Chapter 2- Bruno’s crystal shard

Chanoue spit on the ground angrily. He was sitting in the councilor cave surveying his followers. Watching them bicker made him even more furious than Kanoue’s sniveling ever would. One of them didn’t like the idea of searching for the crystal. “An expedition for a silly crystal in some place we don’t even know of? How much more cryptic and mythological can you get”? He would say all the time. Chanoue’s teeth barred. He already told this whiney idiot to drop it and follow orders but lately he was dancing around spitting his irrelevant opinion at everyone again. Chanoue wanted to shut him up by killing the fool but he knew it would just raise concern and cause the others to leave him. Chanoue needed everyone to stay and focus on his plans, meaning the wolf would have to be shut up but in a way that did not threaten his life. Chanoue approached the chatty wolf slowly from behind. He forced back his angry growls and attempted a gentle voice. Chanoue tapped the wolf’s shoulder gently. The wolf was talking with another about how the latest expedition proposal was completely ridiculous. “An odyssey now is stupid; we should dig into human roots and slowly eliminate them there, not wandering around collecting useless junk”! Chanoue’s tapping apparently startled the wolf. “AHH”! He screamed. The other wolf he was speaking with jumped in terror. The wolf turned to look at Chanoue and forced a greedy smile. “Ah Chanoue, so nice to see you again, and what do I owe this humble pleasure”? Chanoue cleared his throat. “Id like to speak with you about our latest expedition Lupus”. Lupus turned to the wolf he was speaking with. “Please excuse me, ill need a moment alone”. The wolf stood up and walked away. Lupus turned back. “Okay I know you want to chew me out but it’s my opinion and I refuse to go on that silly trip of yours”. Chanoue was about to growl but held it back again. “You don’t have to come but id like you not be spreading your opinion over the others and try to waver their decisions”. Lupus stood up tall. “It’s my right to speak what I want and Chanoue, your not going to tell me what I can say”. Chanoue lost his patience and his large paw swung up and smacked Lupus in the face and sent him to the ground. The other followers watched amazed. “You stupid little disobedient fool! You will do as you are told! You know what was in store when you joined me”. Lupus stood up, blood dripped from his lip. “I did not expect such slavery and force”. Chanoue kicked Lupus’s leg. “Shut up and leave you utter disgrace”. Lupus walked away growling but turned to face his fellow wolves. “You are the fools to follow him”. Chanoue gave Lupus another hard kick in the legs sending Lupus away hurriedly. “All others I suggest you not follow his path and obey as you swore yourselves to do”. Chanoue said humbly. He sat and thought to himself. “With this show, I can imagine the others will want to rebel, I will keep them in check”. And he sulked way under the gaze of his followers.

 

 

Shadow walked across the snow covered meadow. The sun was raising overhead and Shadow began to lie down. “How do we summon her”? Shadow asked. Crystal sat and turned her head around at Shadow. “How should I know”? Shadow shrugged and folded his arms under him. There was a loud bang somewhere nearby. “What was that”? Shadow asked surprised. Near several trees in the distance a large smoke cloud was lifting up high into the sky. “Let’s go see”! Crystal said and she trotted of heading for the smoke cloud. At the clouds base was a small rock cave. “Darn it, I screw that one up every time”. A voice echoed from inside. Shadow slid his head around the cave wall to peer in. Crystal emerged behind him. Inside was a medium small grey wolf with shaggy hair. He turned his head to look at the pair. “Oh sorry about the noise; I was busy… experimenting”. Shadow leaned his head to one side and sniffed; a putrid smell was emanating inside. “Experimenting with what? Rotten eggs”? The wolf laughed sarcastically. “Ha-ha very funny but no; I was experimenting with potions”. They both stepped in feeling invited. Crystal giggled. The wolf glared obviously annoyed. “Something funny”? Crystal stopped herself and attempted to hold back another laugh. “Wolves don’t do human science stuff”! The wolf rolled his eyes. “Well I expand my limitations you see, I’ve attempted to create potions to help heal wounds and utilize strength”.  “But”? Crystal asked. “But it always ends in failure; I can’t seem to make anything without it blowing up in my face”. Crystal walked up and patted the wolf. “It’s alright even humans can’t do things like that”. Shadow padded along side a counter-like rock which was built along with the rock wall. On the counter was assortment of rock cups, emeralds, and diamonds. A shiny crystal shard caught his eyes and he stopped scanning. He walked up close to and it stared at his own reflection in the shard. It shown the same curios face right back at him. “What kind of crystal is this”? The wolf turned to look. “Oh that’s a shard of the Crystal of Mirrors”. Shadow stared closer. “Sounds special, what’s it do”? The wolf shrugged “Dunno, it just seems to be very reflective from my observation”. Crystal snorted then laughed. “Very reflective, how special”.  Shadow stared even closer. “Where did you find it”? The wolf sat down. “My buddy gave it to me, he said he found it near his cave one day and a local philosopher said it was shard of the Crystal of Mirrors, whatever that means”. The wolf scratched his ears and looked back at Shadow. “I’m Bruno by the way”. Shadow ignored him and continued staring at the shard. “Nice to meet you too”. Bruno said sarcastically and walked away to the other side of the cave. Shadow began seeing something red and shinny inside the crystal. “What is that”? Shadow asked as his eyes widened. The red sparkle began to grow brighter. Crystal walked beside him to look into the shard. “I don’t see anything”. Bruno was looking too. “I don’t either”. Shadow turned to look at them. “It’s right there in the shard”. But as Shadow turned the red glow had vanished. “You’re seeing things”. Bruno said turning back to his corner. Shadow looked back to the crystal shard hoping to see the shiny red sparkle. It did not appear; all that was left was his own reflection to stare back at him. “We best be going Shadow”. Crystal said pulling on Shadows back fur. He felt transfixed by the shard. “I’ll see you around I guess”. Bruno said slowly dropping his voice. “Humph, ingrates”.  Outside Shadow began quickly explaining the red thing he saw. “It was big and glowing”! Crystal rolled her eyes. “All the excitements got your head all screwy”. “Maybe Crystals right”. Shadow thought. Shadow sighed. “Your right, everything’s happening too fast”. Although the flashy red light lashed at his mind.

 

 

Kanoue shook seeing a large figure walking into his cave. “Chanoue? Why are you back so early”? Chanoue growled as to say to say shut up. “I need to take you with me, you may be of use”. Kanoue’s eyes went wide. “You mean I can leave the cave? What an honor my master”. Chanoue growled. “Its only for this one time, I’m posing you as a deformed guide. You will mention nothing of your existence and you will not attempt to speak with the other wolves”. Kanoue nodded. “Do I make myself completely clear”? Kanoue nodded even faster. “Yes master Chanoue, I understand fully”! Chanoue glared at the deformed hunched wolf. His horrid and warped form sickened Chanoue but he found himself staring and wondering how such a creature could even live. “We leave at dawn tomorrow”. Chanoue barked and started walking away. Kanoue stared out into the light and found himself starting to ask a very touchy question. His paw clamped into a fist and he braced himself. “Chanoue, what happened to your father”? Chanoue turned slowly. “You know what happened Kanoue; he was murdered by those two legged monsters”. Kanoue lowered his head. “Yes I forgot”. Chanoue sighed. “I wish I could forget but this is why we need to destroy them; it’s in my family’s blood; to wipe out the human race and bring vengeance to my father’s untimely death”. Kanoue shook more than ever. A statement of death slipped on his lips and rolled out over his tong before he could stop himself. “Our father”. Chanoue’s eye twitched. “We were born under the same father and mother but he knew you are something else you are not our blood but you will aid me, do not worry; revenge will be brought to those beasts, to our birth giver’s killers”. Kanoue stared brightly; he’d never seen Chanoue in such a companionate state. “And what about our mother, what happened to her”? Chanoue sighed again and turned away. “She left my father and I never saw her again, maybe she died”. “Oh”. Kanoue said in a hushed tone. “Now ill be back dawn tomorrow at nature’s first light, be prepared to leave”. And Chanoue slowly slipped out into the night.

 

 

Night had fallen over the meadow; Shadow and Crystal lay sleeping in the den with his mother. Shadow’s mind seeped with images of a glowing stone and several strange figures. Slowly he returned to the dream that haunted him months ago. He was once again standing in the stone room with the torches still burning. His eyes quickly shifted to the shady figures standing in the doorway. “What is it? Not use to being dead”? The two chuckled heartily. Shadow said nothing but stared. “Silent huh? Can’t blame you, it wasn’t easy to grasp when my time came”. Shadow continued to stare; from how it sounded, it seems Shadow was dreaming he was dead. Shadow opened his eyes and stood up. The cave was dark and his mother and Crystal were still sleeping soundly. He slowly lowered back down. He had no idea what these dreams meant and why was he having the same one twice? It made no sense but he decided to let it pass and closed his eyes again.