Hailfire

Story

It was only a couple weeks after celebrating Hailfire's 1st birthday when Elfric caught wind of trouble from the local rumormill. The guild often traded their loot and spoils at one nearby small town. The guild was very well-known by now, and highly respectable. It wasn't unusual for a resident to approach them with reports of monster activity, knowing the guild would then proceed to take care of it. On this particular lazy summer day, a lone adult man had approached the white wolf and tapped fervently on his shoulder, getting the wolf's attention. Elfric had been resting at the town center's fountain, observing Sven trying to interest a vendor in some pilfered goods. The man looked worried, no...terrified to death. He only wanted to speak to Elfric, the commander of the Hunting Fangs guild. They found an alleyway to talk privately, and what the man told him made Elfric's blood run ice cold.

Elfric returned to the town center, perturbed. Valtam had just finished trading some hides for money when he noticed his commander's chilled facial expression. The ram rarely saw Elfric ever look super concerned, and he gathered the rest of the guild from around the town so they could return home.

No sooner had they gotten back, Elfric spoke immediately, a seriousness underlying his words.

"There will be no training sessions for the rest of the day or tomorrow. Captains and below may enjoy this unplanned free time to do as they please. Tomorrow morning, the current available colonels and myself will be leaving to visit a town to the northwest. Hanji, Valtam, we will meet later tonight to discuss everything. That is all," and the commander swiftly disappeared into the fort ruins before anyone could ask him anything. Hanji and Valtam looked to each other before nodding and scurrying away, with Hanji to her lab and Valtam to the stables. The captains felt tension in the air while the soldiers and trainees cheered mildly for the much deserved break. Summertime was always hardest cause of the hot weather, so to spend the next 36 hours without a care in the world, to lay around and do nothing, was tantalizing. Among the trainees though, one was less thrilled about the relaxation ahead of him. Instead, his curiosity was only piqued.

That evening, after everyone had gone to bed, Hanji and Valtam met Elfric at the long table in the kitchen. It wasn't only their dining area, but also their war room. They didn't have as much space now with so many guild members. A lone candle lit the space, flickering silently while Elfric, Hanji and Valtam sat at the table. The jollin and devonti waited on baited breath for what the kumos was about to discuss with them.

"Today, in town, a man came up to me, and told me disturbing news. I almost wouldn't believe it myself, but the fright the man had in his eyes tells me it's true," Elfric began. Hanji and Valtam listened intently.

"Northwest of here, tiny villages are being massacred by a demon. This demon is unlike anything ever witnessed. It enters towns at a blistering speed and kills everyone it finds. There have been almost no survivors."

"Almost?" Hanji interrupted quietly. Elfric nodded.

"Almost. One man, got away from one of the ravaged villages, by sheer dumb luck. He saw everything. That same man was the one that told me this today in the alleyway," Elfric concluded. Silence returned, eerie now.

"So...what are we to do then?" Valtam questioned, concerned. Of all creatures they themselves had encountered, demons had not been one of them. If Fenris or Okkoto or Yoru were here, they would be the ones who would know more potentially, due to their constant travels and age. In fact, Yoru himself had survived an encounter with a demon. But as such, they were not here, instead Fenris and Okkoto were off exploring the Vetan mountains and Yoru traveled around the world endlessly. This mission fell into the ram's lap as well as the jollin's.

"We'll have to kill it," Elfric decided. His two colonels eyes grew wide and they frowned. Subduing an enemy was usually enough to handle a situation. But to take away a life, was something the guild did not take lightly.

"I know it's late, but we need to come up with a plan tonight. I would like to quell this problem as quickly as possible." Elfric then pulled out the map they had collectively been filling in for some time now. While a good amount of it had paths and locales written down, plenty of the map remained unfinished, with areas unknown to them. The colonels stood and leaned in over it, listening to Elfric relay the information given to him.

"The man told me he was from the village of Saltrine, known for harvesting of salts from the sea to the west and also the dry badlands to the north. After his initial escape, the man went back to the slaughtered town and saw the demon had left a trail of blood behind. It was headed back to the badlands," Elfric recounted as his finger circled a rough approximation of where the village of Saltrine had been. "Down to the south, is an even larger town, known as Ruslea. This is a quaint town that's big for trade, and the man speculates the demon will head there next. It is in our best interest to try and intervene, protect the town of Ruslea and end the terror of this demon." He took an ink-filled quill and circled Ruslea on the map. The guild had been there before once for trade.

"Are we taking anyone else with us?" Valtam asked. "Our new captains are still pretty wet behind the ears, in my opinion."

"You don't put that much faith in Sven, do you colonel?" Hanji chuckled, if only to lighten the mood for herself. The ram blankly stared at the Jollin, and Hanji's frown returned as she cleared her throat. "Yes, you're right. Though they've improved, they're still not ready for something of this magnitude. It would be better if they remained here and maintained order. That said, commander, I'd like to request Haluk to come with solely as transport."

"Granted, but he must absolutely stay out of the fight if it can be helped," Elfric allowed, and Hanji nodded in agreement.

While the three discussed their plan of attack, Hailfire silently eavesdropped from the stairs. A creature so bad it has to be slain, just what kind of beast is it? he thought to himself. He wanted to see it. He knew he wouldn't be allowed though. He was only a trainee rank still and he had the least amount of battlefield time out of all the others at his rank. Even Hawkeye the rabbit had seen some battles already, while Hailfire at most only got to punch a Manticat once. He was officially a year old, it was time they stopped treating him like a baby. He strained an ear, anxious to hear more of the plan.

"Then that's settled. We will leave before dawn to reach Ruslea Village. Once there, we will figure out how to arrange ourselves to be ready if the beast shows up as we anticipate," Elfric decided. Hailfire smirked, then silently and swiftly took his leave. He was going along, whether he was invited or not. He could easily help by playing lookout too. Then all he'd have to do is call for the others and they would take care of the problem. Maybe they'd even let him get a few good whacks in on the beast.

But had he hung back a little longer, he would have caught critical information.

"So what weapons do we bring? Light-based stuff?" Valtam reasoned. Elfric shook his head.

"We need to bring anything long-ranged. According to the man, he saw the demon grab his best friend and simply from the touch of the demon, their flesh had been burned down to the bone, and they bled out from every pore of their skin," Elfric informed. "It's extremely important not to let it touch you. That's why this is an exceptionally dangerous fight." In spite of the coming danger, the colonels kept their nerves steeled. They had to, the lives of Ruslea depended on them.

Hours later, Hailfire packed his bag and anxiously waited by the window of his bedroom. Hawkeye and Uncle Leon shared the room with him, and the archan snored loudly in his slumber. The night sky was dark and cloudy, not a single star twinkled tonight. Perhaps it felt the ever growing danger approaching. Still, a lantern shone from the doorway of the stables. Hanji was tacking up Haluk. Valtam then stepped out of the stable shed and blew out the lantern. Elfric emerged from the main fort to greet them, while Hanji climbed aboard Haluk's back and they began their journey to Ruslea. They have to move fast as dawn was only a couple hours away. Hailfire threw on a cloak and grabbed his bag off his bed. His motions didn't even stir the ever-alert kanis. He made his way down the stairs and quickly followed after his commander and colonels, staying out of sight and smell.

By the time Elfric's group reached Ruslea, the sun had risen to welcome the day. The town's vendors were beginning to open their stands, though they were surprised to see visitors to their town so early in the morning. The group maintained their composure as to not worry the townspeople, and they were directed to the mayor's house to speak with him. Meanwhile, Hailfire lingered by, dressed in his cloak to obscure his looks. He approached a vendor that was selling fruit, and paid for an apple. He stood off to the side, waiting.

The mayor stepped out of his house along with Elfric's group, and the man signaled to someone above. There was a small bell that would ring periodically throughout the day, and a person also stayed there in case to ring it in an emergency. As soon as the person saw the mayor's signal, he rang it furiously, alerting all the townspeople to gather to the towncenter.

Once everyone gathered, the mayor stood tall and addressed his people.

"I need everybody to stay calm and listen closely. Our town is in grave danger from a serious threat. This wolf and his friends are here to protect us, and have advised we barricade ourselves in the center of town, while they take care of the danger outside." Anxious murmurs whispered throughout the crowd.

Elfric stepped forward. "Do not be afraid, please. We are skilled warriors, and we will ensure that the danger will be removed permanently. My group and I will be stationed at various entrances to the town, acting as a barrier to prevent the threat from entering."

The villagers seemed to sigh with some relief, though the tension was still palpable. Hailfire munched on his apple. So far the plan sounded reasonable to him.

Elfric continued the discussion of his plan. "I will be stationed to the north; Colonel Hanji here," he pointed to the jollin to step up and she did so, "will be positioned to the east. And finally, Colonel Valtam will be placed at the west entrance." The ram bowed nobly, and in doing so, showed off his incredible dagger-like horns. The locals hummed with approval; this bunch of fighters were quite impressive to admire. This was the reassurance the mayor had been looking for.

"Thank you Elfric. We the people of Ruslea are indebted to you and your friends for this," the mayor graciously placed his hands to his heart and turned his attention back to his people. "We will gather every cart and barrel and anything that can be used to shield us from harm! Block every possible alleyway and stay close to each other! Our little Ruslea is not to be underestimated!" And with that last sentence, the people cheered with determination and set to work quickly to secure their town. Elfric, Hanji and Valtam split up in their respective directions.

Hailfire threw his apple in a nearby trash can, and he sauntered off to the south. It's a great plan, but commander, what about the southern exit? What if the demon skirts around and attacks from the southern portion, the Telenine reasoned and he smirked proudly. No need to worry, he thought, cause he would be the one to take up that position.

Outside of the town, the green plains were flat and dried out from recent drought. There were a couple trees though to provide shade and Hailfire sat under them for relief from the scorching sun. It was going to be a hot, dry day it seemed, in spite of a few large fluffy clouds rolling above. The last thing we need is for Tempest to bring thunderstorms, he thought. The commander would be crippled in pain from his old injury when there were storms nearby. A light breeze every now and then rolled through, but not a drop of rain could be smelled.

The hours of the morning ticked by and rolled slowly into early afternoon. Hailfire was completely bored now. Birds sat up in the trees above him, singing their songs gleefully. Hailfire wished he could have brought Hawkeye along, though the rabbit would have easily ratted him out. Still, the banter could have been entertaining. Nothing was happening around him, except for occasional green smoke signals lighting up the sky. The others were communicating that all was clear. The telenine clicked his teeth; he had stashed a couple flares in his bag, but only red ones. He felt it was a waste to use green flares otherwise.

It was around 3:00 when Hailfire stood up and stretched. He was starting to get hungry again, and with the town barricaded, as well as the vendors closed for the day, there was no point going back inside. He looked out past the dried short grassy plains and a forest stood across the way. He fished his hunting knife out from his knapsack as well as a red flare. Perhaps there was something he could find in the forest to eat while he waited. He crossed the plains and entered the old forest.

It was much cooler with so many more trees around, and before long, Hailfire located a berry bush. He sheathed his knife and plucked the berries off the bush. The raspberries were perfectly ripe and flavorful. He devoured as many as he could to satisfy his hunger. While he ate, he glanced around and noticed...it was quiet. No, it was silent. Eerily silent. No birds chirped. No insects were crawling around on the ground or flittering in the air. Not even a slime trail of a scootle could be seen.

As Hailfire was about to pop another berry into his mouth, a skinny tree suddenly snapped and fell to the forest clearing. Hailfire dropped the berry and listened to everything around him. The air was still. He could hear something moving about, something large enough to bring that tree down. His hairs raised on his ridge and he fled for the exit. Being trapped in an unfamiliar forest will get you killed youngin', he had heard from Okkoto. He needed to get out to the clearing as fast as possible.

He was out of the forest in minutes and ran a good distance across the plains before stopping. He turned around, panting heavily. Something rustled in the bushes at the forest's edge. Whatever it was had indeed been following him. He steadied his nerves and held the flare close in his right paw, tightening his left around the handle of his knife. A large cloud passed over head, blocking out the sun and covering the land in a giant shadow. Hailfire held his breath. The bushes stopped rustling for a moment.

Suddenly, out of the thicket, burst the creature. It was huge, a spider-like creature with black, bloody tendrils covering its entire body. It was the demon. Its crimson eyes locked onto Hailfire and skittered across the ground towards him. The cloud above passed by, the sun shining across the land again. The demon stopped dead in its tracks, screaming in pain, steam rising from its body. Hailfire fumbled for a second but finally got the flare ready and fired. Red smoke streaked across the sky. In short time, the demon regained its composure and roared towards the Telenine.

Evaluate your enemy before striking them, Fenris had taught him. The old wolf always encouraged a defensive approach. Right before the creature could reach out to grab him, Hailfire jumped to the side. This was easy. The creature tried again to swipe at him, and Hailfire dodged once more, this time backwards.

Allow spacing, maintain your space at all times. Do not let someone enter it until you are ready, Valtam had said. He had used his horns to demonstrate to the young pup the importance of his words, nearly skewering him on the spot. If he kept the beast occupied, in no time, the others would be here and he could flee to safety. And they would be impressed no doubt, by how much he had learned from them already in a year's time.

The demon however, caught on to Hailfire's tactic. This time, it faked a right grab at the Telenine, and sure enough the pup jumped to the left. A mistake made. The demon quickly reached with its left and finally connected its tendril covered arm to Hailfire's right arm. The Telenine howled in agony. He felt as though his arm was melting into liquid, the burning pain destroying his flesh. The demon bared its fangs creepily, ready to devour him. Suddenly a shrill sounded behind Hailfire, and an arrow lodged itself deep into the demon's one eye, causing it to let go of him and fall back in pain. It clawed at its face desperately to remove the arrow. Hailfire crumpled to the ground, his right arm shaking horribly from the pain. The tendrils left behind continued to burrow through his fur and into the skin. He weakly looked up and saw who shot the arrow. Hanji, perched atop Haluk's back, was racing towards them with the next arrow drawn and ready to fire if the demon dared lay another hand on the pup. The demon set focus on Hanji, and Haluk gracefully turned to allow it to chase them, leaving Hailfire alone. The pup shut his eyes, screaming from the pain as he could feel it enter the bone now. His heart was beating very fast. Even as the black tendrils began to die away, he could see an ugly red mark clawing its way from his paw to his shoulder.

"Hailfire!" The sabre-toothed wolf opened one eye to see Valtam standing above him, nothing but concern on the ram's face. The colonel pulled a vial out from the sash he wore around his neck. "This will hurt," the ram warned, though muffled by the vial in his mouth, and he poured a steady stream of liquid onto Hailfire's wound. It cooled the sensation for a brief second, but the pain continued to bore its way through his very flesh and bone. The ram dug at the earth and flicked dirt to cover the wound, to try and ease it further, but it was futile. Valtam was alarmed to see the wound spreading further, deepening as it settled itself in.

Meanwhile, Elfric had arrived on the scene finally and fired his Natasha at the demon. Though wounded in one eye, the creature dodged the silver bullets. Haluk ran a wide berth while Hanji steadied her arrow, waiting for the right time to let it fly. With it being 3 on 1, the demon struggled to maintain attention on either the fast-moving Neela or the white wolf's gun. It tried to swipe at the Neela, but Haluk was too swift and using his long tail as a rutter, turned quick on the dime and backed off. The attempt left the demon vulnerable to a rain of bullets from Elfric. Several of its arms broke apart, causing it to partially fall to the ground, unable to move. It tried to turn its attention to the wolf, but Haluk had doubled back and right as the demon looked towards the Neela, Hanji had the perfect shot. The jollin let her arrow fly, and it pierced directly into the skull of the demon. It let out a thunderous cry of pain, before crashing to the earth. Elfric and Hanji waited on bated breath, before deciding the fight was truly over.

The commander and colonel raced over to Valtam and the wounded pup.

"Elfric, this wound," Valtam started but could not finish his sentence. Elfric's eyes grew large and his hair stood on end. Hanji fished for another vial and poured it over Hailfire's wound. Haluk bent down to lick Hailfire's face, but Hanji stopped him with her paw.

"No, nobody touch him. This is seriously bad. We have to get him help from Selina," Hanji urged. Hailfire was beginning to feel dizzy. The heat of the sun, the heat from the burning pain in his arm, it was becoming too much.

"Please tell me you have the Dragon's Horn in your bag, Hanji," Elfric was digging furiously through the pack saddled on Haluk. He knew what he was looking at with Hailfire's arm. They had to act fast. He didn't allow her a chance to answer as he found it and pulled it out. He blew threw the opening and the sound carried through the wind.

In minutes, Yoru, the Paralix god, descended from the sky to the group. The dragon saw the state of Hailfire and touched a whisker to Elfric.

We must go now if he is to survive, my friend, was all Yoru telepathically said to the white wolf.

"Elfric, take Hailfire and go. There isn't time," Hanji ordered as she wrapped Haluk's saddle blanket around Hailfire, careful to cover the wound without touching it directly. Valtam helped Elfric and Hailfire up onto the dragon's back and soon, they were off to the Sacred Lands.

"I shall look for Fenris and Okkoto. They should be on their way back from the Vetan mountains but once I find them, we will go to the Saherimos," Valtam offered. Hanji nodded in agreement as she clambered upon Haluk's back.

"I'll head back to the base and gather everyone. I just hope Yoru makes it in time," Hanji's voice wavered. They looked to the sky, praying the dragon would, and then they set off in different directions. The body of the demon that once ravaged the land, dissolved and left behind nothing but skeletal remains, marking the area as its final resting place.

It was late afternoon when the rest of the guild had gathered to wait anxiously outside the Healer's abode. Ragnarok comforted Syberia, tears dripping from both their eyes. Razer and Hawkeye have their heads lowered. Okkoto snorted abruptly.

"Damn kid," is all he grunted out before wiping his nose with a hoof. Fenris patted his friend on the back, and then looked to Elfric, who was impatiently sitting at the entrance to the healing pools. No one was allowed back there until Selina gave the all clear. She needed to work in peace.

Elfric thought about what she had said upon their arrival.

"I can do everything in my power to stop it from spreading any further, but this is the most egregious curse I have ever seen. Pray to whoever you believe in, because he needs it right now if he is to survive. If it reaches the heart, there is nothing more I can do for him."

Selina was extremely powerful, capable of replenishing one's health even when they were on death's doormat. He had been there many times himself. They all had. But for Selina to admit that even this was potentially beyond her scope, spoke volumes to Elfric. He shuddered.

Late afternoon turned to dusk then turned to night, with still no update from Selina. Most of the guild slept against Yoru's large body, while the dragon remained awake and alert. Elfric was also still awake, but barely. Someone tapped his right shoulder and he startled. It was Ragnarok.

"I can stand vigil if you'd like to get some rest, commander." The reddish Telenine's eyes were dry now but sadness remained. Syberia was next to Breezy, the former restless in her sleep as she tossed and turned. Breezy said nothing though, providing as much comfort as she could. Elfric shook his head.

"I won't rest until we know," Elfric sighed. Ragnarok dropped his shoulders in defeat and sat next to the white wolf.

"We tried to get a message out via our minions to find out why you had taken Hailfire along, but now I understand that was not the case."

"I'm sorry Ragnarok. This is my fault. I should have been more forthright about how dangerous of a mission it was going to be yesterday afternoon. We tried to keep quiet about the details so your son wouldn't find out and get himself into mischief, but he must have overheard our conversation last night."

"Please don't blame yourself. My son is just like how I used to be, young, naive, thinking I could communicate with wild Mortiking," Ragnarok huffed a chuckle at the end of his sentence. "But now...I see why my parents were always worried about me. Why they always wanted me to stay home. Now as a parent myself, I see why it's not easy raising kids."

Elfric said nothing more, just reached an arm behind the father Telenine and patted him on the shoulders. Tears pricked Ragna's eyes once more; he swiped his paw across to get rid of them, sniffling a little.

Just then, the light bulb outside the healer's abode lit up green. Selina was done with her treatment. Ragnarok ran over to wake up his mate and the others while Elfric felt more awake than ever now. Selina stepped out as Ragnarok and Syberia came back over to Elfric. The Ontra smiled.

"He will live," she said and a wave of relief washed over everyone. "Elfric, you and I need to talk still, but Ragnarok and Syberia, go be with your son. He's sleeping peacefully now. It's safe to touch him." The two Telenines thanked Selina and ran inside. The rest of the guild were at ease finally and began to chit-chat. Elfric followed the Ontra back to her study room.

Once inside, Selina removed her headdress and placed it on a mannequin head. She sighed as she went to sit in her chair. Elfric sat himself on a beanbag nearby, not liking where the conversation was likely headed. It was rare when he got to visit her studies; books were everywhere, on the shelves and on the ground. Her desk was immaculately organized though, several pens in their cups and her main healing book sitting atop it. Potions brewed behind her chair. Selina clasped her paws together and looked Elfric directly in the eyes.

"Dear Elfric, I am grateful you got young Hailfire here as fast as you did. I must give my thanks to Yoru too, the noble dragon of these lands," she started.

Elfric pinned his ears back. "You didn't bring me in here just to tell me good news."

Selina frowned sadly, as she played with some stones sitting on her desk. "The long-term prognosis however is bleak," she admitted, as she moved the stones around aimlessly. "The demon he encountered was Zorath. There are many demons in this world, but they are seldom seen due to the isolation they live in, as well as the ancient guardians who still roam the land to keep their presence at bay. Your friends Fenris and Okkoto are these very creatures who instinctively but unconsciously protect the lands. Zorath, however, had grown too powerful to be kept at bay any longer."

There was a pause of silence. She flipped a page in her open master healing book, and she continued.

"Zorath was known for his undying wrath. A curse has been laid upon Hailfire's young body, and he will always be in danger of Zorath taking him over as a new host. It is ill-advised for Hailfire to continue any type of battle training, for if he loses control of himself, the curse will spread to his heart and kill him, thus Zorath will be reborn."

Selina's words sank into stunned silence.

"I know this is not the outcome you wished for. However, there is a possibility he can continue his training, so long as he is fully made aware of the dangers at stake and can keep himself in check. Yoru encountered Rabidus, a demon whose bite sickens the victim until they lose their mind. Yoru is able to stave off the curse inflicted upon him though, partially due to being a god but also because he is aware of the danger he carries. Should he lose his mind to the curse, Rabidus would unleash a fatal plague upon the lands. But I trust Yoru, due to him being very old and very wise. Your young soldier, I can sense recklessness in him, but also gratitude for those who mentor him. As I treated him, he muttered phrases that sounded like mantras or words of wisdom passed down to him."

Elfric thought back to what Hanji described when she was first on the scene.

"I must say, I was impressed by his footwork, at least what I could see from a distance. He never struck back; his knife was clean. I want to know more when he wakes up. Thank the Oracle he had the intelligence to bring a red flare. When it went off, I was confused, because I didn't think it was either you or Valtam. But, I didn't have time to dwell on it, just went into action.
He's still an immature brat, but--and this stays between us--he's got potential, if we could reign in his impulsivity."

Elfric made eye contact finally with Selina. She was looking down at her book, but glanced up to see the white wolf staring at her intently.

"Is there actual hope then..." he trailed off.

"It's a major risk. But, yes, he might still be able to become a soldier. I will require him to check in with me monthly, and especially if that mark on his arm grows any further. I would advise you break your usual way of doing things, following rank and whatnot, and have Yoru solely mentor him. Travel might be good, it might give Hailfire an outlet for his energy."

Elfric considered the idea.

"Let's give it half a year to see; see how Yoru feels about mentoring him in that time and then you both can decide if Hailfire is fit to return to the guild to pick up his training again," Elfric proposed to the Ontra. She wistfully smiled.

"I know you're determined to keep that young pup's hopes up. He reminds me of how you were after fighting Tempest. Stubborn, but a good heart," Selina reminisced. "I think he can rise to great potential. A side effect of the curse is the incredible strength that comes with it, but it will also affect his health greatly when using that strength. He will need to be careful in that regard. Most importantly, he cannot lose control of his temper. This will agitate the curse smoldering within him, though at the moment, it is quelled." Elfric nodded in understanding.

"Then we will go over this with Hailfire when he awakens. Please send the rest of your guild home, except his parents and Yoru. Discuss everything with Yoru and we can give him time to decide if he needs it. Though knowing him, he will most likely agree to it. He's a dragon of few words, but I strongly believe he will be what's best for Hailfire."

The following morning, as dawn broke, Selina checked in on Hailfire, who was awake already. His right arm was completely wrapped in tight bandages, even down to his toes which were also partially marred. She could see he was fine, but sensed something lurking behind his heterchromatic eyes. His parents were still fast asleep, so she gently roused them. Once awake, Selina brought them outside where Yoru was waiting along with Elfric.

"Young Hailfire, I would like you to spend the next few months, possibly longer, with Yoru. He will be continuing your training. Please make your family and guild proud by standing tall, and learning all you can from this noble dragon of the sky," and the pale blue otter bowed to Yoru, as did the others...except Hailfire. He had remained indifferent in his expression. Yoru's face was blank, as he usually was, but made note of it.

"Farewell, father, mother, Commander. And thank you Selina," was all Hailfire said, before climbing aboard the back of Yoru. Carefully, Yoru levitated off the ground, allowing the wolf pup to adjust himself comfortably, before finally ascending to the clouds above.

Once above the clouds, Yoru had a place in mind to travel to. He set off towards the high peak mountains of Shengui Guo, an island that was shaped like a turtle, and always circling the one continent of Darkside and Shadowglen. It was a peaceful land, filled with tranquility and beauty. The paralix god was familiar with another paralix who resided in the misty peaks, and was confident he would share the territory with him and Hailfire while they trained for the next several months.

Yoru could sense the island was directly below him, he could feel it in his bones and the familiar smell of cherry blossom trees, and began to descend from the sky. They arrived to a particular mountain, with multiple caves to be had. The dragon landed carefully, and Hailfire slid off his back.

Wait here, Yoru telepathically ordered Hailfire, who didn't really nod or respond at all. Yoru turned his focus instead to the cave entrance, and approached it. Yoru let out a loud hiss mixed with a light roar and waited. Stepping out from deep in the cave, was another paralix, a golden scaled one with incredibly fluffy orange fur.

Shi Long, Yoru addressed only the other paralix, making sure Hailfire was not included in their conversation. The purple paralix lowered his head respectfully. The other dragon, Shi Long, returned the gesture and they headbutted gently, a sign of peace and no desire for conflict. Shi Long was of a lesser status than Yoru, but still a protector of Shengui Guo.

"My old friend, you have returned to your birth lands. Truly the locals will be astounded to see their Paralix god closer to the ground than ever before," Shi Long rumbled with a low chuckle, amused. His orange thick fluffy whiskers flowed in the breeze.

Shi Long, I have brought a comrade with me. We request to reside in a cave above yours, as we will be staying here for many months, Yoru side-eyed Hailfire, who was sitting and staring off into space. Shi Long looked past Yoru to observe the little wolf, and gasped.

"Yoru! This wolf. He's--" Shi Long hissed quietly as he could smell the cursed arm.

Yes, but it will not be a problem. I will make certain of it, Yoru narrowed his eyes, causing Shi Long to meet his gaze. Yoru's dark blue eyes told no lies, and it put the other dragon at ease.

"Very well. You may stay as long as you need. Good luck," Shi Long bowed and with that, he took off to the skies, heading out on his patrol to combat any threats to the land. Yoru watched for a minute, then looked to Hailfire. He was still pretty out of it. Yoru quietly signaled to Hailfire to climb aboard and the dragon quickly ascended to the cave and cliffside directly above Shi Long's cave.

"We will be staying here," Yoru simply stated to Hailfire, who nodded silently as he clambered down from Yoru and walked to the cave. Yoru hesitated, debating when to approach the subject with the young pup. Perhaps it could wait til later, after they've settled in and have eaten a good meal.

Later that night, after having spent the day setting the cave in order to be comfortable for them both, Yoru noticed the pup was nowhere inside. He poked his head outside the cave entrance and saw Hailfire sitting on the cliff edge, looking down. The dragon sighed and quietly approached.

You would be a fool to think of jumping, if that is what you were considering. I would catch you before you hit the ground. The dragon figured it was only fair to air out his concerns, though he was not convinced Hailfire would have done such an action. Still, with his impulsive behavior, Yoru could not be sure what to expect. Hailfire did not even glance at Yoru, and continued to stare out to what was beneath him. He could see the lights of the village below, it reminded him of fireflies. It looked warm, inviting, but the ice-fire pup only felt coldness in his body, as they sat above it all, on a lonely cliffside, with only fierce dragons for company.

"I really screwed up, didn't I?" is all he says, numb as ever. Yoru thought to himself for a moment before laying a whisker on Hailfire's back comfortingly.

You are young and naive. But you are alive. And you should be grateful for that, the Paralix reminded him. Hailfire clicked his tongue and backed away from the edge. He pinned his ears and glared at the great dragon.

"Alive, but at what cost?! Don't think I'm not aware of everyone talking in hushed whispers around me, about me! About how, how..." he growled angrily but struggled to finish his sentence. He knew everyone was disappointed in him, and he knew they weren't here to continue his actual training into becoming a soldier. Yoru narrowed his eyes but controlled himself.

You will flare your curse if you do not control your temper, just as I must control my own. You will only lose your chance to train and become a soldier if you cannot find peace within yourself, Yoru scolded. Like the blue flames he breathed, the dragon's blue eyes flickered intensely, and he opened his mouth into a snarl. Hailfire was about to retort, but looked to the neverending bleeding bite wound on Yoru's neck. The blood was a little heavier than usual. The young Telenine reconsidered what he was about to shout and looked down at his paws in embarassment. His arm hurt, his eyes hurt from crying so much, but mostly, his pride was hurt.

Little pup, do not give up on yourself just yet, when I and the others have not.

Hailfire finally looked at Yoru again, his blue and orange eyes misty. It had been an exhausting past 48 hours, he was amazed he had any tears left to spill.

"You would really catch me?" the pup choked out.

Yoru relaxed from his snarl back to his usual blank expression, though it softened further than that.

If you are afraid of falling, then yes, I will be there to catch you.

Hailfire sniffled, and rubbed his eyes. He bowed to the dragon. Yoru accepted the gesture; the wolf pup was not far gone yet.

You will learn to forgive yourself. That is why we're here. I am confident that my type of training will help you with your resolve. The curse does not have to define you. Now come, you need to rest. We have a long ways to go, little pup, and with that, Yoru turned his back, walking towards the cave. He did not need to look behind to make sure Hailfire would follow. The pup gazed up at the crescent moon above them; it felt so far away, just like home. He finally relaxed his shoulders, feeling fatigue setting in, and resided to following Yoru into the cave for the night. Hailfire anticipated, as did Yoru, that many nights would be like this for months to follow.

The months passed. Summer changed to autumn, and soon the cold air of winter would settle in.

Back at the fort, enjoying the waning warmth of the autumn sun, Breezy, Hawkeye and Razer anxiously looked to the sky, wondering when Hailfire would return.

"He's been gone a really long time," Breezy lamented to Hawkeye, as she rested her head between her paws. Her bright cheery spectrum-colored fur had been a bit dull lately. Hailfire was the one who brightened her day, as she was still very new to the guild. Now, without him, she felt forlorn and longing. The brown grey rabbit patted her arm comfortingly.

"He will be back before we know it," Hawkeye assured. Razer quietly flicked a rock in the dirt. The Escalade had barely said much today, as they sat their daily evening vigil, wondering when news would arrive that Hailfire was returning to them.

"He's a pest, that's his job. No matter how much you try to get rid of him, he'll always come back," Razer grumbled. Hailfire had grown on him in the short time Razer had joined the guild, and the Escalade would not admit any worry he had. He kept his true feelings guarded. Hawkeye sighed and looked back to the sky.

"Any day now..." he whispered. The glowing sun in the sky held no answers for the hare though.

Almost all the leaves of autumn had fallen off their trees when the first trickle of snow arrived to the guild's fort. Soon, the ground became blanketed in a layer of snow. Winter had settled in once more. Elfric stared out one of the fort's windows, watching the night sky. The moon did not shine tonight, as snow clouds blocked it out, leaving the world cast in darkness. The white wolf could only wonder how everything was going for Hailfire and Yoru. They were ordered by Selina not to inquire her about the two's whereabouts, as Hailfire needed to have complete focus on his journey. Not even Fenris or Okkoto could try to reach out to the paralix for any news.

Then, not long after the beginning of spring, a dove arrived to the guild one morning, with a note attached to its foot. It was a message from Selina! Elfric read the note carefully; Selina requested only his presence to her abode, no one else may accompany him. There was no other information in the letter. The commander left immediately and caught the next ferry to the Saherimos desert, anxious to meet with the healer.

It was afternoon when Elfric finally made it to the desert. He crossed the shifting sands on foot and arrived at Selina's home. Yoru and Hailfire were already there, standing beside her at the entrance of the abode. Yoru and, to Elfric's surprise, Hailfire bowed to him. Selina smiled and greeted Elfric.

"I know it has been many moons since Hailfire left with Yoru for special training. But I believe, as does Yoru, that it is time for Hailfire to return home. He has done marvelous work, and he has matured enough to where he can manage the effects of the curse," she explained.

"I will still require you to visit me monthly, Hailfire, only for a while longer though. I want to make sure the transition back to your old life does not cause the mark to grow any," she looked to the Telenine, and he nodded in agreement. Selina stepped back and allowed Hailfire to step forward to his commander. His tail was low, his overall body submissive.

"Commander, it has been a long time since we parted ways. I have learned much under the guidance of Yoru. With your permission, I would like to restart my training into becoming a soldier. If you decide though, that I am unfit for the job, I will accept that decision," Hailfire spoke, keeping his gaze focused on the sand beneath him.

Elfric considered as he looked Hailfire over. He had grown several more inches in the time he was gone, probably now as tall as his father. His coat was shaggier, his fangs longer, and his eyes, though more relaxed, still burned deep down with passion. The mark, as ugly as it may be, had remained the same in size.

"I will allow you to train again, but if I have any doubts, then I will have you resign. But," Elfric paused to smile now, "I think we will have nothing to worry about." Hailfire's face lit up, his eyes shining brightly once more and he wagged his tail in excitement.

"Thank you commander!! I will not let you down," he barked cheerfully and practically spun in a circle as he lept with joy. He quickly calmed though and approached Yoru, as if the dragon had spoken only to him.

It is time for me to return to my nomadic life, young wolf. I am only but a call away if you need me. But you will be fine. You have made me proud, Yoru soothingly reassured Hailfire with a thin whisker stroking his back. Hailfire embraced the dragon, saddened that the journey had come to an end.

"I know, and I'll continue to make you proud," Hailfire promised. They bowed to each other, and after bowing to Elfric, Yoru made his ascent to the sky, and was gone once more, back to his life of traveling endlessly.

Selina gave her farewell to Elfric and Hailfire, and the two wolves set back for home.

It was dusk by the time they returned. Bonesnap was the one to notice them appear from the hill to the east. She whooped as loud as she could, and Nova barked as well. The lights quickly turned on inside the fort and the stable, and soon, everyone came rushing out to finally see the return of Hailfire. Breezy's fur practically brightened back up to the intensity it shone before Hailfire left, as she tackled her best friend. Ragnarok and Syberia then hugged their son, relieved to see him, and amazed at how much he had grown. Sven cleared his throat and caught Hailfire's attention then.

"As captain, even though I have no obligation with my rank to train soldiers, I will be the one in charge of continuing your training," Sven offered, and Hailfire agreed with the decision. He was surprised Sven was willing to give him that chance.

It wasn't long before Hailfire began to catch up with his peers and they could see the immense strength as a result of the curse. Eventually, Selina left Hailfire's care to Hanji to monitor. Even though Hailfire still had his worries, and the nightmares still plagued him, Breezy was there to comfort him and she became devoted to him. Hailfire was grateful for all of those in his life, and as Yoru had said, he had found his peaceful resolve.