Ironheart: Alpha reborn

It was raining outside the shack, Old man Grey was humming to himself the good old lullaby. He waited patiently as the rain drummed in the ceiling. "Where was Adris?". He thought of the young lad. Adris has always been the one true part of him that he cherish the most. Grey never had a son. He was a man that lived alone with no wife, child or family. Grey grew up in Carpe Town and was under the blacksmith Helton, as his apprentice. Helton had told Grey when he was twelve years old that he was adopted from the monastery.

Helton felt it necessary to tell the young Grey the truth come what may, Grey will feel resented and sadden but with time he will accept the truth. The boy has always thought Helton was his father and had asked numerous times about his mother. Grey found Adris in the woods in silverfox paths probably abandoned. He took him as his own and since then trained him. He took to the forge in the town where he worked and registered him when he passed toddler's age into the Cathedral's school.

KRAK!!!

There was a flash of lightning outside followed by the thunder.

Grey's mind was reminiscing on Adris, who knows what has made the young boy not to have returned from school. Adris schooled at the cathedral. The big church had a big hall where almost all the town-dweller's children do come to school. The school has always been known as The Cathedral Academy. It was fifteen kilometres from the shack to the school. Adris has never been late from school before and that alone bothered Grey. It was already becoming dark, Grey took a look at the Grandfather's clock on the wall. It was 9 O'clock. Grey stood up and lit the latern. The light illuminated the room of the shack. Beside was the a mattress where Adris and him lay to bed and just a few steps where he was seated was the round table where lay the map of Carpe town, the lantern, a torchlight, the shack keys, a plate and a cup. Just at the extreme end of the shack was a pile of clothes which are partly owned by Adris and Grey. On the other end, was a large cupboard containing kitchen utensils and a stove.

Krak!!!

The lightning flashed again like a rumble. Grey stood up walked towards the narrow entrance of the door, the lantern in his hand. The rain felled massively outside. It was really hazardous with the cold.

" Adris" The old man muttered to himself." Where goeth you, poor lad".

***

He ran and stumbled. He fell and tumbled. He knew that the fangs in the dark were no joke. Surely, a vicious animal must have found him. He was the prey. Following the lonely path was not what he wanted to do. But Tom won't stop bullying him no mAttercliffe what. The young boy and his friends would take turn to pitch his hands, forehead and throwing his books to the ground. Adris has never opened up about the bullies to the school Master or Grey. He thought that it was of no use doing such. Adris was so introverted in nature that he hardly opens up to himself. Their class teacher, Miss Ross , an elderly lady in her sixties has somehow made him confide in her. She has on some occasions apprehended Tom and his cohorts whenever she sees them harassing Adris. Sometimes with punishments she deemed fit for the boys. Today was another day, Tom and his gang were expulled from school because the school authorities had heard about what they did to Adris. They were summoned to appear before the school Master in the DISCIPLINE room. After several questions concerning Adris which was thrown at them, they couldn't defend their inapt behaviours. The headmaster proceeded to give them an indefinite expulsion. Adris decided to take the lone path home after closing time to avoid seeing Tom and the rest of his gang. He dreaded what might happen to him if they accosted him coming back from school through Colmon alley. He held tight his school backpack and walked through the lonely path, this path was known as the Silverfox paths. This was were according to the popular rumours flying through Carpe town; The site of a man murdered by a wolf. Adris had been told legends of wolves by Grey which haunted Carpe town a long time ago. Adris could vividly remember the tales Grey used to tell him. Decades ago, legend has it that their were wolves in Silverville the valley that connects to Silverfox paths. Silverville was on the hills while Carpe town lay on a landscape in the plains. The road to silverville was through silverfox. Grey's Shack was at the town's outskirt overview of Carpe town. Adris usually comes home through the only known road which Adris has made him sworn to use to and fro whenever he goes to school; The colmon alley that connects to town. But today, Adris has taken a different route which is the dreaded Silverfox path and to worsen the matter the sky darken and a heavy downpour emerged. The rain fell and dampened his clothes, shoes and pants. He was already shivering and it was getting dark. The sharp fang he earlier was no longer in sight. He felt a sharp pain below his kneecap and touch his finger at there. Raising his finger, he saw blood and knew he had wounded himself from the fall earlier ago. This path was rocky, filled with fallen leaves from dead trees. He stood and gazed. He saw that he was clearly in the middle of nowhere. How was he supposed to get back home. He couldn't follow back the route he came first, it was getting late and dark already and second which was the most primary reason...THE WOLF might await him. A risk taken must be taken for once, Adris knew he had to face his fears. He must continue this path and never look back. Their was a long way ahead of him. Amidst the none stopping downpour, he breathed, wiped the dirt in his dropping face, clutched his backpack and continued walking.

"Pa Grey I am coming back home soon" he said.

Grey look at the night sky, he then proceeded to put on his raincoat and dash out towards the rain. He had his torchlight with him. He walked through the narrow terrain in his home out to the street. The road splitted into two. One was the usual road known as Colmon alley that leads to town which was usually the route that Adris uses to and fro. While the other by his right, was the wood path that leads to the hills. A voice in his mind told him to make use of Silverfox path. He never knew why but the voice was persistent in him.

He first walked to the left road that leads to Colmon alley and stopped. Slowly and duly, he turned and sprinted towards silverfox paths in the woods.

***

Adris walked and never looked back. He promised himself that he was never going to use this route..EVER AGAIN, once he survives the night. The night was getting colder, the wind blew while the torrent rain fell. Adris walked fast, he couldn't see the road ahead of him because it was already dark but he continued. From the night sky, he could see the moon. It was somehow strange seeing the a cloudless moon on a rainy night. Just when he thought about the moon, a howl sounded in his ears. He stopped in his tracks and wondered where the voice was coming from. For sure, he knew it was a wolf. He waited and for the second time, the wolf howled again. The howling sound but that doesnt mean he won't run while danger looms.He became terribly afraid and made good use of his legs. He sprinted like he has never done before. Though he couldn't see much ahead, with the help of the moon he could make out what was before him. The trees stood tall by his sides, while the way lie through. Just when he thought he was not hearing the wolf's howl. He stoped and wanted to take a breath, something jumped in hindsight and slowly walked towards him. Adris heart nearly jumped from his mouth. He fell to the ground and was both petrified and terrified. There standing in his front was not only a wolf but a gigantic animal with features of a wolf. He would not have thought it was a wolf if not for the long ears and fangs. This animal walks like a man and has long claws. It paws was standing in its hindlegs. Adris wanted to scream but couldnt. He knew that his end has come but never knew it would be this bad. He thought of many things while he scrambled the ground he lay. He thought of his old guardian Grey how he would feel if he never gets home. He thought about Miss.Moss his school teacher, the forge and his dear friend at school James. He never knew his end would be like this. He wanted to beg the wild beast to leave him but lack the voice and strength for such. Just when, he thought he had lost it all, he found himself stand up from the ground, drop his backpack on the floor and courageously faced the animal-like beast. The beast was shocked to see it's prey was no longer scuffling the ground in fear but, rather standing fearless at him.

"Oh mine, what a brave wild boy you are" the beast said.

Adris couldn't believe his ears.

"What did you say?"

"You my boy don't know that do you?"

Adris who was flabbergasted and same confused did not know if this was real or not.

"Are you talking to me?"

"Of course I am talking to you" The beast said.

"What are you?" Adris asked supressing his fears." Who are you?"

"I was waiting for you to ask that" . The beast walked swiftly past Adris and sat on a tree dead bark a few inches from Adris was standing.

"I am Mark the hog, I am from the lonefox clan and I sent to kill you"

The rain had slow stopped. It was now a mere drizzling. The moon was same way equal hide by the clouds. Just in front of Adris, the big wolf animal transformed into man. It was ridiculous and at the same time astonishing seeing something very dreadful and vicious-looking becoming a calm and handsome middle aged man.

"Why me?...what have I done?". Adris asked. Looking confused and perplexed.

"Look young man" the transformed Mark walked close to him stark naked."...this will be all hard for you to digest. But when you come to town tomorrow if your guardian permits, visit my home 341 Grindley. There i await you"

Adris who trying not to look at naked Mark, turned.

"Why should I ever want to visit you?" He asked.

" because you are a WEREWOLF dimwit." Mark hoaxed into a laughter. "Oh at least that is what I have heard"

"You heard...from whom?" Adris asked again quietly.

" My clan. The ones who sent me" Mark said." Look. I have to go before the next moon sets. Goodbye friend. What I did might be risky but I need to keep you safe. If you want answers" the werewolf hesitated and shrugged."...well, you know where to find me".

He jumped into a ditch beside the tracks.

"Wait!" Adris called towards him." What did you said I was before?"

Mark without looking back answered him.

"A werewolf."

Then with full alacrity, sprinted like a wolf into the woods.

***

Grey found Adris dripping and his skin cold. He backed the young lad on his back and took him home. When he first saw him, he was glad that at least he was safe. He cautioned him to never, ever take the Silverfox paths again no matter what. Adris on the other hand, said he was sorry that it wasn't intentional, he went on to relay to Grey about Tom and his gang and the expulsion they were given at school. But he didn't tell Grey about the encounter with the wolf man. He thought he has already done enough by scaring the old man to dead by his disappearance.

Telling him about a wolf man would make him never allow him go to school again. Grey knew that Somehow that Adris saw something in the woods but, felt it not necessarily to ask him about it now that the poor lad would very hungry and weary from a long night walk. It was already midnight, when they both reached the shack. Grey carefully removed Adris clothes and helped him take his bath on their made-shift bathtub. He prepared a hot tea for him by the stove beneath the cupboard. After drinking his tea, Adris was too tired that he lay in the mattress and was fast asleep. Grey stared at him. Tears fuming in his eyes. He wondered what he must have seen in the woods and knew...somewhere..just below his heart, where he couldnt even feel it, that the BEASTS Of the WILD have come for one of their own. What he does not know was 'Why NOW? When the one true person he had was about to become the light he wishes to embrace .... Their was no answer to him. He sat quietly in the shack, looking quietly outside into the solitude, the aftermath of a raining night and a new DAWN.

***

The following day, Before school. Grey called Adris attention on the night before. They were both having breakfast made of a toast, scrambled eggs, bacon and coffee.

"Adris" The old man looked at the boy, whose groping his food and eating it mouthful."..I knew you saw something last night"

Adris demeanour changed. He had a terrible experience last night and was unwilling to talk about it. He knew that Adris already knows that he encountered a wolf besides, most people in town knew that wolves lives in Silverville, rumour or not no one can tell.

"If you can at least tell me what you saw last night" Grey looked at the boy and from his face knew that he was not yet emotional stable or confident enough to speak up. " .. I am not forcing you. Just take much of your time and peace to do that ".

"It was a wolf" Adris said. Pretty much for him to tell Grey what it was than remain resilient." It came for me"

" What did it do?" Grey carefully asked.

"It didn't do much. I hid behind a tree and it left" Adris lied. He never wanted to relay the full encounter with the werewolf to Grey.

"Just that?" Grey asked. Feeling like there was more to this.

" Just that. I have to go to school. Pa Grey".

"Of course, there is your backpack. I brought a new one from town for you earlier this morning." Grey said. Pointing at the bag beside the cupboard.

"Thanks so much Pa Grey".Adris hugged the old man and kissed him.

"You know with what happened last night. You should stay home if you don't want to go to school today". Grey persuaded. But he knew Adris won't want to stay home. Adris loves his education so much.

"We are having exams the coming week Pa. I can't stay home now. I need to pass the tests" Adris replied.

He then proceeded to taking the new backpack that was laying beside the cupboard. He rummaged for his schoolbooks, luckily for him the rain didn't wet them much like he thought. Some of the books were yet dry and they were the ones he needed for lecture today.

" Goodbye Pa" He waved at Grey.

"Goodbye Adris, see you soon and remember ....."

".....to never go through the Silverfox path again, I know" Adris repeated. He had already heard this a hundred times." Don't bother I am safe. I love you" he then ran towards the terrain outside.

"I love you too". Grey watched him go away like he was never coming back.

***

After school that day, Adris wanted to visit the house the wolf man told him about. His mind was already telling him that was risky and foolish of him if he ever dares. But no one can say, the wolf man had revealed to him that him 'Adris' the most calm and introverted boy in his class, a poor young lad of a blacksmith was a werewolf. He couldn't ascertain all of what this meant. Does it mean that his true family were werewolves also?. Where was his true family? . These questions and more pondered his minds and the most frustrating part was; he does have answers to any. School closed early today, the school Master had assemblied the students and told them to all go home on time. He went to tell them that there were wolf killings in the nearby town, St Helen. Their was a murmur among the students.

"Their is nothing to be afraid of. The constables are unto it. And I assure you this happened in St. Helen" the School Master said. Confidently trying to calm his students .

" Sire. " Clifton, a boy same age as Adris but not as much introverted, rose his hands.

"Yes Clifton"

"I thought wolves live in Silverville" the boy said.

"Yes they do. But we have not seen one. Have we? " The children all roared to laughter.

The Cathedral school was partly run by the church, where the vicars, brothers and clergywomen were the tutors and school managers. It was found decades ago. It was a large hall beside the cathedral consisting of libraries, poaches and an assembly ground.

. It's college was in St.Helen. Adris has always wanted to go there to further. But he needs alot of money and that is what he nor Grey does not have. He hopes his true family-the wolf family -are rich to sponsor him. But who knows. He never get to see his father or mother or who he truly was.

341 Grindley street was among the Colmon alley. Carpe town was a very small town compared to St.Helen. There were only one thousand people livg in Carpe town and five hundred families. It was sometimes mistaken to be a ghost town because of the remote activities. Finding any house was easy in Carpe town. 341 Grindley was a house Adris has been seeing whenever he goes or comes back from school. He sometimes wonders if anyone was living there just because of how isolated and old the house was. It is Victorian but quiet old.

Adris walked up to the front door and knocked. No one answered. He knocked again. Just like a dream in a trance. He found himself magically, inside the house in the sitting room. Their were no sofas nor chairs, nor tables or anything except one man standing in front of him. He startled.

"Welcome dear young friend, do you wish to begin a new phase of your life?". Mark grinned.