Chapter 6- A forming plan

Shadow lifted his head up. Last he knew he had landed into a pile of snow. What greeted him both confused him and startled him. He was looking into the eyes of an unfamiliar wolf that had gold eyes and jet black and light grey fur. He had a pair of glasses resting on his long muzzle. “Awake? Good”. Shadow shook his dizzy head. “Who are you”? The black wolf walked away and sat down in a strange wooden chair. “I’ve been wondering the same thing.” Shadow was amazed how the wolf sat in the chair. His back legs hung in front while his back lay perfectly against the wooden stand on the back end. “I am Donvu; I’ve been alive for over two-thousand years now”. Shadow was dumbfounded. “How is that possible”? He looked around; the room was adorned in velvet carpet and wooden tree like walls with a desk and book shelves. “The Elixir of Life is how my dear boy, it was given to me when I opened the stone piece”. “Stone piece? Are you even real”? The wolf turned his head and stared over his spectacles. “I wonder that about you”. Shadow shook his head and suddenly the room was now just a cave. The wood walls now were stone and again a flash blasted around him. The room was now stone like the halls he saw in his dreams. A shady see-through figure of a wolf was standing before him. “You are the only one who can stop him”. Shadow closed his eyes. “Make it stop”! The shade clasped its paw over Shadow’s shoulder. “You must free me and the others, the ones who believe”. Shadow screamed through the chamber “Believe in what”!? A loud bang signified another flash and this time he was lying on the ground. Luna was standing in front of him. The wolf’s voice was barely echoing in Shadow’s ears. “Only you can stop him”… “Shadow, are you alright”? Shadow’s eyes bulged and he leaped to his feet. James and Crystal were watching from a distance. “You were screaming child. Please sit”. Shadow sat slowly; his heart thumped. “There was this wolf and he talked about this stone”. Crystal cocked her head and James spoke up. “You might have been in shock”. He came up beside Shadow. “We lost Raves back their”. Crystal said sadly. Luna draped her wings over her shoulders. “He was a kind soul, may he rest in peace”. Shadow nodded slowly. Luna rubbed her fuzzy chin in deep thought. “The stone”… She mumbled to herself. Suddenly, she flew up to a mound against the wall. Shadow looked after her. “Wait, you know something”? Luna waved her wing. “Come, come”. Shadow followed to her along with Crystal and James. “Yes, the stone is an old artifact known as the Shadow Stone”. Shadow thought back to what the wolf said. His dark old voice chilled him. “The stone was buried in a guarded tomb to keep it safe, only half of it”. James spoke up. “And the other half”. Luna shook her head. “It disappeared. Apparently, rumor has it that the stone was cracked in half by an individual that wanted to preserve the stone for unknown reasons”. Luna moved her leather wing to reveal her glowing painting and it flew into the room like a three-dimensional image. A glowing stone showed in the image. “This is the half of the Shadow Stone that’s been buried”. The stone was indeed cut in a half shape; its jagged edges shined light across the concealed image. It glowed the familiar red color Shadow had been seeing. “That light”… Shadow stared at the stone for a moment. “Yes”? Luna said slowly. Her gaze shifted between the image and Shadow’s mesmerized face. “That light the stone is shining, I’ve seen it before”. James stared at it closely. “I haven’t seen anything like it”. Shadow shook his head to free his eyes. “I saw it in the crystal of mirrors shard and on the floor back at the human lab”. Luna stared down at the floor in thought. “So what importance does this stone even have”? Crystal asked. Luna’s head shot up to look at them. “Chanoue is looking for it and I think he’s close to getting it”. Shadow and Crystal eyed each other. “How do you know that”? Luna again stared at the floor. “I’ve been monitoring him in order to watch his progress to whatever he’s after”. Shadow jumped into the conversation quickly. “Then we have to beat him to it”! Luna sat up. “My thoughts exactly, I’m going to assist you obtaining the stone”. Shadow looked to the tiny bat. She had never came with them to assist with anything before. “What can you do”? Crystal asked tucking down her ears. Crystal was not out to offend the bat. “I recognize ancient symbols and geometry from temple like structures; I should be able to help”. Shadow coked his head and turned to look at the bat. “Temples? What are you talking about”? Luna giggled and floated to the ground. “Oh, the stone is located in an old underground temple, Chanoue is already there”. Shadow felt a need to hurry. “It’s up near Alaska”. “Then we need to hurry” Shadow exclaimed. Luna waved her wing. A portal appeared out of thin air. Through its border body laid cold tundra. Outside it was lightly snow covered rocks and pine trees expanding the land. “Everyone through first, I shall follow”. Shadow stepped up first; a cold rustling wind pushed past his fur. Crystal followed behind him dropping down behind him. The portal was suspended a little high up above the ground. James stomped down too. “I’m still getting used to this magic stuff”. Shadow laughed. It was glad to have his dad back. His young age hadn’t given him much of a sight on his father’s playful personality. James shook letting his fur hang loose. “It’s cold, really cold”. Luna came flying down just as the portal snapped shut behind them. “The temples right there”. Luna pointed flying over their heads. Shadow turned in her direction. “I see a rock”. Luna dropped down and shook her wings. “Not the rock, look”. She pointed to a fat burrow sticking up next to the rock. “The temple is in there”? Crystal spluttered. “Luna, you might be a little blind for a bat”. James said staring at the burrow. She giggled cheerfully. “I may be blind as a bat, but that’s where the temple is, come on”. She flew downward into the hole. Shadow shrugged and followed after her. “Jump down”! Her soft voice echoed. They all dropped into the hole. Shadow thudded against a sandy floor. The sight around him was eerily familiar. Flaming torches lined a long stone hallway in front of him. The rest of the room was a dark cave lined in sand and rock. The hallway was connected to the cave by a wispy sand wall and ceiling eased into it. “This way”. Luna gestured her wing and lightly hovered into the hallway. The torches shimmered as they walked by. Crystal sat for a moment to scratch her side. “This cold air is a bit out of place down here, and what’s with these fire sticks”? Luna turned her head in mid glide. “Ancient wolf cultures lit flames like these that could last for centuries. It’s a special type of coal”. Shadow watched the shimmering flames with interest. Everyone stopped short. Shadow looked ahead and to his disappointment, a dead end greeted them. “A dead end”. Crystal said lowering her ears against her head. “But what about those symbols”? James pointed out. Across the wall were several odd symbols. They were swirled and curled around themselves in elegant lines. Shadow walked up and pressed his paw against one of them. A tile holding the symbol pushed in making a loud rumble. Luna waved over. “Hold still”. She pressed against another. It didn’t move but the one Shadow pressed pushed back out with another rumble. “It’s a puzzle”. Luna said gliding back. “Well that’s great”. Crystal huffed. Shadow stared at them for a long paused moment. “Luna, do you recognize them”? Luna shook her head in confusion. “Their not of any language or recognizable literature that I know of”. James turned his head to look around. The stone wall was barely lit by the torches on the walls. Among the glimmer and glow, shined several other symbols gently carved into the stone. “Wait look over here”! James called. The others turned their eyes to the wall, following James’ gaze. Luna flew close to the wall. “He’s right, theirs more symbols here”. Shadow scanned his eyes across the wall while turning his head back to the wall at the tunnels end. The symbols all lined up in order and were placed on shield shaped stone blocks. “We have to press the tablets in the order of the wall”. Luna and Crystal both turned their heads in surprise. “Here, I’ll press the tablets you, Crystal help me tell which tablet is which”. Crystal looked up at the first symbol and bounded over to Shadow. “Alright, the first looks like a snake with a helmet or something”. Shadow looked at her with a dull expression. “Wow, how descriptive”. Crystal rolled her eyes. “There”! She reached up and pressed against one of the tablets that had swirled line with a cut C on its top. It sunk in and didn’t pop back out. “It works”! James nodded in admiration. “Good work, alright now the other”. Luna said with excitement. Crystal ran over to the wall. “Alright now we need…” She scanned the symbol covered wall. “There we go”. She pressed into the other tablet with what looked like a bear on it. “Just two more”. Crystal motioned back to the wall and again back to Shadow. “This one here”. She pointed up to a small tablet near the ceiling. Shadow reached his paw up and pressed against it. “And now this one”. She looked towards the middle of the wall. The symbol was dark and carved deep. It had the appearance of a wolf’s skull. “That’s an odd symbol, why a wolf’s skull”? Crystal asked nudging Shadow. “I don’t even want to think about”. He said pressing the tablet inward. The wall sunk down through the floor. The grinding ruble echoed through the cavern with intensity. The walls shook and the stalagmites on the ceiling crumbled, dropping small pebbles. “After you”. Shadow said gesturing Crystal through. Luna and James followed after through the open wall. James’s turned back as the wall sealed behind them.

 

 

 

 

 

“How deep is this cave”? Chanoue asked to the squat Kanoue behind him. “I can not say, I never have seen this place; only the stone”. Chanoue turned his head slightly to look back at Kanoue. “The Crystal of Mirrors showed me”. Chanoue looked back ahead and to his dismay the cavern of stone ended with a large opening. “Through here”. Kanoue said, he scrambled ahead and peaked out into the large room. The room was a large cavern with a narrow pathway. On both sides were cliffs and at the bottom showed large spiked rocks. Kanoue scuttled ahead to look over the edge “Master come look at thi-” Kanoue had slipped and began to fall while scrambling to catch his balance. “Kanoue”! Chanoue raced forward and grabbed Kanoue just in time. Chanoue placed him back on the rock path. “Are you alright”? Kanoue panted in fear. “You saved me”. Chanoue looked about a bit annoyed. “I still need you alive”. Kanoue looked down in shame. “I’m sorry for my clumsiness”. Chanoue simply walked past him ignoring the statement. The others followed behind even the wounded Lupus carrying his destroyed stubbed arm. The medical assistants had propped Lupus with a log leg attached by woven fabric. Chanoue stopped with his gaze shifting in two directions. The cave had two exits, one to the left and another to the right both with rock pathways leading in their directions. “We split up I want two scouts to take the left path”. One of the wolves next to lupus stepped up and boldly shouted out. “This is it Chanoue, this is where it ends”. Chanoue turned his eyes over to the wolf. The wolf was a shining silver glossy coated animal with dark blue eyes. “Oh what do you mean”? Chanoue asked eerily polite. “You nearly killed lupus and I can only assume we will die soon enough; I must stop you”. Chanoue chuckled grasping his chest. “Such a small and brave stand you’re making”. Chanoue stepped slowly forward. “And a stupid one too”. The wolf glared without movement and stared back into Chanoue’s dark glowing eyes. “Stand down now young wolf”. Chanoue commanded in a quiet voice. “Lupus was right, we should rebel against you! I’m taking the treasure for myself”! Chanoue’s dark grin dropped and he scowled. “You dim-witted moron”. Chanoue growled and his paw reached up and clasped around the wolf’s throat. “Kill me then, just shows how corrupted and how much of a tyrant you really are. I’m glad your father died, he’d be ashamed of something like you”. The wolf stated through Chanoue’s chocking grasp. Chanoue felt himself fly into blind fury. Chanoue’s paw flew up sending the wolf with it. Chanoue had hurled him away and onto the ground. Chanoue rushed the injured wolf and slammed into him. The yelps rang around the cave. Kanoue watched with tears running into his eyes and his heart crestfallen. Chanoue reared his head back and then down, sinking his teeth into the wolf’s side. “I want you to bleed before you die”. The wolf stared at him in terror. Chanoue pushed the wolf back and held him inches over the cliff edge. “Now you will rot with the others”. Chanoue said slowly and he shoved the wolf back, sending him hurtling down. There was silence as he fell; only his gasping face looked up to the emotionless Chanoue. The wolf was impaled by a sharp rock; it pushed through his chest, splashing his corpse in bloody ribbons. Chanoue snorted angrily and turned his head to two skinny wolves watching the dead wolf below. “You two, take the left path and scout ahead, the others and I will take the right”. The two wolves looked at one another for a second and scuttled off down the left path. “Ye- ye- yes Lord Chanoue”. Kanoue wiped the tears from his face. Chanoue looked down at the feeble wolf. “Stop your petty crying and let’s go”. Chanoue walked away and turned again. Kanoue watched him with sadness. “Let’s go I said”. Chanoue barked loudly. Kanoue began to follow with the other wolves. “My brother’s heart is black, yet, there must be some good”. Kanoue thought to himself.