Lyra: The Spirit Wolf

"Lucas...Lucas..."

That voice. It was a voice that reminded Lucas of an abandoned house that he used to play in with his cousins back at the reservation. 

Lucas stirred awake from his slumber and groaned as each bone cracked from the heaviness that he felt. He stretched his back as he exhaled loudly.

He looked outside of the car and saw the darkness that engulfed his whole surroundings. He looked in front of him and noticed that his father was not inside the car.

He grumbled in boredom and went out of the car, thinking that they might've arrived in the old reservation—a place they called Oakford Mountain.

He looked around the place once again and smiled. Nothing changed. It was as if it was just yesterday when they decided to leave the place and headed south.

"Max! Lucian! Where are you guys?"

Lucas, who was still oblivious to the dangers he was in, went up the trail towards the sacred twin rocks, where most tribal weddings happen.

"Dad! Elder Callum! Are you guys here?"

Lucas frowned as no answer came back to him. His heart started to beat faster, and concern spread across his face. He was about to come back down towards his father's truck when he heard the voice again.

"Lucas…Luuuuucaaaassss…"

It was more distinctive and loud, making him turn towards the direction of the twin rocks. There, standing tall and mighty, were two rocks of the same form, age, and texture.

Both had been standing since the first werewolf was born from their tribe. They considered it their tribe's greatest treasure.

Lucas stared at the rocks when he heard the voice calling him once more. "Lucas…Lucas."

Lucas stood in place, hesitating to walk any further, yet his curiosity kept on bugging him. As he turned back around, the voice beckoned him even more, causing him to gasp in shock at the disappearance of the old trail.

His surroundings were now just filled with leaves, bushes, and trees. "Turn around, child. Come to me."

Lucas felt shivers up his spine as he shakingly looked back towards the direction of the twin rocks. There he saw a floating image of a white light in the figure of a human with its head and legs.

Lucas gulped as he slowly went in its direction, fear and worry plastered to his innocent face.

"Come here, child. Don't be afraid."

Upon reaching the light, Lucas looked straight at it and gasped softly when he realized that it was a white wolf. He could see a small smile plastered on its face as Lucas tried to process what was in front of him.

Elder Callum, one of the elders that lead the tribe, had never told the younger ones anything about the history of white wolves or if their tribe had ever had one.

He stared at the mystical creature in front of him, creating a mental image of it to tell his father later. The wolf's fur was as white as snow, its eyes were bluer than the Caribbean Sea, and its fangs were sharper than a saber-toothed tiger he once saw in a museum.

"Who—who are you?"

He could hear the wolf chuckle from his question before it sat up prideful in front of him.

"My name is Lyra. And I chose you to be my divine afflatus. My muse. My little carrier."

"What? What do you mean, carrier?"

"Sshh, young child. It's normal to be confused. It's okay. I will never hurt you. I will never let anyone hurt you."

Lucas could only watch the wolf stand up and walk in a circle around the round table between the twin rocks.

"Tonight. I will see you here again. By then, I will be ready for you."

And it disappeared. "We—Wait! Hey!"

As he said those words, the ground began to grumble. He looked down and saw large cracks on the ground, and then he began to fall.

Lucas let out a piercing scream before sitting upright. His father had pressed the brake pedal hard to stop the truck and turned to the young man, who was covered in sweat and was panting heavily.

"Lucas! What happened? Are you okay?"

Lucas looked around him and could see his father's worried face. "D-Dad, is that you?"

His father, in his worried state, got out of the truck and went to the back seat to check on his son. The other elders and cousins, who saw this, went out of their truck as well to check on Lucas.

"Lucas! What happened?"

"Oh shit, dude. Why are you sweaty? Did you have a bad dream?"

Lucian and Maximus, both worried, climbed to the backseat and hugged Lucas tightly. Benjamin smiled at the antics, yet his worries did not fade away. It was his first time seeing Lucas in that state, and he was frantic to help him out.

A few more moments later, Lucas heaved a deep breath to steady himself. He felt protected and safe in the arms of his friends. "Thanks, guys. I feel better now."

Maximus withdrew from the hug, but the worry hasn't dissipated. Lucian, who was still unsure whether Lucas was truly okay or not, hugged him tightly.

"Lucian, let go. I am okay now." Lucas laughed lightly, but his friend hasn't let him go.

"No! Not until I make sure you are truly okay, dude. Not until we reach Oakford Mountain. I am not letting go!"

As stubborn as a young pup, Maximus and Benjamin could only roll their eyes at Lucian. Lucas, who was beside him, could only chuckle and drop his protest.

"Fine. Suit yourself up, dude."

Silence engulfed the whole car as Maximus watched both of his friends before heaving a deep sigh. 

"So, what happened, Lucas? Are you in the right mind to tell us, or do you need more time?"

Lucas stared at his friend and sighed. "I saw a wolf spirit in my dreams."

Benjamin, who was standing still outside the back seat side, signaled the others that everything was okay. He got inside the driver's seat, started the engine, and went on their way.

"A wolf spirit? In dreams? Is that something of good news, Uncle Ben?"

Benjamin, gluing his own eyes on the road, hummed in response as he tried to remember any elder teachings about such a dream. "Not sure; we might need to ask the elders first before concluding anything. Did the spirit say anything important to you, Lucas?"

Lucas sighed before speaking, "I am not sure if it is important, but it said its name is Lyra and she chose me to be her muse or carrier, and she will see me tonight. Is she dangerous, Dad?"

Benjamin, who was clearly shaken at what Lucas had said, visibly gulped and pressed harder on the gas pedal. All three boys gasped when they felt the pull from the backseat.

"Woah, Uncle! Slow down!"

Benjamin could barely hear them and sped up more. People behind him followed through as they felt the urgency from the way he drove.

"Why are we speeding up, Timothy?"

Timothy, who was more confused than his cousin, telepathically communicated with both Patrick and Marcus, who was riding in the third vehicle.

Information passed through their minds until Timothy was able to reach Lucian and Maximus.

What happened? His voice sounded slightly alarming and confused. Lucian, who heard it first, answered back, A wolf spirit visited Lucas in his dreams. Apparently, it's not a good thing.