The group decided to rest for the night. With only two bedrooms available, they split into smaller groups.
Volk: I can literally sleep on the floor. I don't mind.
Sobaka: Same here. Not like it's the worst place I've slept.
Kitsune: How about this—Okami, Inu, and I take one room, and Lykos, Alepou, and Skylos take the other. That way, you and Volk can crash on the couch instead of the floor.
Lykos: Uh... you guys do realize this couch turns into a futon, right?
The group turned to him as he pulled at the base of the couch, unfolding it into a futon.
Lykos: See? Just had to fold this part back.
Volk: Well, that settles that.
With a few chuckles and yawns, everyone bid each other goodnight. But before heading to bed, Lykos and Alepou stepped outside for some air, standing together under the starlit sky.
Lykos: Hey, Ale... you remember that dream I told you about? The one with eight people and... well, everything else?
Alepou: Yeah... what about it?
Lykos: I think you've put the pieces together by now... I just really hope this is all some massive coincidence.
Alepou: Right... I mean, you don't have a Telum, so I doubt anything crazier will happen.
Lykos: Heh... let's just hope I don't magically get one.
Alepou hummed, resting her chin in her palm as she looked at him.
The two stood in silence for a while, the cold air wrapping around them. The snow-covered landscape stretched endlessly beneath the stars, a stark beauty that neither of them could deny.
Lykos: You know, when I said we should go out and see the world, this wasn't exactly what I had in mind.
Alepou: Pfft, same here. But hey, at least we're far from home. That's a plus.
Lykos: Yeah... I just wish it were under different circumstances. We're out here freezing our asses off.
Alepou: True, but...
She inched closer, wrapping an arm around him.
Alepou: We've got each other to stay warm.
Lykos huffed a quiet laugh before draping his arm around her. They stood there a while longer, enjoying the peacefulness of the moment. Eventually, he realized Alepou had fallen asleep against him. A small smile tugged at his lips as he gently rubbed her hair before scooping her up in his arms and carrying her inside.
Once he tucked her into bed, he stepped out of the room and sat against the door, deep in thought.
I really hope this is just a coincidence... If anything happens to them, I don't know what I'll do. I could never forgive myself.
A strange dizziness overcame him, forcing him to close his eyes for just a moment. When he opened them, everything was dark.
He immediately stood up, his body tensed. He could hear breathing behind him.
Lykos: Who's there?
Okami: Lykos?
Volk: Okami?
Lykos exhaled in relief.
Lykos: It's just you two... but why is it so dark?
Okami: The real question is—where the hell are we? We were all in our rooms, right?
Volk: Yeah, I was still in the living room.
A voice slithered through the darkness.
???: You three aren't where you were before.
Lykos stiffened. That voice... he had heard it before, back in his city.
Lykos: ...You again?
???: Hmm, surprised you're still breathing. You should've died back then—just like the rest of your city.
Volk: What do you want?
???: What do I want? Hahaha... I want you three wiped off the face of this planet.
Okami: What the hell did we ever do to you?!
???: Your very existence is an annoyance. You're all tainted with his genes.
Lykos: His? Who the hell are you talking about?
The voice laughed, the sound curling around them like smoke.
???: Oh, you don't know? How tragic. You'll find out soon enough. But for now... let me make your lives a living hell.
Before any of them could react, everything snapped back to normal. They shot up in their respective places, drenched in sweat, and immediately went to check on each other.
Okami: ...So it wasn't a dream.
Lykos: What are we gonna do?
Volk: What can we do? We just have to be careful.
They locked eyes and silently agreed—this would stay between them for now.
The next day, the winds outside were too strong to travel, so the group stayed inside, gathered in the living room. Conversations turned to their pasts, with Okami and Inu reminiscing about their childhood in Japan.
Alepou: That sounds way easier than what we went through...
Skylos: My thoughts exactly.
Okami: Oh yeah? Then what did you go through?
Skylos: Well, basically—
BOOM.
An explosion erupted in the distance, cutting him off. The house trembled, and the power was instantly knocked out.
Okami and Volk exchanged a glance before nodding.
Volk: We gotta go. Explosions are never good.
Sobaka: No shit.
Inu: Wait.
He closed his eyes, concentrating. A few seconds passed before his expression darkened.
Inu: Yeah. We really gotta leave.
Okami: What did you see?
Inu: No time. Alepou, get Lykos. Everyone else, pack whatever we need—now.
The group scrambled into action, stuffing supplies into bags. Inu pushed open the front door, his hands glowing with light.
Volk: ...You have a Telum too?
Inu: Yeah. You should activate your armor.
Volk grunted, handing his bag to Sobaka before stepping forward. A golden light enveloped his body, forming into a full suit of armor with a cape and a massive shield.
Volk: Okay, so what exactly are we fighting?
Inu glanced up.
Inu: Just a bunch of harpies.
Volk followed his gaze. At least a hundred winged figures swarmed the sky.
Volk: Just a bunch?!
Inu: Relax. It's nothing we can't handle.
Volk: IT BETTER BE! THESE THINGS ARE BASICALLY FLYING RATS!
Inu: The future looks fine.
Volk exhaled sharply, gripping his shield. The others readied themselves as the harpies descended, wings slicing through the cold air.
The battle had begun.
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