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Part 45

Wolfie's mouth opens and closes several times without letting a sound out. It would seem that our offer has left him temporarily unable to speak. As a smirk stretches across my muzzle speech finally seems to return to my friend.

With a gulp and a broad smile he says, "I would be more than honored."

Grinning I let go of his paw and place my right paw on his shoulder and concentrate. I know that this will leave me very tired and weak after I turn him, but I can't think of a better time to ever add a new guardian to our ranks than now. Not only will it strengthen us all for the future, but it will inspire hope in everyone else to see that good will always be there to fight back against evil.

Reaching deep inside myself I reach for the power that lets me turn others into guardians. Slowly I find where that power is but as I reach with my mind for it something feels off. With a gasp I jerk my paw away and look down at my tattoo. It is glowing bright hot and smoking again as though an inner flame is dying out within it.

Wolfie and Shadow both look at me in alarm as Shadow asks, "Seeker, what's wrong?"

I shake my head uncertainly saying, "I... I'm not sure."

As I watch my tattoo's light fade I feel the power begin to diminish greatly. Reaching for it again I feel only a tiny fraction of the power that was once there. With a feeling of rising dread and loss I come to the only conclusion that makes sense to me.

Looking into the worried eyes of my mate I say, "I don't think I have the ability to make guardians anymore."

The world around us seems to go silent as Wolfie and Shadow just stare at me. Rosalie, Haran, Jasper, and Rick all stop moving and look at me as well. The joy that had been on their faces draining only to be replaced by concern.

I look back down at my wrist and say in a soft voice, "They warned me that there could be a cost... But I didn't think..."

Shadow looks at me and asks, "What cost? Who warned you?"

Looking into his worried eyes I try to explain, "To transfer the fire power from you into Haran I had to use my body as a conduit. My father and Master Nerine gave me the idea for it, but they warned me that doing so could burn me in the process. At first I didn't think it had, other than some mild pain that is. But it looks like that while the power was moving through me it did some damage after all. Turning Haran seems to have caused damage to the powers I was given by the last masters to create guardians. I won't be able to create other guardians anymore."

There is a gasp from Rosalie as I look to Wolfie with regret in my voice, "I am sorry my friend. But I don't see how you will become a guardian now. Not without having four masters to do it."

He is quite a moment before saying, "Well maybe it's not a permanent problem. Maybe you just need to recharge or something?"

His voice is trying to be hopeful but I can see the crushing disappointment in his eyes even as he speaks the words. For a moment there is a silence not to different than the one found at a funeral.

Then Haran speaks up, "Well I still don't see what the big deal is."

All eyes turn to him and he seems a bit taken aback at being the center of attention so suddenly.

He clears his through a little before continuing, "I mean, yeah its bad that Seeker can't make guardians anymore. But I still count five masters standing here. Unless I'm much mistaken that is."

For a moment no one says anything as we all continue to stare at Haran letting his words sink in. Eventually he shrugs slightly looking at me directly saying, "Well I just figured that you and Shadow would be masters considering you're the first in a long time right? And doesn't it mean that the others are all masters now as well what with their weapons changing and all?"

Rick, Jasper, and Rosalie all look down at their own tattoos at the same time before looking back at me with the same look of dawning comprehension. I let out a bark of a laugh throwing my head back as I do, "HA! Of course that's what it means!"

Wolfie looks back at me with excitement returning to his eyes again, "So what does that mean exactly? I thought that you had to have the four elemental masters to turn someone else?"

I nod, "Yes that's true, but remember, back then there were only four classes of guardians. Now there are six and five of us are masters. So in theory we should be able to make it work. If you want to try that is."

He looks at me as though I was crazy for asking as he replies, "Of course I want to try. If for no other reason than to help you find out if you can still rebuild the guardians. But mostly I want to help keep my pack and friends safe to the best of my abilities."

Smiling at my friend I say, "That's the best reason anyone could ask for."

Rosalie speaks up getting everyone's attention, "That's all well and good. But your forgetting one thing Seeker. None of us know how to make a new guardian. You're the only one who has done it. We have no clue what to do. After all we have only been masters for all of about an hour now. The rest of us are awfully new to this thing."

Smiling I say, "That shouldn't be too much of a problem. If I'm right then once we are all in contact I will be able to start the process and the rest of you will be able to follow along on instinct. At least.... that's what I'm hoping. It is entirely possible that nothing will happen at all. In which case we are no farther away than we are right now."

I look at Wolfie, "Ready to give it a try?"

He nods with a questioning look, "Isn't there some kind of ritual for it though? Some kind of ceremony?"

Chuckling softly I say, "There was, but that was all for show and speeches, and for the old masters to blow a lot of hot air for hours on end."

There is a rush of irritation coming from the far edges of my mind and I know my father and the others are not all that amused at my words. I let out another chuckle and return my focus to the task at hand.

Taking a breath to try and settle my mind as I begin explaining, "Ok so this is rather straight forward. Basically what we will have to do is at least four of us will need to have physical contact with Wolfie. Just a paw or hand touching his shoulder is more than enough. While we are all in contact there will be a sharing of energy leaving the four of us a little drained but nothing that a good meal and nap won't fix."

Jasper looks at me and says, "The last times you made guardians though you ate like you hadn't seen food in a week. When you turned Rick and I you passed out afterwards. For a moment we thought you weren't going to recover. That seems like a lot more than just a little energy."

Nodding I agree with him, "That's true, but keep in mind that I was already fatigued and injured then. Not to mention that I was the only one supplying the energy. With four of us contributing it will be much less of a strain."

He still looks slightly skeptical and worried but doesn't say anything else.

Turning back to Wolfie I ask, "Are you ready?"

He swallows and nods.

Looking at Rosalie, Rick, and Jasper I say, "All right now just place your right paw, or hand, on his shoulder and don't fight any sensations you might feel."

I place my right paw on Wolfie's right shoulder next to Ricks. Jasper and Rosalie do the same on his left. Once everyone is in place I take a deep breath, close my eyes, and reach inside for the energy I need. I find it easily enough, but just as before I can tell that there is nowhere near the same amount of energy as I once had. This time however I can sense something else beyond it pulling me like a magnet, so I push forward.

Moving past my own energy I follow a thread connecting me to another source of energy. In my mind's eye this one seems to be glowing with a white light and feels very much the same as how Wolfie feels when he is close to me. That's when I realize this is our connection to each other and how I will start the change that will let him become a guardian.

Studying the energy I soon see four other orbs of energy nearby. Each one with connections not only to Wolfie, but to each other and to myself as well, all forming a web of sorts. Three of the threads of energy are brighter and seem to be almost pulsing. These lead to orbs of green, blue, and white. I instantly recognize these as belonging to Rick, Rosalie, and Jasper. The links between Jasper and Rick though are perhaps the brightest links here. I can only assume that this is from the bond they have as brothers. They are so bright and interconnected it seems as though they almost share a collective energy between the two of them.

The fourth orb is not so much a light but an absence of light, an area that is dark, but giving off a feeling of such vitality and goodness that it could be no one but Shadow. The strongest thread attached to it is, of course, the one linking back to me. The threads connecting it to the others are there but much weaker. The only exception being the one he shares with Wolfie, owing I'm sure to their longer friendship. This thread is stronger than the others but at the same time seems to have a feeling of distance coming from it.

After studying this new perspective I have gained regarding our interwoven lives I pull back in to focus on myself and Wolfie. Once I have my attention back on task I set about trying to guide the energy needed to change Wolfie from its place within myself and into him. At first there is a resistance, as though I am trying to pour cold syrup from a bottle. Soon enough though the energy lets loose and flows, almost eagerly, into its new home. Once the flow is going strong I focus next on Ricks energy.

Here I have to concentrate a bit harder to try and get the energy he has to follow along. For a moment it seems as though it is resisting my efforts, but gradually a small tendril begins to snake its way out from the green orb and down the thread connecting them. I am able to guide it towards the white one at the center which seems to be eagerly searching for more energy. Once it makes contact the flow of energy increases considerably and soon the white orb begins to pulse with the sudden increase.

Two more times I use the same method drawing energy from Rosalie's blue orb and Jaspers white one. Once all four of us are fully connected and sending energy into Wolfie his orb begins to glow brighter and stronger, pulsing faster and faster.

Just as I am sure that he is about to make the change however the energy that is coming from me begins to grow weaker and fade to almost nothing. I try and pull more out but there just don't seem to be any reserves left to do it. For a moment I feel a bit of panic begin to rise as the fear of having failed my friend yet again grips my heart. I can only hope I haven't caused more harm than good. Pouring this much energy into him without finishing the change.... there is no way of knowing what might happen.

As panic fully sets in, I am drawing every last bit of energy left to me as I try and finish what has been started a new sensation reaches out and touches my mind. Instinctively I reach out for it knowing, without a doubt, that it is Shadow sharing some of his energy with me. With a flood of relief and gratitude I latch on to his energy, like a drowning man to a rope.

As the darkness energy flows into my being, I feel both an alien and familiar presence touch my mind simultaneously as a surge of energy the likes of which I have never known before fills me. In no time the flow from myself to Wolfie increases far beyond what it originally was and soon his Energy begins to explode outward at an incredible rate. This is the moment we have been waiting for, when it is apparent we have succeeded.

Quickly I work to stop the flow of energy from myself, and everyone else, before opening my eyes. Looking at Wolfie I see a bright white light bursting from his whole body before the very air around him seems to solidify into the white and gold trimmed armor of an air guardian.

Once everyone has removed their grip from his shoulders he stands there looking down at his armored paw with a look of pure joy shining from his face as he looks up at me. I just smile back and say, "Welcome the guardians my friend, you've earned it. Now the real work begins."

There is a round of congratulations as the rest of our packs and the villagers that remained to fight swarms him giving him hugs and praises, with Lance leading the way. After a few moments I step to the side and let the others enjoy the moment. Shadow follows along with me staying close.

For a time neither of us say anything, then I break the silence, "Thank you my love."

He looks at me slightly confused, "For what?''

Looking back into his silver eyes saying, "For providing the last bit of energy we needed to help change him. For a moment there I was afraid that we were going to fail. But you gave me the last boost that was needed."

He looks at me and says, "Well I would like to take the credit but I don't think it was all me. I could tell you were struggling there for a moment but I didn't know how to help. Then this strange urge to touch you hit me, as soon as I did there was a rush of energy that moved through me to you. I don't know where it came from or how I did it."

I smile a small smirk, "I bet your darkness powers guided you when you needed it most."

He gives a tiny shiver, "Well it was kind of weird. Not that I'm complaining cause it helped, but it was still weird."

Chuckling I say, "I get the feeling that we both are going to have a lot to learn in the near future, about our powers and the entities that provide them. Who knows what we will be capable of now. But at least we have the rest of our lives to find out."

With that he leans over and plants a kiss on my cheek before saying, "As long as we are together, that's what I care about most."

I lean against him and watch as all the others start talking and having fun again. For once I can see a bright future ahead for us, for me. The guardians have returned, my family is safe, and for the first time in centuries I no longer feel like I am alone or a lost relic forgotten by time. Instead I feel as though I have finally found what it was that has had me seeking the world for so long.

............

After a couple weeks of healing and recovery for everyone that was involved in the fight, things are starting to get back to normal. A couple of houses in the village were ransacked when the fight began but no one was home thankfully and most of the damage has been repaired. The rest of the explosions set off by Aduro and his master were thankfully well away from any areas that could have hurt someone. It looks as though they didn't know for sure where we would be and tried to flush us out.

The resulting fires were easily taken care of and though the forest will take time to recover, there was no permanent damage done. The repairs to Wolfie's pack home and property went a lot easier than we could have hoped. Course with seven guardians helping out, especially with earth and water guardians, the repairs went a lot faster than if they were done entirely by hand.

My own contributions to that though were not as great as I would have liked. Since becoming a light guardian I seem have lost my total control over water. A loss that stings quite a lot some days. After so many centuries of being able to manipulate the element on a subconscious level I find myself feeling like a young pup again just learning to walk for the first time. Or like an old soldier who lost a limb and now has to relearn how to do things.

That's why today has been devoted to training for all of us guardians while the rest of the packs go off doing their own things. Jasper has taken Wolfie under his wing as an air guardian and the two are becoming fast friends, in addition to being a teacher and apprentice. Working together Wolfie was able to learn how to summon his bow and armor in record time. Now the two of them are working on relearning their archery skills to compensate for the new guardian bows they have.

Their aim has improved considerably once they managed stop compensating for air and the drop of their arrows. When they are in the heat of the moment they do wonderfully as their growing instincts as guardians develop and guide them. But in practice they continue to drop back into old habits. This has resulted in a few of our trees missing more than a few branches as their arrows fly high above their targets.

Jasper has even figured out a few new tricks for manipulating air, tricks even my father says he hadn't thought of. He has figured out how to influence the air around him so that it almost becomes a solid barrier, adding an extra bit of protection. It doesn't really stop anything like a wall would, but it does slow down attacks long enough to give him time to form a proper counter move. Wolfie even managed to use the same idea to move objects, though it is not the most precise of methods and takes a lot more energy and concentration than simply doing it by hand. But who knows, maybe in time the two of them will discover how to fly like birds.

Rosalie and Haran are naturally paired off pushing each other to their limits as well as nurturing their own relationship. I have never seen my oldest friend looking so happy as she does when she is around Haran. He in turn doesn't look like the same wolf who first submitted himself to my mercy after he had been held prisoner in his own mind for so long. It took him some time to get used to having both eyes again but he seems to have adjusted rather well.

As I watch the pair of them Rosalie sends a wave of water from the nearby stream flowing towards Haran. Instead of trying to dodge or block it however, he slashes his sword upwards through it, sending a blade of flame slicing through the water and turning into a billowing cloud of steam which quickly fogs up the whole area. Without missing a beat Rosalie twirls her sapphire trident around and the fog condenses into ice shards that shoot at Haran like small needle sharp spears.

Before they can connect however, the area around Haran begins to shimmer like a summer day as he heats up the air to extreme temperatures. As the ice shards race in towards him they melt and splash harmlessly against his armor before evaporating. I can't help but let out a smile of pride at just how well my guardians are growing into their new roles.

My moment of distraction almost costs me though as a buzzing sound flies past my ear followed shortly by a rock going the opposite direction. Ducking I barely miss getting my ears shaved by one of Shadows chakrams flying by as it heads toward Rick.

A laugh comes from my mate as he says "Look out there, don't get distracted. Isn't that what you always tell us?"

Looking back at my mate as he holds out a hand to make his blade return I reply, "For the record, I don't recall agreeing to a two on one session today."

Rick pipes up saying, "You know you have just as much reason to practice now as we do, Seeker. You can't keep saying you only practice to keep your skills up. We all know your just as new to being a light guardian as the rest of us are now. So no excuses there."

I glare half heartedly at the eldest of my adopted sons, "Oh ha ha. Just because I'm new to it doesn't mean I haven't figured out a few tricks already."

With a flick of my spear I send out a wave of blinding light in his direction forcing him to shield his eyes as I dart in to strike at his legs. His taunting though caused me to make a very rookie mistake and let my guard down on Shadow. A mistake that he was more than willing to take advantage of. At the last moment I realize my mistake only as the familiar buzzing sound echoes in my ears.

Acting on instinct I drop to one knee and raise my left arm summoning my new shield. This time instead of the round shield I summoned during my fight with Aduro and the darkness creature, I summon a tall tower shield that stretches from the ground up to my head giving me plenty of cover.

Two loud echoing gongs echo around the area as the circular blades bounce off the shield. After the attacks finished I will my shield away and then hold my left hand out towards my mate and unleash a blast of light in his direction. As he ducks out of the way the tree behind him gets hit and shakes from the impact. Where the bolt of light hit is a small scorch mark and cracks.

Sensing the attack before it hits, I turn around in time to see Ricks emerald hammer falling towards my face only to have it stop short less than an inch from my nose. For a moment we just stand there looking at each other before I smile and let out a laugh.

Grinning as I say, "Well done, very well done both of you. Even I have to admit to defeat at some point."

Moving his hammer to the side Rick smiles back, "Well it wasn't entirely fair on you either. You were outnumbered after all."

I shake my head, "That may be, but I have been in fights where the odds were far worse for me and I didn't come near as close to being cut into ribbons or smashed to a pulp as I was today. You both have learned your abilities well."

Shadow walks over to us with a slight frown on his face as he tries to get his chakrams to vanish. He is still having trouble with his darkness powers. I think it comes from a subconscious resistance he is still giving them, not that I can blame him. After what he suffered at the hands of that creature I would have been very surprised if he didn't try and suppress his powers all together.

After a moment the blades dissolve into wisps of smoke that curl back into him and he says, "I just wish these damn tendrils would stop popping up all the time. It gets annoying."

As he says that I notice that he is having issues with a couple of black tendrils which are extending from the back of his paws like shadowy whips. Only instead of obeying him they seem to be lazily waving in the air of their own accord reaching out and touching things as he passes by.

With a slight smile I say, "Your still getting used to your new powers love. It will be easier in time. Remember your powers come from a living entity that has bonded with you and has been caged up for who knows how long. It's not surprising that it is stretching its legs a bit, figuratively speaking."

With a slight glare Shadow looks at me saying, "You have it easy. You just give off the odd glow now and then." He lets out a grunt and tries to slap at one of them, "It wouldn't be as bad if I didn't feel everything they touch. It feels so weird."

Rick lets out a laugh, "Well it kind of makes you look like an octopus out of water. A very furry octopus at that."

I want to reprimand Rick for teasing my mate like that, but it would be a bit hypocritical of me considering I have had the same thoughts myself. Especially last night when I woke up to find a couple of Shadows tendrils moving the sheets around on the bed. Not the most pleasant ways to wake up either.

Before I can say anything though Shadow glares at Rick, "Oh yeah? Well how about I fix that problem for you so you don't have to see it, or anything at all for a bit."

I watch as Shadow sends out a wave of darkness similar to the one of light I threw at Rick just a few moments before. Having seen him do this before I don't even try to stop it, only laugh a little as I watch Ricks jaw drop. As the wave hits and I expect it to just cast a shadow over Rick that he can't see through like the last time Shadow did this.

Only this time when it hits him it surrounds Rick completely then vanishes. Leaving nothing behind but empty air where Rick was a moment before. Shadow and I both stand there dumbstruck at what just happened.

A shout comes from behind us telling us that his disappearance has not been missed as Jasper runs up, "RICK! Where did he go? What happened?"

I turn to Shadow and see him visibly shaking in shock. Slowly I put my arms around him and he nearly collapses into my chest shaking as he says, "I don't.... I don't know what happened. Where did he go?"

I whisper into his ears as the rest begin crowding around, "I don't know Shadow. But we will find him it will be ok."

Before anyone else can ask what happened a shriek, soon followed by a loud crash, echoes from the house. We all turn in time to see a blur of green armor get thrown from a second story window by a very pissed off, and very undressed, Tabatha.

As the green blur, now easily identified as Rick, falls to the ground with a loud thud I hear Tabatha's yells from across the yard, "...AND STAY OUT OF OUR ROOM YOU PERVERT!"

With that she slams her window down and pulls the curtains closed. Rick gets back to his feet shakily yelling back up at the closed window, "I WASN'T TRYING TO SEE ANYTHING! I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW I GOT IN YOUR CLOSET!"

As one we all race over to Rick to see what happened. When we get there Rick is dusting bits of dirt and grass off his armor still glaring up at the window muttering, "There was no reason to throw me that hard..."

Coming to a stop I ask in a worried voice, "Rick are you ok? What happened?"

He turns and looks at me, then at my mate before answering, "I don't know what happened. I was teasing Shadow, then he did that blinding wave you two do, next thing I know everything is pitch black and I feel like I am falling through ice cold air. Then I fell out of Tabatha and Eve's bedroom closet and landed right at the foot of their bed while they were..."

He blushes deep under his fur as his voice trails off a bit, "Well... they were uhm..... busy...."

I fight hard to keep from bursting out laughing with all the others at Rick's unintended trip into being a peeping tom. Everyone is laughing that is, except for Shadow who is looking equal parts scared and relieved. Turning to him I say, "See love, I told you he would be fine."

He shakes a little as though shaking off a fly before saying, "Yeah but it could have been a lot worse. And I still don't know what it was that I did."

Thinking for a moment about what happened I come up with a theory, "Well I don't know for sure. I'm only guessing here because I have never seen it before, only heard legends and whispers. But it almost sounds like you did a shadow walk, or rather sent Rick on one."

Everyone looks at me either confused or slightly in awe so I continue, "Well according to legends, people in tune with darkness can do what is called a shadow walk. Basically they can use shadows and pools of darkness to travel great distances in a short time. To my knowledge no one has been alive for centuries who has even claimed to be able to do it, let alone actually prove they can in fact do it. Until today I thought it was just a myth for bed time stories and thieves."

Rosalie lets out a small laugh, "Yeah well most people think Atlantis is a myth as well, but you are living proof otherwise."

Nodding I continue, "That's why I'm inclined to believe that Shadow is able to move people, at least, through a darkness realm."

Shadow looks down at his paws with an odd look on his face, "But what if it had been worse? I could have really hurt him... or worse."

I lift Shadows chin with a paw so that he is looking me in the eyes when I say, "I don't believe for a moment that you would have been able to. You never meant him harm did you?"

He shakes his head side to side slowly as I continue, "Then your powers would not have caused him harm. If anything it seems as though you were wanting to pick back when he was teasing you."

Shadow smirks, "He called me an octopus, so I figure I would just blind him for a minute to tease back."

Nodding I reply, "Well I think your powers picked up on that and just took it a step farther, and frankly I think this was funnier."

At that everyone laughs again, even Shadow who says, "Well everyone except Tabatha and Eve. I think that killed the mood for them a bit."

A shout comes from the door, "YOU CAUSED THAT? YOU PUT RICK IN OUR ROOM!"

I turn to see Eve storming out of the house with a robe on and fire in her eyes, "The first time in weeks that the two of us get some alone time together, and you go and drop that perv in the middle of our room?!"

Everyone backs away from her as she advances on Shadow. Fearing for my mate a bit I step between them and go into full alpha mode glaring down at Eve as I say, "It was an accident Eve. No one meant to cause you or Tabatha any trouble. Understand?"

She glares up at me for a moment in silence then huffs, "Fine Seeker." She glares around me at Rick then smiles slightly, "I guess it was worth it to see his face though. Shadow I can forgive, it was an accident. But you didn't have to look so closely while you were in there. I think I will go and tell Luna what you have been up to today."

As she turns to head back inside Rick goes so pale under his fur he almost turns white as he calls after here, "I don't see any reason for that. It's not like I even wanted to be there in the first place."

As Eve turns back into the house and Rick starts to chase after her, a deep thumping sound reverberates around the area growing stronger and stronger with each thump. We all look around in confusion for the source of the sound trying to figure out what it is.

The sound grows louder and louder until it begins to be felt as well as heard. Rosalie is the first to cry out, "What is that?"

I turn to see her pointing up in the air towards a black shape with very large wings making its way towards us at an alarming rate. As it gets closer the shape becomes unmistakably that of a dragon.

Unsure of what to expect, having not even seen traces of a dragon in centuries, I step in front of the rest of the guardians summoning my spear and full armor preparing for a fight. Before long the dragon is almost directly over head where it comes to a near stop and begins its decent to the ground.

The dragon is pitch black with leathery wings easily over fifty feet across. Behind its head the scales give way to a ruff of black fur. Four horns are on its head, two curve up and back while two curve down around the sides of its head. Along its spine are spikes ending in razor sharp point. Settled between the spikes are two figures. Two wolves, one snow white the other silver and white.

With an earth shaking crunch the dragon comes to a rough landing sending a shockwave of air through the area. As the wind dies down it folds its wings up next to its body and lowers its neck allowing its two passengers to dismount. Both of the wolves are armed with swords but neither is moving to prepare for battle.

As I stand there watching on alert, the dragon lifts its head and neck back into the air after the wolves are on the ground. Then I feel my jaw slacken as it begins to shrink. At first I think my eyes are deceiving me, then I realize the dragon really is shrinking in size and changing in the process. The wings are receding into its body as are the horns and spikes. In moments the dragon has gone from being nearly thirty feet long and quadruped to standing bipedal and still shrinking. A moment later a very familiar wolf is standing in front of me.

Jet black fur with solid black eyes, a figure from a very dark period in my past returns to the present. A leather coat has formed around him with a sheathed sword draped across his back. Standing at ten feet tall with broad shoulders, he strikes an imposing figure as he steps in front of the other two wolves and the trio slowly makes their way towards our group. Twin gasps come from Rick and Jasper and I know that they recognize the wolf in front of me. Then I hear Rick say quietly, "Alpha... But I thought... he died..."

His comment confuses me for a moment but I don't have time to worry about it as my attention is focused purely on the black wolf who is looking me straight in the eyes. For a moment we both stand there in silence starring each other down, engaged in a silent battle of wills to see who will submit first. Slowly silence spreads out through the whole clearing as the two sides stare each other down.

After what feels like several minutes the black wolf breaks the silence with one word, "Guardian."

I hold my gaze with the wolf's eyes as I reply, "Demon."

With a nod he looks past me towards Rick and Jasper then back saying, "We need to talk."