The Order of Events: The Red Wolf (4 page)

-Chapter 3-
Present

The storm outside had begun to settle. The rain was held back, leaving only but drops falling from the great tree, to moisten the ground below, as they met the end of their plunge.
              Hoosun had decided to take the children out for fresh air. It was cool, and there was a slight breeze on the air. It smelled of sweet dew, falling from the tree above. But soon, Hoosun’s attention was taken from the weather, and rather quickly, as he saw Kaimana running from the lower entrance of the great tower.
              The armored warrior pattered across the open ground, only swaying left and right to avoid any fruit trees that stood in his way, stopping upon reaching his children. His face was strong as he spoke words that would have struggled from the throats of any other that had to speak them, for what he had to say was surely grim. “My daughters…I have to go, now. I know, I told you before we came here, that I was going to leave you here, but…that doesn’t make it any easier for me to do.”
              The twins hugged their father, cherishingly, as he had spoken. They did not want to leave him either. Samana nestled her head up to his waist, which was where her height reached its limit. “I know, father…we do not wish you to go either…but if it is the only way, then I guess you must go. I’m sure we’ll be safe here…”
              Tears streamed down the faces of the twins, as they gripped strongly onto their father. Daimana rubbed her head on Kaimana’s hand, a gesture which he returned warmly, running his fingers through her hair, softly, as he spoke. “Take care of each other, daughters. We’ll all see each other again, don’t you worry about me. No one ever goes away forever.”
              Daimana let go of her father, and looked upon the ground as her tears met the same end as the dew drops from above. “…Father…couldn’t we go with you...after all…you made us warriors, back home. Why can we not join you?”
              Kaimana knelt between his children, his hands firmly gripped on their shoulders. “You are brave, my daughters, but this battle is not for you. You are still young, and have much life to live. I would not risk your lives for a cause I swore I would fight for.”
              Daimana gripped her father’s arm tightly. “But father…we can fight with you…I know we can…it’s worth the risk not to be separated…isn’t it?”
              Kaimana smiled upon her, and ruffled her hair. “Daimana, even though when we die, here, we simply go somewhere else to exist, there are things in this part of our world, many steps you should take joy in walking, before you take such a great leap as death. The next plain of existence is different, as it is similar to this one, and you will go there when ready. For now, you and your sister must watch over each other…and right here. Please…do not follow me into battle, only do as I have asked.”
              Daimana’s head drooped regretfully, as her tears grew into streams upon her face. The armored hand of Kaimana came beneath her chin, and lifted her head up, her father’s voice carrying calmly upon her. “Do not fear my going…we will meet again, I promise.”
              Daimana smiled as her face was moist. Kaimana smudged her tears from her face with his palm. Samana nodded in agreement with her father, and wiped her tears away with her elbow. “I know, father, we will watch over each other as you have said.”
              Kaimana stood up and smiled. He felt regret for having to leave his children behind, but it was for their own good. He did not want them to share the same fate he knew he would. Donning his helmet, Kaimana whistled his armored horse to his presence. It soon came from beneath the wall bridge. “I am proud of you, my daughters, and I know in the coming years you shall prove yourself warriors as great as your will to fight.”
              Kaimana mounted his steed and nodded to Hoosun, thankfully, for his services. The owl stood among Amen and Henk, who had been watching the emotional separation the entire time. The great warrior paced about the onlookers, and sat atop his steed before his daughters and their new friends. “Keep Murga with you. He is a fine horse, and I’m sure he will continue to serve you well, as he always has.”
              The twins nodded in synchronization. They would do as their father had ordered. Hoosun stepped to the side of Kaimana and bowed respectfully to his friend. “Fair travels, my friend, may fate guide you safely on your journey.”
              Kaimana smiled behind his slit visor, and turned for the gate. “Take care of my children, old friend, and take care of yourself as well.”
              Riding off as water and grass spluttered beneath his great beast’s hooves, the father left his children behind, keeping his head straight forward, fearing to look back upon the faces of his saddened daughters. They watched as their father strode, seeming dramatically further with every stride of his steed. They were soon to be without him.
              Kaimana was swiftly at the great, stone entrance and kicked the turning gear, which caused the door to open before him.
              Taking a few gallops forward, Kaimana stopped his steed’s fleeting tread and drew his sword, turning to see his daughters once more from afar, his great horse standing high on its back legs, giving great height to the warrior as he thrust his blade into the air, in ceremony.
              The sight was surely that of a warrior’s farewell. Sheathing his sword as his steed returned all limbs to ground, Kaimana pulled the reins hard and changed his direction in swift motion, now facing the opposite direction of the Order, and bolting off like wild lightning into the distance.
              Hoosun stood brushing both twin’s heads, softly, with feathery hands and nodded to Amen in signal, the silent one nodding in return as he ran for the gate to close it.
              The owl shepherded the young twins, Henk and Amen following him a few feet behind, holding silence as he spoke upon the twins. “Do not be afraid, young ones. Your father knows what is best. Do not mourn his leaving. Instead, heed what he has said, and go down the path set before you. We all have things we must do alone. Even if we should want help, we just can’t accept it.”
              Samana gripped her sister’s hand as she pulled her hood over her head.                                          “I understand…we just have been through so much lately. If you only knew…”
              Hoosun cleared his throat, secretly saddened by the scene himself; the lone father leaving his only two children behind, so that he may enter battle.
              “Maybe someday you may tell me.”
              To these words Samana replied softly, as she felt her sister put her head to rest on her shoulder, as both walked together. “Perhaps…someday I will.”
 

The rain had been done for a short time. The last drops of dew jumped from the leaves and limbs, far above, meeting their demise upon the ground below. The five figures walked through the harvest grounds. It was serene and colorful, with the many fruit trees gathered around.
              Hoosun looked up at the great tower, and had a thought.
              The twins were picking fruit from the tree, looking upon the fruit with curiosity, for they had never seen fruit such as this before.
              Hoosun whispered to Henk, afterwards, she and Amen ran off to go inside, leaving Hoosun alone with the twins as he spoke upon them. “You two should get some food and rest, but before you do, I should introduce you to someone quite important around here, one who I am quite sure would like to meet you.”
Samana and Daimana put the fruit into pockets about their jackets, and nodded, speaking together at once. “Where to…?”
              Hoosun smiled, and gestured to the great tree that stood high above them. “To meet the Mother, her chamber is at the top of the tower. It offers a grand view of all around us, from its great balcony.”
              The twins stepped back a few paces, their eyes wide at the sight of the great tree, and the great height that they were soon to be challenging themselves with. Speaking together, once more, their voices trembled at the thought of such a great climb, for whether in a tower or not, it was an intimidating idea, going to such grand heights that which the great tree had offered. “All the way up there?”
              Hoosun nodded in confirmation of the assumption, and gestured to the entrance of the awesome stone tower. Cool air blew freely from an open mouth that made entrance to a stairwell, at the place which the tower’s stone met ground.Two stone columns sat resting themselves on each side of the opening. Hoosun entered and turned, calling the twins to his side, as it was to be a long climb up for sure.

-Chapter 4-
Present

The walk up the great tower was long and tiring. Along their way up, the twins and their new friend had passed chambers, here and there, chambers of rest, or just plain sitting rooms, accommodating benches, chairs, tables, and beds.
              The long trudge up the stairs had come to a halt. The three stood before a corridor, wider than the rest. An opening stood at the end of the long stretch, awaiting entrance.
              A sturdy, feminine voice called from within the doorway, speaking to Samana, Daimana, and Hoosun as they walked down the open hall. “Please, come in.”
              Samana was the first through the archway. She looked around the room. It was truly exquisite. The ceiling was covered with a reflective, green crystal, with a rather frosted opacity. The walls were of the same fine, green stone that the rest of the tower and walls of the Order were built of, but far smoother to the touch.
              At one end of the room was a wide opening, like a mouth opening wide, releasing its tongue in the form of a rounded out balcony, and at the other end was a simple looking throne, made of the green stone, with a green cloth resting to hang over its back. Parallel to the entrance, which the twins and Hoosun had come through, was another archway, leading to a small side chamber, containing three slit windows, and a flat stone bed, with nothing but a green cloth to grace it.
              Samana wondered at the interior of the chamber. It was truly magnificent, but there was one thing that had not quite caught Samana’s attention, not yet.
              Samana felt her arm tugged by her sister, which brought her attention to a great glowing object that sat in the corner of the room, between two giant trees limbs, which wrapped themselves about a fierce, emanating light.
              The light was beautifully vast, beyond comparison, its green and white hues bouncing off the stone walls, blissfully. Samana had never seen anything like it, and neither had Daimana. It was the Aura, the meeting of all past souls, the place where the souls of those who had passed away would meet, becoming one with the Aura, and then moving on to the next plain of existence, the second plain of life.
              Watching the mesmerizing sight, the twins had completely forgotten that they were called into the room by a voice. Hoosun tapped their shoulders, while stifling a laugh at the sight of the bewildered duo. “Ahem...there’s someone you should meet here.”
              The twins’ attention was stolen from the mighty light as they turned around, awaiting the one who was to meet them. There wait to be no longer.
              Hoosun stepped aside in bowing stance, revealing the Mother Dhahn from behind his form. She stood gracefully, with her veil down over her face, her features obscured by the fine, transparent linen.
              The wind blew in softly from the open mouth of the chamber, causing the many clothes, and ribbons, about the Mother to blow gracefully upon the wind. She bowed her head, and held a hidden smile, greeting the new comers. She spoke in a fine, and peaceful tone, like soft rain upon a shallow pool. “I am the Mother Dhahn. It is nice to see that our new guests are such young and beautiful ones. Your father told me of you when he came to see me. We are always glad to bring new people to our Order, even though some around here dislike strangers. Do not heed them. If you find any problems coming up involving your arrival, just come to me, or Hoosun, and we shall put them in their proper place, in the most fair and understanding manner of course.”
              Samana and Daimana bowed gratefully in appreciation, each responding one after the other. “Thank you, high Mother.” “It is our honor, Mother.”
              The Mother gestured the twins up from their bent positions. “Please do not stoop before me. I always have disliked that sort of manner. It makes me feel unequal to those around me.”
              Samana and Daimana stood straight up, and looked upon the Mother. She was a very beautiful sight to all eyes, with her flowing clothes of pale green and white linen, but her veil made it difficult to make out her face. Anything but a slight outline of features was invisible to their eyes, but what they could notice was that her hair was a fine, pure white, like that of snow drifting in a cool breeze.
              The Mother nodded in approval of the twins’ stance, and turned to the owl. “Get these children some food, Hoosun, will you?”
              Hoosun bowed his head in agreement, and signaled the children to his side. “Will you be joining us then, Mother?”
              The Mother glided gracefully upon the floor, over to the mouth of the chamber, feeling the nice, cool wind blowing across her face, as she removed her veil, her back to the others. “I will join you soon, head down now, please.”
              Hoosun did not stick around another second. He took the children, hand in hand, down the corridor, and they started their way down the stairs which they had come from, only moments before, the echo of their steps traveling back to the chamber, as they were soon only a faint pattering sound to the ears of the Mother.
              The Mother Dhahn stood with her face tipped to the sky, and her eyes closed, soft remnants of rain caressing her face. It was cool and soft as the wind drove the burdening clouds away from the great tree, slowly. As the night had come, the moon loomed high over all, even the great tree, as its light was shown to all below, illuminating the darkness with its astonishing form.