Chapter 2 Fleeing

Ciro makes sure that little Dario is well fastened to the older one's back to start the journey back home, leaving aside the main road, both teenagers stop when they hear footsteps, without thinking they leave the younger one leaning on the tree surrounded by several cubs to keep him company, the rest of the herd divided into two fractions to investigate better since the footsteps turned out to be mercenaries sent by his grandfather. they recognized his grandfather's scent from miles away.

Dario remains leaning on the tree without making noise, one of the puppies comes to him to play, but he pushes him away and tells him that he cannot play because of his physical condition and incredible as it seems the puppy understood, the black eyes of the youngest one open with surprise.

_Do you understand what I'm saying?

_-A shake of the head-

_All of you?

_-Another shake of the head -

_Why are they following us?

_-Growls from several wolves. -

_Ho! My brother is their alpha, great! What's an alpha?

_ - a she-wolf approaches and makes different sounds- _ Hoooo!

_ Hoooo! So my brothers are alpha that's why they fight a lot, what am I?

_-The she-wolf approaches his face, sniffs him, growls at him-

_I am also alpha. Explain something to me, if the three of us are alpha and according to you are the ones in charge of the pack, what can I do to avoid killing each other? - They stopped talking when screams of pain flooded the forest - oh no! oh no! - The boy can't stop trembling with fear, several she-wolves protect him, the noises don't stop, on the contrary, he gets closer, he jumps to his feet and the noises come from all directions. - You right, you left - he bends down to take a stick to defend himself - you to the center with me, please don't leave me alone - the breathing of the little one becomes agitated, fast and even he can't breathe well because of fear, trembling he holds with both hands his improvised weapon his eyes travel to all directions, he gets on guard, in one jump both brothers arrive before him covered with blood, Ciro is the one who complains of pain, he leaves the older one to go with the one in the middle who was wounded, he would not die but it caused him a lot of pain, the older she-wolf calls the attention of the younger one, he places himself at her height, listens attentively to the different sounds she makes, nods several times, decided to stand up.

_ Elian brings something for Ciro to bite – The older one obeys- Ciro, listen, bite this – the wounded man does as indicated – don't touch him! -Elian, scared, lets go of his brother's hand-

_ But he needs me, I'm going to shake his hand.

_ At your own risk. - The older one doesn't care, he shakes hands with the middle one-

_You have been warned.

Dario sees the two, says nothing and pulls hard and fast the daggers from Ciro's left side making both brothers scream in pain, with open wounds several she-wolves take turns to lick the wound.

_ My hand – the minor focuses on seeing Elian's right hand – it hurts a lot.

_ It will be better if we return home with mom Estrella, she will give you one of her magical infusions.

_- The older one smiles, plays the brown hair of the younger one- Sorry, I think he won't be able to carry you anymore.

_ I don't care, he needs us more.

_ Although he should let her die for not paying attention.

_ Do not say that we are brothers.

_ Yes, but I told him not to attack, he ignored it.

_ Why?

_ They were sent by your grandfather to kill the four of us.

_ Why does he want to kill us? – See how his brother carries Ciro- does your hand still hurt?

_ I don't know why he wants us dead, what I do know is that we must get going again. Not small, the hand doesn't hurt anymore. – see the wolves follow them- If they follow us they will discover us quickly.

_ You will see! According to them – points to the herd – you are the boss.

_ Why him and not me? – Ciro asks annoyed-

_ Elian killed the alpha couple. They are the ones in charge, that's why they have taken you as their new alpha.

_ How do you know?

_ They told me. In case they don't know, we can talk to them.

They arrived at the house almost at noon, a worried Estrella welcomed them when she saw Ciro and carried him in her arms straight to the river, she ordered the others to wait at home, by Lucrecia's orders the two of them went to take a bath while she prepared hot tea for them. The first one to return is Elian who, in spite of being ten years old, was already too tall for his age, Dario, five years old, was also tall, but not as tall as his brothers who, thanks to that, could pretend to be fifteen years old, an hour later Estrella arrives with Ciro in her arms, she puts him in bed and makes him as comfortable as possible, she placed the silver ropes so that he would not go hunting that night, the other three had her permission.

The three went out to hunt that night, but something changed in the eldest, he was aware of his transformation and his surroundings, the same happened with his brothers but the fact that they were aware made them more dangerous, especially Elian who was the largest, and his thirst for blood was unstoppable, he organized his brothers at will, between the three of them they killed an entire family, to demonstrate their power the eldest always fought with the largest prey, Lucrecia and Dario with the children and women.

And so they spent more years moving like nomads learning new languages, new customs and even changing their appearance a little by the time Darius turned ten years old They lived in Athens one day...

_Stop, stop! You're going to kill yourselves! - shouts Estrella. _- Elian and Ciro in hand-to-hand combat - I'm the oldest!

_ I don't mind! – She pounces on him to strike him in the belly, doubling over in pain, Elian takes him by the shoulders, digs her nails into him until she sinks him-

_You should! -He closes his fists and he starts to hit her on the head-

_ never! - While they were fighting Dario makes some traps with ropes and with the traps ready he gets into the middle of the fight pushing both brothers into the traps - aaaaaaah! - the two shout while they are hanging upside down, the youngest crosses his arms and sees the two angry-

_ I would like to know how long they will see each other as BROTHERS. -they both look away- I'm really ashamed that they are.

_ What Dario says is true, you two are supposed to take care of me.

_ Excuse me little sister, you're right, I'm the oldest and I have to take care of you.

_ Also from him- points to Ciro-

_ I know how to take care of myself. – outraged-

_ You know - the smallest one speaks - I'm already tired with that attitude. Ciro, have you already forgotten how Elián saved you from dying on the gallows?

_ I do not forget it. I didn't ask him for help, you know I can't die.

_ But not the townspeople, knowing that you are immortal. What do you think they would have done to all of us?

_ I have no idea.

_ You already have me tired, I can no longer be aware of the two if they are going to kill each other, but I do not want to be a part of it.

_ I do not understand your words - scared Lucrecia-

_- Darío seriously looking at Estrella- forgive me, Mama Estrella, but I can't be here anymore watching them kill each other, I'm leaving.

_ - Elian tries to get out of the trap- Wait, wait! You are the little one and the smartest and wisest please don't leave.

_ Yes, do not promise to behave - both unable to get out of the grip, is Lucrecia who cuts the ropes-ouch! – is heard from the two older ones- Dari, Dari – Ciro catches up with him outside the house- I promise not to fight with Elián anymore but please don't go.

_ Don't leave us - the older one gives them reach - I promise to take good care of the three of them.

_ I don't believe a word of them, they always end up fighting, Lucrecia and I in the middle taking sides - leaves the grip of the two- let's go shadow. -the wolf nods-

Without being able to stop them, the older ones see the youngest of the Licaon brothers walking away with his faithful shadow wolf friend, both look down ashamed and although they do not make peace, they remain silent without being able to utter a word, they enter the house with a furious Estrella, nobody says anything, no words are needed, each one of the brothers sits on opposite sides of the house, the night comes quickly, Elian leaves the house waiting for his little brother Ciro to return behind him.

_ We were both to blame.

_ I know, I just hope he reconsiders for tomorrow when we wake up he will be helping with the housework as always.

_ Yes as always. . . If not?

_ I'll go look for it. We must recognize that it is he who holds together what remains of the family.

_Because we have always pampered him a lot, especially you.

_Ciro, he was orphaned very young, I doubt he remembers mom.

_ Dad lost his mind, he tried to kill us and our grandfather wants us dead. -a strong current of wind moves the hair of both-

_ Let's go back inside I'm sure he'll come back.

_ If not?

_ Tomorrow we are going to look for him, I don't think he will get very far.

_ Let's rest. -the two enter, Estrella was already waiting for them-

_ You better come back with him tomorrow or I swear I'll give you a beating... not even Zeus is going to take them off.

Dario with the help of shadow, hunt dinner, a rabbit, he makes a fire, cleans the rabbit, gives a part to his friend and dinner, after dinner they start looking for a shelter for the night, once they find it they enter it. Shadow begins to make noises, the young boy makes a grimace of annoyance.

_I'm not going back to those two until I learn to be a man and I learn to be patient with them, you've seen them, they almost beat each other to death. - the wolf growls at him- that's my last word, I'm not going back. - He lays down in his sleeping place, shadow beside him-

At home the night comes, everyone goes to sleep, the older one cannot fall asleep thinking about his little brother, he scolds himself internally for not knowing how to be a good older brother, although he was not really the older brother, but he was one of the four of them, It takes him a while to fall asleep, he is about to fall into a deep sleep when he hears Dario's voice shouting "wake up" he opens his eyes just in time because Lucrecia was about to cut his neck from side to side, he takes the girl's hands and starts a fight that wakes up the others, Estrella sees with astonishment that the two are fighting like men, Ciro wants to intervene but the woman doesn't allow him to do it. With a sudden movement Elian is on top of Lucrecia.

_ What's the matter? She's crazy?

_No, grandpa promised me to be a princess again if she killed you.

_ Princess? As? - from astonishment he does not realize that he loosens his grip-

_ I must take your head and Ciro's.

_Because? We've been hiding from him for years, I've been protecting you from him for years

_ Living in misery is not protecting me from him, it is denying me my right to be a princess.

_ You prefer that to live in peace.

_ Yeah. Lycaon, he found me. I'm done pretending I'm a commoner.

_ - Ciro remains serious when he hears the words- We must get moving, look for Darío.

_And we will do it- Elian's black eyes fill with water, he sees his sister leans over to kiss her forehead- please forgive me – he takes the silver dagger that Lucrecia was holding, closes his eyes so as not to see how life was leaving his eyes. his sister's eyes

_ What have you done? - Ciro unable to believe what his eyes saw-

_ I killed her – dagger in hand, she sees her hands covered with his sister's blood – I killed her! – He drops the dagger, puts his hands to his face crying-

_ Calm down - Ciro, fourteen years old, took the fifteen-year-old's hands- or it was her or we react now we must move.

_ Yes... yes we should go. He takes the silver, the gold, Star the bracelets, place the protections, we will go light.

_ Walking?

_ Yes, better on foot, no, on horseback, I must notify Darí, but how?

From the nervousness he was, from the anguish, from the fear he leaves the house, he walks from one side to the other like a caged lion, he closes his eyes and visualizes himself as a wolf, he makes his muzzle grow in surprise, he takes his hands to the protuberance without thinking he howls, he howls again until the wolves from all sides join his howl, he is warning his little brother that they are moving from the place to take care of his life. Once the three are ready, the eldest enters the house sword in hand, arrives at the body of his sister again asks for forgiveness with all his strength (which was already the equivalent of two adult men) cuts the four extremities of his sister, I made lamp oil, sets fire to the body, as well as the rest of the house, runs away with a jump, mounts the horse and the three leave at full gallop.

_ Ciro, Estrella travel together to the north, see you in Thessaly, you know where.

_ It's fine, and you? – the minor approaches-

_ The most likely thing is that they are watching us and when they realize that Lucrecia died they will go after us or I will hunt them down first. – they intertwine their arms as a greeting, face to face-

_ I don't think Parenthesis or Máximo much less Heliodoro, he loves you very much.

_ We must not trust.

_ I know, even so, he cares for you trust that they love you.

_ Just like Lucrecia and he looks at what she did to us. Lyre, Lyre! – a wolf appears. Elian dismounts, gets up to the wolf, takes her by the ears, the black eyes of the eldest turn white, then red, he growls at him a couple of times, the wolf runs off- done! They will guard you all the way.

_ Take care of yourself my child. Please he comes with us

_ I give you my word, Mom Estrella.

_ I should go, not you.

_ No. Ciro, if they were watching us they already know that you are better than me hand to hand, but they don't know that I am better speaking.

_ You are not going to kill them with your tongue.

_ But if with the arrows and the spear - he winks - I'm better at a distance. - Having said that, Elián hits the horse's buttocks so that both of them canter to the north while the older one takes to the west-

The howls spread throughout the area causing fear among the villagers at the northern exit of Athens and reach the ears of the little boy.

_ I hear it and I don't believe it, they are hunting us, quickly shadow we must move. – grunt – north to Thessaly, we must hurry, do you think you can keep up with me? - grunt- well in that case, one... two... three - the youngest runs after him Shadow-

Elian dismounts his mare, spanks her and chases her away, climbs one of the trees as high as he can and there he communicates with the wolves in the area. Exactly two days after Lucrecia's death, a squad of nine men arrived, led by Major Parentesis, studied the house, found the remains of his sister, but felt no empathy.

_ We must look for them, the three must die.

_ And the woman?

_ She, she is a slave and she will return to the service of my grandfather.

_-In the distance- with which the three of us must die - she prepares the shot, closes her eyes, sighs- two brothers in less than two days. . .

A buzz is heard, an accurate shot in the neck of Parenthesis leaves him speechless, a silver arrow crosses the older brother from side to side, another buzz another arrow another fallen.

_ Shields! – the remaining seven protect themselves-

In the distance, whistles are heard, several wolves crawl until they reach the attackers without thinking about it, they confront them, leaving most of the soldiers badly injured, unable to move, Elian arrives, who slit the throats of each one of those present to immediately set them on fire, no He stays to see the flames, picks up the arrows and sets off to catch up with his brother and Estrella.

_ We must lose the trail again. - Says the black-haired man while he runs at full speed, whistles warning that the danger has passed-

Dario continues his walk without stopping, the howls that the danger has passed reach his ears is when he stops walking, drops down in the middle of a damp pasture next to Shadow, panting without being able to calm down, when the boys finally manage to do so. two drink water, he stands up looking at the clear sky.

_ Does it seem that we will never be able to be calm, my friend?

_ -grunt-

_ We must go beyond these lands, beyond the Aegean, there where they will never find us.

_ -grunt-

_ I don't know my friend, I don't know. You are not immortal - hugs him - I promise to take care of you until the day you die.

_ -grunt-

_ I don't like to fight because that's what my brothers are for.

_ -gasp-

_ You're right, I'm alone, any ideas?

_ -the wolf places his head on the young man's thighs-

_ As far as I know, the Spartans are the best warriors. How do I tell them that I want to learn? They'll know I'm not one of them. - the wolf stares at him - don't see me like that. - bark-

_ It's okay, it's okay, you win, we'll go to Sparta. I just hope I can be a good student. On going! That we are going on the opposite side to Sparta. -they both stand up and start walking- did you know that they are direct descendants of Hercules. – barking – that's why they are the strongest, bravest warriors in the world. -snorts- What? It's true, I swear, or at least that's what Elian told me and he doesn't lie to me, I think so.