The legend of Dalvotor

Drews pov

My stomach ached, if I laughed anymore I might throw up! Tears were streaming down my face. The camp was teeming with noise, all of them joyous. Life was good. No. Life was amazing! I looked over to my father sitting in front of a willing audience, 18 maybe 20 young ones listening to his every word. I took a second to take him in, the flickering of the campfire showing up, each grey hair scattered among the sea of black that hung just below his ears. When did he get so many? He was without a single grey hair not too long ago. His face had aged too. Each wrinkle was more pronounced, his crow's feet around his eyes were the most prominent- I put that down to all the smiling he does. He catches me staring over and raises his eyebrows at me with a loving smile before going back to telling the crowd of laughing children more of his iconic tales.

I was jolted back to the group by Ezra’s elbow jabbing my ribs playfully.  He had been clearly telling a story to a few of the guys sitting by us. It's all I could do was laugh and pretend I knew what he was going on about. Ezra was short, maybe 5 foot 7” at most, with short, unkept, mousy brown hair - I think he would suit a beard but he’s always chosen to be clean-shaven. In fact, I have never seen him with so much as a little stubble. We have been friends since we were born, both grown together with only a week between us. Our parents had been friends long before us too. I realised I was staring at him when I caught a glimpse of Addison over his right shoulder.

My heart sank involuntarily. “It could be worse, you know Addison, she’s your friend - she will be good for you.” I kept repeating this to myself. I find myself smiling over at her. She has made sure she is dressed to impress, that’s for sure. She’s wearing a burned amber sun dress, which has fallen off her shoulders, bringing attention to her tanned skin. Her long brown hair is the colour of the darkest chocolate, perfectly straight and adorned by a flower tiara. Sunflowers, daisies and violets, she looks every bit the princess she would be. We will be okay…

I cannot decide whether the warmth I am experiencing is from my recent thoughts or the last remains of the fire pit- the wood has all but burnt into embers now, but you know it will continue to warm us for many hours yet. 

“And he came out with nothing but a hedgehog!” the crowd cried with laughter as Erza brought his story to a close.

I missed his story but I knew what he was referring to- we must have been about 10 years old when we heard about the legend of Dalvotor. Being the next in line, naturally, I believed I was the promised one, the one who would bring us all together. To unlock the powers promised, we just had to find the secret lake and the sacred moonstone. The power would only be given to the chosen one. It was mid-morning and we were finishing up the morning training. I would have bet my life I had seen a wisp dart shoot through a hole in a hedge. I could not believe my luck - I knew it was me! So I jumped through head first with no hesitation while Ezra waited up top. I only landed in a thick bramble brush and the wisp I had been so sure of was the hedgehog now sticking in my side. I crawled out of the hole with my tail between my legs, cradling the hedgehog. That’s when my father told me it was just a tall tale passed down through the generations and we shouldn’t be chasing myths. My cheeks burned red when I could hear Ezra chuckling behind me. The legend always felt more than a story to me - but I was 10 and 10 years-olds will always believe in fairy tales.

After what seemed like forever, I got to my feet, brushing myself down. I could see the dawn was breaking and today it was my duty to run the perimeter- after all, one day they will all look to me, but thankfully, that will not be for some time yet. I take one last look around me and say my goodbyes.

Finally alone, I took a deep breath. The crisp morning air saturates my lungs. I calm my mind, start running and count “1….2….3….4….5” When I reach 5 I feel my paws hit the earth, disturbing the dirt which follows behind me like a thick brown cloud.

The threshold is just 10 feet ahead of me, only the alpha is permitted past. I should keep running but I find myself slowing, everything inside me telling me to cross. I told myself it wouldn’t hurt anyone to cross and, in fact, I bet my father would be proud of me. Alpha duties need to be learned - why not now? I took a deep breath and decided to show him what I could do it.  Before I had time to change my mind, I raced down, not allowing myself to doubt my decision.

So this is what the other side looks like. There is a huge area of grass with flowers potted here and there, the place has an empty, cold feeling as if nobody lives there. It is just a little too neat. A large stone house sits on the grass, with a little shed-sized house built by its side. Back at Domilia, there is always laughter and children playing. I shudder at this place. The loneliness it creates makes me miss home. It’s so different to what I am used to yet there’s something familiar. There’s such a strong feeling in my gut. I feel like a fish on a hook being reeled in closer to the house. I have an uncontrollable need to find out what’s inside that house. My paws took slow, deliberate steps in the direction of the large stone house.

“DREW HOME NOW!” His command pounded my head, making me a slave to him. My limbs were already racing back home before I had a chance to stop them. No! I needed to know what was out there, but I couldn’t fight an order from my Alpha.

“Wow Dad, dad calm down, what’s this for?” I laughed as my father wrapped his large arms around me in an overwhelming bear hug. His big brown eyes were staring at me as if he was printing a mental image in his mind.`

“Family gathering tonight, the whole pack is invited to be here. Go rest now and don’t be late.” He puffed his chest up. You could feel he was excited about this.