Bruno was right outside Mira’s house, cutting firewood. He thought that they might have had enough already, but he didn’t care; it was a good workout and gave him something to focus on and vent. He stopped when he saw Irina approaching the house, setting the axe aside and catching his breath, wiping his brow before walking towards the woman. Upon closer inspection, she didn’t look her best, and on a separate note, she wore a regur dress instead of her usual armor, and her hair was let loose. Although he noticed that she still had her sword on her hip.

  “Irina, are you alright?” Bruno asked. “Because you sure don’t look the part.”

  Despite her somber expression, Irina chuckled. “You look great, too. How are you doing?”

  “On the outside, great. On the inside, I’ve seen better days.” He gestured at the house. “Want to come in? You’ll have to take Mira’s permission, though.”

  Irina chuckled again, shaking her head. “I’ll take my chances.”

  “That’s the spirit.” Bruno smiled and faced the house. “By the way, the loose hair looks good on you.” He could see her smile faintly upon hearing that.

  Inside the house, Mira brewed them some tea, and the three of them settled down to drink it.

  “How is Alexander?” Irina asked.

  Bruno paused before answering. “The same. He was almost conscious on two occasions so far, but mostly he’s just lying there.” He gnced at Mira. “I know you said he’s fine, but I can’t help but worry.” He turned his gaze down, pondering the tea in his cup. “What will I even tell him when he wakes up? And what will he tell me? He has so much to expin.”

  Mira took a sip from her cup and nodded. “I won’t lie to you, Bruno; it’s possible that I’m mistaken about your father’s condition. But I have faith in him. He’s a strong wolf. He’ll make it.”

  Bruno sighed, then gripped his cup forcefully. “All of this because of…” he trailed off. Despite his anger at everything that was happening, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

  The moment of silence was cut off by a knock on the door.

  “I’ll get that,” Bruno said. He headed for the door and opened it. “Maki? Where were you? And why were you running?”

  “I…I saw someone following me!” Maki answered, pointing behind her.

  Bruno frowned, his eyes scanning the area outside, but there was nothing noteworthy. He motioned his sister to come inside. “Easy now, I’m sure you’re just overreacting.” He doubted his own words, as Maki’s senses were rarely mistaken. As she entered the house, he heard her gasp. “What now–” turning around, his jaw dropped as he saw none other than Alexander, standing there in the hallway. “Father?!” He and Maki rushed to his side, and Bruno held him gently by the shoulders. “Are you alright? Can you hear me?”

  Alexander groaned, rubbing his eyes. “Too…loud.”

  A fluttering smile tugged at Bruno’s lips. “It’s so good to have you back!”

  “Dad!” Maki excimed as she embraced her father.

  “Easy on him, Maki,” Bruno instructed, then turned his attention to his father. Mira and Irina were with them now. “Come with me.” Bruno helped him walk to the other room and sit down with them, but Mira stayed with him, closely inspecting him and his injuries.

  “What happened?” Alexander asked, looking around groggily. “Why am I here?”

  Bruno looked at the other before answering. “What is the st thing you remember?”

  “I remember being in our house, and–” Suddenly, Alexander’s eyes widened, gaining more focus. “The stranger…” He faced Bruno. “Where is Onyx?! Did he go back to Zoey’s cave?”

  Bruno’s heart sank upon hearing that st name. He averted his gaze, staying silent.

  “Bruno,” Alexander called again, leaning forward. “How long have I been asleep?”

  Bruno answered without looking at him, “A week.”

  There was a moment of silence before Alexander spoke again. “I must know everything that happened while I was out.” He leaned closer to Bruno. “Everything!” He winced upon raising his voice.

  “Take it easy on yourself,” Mira spoke, stepping away from him. “I will prepare soup. You need it.”

  Irina stood up. “I will help.”

  After Mira and Irina left the room, Bruno retold the events that had transpired after Alexander had fallen unconscious.

  Alexander smmed his fist on the table, nearly cracking it as a result, then held his head between his paws, his expression unreadable. “I failed…miserably.” His voice cracked. “I put my Yeager days behind me thinking it would keep my family safe, and I still failed to protect you.”

  “You did your best,” Bruno said. “It wasn’t your fault. It was…” he scowled. “...his.”

  Alexander pulled his head up and faced Bruno.

  Bruno’s expression softened. “But…I can’t bring myself to bme him. Not fully. When I saw him in the vilge in his wolf form, I encouraged him instead of telling him he was being reckless.”

  Alexander shook his head. “Don’t hold it against your brother. Heavens know how he’s feeling right now. And with the way he always lived in hiding, this was bound to happen one way or another.”

  Bruno clenched his paws. “I know, but still…” He met his father’s gaze. “What should we do now?”

  Alexander leaned back, rubbing his head. “I don’t know if I will get any better ideas after filling my stomach, but for now, all I can think of is…Jagerheim.”

  Bruno straightened his back, eyeing his father. “Why?”

  “We have no idea where they are now. We can’t go wandering aimlessly. However, the Yeagers will definitely take interest in hunting down a person that can control monsters. And if there are any sightings of a bck dragon, they will surely know.”

  “But won’t they try to hunt Onyx as well?!”

  “That’s why we’ll be there; to prevent that from happening.”

  Bruno contempted the ‘pn’ for a moment. “It’s still a huge risk.”

  “Then wait for me to eat, and pray that I can come up with a better idea.” Alexander leaned back. “Or come up with one yourself.”

  “It’s still worth trying to track them, no?”

  “It’s been a week. Most clues and tracks are either gone or degraded. However, it’s still worth a shot. We’ll try to track them, and if we fail, we head to Jagerheim.”

  Bruno gnced at Maki, scoffing. “Do you have an opinion on the matter?”

  Maki shook her head. “I’m hungry, too.”

  Alexander chuckled.

  “But I don’t want anyone else to leave,” Maki added, looking at the floor, her ears down. “If you go, I’m going with you.”

  Alexander sighed. “We’ll see.”

  Shortly after, Irina and Mira walked into the room, food in hand.

  “Alexander, you’re about to make up for all that blood you lost and more,” Irina announced proudly, setting a massive pot on the table with force, to which Alexander, Bruno and Maki flinched.

  “I hope the others are hungry, too,” Mira said, setting a second pot equal in size to the first on the table, with equal force, making the other three wolves flinch equally.

  The next day, Bruno was out buying vegetables, as most of them had been used in the feast the day before. It was the least he could do, since Mira was keeping them in her house and taking care of them. However, as he strolled about the marketpce, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being watched. Sure, it was now normal to get all sorts of looks from people since it had been revealed that he had a dragon brother, but this time it was a different kind of being watched, and he couldn’t shake off the paranoia. Done shopping, he walked out of the marketpce, looking left, right and behind him, when suddenly he collided with something soft but sturdy. Facing forward, he was greeted loudly by Kumiko.

  “Good morning!” shouted the vixen, with her usual smile and masked face.

  Bruno groaned, rubbing his ear. “Oh. Greetings, granny.”

  Kumiko giggled, waving a paw at Bruno. “Oh, you, I’m not that old.”

  Bruno smelled something foul coming from her. “What is that?”

  “Oh, you mean these?” She hoisted her other paw, revealing two raven carcasses.

  Bruno stared at her in disbelief. “Why would you hunt down ravens?!”

  She flicked Bruno’s nose with her finger. “Silly you. I didn’t hunt them; I found them. And guess what? They’re our ravens. They were carrying our messages asking for help. So someone doesn’t want us to get help.” She stood there, staring at the ravens and scratching her chin.

  Bruno didn’t know if she was simply making things up, or actually on to something. “Were you, by chance, following me?”

  “Now why would I do that? Perhaps you mean that fine gentleman over there?” She pointed behind him.

  Bruno looked behind him immediately and, sure enough, there was a hooded figure in the distance, near the marketpce. But once Bruno saw him, he bolted. “You!” Bruno ran after him, but he stopped at the market entrance, as the figure had already vanished. “Damn it. Was it the same person that followed Maki?”

  “Honestly, he wasn’t hard to spot at all,” Kumiko said, patting Bruno on the shoulder. “You need to sharpen your senses.”

  Bruno groaned. “Father will want to hear about this,” He muttered under his breath, then faced Kumiko. “I’ve been meaning to ask you; who, or what, exactly are you?”

  Kumiko tilted her head. “I’m Kumiko.”

  Bruno snorted. “You are no ordinary fox. The strength you demonstrated that day…that was not normal. How did you obtain such power?”

  Kumiko hummed, pcing a finger on her chin. “I wonder.”

  Bruno gritted his teeth in frustration, shaking his head. “I don’t know what I was expecting.” He turned around and walked in the direction of Mira’s house.

  “See you around!” Kumiko excimed, waving goodbye.

  Arriving at Mira’s house, Bruno knocked before opening the door and walking inside. “I’m back! With potatoes!”

  Mira and Alexander were there to greet him.

  “This is a lot,” Alexander said, taking the bags from Bruno. “I should’ve gone with you.”

  Bruno patted his father on the back. “You should just rex.”

  “That might be true, but I’m getting stiff. I need to be back in shape as soon as possible.”

  Bruno’s eyes and ears scanned the house. “Wait, where is Maki?”

  “She went to py with La and took Cookie with her,” Mira said.

  Bruno tried to hide his concern. I must get her back here quickly, then I can tell father about the stalker.

  “Is there something wrong, son?” Alexander asked.

  Bruno forced a wide smile and chuckled. “Of course not! I’m just really hungry and it’s nearly lunchtime, so I’ll go fetch Maki and come back.” He opened the door and stepped out, closing it just as his father was saying “Take care.”

  Bruno ran frantically around the vilge, trying and failing to stay calm, checking specifically the spots where Maki usually goes. Eventually, he saw her in the distance, walking side by side with Irina, among a few other wolves strolling around. He let out a long sigh of relief, catching his breath as he walked slowly in their direction. His relief was short-lived, however, as he saw the same hooded figure from before approach them from behind. He ran towards them, waving and shouting, “Look out!”

  Just when he thought the stranger had them, Elvin emerged out of nowhere, his fist colliding with the stranger’s head, sending them rolling on the ground.

  Bruno stared in awe, then smiled, as he caught up with them.

  “I know you were no good the moment I saw you,” Elvin said, looking down at the stranger. When he saw Bruno, he smiled, wagging his tail. “Bruno! Look what I did! He was stalking them!”

  Bruno took a moment to catch his breath. “Elvin…I…owe you one.”

  Elvin’s eyes widened, then he grinned.

  “Are we just going to ignore this?” Irina said, pointing at the stranger still lying motionless on the ground; Maki was hiding behind her.

  Bruno approached the stranger hesitantly, taking a better look at him now that his hood was down. He looked like a regur wolf, except…he had small horns on his head. Bruno’s eyes widened in shock as he began to connect the dots. “Wait…this can’t be…”

  The wolf's eyes snapped open, quickly springing to his feet, snarling.

  “Wait! I give up!” Bruno excimed, raising his paws defensively.

  “Huh?” Irina raised an eyebrow at him. “What are you doing?!”

  “Silence, wench!” Bruno shot back at Irina. “I know when something is beyond my limits and when it's wise to just surrender!”

  Irina gred. “Are you kiddin–”

  Maki pulled on Irina's clothes, holding her back.

  Bruno turned his attention back to the strange wolf, who seemed rightfully confused now. “I'll do whatever you want, alright?” Bruno knelt, his paws on the ground, leaning down so far that his snout nearly touched the soil.

  The stranger smirked, and spoke with a raspy voice, “Wise choice.”

  “Just please, spare me and…eat this!” With a swift motion, Bruno sprayed the dirt and pebbles he had scooped up in his paws in the stranger's face, then turned on his heels and bolted in the opposite direction. “Run!” He shouted to the others. “He's a dragon!”

  Without any hesitation or further questions, Irina, Maki and Elvin ran alongside Bruno.

  “I know what you did, but did you really have to call me a wench?!” Irina shouted at Bruno.

  “What can I say? I really like to immerse myself in the role!” Bruno shouted back. He took a gnce behind him, and his heart dropped as he saw the wolf was catching up armingly fast.

  “Foolish plebeians,” the stranger said, rolling up his right sleeve and lunging at them. Pulling his arm back in preparation to strike, it transformed into a massive dragon cw before swinging it at Bruno and the others.

  Bruno's eyes widened in disbelief. Everything was happening too fast for him to comprehend, and right now they were right in harm's way. But something charged past them and towards the attacker. It was Akira, wielding his greatsword and blocking the dragon cw with it.

  “What is it about this vilge that keeps attracting freaks?!” Akira said, snorting. “I miss the days when Kumiko was the only freak around here!” He pushed against the stranger with his sword, sending him sliding on the ground.

  “Akira!” Bruno excimed. “Watch out! He’s a dragon!”

  “No, he’s not,” Akira responded, not taking his eyes off the stalker. “Although he really wishes to be one.” He gestured at the wolf in question with his sword. “Am I right?”

  The horned wolf growled, then paused, then snickered.

  Akira watched him for a moment, then in an instant turned around and dashed towards Bruno, his sword aloft.

  Bruno screamed, raising his paws in defense, but Akira went past him and swung his sword, striking the ground.

  “Bastard!” Akira shouted.

  Confused, Bruno’s eyes darted around, and saw another cloaked figure, this one flying away with massive dragon wings. To his horror, Maki was nowhere to be found. “No…” he whispered and looked at the flying stranger again, and sure enough, Maki was in his clutches. “Maki!”

  “Bruno watch out!” Irina called in a hurry as she sprung to Bruno’s side, her sword unsheathed, blocking the first intruder’s cw before it could strike Bruno. But the enemy was overpowering, slowly pushing her back, her sword nearing her face.

  Akira came to the rescue once more, swinging at the stranger, who quickly hopped back and away.

  “That’s enough,” the stranger said. “I don’t have to waste my time on you anymore.” His cw disappeared, and instead sprouted wings like his companion and took off, following him.

  “I have no choice,” Akira said, peeling the fabric off his sword, revealing a deep blue bde and a golden hilt. He lowered his voice, as if whispering to the weapon. “Royal Moon, I may not be worthy of your strength, but I beg you: lend it to me.”

  In response, the bde glowed faintly. Akira grunted, swinging his bde and unleashing an arc of blue light towards the two intruders. But as, the arc dissipated before it could reach them, and even the sword’s glow died out. The strangers disappeared into the distance. Akira growled, pnting the sword in the ground and dropping on one knee, seemingly out of breath, resting his forehead on the sword’s hilt. “I’m sorry.”

  Bruno watched in shock as everything unfolded before him. His mind was in shambles. The strangers, what were they? The sword, why did Akira have that sword? But most importantly…”Maki.” He muttered. He dropped to his knees, gritted his teeth and punched the ground so hard that his knuckles bled, then shouted, “Damn it!” He held his injured paw, his chest heaving in rage. His voice dropped to a whisper, “Mother, father…I…failed.”