Howling Thunder 9: Last of the Easy Days

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As I stand here, atop the railing, I find myself in a small state of shock.

Mother can hardly hold it in and giggles slightly.

My ear twitches and a rather violent red light pulses through my tail.

She smiles and fearlessly puts a hand on my shoulder, “Let us congratulate Nox, Champion of the Goddess Freki.”

When she announced this, my mood didn’t keep me from noticing a few concerned, almost pained, expressions among the adults while the rest of the pack applauded harmlessly.

Mother then whispers, “Now move along Fuzzy, it’s your sister’s turn.”

I slowly descend the stairs. Passing Walther, Sassa, and Asta, I take my place next to Red just as an ember leads her away.

Asta can tell I’m upset, linking an arm with mine. The momentary distraction allows my tail to deflate from its static charged state and it begins to calmly wag.

Not being able to help it, I grin over to Walther who is attempting to kill me with his eyes.

Sister slightly fumbles on her way up the stairs, the nervousness getting to her. She glances at the crowd but everyone knew better than to laugh at her. My little sister’s failed attempt at elegance...I chuckle.

Despite the rather… well, whatever message from that goddess Freki, I’m enjoying tonight quite a bit.

My mirth quickly fades when I see the pained look my mother has as sister finishes with the stone.

Mother gives a lovely fake smile and announces… no, commands, “Hail, Akane, future Empress and Chosen of Hoji.”

Again the ignorant applauds and the old cower.

I also notice some confusion in the other pups, in myself as well. What’s an empress?

The whispers behind me speak up again, “All three pups blessed by dark gods, surely the Inari is being punished for her pride. This one is hardly a surprise the way she bullied the other pups so much.”

....

I slowly exhale and whisper to myself, “Stay calm.”

………

A flash of red sparks from my tail, “Nope!”

Whipping around violently I grab the source of that insult to my mother and sister.

My recent growth spurt has put me standing face to face with none other than the instructor, Ragna. With my hand tightly gripped around her neck, I briefly remember the black wolf from this morning.

I can smell her fear, it’s in her blue eyes that watch as black fog rolls up my arm. My fingers grow claws that draw blood, another dim flicker of red light from my tail and I swear her grey hair lifts slightly.

Mother calls down from the balcony, “Let her down Nox.”

When did I lift her off the floor?

The Inari speaks in a cold tone, “Ragna, I will not suffer insubordination or insults in my own den. Present yourself in front my study immediately and wait, do not enter.”

After the old hag exits into the hallways the remainder of the ceremony proceeds smoothly. At the end everyone is encouraged to go enjoy the feast in the dining hall.

Walther, Akane and I wait for Mother in the hall.

She tells us to come up and we follow her to the study. As we exit the hall the ghost lights dim out and the normal candles all relight at once with a small poof.

Ragna is standing outside the office door, clearly nervous the way she shifts her weight from foot to foot and clenching her fists into her grey robe.

Mother opens the door and ushers her in and us as well. She shuts the door behind her then heads over to her private cabinet where her sake is kept.

After sitting down at her desk with a small pitcher she takes a drink and motions Ragna forward.

“I would think by now, Miss Ragna, that you would understand my title of being a Living Goddess was not some fluff or pretty words but an actual fact. As such you should know that your whispered gossiping was as clear just as much as if you had yelled it directly into my ears.”

Ragna wipes the sweat of her palms behind her back and starts to mumble, “My apolo-”

Bang!

A cup is slammed against the desk.

“No! I’m tired of your apologies,” Mother stares her in the eyes, “You are lucky I don’t curse you to a year of nightmares let alone agree to you succeeding as head of this den as per Hyndla’s proposal.”

With a stutter, “M-Madem Inari, if I return to Yoden with such shame, Mistress Hynd-”

She stops as Mother stands, “Hyndla will blissfully ignore your plight.”

As the instructor seems to be searching the wood floor for answers to her confusion, Mother sits back down.

“You will depart with the next caravan. Now leave, send up Rota immediately.”

At the mention of the twin’s mother, Rota, Instructor Ragna stands rigid. She stares at mother as if to confirm her thoughts only to receive a cold grin for a response.

She fixes her poster as if to salvage her remaining pride, “As you command Madam Inari.”

Mother closes the door behind the woman and returns to her desk, “Maug, come on out.”

From the shadows at the edge of the fireplace, the black wolf puppy with yellow eyes trots out and jumps into her lap.

He gives an odd cackle, “Hehe, Ulfy would have loved to witness that.”

“And who says I didn’t?” A smooth woman's voice some from the couch facing the fireplace.

I lean a bit and see there is a gorgeous woman stretched out where no one was a moment ago.

Her legs are bare all the way to mid way up her thigh, she’s wearing what looks like a black knit dress that tightly hugs her lean figure and delicately hangs from her pale white shoulders. Her silk black hair lazily covers her neck, green eyes.

A crass bark from the puppy and her jumps over the desk enlarging to a normal sized wolf, “You’ll stop staring at my mate, Fuzzy Toy!”

The woman gets up, she’s a head shorter than me.

Smiling at me, she walks around the couch to pet the upset wolf, “Now now Maugy dear. He’s allowed to look but not touch.”

Maug starts to growl again but Akane cuts him off, scowling at the woman, “Who are you? What do you want with my brother?”

Walther cuts in, “What are you.”

What?

Looking at the woman again, she doesn’t have ears or a tail...ah.

I ask, “A human?”

She frowns, I sense she’s disappointed at my guess. She smells the same as the wolf next to her.

Mother introduces them, “Maug and Ulfa, are both the same as you Nox. Servants to the Goddess Freki, Lycans with black fur. They both have grown up in this world finding it easier to appear as something else. You’ll understand once you study your family’s history at the castle in Yoden next year.”

The woman, Ulfa, stands and smirks at Akane, then looks at me, “We are here to instruct our mistress’s champion on many basics related to his bloodline. One of us will remain here in the den at all times until you all depart for Yoden. At that point Maug will escort the caravan while I proceed ahead to The Bastion. Once he reaches the city I will serve as his tutor until it is no longer necessary.”

Akane looks to interrupt once more but Mother cuts her off, “You darling, will be too busy studying with me to worry about your brothers, and as Hoji instructed, once we reach Yoden you will be always at your father’s or my side from dawn till dusk.”

A small knock at the door.

Mother calls, “Enter.”

The twins mother, Rota, enters, “You called for me Madam Inari.”

Facing the room, Maug and Ulfa have moved back over to the fire, two black wolves lay on the floor.

Rota only spares a glance before presenting herself in front of the desk.

Mother pours another drink for herself then another and passes it to Rota, “I hereby name you as successor of the den, however”

She pulls out a letter, “Your first task is to balance learning your new duties while teaching my eldest ice magic. He should have a talent for it in some capacity or another, his grandmother is already looking forward to how much he can learn before he reaches her and your two eldest for further training.”

They drink to her appointment and we are sent off to eat before bed.

Akane absentmindedly follows me to my room only to throw a small fit at the sight of a woman with silk black hair stretched out on my bed.

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