Blood Runs Home

CHAPTER 7 : a Glimmer Of Hope

After a long conversation, the sky began to darken, signaling the end of the day. Zyne rose from his seat and looked at Piku with a gentle smile.

"Perhaps that's enough for today, Piku. I'll pick you up tomorrow morning, and we'll meet my friend from the Zoology department. He might be able to help us," he said calmly.

Before leaving, Zyne hugged Piku gently, giving him strength in silence.

“Yes, thank you for coming and accompanying me today,” Piku said, returning the hug with warmth.

Afterward, Zyne stepped out of the room, leaving Piku, who now seemed a little calmer. A small glimmer of hope began to grow in his heart, slowly dispelling the dark shadows that had enveloped him since the tragedy.

But as soon as Zyne's footsteps disappeared from view, Piku looked down, feeling his chest pounding. He leaned against the door, then slowly slid down to sit on the floor, one hand on his chest as if trying to calm his erratic heartbeat.

“What kind of feeling is this…?” he murmured softly, his eyes widening slightly, startled by the unfamiliar yet not painful sensation. “Why… does my heartbeat speed up when he hugs me?”

His gaze was blank, as if he were trying to find answers amidst the grief and turmoil of new feelings he didn't yet fully understand. That night, for the first time since losing his parents, his heart was confused not by pain… but by something far more complicated.

On the other side, Zyne crept back down the stairs to the basement, then down a dark, dusty secret passageway. The dim light from his small flashlight bounced off the cold stone walls, leading him to the end of the hidden passageway.

There, the figure of a full-grown wolf dressed in black still stood waiting, leaning quietly against the crate he had previously moved. His sharp eyes watched Zyne intently.

"You're back, young man," he said softly but firmly. "How is he? Is he… all right?"

Zyne leaned in, taking a deep breath before answering. "He's fine, Uncle… at least physically. But his heart is still deeply wounded from the loss of his mother and father." His tone was soft, yet it held a weight of unspoken sorrow.

The old wolf nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. He stared down the dark hallway Zyne had just passed, as if imagining the condition of the Grayhusk heir.

"He's a strong boy," he said softly. "But even the strongest wolf can get lost when he loses his pack. Please take good care of him, young man. This world isn't as safe as you think."

Zyne looked at him deeply, then nodded. "I'll take care of him, Uncle. No matter what happens."

The adult wolf smiled faintly, then began to push the crate back onto the secret door. His voice was low but sincere as he said, "I'm glad he has a friend like you, young man."

Suddenly, a loud noise came from inside Zyne's messenger bag. The wolf turned quickly, raising an eyebrow. "It looks like something's making a noise in your bag."

"Huh?" Zyne was immediately surprised, then quickly opened the lid of his shoulder bag and took out his still vibrating cell phone.

He glanced at the screen and his eyes widened. "Oh my gosh! My second class is about to start! I have to go now!" he exclaimed frantically, putting his phone back in and adjusting the strap of his shoulder bag.

"See you, Uncle!" he said hurriedly, giving a respectful nod before running towards the hidden exit.

The wolf watched Zyne leave with a small smile. His voice was barely a whisper as he replied, "See you later, Zyne… hehe…" He then turned and walked through the quiet backyard, his mysterious smile still etched on his face—leaving the impression that he knew more than he let on.

Zyne was still rushing toward campus, occasionally glancing at the time on his phone. His breath began to quicken, and his steps quickened. At a crossroads near the campus park, he accidentally bumped into someone.

"Aaah!" came a surprised voice from the other side of the collision.

Zyne stopped abruptly, his eyes widening when he saw who he'd bumped into. It was a vixen with long, brown hair, wearing a college hoodie and carrying several books that were now scattered on the ground.

"Sorry, Kiara! Are you okay?" Zyne said quickly, extending his hand to help.

Kiara looked up and accepted the outstretched hand. But when her gaze met Zyne's worried eyes and his ragged breathing, she suddenly froze. Her face flushed, and her chest pounded faster than usual.

"Z-Zyne...?" she muttered softly, a little surprised.

Zyne helped her up, then hurriedly picked up the fallen books. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you. I was in a hurry to get to class."

Kiara nodded slowly, still stunned. In her mind, Zyne, who had been staring at her closely—with his sharp yet warm eyes, and sweat dripping down his brow—looked like a prince from the romantic dramas she often watched.

"By the way, you're also in Mr. Edgar's class, right?" Zyne asked, trying to divert the awkward situation.

"Eh? Oh... yeah! Yes, that's right," Kiara replied, snapping out of her reverie. "But I think we're going to be late..."

"I know," Zyne replied with a chuckle, then scratched his head. "Let's run together. Who knows, if we come together, Mr. Edgar won't be so mad."

Kiara smiled, a small, barely visible smile. "Okay… let's go."

The two of them then began running towards the campus building, along the path that was starting to fill with other students. But for some reason, Kiara felt her steps were lighter than usual.

Moments later, they arrived at campus and headed straight to the locker room to store some of the items Mr. Edgar had forbidden them from bringing into class. The hallway was quiet, except for the echoing sound of their footsteps.

Zyne opened his locker and began to remove his jacket. At that moment, Kiara, standing nearby, accidentally glanced at Zyne's face. The light from the window hit the side of his face, emphasizing his strong jawline and focused gaze.

In an instant, Kiara's face heated up. Her cheeks flushed, and her thoughts began to wander.

"Ah... Zyne, he's... so charming..." she thought. Everything felt too fast, leaving Kiara standing there stiffly, not knowing how to react.

Zyne, who had finished packing up his things, suddenly turned around and noticed her.

"Are you okay, Kiara?" he asked in a confused tone, seeing Kiara standing still with a slightly red face.

Kiara gasped, hurriedly looking down and tidying up her books, trying to cover up her nervousness.

"A-ah, yeah! I'm fine. Just... a little tired, hehe," she replied, forcing a smile.

Zyne simply nodded with a faint smile, then closed his locker. "Then let's hurry to class before Mr. Edgar gets mad at us."

"Y-yes!" Kiara followed behind, but deep down, she knew today would feel very different from usual.

Back at the Grayhusk residence, Piku cautiously stepped out of his room. The air in the hallway felt heavier than usual, and the silence surrounding the mansion made his footsteps audible. As Zyne had mentioned, the security around the mansion did seem much tighter than usual. Guards were stationed in spots they hadn't been in before, and some were even carrying extra equipment.

Piku walked down the long hallway to the kitchen, hoping to find someone who could answer his curiosity. As soon as he entered, he saw Garren—his driver and personal bodyguard—making coffee, seemingly absorbed in his own business.

Garren, hearing the sound of footsteps, immediately turned his head. His eyes widened when he saw who it was.

"Young Master? What brings you here?" he asked respectfully, but he couldn't hide his slight surprise.

Piku approached with slow steps, then leaned lightly on the kitchen table.

"I just want to know... why has security at the mansion suddenly been tightened? Has something happened, Garren?" he asked in a low but firm tone.

Garren was silent for a moment, then lowered his coffee cup to the table, looking at Piku's slightly tired face.

“I don’t know for sure, Young Master,” Garren replied softly, looking at Piku’s slightly tired face. “Perhaps it was Master Karlo who ordered the increased security. He was just worried something might happen to you.”

Piku frowned. He then rested his chin on his clenched fists, staring blankly at the kitchen table for a moment, trying to process Garren's words.

“I see…” he muttered softly, before raising his gaze again. “Then… do you know where Mr. Karlo is now?” he asked, this time looking at Garren with a searching gaze.

Garren nodded slowly. "The last time I saw him walking towards the garden behind the mansion. After that... I don't know where he went."

Piku simply nodded curtly. A hint of anxiety resurfaced in his eyes, but he held it back.

"Okay, Garren. Thanks for the information, I'll be going now," Piku said, then turned and left the kitchen, letting Garren continue enjoying his cup of coffee.

Piku quickly made his way to the mansion's back garden to find Mr. Karlo and inquire directly about the increased security. Upon arriving at the garden, he stopped in his tracks with a puzzled look—there stood Mr. Karlo, a large boa constrictor with gleaming green-brown scales, watering a towering old apple tree, seemingly filled with emotion.

Piku walked closer. Mr. Karlo immediately noticed his presence and turned, then, in his characteristically smooth and calm manner, he wrapped his body in a semicircle around Piku.

“Piku, what brings you here, Young Master?” Karlo asked in his deep, yet respectful voice.

Piku immediately shivered a little, his fur bristled a little. "Erh... Mr Karlo, please... don't circle me like that. It feels ticklish and strange, I beg you," he complained with a slightly red face.

Mr. Karlo chuckled softly, then slowly relaxed his body. "Excuse me, old reflex. So, is there something you want to ask me, Piku?"

Piku patted his clothes, trying to remove the dust that had stuck to them from Mr. Karlo's previous entanglement. "So, Mr. Karlo, why are you tightening the security at this house? Shouldn't you have waited for my orders?" he asked, looking at Karlo with a hint of annoyance in his eyes.

Mr. Karlo simply took a deep breath, then slowly crept back to the old apple tree he had been watering. With a leisurely movement, he plucked a fresh apple before turning halfway toward Piku. "You want to know why I've tightened my guard, Piku?" he asked, his voice low but full of meaning.

"Why?" Piku asked back, confusion clearly visible on his face.

Without warning, Karlo moved his tail and pulled Piku closer, closing the distance between them to just a breath. Karlo's large head slowly lowered and rested gently on Piku's, a gesture filled with both warmth and authority.

"This is all for your safety, Piku," Karlo said softly. "I'm just keeping my promise to Mr. Victor... to protect you, no matter what."

Piku froze in place, Karlo's words like a heavy weight falling on his chest. He clenched his fists tightly, trying to hold back his emotions, but tears still began to flow down his hairy cheeks.

"So that's how it is... Mom... Dad..." he whispered softly, his voice trembling with grief, before he finally sobbed silently, under the warm protection of Mr. Karlo.

Master Karlo hugged Piku tightly, wrapping the young wolf in his warm embrace. The warmth felt so comforting, as if Piku were being embraced by his own father. Gently, Karlo wiped away the tears streaming down Piku's cheeks with the tip of his tail, then said,

"Come on, let's go inside. It's time for lunch."

Piku nodded slightly, letting Karlo lead him back into the Grayhusk mansion, leaving the garden under the bright afternoon sky.

Meanwhile, on the Crestwood campus, Zyne and Kiara were nearly late for class. Luckily, Mr. Edgar hadn't arrived yet. Kiara quickly darted to her seat, her cheeks still flushed from the incident on the street. Several of her classmates immediately gathered around her in curiosity.

"Hey, Kiara! You're so rare to be late to class!" exclaimed Mara, the female cat, with a flirtatious whine. "Yeah... and how did you come with Zyne?" added Nyla, the weasel, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Kiara could only reply with a small smile while looking down in embarrassment, her cheeks getting redder.

Meanwhile, Zyne strolled leisurely to the back seat, his favorite spot. There, his large, brown-haired seatmate, Arco—a young bull—glanced at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Hey, Zyne. Why weren't you in Mr. Gabriel's class earlier? Did you have some trouble on the way?" Arco asked casually, his voice deep but friendly.

Zyne yawned widely, stretching his arms behind his head. "Hmm... actually, I woke up late," he replied casually. "I just went to bed last night after working on homework until late."

Arco snorted softly, patting Zyne's back hard. "You... you're used to it, aren't you?" he said with a chuckle.

Shortly after, the sound of heavy footsteps approached the classroom door. All the students immediately returned to their seats. The door opened slowly, and Mr. Edgar entered—a large black bear, carrying a stack of papers and books in his arms.

Mr. Edgar looked around the room with a sharp gaze, then said, "Alright, let's start today's lecture. I gave you guys your homework last week, right?"

The entire class simultaneously let out a heavy sigh.

"Haaah...?" the students' groans echoed in unison, creating a chorus typical of daytime classes.

The next morning at the Grayhusk mansion, a neatly dressed horse was seen briskly walking toward the main gate, carrying a document bag at his side. He was stopped by the guards, but quickly produced an official letter. After confirming the visitor's identity, the guards allowed him entry. Soon, news of the man's arrival reached Master Karlo.

“A lawyer named Elric wishes to meet with the Young Master,” one of the guards reported to Karlo.

At the same time, Piku was getting ready to go to campus to meet Zyne. However, his preparations were interrupted by a soft knock on his door.

“What’s wrong, Mr. Karlo?” Piku asked in a slightly annoyed tone as he opened the door.

"There's someone who wants to see you, Piku. He's waiting in the living room," Karlo replied calmly.

“Who is he?” Piku asked suspiciously, one eyebrow raised.

“You will know later,” Karlo replied, gesturing for Piku to follow him.

Arriving in the living room, Piku saw a horse in a suit sitting quietly, sipping a cup of warm tea. Karlo then introduced him.

“Mr. Elric, this is Piku Grayhusk, heir to the Grayhusk family. Piku, this is Mr. Elric—your father’s personal attorney, Mr. Victor.”

Piku was shocked, not expecting that the elegant figure in front of him was his father's confidant.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Elric,” Piku said, shaking his hand respectfully.

“Nice to meet you too, Mr. Piku,” Elric replied with a polite nod.

“What important business brings you here?” Piku asked curiously.

Elric opened his bag and took out a sealed document. “I came to hand this to you, Mr. Piku.”

Piku took the document and read it carefully. His eyes widened when he realized what it contained—a will from his father, Mr. Victor Grayhusk.

Mr. Elric took a document out of his leather folder and placed it on the table. "Mr Piku, this is a letter accepting the will. If you are willing to accept the inheritance from your late father, please sign this letter. However, before that, please read the contents of the will first to find out what you will inherit."

Piku stared at the letter with a doubtful look. “A-Okay…” he replied softly, his hands trembling slightly as he touched the document.

Seeing Piku's hesitation, Elric calmly began packing up his things. "If you're not ready to sign it today, I'll give you until tomorrow. I don't want to force you."

He rose from his seat, straightened his jacket, and bowed politely. “I’ll take my leave, Mr. Piku. See you later.” Then Elric walked out of the living room, leaving Piku and Karlo with the important letter.

Silently, Piku gripped the paper tightly, then turned and walked back to his room. However, he stopped when Karlo's voice called out to him.

“Wait, Piku.”

Piku turned his head.

“Let me keep the letter for now,” Karlo said, creeping closer quietly.

“It’s okay, Mr. Karlo. I want to keep it to myself,” Piku replied quietly. His gaze lowered to the paper. “After this… I want to go to my parents’ graves. After that, I’ll go to campus.”

Karlo could only watch Piku leave in silence as the Young Master returned to his room. Upon arriving, Piku sat on the edge of the bed, looking confused, at the inheritance letter Elric had just given him. He didn't know where to put it. After a moment of thought, he finally folded the letter neatly and tucked it into his shoulder bag.

With quick steps, Piku exited his room and bid farewell to the mansion's residents he encountered in the hallway. Before opening the main door, he gazed inside the house for a moment, as if absorbing the power of the walls where he grew up.

Karlo, seeing Piku about to leave, became worried. Without a word, the old boa constrictor began to creep slowly, stalking Piku from a distance through a hidden path hidden behind the trees.

Piku ran through the morning wind to the public cemetery where his parents were buried. His breath was heavy, but his resolve was strong. When he arrived, he knelt before two gravestones standing side by side: Victor and Fiona Grayhusk.

“Mom… Dad… how are you doing over there?” he said in a deep voice. “I hope you’re at peace… on the more peaceful side.”

He clenched his fists, then leaned his head against one of the tombstones.

"I promise... I'll find out who did it. I'll find him... and I'll make sure he pays for everything," he said firmly, filled with emotion. "I'll take my leave now, Mom... Dad."

Piku got up and walked away from the tomb. But unbeknownst to him, from behind the shade of a shady tree, a black-robed tiger was following him, its sharp eyes watching his every move.

Karlo, who had been watching from a distance, suddenly realized the danger. He came out of hiding and shouted,

“Piku! Run—!”

But it was all too late.

The cloaked tiger's figure shot out, and before Piku could react, thick smoke filled the air. A small explosion sounded—a smoke bomb. Within seconds, the tiger's shadow and Piku vanished together, leaving Karlo stunned and terrified.

“Pikuuu!!!” Karlo shouted, his voice echoing in the silent cemetery.

On the Crestwood campus, Zyne, waiting in front of the school's taxonomy lab, glanced at his watch for the umpteenth time. The sun was beginning to set westward, lengthening the shadows of the deserted campus buildings. Piku still hadn't appeared.

"Where the hell is he? We promised to meet here yesterday…" he muttered, his tone half annoyed, half anxious.

He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his phone. Quickly, he dialed Piku's name from his contact list.

The ringtone sounded:

Tuut... tuut... tuut...

No answer.

Zyne took a deep breath, then tried again.

Tuut... tuut...

It was as if each note was a question that never got an answer.

Worry began to creep into his mind. "Where did he go?" he whispered softly.

With quick steps, Zyne left the campus area, intending to head to the Grayhusk family residence. However, as he crossed the main building hallway, he accidentally bumped into someone.

“Z-Zyne?” Kiara was stunned, shocked by the accidental encounter.

“Kiara? What are you doing here?” Zyne asked, equally surprised.

“I-I... usually go to the library early in the morning,” Kiara answered in a nervous tone.

Zyne was momentarily amazed by Kiara's diligent habits. "Wow, I see. Good luck, Kiara!" he said with a warm smile. "Sorry, I have to go somewhere. Take care, okay? See you later!"

Zyne immediately ran away from Kiara, who could only stare silently at his back.

On the road, Zyne ran as fast as he could. Negative feelings continued to haunt his mind.

"I hope he's okay… Piku," he thought.

Without hesitation, Zyne continued to run towards the Grayhusk family residence.