As my death came I felt no fear. I knew he would be waiting for me on the other side. It had been so many years since I had seen that gorgeous face, stared into those beautiful bright green eyes. This release is more than welcome for me.
As my body sinks into the Depths of Lazuli lake I see a bright light shining above. For a moment I do not understand what is happening. I should be dead now, my lungs are full of water. After a few moments I feel an invisible force pulling me to the surface. When I break out of the water I see him.
He is more beautiful than I remember. The same gorgeous face and the same green eyes, but his hair is a corona of platinum and he has broad crystal wings. He reaches out to me and I smile, saying those words we had been accustomed to all those years ago.
“To the secret door?”
His smile is blinding as he responds with certainty, “To the secret door.”
~Dante Drivel
~ Part 2 ~
- Animi City -
- Animi High -
~ 10 years prior to the Events of Bk 1 ~
It’s been three days since the incident. I have finally decided to return to school, despite my fears of further conflict. Damn those fucking jocks.
Dante sighs and closes his journal. Same bench, same time, same school, same journal, same fears. His life was truly repetitive. The simplicity of the conflicts he was involved in made him yearn for something more, something different, but all the while, he loathes the idea of any change to his routine.
“H-hi there.”
Dante yelps, looking up to see who had spoken. He then relaxes as he recognizes the feminine lines of the wolf David’s muzzle. The small boy is standing over him, his blue eyes childishly attentive.
“What’s that?” he asks, pointing at Dante’s journal.
Dante growls, “Personal information.” Me mutters, “Confidential personal information.” He adds as the little wolf opens his mouth to ask another question.
“Oh.” David says, sitting down beside him, “That’s cool.”
Dante glares at him, “Why are you here?” he barks.
David shrugs, staring into Dante’s eyes, unfazed.
“That’s not an answer.” The black wolf mutters.
“Your eyes,” David murmurs, “why are they red?”
Dante snarls, baring his fangs, “because they are!” he snaps, “Now answer my question!”
The little wolf shrugs again, “I don’t know,” he mumbles, “I guess you make me feel safe.”
Dante nods, “I see.”
David nods back, smiling a little which makes the black wolf smile as a strange warm feeling rises up in his chest. It had been so long since someone had taken the time to sit down and talk to him. It felt good to be noticed for something other than his bloodline. So good that Dante began to lose himself in the feeling.
“Um’ your name is Dante right?” David asks.
Dante blinks, slowly drifting back into reality, “Wha?”
“Are you okay?” the little wolf murmurs, looking confused.
Dante yelps, looking down at his lap in embarrassment, “Yeah I’m good.”
“So you’re Dante right?” David repeats.
The black wolf nods, “The one and only.”
The silver wolf tilts his head, “Why are you looking down like that. It’s hard enough to see your face as it is.” He reaches out and tugs at the hood of Dante’s cowl, “Why do you wear this ugly thing anyway?” he asks.
Dante pulls away from him, “Why do you ask so many questions?” he growls, turning his back to the little wolf.
David sighs, “Never mind, I just wanted to thank you for what you did three days ago. I had been trying to escape from that freak Conor for weeks. Ever since you beat up his boys he hasn’t even looked in my direction.”
Dante turns back to David, “why was that freak bothering you anyway?”
The little wolf shakes his head, “It’s my turn to ask for you to stop asking questions.”
“I respect that.” Dante says with a nod.
The two of them then sit in silence for a while, in which time the bell for class rings.
David is the first to get up, “Well I’ve got to go to chemistry now. Where are you headed?”
“History.”, Dante groans.
“Mr. Seeker?” David snickers.
Dante nods, looking thoroughly exasperated, “YES!”
“I’m so sorry.” The little wolf says dramatically, “That guy is the worst.”
Dante laughs and shakes his head, “Don’t worry, I’ll live.”
David laughs too and the two of them smile at each other, nodding absently.
“Well, thank you again.” David says, breaking their stupor, “Im so glad to be rid of Conor.”
“I did what felt right.” Dante says, “And anyway, I couldn’t let him mar that pretty face of yours.”
David freezes up, his fur standing on end, “What?”
“Uh, um, you know,” The dark wolf flushes as he struggles to express his thoughts in words, “You’re all, the way you look. I wasn’t saying.” He sulks, giving up.
“You’re okay.” David says, standing up, “I get what you mean.”
“Oh, okay, well see you later.” Dante stammers.
“Yeah, later.” The silver wolf replies, turning and walking briskly away.
The black wolf watches him retreat, trying to suppress his boiling feelings of embarrassment. About halfway down the hall David stops and without turning around he says, “And Dante.”
“What?” Dante asks.
“You’re pretty cool.”
That said, the little wolf nods to himself and walks away, leaving Dante alone with his thoughts…