Arko Cade & The Magic Hunter

Interlude: The Last Wolf

The dead of night.

Arko ran through the Dimwoods, faster than his legs could take him.

"Tala!" He screamed. "Tala, come back."

His knees buckled as he came to a small clearing, falling into the wet grass.

Puzzled, he looked down at his hands, finding them to be intact, but smaller, child-like.

This, he didn't find odd.

He was comfortable, pleased, even. Like he had known he could do this for some time.

Then it emerged from the shadows, that snout, those glowing emerald eyes, that ash-grey coat he knew so well.

Oh, how he missed her.

"Tala." He gasped, calling her over, his voice smaller - that of a little boy who'd lost then found his dearest companion, the creature who'd been brought to life by the island, a symbol of the strength of his magic.

His great Creedean wolf.

She stalked towards him, almost menacing at first, but then tilted her head just slightly, and looked at him in curious, humane wonder.

Then there was recognition, with the beckoning of his outstretched hand and a tearful smile, she leapt into his arms, larger than he remembered her to be, an entire arm's length full of fur enveloping him in warmth and comfort he'd long sought to replace but never could.

"I've missed you." He murmured, "Where did you go?"

The wolf whimpered just slightly, ever in tune with his every emotion. She had missed him too.

She nuzzled him, loving, nurturing, then pressed her head to his as he began to hear the low whisper of her intended message.

It was numb. Ethereal.

A warning.

Everything about them faded to black, spinning in and out of the perceived reality, the dream melted into nothing but certainty as the words sent a chill up Arko's spine -

Azrael has fallen.
The Ghost. The Unmagical.
Seeking only to rewind.
Cursed with used and borrowed time.
Out of time.
Born out of time.
Bane of his father,
He is alive.
Repair the breaking moonless isle.
Guarded gift, those emerald eyes.
Lobo. Lion. Caballo. 虎.
Beware the emerald eyes.

Then, the wolf froze - neck craned, ears perked up in instinctive alarm. Arko's eyes shot open and he was back at the Dimwoods, but no longer a child. A dark breeze had blown through the trees around them.

Tala turned and began to snarl, then pounced at a shadowy figure which couldn't quite be made out through the trees.

With a guilt-ridden heart, he screamed her name, wishing more than anything he was strong enough to keep her alive...

.

"Arko, wake up."