The Royal Rebel

Chapter 9: Guardians of the Underworld

Alina went out and stroll in the garden surrounding the palace when she saw the pack members playing what seems to be street football. She watches as each team runs toward the ball and drag it to its goal. She cannot hide her enthusiasm as she bet for the team she knew. In the field, Caleb plays along with Jason and Matthew which she met during Halea’s birthday. She silently watches him play, watching his every move, every kick of the ball as he manoeuvres it and shoots to the goal. And since this is a pack of wolves playing you can see their unusual speed and agility as they tried to take the ball from their opponents. Young and old pack members watch around the field and some older ones sit on the wooden benches surrounding the field. Each owning a team cheering and shouting for their chosen players and team. Alina enjoyed watching the game as well as the crowd. If there is one thing she did not experience in her own pack, this is one of them. The warm of togetherness despite the difficulties and the joy in triumph. She cannot stop but feel envy of what this pack is having, how she wishes she had the same thing or experience this when her parents were alive.

She was awakened from her thoughts when the sound of the alarm was played, marking the end of the game. You can see people cheering and loudly hugging as the winning team takes the centre of the field. She was about to go back to her room when she hears someone called.

“Alina, right?” Jason carefully inquired, as he held his towel around his neck.

“Yes, Jason right?” returning his question with a smirk on her face

Jason laughs, “Yeah, you’re funny,” he said, “did you like the game?”

“Yeah, I’ve enjoyed it,” 

“Why don’t you join us? We’re having a snack at the pack’s pool. I’m sure you will enjoy meeting some of the pack members,”

Caleb came into view together with Matthew, he heard Jason inviting Alina.

“Yeah, join us. I will introduce you to some of the pack members as well as some of the guests. I’m sure you will be excited to know them once I introduced you to the rest of the guardians,” 

“Now, that’s interesting. I would be glad to know the rest of the guardians,” she said.  

She followed the guys as they went to where the rest of the pack was. The pool place was big, in the middle there’s the Olympic size and medium-sized swimming pool for kids equipped with slides and sprinklers and the place was surrounded by a pool bed. Beds and some tables and chairs. On the corner where most the packs were lies a mini pool bar and barbecue grills under a big white tent shading the whole place. 

“Wow, what a nice place,” Alina blurted

“Glad you liked it. This is where most pack members chill,” Jason said. 

They went to one of the empty tables and the guys introduced her to some of the pack members and she also met the Luna. She was gorgeous with her long brown curly hair in a simple floral white Sunday dress wearing a warm genuine smile.

“There’s the niece I haven’t met for a long time, how are you, Alina,” the Luna said, giving her a warm hug.

“I am well aunty,” Alina said, returning the hug, “it was nice to finally meet you,” she said.

She now can see where Caleb got his looks; they have the same eyes and lips. 

“Don’t be shy with us alright? Caleb here will take care of you. We will have our time to talk, for now, meet the kids your age and enjoy, alright?” the Luna said.

“Yes, Aunty. Don’t worry about me, I will sure enjoy my time here,” Alina said

She looked at the crowd around her and found a familiar face, she then went to see Amelia sitting at another table. She waved at her and asked her to sit with them.

“Hey Alina, how are you?” Amelia asked

“I’m good, how about you?” She asked

“Oh, I’m doing well. By the way, I wanted you to meet the pack who will be going with you and Caleb to you know where,” she said rolling her eyes and giggling with her. 

Alina smiled and sat down beside her as she started introducing each of the handsome young men in front of her.

“This is Ulric of the Emerald Gorge pack, like Caleb he will succeed his father soon. This young playful one is Aaron of the southern tribe, and that snob over there is Arnou, he is the son of the late Alpha Marrouk of the Avalon tribe,” Amelia said, “gentlemen, I would like you to meet the last guardian, Alina she is a distant cousin of Caleb. I came to know her yesterday during her meeting with the King,” Amelia continued.

“Nice meeting you all,” Alina said

Aaron immediately ran to her side and shook her hands, “Nice meeting you Alina, you look so beautiful,” he said which made Alina laugh.

“It was nice meeting you too Aaron,” Alina said

Aaron gave her a glass and instead of pouring the juice from the jar he moved his hands and the liquid jumped to her glass.

“Wow, impressive,” Alina said, looking at Aaron amazed by his ability.

Aaron blushed, “This is for you,” he said, giving the glass of juice to her.

Ulric gave his hand to her and introduced himself, “As Amelia said, My name is Ulric the future Alpha of Emerald Gorge. I don’t have any stunt on my sleeves but I’m sure I’ll watch your back if ever will be in combat,” he said as she took his hand. He gave her a firm and strong hand and she matches his strength which surprises him and she smiles. 

“ Nice to meet, I’ll remember that Ulric,” she said.

“Good you have a very strong wolf there,” Ulric said

“My wolf is asleep, that there was me,” she said smirking 

“Interesting, we should spar training sometime,”

“We will see,” she said and faced Arnou who is now glancing at her every move.

“I can sense that we are alike, my name is Arnou,” he said as he gave her a fist pump.

“What do you mean we are alike?”Alina asked, mimicking his fist pump.

Arnou smirked, “you will soon know,” he said and went back to eating his food.

Alina turned to Amelia and asked, “Can you tell me what is the role of each of the guardians in this quest and why do we need to come?”

“Good question,” Aaron said, “I can explain my role,” he said while munching on the barbecue he’s eating.

Alina turned to Aaron. Aaron looks like he is the same as their age but he is about 11 or 12 years old; dark skin, curly hair, a little chubby with big round eyes and a monobrow. He is a very jolly boy.

As she looks at him he beams showing all his teeth, “okay, tell me what your role will be?”

“My wolf and I have the ability to move the water, I am the former guardian of the creatures of water. I will help us cross the river of death,” Aaron said.

Alina cannot help but be fascinated at the young boy who's talking to her. At first, he sounds so childish but as he goes along you can feel the authority that comes out of him.

“Nobody has been in the underworld other than the dead nor who came back other than our ancestors,” Ulric started, “As the future pack leader of the Emerald Gorge, we possess the ability to track the movement of the ground and rocks and we bear the scent of the beast that pounds the Earth. And during the ritual it was pronounced that I am the guardian of the underworld for the creatures of the middle realm,” Ulric murmured enough for everyone to hear.

“You can already guess which power Arnou has since he is the remaining guardian, aside from you,” Amelia said since she knew Arnou will not speak. “He is the guardian known by the creatures of the air. He will assist the pack to return to the realm of the living,”

“Each and everyone has an important role, I was just wondering what would be my role,” Alina said

“True, we haven’t really seen what your part is haven’t we?” Ameli said, wondering as well.

The other guardian heard what the two was talking about and they also wondered with the two.