Treter: Coming Around

We watched the Hunters fled from our sights; straight towards the horizon where they had disappeared. For just as they had, I suddenly turned towards my own team and exhaled a breath while shaking my head. Muttering something underneath my own breath while Wovan and Wivian acknowledged it, smiling only faintly upon their own snouts. All before we turned our sudden attention towards the black dragon behind us whom was just tilting her head to the side in long silent confusion upon us. At my wave and shaking my own head, I take the lead from everyone and led them down the dirty road ahead of us. Worried and anxious about the hunters and their insanity of what they would be doing. 'But at least they would make this trap a bit interesting and fun.' I thought to myself with a faint of a smile as we resumed our way forward.

Things were silent upon the plains. Northward of Reptile and Canine realm where nothing was there. Except for the valleys and hillsides and almost everything such as the flowers, weeds and some canines that were living onto here however. We glanced onto them all while my eyes were staring forward to the horizon in front of me, listening to the tranquility of the silence that had befallen upon our own heads. For sometimes, this could be a bad thing. Considering that we are coyotes and needed some sort of entertainment before we go tiring ourselves to sleep. I guess it is why, we had needed the wolves. Or at least the Hunters to be our entertainers for this job anyway.

As my thoughts ran off through my own head, clearly had me not thinking about the things gand nourishment that we had needed along the way through our travels, my ears perked up upon the conversation that was behind me. Listening to my own coyote pack held a conversation with the dragon behind us. Conversations topics such as the canine and reptile realm's conflict, how was she living inside reptile, where was she going. That kind of stuff however. And I am always finding myself shaking my own head because of it: not because of my own pack firing off endless amount of questions that would perhaps overwhelmed some canines and reptiles, but to the bored coyotes as well. Just like that, before more questions could be asked, I yelped onto them. Interrupting into the sudden conversation and all was silent before long. We continued our way through the valleys now; up and down each hillside while we shift our attention towards both sides: gazing down onto the numerous sheeps and cattle that were there. Alongside some chicks; three in particular were a bit interesting however.

But I only shake my own head to get rid of that images from my own mind while my attention was drawn back to the horizon in front of me and we had continued walking forward. Currently up the fifth hillside we had gone through for the day; a record that Wivina held to this day. Some of us groaned; I heard Whitti grounded his fangs a bit, staring down onto Wivina who just smiled faintly onto him. But the held staring was cut off for a bit when we started hearing something in the rather distance. Thus turning our attention forward; clearly interested in whatever was there. We had noticed a trail of meat in front of us. I blinked in rather surprise; shifting my attention towards Wivina and Wovan who also blinked, but remained silent at the moment's time. For the peace in silence trailed onward before we started hearing something behind us. In addition to the sudden growling noises from the dragon, also came some heavy footsteps that could be mistaken for some earthquake of something along that line.

“Duck!" Screamed Whittit while Wovan and Wivian suddenly turned towards him; before suddenly grabbing onto his arm. Pulled him onto the side and threw themselves also. But as they had landed onto the grounds too, one of the coyotes put a live swan onto Whittit's head and tied it with an invisible rope so it stays put. However, I widened my eyes while the dragon came suddenly close towards me. Thus onto the next second, I felt something heavy struck against my body and flung me into the air. Spinning a couple of times before coming down head first however. At the same time, I felt very dizzy for some reason and lightheaded that I had started seeing the entire world spinning upside down. Luckily for me it had stopped and I came crashing down onto the hard solid grounds beneath me. The next thing I heard was a couple of screams and the dragon behind us munching onto some meat. I passed out seconds afterwards.

When I came through, I moaned while opening my eyes. Lifting my ears from the step of my own skull; then flickering them to the side, I listened to the soundless surrounding me. I yawned once more before rising to my feet again and stretched my entire body. Smacking my dry lips, I suddenly turned around to face my pack whom were sitting down awaiting for me to aroused awakeness. For when they had noticed I had came through, they smiled happily that Wovan and Wivian knocked me down onto the hard grounds beneath me. Licking onto my face; before I shoved them away angrily. They backed off seconds afterwards while I rose to my feet again and we were on the move once more. Yet something was a bit off however. Not that I had became aware of my own surroundings however. The first thing was the pure darkened haze that was surrounding us; clouding our visions and preventing us from seeing far I blinked for a couple more seconds and frowned. Suddenly stopping while the others walked on ahead.

I lifted my eyes up into the midnight skies; noticing the moon at its apex. The stars shining dimly above me and the winds blowing calmly against my own fur. It was really cold that I had started shivering for some reason; my eyes closed as I committed so and I returned towards the horizon again, sprinting a few steps forth before I had caught up towards my own packmates. Of which I had heard Whittit responded to whomever was in front of him, “This seems wrong and a bit disgusting however." “No kidding." Muttered Wovan to Whitti who just nodded his head at him. I only blinked at them, wondering what they were conversation about. Yet it was already too late when I had noticed that the wolf in front of us had fled into the midnight darkness in front of us; fading from our sights while more conversations were heard at the near distance. We chose to ignore it since it was directed towards themselves than towards us and continued our way forward.

We walked along the silence of the darkness in front of us. Hearing nothing more than the own ringing that was upon our own ears however. I only stared up front into the horizon, a yawn escaped through my muzzle while the others just kept silent; neither of them commenting about me nor the dragon while we continued and looked. For the first few minutes, we only hear the ringing inside our own ears; but we had ignored it anyway. As we walked, we noticed something was ahead. Whittit was the first to noticed it however for a bright smile appear upon his snout; everyone else followed through after him. Thus only the next second, I started hearing sprintings and rushing forth that I suddenly turned my attention towards them in surprise. Shortly before I raced after them too; screaming at them. We fled across the roads; straight towards that something that was in the distance. I had saw it immediately while chasing after them that I was immediately surprise and awed upon how perfect the kingdom was however.

The place or rather the destination of where we were going was indeed Moon kingdom. There were a lot of questions upon my own mind; Some of which had me returned my sights backwards towards the black dragon that was there. Giggling to herself while she spread her humongous wings to the side; lifting herself into the air and flew off straight towards her. The others heard a loud flapped above them and raised their heads into the horizontal skies, all having mixed responses and actions to the dragon that was flying above us. I only laughed at them.

For when we had arrived upon the kingdom, Whittit exclaimed with a proud chest outward from his own body. Smirking or looking smug while the rest of them were just staring at him with jealousy or something along of that line. I only watched them in silence; shaking my head while the dragon landed a few inches away from our pack and take a short walk forward to us. Speaking out while looking at us directly that the other coyotes suddenly turned towards her, listening to her very carefully. “This is the moon kingdom: The place were I am suppose to meet up with the vampires and Zephyr." “Zephyr? That black dragon that had deserted the kingdom long ago and came back again?" Commented Wovan which came as a nod from the dragon herself. For a short nod addition came after while she turned her attention towards the gates in front of us. Thus, with her paws; she magically cast the two flaps of the gates away from her as a loud bang echoed through the soundless of the night. Causing half of the pack to be startled while I and Whitti suddenly flinched upon the sound.

But we all walked forward; through the gates of the moon kingdom. Walking down the garden where the flowers were purest of white and blackness, never gray or grey however. Something that we were a bit surprise upon but never commenting or mentioned it towards the dragon herself. As she led us through the garden, straight towards the front door in front of us, we stand still in front of the door while she grabbed onto the handle and pulled back. Whereas the door creaked and moaned while it opened, we entered right inside.

We found ourselves in the fields of silence; just staring ahead of us we had noticed that the darkness had indeed invaded upon the first room of the kingdom. Nervous, many of us just stayed at the front door while the dragon herself take a step forward, smiling faintly towards herself completely ignoring us in general while I gave a sigh and stepped inward too. Following me and the dragon came the coyotes; until the last one entered was when the door shut loudly. Startling some of us, including me as we all immediately turned around and look towards the door. The entire first room was completely dark; we cannot see anything about. But was it alright since we have the dragon with us however? I frowned before calling our her; but heard nothing more than the chilling silence that was surrounding us. Something that I frowned, flattening my ears and whimpered while Whittit take a step forward and spoke to the rest of us. “I presumed that the dragon wanted us to do something while we are here in the meantime." “Indeed" Spoke Wovan, “Does anyone have that note upon their paw?" Questioned Wivian as a short conversation of a mutter had came. But neither of us confesses they had it.

That was when, I felt something brushing against my own paw. I blinked hanging my head to the grounds beneath me and blinked rather suddenly. For I take a step backwards, grabbing onto the note in my paw and lifted it high into the air. The sounds of whishing and paper flying was echoed through the other coyotes as they had immediately turned their attention towards me. I only faintly smiled onto them; catching the piece of paper again with my paw and immediately turning it over, reading whatever was on the paper itself.

“Hello and welcome new contestants! Glad for you to be here all of the sudden and out of the blue as well. While Ms. Zandra had the privilege of leading you all here into a sudden trap of us-" “This is a trap?" Exclaimed Wovan, while everyone else ignored him, “I assure to your all that we have no harm into inflicting injury and broken bones. Nor had we thought about drinking blood. Remember we are vampires after all." “Regardless…" Someone spoke out of the blue; something that we were startled upon that we had immediately turned our attention towards whomever was there. Towards our left; right where the kitchen light was purely opened and well lit stands a vampire dragon. “Oh these guys." I spoke out of the blue, recalling such dragon species from a certain book that I had read in the past. “You do?" Blinked everyone, as their attention was drawn towards me. I only smiled and nodded at them before taking a step forward. Raising my paw up towards him, responding.

“You were once part of the BloodMarks, ally of the Deadhowls and Deadeyes right? A demon/Vampire dragon that now lives here in Moon kingdom?" “Right you are!" Exclaime the dragon, smiling only faintly as he had just revealed his sharpen fangs before closing them again and only shaking his own head before responding back, “Regardless, you guys must be here for a game?" “No we were just leaving." Commented Wovan while he and Wivina stepped backward and make a run for it towards the front door; which somehow disappeared from their sights. The vampire dragon just laughed at this and shake his head, responding towards us. Mainly to the two others at the frontal doors, “Best of luck next time however." “What game are you talking about anyway?" I questioned him, frowning while the dragon immediately turned towards me and smiled once more.

But without even explaining anything, even the rule set however. He just gave me an scale which I accepted however. Although I was really confused for a moment as I turned my attention to the scale of which I was holding in my paws. Once had handed it, he immediately turned around and disappeared right into the kitchen where the light breaks suddenly. Leaving behind a pure darkness which had invaded upon the adjacent room. A pause for a moment while the rest of us just stared at one another before looking back to the scale that I was holding in my paw. I even held it up against my own face; staring at how beautiful the thing was however. But I only shake my own head and growled, perhaps towards myself while I turned immediately towards the others and spoke, “Split up. Maybe we could gather more of these to get ourselves out of here."

A nod had spread across the coyotes in front of me while they split themselves apart as intended. Wovan fled to the kitchen behind me, Wivian headed down the hallway, me and  Whittit heads straight upstairs; each taking our own hallway paths that were shrouded in darkness, preventing ourselves from being able to see what was ahead and to what paths lead to where too. Upon which I only frowned and shivered while the scale in my own fur glowed dimly upon the night. As me and Whittit shared a glance momentarily, we only nodded acknowledging our situation before we had immediately departed into the halls in front of us.

“For what lies ahead?" I muttered to myself as I walked through the hallways; keeping an eye to the horizon in hopes of picking out that door that we had needed to get through. There were pictures and frames everywhere upon the walls and ceiling surrounding me. Even a brown drawer with a thin candle overtop of it; adjacent to it was a piece of paper. But nothing was written onto it however. I ignored the drawer for a moment and bypassed it again while lifting my eyes into the horizon. Staring down onto the pure darkness that was ahead of me. Whereas I had noticed something blinking in the distance that had me gulped, swallowing down anything that was within my own throat as I listened to the vibrations and gurgling that had came passed.

Sooner than I had thought; I had already reached the end. A door stands in front of me; big and wide as I had thought of however. No knob was upon which; but it was alright since the door automatically opened on its own and the light shone brightly from the space between the lock and the door itself which allowed me to see whatever was there. My eyes widened when I had saw the brightest of light shining onto my own face that I was unaware that I was walking forward. Entering into this light which had swallowed me down. Temporarily blinding me for the time's being however too.

When I came through, the first thing I had noticed was the huge room surrounding me. It was similar to the first room that we had entered through too that sometimes I had wonder if it was just a coincidence or not. Shaking my head, I returned my sights to the room that I was upon. Glancing around in hope of finding something there. Yet everything was the same. A kitchen room was behind me. A set of stairs leading into the second floor and another door onto the opposing side of where the kitchen was at. I shift my attention towards that other door. I had saw no door upon it; just an opened expose darkness that had welcomed me in, something that I had immediately entered without even thinking or pondering about it however.

Thus, I blinked that to myself and shake my own head; frowning as I continued forward. For my attention was up front to the horizon in front of me; ignoring the things that were to my sides. I continued until I stepped onto something underneath me that I immediately take a step back and hanged my own head; gazing at the brown flooring beneath me. For there; I had noticed a bunch of scales. All written something of a number as I blinked for a moment, tilting my own head before cutting my way forth through the numbers. The first was a seven; so I stepped with my left foot. Stretching my right towards the opposing side of the line that crossed the line overtop of it and make another step above the second horizon line. Next was a three; so I stuck my paws together and jumped. Twice. Over two curved lines and a point at the center of the three; Ending up upon the other end very quickly and easy too.

The next two were six and two. Once I had passed those, a thought had came upon my own mind. I had wondered and pondered about these numbers and why were they here suddenly too however. With more and more questions residing upon my own mind, the more that I had started to frown and feel fear and anxiety for what seems to be perhaps the first time in my own life. ButI only shake my head to clear my thoughts away as my attention was drawn to the front; gazing down Whitti whom already had several scales in his paw. I blinked at him, then immediately told the set of numbers which he blinked at me suddenly and frowned; but shake his head as he spoke, “I do not know what you are talking about. Neither can I hold onto these any longer too." “Allow me" I responded, without hesitation nor gave him an answer while he handed me half of them.

I had realized that they were heavy in my paws. But that does not matter anyway as we walked along the path at our right; leading straight towards a deadend that had await us. Something blinked adjacent to us that we turned towards it suddenly. A set of words; or a string of words had popped up 'running' across the LCD as if it was running some sort of marathon. Whittit responded to me, “That is perhaps where you should put in the code." “In there?" I questioned him, he only nodded at me. I exhaled a breath and take a step forward; balancing my paw holding the half scales with my other whom formed a pointer; pressing against the set of ten buttons ranging from 'zero to nine'. I pressed the following buttons: seven three six two. A bell rang and something opened. We blinked when we exchanged glances, but neither of us said or commented anything as we just backtracked along.