FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The Woodland Visitor Ch 18:

Pearl's Prophecy

"Bur... m... bur"

I couldn't move because I was in shock. I just watched as amber's eyes got real big and she looked up at me with an open mouth. Her tail started wagging like a dogs and there was a look of excitement on her face.

"She... she said my name."

Her first word.

Sienna was the first one to recover and scooped Natasha up in her arms. "What did you say?" she asked all excited.

Natasha looked from her mother to Amber then smiled and held out her paws. "Bur?"

Amber climbed off the couch and without loosing contact with me she made her way around to where Natasha was. With one arm on my leg and the other arm on the couch she leaned up. Natasha took the opportunity to wrap her arms around the end of amber's muzzle and hug her tight.

When Amber was able to pull her muzzle back I had to laugh. She had a look of surprise and elation on her face. Reaching over I wiped a tear from her eye and turned her head to me.

"I don't know how else to prove that she likes you. Not only did she kiss and hug you but... Her first word wasn't mommy or daddy... It was Amber."

"But... But I... I'm not..."

Sienna leaned down and placed an arm around Ambers shoulder. "I may not be your real mother and he may not be your real father but we will be if you want it."

Amber slowly leaned back on her hind legs and wrapped her arms around Sienna as far as she could. Natasha squirmed around and hugged Amber's neck and all three of them just sat there for a little bit holding each other.

Amber finally leaned back but Natasha held her tight. I could see the tears flowing down her cheek as she put her arms around Natasha and smiled.

Looking up at me, Amber opened her mouth to say something then closed it again. Looking down at Natasha in her arms who had lifted her head and was staring up at her, she smiled. Looking back up at Sienna she hesitantly said, "If you want me."

Sienna reached over and wiped a tear off of her cheek and smiling said, "I already said that I wanted you to be a part of our family. What I asked is do you want to be part of our family?"

"I do... I really do."

"Then it's settled." I said. Leaning down I kissed her right between the eyes. "Welcome to your new home. Now all we have to do is get you a bed set up in the spare room so you'll have a place to sleep."

"Speaking of sleeping, it's time for you to go to bed little girl." Sienna said as she playfully tapped Natasha on the nose. Then she took Natasha and stood up. Carrying her towards the bedroom I watched Natasha reaching out towards Amber.

Amber looked up at me with a look that just said "Please?" Smiling I motioned for her to follow and watched as she turned and dropping down to all four feet, followed Sienna out of the room.

As soon as they were out of the room it seemed as if everyone started talking at once. Looking around I realized for the first time that the Wolf Pack had assembled and was asking questions. Standing up, I raised my hands and the room slowly went quiet.

"I know you have a million questions," I said when it was quiet. "Let me see if I can answer some of them. As for what just happened? I have no fucking clue. What's gonna happen to Amber? I'm gonna raise her as my daughter like I promised her mother I would. Anything else?"

Doc Travis spoke up, "What happened to the big dragon out there?"

"I can only assume that she died. The injuries she had were critical and she even said as much."

Doc Travis spoke up again. "What happened to you when she died?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean she turned into a bunch of light dots that floated around and then were... I don't know... seemed to be absorbed into your hand."

I looked my hand over carefully and saw that there wasn't a mark on it. Slowly that part of the encounter came back to me. As I studied my hand more, I quietly replied, "I don't know what happened. After she handed me Amber and gave me memories to raise her with, everything becomes a blur."

Sienna walked back into the room and pulled me back to the couch settling down beside me. "Amber is gonna stay with Tasha till she falls asleep then she wants to see her new room."

Wrapping my arm around her I pulled her closer and smiled. "I think that she won't be in that room for long."

Sienna's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

"Did you see the size of her mother?"

"Yes I did, but what's that got to do with... Oh, I see what you mean."

"Another couple of years and she'll be too big for this house, let alone her room."

Brenah moved over and sat down beside his daughter. "I tell you what... Why don't you let me worry about that. I mean..." He watched as Amber came over and lay down on my lap with her head resting on Sienna's. Reaching down, I gently began to rub Amber between her wings. Brenah hesitantly reached out hesitantly to touch her. When she didn't move he began to gently scratch between her eyes. She moved her head so he was scratching her eye ridge then gave a contented sigh and closed her eyes.

"You have given me another granddaughter. I can at least give you some help on figuring out your housing arrangements."

Amber raised her head and looked at Brenah quizzically. "Grand... Daughter?"

Brenah smiled, "Yes sweetie. I'm Sienna's father, which makes me your grandfather."

"You're my new mommy's daddy?" She asked as she concentrated on trying to grasp the concept.

He looked her in the eyes and ran his hand lightly across the side of her face. "Yes little one, I am."

Suddenly she laid her head back down on Sienna's lap and quietly said, "I miss mommy."

"I know sweetheart." I said as I leaned down resting my head on her back as I gave her a hug. "I know." We sat there in silence for a couple of minutes when another thought crossed my mind.

"The only thing I don't understand is 'Why me?' Why did she choose me to watch over her child? Why not another dragon?" I asked when I again sat up.

"I was wondering that myself." Doc Travis said. "I don't think we'll ever find out either."

"I do know one thing. Tomorrow I'm going to go see Tonya. She might know something we don't."

Sienna took my hand and gently squeezed it. "I think it's a good idea. I wasn't gonna suggest it though. I know what seeing her means to you."

Squeezing her back, I gave a half hearted smile. "I have to do it though. I won't leave Tonya like that. I can't let her go."

"I don't want you to either. I just wish it didn't affect you so much."

Amber turned her head to look back at me and then brought it up to rub it against the side of my face. I reached up and caressed the side of her face as she asked. "What's got you so sad? Did this person hurt you or something?"

"No, no. She was a really close friend of mine."

"Then why are you so sad?"

"Can you wait until you see her, then you'll know. It's hard to explain her in words that you'll understand."

"I'm going with you?"

"Yes you are," I said as I rubbed her back between her wings. "You're the reason I'm going to see her. Let's get some sleep because we leave early tomorrow morning."

Sienna and several others from the Wolf Pack said that they were going too, some more demanding than others. "Well then let's all get to bed. If we're leaving so early tomorrow, we'll need the rest." She held her hand up to stop my protest, "And don't even open your mouth. I'm going with you and that is final."

"As are we." Major Denton added.

Holding up my hands in a sign of resignation I said, "Then let's all hit the rack. I'm leaving at Oh dark thirty tomorrow morning. If you're not here, I ain't waiting on you."

With that said everyone made their way out as Sienna and I got ready for bed. Amber opted to sleep in the bed in Natasha's room and after settling her in for the night I followed Sienna into our room grabbing at her tail the whole way.

Once we were in bed, Sienna pushed me onto my back and leaning over me tapped her finger on my nose. "Not tonight mister, you need to get to sleep so you'll be rested for the morning. Besides, I'm exhausted."

With an exaggerated sigh I pulled Sienna closer and lay there deep in thought. It didn't take much for Sienna to fall asleep against my side while I just lay there listening to her breathing. The events of the day were going through my head creating questions I couldn't answer.

I don't know how long I lay there before I heard whimpering coming from the other room. At first I thought the silence of the night was playing tricks on my hearing until I heard it again. Silently I climbed out of bed and made my way down the hall. Outside the door I heard Amber crying and slowly opened the door. Sliding inside I saw Amber curled up into a ball and could barely make out her trembling as she quietly cried.

I slowly made my way over to the bed and watched as she turned to me. "I... I'm... S... sorry. I... I didn't... mean... to wake... you." She quietly said between sobs.

"Hey... Shhhh." I said as I sat down on the edge of the bed. "It's Okay, what's wrong?" I asked as I ran my hand across her eye ridges.

"I... I... miss my mommy." She replied and began to cry again.

Lying down beside her, I pulled her close to me. "I know you miss your mommy. I wish I could help, but I can't. All I can do is be here for you and offer what comfort I can if you'll accept it."

Amber curled up closer to me and pushing me onto my back, curled her head around to rest it under my chin. Reaching up I gently stroked her between her eye ridges until she calmed down a little. Raising her head she looked at me with a sad expression and quietly muttered, "I'm sorry I'm so much trouble."

"Don't ever say that. You are not any trouble at all."

"But I am, you're here with me instead of being in bed with my new mommy. I'm keeping you up with me and..." The tears started flowing again, "I don't want to get anyone mad at me."

"No one is mad at you sweetie." We both heard as Sienna came into the room. She walked over and lay down on the other side of Amber. Wrapping her arms around her Sienna gave her a hug. "And I could never be mad at you."

Amber nuzzled Sienna before settling her head back down on me. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry sweetie. We'll just stay here with you tonight if you want." Sienna said.

"I... can you please?"

"Of course we can. Now just close your eyes and try to sleep. We'll stay here tonight with you." I gently said as I scratched her eye ridges. I don't know why I did but as I was scratching her head I began to softly sing to her. I don't know what made me think of it but I remember my mother singing it to me at night when I was scared. "Hush little baby, don't say a word..."

When I had finished I saw that both Sienna and Amber were sleeping soundly. Very quietly I slid out of bed and made my way to the living room. I sat there in the dark and again pondered today's events. When it was time to get up, I was no closer to figuring out what happened than I was before. Questions still plagued me that I needed to find answers for. Questions like... Where did they come from? How did they get here? What was I supposed to do when Amber was full grown? But foremost in my mind was what happened to her mother to cause those wounds and would whatever it was come after us?

* * * * * *

Standing up I made my way into the kitchen and made a light breakfast before I woke Sienna and Amber. After we ate, I gathered a few things together and placed the pack by the front door just as someone knocked on it. Opening the door I stood facing a cloaked figure. The figure had the cloaks hood pulled up completely covering their face and I couldn't see it at all.

"Can I help you?" I asked as my hand made its way down to the pistol I had strapped to my leg.

"Yes you can, but you won't need that." Came a feminine voice from beneath the hood.

Sienna dropped the dish she had been drying and my whole body went numb as I recognized the voice. I just stood there staring at her as she slowly slid the hood off of her head to reveal her face.

"Aren't you going to invite me in?"

I was totally stunned. I couldn't even think coherently as I stuttered, "But you're... How did you... I mean here... you're not... I... I"

She reached out with a hand that was all to thin and skeletal in appearance running her fingers across my cheek. "I'll explain everything when everyone's here."

I stepped aside and let her pass, closing the door behind me still too stunned to say anything. I watched her walk over and stand in front of Amber then turn to me. "Open the door."

I turned just in time to hear someone knock on the door. Reaching over I opened it up to find the Wolf Pack standing there. Major Denton smiled at me. "We're ready to go whenever you are."

"Ummmm... plans have changed a little bit."

~Don't be rude. Invite them in.~

I turned to look at the figure. "Are you s..." She was gone.

~Yes I'm sure, now let them in.~

I turned back to the door. "Come inside, please."

The major looked a bit confused as he walked by me. I tried to greet everyone as cheerfully as I could but everyone knew something was up. I had retreated to the door to the kitchen with Amber right behind me as I waited for everyone to settle down. It was crowded but soon everyone was situated and looking at me expectantly. I bowed my head and waited until I could feel a presence behind me.

Turning I stepped aside as a cloaked figure slowly walked past me. Her arms were folded within the sleeves of the cloak and it appeared that she didn't as much walk as she floated across the floor. When she was in the center of the room she waited for the whispering to die down before she began.

Reaching up she slowly pulled the cloak off of her head and waited for the commotion to die. "I know this is a shock for all of you. Events have happened that have upset the balance in the universe. I've been sent to tell you that events are coming that could destroy life as you know it. Although these events weren't entirely unforeseen, the exact details were unknown. Among you is the key to restore the balance of power. Among you also is the key that will end life as you know it."

There were gasps from everyone in the room as what she said slowly sunk in. "But how will we know this key if we see it?" Duvole asked.

"One of the keys is known." She replied as she pointed to Amber.

Amber sat there shaking her head muttering, "No... no... no..."

I dropped to the floor beside her and wrapped my arms around her before she could flee. Grabbing her head I looked into her eyes and saw raw fear in them. I just held her tight to me as I asked, "Do you know which key she is?"

"No, the prophecy says that a creature of air will be one of the two keys. It also says that a creature of death on two legs will be the other. It can only be assumed at this point that one of you here is the creature of death it speaks of."

"Could it mean you?" I asked.

"That was considered when the first signs were discovered. The prophecy also mentions the dead along with the armored ones and the mystic ones. It is believed that the creature of death that the prophecy mentions is one of the Wolf Pack."

"How come we never heard of this prophecy?" Doc Travis asked.

"It was written before the dawn of man by a race older than the dragons that inhabit Draconia."

"How do you know it means us? Does this prophecy mention us by name or something?" I asked her wondering if I wanted to know the answer.

I felt her amusement when she smiled at me. "I anticipated all your questions when I was first told of the prophecy. I do not have the answers you seek nor does the one spoke of this prophecy. The only thing I can give you is someone who knows of the prophecy. If you will follow me outside, she awaits you."

I followed her outside and stood there in shock as my eyes took in the sight. In front of our house stood a silvery grey dragon. As the shock wore off, my mind began to notice details that made me recognize her. From the broken and torn wings to the lacerations across the body to the huge laceration upon the neck, I recognized her as Amber's mother. My jaw dropped and I just stared for a minute along with everyone else.

She swung her head down and looked right at me. "Greetings human, my common name is Pearl. I am glad to see everything is going well with you..."