HOW TO BE KING OF THE COLORED MOUNTAINS

24 FEBRUARY, WEDNESDAY, CONTINUED

You know all those lycan tales I've read and listened to growing up? It turned out that they could just as well have been everyday recounts of what usually happened on the Colored Mountains because what Heller and Haku discussed sounded exactly like they were reading some "Once upon a time, a long time ago, in the Colored Mountains far away" kind of story.

Except that it was happening right now.

It all started with a prophecy (because all good lycan legends needed one of those to get the ball rolling). Oh wait, no, it started with the back story.

"Do you remember, the story I told you of The Wolf who mated the Moon Goddess?" Heller asked by means of introduction.

I nodded, "About a wolf named Jin who married the goddess but she faded away, and his daughter ran away to the plains? Yes."

"And this same Jin is Alpha Jin, Touru and Tori's grandfather, and also one of the Princes of the Colored Mountain." Heller elaborated, "And also very likely your forefather."

Exactly how long did Colored Mountain wolves live? Because I was quite sure it had been at least several generations since my Grandma Luna's family first settled in the plains.

Heller gave pause as if waiting for me to react to the fact, but I had long accepted it. Why? Should I have been more suspicious when a total stranger came up to me and claimed ancestry?

I nodded, so he continued, "The proof of it being the Ring of Idonia in your possession"

And so, with this back story established, we could start properly with the prophecy, which was a properly worded one in ancient lycan no less.

"He who holds the blue rose with Idonia's ring

Will be the mountain's next true king."

You know what, I've just about had it with prophecies by now. It's not that I was the kind who took things personally, but why was it that these prophecies sounded like they were implicating me a lot lately? It's like the Moon Goddess was purposely picking on me.

I shook my head quickly, "This is a Colored Mountain prophecy. It has nothing to do with me."

No one looked the least bit convinced.

"And...and look, it says "he" and I'm a girl." I quickly pointed out. Thank goddess for lycan studies so I could understand the different pronouns.

"You are the blue rose with Idonia's ring" Heller said quite firmly. I think he was quite set on this interpretation.

Well, two could be stubborn about interpretations, "Then HE will probably have to be a giant so that he can hold me!"

Hahaha, take that!

Haku shook his head, "Blue Alpha, I must concur with Heller. I've never understood this prophecy, but now that I see it, I cannot unsee it."

"See what?" I asked. No, don't tell me, there really were giants in the colored mountains? I remembered reading about giants in human tales, not lycan ones...

"The wolf who becomes your mate is the prophesied true king." Haku explained. Haku was much better at explaining things than Heller, because immediately I understood what they were saying.

"WHAT? NO WAY!" I flared.

And then I realized the goddess had messed up again, "Wait, no."

I smiled widely at the adults, "I already have a soul mate! And he lives in the plains. So this prophecy is about someone else."

Yes, let's keep lycan legends in the safety of books and stories.

"There is one way to ascertain it." Heller suggested, and I realized this was what Heller wanted to see me about, "Haku could run a genetic test. If you are indeed Jin's granddaughter, then it would be proof since this prophecy had been long held as proof that Jin's seed would one day return to the Colored Mountain."

I think Heller had missed like a few "greats" in front of "granddaughter", but I didn't correct him. I got the feeling that time here passes quite differently than in the plains.

"Unfortunately, I would require Alpha Jin's permission to match their genetic information." Haku informed his friend.

What about MY PERMISSION? Maybe I didn't want to know?

"Yes, I know, but I also know you have a good sense for these things, my friend." Heller smiled, "Even without testing, perhaps you already have an inkling?"

"It cannot be confirmed without a blood test." Haku smiled, "Only the healer Haruno would be able to verify bloodlines just by sensing."

"But Haruno is a higher prince, and I'd rather not have them catch wind of our discovery." Heller said, "You know how they are. The moment word of the appearance of the blue rose gets out, every young prince would be lining up at her door."

So I suppose it was a good thing I technically had no door in the Colored Mountains.

I shook my head, "What about mating your soul mate?"

And the fact that I already had a soul mate? Was nobody listening to me?

"What about it, blue alpha?" Heller asked lightly.

"I already have a soul mate!" I said, "So everyone should go find their own soul mates!"

"Alpha, does Fluffy look anything like me?" Heller asked now. He had on a very Fluffy kind of smile too.

Eh? What's with the sudden change in topic?

"Urm, yeah." I nodded, "Fluffy's like you wrapped over Meredith."

AKA - crazy.

Because I was beginning to think my new found friends in the Colored Mountains were essentially crazy. Too much magic in the air or maybe it was the sweet water.

As if to prove my point, Heller and Meredith's smiles lit up a few hundred lux brighter.

"Then tell me honestly, alpha." Heller challenged, "Who is more beautiful? Your mate, or our Fluffy?"

"Of course, my mate is more beautiful." I answered quite confidently.

Then again, I could be just like Savy saying River was cool in their eyes.

Heller shook his head, "That's impossible, alpha. Back in my younger days, I was so beautiful that even men would fall in love with me."

I'm not sure if that was something to boast about.

"I'm quite sure as long as Fluffy stays by your side, your heart would sway to him in time." Heller concluded.

See. I told you. They were crazy.

I shook my head, "I'm quite sure Fluffy isn't my soul mate (Bell was!), and to be very frank, Fluffy had ever said he didn't want to mate."

He didn't even want to meet her.

"Since he owes alpha his life, I'm sure he would be happy to repay you in anyway you wish." Heller assured me.

If I learned anything from this episode, it would be that there was not point in trying to reason with crazy people, but I was a slow learning, so I was still trying to reason with him.

"But Fluffy has his own soul mate waiting for him here!" I was flaring now.

"That would not be a problem." Heller explained, "We have mating bands, and its magic is stronger than our baser mating instincts. I would dare say the bond shared between two wolves through a mating bond is even stronger than the one between soul mates."

"A soul mate is a special gift." Haku mused, "But not everyone will have the privilege of meeting one in this life time. Furthermore, not all soul matches are beneficial."

"But wolves are fated to meet their soul mates!" I flared.

The adults looked at me like I had just insisted that Santa Claus was real.

"Anyway, I'm already mated." I tried yet again to talk them out of whatever crazy that had consumed them, "See, I even have a mating band and all!"

I slipped out my mating band to show them.

"But you're still unmarked." Haku observed.

I fidgeted. I had a bad feeling about this.

"And you're still very young." Haku continued. And then he smiled, very gently, "It would not be too difficult to severe the bond and reconnect it to another wolf with a good healer present."

Wait, what?

Now Haku was thoughtful, "Unfortunately, my son, Hayao is overseeing the medical center in the Orange Mountains right now, or I would have liked to introduce you. Hayao is the same age as Alaric."

Eh, what?

Heller smiled at his healer friend, "Finders keepers Haku."

Haku shook his head and smiled back, "You already have first mover's advantage."

"Fine." Heller consented, "But you will help our blue rose no matter who she chooses?"

"Yes, of course." Haku agreed, "Your children are my children. No matter which son she mates, I will still treat her as my own."

"Good." Heller nodded and the two men shook hands, "If Hayao mates the Blue Rose, my Alaric will take your Miki and join our families. If Alaric mates the Blue Rose, then I will give my Adelina to your Hayao."

"Yes. Then its agreed." Haku nodded too.

CRAZY COLORED MOUNTAIN WOLVES!!!!

"I already have a mate!" I stood up in full flare now.

Haku looked slightly taken aback, but Heller only smiled, although he did lift an arm as if to shield his mate.

"Yet, I'm sure he isn't as beautiful as our Alaric, or as powerful a healer as our Hayao." Heller was pretty confident.

"He's a hundred times more beautiful and powerful!" I insisted! But I admit, I was exaggerating. Bell was maybe only a little more beautiful than Fluffy, and I had never met Hayao, so I couldn't compare their wolves.

None of the adults looked convinced in the slightest. I shook my head, "You're all wrong! AND STUPID!"

Yup, I had lost it.

The men laughed. Haku looked particularly amused, "She does take after your Adelina."

"Who knew the seed of Jin could turn out so cute?" Heller joked.

Haku turned serious, "I never said she was his seed. I am pledged to the confidentiality of my patients."

"No, you didn't." Heller smiled, "But I inferred. Or if you like, it was my own wild guess."

I had a good mind to just leave right there and then, but I remembered that I needed to ask Haku, "Oh, I have to ask you something."

"Of course, blue alpha, please ask freely." Haku allowed.

I wanted to say I was Sam, but I didn't feel like giving them my name again, especially since I've just realized they were crazy. So I just went into the details of Bell's condition, but I didn't tell them we were talking about my mate (whom I wouldn't put past them to sabotage and kill if they had the chance), I was more like, "I had a friend..." Yadda yadda...

"It sounds serious." Haku frowned and rubbed his chin.

"I've never heard of anything like this before." Heller told me.

"I'm afraid I would be of limited help since this isn't my specialization." Haku told me, "You might require a Healer wolf with soul healing power."

Say what?

"They are very rare." Haku told me, "And finding one who is skilled in the art of soul restoration is impossible in these Mountains. Our last Soul Healer left the Mountains a very long time ago."

So maybe like Jin's daughter, she went to the plains and had lots of pups? Here's hoping I would be able to find a whole family of soul healers?

"So I need to look for a white wolf who can heal souls?" I asked, "How would I know what I'm looking for?"

Haku shook his head, "I'm afraid it would be impossible, blue alpha. Our last Soul Healer was Wanda. She left a long time ago, I'm not even certain she is alive today. Out in the plains, the magic is thin, even if you found Wanda, she would need the assistance of two or three other soul wolves and at least another powerful healer wolf to restore a full arm. The task itself is monumental."

"I still need to try." I said.

Heller smiled, "Are you sure this friend of yours is just a friend?"

I growled and Heller backed off, "I was only thinking aloud, blue alpha, but I know someone who might be able to find Wanda."

"The Great Teacher!" Haku realized, "Yes, he is always travelling into the plains. If anyone knows where Wanda might be, it would be him."

"It's unfortunate that he left this afternoon." Heller shook his head, "I would have liked to have his advice on the Blue Rose prophecy too. Ah, but I was too distracted by his urgent need for a pair of mating bands."

"Do you think he has found a mate?" Haku asked.

"Again?" Heller asked, "No, I believe this time, it was for someone else. No matter, he left his horse here. I can always send Silver Lining to him with a message."

Suddenly the dots connected in my head, "Alpha Gunter was here?"

"Ah, you know The Great Teacher?" Both Haku and Heller were so surprised they asked at the same time.

"He ah... He's kind of my teacher now." I mumbled while trying to change the subject. And then quite by instinct, I weaved the spell and cast, "Tell me the story of The Great Teacher."