Mia was as bemused as her father. The images of her father were clear in her mind though the faded. How could those memories be false when she could instantly recognise her through them. Though Mia was a half wolf, her sense of smell wasn't that strong. She on her other senses to get her through. She kept looking at her father's face. The image her mind was of the exact same person, only a little younger.
The foxes and wolves aged differently. They did grow up like humans but then after attaining , they took a very very long time to reach old age. Mia was having a hard time digesting turmoil within her.
"Are you saying father, that you haven't taken me for a ride in the woods before? " Her eyes tearing up, " Wasn't it you who took me to the village fest and bought those toys? "
"Mia.Moa calm down. I would have done all that, and much more had I known where you were.
Rather, had I known that I had you. But why do you say it was me who did those things? Did see the face of the person you are referring to? Did he look like me? " Even the wolf king disturbed by these.
Mia looked this way and that, as if trying to find an excuse to rationalize what she was saying.
But I couldn't. She looked helplessly at Lin. He immediately stood up and came by her side, "
Why don't we take a walk down that beautiful garden for a while Mia. I'm sure your father needs attend to other issues as well. Let's take a short breather. We will be catching up afterwards.
Is that ok with you, your highness. " Lin asked the wolf king.
"Call me father, " He dropped the formality at once. " Take care of her. And let me know when 's relaxed. It's now something she is making up. But who was it that she saw? We need to to the roots of it. " He whispered into Lin's ear who nodded with understanding.
" By the way Lin, I asked the ambassador to the fox kingdom to delay for a day. After we the situation we are in thoroughly you can decide how to let your father know about all . Will that be ok? " He asked.
"That would be perfect. " Lin smiled, finally one stress lifted from the long list.
Roe and Xie had been walking up and down their dormitories all day. They were too eager and . There was no way of knowing what was happening behind the closed door of their . Yet their curiosity was getting the better of them. Finally Roe went up to her brother and , " There's a way to hear what they are talking about without them being able to see , "
" Are you crazy? Why would I do that? That would be against father's orders, " Xie refused very -heartedly.
"Alright.As you wish. I thought you wanted to get the whole picture, " Roe pretended to walk .
"Wait.Wait.wait.wait . Wait, " Xie immediately stopped her with her robe. Roe smiled. The fish caught the bread.
" Ummm, are you sure we won't be caught? " He asked , looking in her direction.
" Certain, " Roe smiled and then pulled her brother behind her.
They had been hiding behind the storage chamber above the exit all this while. They had both to the tragic love story of Nanako and Jin. They even heard about their half sister Mia's . They too had many questions and queries that they wanted to throw very badly but it enough for the time being that they were able to just be aware of what was going on . When Lin took Mia and came outside the entrance, he stopped for a moment. He then Mia down, smiled and then looked above.
" I didn't know the wolf palace had mice all around, " Lin jokes.
" Mice? " Mia asked reluctantly. Her mind was somewhere else trying to solve the math in the .
" Yeah mice. Human ones. Are you two going to come out now by yourselves or am I going to to inform the king? " Lin called them out directly.
Roe and Xie had no other option but to drop in front .
"Were you eavesdropping on your own king? Lin asked, mocking with laughter.
"No. I mean it wasn't like that..., " Xie was trying to reason but Lin cut him short, " Let's go the garden. " He said.
"What? " Roe and Xie chorused?
"What? You want to go inside instead? " He asked, pointing inside where the king was.
" Not that. Not that. It's good to get some fresh air. I'm going. " Roe immediately changed camp jumped beside Lin.
Xie had no other option but to join in.
The cool breeze greeted the group as they walked towards the beautifully decorated Royal . With every fruit hanging from their trees to every color in every leaf, it was a place to be in. The glittery butterflies of their region were filling every corner. They a special kind that could be seen both during the day and night. In the daytime the glittery would shine as they would reflect the sun's rays. At night the wings would glow like . These were another spirit animal, native to the wolf clan. Mia stretched her hands trying touch one, momentarily forgetting her worries. As soon as her hands tapped one wing it into water and evaporated away.
" Aaaaahhhhhhjj, " This made Mia scream and fall back in surprise. The others immediately around her who were totally unaware as to what had happened just then. Mia looked them as they towered over her as she laid in her falling position.
*******
Advent of evil
"What happened? What made you scream like that? Lin finally asked, helping her back on her .
Mia pointed at the butterflies and asked, " These. What are these? "
" Oh! Those. Those are one of our spirit protectors. But what was so scary about them? '' Xie , finally speaking and making eye contact with Mia. He had been feeling very guilty even he had found that Mia was their half sister. He was a very dedicated brother. He loved
Roe endlessly. And now that Mia was present as well, he felt very much obliged to shower her affection as well. Specifically after putting her through so much turmoil. He finally gathered courage and stood in front of Mia. Before she could answer his questions, he officially to apologize to her, " Mia, I have been meaning to do this. I understand you have all the to not accept it but I wanted to present my sincere apology to you. I ought to have been vigilant. How could I not recognise our own flesh and blood? I ought to have been the one you but I brought upon you " Then he looked at Lin , " And you too, in immense . Please be a bigger person in this and find in your heart to forgive this ignorant brother of . '' Xie stood there with his head hung low.
" Come on, " Mia immediately reached out to embrace him in a warm hug, " It's all in the past.
You have no idea how happy I am to finally have found my family. Finally getting answers to so riddles puzzling me through life. Finally everything is beginning to fall into place. Don't ruin by being so formal., " Mia pulled Roe in too for a threesome hug. It felt nice to have siblings supported you. They eventually let go willing happy tears as Lin looked on with a smile.
Suddenly, out of nowhere there was some kind of a shockwave. A very powerful and strong wave ripples across the world. It sent the four of them reeling back. The alarm system the palace began to go around. It was an emergency call.
" I need to go, Lin, get her inside the palace, " Xie said before sprinting away towards his .
" I will have to go check out what's going on too. You too get inside till we figure out what's , " Roe jumped above the roofs and was gone too. Lin however , instead of taking
Mia inside, apparated with her towards the mountain. The mountains surrounded the palace and acted as a natural fortress.
" Why did you bring me here? Weren't we supposed to go inside? Wouldn't it be safer? Mia Lin, who was busy scanning the horizon.
" Ssshhhh, Mia, stay still. Something is not right. I sense evil. A great amount of it. And it feels a wolf. " Lin whispered.
" What do you mean, " Mia asked, a little scared.
" I don't know. But there's something that got released just now. It's evil. It's dark. And it's a wolf.
'' Lin explained precisely into Mia's ears as she shuddered with fear. A chill went down her .
" Is this a trap again Lin? " Mia seemed visibly confused and distressed.
" I don't know. I don't think so. Look, the entire place is restless. I think they too have no clue 's going on. " Lin pointed at the soldiers running about all across the palace. It was a state emergency they were witnessing.
" What are we going to do? Shouldn't we head back and warn them, " Mia asked.
" Your father and brothers are well equipped to figure out what I just figured out. I don't think it be a good idea to go back there just yet. " Lin said.
" Are we going to stand here and watch them? " Mia was getting a bit agitated.
" No, I think we can take this time to go visit Nana. There's a lot I need to know from her. Your will be too busy dealing with what's coming right now. Let's not waste anymore time. Let's to the bottom of this mystery that is surrounding our lives., " Lin said. Then he took Mia's in both his hands and looked straight in her eyes, "and now Mia, you have to tell me what happened back at the realm of the Tree of Knowledge. What was the deal that you ? . "
This made Mia immediately turn around in the opposite direction.
" Mia, I know you must be hiding it to protect us. But there is a lot of deception and mystery everything. It's not as simple as we had thought it to be. You can trust no one Mia. We to fight this together. You have to tell me everything. You must. " Lin placed his hands Mia's shoulders. " Let's go visit my Nana first. You can take your time to decide. Let's get a more pieces of this puzzle together. You can then let me be beside you for the next stage of voyage. " Lin smiled jokingly, kissing Mia on her bare neck.
It instantly made Mia's hormones dance with ecstasy. Her eyes twinkled as she turned to face
Lin. Her eyes marveling at those wet lips looking so affectionately at her. Her mind clearly told to forget about everything at hand and just focus on the one in front. She took a few steps him and placed her hands over his shoulder and hip. Lin smiled at her instigation and her towards himself. He dived deep into her mouth pulling every strand of her hair back.
The urgency in their embrace made their hands reach out all over each other.
Suddenly they both looked away as they felt that same force heading towards them. But before
Mia could see anything, Lin wrapped her around in his arms and they vanished into a flash of light.The signature escape light of the fox clan. It was the fastest teleportation method that no trace. It bedazzled its pursuer and erased everything behind in its track.