Raven Wolf - Origins - Shiya - Chapter 06 by Kurapika < Submission

Keywords male 1115191, female 1004981, fox 232869, wolf 182194, fantasy 24559, series 4427, sci-fi 4411, science fiction 1769, raven wolf 329, origin 140, extra chapter 6

Chapter Six
Lessons

“Aither agreed to help me to learn what I would need to take part in and hopefully win Kanti’s trials. I was both excited to learn how, yet at the same time frightened, I was doing my best to live a normal and happy life, and to do that I tried my best to forget about what it was I happened to have trapped inside of me, after all, I very much doubted that a source could possibly live a happy life.

When being taught under Aither I stayed within the domestic city. Aither worked at and lived within the city’s orphanage, it was his job to take care of the children there and seek out more that may need help. Aither specialized in finding and taking in wild children to care for. At this point in time many wild tribes were disappearing, the Domestics did not get along with Wilds, and the two would attack one another, the Wilds though were weaker and were often the ones to lose, leaving children without parents. Also, unseen by the Domestics, Wilds often fell victim to True Blood harvesting, who when needing workers or subjects for experiments, would find, capture and take away whole tribes of Wilds, children who were too young or ill to be of any use sometimes left behind.

When living in the city Aither would always give me clothes to wear that where typical to the Domestic fashion, Aither telling me that the less I stood out as a Wild the better, after all the Domestics did not get along with the Wilds, but were tolerant towards them if they showed interest or put effort into being like the Domestics.

Aither spent most of his day at the orphanage, the children there took up most all of his time and it wasn’t after until they had fallen asleep that he had any free time at all, and that was when we would travel to the fields outside of the city and he would take the time to train me.”

Aither lets out a long tired yawn while holding his hand over his mouth, Shiya staring up at him as he did so, the fox looking ready to pass out at any moment. “Are you sure you can do this? You can go to sleep and try another day when you’re less tired if you want.”

Aither shakes his head no, Shiya not needing to worry himself over his condition. “Honestly you’re not going to have any time with me when I’m not tired. The kids do well to keep me on my toes.” He looks to Shiya sleepily. “Alright then Shiya, tell me what it is you are.”

Shiya looks around him a little confused, he then looking down toward himself and then back to Aither, he thinking it was pretty clear what he was. “A wolf?”

Aither smiles at him. “Right… but not exactly the answer I am looking for. You my friend, are the Ice Source, and you must come to realize and accept that if you have any hope of gaining control over your power.”

Shiya looks down to his hands, he not really liking that idea. “But… I don’t want to be a Source, I want to stay me.”

Aither nods his head completely understanding that. “Of course you do, and with the help of that crystal around your neck you can still be you, what you must come to understand is that the Ice Source is now part of what makes you who you are.”

Shiya looks to the side Aither catching onto his uneasy glace. “Ah, ah, Ah don’t give me that look. Being a source is not exactly something you can ignore now is it? You’re going to have to come to terms with that if you any hope at harnessing your powers.”

Shiya turns back to Aither, he having a point. “I guess you’re right…”

Aither places his finger on Shiya’s nose. “Of course I’m right. I rarely don’t know what I’m talking about.” He begins to walk around Shiya. “It’s not a horrible thing, as a Source there is much more that can be done, more things that you can do.” He moves his body swinging his hands forward, the wind moving at his command and flowing past him spinning about into a small whirlwind near him. “With this abilities we can protect ourselves, we can protect the people close to us, and in your case use it to fight a bunch of wilds and win the hand of your beloved lady.”

Shiya stares at the twirling vortex of wind, this of course all much easier said than done. “Yes… but how do I do all of that?”

Aither turns back to Shiya the wind stopping and becoming still once more, there a simple thing that he must come to first understand. “You already believe that you can control Ice you would not have come to me if you did not already believe this. As the Source though you must take the next step and know that you can. These are your gifts Shiya, you are the ice and cold.”

Shiya frowns to himself, he shaking his head and taking a deep breath as he prepares to try. Aither coaching him as Shiya lifts his hand in front of him. “Start small, you’re not going to be able to create blizzards on your first try. For now try for a simple little frost.”

Shiya holds his hand up to a flower within the field near him, he hesitating for a moment before gingerly touching it with his pointer finger, nothing at all happening to it.

Aither continues with his instructions. “Remember Shiya, you are the Ice Source, you either accept this fact and play out your role or get over taken by it. I can’t teach you how to fight until you can get at least this part done.”

Shiya narrows his eyes and bares his teeth in concentration, he knew that he that he was able to do this, he had frozen a whole city solid before, a small flower like this should not be a problem.

Aither shakes his head as he watches him, this not looking to get anywhere fast. “Come on Shiya, a normal life isn’t what you want!”

Shiya shakes his head no, that exactly what he wanted. “No! A normal life is what I want. A Source cannot live a normal existence!”

“What you want Shiya is not normal! You’re beloved lady isn’t something a normal person gets! Only one who is exceptional and above normal can be with her do you understand that? So stop being normal or you’ll never get what you want!”

“I thought over what it was that Aither was telling me and realized that he was right. I had come to him because I could not get what it was that I wanted by being normal, I could not be with Kanti when I was nothing more than a stray that had been taken in by a member of her tribe. I had to be more, I needed to be more. I had come here to learn how to control the powers of the Ice Source once I did that I would never be seen by anyone as normal again, but for someone like Kanti, accepting what it was I had become, admitting that I was the Ice Source and facing the fact that my life would never be simple or normal again. It could all be done if it was for her.”

Aither lets out a gasp as he takes several quick steps back, the ground near him freezing over with Ice, the air growing cold as the cold spreads, freezing the ground below them and filling the field that they were in, Aither looking back to Shiya with a grin. “That’s some girl you’ve got on your mind Shiya.”

Shiya lowers his hand as he begins to look around him, he amazed by what he had managed to do, and all on his own without growing angry and losing control of the source. “I did it…”

Aither nods his head. “Indeed you did, but this is only the first step, simply freezing the area around you isn’t going to be enough to win the hand of your lady.” He walks back up to Shiya, being careful not to slip on the now frozen ground. “You need to take this ability and find ways to utilize it both in your attacks and defence.”

Shiya nods his head, Aither continuing. “You’ll also need to learn how to control just how much you use at a time, and learn how to focus your skills on a single area or target, you don’t always need to freeze over an entire field like this.”

Shiya looks back to the flower that had been frozen solid within a block of ice, he having only wanted to put a slight frost on it. Aither not wrong in saying that control was one thing he needed to work on. “I can see where you’re coming from on that.”

“Last of all you’re going to have to learn how to fight. Powers like this can only get you so far if you’re not moving on the battle field.”

Shiya nods his head, prepared and ready to handle anything that Aither might put him through. “Teach me what I need to know, within six months I will learn it.”

“Aither did as I asked him, teaching me everything he could in the time that allowed him. When Aither was busy at the orphanage I would practice what it was he had taught me on my own, the things I needed to know when it came to fighting as a warrior, and the things I needed to know when it came to controlling the power I was capable of wielding as the Ice Source. I wasn’t going to waste a single moment preparing for Kanti’s trials, as losing them was my greatest fear.

Aither’s had more to teach me that I realized about being a source, and he did good to make sure that I understood the many things that I would need to know."

Shiya is in the domestic city, he helping to keep an eye on several children that belonged to the orphanage as went for a walk through the domestic city, it a lot busier than normal as there was a summer carnival going on, the children from the orphanage wanting to come at least once to see it before it was over for the year.

Aither of course, being the head of the facility was there dividing the children among the supervisors so that they would travel in groups during their duration of the trip here, he looking them all over with a grin as he then sends them on their way. “Alright! Have yourselves a merry time and do try not to get lost.” He points to a building near the entrance of the carnival. “Me and Shiya will not be moving from our spot at the cafe right there, so if you need us that is where we will be all day.”

The children excitedly bid goodbye to Aither as they leave with their supervisors, Aither looking over to Shiya. “Don’t expect this is going to be an easy day now, I wager at least three of them are going to find themselves lost throughout the day and it will be our job to find them.”

The two make their way to the café where they would be stationed, Aither greeting everyone he passed by in a friendly manner all the way to his table, Shiya questioning him about this. “Do you know all of these people?”

“No not all of them, but it’s best to leave a positive impression on them though so they don’t run you out of town. Domestics aren’t exactly the most comfortable around Wilds, but act civilized enough and they’re not so afraid.”

He continues explaining. “Even though you and me are wilds we’re going to want to be on good terms with the Domestics, they’re evolving much faster in terms of intelligence and technological advances, which is essential if we want to keep out of the True Blood’s sights and live our peaceful lives.”

Shiya looks around him. “I thought they hated wilds.”

“Some do, some don’t, it’s all about the impression you leave on them. It’s not so hard really, they’re the same as us, families, lovers, jobs you name it, they just have a different way of doing things.”

The two sit down at the table they would be waiting at should any of the groups belonging to the orphanage run into trouble. “The whole division in Wilds and Domestics is based off of the fears each party has towards the others differences, take that away and things turn out well for the most part, you’ll still have your naysayers and whatnot but through time those will become few and far between, and trust me friend, you and I have all the time in the world.”

Shiya seems confused. “What do you mean by that?”

Aither laughs to himself, rather amused that Shiya may not have seen what it was he was referring to. “I don’t know how hard it is for you to tell days and years from another when you’re locked up in laboratories and being tested on, but you’ve been alive for a very long time. Myself I must be a good ninety years old by now.”

Shiya is shocked to hear this. “Ninety years?”

“You were the first Source to be contained Shiya, I’d say that you have to be at least a hundred years old by now.”

Shiya doesn’t look to believe him at first. “That’s impossible… I mean if that were true we would both be dead by now.”

“Time has little hold on the six sources my friend, we have been around since the beginning, and even if trapped in these forms right now we will be around until the end.”

“I guess being a source has its perks.”

Aither nods his head. “True enough, but it’s not without its downfalls.”

It is once again late at night, Aither standing before Shiya as he explains their situation while Shiya continues with his training. “Even though we are sources we are weaker than we have ever been before, in this form we are vulnerable, the True Bloods have proven that. Though we are free at the moment they still seek us out with the intent of imprisoning us and using us again, before long it won’t be just the True Bloods that will come after us but the Domestics and maybe even the Wilds. We must do everything in our power to keep that from happening.”

“Do not tell a soul what it is you are, no matter how close they are to you, and those that do know should be silenced and rid of. This of course doesn’t mean you have to icolate yourself from the rest of civilization, you just need be careful of what it is you say and make the right connections.”

Shiya is a little confused. “Connections?”

Aither nods his head. “Yes, befriend people who have the skills or means to pull strings that can keep you hidden from anyone that might pursue you, never tell them why it is you don’t want to be found, just that it’s highly important that you remain elusive.”

Shiya begins to question Aither. “What about Kanti, what should I tell her?”

Aither pauses for a moment as he thinks this over. “Do not tell her. If by chance you end up winning your trials and living your life with her do your best to keep this information from her, if that cannot be done that tell her, but first make sure that she will speak of this to no one else. You are a very rare object that many would love to get their hands on if they knew about you, you must not forget this.”

Shiya nods his head, he sure that he would remember all of this. “Alright, though I’m sure Kanti would be find when it comes to keeping such a secret.” He smiles to himself. “She was always good at keeping secrets, it took a long time for her father to find out about the two of us.”

Aither looks to Shiya with a somewhat upset and unsure expression, there something else that Shiya needed to realize about all of this. “Just remember Shiya… time does not weigh you down, but the same cannot be said about Kanti. You two will not be together for very long within your life time at all.”

Shiya looks back to him, having never stopped to think about such a thing, he shaking his head not letting that worry him now, he would face loss when the time came. “No matter how short any time spent with Kanti is worth it.”

"Time passed by quickly as I went through my lessons, and before I knew it the date of Kanti’s trials drew near, soon I found myself traveling back to the Laughing Meadow tribe, but not on my own.

Aither made the decision to come with me when I traveled back he wanting to make sure that I made it into the trials. When we arrived many warriors from all over the place had already begun to gather to take part in Kanti’s trials. There were so many of them even I couldn’t help but feel intimidated by the numbers.”

Aither and Shiya are dressed once again in the clothes that wilds would normally be seen in, all the wilds that had gather look over to Aither and Shiya with rather perplexed expressions on their faces, they not being familiar nor looking to be powerful warriors that could take part in Kanti’s trials.

Aither looks through the many wilds that had gathered. “I must say Shiya, you’ve got your work cut out for you.”

Shiya looks back to him with a frown as he makes his way toward the village a rather hopeful tone in his voice, Shiya hoping that he was right on this. “It’s not like I have to fight all of them.”

One of the warriors lets out a laugh upon hearing and realizing that Shiya intended to fight in the trials, Shiya giving him a frown before continuing on his way and trying to keep quiet as to keep any of the other warriors from mocking him.

Aither speaks as the two make their way into the village. “Now if I recall correctly you have to have been through an official warrior’s ceremony before you can take part in the trials, something you unfortunately have not done yet. That’s why I’m here, to sort that out for you and all that.”

Shiya is concerned. “Yeah… how exactly do you intend to do that?”

“Don’t doubt me my friend, if conversations go well than I will have it all worked out.”

A surprised voice calls out to the two that had just arrived. “Shiya!!”

Shiya recognizes the voice turning toward a scruffy grey wolf that is bounding toward him on all fours, Achak coming to a stop in front of him as he looks up to him with a smile, his tail wagging happily. “I thought that you had been eaten by wild animals and that I would never see you again!”

Shiya frowns at the comment, he having sounded rather sure about that happening. “Thanks…”

“You’re small and can’t do anything for yourself, what did you expect me to think?” Shiya groans to himself while Achak begins to circle around Shiya walking up to and sniffing the fox that had come with him. “Who is this?”

Shiya holds his hand back to Aither. “He is the warrior that trained me to fight, so that I could take part in the trials.”

Achak’s ears fall back against his head. “What? You can’t take part in the trials, only warriors may enter.”

Shiya nods his head. “And that is why Aither is here, to convince the chieftain that I am a warrior and can take part.”

Achak looks over to Aither with an unimpressed look, he doubting that he could do such a thing. “He thinks he can somehow change the mind of our stubborn chieftain?”

Aither frowns there no doubt he would do everything in his power to make this happen. “I’m not going to put six months of work to waste by having Shiya not able to enter the trails! I’ll get your chieftain to change his mind one way or another.”

The three come to a stop in front of the chieftain’s hut, warriors periodically going in and out to both show respect to the chieftain and seek the permission needed to enter the trails, very few being turned down as long as they were a warrior recognized by the spirits.

Aither looks back to the Shiya for a moment. “Wait here until you are called.”

Shiya stays in spot as he watches Aither enter the hut, Achak peeking his head around Shiya to see if he might be able to catch onto what would soon be happening.

Aither walks in the hut and comes to stand before several respected members of the Laughing Meadow tribe, the chieftain his wife and their daughter Kanti sitting within the center of the individuals, with Noshi sits to the right of the and the console of elders sit to the left, all of them meeting the individuals that were planning to take part in the event. “Greetings representatives of the Laughing Meadow Tribe.”

The elders all look to one another, no one having heard a wild talk in such a strange tone before. Rowtag though seem not to be phased by it. “It has been a long time since I have run into you Wanderer. Have you come to take part in my daughter’s trials?”

Aither looks toward Kanti who sits near her father, not saying a word as she stares at him and all other warriors that had entered with discontent. “As lovely as your daughter is I already have a beloved whom I devote my life to.” He looks back to the chieftain. “I have actually come to have the warrior that I have trained with my own hands take part in the trails, with your permission of course.”

Noshi speaks up, the laws of the spirits clear. “Wanderers are not seen as true warriors as they have not received the blessings of the spirits.”

Aither holds his hand to himself. “Though we do not have the warriors ceremony as those in the tribes do we still have our ways or receiving the spirit’s blessings. I guarantee to you that he is indeed a warrior that impresses the spirits.”

Rowtag nods his head. “It is true Noshi, different tribes have different traditions, it is the same for wanderers.” He looks back to Aither. “Have him brought in, so that I may see him and make my decision.”

Aither looks back to the entrance of the hut. “Come on in then.”

Shiya looks back to Achak still rather uncertain how this would play out, he taking a deep breath before entering the hut and standing before that gather console.

Kanti lets out a shocked gasp when she sees him. “Shiya?”

Rowtag seems surprised to see him. “I thought you finally went on your way and left my tribe in peace.”

Shiya shakes his head. “No, I only went to seek out someone who could train me so that I may return here as a warrior and take part in Kanti’s trials.”

The representative of the elders speaks up in a harsh tone, letting out a rude smirk before giving Shiya his opinion. “Absolutely not.”

The chieftain looks over to the old wolf that had spoken up. “You are quick to reach this decision Chogan.”

Chogan gets to his feet walking over the Shiya as he looks him over. “Only warriors may enter the suitor’s trials and this boy is no such thing.”

Aither speaks up. “Not true. Why Shiya is just as much a warrior as anyone else that has come to take part in the trials.”

The elder lets out a laugh. “Why he’s smaller and weaker than the daughter the trails are being held for.”

Shiya grits his teeth at the comment while Aither nods his head that true enough. “I’ll have you know that Shiya descends from the bloodline of a powerful warriors. Amarok, his father was the most powerful and feared warrior of his tribe, known even outside of his tribe and throughout the Northern Tundra for his power.”

Chogan shakes his head that not enough to convince him. “I have never heard of such a warrior.”

Aither chuckles at the comment. “That’s because you don’t live in the northern tundra.”

Rowtag speaks up, he to a point agreeing with what the elder had said. “Even if we have heard of this man Shiya is said to descend from it would not be enough. It takes more than blood to be a warrior.”

Aither nods his head as he continues trying to talk to them. “You are right of course, please though, don’t let his small appearance fool you, he is a warrior that can hold his own in battle, he will have no problems proving himself worthy against the other warriors in the trials.”

Chogan continues to argue with him. “He has no markings to prove that he is a warrior.”

Aither frowns as he explains. “He is the last of his tribe, he has no one to give him these markings, and though he came to your tribe he was the subject of laughter when he spoke of becoming a warrior. He had no other choice but to seek out a wanderer who would be willing to train him and prove himself before the spirits, and we do not prove ourselves as accepted by the spirits with silly markings, we do that by displaying our skills and strength.”

Chogan laughs at the idea. “Alright then if you prove your skills through actions than have him prove himself, have him fight one of our warriors.” He looks back to Rowtag. “Have him fight the tribe’s first warrior, surly if the spirits truly see him as a warrior they would not let him lose.”

Aither shakes his head no. “Tough I don’t doubt that Shiya would mop the floor with him that would be unfair. The suitor’s trials are tomorrow, Shiya needs his strength if he intends to take part in them.” Aither holds his hands to himself. “I am the one that made him a warrior, can you not just take me by my word?

Chogan smirks at the request. “The words of a wanderer can never truly be trusted, why you may not even be a warrior at all.”

Aither grins at him. “It would do you well to not make assumptions on my looks, I can handle any brute you throw at me.”

Rowtag begins to speak, the fox’s identity not a secret to him. “He is not just any wanderer Chogan, he is the Wind Wanderer. I have seen him and his strength before.” Aither looks back to Rowtag as the chieftain continues to explain. “He finds young that have been abandoned and cares for them, those who have been placed under his protection never see harm again, his strength is unmatched, it’s as if the wind listens to his commands.”

“I don’t mean to brag but the wind does listen to my commands. I’m rather impressive yes I do admit.”

Chogan frowns still not happy about Shiya entering. “Well then surely if the wanderer wishes to enter than he is clearly worthy of it, but it is Shiya we are speaking of and he has done nothing to prove his strength.”

Noshi speaks up throwing his opinion into the conversation, he looking to Rowtag as he did so. “Let the boy enter.”

Chogan looks to Noshi with a frown. “What!? You know better than anyone else here the importance of following our traditions and the laws of the spirits.”

Noshi nods his head. “The spirits sent Shiya to this tribe for a reason, and then again to the wanderer. Perhaps he is meant to take part in Kanti’s trials.”

Chogan bares his teeth as he looks over to Noshi, about to raise his voice to him but stopping when Rowtag’s growl interrupts him from doing so.

Chogan looks over to Shiya and Aither and he thinks the situation over. “The wanderer’s skills are indeed formidable, if he has trained and believes Shiya to be a warrior than I will trust that judgment, however if he has been accepted by the spirits is still unknown. I will give this matter thought and announce my decision in the morning.”

***

Achak watches as Shiya paces back and forth in front of him, the white wolf nervous and unsure of what the Chieftain’s decision would be. “What if he doesn’t let me enter? What am I going to do? All of the work I’ve been doing for the past six months would have been for nothing!”

Aither watches him while stuffing his face full of food, though Shiya was nervous and having trouble eating Aither clearly had no troubles when it came to filling his belly. “Don’t worry so much, you need your rest don’t you? You have trails to take part in tomorrow.”

“If the chieftain says yes anyway, if he doesn’t then what am I going to do? I miss my chance with Kanti and lose her forever!”

Achak frowns as he tries to keep his eyes on Shiya. “Rowtag would be doing you a favour by not allowing you to join. Have you seen the warriors that have gathered here? They’ll snap you in half just by looking you!”

Shiya is annoyed by the comment. “That’s not true! I’ll defeat all of them if I have to! Kanti is my one true love, I would go through any trials for her!” He lowers his head, his ears falling back. “I don’t want to imagine what my life would be like without her.”

“Well start, because you are never winning these trials.”

Shiya glares back at Achak. “Some friend you are, you’re supposed to be supporting me!”

Achak sighs to himself. “I’m only worried about you… there’s a reason only warriors may enter these trials, because they are dangerous for those who are inexperienced.” He looks to the side. “You’re like a brother to me… you treat me as if I were as normal as anyone else in the tribe… while all others think me strange. I just don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”

Shiya grins at him. “No need to be worried friend. I know the dangers of entering this competition, don’t think that I haven’t prepared.”

“I do not think you understand what exactly is-”

Achak is interrupted by a woman’s whisper, the sound catching both Shiya and Achak’s attention as they simultaneously turn to the back wall of the hut, they able to make out Kanti’s dark figure through the gaps in the wall.

Aither lets out a whistle as he looks over to Kanti. “Shiya, it looks as if your beloved lady has come to call.”

Shiya lights up upon seeing her, he making his way over to the wall to speak with her. “Kanti! It feels like a lifetime since the two of us last talked!”

Kanti nods her head. “Shiya. I need to speak with you, now.”

Shiya seems confused while Achak grows annoyed. “No! You’re not supposed to talk to her alone Shiya! That rule hasn’t changed!”

Shiya gives Achak a quick glance before heading out of the hut, Achak calling after him. “Shiya!”

Aither speaks up to get Achak’s attention. “Best not to try and stand between star-crossed lovers my scruffy little friend.”

Shiya looks back to Achak once more before leaving him and Aither behind. “Calm down, what do you think I’m going to do? Take her with me and run away before the competition starts? It’ll be a short talk I’m sure, I’ll be back before you know it.”

***

Kanti brings Shiya into the forest that two of them would usually retreat to, she standing in front of Shiya as she takes his hands within her own, drawing him close and kissing him before pulling back and staring at him with a worried, almost terrified expression. “We have to leave! We’ll run away together before the trials start, the sooner we leave the longer it will take for them to realize what has happened and come after us.”

Shiya frowns at the request. “What? I’m not going to run away! I’m going to take part in and win the trials.”

Kanti shakes her head no, Shiya much too small and kind to survive such a brutal event. “You will never win the trials! You will only get hurt, possibly die in them!”

“Kanti I love you, I would do anything to be with you and if taking your trials is the only way for me to do that then I will gladly enter them!”

Kanti smiles at him. “Shiya I’m happy that you feel that way, but it is not the only way for you to be with me, if we run away we can live together with no one to stop us.”

Shiya shakes his head no, he couldn’t do that to her. “You have your family here, and your people, if you left them you would regret every moment.”

“If I have to choose between them and you-”

“But you don’t have to choose if I win the trials.”

Kanti grows more upset. “Shiya please think reasonably, you cannot win the trials!”

Shiya gives her an assuring smile. “I understand why you are afraid of what will happen to me, and I don’t blame you, but I promise you, I will win your trials, and when I do everyone will accept our love and there will be no more hiding or running.”

Kanti begins to cry, she wanting very hard to believe him but unable to bring herself to do so because she was so worried about him. She turns away from him, running away from Shiya with tears in her eyes, it clear that she would not be able to talk him out of it.

Shiya sighs to himself having not meant to upset her like he had, he about to head back to his own tent when his eyes catch onto movement among the trees, he able to make out the figures of Rowtag and Noshi as they made their way through the forest.

Shiya quickly hides himself from sight, ducking within the low brush and keeping as silent as he could, the two had probably noticed that Kanti had gone missing and were looking for her, if he was spotted here then they might find out the two of them has run off it speak together and it would be over for him.

He watches as Rowtag and Noshi make their way past him coming to a stop in the clearing that he and Kanti has first been in, the chieftain speaking with a bitter and rather perturbed tone in his voice. “He goes against my rules, runs off with my daughter every chance he gets and defies me at every turn when it comes to Kanti, and now he wishes to take part in her trials!?”

Shiya’s ears fall back, it rather clear that he was the one that the chieftain was so worked up about, Shiya hoping even more than before that he would not be found by them.

Noshi tries to calm Rowtag down, his voice calm and gentle as he tries to explain Shiya’s side of things. “Shiya does not do these things with the intent to anger you, he does these things because he is in love with your daughter.” Rowtag lets out an angered snarl while Noshi continues. “Kanti is not innocent, she does the same things when it comes to Shiya.”

Rowtag crosses his arms as he shakes his head, the situation both complicated and frustrating. “Kanti already hates me for starting her trails, she has not spoken a single word to me since they were announced, she will hate me even more if I refuse to let Shiya enter, and even if I do allow him to take part in the trials she will still hate me just as much if he is to get hurt during them!”

“She does not hate you, she is just upset with you, no matter what your decision she will be fine, just give her time.” Noshi smiles to himself, he giving Rowtag his opinion. “Shiya clearly cares for your daughter, why not let him fight for the one he loves? Perhaps he will both surprise and impress you.”

Rowtag lets out a grunt disagreeing on that, Noshi continuing to speak as he places his hand on Rowtag’s chest, leaning closer to him lightly kissing him on the side of his face. “You know better than anyone else what it feels like not to be given the chance to be with the one that you want. Why not give your daughter the chance you never had?”

***

Shiya makes his way back to Achak’s hut, he looking over to Achak who is right now speaking to Aither as to entertain him while he was there. “I think I know how your father is so good at getting his way with Rowtag.”

Achak looks back to him curiously, this always something he was trying to figure out. “What? How? You must tell me.”

“I don’t think it will work for you, I think it’s something only Noshi can do when it comes to Rowtag.”

Achak sighs to himself. “Fine then, don’t tell me what you know.” He looks back to Shiya curiously, wanting to know where he had gone. “What did Kanti want with you?”

Shiya laughs nervously as he answers that question. “She wanted me to run away with her before the trails.”

Achak drops his jaw in horror while Aither laughs out in amusement. “Even your girl doesn’t think you have a chance at winning!”

Shiya gives an annoyed huff. “I’m going to win! Why doesn’t even one person think that I can!?”

Aither grins he having never said that Shiya would lose. “You got me, that’s at least one person that thinks you’ve got a chance in all this, and from what I gather Noshi thinks you might just have a chance too. He thinks the spirits sent you here with this determination for a reason.”

Achak is shocked to hear this. “My father thinks you have a chance!?”

Shiya crosses his arms as he nods his head. “Yes he does, and you should to.”

Achak shakes his head in disbelieve. “Why would he say that!? That doesn’t make any sense!”

Shiya frowns, Achak’s doubts when it came to him not very uplifting.

Aither grins as he makes his way over to Shiya. “No worries, come tomorrow when they let you enter the trials, which I am almost certain they will, you will show everyone just how capable you are, and that you are indeed the suitor your love has been waiting for.”

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Raven Wolf - Origins - Shiya - Chapter 06

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