Chapter 17: The Village (2)

We finally got the chance to look around the village. It was really busy in the streets and I felt someone grab my hand. I looked up and saw Loki. "You'll get lost if I don't hold your hand. Its busy in the streets." "Oh ok." So I held his hand and looked around. "Wow! So this is where dad and uncle grew up." Then uncle spoke up. "Yes well it looked like it changed a bit. I guess it would after all these 20 something years we haven't been here. Oh Akela. I want to show you and Loki something. Come on Luna you too." "Ok coming." So we all followed uncle to a strange tree.

"See this tree? I'm surprised its still here. My brother and I built a tree boat. I will see if its sturdy. " "Be careful up there Kiran." "Yeah I know I will be." So he went up and held on to a branch just in case. "Wait a second? This stuff looks new. He walked on it and surprisingly sturdier than when he built it. "Hey guys come on. Someone rebuilt it. It should fit all of us." So we climbed the tree onto the tree boat. "Wow this is pretty cool." I said. Loki agreed. Then we saw a door to something. "What is this uncle?" "Oh that is like the inside of the boat. We used to go in and do our homework there for school. I used to read there. I may not look it but I brought a book up here to read when I was bored." "Oh is that so?" said Loki. "Your right. You don't look like it." "Haha." We all laughed and were having a good time.

After awhile someone came over and said, "Hey what are you all doing up there?" Said Echo. "Oh hello Echo. Did you redo me and my friends treehouse?" "Yeah I did. My son and daughter discovered it and I redid it for them. I even put a bookcase with some books in it. Take a look." "OK sure. Oh and thanks." "I didn't do it for you. I did it for my son." "I know but thanks anyway." He went in and looked inside. "Wow he even put an oil lamp in here to see so they can read." He came out and said, "Well Well very creative." "Thanks. Well I'll be going now." Said Echo. Then he left.

"Ok now that we had a little bit of fun, should we get to our business so we can get home?" said Mom. "Yes sorry. I got carried away." Said Kira. "Its all good." Said Loki. "Ok Kiran and I are heading out. When we are done we will meet you at Fangs ok?" "Yes Loki. See you later." "Yeah be careful ok?" "Yes I know." We hugged each other tight then we left.

"OK I have to find some people. Looking for dad's best friends that had gone to the forest before. Mom did dad say anything about his best friends he had when he was with you?" "He did talk about them. All I know is they still live here and their names are Well you already know 2 of them. Your father had 4. Echo and Aries are the ones you already know. You will meet another one when you get to Fangs tonight. Echo's wife was another friend and there was one more but." "But what mom?" "Oh sorry. He died when your father was 15 years old. Your father went there for a visit looking for him and had found out his friend had died. He was so mad that he went crazy." "Did dad loose control over his powers?" "Yes a little bit. From what I heard he had to be contained in a special room until he calmed down." "Oh I see. That's a little scary. I hope I don't ever have a blow out like father." "Just keep your emotions in check and you should be fine." "Ok well I want to get these friends together and talk to them about something." "I know of one person who might know where they are." "Follow me." I followed mom to a house I didn't see in the village. Well I guess I have only been in one section of it anyway.

"OK here we are." Said mom. (knock knock) "Who is it?" Said a woman. "Its been a long time. Its me Luna!" The lady opened the door. "Well I'll be. If it isn't little Luna. Come on in and sit." "Ok for a little bit we can." So we went in and sat down. "So what brings you two here?" "Well you can guess this is my daughter Akela. We were going to come here in a few before Orion died. She was still a baby." "Oh I see. So you were going to come after all. I understand then. You grew into a pretty young lady Akela." "Thank you. Maam." "Oh sorry I didn't introduce myself. My name is Clovis. I was the sister of the boy I'm assuming your mother told you died." "Yes she told me a boy that was my dads friend died." "Yes I was his sister. His name was Riker. He was my little brother. I am 2 years older than him." "Oh I see." "So what's up? What did you come here for Luna and Akela?" "Well we came here to aske if you have seen Aries." "Oh well. Today is the anniversary of my brothers death. I guess as of right now he is at the grave of my brother. Do you know where that is?" "Yeah Orion showed me when we visited the last time he was alive when we came here." "Ok. Well thanks for stopping by. Good to see old friends." "Yeah good to see you too Clovis." Then me and mom walked out and headed for the gravesite.

We went to the gravesite and found Not only Aries but the other 2 as well plus a little boy and girl. "Oh that saves me the trouble. They are all here. Your fathers friends." "Oh good. Lets go talk to them." "Wait Akela. Lets wait for them to finish." "OK mom."

We walked up slowly and waited. Then after awhile Aries saw us. "Oh Luna Akela what brings you here? Are you here to see Orion's grave?" "No we are here because I have business with you 3 adults. You were my fathers friends right?" "Yes we were." "Hey can I ask you all a favor? Aries can you come to Fangs for diner? I need to speak to you all in private. That way Fang can stay with the kids while we talk." "Yeah sure." Said Aries. "Oh and another thing. If its not to much trouble may I ask how he died?" "Oh that. Yes Its alright it happened a long time ago. It was I think 4 days before your dad came to visit he died. He was doing something stupid like he always does. All 3 of us were there with him at the time. He died in my arms." Said Aries. "Riker was always a daredevil. His mom always told him to be careful. One day his stunts got him killed. We tried to stop him but it was too late. We weren't mindful of our surroundings at the time. It was a sandy cliff. He slid down and hit his head pretty hard. I think that could be part of how he died. He had blood dripping from his mouth. He said I knew one day my stupid stunts would kill me. I didn't think it would be this soon. Take care of eachother I love you all. Those were his last words. When we checked out what else could have killed him his ribs were broken we think they could have pierced an organ or something. But his head and that doubled would certainly be what killed him." "Oh I'm sorry. How far was it from here?" "We were actually camping at the time so it was about a day and a half away from here." "I am so sorry Aries. I heard how dad reacted when he found out his friend had died. Did you guys tell him how he died?" "Yes we told him that before we told him he died and that is why he had a blow out. Also the first time we even knew he had powers." "I see. Well this is my first time visiting the village. So which one is dad's grave?" "Oh its this one on his left side." Said Aries. I went over to it and started talking.

"Hey dad. At least your with your friend again. Although I know you weren't planning on seeing him so soon. I hope you are happy up there right now. I may not remember you but when I saw you that time I had a fever you looked happy. I hope that wasn't a dream. That you really are happy. I have a boyfriend named Loki. Yeah I feel in love with my cousin. Even if he is my step cousin. We are going to get marred in 3 or 4 years. We are going to find out the truth about your death. Don't worry dad. I will try to be careful. Your brother decided to join the investigation with Loki probably so he can protect you. I don't think he really cares who killed you he just wants to keep Loki safe. You know your brother more than I do. If he does find out who did it, he told me he would probably beat him up then ask questions. I can picture it. I'm 16 now dad. Yes I have your face but have mom's light blue eyes and white hair. I just wish you were here with me dad. I mean I like Onyx and all. After I found out he wasn't my birth father I wanted to know all I could from you. The only ones who can tell me now are your friends mom and your family I wish I could talk to you about how you grew up. Well I guess I have to wait to be able to see you again to ask you. Don't worry dad. I read your letter. It gave me a hard time at first. But I promise in time I will eventually forgive the one who killed you. It will take some time but I promise I will forgive him or her someday. Well dad. I guess I told you all I can for now. I miss you so much." Then I was in tears. I got up and started running. I didn't know the village well so I just randomly ran anywhere in the mountains. Everyone tried to stop me but no one could.

"(sigh) I guess its time I gave her something her dad wanted to give her earlier." Said Luna. "What is it?" Said Echo. "You know the necklace he always wore? It not only kept his powers in check it also helped him when he had troubles." "Oh that necklace. He said the necklace had special powers." "Yes he said that to me as well." "OK lets look for Akela together." Said Aries. Everyone knodded. The kids came along too. "Oh Orion. Please keep our baby safe." She was thinking of where she could be then she thought of something. "I might know where she is. Only me and Orion knew where the place was. He went there to be alone a lot. He showed me when he took me over here a few times. Follow me." said Luna.

Meanwhile Akela was in her wolf form on a cliff looking at the moon. Then she heard a sound. "Akela? What are you doing here?" Said Loki. "Oh Loki. I thought you were investigating?" It was getting around diner time at the time. "We were done. I heard you went missing. Then I was told of a place where it is nice to look at the moon. Then I was surprised to see you. I'm glad I found you idiot. Are you ok?" "Yeah. I just visited my dad's grave. I didn't know where dad was buried. I'm glad I do now. I can visit anytime. Loki. I don't know if I can do school anymore." "What are you talking about? Of course you can. I am there with you." "I know but a lot of things are changing now. I miss too much school. These projects are too damn hard to do for the credit I need to pass the courses." "Well your not wrong there." "Its not the work that is causing me to have this feeling. Its just too many things going on with me since I found out what I am. Now I have powers I have moon powers and ice powers. Mom said that I might even end up having fire power in the future. Most of the time I will be training my powers. I have more than one to train. I have to tell the principle and auntie that I can't do it anymore. I can't stay here anymore. Tomorrow I am leaving in the morning with or without you guys. Just being here right now is too much. I'm sorry Loki. "Hey Hey its ok Akela. Breathe. Its ok." I cried in Loki's arms. "Even if you decide to quit I will still be here for you ok? I promise." "Thank you Loki. I love you so much." He wrapped his arms around me and I just leaned my face into his chest.

Mom and the others finally showed up and saw Akela was ok. Luna saw her daughter and Loki together. "Ok lets go everyone. She is fine. Loki is there with her." So they all left to leave them alone.

"Ok should we head back now?" said Loki. "Diner should be about done." "OK thanks Loki." He walked beside me holding my hand. I squeezed his hand to thank him. He squeezed it back to let me know he loved me. We finally made it to the house just in time for dinner to start.

"Oh just in time." Said Fang. "Sorry everyone. I didn't mean to scare you all. Its just my first time here. I didn't know what to do when I was talking to my father's grave." "Hey its all good." Said Drake. "I have been there myself. I was close to my grandma when she died." "That's not it though. I never knew my dad. He died when I was a baby. Even though I saw pictures of him and read his letter it feels like I know a little of him. That is why it hurts so much. I'm sorry everyone. I'm crying my eyes out again." "No its all good we understand." Said Echo. Then I stopped talking for fear I might cry again. We all ate our dinner then I said, "OK before you three go I need to talk to you alone." "Ok yes you did say that. Lets go then." Said Aries. Then the 3 gathered and I went over to talk.

"Ok you three. Aries Echo and Rain. You were my fathers friends right?" "Yes we were. Why do you ask?" said Aries. Well I was talking to uncle Kira. He said that night you three or maybe just a couple of you were in the forest the day it turned quiet. He said that the reason it did was because you guys knew I was going to come into the forest that day. Then something strange happened. That is when my powers first came although I didn't know it at the time. Tell me. Did you guys know what was going to happen?" "Well your uncle was right. But only 2 of us came. It was just me and Aries here." Said Echo. "I told Aries I had a hunch. I didn't tell my kid this but I have the power to talk to the forest creatures. That is why it was quiet that day." "Oh is that so?" "Yeah sorry about not showing ourselves. We know you must have been freaked out." Said Aries. "Freaked out is an understatement. I was terrified not knowing what was happening until I passed out. Apparently that's when I had my fever and got my memory back." "Oh so you had memory loss?" "Yeah for a bit but it came back. By the way the village is really lovely. I sort of wish I grew up here. Maybe I will talk to Loki in the future after we get married to move here." "Haha you love it that much huh?" said Echo. "Yeah I do. Oh Rain? Next time we come over to visit I want to spend time with lily. Would that be ok?" "I'm sure she would like that." Then we finally went in to join everyone. The next morning everyone was getting ready to head back home.