Chapter 2: Unwanted Information

A/N: glad your still here! Well I really have nothing more to say so lets start!

A large clearing that rose in the center stood before them. The far side, opposite of the trio, met the hard wall of a cliff. A stream ran through it diagonally, disappearing into a hole in the cliff. Flowers bloomed all around while houses were built in the branches of the trees. Vines covered the trunks and part of the cliff, five caves were carved from the stone wall. On the rise in the middle was a large basin full of sparkling water. Shrubs and bushes surrounded the clearing, making it nearly invisible from the outside. Bridges connected the houses above and platforms were made for people. The place seemed empty though...

A sudden whisper broke the silence that errupted after Wray had spoken. "Wray, Vohin and Apel want to speak with you in their den." The voice was gruff and respectful.

"Of course, Danni, can you tell Thomas of our new friends?" Wray asked a small bush and a boy a bit younger than herself stepped out.

"Yes, Wray," he smiled, bowing his head delightfully. He, then, motioned for Valerie and Elliott to follow him.

"This is Danni, follow him to Thomas." Wray ordered, washing the smile away and her face became as emotionless as ever. She glanced at the two before departing for the center den, her skirt swaying.

"You are lucky," Danni whispered when she left. His eyes held a great sadness that seemed to leave a hole in his little heart.

"And why is that?" Elliott asked in equal to his whisper. He glanced at Valerie, who seemed just as confused and frightened as he.

The boy looked directly at them this time, his gleaming hazel eyes sparking with a sort of electricity. His brown hair blowing in an invisible wind, and when he spoke, a voice none of his spoke. "Only time will tell young one," the voice told them, this voice sounded more... Feminine.

Elliott took an involuntary step back and Valerie coward behind the blue haired teenager. "What was that?!" Valerie questioned fearfully as Danni returned to normal.

"Oh, Wray hasn't explained yet?" He asked with a shocked expression, pursing his lips, he said, "Thomas will explain. He's very good at explaining!" A grin crossed his face happily lighting up his features.

"Can you take us to this Thomas?" Elliott asked slowly, his knees trembling slightly. What just happened?? His mind raced for any logical answer but was frustrated when he came up empty.

"Yep! Follow me!" Danni laughed merrily and skipped to a thick vine. "This way!"

"Which way?" Valerie asked in confusion as Danni grabbed the vine and held on tightly.

"This way, silly!" He giggled childly and yanked on the vine with unknown strength. Suddenly the vine, along with the boy, flung upwards and disappeared over the edge of a platform.

"Oh, that way." Valerie tried to cover up her confusion with a sassy remark as she grabbed another vine and tugged. After several attempts the vine shot up and she, too, disappeared. Her skirt flailed and Elliott had to look away from the pervertish view he had been given. Finally he grabbed a vine as well and, with one quick yank, went spiraling upwards. His back hit the wood with a thud and stars danced before him. After his vision cleared he stood shakily and dusted himself off. Valerie stood a few feet away, she was staring at an older man. He looked to be in his mid twenties with wild dirty blond hair and charming blue eyes.

The man smiled and leaned against the trunk of the tree, crossing his arms. "So your the newcomers, eh? We needed some new faces 'round here."

Valerie just sighed, her eyes never leaving the man's face. So Elliott rolled his eyes and spoke up, "Who are you?"

"I am the very man who will give you answers," his smile grew larger.

"He's Thomas," Danni whispered to Elliott. He covered his mouth as to not be caught.

"Righty there, Danni my boy! I'm Thomas MacArthur!" He chuckled at the little boy's attempt to be secretive and patted his shoulder comfortingly.

"What happened to Danni?" Elliott demanded after a moment of chit-chat. His patience was thinning as the answers he so desperately wanted evaded him.

"Oh, that." Thomas became serious all of the sudden. His face was relinquished of it's smile and he seemed to stiffen. "Danni, go and help your mother. You two," he nodded at Valerie and Elliott, "Follow me." Then he stood straight and walked across a bridge to a medium sized hut and waited for them with the door opened.

"Ugh, we're doing a lot of following..!" Elliott complained to himself as he and Valerie chased after Thomas. When they were inside, Thomas closed the door and lit a candle with a little match.

Inside was a little bed made of leaves and straw with a few worn blankets and a ripped pillow. A small chest occupied the space next to the make-shift bed and on the right was a large window but it had no glass. Dying sunlight poored in from the window and bathed the room in a dim glow.

Valerie thought Thomas was so, so, so hot!! But she kept her thoughts to herself and leaned against the window. She waited for someone to say something but the room remained silent, guess it's my turn. She gulped and asked, "So what did happen to that little guy?"

Thomas sighed and rubbed his temple before replying, "Here, on Moon Island, there is our two gods. Lupus and Onun. Lupus is the wolf god and Onun is the human god. This island is ruled by both, and peace is brought by our alliance with the Dire Wolves. When a Dire Wolf is created it is paired with a human here, once two are paired they share their souls with their partner. Now, what I mean by 'partner' and 'paired' is more like 'brother and sister' than 'husband and wife'. Danni was paired three years ago, his partner being the Dire Wolf, Shania. Every pairing has to be boy and girl to keep it fair, as in a boy Dire Wolf and a girl human or a girl Dire Wolf and a boy human."

"Wow..." Valerie certainly was intrigued by this, her awestruck expression proved it. She held her purse in thought.

Elliott thought more about what Thomas said and it all seemed to match up. He closed his eyes and sighed before reopening them and yawning. He stretched his arms and touched his temple in exhaustion.

"Come. I will show you your homes." And Thomas escaped the confines of the small hut.

"Wait; homes?" Valerie asked after him, Elliott followed the two in silence.

"Yes. Everyone who comes here, stays here." Thomas answered with a slightly depressed tone.

------------------------------------------------------

Wray entered the large, stone den and watched the fire crackle in the braziar that was created in the center. Nothing else occupied the empty cave. Then a man emerged from the shadows that covered the ancient walls. Behind him followed the massive form of the great beast that made up his partner.

"Wray," he greeted with a swift nod before turning and kneeling by the braziar. And staring into the popping flames.

"Vohin, Apel." Wray returned the greeting with a low bow of her head.

"You are as polite as ever," a deep, feminine growl answered her greeting and the beast entered the ring of light that the braziar's fire created. Apel's ginger coloured coat sparkled in the fire light. Her amber eyes seemed to look into Wray's soul as she stood there. Apel was larger than a horse, larger than even a bear. If she wanted to she could rip a human in half with one, effortless bite. Her claws were as large as the largest knives while her teeth were almost like swords.

"Thank you, Apel," Wray hinted at a smile that threatened to take away her seriousness.

The Dire Wolf bared her teeth in a humorous grin before seating herself and waiting for her partner to speak. Vohin stood up and turned to Wray, his greying hair went in waves down to his shoulders and his amber eyes matched that of Apel's.

"Wray," he repeated her name as if to make sure she was listening, "We have intruders. They bring weapons and evil souls to this island. They have killed two Dire Wolves and their partners so far and are threatening to eliminate them all. We need you to scout ahead and see if you can get into their equipment and sabatoge something."

"Of course, I can be in and out by midnight if I leave now-"

"You are not going alone," Apel cut in, her eyes filled with amusement. "Damun shall occupany you."

"No! I refuse to go with him!" Wray raised her voice in anger, though she was speaking to both her elder and one of the chosen few.

A deep growl warned Wray not to continue and the den fell awkwardly silent. Apel looked to Vohin and so much envy and love past through her eyes. Vohin held the same expression when he looked at the wolf. But his gaze hardened when they looked to Wray. It added to the depressing thoughts that clouded her mind.

"Wray," he started in a serious tone. "You have no choice but to leave with him."

"But-"

"You are going with him and that is final." Vohin cleared his throat and looked back to the fire. "You shall leave tomorrow morning, now go."

Wray nodded in defeat, turned, and disappeared into the pitch darkness of night. A few candles illuminated the huts and houses of the islanders and the water in the middle glowed in a silver light. Wray continued until she was out of view then turned and left the camp, toward the intruders.