"Come on! Come on! Get 'im! Kick 'im! Pow! HA! No, wha?! You jerk, take that! And that! And that! Hahaha!! Who's laughing now you dead pirate?!"
"Jake!"
"Yeah, mom?!" the young teen called somewhat annoyed as he was already in battle with two more zombies.
"Have you seen my big Cuubian bag?! I can't find it anywhere!" she yelled from the kitchen.
"I have no idea where you hide your bags!"
"Can you just check your room quick?! It's the one with the big stripes on it, you used it on that camping trip with school!"
"Can I do it later?!"
The woman's head appeared in the door, "Please go check now Jake." it was the tone of voice that said, you don't have a choice.
"Fine," Jake mumbled and pressed "save" on his game, then threw down the controller and ran up the stairs to his room. A quick glance around the general mess told him it wasn't in plain sight so he threw his closet doors open and sure enough the bag was hanging right on the end, still filled with most the stuff from the trip. He dumped the remaining contents onto the floor and turned when something caught his eye.
A book had fallen with the rest of the stuff. He raised an eyebrow and kneeled down to get a better look at it. The only time he ever read anything was when teachers practically stuffed one down his throat. Someone must have dropped it in by accident. But as he looked harder, there was something familiar about it. Like something from long ago... He set the bag down and picked up the book. There was a girl on the cover playing a flute, with some rags in the background. The name on the top read "The Crone"
Weird, Jake flipped open to a random page, The east side of the forest lay in ash from the fire...yeah, yeah... he skimmed down the page, Tobin and Spark found themselves surrounded by the band of rebel wolfs. Their own plan had turned on them and they stood trapped. Jake smirked, Now that's something I could get into... Before he could read anymore, the book glowed a bright white light. As the light faded, the book fell to the floor in the empty room.

The white light receded and Jake's vision slowly came back. But what he saw wasn't his room. The first thing that came into focus were the tall bright green trees. He was in some kind of forest. As his sight came back into focus he realized there was more around him than just trees. He was surrounded by a half dozen wolfs bigger than cars! They were all staring at him with their big eyes and sharp teeth. He instantly broke out into a sweat and felt his hands shake with fear. For a moment nothing moved and time seemed still, until one of the wolfs tensed and sprang out.
Jake ducked but the wolf hadn't been aiming for him. The real target had been a rugged, football player looking man with wild brown hair. The wolf had caught him off guard and he dodged, but not before one of the dagger looking claws cut into his arm. He cursed and looked back at Jake, "Get out of here you idiot!" he cried and slashed out as the wolf came at him again.
Light headed and on the verge of hiperventalation, Jake forced his legs to turn and start running as fast as he could towards the nearest break in the woods he could find. But under the stress of the situation, his legs didn't want to seem to move from their statue position and it was more half running half falling. Another one of the wolfs jumped at Jake and clawed at him with enough force to cut through him like butter. At that moment Jake stumbled forward, escaping from the full force of the claws, but the wind still made his hair stand on end as and the tips sliced through his back. He cried out and fell forward, three long gashes on his back burning like fire.
The wolf got ready to pounce again for the kill when the man came out of nowhere and jumped on its back. With super human speed he pulled back the wolf and plunged a dagger into the back of it's throat, "Spark!!" he yelled and jumped off again as the wolf crashed to the ground, dead.
Suddenly Jake felt himself being lifted by the back of his shirt and the hot breath of the beast on his neck. This is it; I'm dead for sure. I never even got to say good-bye to mom or dad...just like Kari. He didn't stop to think why his dead sister returned to his memory in what he was sure was his last moments. Tears flowed down his cheeks as he braced himself for the killing blow, but what came was not what he expected. The wolf that had him started running, though it didn't get far before another pounced on it. It swung his head and Jake flew through the air like a Frisbee. He flew a good fifty feet before a tree lined up in his path. He cried and reached out, getting whip lash when his arm hit a low branch, but it managed to bring him down. Only when he reached the ground he kept rolling and hit the tree with a hard thunk! And the world went black.

***4 Years Earlier***

"Why are you still here?!"
"Huh? Ahh! Don't ask me, this is your stupid world!"
"What are we gonna do?"
Tobin sighed and scratched the back of his neck, "Take her to the Mother Crone I guess," he turned to the small girl and nodded in Spark's direction, "Get on."
"What? You want me to ride on a wolf?!"
"Yes."
"I'll walk thank you."
"It'll be faster if you get on," Tobin pushed.
"We have plenty of time." the eleven year old crossed her arms.
"It will take a week if we have to wait for you!"
"So what?!"
"Get on!"
"No!"
Spark's head kept snapping back and forth between the two as they argued.
Tobin clenched his fist, "Why are you so stubborn?!"
"Because it'll hurt Spark's pride!!"
No one moved or spoke for a moment. Then Tobin sighed again and walked over to the girl. Spark smiled and chuckled as he picked her up forcefully and threw her over his shoulder. She protested, screaming and kicking, but the weak attacks did little to big man. He sat her down on Spark's back and the protests changed to surprised silence when he stood. Nearly 20 high, she knew falling would hurt bad, So she gritted her teeth and grabbed a chunk of Spark's thick fur.
"Hold on tight!" Spark called and took off.
They traveled the rest of the day and stopped at a small hotel for the night. By noon the next day the Imperial city was in sight. At one point Spark's ears perked up. He looked at Tobin but the half wolf shook his head slightly, not even noticeable unless you were paying attention. Kari was beat. She was sore from riding and tired from the lack of sleep on the hard bed at the hotel. But even she heard the light high pitched screaming when they got close enough.
"What's that?" her head snapped up and she looked around.
"Nothing that concerns us," Tobin said quietly and kept going.
"No," the girl was silent a moment, listening hard, "Something's crying! It's probably hurt!" she started tugging on Spark's fur. Didn't bother him the least but he slowed down at her request. Tobin sighed and groaned as Kari jumped off the wolf's back. She landed hard but was up just as quick and running towards the sound. She ran through the woods and came to a stop in front of a large tree. At the foot was a small red creature wailing at the top of it's lungs.
"Newborn dragon," Tobin said quietly as he came up behind her, "Left wing is broken," he pointed to the wing bent in an impossible position, "Paralyzed for life, won't be able to hunt so the parents left it to die by nature, human or wolf, which ever got to it first. Not too common but it does happen."
"That's horrible!!" Kari whipped around and glared at Tobin, tears streaming down her face, "How can parents just abandon their own child like that?!"
"Dragons are hard creatures, they don't take care of others except their own children and even then it's only until they're old enough to hunt for their own."
"Well how can they just leave it to die?! How can you walk past without doing anything?!" she looked at both Tobin and Spark. Tobin said nothing, Spark looked away embarrassed, "We have to help it!" she walked over and knelt by the creature. She reached out but it clawed at her and she snapped her hands back.
"Dragons are also a very proud race. They'd rather die than be helped." Tobin sighed.
"The Mother Crone can heal it can't she?!" Tobin remained silent, "Can't she?!"
Spark nodded, "Yes, she could."
"Then if there's a chance then we have to help it!" she reached out again and winced as the creature's claws tore at her skin. She grabbed hold and tightly cradled the struggling dragon. She stood up and ran back to Spark, "Come on we have to hurry!" Surprised and impressed, the wolf obediently laid down. Kari looked back and glared at Tobin until he came over and lifted her up. She was shaking slightly from the pain as the creature dug it's claws into her arms. Spark stood slowly so she wouldn't fall off. Tobin nodded and the two started out again.
The first fifteen minutes were hell for the young girl. Between trying to keep her balance and her hold on the dragon, with the pain pulsing through her like fire and blood running down her arms like streams. She bent her head and muttered to the dragon. Five minutes later Spark felt the activity on his back calm. Tobin glanced up, Kari had her head down and eyes closed. The dragon was silent, breathing heavily like it was sleeping. He nodded to Spark and they picked up their pace.
They reached the Imperial city an hour later. They ran down the side streets, dodging through the crowds. People stopped and stared as they passed. Seeing wolfs in the city wasn't as unheard of as it had been a few years before but it was still uncommon. The gates opened as Spark came up, he and Tobin were at the castle often these days. Spark slowed as they entered the court yard, and was surprised to see the Mother Crone already waiting for them. Spark stopped before her. Kari opened her eyes and looked around sharply, as if coming out of a trance. That was when the dragon woke up as well. It immediately started screaming and kicking again. Kari quickly jumped off of Spark and ran over to the woman.
"Heal him please!" she cried, skipping over the introductions.
"Show some respect." Tobin muttered and bowed before the Crone.
The Mother Crone waved it away, "There is no time for formalities now. The girl is right, we have little time to heal the Dragon pup." she went over and put her hand over the dragon. It calmed once again and was soon sleeping, "Put it down," she ordered Kari.
"But-"
"Do as I tell you child."
Kari slowly nodded and put the baby down gently.
"Come here." Kari went over to the Mother Crone. The Crone put her hand on the girl's bleeding arm. A light hum filled the air for no more than a second. When she pulled her hand away Kari's arm showed no signs of cuts or bruises. She did the same to the other arm and nodded to Kari, "Now that you are healed we must talk."
"But what about-"
"Patience. Before I heal the dragon I must know...why did you not return to your world?"
"What does that have to do with anything?!"
"Everything, now answer me."
"The dragon is gonna die-"
"Why did you not return to your world?!" the Mother Crone shouted.
"Because I didn't want to!!" Kari blurted out, "I'm never going back there! Happy?!!"
"Yes." The Mother Crone said calmly.
"Now please heal him!"
The Mother Crone gave a small smile, "Stubborn, kind hearted...yes you will make a great healer...."
"You're wasting time!"
"No child, you are wasting time."
That caught Kari off guard, "What?"
The Crone looked up sharply at Tobin and Spark, "Leave us." she snapped. The two looked at each other and slowly slid away. The Mother Crone looked back at Kari and knelt down to her height, "I can give you the power to heal the dragon yourself." she said softly, "But with that power you must stay here forever. You may never return home."
"I'm not going home anyway." Kari said flatly.
The Crone nodded, "You will be able to see things, understand things. You will have great responsibility. Greater than anything you ever imagined. It will not be easy, especially for one your age. If you accept it, you can never give it back. You will be able to do things you never believed you could do, and as you grow your power will only get stronger. Do not make this decision lightly my child." she placed her hand on Kari's forehead and the girl's eyes widened in surprise as the images went running through her head. She realized what it really was the Mother Crone was asking her to do. The Crone removed her hand and the two remained silent for a long time. Finally Kari looked her straight in the eyes and nodded.
The Mother Crone smiled and nodded back, "All right, hold out your hands child." Kari did as she was told. The Mother Crone took one finger and lightly drew a circle on each hand. Then placed her own hands against Kari's and started chanting. Kari gasped as the blood in her started to run wild. Her hands grew warm, and a faint hum filled the air again, but stronger this time. A breeze came out of no where and blew around them. Kari closed her eyes and shuddered as she felt something circulating from her to the Crone and back again through her hands. And as soon as it had started, it stopped. The wind quieted. The hum disappeared and both felt normal again.
The Mother Crone sighed heavily and looked at the dragon on the ground, "Go heal him."
Kari looked at her, to the dragon and back again, "Me? I can't-"
"Go." The Crone snapped, "It has very little time left, do as I tell you."
Kari was still confused but she ran over to the dragon and knelt down by him.
"Put your hands over it's wing and focus on healing it."
Kari did as she was told and closed her eyes, focusing on the wing fixing itself and the baby getting better. She didn't see the wing start to glow slightly and move back to its original form. And she didn't notice the dragon open it's eyes and look up at her, only to fall back asleep from exhaustion.
"That is enough." The Crone said after a few minutes.
Kari opened her eyes and looked down. The dragon's wing looked normal and it was sleeping peacefully. She broke out into a huge grin and looked back at the Mother Crone, "How did I do that?!" she asked.
"You will learn soon enough. That and much more." She looked down at the dragon, "She is yours now you know."
"What?"
"The dragons are a very complex race. Their pride is as important as their morals. Yes they have morals, how ever few they may be. If one saves their life, they will stay with that one until their dept is repaid."
"Wow..."
The Crone put a hand on her shoulder, "What is your name child?"
"Kari."
The Mother Crone nodded softly, "That name is your past life. From today on you shall be known as Enorc."
"That's a weird name..." the girl mumbled as Tobin and Spark came walking back into the court yard.
"Tell the king to spread the word, a new acolyte as joined us today." The Mother Crone said happily.
Tobin raised an eyebrow slightly in surprise as he nodded and looked closely at Enorc. Her once dark brown eyes were now solid white.

Jake came too slowly. He opened his eyes and the blurry brown and green images took shape painfully slow. He heard birds chirping in the distance. Then came the pain. He cried out and snapped his hand around but as soon as it touched his back he cried out again. He collapsed back on the ground, breaking out into an instant sweat. The gashes on his back burning, and making his whole body weak. That’s when the memories came back. He closed his eyes and dropped his head against the ground. Giant wolfs...if he wasn't about to pass out from pain they caused him, he'd never believe it. Another five minutes he laid there. Felt like five hours. He silently wished his mom would suddenly show up and make all the pain go away. But he knew that wasn't going to happen. And that's when the hunger set in, adding to the rest.
He finally moved, wincing as he propped himself up into a sitting position. Cursing a few times he found his mouth was dry as sand, How long was I out? he thought angrily. But it didn't matter how long he was out or how bad he was hurt, he needed some food and water. Maybe then he would at least get some energy back. Easing himself into a sitting position he looked around. Nothing but trees and grass. Not even some berries or mushrooms to chew on. Cursing again, he grabbed onto the tree next to him, the one that had knocked him out, and used it to pull himself up. His legs were shaky, still half asleep but he got up eventually.
All right, now comes the hard part, Jake thought, looking around, Trees, trees and more trees, god isn't there anything else in the forest besides trees? Like a hospital preferably. With no idea where to go, he started walking in a random direction. Pain pulsed through him with each step and all he wanted to do was curl up and go to sleep, but he knew that wouldn't solve anything. He had to keep going. Find food. Water. Keep going...find food...water...keep going... The pain and conscious thinking of putting one foot in front of the other didn't leave much in his head for anything else. He soon lost track of time and didn't care if he dropped down dead right then and there.
Jake stumbled through the brown grass. He brushed away a dead tree branch and the leaves that were left on it, floated to the ground at the contact. With effort, he lifted his head to see if anything was ahead. He could make out a gab between a few of the trees ahead. Water? he hoped silently and trudged on. He broke through some dried out bushes only to find a path of rocks where it appeared there had once been a river, but had dried up long ago. Across the path the trees looked at brown and dead, dried out from lack of water. He dropped to his knees and wanted to cry.
That's when he heard movement from across the way. His head snapped up and he ducked behind some bushes as a figure appeared. A girl, a little older than himself, wearing a simple t-shirt and pants. She looked around and at the path of rocks, then took out a small flute. Looked like that little one, what was it called? Piccolo? She put the instrument to her mouth and the sound that came out was unlike anything he had ever heard. Such a beautiful tune...simple but mesmerizing. His eyes closed half way as he took sound, then a small sparkle in the rocks caught his attention.
It was a small trickle of water. The girl’s eyes were now closed, concentrating on the song. Another stream of water filled the cracks between the rocks, and another and slowly they grew and came together. Jake's eyes widened and he suddenly realized he had more energy. The girl stopped playing for a moment but the music still rang in the air.
Her hand reached out and swept through the air as if trying to catch something. Then as Jake focused he could make out a light mist around her. Maybe she was trying to push it away. But the more her arm moved, the more mist appeared and it started to follow her hand, wrapping around her arm like a sparkling spiders web. Pure magic, right out of thin air. Literally. Jake smiled. She threw her hand up and the magic scattered. Little sparkles like rain drops landed everywhere, even on Jake and his side of the stream.
The girl started playing again but with more energy this time. Jake looked down at his arms where some of the drops had landed and saw some of the bruises and cuts started to close up. Right before his eyes! He actually felt the gashes on his back closing up and being replaced with new skin. In moments he felt as good as new! He would have jumped up and down if the girl hadn't been right across the bay. He noticed the only thing still there was his thirst and hunger. The thirst would be taken care of soon enough.
He looked back up at the girl and saw the once brown grass she had been standing in was bright green. Vines and leaves were growing on the trees and flowers were budding on the bushes. The path of rocks was now covered by a healthy creek. When everything seemed to shine with life. The girl stopped playing again and looked around satisfied. Then she smiled happily and put the piccolo in her pocket.
Jake watched her but his legs were starting to get tired from squatting. He shifted a bit and head a loud snapping noise. He winced and instantly sat still thinking he had broken a branch or something. The girl's head snapped up and looked over in his direction, Oh no, now I'm gonna get it! She'll prolly roast me for watching her, he thought and tried not to move, but his legs were burning by now. He froze as the girl seemed to look right at him then she shifted her gaze up and gave a short, loud whistle.
Suddenly the branch above him shook as something jumped off it. Jake looked up and followed the blur until it landed on the girl's out stretched arm. He sighed and relaxed, maybe she hadn't seen him after all. He looked back, the bird on her arm was huge, she must have some mega muscles on her he thought amused and gave a small smile. But as he looked closer the bird didn't seem to have any feathers on it...
"You can come out now you know!"
He lost his concentration on the bird and looked back at the girl. She was staring right at him! At that moment his legs gave out and he fell back. Wasn't far and it didn't hurt, but if she hadn't seen him before she sure would have now. Jake jumped up and quickly tried to brush all the loose grass and dirt off his pants.
"Uh, h-hey!" Jake called, his voice cracking lightly from dry mouth.
The girl smirked and nodded to the creek, "The water's not poisoned or anything you can drink as much as you want."
"Huh? Oh, yeah right!" Jake stumbled forward and dropped to his knees in front of the water. The girls eyes on him made his uneasy. He dipped his hands in and brought them up to his face, trying not to look like a starved freak, but as soon as the moisture hit his mouth nothing else seemed to matter. Jake dropped his entire head into the water and drank like he hadn't had a drink in years. He stayed under until his stomach felt bloated and he needed air bad. Lifting back up he shook his head around like a dog, sending water everywhere.
"Gawd I never knew water could taste so good!" he laughed happily and looked back up to the girl, "I guess I should thank you for bringing the water and healing me. I have no idea how you did it and later I probably won't want to believe it," he put his hand behind his head and scratched the back of his neck nervously, "Oh, I'm Jake by the way."
The girl had been chuckling for some time and nodded, "I know who you are," she managed.
"Oh, well then can I ask your name?"
At that the girls face fell, "Y-you don't remember?"
"Did you say your name earlier? I'm sorry, memory's not that great when I'm hungry!" Great first impression Jake, first you fall on your face and suck up water like a dog then you forget her name. he felt like kicking himself.
"No, I didn't say my name before," she stammered.
Saved!!
"But...don't you remember me at all?" she seemed hurt.
"Have we...met before...?" Jake felt like an idiot, he was sure he would have remember someone like her if they had met before.
She had her head in her hand, then she looked up as if realization dawned on her, "She did this on purpose! It's another one of her stupid tests! I'm so sick of this, AAHH!" she looked back at Jake, "Come over here!" she snapped.
Jake didn't feel like disobeying her but the water was pretty high now and not that warm either, "Uh, is there a bridge around here somewhere?" he asked.
"You wimp, get your butt over here now!"
So different than the sweet caring look she gives off Jake thought confused and slightly annoyed as he jumped into the creek and quickly made his way over. Water didn't get above his waist but he still didn't like it. He walked over to her and shook his legs, trying to get the water off his shorts.
That's when she slapped his forehead and yelled, "Oimodasu!"
Jake staggered back and put a hand to his head, "What the heck was that for?!"
"Do you remember now?"
"No! I've never seen you before in my life!"
She swore and grabbed his hand and started pulling him back into the woods.
"Hey! Where are you taking me?!" Jake stumbled and tried to pull his hand free of her grasp.
"To get your memory back!" she said annoyed.
"My memory is fine!" Jake snapped back.
She let out a loud mock laugh, "You wish! Then you might actually have a clue where you are."
"Now that you mention it, where am I?"
That just made her laugh harder.
"Well, it doesn't help me one bit to be dragged along by you, I all ready almost died today I don't need any more trauma alright?!" he jerked his hand free and rubbed his wrist.
The girl stopped and sighed, "Fine, you're right. I'm sorry. Just...I promise everything will be explained soon if you follow me okay?"
"Okay. Lead the way." Jake held out his arm and they started walking, "So if I ask your name will you get mad again?" he asked quietly.
She sighed, "My name is Enorc." she said.
"En..orc... it's... different!" he gave a nervous laugh.
Enorc smiled lightly, "Yeah, tell me about it."
Jake heard a screech from above and looked up to see a red blur flying around.
"Oh, and that's Hikari. She's a dragon."
"A d-dragon?!"
"Yeah. She's a good girl." she smiled lightly but her eyes looked kind of sad.
Jake looked back down again just in time to dodge a tree, "Well I guess it's safe to say we're not in Kansas anymore Toto," he muttered, "No dragons where I come from!"
"I bet there are no giant wolfs and girls that can do magic either?" she smirked.
"Hehe, nope! Speaking of which how'd you do that anyway?"
Enorc grinned, "That's for me to know and you not to find out."
"Aaww come on, I'm about as clueless now as when I first landed in this place! Can't I get any info here? A clue? A hint? Your number maybe?"
She cracked up so hard so had to stop to try and breath.
"What's so funny?! I'm not that ugly am I?!" Jake looked down. His shirt was torn, his shorts were still damp, okay so he was having a bad hair day no reason to laugh at him!
"No, no!" she finally managed, "It's not your looks it's just...so wrong!!" she started laughing again.
"Oh, are you like one of those cultures that don't date until they're married or something?" he asked, still not really seeing the humor in the whole thing.
Enorc finally pulled herself together and started walking again, "No, they date when they're young. You'll find out when you get your memory back. And they don't even have numbers here so that line wouldn't work anyway Romeo." she chuckled.
"Ah phoo. Wait, but then how do you know about numbers?"
She didn't say anything and jogged up to a cluster of trees all in a row, like a barrier. She pulled away one of the branches and motioned for him to go over there. Jake walked up and looked out. His mouth dropped and eyes grew wide.
They were standing on top of a huge cliff. At least a hundred feet high. But beyond it was a vast city that stretched almost to the horizen. Houses and trees and buildings that reached to about three stories high. A great river ran off far to the right in the distance, coming from a waterfall from the same cliff they were on but only about twenty five feet in that area. And in front of them was a grand palace with a courtyard that stretched for fifty feet on all sides. A huge building, with smaller ones branching off. He could hardly take it all in, when Enorc tugged on his shirt. He reluctantly walked away from the gorgeous sight and followed her away. They traveled down a small and narrow path that took them right into the back yard of the palace.
The people they passed nodded respectfully to Enorc, but she walking hard, obviously knowing where she was going. Jake almost had to jog to keep up with her. Finally they rounded a corner and saw an older woman sitting next to a giant wolf and man. Jake stopped at the sight of the wolf. He wouldn't soon forget what they almost did to him. Enorc stormed right up to them, seeming to take no notice of the wolf. She seemed about to speak then looked at the man and grinned, "I heard you got ambushed by the Rouge tribe." she said amused.
He scrawled, "I heard you couldn't even do a simple memory spell." he shot back.
News travels fast round here, Jake thought surprised. He looked closer at the man. He seemed familiar...that’s right, he was the man that was fighting the wolfs when he first landed! So the wolf sitting there must have been the one that had saved him...sort of. He looked back to the man and Enorc. The two seemed about ready to bite each others heads off.
"At least I listen when I'm on a mission!" she said.
"At least I can do things I learned four years ago!" he shot back.
"You can't do things you learned two minutes ago!"
"You can't even set the table!" the man snapped.
That hit a nerve, Enorc whipped around to the woman, and pointed back to the man, "Okasan!!"
The woman who seemed quit a bit older than either smiled lightly, "You two be nice. Tobin, you're still not listening. Enorc, you're getting it backwards again."
"Nyah!" the girl turned and walked back to Jake and hit him on the forehead again, "Omoidasu!"
He recoiled from the blow while white light exploded in his head. He closed his eyes and he was in a world a black. Then a small light appeared, even though he knew his eyes were still closed. It grew until he saw a scene of a small back yard with a fence and a tree off to the side. A young boy no more than nine sat at the bottom with a book in his hand. A girl sat on a limb in the tree above him. That's my backyard, Jake thought as he watched, And me and...Kari! he looked up at his sister in the tree, grumbling about an argument her and their mother had just had, I remember this. This is the day...Kari disappeared...we thought she was dead...run away from home, but... a bright light came out of the book his younger self was holding and both children were dragged in.
The scene changed. Both children woke in a small bed in a rusty looking cabin. In the middle of the floor was a man who didn't look any older than twenty. He was trying to situate the robes around him that looked like they hadn't been washed in weeks. They were confused and the man told them if they went out and got him a glass of grape coordinal he'd tell them how to get home. Jake saw himself walk quickly, often having to drag Kari along who was taking her time, looking and examining everything. I remember this too. All I wanted to do was get home and I couldn't understand why she kept stalling... but now he could watch her closely and he knew. The little girl was already falling in love with the strange world.
They brought the wine back to the weird man on the floor and he told them to go see the wolf man outside the village. Little Jake grew upset, on the verge of throwing a tantrum. Kari almost looked happy to hear they wouldn't be going home so fast. The two kids ran off. It took them a while but they found the man and the wolf and he told them how to get home. It was so simple. The two did as they were told but when the bright light came and went Jake found himself alone in his backyard. But then the image went back to the other world. He saw Kari riding to the castle, the dragon, the transformation. Then nobles from all around the county coming with gifts for the new Crone-in-training, one of them presenting a small flute thing, the piccolo Jake had seen Enorc using before. With that the images faded and Jake was back in the court yard.
He blinked shook his head, looking at Enorc with a small smug and satisfied look on her face, "You...you're Kari?!" he cried almost unable to believe it. It explained everything, her sudden disappearance then why she had reacted so strangely when he had asked her for her number. His mind told him he should be jumping for joy having found his long lost sister, but he felt more like throwing up.
Enorc shook her head, "Kari is my past life, that name is only a memory now."
Just then a young woman came hurrying into their little corner. She looked maybe twenty, long flowing golden hair and a simple yellow gown on a Sports-Illustrated-Swim-Suit-Edition worthy body. Jake's worries the moment before were instantly forgotten as his mouth dropped. The woman went over to the older lady sitting in the grass with Tobin and Spark.
"Mother C!" she called happily, "The Guard from Palax is here, he's requesting to see you right away."
"Yes, yes I know," the Mother Crone said and stood slowly, cracking her back to get all the sores out. She turned to the others, "I shall be back by the end of the week, Jake I hope you have a nice stay." she nodded and left with the lady.
"Wait a sec, I gotta wait a week to go home?!" he cried.
"Longer than that, that’s just when we leave, who knows when you'll actually get home," Tobin said.
"Nnnoooo~" Jake felt like crying but straightened up as he saw the lady heading back towards them again.
"Tobin, I hope you'll be joining us for dinner tonight!" she called happily. He scrawled, happy Spark was asleep so he wouldn't be able to tease him again.
Jake watched her and muttered to Enorc, "I'm not related to her am I?"
Her eyes narrowed and she smirked, "I think she's a little old for you."
"Hey, I can learn to live with that, I figure I've got a ten year comfort range here!" he grinned.
Enorc nudged Jake and whispered as she started walking towards the two, "Just for your knowledge that's the princess Hitomi, second child and only daughter of the King Dikasama so behave."
He tensed, princess?!!
She reached them and nodded to Enorc, "Speaking of dinner Enorc would you be a dear?"
"Yes ma'am." she said softly with a hint of annoyance in her voice. She walked off. Jake took a step to follow when the princess stopped him.
"I don't believe we've met! I'm Hitomi. You're the one Mother C told me about, the one that's going to be staying with us for a while?"
What the heck, how'd she know I was coming?? He nodded instinctively and tried to answer her first question "uh, I..." Come on, just because she's a princess and was a super model in a past life gives you no reason to trip up here! "I'm Jake, the pleasure is all mine," he said in as smooth a voice as he could manage, bowing low and taking her hand as if to kiss it, but she pulled away and sighed, Oh great what'd I do now?! he panicked.
"I'm sick of all that royalty stuff, do me a favor and don't treat me like that okay?" she asked.
"Um, alright whatever you say," he relaxed, "Yo dude, what's up?" he gave her a light punch on the shoulder.
She moved back slightly from the hit but then burst out laughing, "You're the first person that's ever done what I asked!"
Jake smiled, Finally one point for me! then his stomach growled.
"Ah you must be hungry after a long journey." she said, not noticing his face going red, "Dinner should be soon, but if you want to sneak some food the kitchen is right around the corner, only door in the wall can't miss it!" she pointed off to the left.
"T-thank you." Food sounded like heaven right now being he hadn't eaten for who knew how long. He headed off in the direction she had pointed I handled that pretty well he thought happily and couldn't help but glance back.
The princess had made her way over to Tobin, who was quickly standing and trying to walk away but she caught his arm, "You will be joining us for dinner tonight won't you? I had the cook get some raw meet for you especially." she said sweetly.
"I'm eating with Spark tonight," he said, trying to untangle his arm from hers but she had a decent grip. She had only been ten when Tobin first started coming to the palace on a regular basis. That was when the wolf princess had stayed with them too. She had taught her and her brothers games and fun. And when Tobin looked at her he had a happy look in his eyes too. But when the wolf princess left so did the look in his eyes so the little princess became obsessed with getting it back. She clung to him and tried to get him to play with her then as she grew it just became a habit, but the look never returned.
"He can eat alone for one night," she pleaded.
Jake reached the wall, How can he be running?! If she were all over me like that-! he turned the corner and found the door. With the girl out of sight he could allow food to take over his mind. He opened the door and stepped into a large, warm room, a little blurry from all the steam going around. People working everywhere, cutting, stirring, mixing doing everything with any kind of food he could imagine. His mouth started to water, "Excuse me?!" he called over the noise of the knifes chopping and pots banging, "Princess Hitomi said I could get some food in here?!"
"Wait until dinner!" one of them called, though we couldn't tell which one.
"Wrong room!" another yelled.
"Get your own food!"
"We're busy!"
"Through there!" the one closest to him pointed to another door at the end of the room.
"Thank you," Jake muttered and walked towards it, Nice group of people they've got here. he thought and stepped through it. He entered a large dining room with a long dinner table. He saw Enorc at the end, setting the table and a big bowl full of rolls. He jumped over and stuffed an entire one in his mouth right away. Then he grabbed a few more and walked back over to his sister, "Hey, is manual labor part of the job description or do you just help out?" he asked through a mouth full of food.
"Part of the job description believe it or not," she mumbled, then smiled, “Watch this.” She took out her little piccolo thingy and started playing. Instantly all the cups and things she still hadn't set lifted into the air. One by one she dropped them down into place.
"I wish I could do that. It'd make doing the dishes so much easier!" Jake stretched in his chair, his stomach full for the first time for hours.
"It's not as easy as it looks. Some things seem to be impossible," Enorc pulled out a seat next to him and slouched in the chair, "Like summoning water. Can't get it to come up for the life of me."
"But you make that river just a while ago!"
She shook her head, "All I did was open up a dam a beaver had put up and gave the water a little push. I can't make it appear out of thin air that’s my problem."
"Sounds like making anything appear out of thin air would be a problem."
"Not all, it's just a matter of transferring the atoms from one place to another, how it works exactly I'll never know. At least I'm not inept to all. I can make fire come out easier than a dragon!" she smirked and snapped a finger. All of a sudden every candle in the room was a light and burning high. Jake looked around and gave a low whistle. Enorc smiled, "Okasan says it's because of my fiery personality. Like she told me when she was first starting out she could freeze anything like ice in seconds because she was so cold to everyone."
Jake laughed quietly, "Yeah, I remember you used to have a temper! You and mom would fight all the time."
"Yeah..." her eyes dropped.
Jake instantly felt bad about bringing it up, but before he could apologize, the door from the kitchen opened again and half a dozen waiters came out with different platter full of food and things. Enorc jumped up and pulled Jake out of the way as they started setting the things down and dishing it out. "This could take a while, why don't I show you around a little and where your room is. Won't take long then at least you won't be completely lost either!" she said. Jake smiled and nodded and followed her out.

Dinner was nothing Jake had ever tasted before. It wasn't bad. Looked kind of like steak but tasted kind of like chicken and mashed potatoes together. He was not surprised Tobin never showed up, but there was quite a crowd. At the head sat the king, the real king. He never got over the fact he was eating at the same table as real royalty. Then sat his two sons and daughter. Their mother on the other side and Enorc then himself. Right across from the princess, it was torture not to stare but he kept thinking if the king caught him looking at his daughter he would probably chop off his head.
After Enorc escorted him to his room again and left him. It was already dark out and Jake did not feel like going out and getting lost at night. He laid down on the bed, it was big and soft. He almost fell asleep a few times but kept waking up again when he worried about how he was gonna get home and how much his mom must have been going nuts wondering what happened to him. He remembered how hard it was when Kari disappeared, loosing both of them might kill her.
Just as he was about to fall asleep again he heard a soft noise from the window. He smiled, as the beautiful tune filled the room. His eyes opened slowly as he recognized the sound from Enorc's little flute. There were no clocks around here but he was pretty sure it was late enough where she wouldn't be playing for a crowd. He slowly swung his legs over the side and walked over to the window, rubbing his eyes and looking out into the darkness. He could make out a big tree in the middle of the courtyard. A figure sitting on one of the branches and another on the ground next to a sitting wolf. He didn't need any light to tell who it all was. Enorc in the tree with Tobin and Spark on the ground. He had a ground floor room and the window wasn't too high up. He jumped up on the sill and dropped down. He walked over and looked up at the sky, the mass of stars in the sky was amazing. Something flew across the sky, A bat? he thought.
"Put out your arm."
Jake's head snapped around. Enorc had stopped playing. He couldn't make out her face in the dark but he knew she was the one that had spoken. He put out his arm and he watched as the bat flew in circles around him, getting lower and lower, then he realized it was the dragon from earlier. He had almost forgotten about her.
Hikari landed on him. He braced himself for this huge heavy bird but except for the talons picking at his skin he could hardly feel anything! The dragon was big, obviously still a baby but bigger than any eagle he had ever seen. The entire body covered in bright red scales like a lizard and two huge paper thin wings stretching out.
“How can she be so light?" Jake asked quietly.
Enorc shrugged, "Best solution I could come up with is she's full of gas!"
Jake chuckled and put his other hand up. He ran two fingers down her back, the scales felt soft and smooth. He took another step towards the tree but Hikari took off and flew up, landing next to Enorc. He put a hand on his arm and walked over, keeping away from Spark who watched him closely.
"I'm sensing a little tension between us," the wolf said sheepishly, "Does anyone else feel that? Anyone?"
"Like a slap in the face." Tobin said. He was leaning against the tree, his eyes closed and arms crossed.
"Yeeaahh, I don't think we were introduced properly, I'm Spark." he nodded to Jake.
"Uh, Jake."
"Nice to meet you Jake. Now understand I'm not the bad guy here, most wolfs aren't. I'm the guy that hurts the bad guys, so I would greatly appreciate it if you stopped avoiding me like I'm some kind of disease."
"Uh sure." Jake walked over until he stood right in front of him. Even with Spark sitting, he had to look up a few feet to meet his eyes. The two just stared at each other for a moment. Something in the wolfs eyes, so friendly and full of humor, they made Jake feel safe and relaxed. He smiled lightly and nodded once to the wolf. Spark gave a satisfied smile and nodded back. Then Jake leaned against the tree next to Tobin. Enorc started playing again. Jake didn't know what he was doing out there, he didn't know what the others were doing either, but something about the group just seemed...warm.
He smiled and closed his eyes taking in the sound when he heard footsteps coming quickly towards them. He opened his eyes again and was able to make out the older woman from before. I thought she was gonna be gone for a week, he thought and watched her come up.
"When the Mother of all Crones can't remember how to do a stupid healing spell then there's something wrong with the world, you five leave first thing in the morning!" she cried.
Silence. Everyone just stared at her.
She waved her arms, "You heard me! Now go! Sleep! You'll need it!" she stormed off.
It took a moment the process then Jake realized if they leave earlier he'd get home earlier. He grinned and stretched, "Well then good night all!" he jogged back to his little window and hopped in, then fell into the bed.
"Okasan couldn't remember a healing spell?" Enorc muttered.
"The balance has been off ever since the war but its never affected her before." Tobin said.
"I've never seen her that shaken up before." Spark muttered.
“She's like everyone else, she doesn't like what she doesn't understand." Tobin replied.
"Hard to picture Okasan not knowing what's going on." Enorc said.
"Apparently the balance is above even her power..." Tobin whispered.
There was silence again for a while as they were all lost in their own thoughts. Then Hikari tilted her head towards Enorc who looked back and nodded, "The balance is above the dragons powers too..."

They all met early in the morning in front of the palace. The sun was just starting to peak over the horizon. Jake got a bit of breakfast then walked out to found he was the last one there.
"Morning sleepy head!" Enorc called cheerfully, "Hurry up, we want to leave like ten minutes ago." Enorc grabbed a handful of Spark's fur and lifted herself up. Tobin handed her a small bag which she shouldered and reached a hand down to Jake, "Come on."
Jake lifted an eyebrow. The back of a wolf? Could that be any more uncomfortable? "We're going to ride on him?! Don't you have any horses in this world? With harnesses?" what happened to good old fashion walking?
Enorc rolled her eyes, Spark chucked, "Remind you of anyone?"
"Hush." Enorc snapped, "Onisan?" she looked at Tobin.
He just shrugged and locked his hands together for Jake to step on.
"You won't get any where trying to argue with these guys trust me, I know." Enorc said and waved her hand in front of his face.

"Okay okay." Jake took her hand and stepped on Tobin's hands and the three got him up there sitting in front of Enorc. It wasn't as uncomfortable as he thought it would be. The fur was soft and warm, his back was so big it was definitely easier than a horse, "Hmm...nice."
Tobin nodded and turned towards the door, "Lets go." he took off through the gate.
"Hang on tight!" Spark warned and took off.
"Whoa!" Jake would have been thrown right off if Enorc hadn't been right behind him and caught him. She laughed and wrapped her arms around him and pushed him back down so he could grab the fur, "Nothin’ like a little whip lash to wake ya up in the morning eh?!" Jake called over the noise of the wind in his ears. Enorc chuckled and nodded.
Spark slowed to a trotting pace as they went down the streets in the city. There weren't a lot of people up yet but there were a few and the last thing they needed was a civilian injury before the long journey. Jake lifted his head and looked around at all the buildings and homes. Hikari flew above them and Tobin ran at the side.
Jake glanced down at the ground to see it racing by like he was in a car or something. He looked up and saw Tobin running beside them like it was no problem. "How can he run so fast?" he asked Enorc.
"He's half wolf." she replied.
"Really?! Sweet!"
Tobin glanced up at them, but still kept silent.
"So do you have like super human strength too?!" Jake called.
Tobin nodded.
"Don't like to talk when you run huh?" he observed, "That's cool, I understand, gym teachers are always saying you shouldn't talk to save your air...either that or its just to make us shut up!" he laughed.
“'d have to go with the second reason!" Spark called chuckling. Jake grinned, he was starting to like this wolf more and more.
t took them a good twenty minutes to get out of the city, and at the rate they were moving Jake had to guess that was a pretty big city. As soon as they were clear of the main roads they picked up the pace. Jake got down low again and clung to Spark's fur for fear of being thrown off by the wind. After it seemed like they had been traveling for a few hours they stopped to have some lunch.
Are we there yet?!" Jake asked as he got off Spark and stretched.
Not even close." Enorc replied.
Jake groaned, "How much longer?"
A few weeks?"
"WHAT?! What do you mean I gotta wait a few weeks to go back?!" Jake cried, "Last time I got home within a few hours!"
"Calm down!" Enorc shouted back at him, "Okasan gave strict instructions, you can't go home until you get to Palin town!"
"Palin?" Spark looked back and smiled, "Really? We haven't been there in so long, I'm excited now!"
"So where the heck is this Palin town then?!" Jake asked.
"Over the river, through the forest and into the mountains." Enorc told him.
Jake blinked, "That makes zero sense to me."
Enorc shrugged, "Well that's where we gotta go so get used to it." Jake bowed his head down, he felt like hitting something or crying.
"Cheer up roomie, we're not that bad." Spark grinned. Enorc slid off and started to get some food out of the pack she had brought.
Lunch was uneventful. As well as the rest of the day. They started out again right after eating but this time Jake stayed silent the whole time, even when they slowed down enough where he could sit up and enjoy the ride. As the sun started to set they found their way back to the main path and went into a good sized town. They stopped before the main street that led to the heart of the city. Spark let his two passengers off. The people walking in and out of the town glanced at the strange group as they passed. Jake tried not to pay attention to them but it made him uneasy to know people were staring. It was obvious Tobin wasn't comfortable either. He put on some sunglasses and nodded to Enorc.
"We'll stay in the woods tonight and meet you an hour before the sun rises." without another word him and Spark took off back the way they came until the houses ended and the trees began.
"Come on." Enorc said to Jake and started walking into town. Without the other two Jake noticed not nearly as many people stared at them as they went by.
"Where are we going?" he asked looking around at the small, clustered houses and buildings.
"To the hotel for the night duh." she said like it was obvious.
"Well then where'd the others go?"
"To find a place to sleep. A wolf can't exactly fit in a bed and Tobin just hates people in general so they're more comfortable in the woods."
"Ahh, tree huggers." he muttered to himself. The sun was starting to set when they came into what seemed like the downtown area of the city and entered one of the few three story buildings. Right away there was a counter with a big man sitting behind it. There were halls and stairs leading off from both sides and behind in a separate room was a bar where drunk men where laughing and yelling loudly.
"Ah! Just the lady I've been wanting to see!" the inn keeper called happily, "So glad to see you back little Enorc!"
"Why because I actually pay my bill?" she said jokingly with a smile on her face.
He laughed, "Yes, that too! Speaking of which you think you could work a little of your magic on some of the thugs back there?" he muttered pointing behind him to the bar where a big cheer exploded as one of the men collapsed from a drinking contest.
"No problem, some of them look like they could use a little reality check anyway." Enorc nodded.
"Thank you! But I'm guessing you came here for more than just to take care of my personal problems. I'll give you a nice room on the third floor." he reached down to grab a key, "One with two beds for your friend there?" he grinned and nodded to Jake.
"Yes, please. This is Jake, my brother." she told him. It sounded weird when she said it. Technically they weren't really brother and sister any more. She had said herself that was her old life and she had been changed when she had become a Crone. He had been only eight when she had supposedly disappeared and it was still odd seeing her standing in front of him like she had come back from the dead. But something about her, the aura of pride and confidence she gave off, there was no mistake she was his long lost sibling.
"I thought so, there's un unmistakable resemblance between you two." he handed Enorc the key as the sound of some glass shattering was heard behind them. The man sighed, "It's bad enough they try and get out of their bill but then they break my property and try and get out of that too!"
"Don't worry Mr. Gillman." Enorc grinned with a slight evil look in her eye, "When I get through with them they won't even dare to take a penny from a baby!"
"Thank you!" he nodded, perking up a bit, "You've helped me out so much. I-I'll give you half off on the room!" he said cheerfully.
"Oh it's no problem, I'm happy to do it!" she replied and waved as she walked over to Jake, "Let's go see the room shall we?" she smiled and led him off to the left and up the spiral staircase. They went up two flights of stairs and down a long hall until they reached the end and entered the room. It looked like the typical hotel room. Two beds, a couch, table, small bathroom and a window overlooking the city. Enorc dropped her bag onto the far bed and opened the window. Jake sat down on the near bed and looked around the plain room. Enorc gave a short loud whistle and a few seconds later Hikari landed on the window sill. She spoke to the dragon quietly for a moment then she took off into the air again.
Enorc turned to Jake, "Well I'm gonna go downstairs and deal with those taxpayers. You can walk around town if you want, just don't stay out too long, we've gotta get up early tomorrow and don't go in any alleys after dark okay?"
"Yes mother." Jake smiled and stood up.
"Good boy, I'll give you a cookie when you get home." she grinned and the two went their separate ways.
Jake didn't expect to spend a lot of time outside. What he had seen coming in looked like one of those old western towns in the movies, so he had to assume there wasn't much else unless they had an arcade hidden somewhere. He walked around and as he expected there wasn't a whole lot going on. Even less when the sun went down and it got hard to see.
He started to head back to the hotel. He passed a small ally with four young boys huddled in a circle, probably trying beer for the first time, he thought when he heard a small phrase from a popular Linkin Park song, then lots of squealing coming from the boys. He stopped and thought for a moment and slowly turned around. Sneaking back along the wall towards the corner that led to the ally, Jake listened closely and sure enough he could faintly hear the song as it started into the refrain. He looked around the corner at the circle of boys, non looked older than nine or ten. Between two of them he could make out a small round silvery object he instantly recognized as a walkman.
Okaaaay, he thought, Well known twentieth century band playing on a walkman in the middle of an eighteen hundreds city that hasn't even discovered the telegraph yet. Something's not adding up here. He pulled his shirt up so it covered his head and ran into the ally yelling and swaying back and forth. The boys all looked up and screamed at the headless zombie in the dark. They took off running as fast as they could, abandoning the walkman as Jake had hoped.
He pulled his shirt down, grinning to himself proudly as he kneeled next to the machine. The headphones where on top of it, the song could be heard just getting over. Jake picked it up and turned it off to save the batteries. He heard movement coming from the other side of the ally so he quickly stuffed the walkman under his shirt and walked quickly back to the hotel.

Enorc walked into the bar with a cloak on and hood hiding her head. Most didn't notice her and first and the rest didn't care. She walked around slowly and closed all the curtains until the only light came from the stone torches on the ceiling. That's when she jumped onto the big counter in the front and threw off her cloak. All the men looked up and started cheering and yelling for her to dance and entertain. She held up her hands and the room went silent.
"Who wants to have some fun?!" she called. The room erupted into the cheers. She held up her hands and it quieted again, "I have some special fun for those who have paid their bills," she said teasingly in a innocent little girl voice knowing what the wasted men would immediately assume, "Has anyone here paid their bill yet today?" she asked sweetly, followed by shouts and hands in the air, knowing maybe only two of the men in the room of thirty had actually paid up. She ordered them to make a single file line down the middle of the bar. As they did as they were told she stared out into the dark room at the men, her vision blurred slightly as she called up her power, "Lem heli tego wofsu," she whispered to herself. Her vision cleared and suddenly she could hear every tiny noise in the room, including the heart beats of all the men.
With all the drunken men in a line now, she jumped down from the bar, her feet sounding like an explosion when they hit the floor, and walked up to the first man. Tuning into him she asked quietly, "Have you paid your bill yet?"
The man smirked, "Of course I have ma'am." but Enorc heard his heart rate quicken. Her ears where her own little lie detector and it was a very useful skill. The Mother Crone forbid her to read peoples thoughts until she had had more training but increasing her hearing had very few restrictions and she often bended the rules like this to help people out or to just have some fun, "Good, you can sit down." she said to the man and moved to the next. The same thing happened after every one. There were thirteen she came upon that didn't stir at all when she asked the question. She told them to go to their rooms knowing they were either telling the truth or exceptionally good at lying. As she went down the line, the bartender who recognized her and had seen this before quietly slipped out the door, not wanting to be caught in the next act.
When she was done she walked back past all the men sitting at the tables and climbed back up on the bar counter, "Yamedo." she whispered, ending the hearing spell. The heart beats disappeared and she felt deaf for a moment like she always did when her hearing returned to normal. Looking around the room she again put on her sweet smile and raised her hand in the air, silently ordering the men to stand, "Now let the fun begin!" she yelled. The men jumped up and started cheering. She grinned evilly to herself, they had no idea what was coming next. Training with the Mother Crone left Enorc with little time for mischief and she lived for chances like these. She loved using her magic for something more than making flowerbeds and healing bunnies. Exploiting people was like her hobby and she jumped at every chance. The best part was the Mother Crone couldn't scold her because technically she was just helping out the local law. The men were still yelling, getting a little impatient and in the noise she started to chant. Quiet at first then louder and louder as the spell grew.
"Potha hote worto grespi thacon liade ias teeto aimeno. Beacha thabin tehan othe momen ama thepa tedu tatheow!" the men were silent now and watching her as she got louder. A light breeze started up in the room, not noticeable at first as Enorc drew all the power in the room to her hand still outstretched of her, "Pate duta yuow!" she shouted and clenched her hand. A yellowish glow surrounded the right hand of each of the men standing in the bar. Before any of them had time to react it molded into a ring and tightened around each wrist like a golden bracelet. They started yelling and tried to attack the witch that had done that but they rings kept their arms in place so that no matter how hard they pulled or struggled they couldn't move their right arm. They started calling her names and threatening her and Enorc wished the Mother Crone would teach her how to use the silencing spell on more than one person at a time.
"What's wrong?" she asked, keeping up her sweet talk, "You boys don't like my game? It's one of my favorites. It's called paying your bill." she grinned, "Ikei!" she lowered her hand. The bracelets hummed lightly, using the magic to reach inside of each of the men's heads and finding out how much each owed the inn keeper and bar tender. Then they moved the hands and arms against their will to the pocket with the money. Coins spilled to the floor and dropped onto the tables making noise like high pitched thunder as they all clashed together. Some of them didn't even have enough to cover the costs. Those men were pulled over to the side to do dishes later.
When it was done, the men stood silent and confused, scared and timid. Then Enorc spoke to them one last time, "My name is Enorc, acolyte to the Mother Crone of the Imperial city Nubia. This is just a taste of my power and if you ever try skipping out of your bill again the punishment will be much worse. Those of you that have paid are free to go, those who still have debt will make it up washing dishes for the rest of the night. Am I clear?" no one spoke, "I said. AM I CLEAR?" Five big bear mugs floated up into the air, flew past the men's heads and crashed into the back wall. Enorc smirked as they all stammered 'Yes ma'am''s and 'of course'.
"Good. You boys go have fun now! Yamedo." she whispered the releasing spell and unclenched her hand. The golden lights disappeared and the men could move their arms freely again, but it didn't take them long to run out of the bar in fright. The ones in the corner stayed, not really knowing where to go until Enorc pointed to the back door that led to the kitchen. They all hustled in like polite school girls. Enorc grinned and jumped down from the counter. She walked out into the hall and nodded to the in keeper behind the desk, "Your money is all there. I've got some of them working the dishes so you can give some of the cooks the night off. And here's for the mugs I broke," she dropped a handful of her own coins on the counter.
"Thank you, you've done it again!" the big man came out and took Enorc's hand happily, "I don't know how I can ever pay you back!"
"It's no biggie," she yawned, "I'm gonna go take a nap." she shook his hand then walked up the two flights of stairs and down the hall to the room in a daze. Muscle control, mind search, it was too much for one day. She yawned as she opened the door and went in.
Jake was laying on his bed face up, eyes closed, smiling lightly, and head bobbing up and down slightly. It was an odd mix he had found in the CD. Obviously burned since there was no name. It contained various hard rock songs, most of which Jake had heard. But the thing that had killed him were the last four songs. He cracked up when they first played. All romantic light rock songs. Including two Celien Dion.
He didn't hear Enorc come in the room and shut the door. He didn't notice her walk across the room and stand over him until she poked his shoulder. He opened his eyes and saw a face inches away from his, "Aaahhhh!" he screamed and jerked and rolled away. He looked back and his mind registered who it was, "Don't do that to me!" Then he realized he was still holding the walkman. He tore off the head phones and stuffed it under the pillow.
"Too late, I already saw it." she said and put out her hand. It floated out from under the covers and into her hands. She studied it as Jake gave an apologetic smile.
"I found it in an alley. Some boys had it." he said.
"Oh. okay then." she handed it back and went over to her own bed. She didn't even bother changing before she crawled under the covers and fell asleep almost instantly.
Jake watched her and shrugged. It was getting late. He turned it off and washed his face then crawled into bed and fell asleep.

That night Jake dreamt he was back home playing basketball with his friends. Yelling and laughing like they always had. Never thinking their little world could ever change. These were the good times and they were going to live it up. When the basketball hit the court it made a loud bang. It kept bouncing and the bang got louder and louder each time it hit. Then the dream was gone and Jake realized he was awake, back in the hotel of the strange world he had been thrown into, but he could still hear the basketball hitting the ground.
"It woke you up too huh?" Enorc's voice pulled him into full consciousness. The banging wasn't a ball, it sounded more like a loud drum off in the distance. It distracted Jake from spending too much time wondering how Enorc had known he was awake before he had even moved. He opened his eyes and slowly pulled himself into a sitting position.
Enorc was pulling on her shoes, her clothes slightly wrinkled from being slept in, "Lets go check it out." her voice was a mix of curiosity, annoyance and sleep.
"Do we have too?" Jake asked yawning loudly and wiping the sleep from his eyes.
"Yes. Orders," she mumbled, "So get up before I tell Okasan about that walkman you found. She'll take that thing so fast you won't even get the headphones on."
"I'm up." Jake threw off the covers and jumped up then paused as the head rush subsided. He put on his shirt and shoes and yawned for about the fifth time as they walked through the door. He was fully awake now as he quietly followed Enorc down the stairs and out of the inn.
There was a full moon out but it was still hard to see around the still town. It had to be at least two, three in the morning. That was the only time Jake knew of the darkness being this complete. He followed Enorc closely through the dark streets as the banging slowly got louder and louder.
"Whoop, someone broke their broom," Enorc muttered to herself as she passed one of the houses. Jake looked down and saw a long wooden stick with some straw off to the side. The end was broken into small pointy splinters. He squatted and grabbed the stick as he passed, then gave a few jumps to catch back up with Enorc and used it as a walking stick.
The banging was like thunder now. They were out of town in a field that was like a big backyard to one of the houses. Enorc slowed down as they came to a line of trees. She knelt down by some bushes and looked through the leaves. Jake did the same and saw a bunch of people standing in a circle. Two were off to each side banging on loud drums that had probably woken half the town. It was a small group, couldn't have been more than fifteen or twenty people. About half of them were holding bright torches that lit up the area like a big spot light. It sounded like they were chanting something too but it was impossible to make out with the distance and drums drowning them out. Jake couldn't see what they were all fascinated with at first. Then someone moved and he could make out what looked like a big skull in the middle of the circle.
"Just what I thought." Enorc whispered.
"What?" Jake looked at her, glad to pull his eyes away from the skull.
"It's a group that's just come up in the last few years," she explained, not taking her eyes off the people, "The king still thinks they're just rumors. It's a small group of people that get together on the full moon and pray to a wolf god they made up to kill all the wolfs."
"They pray to a wolf god to kill wolfs?" Jake shook his head, "People are twisted."
"You wanna say that again boy?!"
The two whipped around to find two big men with paint on their face and beer on their breath standing over them. With all the noise they hadn't heard them sneak up on them.
"I-I didn't say anything," Jake said hastily. He and Enorc stood up slowly, something about the men told them they weren't exactly friendly to strangers. Jake instinctively moved in front of his sister.
"I heard him say we were twisted." one of the men said.
"That's what I heard too." the other nodded, "He called us twisted then he lied about what he said! That calls for at least two good whippings..."
"Three for being in the wrong place at the wrong time." the first one reached back and pulled out a large black whip.
Enorc grabbed Jake's arm and squeezed. He assumed it was out of fright and held up his stick in defense, "Don't come near us!" then he saw he had the smooth side pointed at them and quickly turned it around.
Then men just laughed and took a step towards them.
"Stay away!" Jake swung the stick. They backed off but the grin just widened on their faces like they were playing cat and mouse and they knew they had the mice cornered where they couldn't get out.
"What's the problem?" a voice called just as the two men were about to come at them again.
"Some intruders!" they called back and a third man carrying a torch walked up and joined them.
"Don't they know curiosity killed the kids?" he smirked and stepped forward with the fire. The light lit up Jake's face and blocked his view of the men. The shadow from his head covered Enorc's face behind him. The man stepped back and motioned to the one with the whip, "Give them a proper punishment."
"Was just about too." he grinned and swung the whip forward. Jake yelled and held out the stick. The whip caught it and jerked it out of his hand so fast it made his hand sting. Jake shook his hand and stepped back which caused Enorc to step to the side to avoid falling into the bushes. Her face moved into the light and the man holding the torch did a double take when he saw her. His eyes widened in reorganization then fright.
"L-let them go." he said to the others in a shaky voice.
"What?" the others demanded, "Are you mad?!"
"I said Let Them GO!" he yelled, his voice frantic and tried to hold them back, "That girl is crazy, she'll put a curse on all of us!"
Enorc now recognized him as one of the men from the bar earlier and smirked. Jake didn't have time to think about it, he just saw one of the men holding the others back and took it as a good chance to get away.
"Run!" he grabbed Enorc’s hand and they took off but they hadn't gone more then a few yards when they were cut off by another group of people. It looked like the whole group had discovered them. They were surrounded by horrible painted faces lit up by the torches.
Jake's heart was pounding so hard he could hardly even hear the huge drums still going not far from them. He looked around frantically, there seemed no way out, there were too many people. He wasn't a great fighter, he would never be able to fight his way out. They were going to beat him to death. He was going to die in this strange world. He was never going to see his family or friends again. His mom was going to suffer the loss of two kids, one was bad enough. There had to be some way to get out of there. He was panicking, felt like he was moments away from a nervous breakdown. He looked helplessly at Enorc who, to his surprise, was standing there looking like nothing was wrong. She might as well have yawned in front of the crazy group. Jake wanted to question but his own horror wouldn't let him speak.
"CHINMOKU!" Enorc cried out waving her hand towards the woods. Everything became quiet at once as the drums stopped pounding. People looked back to see the drummers still going at it, but no sound was coming out. The air was then filled with whispers, witch and devil, were the two the came out the most until Enorc had had enough, "We're leaving!" she said loudly and dragged Jake towards the direction of the inn but the people pressed together and didn't let them through.
"You can't leave." A commanding voice told them, "You have trespassed on our territory you will be punished by our rules. Seize them!"
A few people started going towards them. Enorc focused on two of them that were holding torches and waved her hand again, "Suzaku ike!" The flames suddenly flew up so high, it burned their hands and singed their hair. Both dropped the things to the ground then Enorc manipulated it to make a fire ring around her and Jake. The crowd took a step back to avoid the heat of the flames that came up to their waist. Jake broke out into an instant sweat. For an instant he didn't know if Enorc was trying to keep the people out or roast them to make them easier targets. Then Enorc muttered, "Kaze taskete." a cool breeze suddenly came down and saved them from the deadly heat of the fire.
No one moved for a moment, it seemed as if they were trying to decided if they wanted to really risk going after the devil girl that could make fire. After the heat started to get to be too much Enorc used it to make a path going to the edge of the group. A few hesitated but they all made room when some of the fire jumped onto the clothes of one of them. As they tried to put it out, the two made a run for it. Enorc had to put out the fire when they got back to the streets of the still sleeping town, but no one seemed to have followed them. They made their way back to the hotel, ran up the stairs and dropped onto the beds in the room. After catching their breath both wanted nothing more than to sleep for the next week and a half.
"People are twisted." Jake mumbled right before he lost consciousness.

They woke early again and after much nagging and pulling, Enorc finally got Jake out of bed and into the streets.
"The sun's not even up yeeett." he complained like a little kid as he yawned and walked after her. There were a few early risers out in the streets, going to open shop or whatever they had to do. Enorc led Jake out of town on the opposite side they had come in. Tobin and Spark were already waiting for them near the main road. They all said their short greetings as Jake and Enorc got on Spark's back and they headed off.
They traveled along the main road for a while, going only at a light jog pace. After about a half an hour they turned off onto a side road that eventually led to a river. There was a long bridge across it. Too long it seemed for the small creek that ran under it.
"There hasn't been any rain for a few months now anywhere," Enorc told him sadly, "That's why I had to call the water back to the stream where I met you and why everything is so dead around here."
Now that she mentioned it he did notice most of the trees had lost of a lot of their leaves and the grass was brown and brittle. Spark's feet crunched every time he took a step. He slowed to a walk as they crossed the bridge. Jake watched as Hikari swooped down and caught a fish out of what was left of the river. It just reminded him he hadn't had any breakfast and his stomach groaned in reply.

The next three weeks all seemed to blur together. Riding in the morning, sleeping in a hard bed at a hotel at night. They never rode the entire day and often spent a good portion of the day in the next town, but the farther away they got from the Imperial city, the farther the towns got from each other. Only once did they have to sleep outside in the woods and Jake prayed to whatever god ruled that world that they would never have to again. He couldn't get how Spark and Tobin could sleep out there night after night.
"You should consider yourself lucky," Spark told him the day after, "The last one that came from your world slept out there almost every night when she was with us."
"Someone else from my world was here?" Jake asked.
Spark smiled, "Yeah. You remind me a lot of her. You're both so-"
"The next town is past these hills. We should be there before lunch." Tobin interrupted loudly. His voice told them both that was the end of their conversation and neither brought it up again, though Jake didn't understand why.
Twenty fives days after leaving Nubia they went around a big hill and entered a town that looked like it had been abandoned years ago. The walked through about half of it that looked like it had burn down in a fire. When they entered the part that looked more like it had survived they stopped in the middle of the road.
"We'll spend the night here." Tobin said even though it was only mid day.
"We're gonna have to sleep on the ground again?" Jake complained as he slid off Spark.
"There are lots of houses with beds around here. Pick one." Tobin rolled his eyes and walked towards the nearest building.
"Naw." the thought of sleeping in a dusty bed probably filled with cobwebs appealed to him less than the ground but he figured he might be able to find enough blankets to make a decent bedding.
Enorc set her pack down and stretched then started getting out food and supplies. Tobin came back carrying a big table which he broke into a huge pile of smaller pieces for fire wood.
They had some lunch and Jake kept looking back towards the burnt part of the town and the mountains in the distance. Above the mountains was a huge white cloud that seemed to stretch the whole length of mountains, covering them in an eerie shadow. "What happened to this place?" he asked finally.
"Dragon attacked it some years back," Spark answered as he laid down by the fire for a midday nap.
"A dragon?!" he almost choked on his sand witch.
"Those mountains you've been staring at the whole time are called Dragon Mountains," Enorc explained, "Most of them live there."
"I guess I never thought there'd be others, Hikari is the only one I've seen." Jake said.
"They try to avoid humans and wolfs if they can." Enorc told him.
"I guess that makes sense. Speaking on Hikai where's she been disappearing to the last few days?"
"Trying to contact her own kind." Enorc looked up at the sky.
"Oh. Any luck?"
Enorc shook her head sadly. Jake felt he had treaded onto touchy territory which he often did when he started talking about the young dragon so he shut up. Soon Enorc sighed and crossed her legs, "I'm gonna talk to Okasan to see how we're doing." she closed her eyes as she always did when she meditated to talk to the Mother Crone and the others.
"Why do have like three names for everyone anyway?" Jake asked on the spur of the moment.
Enorc smiled, "It's the old language I have to learn to become the Mother Crone. Okasan means mother. Onisan means older brother." she nodded to Tobin who was staring into the fire silently like he often did, "I'm almost fluent in it now," she said proudly, "Okasan said she normally wouldn't teach it so fast but I need to know it to talk to Hikari."
Back onto the dragon subject, "Hikari can talk?! How come I've never heard her?" Jake asked.
"She can't talk out loud," Enorc rolled her eyes like it was common knowledge, "I talk to her through her mind. Dragons are the only ones who still use the old language though they are slowly starting to faze in the new one."
"Coooool." Jake smiled and looked towards the mountains again, "Doing magic, talking to dragons, riding on giant wolfs... I think I'm starting to see how you can't miss boring old home Earth."
"There is one thing I still miss," Enorc admitted, "My dreams when I was younger. Dreams of growing up, riding around in cars with my friends with the top down and the music blaring. Going to the mall and meeting guys, going on dates." she grinned.
"Well riding on a wolf might as well be the same as having the top down, and you don't have to steer!" Jake said, "Markets could substitute as malls and guys aren't extinct here!"
Enorc chuckled and nodded, "But even if Okasan did lay off me once in a while long enough to do any of those things, it wouldn't work out."
"Why not?"
"Crones aren't allowed to fall in love or have kids." she said simply.
"What?! How can there just be a rule that you can't fall in love? You don't really even have a choice if you think about it." Jake stated.
"Yeah I know," Enorc poked the dieing fire with a stick, "But Crones live a lot longer than everyone else. Even if we did find someone they'd die long before we did. It'd be too hard and we have too much responsibility, we'd hardly ever be around. Okasan says it'll happen eventually, it always does. As far as having kids we just can't. Something in the genetic thing changes when you become a Crone and it becomes impossible to bear children, I don't know how it all works." she explained.
"I see..." Jake said quietly and paused, "So, if my great, great, great, great, great grandchild came here you'd still be here?" he asked.
"And I won't even be battling with ageing lines yet!" Enorc grinned.
Jake chuckled, "Awesome, just don't forget your poor old brother or I'll come and haunt you!"
Enorc giggled, "Deal!"
"She's got a point though," Spark said lazily from the other side of the fire. Jake thought he had been sleeping this whole time. The wolf raised his head and smiled lightly, "Everyone eventually falls in love, even us wanderers. I've got a girl from a tribe near Nubia."
"So when are you going to tell her?" Enorc said like this had come up before.
Spark's head dropped, "I caaan't. Then she'll hate me for being gone all the time. We only get around there once or twice a month at best."
"Then why don't you just stay?" Tobin said, speaking for the first time.
"I'd go crazy." Spark smirked.
"Well I'm tired of it, you either tell her next time we go or I'm going to beat you until you can't move and force you to stay." they all knew he was serious about it too.
"Okay okay!" Spark hastily agreed. Enorc giggled.
Jake turned his eyes to Tobin. "What about you then, you ever been in loooooove?" he stressed the word like a joke, he couldn't see the rugged wolf warrior becoming soft over a girl, but everyone went silent. Tobin's head dropped until his wild brown hair covered his eyes. Spark's eyes darted back and forth between the two almost like he was half afraid the man would attack Jake.
Just as the silence was becoming unbearable Tobin lifted his head to stare at the fire and nodded once slightly, "Yes, I was in love once."
"What happened to her?" Jake winced as Enorc hit him sharply on the arm, her face told him he had gone too far. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately. Spark almost looked like he was going to cry as he watched Tobin.
"She went home." he stood up and slowly walked away. They all watched him go and when he was out of sight Spark gave a long low whistle and shook his head.

The three had sat there silently for a while after Tobin had left. Jake put more wood on the fire and got it going again, Spark closed his eyes but Jake couldn't tell if he was really asleep or not. Enorc crossed her legs and sat tall and started talking to the Mother Crone.
How much farther? she asked her teacher.
One day. Tomorrow you'll head down the east path through the mountains. You'll reach the city by mid afternoon. the Mother Crone answered in her head.
Thank goodness. We must have traveled half the world! Enorc sighed.
Not quite. And don't worry about it dear when you're old enough you'll be able to travel across the world just by opening a door.
Wow. Wait, if you could do that then why were you going to travel the week to get to Palax before?
As you know I'm not in my prime any more. To be honest my powers started going about twenty years ago. I started getting older. That was when I knew it was finally my time to go and train a new successor. When you came I knew it was no coincidence. But trust me, in my prime I could have moved the stars from one side of the sky to the other! the Crone bragged.
Enorc could hardly imagine having that kind of power. She thought she was doing good now just working with the elements, Thanks again Okasan
No problem dear. You just make sure that wolf stops by the tribe on the way home
Will do! Enorc thought and cut off the connection, "Only one more day!" she said happily.
"Finally!" Jake cried, "I finally get to go home! No more sleeping on hard ground! Real food, real comfort, real girls that won't throw a bucket of ice cold water at me when I try to talk to them!"
Spark cracked up, "You never told me that one!"
"Yeah, remember that day when I kept making all those drowning jokes?"
"Oohhhh." The three chuckled for a second then a loud banging sound silenced them. It sounded like rubber smacking against the side of one of the houses. Heads whipped around as a car tire rolled across the street and disappeared behind another house. They were still for a moment then Enorc closed her eyes.
Onisan! she opened her eyes again knowing he'd come without question.
"I didn't know they had tires here..." Jake muttered.
"They don't." Enorc replied softly.
Tobin returned and the Crones told them not to panic. They stayed the night in the town, and in the morning they set off for their last day of traveling.

They reached the town about mid afternoon just as the Mother Crone had said. It was a big town, busy and full of people. Jake was surprised at first, being it was in the mountains and so far away from any other cities. Not as many people stopped and stared at Spark as they walked through. There was a wolf clan close to here so the people were more used to them, Enorc explained. He and Tobin had to come with this time because they were going to the Crone of the city.
They entered a small house on the edge of the town. It was bare inside, just one room with a door going to the back. A table and fire place then a bunk on the side. In the middle sat a Crone with the rags on him. It didn't seem like he was as dusty and raggedy as the other Crones Jake had seen on their journey. A young woman sat in front of him. She didn't move when they entered but the Crone raised an arm.
"I'll be right with you," then he handed the woman a package with some powder in it, "Put a pinch of this in his tea at night and your brother will be right as rain in no time. And this," he took out a small bottle of liquid, “Is for the young man you eat lunch with everyday."
"Thank you Cronesama!" the woman took the things and bowed low. She smiled and blushed slightly as she ran out the door.
The Crone shifted, "Sorry about that, I've got customers left and right these days. Tobin you never come and see me anymore I'm very mad at you I hope you know!"
"Traffic is the devil coming out this way," Tobin's attempt at a joke in his monotone voice. The first one Jake had heard since he had met him. Obviously the two had been close at one time.
"Spark my friend you've grown again haven't you?" the Crone asked turning to the wolf.
"I've been full grown for a few years now." Spark said happily.
"You're still growing!" The Crone chuckled, "But time for fun later, we've much to do and no time to do it. Jake my boy come let me see you." he reached out a hand.
Then it hit Jake what had been bugging him, "Wait I thought Crones couldn't move!"
"I'm only half Crone which means I'm half better than the rest of those one mind drones out there." he paused and laughed, "That got them going, I love doing that. Now you people know the real deal that’s going down here today right?"
"Yeah, I'm going home!" Jake grinned.
"And then you're coming back."
"What?!"
"You're gonna be spending a lot more time with us my boy!" the Crone grinned, knowing he was the bearer of bad news.
"No way!"
"You can feel the love can't you?"
"I just wanna go home why do I have to come back?!" Jake felt all his hopes slipping away.
"Because you have to come back to deliver the un-balancer."
"What?" four voices chorused.
"Tobin didn't you get this memo?" the Crone said disapprovingly.
"Apparently not." he answered annoyed.
"Well the word on the street is when the last one left she took a little something’ she wasn't supposed to take and that's what’s been up settin’ the balance. So we have to send young Jake here back to bring her back to give the object back to set everything right again."
Silence, "You can be really confusing when you want to be," Spark spoke up.
The Crone chuckled, "That's the beauty of being a Crone! You can say gibberish and people will still smile and nod like you're telling them the meaning of life! But enough about that, Jake you lay down over there." he pointed to the bunk, "Enorc are you ready?"
"For what?"
"Don't they tell you people anything? To send him back of course."
"What?! I can't do that! I have no idea how!" she protested.
"Sorry, orders from the top." or in other words the Mother Crone.
"Nooo, not another test!" she complained.
Jake sat down on the bunk, "And how do you know I'll come back once I'm home?" he challenged.
"Because then the balance will just get worse and this world will fall apart and everyone will disappear including your lovely sister here."
He makes a good point, "I'll be back." Jake laid down, being careful not to crush the walkman.
"Don't get comfy quite yet boy," The Crone said, "You need to know where to find this lady, come here."
Jake hauled himself up and knelt down by the Crone who put a hand lightly on Jake's forehead. Suddenly Jake saw his house in front of him, "Take your bike go east and north until you come to a small book shop. The owner is a lady name Colt Flores. She's in her late twenties, show her the book and she'll understand. Then just open it and it will take you both back here." A mental picture of the map and the lady flashed through Jake's head. The Crone took his hand off Jake's head, "Now you can go lay down." Jake shook his head and went back to the bunk.
"But what am I supposed to do?!" Enorc asked upset.
"Don't get all worked up about it, I'll take ya through the steps. Just start by bunching up some magic and putting it around the bed." the Crone explained, "Tobin, Spark you two can go grab a bite this could take a while."
Spark headed for the door. Tobin paused, looking like he wanted to stay but he had other things to do so he followed Spark out. Enorc took out her little piccolo.
"Does that thing have powers too?" Jake asked.
"No, it just helps me focus," Enorc told him and started playing. She played for a minute and the beautiful melody filling the small room. Slowly it became more hazy almost like a thin fog. Then Enorc stopped playing and used her hands to start guiding the magic droplets over to the bed. Making a semi circle around the bed until it glowed and pulsed slowly.
"Now you think of home," The Crone told Jake, "And Enorc just do a long distance sending replacing the right words with the right words."
"That doesn't sound too bad," Enorc muttered.
"It won't be especially since delivery boy here wants to go home so badly but I warn you, you might have a hard time keeping your eyes open for more than five minutes for the next few days."
"Lovely." Enorc sighed and closed her eyes. Jake closed his eyes too and started thinking about his home and his friends and everything about his life. Then Enorc started to chant, "Potha hote worto grespi thacon liade ias teeto aimeno. Sethi boba towe heca. Frote deof yose teho cromi tote hon teplaea. Grahi sapa! Grame yopo tose hihom!" Light burst from the line around the bed up about five feet like a wall of fire. Jake was unaware of anything as his body slowly floated up and the mattress below him seemed to melt into a black void surrounded by colored magic. "SEHIHO!" the magic exploded and passerby’s stopped to look as magic light burst out of the windows of the small house as thick lines then quickly recede.
Enorc collapsed onto the empty bed and the Crone smiled approvingly.

*****

"Jake!"
Jake opened his eyes to find himself in his room. For a moment all he could do was stare. He could hardly believe he was finally back home. Had it all been a dream? He reached around and brought the walkman he had found the one night. Nope.
"JAKE!!"
Mom?! he had never been so happy to hear her voice in his life.
"Did you find it?!"
What? he looked down to see the bag. The bag she had been looking for the day he had left. He looked over at the clock on his desk. Only five minutes since he had last looked right before he had found the book.

Colt had lived a simple life since her time in the book. Her family had moved shortly after she had come back to her world. She had always been friendly and out going but she kept to herself a lot in their new neighborhood. Making a few good friends. Had a few relationships on and off but nothing ever got serious. She always kept in touch with the store owner and they often told stories in their letters. He had gone through the book when he was in his mid twenties. He had been picked up by some wolfs and most of his stay was with one of the wolf clans. He told her how he had become close to a small group and one female in particular. Then there was a huge war between the wolfs and the humans and she was killed. He returned to Earth then and waited for the next successor to the book.
Colt went back to her old city for college and stayed there after, helping with the store and taking over when the man retired. He died shortly after from a stroke. Even after she gave the book to the lady her life went on as normal. She went to work and hung out with her friends, many who were having kids at this time. And every once in a while when she saw them happily with their husbands or kids it always made her think back....
One day she was looking through some spring dresses at the mall and she found one that looked freakishly similar to one of the ones she had worn back in the book world. It had that old fashion sense and smell to it. Then later in the back room of the store she found a badly made broom that reminded her of the ones the maids used to sweep the palace with. She didn't know what that was all about but she swept her floor with it everyday after that like a religion.
The fatefully day Jake was pulled in and out of the book was like any other day for store owner. She stood at the counter paging through a magazine. Necklace hanging down, as much a part of her as her hand. No one ever came by this time of day. It was too early for work to be out and too late for lunch break. She didn't notice a teenage kid on a bike go speeding past then stop he had hit a wall. She looked up surprised with the door was flung open and the boy came stumbling in. His face was red and dripping sweat, he couldn't even speak for a moment he was so out of breath. He just looked at her then let go of the door and walked over to the counter slowly.
"They said...you'd be here...." his backpack fell off his shoulders and he slouched down as he dug something out. He took a deep breath and lifted up, slapping the book onto the counter top. It looked a lot more worn since Colt had last seen it but she knew it instantly. She didn't know how to respond at first. Never really thought about what she would do when the book finally came back.
"You are Colt right?" Jake asked after a moment of silence.
"Y-yes! I'm sorry you caught me off guard. One moment." she shoved the magazine away and ran to the door and locked it then changed the sign to closed. She was beaming now, excited to know what kind of things he had seen and done, "Come to the back room and we'll talk!" she said happily and herded him into the back office.
Jake was nearly recovered by that point. He grabbed the book as Colt took him into the back room, "Ah, Miss I'm supposed to-" he mumbled not quite sure how he was supposed to say he was supposed to take her back. Then he saw an odd little shrine in the back corner with little devices and pictures in it, "What's that?" he asked.
"Oh that?" Colt pointed to it, "It's my shrine to Thomas Edison, don't you have one?" she said it like it was a common thing but then she gave a small smiled and winked. Jake knew then she was really the one he had come looking for. He smiled and held up the book.
"I'm here to bring you back." he told her. Her face fell in disbelief and Jake grinned, "They said you brought something back and they need it to set the balance right again." After another moment of silence he set the book down and opened it up, "Look, I'm not lying!" Colt walked over slowly and they looked at the book then a bright light flooded the room and they were gone.

Colt looked around the small hut. The look, the smell the feel of the place. It was exactly the same as she remembered, "I'm back..." she whispered, smiling and standing slowly.
"I'm back." Jake said in a more whiny voice and collapsed back on the bed.
"Colt you look ravishing!"
She turned to face the bundle in the middle of the floor. Despite the rugs and rags she recognized him immediately, "Mikel!" she knelt down and hugger her old friend, "Oh my gawd how are you?! I've missed you so much I never thought I'd see you again, I can't believe I'm back!" she laughed happily and bounced on her knees like a little girl.
"It's good to see you here again." Mikel said and hugged her back.
"But look at you you're a full Crone now right?" Colt asked.
"Not quite. I'm really only half, I'll tell you the full story later." he said sheepishly.
"So this is the girl I've heard so much about?" Enorc sat at the table, rubbing her eyes out of sleep, "Pleased to meet you I'm Enorc, acolyte to the Mother Crone." she put out her hand which Colt gladly shook.
"Hey don't I get a hug after all these years?" Spark bounded through the door that seemed to reshape to fit him coming in.
"Spark!!" Colt ran over and hugged the wolf her arms and face getting lost in his thick fur, "I missed you! You've gotten bigger!" the top of his fur brushed the ceiling.
"Full grown now," the wolf said proudly and nudged her lightly with his head, "You've grown too!"
"Not by much," Colt smiled and stepped back then she looked around the small room and her smile went down a little.
"He's standing right outside." Mikel whispered. Colt looked towards the door and headed out, "Enorc go look out the window and tell me what happens," he hissed.
"Why, can't you just see through Onisan?" she asked, still sleepy and too lazy to move.
"There's so much goin’ on in that mans head right now the Mother Crone herself couldn't get a half accurate reading!"
"Okay okay." she dragged herself up and wobbled over to the window where Spark was looking anxiously as well. She leaned on him and connected herself to the Crones so they could see out her eyes.
Jake watched them and figured there was something going on here. He propped himself up on his elbows then jumped up and peeked out the door Colt hadn't bothered to close when she ran out.
Tobin had felt it when Jake and Colt had come back in the world. He told Spark and two headed back at once. But when Spark hopped through the door to greet her, he couldn't bring himself to do the same. He never thought what he would say or do if he ever saw her again. He told himself she probably wouldn't even recognize him. And why was he getting all worked up about this? This shouldn't be that big of a deal. He never thought he would see her again and here she was just twenty feet away. Why was he so nervous? He was more calm when he and Spark were ambushed by some other wolfs. He couldn't understand it. Would she think he was a jerk if he didn't go in there? Would she hate him for stalling and not meeting her? He finally took a deep breath and took a step towards the house but that was when the door was flung open and a beautiful young woman came out. She went about five feet and stopped dead when she saw him.
There he stood. Almost exactly as she remembered him except maybe a little taller and little more built. She had gone over this moment a thousand times in her head over the years, never thinking it would actually happen and every single time being more daring than she knew she ever was. Her hand clutched her necklace, she didn't even know she was doing it. It had become a chain reaction whenever she was scared or nervous over the years. Her knuckles were white. She didn't know what to say. Say something, come on, don't just stand there like an idiot! Soon the silence became unbearable for the watchers in the windows.
Then at the same time they both seemed to snap back into reality, "H-hi!" they both stammered and seemed to relax some.
Jake watched from the door and noticed something different about Tobin. His eyes weren't hard and cold like he had always known them to be. There was visible emotion. It was impossible to tell which emotion, there seemed to be about twenty of them in his face at once, but it was there unmistakable. Then it hit him as he looked from one to the other. Yesterday when Tobin walked off, this was the girl he had been talking about. This was the girl he loved.
"So, um, how have you been?" Colt managed to get out.
"G-good. You?"
Colt nodded numbly, "Good."
Silence.
"You still have it."
"What?"
"The necklace," Tobin mumbled and pointed to her hand.
"Oh yeah!" Colt took her hand off to see a small imprint from holding it so tight, "I never take it off."
Another silence.
"Your eyes are different." Colt said, "One's white, they both used to be yellow."
"Yeah, it's a long story."
Silence.
"I'm ashamed of both of you! It's been fourteen years and all you two can do is talk weather over tea! Do something for cryin’ out loud!" Mikel's booming voice came from the house.
Tobin tensed but Colt smiled and relaxed, silently thanking the Crone for lightening the mood. She ran forward then and hugged the half wolf. Cheers came from the window and Jake clapped, grinning.
"I've missed you so much." she whispered.
"I've missed you too." he replied so softly in her ear that not even Spark's ears could have picked it up.
They eventually parted and went back inside the house. Tobin threw a bottle of wine at Mikel which he caught happily, "You never really know how good things taste until you have the option never to eat them again." he grinned and drank about half the bottle in one gulp.
Jake raised an eyebrow, "Won't you get drunk?"
The Crone laughed, "The only thing that happens to people when they get drunk is they stop moving and they get way too honest for their own good. Crones never move and we couldn't tell a lie if we tried so technically we're always drunk!"
Jake blinked and didn't know how to argue with that. The Crone was laughing hard and he couldn't tell if it was because it was a joke or so serious it was funny. It was too confusing. He shook his head and kept his mouth shut.
Mikel finally calmed down, "I think the Mother Crone is anxious to meet up with you all but poor little Enorc here will need another day or so to rest up."
"The other Crones are getting restless to set the balance right again, I know that." Tobin said, back to his old self. Colt looked back and forth between the two.
Mikel smiled, "Full of questions just like you always were, come Colt sit in uncle Mikel's lap." he chuckled and Tobin's eye twitched, "It's so fun making you jealous." the Crone grinned. Colt just smiled and sat down in front of Mikel.
"I tell a tale that goes back a thousand years....Okay I exaggerate a little it only goes back fourteen years to the day you left to back. You remember that day?"
"Perfectly." Colt nodded sadly.
"Well you left and both Tobin and I had been changed. I had broken one of the rules of being a Crone and Tobin would have chopped off his head to see you and your world. So we confronted the Mother Crone and she thought a way to let me make up for my mistake and let Tobin get to know your world. She switched half of our selves." he paused, enjoying the confused faces of the listeners, "Tobin gave up his human half and I gave up half my crone self and we switched. The result, I am now half Crone and half human. Tobin is half wolf, half Crone."
"That's why your eyes changed," Colt tilted her head back and looked at Tobin. He nodded.
"He feels a lot better no too," Mikel said softly, "He's never felt like he belonged anywhere, but once he could see your world a calm came over him, a sense of peace and," he leaned close to Colt so Enorc and Jake couldn't hear, "I know he watched you when he thought no one else was paying attention." Colt and Tobin both went red. Spark grinned, the sensitive wolf ears of the two had picked up the comment.
"Wait but how can you see through to my world?" she asked only half trying to change the subject.
"Your world has what they call psychics right?" the Crone explained, "They're the closest thing to us and there is a thin connection. We can go in their heads and look around. Then in a more difficult process we can fly out of them and float around like ghosts. It's a very enlightening experience let me tell you."
"Sounds like it." Colt muttered.
"But now the history lesson is over and Enorc needs her rest so why don't you newbies go explore the town? Take a walk in the woods, I think you'll find them very educating." he grinned and set the bottle down. He covered it with his robe and when he pulled it back it was gone, "Just save the rest for later." he muttered happily.
Jake headed for the door with Colt and Tobin started to follow but the Crone called him back. Spark went with them instead as they walked out into the busy streets of the town.
When they were gone Enorc settled gratefully onto the bed, She turned and faced the wall, "What was the rule you broke to have to loose half of your Crone part?" she asked Mikel lazily.
The Crone smiled softly. "I fell in love."

Spark and Colt started heading towards the woods. With no reason to stay in town and nothing else to do, Jake followed them. A shadow passed him on the ground. He looked up to see Hikari coming down. She landed on Spark's back and rode on him while the wolf parted the crowd.
"This has always been a nice and unique town," Spark told them as they went, "In the middle of the dragon mountains and a wolf clan off a ways, they have always accepted both races. The three communities around here are the ideal of this whole world."
"Have things gotten better?" Colt asked.
Spark smiled and nodded, "Much better."
Jake put his hands behind his head and looked up at the sky lazily as they walked. They were getting to the edge of town and there weren't as many people around. His gaze shifted down to the mountains and something seemed to catch the sun. Something shimmered then disappeared. He stopped and took a few steps back. There it was again, like a mirror reflecting the sun, "Hey guys." he said not really caring if they heard him or not, but Spark looked back which caused Colt to stop too. They were some ways ahead of him now but they walked back and tried to follow his gaze.
"What is it?" Colt asked after a moment, trying to shield her eyes from the glare.
"Some sort of building," Spark muttered, "Wanna go look? Nothing else to do."
"True," maybe this was what they were supposed to find anyway. When a Crone suggested something like going into the woods there was usually a reason behind it. They started off again. Once you got past the spot where the sun hit it was impossible to see and they had to half guess where they were going. They entered the forest and wandered aimlessly. Soon they came to path that obviously hadn't been used in years. It was covered in grass and leaves. Jake didn't even know if it was a real path but it was the easiest way to go with all the trees around. They were all huge trees. Strong and healthy but very old. Most of the trunks were several yards across and they reached up hundreds of feet. The leaves where thick and it was dark as twilight down where the small company walked. Jake could imagine how spooky the place would be at night. Even with the moon and stars it would have pitch black and the old trees gave the place an ancient and magical smell about it. He shuddered and kept close to Spark.
"Look there!" Colt said suddenly pointing up through a hole through some of the branches. Behind a rising hill of the mountain they could see a small triangle shape. Sandy golden in color it looked smooth and shiny like it could reflect the sun.
"Cool, looks like the top of a pyramid," Jake said and smiled. Colt nodded and they shifted their course a little to be able to find the building. After about another half hour of wandering they reached a clearing. A valley with tall hills on every side like a semi circle and towards the back a huge pyramid sat. It looked brand new and perfectly made. Hikari jumped off Spark's back and flew up to the top. She couldn't even land because it came to a sharp point.
The sun shown brightly in the clearing. It reflected off the top of the right side and Jake got the feeling if you ever got into position where the glare hit you directly you'd be blind for a few days. The grass looked like it had been mowed. The flowers and bushes on the sides of the hills looked like they had been cut and trimmed to perfection.
There by the left corner of the pyramid sat a man in dark robes. He stood out against the bright appearance of the place. At first Jake thought he was a Crone but then he stood and started walking slowly towards them. He carried an elaborate cane that was twice his height. He reached them and no one moved or said anything for a moment. He didn't look like any kind of threat. He had a very calm and friendly face. After a moment he nodded to them, "Welcome."
Colt bowed. Spark and Jake nodded back and Hikari landed on top of his staff.
He gave a warm smile and tapped his cane to force Hikari off, "It's nice to have some company. Not many people wander back around here anymore." he turned and started heading back towards the pyramid.
Jake looked at the others who looked back and after a few shrugs they followed the man. Colt opened her mouth to make introductions but the man spoke before she had the chance.
"You four are special. Simple and innocent. Even you wolf who have killed and injured so many. For one must be pure to reach this place. It is very nice don't you think? I tidied it up for your visit. It's my own little corner in the wall." he reached the bottom of the pyramid and turned back to them. None of them really knew what to say. He acted like he had been expecting them, he had the feeling of a Crone, but he could move and there was just something different.
"It's a very lovely place," Colt said politely after a moment, "I don't believe we introduced ourselves, my name-"
"I know who you are." the man said softly waving it off, "And I know you are anxious to find out who I am. That is not an easy question to answer let me tell you. I have the qualities of a Crone as you may seen. But I am different. Similar to the Enorc, the Mother Crone as you call her. So think of if this way, if Enorc is referred to as the Mother Crone then I... would be the Father."
"Wait, you're married to the Mother Crone?" Jake blurted out.
The man laughed, "No no, no. Our powers and qualities are just similar. Our jobs are very different, that is why very few meet me. While the Mother Crone focuses more on the details of things, relationships between the races and the gates between the balance. I focus on the larger picture. The balance between the worlds. The future of the balance. Because there are so many small things effecting it now the Mother is being blinded. Her sight is gone. She knew before the war how this would all play out but now she has forgotten. She is confused and is just guessing, hoping she's doing the right thing. Pity her for she is scared and weak in her last few months."
"So that means...?" Spark trailed off sadly.
"Yes, within the next year the old Mother will die and the new will be forced to take her place. But while I focus on the whole of things, I am not as blinded. I still see how this will all play out and the future. Do not be afraid for this will all come together in the end though it will be a very sad end for most." he stared at Colt while he said it and she shifted uncomfortably. Then his face lightened and he smiled childishly, "Would you like to see my secrets? It's been so long since I've been able to share them with anyone."
"Yeah!" Jake answered for all of them.
He nodded approvingly, "So happy to see some youth again. I've been concerned about them of late, especially in your world." he turned back to face the pyramid. It had no opening or door they could see. The whole thing was perfectly smooth and there were no cracks. The Crone just tapped the wall with his staff and lines appeared. It formed a gate like door, big enough for Spark to pass through comfortably. Hikari took a place on top of the staff again. For some reason she seemed more comfortable there. The Crone walked in and quickly disappeared into a blanket of darkness. Jake looked back and forth between Colt and Spark, then together they headed into the black void.
The two humans held a chunk of Spark's fur as they went into the pyramid. The darkness swallowed them and Spark stopped shortly after they entered for fear of hitting a wall or something. No matter how hard they tried they couldn't see anything beyond their own hands. But when Jake looked over he could clearly see the handful of Spark's fur in his hand. And he could make out Colt in front of him like a spot light was on her. They could see each other in detail but there was no light shining on them.
They heard a tap and Hikari lit up, having jumped off the staff and flew back, landing on Spark's back again. They could see her too. There was another tap and suddenly two huge spheres lit up in front of them. One of them had a mixture of brown and blue on it, the obvious make out of Earth. The other had one huge continent that took up a good half of the sphere and then a big ocean with a smaller continent on the other side. What they assumed to be the book world. Then on the other sides of the spheres the Father Crone became visible.
"Earth and Coracle. One world. Two planes." the spheres came together to overlap for a few seconds then separated again, "Two worlds existing as one. It seems impossible yet there is a small part of you that can see it to be true. I can see it in your eyes. It explains a lot of things. But then you have to wonder, if there are two...could there be more?" he grinned and suddenly they were surrounded by hundreds of floating spheres. Each different and unique.
Jake turned in around slowly, looking at each of the worlds, suddenly having a great desire to go and explore them all.
The Father Crone walked towards them slowly, "Every story you've ever heard about ghosts, vampires, ware wolfs. All based upon a creature from one of these worlds. Each world having it's own set of rules and creatures. It's own guardians and crones as you could call them. It's own gates." between the worlds lines or bright light crisscrossed. Some worlds only had one line going between them while others where practically on top of the other.
The man stopped and put a hand up to the world of Coracle. As fast as they had come, most of the worlds were gone. Only about five remained, each only having one or two lines going back and forth between Coracle, "Every world depends on the others for survival. When worlds come together in a balance where anyone can travel back and forth when ever they please and the inhabitants of those worlds learn to live in harmony with the others, the world thrives like you could never imagine. But balance is a very delicate thing to understand and control."
Four of the worlds dimmed while Earth and Coracle lit up a little more. There was only one white light going between the two. The book being the gate. Then several red lines appeared next to it some of them twice as big as the white line, "The balance between the Earth and Coracle has been getting worse and worse for the past three decades. When something crosses over that shouldn't be there a negative gate is open and the longer the thing is there the bigger the gate grows until something else is pulled in and starts it's own chain. Should this continue unnoticed the gate would grow until the worlds ultimately overlapped and became one, which would cause pandemonium then a doomsday which would destroy both worlds."
They all tensed and shifted, suddenly feeling like the weight of the world was on their shoulders.
"Having come from that world, the Mother Crone is being effected the most by this disturbance. She believes the problem started when you took your precious necklace home." he nodded to Colt who instantly reached for the small wolf around her neck, "She thought that the sunglasses Tobin kept from your world would counter the effect but that was just proof that she had already been loosing her gift. If she still had her head about her she would have remembered that they each open their own gate and never let it happen in the first place."
Colt's eyes dropped to the ground, guilt flooding through her as she clenched the small charm.
"Despite it all this may turn out to be a good thing for Coracle. This world was already dieing long before the balance was interrupted." The Father Crone went on. The other four worlds lit up again and the white lines going back and forth, "I said that all the worlds depend on the others for survival. When others travel to worlds and go back they take a little of that world with them in their memory. That memory keeps the world alive. When the memory fades the world looses it's reason for existing and also fades away."
Something clicked in Colt's mind. She remembered Mikel telling her the same thing a long time ago.
"How can a world just fade?" Jake's voice pulled them all out of the daze, "They have people and solid things on them, how can they just go away like an illusion?"
The Father Crone smiled approvingly and nodded a few times, "Yes, how can they just fade away? I will tell you the real answer is something even I nor the Mother Crone know. We think there are other guardians higher than ourselves that over see all the worlds. They would know the answer to that one. But I like that way you worded that. An illusion. Is that all we are? Our home, friends and family? The world as we know it? If you're thinking that you can feel emotion and touch things, see things with your eyes and there is no way it could be an illusion, well....Isn't it all just created by the mind? And when the mind forgets, doesn't the thing that felt so real then, fade away? Maybe we're just a vision of someone somewhere and when they get tired of thinking about us we fade away. Maybe we're all just pawns in some game and when they players get tired of playing they put us in a closet until we fade away. Are we real or are we just an illusion? We'll never know...."
They all just stared at him wide eyed and their mouths half open. Jake was having a brain overload. Too much information. It was like in math class when the teacher was giving a new lesson then went off on something else and another thing then came back until they were so confused about what was what and just wanted to crawl in a hole and go back to pre-algebra and long division. He was really wishing there was a hole around there then.
After a moment of silence the Father Crone burst out laughing, "Don't spend too much time thinking about that last thing there. You'll go insane. You've got a good head on you," he smiled and Jake, "Just like your sister. You'll do great things one day." he looked the boy right in the eyes and nodded slightly. Jake smiled and nodded back.

“But if the regular Crones know all this, why didn’t they stop me from bringing this home?” Colt demanded. She felt like everything was her fault.

“They only know what we tell them.” the Father Crone answered back, “Don’t take any of this too hard, it was meant to be this way.” he smiled.
Then suddenly a light flooded into the room. It was the sun from outside. The spheres and worlds were gone. They could see the walls now, bare and going up to a point at the top. The man headed towards the gate and motioned for them to follow. His staff clicking lightly each time it hit the floor. They headed outside and the pyramid became whole once more.
"That was fun," the man smiled, "But sadly playtime is over. I'm sure you all want to get through that forest before the sun sets."
Jake looked towards the horizon, the sun was already going down and the sky was pale pink. He didn't know how long they were in there but it didn't seem like it had been nearly that long, "Thank y-" he turned back around but the Father Crone was gone. After turning around a few times he decided the guy wasn't coming back. So with few words they all started off back the way they had come.

Colt and Jake stayed at a hotel for the night since Enorc had dibs on the cot at the Crone's place. They each got their own room, even though Jake wouldn't have minded sharing a room with an older woman. Or the bed for that matter. Crones were often given money for sickness cures and things, so they always had more than enough money. The next day they all took off again back towards the Imperial city after a long goodbye to Mikel and some complaining from Spark.
"I can handle two fine, but three is pushing it! Especially with chubby here!"
"Hey you're supposed to gain weight on vacation, it's like a rule!" Jake laughed.
"Since when did this become a vacation?!" Spark looked back at him.
"It's got all the requirements, it's more than fifty miles from home, I've been here for more than two days, and I don't have to do any work I just ride around all day and eat!" he grinned.
"I think we should make him carry all the stuff to help him loose a lbs!"
"Yeah!" Enorc agreed happily and started sliding the pack off her shoulders.
"Oh come on!" Jake complained.
"And technically we're not more than fifty miles from home." Colt reminded him.
"Hey, you're not supposed to pay attention to details when you're on vacation!"
Hikari flew over and landed on Spark's head, "Don't even go there bird!" they laughed as Spark shook his head until the dragon was forced to fly off. He finally gave in after Enorc agreed to use a small levitation spell to make them lighter.
Colt and Enorc got a long right away. They talked and gossiped half the day while they were traveling. It was a nice change from the usual silence but once in a while Jake just wanted to smack them and tell them to shut up. Though him and Colt also connected in an understanding friendship. They were the only ones from their world that had been able to see this wonderful place and that common trait provided the ground for a lifelong friendship. When they weren't traveling Colt stayed near Tobin and Spark. Spark was ecstatic to see her again and asked her all about her life since she left. Tobin didn't often show it but they all knew he was happy to see her too. He had changed, Jake noticed. He didn't push her away like he had done to the Princess when he had first gotten there. He didn't seem as cold and distant. He talked more, though that wasn't saying much for him. And once in a while he would smile or even laugh. That just made everyone happier and the trip much more enjoyable. For the first time Jake was really enjoying himself and was a little bummed about the thought of going back home for the last time.
After a few weeks they came to a forest and traveled until they came to a thick thorn wall. A huge wolf came out before them, but Spark was slightly bigger. They greeted each other and the guard looked at the crew on Spark's back.
"Who's taking claim for the humans?" he asked in a deep voice.
"I take responsibility for them and all their actions." Tobin replied.
The wolf disappeared and came back a few minutes later, "The Clan Mother has granted one night's permission for the humans stay." he stepped aside and they went in through a tunnel in the thorns.
Colt remembered coming there a long time back. The guard had been so strict and hesitant to let one in, now they let in two plus a crone in training and a dragon like it was only routine. Things really had changed.
When they got in they were greeted by a few of the bigger wolfs. Tobin and Enorc were pulled off faster than any could follow to talk wolf/human politics as usual. Hikari took off to go hunt as she often did. The others stayed there and chatted causally with some of the other wolfs for a while. Some of them even remembered Colt since she had been the first human that had ever stayed with them. After a few minutes Jake noticed Spark looking around nervously. He tried not to make it look like he was so desperate to find whatever he was looking for, but his eyes darted around and he shifted anxiously every few seconds.
Suddenly a grown golden brown wolf jumped on him and tackled him to the ground. The spectators laughed hysterically as the two wrestled and fought until the attacker pinned Spark to the ground.
"You let me win!" the female on top of him complained.
"Naaaaw!" Spark grinned happily.
"Did tooooo."
"Well then ya mind letting me up?" he asked.
"No! You have to stay in confinement until you apologize for being gone so long without any word!" she ordered.
Spark laughed, "No, Madia!" he pushed her off easily and the two went at it again, laughing and playing.
Jake quickly realized this was the girl Spark had been talking about the one night. It also explained why he had been so jumpy when they first went in. The two obviously liked each other a lot. He smirked and looked up at Colt who was smiling knowingly, even though she had not been there for the conversation.
Suddenly two young wolfs went rolling by with a half dozen running after them yelling and cheering. Madia got off Spark immediately and snapped at the pups, "Yoh you get off him right this second!"
One of the wolfs in the struggle pulled himself out and sulked over to Madia who scolded him hard, "What have I told you about fighting like that?!"
"But-"
"No buts! Mom will have a fit when she hears about this! This is the fourth time this week!"
"Then I'll tell Dad about you flirting with the human warrior!" Yoh threatened.
Madia shut up and Jake was sure if wolf's could blush she would have been red as an apple right about then.
Spark just stood calmly, "Human warrior? Is that what they call me behind my back?" the two looked at him apologetically. Jake got the feeling that wasn't exactly a compliment, but Spark smiled and shrugged it off, "Don't go so hard on the little fellow. They're probably all pumped up for the big tournament right?"
"Yeah!" the rally of pups all nodded and yelled.
"Tournament?" Colt asked. Heads turned like she had just asked what Christmas was.
Spark nodded, "It's an annual tradition they started in the Imperial city about eight years ago to replace the wolf fights they used to have. Now they have huge tournaments every half year alternating wolfs and humans. Every clan sends it's best warriors to fight. The young ones aren't allowed to go because it's still dangerous. In some ways they get more excited than anyone else because they don't get so see anything and have to sit and wait in suspense."
"Yeah and practice for when we get big enough to enter!" One of the pups jumped on Yoh and the two laughed and wrestled until Madia tore her brother off the struggle again.
Jake smiled, "Are you going to enter Spark?" he asked.
Spark shook his head, "I did the first few years, won for the first four then got tired of it and let someone else win the fifth. Haven't had the motivation to enter since."
"And someday I'm gonna be as strong as you and win every year until I'm gray and old!" Yoh announced.
Spark chuckled, "Then you're going to have to practice somewhere away from your sister and Mother. If I remember correctly there's this nice spot-"
"A-hem."
"Just kidding!" Spark laughed as Madia glared at him and Yoh and his friends all ran off while she was distracted.
Tobin and Enorc met up with the Clan Mother and some of the elders to talk business.
"We've got two in every town in a half day radius, but it's hard to find volunteers," The Clan Mother said as they walked, "I think the games help more than anything."
"Amazing how fighting can make people your worst enemy and also your best friend." Tobin muttered.
"Yes but I think it's good for the clan too, everyone gets so excited. Though the pups are always upset they can't go." they rounded a corner and saw a group of the biggest wolfs in the clan. Young and strong most of them sat watching as two circled each other in a large dirt ring they had made.
"The winners leave tomorrow to get to the city on time to for the elimination rounds." the Clan mother told them, "I think it would be good for them to have you along. Some of them have quick tempers as most fighters do."
"We'd be honored to travel with the warriors." Enorc answered respectfully.
There were two others off to the side, trying to nurse their wounds. Obviously the ones that had just got done fighting. Enorc headed over and took out her piccolo. She played one of the first things she had learned to heal. Tobin stayed back to watch the fight. The beginning note rang in the air as one of the wolfs in the ring jumped at the other.
The music rang out and the magic in the air started to gather around the player. The two wolfs rolled and wrestled in the ring. The music got louder and slower like she was pulling the magic in by a rope and it was getting heavier and heavier. One wolf landed a heavy blow to the others head and it backed off to shake off the effect. Enorc reached a long high note as the magic around her gathered into a bright ball above her head. Time seemed to stand still. Then bang! The ball of magic exploded as Enorc started playing again, faster and with more energy. The injured wolf leaped at the other, catching it off guard and spun, almost knocking him to the end of the ring. The magic fell onto the wounded wolfs by her and they started to heal almost instantly. The stray particles went to the watchers and the wolfs in the ring. They started again, full of energy. The onlookers started yelling and cheering as they fought harder and with more vigor. The magic healed them as fast as they could get hurt and they almost laughed as they swiped and kicked. The battle had become more of a dance to the tune that was picking up pace, pouring more healing power into the wounded on the ground and more energy into the fighters. Then the music came to a stop and two charged, struck and separated in a cloud of dust. There was a moment of silence and they both dropped. Cheers erupted from all around. Even Tobin clapped.

Everyone but Tobin who was still off discussing business met again later that day. Colt wasted no time making fun of their wolf companion, "Spark has a girlfriend, Spark has a girlfriend!" she giggled and poked him playfully. Despite her age she had been acting like a kid a lot of the way.
"Shuuush," Spark pushed her away gently.
"Have you told her yet?" Enorc asked.
"I'm working on it," Spark mumbled, "I've been trying all day but it's hard ya know!"
"You have to tell her, Mother Crone's orders," Jake teased.
"I'm working on iiittt." the wolf sank to the ground and dropped his head in arms. This was obviously hard for him and the three decided to drop the teasing for the moment.
Colt knelt beside him and put her hand on his shoulder, "I know it's hard. I've been there. Sometimes you just have to wait for the right moment and the perfect words will just come to you."
"Right," the wolf mumbled, "You and Tobin have had plenty of right moments and neither of you have said anything."
"I wasn't talking about-" Colt went red as Jake laughed and Enorc smiled, "I don't...you guys....it's...." she went redder as she sorted through some mental problems in a split seconds and realized everyone knew what she had always known but only then agreed to fully realize, "I'm...working on it...."
Spark grinned and lifted his head up, "We'll try hard together. Form a support group!"
Colt laughed, "Yes!"

They all headed out the next morning, though it took about a half hour to pry Spark away from his new girlfriend. It was a unique experience for all of them traveling with a big group of wolfs. Jake got to ride by himself on a young female, it was nice not being all bunched up on Spark. There were about twenty five in all. Five warriors to compete in the tournament and an assortment of family, friends and fans of the fights. They moved slower than when the small group was by themselves but they traveled longer and Jake found himself sleeping on the ground more. They told him their clan was one of the closest to the Imperial city so it would only take them a few days to get there. They traveled on paths deep in the woods. They were wide and humans rarely discovered them. Jake guessed they went all around the world like secret wolf highways. He started wondering when they were going to send him home again. No one had said anything and he had been getting more and more reluctant to bring it up.
Jake woke one morning as the sun was just coming up. He was snug in a blanket with a backpack for a pillow, the kind of bed he had been forced to get used too lately. The morning chill was slowly fading and no one was up. They usually dragged Jake out of bed before sunrise but they were less than a day from Nubia so everyone had been allowed to sleep in. He stood and stretched, hearing the joints crack as the sores from the night before made themselves known. Then the usual hunger set in. He remembered making a mental note of the berry bushes near the camp the night before. And he always jumped at the chance to go on a walk alone. Having been an only child for the last four years of his life he wasn't used to being around so many creatures so long.
Jake made his way carefully around the pack sleeping wolfs and got onto the path that led back to the food. He took his time, walking slowly and gazing around at all the trees and flowers. The sun came down through the cracks in the leaves to make patches of light on the ground. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath enjoying the freedom. Occasionally whistling parts of a tune he soon made it to the berry bushes and some trees with what looked like a pear fruit growing on them. He had had some before and they tasted like a sweet mix of peaches and oranges.
He happily pigged out for a while. Once reached up to grab another piece of fruit. He twisted and pulled, getting it off the stem but he lost his grip for a second and the fruit fell. He quickly bent down to pick it up. He glanced up and saw what looked like another path going behind the tree. Invisible through the braches but Jake could see it perfectly under the leaves. He crawled back behind the tree, the fruit forgotten for the moment. The path was small, only big enough for a human or small wolf. It only went back about twenty feet before it came to a small clearing and seemed to end.
When he came to the clearing Jake stopped and ducked behind a tree that was too small to cover him completely, but it made him feel better. He saw three small wolfs devouring down fruit and berries like they hadn't eaten in weeks. At first he was surprised to see them then surprised they hadn't noticed him coming. He had made no effort to keep quiet or anything. He assumed the sound of their munching had covered his noise and the berries distracted them from his smell. By the size of them they were young, not much bigger than the grown wolfs back on Earth. Then Jake smirked as he realized they had been following the group by themselves. One of them sat back groaning happily, probably hadn't eaten much if they hadn't gotten at the groups food supply. Jake shrunk down as another stopped, full. He grinned again as he realized how much trouble he could get them into. One yawned and stretched to lay down while another suddenly sniffed and looked over at Jake.
"Hey!" he called out in surprise. Jake just stood and walked out from behind the tree, all three were staring at him now with a mix of fear and curiosity.
"You're that human that was with Tobin right?" one of them asked finally.
Jake nodded, "Yep, and you're the three going to the games right? Illegally?"
All three faces fell, "Please don't tell!" they pleaded.
"I don't knooow," he played with them, "Cubs sneaking away, your parents must be going nuts, I think I should tell."
"No no, no!"
"Please don't!"
"We've come so far!"
"Why are you following us?" Jake asked, changing the subject and squatting down on his knees to be at their level.
"To see the games!" one of them answered, "My older brother is competing and I couldn't sit around and wait!"
"It's the biggest event of the year!"
"I can't wait nine more years to go see them!"
"We want to see them now!" they all agreed.
Jake waved his hand for them to be quiet and smiled, "Weeelll since you're so enthusiastic about it I guess I won't tell anyone." he never planned to tell, it was their problem sneaking out and he remembered sneaking out with some friends before. It was the worst when someone got tattled on, it ruined the whole thing and made it pointless.
"Really?!"
"Thank you!"
"We won't get in trouble!" they promised.
"So who are ya all?" Jake asked, figuring now he'd have to help them out and might as well get to know them.
"Yoh."
"Manta."
"Horo."
"Jake, your new partner in crime." they smiled at that, slowly warming up to the human, "But what are you guys going to do when you get to the city? Have you thought about food? Shelter? You can't stay with the others obviously they'd send you home before you even got to pick out a bed in the corner."
They all looked at each other. The stress of just sneaking out and not getting caught had kept them from thinking about all the other necessities.
Jake nodded, "I'll help you out, bring you food and stuff but I don't know what you should do for the shelter."
Barn...Palace....
"You could stay at the palace barn!" he blurted out.
"Really?!"
"Thanks!"
Jake shook his head as they thanked him and he tried to figure out where he got that idea. The thought hadn't been his but it had been in his head. He would have never thought of the barn by himself. He was really confused.
"Well, I should be getting back," Jake told them and stood up, "I'll contact you somehow when we get to the city. Stay out of sight!"
"We will!" they called goodbyes as he headed back down the path, past the tree and back to the group. Jake couldn't figure out where the barn had come from, it had sounded weird in his head.
Suddenly a large red blur flew past him on the trail and landed on a tree branch in front of him. Hikari. Then Jake understood. He thought back to Enorc telling him that she spoke to Hikari in her mind. It had never occurred to him that she could speak to him too. It made him feel special that the dragon had finally opened up to him. She was bigger than when he had first seen her. He smiled and nodded to her. She gave a bob of her head as if nodding back. The two came to a silent understanding, knowing they would keep the secret and work together. Hikari jumped off the branch and flew above Jake as he walked back to the group which was stirring and getting ready to travel the rest of the way.

The arena looked almost exactly like it had when Colt had visited it when she was young, but the feel was different. It felt warmer, there was no longer that silent cry for blood from the people. Though there weren't many of them in the stands that day. The only thing that had changed was a third of the stands had been redone to comfortably sit an audience of grown wolfs. Today was the elimination rounds of the wolf games. They were never as exciting as the actual fights so only a few hundred people and wolfs sat scattered in the seats, picnicking or just watching for entertainment. Tobin sat comfortably in the royal box with Colt in front of him, leaning over the rail excitedly. Spark was down on the field with two other wolfs off to the side. They were the judges and refs of the tournament. When Spark retired from fighting in the games they had asked if he would come help judge and he happily accepted.
On the opposite side, as high and far away from the wolf stands as they could get, three small wolf heads and a human one appeared from the stairs. They were so high up, even the big wolfs down below didn't look bigger than dogs, but they could still see everything and they were happy for that.
"Look at them all!" Horo whispered with a big smile.
"There's gotta be over fifty of them!" Manta said giving a little jump.
"More than that, over a hundred I bet!" Yoh said happily.
Jake just sat there in awed silence for a while, he had never seen so many wolfs in one place before, "There's more than fifty but less than a hundred," he muttered to the others. He tried to count but it was hard, there were so many and they kept moving around, "Looks more around seventy," he finally concluded, not counting the ones in the stands.
It had been over a week since they first got there. Staying in the barn had worked really well once the other animals had gotten used to them. They had one path they traveled on around the palace court because Spark was there often and if he picked up their scent he would know something was not right. He was the only wolf allowed on the palace grounds so if he smelled any others they'd be busted in two seconds. Out on the streets it was a lot easier. All they had to do was stay out of sight. If anyone smelled them they would just assume it was another wolf and think nothing of it. But even so they picked one path of various side streets to go to and from the arena. Hikari helped them a lot, often warning them if someone was coming. Jake was surprised at how careful the pups were. They never complained the first week when they didn't move much out of the barn, or not risking seeing the rest of the city.
He got to spend more time with them than he thought he would be able to too. Enorc was constantly busy with the Mother Crone. Doing chores or training or running somewhere or another. According to her this was the way it always was. The small journey to get Colt had been like a vacation for her. With her out all the time Jake had nothing else to do but entertain the wolf cubs.
"Look they're starting!" Yoh called out excitedly.
"Shhh." the nearest people were a good twenty rows down but Jake still felt they should be quiet.
"They're just lining up." Horo muttered.
Spark and the two other judges stood in the middle of the arena while the others all lined up along the sides. When everyone was in order they could hear one of the judges yelling something but they were too far away to make it out. Then slowly the wolfs began to divide out into groups.
"Oohh I heard about this part," Manta whispered, "This is how they decide who's going to fight. They all divide up and the whole group fights at once and the last one standing goes onto the finals, the real fight!"
When they were done they were in twelve different groups with about six wolfs in each one. Then five of the groups filed off to the first few rows of the stands. The three refs went off to different corners of the arena, to see get different perspectives of the fight in case anyone cheated.
"Are there any rules?" Jake asked as the first group started to circle.
"No biting." Manta said.
"No claws above the neck." Yoh nodded.
"Forbidden to sharpen claws before fights." Horo added.
"And if you’re down for over ten seconds or draw blood you're automatically out." Manta concluded.
They watched as the first group circled and eyed each other. All trying to see who was the weakest so they could take them out first. Then all at once, three jumped at one and the other two went for each other. The one that had been ambushed didn't last long. He reared and struck at one, but they dodged. Another jumped at his side, sending him to the ground. When he tried to get up the three pounced on him, one catching him on the side of the face and knocking him down for way more than ten seconds. Then the three all went for each other at once that ended up in a mad tangle. The two on the side were going at it hard. Finally one jumped at the other but they ducked in time and tripped the other as he landed. He fell and laid over the time, then the one left sat and watched the other three duel it out until only one was left. It went fast as the one who had rested quickly took out the other who was slow and clumsy from fighting the three others.
There was a light applause from the audience as the one left standing was brought over to an empty part of the stands and the losers where slowly herded out of the arena and back to the big inn for rest and treatment.
This is so cool!!" the pups had a hard time keeping still and even Jake had to hold back from shouting and clapping. This was better than any game or movie he had ever seen! The action, the suspense, and these were only the elimination rounds! He couldn't wait for the real fights. He now understood why the three and snuck out and risked their hides to see this.
Colt was feeling the same thing. The first time she had seen two wolfs fight in this arena she had been horrified. Now she knew it was all for fun in games she was fascinated. She had never been one for action movies but this was unlike any action movie she had ever seen.
he second group came forward and the duel began again. Slowly they were weeded out. Someone actually took a bite to the tail and the fight was stopped for a minute while the judges disqualified and escorted the guilty party out. The one with the injured tail was also out not long after, being slightly distracted by the pain. The last three fought for what seemed like forever and there was more cheering when the winner was finally announced and brought by the other sitting on the side.
The next few groups went fairly quick, considering a half hour fight was quick. By the time the seventh group was done it was after dinner. They called an hour break for a big meal. Jake and the pups had prepared, bringing a bag that could fit a full grown human in it full of raw meat. Jake had taken a slightly smaller bag for himself. He had struck a deal with the palace cooks. He washed dishes once a day, and no matter what time of day there was always a lot of them. Then they gave him all the left over meat he wanted. He learned that as long as you didn't deal with them right before or after a meal the cooks were good folks. The only thing everyone was short on was water. The drought was still going on and even the biggest river in the kingdom was drying up to small creek.
The four were lucky not to run into anyone. The lower levels filled up a bit more as the day went on but it never got so crowded that people had to go up to the top areas. Hikari circled above just in case anyone did start heading up there. They ate their food and still had a good half hour left. Going anywhere was out of the question so they settled on the stairs.
"Did ya see that move in the last fight?!" Yoh was ecstatic.
"That was awesome." Jake agreed.
"I've heard about her!" Manta said.
"That was a her?!" Horo's eyes widened.
"Yeah! They say she comes from the west and can pin a guy down in seven seconds flat!" Manta told them.
"Coooool!"
A half an hour later the eighth group came forward to continue the elimination. Everyone in that group seemed evenly matched and it took twenty minutes just for the first guy to get knocked out. The fight lasted forever but that just made it more exciting when it came down to the last two. The whole audience was quiet as one finally fell and stayed down for only one second more than was allowed. Then the place erupted with noise as the winner limped over to the side with the others. Jake and the others had long since given up trying to be quiet, they clapped and cheered along with the rest knowing no one would hear them over the roar of everyone else.
The next two went much the same though a bit faster. When there were only two groups left the sun was starting to set. The second to last group got up and one wolf stood out right away.
"He's huge." Horo whispered.
"Looks like he's lived in the mountains his whole life." Manta muttered. Mountains were like the rough country for the wolfs. Little food and hard weather.
"Must have had some awesome fights." Yoh said. Part of the fur on side of it's head had disappeared due a permanent scar there.
The fight started and anyone who jumped at the rugged wolf was knocked down instantly. It was by far the shortest fight of the day with the outsider as the clear victor. The noise for that was as loud as it had been all day as he walked off to the side looking like it had been no challenge at all.
"All my money on that guy!" Yoh cried jumping up and down. The last fight was the usual which was exciting but dull compared to the display that had been on just before. When it was all over, the twelve winners were rounded up by the judges and escorted back to the inn to celebrate. The sun had gone below the horizon and the sky was quickly going from the pretty pinks and purples to dark blue. The small group were forced to wait until everyone else had left before carefully venturing down the stairs to the exit.

Jake went first as always. Just in case Hikari missed anyone, Jake would be able to run back and warn the others to go the other way. That had only happened once so far so they figured they were doing pretty good. They got down the stairs and out of the coliseum with no problem, being everyone else had gone home long before. It was pretty dark now and Jake was wishing these people would invent street lights within the next ten minutes or they were going to be feeling their way home. Even Hikari's eyes weren't that great in the dark. Only the pups would be able to see clearly and they were the ones they were trying to keep out of sight.
The first part of their trip went well. Most people were heading home so even the main streets were becoming less dense. Jake rounded a corner and stopped suddenly. There were two big wolfs laying in the middle of the road, lazily rolling a ball back and forth while three little kids chased it. The wolfs were looking un amused. They had small random bandages and Jake guessed they had just come from the fights and were bummed because they had lost, but the kids were laughing and running around after the ball like it was the best game ever. He turned to warn the others to go back, but then another wolf came walked up the street behind them. He spotted them before they even had time to look for a place to hide.
Jake's heart started to race as the three kids huddled together fearfully. They had come too far to go home now. But the wolf glanced at them almost like they were supposed to be there. It was just as he was about to pass them when he stopped and eyed them more carefully.
"Wait...Aren't you too young to be here?" he asked slowly. The four looked back and forth at each other, not really sure what to say but the wolf spoke again before they had a chance to figure it out, "How old are you?"
"Uh, twenty two! Of course!" Yoh answered, trying hard to keep his voice steady.
"You don't look twenty two..." Jake was glad this wolf wasn't the brightest crayon in the box.
"We, uh, fell out of a tree, when we were young!" Yoh explained, "It stunted our growth!" the others nodded vigorously.
The other two wolfs playing ball must have heard something because they gave up their game and came walking slowly around the corner. They were surrounded on three sides now with a building on the fourth and each of the wolfs were almost just as high as the latter.
"What are these kids doing here?" one of them asked.
"We're not kids!" Horo said quickly.
"Kids aren't allowed at the games, everyone knows that." the other said. These two seemed a bit brighter than their friend.
"Haven't seen them at the inn." the first of the duo muttered.
"Must have snuck the whole way here." the second nodded.
"Mothers are probably worried sick." the first agreed.
The wolf who had originally discovered them was just looking back and forth between the two like he didn't know what was going on, "They're old enough to be here," he said quietly defending them, "Got their growth stunted when they were young." but the other two either didn't hear him or just ignored him.
"Think they deserve a good whipping for breaking the rules?" the second continued. The three tensed.
"Think we wouldn't be doing our part to serve justice if we didn't," the first smirked.
"Wouldn't mind reliving a bit of that stress from the day as well." the second flexed his hand and claws.
"After five big muscles, three pups and a human shouldn't even make me break a sweat." things were getting serious. The two started to advance and at the same time all four started walking back. Jake glanced back to see if the other was going to stop them but he was backing up slowly too almost looking like he was going to be the one beaten up.
"Sh-Shouldn't we take them to the Keepers first?" the grown wolf asked quietly, "See what they say the punishment should be?" The Keepers were like the short term police of the wolfs to make sure they behaved while they stayed around the humans.
"Damn Keepers will probably give them a pat on the back for getting this far." the first growled.
Manta seemed about ready to hyperventilate as he stared up at the two would be attackers. Yoh was doing a very poor job trying to act tough. He had the face right but he had to keep shifting around hoping no one would notice just how bad his legs were shaking. Horo and Jake were both looking around frantically for some kind of weapon or way to escape. There seemed no way out of it and the two really looked like they were ready to make the attack when something whooshed down from the sky. A lizard like thing at least five feet long with longer wings landed in front of them. Hikari opened her mouth and sent a blast of fire like a blow torch at the two wolfs that scorched the fur on their face and knees. They cried out and jumped back.
Run! They didn't even need the silent command, all five of them took off the way they had come. When they came to the corner the four kids turned towards the castle. The other turned back towards the coliseum and the inn, but when he noticed the others going the other way he turned and followed, quickly catching up.
The two wolfs were now in a worse mood than they had been before if that were possible. The first jumped regardless of the fire at Hikari, but the dragon pounced and flew up above them. She blew another round of fire at their backs. Her intension was to miss and just scare them but some of the flame fell and singed part of the fur. Filling the air with a horrible smell of burning hair. It stopped before it got to the flesh but the smoke was enough to make the other panic and jump on his companion. That distracted them enough for Hikari to fly away and find the others.
Was hunting...didn't see...forgive me... Jake nodded to forgive the voice in his head but was too tired to speak as they ran through the dark empty streets. It was dark now and he had to trust the pups knew where they were going and that they didn't see anyone.
It didn't take them long to reach the palace at a full run but when they got there the gates were closed and locked for the night. Jake swore as he collapsed against the wall, "Completely forgot about that." he managed to get out between breaths. The only one not about the pass out was Hikari who floated over them lazily.
The grown wolf recovered more quickly than the others and sat down by them, "So you really aren't twenty two." he said. The pups looked at each other, scared and defeated, "I won't tell." the wolf told them.
"Really?!" everyone brightened up.
"I think those other two will, but I won't."
"Thank you thank you thank you." the three collapsed in a grateful heap.
"My name is Sanke. I'd better get back. Do you think it's safe?" he looked around.
No one knew if the other two would still be out or not.
Safe...go around other side of city...deny everything...safe flight. Hikari was perched on top of the wall next to the gate.
"Thank you." Sanke nodded to the dragon and ran off.
"Great, that's solved, now how do we get in?" Jake said tilting his head towards the gate. Hikari saved them again, she flew down and used her claw to undo the lock and open the gate just wide enough to let them sneak through. Jake locked it back up again as the pups said goodnight and headed off towards the barn. Jake yawned as he walked into the palace too. At home it was probably only nine, ten at night but he had gotten so used to just going to bed when the sun went down around here. He figured when...if he got home his sleep pattern was going to be way off whack for a few weeks. He finally fell into his bed and slept the whole night through.

The next morning it was all the gossip between the wolfs and even some humans. Three young wolfs were loose in the city. Jake never heard anything about being attacked by dragon and he got to thinking it would have been too embarrassing so they kept that part to themselves. Spark was unconvinced though after lunch.
"If there were three pups someone would have noticed them before now. There aren't a lot of place to hide in the this city for a wolf. Trust me, I know."
Enorc sent out Hikari in the morning to look for the three but she came back that night with a negative. Jake had to wait until after lunch when everyone was busy to bring his friends the food and news.
"You guys are famous." he chuckled happily as they dug hungrily into the huge sac of raw meat, "Should probably lay low until the real tournament though." The real fight was a week away from the elimination rounds. So they were going to have to keep still for a few days. That would help them though. The smell trail they left would disappear after two or three days and after that it would be almost impossible for them to be discovered.
The growing problem though was how were they going to see the tournament without getting seen themselves. Jake would have to sit in the Royal box with all the others or it would suspicious. And they couldn't just hide on top anymore because even that was going to be filled to the brim with humans and wolfs coming and going the entire time. Then in the middle of the week Jake got an idea. It was sketchy and he would actually be surprised if they pulled it off, but it was the best they could think of. Three days before the tournament Jake went to go wash dishes as usual with the cooks. And as usual the pile was stacked high and long, but he gritted his teeth, rolled up his sleeves and turned on the water.
"Taste that will you?! Just taste it!" one the cooks was saying over a small pot. Another came over to taste it, "My wife tried that and said it was terrible! It's a master piece! The best spice I've ever made in my life!"
The other cook tried it and shook his head, "Take your wife's advice on that one mate!"
"What?! It's chon! It's a delicacy!"
"Which means he'll eat it all before it even gets to the table in the palace!" another one called out randomly.
"Well I think that delicacy should be thrown out before it poisons anyone else!" the cook that had tried it joked.
"It's an acquired taste! Too rich for your armature taste buds to understand!" the cook that made it snapped. There were various ooo's around the kitchen and Jake though now would be a good time to interrupt before a fight broke out.
"So what are you guys serving for dinner at the tournament?" he asked loudly.
"Fresh crispy salad with apples and raisins with a raspberry dressing." one said quickly.
“Croissants with a tray of ham, salami, cheese and turkey." another told him.
"Then shrimp with different sauces." the one who had made the spice snapped.
"Sounds like a lot." Jake said. Another thing is they were fed waaay too much and he was usually too full to take another bite before the last course came, "But instead of distracting everyone coming and going during the tournament, why don't you leave a big table out there in the morning with everything already on it so they can have like a buffet while the watch the fights?"
The cooks all paused to think it over.
"Then you could leave early too and watch the fights!"

“The food would spoil” one objected.

“Put it on ice.” another solved.
"I have been wanting to see them." one of the cooks said, "I vote for that."
"Me too!" and they all agreed quickly. Like everyone else they were all for doing it quickly so they could get off work earlier. And the first part was done.

Finally the day came. Jake got up at the crack of dawn when only the cooks were awake, and headed down to the coliseum with the pups. Leaving a note saying he couldn't sleep because of the excitement and had nothing better to do than the help the cooks. They got to the kitchens just as the cooks were getting ready to bring all the trays up. Jake took one politely and shoved the three wolfs under the table cloth that hung down to the floor, then took it up with the others.
When they got up there the food was on each side of the box and there was a lot of it. Jake parked his cart with all the salads and the pups played musical chairs, moving under chairs and carts until they found one they could see the arena with and not be seen by anyone sitting down. They were hopping with excitement. They had been waiting for this day for years and they were finally going to get to see the greatest wolf fights ever in the world. Soon as the sun came up the coliseum started filling with people and wolfs, all trying to get the best spot even though the fights wouldn't start until late that afternoon. The people in the palace didn't have to worry since they had their own little section.
When the three were comfortable Jake hurried back to the palace to get ready with the others. Spark was already gone to help the fighters get ready. Colt seemed just as excited as Jake and the pups. Enorc was happy just to get a day away from training. Apparently the Mother Crone had been pushing her harder since she got back then ever before. Tobin has his famous bored of everything look on his face, but when Colt grabbed his arm and started pulling him towards the door towards the others, chatting happily, his expression softened.
It was a big crowd in the royal box. Including the King, Queen, two princes, the princess, the Mother Crone, Enorc, Colt, Tobin and Jake. The coliseum was filled to the brim with people and wolfs. Couldn't see an empty seat in the whole place, and it was a big place. As soon as Tobin entered the seat his head whipped around and he walked over to the food tray with Yoh under it. Jake cursed silently. He had forgotten Tobin had all the senses of a wolf. But Tobin just paused then picked up one of the pieces of shrimp off the tray and popped it in his mouth before taking his seat. Jake breathed a sigh of relief and took his own place next to Colt.
They had an awesome view of the ground here. High enough where they could see everything, yet low enough where it seemed like they were right on top of the action. It was so loud with everyone talking in the place that Jake had to practically shout to his neighbor. It wasn't long after they sat down that Spark and the other two judges entered the arena looking all cool and official like with black and white collars around their neck to signify their position. When they stepped out into the sun the noise level went up about five notches as the whole city and then some cheered and greeted the start of the games.
The three stood in the middle for a minute, secretly enjoying the attention. It was this part, the cheer crowds and the excitement that hung in the air, that Spark missed the most about being in the fights himself. He smiled and nodded to the other two then together they let out a defining roar that quieted the crowd. It would have been impossible for even a wolf to yell and be able to be heard all the way at the top. So there was no introduction. Everyone knew the rules and the fighters. All the important information was always released a few days before the tournament so the gossip would pass and when the day came everyone would already know the details. If anyone didn't hear they were quickly filled in by their neighbors in the stands.
The coliseum became disturbingly quiet for the amount of people in it as all attention was turned towards the doors. One by one the top twelve fighters came through the circled the arena, while the noise went up again as everyone cheered for the contestants. And even louder when the last one, the big wolf with the scar came by. Everyone had heard what he had done and he was the obvious favorite as they all passed. While everyone was still cheering the wolfs lined up and the judges paired them off.
The Mother Crone and Enorc stood and after much muttering a big chart appeared above the coliseum. There was a rush of aahh's from the audience as the names and little pictures of the wolfs were grouped together in their pairs. They made it big enough for everyone to see clearly.
When it was all done, five of the pairs left and the three judges went to the sides like they had done for elimination rounds. Everyone was quiet as the two wolfs left in the middle circled each other. A whistle sounded as the official start and they jumped.
The fights were quicker when it was just one on one. When there were six against each other some of the fights had last an hour the week before. Now the longest one had been about fifteen minutes. It only took about two hours to get through all six pairs. Every time the judges called a defeat a name and picture would be crossed out on the transparent score boards Enorc and the Mother Crone had set up. The audience cheered louder when the female wolf won her match then again when the rugged wolf won his.
There was a small break after the first round. People started eating in the box and Jake hoped the pups would have enough sense to keep their tails in while everyone was going around. On the other hand he ate about five croissants with the meat and cheese piled on to the point where he could hardly fit it in his mouth. After about a half hour when the contestants were rested and everyone was full the six were paired off again. The boards above shifted to fit the pairing.
The first up where two big red wolfs. It was almost hard to tell them apart they looked almost the same. The whistle blew and one jumped on the other and forced them down, but the other twisted and rolled the attacker onto his back. They wrestled for a while and Jake really did loose track of who was who. Finally one managed to roll its legs under and kick hard enough to send the other sliding across the ground. Before he had a chance to recover the one that had done the attack was on its feet and jumping on the one on ground and kept him down for over ten seconds. The crowd cheered as one name and face was crossed out and the winner lit up.
The judges helped the injured looser off the arena as the next pair entered. It was the female and another patchy wolf. The female was smaller and leaner than the other but she looked confident as they walked out. The judges came back and the whistle blew. The female ran at the patchy wolf. He reared at the last second, almost like she knew he would, but she kept running and hit his chest, knocking him down. he fell on his back, getting the wind knocked out of him as she jumped off and stepped back a few paces. He recovered quickly and rolled up, this time running at her. She turned and bounded away, but he quickly caught up and right when he was about to jump, she turned and smacked the flat side of her paw against his face, sending him down. Then crawled over and pinned him until the judges called time.
The roar from the crowd was amazing. She smirked and jumped off her opponent. Soaking up the cheers or victory, she stood there until the judges shooed her off and the last pair came out. This fight was the quickest of them all. When the whistle sounded the wolf with the scar jumped and quickly knocked the other down, but without waiting for him to recover and come back with an attack. The scar face kicked him across the arena until it was pretty clear the wolf was not going to get up. The judges exchanged glances but called time and the crowd hooted for the winner.
There was another half an hour break after that. People snacked some more. The fights had begun shortly after dinner so most people had just eaten before they came.
"How are they going to pair them off if there's three left?" Jake heard Colt ask. He turned to listen because he had been wondering that too.
"They all fight at once like in the elimination rounds." Tobin told her.
"Ahh." When the time was up, the three judges came out once again. Spark nodded up to Enorc who raised her hands.
"Hanabi!" she clapped and a big bright firework exploded in the sky. It got the attention of everyone in the audience and signaled the start of the final round of the wolf fights. The audience roared as the three finalists entered the arena. The female and the brown wolf smiled and nodded to the crowd as they walked around but scar face looked like he could have cared less and Jake found himself changing his favor from him to the female.
They came to the middle and faced the judges who bowed to the finalists and retreated off to their sides. The three then stepped out, bowed to each other then waited for the final signal. Even when the whistle blew all three just circled for a moment, getting closer and closer, trying to figure out the best attack to make. The brown wolf got close to the female and swiped a paw almost lazily at her, so she chose him as her first victim and pounced. They wrestled for a moment before she threw him down, but he swiped again at her neck, forcing her to hop off. As she staggered back, scar face charged hard into her side. There was a momentary gasp and groan from the crowd as she did a summersault on her side and was still long enough for the judge on the side to start counting.
As that happened the brown wolf was picking himself up and shaking his head, but he had hardly enough time to count his claws before scar face was jumping on him. The brown wolf fell on his back and scar face tried to jump on to pin him from the side. As he leapt the brown wolf raised his paw in the air in the way of scar face's front foot. They connected and the brown pushed as hard as he could. The attackers foot snapped back, causing him to loose his focus, curl up in the air and fly all the way over the brown as he rolled under him and got up. Scar face landed on his back and got the breath knocked out of him. That just fueled his rage and with some struggle, rolled onto his feet and ran at the brown wolf. As they started to duke it out, the female had been slowly getting to her feet. The judge had stopped counting and she was still in the fight.
The crowd roared as scar face and the brown wolf went at it. Each were being harder and faster than any of the other fights had shown before this. But scar face was slowly gaining the upper hand. He was slightly bigger and stronger than the brown and was getting harder blows in. He finally got the brown to the ground again and pounded on him until the judge called time and on the board above the arena the picture and name of the brown wolf was crossed out.
It was down to scar face and the female now. Scar face looked a little winded but they knew that wouldn't matter much. They circled each other again for a moment. No one was really sure who was going to make the first move. Then scar face jumped forward, but the female was quick to spin around and swipe at his face. He stepped back, avoiding the paw by a fraction of an inch and bounded again. He caught the female around the neck for a headlock but she quickly twisted under and darted out, running behind him and turning back. He twisted around and the two ran at each other head on.
The crowd was going crazy. The noise was defining with the yelling and screaming for the personal favorite. The wolfs reared and went at like a cat fight with their paws, trying to hit the others face or throw them to the ground. The struggle went on for a good few moments. Scar face was hopping around, Jake thought he was trying to get better footing. Tobin sitting just behind him leaned forward a little, probably one a few the people in the audience not screaming their heads off. He, with the vision of a wolf, could see every detail of the fights. Scar face was now in a position where neither the wolfs in the audience or even the judges could see his face clearly.
As the female's paw took another swing at his head, he caught it with his other free paw and quick as lightning bit into the bottom of her paw then scrapped his face across it so the blood smeared across his face. Both cried out and parted. Scar face quickly turned so the judges could see the blood over his face. The female had her paw on the ground, with her other front one over it wincing in pain, but all the judges saw was the big red streak.
"TIME! BLOOD HAS BEEN DRAWN, ANNITA TAC HAS BEEN DISQUALIFIED! CLIFF MOUN HAS WON THE WOLF BATTLES!!"
If it had been loud now it had been nothing compared to when the winner was announced. It was like a bomb, Jake's ears were all ready ringing as he cheered and clapped too. He was a little disappointed about the outcome, he was really rootin’ for the female towards the end. Tobin clapped lazily but he was focused on the female as she limped towards the exit, leaving a small pool of blood with every step she took. The bottom of the paw was the most sensitive place on a wolf, besides the eyes and all that. Tobin could guess it was going to be a few weeks before she could walk properly again. It wouldn't take the judges long to realize their mistake but it was too late. The call had been made. Everyone was glorifying scar face and Enorc was clapping, making a dozen fireworks explode over head. There would be a feast and a real fancy fireworks display as soon as it got dark.

The royal party was getting up and ready to move to the exits. Jake pretended to be having a hard time tying his shoelaces, "I'll catch up in a sec!" he called.
Colt stood and looked back at Tobin, "I want to go talk with Spark before the feast." he told her. She nodded and everyone walked off until it was just Jake and Tobin in the room. Jake suddenly got the suspicion again that Tobin knew about the pups and was going to interrogate Jake, then go down and rat to Spark. But he just stood there silently for a moment, almost like he was debating then turned and walked out too.
Jake let out his breath and talked to the pups for a few minutes, telling them to stay where they were and sneak back when it got dark. They would probably miss most of the fireworks but they could sacrifice that being they had just seen the best show of their lives.

The feast was amazing and the fireworks were even better. In between Jake mostly spent his time trying to pick up some of the local girls. Though when Spark came up behind him and coughed loudly the girls made their way some where else.
"Aawww, Spaarrkk, I was so close that time!" Jake whined as he followed the wolf through the crowd.
"Close to what? Letting them see what a dork you are? I would have given them about two minutes top before running away in horror. Thirty seconds for the red head." he grinned.
"No way! I'd like to see you do better!" Jake tried to jump on the wolf, getting a hold around his neck, but he ended up just dangling there a few seconds before dropping back to the ground.
Spark laughed, "I am doing better, without even trying! I've got so many females comin’ up to me tonight. Being a judge really is a girl-magnet don't ask me why, and I've got a girlfriend to boot! HA!"
"Blaaah!" Jake tackled him again and this time Spark played along. He rolled over so Jake was pounding fruitlessly on his stomach. After a few minutes they were both laughing so hard they had to stop. Spark turned over again and Jake got on his back, then rode the rest of the way to where everyone else was sitting.
"It's about time!" Enorc scolded as Jake hopped down. Jake just grinned in response. When everyone was sitting Enorc clapped her hands again and one big firework exploded overhead, "Hikarito mahoo, hanabiwo ageru!" she clapped one more time and a whole series of fireworks went off. She smiled happily and sat back to watch. It was her own spell that made an entire fireworks display without causing any more effort. The crowd hushed and the air was filled with 'aahh's as they exploded overhead. They were the most beautiful fireworks Jake had ever seen. Big and colorful and some of them changed shape and made pictures. After a few minutes Jake had to lower his head for a moment to rub the back of his neck which was getting sore. A ways in front of them he spotted the female wolf that had lost the tournament. Her paw was bandaged. She didn't seem as impressed with the fireworks as everyone else.
"She doesn't seem very happy for getting second place," he muttered to Spark.
"Huh? Oh yeah." he spotted the wolf. Tobin had told him how scar face had cheated. He still had to confront her about it and figured it was now or never. Most would be going back after the fireworks and a lot of the wolfs would be leaving in the morning to go home and tell everyone else all about the trip and fights, "Be right back." he whispered to the others and walked over there.
Spark cleared his throat, "Miss Anita Tac?" he said quietly, getting her attention.
She looked down from the sky at him, "Yes?"
"The other judges and I have been made clear about events that happened during the final fight today. We have realized our mistake, it was Mr. Moun that cheated and should have been disqualified. Unfortunately we can not make a publicized announcement but if you come down to the arena tomorrow we can give you the gold medal you deser-"
"No." she looked back up at the fireworks.
Spark was a little taken aback by this answer, "But the gold is rightfully you-"
"I said no." she snapped without looking at him, "I got the medal I deserved." she said a little more quietly.
"Mr. Moun was the one that broke the rules not you-" Spark said quickly.
"I know that," she looked back down at him, "But it's all still part of the game isn't it? If you cheat and get away with it then you still win even if you should have lost. It doesn't matter if they find out later, the outcome was all ready decided. No, he won fair and square. If I took a gold medal then I would be the one cheating. I'm happy with the silver." she smiled and looked back up again, "I'll come back next year and get the gold that should be mine."
Spark smiled and nodded, "See you next year then."

Colt was just starting to get ready for bed when she heard the tapping on her window. Next thing she knew Tobin was climbing in.
"You always climb into girls windows without being invited first?" Colt smiled.
"I usually try to avoid climbing into anyone’s windows." he answered, straightening up.
"You could have just walked down the hall ya know." she reminded him.
"Night guards always ask questions, I don't like being questioned." he leaned against the bed post. The tense look in his face always went away when they were alone.
"I can understand that. So what's up?" Colt asked.
"Remember the rumors of the three wolf pups that were here?" Tobin asked.
"Yeah?"
"Turns out they were true."
"Really? How were they discovered? Poor things will probably get a decent beating for this." Colt muttered.
"Well technically they haven't been discovered yet." Tobin told her, "They were in our box today at the fights. I smelled them hiding under the food."
"Smart." Colt nodded. But the thought of three wolfs being there without anyone noticing was kind of freaky.
"Yeah, but they've had some help. Three guesses who."
"Jake?"
"Yep. Explains why he's always gone and why he took that job up with the cooks. He's been hiding them in the barn. I followed him back from the fireworks." Tobin walked over and looked out the window, "There, look." he pointed out.
Colt went over and she saw a dark figure running across the lawn towards the side door of the palace, "Good for him," Colt decided, "He's so cute. Seriously if I were fifteen years younger I'd be all over him." she grinned and stepped back from the window, "So are you gonna tell?"
Tobin shook his head, "If they can get back home that will be the real miracle. But they saw what they came to see and it's not my problem."
"Yeah." Colt nodded and silence fell. She looked at the man just a few feet away from her. The lamp by the bed lighting one side of his face as he looked out the window. She could never pin point the source of attraction to him. She would never go for this kind of guy back home. But still something about him just drew her to him, "Tobin...I-"
"I don't want you to go back." he whispered suddenly.
That threw Colt off so much she just stood there with her mouth open for a whole minute. She knew Tobin would rather eat bees than say how he felt. She never dreamed he actually would. The sentence kept repeating in her mind and she couldn't think of anything to say back. Finally she just let it sink in. She smiled and hugged him tight like she had the day she left all those years ago. It was his turn to be caught off guard but he recovered faster and hugged her back happily.
"I don't want to go back either." Colt whispered in his ear when she got her voice back, "I don't want to go back..."
She felt his grip tighten slightly. After another moment she pulled her head back and leaned up slightly. She paused for one second then softly pressed her lips against his. She had wanted to do this ever since they met. He was soon kissing her back and they kissed again and again. Somehow they made their way over and Colt fell back on the bed with Tobin on top of her.

"Enorc."
"Yes?"
"Don't meditate with the Crones tonight." The Mother Crone instructed.
"Why not?"
"You're too young."
"Huh?" Enorc blinked, but the Mother Crone elaborate.

“Enorc?” she said again after a moment.

“Yes?”

The Mother Crone walked over and showed Enorc a ring on her finger. It was a plain and looked white at a first glance but then Enorc saw hundreds of colors swirling around the band, “When I die-” she held up her hand to silence the girl, “Take this ring and on the next full moon take it out and put it on. Then you will be a full Crone.” the subject was never brought up again.

Jake sat in the dining hall the next morning with Enorc and the Mother Crone in hailing his food. The pups wanted to leave today with the rush and he wanted to say goodbye and help them off. The door at the end of the hall opened and Colt came through with Tobin right behind her. Jake actually stopped and stared with his fork halfway to his mouth. Tobin never joined them for meals. He always ate with Spark or had 'other things to do'. The two sat down and Colt grabbed a plate. Tobin just looked at the food and everyone else acted like this happened everyday. So Jake shrugged and finished his bite of eggs. When he was almost done the Mother Crone cleared her throat.
"Everyone, I have good news and bad news." she announced.
"What's the good news?" Colt asked.
"Fate has taken the next step in being fulfilled."
“Six months ago I would have argued there was no fate." Jake mumbled more to himself.
"The bad news is," the Mother Crone went on, "That you two will be returning home for good tonight."
"WHAT?!"
"NO!!"
Jake was choking on his piece of bacon and it took him a second to cough it up, "Heck no, I'm not going home tonight!" he squeaked.
Colt slammed her hands onto the table, "I'm not going home at all!"
"It's too short of notice!" Enorc agreed, "Didn't you say yourself the spell takes at least two weeks to prepare and a full moon-"
"Tonight is the full moon and I have been prepared for this for more than two weeks." the Mother Crone said calmly.
"Doesn't matter I'm not leaving!" Colt yelled and stood up.
"I wish you had a choice in this." The Mother Crone said sadly.
"I don't care! You'll have to kill me before you make me go back!!" she shouted and ran out of the dining room. Tobin jumped up.
"Go and talk some sense into her." The Mother Crone instructed him and he took off like lightning out the door.
Jake was more in shock at the moment. He knew he'd have to go back but lately it seemed like it would be a long time. After a moment of silence he too got up and stormed out the door.
Colt fell into her room and attempted to slam the door but Tobin was one step behind her and caught it then closed it more gently. As soon as it clicked shut Colt flung her arms around him and started crying on his shoulder.
"I'm not going, they can't make me, I'm not leaving, they can't make me-" she hiccupped.
Tobin did his best to try and comfort her but he had never been good at this kind of thing so he waited until she had calmed down some.
"It'll be okay." he whispered.
"NO IT WON'T!" Colt went into another fit of sobs.
He didn't wait as long this time, "I'm a half Crone now remember?" he whispered, "We have more power than just knowing everything."
"But I'll never see you again!" she cried.
"Yes you will."
She hiccupped and looked up for the first time, "Huh? B-but sshe said-"
"You will be leaving for good," Tobin repeated, "But if Crone's meditate the right way we can project a part of ourselves into another world. With a little extra training I can visit you every night in your dreams." he wiped a tear coming down her cheek.
Colt sniffed, "Y-you mean it? B-but I don't want to leave. I love it here so much more than home-"
Tobin shook his head to quiet her, "This world is already dieing. If you two stay here any longer it will just upset the balance more. If you somehow find a way to stay here for good it will eventually lead to the destruction of both out worlds. Can you let that happen?"
Colt reluctantly shook her head.
"Will you go home tonight with Jake?"
She nodded and buried her head in his shoulder again as she shook with silent sobs.

Jake walked into the barn, looking down at the ground and not really paying attention to where he was going. Hikari let out a cry that made him look up and stop right before he ran into a horse's butt. He stepped back and changed his course so he met up with the pups.
"Hey!!"
"Morning!" they greeted him happily and Jake did his best to force a smile and act happy.
"I can't wait to get back and tell everyone!" Yoh said as they got their packs together. This time they were prepared with food on the way home so they wouldn't starve again.
"Be careful who you tell," Jake reminded him, "On the slight chance that you get back before the others and make everyone believe your camping story you don't want some other tiny pup going and ratting on you."
"Yeah yeah." they all grinned, still pumped from the night before, "If we hurry we can get back a full day before the others and Sanke said he'd help us part of the way so no worries!"
Jake smiled and nodded, "Good luck. I'll miss you little rascals."
"You'll stop by someday again won't you?" Horo asked hopefully.
Jake looked down, "Well I just found out that I have to go home tonight too, just like you guys."
"Really? Where do you live?" Manta asked.
Jake paused, "Farther away than you can imagine." he said finally.
"Wow! Must have been some journey to get here!" they said.
Jake smiled, "Yeah, it has been an incredible journey." he looked out the window and saw the sun all ready coming above the houses, "You guys should prolly get going."
Help get out of city... Hikari said then added, I'm sorry... she knew what he really meant when he said he was going home.
Jake nodded in reply then got down on his knees and hugged all the pups, "I'll miss you guys, try and stay out of trouble!"
"Yeah like that will happen," Yoh smiled as he hugged Jake back as best he could.
"We'll miss you too!" Horo said.
"Safe journey back to your home too." Manta told him. They picked up their sacks of raw meat and waited by the door for Hikari to give them the signal.
All clear...follow me...
They dashed out quickly and quietly. Jake watched them go and tried to hold back the tears of losing his new friends, "Bye...."

After everyone had calmed down some they all agreed they needed to spend the day together before Colt and Jake left that night. The five of them, including Spark went all around the city. Did some last minute bonding, had a picnic in the field outside of the city. Watched as the parade of wolfs left the city to go home. Enorc assured them the field outside the city was breathtaking when it was green and full. Now it was just brown with dead grass but no one really cared.
Jake watched as the wolfs filed out of the city though they were so far away they seemed more like bears. Suddenly two wolfs broke out of the line and started running around. It looked like one was chasing the other and it didn't look friendly. Every so often the one in front would turn and swipe at the other.
"Who is it? What's wrong?" Colt muttered.
"It's Cliff." Tobin glared.
"The dude who won the tournament?" Jake asked.
"Yeah and...the other looks like Anita's boyfriend if I'm right." Spark told them, "Doesn't matter they're still in trouble." he jumped up and took off after them like a train.
Scar face turned again and took a swing at his attacker. Claw his tooth so fast it sparked causing both to jump back and start the chase again. But no one noticed the spark hit the ground and catch on the dead dry grass. When they turned to battle again Spark was on them. He jumped in the middle and forced them to separate.
"STOP IT!" he growled, "It's forbidden to fight on the Imperial grounds except in the tournament! Take your fight off the grounds or I'll ban you both from ever coming here again!!"
Scar face just glared. The other reluctantly nodded and the two ran off again. Spark sat down to watch them to make sure they made it out of the boundaries. The others eventually made it to him, though everyone but Tobin was about to pass out from running all the way.
A few minutes later there was a cry from behind them. Wolfs on the path were scattering because a huge smoke cloud was blocking the road out. A fire had caught and it was spreading across the field towards the city gates. Tobin looked at Enorc who looked almost ready to panic. It was way to big to smother it with something. They would need water and that was the only thing they didn't have. And that was the only thing Enorc had never been able to master.
"You have to do it." Tobin told her.
"I can't. I'm not that strong yet." she replied in a shaky voice.
"Doesn't matter you have to try!" Spark said and ran towards the flames. He got on the path and ran through the solid black cloud. He came out coughing but started redirecting the panicked wolfs back to the city.
"I have never seen you get scared or give up on anything in your life." Tobin told Enorc and went to go help Spark. The flames were getting close to the city walls now. She had to do something, anything fast.
So Enorc took out her little piccolo and closed her eyes. The music was as beautiful as ever. It calmed the two humans standing behind her and cleared her mind. When she was ready she started concentrating on the spell. Enorc reached out with her mind. Felt the water in the air and tried to bring it together. At first it didn't seem to work and just as she was about to give up, a few particles banded together. She tried again and more came. Then by thousands and millions, the water gathered above them.
The flames were leaping up on the gates now and spreading down, almost as if looking for a way in. Jake looked up and saw a white fluffy cloud. It was getting bigger and bigger, impossible fast. Soon it was covering the whole city. Then it started to get darker and darker. Spark was the first to feel the drop of rain on his nose.
A downpour started as Enorc released all the water and fell back. The fire started to subside, people cheered and ran out of their houses just to feel the rain they had been deprived of for months. Enorc smiled and as Tobin picked her up to bring her home, she let the piccolo slip out of her hand and fall into the lush green grass.

That night as they gathered in the chapel Jake realized how hard it really was to say goodbye to everyone again. For good. But he knew that as much as it hurt him it must have been ten times as worse for Colt. He was half convinced she would have killed herself right there if Tobin hadn't promised her over and over that he would see her again in her dreams.
"It's time." The Mother Crone announced as the sun set on the horizon. Everyone started to give their last teary goodbyes.
Jake went over and hugged Spark around the neck, "Don't get into any trouble now ya hear?" the wolf told him.
"You too." Jake smiled sadly and let go then turned to Enorc. He wasn't quite sure what to do at first but she came over and hugged him tight.
"Give a hug to mom and dad for me will ya?" she sniffed.
Jake almost laughed, "Yeah, will do. And don't you forget your little brother or I'll come back and haunt you."
"I won't forget. Promise." They let go as Enorc wiped a tear and sniffed again.
Colt let go of Tobin just long enough to hug Spark and Enorc then went right back and wouldn't let go until the Mother Crone coughed loudly.
"Y-you come see me soon." Colt sobbed as she forced herself to let go.
Tobin nodded, "Soon as I can."
Colt kissed him one last time and her and Jake made their way over and stood in the circle the Mother Crone had created. She started chanting and circle started to glow. Jake started thinking about home. He was going to have to write this all down when he got back. But he'd have a lot of catching up to do with his friends first. They wouldn't believe him even if he told them all his adventures. Suddenly he was blinded by a white light and when he opened his eyes again he was back in the office at Colt's book store.

*** One month later ***

Jake parked his bike outside the store and walked in. Colt had given him a job right away. Jake didn't mind the extra money but it became hard to juggle that plus homework and friends. The woman had become steadily happier over the month. After a week Tobin had started visiting her every night until she was almost back to normal. But that day Jake walked in to find her with her head in her arms on the counter.
"Colt? Are you okay?! Oh you had a doctors appointment today right? Did everything go alright?!" he asked.
Colt lifted her head slowly. She had a neutral look on her face but her eyes were red like she had been crying. She looked at Jake and said simply, "I'm pregnant."

*** Eight months later ***

Eight months later Colt gave birth and the Mother Crone passed away in her sleep. Enorc grieved for a week until the next full moon. She took the ring the Mother Crone had given her to the top of a hill outside of the city under the light of the full moon.
Looking up Enorc got down on her knees then bowed to the celestial light of the moon. She slipped on the ring and suddenly all the stars in the sky starting shooting by like the world was spinning a hundred times faster. And then she saw everything, knew everything, understood everything. She saw the past, present and future. She knew she still had a long ways to go and the struggle to save their world was not over. She understood every rhythm and movement of the world. She blinked and the sky was exactly as it had been before, but she had changed. Slowly she got to her feet again and as she rose every Crone on the planet stood with her. She could feel them all now. She was connected to all of them. Their very being and soul.
All hail the Mother Crone! Mikel led the chorus.
Long live the Mother Crone! They chanted as one then settled back down, not to move again until the next chosen came. The new Mother Crone took a deep breath and descended back down the hill, back home.