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by Seveneleven on Tue Jun 12, 2018 1:42 am
What Ever Happened to Cerise?
Let us now, turn back the clock all the way back to the end of the beginning. It was months after the escape from Rashid's Prison and despite their triumphs, the memories of her friends fighting and nearly killing each other, still weighed heavy on the kindly Avira's mind. Cerise looked out the window of her home back in the Eras. The clouds crept across the sky as white and fluffy as ever. From her studies she knew they were cumulonimbus clouds, small ones to be sure, but not too far off are the great thunderheads, foretelling of a heavy storm. Perhaps the Ekaitz where at it again?
Cerise's mind drew back to the days following her return to Era. The Avira were relieved to see Cerise return from her tumultuous and prolonged adventure. While many still remember her as the klutzy, ever humble and curious Wolf that she was, Cerise underwent a great change from her days abroad. While the Avira showed appreciation and care towards her fellow Wind Wolves, she couldn't help but feel a great sorrow swell from within. She was approached by the Herald of Gothaire, the mouthpiece of the Aviran Alpha, who came personally with a message from the great Wolf.
"The Avira Pack welcomes you home! We have spent many nights and days praying for your safe return. In recognition of your efforts to promote peace and brotherhood among Wolvenkind the Alpha of the Avira has granted you the deed to your adoptive parents home in Gothaire! We have took great care in renovating your home bringing it to our upmost standards, we hope you'll enjoy it! And in addition, the Alpha has personally invited you to his palace for the annual Anemoi Festival! And as his guest of honor no less!" The Herald finished as the Wolves around her gave a cheer and a howl. Cerise smiled, though it was an empty one.
The Hearld handed her the letter with the Alpha's seal upon the envelope. She was then led by the welcoming party towards her newly renovated home. While much had changed she still could still recognize the familiar angles and smells from her childhood. She remembered, with a lamentable fondness, her days as a Pup, living with her parents underneath this very roof. Her father was an academic, a respected teacher in the College of Zephryus. While her mother was a healer, who worked for a local hospital helping the sick and injured. Both very, very respectable jobs in Aviran society and Cerise was expected to follow suit. Filled with boundless optimism, her happy-go-lucky attitude was matched only by her immense curiosity.
Her father said this quality would make her a great student and hoped one day she too would be a teacher. She was placed though many studies but she her love was not for academics but rather art. She loved to draw, mainly landscapes but she loved to draw animals and other Wolves. She would often fly off on a bright, summer's day find a tree and just draw to her heart's content. Her father would become annoyed with her constant daydreaming but her loving and amicable nature often won him over. Even so, her curiosity would eventually lead her towards the wider world. She often looked down to the Earth below and dreamt of the great adventures she would have and of the friends she would make along the way. Though those daydreams seemed so stupid to her now, the world below was not at all she had hoped it would be.
There was so much death and despair, it pained her heart whenever her mind drifted to her adventures. She has seen so much darkness that it constantly tested her good nature to the point that she nearly lost all semblance of the person she once was. Cerise roamed the spacious hallways of her home as she went from room to room, flooded with fond memories every which way she went. While her memories of home were grand, she couldn't help but cry. Her parents where killed because of this ghastly war. They were innocent bystanders! Yet it did not stop them from becoming involved. Cerise could never remove the guilt she felt; believing their death was because of her. She should have never left then maybe, just maybe they would have survived the Tenneth attack.
After awhile she could not remain in that house for too long as she looked forward to the Anemoi Festival, if not for any other reason than to be out of that house for a little while. It was the night of the festival and Cerise was cleaned, spic and span from her warm bath. She spreaded her wings and flew off for the palace.
****
The Anemoi Festival, known colloquially as the Festival of the Four Winds, is a time of joyous celebration. In it's early years the festival was held four times a year and often in concordance with the Equinoxes and Solstices. Then, Alpha Aeolus, a key historical figure in Aviran history, decided to combine all four into one great festival which became known as the Anemoi. Ever since, the Alphas continued this tradition every year to this day. It is the single greatest celebration in Aviran culture and is often treated as a long holiday.
Cerise flew across the nighttime sky as she was suddenly drawn in by the bright lights of the Alpha's Palace. It nearly blinded her compared to how dark the skies around them were. She could see many Wind Wolves fly to the gates to be ushered in. There were so many Aviras! They seemed to come from the Four Cities and from everywhere else! She flew down to the gates where she was stopped by the Palace Guard. "Halt! Please show your royal invitation." The Guard requested. Cerise presented her invitation and the Guards nearly stumbled off the floating mountain's surface and down to the land below. "Y-you're the guest of honor!? Please, right this way!" He gasped as he lead her past the gates, up the stairs and to the door to the Royal Hall.
Cerise entered the palace through the door as she came to a grand hall that seemed to stretch far and wide. Here a servant came to greet her. "Welcome, madam, a most fair wind this evening, yes?" He asked with a poshness to his voice. "Why, yes, yes it is." She agreed. "Follow me, Madam, the proceedings are taking place in the ballroom just down the hall." He asked as he walked ahead of Cerise. The Wind Wolf merely nodded still in awe of the lavishness of the palace. It was so much grander than she, she felt small and meek in it's majesty. She was so engrossed that she missed the servant's next question. "Madam? Madam? Madam!?" He spoke up. "What!? Oh, I'm sorry, what was that?" She asked. "I asked, if the Madam would give me her name so that I can announce your arrival?" He asked once more. "Yes, sorry, of course, it's Cerise." She responded. "Ah, so you are the Alpha's guest of honor? How marvelous and might I say, you have a beautiful name." Cerise nodded, "Thank you."
They reached the end of the hall to another set of doors that the servant pushed through. Then with a howl he received the attention of the partygoers. "Ahem! Now presenting the Alpha's Guest of Honor, Madam Cerise!" He announced with such grandiose flair. The others patted their paws together in applause for Cerise's arrival. She bowed her head feeling more than a little embarrassed. "Please enjoy the festivities." The Servant said with a bow as he walked off. Cerise slowly made her way down the stairs and onto the ballroom floor. There were so many people here! And not all of them where just Aviras! There seemed to be Wolves from other packs here, there were Arlyne, Aven, Dimitrios, Ausi, and even more exotic packs like the Jera and Zalika could be found.
But, the most impressive sight she saw was that some of the other peoples of Nigerius had attended the celebration as well. She came up to a Bear, of all things, he was massive but he was adorned in a headdress and several necklaces and bracelets. He bowed his large head to Cerise, "Greetings, She-Wolf of the Air. You seem surprised, it must be my being here?" He asked. Cerise nodded, "S-sorry, I didn't mean to stare please forgive my rudeness." She apologized. He waved a rather, large paw at her dismissing the very fact. "No, it is only natural to be curious of that which you are not familiar with." He spoke with the caring wisdom like that of a kind grandfather. "I am Chief Broadclaw of the Emerald Mountain Tribe." He introduced himself. "H-Hello, My name is Cerise, it's a pleasure to meet you." She said with a bow.
"Now that we've introduced ourselves, I hope you can feel more at ease around me." He said with a smile. "Why, yes, of course." She chuckled. "So, if you don't mind me asking, why are you here, in Gothaire of all places?" Cerise asked, her natural curiosity returning once more. "Ah, I am a friend of your Alpha, young Mooncaller. In his younger days, my Tribe helped him when he was injured while out venturing into the wild." Broadclaw spoke. "How did he get injured?" She asked. "His left wing was badly mangled after being attacked by a group of Cougars." Cerise's eyes widened. "Yes, it's often strange to see Cougars work together, considering they do not believe as heavily in the power of community like your people or mine. Still, many times from long ago, Cougars have rallied together to repel any threat they deem too dangerous. He fought them off as best he could but with an injured wing his ability to fly or use the wind was greatly hindered. If my fellow Tribesbears did not see the encounter from afar, he might not have lived to host such an impressive celebration." Cerise's mind trailed off, thinking of the incident Chief Broadclaw had just described.
"Speaking of, here comes a few of them." Chief Broadclaw turned to his fellow Bears as they raised their large paws to Broadclaw. The Bears then conversed in their native tongue for a moment before they walked off. "Apologies, Cerise, I'm afraid I am needed somewhere else. Thank you for speaking with an old Bear like myself." He said with a smile. "It was nothing! It was pleasure to speak with you, Chief Broadclaw." She said with a bow. "Please there is no need to bow before me. We are friends now." He laughed. Cerise laughed in response. It was then the kind, old Bear walked away. Cerise continued to wander about the ballroom until she was visited upon by the Alpha and his mate.
"Oh! Alpha Cedewyn! And Lady Talia! It is an honor to meet you!" Cerise quickly bowed as she nearly stumbled over her own wing. Talia chuckled, "Please there's no need to become so worked up." Cedewyn nodded, "Please rise and be merry! How are you enjoying the festivities thus far?" Cedewyn asked. "It is quite the turnout? Isn't my dear?" Talia mentioned. "Yes, your party is quite beautiful, I, I don't think I've seen so many wolves from different packs gathered together like this." Cerise spoke. "Amazing, is it not? I have made many friends and allies during my time as Alpha, they have done much to support the Avira way of life. The least I could do is invite them to our festival." Cedewyn spoke. Cerise looked at the diversity that was present at the party and she couldn't help but think about the friends she left behind.
She recalled the time she spent with them during her journeys. She thought of Nova, BattleDemon, Rokunam, Durandel, Mydnyte, Summanus, Alina, and Fox. Even Schemeko. It might not be whole packs of people like it is here, but her group was just as diverse. She began to miss them. She felt terrible, all this time she was focusing on the bad times rather than the good. Sure, there was peril, pain, and darkness but there was light too. In that group they were all allies united in a common goal, no even more than that, they were friends. Their friendship is what kept them going and what helped them even in their most dire of circumstances.
"Cerise, we are about to begin the great feast. Come, sit at my table." Cedewyn summoned. Cerise snapped back to reality and nodded. Soon she found herself at the great table of the Alpha. There she saw the Alpha and his family, along with many dignitaries of other Packs, even the Betas of other Packs where there. The Avira Betas where there, along with other important heads of the Pack Government. The Headmaster at the College of Zephryus was there too. Down the table she saw Chief Broadclaw along with his fellow Tribesbears. The Chief waved his great paw at Cerise who waved back in kind. While her eyes traveled down the table she realized it was filled with great and important Wolves and who was she compared to them? Why was she even invited to the palace for the festival? This confused the Wind Wolf.
She then noticed out of the corner of her eye that a winged Wolf was staring at her. It was rather peculiar and she couldn't help but feel slightly uncomfortable. It was then Alpha Cedewyn called for a toast. "Good Evening my fellow Avira! And Good Evening to my friends from the Aven! The Arlyne! The Ausi! The Dimitrios! The Jera! The Zalika! The Ekaitz! And special welcome to my friends from the Emerald Mountain Tribe! We have gathered tonight to celebrate in an Aviran timeless tradition of honoring the Four Winds that help to hold the world together! Without the Winds, Nigerius would drift apart into the vacuum of the great abyss!" He called. He received many cheers. "Now let us raise our paws in a toast to the Gods, the Elements, and to camaraderie!" He shouted with enthusiasm. Everyone responded in earnest, raising their paws, they howled and roared in merriment as they quickly went to drink their glasses dry.
"Now then may the feast commence!" Cedewyn announced as servers came in drove, pulling carts stacked with all sorts of savory and delectable delights! Once the tables were decorated with plates of food, the guests began to help themselves. "Oh wait! Before you begin, please let me make a special announcement. I would like to introduce to you, a brave and noble Avira, Cerise! If you haven't heard, she has ventured into Nigerius and helped to expose the evils of that vile renegade, Rashid. Please give her a paw!" Cedewyn shouted as the Wolves cheered. "Please, Cerise stand up if you'd please?" Cedewyn asked. Cerise stood up more nervous than she's ever felt. "Um, yes, hello...uh, it's great to, uh, meet you all, hehe." She spoke anxiously. "So, tell us Cerise, how was that you came to find that villain and bring his devilry to light?" Cedewyn asked.
Cerise began to shake as she struggled to come up with words or even memories of her time facing against Rashid. It was strange, it was the one thing she kept thinking about and now it's as if it's a stranger to her. "Well, I...,uh, we...," She drew a blank as she couldn't help but focus on all of these stranger's eyes upon her. It was as if they were suffocating her. "Come on speak! Yes, speak!" The Guests encouraged her. "Um,....it was, it was...it was," It was then Talia spoke up. "Please forgive us, but dear, don't you think you've placed our guest in a most difficult position? Obviously the whole event was rather traumatizing for her. You've heard of the reports of what the other Packs found, it was a most horrid sight last I heard of it." Talia motioned for Cerise to take her seat. "Yes..., I do apologize in earnest, I did not mean to dredge up any unpleasant memories. Well, then what are we waiting for, go on eat!" Cedewyn encouraged.
Cerise barely ate anything during the feast. Her mind kept wandering back to her friends, back to the world. After the feast the Alpha called for dancing as he took his Mate as they danced to the most beautiful, composition in Aviran history, Hikaru's Flight in A Minor. Cerise always enjoyed music, and Hikaru's Flight was always one of her favorites as well. It was spectacularly played and the Alpha and his wife danced to it so gracefully.
After the two had the floor to themselves the rest of the guests joined in and began to dance to the beat of the band. It was almost like a fairy tale she was once read to by her mother. All of these beautiful wolves with beautiful lives living in beautiful places. She could almost forget about the world, almost.
It was then she was approached by that winged wolf who eyed her from across the table. "Good Evening." He spoke. "Oh, uh, good evening." Cerise mumbled. "So answer me honestly, is this party dreadful or is it dreadful?" He asked almost playfully. "Huh?" Cerise was confused, "What do you mean?" "The party, as big and grandiose as the Alpha claims to make it, it still feels like the usual, standard affair don't you agree?" He asked. "Well, uh, I wouldn't know...this is the...first time I've been here." She answered suddenly feeling awkward over the fact she was amazed by this place. "Ah, I knew I haven't seen you before, that's fantastic." Cerise looked at him with a confused sideways glance. "Excuse me?" "That means you're not like everyone else, the regular attendees I mean. You are an outsider and that immediately makes you far more interesting than any wolf here." He said with smile. Cerise averted her gaze feeling bashful after his comment.
"And why do you say that?" She asked. "Trust me, if you start turning up to more of these events you quickly get to know the kinds of company the Alpha invites. It's always the blasted same, just no...variety." He said as he looked out into the crowd. Cerise just stood there with a dumb look upon her face. She felt even more awkward than usual around this wolf perhaps because he seemed so proud, so certain of his self. Whereas she felt shy and dwarfed next to this strong and strapping wolf. "And yet, Cedewyn does something unexpected and invited you and as the guest of honor no less! Of course perhaps I shouldn't be so surprised, the Wolves who helped to thwart Rashid have quite the reputation," He then stared back to Cerise, "A reputation for being quite the stalwart lot of fighters." He smiled.
"Is that so?" Cerise spoke up. She never considered herself to be some paragon of justice or champion of the battlefield like many Wolves say about her and the company. No, she was just a naive and overly curious She-Wolf that ran away out into the world. She had no preconceived notions of restoring peace or punishing wrongdoers, she simply did not wish to live a boring, ordinary existence like so many of her fellow Avira. She just never realized what her actions would bring about. Nothing in all of her stories could have prepared her for what she would find. Being so engrossed within her own mind, Cerise had completely missed the wolf's offer.
"Huh? What, excuse me?" A befuddled Cerise responded. "I just asked if you would be interested in joining the Thunderheads? We could always use more Wolves of your talents in our ranks, with reports of increased aggression from both the Borak and the Tenneth, we could use all the help we can get." He finished. "The Thunderheads? You mean you are apart of the elite air defense force?" Cerise asked. "Not just apart of it, I'm the captain. What, am I not that recognizable?" He chuckled. "Oh, sorry, really, really sorry! I didn't mean any disrespect!" Cerise defended herself. "Hahaha! No worries! It's a bit refreshing not being singled out as; The courageous, Captain Huracan, of the elite fighting force known as the Thunderheads!" He announced in an over-the-top and campy fashion.
Cerise, however, simply felt embarrassed for her ignorance of just who she's been speaking with. "Yes, I know, my reputation can be overwhelming but I assure you, I am not some great war hero everyone makes me out to be. I'm just a simple Wolf doing his duty to his Pack and Family, much like yourself I bet?" Huracan spoke. "I...guess...I was just...," Cerise trailed off as her thoughts continue to linger on her past. "Well, even if it weren't for those reasons you still fought to do what's right." Cerise perked up as she looked upon Huracan, he was correct...she did what she thought was right. "We need more Wolves of such moral fiber who have that intrinsic sense of right and wrong; that has the will to act upon those senses. Not enough principled warriors in the ranks in my opinion." Huracan said as he looked beyond the crowd as if looking for something that isn't there. "Well, Captain, I don't know what good I am to you?" She finally spoke.
Huracan looked at her with a raised eye, "What do you mean? There's plenty good you can do, I mean you have already done it. With you in the Thunderheads, it will not only boost our morale but it might encourage the Wolves to achieve more, become more. We need great and honorable warriors like yourself!" Huracan proposed. Cerise looked back, between Huracan and the floor. She was rather stunned that the Captain of the Thunderheads wishes for someone as dreamy as herself to be apart of such a powerful institution! It seems rather ridiculous the more she thought about it. The problem is, she isn't this mighty warrior Huracan believes her to be. She knows she would let him down in the end. Cerise had to be think quick, she has to decline but she needs to let him down softly.
In her frantic search for words her mind keeps trailing back to the others. As much as she thought that part of her life was over, it keeps calling to her. Calling, calling, calling, wait!? She began to hear a voice, a voice so clear that it could be heard over the roar of the crowd, even clearer than Huracan, whose standing right next to her. Cerise looked and in the sea of faces she saw the face of an old wolf, she never thought she would see again. It was Hero, the Avira who once helped her and Battle before his passing. That's impossible...it couldn't be? Could it?
"Cerise....Cerise....," Hero called. "You....cannot...forget, you cannot...ignore...," His voice fluctuated in varying degrees of loudness. "Hero?" She muttered beneath her breath. "You cannot...forsake, your power....you cannot, forsake...the prophecy...," He continued. Cerise remembered, "Zephryus." She spoke. "Hm? What about the city?" Huracan asked. Cerise was snapped back to reality by his question. "Huh? What?" "You said Zephryus, are you from there or something? Nice city Zephryus, I mean it should be since it's one of the Four Cities. Personally I perfer Notus, but I'm a little biased...," Huracan's words disappeared into the background as Cerise returned her attentions to the spirit of Hero. She could see him phase right through the crowd and out into the hall. She had to follow him.
"I-I-I'm sorry Huracan but I have to go!" She suddenly blurted aloud. Shocked, "Huh!? But why?" He asked. "I'm sorry but I can't explain please do not be upset with me!" She pleaded. "No, of course I wouldn't be but...my offer!" He called out. Unfortunately for him, Cerise had already run out the door.
*****
Hero kept floating further and further away from Cerise who had taken flight to chase him down. "WAIT, HERO, HERO!!!" She cried out, but the old Avira seemed to be ignoring her. Not wanting to loose him, Cerise did her best to keep on his tail and before too long she found herself before an abandoned home on a lone floating rock. Why would Hero drag her here? The place looked condemned but a light kept flickering within as if Hero was beckoning her inside. Cerise took a deep breath and entered the old home. It was dusty and dirty, obviously no one has lived here in a very long time. She wandered the rooms of the building, she could tell what everything once was. There was a kitchen, a bedroom, a den, and a study. There Hero stood before a bookshelf looking at something, what it was? She could not tell. There was not a single book on the shelf but Hero stared so intently upon the dilapidated piece of furniture, there must be something he wants her to see.
Cerise walked up to the shelf as she placed her paws upon. Cerise coughed and sneezed as dust wafted off the aged and cracked wood. Still, she persisted as she ran her paws up and down the shelf until she came, unexpectedly, upon a switch. The shelf turned to reveal a hidden staircase as Hero entered, floating down the steps. She followed the Spirit Wolf whose ethereal presence helped to illuminate the dark stairwell. It ran deeper and longer than she thought it would, it must go straight to the center of this tiny, floating mountain. At the end of the stairs was an old, wooden door. Hero phased through it. Cerise walked up and pushed upon the weathered wood as she entered a small chamber. It was filled with all sorts of odds and ends. There were trinkets, scrolls, maps, pieces of art and at the end of the room was Hero looking at an ancient book that sat upon an old table. Cerise walked up to the book as it suddenly flipped open on it's own. Cerise backed away surprised by the sudden movement. It must be Hero influencing the book as the pages turned until they reached a certain passage.
She looked to see crude, illustrations and the writing beneath it looked like Old Alvan, she couldn't read Old Alvan but her father could. It was then Hero suddenly spoke after his long bout of silence. "The Prophecy...Cerise, the Prophecy." Cerise's eyes widened as she looked at the pages of the book. "Long ago, before the time of Wolves, the Goddess of Fear and the God of Shadows fell in love and from that love bore a son. That Son however, grew to become the Destroyer who was sent to end the rule of Gods and become the One God. His plans were foiled by the Lost God, who helped to imprison him deep beneath the World. Peace was restored and all life continued underneath the Eyes of Gods." As Hero continued Cerise could swear the crude drawings were in fact moving before her eyes.
"Yet, the God of Death, foresaw a great calamity...he saw the End of Life, and he saw that the Destroyer would come for the Wolves, the World, and the Elements. The Alva were told this truth and were told to guard it until the time came when the Saviors are born. The Saviors will know the truth and will stop the return of the Destroyer." Hero then looked at Cerise. "The Prophecy must be finished, Cerise, the Prophecy must come true." Hero finished. Cerise was shocked...even the drawings looked like, her and her friends, but this cannot be true, can it!? But she isn't even a warrior! Let alone a Savior! Yet the truth as it stood was undeniable, the Spirits were telling her this as so and the Spirits never lie.
"But, Hero, I have so many questions, like how-!?" Cerise turned to see that Hero had left and all that remained in his place was a lit candle and an old picture frame with a picture of Hero himself. The picture must have been taken many years ago because Hero appears to be much younger than when she met him. This must have been Hero's old home! It would explain why he led her to this place and being a friend of the Alva, they must have told him this "truth." Even after Hero left she could feel the power of her Zephryus...she could feel the Spirits whispering, telling her to go.
In that moment Cerise knew what she had to do, and though the thought was terrifying she felt strangely at ease with it. She took the Book and left Hero's House. It would seem her days of adventuring are not over...at least not yet.
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