The Moonlight Wolf of the Valley in the Sky –

Keuro’s Destiny

“Do not forget me…for I have already been forgotten”

Memories flooded Keuro’s head as his pulse began to race. He struggled to move but suddenly found himself caught in vines and he was unable to free himself. He barked and barked with his eyes tight shut until one memory suddenly stood in front of him. He thought for a second and stopped struggling.

Keuro’s two aqua blue eyes then burst open as he lifted his head to the sky. He didn’t know it, but it had happened. He couldn’t hear it, but it had happened. He couldn’t feel it, but it had happened.

He howled to the sky with the force of a great pack of wolves and no sooner had he done so, that the vines holding him shattered, piercing his skin, but nevertheless, free.

Keuro looked down at his feet and felt the ground beneath him shake, it began to break, it broke underneath his feet until it was in thousands of pieces. He fell. He fell down and down and down and soon was out of sight, all he could see was the faint figure of a wolf… Standing some way away from him with two long purple wings. The female put her head into the small amount of light there was and closed her eyes.

“Do not forget me…” She whispered, when suddenly the two aqua blue eyes shot open.

“Good morning, sleepy head!” A young husky barked.

She grabbed him by the scruff and stood Keuro up. She scanned his body and smiled as he yawned widely.

“My, you will be just like your father when you grow up” She told, looking up from him and to the sky.

“But…” Keuro started, “I never knew dad… Is it a good thing that I will look like him?”

The fae stopped and looked down, like she was upset, or ashamed. She did not speak, instead there was a long, uncomfortable, silence. Keuro felt as if he had hurt her feelings, yet not wanting to intrude, sat beside her and nudged her.

“Mum…” He began, but she simply turned and laughed.

“You’ll understand someday” She told.

“Understand what?” But yet again, she butted in.

“I suppose you’re hungry? I’ll get Ruroni to deal with that…”

Keuro cringed greatly and held out his paw.

“Ru…” She started.

“Mum..”

“Ro…”

“MUM”

“Ni!!!”

“MUM!!” Keuro screeched, but it was too late.

A massive dark blue wolf swooped down from the skies and grabbed Keuro by the neck.

“HEEYY LITTLE BRO!” Ruroni yelped as he ruffled Keuro’s hair in-between his ears.

Ruroni grinned as he did so and flapped his wings in happiness.

“Nugi nugi nugi!” Ruroni yelped, still giving Keuro nugies.

Keuro slapped Ruroni’s paw away and pouted. Ruroni then felt sorry and went to comfort him, but as he did, Keuro knelt on a button that poured freezing water over him.

“MUAHAHAHA! The trick mister RURONI has been defeated!” Keuro started, “and… and… and…” Keuro then turned to look at his older brother.

“You called?” Wolves then surrounded Ruroni, drying him and giving him a massage.

“Humph!” Keuro growled as he sat down.

Their mum cocked her head to one side and smiled; she then stood up and turned. She barked at her children who were now rolling around on the ground, tearing each other to pieces and called them over.

“I’m going for a walk, you two can go do whatever you want, and Ruroni….” They both looked up, “don’t be too hard on him!” And with that, she turned and left.

Keuro saw Ruroni look down on him with a grin on his face and jetted out of there as fast as he could.

Keuro looked back slightly over his shoulder to see if he had grown any wings yet. Still, nothing. His brother AND sisters had wings, so why not him? He didn’t understand why they all had wings at child birth and he didn’t. That same question had bugged Keuro for his whole life. He’d always wanted to fly, to soar above the clouds, be free to do whatever you want. He wanted to know and feel the feeling of flying, but still had never done so.

Keuro continued to pad through the woods, his delicate paws crunching on the crisp, dry leaves.  All around him were flying animals, birds, bugs, even the great winged horse, Pegasus lived here, somewhere in the woods. Keuro wished he was something more than a wolf, but it had never been his main dream. His real dream in life was to find out what was wrong with his father, and why no one ever mentioned him. Keuro sometimes thought it was because his father too, had no wings, but why would Ruroni have wings and not him?

It was too much for Keuro to take right now, so he continued through the woods.

Keuro rested for a while in a darker spot of the forest, he always used to call it ‘his spot’ where he could just go to relax and stay. But over the years, that spot has been covered by moss and inhabited by different creatures such as, Rabbits, bugs and foxes. He could barely ever go there now, but today he needed it, he needed it more than ever.

He sometimes went there to think, and of course, there were tons of questions that he needed answers to…

After being alone for a couple of hours or so, he began to get colder, it seemed a mist had gathered in the woods, and it had suddenly become darker. He shivered, but only to become more frightened.

Keuro folded back his ears, but they pricked back up to hear a soft voice, calling his name. A beautiful voice, a voice that could make even the heart of the strongest warriors melt.

Keuro drifted over, lulled by the voice, in a trance of love. He then, saw standing in front of him, a shining aqua-blue wolf-ess, with three tails drifting around on her behind.

Keuro’s eyes widened at this fantastic sight, she seemed so beautiful, so wonderful, and so… transparent? Keuro was right. This wolf was fading away, out of his head, and all he could hear was what she was really chanting, “don’t forget me for I have already been forgotten”

Then she had vanished. Keuro shook his head and looked around for a second.

“That’s the same thing I heard in my dream” He said to himself, and realized the mist had cleared.

Keuro pushed and shoved his way out of the woods, finding the opening to his home.

When he was there, he could hear howls in the distance, howls that shook the forest from not too far away. He had no idea what this was. An oncoming pack maybe? No, they never would warn another pack of them coming.

That was when Keuro was grabbed by the scruff and pulled back sharply into a hole in the ground, it was his mother. She looked all mangy and scared. She was scanning Keuro’s body, as if she were looking for something, Keuro let himself be pushed around, having no idea at what was going on.

“Nothing?! Do you feel any different, Keuro?” She asked, quickly.

Keuro shook his head slightly, not feeling any different apart from being worried. His mother grunted loudly, thrusting him aside.

“No back pains? No wings? No big muscles? Not even any more fur?!” She asked repeatedly, but still Keuro said no.

His mother looked on the verge of crying, so she scrambled away to Ruroni who looked serious for once.

“Mum, its ok, I can fight on my own” He said, patting her back.

“But you don’t have your father’s blood in you, you don’t have the strength!” His mother cried, tugging at Ruroni’s fur.

“I can do this…” Ruroni pushed Keuro aside and poked out of the hole; he spread out his wings and turned to face his mum, “Goodbye”

He pecked her cheek and turned, seeing thousands of midnight black wolves charging past him, towards the pack. He stood straight and faced them, until one came streaking forwards and stabbed its claws into Ruroni’s throat, tearing down his chest and into his stomach, blood pouring down his body.

Everything went silent and seemed to be in slow motion for Ruroni. He could just about make out his mother screaming his name and Keuro shouting out.

Ruroni turned to look at them with no emotion on his face, blood dripping out of his mouth.

“I… can’t do this” He said and fell forwards onto his face.

Keuro stared blankly at his dead brother, watching his mother crawl out of the hole, trying to help Ruroni. Keuro tried to grab her and pull her back in where it was safe, but she swiped Keuro’s hand away. Then before either of them knew it, she was being strangled by a vine that was being clutched in a dark wolf’s paws. Keuro jumped down, but was still able to see the dark wolf run away, leaving his mother fall across Ruroni’s body.

Keuro stared at them, not crying, but just staring when a shining aqua-blue wolf-ess grabbed him and flew with her pink wings into the air.

“Keuro, you ok?” She asked.

It was his eldest sister, of whom had recently been fighting. She clutched Keuro tightly as if he were one of her cubs, seeing that he was not bothering to hold on. He was still staring at his dead mother and brother, and watching the black wolves, dart past, they looked like little black dots.

So that was it, as he was carried away into the darkness, he could only picture his mother and brother being killed right in front of his eyes, until a bright yellow wolf came zooming up to them, eyes scrunched up happily and her arms out stretched as if to hold someone.

“KOOWOO!!!!” She screamed happily and flew right into his othersister.

Yes, this was his other sister, of whom was not the best warrior, but still a good female one. She wasn’t the brightest light in the tunnel either, but she was still sweet and cared for any living creature. Poor Kusa was born with a speaking problem and she was slightly dysfunctional, but her family still loved her no matter what was wrong.

“KOOWOO! YUP!” she cried, ‘yup’ and ‘Koowoo’ were the only two words she could say. But Kusa soon realised that just after she had spoken, Keuro was plummeting to the earth.

“You just had to make me drop him, didn’t you?” Tael told, staring at her sister angrily, “Go and get him, Kusa”

“Yup” The yellow wolf, Kusa, said, swooping down to catch Keuro.

As soon as he was in her arms, she flew beside Tael, who, covered in strong armour, was busy trying to take the armour off of her wings, then her body, then her tail, and then her face.

Kusa smiled and took a twig from behind her ear and placed it in-between the feathers of her purple wings. There, she had placed, feathers, twigs, leaves, sticks, stones and many other things, like a collection.

Kusa had always been a bit strange like that, but that’s the way it should be!

Keuro and Tael exchanged looks and then turned to Kusa who was grinning. Tael laughed with her sister as Keuro attempted a small smile.

*I must forget about Ruroni and mother. I cannot do anything for them now, I just have to stand strong* Keuro thought and started to laugh with his sisters.

“Koowo?” Kusa looked up at Tael, wondering if they should wake Keuro up.

“Hmm… no. This will be more fun without him moaning” Tael told, “strap him on, then”

“Yup” Kusa replied and flew softly over to Keuro, of whom was asleep on Tael’s back.

Kusa took out one long vine from her wing feathers and started to tie it around Keuro. She wrapped it around again and again and made sure he was tightly on. They couldn’t risk him falling off, what with having no wings? Kusa nodded softly to Tael and glanced down. There, flying just below, was a black, rugged wolf.

“YYUUPPPPP!!” Kusa screamed, flying around in circles, scared of this Dark Wolf in front of her.

Tael grabbed Kusa’s wing and stopped her, taking her tail away from Keuro’s ears.

“This is Takari’s dad” Tael told, smiling towards the black wolf, “thank you for bringing her here, but you really didn’t need to drop her off”

“Of course I did” Takari’s dad grunted, and soon revealing a young, yet beautiful fae-wolf in his grasp, this was Takari.

Kusa and Tael gazed at Takari. How were they going to go cloud hopping? SHE HAD NO WINGS!!

“Nuht, guhd” Kusa murmured and soon Tael thumped her stomach, hard.

“Kusa! Mind your manners!” Tael growled, she then faced Takari and spoke in a hushed voice, “umm.. you don’t have wings?”

“Hm? Oh my gosh! Is that a problem, I’m so so sorry” Takari replied in a soft, gentle voice.

Keuro’s eyes suddenly shot open, but he didn’t move. The vine was wrapped around him so tightly he could barley raise one fur! So he shut his eyes, but kept them open just enough to see what was going on. His vision was slightly blurred by Tael’s fur, so he couldn’t see everything, but could just about make out Takari. She continued talking.

“I thought it wouldn’t matter, I’m really really sorry” She looked down as she spoke.

*That voice. That’s the voice I heard in my dream last night, before mum and Ruroni were dead, can it be? Can it be she’s the one I can’t forget?* Keuro thought to himself.

He then noticed Takari’s father in front of her, but all he thought he was, was a Dark Wolf. And he immeadietly thought that he must save Takari from this Wolf. Obviously, he was wrong, and only realised that when he cut through the vine with his claw and leapt off.

He bared his teeth, snarling and growling at Takari’s father, soon landing on his back. Keuro dug his claws into his back and ripped at him, and soon, realising his mistake, was pushed off, and he began to fall backwards.

Takari clung to her father and dug her claws into his arms.

“Dad! Why’d you do that?! He had no wings! Like me! Would you do that to me!?” Takari yelled, all the while holding on for dear life.

“You know what? I probably would” He grunted.

“Dad?” Takari whimpered, gazing at her father’s blood red eyes.

Takari screeched as her father tried to push her off, yowling and growling all the way. And when he had accomplished it, he darted off, flying with his torn, black wings.

Kusa and Tael looked at each other in horror and then snapped back into reality.

“Kusa! You get Takari and I’ll get Keuro, MOVE!” Tael yelped and shot downwards towards her younger brother, of whom was ever closer to the tree’s.

Takari had shut her eyes, tight, tears falling from them and flying behind her. Keuro soon found himself beside her, falling to his doom, and not feeling fear or nervousness, but he felt a warmth dwell inside him as he thought that she might be the one that talked to him.

“KEURO!” Takari screamed, her eyes still tight shut, “IF I’M ABOUT TO DIE… PLEASE REMEMBER MY NAME… IT’S.. TAKARI!” Takari shouted, tears flying above hear head.

 But soon, that hope was gone, as Kusa grabbed Takari and flew her to saftey, and when he plunged into the darkness of the forest below.

Kusa and Tael scanned the area, screaming for their brother, there was no reply. They had no choice but to give up when the cold ‘end of winter’ breeze began to blow. Anyway, they needed to look after Takari, she was in their care now…

----------

When Keuro awoke, he was bouncing around. The forest was gleaming and shimmering with the morning sun, and the warmth was creeping in. Summer was just around the corner, and he was alive! As Keuro scanned the area, he realised he was indeed moving. He was on the back of what seemed to be a wolf, just a bit older than him, with fiery red fur and a flame tail. The wolf turned his chalky green eyes toward Keuro and smiled, putting his tongue back into his mouth.

“You wait just one second and I’ll explain all!” He shouted, trying to keep his voice heard over the wind.

Keuro gazed for a second and nodded, this was a face he could trust. He clung on and watched the tree’s zoom past, this guy was really fast! It was unbelievable! But where are this wolf’s wings? Is this wolf like him? Are they the same? Keuro’s mind was filled with questions, and soon, all would be revealed.

Keuro could see that just up ahead, there was an opening in the woods, a circle. A bit like where he used to live, but this place was much more beautiful. Keuro could hardly contain his excitement, it seemed he had forgotten about everything that had happened.

The fiery red wolf set Keuro down beside him and smiled.

“You OK?” He asked.

“Yeah.. thank you so much for saving me!” Keuro managed to squeal.

“No, it’s ok. Anyway, you kinda fell on me. I was just walking back here when you fell onto my back” The fire wolf said, “My name’s Flame. What’s yours?”

“My name? It’s.. uh.. Keuro” Keuro squealed again, “… Um… Pardon me for asking, but, where are your wings?”

“My wings? You are a fox, right?” Flame asked suspiciously.

“No. I’m a wolf”

“What?! Where are your wings?!” Flame yelped, confused.

Keuro looked at the ground as Flame stared down at him, looking sad.

“Did I say something wrong?” Flame asked.

“No. It’s just… I don’t have wings, not yet at least”

“Oh”

“But, why did you think I’m a fox?” Keuro asked.

“Well, foxes don’t always have their wings out, we can withdraw them when ever we want. We need this because foxes are faster at running than wolves are, and it’s hard to run when you have two big wings on your back. But wolves don’t run, most of the time they fly, that’s why they don’t withdraw their wings” Flame told, smirking, “I’m a fox, by the way”

“Ooh. That makes more sense” Keuro giggled, “that’s really cool, I saw how fast you were running, it was amazing! You’re like a cheetah!”

Flame laughed and patted Keuro’s head like Ruroni used to do.

“I like you, you’re cool” Flame remarked, opening his glistening eyes.

“Thanks, you’re cool too” Keuro replied, really having nothing to talk about, “uhh.. Flame…”

“Yep?”

“Is your tail supposed to be on fire like that?”

“What?” Flame asked, turning round to look at his burning tail, “OH MAN NOT AGAIN!! AGH!”

Keuro watched Flame run around him in circles, until a blue, female fox flew down beside him and blew some water from her tail, putting the fire out. When the fire was out, Flame fell straight onto the ground, as the female walked towards Keuro.

“Hi!” She yelped, somewhat reminding Keuro of Tael, “who’re you?”

“I’m.. uh.. Keuro”

“You’ve met Flame I see. He sometimes does that, when he goes for a run he gets sunburnt sometimes and when I say sunburnt, I mean, sunburnt” She giggled, watching Flame failing to stand up, “I’m Ice, people sometimes call me nice Ice but I prefer, Ice”

“Ok. Umm.. I don’t know if you know where the Cloud Hopping arena is?” Keuro asked, knowing that was where his sisters and Takari had gone.

“I do” Flame told, finnaly standing up, “want me to take you?”

“Sure!” Keuro yelped eagerly.

“Cool” Flame walked over to Ice and nuzzled her, “bye sis”

“Bye bye” Ice grinned, nuzzling him back.

Flame then turned to face Keuro and he made two huge, fire coloured wings shoot out of his back.

“Lets go” Flame told, lifting Keuro onto his back and darting off into the sky.

When the arena was in sight, Keuro had just finished explaining to Flame what had happened, and why he was on his own and wanting to go here.

Flame understood and they had agreed that Flame was to join Keuro and never leave his side. They can safley say that they were both happy with that agreement.

They had finnaly reached the arena and it was Tael and Kusa who were performing their Cloud Hopping skills.

“So they’re your sisters?” Flame asked, taking a seat beside Keuro at the very front.

“Yeah. The yellow one is Kusa and the blue one is Tael, Kusa isn’t the brightest of sorts, but she is very sweet when you get to know her” Keuro told, sucking at his cola drink.

“She’s cute too” Flame told and Keuro stopped drinking for a second.

They stared at each other until they burst out laughing. But they were stopped by the sound of an alarm. It was finally Tael and Kusa’s turn.

“So, how does this game work?” Flame whispered, leaning over to Keuro.

“Well, lots of pink clouds are set up in a course. Two winged creatures must pass each course together. They must hop the clouds until they get to the end, where they must split up and perform tricks on the clouds as they hop” Keuro explained.

“Yeah..”

“…And the last course is the hardest of all. The partners must keep hold of each other and cannot let go, they will be racing against the other pairs that made it through. The first pair to get to the end must then fly through the cloud hoops together and if they make it to the end without their wings touching the sides, they win!” Keuro finished.

“Sounds like fun” Flame said, his head rested on his hand.

“Yeah, but it’s more of a girls sport, hence the pink clouds” Keuro laughed.

They watched Tael and Kusa, they had already made it to the second course. Keuro knew which kinds of tricks they would do, and he also knew their ending move. It went ‘hop hop swing hop, underneath the cloud, over the cloud, hop hop swing hop, jump through, fly up, hop hop swing hop’ and their finishing move would be, still in the air, ‘dive into the cloud below and forward towards the finish’.

It was the same every year, and they had just finished the dive and made it to the next course.

It was time for the break half way in between races and Keuro was eager to find out where Takari was. He’d already explained to Flame who Takari was, and Flame was going to help him find her.

“C’mon, lets go and find her” Flame told and hopped Keuro onto his back, flying around the audience, searching for Takari.

“Down there!” Keruo shouted, pointing past Flame’s face towards a little fae in the front row of whom was talking to Kusa and Tael.

“Hey, I’ll drop you here, I’m gonna go find out if the girl over there is giving me looks” Flame told, dropping Keuro towards Takari and flying over to a white fae.

“GERONIMOOOOOO!!” Keuro cried as he fell towards Kusa.

“Koowoo!” Kusa yelped as she spun Keuro around of whom had just fallen into her arms.

“We thought we had lost you” Tael told, giving Keuro a big kiss on the cheek.

“I’m so glad you’re ok” Takari said in her beautiful voice.

“Takari..” Keuro whispered, turning his gaze to hers.

Suddenly their gaze was broken by a loud signal that the race was about to begin, this was then followed by Kusa, squealing and flying around in circles with excited-ness. Tael smiled and flew with Kusa towards the track. They were on the second to last course which they found easy, but Tael had always had trouble on the last course. Kusa always made it through because she was fast and energetic, but Tael’s wings were so long that had trouble getting through the clouds. They had to start again every year because of Tael, but this time she was determined, both of them were.

“WHOO! GO TAEL AND KUSA!” Keuro cried out as he waved his paws in the air.

“Yay! Do your best!” Takari yelped back towards them, trying to catch their eyes in the audience.

They had made it through the first course easily. Although Kusa was nearly pushed out of the arena by a big, rough wolf, they still won and it was now time for the last course. They were given time to have a drink and this was only five minuets. So they spent it wisley before the last race.

Kusa flashed her eyes over to Tael. Tael looked back and smiled, they knew they were ready this year, and they weren’t going to let anything stop them this year.

As the horn blew for the race to begin, Tael focused on the rings infront of her and stared at them. She appeared ready as they shot off into the arena.

Kusa zoomed infront of Tael, flying through each hoop with ease. Tael came up to her second hoop after making it through the first. She remembered what her mother had once said:

“Try your best. And don’t give up”

She smiled and stopped in mid-air.

“THIS IS FOR YOU, MOTHER!” Tael cried out and flattened her wings zooming down towards all of the hoops.

Clouds were being blown aside by the speed of her body. She was almost completely flat, her wings by her sides and her ears pinned down to her head. She shot through each ring over and over again, going around and around in circles, and soon making it towards the last hoop. Kusa had been waiting there and they both turned gazes towards eachothers, smiled, and nodded.

“Yup… Rooroohniih ahnd muhma” Kusa told as she darted forward.

Tael watched Kusa fly through it towards the finish line. They had to go through the finish line together so she made sure she waited in front of it. Tael spun her body around in a twist like a vertical twister. This made her body flatter and faster. She watched as she came up to the last ring and prayed in her head, but grinned on her face.

She burst through it, her wings then shooting out of either side when she made it out. Kusa screamed happily and grabbed Tael, hugging her, and the two of them flew past the finish line.

Tael’s face lit up with happiness, the whole crowd was cheering, and so were Takari and Keuro. They spun each other round, Takari and Keuro, Kusa and Tael and even Flame and this new fae.

Everyone was happy, and the cheering continued. Tael and Kusa even had tears in their eyes, they had won for the first time in their lives after trying every year since they were mere wolf pups.

Tael and Kusa darted around the course and in and out of the crowd. All of the wolves, foxes, horses and dragons were cheering their hearts out towards them as they flew around in circles. Takari and Keuro blew hearts to them, kissing their paws and letting them catch them.

Everyone’s thoughts and minds had been lifted.

Tael and Kusa now had a story to tell their children (if they ever were to have any) and their children’s children!!

When all had finally calmed down, Tael and Kusa went down to collect their prizes. They waited at the desk until a tall, black, good looking wolf came to the desk. He leaned on his elbow while flicking around with a pencil and biting on it. Tael smiled and held out her paw, the other around her sisters shoulders, trying to stop Kusa from playing with the butterfly that was floating around their heads, it was hard for Kusa to resist.

“Hi, my name is Tael and this is my sister, Kusa. We have just won the tournament. We’re here to collect our prize” Tael told, grinning.

“Ah yes, I believe the prize is waiting for you just out there” He told, pointing outside the door.

Tael grabbed Kusa by the arm and flew outside, swooping down beside what seemed to be a small sheet of white paper, floating in the air. Tael sat on a cloud while reading it out loud.

“I have taken your prize for you to never see it again. Sincerely, Jiko”

Tael sighed after she had read it.

“It seems to be a crook!” The good looking wolf yelped as he ran over to Tael and peeked over her shoulder.

“…and not a very bright one!” Tael added, rolling her eyes at the ‘sincerely’ signed name.

They were both suddenly stopped by a crash just outside the arena and there stood the culprit, of whom had just dropped the prize. Tael and the wolf glared at ‘Jiko’ angrily and ruffled up their fur.

“Kusa, stay here, I’ve got a bone to pick with someone” Tael told and focused back on the thief, “you, go and get him, I’ll get the prize!”

They split up, one flying down and one flying up. Tael seemed to have gained some flying speed after the race and was able to catch the prize with ease, though she didn’t look at it, she wanted to find out what it was with Kusa. She looked up to see the wolf chasing the thief in the sky, with a higher speed than her and Kusa put together! Tael flew up and silently stood behind the thief with her arms ready to catch. The wolf smiled to himself and darted forward, causing the thief to fall backwards into Tael’s arms, catching him and tightening her grip.

“My name is Graeme, by the way, I’m from South Africa” The wolf told, “well, I say South Africabut it was originally New Zealand.

Tael nodded politely as he helped her carry the thief into the reception area. Tael pinned him down as Graeme called the air police. They arrived in no time and took care of the thief, Tael placing the prize carefully on the ground before thanking Graeme properly.

“Thank you so much, I couldn’t have done it without you” Tael told, blushing as she spoke.

Graeme lifted her paw and kissed it gently.

“Are you free tomorrow?” He asked, smiling up at her.

“Why yes, I am!” Tael yelped, she’d been waiting for that all night.

“Then it’s a date” Graeme agreed as the butterfly flew in between them.

Kusa leapt up and grabbed the butterfly in both paws.

“Gotcha!” She yelped as Tael and Graeme giggled together.

Takari and Keuro watched as a somewhat mangled fox flew down beside them.

“She wasn’t exactly a fox. She was an African Wild Dog… never call an African Wild Dog a fox” Flame told as he flumped beside them.

Keuro couldn’t help but laugh as he watched Flame swell over in worry.

“Flame? Is that your name?” Takari asked.

“Yeah! How’d you know that?” Flame asked in surprise.

“Well… uh… you may think it’s weird, but, before my mother died after being attacked by my father… she was a Gypsy-wolf. She taught me her favourite skill… mind reading”

“WHAT?! WHOAH!” Keuro yelped.

“I know, it’s stupid really”

“No it’s not! It’s fantastic!! Do me, do me” Keuro begged and he closed his eyes.

“You don’t need to close your eyes, silly, all I need to do is look at you”

“Ok…” Keuro replied and stared at her.

Within one second she told him the answer, “mmm fishcakes?”

“Right!!” Keuro yowled with glee, “you’re amazing!”

“It kinda makes up for not having wings” She began, “I noticed you don’t have wings either.

“And here I was thinking I was the only wolf that did not fly, I’m glad I met you, Takari” Keuro told, smiling towards her.

“Ok.. now.. shall we go and see your sisters, Keuro?” Flame asked, pointing to the reception.

“Ok” Keuro and Takari agreed in unison.

“Great, I have to carry two wolves…” Flame mumbled as he tried to stand while Takari climbed on with Keuro, “hold on”

And with that, Flame swooped down from the stands and swiftly landed beside the reception. They awaited to find out what the prize was and they saw Kusa padding out on top of clouds, looking up at them.

“A flutterhbeeh!” Kusa told, proudly, holding out the butterfly in her paws.

Keuro knelt down beside her and patted her head.

“A butterfly? How sweet” Keuro laughed, knowing it wasn’t the real prize.

Then suddenly, from the reception, Tael shot out with twinkling eyes, holding out six tickets in her paws, flashing them in front of their faces. 

“What are they?” Flame asked, holding out a paw to Tael.

“They’re six tickets to the famous Water Valley In The Sky!!! You know, where they massage you and there’s a pool and there are hot springs and geysers and everything!!!” She yelped in a mouthful, “and there’s one for me, one for Keuro, one for Kusa, one for Takari, one for Flame and-”

“Who’s the last one?” Takari said, confused.

“Him” Tael told, turning around and pointing at her new love, Graeme.

“We’ll be staying here for as long as we want” Graeme explained, “and we’re leaving tomorrow. We’ll be getting there by our wings, walking would be too tiring. It’s like a human trying to walk to Japanfrom England!”

“We’d better get packing then! Keuro, Takari, I’ll pick you up tomorrow at 7am ok?” Flame told, “I know where your house is, it’s actually on the other side of my forest”

“Actually, Flame… umm… we don’t have a home anymore… It was destroyed in a dark wolf invasion, that was when my mother and brother were killed, remember?”

“Oh yeah… well then, you can stay with me for the night, ‘kay?”

Keuro nodded and Flame pulled him and Takari onto his back, he spread out his wings and jumped off of the cloud he was standing on, flying at top speed towards the forest. Takari and Keuro managed a small wave to Kusa, Tael and Graeme as they were taken off to Flames forest.

That night was gloomy and rainy, even though everyone kept their spirits high, it wouldn’t change the weather. Flame was upstairs with a white vixen he had met at the stadium while Takari and Keuro slept downstairs. Keuro had drifted off almost as soon as he arrived at Flame’s den, but Takari had trouble sleeping. She couldn’t help but think that all of her life, she had been daughter to a dark wolf. It hurt just to think about it.

As she glanced over to the clock on the muddy wall, she did not even yawn, even though her eyes were droopy and red.

“…two thirty in the morning… and I can’t sleep” She whispered in a tired, croaky voice, “Maybe a walk in the rain will clear my thoughts”

So she slowly got up, careful as to not awake the sleeping Keuro, and snuck off outside into the pouring rain. It was pitch black and the tree lamps had been turned off to let the foxes sleep. Takari wandered out down a path that went through the forest, she wanted to get used to Flame’s area if she was going to live here for the rest of her life.

She stumbled every now and then into puddles, making her delicate paws muddy and wet, but she continued walking. Even though Takari was scared, she still went around in circles, trying to get used to this spot before returning home. She at last decided to make her way back to Flame’s house, remembering the way she had came.

She was stopped by a noise coming from the bushes beside her.

“Who’s there?” She asked sharply, not eager to stop or to continue.

“Only me, little girlie” A rough looking creature told as he stumbled out of the bushes.

This man was wearing 70’s style glasses and had a bottle of Wolf-Wonder-Beer in his paw. His other paw had a cigarette in the fingers and his pockets were filled with tablets. He was one of ‘The Coyote’s’, a gang of Coyote’s that were strong alcoholics and are renown for taking illegal drugs, and killing young, beautiful girls, with no mercy.

Takari instantly knew who he was and darted off in the opposite direction, but found herself surrounded by the five members of ‘The Coyote’s’. She was now regretting ever leaving Flame’s house, it was a bad idea to come out so late.

“What’s your name you little girlie?” One asked from behind.

“Why are you out so late?” Another one asked, grinning slightly.

“’You ever taken drugs?” A bigger looking Coyote asking, holding out a small bag of what look like dust.

“Don’t touch me! I never plan on taking drugs, EVER!” Takari wailed as she bit into the Coyote’s arm.

“That’s it, I’ve had enough! Get her and pin her down so she can’t escape!” The leader of the Coyote’s growled, taking a puff of his cigarette and throwing it behind him.

The four Coyote’s instantly threw themselves on top of Takari, holding her paws and legs out and pinning her onto the ground as the boss requested. She struggled to get free, but it was no use, she was a weakling compared to these big guys. But the thing she was most afraid of, was what the Coyote leader was going to do to her. Was her going to kill her? Give her drugs? Or just torment her?

“Before I start, lets get properly acquainted, I am Daruno, the leader of the Coyote’s” Daruno watched Takari squirm and smiled, “what’s your name?”

“I’m not telling you!”

“Well, would you like to die? Maybe if you told me I will take some pity and will only scar you for the rest of your life! Or, would you prefer to die?”

“…” Takari stared at her pinned down paws, “…my name’s Takari…”

“Ooh, what a pretty name! Well then, I might give you the best stuff there is. It’s called, coke” Daruno told, smirking.

Takari’s eyes shook and filled with welling tears, as she tried to push herself away from the needle full of cocaine. In her horror filled moment, she drew her front leg out of the Coyote’s grasp and jabbed the needle into his neck. The pain in his neck caused him to pass out and fall onto the ground. But Takari knew it wouldn’t last. If he’d been used to taking drugs this way it wouldn’t hurt him, he’d probably enjoy it. But Takari did not know why he wasn’t dead. She was taught very clearly that it’s almost definitely going to kill you the first time. He must have some sort of magical antidote in his beer, that is the only way he could still possibly be alive!

As soon as Daruno got up, he grabbed Takari’s paw and broke her arm, hearing the snap as he kicked her backwards. Takari’s screams weren’t enough to wake the sleeping Keuro, but she knew what was.

Takari lifted her tear-stained head and howled to the sky, her moans and whines enough to wake any other wolf.

And Keuro awoke, immediately bursting through the burrow hole and running through the rainy forest.

Daruno’s wings shot out of his sides in shock as he pushed Takari closer to the ground, muddy water covering her with wetness. Daruno’s face began to scrunch up as his fangs stuck sharply out of his mouth, ready to kill Takari at any moment. He grasped Takari’s broken arm and twisted it, making sure she couldn’t escape when the wingless one came to her rescue. She slashed at his paw, hoping he would draw back, but Daruno’s anger just continued growing, his eyes bulging and veins showing.

“You stupid mutt! NO ONE messes with Daruno!” He howled, digging his claws into the ground, “Coyote’s! Kill her!”

“Back off!” A protective voice yelled as he jumped out towards Takari, swiping his paw in front of the other Coyote’s.

“Keuro!” Takari yelped as she sat up straighter at the sight of her friend.

Before Keuro could answer, the Coyote’s, including Daruno, leaped up into the air and bit and tore at Takari’s fur, Daruno leaping on Keuro. He dragged Keuro along the mud, leaving a big wolf shaped trail in his path. Keuro tried to get away, but he found it hard to just move his foot.

By now, Takari had given up all hope, she was in too much pain to care. She knew Keuro’s limits, he was in no position to attack, even if it was for Takari.

“Mine” A rough voice growled out of nowhere, “my kill”

A shadowy character emerged from the forest, his head hung beneath his shoulder blade’s and his body structure big and muscle-filled.

“I don’t think you’ll be getting…” But before Daruno could finish, the shadowy creature bit into Daruno’s neck and threw him into the bushes after swinging him around.

“Sorry sir, we’ll leave you in peace!” A cowardly Coyote yelped as he darted off, followed by the others, and a cowering Daruno.

“Now, what to do…” The shadowy character stepped out of the darkness as his orange fur dripped with rain, “…with you?”

“Flame!” Takari and Keuro cried in unison, throwing themselves towards him in happiness.

Takari’s paw hadn’t stopped bleeding, though. It was too badly damaged for her to walk on it, so Flame had to carry Takari back on his back. As they padded slowly through the rain, Takari explained to them what had happened.

“That big Coyote, Daruno, got his Coyote’s to pin me down, and he was going to kill me. Instead he broke my leg backwards, I think it might be broken! I just wish I had stayed at home, it was stupid for me to come out so late at night on my own!” Takari began.

“But what about your… your…” Keuro stuttered.

“My Shelran? It… it was…” Takari whispered now close to crying, “It was stolen and then broken. I saw one of them throw it in the bushes, I’ll never be able to get it back!”

A Shelran is a blade, passed down from generations, and given to the youngest wolf in a family. It is only given to special families that have some sort of fighting future. Keuro has one too, but he always keep his on a grass bracelet on his wrist, Takari keeps hers loosely on her tail. This is different to fox families, though, they also have a special blade, but it is one that enables them to sit up on their hind legs, and fire it as an arrow on the bow that they are handed down with it. A fox one is called a Shikuren. If it is broken or snapped, like Takari’s, they can be fixed by the owner of the Shelran or Shikuren, casting their special spell over it, and it floats back into their paws, good as new.

Takari’s tears were now part of the rain, dripping onto the floor and creating puddles as they walked. Flame and Keuro looked concerned, but they had no idea as to what they should do. They couldn’t just undo what had happened. There must be some way they could heal Takari’s paw to enable her to fix her broken Shelran.

“Takari, when we go to the Valley In The Sky in a couple of hours, when we’ve settled down, I can take you to BlueWolf’s domain, he’s got so many magic potions, there must be one to help you” Flame explained, “he’s a friend of mine that has his potion shop right near the Male tree”

“And what’s the Male Tree?” Takari asked.

Flame and Keuro looked at each other and giggled.

“Well it’s certainly not a female tree!” Keuro yelped, bursting out in laughter along with Flame.

After the two of them had calmed down, Flame leaned over to Takari.

“It’s a male toilet, sweetie” Flame told.

“Eeew, why would he want to work there?” Takari grimaced.

“He gets more customers there. The female toilet is inside the Valley In The Sky”

“Oh. Well then, only three more hours until 7:30am. Better get to sleep before we have to wake up!” Takari told as they slowly entered the cosy fox den.

Flame and Keuro helped tie up Takari’s paw with a piece of white leaf used to make bandages, and as they all began to go to sleep, the rain began to ever so slowly, stop, and rest…

BANG BANG BANG!

The door on Flame’s house was knocked on by an obviously impatient wolf. She had an aqua-blue body and two big, pink wings, ready to fly a long distance as it appeared. She had a tall, black, male wolf standing beside her with suitcases on his wings, and behind him was a yellow and orange coloured wolf with two big purple wings that were stuffed with bird feathers, twigs and her Shelran.

“Come on, Flame! We’re getting old out here!” Tael moaned as she dropped a bag of hand-luggage that she was carrying in her mouth onto the floor.

“Give us one second!” Flame called back, obviously packing in a rush.

“We’re only going to the Valley In Sky, not South Africa!” Tael yelped, as a cold chill blew Kusa’s fur on end, surprising her.

Tael rolled her eyes and pouted as Kusa began fidgeting behind her. Graeme stared as Kusa started trying to flatten her standing on end fur, licking her paw and brushing it down. In the end, she had grabbed some ribbons from her hand luggage and had tied them all over in patches of her standing up fur. Graeme grinned as he turned to Tael, trying to keep himself from laughing. Tael smiled at her sister and helped her tie one up in-between her pointy ears, her body was now completely covered in different coloured ribbons.

“You look beautiful, Kusa” Tael told, convincingly.

Her sister had a big smile on her face, and her tongue was hanging out, dripping slightly on the floor. She wagged her ribbon tied tail in the air and panted, ready to fly out. Even though Kusa was slightly different, her skills in flying, reading and running were greater than any other wolf or foxes. Even if Kusa couldn’t do anything, Tael would still love her as her sister, and so would Keuro. She’s special in her own sort of way.

“Ok, we’re re-” But the sweaty fox paused to see ribbon covered Kusa peering out from behind Tael, “…ready”

“Aww, Kusa! You look so adorable!” Takari giggled as she pushed past Flame, fiddling around with the ribbons on Kusa, “they’re very pretty, especially on you”

“Yup” Kusa simply replied, smiling greatly with her tongue hanging out once again.

Keuro walked out and nuzzled his two sisters, stopping beside Takari, giving her a look which said: Ready?

 Flame was the first to launch himself into the skies. He was unfortunately the one to carry all of the luggage. He glanced to his left to witness Tael fly up beside him, Takari and Keuro sitting on her back. Graeme had decided to take an easier route for his type of creature, which was through the forest, then through the water, and then to be picked up on the ground beneath the Valley in the Sky.

Then Kusa flew up, she had somehow tied a ribbon to her dangling to and was trying to undo it while flying, which proved to be a rather difficult task. Takari giggled as she watched Kusa trying to un-tangle this mess, so Takari leaned forward and pulled one loop, allowing the red, silky ribbon to come off into her paw. She wrapped it around her hurt foot and watched as Kusa landed on a cloud to try and collect some cloud-dust to help it heal. Tael witnessed this also and was forced to turn around and collect her sister before she frustrated the Sky Malamute. Kusa had a sparkling substance stuck to her paw which she was desperately trying to scrape off onto Takari’s wrapped up foot. Kusa soon gave up and flew just underneath Flame, trying to be faster than him.

Keuro stared forward as the dapple grey clouds brushed past his face. Her stared into the distance, gazing at anything that came in sight. Takari was dangling her feet from Tael’s body, reading a book, she seemed very into this book and Keuro felt no need to disturb her.

He turned his head back to focus on Flame, of whom was concentrating very hard on smooth flying, if her dropped a piece of luggage, he would not be able to retrieve it.

There wasn’t much for Keuro to do now, on this long, four hour flight. He then turned his head so that he was facing the direction of Tael’s tail. HE watched small clouds disappear in a puff of smoke as Tael flew past them at great speed, yet, he didn’t dare look down, if he knew how high up he was, he’d almost defiantly fall in fear.

The only thoughts going through his mind, were his parents. His only remaining family were his two sisters. He continued to picture the same image of his bleeding mother and brother, lying on top of each other, dead.

He scrunched up his eyes and heard Takari slam her book shut, she had stuffed it away in a small ‘purple leaf’ bag and was facing forwards. Keuro joined her, and realised that Flame, Kusa and Tael had boosted their speed because now, The Valley In The Sky was in sight!

It appeared to be a castle at first glimpse, or a large mountain, or big mound of dirt, filled with bricks. But on closer inspection it was indeed what it claimed to be, a Valley in the sky. The were two large pillars outside The Valley that were engraved with large patterns, slowly forming a circle. Keuro squinted at them, he thought they resembled a shape, but he decided not to bother with it… they were at last on holiday!

Tael’s shining eyes turned to Keuro and she grinned at him, diving downwards, using the same technique she and Kusa had to win the tournament. She, Kusa and Flame flew towards the gates, landing on a rocky surface just outside the pillars. It crumbled slightly beneath Keuro’s paws, hitting the ground below.

“Oh! That reminds me! I must go and collect Graeme!” Tael exclaimed and she leapt off of the edge of The Valley, tumbling downwards, her wings soon spreading out, allowing her to land beside Graeme.

She let him clamber onto her back and she then shot upwards, completely vertical. She had to use her wings to keep Graeme on, almost as if she were cradling him.

She soon landed on the rocky surface, beside Takari and Kusa, of whom had already made their way through the gates, handing in their tickets.

Flame waited with Keuro, intrigued in his expression.

“What’s wrong, Keuro?” Flame asked, peering downwards at Keuro’s face, “something troubling you?”

Keuro then snapped out of his daydream and turned to face Flame.

“No, no, nothing’s the matter. I’ll catch up in a second, could I have my ticket please?” Keuro told.

“Sure” Flame held out a ticket and then left Keuro standing alone on the edge of the Valley.

As Keuro walked past the pillars, his fur stood on end and he shuddered. He turned back to have a closer look at the markings. As he stared at them, he could see that they were the seven stages of the moon. He ran his dirty paw along the markings, staring into them as if they were trying to tell him something.

He looked closer at the full moon at the top of the pillar. It was covered in a mist that seemed to be in the same shape as someone or something he knew. He watched the clouds as they appeared to dance around the full moon. Even though they were made of stone, he saw them in a different way…

“KEURO!” Flame called from inside the Valley, “come on!”

“Ok!” Keuro shouted back and quickly threw his ticket onto the desk, of which a scruffy dingo was sitting behind.

As he ran inside, he was greeted with a vast land of happiness and excitement. He bounced along the path, catching up with Flame and immeadietly being splashed by three female wolves that were soaked to the paw.

“Come on Keuro! Let Flame take your stuff in, we’re taking you to the water park!” Takari yelped as she grabbed Keuro’s arm, running off with him towards a cliff.

She pushed him in front of her and before he could speak, the three girls pushed him off, and then jumped down beside him. The four of them tumbled down towards sparkling waters where many young wolves, foxes and big dogs had cleared an area for them to land in. Takari and Tael were screaming with delight, Kusa was laughing and Keuro was yelling at the top of his voice. Usually he’d be ok with this, but it came as such a shock that he had hit the water before he could regain his grasp on Takari’s paw.

The first wolf to appear from the depths of this clear water was Keuro, breathlessly trying to stay above the water. Then came Takari who swam to a decorative rock to watch Keuro.

Then Tael swam up, elegantly diving back underwater towards the same rock that Takari was on.

And then of course, Kusa came up, splashing above happily with her tongue hanging out. But the ribbon that her sister had tied between her ears before they left was missing… it must have fallen off.

Tael noticed this immediately and knew how important it was for her sister, so she dove under in a split second and swam as fast as she could towards the ribbon that was resting on the tiled surface below them.

She continued swimming until it was firmly in her grasp, but she was beginning to doubt that she’d have the energy to swim back up.

A breath bubble popped from her mouth as she fell back towards the surface, she was far too deep to get back up. She could hear a splash from above her and felt the calming paws of Graeme hold her stomach. He put the ribbon in his mouth a swam upwards to the surface, passing the ribbon to Kusa and making his way through the shining water towards dry land.

He gazed at her for a moment and then put his muzzle to hers, blowing in air to bring her back. This was commonly known as the ‘Kiss Of Life’, and Graeme knew when he needed to use it.

“Tael, are you ok?” Takari asked as she crawled towards her from the rock.

“That was really nice of you to get Kusa’s ribbon” Keuro added, swimming to his sister’s hind legs.

“Yup” Kusa merely said, but they stared at her as if she was about to say something else, “tank yuu, Talee”

“Kusa! You spoke!” And excited voice shouted, “my own sister spoke! She really did!”

It was Tael, as soon as she heard her sister’s voice, her eyes shot open and she trotted over to her sister, hugging her and praising her. Then Graeme’s arms flew into the air.

“Well done, Kusa!” He shouted.

All of a sudden, Takari and Keuro joined him in celebration.

“You did it!” Takari yelped, “you spoke!”

“You’re so clever!” Keuro exclaimed, joining in Tael’s hug, “you really did talk!”

Takari sat back on the rock and massaged her hurt foot, which immediately reminded her of the promised massages.

“Flame said that we could get massa-” but she paused as the thought of Flame struck her mind, “what about Flame?! Where is he?”

“Oh, it’s ok, he’s gone to visit some BlueWolf about your Shelran, he explained everything to us” Graeme told as he smiled at Takari, “he’ll be back later with an appointment for you”

Keuro jumped up onto his bed and stared out of the window, his thoughts flying. He really couldn’t sleep that night, he now knew how Takari felt the other night, but he knew that it was safer here than in Flame’s forest at night. The chances were that he would not meet Daruno over here.

Keuro was careful not to disturb anyone as he climbed out of the lodge that they were staying in. He picked up his ticket from his bedside table so that he could get back in again. Keuro made his way past the geysers, he wasn’t completely alone, there was a group of vixens bathing in the pool with one fox in the middle – surely it wasn’t – it was. Flame was having a pool party with a group of white vixens.

Keuro walked straight past them, there was a giraffe wading in the water with her son and a lion walking along the starlit path with his wife.

Keuro smiled to them and the lion smiled back, they seemed very friendly, not like the lions that he was used to meeting back at home. This really proved the saying: ‘you can’t judge a book by it’s cover’

He walked onward, towards the gates of The Valley In The Sky, outside onto the rocky area and next to the pillars. He sat down in front of the full moon that was carved into the pillar, the one with a detailed wolf in the clouds.

Keuro glanced upwards to see the same sort of violet clouds drifting past a full moon. It was a beautiful sky. The stars were glistening, each unique in their own way. Every different star had yet to be counted, even every glimmering sparkle that you see once in a while is a star.

Keuro’s eyes glistened along with each star, reflecting the moonlight in his two, eager eyes.

A smiled slowly approached his face and he heaved out a happy sigh, watching the clouds drift by. He could once again see her, that beautiful wolf, dancing on the moon… but today she was with another wolf, one that seemed strong and brave. They seemed to be telling Keuro a story.

The male was fighting, protecting the dancing female wolf, and he soon fell backwards, his cloud disappearing into the night. The other wolf mourned over her loss as four younger wolves came to her side. Keuro knew what it meant now. The moon was telling him the story of his family.

Keuro suddenly felt the warmth of the sun hit his back as he turned around to face the pillar. The full moon was shining.

He stepped away from it as the five clouds from the moon surrounded him, lifting him upwards. He could hear the voices of his family, the first was his mother’s small voice, then he could hear Ruroni, then Tael and Kusa’s giggles… and then there was silence… nothing but the howl of a male wolf could be heard, flowing past his ears on the wind.

Keuro looked around as the faces of his family stared at him, smiling. This brought tears to his eyes, he felt guilty that his brother died fighting and his mother died for his brother. He didn’t die, he was saved by his sisters. Why should they have died and he should have survived? His life was like hell anyway. His parents were dead, brother was dead, home destroyed.. and he had no wings.

“Ruroni… mother… why are you here?” Keuro asked in a dreamy voice, staring as the cloud shapes beneath him.

“I knew that this day would come one day, my child” His mother told, a smile on her face.

“Yeah, just hold still lil’ bro’, let us do the work” Ruroni grinned and before he turned away, he looked up at his brother, “and dad says ‘hi’ too”

Their mother turned around and grabbed his neck, dragging him away. Ruroni’s paw slightly waved at his brother and Keuro screamed for them to come back. Ruroni then climbed on top of one of the pillars and his mother was on the other, they began to glow.

The rest of his family (this being Kusa and Tael) disappeared and vanished through the open window of their lodge. Keuro looked around for his father, desperate to see what he really looked like.

“Looking for me, son?” A deep voice asked from behind Keuro.

He turned his head sharply to see a dark grey wolf with a white paw smiling back at him. The wolf had two different coloured eyes, his left one was light blue (almost silver) and his other eyes was a deep green.

The wolf had two extremely large wings on his sides, the feathers torn as if he had been in a battle.

“Dad?” Keuro put his paws on the wolf’s shoulders, “is that really you?”

The wolf nodded, even the brave wolf he was had tears in his eyes, and Keuro had been crying ever since he saw his mother.

“When I was young, people used to call me ‘Yaru’, because that was my name. But one night, I came here with your family while your mother was pregnant with Tael and Kusa, and I did the exact same thing as you. Ruroni was the first to find out because he had followed me down here… I met my parents that had been killed in battle and I also saw what my next three children were going to be like. And when I saw you, I knew that you were the one” The wolf paused and stared at his son, even though his icy blue eye did not seem to move, “you were the one to take my place”

“Take your place as what?” Asked Keuro through a tearful face.

“Take my place as the MoonLight Wolf of the Valley in the Sky”

When he said that, Keuro began to scream in pain as his father held him tight. Keuro’s shoulder blades began to pierce and bleed and he had to tighten his grasp on his father to prevent him from waking the whole Valley. A light turned on from inside his lodge and Takari shot out from the window, charging into Keuro… she had two pale yellow and purple wings that she was using to fly. She held onto Keuro tightly, telling him that everything would be alright.

He began to yell again as two, long, silky aqua wings grew and sprawled out of his sides. They were stained with blood and dripped onto the rocks below. Takari could see how much pain he was in.

Takari and Keuro’s father helped to lay him onto the ground, his wings facing upwards. Ruroni and Keuro’s mother jumped from the pillar towards Keuro, kneeling down beside him and helping to clean the blood away.

Then, from the lodge, Flame, Graeme, Tael and Kusa came running towards them at a great speed. Tael couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw her mother and she ran towards her into a full blown hug. Meanwhile, Kusa had jumped into the arms of Ruroni, of whom was hugging her too.

They all soon crowded around Keuro, every single on of them doing their own bit to help him through this painful time. But as they slowly silenced themselves, they noticed that Keuro had fallen to sleep on the rocks, bleeding, but, sleeping.

The next morning, Keuro found himself sitting on the edge of his bed, surrounded by his friends and family. He had been sleeping on Takari’s shoulder because it was cause him far too much pain to lie on his wings.

Takari had much smaller wings than Keuro, that fluttered behind her as if she was some sort of pixie.

“Where did mother and father go? And Ruroni? Where’s he?” Keuro asked, surprised to only see Tael, Kusa, Flame, Graeme and Takari with him.

“They had to go… when the sun rose, they had to leave” Tael explained.

“But… how did you get wings, Takari?” Keuro asked, racing one brow.

“Well… the truth is… I also became a MoonLight Wolf… I was with you all the time. You aren’t the only one who lost their parents in battle” Takari stared out of the window, “there is a prophecy, that every full moon, a MoonLight Wolf, joined by his or her one true love, flies up to the moon every full moon. They dance around the moon, bringing sleep to every creature in the world, yet guiding others. Then, they soon sleep together in their own home and by day, become their normal selves”

“And Keuro, because Takari is the only other MoonLight Wolf, that has to mean that-” But Tael was stopped by her brother.

“That has to mean that Takari is my one true love” Keuro stared into her eyes and held her paws, smiling.

Then Flame came strolling in, with a bottle filled with blue liquid.

“Look what I’ve got!” Flame grinned and knelt beside Takari, “this’ll cure your paw! Just rub it onto your paw and you’ll be able to fix your Shelran! It also says here that it’s good for curing bug bites… hmm…”

Flame poured some onto Takari’s paw and then poured the rest of the bottle all over his body. He then dropped the glass and began to twitch and yell.

“AGH! THE PAIN! THE UNDENIABLE PPAAAIINN!!!” Flame cried as he pulled at his fur.

Takari giggled and read the back.

“‘Only use in moderation’” She read out and looked up at Flame of whom was running towards the pool.

He leapt in, splashing a lion cub and making him cry. The father of the cub stepped up and snarled at Flame, he then began to chase Flame around the whole Valley. The others couldn’t help but laugh as they joined him in the waterfall part of the Valley.

Takari stayed in the lodge and put her healed paw over her Shelran with Keuro. It glowed slightly and then the two pieces appeared in her paw, together and fixed. She tucked it on top of her shelf so it was safe and she then followed Keuro down towards the waterfallValley. They were on holiday, s’pose they’d better enjoy it.

And every single full moon, since that night, did Keuro and Takari fly upwards and dance around the moon with their families. Ruroni and Keuro’s mother and father had never really died, because he got to meet them every full moon, the same for Takari.

Graeme and Tael decided that they were all going to stay and live in the Valley in The Sky, and the two of them also decided that they were ready to be parents.

After a while, Kusa started to go to the school that they had in the Valley, and she can now say every letter in the alphabet and can say every single one of her family and friend’s names.

Flame managed to find a girl that was really into him, but he’s still as flirty as ever, and Keuro was sure that he had caught Flame with another male once!

Keuro and Takari now did everything together, they were certain that their lives were the best in the world.

But…

For how long?