Chapter thirty-four: Ellis and Ava

Lance, Hunk, and Pidge knocked on the door of a snow covered cabin nestled deep in the woods. The animal doctor had then to find the cabin if they wanted to about a mysterious miracle healer.

A young boy opened the door a crack and blinked at the group with wondering eyes. He was wearing hat, boots, and a heavy winter coat. his long black hair hung in a single braid down his back.

Then an animal's snout pushed through the door and Lance, Hunk, and Pidge found themselves face-to-face with a full-grown was wolf-a very big wolf. Sitting down, it was taller than the boy was standing up. The wolf sniffed the group and then nodded approvingly.

"Hi", the boy said, "I'm Ellis, and this is my sweetie deamon wolf, Ava." Ellis ruffled the fur on Ava's head, "How can I help you?"

"Hi, I'm Lance and this is Hunk, Pidge, Kiaion, and Kosmo", Lance said. "The animal doctor sent us to you. He said you would know something about a miracle healer..." He trailed off, realizing that his request might sound a little strange. But Ellis didn't bat an eye.

"The doctor's right!" Ava said. "There was a miracle".

"She's right but I still don't really understand how it happened. But I do know this—without it, Ava would be dead", said Ellis.

Hunk, Lance, and Pidge looked at each other. Maybe this little boy and his deamon was going to help them save Shiro after all.

"Why don't you come in?" Ellis asked. He opened the door and led the group toward a roaring fireplace in the cabin's great room. Lance, Hunk, and Pidge warmed themselves by the hearth as Ellis settled into a nearby chair. Ava padded over and Ellis scratched the wolf's neck. A shiny stone dangled from her collar.

"Please tell us your story", Pidge said.

Ellis smiled and settled deeper into his chair. It had been a while since anyone had wanted to hear it. "Well, two years ago, me and Ava were playing in the woods. She was just a little cub and the cutest thing I'd ever seen. Somehow, she'd gotten herself caught in a rusty hunter's trap and her front paw was crushed. She was absolutely terrified". She stroked Ava's ears and crushed. She was absolutely terrified. "She didn't want any help at first, but I could tell she had a determined spirit. When she finally let me unlock the trap, I took her to the animal doctor, the one who sent you here".

Lance, Hunk, and Pidge both smiled, they liked Ellis already.

"The doctor said her leg was bad—so bad it had to be removed", Ellis continued. "When the operation was over, Ava was hopping around on three legs in no time".

Ava wagging her tail. She remembered those days fondly—the gentleness with which Ellis changed her bandage, and the way Ellis snuggled up to him at night like master and his dog.

"But Ava wasn't welcomed by my father", Ellis went on, a sadness creeping across his face. "He said there was only suffering in her future. He said..." Ellis trailed off. It was hard to say even now. "He wanted to put her down, in spite if she was connected to me!"

Hunk shuddered. He understood not wanting animals to suffer, but putting an animal down just because they were missing a leg? It wasn't fair. It wasn't just.

Ellis regained his composure and continued. "I knew Ava would become strong and healthy if given the chance. I scooped her up and ran. The only safe place would be where on one would follow us, so we started up the cursed Kekkaru."

"What's the cursed Kekkaru?" Lance asked, though he was afraid to hear the answer.

"It's the mountain where only monsters find their refuge", Ellis said. "At least, that's what the legends say, and Ava and I found it to be true" Ava whimpered but Ellis went on. "A blizzard made it hard to see much in front of us, but strange shapes and terrifying eyes seemed to pop out through the wind and snow. The higher we climbed, the more terrifying creatures crept in the shadows.We kept going though. We found an ancient tree with a hollow trunk and huddled inside. That's when she appeared".

"Who?" Lance asked. He'd made himself comfortable on the floor and checking on Shiro's injuries.

"I still don't know", Ellis said. "We couldn't see her face—only her silhouette against the full moon. But she's the reason Ava is here. She cradled her in her arms, called her beautiful and perfect. And then this white light came from her hands. It was so bright, I had to shield my eyes", Ellis put an arm up over her face as if blocking the sun, then took it down again, "And when she handed Ava back to—I couldn't believe it, Ava's fourth leg was completely healed. This Moonstone coller had appeared around her neck too". He spread down and scratched Ava under her collar. The wolf yelped as if to say. "The end".

The group were speechless but looked at each other with newfound excitement.

"We have to find this miracle healer", Lance said. "If she can save a cub's missing paw..."

"Maybe she can save Shiro!" Hunk said. Looking at Shiro, who was laying on the couch.

"Thanks you so much, Ellis, Ava," Lance said as they made their way to the door. And then it was just Ellis and Ava in the cabin again, the fire crackling in the hearth.

"They seem nice!" Ava said.

Elsewhere, Keith and Stats walked around the town centre of the most of his time here before stopping at the fountain, remembering the times that he had with his father in the time, the Bad and the good. But mostly the bad as the kids had constantly bully him.

Just then, a large crowd had formed near the fountain. A slender young woman was standing on the fountain talking loudly to the group, she appeared to be putting on some sort of show and repeatedly pointed to a sheathed dagger on her belt. She wave her arms in the air theatrically. Keith and Stats moved closer to hear what was going on.

"I defended the land from all types of galra and their atrocities—things you can't even imagine! There's nothing l, Lucy fear now," the woman said. She strutted around the fountain, fluffing up her fur collar. Then she held up a gloved finger as if suddenly stricken by an idea. She swiping a pouch from his belt and threw it down. Coins jingles within. In fact, I wager I could defeat any challenger have with nothing but my dagger", he patted the small sheath on his hip.

The crowd broke into gossips. The woman was obviously a conceived mercenary, but no one really wanted to take him on.

"That lady has a big mouth, right Stats!" Keith said.

"Stats!" Stats answered.

"Anyone dare to challenge me?" Lucy taunted.

Just then, a shadow fell over the performance as an enormous man in full armor stepped forward. He unsheathed an immense weapon and cackled. "This isn't even my biggest sword", he said.

The crowd whispered again, this time with excitement. A matronly lady whipped out a coin purse and shouted, "I'll take that bet!" Next to her a man called out, "My money on the big guy".

The giant and the mercenary squared off and Keith and Stats recognized an opportunity. "Everyone's watching that stupid of a Trainwreck!" Keith said. "Let's go, Stats".

The giant swung his sword as Lucy pulled the dagger out of its sheath. The blade was only a few inches long, but it glowed a bright purple as though it had just been pulled from the heat of a forge.

The Magic dagger sliced through the giant's sword like butter and the broken half clanged to the ground. The hulk stared at the hilt of his sword, utterly dumbfounded, then dropped it and backed away in fear.

The crowd gasped in awe as Lucy scuttled around to pocket her winnings. "Anyone else, against my glow blade?" she said.

The crowd back away, they didn't have any weapons or any weapon to be powerful enough...so they back away.

"Okay!" Lucy said, then walking away with her loot.

After a while back, Keith and Stats notice that it was quite late in the afternoon of the following day when Keith and Stats left the ruins of Keith's old childhood home, where they will find the others in the town.

"Stats!" Stats said.

"I know, this town has never change, all the buildings look the same but it's change, I barely even recognize it". Keith said.

"Stats!" Stats said.

"I suppose you're right and besides, change is good! I suppose". Keith said as he heaved a massive sigh of relief and Yet, not long after, he accidentally bump into Lucy who was down the street jingling the bag of her winnings, this was the most gold she'd had in months. But halfway to the corner, she bump into Keith.

"Hey, you, did you just try to rob me of my gold coins?!" the woman yelled out loud when she saw that someone ran into her.

"No, lady! Sorry, I just ran into you; I am very sorry," he apologized while trying to walk away from her.

His hard voice and his appearance caused the curious woman to hesitate for a moment, why does this person look so familiar.

"You boy, you look like someone from the posters!" said Lucy.

"Oh, really, you look like the type of person that just show off!" Keith said as he was petrified, he learn that, due to the humans' immense hatred for half-daemons, they had a habit to put up wanted posters of the daemon. And Keith was on one.

Keith lowered his head as he didn't know what to do or say. all he can do with twist his head to show his violet eyes.

"You're one of them", Lucy said. She took a few steps backward.

Keith donned his best human impression. "Who me? I'm just a simply human guy who likes-"

"No", Lucy said. "I know what you are-you're an half-daemon!" she raised her blade.

Keith knew the game was up. "Fine, I'm an half-daemon", he said. Then grabbed Lucy's wrist, twisted it behind her back and disarmed her. He staggered away, weaponless and horrified.

"Nice blade, I'm sure you cut down a lot of enemies with this thing!" Keith said. "If you weren't just a bragger all time."

Lucy kneeled at Keith and begged for his mercy. "Please, just take the dagger. Don't hurt me", she cried.

Keith sighed. "I'm not going to hurt you. And I'm not going to steal from you either", he said.

He tossed the dagger to the ground and walked away.

Later, Hunk still carry Shiro on Kiaion's back with him as support while waiting by the fountain with Lance and Pidge where they meet up with Keith and Stats.

"Hey, guys!" Keith said.

"Hey, Keith!" Lance said.

"So, did you guys figure out a way to help Shiro!" Keith asked.

"Yes and no. Well, no," Lance stammered. "Not, yet, but maybe! So yes? In a way".

"Okay, that's averaging out to around a ' 'maybe-minus", Keith said.

"Yeah, that's about right", Hunk agreed.

"We learned about a miracle healer," Pidge said. "Someone who might be able to help Shiro!"

Pidge's enthusiasm was contagious. Keith felt a glimmer of hope. "Really?" she asked. "A miracle healer?"

"The only catch is that the healer lives up there", Lance said. He pointed to an ominous flat-topped mountain in the distance, " It's called 'The cursed Kekkaru'."

Keith hung his head. "Please tell me the mountain's named that because it was discovered by the great explorer, Sir Phineas Karst".

"Well, no", Lance started to explain. "It's apparently infested with horrible monster and..."

"Yeah, no, I know", Keith said. It was worth asking.

Suddenly, they heard shouting and clanging heading in their direction. A familiar voice shouted, "There he is!" and Keith's eyes widened in fear. Lucy came running from around the corner leading a pack of angry villagers.

"He's a half-daemon!" Lucy yelled.

Keith jumped up in fear. "Oh, right, I forgot about the other bad news", he said to the guys. "Let's move!"

He sprinted away from the violent, half-daemon-fearing humans with Lance, Hunk, Pidge, Stats, Kiaion, and Kosmo following behind. The crowd chased the gang over bridges, through narrow passage, and all the way to the edge of the villages, swords and pitchforks ready to slaughter an enemy.

"Suddenly, The cursed Kekkaru doesn't seem like such a bad option", Keith yelled over his shoulder.

And so they fled toward the Kekkaru, where black winds swirled wildly around a volcanic-shaped peak. They ran through snow and mist, barely noticing the darkening sky.

Finally, gasping in the thinning air, the group collapsed at the base of a tree and looked down the mountain for their pursuers. No one was coming; they were entirely alone on the Kekkaru.

"I think we're safe", Keith said.

The forest stretched around them in all directions, and the path upward loomed echoed all around.

"Guys, this place is pretty creepy", Hunk said, Kiaion groaned his assent.

"Safe. Sure", Keith said. "So how are we supposed to find this miracle healer? And what's that?"

He pointed to a rock just about them.

A large, shadowy creature stood looking down on them with glimmering green eyes. The beast pawed at the ground, snarling under its breath. Keith put one hand on his dagger, but then, the last of the fading daylight illuminated the creature.

Hunk smiled. It wasn't one creature—it was two.

"Come with me," Ellis said from stop Ava's back. "I'll help you find the healer" She yanked on Ava's collar and the wolf bounded up the rocks.