Wolf Reign vs Eagle Fire

Chapter 3: Time for Revelation

Raul was shocked out of his deep train of thoughts and dreams by Lexi, who was still in his bedroom after Raul had apparently dozed off.

“So, Garrett left?" Raul asked. He was so confused by the thoughts and dreams he just had, that he was not sure whether Gareth had actually left or not.

"Remember, Gareth can sense when his mother needs him," Lexi said.

Raul knew that Garett and his mother had their telepathic communication methods. They had the same interesting way of communicating whenever they really needed each other, because they were both shape shifting eagles.

Raul looked around himself in satisfaction. At least he was making progress.

“Alright, then I suppose I should also get some rest," Raul suggested to Lexi with a big yawn.

“I will see myself out, then. Sleep tight," Lexi responded and flew out of the window, spreading his bright blue wings.

*

The following evening Raul was reading a Physics book in the library, next to his parents' private lounge, when he suddenly heard them talking. There was nobody there when he had walked past earlier.

“What, Reese? Is what I saw real?" Raul's mother asked in a horrified tone of voice.

“Please don't be alarmed, but yes. What you saw is true. I come from a six hundred year old line of wolf princes," Raul's father answered. We sometimes turn into wolves, but that does not make us mean, or wicked. It also does not mean that we are not just as sensitive and as capable of love and pain as ordinary humans are. We just happen to change shape sometimes and that is the source of our wisdom and longevity. We can live for centuries," Reese explained.

“You mean you are not at all what I assumed?" Margaret responded. “I just always thought you were rather unusually observant and smart," she added.

Raul could not believe what he was hearing. Was it the effect of the headache tablet that he had taken? Reese, his father, was busy explaining to Margaret, Raul's mother, that he was a werewolf? Yet he looked every inch like the father Raul has known his entire life.

“It is difficult for someone from the wolf race to declare their identity to their spouse when they happen to be in love with that person," Reese was saying in what sounded like a really strained tone of voice. Raul knew that his father was now really in deep trouble with his wife.

“So what is this? What does it mean?" Margaret asked, when Reese paused in his explanation. “Does it mean that when your race marries without love they find it easy to mention that they are not completely human? I think it is still just really very frightening and life-altering, because one cannot possibly go back to the way that things were before," Margaret said in a low tone of voice. It sounded as if she was trying very hard to control her emotions.

Raul knew his mother very well, so he could understand what she should be going through. He wished that he could rush in and participate in the discussion, but then his dad might decide to hold back on some details.

“Looking on the bright side, all of this means that you are a princess, by marriage. We can love and marry ordinary humans and that is what matters more than anything else," Reese elaborated further in a pleading tone.

“Is that why you are so mature for your age and possess such great wisdom?" Margaret asked. She was sounding more intrigued now. “It did always seem as if nothing ever took you by surprise."

“Oh no!" I can't foretell the future, if that's what you think," Reese countered.

“I really don't know what to think," Margaret responded in an irritated manner. “All I can say is that you should sleep in one of the guest suites for a while, until I've cleared all of this up in my mind."

Raul still did not know whether he should leave his parents alone, or go and have some hot chocolate in the kitchen. After weighing his options carefully, he decided to go to the kitchen for hot chocolate, since he needed some relief from the shock he had just suffered. He could not bear to hear another word and his knees were shaky as he rose from his chair.

In the kitchen, Raul made himself some hot chocolate before going upstairs.

Back in his bedroom Raul looked at himself in the mirror. Was he in a dream? he wondered. Such things only happened in fairytales. He could not be the son of a wolf-man. Raul felt that his father needed medical attention. There could be no such thing in his family, although Raul knew that Percival's family were definitely werewolves. He had seen them transform in the forest at dusk sometimes and it did not frighten him. But a werewolf in their precious home as part of the family? It was unthinkable. Raul refused to entertain such a thought, so he decided to phone Garett and tell him about what he had heard.

Raul trembled as he spoke to Garett, in between sips of hot chocolate.

“Come over to my place," Garett had suggested. “You need a change of scene."

Raul sneaked out and went to his car. As he drove out towards the gate, Lexi flew up to the car and landed on its bonnet. Raul had to stop and let him in.

“Take the mountain pass and drive over the hill," Lexi commanded without hesitation.

“But, I'm on my way to see Garett," Raul explained.

“Yes, I know that. He already told me," Lexi responded.

“So, he knows I'm not coming anymore?" Raul asked in confusion.

“Not right away," Lexi responded in a deep, wise tone. “You can go there afterwards."

“What are we going to do on the mountain?" Raul asked in concern.

“Don't worry about that," Lexi replied. “Just drive."

Raul drove on in silence until they reached the mountain pass, where he turned off. He drove on, climbing steadily. The view to the side was amazing as he looked at the lights of the village, but it did not calm him down.

“Pull off right here," Lexi said suddenly.

Raul stopped his car and waited for the next command.

Before Lexi said anything though, Raul saw another car pull up from the opposite direction. The car parked alongside Raul's. To his complete surprise, Raul saw Percival get out. He was not using his usual car.

“Hey, my Man," Percival said in a jovial tone.

“Oh, hi, Percival. What are you doing out here?" Raul asked, still very bewildered. Why was Lexi causing him added confusion? Raul wondered.

“I'm here to help you deal with some issues, because Garett asked me to help," Percival explained, as he opened the car door on Raul's side.

As Raul got out of the car he felt as if he was in a dream. Why would Garett hand him over to Percival? he asked himself.

“Look over there," Percival gestured towards his right.

Raul looked and saw a large condor eagle sitting on a rock.

“Now, walk slowly to the eagle and listen to what it has to say to you," Lexi commanded boldly.

Raul did not want to argue, because Lexi was usually right and he himself was just so much in need of guidance, now. He assumed that the eagle had to be from Percival's bird sanctuary. Raul and his friends had spotted the odd eagle or two there on their visits sometimes, but Garett had assured Raul that these eagles were not part of his own clan. Lexi had confirmed this as well, because he had observed these eagles as they sometimes went to and fro, between the bird sanctuary and the cities of Uzzah and Tesla. They were often sitting on rocks in Raul's village as well.

As he looked at the eagle in his present state of shock, Raul felt as if he was sleep-walking. Nothing seemed real and he did not feel like himself at all.

When he reached the powerful bird, it seemed to grow in size. Raul could not understand what was happening. It was as if he was in a trance and not in control of his situation.

“Don't be afraid," a deep voice emanating from the eagle said. “Just hop onto my back and hold on."

The eagle was now the height of a pony. So Raul climbed onto its back, feeling unusually calm, as if a spell had been cast upon him.

The eagle took off immediately and ascended high up, amongst the clouds. Raul's view was then dimmed by fog.

After a while, the fog cleared and Raul noticed that they were flying over a city. The bright lights were charming from this vantage point.

“So, this is where you belong, when you step into your destiny and adopt your heritage," the eagle announced.

“Who are you?" Raul asked curiously.

“You will find out soon, but right now it's all about who you are," the eagle responded in a confident tone.

“There is the castle from which you will give commands," the bird said as they flew over a big castle with vast gardens and lakes surrounding it. Raul recognized it as the castle in the city of Uzzah, which his father visited sometimes.

“So this is Uzzah?" Raul asked.

“Exactly," the eagle answered as it circled the castle at a slightly lower altitude.

“It looks different from up here," Raul commented in awe.

Raul could see lights through some of the windows now and he began to wonder about what could be going on there, behind the closed shutters.

The eagle suddenly swerved higher up and began to fly back, in the direction of Raul's home village.

Raul turned his head slightly to look back and he was impressed by the beauty of the city with its tall, historical buildings.

“So, that is your future," the eagle pronounced. “You will only be truly fulfilled if you embrace it."

“But what does that mean, exactly?" Raul asked.

“You will find out soon enough," the bird responded in a tone of finality.

They landed softly back on Raul's familiar mountain peak. Once there, Raul slid off the back of the eagle and it seemed to shrink right next to him. Raul was alarmed by this.

“It is not me who became bigger earlier, but you who became smaller," the eagle explained. “You had to shrink in size in order to fit onto my back, so that I could show you how great you will become. So, remember that when you feel small it just could be the moment when you are actually really great."

With that the eagle flew away, high up amongst the clouds, until it was out of sight.

“Now you can go to Percival's house, where he will explain some facts to you, before you go to Garett," Lexi said from behind Raul.