While Fenrir and his friends had been outside the camp, the Rophions and the rest had breathlessly waited for them to turn back. Why were they so anxious? Because they were afraid that something bad would happen to them as it happened to Kkuṟai while the servants of Evil were freely walking through that forest, doing whatever they wanted there. Even so, even if they were so afraid for the six fellows, the Rophions and the rest, who were still in camp, trusted them, knowing them as brave young men and soldiers of Good.

Thinking so, none of them was wrong. That’s why, the moment they saw the horse Arion getting out of the forest and galloping toward the camp, Yamu shouted to the wolves, who were on guard there, „Open the gates! Now! Leave them in!”

Nevertheless, even though he saw Fenrir and Arion rushing toward the Barrier, Yamu was still preoccupied, not seeing the other four young men. Even so, he decided not to get alarmed. Moreover, when he saw Palar appearing in the sky and fighting with a bunch of mad clouds that appeared on their way to the camp. A fight that wasn’t an easy one actually because those clouds seemed to have been sent there to impede them to get home safely. That’s why small thunderlights were seen piercing Palar’s body from time to time while he was trying to catch up with the horse Arion. Eventually, spotting a movement from the right, Yamu looked over there and saw Nathaniel, Mago, and Malon running as fast as they could after Arion and Fenrir while many snakes, controlled by Tenebre’s power, were following them to attack them.

Seeing the snakes, Yamu hissed through his teeth, „Damn cobra!” He was really preoccupied and furious at the same time seeing those dozens or maybe hundreds of snakes running after the three young men. A view that actually made Yamu’s heart beat faster in his chest because he saw that more and more green beasts were getting out of the woods. Yet, what scared him the most was to realize that his son wasn’t seen following his fellows.

Eventually, understanding that it wasn’t the right time just to stay and wait for seeing what would happen in the end, Yamu took a bow and an arrow from the hand of a young wolf and took a shooting position. Yet, even though he was already ready for shooting, he didn’t shoot any arrow. He only told the same young man, whose bow and arrow he took, to rush to the village and tell everyone who was free and able to come there and help them with the attack. After that, seeing the young man running toward the village, he approached the guards and, stopping next to them, he kept looking in the distance, waiting for the right moment to shoot.

„Now!” Yamu suddenly shouted. Then, as though controlling the Barrier with the power of the mind, the guards opened a large gate in the transparent wall to allow the six fellows to enter the village and, at the same time, that open gate, allowed Yamu and the guards to shoot the arrows toward the green beasts that were chasing them.

Actually, it didn’t last long for that rain of arrows to be heard hissing through the air and threateningly approaching the snakes. Thus, when it got above the green beasts, the arrows didn’t miss any target. However, it hadn’t been enough because there were still a lot of enemies alive on that field, hunting the five fellows. That’s why Yamu and the ten guards shooted arrow after arrow, trying to decrease the number of the enemy army. Yet, not even the other wolves that joined them and who also started to shoot toward the snakes could decrease it and this was so because the crawling beasts appeared in greater numbers when some of them were killed. More than that, when the number of snakes increased so much, enraged and crazy, they started to spit venom around, having a single thought in their empty heads - to catch up with the five fellows and break them into pieces, just as their master, Tenebre, demanded them to do.

Eventually, even though the enemy was strong and numerous, the fact that Tenebre wasn’t with them could undoubtedly be considered the snakes’Achilles heel and impeded them to catch up with their prey. At the same time, without Ahi’s body and the Palantir, Tenebre was weak. This was seen in the way she was controlling the snakes - insecurely and not totally, and even in the way, she was running through that forest. At a moment, she even got to stumble on each herb or muscle, which was suddenly „raising up” in front of her, as though it appeared there just to block the Titanide's way. That’s why she went head over heels several times while running after her enemies.

Thus, feeling weak inside and understanding that she won't be able to catch up with her enemies alone, she asked her friends, the snakes, for help. Yet, even though she badly wanted to defeat Fenrir and his friends, she understood that it was only a dream because, soon after this, the entire woods rebelled against her. How could the woods rebel against the Titanide? Simply: they used their inner magical power to make eyes, ears, eyebrows, and arms appear on their trunk while some of them, which were bolder than the others, used their power to draw a wolf’s mouth on their dark bark. Namely one of these tree-wolves has been the one to kick Tenebre’s butt eventually, sending her far away from it like a flying living bomb.

Yet, that tree didn’t use its root-leg to hit Tenebre after taking it out of the ground. No. What the tree used was a snake. He grabbed it by the long tail, spun the beast in the air until it felt dizzy, then it let the beast freely fly, and, in its way, the snake hit Tenebre’s butt and, as though she was sitting on a flying stick, the Titanide flew along with that green beast far in the distance.

Seeing the witch flying without a broom, the trees started to chortle. Two of them, that were close to each other, even touched their wooden palms, to rub them later, happy that they could punish Tenebre for her daring of coming to their home and trying to defeat them. After that, seeing Tenebre far away from them, one of the two trees said, „I say that’s the perfect time to show this cobra what the trees of Rophion Forest can do! Moreover, I say to let her know that she can’t leave this place unpunished. Not after hurting one of ours. So, brothers, you have my permission to kick her ass at your will!” After that, deeply breathing in, he growled like a mad soul, announcing to everyone that it was the perfect time for war.

Yet, not only had the other trees heard that tree’s growl. Tenebre heard it too. That’s why, while standing up, she touched her butt to chase the pain away, looked around, and, gnashing her teeth, she said, „What the hell has just happened?” Nevertheless, even though she was damn curious to hear an answer to her question, she’d been forced to grab another cobra by the tail when one of the trees threw the beast toward her. Then, when that cobra tried to bite her, not being able to make the difference between friend and enemy anymore, Tenebre twisted its neck only to avoid being kissed by that green beast. She even pulled another cobra’s forked tongue out of its mouth eventually when, after getting rid of the first one, she’d been forced to hug a second one, thrown from the left.

It didn’t finish for Tenebre with that flight because, the trees, mad and furious, started to throw everything they could grab from below toward her. Some of them picked up stones, others got to pull dried branches from their own bodies or take them from below, while the rest started to grab the cobras and the snakes by the tails, those who were heading toward the Rophions’camp at Titanide’s command, and use them as weapons. Thus, being armed, the trees were able not only to attack Tenebre, but also to defend themselves from her attack. At the same time, they could decrease the number of the enemy’s army by breaking the cobras’necks or hitting their heads against the trunks or head against head.

Seeing the madness of the trees, Tenebre got damn angry, for… she really disliked the fact that she became a target from a predator. Yet, when she was preparing to throw those fireballs and set fire to the woods, she remembered that her Palantir and Ahi’s body, something that was working already against her, had dispossessed her. Thus, losing the power of the fire, she understood that her power against the power of the Rophion Forest’s trees was useless.

Nevertheless, Tenebre’s weakness worked perfectly for the trees. They, understanding that something was wrong with the Titanide and that it was their perfect chance to act, sent lianas toward her and the cobras eventually. Thus, when the lianas got next to the green beasts and by Tenebre, they quickly wrapped themselves around their bodies, lifted them up, and let them hang upside down in the end. A turnabout Tenebre didn’t expect. That’s why she started to shout in a pitying voice, „Help! Please, someone, help me! Pakai, help me! Do you hear me?” Yet… there wasn’t anybody able to help her there. Not even Pakai, who was too busy to turn back to his senses while lying on the ground, not that far from Mannar’s cell, staring at the sky with wide-open eyes and seeing multicolored flying birds in front of his eyes. He even kept listening to that sweet melody of the horse Arion’s hooves he heard all the time he had been a Ping-Pong ball, dragged behind the horse along that deserted glade.

Tenebre’s last chance was the rest of the cobras that escaped the madness of the woods. At least this was what she hoped: that her trustful servants would manage to punish her enemies eventually. Nevertheless, this didn’t happen because her servants had her bad luck. Or… maybe worse because many of them fell prey to the wolves’arrows or the fire, after the field, which was seen far in front of the Barrier, suddenly started to burn. This happened thanks to Fenrir, who threw a fireball and set fire to the dried grass that started to burn as though it had been greased with fuel oil. A trick Fenrir used even though he didn’t want this because he didn’t want to hurt nature around him. Yet, understanding that it was the last chance to make sure they would survive, he threw that ball.

Nevertheless, Fenrir’s trick didn’t help him to slaughter the enemy’s army. Thus, many of Tenebre’s snakes managed to get right next to the Barrier. However, when they got there, the green beasts had the same Fate as the Crows because, hitting that transparent wall, they started to feel dizzy. That’s why they’d been unable to run after that when the fire got next to the Barrier and set fire to their bodies too. A fire that didn’t get to the woods eventually but burnt only the grass on that field. This happened thanks to Palar, which used its power to open the sack of rains, controlling the flames thus. How Palar managed to do that? Simply: before passing through the large Gate that had been opened in the Barrier for him, the cloud sent a thought to his friends, the other clouds, which started to shed tears, bathing that burning field in drops of pithiness. Yet, even though tears were falling from the sky, those flames burnt the grass until black soil had been seen all over that field.

***

Stopped behind the Barrier, the five fellows and the rest of the Rophion wolves, who came there to help Yamu and the guards, stared with horror at the crows Kākkai, which got there eventually and tried to help the snakes in the attack against the Rophions. Thus, hundreds of birds got to dizzily fly above that burning field, deafeningly croaking while trying to pass through the Barrier. Something that didn’t happen eventually, just as the birds didn’t burn because the flames had been finally extinguished, washed from all over by the falling-from-the-sky tears.

This failure drove the birds mad. That’s why they started to quickly flap their wings while raising in the air or descending toward the ground at a dizzying speed, causing a clamor unseen before with their deafening croak. At a moment, because of the increasing number of crows, the horizon blackened and nothing could be seen for minutes in a row. Even so, their madness and their deafening croak didn’t scare any of the wolves. They stood in the same place, watching the horizon as though they had turned into living statues, just to be sure the enemy wouldn’t take them by surprise eventually. Only some of them, that couldn’t bear the noise, covered their ears with their palms while Fenrir and his fellows, even though they couldn't also bear up with the noise, kept staring in the distance, waiting for what would come after that.

The only one who wasn’t there was Ilēcāṉa. The boy, after crossing the Barrier, jumped off Palar’s soft pillows and, along with his father, ran home to bring his brother to his senses. Thus, while running toward the village, they met Sephir on their way and told her that her husband also turned back safely. This news made Sephir run as fast as she could toward the Barrier, being too anxious to see Fenrir with her own eyes, even though they hadn’t been separated for a long time.

Getting closer to the Barrier, when only a few hundred meters were left between her and Fenrir, Sephir called his name. Yet, seeing Palar almost touching the ground, in one glade next to the village, Sephir frowned because this kind of surprise she didn’t ever expect to have. That’s why she asked Fenrir when he got next to her, „Why is Palar here?” A question that hadn’t an answer eventually because of her, for, seeing the mad clouds in the sky, which seemed ready to fight with each other, had surprised her more than seeing Palar in the Rophions’camp. That’s why she asked in an angry voice, „What the hell happens there?” A question addressed to Palar this time.

The one who answered the question was Fenrir, who said in a joke, „Let’s just say that some of the clouds got mad for not being able to bring Palar to his knees.” Then, smiling, he approached his wife more. „Actually, because we wanted to provoke the clouds and make them fight with each other, we brought Palar here, to a safe place.”

„Fenrir!” Sephir scolded her husband, frowning. „You know that’s not good at all for those clouds to be mad or fight with each other. If this happens, if they get out of control, they can bring the misery around. Something that can be impeded only by Palar, the only one capable to rein them in. That’s why I can’t understand why Palar is here and not in the sky.”

„Because it was absolutely necessary!” Replied Arion instead of the young wolf. „It was Palar that brought Ilēcāṉa to the camp. At the same time, also thanks to this old cloud, all of us are safe now. Far away from Tenebre and Pakai’s madness, for, honestly, it was Palar who reined those clouds in and didn’t allow them to send those two mad souls’message to the crows Kākkai. If this had happened, if Kākkai had received the message earlier than happened, we wouldn’t have turned back here for sure.”

„I’m sure you had a reason to bring Palar here, Arion. Nevertheless, it’s necessary to send him back. If not, those mad clouds can set fire to the woods. No, I’ll calm them down by myself!”

„Have you lost your mind?” Hissed Fenrir through his teeth. „If any of us passes through that Barrier, Kākkai will break him into pieces. Actually, Kākkai is still there waiting for such a chance. Why are they still here? Because of those mad clouds that are provoking us just to be sure that we’ll leave the shelter and let them kill us thus.”

„A wise thought, Fenrir. Nevertheless, Sephir is also right,” said Nathaniel, approaching them along with Mago and Malon. „If the clouds get out of control, the entire forest will burn. Then… it won’t be funny for sure.”

„Yeah, I agree with you: it won’t be funny. Yet, Nathaniel, we can’t leave the camp. Not now. Why? Simple: as soon as a small hole is opened in that Barrier, Kākkai will break through it and many victims will fall pray to their madness.”

„What about the forest?” Asked Mago, preoccupied. „It helped us to get rid of Tenebre and her cobras.”

„Yeah, Fenrir, the boys are right and you know this too,” said Malon. „We should do something to help the forest now.”

They turned and looked at Island when they heard him saying, „The forest will be just fine. It’s capable enough to protect itself. Yet, what interests me now more than if the clouds set fire to the world or not is to find out… what exactly is in that sack?” He even frowned staring at the sack because he got there namely because of that sack, after Yamu told them that besides the Palantir the boys brought a second trophy and he was curious to see it. Nevertheless, he became damn curious about what was in that sack after hearing Palar happily shouting, „Careful, brothers, I throw the bomb!”

Hearing Island saying this, Fenrir burst into laughter. Then, when he saw the others staring at him, confused, he said laughing, „A war trophy?” Yet, seeing that Island and Sephir didn’t taste his joke, he looked at the Titan and said, „Actually, I’m not joking. Just as I’m sure you have no idea what it’s in that sack.” A remark, which made Island frown again. Then, he tried to see what was inside that sack, but he couldn’t see anything.

He winced eventually when Arion said, „They call our trophy the Mago of the Black Stones. The one who kicked your ass always while you were still a child.”

The Titan frowned again, a hint he hated Arion’s spicy jokes. Then, when he could control his emotions, he asked, „Maybe you are right, but… what did my brother lose in that sack?”

„Nothing important. Let’s just say he didn’t have any other choice than to be there,” said Fenrir. „Actually, those who put him in that sack are Pakai and his mother. We found him like that while we were stealing Tenebre’s Palantir. It seems that Pakai and Tenebre were planning to use him as a boxing sack for Mannar.”

„I’m still tempted to think that’s something more here,” said Nathaniel, thoughtful.

„Something like?” Asked Mago.

„Like opening that invisible cage, for… I’m sure that not for nothing they brought Ahi there. Yeah, I’m sure that this is what they are planning while Ahi is unconscious now: they have intended to use his power or…”

„…or to use him to lure Mayar to that cell!” Said Yellen, approaching them. A remark that made everyone stare at her. Yet, even though everyone was staring at her, it didn’t seem to bother Yellen. On the contrary, she seemed bored, that’s why she sweetly yawned eventually, taking the hood of the white cloak off her head, and, approaching her brother, she added, „That’s why Parca brought Mayar here. In the forest where Mannar is a captive.”

„What? The fox is also here?” Shouted Fenrir while approaching Yellen. „And… when did you find out all this?”

„When our lovers went to the river to have some time together. It’s when Parca followed and spied on them. However, even though she’d been there, neither my brother nor Samaya saw her. Why? They were too busy with their things to see anything else around.”

Seeing himself exposed, Nathaniel tried to withdraw, looking for shelter. Yet, he stood in place eventually when he caught Fenrir’s angry glance. Actually, hearing of his sister’s romance, Fenrir’s eyes started to sparkle. He even hissed through his teeth looking at Nathaniel, „We’ll talk about this later, friend! Now… it’s not the right moment!”

Nevertheless, even though he was burning inside, Fenrir had been forced to calm down when he felt a cold-like ice hand touching his shoulder. It was Sephir, who, seeing her husband jealous of his sister’s lover again, decided that it was the right time to cool him down. Moreover, when she understood that his jealousy was a childish caprice only. Thus, using that „cold warning,” she managed to send a short message to Fenrir, „Be calm or you’ll drive me crazy and you know what can happen after that!” A message Fenrir understood right away because, seconds later only, he murmured:

„Well… it’s definitely not the right moment for… certain conversation!” After that, cooking his nose and deeply breathing in, Fenrir added, „Now, let’s try to decide what to do with the forest and those clouds. Should we send Palar there to teach them some manners or it’s a business we should take care of?” Saying this, he forced a smile and hit his right fist against his left palm. A punch that wasn’t for the mad clouds seen in the sky for sure.

Fenrir’s childish reaction made Arion slap his forehead. After that, shaking his head, Arion reproachfully mumbled, „This wolf never learns…”

A mumble that made Fenrir grin, understanding that it was his time to tease Arion. That’s why, slowly approaching his friend, he whispered into his ear, „Listen, horse, what about being mad after the storm passes, huh? Not the other, but we still need you up there.”

Yet, even though Fenrir was damn curious to find out what Arion would say and if he went to calm the clouds down or not, Island ruined his plans when he said, „Nobody leaves this camp!” That’s why Fenrir frowned, totally unhappy with Island’s decision. Nevertheless, there was nothing he could do about this at that moment.

The one who couldn’t accept her grandfather’s decision was also Sephir, who told Island, „What will happen to the clouds then, Grandpa? We should…”

„…do nothing because they are old enough to take care of themselves.”

„Even though they will set fire to the woods?” Asked Mago, concerned.

„They won’t do that!” Island replied dryly. „Not as long as Boor is here. Thus, if those naughty clouds don’t calm down eventually, Boor will send Navarro there and… I’m sure Navarro will make them quiet because not only Arion can use his hoof for punishment. Navarro can do that too. Now, let’s turn back to our sack!” Saying this, Island headed toward the sack eventually, cooking his nose from time to time because he really disliked that situation.

Seeing Island acting like that, Sephir and Fenrir exchanged glances. Yet, not finding an answer to the question that was spinning in their heads, „Why was Island so calm?” they followed him.

Not the same did Arion. He stood in place, cooking his nose and somehow upset because Island’s joke about „using the hoof” hadn’t been something he liked. It hadn’t definitely been a good joke, but a damn bad one that hurt his ego. Yet, seeing that he was the only one who didn’t follow the Titan, he headed toward Palar and the others eventually when Mago put an arm around his shoulders and told him, „I still think that using your hoof for punishing others is a good idea. Actually, I would have liked to have such power.”

„Really?” Asked Arion, frowning.

„Absolutely,” replied Malon instead of Mago. „Actually… I think I’ll be the first one to feel that hoof touching my butt if he had this power. Why? Because he thinks I’m a fish bone stuck into his throat.” Then, putting an arm around Mago’s shoulders, he forced the young man to follow him.

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Seeing the young men’s romp, who were happily talking to each other in a kind of playful argument, Arion smiled. Yet, it was a sad smile because he felt himself left aside. Just as Nathaniel was feeling at that moment: that his sister betrayed him. That’s why he was staring at her, cooking his nose from time to time. A look that made Yellen ask him eventually, feisty, „What now?”

„Was it absolutely necessary to reveal my secret? Couldn’t you just keep your mouth shut? It was definitely a secret.”

„A secret known by everyone actually! So, next time you go to the river to have some time… with Samaya, alone, keep an eye on the surroundings. Who knows, you can find a cobra there, lurking on you!” After that, simulating a cobra’s bite, she followed the others.

His sister’s joke hadn’t been definitely a good one for Nathaniel. It seemed that this enraged him even more. That’s why, quickening his pace, he passed by the girl, hissing her through his teeth, „Little witch! Traitor! Keep this in mind: you won’t be young forever. Thus, when I see a man interested in you and you in him, I assure you that I’ll chase him away. Only to make sure that you end up alone… till the rest of your life.” After that, he turned his back on his sister and moved away. Thus, being with his back on Yellen, he didn’t see the girl reproachfully shaking her head, a hint that the child between them was definitely him.

***

While Island and the others had had that small argument next to the Barrier, Palar, which was floating about one meter above the soil, felt nervous. That’s why he was repeatedly opening and closing his eyes or frowning. More when he remembered the bad time he had while he was still in the sky when, so suddenly, the other clouds attacked them. Something that made him mumble eventually, „They have definitely lost their mind!” Then, looking at the sky, he saw the small thunder lights still piercing the other mad clouds’body. „Otherwise, I can’t explain their boldness of attacking me and setting fire to the entire world. I didn’t teach them this.”

He winced eventually, hearing Ilēcāṉa’s voice, coming from somewhere inside him, „Hei, Palar, do you need a wolf’s help?” A question that made Palar look askance at the place where the boy had stood not long ago. Yet, even though he expected to see at least Ilēcāṉa’s projection there, the one from his memory, Palar saw only the soft pillows of his body and nothing more.

„Eh, I definitely grow old,” said the cloud, cooking his nose. „Just… a memory!” After that, closing his eyes, he allowed himself to remember what came after Ilēcāṉa’s question.

Thus, he remembered the answer he gave to the boy, in a feisty way, „Did nobody ever tell you not to poke your nose in someone else’s argument?” An answer that made Ilēcāṉa grin. After that, comfortably sitting on Palar’s soft pillows, he told the cloud, using a haughty tone:

„Yeah, they told me! Many times, but… let’s just say that staying away from others’problems isn’t something mine. More than that, I simply hate to listen to the others’advice.”

„Something I realized already. That’s why you feel tickles on your skin while looking for troubles, right?” Palar mumbled. Then, seeing that one of those mad clouds threateningly approached him, Palar punched him. A punch that colored that cloud into a dark purple. More than that, after punching him, Palar forced that cloud went head over heels that even the sky shook and a deafening thunder had been heard at the horizon. Yet, for his boldness of hitting one of his brothers, Palar had been punished by the other clouds with cold air blown toward him. Currents of air that didn't move Palar not even a millimeter from his place, but they still thought that it was a good punishment.

Seeing the naughty clouds blowing at the same time toward Palar, Ilēcāṉa burst into laughter and said, „Actually, I’m not the only one looking for troubles. Why? Because, for that punch, you’ll be definitely punished.” Thus, listening to the boy, Palar had been inattentive and allowed a cloud from his left to punch him too. Then, after feeling that painful punch, Palar’s cheeks, formed from small white clouds at that moment, colored dark purple too, in seconds only.

A punch that made Palar growl eventually, „Damn, idiot! You prefer to attack when your enemy doesn’t see you, right? Well, now I’ll teach you what…” Yet, suddenly turning toward the cloud that punched him, intending to punch him too, Palar saw in amazement how that one exploded as though it was a big soap bubble. That’s why the cloud frowned and wondered, „What the hell happened to him?”

Only seconds later, he found out the answer. It happened when he felt weird tickles on his skin. He even felt tickles on his nose. That’s why he looked askance toward the top of his nose, where he saw Ilēcāṉa grabbed by one of his big nostrils and trying to climb on the top. An attempt that made Palar reproachfully shake his head and mumble, „These wolves never learn!” Then, as a reward for the punishment the cloud that hit him received from the boy, Palar helped Ilēcāṉa climb on his nose. After that, carefully looking at the boy, still frowning, Palar asked him, „What are you planning this time? Especially, what are you trying to do with that devilish black thing?”

„The black devilish thing” Palar was talking about was a black ball, one of those formed by Tenebre, which Ilēcāṉa took as a war trophy. A thing the boy seemed to know how to use very well because, while looking at the other clouds, which were regrouping at that moment, preparing for another attack, he happily grinned and said, „Just a… thing, but a damn good one to use and get rid of those idiots!” After that, seeing a chubby cloud that looked like a big mutton with big horns, which were wrapped around themselves on three levels, preparing for hitting Palar from the right, Ilēcāṉa threw that ball toward him.

The ball… well, as any other ball hit the target the boy aimed. Actually, the ball hit that cloud's forehead, right between his horns, splitting him right away into many other small clouds. Small, but damn naughty because, instead of running away and accepting their defeat, they started to madly sparkle, intending to regroup into another big cloud.

Seeing them acting up, Ilēcāṉa shook his head and mumbled, „They never learn!” After that, he came up with another surprise, even though Palar thought that that ball was the only one. Thus, seeing the boy taking devilish thing after devilish thing from under his clothes and throwing them toward the mad clouds, Palar stared thunderstruck at him, quickly blinking from his eyelashes. An amazement that cost him eventually because, being inattentive again, he allowed another mutton-cloud to hit him from the left this time. That’s why, when Palar trembled on his feet, losing his balance a little bit, he forced Ilēcāṉa to turn head over heels right when he was ready to throw another ball. A black sphere that the boy dropped from his hand eventually and rolled deep inside Palar’s body, threatening to blow him up in the end.

Seeing the devilish thing quickly rolling on his body and threatening him with death, Palar shook his head and mumbled, „Uh, we are definitely in trouble now!” Nevertheless, even though it was a little bit scary to feel the death on his skin, Palar didn’t lose his control and, shaking his body, he tried to throw it off him. Yet, seeing that it was impossible and more… seeing that ball about to set fire to itself, Palar quickly made hands appear inside his body, hands that started to work so fast while trying to catch the ball. A not that easy work actually because, as though it was alive, that ball was running up and down his soft pillows, making that „hunting” definitely exciting. Eventually, when he could grab the ball and throw it toward another big cloud, which he turned into soap bubbles, again, Palar breathed a sigh of relief and mumbled, „Huh, it was close!” After that, madly looking at Ilēcāṉa, who was already on his feet and preparing to throw another ball toward their enemies, the cloud told him, „Are you intending to turn us into soap bubbles too?”

„Well, it depends on how you’ll behave! Actually, if to think carefully about this, I don’t think that turning us into soap bubbles will be a bad idea. At least, this way, we can make children happy. Yet, I must accept that this thing it’s definitely devilish.”

„Yeah, I saw this already. When? Only what, when I was about to blow myself up. But… what I can’t understand is from where do you have it?” Asked Palar, frowning.

„I said already: a prize of war!”

„What about being serious now?” Said Palar, suddenly piercing his body with small thunderlights. He even knotted his eyebrows, which were formed from two small black clouds, drawing two question marks above his eyes.

„I am serious now,” replied the boy. „I took them from the only person able to form such bombs! The one who is known as Tenebre in my village!”

„Well, I’m tempted to say that you have stolen them and taken them from her, but… you are also right to decide the right word to use in such cases,” mumbled Palar while punching his enemies left and right.”

„Not stealing, but borrowing them! Actually, nothing wrong this time. Thus… we have the chance to be safe,” said Ilēcāṉa, widely smiling.

He wasn’t lying at all while saying that he „borrowed” those bombs from Tenebre. He did that while sneaking toward the sack and trying not to be hit by the bombs thrown by the Titanide. Then, as though picking up nuts, he started to put them in his pockets, under the shirt, in his sleeves, etc., being sure that he would use them for something: to protect himself or maybe to set fire to the camp, but he was sure that those bombs would be useful for something.

Well, to be honest, right after seeing those bombs, he thought about having one. That’s why, aware that the adults weren’t seeing him, the boy hid them. Then, when he hid inside Palar, taking the sack with him, he happily smiled, for he didn’t take only one prize of war, but many. Actually, he definitely took many bombs because, when he put the sack on Palar’s soft pillows and then climbed on those pillows too, the poor cloud moaned, feeling the weight. That’s why he told the boy, „Did you put stones in that sack or what?”

„Only bombs!” Joked Ilēcāṉa at that moment. A joke Palar didn’t understand at that moment. Yet, Palar understood it now when he saw the boy throwing them. That’s why he reproachfully shook his head. Too hard actually because forgetting that Ilēcāṉa was there, he forced the boy to go head over heels again that he was about to fall off the cloud. Something that didn’t happen eventually because of Palar, who, sharp at mind, spotting the boy rolling on those pillows, stretched his hand in front and Ilēcāṉa fell on his soft palm eventually. Then, when he saw himself safe, Ilēcāṉa stared at the cloud, scolding him in an upset voice, „Have some mercy, Palar! I'm a wolf, not a flying horse like Arion to be safe if I fall off you!"

Hearing the boy’s joke, Palar burst to laugh, „Well, to be honest, I know another naughty wolf that was about to fall off me. Just like you! That wolf, also like you, doesn’t know when he must be quiet. So, boy, keep your balance because I think it’s the right time to run away if we don’t want to know what means to fall from the sky like stones!”

Looking in the same direction as Palar, Ilēcāṉa widely opened his eyes and exclaimed, „Oho!” What amazed him so much was to see a bunch of mad clouds rushing toward them. That’s why he told Palar eventually, „What I say it’s to evaporate if possible and not run! Otherwise, we definitely turn into stones!”

„I don’t know about you, but… I definitely don’t feel the ground under my soles,” said Palar in a joke. Then, blowing cold air in front, he formed two white horses that had foggy bodies as the clouds. After that, as though harnessing them while he was the cart, Palar spurred them to run like the wind toward the Barrier.

Yet, even though he thought it would be an easy path toward the Barrier, Palar understood very soon that he was wrong. The reason? A flock of crows Kākkai, which got in their way. However, even though he thought that it had enough surprises for the rest of the day, he understood that he had been wrong once again when he heard Ilēcāṉa saying, „Now I caught you!” After that, content that he had the chance to take revenge on his brother, the boy grinned and, in seconds only, he threw another black ball toward the first flock. Thus, when the sphere got in the middle of the flock, it exploded, throwing the crows far away in the distance as though they were as light as the feathers, something that made the boy shout, „Tic-tac, tic-tac, tit for tat!”

„You should better grab something and keep your balance,” Palar told him, joking. „Otherwise, you’ll definitely fly like a crow.” Yet, even though he said what he said in a joke, Palar was right because, being attacked from all over, he was forced to pull those reins left and right just to avoid the impact with the enemy. Thus, he was also forcing Ilēcāṉa to tremble on his feet, trying to keep his balance.

A not that effective strategy eventually because, seeing more flocks of crows at the horizon while others, which were already close to them, started to tighten the circle, Palar understood that it was definitely the time to hit the pike. Not only had he thought like that. Ilēcāṉa also thought so. Moreover, when he realized that he was out of bombs while there were still a lot of enemies in front. That’s why, holding the sack to his chest so as not to lose it while they were running away, he told Palar, „Well, I think that’s the right time to turn back to the camp now! Not the other, but… at least this prize of war we shouldn't lose when we’ve lost the rest already. What do you think, Palar?”

„I think you are wise, boy!” Palar told him. After that, spurring those two white horses again, they headed toward the Barrier where they saw a big hole open in it already. More than that, they understood that it was definitely the right time to hit the pike while Fenrir and the others were already crossing the border. That’s why partly due to the power of his horses and partly due to his power, Palar managed to cross the border eventually, looking for a shelter because, if they had stood for a few seconds more in an open field, they would have definitely felt the crows’beak on their skin too.

***

„Watch out! The bomb is coming!” Shouted Palar, trying to make a joke when he saw Island and the rest heading toward him. Then, seeing that no one laughed at his jokes, he mumbled, „I was just saying!” After that, cooking his nose, he felt upset.

Eventually, when Mago and Malon burst to laugh, Palar widely opened his eyes, not understanding what was going on. Yet, seeing the others smiling after hearing the two young men chortle, Palar understood that his joke hadn't been that bad eventually. It had actually been a breath of fresh air in a time of big storm.

Only Sephir seemed not to have tasted Palar’s joke. That’s why she was frowning while looking at the cloud, something that made him understand that he would definitely be scolded for running away and letting the other clouds argue. Yet, seeing Sephir smiling, Palar breathed a sigh of relief and murmured, „I thought I would be scolded again for nothing.”

„For nothing? Well, darling, allow me to think differently!” Said Sephir, looking at the sky that was still pierced by thunder lights. „Actually, I have reasons to scold you. For example … for letting those clouds be rebellious and not teaching them to be good when it’s necessary or to choose better their allies because, being part of Maranam, Tenebre, and Pakai’s army won’t bring them anything good. To be honest, it won't bring anything good for any of us."

Her remark made Palar frown and mumble, „As though I have the power to make them listen to me. They are many, I’m only one. More than that, even if you have only two sisters and a single husband, you also can’t control the three of them equally, right?” A remark that made Fenrir grin while looking at Palar, a hint that the cloud’s joke wasn’t definitely a good one in his opinion.

The one who considered the cloud’s joke a kind of personal victory was Arion, who, seeing the sparkling eyes of the young wolf, approached him more and whispered into his ear, „Checkmate!” Then he grinned, seeing Fenrir staring with a kind of childish hatred at him, something that made Arion smile and whisper again, „Yeah, yeah, wolf, I know! It’s never pleasant to hear others telling you the truth while you are present.” After that, happy that he had been able to make fun of the wolf, Arion headed toward a secular tree, sitting next to it, and supporting his back against the tree’s trunk.

Under that tree, he wasn’t the only one that was sitting. Nathaniel was also there because he preferred to stay away from the others after his sister revealed his secret. More than that, he preferred to stay there instead of explaining things, like… what really happened at the river? Yet, seeing Arion sitting next to him, he understood that he would be definitely forced to explain certain things that day. That’s why he felt unhappy.

Nevertheless, the moment he heard Palar mumbling, „Now it’s better,” after sitting on the ground, Nathaniel smiled. Why? He understood that if Palar was there, Arion wouldn’t ask him things. Actually, he thought this way seeing Arion sitting with his eyes closed and smiling, barely seen, after listening to the cloud’s whisper.

That happiness of the young man lasted only for a short time. He actually felt sad, remembering that Samaya was still in the woods, surrounded by enemies. A memory that made him painfully sigh and murmur, „I’ll hope you’ll turn back safe soon.” After that, feeling that his heart was madly beating in his chest, he squeezed his fist and started to tap his chest slowly while whispering again, „I hate to feel this.”

„What I hate is the nostalgic boys,” they heard Yellen’s voice not that far from them. Thus, looking at her, they saw her yawning, a hint that she was bored while putting the hood on. She wasn’t alone there: a few steps behind her, Nathaniel and Arion saw Fenrir, carrying Ahi on his shoulder after Island asked him to do that. The reason? Well, Island decided to take his brother away from the Barrier, just not to give Tenebre or maybe Pakai the chance to use the power of the Mago and awaken him until it wasn’t the right time. Then, right behind them, they saw the rest of the Rophions that were following them, curious to find out what would happen eventually to the Mago of the Black Stones.

While seeing the others and not understanding too much of what was happening at that moment, Nathaniel winced when he heard Arion’s voice from his left, „It will be funny it seems to me.” That’s why he looked in amazement at Soan, not understanding what that one tried to say to him. Arion, however, feeling the young man’s glance focused on him, opened his eyes and said, smiling, „I was talking about Ahi. Now that he’s asleep, I think Titan Island will return him all the slaps he owed to him.”

„I think you are exaggerating a little bit!”

„Why?”

„Because Titan Island isn’t resentful. More than that, I don’t know why I have the feeling that he’s preoccupied with his brother. Eventually, that one is unconscious and no one knows if he comes back to his senses one day.”

„Well, maybe you are right, but… in his place, I’d take revenge on him first. After that, if Ahi wakes up and sees his eye purple, Titan Island can simply shrug and tell him that we found him looking like that.”

Nathaniel laughed with all his heart, forgetting a little bit about his nostalgia. Then, when he saw Palar’s eyes focused on them, he winced, for he didn’t expect the cloud would be interested in their talk. That’s why he asked him, „What?”

„I was just… listening!” Murmured Palar, bored. He even yawned, as though borrowing the boredom from Yellen. „Yet, I say that Soan’s idea isn’t that bad.”

„Do you see?” Replied Arion proudly. „If Palar agrees, it means that what I think is the right thing.”

„What I think is that you two are up to your antics.”

„Do you think so? What I am thinking is that we two are making a damn good team. What do you think, Palar?”

The cloud shook his head, „Yeah, we’ve been a good team once!” Murmured Palar feisty.

Arion looked askance at him. „Why once? I thought we are a good team now too?”

„Yeah, you are right: we are a good team when Princess Bestla isn’t around us. If she’s near you, then… I can’t ever count on you. How to explain this: you, the in-love one, never sees others around you.”

„What about keeping your mouth shut?” Hissed Arion through his teeth. He was a little bit upset with Palar for revealing his secret.

„Why keep my mouth shut when it’s the truth? Correct me if I’m wrong.”

„Yeah, you always know everything!” Mumbled Arion. Then… he looked behind others.

Looking over there, Soan saw only Yellen. The girl was sitting under another secular tree, not that far from them. What made Arion attentive was the fact that he saw her cleaning the Palantir, which was on her lap, with the sleeve. A Palantir that seemed dead at that moment because it was turned off and reflecting nothing on its surface. More than that, it seemed to be nothing more than a simple crystal sphere. A thing that made the young girl often frown. Then, feeling something strange around, she quickly hid the Palantir into her left sleeve and, carefully looking around as though looking for thieves or something suspicious, she headed toward the village.

„What is this girl planning this time?” Wondered Arion, frowning. „At first, she wanders the village as a mad soul during the ritual, and then she’s the thirteenth Virgin when the ritual is broken, to act weirdly when she got Tenebre’s Palantir.” Yet, even though he had such questions in his head, Arion decided not to ask Nathaniel or someone else. Not at least he would find out what Yellen was planning.

Later, when he saw Sephir and Mago approaching Yellen, Arion calmed down. Yet, he right away frowned again, seeing that Yellen refused Mago’s help to carry the Palantir. She even told him in a cheerful voice, „I’ll handle it by myself. Not the other, but I’m afraid that by having it, you’ll turn into another Tenebre.” After that, still smiling, she left the two behind her. She even didn’t look back for a second. If she had done this, she would have seen Sephir and Mago exchanging glances, confused by her reaction and not being sure of what she was planning. Just like Arion was thinking at that moment.

***

After Fenrir put Ahi’s body on the floor of Dike’s house and, later, with the help of Malon and Yamu, he took the body out of the sack, Island squatted next to his brother. Then, with slow strokes, Island passed his palm above the Mago’s body. He even sighed when Yamu said, „I don’t feel his soul. Even so, I know he’s still alive. Black Magic then?”

„Yes, this is so. Actually, I don’t feel the pulsation of his brain too. This means they separated the three powers of the Mago: body, mind, and magical power.”

„I think you are right, Titan Island, but… who needs this?” Asked Yamu, confused.

„Maranam. Undoubtedly. The one mentioned by Princess Sephir not long ago,” answered Ilēcāṉa instead of Island. After that, he squatted next to his father. „Or maybe is because of that jackal. The one that controlled the crows that hurt Kkuṟai. Actually, when we stole the Palantir and the sack, Tenebre was with Pakai, trying to open Mannar’s cell.”

„Now I must agree that you are right,” murmured Fenrir. „Yet, I don’t understand what they need Ahi’s power for. More than that, how can his presence influence Mannar? To open the cage?”

„You are wrong, Fenrir,” replied Island. „They don’t need Ahi’s power to open the cell or control Mannar. What they want is to use my brother to bring Mayar there. Thus, being a twin-shape, she has the power to open that cell, which has been locked by the power of the first Titans fourteen years ago.”

„Brother? Daughter?” Yamu asked in amazement.

„That’s right, Yamu. This is my brother Ahi, and Samaya’s copy is his daughter. Even so… I still can’t realize what their role is in Tenebre’s dangerous game.”

„We’ll find out for sure, but later. Now I think it’s the right moment to tie him and put someone to guard him. Eventually, when he wakes up, if he wakes up, we can ask him about all this,” said Yamu, looking into Island’s eyes.

Thus, he saw Island preoccupied. He even saw him frowning when he said, „He’ll definitely be awakened soon. When he recovers his three powers. I just hope Ahi will do that after Dike and the rest are back, safely.”

„Anyway, they aren’t alone there. My uncle Lodur and Gaea are with them. Actually, I saw them this morning. They said that the color of the sky bothered them. That the sky was too black as though other troubles were approaching us.”

„Actually… they are right, Fenrir. For the moment, let’s do what Yamu says: to make sure Ahi doesn’t wake up. For the moment. Later, if this happens, we’ll decide what to do with him.”

„What about Tenebre?” Asked Ilēcāṉa. „I saw her at the edge of the forest. When we took the sack from Palar. It seems that she'd been able to escape the trap of the trees.”

„Good for her!” Murmured Island with controlled hatred in his voice. „Even so, even though she’s free now, she won’t do anything. For the moment. Why? She doesn’t have her Palantir and Ahi’s body anymore. This means she’s weak. Thus, she’s under control. Pakai, however, yes, bothers me because I know he’s good at doing evil things. Moreover, now he has joined Maranam.”

„Then, let’s keep an eye on Tenebre at the moment,” said Yamu. „She and Pakai are together now. Thus, if they plan something, we’ll find out for sure. More than that, they can’t pass through the Barrier: neither she nor the jackal. Therefore, we are safe. For the moment.”

„You are right in saying for the moment, Yamu! Later, who knows what they can plan? I just hope that they won’t ever be able to plan something damn good that can bring us to our knees!” Replied Island, concerned. After that, standing up, he left Dike’s house, leaving Ilēcāṉa, Fenrir, and Yamu there to tie Ahi’s hands and legs, and put someone there to guard the Mago not to escape or run away.