She sat by his side all night, only getting up to check on the pup.
The sun was already up and Isabella still sat next to him. Suddenly Dominque groaned and started squirming restlessly. Isabella immediately caressed his chest, his face, and then she grabbed his hand in both of hers. It seemed to calm him down.
“Dominque, come back to me,” she whispered as she stared at him. “Please.”
***
Back in the town, the council sat once again. Mayor Bradford looked even more tired than before. “Did you contact the wolves? Did you send the hawk?” he asked.
“We did. They haven’t responded yet. We can wait a bit longer, but if they don’t respond, we will not have any choice but to attack them,” Captain Luther replied.
“No. There will be too much bloodshed. We have a treaty. We will follow as best as we can,” the mayor replied.
“I mean no disrespect when I say this, sir, but you might as well say goodbye to your son,” Captain Luther replied. “Please try and understand, any delay can be dangerous.”
“It’s my son! I understand that! But if we go against them, there will be severe bloodshed on both sides. We will lose so many people, so many lives! Wait a few more days. If they still don’t respond…” The mayor trailed off. It was no secret that Mayor Bradford detested all kinds of fighting and war.
“As you say, sir. You should still get the army ready, just in case we do need to attack. Any more delay can be detrimental to your son’s wellbeing,” Captain Luther replied, bowing.
“I must say, Bradford, I agree with Luther. They have taken one of our own. They deserve what is coming to them,” one of the council members said.
“Yes. I must say I agree. We must strike while the iron is hot,” another member joined in.
The mayor sighed, remembering his wife, who had fainted that morning from the trauma and pain. “Alright, prepare the army. Give them two more days to respond. If they don’t, we will attack,” he finally said.
“Yes, sir. I will see to all the arrangements myself,” Captain Luther replied.
“I must say, we are lucky to have you, Luther. You have always been willing to lay down your life for your town,” one of the council men said.
Captain Luther smiled and then bowed. “It is a pleasure.” He then turned towards the mayor and bowed again. “I will get your son back. I promise.”
Chapter 11
Dominque
Dominque walked down a dark corridor, trying to find his way out. He couldn’t remember how he had gotten there or what had happened before. He tried to find a way out, but it was pitch dark. He started to walk, not knowing where to go. There was a sudden breeze, and Dominque heard a voice.
“Dominque,” the voice whispered.
He turned around, but there seemed to be no one there.
“Dominque,” the voice whispered again.
“Who is there?” Dominque asked. The breeze picked up again, and the wind blew through Dominque’s hair. Dominque squinted, trying to make out any path in the darkness, and then he noticed the outline of a tall tree. He started to make his way towards it.
As he drew closer to it, the tree began to get brighter and brighter. He soon noticed a woman standing over there, her body covered with a long robe. The only thing visible was her hand, old and wrinkled, holding on to a staff.
“You know who I am, don’t you?” the woman asked in her ethereal voice.
Dominque had heard of the legend. A woman, called the Seer, one of the disciples of the moon spirit. She appeared in dreams of wolves and often helped them out during their difficult times. Dominque had heard so many stories of her. Even Elder Lawson claimed that she had visited him too.
“You are the Seer,” Dominque replied.
“Great danger awaits the pack, Dominque. You have to be very careful,” the Seer said, her ethereal voice resonating.
“Yes. I know. There are many who want to take over the pack,” Dominque replied.
“No. There is a great danger from outside the pack. You must stop it. At all costs,” the Seer said.
