A gloomy morning came earlier than it was expected in the Rophions’camp. Yet, even though the weak light of the dawn was barely seen through the slightly ajar doors and windows, nobody in the camp rushed to exit his house and fulfill his daily routine. Only the song of the Virgins of Attārai, as those who should interrupt the ritual were known, twelve in number, and those who should check if the sinner was still alive on the Stone Vāyil, were heard on the streets.

„They go to check if the soul of the sinner has survived the ritual Attārai!” Murmured Sephir, looking through the open door at the village. Thus, she could see the twelve virgins, all of them wearing long red dresses, with white scarves over their head, and lit torches in their hands walking on the streets. A view that made her frown and murmur eventually, „Even though I clearly hear what they are singing, I can’t understand the song’s message.”

She winced eventually when she felt Fenrir’s hands touching her shoulders. Then, in a whisper, Fenrir translated to her the words of the song sung by the Virgins, sang in the ancient language of Rophions:

„We are walking on the path that leads to Death again,

To check if dawn appeared in the sky or not,

Or maybe only sunset is seen in our empty souls,

After we’ve been left without a soul that has been dear to all of us.

Only this way, we’ll know if to thank the world

For its kindness of having let you live among us,

Or if we should pray and light torches again,

To lead your footsteps toward the Underworld.

Yet, if you are here, next to us, love,

We’ll sing prayers to the Sky loudly,

Grateful to the One who kept you near us,

Aware that this world is only a mystery…”

After finishing translating the song, Fenrir kept silent for a while. Then, sticking his head to Sephir’s, he listened to the sad and nostalgic song of the Virgins of Attārai in silence. Deep inside, however, he was also worried, for he got to care about Kkuṟai since they turned to the village, even though he didn’t know the boy for so long.

Eventually, closing her eyes, Sephir sighed. Then she murmured, barely heard, „Still, their song is sad. So sad actually, and I feel that there is no hope in those words.”

„Maybe you are right. This song is both about Death and about Hope at the same time. Yet, even though it seems to you that there is no hope in those Virgins’souls, there is hope. That’s why they proudly walk toward the altar, for… we all hope that our wolf is still alive and that he has been able to defeat Death.”

„It’s still weird.”

„What exactly?”

„That twelve Virgins are going to check if Kkuṟai is still alive. I think that it would have been better for his parents to do this, for… this way, they could feel the joy that Death didn’t take one of them. It would have been their success.”

You are right, thinking so,” said Fenrir, sadly smiling. „Yet, the family of the sinner has been prohibited to appear there.”

„Why?” Asked Sephir. She was confused after such a confession on her husband’s part.

„Because this is the Rophions’tradition in fact: if the one left on the Stone Vāyil survives the ritual of his soul’s purification, it means that he is ready for life. Thus, he must choose his wife from those twelve Virgins, who have two roles in this ritual: one of these is to tell his family that he is still alive, bringing joy in his house - Makimai (glory), or to tell others that Death defeated us - Maṇṭiyiṭṭu (kneeled). Thus, if it’s joy in Kkuṟai’s family, both he and his family, along with the young girl that is chosen to be later his wife, will wear white vestments for three days. Yet, if the Virgins loudly scream Maṇṭiyiṭṭu… then… we’ll wear black clothes for 12 days,” Fenrir finished his thought in half a voice. He even frowned when he felt a strange pain in his stomach.

Eventually, when Sephir whispered, „Weird,” he looked confused at her and asked, „Why?”

„Just something I feel. I don’t know how to explain this. At the same time, it’s… something new too. I must accept this.” After that, hugging her husband, Sephir closed her eyes and listened to the Virgins’song in silence:

„If we shout Glory, we’ll be happy again,

Knowing that two souls will be together,

If we shout Maṇṭiyiṭṭu, then we’ll cry forever,

For one of us won't ever be a bride.”

***

A strange song of lament has been suddenly heard above the Village of Rophions. A melody that was blown from a horn that rang for minutes in a row all over the village, accompanied by a clink of bells shortly after this, a clink that was so pleasantly heard around, making even nature shake… with pleasure. Yet, that pleasant sound awoke not only nature but also the wolves, who suddenly jerked to their feet, still in their houses, for after that sound would have stopped being heard, the Sentence was coming: Makimai or Maṇṭiyiṭṭu.

The waiting was baneful at that time, for that clink of bells, known by the Rophions as Aṟivippu (Announcement) and which lasted for 12 minutes, was considered a perfect cycle both for nature and for the souls after death. That’s why everybody was so anxious, having a single thought in their mind and a single murmur whispered by their lips: Makimai.

The same thing murmured Mai and Yamu in their head while sitting on the floor, with their back stuck on the wall, and continuously caressing the heads of their children, who, so tired, finally fell asleep with their heads on their parents’lap. Nevertheless, when the sound of the bells Vaḷarkaḷ, those that announced the end of the ritual, was heard, Akita and Ilēcāṉa sat up and looked at their parents, preoccupied.

Suddenly, unwillingly, the eyes of the four were washed with tears, for that waiting was killing them even though it should have lasted only for a few moments. Thus, barely breathing and shedding the tears that could have soon become tears of happiness, the four members of Yamu’s family grabbed their hands and waited. They waited for minutes in a row, feeling the killing flame of fear deep inside. Yet, the moment they heard the shout of the twelve Virgins, „Makimai! Atu Makimai. Iṉṟu kirāmattil makiḻcci nilavukiṟatu.” (It’s Makimai! It’s happiness today in the village,) Akita burst into tears, shaking with all of her body.

That’s why Mai held the girl to her chest, trying to give her some comfort while the girl kept murmuring, „It can’t be, Mother! It can’t be!”

„Of course, it can be, Akita! It’s possible! The sky heard our prayers and let our Kkuṟai with us! We should be grateful for this.”

Yamu, however, in a shaking voice, told her after grabbing his wife’s hand, „Even so, Mai, even though it’s Glory, let’s not forget that the ritual Attārai can have adverse effects. Thus, until we don’t see that Kkuṟai is fine, we can't be thrilled.”

„Yamu,” murmured Mai, barely heard. „If he’s alive, it’s enough for me. No matter how he is now. My child is alive. That’s all that matters to me.”

„Then… I go there. Soon, very soon, we’ll allow ourselves to be fully happy or cry in silence,” the man whispered. After that, he stood up and headed toward the door, for the one who brought the boy to the Stone of the Purification should take the boy back home, also carrying him in his arms. Yet, while he was heading there, he bowed his head and was slightly bent in front, feeling sorry for his family.

Then, when the door closed behind Yamu, Ilēcāṉa dared to look at his mother. He saw her slowly crying, with her face hidden in Akita’s dress while squeezing the girl’s shoulders with her hands. Akita, feeling her mother also crying, hugged her and whispered, „It will be alright, Mother! You’ll see, everything will be just fine!”

***

Yamu’s clacking footsteps were strangely heard while he was advancing on the village’s streets, heading toward the Stone Vāyil. A sound that was telling others about his inner fear at the same time, for, while walking on those streets, he was looking with empty eyes around, feeling a killing pain deep in his soul. Nevertheless, despite the pain felt in his soul and the fact that he bowed his head while walking, Yamu was still happy, for his dear boy, his brave boy was still alive. At the same time, he was preoccupied with the boy because he passed through such harsh times, but… as Mai said, no matter how the boy was at that moment, after the ritual, the important thing for them was that Kkuṟai was still alive.

Even so, Yamu couldn’t proudly raise his head. He was only looking at the ground, seeing nothing else around. Probably because of this, he winced the moment he spotted Arion waiting for him at the corner of a street, dressed in that white robe and with the hood on. Thus, wearing that white vestment, Arion let Yamu and others know that a representative of Life was there, accompanying Yamu toward the Stone Vāyil to check if his boy was fine.

Arriving next to Arion, Yamu smiled but said nothing. He only slowly worshiped in front of Soan, greeting him. After that, stretching his back, he looked to the east and smiled again, hearing so clearly the clink of the bells Vaḷarkaḷ that was announcing to everyone that Kkuṟai was still alive. Then, seeing Island, three streets away from the place he met Arion, Yamu smiled again, thinking, „There is still hope around us these days.” He said this after seeing the blue-lit torch in the Titan’s hand.

Eventually, Yamu winced, hearing Island’s telepathic voice, „You are actually right. Hope is still with us, Yamu. That’s why your boy is still alive.”

„I’m sure about this, Titan, that there is still hope around. Nevertheless, it can’t be hope in my home, for we heard the Virgins shouting Makimai only once today and not twelve times as it should have been shouted. This means that our happiness is not complete,” said Yamu loudly this time.

Arion smiled, hearing such words. Then, he calmly said, „I think you are wrong now.” Words that made Yamu stare at him, confused, for he really didn’t understand what Soan meant. Not the same happened to Arion, who, understanding why Yamu was confused, said, „They shouted Makimai only once because he is your youngest son, but the first one to choose his wife today. Yet, even though he chooses his wife first, he won’t be able to marry her before his brothers. At least this is what I have heard from Master Dike, who told me that the legends of Rophions said that it's bad luck if the youngest of the brothers marries first.”

„A wise thought in my opinion,” said Island, smiling. „Eventually, Kkuṟai is still so young. Thus, before he’ll be ready to get married, it’s still a long way to wait for this. Nevertheless, this is something in his favor because, meanwhile, he and the bride can get to know each other better and their marriage will also be sweeter,” joked the Titan, winking at Yamu and trying to make that one smile.

Yamu, however, even though tried to smile and be happy, still felt a strange pressure on his chest. A pressure that felt so heavy on his shoulders too when he got next to those twelve Virgins that were sitting in two rows at that moment, six on each row, face to face and having lit torches in their hands. The light of the torches, however, wasn’t reddish or dark orange as it should have been, but white as their robes were. Thus, standing face to face, the Virgins formed a short corridor from Yamu to the Stone Vāyil where Kkuṟai was still lying.

Seeing his son there, Yamu stopped, and that pain from his throat passed to his stomach. A pain that made him touch his stomach with his palm eventually, feeling that he wasn’t able to breathe normally anymore. Yet, when he felt Arion and Island’s palms touching his shoulders, Yamu deeply inhaled the fresh air and approached his son, who was lying on the stone and watching that dark gray sky on which black clouds were racing at that moment.

Getting next to Kkuṟai, Yamu saw that the boy had his eyes widely opened, but he didn’t look at his father. Yamu, however, looked at his boy carefully. Especially, he looked into the boy’s empty eyes, something that made him feel pain in his chest again. Yet, when he remembered his wife’s words, that important for them was the fact that Kkuṟai was still alive, he forced a smile. Then, he bowed next to the boy’s ear, whispering, „Everything will be just fine, Kkuṟai! Everything will be alright!” After that, kissing the boy’s forehead, Yamu uncovered his body from that white clothing, letting everybody see that the Kkuṟai’s wounds were healed already, a hint that he was saved.

Namely, the fact that the wounds healed made Yamu so happy. It meant he could take his boy home and care for him there. That’s why he rushed to take the boy into his arms, intending to go home and spend some time with his family. Nevertheless, when he was about to go, he heard Yellen’s voice, who was not that far from them, „There is a way to return Kkuṟai to life.”

„What do you mean, child?” Island asked her, confused, for… on one hand, he couldn’t understand what was wrong with Kkuṟai and why he was looking at everybody with empty eyes when he clearly saw that the boy was healed. Secondly, he couldn’t understand, too, why Yellen was there when only twelve Virgins should have come to that Stone. Nevertheless, he decided not to insist on this because the number was only a number, but he still wanted to know what she meant by saying those words.

Not the same happened to Yamu, who could guess what Yellen tried to say to them. Nevertheless, he decided not to rush with guessing, but carefully listening to her words, for… what others didn’t know, he knew - the reason why Kkuṟai survived bodily but not mentally. Thus, being aware of what was happening at that moment because he saw something similar before, Yamu also understood that it was because something happened to his boy while crossing the Tunnel of the Useless Memories. That’s why he asked Yellen eventually, „What should be done to turn this boy back to us?” Yet, even though he asked this in a shaking voice, he was still convinced to do everything he could do to take his son out of that terrifying place.

„Let’s reverse the spell thrown over him. For this, we need Tenebre’s Palantir.” Her words made Yamu shudder eventually. He even felt cold sweat beads running down his back the moment he noticed that the girl’s eyes looked exactly like Kkuṟai’s eyes at that moment, as though they had been connected to each other or something like this.

Eventually, they all looked at Arion when he said, „Yet, even though we can try to take the Palantir from Tenebre, nobody guarantees us that this helps us to turn Kkuṟai back to life.”

„I think the contrary,” replied Yellen confidently. „Actually, I still feel that I’ve passed through something like this before.”

„Have you passed through something similar? What do you mean?” Island asked, confused.

Yellen, however, kindly looking at him, said, smiling, „Not in this life, of course. However, even though I don’t remember my past lives, the memory of my skin and the power that flows through my veins tells me that I’m not lying to myself with such thoughts. That’s why I say to trust the past if we can’t trust the present. Why? Because the experience of the past can do wonders.”

„Then, what should we do?” Asked Arion.

A question that made Yellen look at him, from the corner of her eyes. Then, squeezing one of Accu’s tops, she murmured, „Find Tenebre and take the Palantir from her. Thus, when she’s weak, we can act and save Kkuṟai, turning him back to the path of Life.”

„Ok, we’ll take the Palantir, but… none of us can control it. Only Tenebre can.”

This time, Yellen looked at Arion, upset. Then, in a stern voice, she told him, „Now you are wrong, Soan, because the Palantir and the Eye of the Devil, this child controls, have been a single power once.”

Listening to „this child” told by Yellen, the wolves from around her, along with Arion and Island, winced. Then, when he could control himself, Island took a few steps toward Yellen and looked into her eyes. Thus, he could see a big lotus flower reflected in her eyes. Something that made him whisper, with fear, „Bodhi?”

„That’s right, Titan! It’s me, and I’m here because it’s necessary, even though I shouldn't have been here. Nevertheless, I will also enter this war!”

„Why? As far as I know, the Guardian of the Gates of Purgatorium and of Karuvil should stay away from fights and evil things.”

„Something that I’ll actually do, Titan Island. Yet, even though I can’t enter a fight with a sword in my hand or use my magic power, I can help. I mean here to save this soul from dying, for Kkuṟai must turn back to you. He has a great future and he knows that already. However, even though he knows he must turn back, he won’t be able to do this alone. The boy needs to be helped… by his people and by his blood.”

„Then, what should we do?” Murmured Yamu, feverishly.

„What Bodhi means it’s to force Tenebre to be weak,” they all heard Fenrir’s voice behind him. That’s why they all turned and looked at the young wolf and saw him and the rest of the village approaching that place. A strange decision in fact, for, generally, nobody should have left his home before the horn would have been heard twelve times. At that moment, however, it seemed that everybody forgot about traditions and joined their power for a single aim: to defeat evil.

„Maybe you are right, Fenrir. Yet, it will be difficult,” insisted Arion in his theory.

The one who answered instead of Fenrir was Ilēcāṉa, who said, „Difficult, but not impossible. More than that, as soon as I find her, I swear I make her pay for everything. Especially, I’ll pull the tongue out of that Pakai’s mouth, right after he tells me why he forced my brother to pass through this hell. That’s why, I’m coming with you!”

„No, Ilēcāṉa!” Said Mai in a stern voice. „You won’t go anywhere! I can’t allow Fate to take another son from me only to save one of you. I can’t because you three are my children. That’s why I won’t allow you to risk your life, for your brother’s life.”

„Let him go, Mai!” Yamu murmured. „Each of us lives his destiny on this Earth. That’s why, if Ilēcāṉa decided this, it must be for something. Thus, he will learn that, in life, we must accept the result of our decisions and respond to what we do. Actually, we all pay for our sins here, on Earth, and not after our death. That’s why, I tell you this, son: I won’t force you to stay if you want to go and save your brother. Nevertheless, you should keep this in mind: if something happens to you while you are far from here, your soul won’t ever find peace. You know why.”

„I know. It’s because a Rophion must die at home, next to his family. Even so, Dad, I’m ready!” Said Ilēcāṉa bravely. Then, approaching Yamu and Kkuṟai, he touched their hands and added, „It’ll be nothing to sacrifice myself for my family. Even if the price is to be a ghost forever. Why? Because Kkuṟai did the same, protecting us from the attack of those damn Kākkai.”

Ilēcāṉa’s words bathed Mai’s eyes in tears. Then, understanding that her second son would go with Fenrir and the others no matter what she would do, she decided to support him even though her heart, the heart of a mother, knew that if she had lost him, she would have died too. Nevertheless, the moment she heard Fenrir’s voice behind her, she wiped her tears mechanically. After that, she looked into the young wolf’s eyes when he said, „No worry, Mai! Your boy will be just fine. This time, I won’t allow him to suffer as it happened to Kkuṟai. Yes, I must accept that our enemies took us by surprise then, but not now. Now I’m ready to make them pay for this. That’s why I tell you to let him go because he’ll be back home soon, safely.”

Mai, however, hesitated. Eventually, looking into her son’s eyes and seeing that he decided to go, she nodded yes, that she let him go. Right after that, Arion said, „It’s decided then: we leave immediately to look for Tenebre. We must do this because I feel that she’s ready to act up in this forest now. That’s why we must impede her from doing that. At any cost!”

„Then you go and prepare for the trip!” Yamu told them in a whisper. „I’ll leave my son in our house first, to have some rest. After this, I will join you to prepare you for the trip too!” Saying this, Yamu took Kkuṟai in his arms again, after he left the boy on the stone for a short while, and headed toward his home. That time, the Rophions didn’t turn their backs on them but looked at them and smiled. Thus, they let the boy and Yamu know that there was still hope in their lives and that they would hear the boy’s cheerful voice again.

***

„Let me go with you!” Sephir whispered to her husband, grabbing him by the arm and looking at him with pleading eyes. They were next to the small gate at that moment, opened in the Barrier by the guardians. Yet, even though the gate was open for a few minutes already and Nathaniel and the rest had already passed through it, Fenrir was still hesitating because of Sephir.

Nevertheless, understanding that it was risky to stay there and wait, he told Sephir, kindly, „You should stay, Sephir! Do this for me!” Then, looking into her eyes, he told her, „I need you here because here you’ll help others more than being with us in a dangerous place.”

„Yet, Fenrir, I won’t be calm staying here. Moreover, knowing that Tenebre and Pakai are there and that’s dangerous.”

„I know this, honey, but… I must be there. In the forest, there are my father and Samaya too. If we are in danger while being there, we can ask them for help. More than that, I must be there because… if we get the Palantir of that witch and they find Baradar, then we can turn back to the camp triumphantly. That’s why I must go alone, Sephir, for even though I know that you are capable of protecting yourself, I won’t be calm knowing you there. Here, however, you’ll be safe and I’ll be calm and… I promise I’ll turn back, Sephir. Safe because I can’t go anywhere else without you. Not even toward death.”

„It would be good to be so, Fenrir,” said Sephir, frowning. „Otherwise, I come after you and you know better than me what I can do if I’m angry.”

„Of course, I know. That’s why I said that I’d be back soon. Otherwise, it’ll be comic to run from you in the Underworld.” After that, smiling, he kissed her lips and rushed to catch up with his friends, who had already entered the forest. Yet, they entered the forest on the sly, afraid to be noticed by Pakai or his spies - the crows.

Sephir, however, even though the guardians had closed the Gate after Fenrir’s departure, stood for a long time in that place, watching the forest. Yet, while staying there, she saw only the trees, for her husband and his friends were already deep in the forest. Eventually, when Island approached her and rested his palms on her shoulders, Sephir hugged him. She did that to hide her tears, for she felt that others shouldn’t have seen that she was afraid to be left alone in this world. However, she couldn’t hide her feelings from Island, and this happened because of her tears that wetted the cloth of his vestment. Moreover, when she started to shake slowly in his arms. That’s why Island told her kindly, „They’ll be back soon, Sephir. Safe.” After that, he kissed the top of his granddaughter’s head.

„Why are you so sure, Grandpa?” She asked in a whisper.

„I feel this. Deep in my heart. I feel this with my soul, Sephir. At the same time, if I’m calm while seeing others leaving, this means they will turn back safe.” Then, wrapping his arms around Sephir's body, Island held her to his chest. After that, supporting his chin on the top of her head, he also closed his eyes. Yet, he didn’t do that because he wanted to meditate or enjoy the pleasant warm air, but to hide his preoccupation from her. Thus, he preferred to listen to Sephir’s heartbeats in silence, which, in a strange way, got to calm him eventually.

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***

Carefully advancing through the forest, the six friends were approaching the place they thought Tenebre and Pakai were. Yet, after the two-day’s ago event with Kkuṟai, which scared them all to death, they preferred to be careful and not take the risk. That’s why, each time they got to hear a crow’s shout, they were wincing and looked all over just to convince themselves that they were safe. Because of this, Arion also said eventually, „Let’s be careful, friends! We don’t need other problems right now. More now when we know that this forest isn’t only our friend, but it’s also Tenebre’s friend after she cursed or charmed it.”

Arion’s companions said nothing. They only nodded yes and kept advancing, carefully. Yet, they did that on silent feet, especially while crossing a glade or a place where the trees were far from each other. In other parts of the woods, where the forest was thicker, they could normally breathe and walk, having trust in themselves, for even though not all of them knew well that forest, they trusted Fenrir, who knew it.

Even so, they needed an entire day to get to the Glade of Mannar. This happened because of Pakai’s crows, which have been seen flying above the forest several times. Nevertheless, the crows didn’t spot the enemies, for Fenrir and his friends learned their previous lesson and acted carefully just to avoid another victim among them. Yet, arriving in the Glade, they saw in amazement that there was nobody.

„A devilish thing for sure,” murmured Malon furiously. „We thought that they were here, but it’s only the solitude here. Or… are they late?”

„I think so,” whispered Arion. „Or maybe it’s only a trick. That’s why I’m preoccupied with being here.”

„Why so?” Fenrir asked, in amazement.

„Because we can’t see Mannar. If we had been able to see him, we would have known how to act not to let our enemies know that we are here. Why? Because he can see us, while we can’t do that. For this, of course, we must thank Gaea and Lodur. They only made our job tougher.”

„What I think is that they have done a good job closing that devil in a cage,” said Nathaniel. „Let’s not forget that while he was free, this forest suffered a lot. Yes, you are also right in saying that it has been better for us not to be seen by him. Even so, we must be grateful for that because Pakai and Tenebre also can't see him.”

„What if they found the manner to see him?” Asked Mago.

„Then… they allow us to do what we’ve planned,” said Nathaniel confidently. „Why am I so sure? Simply: being focused on opening Mannar’s cell, they allow us to take the Palantir.”

„Maybe you are right, Nathaniel. Even so, it seems dangerous to me, for only two of us have magic power. All right, Ilēcāṉa too, but… he’s too young and it’s possible not to be able to face the two demons. So, we are 50/50 now.”

Mago’s commentary made Ilēcāṉa frown. Then, upset, he said, „Maybe I’m young but I’m able to break these two’s necks for hurting my brother.”

Eventually, Ilēcāṉa kept silent when Arion touched his left shoulder. Then, he made a sign to the boy to be silent. In the end, when he was sure that they were still safe, he whispered, „We don’t doubt that you can do this, boy. Yet, Mago is right: there is no need to risk. Moreover, we promised your father that you would return home safely. Just like all of us. That’s why we must be careful.”

„Yet…”

„Listen to what Arion says, Ilēcāṉa!” Fenrir told the boy in a demanding voice. „If you don’t think about your safety, think about those who you left waiting for you at home. They suffered a lot after what happened to Kkuṟai. There is no need to make them suffer more. Yet, even though I think Mago is right in saying that you are still young, I trust you, boy. Ok, I trust more your talent for stealing things, but this is another story. A trick you also showed to Kkuṟai, that’s why he left me without my dagger when I needed it.”

Understanding what Fenrir wanted to say with „a trick you also showed to Kkuṟai,” Ilēcāṉa looked elsewhere. Yet, by doing this, he got to look into Arion’s eyes, who was frowning at that moment, hearing about the boy’s „talents.” That's why he looked to his left eventually. There he saw Malon, who told him in a joke, „Are we talking about stealing now?”

Mago, however, resting his arm on the boy’s shoulders, told others in-joke, „Don’t be that serious! I’m sure that at least once in your life you tried this magic of stealing things. At least while being a child. More than that, not everyone is a master in this beautiful art: of letting others without personal things.” Then, smiling, he winked at the boy. „As far as I know what this boy „borrowed” from others, he returned already, right?”

„How do you know that?” Ilēcāṉa mumbled, confused.

„The birds told me. And… your eyes, and… shhh, I think someone’s approaching us.”

Mago was actually right: somewhere, not that far from them, footsteps were heard. Because of that sound, the six friends withdrew, looking for shelter in the thick bushes. Even so, hidden, they kept an eye on the surroundings to see who the master of those footsteps was. What amazed them even more than that sound was to see the dried tree that was the wooden body of the Shiver Sun from Mortor Forest. That’s why they exchanged glances but said nothing eventually.

Fenrir, however, while his friends were wondering what kind of devilish trick happened to that dried tree that was still on its wooden feet, looked at Tenebre. The Titanide was next to Pakai at that moment. Yet, even though she was walking on her own feet, her eyes looked blind as though she was in a trance or drunk. She even staggered to her feet at a moment, something that made Fenrir wonder, „What’s wrong with her?”

„She probably drank something forbidden,” Arion told him telepathically. Then, looking at Soan, Fenrir saw him smiling.

Nevertheless, Arion frowned right after that when he saw Fenrir grinning. Moreover, when the young wolf said, „Then, it’s the perfect time to play the „Catch the mouse” game!"

„What do you have in mind?” Asked Arion, still frowning.

„A childish game only. Honestly, I wanted to be a cat so many times, just to catch that mouse in my paws.” Fenrir’s answer confused Arion even more. That’s why Fenrir approached him more eventually and told him, grinning, „What do you think, what Tenebre hates the most?”

„Life?”

„If you think a little bit more?”

Only then Arion remembered Dike’s words, „Tenebre will always hate the Rophion wolves. Just as Inmar hates to know us alive.” Dike said that the same evening they saw Tenebre spying on them when they spent some time next to the Fireflies Waterfall. That’s why Arion murmured eventually, „She hates you, the Rophions.” Then, staring into Fenrir’s eyes, he said, „What I don’t understand is why she hates you so much.”

He winced eventually, hearing Ilēcāṉa’s telepathic answer, „It’s because we have what she has always wanted: power.”

„What I’m interested in is to know why you are pocking your nose in others’telepathic talks,” growled Fenrir into the boy’s ear. „More than that, I’m curious to find out how did you manage this… entering our heads.”

„Because I am good at stealing?” Ilēcāṉa replied, grinning. „Of course, to get what others have, too. In your case… ideas.”

„Yeah, I was sure about this, but… I don’t get the point of why you are doing this. Or maybe… are you trying to steal our plan?”

„I just want to help.”

„How?” Said Fenrir, staring at the boy.

Ilēcāṉa, hearing the question, cunningly smiled. Then he pointed with his head toward Tenebre, saying, „I was talking about saying „hello” to our old enemy as she „loves” the most… like a wolf. Thus, even though Mannar sees you, he won’t have any idea of who you are, for… there are a lot of Rophions looking just like you, to be honest.”

The boy eventually frowned, seeing Arion grinning. Moreover, when Soan told him, „Maybe there are many Rophions in this world, but there is only one Fenrir, the black wolf.” After that, when Nathaniel touched his shoulder, Arion winced.

Looking at Nathaniel, Arion saw the young man frowning. Something that made him confused, for he had no idea what could make Nathaniel frown. That’s why he asked him by a glance what his problem was. Nathaniel, however, upset for being left aside, told him feisty, „Nothing special. I just feel like an idiot, staying here, on guard, while you three are planning the future of the world… secretly. Something we actually dislike. That’s why we decided to approach you, those with no magic power, just to try to understand what is in your head. Maybe… we’ll find out this way something useful that can help us be safe.”

„Not that secretly anyway,” replied Fenrir, joyful, pointing with his head toward Ilēcāṉa. „Just I don’t see what is wrong with staying on guard. Thus… we, those with magic power, can be calm and plan everything up to the very end, because… you are damn good at keeping sentry.” Seeing Malon and Mago’s sour faces, a hint that they weren’t happy with that joke, Fenrir decided to change the subject and said, „You said you are good at using the slingshot, right?”

„You can say so. Why?” asked Malon.

„Because, this way, you have the perfect chance to give that lady some rough time. Not the other, but, this way, you also have the chance to make her pay for everything she has done to you in the past. More than that, by doing this, you give me some time to prepare for my spectacular entrance. Meanwhile, Arion, while I’ll make Tenebre suffer a little, watch the surroundings because I feel that the jackal over there will cause us some problems. That’s why… what about taking care of him, huh?”

„It will be my pleasure,” said Arion, grinning. Then, looking at Pakai, who was lying under a tree and sweetly yawning, Arion rubbed his palms.

Mago, however, seeing Arion doing this, decided that it was the perfect time to make him suffer a little. Why? Because of all those spicy jokes Soan did to him in the past. That’s why he told him, winking, „Do your hooves itch?”

A remark that made Arion cunningly grin. „Of course,” he said. „Thus, as my hooves itch, I’ll have the chance to scratch them a little by hitting that devil’s back today. A pleasure that took me a lot of time to satisfy.” After that, he headed opposite the path Fenrir took to approach Tenebre.

„Where are you going?” Malon shouted after Arion, almost in a whisper.

„To scratch his hooves,” said Mago, chortling. Yet, by saying this, he made his friends smile too.

***

Sneaking beside trees and bushes, Fenrir and Ilēcāṉa carefully advanced toward the place Pakai was lying on the ground. Yet, even though it seemed that Pakai was the target of the two young men, it was only a trick because, in fact, they were trying to surround him just not to make Tenebre attentive. Thus, not alerting her, they had a better chance to get the Palantir without any trouble.

Meanwhile, Nathaniel, Mago, and Malon stood hidden. For a while only because, when they saw that Fenrir and Ilēcāṉa passed by Pakai, who didn’t notice them because he was too busy to yawn while staying under that tree, the three young men also sneaked toward a very tall tree. Getting there, as though they had been monkeys all their life, they started to climb on the tree.

While climbing, they tried to make the least possible noise. Yet, a strange rustle of leaves was heard when they got in the tree and prepared for shooting. After that, barely breathing because they were afraid not to be seen or heard, they looked in the distance to see what their enemies were doing at that moment. Thus, seeing Pakai and Tenebre too busy with what they were doing at that moment, the young men breathed a sigh of relief and took a more comfortable position of standing in their tree because they decided eventually that it would be better not to be all of them in the same tree.

What they didn’t know was that even if the sky had cracked at that moment, Tenebre wouldn’t have been aware of this. Why? She was too busy trying to find Mannar’s cell by moving her palm in front of her eyes, just as she did the last time she had been in that Glade. Nevertheless, no matter what she didn’t do to find it, she couldn’t. It seemed as though nature itself decided to impede her to find her son and put a thick cloth on her eyes.

This didn’t make Tenebre give up. Not while she was already there. That’s why she decided to do whatever she could to find the cell. To manage this, she started to whisper, „Mannar! Mannar, son, do you hear me? If you hear me, make a sign to let me know that you are here.” Yet, not even after minutes of asking for a miracle, nothing happened: neither the cell appeared nor she saw Mannar. It was due to the Black Magic of the First Titans, which seemed to be against her at that moment.

Yet, even though her magic didn’t help her to find the cell, it helped the three young men, who climbed into the trees, because… the wind suddenly started to blow toward the place where she was at that moment. Thus, when they started to shoot stone after stone, it hit the target each time it got next to Tenebre. However, none of the stones hit her directly: only the ground next to her. This didn’t happen because they failed while shooting, but because they decided that it wasn’t yet the time to provoke her more.

Suddenly, when Nathaniel spotted a movement from the left, he looked over there and saw Pakai on his feet already, even though he had laid on the ground by then. Something that made Nathaniel frown eventually because it wasn’t something they expected. Even so, it was something interesting to watch because, while heading toward Tenebre, Pakai was dragging a sack after him. A heavy one actually. That’s why Nathaniel widely opened his eyes eventually, not understanding what was the deal with that sack. Nevertheless, understanding that it could be something useful for them, he looked to his right, where he knew Arion was, and, putting two fingers into his mouth, he whistled.

That sound, made by Nathaniel, which was so similar to a nightingale’s song, made Fenrir attentive too. That’s why he also looked to his right. Thus, he could see Pakai dragging that sack after him. Then, frowning, he wondered, „What the hell can be in that sack that that devil drags after him? More than that, why is he standing when he has been so lazy not long ago?”

Eventually, feeling Ilēcāṉa’s hand touching his right shoulder, Fenrir looked at the boy and saw him grinning. Something damn curious in the young wolf’s opinion. Yet, carefully looking at Ilēcāṉa, Fenrir understood that the boy wasn’t smiling so just for smiling. Thus, using his mind and his power at the same time, he could see what Pakai dragged in that sack: Ahi’s body because, without it, Tenebre couldn’t have been able to use Ahi’s power. Something that enraged Pakai a lot, for he understood that he wouldn’t ever be able to control that power and this was so because of Tenebre, who wouldn’t have ever allowed him to do that… to him or to someone else to use her son’s power.

„Now I see,” murmured Fenrir. „Why Pakai and Tenebre had so much influence on those crows.”

„Because of the one from the sack?”

„Exactly. Yet, they used his power without his permission. So, boy, besides the Palantir, I say to take another war trophy with us… that body.” Then, using the power of his mind, he sent Arion a thought, „Listen, horse, you have my permission to break some bones to that jackal. Yet, even though you also sweetly caress the one from the sack too, do it gently because… we still need him.”

Arion, hearing Fenrir talking to him so proudly, grinned. „As though I need your permission to do this,” he said. „More than that, I have been planning to teach Pakai some manners since long ago. What I never planned or imagined was that I’ll have a double revenge today.” Then, looking at Nathaniel, who was staring at him, Arion made a sign to him to shoot toward Pakai and force him to leave the sack on the ground.

Nathaniel, without waiting for a second invitation, grinned. After that, moving a little on the thick branch he was standing on, he shot. Thus, being a good shooter, he hit Pakai’s nose with the first stone.

The hit made Pakai growl. „What the hell?” He said, rubbing his nose, but not leaving the sack down. The second stone hit his forehead. The one who hit him this time was Mago, who bent and hid eventually when he spotted Pakai looking toward the tree in which he was. Nevertheless, even though he was staring over there, Pakai didn’t see the young man. Thus, however, he gave Malon the chance to show that he was also good at shooting because the next target hit had been Pakai’s butt. Yelling and screaming as though he had been scalded with boiled water, Pakai touched it with both hands, after leaving the sack down. He even started to hop when the second stone, shot by Nathaniel, hit the left part of his butt. A hit that hurt like hell because he right away started to yell, „To be damn if I don’t rip off your skin when I see you. Did you hear me, idiot?” After that, furious, Pakai looked around.

Yet, he became attentive the moment he heard hooves’noise to his left. A noise that made him stop and look toward there, sniffing the horizon. He even sneezed eventually and mumbled, „Horse stink. Something I hate.” Later, understanding that that noise was heard closer and closer to him, he became really attentive and started to stare at that place. Why did he do that? Because he was afraid. More than that, he was really scared because when he and Tenebre controlled the crows Kākkai, he lost part of his power. That’s why he was so lazy and was yawning while lying under that tree… he was trying to recover his strength.

Nevertheless, his attempt of regaining his power failed eventually. Why? Because, even though he heard the hooves’noise from his right, he felt a hoof hit on his butt from the left. A hit that threw Pakai at Tenebre's feet eventually because, when he hit, Arion used a lot of power to be more effective.

Feeling a flying bomb coming toward her, the Titanide moved aside. Thus, Pakai rolled toward her feet but didn’t hit her eventually. Even so, even though it seemed strange to her to see Pakai getting next to her this way, she couldn’t understand how this happened, for she knew him lying under that tree. That’s why she started to quickly blink her eyelashes when she saw him grinning at her.

Eventually, upset, Pakai yelled at her, „Don’t stay and look at me, like an idiot! Do something and release your son, Mannar, to help us! If not, we die today, idiot!” Yet, the moment he felt a rope wrapping around his left ankle, Pakai yelled because of pain, for it really hurt while Arion started to drag the jackal after him, on hard soil that made Pakai seem like a big Ping-Pong ball in the gallop of the horse. Thus, because of the mad run of the horse, Pakai felt not only pain all over his body, but he was also blind, and this was because, while running, Arion took care to throw some dust into the jackal’s eyes.

Tenebre, however, even though she saw that Pakai was in trouble, kept staying in the same place. She could only stare at him, like a dumb, and jump a little to her feet as though she was the one dragged by the horse after him. Nevertheless, even though she seemed charmed by that image of a jackal dragged like a sack, she still felt a harsh pain in her left ear when another stone hit her. She even started to hop and rub her ear, which made it as red as a ripped tomato, just to chase the pain away.

Something that didn’t actually happen because, soon after that, she saw, in amazement, that she had been attacked with stones thrown from everywhere. Stones that actually didn’t hit only one target, but all over around her. Something that made her continuously hop as though she was on a dance floor, learning to dance, unwillingly. Even so, when she’d been left to breathe, for a few seconds only, she managed to spot Mago, who was in that tree. That’s why she threw a blackball toward there eventually.

Seeing the bomb coming toward him, Mago tried to avoid it. Yet, being inattentive, he lost his balance and fell. Thus, being incapable of grabbing something while falling, he was making some strange sounds while hitting the branches, thinking that he’d look like a squashed beetle after hitting the ground. Something that didn’t happen eventually because of that tree that protected him with its branches and made the fall softer than it should have been felt. Even so, feeling the pain in his body after hitting the soil, Mago hissed through his teeth, „Damn cobra!” while sitting on the ground.

Nevertheless, he didn’t stay calm for long, for… hearing Malon’s shout, „Run, another bomb!” he jerked to his feet and ran to hide in the woods. Something that wouldn’t have been necessary eventually because the same tree, which helped Mago not to squash after hitting the soil, seeing Tenebre’s ball coming toward him, got furious. That’s why two long wooden arms appeared on his trunk. Well, at first two thick eyebrows appeared, frowning. Then two dark-green eyes, sparkling because of anger, and two dark-brown lips that growled eventually, „I’ll show you now, who the boss here is, witch!” After that, grabbing that ball on the fly, the tree threw it back to Tenebre.

The Titanide, seeing that weird tree attacking her, grabbed the ball on the fly and threw it back. Yet, the ball didn’t hit anything that time either because the tree, outraged, made a lot of wooden arms appear on his trunk and, grabbing the ball each time Tenebre was throwing it back, started to play Ping-Pong with her. Nevertheless, because none of them seemed to be able to win that game, it made the two growl because of anger.

Their „annoying” game would have probably lasted forever if Tenebre hadn’t heard another whistle from her left. Yet, looking over there, she’d been inattentive and the ball, thrown back by the tree, hit her head eventually and broke as though it was an air-ball full of pitch. Thus, feeling that black liquid dripping off her face, the mummy of the woods got enraged. She even started to „smoke” at one moment, looking like a log taken from the fire over which a barrel of cold water had been thrown. That’s why, being unable to control her emotions anymore, Tenebre growled, „It seems to me that you are looking for your death.” After that, to show her enemy that she wasn’t joking anymore, she started to throw ball after ball toward the first row of trees. The trees, however, weren’t stupid. That’s why, after growing wooden arms on their trunks, they started to play Ping-Pong with Tenebre with her own balls. Even so, some of those balls managed to hit the target and set fire to a few trees, which were yelling because of pain while hitting their wooden body with their wide palms, trying to extinguish the fire.

Seeing the trees in flames, a pleasant view for her, Tenebre grinned. She even thought she won. Nevertheless, the moment she saw a wolf, whose fur was burning, appearing between those trees that were still fighting with her flames, the Titanide understood that it could be bad for her skin eventually. Moreover, when she noticed that the balls she threw before that, which were floating in the air by then, started to attack her.

Thus, hopping and jumping to defend herself, Tenebre fought to stay alive. She even grabbed a ball when she jumped in the air last time, a ball she right away threw toward the wolf. Yet, she didn’t hit him. Well, not that it would have been a big problem if her bomb had hit the wolf because he was already in flames. Even his eyes were burning as though he was the devil that ran from hell and came to help the forest that got crazy with her attack.

Nevertheless, the moment Arion untied the sack of rain to help the woods extinguish the flames, Tenebre gnashed her teeth, understanding that it was her turn to be hurt. Moreover, when she saw the wolf, which kept burning in flames, moving toward her. A movement that made Tenebre move a little bit back. She even shuddered when she felt the cold raindrops running down her back and the cold wind that started to blow around her shortly after that. That’s why, being too focused to protect herself from that strange creature that was heading toward her, she’d been inattentive and dropped the Palantir, which, falling from her sleeve, hit the ground and rolled away, farther from Tenebre actually and not closer to her. The Palantir actually didn’t stop its movement until it got next to the sack, in which Ahi was, a sack under which it tried to hide.

Seeing this, Ilēcāṉa, who had stood hidden by that moment, rubbed his palms and murmured, satisfied, „Now it’s my turn to play.” After that, transforming into a black wolf, he started to sneak by the trees, trying to surround Tenebre and make sure she wouldn’t notice him. Not until he would have taken what he wanted to take from her.

Fenrir, seeing Ilēcāṉa’s movement, just to make sure she wouldn’t spot the boy, allowed Tenebre to hit him in the chest with the next ball she threw toward him. He even rolled a few meters on the ground after that hit. Thus, Fenrir allowed Tenebre to laugh like a mad person, happy with her victory. A total triumph in her opinion because, seeing the wolf extinguishing his fur and laying on the ground later, she took a few steps toward him, hissing through her teeth, „Did you think you could defeat me? You? Damn dog! I’ll show what Tenebre can do when she’s mad.”

Thus, heading toward Fenrir, Tenebre didn’t see Ilēcāṉa. More than that, she didn’t see that right after being close to that sack, the black wolf changed into a human and started to crawl toward the sack on all four. He even grinned getting there, thinking that it was too easy to take that trophy. However, he right away understood that he was wrong because, after stretching his right arm in front to take the Palantir and put it under his clothes, he felt a harsh pain in his palm - the Palantir burnt him. That’s why the boy hissed through his teeth, „It bites! Just like its mad master.” Yet, to let the Palantir there wasn’t something he planned. That’s why he quickly made another plan: he untied the sack and, hitting the Palantir with his leg, the boy threw it in the sack, which he right away tied back.

Feeling itself a captive in that sack, the Palantir started to jump. Something that actually worked to the detriment of Ilēcāṉa because, by doing this, the Palantir managed to let Tenebre know that it was in danger. Thus, understanding that something went wrong eventually, Ilēcāṉa looked to his left and saw Tenebre heading toward him already. He even heard her hissing through her teeth, loudly to be heard all over, „Damn bunch of thieves. You attacked me because of this, don’t you? To take what’s mine. Yet, I’ll be the one to teach you to never…”

A clod of earth, which hit her head, made Tenebre stop. Then, touching the back of her head, she furiously looked back and saw Fenrir, in his human body, standing in front of her while juggling with another lump. He even told her in a joke, „Maybe we are a bunch of thieves, but one damn skillful actually,” just to provoke her.

„Do you think so?! Allow me to think differently.”

„Why so?” The wolf innocently asked her. Yet, he was doing this just to give Ilēcāṉa more time to run away… with the trophy, of course. A time Ilēcāṉa appreciated actually. Thus, turning into a wolf again because he was stronger in the skin of the beast, Ilēcāṉa grabbed the sack with his teeth and started to drag it toward the woods. Yet, he found it more difficult than he thought it would be because of the Palantir that kept hopping inside of the sack, looking for an escape.

Seeing the Palantir moving so much and more when he felt his teeth hurting him, Ilēcāṉa hissed through his teeth, „Stay calm, devilish thing, or I swear I break you into pieces! Actually, I swear I’ll fry you on a grill if necessary, just to let you know how crazy a Rophion can be.” The Palantir, as though understanding human talk, suddenly „calmed down.”

Yet, it seemed that it was an unlucky day for Ilēcāṉa because, right after that, Arion passed by him. Thus, Arion gave Pakai the chance to grab the sack and drag it after them. Something that enraged the boy eventually and made him run after them. Nevertheless, understanding that he wouldn’t have been ever able to catch up with the horse, Ilēcāṉa shouted to Arion, „Use your rear hooves from time to time and help others too!”

Arion, who didn’t understand right away what Ilēcāṉa mumbled, looked back. Thus, he saw Pakai squeezing the sack even though he seemed like a tennis racket at that moment. That’s why Arion suddenly stopped, and, when the horse stopped, Pakai flew like a racket toward the hooves. Then, when a hoof distance was left between them, the horse used his right hoof and hit the jackal so badly that the poor soul flew a few meters away from him, dropping the sack because of the inertia, but not escaping from the captivity.

Who followed Pakai’s example and flew a few meters away from the horse had been Ilēcāṉa. It happened because of the sack, which hit his chest when he suddenly turned into a human, thinking to grab it on the fly. Yet, the moment he hugged the missile to his chest, he understood that it had actually been a bad idea and that the dead one could have been him eventually. Ilēcāṉa, however, was a lucky wolf, because, when he finished rolling on the ground, still in one piece, grinned: he was really happy that he could get what he wanted - the Palantir and the sack, two important war trophies actually.

Nevertheless, he didn’t stay in place for long, enjoying his victory. Thus, seeing Palar descending to the ground, the boy grabbed the sack with both hands and dragged it toward the cloud. Yet, he found it difficult because the sack was heavy. Even so, he didn’t give up, being aware that it was important for them and for bringing his brother back to life.

Tenebre, however, too focused on arguing with Fenrir because none of them could accept that he was wrong, something Fenrir was damn good at actually, didn’t notice that Ilēcāṉa stole the sack and the Palantir. Who saw this was Pakai, but… what was the use if no one was listening to him yelling, „The sack! The sack!” Well, no one could hear that barely heard shout because the horse took care of this… to make as much noise as possible while galloping, just not to allow Tenebre to hear Pakai’s shout. Of course, it was funny for him to play Ping-Pong with Pakai’s body too, whose head was the ball for sure.

However, even though he didn’t hear what Pakai was yelling, Fenrir knew the reason. Something that made him happy, more when he saw Palar up and understood that the trophies and the boy were already safe. That’s why he eventually said, „What about continuing our argument another day, huh? Not the other, but I think I have other important things to do today. Well, I think you also have because… your new lover definitely needs you.”

Not understanding what the hell was Fenrir talking about, Tenebre frowned. Eventually, looking in the same direction as Fenrir was looking, she saw Pakai, laying on the ground, unconscious, after receiving another painful hoof hit in his head. She even saw Pakai’s tongue hanging half out of his mouth while he was seeing many cheerful birds flying in front of his eyes. Yet… not this made Tenebre attentive, but the fact that she noticed that the sack was missing. Thus, running like a desperate soul toward the place she left the sack, she kept yelling, „Pakai, where is the sack? Where is the sack?”

Pakai, however, being too happy and busy to watch those flying birds, didn’t answer her. Who answered her eventually was Fenrir when he passed by her, on Arion’s back already, „It flew away, Tenebre. The sack, I mean! Thus, if you need it, you can find it in the stars.” After that, in the mad gallop of the horse, they entered the woods.

They entered the woods not alone because Mago, Malon, and Nathaniel, seeing Tenebre outraged, understood that it was a healthy decision to run away too. Yet, while running, they had been seen by Tenebre, who started to yell like a crazy person and throw black bombs after them. Useless bombs eventually because having no more Ahi’s body next to her, she couldn’t set fire to the woods anymore.

Yet, she understood this too late when the six „thieves” were far away from her already. Even so, even though she couldn’t hurt them anymore, they still heard her shout, „Rophion, keep this in mind: when I see you next time, it’ll be the last time you’ll breathe alive. More than that, when I get my Palantir back, I’ll turn your camp to ashes. I swear.”

„Yeah, yeah, if you get it back, of course,” murmured Fenrir, happily while running after his friends. Then, at the shelter of the thick woods, the six ran away toward their camp, rushing there just to make sure that another monster wouldn’t appear in front of them to make their plan fail.