Chapter XII: New Promise
#12 of No World For Tomorrow
Stone visits a place of the past. I'm not too sure if this one will be well received due to how short it is but here's hoping for the best.
It was shortly before the dawning of a new day. The sky was still a dark blue that had begun to grow lighter with hints of orange and purple careening on the horizon.
A lone wolf stood near a grave marker bearing a single flower in his paw. It had been a long time since Stone had been here. A lifetime of memories flashed through his mind but none more so than the ones about his love, Tiffani, his wolfen mate from long ago.
Slowly her visage changed to that of a vixen, bearing a familiar warm smile and creamy orange fur that he had come to know. Stone held back his tears as he gazed upon her. How her green eyes lit up with the coming sunrise.
It was all so real. So much that Stone wondered if he was dreaming. The sudden weight of reality grabbed hold of his heart as he felt the world smothering him. He knew she wasn't there but his heart told him otherwise. A tear slowly formed under his left eye, a sign that he was still a wolf. Her wolf, and she was his mate.
"Stone" came her voice, floating on the air of the sudden breeze. Gazing up he seen her hovering over him, gently putting her paw on his shoulder to which he nuzzled lovingly. "You have to hurry. There's very little time left" she said. "Events are starting to be put into motion that would separate us once again."
"I know." came the muffled words from Stone's lips. "I just hope I can make it in time."
The breeze shifted suddenly as the figure faded from Stone's sight.
"Who you talking to father?" came Rai's voice as she neared Stone.
Stone wiped the tear from his eye before standing back up to face the sudden intrusion. "No one. Just saying goodbye."
"To mom?" asked a puzzled Rai.
Stone wanted to answer yes but something stopped him, the fear that Rai wouldn't understand his reasons and just let it go. By the now the sun was on the rise and getting warmer. "Is everyone about ready? We must hasten to Neon City if we are to save it."
"All is as you have ordered father." Rai said. "We're just waiting on you."
Stone hastened his walk towards Rai but stopped short just a foot or so before her, looking back to the grave he whispered his parting words: "I've failed to protect you once. I shall not make the mistake of doing it again."
That said Stone continued back to the hangar with Rai in tow and the newfound promise he had made.