Alpha Tyon

Phenomenon of past times, experienced by ancestors of old, were what our generation had now come to learn of in fables and fairytales. Elaborate scientific crafts along with the uniqueness of other creatures, beside the snowshoe hares and ourselves, retained their quiescent essence within the dog-eared, ancient designed, parchment of literary books.

A bunch of ephemera that not many wolves paid attention to and why would they?

Imaginative tales of the past lacking in any form of factual reinforcement did tend to fade away after the initial thrill and excitement derived from hearing about them receded into our unconsciousness.

However, what could be said for the cool breeze that ferried in and dispersed stellar crystal-like, dendrites into the atmosphere?

Its appearance nudged at the repressed knowledge harboured in the deepest part of my psyche. Floridly decorative calligraphic lettering, that I had skimmed through for absolutely no reason, formed lighted holographic depictions in my line of sight. They whirled around in disgruntled patterns before assembling themselves to reveal the meaning behind the oddity that stopped the whole clan in its track. Wolves, young and old, stared into the hazy vast skies as their eyes followed the twinkling structures which fluttered, slowly towards the ground. Surely, this couldn't be?

A quiet murmur drew my attention away from the stained windows and towards the presence of the quaint she-wolf whose neck was slumped forward in soft slumber. Her dark mane had been braided to expose delicate features framed by the touch of an expert sculpture. The grey shawl wrapped loosely around her shoulders had begun to slip towards the floor and tracing its intricate patterns, I noticed the hardback in her hand. Her grip on its leather embellishment was beginning to wane and before it fell prey to the forces of gravity, I moved swiftly but stealthily towards her and caught it.

Ever since Yils' journey to the outside world, Yuna had found it extremely difficult to sleep. She had worried herself sick at the many unsavoury possibilities that could befall her only seed and if not for the promise we had made to Yil, to trust her on her decision, she was sure to have portaled out of the clan the minute Yil was out. At the moment, I was more than grateful for the restful slumber that had claimed her being and forced her eyes shut.

Reaching out a finger, I gently traced the side of her pale features adorned by high cheekbones before moving to carry her off the chair in old-fashioned bridal style. Our room was just a few paces from my study, down the eclectic themed corridor. A product of Yils' many artistic designs. It was understable that we would miss her. Especially when everything around us reminded us of her.

Once inside, I placed her onto the bed and tucked her in. She hadn't moved a single muscle due to the fatigue that had settled to form dark circles under her supple skin and bending to place a light peck on her forehead, I moved out and closed the door, gently, behind me.

"She's finally asleep, hmm?" My back was turned to the melodious voice behind me for I had still kept a firm hand on the door knob, fighting the urge to lay beside my mate.

"It was only a matter of time," I heaved a deep sigh and turned towards the replica of our late father. Honey-blonde hair paired with radiant amethyst coloured eyes, framed the androgynous features of my sister, Cheryl. "There's only so much the body can take," I noted, accepting the steaming cup of coffee that she held out before strolling down the passageway with her behind me. "But I'm glad she's finally asleep. It'll do her good,"

"Of course, the stress was starting to take its toll on her," she agreed. "Infact, it'll be highly appreciated if the same slumber knocked you out as well," she grumbled and I stopped my descent on the stairs to chuckle at her comment.

"I'm taking that's a subtle confession to the fact that this cup of coffee contains some sort of sleep-inducing herbs, huh?" I teased, peering skeptically into its contents.

"It's too late to notice that now isn't it?" She smiled cheekily, walking backwards into the kitchen. "Besides I'd need more than sleep-inducing herbs to put your 'stubborn will to stay awake' to sleep," she rolled her eyes and I laughed. "I just thought you and Yuna would be cold seeing as the weather change has taken an unusual turn," she motioned to the second coffee mug in her hand before placing it down on the counter to rub her arms in a frisky manner.

"The reason behind it eludes me as well and that's why I'm going to see Measer Fern," I mused, setting my own cup down as well. "He should know what this is about," I added, flexing my rigid fingers for the loss of warmth, provided by the cups' ceramic structure, had created room for an assault of frigid air.

"I'm sure he knows something about this. Besides he's the only one who derives immense pleasure from reading old literature," she commented, moving to wipe the window sill with a tablecloth. The confetti-looking structures had flittered into the kitchen and stretching out her palm to catch one, she soon discovered that it melted upon contact with her body temperature. "I just hope this isn't the beginning of something terrible," she whispered, staring at her palm.

"Of course it isn't," I placated, walking up to her to give her shoulders a gentle shake. "Granted we have never witnessed such before, however, I'm convinced it's not a cause for alarm," I smiled as she turned to look at me.

"Yeah, I'm probably just paranoid. I mean as a Nyrlain, I really shouldn't be scared of frozen water," she chuckled, cleaning her hands on the cloth and closing the window.

"It doesn't come as a surprise though. You always have been scared of everything," I murmured, backing out of the kitchen as she turned to regard me with a questioning look. "I'll be off now. Do look after Yuna while I'm gone and thanks for the coffee," I grinned, walking towards the door and out of the pack house but not before I heard her shout.

"Do remember those words Tyion when I wipe the training grounds clean with your pretty face!"

I chuckled, heartily, at her comment and trudged on towards Misty Hallows. The rows of lush green vegetation, clothing the land of the pack, had been further beautified by a film of powdery, pristine crystals. Nature had been surmounted with a crown of angelic emblazonment and the mist that escaped the lips of a thousand awe-struck pack members contributed to the mystical allure of nature's awakening. One we were privileged to witness.

"Papa why is the cloud falling on our heads?" an inquisitive child asked his father who was as dumbfounded as he was.

"I can't be certain Josh," he replied, still with his face to the sky. "I can't be certain," he repeated, furrowing his forehead.

The wind carried the melodic sounds of confused whispers and innovative theories concerning the reason behind the phenomenon. However, no one was closer to the truth than they were when they had started and the conversation would usually start from where they had begun: But why exactly is it happening now, in our own lifetime?

I neared the glowing-stemmed rose bushes of Misty Hallows and inhaled the sweet smelling incense of the star-shaped flowers. Their bubbles gravitated towards me and encompassed me in rotation, an acknowledgement of my presence and compelling power as Alpha. Looking ahead, towards Measer Ferns' shed, I made out the blonde locks of an emerging wolf and stayed still.

He hadn't noticed my presence for his head was bent in deep thought and his high forehead, furrowed in sadness. His black endless eyes were hooded by the full lashes that hid them and his palm lay rested over his chest, protectively. His face needeth be revealed to me for I knew that the wolf was none other than Rae.

I had never suspected that there was anything but friendship between him and Yil. However, I was proved wrong when I had seen the vibrant spark dim in his eyes upon learning that Yil had portaled to the outside world to bargain with her 'mate'. I wasn't a stranger to the feelings of love and I had felt his heart shatter at the news. It would even be much worse for him because he was a lone wolf and the deep affections he bore for Yil would forever stay with him till he died. There was absolutely nothing more devastating than a broken heart and for his sake, I hoped Yil chose him and not her destined 'mate'.

Afterall, he was one of my kind.

"Since when did a white-wolf male walk with his head hung low like a common criminal?" I berated with a false glare.

"A-alpha, I didn't see you there. M-my apologies," he stuttered, startled by another presence besides his own.

I caught the slight wince that contorted his handsome features as he stood upright to bow and I sighted the twitch of his fingers as he fought to place them back unto his chest.

"Are you okay?" I questioned, concerned. His being exhaled the feelings of exhaustion and the dark circles under his eyes told the tale of many a sleepless night.

"Of course Alpha. I'm as healthy as can be," he smiled, nervously, and struggled to remain upright. "It's just that I've been feeling these unbearable chest pains for a while, that's all," he waved off, taking the opportunity to rub on one side of his chest, soothingly.

"Did you perhaps get hurt in combat?" I pushed. I was aware that he was probably going through emotional pain but I wanted to be sure that he wasn't pushing himself too hard during training as an outlet for the pain.

"I may have underestimated a couple of she-wolves in the fighting ring but it's nothing I can't handle," he chuckled, the action outlined his deep dimples. "Besides Measer Fern has prescribed some herbs and I'm rest assured that they'll be gone in no time," he smiled, ruffling his hair to free it of the crystalline dust that kept falling unto it.

I could still see the sadness embedded within his eyes, however, he was still of the opinion that I was oblivious to the relationship he had with my daughter and so I was at a loss for words on how to ask of his emotional well-being.

"Also isn't it quite strange that cloud particles are falling from the sky?" He mused, lifting his head.

"That's the same reason why I'm here," I huffed, releasing a breath of gaseous air as I pocketed my hands. "If any one knows about this, it's him,"

"True," he nodded before looking back at me. "I'll take my leave then and leave you to it," he bowed, curtly and turned to leave just as slowly as he had approached me with a hand still to a part of his chest where his heart lay.

It was said that wolves who weren't mates were capable of developing feelings as strong as that of the mate bond, if not stronger in certain instances. Nevertheless, the mate bond always prevailed and the unmated wolves would naturally gravitate towards their destined partners. Forgetting that they ever bore feelings for another.

In the case of lone wolves it was quite different. They had no mates to merge themselves with and so suffered the consequence of a broken heart for their wolves would be forever connected to the ones their hearts had chosen. The situation was saddening to say the least but it did have a solution. One that was unfavourable as it was painful.

"I've been expecting you, Alpha," Measer Fern rumbled from behind me and I turned to face him, ridding myself of my burdensome thoughts. "Do come in lest you freeze outside," he welcomed, turning back into his shed.

I followed his lead, wordlessly, into the shed and embraced the warmth that engulfed me. Its familiar jewel-encrusted walls greeted me and the great vigour with which they had been shaken alerted me to the riveting sight harboured within their enclosure.

Five portals were amassing, four in the colour of each element and one in the centre of the room. The element portals were circular in shape and contained evocative images of translucent bodies in whirling motion. The fiery orb spat out static energy, pulsating rhythmically with living essence much like the blood in our veins. Its restless temperament was, however, tempered by the frosty billow of turbulent seas emanating from the azure orb. Its waters fed into the earthy soil to bring forth an array of vegetation hanging out of the emerald orb and their leaves bowed in reverence to the calming air that flittered from the translucent orb.

All elements worked in harmony to create the dusky helical levitated mass of mist situated in the middle of the room. The darkness poured out of the orb and swirled freely about the shed to where I stood. Its essence was thick and heavy to breathe and as it moved, it continued to emulate the features of grotesque wolves which quickly dispersed to be replaced by angelic faces. Its paradoxical illustration was one of riddles and utmost confusion.

There were only four elements but why was there a fifth?

"What is the meaning of this?" I waved off the dark mist from my line of sight and trained my gaze on Measer Fern. His hands were outstretched as he manipulated the fiery orb with a movement of his fingers.

"They are portals. Absolutely nothing odd about them," he answered simply with his eyes still on the orb.

"I'm very much aware of that," I groaned, already getting frustrated at the fact that he won't give me answers easily. "But why is one dark and why are they even opened?"

"In order to understand the reason behind them then we'd have to start from the beginning. Why are you here?" He evaded my question and moved calmly to the azure portal where he repeated his earlier actions concerning the fiery orb.

I inhaled a deep breath as I tried to ward off the thick darkness that continually assaulted my eyesight.

If I wanted answers from him, I'd have to be as patient as possible. Unfortunately, I really wasn't blessed with that virtue and he was well aware of that.

"I'm sure you've noticed the white particles falling from the sky," I started, moving towards an area where the dark mist was sparse. "Snow, I believe it's called from my past old readings. However, this pack has always been blessed with warm sunshines and rain since its inception. Never has this happened so why would it happen now?" He had now moved towards the emerald orb and peering at the levitated mass of air, I noticed that it had grown larger in size in comparison to the fiery and azure orb which had shrunk noticeably. Just what was all this?

"As you know, the white-wolves of old created this pack with the aid of elemental magic and spells. In their plan for a new world exclusively for the white-wolf clan, they sought to eliminate all traces of the nature of the normal lycanthrope race," he explained in a monotone voice before turning towards me. "Brutality was abolished, the urge to kill was controlled, favourable weather conditions were put in place, unique plants were created and element control was practiced without restrain or fear," he elaborated, sparks of lightning emanated from his palms to connect the elemental orbs as a sixth portal begun to form.

"All these were implemented to create the perfect utopian society. Hence, the elimination of the seasons of winter and autumn along with a whole other natural occurrences. It was believed that doing away with such harsh weathers would reflect better the light, happy aurora that they aimed to achieve. Much more like a controlled city trapped in a globe," he added, moving to allow the figure that sauntered out of the sixth portal into the shed. "You sure do take your sweet time, don't you?" He snapped, gruffly, letting his hands fall as the portal disappeared.

"Just because you have no need to care for your appearance doesn't mean I don't have to care about mine," Lira breezed with a pat to her elaborate hairdo and a swish of her hips as she moved to regard the portals in steel concentration.

Her scent was all-encompassing, filling the nostrils with its delirious scent and her beauty was unmatched among wolves and fairies alike. It was a wonder he hadn't fallen for her charms despite her not so subtle flirting. I was starting to believe the man wasn't capable of that emotion. If any at all.

"So why exactly is it snowing now? I still haven't gotten a straight answer," I reminded Measer Fern who was content with glaring at Lira who only winked back, unfazed by his demeanor.

"The power source that conceals your clan is beginning to deplete and the snow is just one of its side effects. The pack will become more visible to the naked eye as time passes and at the moment the land is trying to acclimate to the normal conditions of the outside world," Lira filled in, turning towards me with a smile. "It's been awhile Tyion," she acknowledged.

"Likewise," I nodded and hurriedly added. "But that can't be. The power source is meant to be infinite, such is never meant to happen,"

"No, it isn't meant to happen. Yet it is," Measer Fern noted, moving to the middle of the room with the dark mass hovering over him. "These energetic portals represent the power foundation on which this pack is grounded on," he pointed to each elemental orb before continuing. "However, as time passes, their essence is becoming very unstable, consequently, resulting in a tear in the veil of dividence between our world and that of the outside world," he controlled the swirl of the dark air with his fingers and directed it out of the window in a flash of projected lightning. The dark air morphed into the shape of a snowflake before fizzling out.

I finally understood the meaning behind the oddity and I kept staring at the snow as the feelings of dread crept up my spine. "That orb is representative of the outside world isn't it?" I asked, softly, turning to look at the black orb.

"Yes it is," he affirmed. "It's seeping through the tears at an alarming rate and it's only a matter of time till the whole pack is revealed," he predicted, the elemental orbs were dwindling slowly as the dusky portal sucked in their essence.

"What do we do now?" I questioned. I never imagined this day would come, a day when we would be exposed to the outside world.

It was a cause for alarm, a situation my pack members would, undoubtedly, revolt against. We had been taught for centuries to be weary of the greedy, barbaric creatures that happened to share similarities with us. It wasn't a world we wanted to be in, never.

"I will work hand in hand with Fern to strengthen the power source for now but that's only a temporary measure," Lira declared before chanting spells that created rebounding effects on the previously weakened elemental orbs. "I can't do more than that because protecting both your pack and mine will be very tasking on my physical body," she added, swaying a bit from the energy it took to restore their forms. Measer Fern walked to her side with effortless speed and held on, gingerly, to her waist before she tipped over.

"Why thank you Chhémá na," she breathed, colouring slightly as he glowered at the ancient phrase. Unfortunately, I had little knowledge of the language of Yönuh!ah and so I couldn't translate what she had uttered. However, I could bet it wasn't a word he particularly liked.

He righted her to her feet, speedily, and moved away from her. "Don't call me that again," he muttered, uncomfortably, but she only chuckled in response. "Alpha I am currently working on a permanent solution to this. The Sky Lordians haven't revealed the reason behind this yet but these past few years the law of nature has assumed a path of its own. One that is contradictory to what we are all used to," he noted, snatching up a jewelled diamond-shaped locket from the table. "Yils' outside mate and control over all elements, our ally with the faeries, the tear within the veil of dividence, strong connections between non mates, the presence of a Jerlion..." he trailed off once he was certain that I understood and walked to the centre of the room again.

He opened the locket up towards the portals and with a great flurry of air, the orbs transformed into miniature versions and piled into the locket. The element orbs coloured the four demarcations of the diamond and the black orb settled in a circular space between them.

"Don't worry too much about it, Alpha. The people will sense your uneasiness and start to panic," he advised, wearing the locket around his neck. "I'm certain all will work out for good,"

"Yeah I hope so," I mumbled, trying to repress the anxiety that threatened to consume my being. Knowing the Sky Lordians and their ways, it wasn't certain that he would find a permanent solution. I just couldn't understand why they would want us to be reconciled with the outside wolves. It was beyond me. "Have you heard anything about Yil?" I diverted the conversation to a more pressing concern.

"You should ask Zena. She's due to arrive soon," he answered, passing a few scrolls to Lira who arranged them neatly unto the table.

Zena had portalled back?

"You'll find her in the flower fields in five minutes," he added, answering my unasked question. "You should hurry if you want to meet her first," he urged, noticing that I was still in the shed.

"Yeah, sure," I made my way out of the shed, leaving behind a serious faced Fern and a playful Lira who was intent on drawing him out of his shell. Both of them were very persistent even after decades of knowing each other, Lira in wanting to win his affections and Fern in his resistance to not give in. Only the Sky Lordians knew who would give out first.

I traced my steps back to the flower fields, steadily. The snow had stopped falling to be replaced by sunny clouds and the crowd of awe-struck pack members had dispersed to go about their day. Probably thinking that it was nothing but a natural wonder. Oh, how wrong they were.

The entrance of a portal was beginning to form in my line of sight and when it was big enough for an individual to walk out of, I made out the features of dark-haired she-wolf, Zena. I had no idea why she was back here but I was glad that I'd be able to ask about Yil.

My only daughter who happened to be mated to an outside wolf with which we might soon be acquainted with, thanks to the Sky Lordians.

Stranger times were here and something told me that this was just the beginning.
-
-
-

Please do not forget to vote. Thanks☘︎