- The Call of the Light -
🐾────── 🐺 ──────🐾
A voice begins to echo in Samuel's ears, calling to him. He opens his eyes and finds himself in the same place as the previous dream. "Here again? But why?" he thinks, a feeling of disorientation washing over him. The light reappears before him, more intense and comforting than before.
— I see you're following your path, boy. You must be enjoying this world, but don't forget the reason you were sent here, understood? — says the light, its voice echoing like a distant, yet familiar sound.
— I know, but how can I do that if I don't even know exactly what this 'forgetting' is? — Samuel asks.
— I understand you. As I said, in time, all your questions will be answered. Know that forgetting is a suffering that everyone will face in the end, but by ending it, all will have a new chance to be remembered again, a new beginning. Keep following the path you're on; we believe in you. — says the light, its words a balm, yet also a heavy burden.
— "We believe"? What was that thing that came out of my hands? — asks Samuel, intrigued, his eyes fixed on the light.
— That is your aura, a representation of your inner self and a crucial point in your journey. I've said too much already, now go! — says the light quickly, as if afraid of being discovered.
Within seconds, Samuel wakes up abruptly. "Again this. I don't even know who this light is or why it does this. How will my questions be answered like this?" He gets up, feeling exhausted, even after what should have been a restful sleep.
The Alpha, noticing Samuel is awake, approaches, his gaze full of concern.
— Good morning! Looks like you woke up right on time, Samuel. Get up and get ready; we have a lot to do today, so hurry up. — says the Alpha, his voice firm but comforting.
Samuel gets up, still a bit thoughtful, and carefully packs his belongings into his backpack, a sense of doubt growing inside him.
— Great, let's go. I'll take you to a place where the other humans are. — the Alpha replies, sounding cheerful.
They both leave the den, and the sunlight envelops them, warming Samuel as they walk through the forest toward a small and simple village. The smell of damp earth and green leaves surrounds him, bringing a feeling of hope he hadn't felt in a long time. On the way, the Alpha breaks the silence:
— I noticed you had a restless night. That light you mentioned... Did it appear to you again?
Samuel nods, confirming, his gaze distant.
— That's a huge responsibility for a human like you. I'm sure if it were me, I'd be full of doubts, fear, and anguish too. But I know there's something different about you. It's not just your tone or your manner — it wasn't by chance that she chose you for something this great. It might be destiny, Samuel. Think about it.
Samuel keeps his head down, feeling the weight of the Alpha's words. A mix of worry and determination grows inside him. He knows he must be strong, but the pressure is almost unbearable.
Sensing Samuel's troubled expression, the Alpha continues, his voice softer:
— Changing the subject... I've been curious. You said your world was 'corrupted' by something. What was that?
Samuel lifts his head, his expression more serious.
— My world is filthy, greedy, and merciless. What corrupted it wasn't just a plague, it was a punishment. Everyone I loved was killed by things I can't even explain. All I know is that they came and destroyed everything in their path. — His voice cracks as he recalls the loss.
— I see. It must've been hard to live alone and afraid. People judge others for what they are, but never for what they've been through or done. Seems like that light decided to give you a new chance to live a better life — a new beginning, too. Sorry to bring this up again, you seem so down.
— It's fine. Just don't worry about me. — Samuel replies.
— Hmm, at nightfall I'll have a meeting with other Alphas. Afterward, we can talk more about this. Is that okay with you, Samuel?
Samuel nods in agreement.
— Great. Looks like we've arrived, — says the Alpha, stopping in front of the village entrance.
As they are welcomed, they walk toward the local leader's cabin, who waits at the door with a curious expression.
— Sir? What a surprise to see you here. Who might this be, my lord? — asks the leader, studying Samuel with an investigative look.
— It's about him that I came. I'd like to ask a favor, — says the Alpha, his posture firm, yet there's a softness in his voice.
— Of course, my lord. What favor would that be? — asks the leader, respectfully.
— I want you to accommodate this human in your quarters. He will be one of us. It would be good if he joined the training sessions, but only if he wants to.
— Certainly, my lord. — replies the leader, concern shifting into a warm smile.
— Excellent. I'll leave him in your hands for now. I'll come back later to see how he's doing. — says the Alpha before walking away, leaving Samuel and the leader alone.
— He came all this way just to bring you here. You must be important to him. — the leader comments, studying Samuel.
— First of all, sorry for my manners. Nice to meet you, I'm Alaric Sable. And you are? — the leader asks, extending his hand in greeting.
— Samuel. — Samuel replies, shaking his hand.
— Amazing, looks like we're already getting along. Come, I'll show you where you'll stay and then take you to our training field! — says Alaric, excitement in his voice.
As they walk, Samuel thinks: "The people and wolves in this world are so polite and kind. He barely knows me and is already treating me like this. It makes me want to live in this world even more."
Alaric takes Samuel to a cabin near a river, whose clear waters reflect the blue sky.
— This is where you'll stay. It's not much, but it's better than nothing. I hope you like it. I'll be waiting out here. You can go in and check out your new cabin. — says Alaric, with an encouraging smile.
Samuel enters the cabin and is astonished by its interior beauty. It had everything he wanted: a warm bed, books, food, water, clothes, and a large fireplace. He was speechless. Not even in his dreams had he imagined living in such a peaceful place. His eyes filled with tears, but he quickly wiped them away, not wanting to seem vulnerable. "There's still much to do," he thinks, feeling a new hope blooming in his chest. He leaves his belongings and walks out of the cabin.
— That was quick. I can tell you liked your new home, didn't you? It's not the best, but it'll do. Now that you've finished looking around, let's go. I want to take you to our final destination — the training field. You're going to like it. — says Alaric, a sparkle in his eyes.
They walk toward the training field. Along the way, Samuel asks:
— I noticed there aren't many people around here. Did something happen?
— Many of us aren't well received by the wolves. We try to live with them, but we're judged for what the hunters do. We want to help, but it hurts to be judged like this, you know? — explains Alaric, his voice heavy with emotion.
— Some left or simply don't care anymore, but others, like us, stay because they know what's right and fight to defend it.
— Thanks for the explanation. — says Samuel, admiring Alaric's determination.
— You're welcome. Feel free to ask anything, — says Alaric with a smile.
They walk a little further until they reach a mountain.
— We're here! This is our training field! — says Alaric, excited.
Alaric walks through the mountain as if it were invisible. Samuel, confused, does the same and, upon entering, finds a vast green field, filled with training equipment and magical elements that made the place stand out. The view is breathtaking, an immersion of colors and sounds that almost seems to pulse with life.
— How? This is magical — says Samuel, stunned, eyes full of admiration.
— That's right, this is where we humans train. It'll be an honor to see you train here. Tell you what: I can see you're not used to this kind of thing. Why don't you just watch the others train today? Tomorrow, first thing in the morning, you can train with them. How about that? — Alaric suggests, animated.
Samuel agrees, feeling a surge of excitement growing inside him.
— Perfect! We arrived just in time. — says Alaric, gesturing toward a group of humans preparing for training.
Some humans, accompanied by their horses, arrive and gather in the center of the field. In seconds, targets begin to appear magically, and they ride with their horses, hitting the targets in sync. The spectacle is impressive and well-orchestrated, something Samuel had never seen in his world. He notices that their fighting style, although different from what he knew, had a unique beauty and purpose that captivated him.
After the presentation, Alaric asks:
— Did you like what you saw? They train almost every day to become better and defeat the hunters. With your help, I feel like we'll have one more chance to show the hunters who's in charge. What do you say?
— That's not really my way. — Samuel replies, a mix of hesitation and reflection in his voice.
— Not your way? What do you mean by that? — Alaric asks, confused.
— I wasn't trained to kill hunters. I was trained to kill things far worse and more bloodthirsty. But I don't mind; it'll be good to learn a new way. — says Samuel.
— I see. Alright then. Well, that's it. If you want, we can go back to your cabin. Take the day to rest, since it's still morning — just don't make a mess in the village, okay? — says Alaric with a smile on his lips.
Samuel nods in agreement, feeling grateful for the kindness and the opportunity.
Alaric and Samuel returned to the cabin, their walk filled with a comfortable silence. When they arrived, Alaric said his goodbyes and headed elsewhere, leaving Samuel alone with his thoughts.
Samuel entered the cabin and lay down on the bed, deep in thought. The scent of the room was warm and welcoming, and the soft light coming through the window made his body feel at ease. "I never thought I'd feel this peace again," he reflected, staring at the ceiling. "I don't have to worry about the monsters that used to hunt me anymore. I wish I could share all of this with you..."
He pulled out the photo of his family again, gazing at the smiling faces looking back at him. The pain of loss tightened in his chest, and he felt the tears begin to form—but he wiped them away quickly, determined not to let them fall.
With a deep sigh, he stood up and looked out the window, watching the movement in the village. A new life was unfolding before him, full of possibilities and challenges. "Maybe I can find a new purpose here," he thought, his spirit quietly renewed. And so, he finally gave in to the sleep he had needed for so many years, allowing his dreams to be filled with the light and hope that now surrounded him.
🌙────── 🐾 ──────🌙