CHAPTER 3 - ORPHANS ALL THE SAME AFTER ALL

Having walked for hours Ayra, had started to feel tired from heading through the Forest. While Ayra was an active child that liked to move about and couldn’t sit still. She was still in the end a young child. Not wanting to walk anymore she pulled on her brother’s shirt indicating for him to carry her. Knowing that even though he said he wouldn’t, he could still carry her if she got tired.

The entrance to the cave, that Gil knew about, was deeper in the forest. Here the trees grew closer together making it more difficult to walk. Claude had to be extra careful as he was carrying his sister on his back, who at this point was too tired to even speak. The gathering clouds above their heads covering the sun was also not helping.

“Gil, how long is it until we reach the cave?”

“It just ahead your majesty. We will get there well before it rains.”

As they reached the cave entrance there were signs that a predatory beast lived there. There were bits of bones scattered around and a strong stench of blood could be smelled even in the open.

Knowing that a battle may occur, Ayra tapped her brother on the shoulder for him put her down so he could fight more easily. Demonstrating that she was vastly more intelligent than the average 6-year-old. Looking into the cave noticing that it was quite deep as she could not see the end.

“Brother, are we going into the cave?”

Ayra asked her brother as they were just standing in front of the cave entrance without going inside.

“We are going in. I was just getting ready.”

Drawing his sword, Claude decided to lead the way, followed by Erika that had summoned a ball of light with her magic. With Ayra in the middle and Gil taking up the rear.

Within a few minutes, they found the back of the cave and with that, they also found a giant wolf, wounded in multiple places. Having been so badly injured, it had not been able to move even though they were just metres away from it. All it could do was growl at them, which even then sounded more like a whimper.

Ayra feeling a bit adventurous, moved forward next to her brother to take a closer look. Noticed that it was injured and somehow feeling its pain, she wanted to help it but had no idea how.

Pulling on her brother’s sleeve she asked him to help the wolf.

“Brother, Mrs. wolf is in pain you have to help her.”

“I’ll do what I can, but I won’t be able to do much. It looks like Mrs. wolf has lost a lot of blood and won’t survive for much longer.”

“That so sad, Mrs. wolf still has to look after her two puppies.”

At her statement, Claude felt surprised, as he had no idea how his sister knew that there were pups. Think that she had just made it up, he just kept silent and went along with her. As he stood their and thought about his next step, now that the magic beast they had come looking for was injured.

At that moment as he was distracted, Ayra had moved right in front of the wolf. Both Erika and Gil were unable to stop her.

Seeing Ayra’s movement the wolf let out another growl, but strangely she didn’t feel scared and even brought her hand towards its head. She slowly stroked its head, trying to comfort it. Before long the wolf had calmed down, understanding that she meant no harm.

It was a completely surreal and magical sight to behold, and one that Claude, Erika and Gill would fondly remember.

It may have been that the mother wolf knew it was dying, because it moved its head from its paws to reveal two small puppies the size of Ayra’s small hands. Their size and the fact that their eyes hadn’t even opened yet, indicated how young they were.

The mother wolf stared into Ayra’s eyes. As if in deep communication, they continued to do so for a whole minute. Until finally the mother wolf removed her gaze from Ayra onto her two pups. Giving them a lick, she nudged the two pups forward towards Ayra. Before resting its head back down.

Understanding her intentions, Ayra slowly kneeled down and gently picked up the two pups into her arms. Looking at the mother wolf she firmly declared.

“Don’t worry Mrs. wolf I will look after these two puppies.”

As if giving her consent and understanding, the mother wolf gave a few blinked with her eyes and replied with a small whimper, before she closed her eyes one last time, never to open them again.

Seeing the mother wolf die before her eyes, Ayra started crying. Although they had only just met and it had not been more than a few minutes, it seemed as if they were greatly familiar with one another. Having the mother wolf, pass on her puppies to her to look after, she only felt that their connection had deepened.

Wanting to comfort his sister but not knowing how Claude just stood there as if frozen. But it seemed that his concern was unnecessary as his sister stood up on her own and turned towards Claude blinking the tears away.

Holding the puppies closely to her chest. Once again, as firmly as she declared to the mother wolf, she declared to Claude.

“I will look after these two puppies.”

Giving a nod, still stunned by what his sister had just done, but feeling that it may seem too casual for such an occasion he gave a few words.

“That you will. But if you are to raise these two pups, they will require names.”

Looking down at the two pups she instantly thought of their names. Skoll for the one with the grey fur and Hati for the one with the black fur. She had no idea how she came up with their names, but she thought it was highly appropriate. Being Sky Wolves that would be able to run across the sky as their name’s sake, chasing after the sun and moon.

“The grey one will be called Skoll and the black one will be called Hati.”

At that moment, as if recognising that an important moment had happened, the two puppies opened their eyes for the first time. Looking at Ayra. This sight made her smile again. As she smiled at them she informed them of something important.

“You guys just lost your mum, but don't worry, I’ll look after you. We’re orphans all the same, after all.”