Chapter 21: Chapter Twenty

Dyrk bangs on Oka’s door.

“You may come in Dyrk,” Oka tells him from behind the door.

He opens the door and is surprised to find Mori in the room with Oka. He had hoped he would be able to talk with the old crone in private.

“What do you need, Chief?” she asks him as she watches him pace through the room.

He hesitates for a moment and then proceeds. “It’s been brought to my attention that Gabi found the house that Raura lived in before her death.”

“Did she? What else has been brought to your attention?” she asks him.

“Raura may have had more than one child that day we visited her,” he says quietly, hoping he said it low enough to where his brother Mori could not hear it. But he knows better than that.

“There were two children born that day?” Mori asks.

Growling under his breath, he says, “Yes, that is what has been told to me, but it has yet to be confirmed.”

Oka nods. “I see, and what is it that you want me to confirm, Chief?”

“Did you know that she was expecting twins all those years ago?” he asks again quietly.

“My chief, I know that I’m an elder, and I do possess a power; however, I’m not clairvoyant and can’t predict things in the future. So, to answer your question, if I saw that she was pregnant with twins: no, sir, I didn’t.”

Dyrk lets out a grunt, looking back and forth between the two before saying nothing more and leaving the room, slamming the door behind him.

The room stays silent for a short amount of time before Mori deems it safe enough to continue their conversation before Dyrk stormed in.

“You see, Oka. Dyrk isn’t in his right mind. The elders need to step in soon and try to control the power that he is wielding.”

“Mori, I understand your concern. I just don’t know if we elders possess enough power to do so,” she tells him.

“Do you think he will kill Renn and Gabi if or when they return?” Mori asks with concern bedded in his voice.

“I would hope he has some love for that child buried somewhere deep in what’s left of his heart. But I can’t make any guarantees on that.”

“I could say the same for how he feels for Renn. The only thing that Dyrk loves is power and his control that he has on the clan. If anything jeopardizes either of those, he will kill with no regret. I remember the glow in his eyes when they told us that father had died while fighting against the Luminars. As much as he loved our father, he loved that he was now going to be sitting in the chief’s chair and the power would be all his to command,” Mori says as he lets out a breath. He places his hands on the table and leans forward, bringing his head down.

Oka pats her hand on top of his, “Don’t let your fear get the best of you just yet. I have a feeling things will be changing soon. Once Gabi and Renn get back to the village, there will definitely be some changes happening.”

“Do you know something Oka?” he asks as he lifts his head to get a look at her face.

She shakes her head. “Like I told the chief, I’m not clairvoyant. I can’t see the future, but I know about the past. And it looks like the past may be catching up with us very soon.”

“What does that mean, Oka?” Mori pleads with her.

“You were a young boy the night that they brought Gabi home to the clan. Things had been done, decisions had been made, and rules had been put in place. Fear made us do some horrible things that night when we thought we were doing what was best for the clan. If I knew then what I know now, my choices wouldn’t have been the same, and I might’ve been able to save a life that night,” she says with a sniffle and slowly moves to her chair to sit down in.

Mori walks over and sits in the seat closest to her. He is lost in thought as he stares into the fire that is in the fireplace across from him.

Without looking at her, Mori says, “Oka, if the elders are not able to help put a stop against my brother, then I will have to step up and take matters into my own hands and stop him myself.”

“Mori, I will do everything in my power to do what’s best for the clan. You have my word. But please, don’t do something that could cost you your life.”

“Just promise me you will look after Gabi and Renn if anything happens to me,” he asks her.

***

Gabi rushes into the room where Renn and Lucy are sitting and talking with her parents.

“What’s the rush, Gabi?” Renn asks her.

“Lucy was right. We need to let our clan know what we’ve learned from their ancient scrolls and try to bring an end to this feud we have between us and the Luminars.”

“What about Dyrk?” Renn asks her.

Gabi shrugs before telling him, “I guess we’ll take that leap when we get there. We know his rules, and we know the consequences that will be cast upon us when we get there. But we owe it to the rest of our clan to be honest and let them know that they no longer have to live in fear of the humans. And when we find those that bear the mark of the evil werewolves, we will destroy them, bringing peace back to our clan and to the humans as well.”

Renn shakes his head. “Wow, that was some speech. What helped you to see the light?”

“Una, actually. She reminded me of who I was and where I belong.”

“And where is that exactly?” he asks her.

With a smile on her face she grabs his hand and says, “Come on, I’ll show you.”