It didn't feel right. It was great. We were back to our old ways. Lin, me, Boshu, Roe and Xie. We had left Ruby behind because it was my first time leaving Aku behind and he was throwing a lot of tantrums. Had it not been due to the request sent to us from both our parents, the fox and the wolf kings, I wasn't practically willing to leave my baby boy behind. He wasn't a baby anymore, I knew that well but he would always be a baby to me, no matter how old he was. At the moment, he was barely more than a toddler. But his way of growing wasn't really according to norms. He had his own unique pace of growing. His mixed traits were manifesting at such a tender age. It was something to take into account but it wasn't strange. " Mia, you seem so lost. Tell me what's bugging you sweetheart. "Lin shoved me with his shoulder as he handed me the glass of fresh juice that he brought. I was sitting right over the mast, dangling my legs, feeling the cool breeze tingle me as I brooded. He sat
Ruby and Jade sat at the lavish table that was spread in front of them. Ruby's mother-in-law, the Wolf queen, Xie's mother had called them over, asking them to bring Akata as well. " His grandfather just can't live without seeing him anymore. He has to take him on a piggy back ride now and then, if he has to keep functioning properly. "She laughed softly as she herself poured the drinks for Ruby and Jade. She had invited the sisters over, which wasn't very normal because the relationship between Xie's mother and wife was stained. The wolf queen despised Ruby because she thought she was the reason her son gave up on becoming the king. So Ruby and Jade could not say no to the Wolf Queen's invitation, when she called them over for brunch. " Oh my gosh! Boy... looking where you are going.... "No sooner had she finished pouring the drink than Akata came running right into her and bumped so hard onto her, that the glasses fell from the Queen's hand and she stumbled on her feet to regai
" They took the boy to the mer-world? "Asked the voice of a lady who seemed very feeble. She tried sitting up as the person in front of her entered. Well, he wasn't really a person, he was actually a fox. " I can't even go back to the ocean to revitalize myself, least those traitors get any clue about my survival. "The lady coughed up some blood as the fox prince in front of her extended a cloth. " Well, if things go as planned, you will soon be able to return to the part of the ocean that falls inside the wall. It will be your haven in the Western Wastelands. "The lady scoffed. " I know you only saved me and gave me refuge because you wanted to use me. But you know you still need me. You can't just get rid of me at this moment... "" Who wants to get rid of you fair mermaid? I was only trying an innocent suggestion... "The fox prince reflected his malicious grin. " Don't you know the part that we sealed off has bubbling poison inside it? That poison is what is causing all th
Mia carefully hid the wound in her hand that was spreading little by little. It was taking its toll on her and she knew she could no longer hide it. But she feared the impulsive behavior from both her husband and brother. The only one she could confide in was Boshu, because Roe, was also stubborn. They would attack head on in anger and for revenge without giving her any more chance to find out more about their new enemy's nature. " Tell me Mia, what is it that you wanted to talk about. Why couldn't we talk in front of them? "Boshu sneaked away from the campsite that they had made. They were lucky enough to find an island further west from the spot where they were almost about to crash. They made a fire and were cooking something for them to eat. Mia said nothing but grabbed his hand and pulled him further away, making sure there was no way for the others to hear them. She slowly lifted her dress and revealed the small wound which was by that time quite prominent. " Oh my gosh! Mi
I woke up to find myself all alone, sleeping peacefully while the men were gone. Roe was packing something when she saw me getting up and smiled. " We need to run. They must be back by now with the boat. We need to return. "She said. " Return? Wait what! Why? "I hurriedly sat up. " I don't know. Mother sent Xie a message with the hawk. She asked us to come back. Immediately. "" Is Aku alright? "My heart started racing, completely forgetting about everything that our new mission was all about. " I don't know but I think it wouldn't have been my mother to send us the mail, had anything happened to our little star. You know, it would have been father or maybe the army.... "She tried to joke. She had a point. I tried to calm down as the wind took us back, faster than it had taken for us to reach that place. I sprinted as fast as I could after getting down. My boy was right there, waiting for me and he came at me, running and hugged me back. Before I could ask him if he was al
It seemed like Mia was again back in that dimension where she was able to talk with Nanako, though it began like a dream. She was running in that misty field, looking here and there, wondering, why she was back there and then she heard that voice. The voice she had not heard in a while. The only voice that gave her peace, apart from her husband, that is. " Mia, my baby. "There she was. Her mother, the mer-queen, Crystal. Mia turned to look at her and then she was stunned. She was floating in that mist, as if it was water and she was in front of Mia, in her true form. Mia had never seen her mother like that. It couldn't have been a dream. Her hair was flowing in the air around her, as if it was a silvery, molten metal. Her scales were shimmering and shinning, though there was no ligh source present there. They kept changing colour, from blue to emerald to sapphire to lavender. Her eyes were like the witches orb. Mysterious and sparkly. Mia hesitated for moment. Was that etherea
The ones that were driven by jealousy and revenge failed to see that price they were about to pay for the deeds they were doing. In their blind pursuit to achieve the unachievable, they stooped low enough to make the same mistake as the former mer-queen.In their attempt at conjuring the one that was sealed deep below the ocean floor, sleeping for centuries, they forgot that they risked casualties. Casualties as in masses. They had trespassed the border between the dead and the living. The thin membrane that kept the world of the deceased and the immortal shifter clans separate, had been tampered with. The ones that had grouped together, posing as victims of discrimination, were no less than villains. But what was worse was that they were all naive and ignorant thick heads. They were trying to awaken the one that marked the border between the dead and the living. They thought that the poison that was spreading was toxin. They thought it was merely some venom that they would do away
" What do you want from me? "The boy asked, taking each cautious step back at a time. He was clever enough to understand the relationship between him and the serpent in front of him but he wasn't sure if he aught to believe that disgusting man. " I want to take you to new heights my boy. I want to help you achieve a status that would not be possible for you to attain , if you are caught in your bird feathers. I am here to teach you the art of slithering disguise and cunning political advantages. "He smirked again and advanced slowly forward. He could see the boy was giving slowly in. His mesmerizing effect was working. He placed his scaly hand over the boy's head and slowly slid it, till he reached his neck. He tapped some points there and then moved slowly back. The boy kept looking at him, as if hypnotised. His eyes slowly became slanted, they were no longer round and wide. His tongue began dividing and he could feel his front teeth, turn into fangs. But strangely, he did no
Fast forwarding a few years:Merindale tried to tuck her hair back with her muddy hand, painting her cheeks with mud in the process. Akata rolled over on the other side of the field as he saw her. She had not noticed that he was coming. “ What's so funny? ” she pouted. “ Nothing. I just saw the cutest flower amongst all the flowers in this field. ”Merindale instantly melted. How many times would her man make her fall for him, over and over again. She knew she was blessed and she cherished him. “ Now come on, you worked enough. Wash your hands and come and get some breakfast. I made some fresh pancakes. ”Merindale jumped up at the mention of pancakes. According to herhe made the best pancakes in the world. “ I'm coming, ” she literally jumped over the bushes, trying to hurry up when a certain whoosh of the air made her fall back. She rolled her eyes. The triplets were there again. They never left the two of them alone, barging in their peaceful mortal life, away from the hust
Akata's brows furrowed as the God in front of him pulled out what looked like a luminescent moon from his pocket. The moon swam around Akata, finally coming to rest in front of him, floating in the air. With one swing of the God's hand, Akata saw movements inside the orb. “ Father… ” Akata flew towards it, grabbing it with both hands. He could see Lin, inside the orb, fighting for his life in the midst of those Night Crawlers. He were all over him, in the count of thousands. “ Father… father… you are alive? ” Akata grabbed the orb and shook it violently, smiling through his tear. “ Father, I am coming. Don't worry. I will save you. ” His head swing at the God beside him. “ How do I go to this place? Tell me! ” He demanded. The God smiled at Akata. “ There will be no need for that. I can bring your father completely unharmed over here. Right now. But it will depend on your decision. ”Akata looked at him with suspicion. “ What decision are you talking about?”He asked . “ You
Merindale felt a little nudge at her feet when she looked down she saw a very familiar face. But she wasn't expecting to see that face in this realm. “ You! You are that ghost from my school. What are you doing here? Am I dead? What happened to aunt Mia? “ She paused momentary but didn't wait for the girl to reply. “ Shit! Don't tell me. Are we in the Celestial Realm? ” She looked around amazed, finally realising the heavenly beauty around that place. “ But you are a ghost right? Did they kidnap you as well? ” Merindale quickly turned back to her. The little girl shool her head and for the first time she spoke. “ I am Arawan. I am daughter to Mia and Lin, Akata's sister. ”Merindale’s eyes were about to pop out. “ Akata has a sister? ”“ I was in my mother's womb when the Celestial Beings brought us here. They kept my mother in her Soul form ever since. I was born as a Celestial Creature, devoid of a physical body, just like all the other beings born in this realm. ”Merindale c
Merindale's eyelids fluttered, battling the weight of slumber, as her mind groggily began to piece together the fragmented memories.Her thoughts spiraled in a dizzying whirlwind, voices echoing in her mind. "Where... am I” She murmured as she gradually awakened, her senses swimming hazily. She tried to touch her head because it hurt badly. But her hands weighed down with the weight of the shackles that seemed to be made with light. Merindale tugged at them realizing that she was a captive. But with every tug, those fragile looking shackles became heavier by the seconds. Merindale immediately gave up because she understood that she was making it worse. Her predatory senses kicked in and her eyes began to search for a way out. It took some time for her to adjust her gaze to the overwhelming light condition in the Celestial Realm. She shifted her weight and tried to sit up but she could only position herself on her knees. Her body felt exceptionally lightweight. She could almost
The Wolf Queen stood in the front, looking down at the flame leaping with its vicious tongue towards them. “ Can we believe this woman? ” Roe asked her brother. Xie placed a hand over Roe's shoulder and said, “ I can see something is different about her.I am no saint. Let us give her a benefit of doubt. There is no other knowledge that we can implement at the moment. Let's see if her method works.” “ But what if she tries to manipulate us again? What if we lose more … ”Xie pressed her hand, “ Watch… ”.They saw their mother slit her wrist and then she made a drop of that blood fall in the furnace.The fire reached the height of the heavens. It's color turned the darkest crimson and then it dropped down to its normal height. The fire changed its color a couple of times, matching Lin's changing eye color. And then something miraculous happened. The fire split from the middle, creating a way for them and everyone looked at each other in surprise. “ How did you do that? ” Roe aske
Akata and the old wolf queen helped Xie inside the Bird Tribe. He looked devastated. And the birds scattered here and there at his arrival. Roe rushed to the site and was shocked to find her mother and brother together. “ What brings you here mother? ” Roe lunged at her but she held up her hand. “ I know you don't trust me but I had nothing to do with this. It's about Merindale… They took her as well. ” she spurred. Roe had no time to gasp as they hurried inside with Xie who was almost on the verge of exhaustion. His eyes fell on Lin who was hurdled in the corner. Xie freed himself from everyone's grip and literally ran at his feet. “ Forgive me! ” he began to sob uncontrollably. “ Merindale was right. I never tried giving you my best. I always thought about the safety of my family and my kingdom first but look at the cruel twist of fate. I have neither a kingdom nor a daughter. ”He turned at his mother, “ Turns out I took after you,mother… Is it true that you cheated on m
The soldiers flew on either side, startled as Merindale swung the door to her father's chamber open with a loud kick. Her eyes were blazing with fury as she stormed in, her cloak billowed behind her like a tempestuous wind."Father," she spat, her voice was a mixture of anger and betrayal. "Why did you do this? Since when did you become a coward?” she huffed. “Merindale? ” Xie and Ruby were in their bed. They sat up as she entered. “My dear girl…where are you coming from? What happened?” Ruby tried to ask.“ Don't try to act like you have been doing over the years. I know everything. I saw uncle Lin and what you did to him.”Ruby opened her mouth but Xie raised a hand. “ I acted for your well-being. You cannot fathom the dangers lurking beyond our realm. I know what I did might not have been the best thing to do but that was all I could think of at the moment and as the Wolf King and your father, I am entitled to my decision." He concluded. "Enough!" Her fists clenched as she pac
Boshu was sobbing profusely as he saw Lin's motionless body. He held his hand and cried like someone who had lost everything. “ Forgive me! ” he could barely utter through his whimpers. “ Forgive me for not being able to be with you when you were suffering at the lands of your own people. Forgive me for being so engrossed in my own life that I… that I… ” he was almost on the verge of vomiting because he was crying and drooling so much. “ Papa! Take it easy. Your friend can't hear you. Let him come around first. ” one of the triplets patted his back. He had been guilt ridden for living in ignorance for so long. Besides he had never seen Lin in such a vulnerable state, be it any battle. Akata walked in at that moment. Boshu immediately wiped his tears at his arrival. “Don't worry. He will be up and running any moment, young man. ” Akata watched his father from a distance, smiled at his uncle and then left. Everything about his present situation was overwhelming. It was too much
“ What's going on? Is he not Akata? How the hell did your brother banish him? Why does he call himself Leo? ” Boshu poured his heart out but Roe stayed quiet. “ We need to go back. Let's take Akata to the Wolf territories. We don't have a proper facility to give him the required care. I need to talk with my brother as well. Things don't seem right at the moment. You stay back and take care of the kids, I will leave with him immediately.”*****At the Wolf Kingdom -Roe might have left her lands for love but her land never stopped loving her. Every leaf she stepped on rustled in greeting. Dust danced in the air, and every stone she trod upon seemed to echo a silent welcome.There was a stir amongst the guards as she walked through the gates, with Akata in her arms, going straight towards the palace. The soldiers standing tall and vigilant, softened at her arrival, acknowledging her with a respectful nod. It was as though the very essence of the kingdom recognized her, embracing he