Chapter Fifteen:
Click for Cast Sketches
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The Five Gods: Chapter Fifteen
By: Jae
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_____ ‘Kira,’ Ookami said softly, ‘I think now might be a good time to visit the Dragon’s Castle. You need to get out of this house for a while, and I need to find out what I can about Lord Tatsu. We’ll go alone; just you and me.’
_____ Kira nodded and turned to TJ who was still sitting on the couch on the other side of the living room. “We’re going to Lord Tatsu’s castle. You can stay here until I get back. You need to rest, don’t you?” She said the last part in a cold voice, hoping he would get the hint.
_____ He did. TJ quickly turned to hide his face, “Be careful, Kira. I’ll be here waiting until you get back. I promise.”
_____ Without a word, Kira was out the door and transforming into Ookami’s dire wolf form. He trotted into the safety of the forest so no humans had a chance to see him.
_____ “I, as well as the other gods, can cast a spell to teleport myself to the castle. However, I will have to run the trip home. It’s not a very long run,” he grinned, “Not for me, at least.”
_____ ‘If you could do that, why haven’t you gone before, Ookami?’ Kira asked.
_____ “The Princess told us not to. She said that Lord Tatsu didn’t want us to return until the battle was done and there was a true winner to be rewarded,” he sighed, “And we blindly obeyed that order.”
_____ The wolf’s body was engulfed in a pale white aura as he let out a thunderous howl. A strong wind circled them like a tornado, blowing leaves and flower petals into the air around them. Before Kira could say anything about the beauty she saw, the forest surrounding her became blurred and faded. The aura around Ookami became more visible, blinding her until she saw nothing but white.
— — —
_____ “What is this?!” Ookami growled.
_____ Kira’s vision was suddenly clear; through Ookami’s eyes, she looked at her new surroundings. Large chunks of strange white stone were scattered across the area. The land was flat, as if the zone was once livable, though what might have once been a castle was overgrown with long grass, and tall plants. Vines covered the tallest of the stones, and what wasn’t hidden by the grass was covered in moss. Ookami described a beautiful white castle, but this was barely recognizable as it’s ruins.
_____ Ookami’s jaw had dropped open from shock as he skimmed the ruins, unable to move. “What… happened here; where is Lord Tatsu?!” His voice was frantic, speaking almost too quickly for Kira to make out his words, “Where is the castle; where is our home?!”
_____ Slowly, Ookami walked forward, carefully stepping over debris as if touching it would destroy this once sacred place even more. He forced himself to look around every corner, though it was clear how painful it was for him. Kira wanted to comfort him, but she couldn’t think of a way. Seeing this was even painful to
her.
_____ Does this mean Lord Tatsu is really gone? Kira thought to herself,
Is that why he hasn’t stopped the curse? Is that why Liz is able to be so cruel to the gods without punishment? She sighed,
but if that was true, then where would he have gone? Maybe to that ‘Inanis’ place Ookami had talked about? How could he just abandon them like that? If Lord Tatsu was ‘God,’ then how could he be so cruel?
_____ “Lord Tatsu!” Ookami called out, “Are you here? Tatsu!” The wolf quickly turned in half-circles, looking for any sign of life. He kept his ears and tail low, his golden eyes soft. “Where could he be..?”
_____ A sudden crash sound made Ookami jump. He turned to see a stone had crashed to the ground, dust clouded the ruins.
_____ “Lord Tatsu?” Ookami asked weakly, raising his ears the slightest bit.
_____ A faint cough echoed from behind the cloud of dust and debris. “Who… who’s there?” asked a weak, male voice; a voice that sounded as if it were once very powerful, a wise voice. Though at the same time, whatever made those words sounded young; older than Kira, but not by much.
_____ ‘Is that him, Ookami?’ Kira asked hopefully, ‘Is that Lord Tatsu?’
_____ Ookami sniffed the air briefly, then a low growl rumbled deep in his throat. “Show yourself, Demon! Wyrm!” he ordered through bared teeth.
_____ Out of the rubble stumbled a long snake-like beast. His scales were bright red, with a dark gray mane going down his back. A feathery bit of the same colored hair fluffed over the tip of his tail. He flapped his two small, faded-red wings in an attempt to raise his head up, arched over his coiled lower body.
_____ “Ookami?” asked the Wyrm, “You’re really here?!” A long smile spread across his short snout, “Five thousand years of trying to contact you and finally you’re—”
_____ “
Silence!” Ookami barked, ears pinned and tail high.
_____ “Ookami?!” the Wyrm asked, shocked, “Ookami, it’s
me! Tatsu!”
_____ “
HOW DARE YOU!!! ” Ookami snapped, “Of all the lies I’ve heard by the tongues of Wyrms, this is by far the most
insulting! How dare you,
Demon!”
_____ ‘I don’t understand, Ookami,’ Kira admitted, ‘what’s going on? That’s not him?’
_____ “Of course not!” the wolf scoffed, “He’s a Wyrm! Wyrms live through their lies; some even manage to convince
themselves that their crazed fantasies are truth!” He let out another growl, “I thought all Wyrms were extinct; apparently a lucky few were able to keep their race alive.”
_____ “What? No! Ookami, it’s really me!” the frantic Wyrm cried, “I truly am Tatsu! Please, Ookami, I need your help!”
_____ “
That’s enough!” Ookami barked, charging the Wyrm.
_____ The serpent was barely able to react before Ookami closed the distance between them. He rammed the side of his large head into the Wyrm and easily sent him flying, crashing hard into the ground several feet away from the ruins. Ookami walked after the beast, snarling through bared teeth.
_____ As he approached his pray, Kira saw through his eyes that they were on some sort of mountain, high above everything else in sight. Though the strange hilltop was large enough that she wouldn’t have noticed the drop if Ookami hadn’t gone closer.
_____ “Never return to this sacred place, Wyrm,” the wolf ordered, “If I ever find out that you do, know now that your death will be justified.”
_____ Ookami bit deep into the tail of the serpent and threw him over the edge of the mountain. The Wyrm let out a cry of pain as his blood dripped from his wound through the air behind him. He frantically flapped him small wings in vain, trying to soften the blow of the fall.
_____ A jolt of pain shot through Kira’s heart, and at the same time, Ookami let out a yelp. The wolf quickly recovered himself and snarled towards where he’d thrown the Wyrm.
_____ “Damn demon! Must have cast some sort of spell,” he growled under his breath, “Sorry about that, Kid.” He slowly turned towards the ruins and sighed. “I don’t think there’s anything left for us here,” a high pitched whine escaped his throat. “Let’s… go back.”
_____ Before Kira could think of a way to comfort him, he was running. Galloping at full speed in the direction she assumed would bring them home.
— — —
_____ The doorbell’s cliché chime interrupted Kira’s train of thought. She sat on the couch, with TJ at the far end. Both sat in silence ever since she’d gotten home from the incident at Lord Tatsu’s castle. They were both in their Bestia forms, and so heard whoever was coming before the bell had even rung, however they didn’t pay any mind to it until now.
_____ “I’ll get it,” Kira groaned, knowing it’d be strange if TJ answered her door. She half-ran the door, partially in an attempt to get further from TJ. “Who is it?” she asked, pulling the stubborn door open. As soon as the door was wide enough to see her visitor, Kira wished she had looked out the window first.
_____ “Hi there,
Ookami!” grinned Liz, leaning against the doorframe.
_____ Liz. The cause of Kira’s torment. The source of the explosion that’s pushing her friends apart. She turned them against each other; made them see their friends as enemies.
Liz was the true enemy! A low growl escaped Kira’s throat as she rapidly transformed into her full-lycanthrope form. The form of an anthropomorphic wolf; a werewolf; a beast Kira hoped was stronger than the Princess. Kira thrashed her clawed hand towards Liz. Grabbing her by the collar of her shirt, she pulled her inside and slammed the door shut; shoving Liz into it to do so.
_____ “Unhand me, Dog!” Liz screeched, “Ookami! What is the meaning of this?!” Her eyes flashed towards TJ, who was now approaching the two. “Kitsune, do something!”
_____ ‘Kira, no! Don’t do this!’ Ookami begged, ‘Let her go! We don’t have proof that this is her fault! I can’t let you harm her!’
_____ “Let her go.” TJ said flatly. Kira looked at him, a bit confused, and instantly noticed his bright orange eyes. It wasn’t TJ; it was Kitsune using TJ’s body. After a moment of Kira staring, Kitsune stepped closer and grabbed her right hand, pulling it away gently. “Now the other one, Kira,” he added, motioning towards her left hand with his head.
_____ Kira looked back to Liz, who stared coldly back at her. The wolf-girl scoffed and dropped her arm; Liz grinned wickedly.
_____ “Ah, Kitsune,” Liz said calmly, turning all attention away from Kira, “Just the fox I needed to see.”
_____ “What did you need to see me for, Princess?” the fox asked.
_____ “To congratulate you, of course! What else, you silly fox!” she smiled and patted him on the head; Kira glared, “Just yesterday you defeated Taka, and now you seem to be here for Ookami. He’s been a very bad dog this time around.”
_____ Kitsune scoffed and looked apologetically at Kira, “Thank you for the reminder of my regret, Princess.”
_____ “’Regret?’” Liz asked, coldly, then turned to glare at Kira, “So, Ookami, you’ve corrupted
him too? You’re just
trying to ruin this tournament for me, aren’t you? Tatsu won’t be happy about this.”
_____ “Please, Elizabeth,” Kitsune interrupted, repositioning himself to be slightly in front of Kira, “You’ve been asked to call him
Lord Tatsu, and it would be wise to do so.” The slightest growl escaped his throat, “You are still a mortal human, Princess. Tatsu is a Dragon-God, and you will use the proper respect when speaking of him.”
_____ A chuckle rumbled behind Liz’s grin, “You’re wrong. Mortal humans can’t do what I can. Mortal humans can’t use…
Arcane Magic. ”
_____ ‘It’s not fair,’ Ookami growled, ‘Nor does it make sense. Why is she able to do that? Why does Tatsu allow her to use his magic?’
_____ Kira took a breath to respond, but before she could, Liz held one finger towards her face, gesturing for her to be silent.
_____ “Kira,” Liz said warmly, “I have a… question for you.”
_____ “What?” Kira asked, exhaling her deep breath.
_____ Kitsune gave a worried look, but backed a few steps away as Liz waved her hand towards him; motioning for him to leave.
_____ “You seem very unhappy, Kira. Don’t you
like being with Ookami?” she frowned, “Would you be happier if you could go back to your old life,
beforeyou were linked to that wolf’s soul? Would you like to go back to being
friends with your current rivals? Please; tell me the truth.” The frown turned smug, “Did you know I have the power to do that for you? That I have the power to free you, if you wished to be freed?”
_____ “I would…” Kira stuttered, “I would give
anything to go back to that..!”
_____ ‘Kira, no! Wait, don’t listen to her!’ Ookami warned.
_____ “Alright then, Kira,” Liz grinned, “Have it your way.” The princess’ body began to glow a strong white color. “But I expect the gods to continue their fight without you,” she grinned towards Kitsune who gasped. Kira and Kitsune both began to glow with the same white aura as Liz, and their surroundings began to blur.
_____ “What’s going on?!” Kira asked, shielding her eyes from the blinding light.
_____ “You wish,” Liz grinned, “It’s about time it came true!”
_____ ‘Kira! No!!!’ Ookami howled; his voice fading further and further away.
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The Five Gods: Chapter Fifteen
END
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