Chapter- 9 Revelations

Chapter 9- Revelations

 

          Shadow thought for a moment to hunch down but something about this wolf felt helpless and gentle. The silent acquaintance held in lock for only a few seconds before Kanoue whimpered weakly. “Did Chanoue send you? Send you to finish me off”? Kanoue’s memories were returning. He had been disgraceful to Chanoue; he had failed him, but a part if Kanoue disagreed. “No”. Shadow answer; surveying the nearly dead wolf. “How do you know Chanoue”? Kanoue shuffled in the snow. “He’s my brother, my… my master”. Shadow made a glance at Crystal who was still watching Kanoue. “What’s your name”? Crystal pressed. “Kanoue, Kanoue… I don’t know my last name”. Kanoue was stuttering as he spoke, from the cold or fear or both. “I’m Shadow this is Crystal”. Kanoue looked at Shadow then looked away shivering. “If your Chanoue’s brother then you must have known James right”? Shadow asked circling around to Kanoue’s front. Kanoue looked up to Shadow at this. “James? Yes he was a good brother; he was nice but Chanoue…” Kanoue broke off. “Then you know James was killed; killed by Chanoue”. Kanoue’s eyes widened and he started to twitch. “No, no. That can’t…” Kanoue stopped and lowered his head. “Yes… he did”. Kanoue knew it was true. It felt like some kind of suppression inside him was giving way with each second. “Why did he leave you out here”? Crystal asked. Kanoue spun around and faced her. “I’m nothing to him now, I never was”. Kanoue’s mind was beginning to snap. He was unbuckling from his fear. He now knew true anger. He could feel it building. “It was when I first born, Chanoue thought I was disgusting, a vile beast unfit for life, just like father was. He always saw me as vermin”. Kanoue sat up slightly. “Then he drove away my brother and my mother; Klara and James. I was stuck with Vargas, our father and Chanoue. When Vargas died, I was forced to help Chanoue recover the artifacts. I knew of these things because somewhere in my mind I could see them. Vargas knew that; he used me just as Chanoue has been doing all these years”. “So you’re the Nature Born”. Shadow said surprised.  Kanoue collapsed over on his side. “Vargas called me that all the time. I had no idea what it meant”. Crystal jutted back in, “But what about Chanoue, where did he go”. “He took everything, the white wolf, and all the artifacts and headed north to the tomb”. “A white wolf”? Shadow asked. “Yes, Chanoue had her chains”. “That’s my mother”. Shadow exclaimed. “So she’s still alive”. Kanoue’s eyes rolled over to Shadow. “Not for much longer, I… think he’s using her… using her as bait. He wants you to go after him”. Crystal moved to Shadow’s side. “I told you Shadow, he wants you to follow him”. Shadow shuffled her off. “Then he won’t have to try hard, I have to go and save her”. Kanoue stood up his back was straitened slightly as he stretched. “I’m going with you”. He had remembered it all, the attack on him, and the words Chanoue spoke. Chanoue was his enemy; all was clear. Crystal moved away from them both. “This is crazy, Chanoue will kill you both. Kanoue looked at her. “We might have a change against him. I have… powers”. Kanoue’s paws flashed with light and sparks shot from his claws. “Amazing”. Shadow said staring he looked over at Crystal who still looked unconvinced. Shadow moved forward. “Chanoue knows where the tomb is and is on his way there right now. If we don’t go now, then nobody will have a chance to stop him. I need you to go back to the sanctuary. Rally the others. Donvu will know what to do”. Crystal stared hard into his eyes. “You’re absolutely crazy but I know what your family means to you”. Shadow nodded slowly at her and looked back into her eyes. “Be careful”. Shadow smiled “I will”. She embraced him before turning back walking back through the snow. Shadow turned and with Kanoue headed deep into the forest.