“Noriran, come back! I forbid yo-Noriran, no!”
Yuna opened his eyes and found himself nose-to-nose, or actually nose-to-muzzle, with a blue-eyed wolf. He blinked his eyes before screaming and getting up, searching for his sword. Solarys startled awake, seeking with her eyes the problem before reacting the same way. As for the wolf, he stayed calm. He tilted his head, and his eyes seemed to say 'They're crazy or what?'
“Don't be scared, he is as sweet as a dog!”
A young woman around the same age as them had just appeared while running, making her long light chestnut brown hair whip left and right, her blond highlights reflecting the glow of the fire. Her azure blue eyes fixed the two other people with a sheepish air. She stroke the white-as-snow fur of her wolf, tapping the black strip between his eyes in berating. As an answer, the wolf gave her puppy eyes with his blue orbs, making her laugh.
“I hope he didn't scare you too much. However, I do think you will need new covers...”
Yuna and Solarys then stared at the covers the young man had produced from his travel bag. It looked like they had just plucked chickens. The wolf had opened them, and now the feathers covered the space they had been sleeping in. Yuna glared at the wolf, the animal suddenly looking at the sky. The young woman broke the silence.
“Please excuse Noriran. He is a bit... playful.”
“Playful?! I sleep where, now?!” exclaimed Yuna.
“Easy, Yuna.” soothed Solarys. “He doesn't seem to appreciate it...”
Indeed, the wolf growled toward Yuna, his eyes narrowing under his anger. In an authoritarian voice, his mistress commanded him to lie down. The wolf obeyed instantly.
“My name is Lyria, and I was looking for you.”
“Us?” They questioned at the same time.
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“Yes, you. There is something I need to show you. Follow me, please.”
The two youngsters exchanged a look full of incomprehension but already Lyria started leaving.
“Are you coming or not? I'm waiting!”
Yuna and Solarys shrugged their shoulders, curiosity pushing them to follow her. They crossed the town-the rising sun blinding them slightly-then entered into the forest. Solarys stepped unconsciously closer to Yuna, her eyes glancing furtively around. Yuna noticed this quickly. Before realizing what he was doing, he put his hand on the young woman's shoulder in a calming gesture. He offered her a small smile when she fixed her surprised eyes on him-smile that Solarys returned.
The two young adults quickened their pace as to place themselves on each side of the mysterious woman; and Solarys opened her mouth to question where they were going. But before she could, the answer revealed itself to their eyes.
In the middle of a clearing, a temple sat-forgotten of the world. It was small-round-yet magnificent. It was a radiant white, almost as if it blazed; and jewels were build in, here and there. When the light of the sun touch it, it shone with the colours of the rainbow.
A sigh of awe escaped Yuna and Solarys. Lyria smiled to then, a gleam of pride into her gaze.
“Let's go inside... Noriran, stop doing silly things!”
The annoyed exclamation of the chestnut haired woman made her companions turn toward said wolf. The wolf was biting at a tree branch placed at least two meters above the ground. Before any of them could ask how he managed that, the branch broke, and Noriran found himself on the ground, paws up and a confused expression.
The three humans choked on laughters until Lyria gestured to the temple with her head. They turned toward it, and froze when a rough growl echoed behind them. The white's wolf mistress tilted her head slightly with the intention to berate him, when she noticed he was at her side, ears flat.
Her two comrades stayed frozen while she turned around slowly, fear gripping their heart as her eyes widened and her mouth opened in shock. Gulping, they did the same; and Solarys stepped back, terrified.
On its hind legs, what could only be described as a werewolf let out a second growl. Its black coat seemed to cover the area in darkness. Its red eyes full of malice narrowed, then it bared its teeth-revealing their sharpness. Horns sat on its head instead of ears, and smoke escaped its nostrils-the only warning it was about to attack.
Noriran laid flat on the ground while growling while Lyria made a white whip appear in her right hand. Yuna took out his sword at the same time Solarys unhooked her bow from her back-two arrows appearing in her other hands.
Then, the battle started.
To be continued...