Chapter 67: Jetania

Loras Ranev moved quickly to the edge of the huge landing platform and looked out on the valley stretched below, her mind and heart racing nearly out of control. The thick, tall green trees stretched for kilometers in all directions, broken only in the spots where the winding river moved through the base of the valley. Loras’ hands were fully stretched across her upper body holding her opposite arms as her mind literally raced with what she had seen and what she now felt coursing through her unchecked. The breeze was blowing away from her, causing her long dark brown hair to lift from her shoulders and flutter in the wind as she stood there. It was unmistakable, what she was feeling, and the intensity of it was unlike anything she had ever felt before in her nearly six hundred years of life. In that intense Etheric connection, she could feel it so close to her, and it was so utterly absolute. Loras Ranev had never felt such a concentrated love before, so focused and bright and it was directed solely at her.

From him.

An Alpha wolf who had not even entered this world yet.

Loras Ranev was well aware of the Lycavorian ability to imprint their children, but never had she heard or experienced it in such a deep way. He was an Alpha wolf with the memories and knowledge of generations going back longer than she could count. She had felt his father in the connection, his grandfather, two men who radiated power unlike any Alpha male she had ever seen or felt in her lifetime. It terrified her when she felt the love from him for her for it was equally as powerful. It terrified her because she had never thought something like what she felt could even exist.

“Loras?” The female voice spoke from behind her and Loras then detected Anja’s sweet honey scent and turned quickly. The breeze was blowing softly into her face as she turned and her mind was ablaze with different sensations and this is how Anja had gotten so close to her without her noticing.

“You should ... Anja you should be with your family.” Loras said turning to face her fully.

Anja stepped up to her without hesitation. “You are a member of that family now Loras Ranev.” She spoke softly. “You saw and heard it for yourself. I can sense the confusion within you Loras. The fear. What is wrong? Tell me.”

Loras looked at her, and she could almost see the confidence oozing from Anja’s pores, she could smell and sense the powerful aura emanating from within her. Half breed though she may have been, Loras thought to herself, this woman had the aura of an extremely powerful Alpha female. As did the other females Loras could smell within her blood. Females that were far more powerful than most of the Alpha females here on Jetania. Her honey scent reeked of the Alpha Wolf King that had claimed her and made her his own, and her aura held nothing but love and devotion for that same wolf.

“I am ... I am terrified Anja. What I saw ... what I felt ... it frightened me as nothing ever has in my life.” Loras finally exclaimed gently. “I don’t ... I don’t know how else to describe it.”

Anja smiled warmly in understanding and reached out to take her hands, which Loras quickly placed in her palms. Anja squeezed them in her own when Loras gripped them and she stepped even closer to her. “Then do not try.” She told her. “Do you think I felt any different when I first discovered who and what Martin was? What I was? I was totally overwhelmed. I could barely process anything else.”

“How did you ... how did you deal with it?” Loras asked her.

Anja smiled again. “Well ... that was easy. I grabbed onto the one thing that had been a constant in my life and I didn’t even know it then. I grabbed onto Martin’s love for me. It was there, focused and pure and bright, and for far longer than even he led us to believe.” Anja told her. “Which is something that I will let him know about when I see him again.” She finished her statement with somewhat of a sterner tone, as much as she could project since Loras knew that this revelation had caused a massive spike of love and warmth within Anja that all of them had felt.

“What she said about me?” Loras said softly. “I...”

Anja drew her closer. “Do you question what your instincts tell you Loras?” Anja asked her. “Do you question what you feel radiating from Achilles for you?”

“Carians how could I?” Loras gasped loudly. “It is more powerful than anything I have ever felt in my life from any Alpha who has tried to entice me. His aura was so ... it was so pure and raw and unmistakable, and it was focused entirely on me! The sensations it caused within me I did not know I could even feel! How is that even possible Anja? I know of our ability to speak to one another with our minds in a rudimentary way, but he is...”

“Well ... you can thank his father for that.” Anja replied with a small smile. “And his grandfathers before him. Andro has ... Andro and his father have always been enigmas. Even to their family at times. What they can do ... let’s just say it is very scary. But that makes us love them even more. Reva was channeling Martin and Andro and the others so I can only guess that Achilles was able to use that, focus on that, and then you.”

“I heard his voice in my head Anja!” Loras gasped once more. “As if he was standing beside me. He spoke to me. He called me his wife!”

Anja nodded her head knowing full well what Loras meant. It was the same for her, for Aricia, for For’mya. For all of them. What Martin did to them, in and out of their bed, it was beyond anything they could ever imagine experiencing and his love for each of them was utterly complete and absolute.

“And you don’t know how to process that?” Anja said with a gentle smile. “It is the same for his father and his grandfather. They love without question, without doubt.”

Loras looked at her. “Process it?” She gasped with wide eyes. “Anja, I did not know that such feelings could even exist!”

“Yes, you have.” Anja told her. “This knowledge has always been within you, and you have known it. If you did not, then you would have given yourself completely to Warim Ranev. You would have never held that part of yourself away from him. He was a good man and he loved you, and you cared for him, but inside you, in your blood, you knew there was something else waiting for you. Something that would take your heart, your soul and your essence and wrap it within love that you have never felt before. You heard Reva yourself.”

“But how?” Loras asked. “I have never known anything but Jetania. I was born here. My brothers, the gods bless their passing, they were born here. My mother was born on Ventori, my father as well. If our ancestors came from Lycavore to Ventori, how can I be what she says.”

Anja nodded her head. “All good questions...” Anja met her eyes. “But does any of that really matter now Loras?” Anja answered her question with another.

Loras met her eyes for a long moment. She opened her mouth several times as if to answer but then shut it and slowly shook her head. “No.” She answered finally.

“The answers will come Loras.” Anja told her. “As they come for us they will come for you. Right now though ... I can feel it within you.” Anja told her. “What you feel for Achilles. It burns within your blood Loras Ranev. Within your heart.”

“He has not even been born yet Anja!” Loras stammered. “How is what I feel for him even possible?”

“We have asked that same question many times about those in our family.” Anja told her. “Mostly about Androcles and his father and what they are capable of. How they are capable of doing these things that they do. Many of those answers we received today. But it also led us to even more difficult questions. You know what our people can do Loras, passing the imprint of what we have seen and experienced in our lives on to our children. For Martin, for Androcles and now for Achilles, it is just more complete and far more extensive than we had ever known. They have knowledge within them that no one should have at such a young age, let alone before they are ever born.” Anja looked at her and reached up to place her palm against her cheek. “You worry that he will claim you regardless of what you want. As Osrod did. As even Warim did.”

“It is the way of our people.” Loras told her softly. “I could not resist him Anja, even if I wanted too. My body would not let me. You know that this is how it is for female wolves.”

Anja shook her head with a smile. “It was the way of our people.” She corrected her. “It has not been like that for many thousands of years. That part of the old ways died out a long time ago.”

“Not here.” Loras said.

Anja nodded her head. “Not here, no.” She said. “But it will end as soon as Martin arrives that much I can assure you.”

“Anja I ... I do not want to be a trophy for another male.” Loras said. “I hate Osrod for what he forced me to do for ten years, parading me around like a prize, taking me whenever he wanted knowing I could not resist him. It was different with Warim, I did care for him, but it was also the same.”

Anja shook her head and squeezed her hands once more. “You have nothing to fear Loras Ranev. The future is ever changing and when that day comes, if it comes, you will do what your heart tells you. Achilles will not force himself upon you Loras, he loves you too much. Not to mention that his father and grandfather and all of his uncles would kick his ass five ways from yesterday if he did.”

“But how ... how do you resist when it is instinct to our people?” Loras asked.

Anja looked at her with a shy smile. “It’s not easy I will tell you that.” She replied coyly. “Martin is ... Martin is built like a bull in the celie shusul...” Anja saw Loras’ eyes grow wider and she giggled like a school girl. “ ... and he certainly knows how to turn each of us to putty in his hands. It’s next too impossible to resist him, especially when we are in Phase, but in truth, we don’t have to do anything.”

“What do you mean?” Loras asked with wide eyes. “How?”

Anja squeezed her hands tighter and smiled brightly. “Let’s take a walk and I will tell you.” She spoke. “We love bragging about Martin, he hates it but since he is not here, I can brag all I want and he can’t do a thing.”

Loras nodded quickly and they turned to move along the edge of the platform under the watchful eye of Kalis, Tir’ut and half a dozen of Garget’s men. This small group had spent the last several hours with each other already today, learning about one another, and a bond of mutual trust and friendship was growing quickly. They needed no words between them to know what to do.

None of them noticed Retta however, as she gently dislodged herself from the grasps of her family and with a quick glance in the direction of her mother, she sprinted for the door that would take her inside the base.

Only Lucia took notice of this from her perch on top of the STRIKER and she glanced back to where her beloved Zarah rested.

[Zarah?] Lucia questioned.

[Let her go my love.] Zarah answered quickly. [She is going to do what any daughter of my father would do. She is going to follow her blood and her instincts and claim what is hers.]

[Lazar?] Lucia asked.

[Yes. His blood burns just as brightly for her, though he does not fully understand it yet. He will though, if Loras is who staania Reva says, he will.] Zarah answered.

[Zarah ussta ssinssrigg... ?]

[I do not wish to wait any longer either Lucia.] Zarah spoke before Lucia could finish her sentence.

[If it is too soon Zarah my love we can... ]

[No. You have shown me that I can love and feel once more Lucia.] Zarah answered her. [My family has shown me this. And Radem told me the only way to... ]

[Radem?] Lucia gasped. [He knows?]

Zarah chuckled softly in their private connection. [He is our master and our friend Lucia, thanks to my father. He knows.]

[What did ... what did he say?]

[To conquer my fear ... to conquer my fear I first need to shed the demons of my past. I have done that Lucia. With your love, with Andro’s essence within me ... within us ... I have done that.] Zarah spoke. [When my brother returns to us, we will claim what is ours Lucia. I do not want to lose him to another because I was too frightened to believe in the future.]

[He said he would wait forever Zarah.] Lucia said.

[Do you wish to wait forever to feel his arms around us?] Zarah asked. [To feel what only he can make us feel?]

[Phraktos nau!] Lucia blurted out.

[We will have what is ours Lucia my love. Dutkne will be ours when my brother returns.] Zarah spoke softly. [And we will step into the future when we do. A future with him and us together.]

Lucia smiled and sent her a pulse of intense love through their connection, something that Zarah returned equally. [I look forward to that day my beautiful Zarah.]

[As do I.] Zarah replied. [We ... carians!] Zarah gasped within the connection and Lucia’s eyes cut to where she still sat.

[Zarah! What is it?] Lucia asked.

[Son hote lon evell nysil saoi! Andro! Father!] (By all that we hold holy)

LORENU

TEMPLE ENTRANCE

“ ... just disappeared!” Isheeni gasped aloud now, her normally soothing voice now filled with concern and fear. “Right after I called for you, Torma disappeared! Aricia my sister what is going on?”

For’mya stood beside Aurith now, stroking her snout to try and calm her, Arzoal and Helen standing off to the side silently. Neither looked or acted like something was wrong and this quickly drew attention as everyone else was nervous and their combat senses had come alive. It was Aricia who looked at them, her hand on Isheeni’s muzzle.

“Helen? Arzoal?” She gasped aloud. “You ... you know something! What is happening?”

“They can feel it.” Reva’s voice spoke now and they all turned to see the Sphere move up to where they all stood.

“Feel it?” Aricia questioned. “We cannot feel our Beloved Reva! We cannot feel our sons! What is going on?!”

“Be patient child.” Reva’s voice said. “Destiny’s path is being fulfilled.”

“What does this mean?” For’mya demanded. “We will not lose them Reva!”

The sphere shifted position and faced her. “Lose them child?” Reva spoke. “Child you are not going to lose them. They are being...”

“They are being Reborn!” Helen gasped.

THE CIRCLE

Martin spun around when the faint screams reached his wolf ears even through the thick steel walls. “ ... Andro!” He gasped as he headed for the door

“You do not need to go to them Martin my boy.” Daniho’s voice spoke from behind him once more and Martin turned. “They are in no danger and the screams you hear are their rebirth. Your sons, my grandsons, and Laren, they have accepted what their path is completely.”

“What does that mean?” Martin hissed.

“It means that they have accepted what they are.” Daniho answered him. “The Tarivuos of our people, of you. And the Dahakoan reborn, or I should say the Sentinels of the Stars. Wer Rithtari ar wer Isk”

Martin looked at him. “What?”

“They are the Dahakoan reborn yes ... but they are so much more now.” Daniho spoke as he moved closer to Martin. “They can no longer be truly called Dahakoan. Dadrien knew this would happen and what they would become. A message Dadrien made many thousands of years ago is with them, guiding them. You have nothing to fear for them staaniaketo, believe in me.”

Martin stared at his Etheric image for a long moment and then his head moved back to what he had turned around to discover only a few seconds before. He glanced at Daniho once more and saw him nod and then he moved closer to the podium and what was held there.

The armor was quite impressive looking to say the least. It was suspended on the podium within an Etheric bubble of some kind, rotating very slowly. Around the base of the podium were several thin, rectangular box like objects probably no bigger than an old butane lighter. The upper chest piece, which is all Martin could see, was layered across the shoulders, the elbows and the forearms. It was very similar to how their Dragon Armor was forged to provide maximum flexibility to whoever wore it. This armor was dull silver in color, with the images of a dragon leaping into the air on either pectoral chest piece and the head of a Lycavorian wolf on the lower abdomen with wings on either side.

“It is called Onkmeti Naami.” Daniho’s voice spoke as Martin gazed at it. “A very special metal discovered by the Onab in the Winter Mountains on Cerath.”

Martin turned back to his image. “Winter’s Wisdom?” He said.

Daniho nodded. “The Onab named it, for they had never seen something like it before. After roughly fifty years of testing and research they discovered a way to make it malleable. It was used to armor our warships and gave us a sizeable edge in our war with the Iais’Kai and many other things. It is impervious to any known projectile weapon, and surpasses even your own Dragon Armor in its resistance against energy weapons. Heat. Cold. It can actually alter its molecular structure in order to protect against nearly any environment.”

Martin looked back to the armor. “Is it alive?” He asked.

Daniho did not laugh at the question but he did smile slightly. He had asked the same question of the Onab all those years ago. “I asked that same question staaniaketo, many years ago.” He said and watched Martin turn back to him.

“And?”

Daniho shook his head. “It has something to do with the molecular structure of the metal itself. I don’t begin to understand it for it is far out of my knowledge base.” Martin grinned to himself now and Daniho’s head tilted slightly. “What?”

“I get that a lot.” He spoke.

“Ah...” Daniho nodded his head in understanding. “The Onab ... the Onab made this for me during the Zin sarakoa vyen ils.” He continued. “They were always so concerned for my safety.”

Martin looked at him once more. “You never wore it?” He asked.

Daniho shook his head. “No.”

“Why?” Martin pressed him.

“An Onab Seer came to me one day after it was complete.” Daniho said. “They told me they saw you wearing it. That only you would be able to wear it.”

“Me?” Martin rasped. “Why?”

“As with the Wer Rithtari ar wer Isk, the armor is etherically bound to one person. Once this connection is made, it is permanent and can never be removed.” Daniho answered him. “I did not possess the Etheric capability to make this connection. Only your sons and your ano fenneennum have this ability. Only you have this ability.”

“Because of staanio Sumar.” Martin said softly.

Daniho nodded his head. “Yes. Even from long before he was born, the gods of fate and destiny had planned for his arrival and his descendants. Just as they did mine. They knew how we would become one. And they knew of the place that vada sinuovas would act in that future. They knew how tightly we would become bound to them and them to us.”

Martin looked back at the armor. “Durcunus for Sinuovas rie vada Saan.”

Daniho nodded his head solemnly. “Wolves and Dragons of the Blood.” He spoke almost reverently.

Martin looked at him with wide eyes. “Arzoal!” He gasped. “Then it was ... it was no mistake that she chose the last of Dadrien’s physical offspring to transfer her consciousness too before she died. Andro said ... he thought as much!”

Daniho shook his head. “All of your children with your Queens are gifted in ways we never dreamed of Martin. Androcles especially. He is correct however, it was not a mistake.” He answered. “Dadrien and my mother guided her.”

He held his hand up in the Etheric image knowing what Martin was going to say. “And no ... we did not influence any of her decisions, nor did we do this with you or anyone along the way. We only allowed them to see things from every perspective. The decisions she made, those that you have made, that Andro and Laren and Dorian have made, these decisions have shaped you into who you are now. My mother has told you this already, and it is time that you begin believing it my boy.”

Martin shook his head. “All this sibfla ... it just seems so...”

“Otherworldly?” Daniho offered.

Martin looked at him. “Yes!”

Daniho nodded his head. “How do you think I felt, and I did not know half of what you know staaniketo.”

“I need ... I need to step beyond the power that I wield ... I need to step beyond the simple boundaries of what my eyes and my senses tell me.” Martin said softly.

Daniho smiled and nodded his head. “Ah ... Canth’s words to you on that foul world. The day that true realization came to you of who and what you are.”

Martin looked up and met his eyes. “Yes.”

Daniho paused and blinked his eyes and in a brilliant flash of white and blue etheric light, Torma appeared in the room with them. Martin moved to him immediately, but Torma’s many years with Martin had given him countless aspects of Martin’s instincts and nature and he was calm now but ready to spring to attack in an instant. Torma closed his golden eyes as Martin stroked the scales under his eyes and they both looked at Daniho when he began to speak again.

“The mark of our family has already begun to appear on you and your children and wives and on others of our blood Martin. It will also appear on those meant to be part of our bloodline in the future Martin.” Daniho said softly. “It can no longer be denied my staaniketo. As much as you do not want this role, as much as you hate it, it belongs to you now. Just as it belonged to me. Wolf and dragon. We are bound by far more than words could ever describe. Take this armor and the gift within it Martin. There is a matching set for Torma as well. Together with your Bonded Brother Torma it will make you even more deadly than you are now, and it will show our people who you really are. Accept it, just as your sons and soul daughter have. See it for what it is. You son’s Anome Sadi bears the reunification of our people within her womb Martin and soon Carisia, Ne’Veha and Lu’ria will follow in her footsteps and make the final reunification impossible to ever break again.”

Martin looked at him with wide eyes. “You have seen this?” He gasped.

Daniho nodded his head. “It was foretold by the Onab Seers. Over time, the first four children of Androcles, the first of their line, Eliani and Jomann’s first sons, also the first of their line, Nara, Retta ... your children will bring about the complete unification of our species not seen since those first days on Cerath. And those chosen by fate to be part of that will also bear the mark of our family no matter where in the stars they reside.” Daniho answered. “The Onab did not foresee Caliria or Sehri, or the others that your children have chosen to love and be part of their lives, but I believe Androcles did. His dragon blood gives him this ability and this only strengthens our people going forward into the future.”

Daniho met his eyes. “But only you can lead them Martin. They will follow only you.”

“Why?” Martin asked him bluntly.

“You are the Mard Revik Martin Leonidas.” Daniho said. “More so than me, or your grandfathers before you ever were. Within you ... within you is a piece of all of us. That is the difference. That is your power. Take this as my legacy to you staaniketo, our legacy to you. Release my mother and fulfill my other request to you. It is your time now my grandson. It is your time now. It falls to you to shape the invisible Martin, what the Seers could not see, it falls to you.”

Martin looked at Torma now, his golden eyes focused and clear. “Torma?”

Torma blinked and nodded his massive head. “We have never feared the unknown before now my Bonded Brother.” He said. “Let us reach for it one more time.”

Martin Leonidas nodded his head almost immediately and turned to look at his grandfather.

“What do I have to do?” Martin asked.

Daniho motioned with his hand. “Step onto the podium my grandson. Step onto the podium and fulfill your destiny.”

Martin took a deep breath and moved for the podium but he stopped and turned back to Daniho. “Will I ever see you again grandfather?” He asked.

Daniho’s Etheric image smiled at him. “You are never without us Martin my boy. You have never been without us.” He replied as he put his hand over his chest. “We will reside within you here...” He touched his temple. “And here. Always.”

Martin nodded slowly and turned back to the podium. He took another deep breath and stepped fully onto the podium.

“For the future.” He whispered just before the entire room was bathed in another wave of white/blue Etheric light.

The pain had been excruciating and sudden, which accounted for the screams, but it passed in milliseconds and in its wake was a warmth that surged through their bodies like the waves of the ocean gripped in the fury of a colossal storm. Power the likes of which they could not describe rolled smoothly through their limbs, their bodies and their minds. It provided focus and clarity and above all else, it provided answers to so many of the questions they had asked of themselves for so long. Dorian’s birth had re-ignited those questions for Androcles and Elynth, reinforced them for Laren and Ladur, and then brought them back to the forefront with all of them. Now they had the answers they had sought for so long.

What were they?

Who were they?

The Dahakoan reborn into something more than what their predecessors were or ever could be. What only they could be.

Wer Rithtari ar wer Isk.

The Sentinels of the Stars.

Whatever had taken place had done so quickly, a sudden bout of nausea causing all of them to drop from the podium seats they had been in, heaving up what they had eaten only a few hours ago. Andro squatted on the cool metal floor, one hand bracing his body while he took great breaths to calm his stomach and his mind. His azure eyes opened after a long moment and regained their focus and then his eyes grew wide as he looked at his hand and then his legs beneath him. His eyes held confusion and wonder as he saw what encased his body now.

Glittering gold armor extended over a large portion of his body now, and around that was an armor he had never seen before in his life. It looked like a cross between the exquisite mesh weave that provided the superior protection of the Drow Scout Body Armor but with the obsidian color and texture of Elynth’s scales. Andro slowly lifted his hand off the floor turning it over palm up and he saw the same style armor extending up his forearms and across his biceps. He looked down at his chest and saw the gold armor on his chest and abdomen with the scale weave armor along his sides and armpits. As he began to move, his eyes grew wider for it felt as if he wore nothing at all. Andro’s head snapped up to look at Dorian and Laren and his azure eyes nearly exploded open at what he saw. They were just as he was, still confused and slightly disoriented, but wearing the same type of armor with the difference in color exactly the same as the difference in Elynth, Ryner and Ladur’s scales. What caused his eyes to open in shock were the wings that extended to either side of their bodies and originated from their backs.

“Sibfla!” Andro barked causing Dorian and Laren to look up at him and seeing their own eyes go wide.

Andro sprang to his feet with instant action and his eyes grew even wider when he saw the shape of the wings so close to his own body. His head turned to the side and he saw the span of the wing curl back and he tried twisting his head even further around as the wing then curled around in front of him almost of its own accord. Andro spun around quickly but could not see where the wing originated because it moved with him. His head whipped around to the other side and he saw the same thing. As wonder filled him, he stopped turning and he saw those wings spread out, stretching four meters on either side of his body.

“Impressive are they not?” The voice spoke causing all three of them to whirl around to see Chiron silently enter through the door in the wall that had not been there when they first entered.

“Chiron!” Andro gasped.

The Avatar looked at Androcles and smiled. “Dadrien’s gift to you.” He spoke.

“They are...” Laren began to stammer out the words.

“Wings. Yes.” Chiron spoke as he entered the room fully and the door slid closed behind him. “Forged from pure Onkmeti Naami, just as your armor is.”

Andro felt Elynth come up behind him, her muzzle lowering to inspect the wings that now protruded from his back. They were shaped just as her wings were, smooth on the upper ridge bone and then scaly further away from the ridge bone until they became like smooth scale feathers. As she ran her snout over them she could feel them move in concert with the pressure she applied and her golden colored eyes grew wide.