

MENTIONS OF DE@TH As Garnet faded away like a ghost, I turned and looked up at the wolf's eyes. He looked on sadly at the vanishing enemy, as if he regretted talking to him. "Is he... gone?" I whispered. The wolf doesn't move. I touched his fur. Only then does he snap out, shaking his body and licking my forehead. "Come on," he frowned. "I have a lot to explain." <><><><><><><><><><> The wolf led me outside, where the forest stretched out before us, with the mountain around us. I took a seat on a boulder, beckoning the wolf to lie beside me. After all that we had gone through, his presence felt like an anchor in my storm. "Is he truly gone?" I asked oncemore. "Is our fight over?" The wolf looked at me with a somber expression. He shook his head. "He is still out there... waiting," the wolf said. My hands clenched. "Now, I must tell you," the wolf sighed. I leaned forward. "Garnet was once a wolf, like me. We were raised as siblings in the forest," he motioned towards the woods beneath us. "As we grew older, our pack leader became sicker and sicker until he passed away.... of course, there can't be two leaders to a pack. I was older, so the elders insisted I was destined to be alpha. When I got the title, Garnet became furious, attacking our pack for 'betrayal.' We weren't a normal pack... we created the forest and provided for it. As Garnet rose to a greater threat than we could handle, I cast him down to a German Shepherd therian; a human and dog, both lower than wolves." "Go on," I encouraged. "He didn't stop. Now that he was human, he communicated with people, such as Autumn. They destroyed the forest and thinned our pack until only I was left. When I gave up my life in the forest fire, I became a ghost. Then, I was able to appear to you whenever and wherever you needed me. When Garnet discovered this 'new power' and how you could communicate back to me, he wanted to gain your trust, so that in the end, he would destroy you, take your power, and come after me," he went on. "So really, I am the reason for your suffering." I paused, taking it all in. My whole life after finding the wolf... I was hunted.... "I'm sorry, Silver," the wolf bowed his head, ashamed. "No," I murmured, stroking his head and kissing his muzzle. "Don't be sorry. It isn't your fault he's after us. You were the one who protected me! You gave me a new hope. Only a noble and loyal wolf could do such a thing." "But he's still out there," the wolf raised his head. "I was only able to drain his power, since I am only a ghost. He will regain it and come after us again."