Volke Rannulf

Volke Rannulf
" My liege, the chief awaits" Zeeb stepped forward to say, pointing out.

Hearing this, Darren looked up towards the top of the green hills where Zeeb pointed at. There, he saw a single, huge, moss covered wooden house at the top on the hilltop unlike the rest of the houses around which were only doors attached to caves in the mountains and those in unbelievably huge trees.

Curly plants hung by the edges of the roof, illuminating the hilltop in a warm green glow, making it obvious that it was the most important place in Lunaria.

Darren stared at the house for the longest while, seemingly lost in thought as his gaze became resplendent of untold memories. However, he sighed afterwards and began walking towards the house on the hilltop, " Let's go" he urged Zeeb.

The latter nodded shortly and followed right behind him.

As they headed towards the top of the hill, they passed by several children dressed in a single-armed brown fur clothing, running around and playing. Their soft laughters and giggles echoed through the serene silence, causing anyone to find solace in the surrounding.

Some of the children shifted into little lycans, chasing one another around as they played prey and predator. Some even engaged in a brawl, sparring with themselves.

The mother's and maidens who were dressed in a gown of similar fur clothing, had a somber expression on their faces as they were busy with chores. When they saw Darren, they gasped in shock, staring at him for several seconds before hurrying to grab their children out of the way.

They bowed their heads to Darren as he and Zeeb walked towards the hilltop, trying their best to make their children bow as well.

Although it's been long since they saw Darren, their instincts still told them that he was a person of authority within the clan.

Darren didn't pay mind to the crudely-lookimg women however, as he knew very well that these women were only trying to protect their children from him. He just moved his gaze away from them and continued towards the path that led to the hilltop.

The men were still out hunting and wouldn't be back until nighttime.

As they walked on in silence, Darren found the serenity of the residence still as beautiful as he remembered, he used to love being here. However, the gloominess that hung around now made Darren feel estranged to the place.

He never wanted anything to do with his father, nor his clan. However, he had no choice.

Darren knew how irrational his father could be, and thus, he decided to come with Zeeb as he wished first to hear what he has to say.

Darren felt like he would be putting Kyley in danger if his father came to know of her. And he definitely would if his father came to the cabin to pick him up by himself.

As they neared the house at the hilltop, Darren clenched his fist hard beside him. He could remember how he'd been dragged across this very path by his own father and was kicked out of Lunaria.

Getting in front of the wooden double door to the house, Darren stood with his shoulders hung and his head lowered in thought. Zeeb just stood to the side without saying anything, letting him open the door himself whenever he was ready to face his father.

Zeeb knew just what Darren had gone through in the past. After all, he was there, and had witnessed everything. He knew how tough this was for the young heir to the Moonshadow clan. Hence, he decided to let him deal with all of this however he wants.

After a long while, Darren moved his gaze up and pushed the heavy double-door open with his teeth clenched hard.

Creak!

A rusty creak was heard as Darren pushed the door open. Then, he met sight of a gloomingly dim vacant hall. It seemed vast and capable of taking in a large gathering of people.

In the middle of the hall was a broad, grand chair decorated with furs, minerals and crystals. A fleet of stairs rose on the two sides behind the chair, leading to a door that further led to the upper floors.

However, despite all of these, Darren's gaze was fixated on the figure that sat on the chair in the middle of the room.

The figure was dressed in a gray and white fur coat that reached to his shin, covering his huge tall brawly figure. His dark rough beards with small patches of gray scattered down to his chest with a small part of it in braid locks just as his long hair that was covered by a wolf fur hat which had a fang that was protruded right down to his outlined stone-cold face that was barely visible. But the long-drawn claw scar that ran from his temple down the right side of his face stood a striking feature.

Setting sight on the slightly aged looking man who was surrounded by several women of various beauty and class, Darren's expression squeezed into a scorn.

Some of these women were in fur crop tops and skirts or briefs that only covered their sensitive parts, while the others were in gown. There were about ten of them and they surrounded the man all around, swarming him like honeybees.

Some sat in his lap to caress him, some clung to both of his sides, and another stood beside him by the chair, holding a tray of different varieties of fruits and drinks. Others stood behind him, rubbing their hands and body against him, while some of them sat on the floor in front of him, somewhat dancing to entertain him.

However, just when Darren opened the door and stepped in, they all seemed to pause on whatever they were previously doing and looked at Darren who stood by the door. They all frowned and glared at him.

Similarly, the cold gaze of the huge brawly man whom these women groveled around fell on Darren. He stared condescendingly at him for a long while, his thoughts unkown.

Darren didn't back down either as he raised his chin and stared at his father. He stood by the door, looking at the slightly aged man who had the same eyes as him with a disgusted expression on his face.

Zeeb on the other hand, bowed his head as he walked into the hall quietly.

However Darren didn't back down on the staring contest between his father and himself. Looking straight into the tribal chief's eyes, Darren calmly walked into the hall.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

His footsteps creating a looming assonance that rhymed with the intense thrumming of the hearts of everyone in the hall.

Calmly walking across the hall, Darren only paused to stand in a distance slightly away from where his father sat in the middle.of the hall. Darren continued looking straight in his eyes, he didn't say anything and just stood there in cold silence.

" Son, welcome home" The man opened his mouth to say in a booming voice that reverberated through the tense atmosphere in a loud echo that caused the hall to shake, his tone and countenance just as indifferent as his cold gaze.

Darren scoffed hearing his father. He moved his gaze to look at the women who glared at him coldly, causing most of them to back down just by sweeping a glance across.

" Cut the crap, Volke Rannulf. Why have you called for me?" Darren said, shaking his glance back at his father.

" Hah!" A short gasp was heard all around as everyone who heard Darren just now expressed shock. They stared at the young tall man with their pupils trembling in fear and panic.

Zeeb wasn't any different. He looked at Darren with an incredulous expression, wondering just what Darren was up to trying to provoke the chief like this!

It's been never since they heard someone call their chief by his name. And whoever had that much courage never lived to call him that name twice!

Instantly, they looked back at the chief, waiting to see how he reacts to this insolence!

A grave silence fell around the hall that grew tense by the passing second, the sounds of hearts beating wildly in scare and anxiousness could barely be heard.