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Chapter Twenty-One: History's Tale.

None of it was what it seemed to be, the sound of the rain that softly pelted the world around him changed to silence.

Where am I? This isn't right. It rang through Hato's skull; the sounds of his own thoughts came to him. He could think openly, and for whatever reason he could only think about Kiyoko. Not Serviath, though Hato knew how he felt around him. Not the sudden drive to learn more about Karisif that now suddenly hit him. Everything that was repressed came back to him, slowly but surely his life and truth was finally revealed.

"What do you need child?" It was Livrythi, his voice sounded stressed as if on a peak of some sort.

"What I tell you." Hato's voice rang through his head. I guess this is where it all started. "I've been having dreams about a forest, it is just frozen by the very shards of winter and the quiet, amicable sounds of snowfall. All around are mountains, as if it is a valley within the middle of them all." The scene around them quickly came to play; Hato could look around in a third eye. A banister held up with a winding staircase to a second floor. Carpets followed, sullen from the steps of weary travellers. Ivory Inn; I still remember this place from before, right in the town of Shadeston. Hato felt a moment of enlightenment, the hold from before was gone; his chains were finally broken. Joyful tunes played from the sounds of simple woodwind instruments that brought a welcoming feel inwards.

"Do you understand it? It is reoccurring and it hasn't stopped since... well forever."

Livrythi gave a captious look, his eyes studied him hard. I know that look. He only does that when he's really thinking about something.

"There may be some old texts that speak of such a thing."

"Like what?" The sound was so assuring, as if Hato really did want to know yet he felt a sickening feeling overtake him.

"The Book of the Reapers." His tone was sharp and flat, yet the tune in the background was playing spasmodically, like the morning sounds of the Oscine. It was enough to send shivers down Hato's back, he could see it; he could still feel it.

"The book speaks much of the existence of a mythological and powerful being that existed in our world millions of years before us."

"B" Hato's voice cracked, and as he cleared his throat he noticed a figure walk into the inn. "Being?" He continued watching as Serviath walked in. Images from their first time meeting back in London hit Hato so clearly he thought he was staring at paintings of them, it looked like Hato like Serviath when he first met him too. I still remember those jokes he said, he was just a funny and nice guy. I guess I ruined the moment when I asked for help.

"Humans." Livrythi spoke into Hato's ear that time, and he noted - watching from a third eye - that his ear twitched with the word. "It was said that a creature known as Man, or Mankind were the original faith-praying creatures on this world... Well it is the theory, yet no remnants exist." Without warning Hato watched the world change to the sight of the cave from the desert, that picture of the blond haired, furless being with the tattered shirt came to mind. Human? I've never heard of anything before. Hato knew that was true, he still remembered all the Geshian books he had to read when he was living with Sylcion and his tutor. The words suddenly came to him. "As you now live within the mountains of Learia, your name shall be forever changed to Angel."

"But why?" Hato's voice sounded much younger to him. "I mean, why Angel?"

The voice replied, it echoed through the quiet cathedral. "Because you seem light-hearted; as if you want to fight for something right it just seems to be your nature... Angel." Sounds of his life passed by him. Hato saw how he and Serviath became companions; a simple drunken night at an inn sparked that. Hato watched fragments of his childhood, all revolving around this river and its frigid water in winter. Lastly came that one night, in which Hato and Kiyoko were caught together by the springs, but the conversation was much different. "You seem interested in Serviath."

Hato replied with a light fluster. "I can't deny that." His paw scratched at his hair, wet strands fell in front of his face.

"Well that's good." Kiyoko replied gently, she almost seemed a bit bothered by something.

"Is something wrong?" Hato took a step to her; she still looked as beautiful as before with her white hair that slowly changed color.

"I -" She suddenly cut off "I'm engaged remember?"

Wow, isn't that a buzz-kill. Hato's first thought before he looked back in sudden shock.

"Who again?" Hato almost felt foolish for asking that question, it was as if he was dodging a problem entirely.

"M... My brother. Remember? My pack brother?" Hato's face went suddenly red, memories of the one dog; the Inn when his sword was drawn on Hato, the spring-time fireworks they watched together.

"Y- you're brother?" Hato stated a little flustered before Kiyoko had cried out in disgust. It seemed like an overused joke.

"Not my actual brother you pervert!" Her face was deep red, and she looked... nervous, even adorable. "I - I mean there have been situations like that in my family and everyone else when times got rough." Staying quiet, Hato hid his head down to the thought in sudden disgust. "It is our pack laws to take in the male of one compatible family to the female's family, and that is who I am branded with for life. I - I can't do this Hato, I know we've spent so long running and that we spent so much time faking my death to get away from them."

Faking her death? The very set of words darted a chill; he remembered that they used an excuse that she got deathly ill and they used a set of herbs to make it look like she died in the morning after. He was banished from the pack for being involved with her death, even though Kiyoko's brother demanded Hato was killed for it.

He always blamed me for her death. After that Hato's train of thought left him. A voice begged out, almost crying before a shadow. It looked like an entrepreneur or someone dressed as some political figure. A black tail coat reached down to a set of gray wolven ankles, a long tail shot out violently as a stricken slap was heard.

"Is this all you bring me? This little bitch?" A cat came to view, not male; a female, black furred, and young around Karisif's age.

"Please Lord Fylakas."

"Don't say my name!" He pointed a finger to the old wolverine, and stared back at the black cat. "Why is this bitch here?"

"She is important master, I need Yukiko here."

Yukiko? I thought that... Everything ceased for a moment, the small visions of distorted voices rang in his ears. The cat from the tower... She, I saved her in that fucked up place.

"Why?"

"She knows one of them dearly lord, please don't do anything to out of proportion."

"I will find them." Fylakas looked back, his face grizzled with age and his whiskers were long and curled. "And I will kill them myself, it's not too hard to follow that damn fool; after all, the beacon I've given him has worked perfectly." Hato's eyes went wide as something sparked at his pupils. The chain? It was around Hato's neck, hanging just low enough to touch the torchlight. That can't be possible. From there he woke up, staring around with watchful eyes. A canvas - like tent had housed a light smoke within the room. It's sweet, almost smells like basil. Memories of the scent made his shoulder roll down, relaxing as it filled his nostrils. Hato loved that scent, especially when it came along with a warm soup with a side of bread. There's no time to think about food! Reassuring himself he stood up, a menacing tower of books weren't too far off from his left; two voices sprang up beside him. Karisif and Jesive spoke in turn with each other.

"So you see, something as simple as dill seed, or parsley, or even garlic cloves could reverse the short and long term effects of castings upon a member with this magic ability." Jesive seemed inspiring, intelligent, and downright excited to be speaking to someone as young as Karisif. "It's all about how it is prepared and the steps you take to make it."

"Wow." Karisif replied with curious eyes. "All these books speak so rigidly on the topic. They say that only ingredients far from the West or East can be used to reverse a holds like that."

"One of the most commonly used herbs is Lavender; it's cheaper and can cause a whole lot of different and confusing effects when used with black magic, unfortunately you can fight it simply with Lavender."

"Where did you learn all this?" Karisif replied with a childish tone.

"My grandfather actually; a saint of a being I assure you. I remember needing to read so much about many faiths, the most common with him was the wolf god Relinian."

Relinian that was the name I heard from before.

"What is Relinian exactly?" Hato's voice couldn't have done any more but make the two of them jump.

"Hato! You're awake? How are you feeling?" Karisif spoke quickly the small youthful tone made Hato smile softly.

"Better thank you, nothing seems or sounds so distant anymore. Other than that, what is Relinian?" Thank any god! I can finally speak for myself.

"Relinian is a god of sorts. It is said that his fur is the nights shadow his eyes are the moonlights glow. His heart is the very beat of the howls that bring the night. Within the Book of Geshia, he is not mentioned; yet he is one of the many gods who are said to serve and be friends with her."

"You describe him in a way I can't stop but think. Is he a darker god?" Jesive passed a very tuneful look.

"No, yet he does have a brother; Rayne. It was said that the two wolves fought for control over the mountain, they were both opposites of each other. One of white and gold fur, as the other was blackened and blood-stained." Hato felt a chill down his spine. Two wolves; one light, the other shadow; is that what I've been seeing? The symbol, could that be the marker of faith as the wing is Geshia's?

"Within the wars between them, they began to realize that they have done nothing but torn families apart, packs destroyed and their forests were almost forever gone. They decided that it would be best if they became one and from there, they told Geshia they were leaving for the mortal world below. Their whereabouts are unknown but it was said they became mortal, that they made a persona of themselves as one." It sounded oddly coincidental, yet the sounds were interrupted as a figure walked in the room.

"Hato! You're awake!" Serviath had stepped in and Hato suddenly felt smaller. Serviath was an easy 6'2 and had a chiseled build that was easily spotted through his leather vest. Hato's cheeks flushed, he was almost worried it would show through his white fur. Serviath's smile, his eyes the same dull brown, it brought a warm feeling to Hato. His paws were huge, and Hato took that note in.

You know what they say about big paws... Hato felt even more flustered from it, watching Serviath loom over him.

"How are you feeling? You've been acting all strange lately and now you've been out for a few more hours."

"I'm feeling great!" Hato called out, his tail wagged briskly left and right as Serviath gave him a close, studious look before smiling softly.

"You're blushing." A small gentle chuckle rang out as Hato immediately hid his face, exclaiming that he wasn't although it wasn't hard to notice through the white furred cheeks he had. Livrythi was there, along with Goris, or so Hato had thought.

"Lithray, Hato's awake." Livrythi called to him, and stepping out was a tiger, huge in size - larger than Serviath - with a blade that looked much like his own. A katana, solid folded steel, was strapped to his belt and he held in his left paw, Hato's wakizashi with him.

"It's about bloody time I was getting tired of waiting." Lithray spoke in annoyance placing the sword down by Hato's side. "I say it's about time we make refuge in the castle." A quick and simple arousal of agreement came within the small group, as the chatter grew Kieai - who was outside - had stepped within the tent herself, watching the lot bicker on about what choice to make. "It's probably just some cursed merchants passing through the town, believe it or not a few people do walk through there. Take Jesive for example."

"I walked on a little further than planned yes, I cut through the town and found you're little garrison on the brink of it. There wasn't anyone in there when I passed through."

Wasn't anyone in there? Hato came to thought. "That can't be possible." He perked up, catching everyone's attention quite quickly. "I mean I've been in there, just the other night." Confusion created a small silence amongst everyone suddenly Hato knew that what he saw must've truly been an illusion at least most of it had to have been. With eyes staring at him, Hato replied a stuttered answer. "I - I mean at least that's what I've seen." This isn't going good. Slowly but surely Hato started scolding himself for being as foolish to believe in some falsified reality. Yet as he believed matters couldn't get worse Aaron walked into the tent. His bandages were blood-soaked still from the fight and he had the look of murder in his eyes.

"So the son of a bitch is awake." Serviath eyed Aaron closely, letting himself guide the way to hold him at bay.

"There's no reason to fight right now."

"That bastard tried to kill me. You bet I'm looking for one." At that point Kiyoko had walked in shortly after, her fur seemed welted, molted down as if shedding had started upon her. A few moments of harsh words were transferred until it was occasionally broken up by both Jesive and Serviath, who didn't seem to like working together. They almost began darting words too yet it all worked out in the end. Once everyone merged outside Hato had the chance to look up into the bright morning sun. The forest, indeed began in full spring color - from oak trees to willows further down a nearby clearing. Flowers had sprouted up, and far behind them Hato could see the starting of snow from the mountainside further up trail. Wherever they were walking within, the trail was well used and Hato assumed - almost immediately - that it must indeed have been a merchants trail, given the groves of cart wheels within the soil were deep and well worn. Hato had dressed with his tunic, the light from the sun darted the sharp tone of gold that came from the beak of its hood from behind him. The tunic now had seemed a touch bigger, as if cut for someone much stronger than he, himself. It only let him wonder from what Kieai told him, whatever he wanted her to learn about his father. At that point, he was already lost in thought, thinking first about his curiosity with Karisif and he knew that they shared more in common than Hato could ever believe.

"Sir." Kiyoko was standing behind him there was no one else around just the soft chirps of birds further in the forest. Hato's eyes went wide, and in surprise he started to speak without much of thought.

"You believe that you can't do this, that your pack; that same pack who robbed your voice from you and took away your chances is more important than who you really are. For whatever reason, I know you were there with me only a few nights prior towards my first awakening and I still remember what you told to me." Kiyoko was quiet and hardly made a sound, hardly breathed out. "If what you truly want is to go home, I will not stop you. In fact, I will go back with you and help you on the way. Although I know one thing and one thing only, I will miss you on my way back here." Kiyoko stared with soft eyes her fur was shedding quickly showing the form Hato knew from before; black tinged with the blood-red moon.

"I" She stopped for a moment. "I want to go home." Hato felt his air release he held his breath for the moment. "But" That made him look to her with a curious look. "I want to go as far as I can before I do." she passed a small chuckle. "You aren't getting rid of me that easy Hato, I wanted to start a journey and you sure as hell have given me one." Hato responded with a small smile that matched hers. "I want to see it through first." She began to walk away then she turned. "Oh, Serviath asked me to get you, wants you to join him for breakfast. After we are all going to take refuge and resupply at Castle Fairike." With her leaving, Hato joined her putting his arm around the back of her neck and to her other shoulder. She only gave one of her cuter laughs before swatting his arm away. "I am pretty much engaged you know." Hato passed a laugh of his own.

"A little too late for that Kiy." He put his arm back around her, and she passed a smile and sunk her head down. Her hair had fallen in front of her face, she was chuckling softly as she was walking along with him and it made Hato feel a little more... Normal. It would've been at least a decent few minutes of laughter and chatter before they finally made it back to camp. "You better get to your chores, before you're questioned or something."

"You know, most owners wouldn't be so kind to their slaves." Kiyoko said in remark.

"You're not a slave to me." Hato replied, and to his sudden fluster of surprise, Kiyoko passed a small lick on his cheek.

"I'd say that's one way to look at it." Hato blushed throughout, saying a bit of an awkward goodbye that left her giggling. Her tail was wagging gently as she walked off.

God... she must be teasing me about it so much. Hato's -and probably her- idea of it was was his companionship with Serviath, yet it was hard for him not to notice her as she walked off - or anyone for that matter - with a small smirk on her face. Alright. He shook his sudden thoughts away before he had the chance to fluster himself. Time to find Serviath. Scouring the group around, Hato could see how is mind wasn't as absent-minded as before, now he noticed the people who walked by him, there face, some of fear that he spent a moment to assure them that there was nothing to fear about him. Some people waved with a smile and he waved back to them. Soon after a group of younger ones had approached him to talk and before he knew it, he was helping them play a game of tag. Around the time Serviath noticed him, Hato was pinned on the ground by a group of younger people.

"It looks like you're having fun Hato." Serviath laughed as a small ferret was tugging one his ears.

"Just a little bit Serviath." Hato replied with a chuckle of his own.

"Alright young ones, lets lay off for now he needs to eat at some point." The all rose up in a small objection, but they went back after one of their parents told them to. Being brought towards a small circle of people someone placed a plate down to him, their tail lightly whipped at his muzzle playfully as Hato looked to them; Kiyoko was already walking through the crowd with a small smile. Hato knew that no one had noticed but with a plate of warm bread, some cooked meat, and a small soup he hardly spent time to notice himself and happily started eating. "Alright." Serviath started speaking to the group. "Half of you will go and rendezvous at the front gate myself, Hato, and the other half are going over the side wall of the castles town. We'll open the gate from there."

That's simply straight-forward Hato thought in remark, busy gulping down a piece of bread. The group spoke serious for only a few seconds before being sorted and suddenly laughing, telling jokes and having stories spoken back and forth.

"So when we were in this forest, possibly around the Leairian mountainside border." An otter had spoken yet was interrupted quickly by a dark-furred wolf.

"Not this story again." He spoke in a playful manner.

"You're just embarrassed about it."

"Can we not just tell the story of Shilan the brave?"

"It takes too long."

"So, who knows how long we'll be here for now before we start to go on the move again." Hato had never heard of the name before, he knew he hadn't. In reply he asked if he could hear this story. It started like most of what would think as a grand adventure, just with the otter and wolf speaking and finishing sentences. Shilan was a warrior from the olden kingdoms of the province of Kalini. At that point all the provinces, Kalini, Curia, and Gyriva were split into two factions, the faction of Feliki- led by the tyrant of that land- and the rebellious faction of Curian which the province was named after. Shilan - being a slave deep within the mountains that once stood throughout England within the province of Kalini - had escaped during a time of a punishment in which they were strung to chains within the cliffs of the sea, and have to live throughout the rise of the tide. He had retrieved a key from pickpocketing a guard and to his fortune, it was the key to his shackles. Shilan reached within the heart of the province of Curia and found a member of the royal family, along the way he helped free other people and they led a final revolt against the tyrant Feliki. They won the war and the tyrant was slain by Shilan himself. Shilan disappeared shortly with his newly wed wife after and no one had heard from him since. The story in stunning detail let Hato only wonder what a creature as gallant as this would be. To his surprise they said he was nothing more but a young, weak collie that simply had the spirit of a fighter. With a laugh Hato said the story was adorably intriguing yet he hadn't believed a word of it. They pair tried to stress it was a real story, though Hato disregarded, finished his meal, and thanked them for telling him such a fable. By that time, everyone was almost finished packing up and the large group was ready to move forward. Serviath and the other rangers where dispersed extremely well within the group, it made the group itself appear like a group of villagers who had just lost their homes to the war.

Is there really a war? Hato brought the incentive of thought up. I haven't seen much in the terms of battles or battlefields quite yet. Stone walls lay ahead of them, a tapping tugged on Hato's cloth as they stayed to the foliage of the trees. There were figures walking along the wall of the castle town, armed with arrows and a banner of some sort within the stone outlook.

"Jesive said no one was there, Guess he never went through the town. Damn bandits looks like they've been here a while." Serviath's voice was hushed and almost dead quiet.

"What are we going to do then?" Hato asked in reply. Serviath pointed towards the group of travellers that were with them.

"We bait them out a bit, follow me and stay close." Conversation sprang up between the bandits on sentry and the travellers down below, Hato realized that Serviath had disguised and hidden some of the Rangers within the group of people. With their attentions diverted to the people at the front gate, Hato and the others made it to the side of the concrete wall. It was high up and Serviath pulled out a rope with an iron hook tied to the end of it. Tossing it up, it surprisingly wasn't that loud the rest followed. Hato took note of a face, Kieai was in the group with them and she gave Hato a wink before climbing up the wall, only a few at a time. In broad daylight, Hato knew they would've been spotted, which was the point at that time when the large wooden gates opened as he placed two feet on the top of that wall.

"Hey!" A voice called out and swift hands cracked the blunt end of a sword upon them. The gate open, the soldiers below drew arms - along with some travellers who had their own weapons - and a fight ensued, with the quick element of surprise they had taken the wall quite quickly though the battle in the town changed the odds. However it happened, it was quick. A light suddenly blinded Hato who was in a fight of his own, he felt a hit dig in though not from a blade. It was blunt solid steel against his shoulder and it almost knocked him out cold, distorted voices barked out and more flashes of flame flared out with a blinding light.

"Take these two." A heavy voice called out and by then Hato was barely clinging onto consciousness. The last words, the last sight was Serviath and most of the others holding off one side of the town while the bandits still held the other. "I'z gots a plan for the pretty one; boy too will love this." A small shrill laugh came out from an odd looking silhouette. "Let's bring them to the castle now them people aren't getting a single paw-print near it." The world turned dark for a few moments, when Hato awoke he was on the hard surface of a stone floor. It was cold and damp, the scent of mildew was within the dark room. A set of bars fortunately let in some sunlight cast through the trees. It took him a moment to notice that he was on his chest, his hand and legs were shackled to the floor. Worst of all he had no clothes on, chained to the floor and unable to stand. He was bent over at most and from the other end of the cell came the sounds of a voice came.

"No isn't that a pretty sight, he is a young one indeed." One voice said.

"Your right, just fresh and full of youth."

"Took you a while you know, figuring out who we could choose."

"Group was foolish enough to take me in." The other voice replied. Feeling an odd draft, Hato forced his eyes back, his tail was chained to the ceiling; entirely exposed, set on his knees, and in the next few seconds, things got interesting. "Bring the dogs in, they've been pent up for a little too long." His eyes grew wide when a large, feral yellow-eyed creature was brought in. Growling and snarling about, a husky at glance but Hato couldn't make out much. Screeching signalled the opening of the barred gate and his ears twitched, for the next few hours Hato knew - as the merciless dog had paced around him curiously - that he was going to be made into a real bitch for a little while.