Furry Art Pile

Sol de Luna, The first Kitsune

By

Vixen Wolfspirit

Chapter 3

The Wolf Tribe and The Third Tail

Sol walks behind Alastar toward the storm-beaten village, carrying her bundle of furs. Her flint dagger tucked firmly in the waist of the skirt he had made for her to wear. " Is this village that dangerous Alastar that I will need the dagger?"

"Slavery is not fully banned here, so it can be but as long as you're near me we should be safe enough."

"Slavery?" She looks at him confused, "What's that?" Catches up a little and grabs his tail holding on to it as they walk now. Sol trailing behind enough to give him slack so she doesn't tug his tail.

"Where people are sold as property to pay debts of all kinds. Those who are sold are used for any and all things."

Sol frowns a little and sways her tails behind her as they near the village. The wolves are out and cleaning up. A few of the weaker dens and houses have collapsed during the storm. But no one is hurt, now however he realizes he has a problem, they have slavery here and he's walking into the village with a lovely young vixen. One who is still at least six months away from her very first heat and, she has two tails, those three things make her a very big target. After all, a slaver could fetch a very good price for a female oddity like Sol. "So slavery is bad?"

Alastar curls his tail gently around her grip, "Very and you being as rare as you are makes' you a prime target to be nabbed for slavery." He walks in keeping closer watch on the going ons of the town.

"I'm rare?" Looks at him confused again, then looks at her self, but the bundle of furs on her back blocks her from seeing her twin tails at the same time. "Why am I rare?" Holds his tail tighter as it curls around her hand.

"Because vixens are rare here luckily, they have everything under control here so we can be gone quickly." Gets an idea and pulls some light rope and turns to her and gently ties one end to one of her wrists and keeps a firm grip on the other. "We will pretend you're my slave while we are here dropping stuff off it will cause less trouble then, you can keep a hold of my tail as a second safety."

Sol nods and lets him tie her wrist and keeps a hold of his tail. As Alastar leads Sol through the village, she is getting looks and sniffs, many pointing at her tails. A large, strong looking wolf named Cirrus, steps out infront of him blocking his path. " HEY! Fox.." Cirrus pushes his shoulder to make him take a step back. Cirrus tends to be the village bully and he's got muscle to hold that title around the village.

Alastar glares coolly at Cirrus having done a number on him once. "Hello Cirrus, still holding true to your job are you?"

Cirrus snorts at him, "Damn right I am, remember I'm next in line to lead the village. When my uncle dies, but you aren't keeping to yours . . . " Cirrus pushes Alastar's shoulder again. Sol whimpers behind him looking up timidedly at the big wolf. Cirrus growls low, "Fired that flare pretty late fox . . . sleeping on the job again?"

Cirrus sniffs the air, his ears perking up. As he grabs Alastar's shoulder and pushes him aside, stepping up to Sol. "Well well what do we have here?" He leans in sniffing at her and growls happily surprised.

"Cirrus you touch her and I'll do more then give you a fur cut this time!" The dark anger in Alastar's voice showing he is done with the pleasantries. "Unless you would rather explain to your elder why I no longer sell to your town." He gently pulls Sol close to him.

Cirrus shoots him a dark growl, "What I can't say hello to a lovely young virgin vixen?" He is enough of an asshole to openly say it for all to hear. Sol cuddles into Alastar, trembling, scared of the large wolf. Cirrus grins at how Sol clings to the fox, "So . . . This young thing is why you were late with your flare . . . How much you want for her fox?"

"She is not for sale Cirrus, you know better then all here I sell dead items not living." Alastar readies a second section of the line tied to Sol in his other paw, under the heavy load knowing if it comes down to it he would loose his furs to protect her. Then his quality furs would stop coming here.

The village is watching now, and staring at Sol, some licking their perverted muzzles, as they would love to take a virgin vixen before her first heat. Cirrus grins and huffs at the fox, "Well fox, you never had a live one to sell before, but you do now . . . I'll give you 100 for her."

Just then the wolf elder, Jarro, limps up behind the younger wolf Cirrus. Then whacks in the head with his staff and growling low, "Cirrus!!... How many times must I tell you to leave the fox alone?" Jarro taps his walking stick on the ground. "Since he has brought a young lady to our village, you will show proper respect that is due to her." Cirrus rubs the back of his head and whines softly looking at the elder Jarro. "Or shall I throttle you back to your cub years?"

Alastar bows to the elder smoothly, "Thank you elder for both me and my apprentice."

Cirrus grumbles and holds the back of his head, "Yes elder . . . I will leave the foxes alone . . . " He turns and walks away grumbling under his breath. "For now . . . "

Jarro bows back to Alastar and Sol. "May I ask the young vixens name?"

Alastar knows better then to trust Cirrus, as he smiles kindly all the anger gone as fast as it had appeared. "Of course elder," He nods to Sol.

Alastar glances around the crowd, as Sol looks at him then Jarro. Sol answers in a soft voice, "I am Sol de Luna . . . Elder wolf . . . I..I live with the fox . . . now." Sol bows a little, smartly using what the wolves call Alastar.

Alastar knows that most of the crowd had seen him give Cirrus a buzz cut in their fight before. Knowing they would think twice of trying him for it. Sol keeps a hold of Alastar's tail even tho her wrist is tied to him as well. Jarro smiles politely to Sol, "Ahh such a polite young thing . . . wherever did you find this one fox?" Jarro turns to walk with Alastar and Sol to where he was to sell the furs. "And with two tails?!"

"I found her in the woods, sick and near starved. I risked time of my hunts to make her healthy" He sets the thick and very heavy load of furs down for the sales fur. Dividing the pile to make it easier.

Sol follows silent holding to Alastar, taking off her bundle of furs and laying it next to his. As Jarro turns and looks at her then to Alastar, then at the pile of furs. The old wolf smirks slightly, "Really?... You seem to have much more to sell this time then you have brought us before."

"Well I had to stock up for two this time with winter coming so it worked out better for me. Luckily my trick worked and the beasts multiplied quite a bit." He keeps his eyes open for trouble while seeming to be focused completely on the elder.

Jarro nods to him, "That is good to hear fox . . . very good, hopefully last nights terrible storm did not force them away again."

The wolf Alastar trades with looks over the furs, then looks at Sol eyeing her. The trade wolf, Racus, sniffs a little, "Hey fox . . . throw in the vixen and I'll give ya 300 for the lot."

Alastar growls at Racus dangerously, and Jarro growls as well at racus. Racus holds up his hands and takes a submissive step back. "Whoa whoa.. I was only joking . . . she is too young really . . . "

Alastar turns to Jarro, who is the tribe elder, speaking softly to him. "I swear the next one that asks that I am nut checking as hard as I can"

Jarro laughs softly and nods, "I believe you would fox . . . " Sol stands sniffing and looking around, whimpering at a smell she wishes she didn't know.

Alastar turns to her and gently touches her shoulder. "Are you ok sol?"

Sol softly whines, "I smell . . . I smell blood . . . "

Jarro raises an eye brow at that and sniffs. " I smell nothing. Young Sol . . . are you sure it is blood?"

Alastar is breathing slow keeping track of everything. Sol comment puts him on high alert, as he sniffs the air sharply his senses honed for hunting, his hand falls on the hilt of his sword. It's very faint to him but it is there, a very weak scent of blood. The scent is just a faint whiff that seems to be pushes around the soft breeze, but it would be hard to track.

"Yes.. Elder . . . I smell it.." Sol sniffs starting to walk for it like it was fresh and heavy in the air.

Alastar and Jarro walk with her nodding for Jarro to call guards not liking this at all. One hand grips the hilt of his sword tightly, the other makes a loop ready of his spare rope that is not attached to anything. Jarro calls a few guards over, as sol follows the scent to a collapsed den near the outer edge of the village. The trade wolf, Racus, followed the three as well curious as what is happening this strange two-tailed vixen.

"This is not good." Alastar looks to Jarro, as other wolves start to gather to see what is going on.

Sol stops at the collapsed entrance, "It's here, right here." She points at the filled in entrance. The whole den looks unstable and ready to collapse.

Jarro shakes his head, "No, it cannot be good, we are still taking count of our tribe mates.." The elder motions the guard to dig. The guards start digging quickly at the entrance to open it up again and as they did they find a paw, a cubs paw in the dirt, bleeding but as soon as the dirt is moved the paw twitches.

"Hurry hurry . . . it's still alive." Sol huffs and whines, her tails twitching and flicking about behind her.

Alastar suddenly flings the loop he made lassoing the hand skillfully. "Grab tight cub!!, I am going to pull you out." He is not trusting the building as they dig out the entrance. The cub grabs the lasso blindly, holding on for all the one hurt paw can. The two guards keep digging, Jarro stands watching, very worried for the young cub.

"Hurry!" Sol's voice has a desperate note of urgency in it. "Hurry pull the cub out warrior of Gaia!"

As soon as enough dirt is moved and the loop is tightly gripped, he pulls firm but not too firmly to bring the cub free quickly. The last time Sol has said the goddess name to Alastar was during the storm and before she fainted. He heaves hard suddenly willing as he pulls for the earth to let go of the cub so he might have a chance to save the little one. The earth relents, allowing him to pull the cub out, but upon pulling the cub out reveals that the cub is badly hurt. Both the cubs legs are broke, and a piece of a den support beam badly embedded in the cubs belly. Sadly, all can tell that the cub will die, it ill only be a matter of time. As the piece of wood is angled up toward the lungs, and the cub is having trouble breathing already, coughing up a little blood

Jarro gasps at the sight before him now, "by the gods.. The poor child.." All the gathered tribe wolves, whine and whimper for the poor cub. Even Alastar's medicine can help the cub, Racus peers over at the cub*

"Noooo!!.. That is my son . . . " Racus cries out, as he pushes his way to the boy cub. Picking him up cradling him. "No.. My boy, my poor boy . . . "

Alastar moves in, quickly getting to work to numb the pain and slow the bleeding. Trying any trick he can think of to heal the child always talking to the kid keeping him focused. Jarro the elder of the village, drops his head sadly, his whines of sadness joining the rest of those gathered. But Sol undeterred by the cubs wounds, moves in and pushes Alastar's paws to the wood. "Warrior, pull this out . . . " she pulls the cub from racus, her tails move around to touch the cubs legs, closing her eyes. "Warrior pull out the wood!!!"

Alastar without thinking about what he is doing grips it, his medical treatments giving the child more time by slowing his flow and numb from pain. Sol looks at him, "Pull out now!!"

He rips it out firmly and hands it to the guard. As Alastar pulls out the wood from the poor cubs body, Sol's hands and twin tails start to glow lightly. Her eyes close as the glow starts to grow and encompass the dying cub and herself. The wolves standing around watching are staring in awe and amazement at this event

Jarro lifts his head to what is happening, his eyes widening as he watches. "What . . . what is happening fox . . . what is your vixen doing, fox?"

"What the gods and spirits have gifted her to do.." Watches the crowd knowing deep down there is still danger. Alastar grabs one of the guards by the arm. " Make sure no one else was in that den."

Sol trembles and shivers and before all those gathered with has grown now. The cubs fatal wound slowly closes and heals, even the fur regrows, not even a scar left behind. The crushed legs snap and crack as they heal back to perfect. The cub opens it's eyes and gasps for a breath as the warmth of the light that she is giving all saves his life. The wolf guard nods to Alastar and goes down in side carefully and does find others, four more cubs and young wolf girl that was looking after them, they are wounded as well. But they are not as severe as the cub that was caught in the collapse of the entrance.

Sol opens her eyes slowly and sways again like she did as the storm ended. Releasing the cub, who is immediately grabbed up by Racus, who is crying with joy, "My boy . . . gods be praised . . . thank you Sol de Luna.. Thank you . . . "

"Warrior of Gaia . . . cub . . . will . . . live . . . " She stands, walking over to the other four wolf cubs and the young wolf girl. The five of them very scared and in shock still from the ordeal. Sol smiles softly her eyes glowing with the power within her that is just screaming to get out. "Poor children," Sol kneels to them, gently laying her hands on them. "Children should smile, sing and play happily." Her power flows over the five injured children healing their battered bodies, like nothing ever happened to them. She sways again, falling over unconscious like before. Sol lays slumped over on the ground out cold again, just like after the storm, an amazing display then she is gone.

Alastar quickly moves to Sol's side and gently picks her up. But now are surrounded by villagers, Racus moves over, "Thank you .. Fox.. Thank you for bring her . . . She saved my son from death . . . I can never repay you or her for this . . . "

Of course that move Alastar made revealed the hilt of his sword the only proof of his past. Rather ornate for a simple overly strong hunter, he only has one of the twin swords on him. But one is enough to cause whispers and murmurs start up as those gathered. They notice his sword, while he holds the unconscious vixen in his arms. The many whispers can be heard by his finely honed senses, the many voice all speaking together. "Look at the sword he has . . . hey isn't that a sword of the gods . . . it can be there are suppose to be two of them . . . those are the swords of the priest of Gaia . . . why does that fox have them . . . I heard his boy ran away with them . . . "

Alastar bows slightly to the elder Jarro. "I am sorry to cut my visit short, but I need to get her home where my medical supplies are to make sure she is all right." He turns slowly to leave making sure the lock is set on the hilt guard.

The whispers swirl around him and Sol, then Jarro steps toward Alastar. "Fox... ... she called you warrior . . . " Alastar flinches slightly for the first time since the old wolf Jarro has known him he flinches at the title. Jarro walks up to Alastar, "She called you warrior.. And you responded to her calling you that, doing as she commanded." The old wolf nods sagely, "This is not the first time she called you by this title is it?" Alastar knows she has called him it before, when the storm faded away before she collapsed she called him her warrior of Gaia.

Very softly Alastar speaks to Jarro, "Vows are vows I don't change her words as I have sworn to protect her to best my ability."

"Come fox... Come to my den and let her rest there.. We can speak in private." Alastar nods slowly. Jarro gives a growl at the mass gathered around them. "Everyone.. back to cleaning the village... check every den.. every home make sure there are no deaths, and tend the wounded..."

The old wolf, starts to his den at the back of the village, one that is strongly built to act as a shelter against storms. Alastar grabs a guard by the arm, "I need a messenger maybe two to run to Purrzair, the feline town, far east and make my delivery."

He slowly follows Jarro, the old elder wolf lived alone. His mate having died many winters ago of sickness, he prayed to the gods to spare her but she died still. He has come to accept that it was her time and now remains alone in his home. The guard nods to Alastar, replying, "Yes fox.. We will send one immediately for you."

The guard runs off to do as requested, as Jarro points to his bed. "Here fox, lay her upon my bed."

He nods slowly, gently laying Sol down on Jarro's bed making sure she is comfortable. Like a true guardian not some wild hunter of the woods. Jarro watches as he sits by the fire pit in his den, taking out a pipe and lighting it. "Sit with me fox... she will be safe here."

Alastar nods and settles across from Jarro, respectably head slightly bowed. Jarro puffs on his pipe, "So fox, your not a wild hunter, nor are you just a normal warrior....... Draw your sword and hold it so I may see it please, fox."

"Yes elder, as you wish." With a practiced hand, Alastar draws the sword and holds it up in his open palms. The old wolf leans over slightly looking at the sword in Alastar open hands. Taking a long draw on his pipe, he pulls back his eyes widening. Alastar hands feel an added weight suddenly as the swords mate appears to rest in his hands with its mate. this is the first time the swords have displayed any power at all. Alastar blinks down at the twin blade.

"By the gods...... fox... Who is this vixen you have taken in?... Twin tails... The power to heal the dying... what else have you seen her do?.... what else can she do?" Jarro poses his questions to Alastar.

Alastar knows that when Sol wakes, she will most likely not remember a thing about what she has done. "She wont remember any of this elder. But she faced the hurricane and quelled the spirits rage and pain and rooted me in place to keep me from stopping her." He lays the twin swords infront of himself head bowed.

The old wolf exhales a breath of smoke, looking toward the sleeping Sol laying in his bed, her tails hanging off the side of the bed. The elder gasps as he watches a 3rd tail twitches ghostly at first. But then just as her second tail had, it flicks hard and becomes solid and real. Jarro drops his pipe into the fire pit in amazement, silently, "By all the gods that watch over us!!!"

Alastar quickly snatches the pipe from the fire and sets it to the side. The same happened in the storm when she quelled it." He looks over to Sol, "She was a single tail when I saved her and now she is saving us and changing." Looking back to Jarro, "I know not what to do but try to protect her."

The old wolf stands, moving to Alastar pulling him to his feet. "Quickly fox, tell me your name... tell me was your father a priest of Gaia!?" He sounds very shaken by what he has seen.

Looking away, "Yes I am the "Cursed Fox" Alastar StormRage son of the Priest of Gaia, vowed protector of the silver blades of the blessed." Alastar voices what he had been raised hearing, a cursed born a half demon a whole demon a monster the cause of his folks death.

Jarro lets go of him and kneels, "By the great earth mother... " he bows his head to him.

Alastar quickly stops the old wolf, helping him stand back up. " I do not need your praise elder, I am not of any clan because I no longer can trust completely. I am a wild fox hunter selling furs not some saint like my father was."

Jarro looks at serious and firm. "Do you not know what your name means Alastar?... Have you not thought about it?"

"No elder, I have not I only have knowledge that my name is a curse on the lips of many within taverns and Inns. I am the blame for my parents death and foul weathers the gods send at us." He sighs, looking down at the ground. "That is why I lived as Fox to you and your tribe and nothing more."

Jarro knows only to well that, Alastar has for many years, sat in his home tending the signal fire, and playing his lute during the many storms that had come. Warning the tribes that could see the fire of the coming dangers. "Your name means defender... you wield the twin blades of the earth mother."

Alastar looks at him, " I hold the twin blades at a vow made to my father. To keep them safe till they are needed and the one to wield them will be strong." He matches his fathers tone and posture of strength as he restates the vow made so many years ago.

The old wolf takes his arm and leads him over to Sol. "Like your father defended you with them, they are needed now... to defend her.... your destiny lies with this young vixen, Alastar... you and only you are her sole defender and guardian... you are the warrior of Gaia!"

Alastar turns to the old wolf Jarro, "Are you serious?....My name is a curse, why would anyone want some demonic monster protecting them?"

Jarro growls low at him, "Your name is only cursed because others want your swords... and you are no demon... never have you displayed any powers... If you were a demon the gods would have ensured you were returned to the underworld...."

Alastar locks eyes with the old wolf. Jarro looks back to him. "Look at the vixen that you laid in my bed Alastar.... look at her..." The old wolf's eyes hold their conviction, as Alastar looks into them. "ell me what you think when you look at her..."

He looks down at Sol and sighs softly, "I think of how little she knows, and how I would like to beat senseless the ones who hurt her so badly that she ended up on my doorstep." Sol lays sleeping, unmoving, looking like a sleeping celestial beauty. More beautiful then any vixen Alastar has ever seen in his whole life. He stares longingly at her, but keeps those thoughts locked tight. "Of how I would willingly take on celestial beings to keep her safe"

The old wolf moves back slowly to his fire pit and sits slowly. "If you were truly a demon, why would she be in your care".... You saw yourself, your swords twin appeared of its own accord. Have they ever shown such an ability before?"

"No, they usually sit in the back of my home untouched. I might take one with me to be safe but I never used them, never truly drew them, till now." Sits across from the elder once more. "I know nothing of these blades, other then they were entrusted to my dad. As a symbol of a large event, he entrusted them to me on his death bed, and told me to run."

Jarro looks up at Alastar his eyes completely white now. A deep beyond mortal voice comes form his mouth, " they are my blades child, I gave them forth to my most trusted follower."

Alastar blinks, staring at Jarro, but hearing a voice that is not the elder of the village. He heard the voice of Gaia herself, channeling her voice through old wolf. Gaia speaks quickly, "Your father... my most wise and trustworthy priest was given those to show his place within my kingdom."

Alastar looks down to the fire, "Then his close friends killed him."

Gaia answers him readily, "Greed... Jealousy... Envy.. The lust for power caused that, and now they spread the rumors and curses you have heard. My child... we cannot guide your destiny anymore. The young one you have in your care now has forever been beyond our guidance." Gaia's powerful voice wavers as she is speaking through the elder wolf, Jarro. "I can only speak to you now because of this aged wolf.... he is a conduit to the spirits"

Nodding Alastar looks back up slowly, "I will be sure to thank him afterwards can you tell me where I can learn more on your blades as I know nothing of them?

The goddess of earth, using much strength to fight the power that is guiding Sol, so she may speak to him, "They will never break child... and have their own powers... sadly I cannot tell you what those powers are. You must discover their powers on your own. My child, listen well for I do not know if I can speak to you again within this wolf's life time." Again the goddess voice wavers, weakening slowly, "Wind and Water as well as my self dearly love the young one, as she spoke with us many time tho we could not answer her. She has been betrayed like you.. But still, she holds innocent views of the world... You are her guardian Alastar StormRage. She was not born under our design... Something more powerful has brought her into being"

He nods to the weakening voice, "Is there any documents books depicting what they might have that I might learn to better wield them?"

Gaia's voice slowly fades, "We cannot see her future, nor yours any more... A temple... A temple that you have long been absent from... What is written may help you, it may not... but those blades will reveal all to you in time..." Jarro slumps over and groans softly as he starts to sit back up, his eyes normal again.

Alastar nods, bowing his head, giving thanks to mother Gaia for what aid she had given. Jarro shakes his head a little, looking up at Alastar. "You need not back to me anymore Alastar. It is I who should bow to you and Sol."

"You have my trust elder, if you are ever in need I will help." He snorts softly, "You bow to me and the guards might want you to bow to them as well. I am a defender just like they are, I just defend more." Alastar smiles softly and politely to Jarro.

Jarro chuckles softly and nods to him. "My friend.. I feel it is we who shall need your help in time. Care for her well she is too innocent to the ways of this cruel world." Jarro looks toward Sol again, "She will require your guidance, and your strength..".

Alastar does feel stronger when he holds the swords. When he has been standing on the ground, he feels like a mountain, stronger then any mortal. He has a thought and holds a hand out away from the swords and barely whispers. "Come to my aid!" Willing the sword to appear from the ground to his hand to see if he can summon them or not. The swords both lift and move to his hands. Alastar has just learned to call his swords to his aid. A useful power should he ever be disarmed.

Alastar raises an eyebrow to Jarro, who is watching with great interest. "They show their powers to you! Do you still think you're a demon"... Would the great earth mothers blade answer to a demons call?"

"Before I would have said no, that she would probably strike me down. Just for defiling the blades in drawing them. Now, I don't know." He looks at his swords as he holds them again. Alastar smiles faintly to the elder, "What would you believe, if from age five your told you're a curse and a monster. Raised under those ideas hiding out in towns and forests till forgotten. Then revealed to be actually blessed?"

The old wolf chuckles softly, "If I had lived as you, I would be stunned as well." The old wolf smiles to him, "Alastar StormRage, you are forever welcome in to my home. For as long as a member of my family lives and leads the wolf tribe. We shall council you in times of need"

Sol whines and whimpers from the bed. Stirring slightly as she wakes up. Alastar moves swiftly trying to sheath the blades, but has only one sheath on him so wedges the other in his belt. Sol sits up in the bed and looks around. "Alastar?!...." Her eyes settling on him, she gets up and runs over grabbing his tail holding it tightly. "What's happening"... Why .. Why was I in a strange bed??"

"You fainted after we saved the cub." He hugs Sol, rubbing her back gently to comfort her.

She looks at Alastar confused again. "Cub!... What cub?.... When did we save a cub?"

Jarro raises an eye at her, "Young Sol, what is the last thing you remember of this day?"

Sol whines softly, but answers the elder, "I.. I remember coming to the village and that scary wolf. Then, ... meeting you.. and going to see the one Alastar was going to sell his furs too....The one who offered 300 of something for me..." She stops and thinks a few minutes and looks back up. "Then .. I woke up there..." Her 3 tails twitch behind her now. Sol tilts her head slowly looking back at her tails.

Jarro looks from sol to Alastar, as she whines over have three tails now. He grins a little, "Alastar.... She may remember some day. For now what ever power is guiding her, is over whelming her young mind to preform this amazing acts."

"Sol.." Alastar smiles kindly to sweet vixen.

She looks to Alastar, softly, "Yes?"

"We have a lot to talk about and a few things to do swiftly." He looks to Jarro, "I am going to need supplies. Where I am going, they will want my head on a platter." Sol whines softly and holds his tail tighter.

"What do you need guardian, ask and I will have it brought here." Jarro strokes his chin, "I also think you should hide her tails, my friend. The story of that she has done this day will spread quickly." Jarro nods sagely, as the whole tribe is now talking about the miracle working vixen.

Alastar nods at the old wolf's wise words. "I need sheaths befitting these swords instead of my simple rough sheath. Also, I will need two tail ribbons preferably dark." Looks thoughtful for a moment, "and long cloaks with hoods to start with." Jarro nods, calling a guard to bring the items Alastar asked for. The guard bows and leaves to retrieve them.

Sol whines softly, "Alastar?.... Where are we going?... What is happening?"

"I need to get into my dads old temple." He shivers slightly, "to find answers and old "friends" will be everywhere"

She nods slowly and moves closer to Alastar, " I will go where you go Alastar.."

Alastar nods to her, "Considering your power comes up in dire need, then knocks you out in the process. I have a strange feeling that answers will be there for you as well Sol."

"Power?," She looks at him, "...What power?...."

Jarro speaks up, "Sol de Luna..." Sol looks over at the old wolf, "You are a very special vixen. The gods watch you with great interest, I am sure as they guide you. I am sure when I say none like you has ever come before."

"Gaia decided to have words with me through you elder." Alastar, softly speaks looking over to Jarro again.

Jarro looks over at Alastar, his ear perking up, "The great earth mother spoke through me?"

He nods to the now surprised Jarro. "Yes and I thank you for being so good with the spirits that they may talk at times."

"Then... Alastar... Perhaps I was meant to be your link to the gods?" Jarro takes a slow drag from his pipe again.

"They are as confused, as they are being unable to see what is to be, or where it is going to go. Hell, they can't even directly affect me and Sol right now, or at least that is what she said."

Sol shivers coldly, looking around then back to the old wolf. Her voice becomes wise and old beyond its years in tone. She sits up straight, "Old wise wolf..... heed the voice of the kitsune." kitsune is a word never heard before in the world.

Alastar blinks at her, "I think the one who is guiding Sol is now speaking."

Sol's expression is blank, Jarro looks over to her confused, softly, "Kitsune.. What is a kitsune?"

"The kitsune... Is that what you are or what she is becoming?" Alastar asks curiously. They look at Sol, listening intently for everything this voice has to say.

The unknown spirit, possessing Sol, nods, "Yes... That is what this vessel is becoming...You Alastar are to be her guardian...for as long as she lives."

"And if she out lives me?"Alastar looks at her.

"The swords were always meant for you, Alastar StormRage... But they appeared before you were ready...." Her blank expression remains, "Old wise wolf, you are meant to be a way not for the gods and spirits to speak to them, But for Alastar to speak to them. There for old one,"

Sol's body moves and stands, lights still on but no one home, and moves over to the old over and touches Jarro on the head. Jarro closes his eyes, trembles a little, "What are you doing to me?"

Alastar stares a long time at Sol and Jarro, as the power that controls her now acts through her. "I grant you a gift old wolf..., with that little I can spare..."

The old wolf's eyes open wide as he tenses like he was just struck by lightening. The power controlling sol moves her body back to Alastar. Jarro, the old wolf that he is, sits trembling and groaning as his body starts to change. His old grey fur regaining some color. His muscles returning to their once hunt trained, and battle hardened glory. Tho his fur retains much of the old grey that came with his age he looks like he could fight a thousand more battle before he dies.

"Elder, are you ok?" Alastar starts to stand and move to Jarro's side, but the spirit within Sol raises a hand to still him with out force.

"By the gods..." Jarro gasps out as he looks himself over and stands, no limp or pain in his joints at all. "I feel... amazing ... I feel young again... and all my pains are gone!!"

Alastar looks unsure of this unknown entity, as it speaks again. "I am not of your gods.. I am beyond them... I guide this vessel to her true destiny..." Sol's expressionless face turns to Alastar, "As long as the kitsune lives... You both will live as you are now.... Seek your answers Alastar at the temple... All will be made clear to ~you!~"

Sol drops to the floor and she groans, "ow... ow..."

The now rejuvenated elder Jarro blinks and looks at Sol. "What happened?" He looks back to Alastar.

Sol whines lifting her hands to her head, "My head hurts.....What happened?, why am I on the ground?."

"The entity ran out of strength to hold its presence, in our world." Alastar looks at Jarro then over to Sol, trying to figure out what just happened.

Jarro as he is standing, helps Sol sit back up before sitting back down himself. "It must be using a lot of its power to ensure she is protected, ...More then all the gods together used to make our world."

Sol whines softly, as the guard returns with the items he was sent to get. The guard steps in he looks to the elder and freezes in his tracks. he also notices that Sol has three tails now. The wolf guard, gasps and stutters, "E...el... elder?!?!.... W....wha...what has happened to you?!"

Jarro looks over at the guard, then back to Sol and Alastar. Quickly thinking, as saying some nameless spirit made him young again would not go over well. Returning his gaze to the guard, "The gods have granted me new strength... So that I may continue to lead our tribe...and to better allow me to help the fox and Sol de Luna... They have a great destiny before them."

Alastar stands up and sighs deeply. The guard is in complete awe, at this news that seals the old wolfs place as the leader of the tribe. Jarro knows the gods didn't grant this but he cant tell that to the tribe, no matter how thankful he is for the regained youthfulness.

Sol looks up at Alastar, "what's wrong?" She moves over to him wanting to be close to her protector, tho she doesn't see that as the reason,

"I have answers to some things, but a lot more question...and a place I haven't seen since I was five." He grumbles quietly, unhappy he must return to his old birthplace.

Sol picks up his tail again, as the guard sets down the requested items. Jarro nods to Sol and Alastar, " I must inform my people of this my friends, I will return soon." He leaves to give them time to speak in private, as he walks off with the guard. To make sure the tribe is all safe and to inform them that the gods have granted him renewed life. So he can carry the tribe forward in to the future.

"Then... we wont go there. We can just go back to your home... I can cook dinner for us, Alastar." She holds his tail, frightened with good reason as things are happening to her that she cant control.

Alastar curls his tail gently around Sol's hand as it holds his tail. "First stop is my home it is along the way, then the temple where answers are."

Sol whines softly and looks at him, "But ..., You said there are ones there waiting to hurt you Alastar."

"Because of the swords I wear." He sighs softly.

The two scabbards befitting the twin blades sit on the floor, along with the dark tail ribbons, and cloaks. Alastar picks up the sheaths and looks them over. they were well made, good stock was used to make the sheaths. The cloaks as well are the best they can be, the ribbon is the softest there is. all but the ribbon looked like Racus' work and this time he made them better then anything he sells. After all Racus owes Alastar and sol for the live of his son.

Alastar draws the blades and sheaths them firmly, "We have to be ready.."

Sol whimpers softly and stands watching him, her tails twitching behind her. Nodding softly, "Yes Alastar, I.. I will go where you go... You saved my life I will follow you until my debt to you is paid. I will not forsake a life debt."

Nodding Alastar turns to her, "I am sworn to be your protector."

Sol looks up at him, her blue eyes big and wide, "My protector?.. Forever and always?"

"Yes, forever and always.." He picks up one of the ribbons, looking at her and moving closer. "Turn around please Sol."

She squirms and fidgets watching him, after all she doesn't understand what the tail ribbons are for. She blinks and turns around swinging her tails as she spins around. Alastar gently catches them and binds them all together.

Sol looks back over her shoulder at him, whispering, "Alastar.... am I bad for having more tails??" Being this close as he binds her tails to appear as one large. He picks up more on her scent, how sweet and youthful it is. Her scent tells him her heat will come within the next six months at most, but other then that she smells like a field of wild flowers after a spring rain.

"No, but with tales of a multi-tailed miracle worker we need a low profile." Alastar finishes tying her tails together, smoothing out her tail fur to hide the ribbons. "There we go, all done. Now no one will know you have three tails, unless they look very closely." Sol lifts her tails once they are all tied together and waves it a little.

She whines softly, turning back around to him. " I'm sorry.. I.. I didn't mean to do those things you told me I did.. really..." She Looks sad about it, her tails and ears drooping.

He gently hugs her, "It's ok Sol, you saved lives in doing it"

Sol squirms in the hug, giving a soft quiet murr. "So... I am a good vixen?...you don't hate me?"

"Yes you're a good vixen." He smiles down at her, "Why would I hate you?, You haven't done anything wrong."

Whimpering she looks down, softly, "My .. tribe.. exiled be to die.. cause... They think I attacked the elder vixen Kayaa, she said I killed Sillaya.. another vixen of the tribe...." Looks back up at him with tear in her lovely blue eyes. "But ... Kayaa invited me to her den for dinner... and.. I ate what she made me...... then I think I fell a sleep." sol sniffles softly, trembling in his arms "... I don't remember anything of that night, other then waking up covered in blood. I was tied up in the center of the village.. with a sore head. The scent of vixen blood filling my nose..." Whimpers more, tears starting to fall down her soft fur cheeks.

Alastar nods and holds her comfortingly, " I believe you, Sol"

"The vixens... they never let me near them... and all the tods... they never left me alone... always bringing me gifts and other things." Sol sniffles and looks him in the eyes, whispering, "Y.. you do?"

He strokes her head fur back out of her eyes. "Yes, I do Sol," He smiles. "If you were capable of that Cirrus would have been clawed the moment he tried to get close to you. Hell you might even have clawed me when you woke up, not do as I asked you to do."

Sol smiles weakly and hugs him tightly, murring softly with happiness. She whispers to him, "Oh, thank you Alastar... I swear.. I would never kill anyone..."

Alastar having cared for her these last four weeks, since he found her by the lake, while she recovered. He realizes that his own longing feelings, the ones he continues to hide. Are in part what she had been wanting, in the fox tribe village she came from. The males would chase her, they only wanted her as a mate, with how exotic and lovely her appearance is. Even mated males wanted to possess her as a mate. Having all the males of her village chasing her, lead to the vixens hating her for something she couldn't control.

He strokes her fur, "I think, I will need to have a word with your old tribe leader." His eyes have an erie look to them, which from how she is being held by him, she doesn't see.

Sol murrs softly at the gentle stroking, " I.. I cant return.. they will kill me on sight... The elder said so."

"I don't want you to return there. But as I am not of that tribe they have no say on me, and I think I want a word with their elder." Alastar continues to hold her, stroking her soft fur.

Jarro walks back in looking to them both, smirking, "what is happening here?"

That look Alastar had vanishes as he smiles kindly to Jarro. "I need to have a heart to heart talk with the elder of Sol's old tribe."

Jarro knows that means he wants to rub the Fox tribe elder's nose in something. he chuckles and nods. "But not with her holding you like that I hope... Looks like she is accepting you as a mate..." He chuckles jokingly.

Sol pulls back a little, squirming amongst herself, softly, "Sorry... I.. I didn't meant to make that impression.. I still haven't had my first heat.. elder wolf..."

"It should take me a half week to a week." Alastar smiles not commenting on the mate thing.

"My name is Jarro, young Sol and I didn't mean to embarrass you." He smiles to her and Alastar.

Sol blushes, her tied tails twitch as one, softly, "Yes elder Jarro...." she looks back up at Alastar, "a week?"

"If the wind spirits lend me their speed. I can make the run from here, in the direction you came in from." Alastar pulls an old map from the elders collection. "I just need the where," He holds the map so Sol can look at it. "Sol, could you please?"

Sol walks over and looks at the map confused a little, "It is near a river..... half a mile...from the river I use to bathe in." She looks at Alastar, "and wind is still tired from the storm."

"I don't need wind to move with me to push me, but to just move so as not to slow me." He smiles and points out the lake she had been found at. Then back tracks to the rivers with in a range from it.

Sol shakes her head as he points to the many rivers. Then she points to one, "There, that one, that's the river Alastar." The river she points out is at least two and half weeks travel from the lake he found Sol at deaths door.

Alastar nods and plots out the distance, "All right, it will take me a week and a half travel."

Jarro walks over, looking at the map. "Hmm.. there is no village there that I have heard of before..."

Sol looks at Jarro, "I lived there 16 summers elder Jarro"

Jarro nods slowly to Sol, then looks to Alastar. "So Alastar will you both be going there first?"

"No I am going," he smiles, "If she goes, there is a high chance they will try to kill her. Forcing me to kill them, to protect her. I don't want to cause deaths."

"I see.. Then what will you do with her till your return?" Jarro looks at Sol.

"I was actually hoping you would be willing to keep her safe either at my house. Which you know the location of, or here maybe tell her some of your grand battles." The elder knows Alastar is quite fast, "A week and a half travel... I'll be exhausted when I get back here." He smiles, "But I deem it worth it."

Jarro chuckles softly, "Very well Alastar.. she can stay with me here in the village."

"Just remember Jarro, if anything happens I'm gonna give ya a swift kick to the ass for slacking on the job. Then I'm gonna break every bone in the furs body, that harmed her," Alastar says half joking. He ties the other scarf on his tail, making it look like a clothing trend between Sol and himself then slips on the cloak.

"Just make sure the tea is ready for my return." He thinks of something, "I am entrusting you one of the blades as friend. If it returns to me, then I hit a snag in my rather uneventful plan."

"Yes yes she will be safe with me Alastar. I will even keep Cirrus at bay, I have heard him saying how he would like to have the virgin vixen as his pet." Alastar hands him the sword, Jarro takes the sword and bows to Alastar. "I am honored you trust me with such a task."

"You have always honored me, no matter what I said about my past or how much I hid it. If that doesn't show deserved trust, then I am a demonic zombie and don't know it yet." He smiles, "I will hurry see you in a short time."

Sol listens to the exchange, whining softly, "Hurry back Alastar, .. please.. don't hurt them... They were just doing what they believe is the gods laws."

Alastar smiles turning about to leave. Then gives Sol a quick hug and a soft kiss on the side of her muzzle, before suddenly streaking out the door putting his stamina to the test. Leaving the village quickly he turns for the direction of Sol's former home. Alastar runs flat out using his hunters stamina, usually reserved for tracking and bringing down his prey. To cut down the travel time, covering the distance in 3/4 of a week, instead of a week and a half that it would normally have taken. He heads towards the village Sol came from, the village that sentenced her to death.

As he comes to where the river should be, he finds it is still flowing, but it looks like it shrunk slightly. Pausing at the river to rest for a while and eat to keep his strength up. Alastar whispers a soft request to keep flowing of the river. Knowing she wouldn't want harm on them. He hops the river, heading towards the village a small bundle of furs under one arm from a quick stop at his cavern home.

The wind blows slightly as the water ripples almost in response to his request. Alastar keeps walking towards the village following Sol's directions from the river. After about half mile like she said, he finds the Fox tribe. The Fox village, Sol's former home, and the place of her very birth. The foxes are walk about doing their daily chores, the males are talking to the vixens. Courting rituals are once again, taking place between some couples. It looks like a normal village busy in it's own life, they act as if nothing happened. Although it has been over six weeks since she was exiled.

A hunting party is preparing to leave, talking about pervious hunts. No one really takes notice of Alastar as he enters the village. Walking into the town not bothering to slow his pace, he looks for the elder. Of course not knowing what the elder of the village looks like or his name. Alastar stops to bother a shop keep for information, and make a sale at the same time.

The fox trader nods to him, looking up slowly, "How can I help you on this warm day stranger?"

Alastar smiles in his best sales fur way "I got some quality furs here that I would like to be rid of, and mayhap a chance to speak with an elder in private about a few things." Sets the furs on the counter they are still in very good condition after the trip to the village.

The fox trader pulls the furs closer, checking them for condition and quality. "Ahh.. Well I don't know if he is seeing visitors right now, stranger." The fox nods, the furs Alastar brought are a fine quality. "He would back over there, back of the village, I think he is tending to his ill mate."

"Ill from what?, I am a skilled healer on the side." Alastar leans on the fox's stand.

The trader looks back at him, "I cant tell you that, stranger...That is something he will have to tell you..." The trader looks down, not to wanting to talk about or discuss how the elder vixen become ill.

He nods, turning to leave, "Hopefully, it isn't from the vixen I saved." As Alastar leaves saying that trader's ears perk and he looks up at Alastar's back.

Alastar is moving slowly, so as to be easy to stop if need be, as he is going to find the elder and have a talk with him. The trader goes to speak with a few hunters about what Alastar said. As two guards stop alastar at the entrance to the elders home. The fox guard sniffs, growling low, "Halt! Stranger.... None may enter the Elder's den,.... the Elder is very busy."

"I might be able to help or would you like to explain to him, why a healer may not enter?" He smirks to himself as he stares the guard down.

The guard snarls slightly at alastar, "Wait here..." The guard enters the den, quietly speaking to the elder fox, " Elder, there is a stranger outside your den. He says he's a healer....."

The Old fox growls at the guard, "Well let him in!.. If he can help heal my mate, let him in. Are you stupid, or have you forgotten my Kayaa is very ill?" Alastar hides his smile and waits for the guards return.

The guard walks back out, looking at Alastar. "You may enter healer, the Elder has seen fit to welcome your skills."

Alastar nods to the guard, he entering the den slowly looking around. The elder fox stands from the bed that kayaa is laying on. "Over here healer,... Please use your healing skills to save my mate, if you can.....The gods have not answered my prayers to heal her."

Kayaa lays in bandages still, infections having set in. She has a burning fever and breathing shallowly, as she stirs in a delirious fitful sleep. Alastar walks over, peering at the female looking for the symptoms. He can see the wounds haven't healed much in the month and half since sol's exile. Wounds that should only have kept Kayaa in bed for a few weeks, before she could move around again. Leading him to believe that his sickness is partially caused by her own guilt.

Alastar looks to the elder, "Please give us some privacy, for my task at hand Elder."

The elder whines worriedly, "Of course healer... Just please save my mate, and I will give you any reward you wish." The old fox steps outside to wait, getting a breath of fresh air. As Kayaa his mate lays whimpering in pain.

Kneeling beside Kayaa, he has an idea, looking toward the wounds. "Sillaya, are you willing to risk what is left to your soul for revenge?" He starts applying salve to the wounds. "Do you think Sol would want that?".

A weak voice answers from the air, "She killed me, ... had Sol punished .....for... my... death."

Alastar looks around a little confused at hearing the voice. "And Sol found me because a spirit is guiding her that even Gaia can't understand. I am her guardian, I am sorry for your lost of life but do not loose your soul for revenge."

Sillaya's soul grows weaker, as she tries to exact her revenge. "Cant ....leave..... unpunished..."

Kayaa whines, stirring in her feverish state, as he applies the salve. Weakly mumbling, " ... Sol..... she did it.. I swear.... she did it." she whimpers.

Alastar leans in, softly speaking, "Kayaa shut up and do not lie to a warrior of Gaia." Kayaa whimpering more, trembling as she lays helpless

Sillaya weakly speaks again to Alastar alone, " Warrior..... promise.... be punished?"

Alastar nods slowly, speaking softly, " I have a better punishment then death will cause."

Sillaya fades away and kayaa calms slightly, but whimpers in pain still. Alastar leans over the bedside and looks directly in Kayaa's face. He whispers to her, "Kayaa you are condemned with the spirits as my witness and the powers of gods to invoke it." He growls softly, "In my absence you will not eat for 2 days every month, you will not drink for those 2 days as if you were muzzled." Kayaa whines, trembling as Alastar invokes his punishment on her.

Sitting back up, he continues, "It shall start exactly a month from today, as you are not aloud to die from this punishment. I know Sol de luna would not want your death, even if it clears her name." Alastar growls softly, knowing it is nothing compared to what Sol suffered through for two weeks. "Your only warning to the start of this is the day before you shall have a sore throat."

Kayaa whines, trembling and trying to pull away from him. "Sol.. Sol... is dead...s...s.. she died...she had to have died... she cant be alive."

"She is alive and very healthy, but barely as I found her near my home." He continues to treat her wounds, lightly swatting her as she tries to pull away. "I am following Sol's request. If I had my way I would just let you suffer with these instead of treating you."

Kayaa tenses and whimpers, starting to cry, as he treats her. "S.. she had to go.... had too... there was no.. no other way....."

"I know, I heard from her directly of how she wanted quiet. But no tod would leave her be and how the vixen community shunned her, instead of trying to be friend her to get closer to the tods." Alastar applies new bandages to Kayaa's wounds. "She holds no malice towards the village. Just sadness and a deep worry that she is a bad fur."

Alastar Finishes treating her, "So, my punishment is so that no more life is lost. Still have you learn how she must have felt, and continue to be reminded of how she had felt as she suffered. But I only place you at discomfort as I will not risk your life with it." What Alastar doesn't realize is his order for a sore throat, would be in tribute to Sillaya. As the other half of the punishment is a tribute to Sol's suffering.

Kayaa whimpers, but doesn't say anything more. Sol is alive, this strange fox that is tending her wounds knows the truth.

"Think of this as a chance to amends for this sin. I shall tell no one of the events, just that there was a big slip up and that the real threat was amended." He smiles a little to her, "Maybe a rogue spirit, that is what the village will know. It is your choice to tell your mate why your being punished." Alastar stands back up, "Before you become even sicker from your own guilt."

The elders calls from the entrance of the den, "Healer?.. is everything alright?"

Alastar looks toward the elder's voice, calling back to him. "Yes? Yes Elder, everything is fine now. I will be out in a moment to speak with you."

Alastar finishes up collecting his things, looking at Kayaa again, softly speaking. "Think on it Kayaa and learn from it or be doomed for worse." He walks out the den.

Kayaa lays whimpering and shivering, fearful of the punishment he placed on her. The elder looks at Alastar as he comes out. "How is my mate? Will she live?

"Yes, but she carries a burden that she wont release." He looks around then back to the elder. "May I have a word with you in private?"

The elder fox nods and turns to walk with him to a private place. "What is it you wish to speak of healer?"

"A number of things including something to protect more lives from these fates." Alastar turns to face the elder.

"What fates? What do you suggest healer?" The elder looks at Alastar and tilts his head a little curious.

"First thing I need you to do though is to swear to the powers that be on your honor as eldest of your tribe, you will not act on what I am going to say. There has been more then enough death to those we worry about." Looks at him expectantly, a dead serious look on his face.

The elder fox nods slowly, "I swear to the gods, I will not act on what you say on my honor as the elder of the fox tribe." He looks honest in his vow.

Alastar nods, "Good, now then..." makes sure no one is near. "Sol de Luna is alive and well and innocent."

The elder blinks, growling a little. "As you are not from this village, I will forgive your saying her name....." The elder sighs, "I saw with my own eyes her laying with the poor vixens blood, with the neck flash in her muzzle. The proof was there before me healer."

Alastar nods, not disagreeing with what the elder saw. "I say Sol is innocent, based on the fact that the Spirits point to another without pointing. I have also exacted a punishment on the person truely responsible, so no further punishment is needed."

"The spirits... Who do they point too?, I have to leave that vixen alive as she was spared by the gods."

He shakes his head slowly at the elder, "You will swear to me a warrior of Gaia, Elder of the fox tribe, that you will say nothing to the person. I tell you of and the circumstances I list to you."

The elder grips his staff tighter, then his eyes widen a little. "Warrior of the earth mother?"

Alastar moves his cloak revealing the hilt to his sword. "Do you swear you will say and do nothing about or too the person I list as the real fault as I have already punished?."

The elder looks at the hilt, then back up at Alastar. "I swear I will say and do nothing... lest the earth mother swallow me whole."

He nods to the old fox, "Your mate is the murderer for a justified reason. Very sad reason, but justified in her eyes."

The elder growls low, "Justified reason...... explain... Why you accuse my mate?"

"Because Sillaya was still clawing her in her out rage." Names Alastar shouldn't know, yet does.

The elder blinks, straightening his posture, "Sillaya was keeping my mate sick?... your saying that Kayaa...?"

Alastar nods sadly, "Sick from the guilt of her sins, and injuries that wont heal. As a spirit was willing to sacrifice her very soul to exact revenge on her killer."

The elder huffs and sighs, lowering his head. "Why would she do this? It makes no sense ..."

"Think back to when she was here, what did tods do to her?" Alastar gently places a hand on the old foxes shoulder. "And by her I mean Sol."

The elder thinks carefully before answering him. "We chased her to give her gifts and tokens."

"What about the vixens other then Sol?" Alastar looks at him.

"Well... we didn't really ..." He stops and lowers his head in shame, quietly, "I ... I think I understand.... now... this was our own doing... it is our fault."

"Your mate did the only thing she could think of, at the risk of her own soul. She committed a grave sin to fix things, to get all males attention once more on the rest of the vixens." Alastar looks down, half feeling sorry for the old fox.

The elder fox whimpers in shame, his head down as Alastar speaks, "And so my punishment is a lenient one. A sore throat for day, then two days of no food or drink every month. The reason I asked you not to act on this is, because I placed it in her hands to tell you. But I still want Sol's name cleared on the quiet side of this."

He looks around then back to the old fox, "So I ask you to act as if this is all unknown to you, till she admits it to you. Then as punishment instead of exile to death, have the tribe spend 2 days every month or every 2 months with a similar non-threatening injury or state of being."

The old fox nods slowly, sadly replying, as he can hear the truth in Alastar's voice. "I will do what I can to clear her name... But I do not know how long it will take."

"That is alright, she is now living with me out in the woods. She worries a lot that she is a bad fur, and I am trying to help her. But I figured I should also make sure no more are hurt by this type of mistake."

The elder looks up at him, and taking a breath he states firmly, "It wont happen again while I live... warrior. This I swear to you before the gods."

Alastar grips the elders shoulder, "You have a heavy burden to bare old one. I would rather help then hurt your status among your tribe."

The elder nods slightly, but has his head hung with great shame.

"This is a lesson in life, Elder." Alastar smiles to the old fox. "Without it life would be very dull, learn and be stronger that is all that is asked"

The elder nods, "If you will pardon me warrior. I will check on my mate and mediate on my fate."

Alastar smiles softly, "I think your fate will be fine, this was nudged a bit to go this way or else I wouldn't be a Warrior of Gaia. I would be a priest right now, someone is pulling strings to make something good happens."

The old fox nods slowly and turns walking back to his den. As Alastar starts walking, taking the route through the center of town watching his surroundings. The villagers seem to watch him now as he passes. Raising an eyebrow, he stops in to try and get the money for the furs he dropped off.

The trader fox looks at him, "Yes?, oh it is you stranger. How can I help you now?"

"The money for the furs I left here, please." He holds out his hand to the trader.

"Ah.. yes.. The trader hands Alastar a small pouch.

Alastar takes it, hefting it lightly, before he peers in to see what is in the pouch. When he looks inside, he finds 75 gold as his payment, then nodding to the trader. "A pleasure doing business with you." Alastar sets out to leaving the village.

Once out of sight of the village, he grips his sword hilt and focuses on the twin to see if he can use the blade to transport himself back to the wolf village. He speaks softly to it, "Can you take me to your twin? Take me to Sol, she waits for me back in the wolf village." The sword shimmers, and glows lightly. He starts to vanish, before the eyes of the fox village hunters, who had planned to follow him back to Sol. So that they could ensure their Elders sentence of death, not knowing the Elder had changed his mind.

End Chapter 3

copyright: Vixen Wolfspirit 2007