Chapter Text
The city's Crystal Vark National Park is one of its greatest assets. Pine trees overlooking the animals with lush nature around. Gentle streams heard from miles away. Aaron spent his time exploring the area, capturing the wolves roam with their packs.
He'd always been a nature lover, feeling like he had a connection with the animals he encountered. Aaron wasn't sure why some animals preferred his company, no matter how wild they naturally were.
Some days he did feel a little lonely, even sharing a house with his older sister Melissa. She's been preoccupied working. So she isn't around the house as much. Aaron never had any friends growing up, since his father governed over his interactions with others. Naturally, the only friends he had were the Ro'meave brothers. Garroth kept him company and often hanged out. Zane tended to be more aloof, keeping to himself, yet he had a deep respect for Aaron. Vlyad and he had never talked much since he went to study at a different school. Not in the neighborhood much either.
Today, Aaron is sitting in the living room with his camera, scrolling through the pictures he took last week. Soft smile set on his face. Then his trinquillity ended due to abrupt knocking from the front door.
'I wonder who could that be?' Aaron got up and sat his camera on the red couch. He approached the door to find Garroth with Zane looking weirdly distressed. He let the guys in as they quickly took their shoes off. Zane almost tripped on his shoe due to how he sprinted towards Aaron.
"Aaron! We need your help with something!" Zane took out his phone out as he continued speaking. Flashing Aaron with his bright screen.
"Gene said there was treasure to be found in the national park." Zane hands were moving everywhere with how fast he was talking Aaron couldnt keep up. Garroth sighed because his baby brother dragged him along and he was not having it.
"Zane...I'm not interested in treasure. Besides, what do you want me to do about it?"
Zane looked dejected, but he moved to grab Aaron by his arms and started to shake him. "Listen here Aaron! You are the only one who knows the forest really well. You're at the park at least twice a week!"
"Okay, okay, please stop shaking me!" Aaron slumped in defeat while Zane ecstatic at agreeing to help with his dilemma.
"Baby brother are you sure this is a good idea? Even though Gene is an adult he still loves being a jerk."
Garroth sat at the red couch leaning in comfortably. Mindful of the camera next to his person. "Gene still plays pranks to anyone he deems his next victim."
"Yes, I know but Garroth didn't you tell me I need to be outside more? Plus, you say I am too much of a hermit." Zane replied as he walk to sit down next to his older brother.
"Yeah, yeah, baby brother." Garroth picked at Zane's cheek pinching it as Zane struggled to get away from hand. "Get off me!" Zane's pleads were deaf onto Garroth as he continue to tease him. Laughing with great delight. Aaron stay near the entrance thinking about how all of this was a horrible idea. Zane was one his best friends and the dude was kinda scrawny. He wouldn't to see the brothers hurt so despite what his senses were telling him he agreed.
"Great we can start heading out right now." Zane ran to pick of his black sneakers. Garroth walked after him.
"Dude..right now? Its barely the morning. And I—" Aaron thought to himself feeling like he was making excuses on how he still didn't want to go. He can blame Zane for being reclusive, when in reality Aaron had a hard time speaking to others. He blames it on his father keeping him away from anyone his age if it wasn't the Ro'meave family.
"Yeah Aaron?" Garroth said looking up from the entrance grabbing his shoes sat next to Zane.
"I need to grab my sweater and we can head out." Aaron went to the couch, picking up his camera. Bringing it upstairs to his room. Honestly, his room lacked any personality other than being covered by all the pictures he has ever taken. He put his camera on his dresser. It did have a large array of wolves. He open his closet and got his favorite red sweater with his family crest. Staring at it for sometime. A feeling of the nostalgia kept Aaron trapped in his mind for bit. He snapped out of his trance and walked back downstairs.
"You guys, let get this show on the road," Garroth says, "Dont forget anything important, heh."
He open the door outside to reveal one of his mom's cars. Park outside was an old Rolls-Royce silver cloud colored in a light sky blue. Seemed to be a favorite of the Ro'meave's.
"Let's stop gawking at mom's car," Zane irritated said, "We are burning daylight right now which I dont appreciate." He moved to the gunshot seat of the car as Aaron moved to sit in the back. Garroth started the car placing Zane's phone on a attachment. Zane clumsily put the coordinates that Gene said would lead to this "secret treasure." Still, Aaron was questioning the technicalities of the so called treasure in his mind. Keeping his thoughts to himself so he wouldn't face of Zane's nagging.
⸻
After 30 minutes of driving the guys made to the park. Preferably they parked a little farther away to avoid vistor fees. They walked to the entrance of the area. Overlooking them was an iron gate and walls made with red bricks. Above the bricks, intricate iron was designed into pretty patterns almost like lace. Finally, attached to the gate was the park's logo incressed on top.
Zane took the lead in the forest. Holding his phone up so he can see where they were going. Since it was early in morning, Aaron admired how the sky look against the pine trees. Sky was a bright dewy orange with a gentle breeze being blown at the guys. Aaron felt at peace admiring all the flowers they stumble upon as they continue on to upper west part of the park. Zane kept complaining about how the bugs were getting onto his face but Garroth and Aaron couldn't help but laugh. So far Aaron was enjoying himself.
Right now, all he can find in himself that this is the reason why he loves the forest so much. Maybe It's because humans tend to be cooped up all the time. Nature is here with them and Aaron is very greatful for it. From far away you can hear the harsh howls of the wolves who live here. They did scare Zane which Aaron found funny. The guy was so skiddish sometimes.
Zane stops at a beige path filled with bright bits of greenery. Lines of pine trees meshed into the path. Zane raises his hand saying, "You guys we made it! Sucks that Gene isnt here to enjoy the treasures we will find." He says laughing as Garroth and Aaron are more too the back of him to keep an eye out.
"Baby Brother, we don't know what's in this area—so dont get too excited!" Garroth went after Zane as he began to run forward overzealous. Aaron followed after the two.
There it was.
The coordinates that Gene gave Zane brought them to a temple.The temple beautifully architectured into a almost Aztec pyramid. The wall's engravings were deep gray. Showing it's age with a hint of mystery. Along it, vines taking hold like mother nature took back what belong to her. Truly it was a sight to behold. Aaron never had been this far deep into the forest. So he felt a little uneasy but extremly enthralled with the place.
Though he thought that area is weirdly well lit. Aaron decided the glow of the light is from the flowers he was in front of. Stunning purple-like lilies were sprouting light from the middle. Crouch down to the level of the flowers Aaron gently places his hand on a petal. Inspecting it while being aware that he wasnt sure if the plant was poisonous or not.
The guys approach the entrance slowly, noting there wasnt a door to deny them access. Once inside the temple is integrated with pillars reaching for the celling. Inside the purple lilies were lighting the place as well. The walls are covered in carved illustrations depicting wolves. Aaron notices how there's a significantly larger wolf being depicted. He thinks it might represent a god of some sorts.
The Ro'meaves are behind him while they look at the other wall. Zane looks over at garroth tapping his side. "Garroth, do you think this place might be a future exhibit?" Zane says while he puts his hand on the wall feeling the grooves of it.
"Perhaps? It's strange how well managed it looks but this place doesnt show signs of any humans living here." Garroth replies. He thinks human might have been here in the past due to the aging walls. They continue to admire the drawings wonder how old it really was.
Aaron hears their conversation, he has been wondering what could be using the temple. Nonetheless, Aaron is just happy they're having a good time.
The magical mystique disappeared as a piercing howl cut through the atmosphere. Sharp growls were traveling inside. Aaron quickly snapped his head to see a huge pack of wolves outside the entrance. Aaron realized that this place might be their territory. Before he could think of what to do, Zane screamed at the top of his lungs. The sound of it must startled the wolves. They were slowly walking backwards, making sure to keep their eyes on us.
"Guys what should we do?" Garroth goes in front of Zane to keep him away from view.
"Great now we are gonna get eaten! So much for trusting Gene.." Zane grumbles while holding onto Garroth's shoulders.
"Worry not baby brother I won't let anything bad happen to you." Garroth looks over at Aaron.
"Guys, we should be fine wolves tend be wary of humans." Aaron goes foward to the entrance. He signals the brothers to follow behind him. "I dont like this.." Zane whispers. They make it out the entrance. The wolves clearly not happy with the circumstance. Aaron believed that temple might be their unconventional den. The guys scanned the surroundings to find an exit to this situation that was completely unavoidable.
Luckily, they were able to move to the center of temple's grounds. Wolves had them surrounded, flickly their tails in air.
Aaron currently was not handling the situation very well. He began to sweat throught his shirt. He was never letting Zane dragged him anywhere else without a lack of context. Aaron looked up to see that the sun was soon setting. Wondering in the mist of danger on how long they were in the park.
Another howl came out but it wasnt any of the wolves in front of them. Aaron turned around to see a giant wolf on top of the temple's peak. The creature stood tall, light gray fur with streaks of purple were at the ends of its tail. Purple tips painted the ears of this majestic wolf. Aaron couldnt take his eyes on the bright purple eyes staring back at him. It felt like they were reading his soul. The wolf stopped its staring to pull their head back into a powerful howl that could be heard from miles away. The wolves surrounding them all whimper. The pack ran back into the lush pine trees leaving behind their pride it seems. Aaron acknowledge the wolf on top must be an alpha of some sort with the way it commanded the wolves.
Everyone was in shocked of what they happend to witness. The giant wolf turns as it jumps away and out of sight. Running back into the forest not once looking back.
"Let's not get turned into dog food today and go back home." Garroth says breaking the trance of the shock the others had.
"Ugh! Stupid Gene, I am the one's gonna turn him to wolf bait.." A loud threat Zane projected out loud to turn back onto the beige path they came from. The rest of them followed.
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Officially now being nighttime, the car ride back into the major part of the city was awfully quiet Aaron thought to himself. He leaned into his seat thinking back on the creature they saw. He never knew something like that could exist in the realm.
Strangely enough he felt drawn to it. Maybe because it was unknown to him but the wolf was very beautiful. Pathetically, Aaron wished he took a picture. Since they were in immediate in danger Aaron rebuke to the though to continue staring at the window as the city's building flew past his eyes.
We return back to Garroth's and Zane house to return Zianna's car back onto the garage. The Ro'meave had a nice house. A nice patio a garden in front. All great things. I was gonna walk home by myself but the Ro'meave brothers insisted on walking back. I said yes reluctantly hoping we wouldnt attract more trouble. Street lights casting above down on us, we walked for a bit then stopped after Zane noticed Gene standing in front of a TV store watching the news displayed. Zane ran up to him and jabbed him on the side.
"Hey! What was that for!?" Gene angrily turned around as he faced in Zane "Well, well, geek enjoy the adventure set you on?" He crossed his arms as he smirked waiting for a answer.
"You asshole! There wasnt any treasure with those stupid coordinates. What are trying to pull here?" Zane inched foward glaring intensely at Gene's stupid face.
"Easy there bud," Gene paused," I got that information from a book was reading in the library yesterday." He continued. "Personally I didn't want to look for it but I remember a legend of a Guardian Direwolf that lived in that forest."
Gene's expression stayed playful as he enjoyed the frustration Zane was inhibiting. Aaron almost stepped in before a petty fight broke out but Gene continued on his tangent. "Look, I was just bored beside nothing interesting happens around here so you should be thanking me." Gene turns around to walk back home. Garroth restrains Zane's from going after him. Telling him to leave it.
Aaron is thinking on what the fuck is a direwolf. He never heard of one before. He thinks it must rare extinct animal. Seems to be the only logical conclusion he deemed. While Zane is still trying to fight off Garroth's version of a bear hug. Aaron's head is turned to the TV. 'Looks like the mayor is announcing something.' The mayors seem to be blabbering about some great project he had going on. Not sure what it could be but he carefully read what was displayed.
'Dear neighbors of Mystreet. I, Grant, will be pleased to announce that the upper west side of the Crystal Vark National Park will be due for construction. Me and our congress decide to expand the area for housing some our trouble citizens. Along side it will be a beautiful hotel to increase tourism in our city. We will be please to—'
Aaron stopped listening as he panicked thinking about the temple in upper west. He had to repress the urge to break the glass in front of him. The direwolf and their pack had the area marked as theirs. Plus, the wolves seems that they been living for decades. Zane and Garroth also took in the news since their tug of war ended awhile ago.
"Why would they built a hotel in a place ment to reserve nature?" Garroth looks over at Aaron staring blankly at the TV.
"I dont know but this could be big trouble for us." Aaron faces Garroth and Zane. "The direwolf may have hurt others to protect their pack" Aaron frown to the implicaltion he made but it was the truth. They don't know what the direwolf is truly capable or how far they will go for their pack.
⸻
Aaron was finally back home. He inspected the living room seeing that Melissa still working he heads upstairs to his room. Before he goes to bed, he wonders if could do anything about the hotel construction. He doesnt want the animals to lose their homes. Laying in his bed, falling into a dream with a giant wolf running with the moon.