TRAILING SHADOWS

The wolf ran, stamping its claws into the soft ground as it drooled on. Its eyes were locked on the persons before its eyes and it was aiming to ram into them directly. The eyes also began to turn reddish as its hairs stood out into prickles and thorns. This was the attribute that gave it the name 'Prickled Bane Winged Wolf.'

"Come" Maerius said . He was in front of the triangle now, feeling for the hilt of his blade. Once the beast got within radius, he would slash once and that once would be the kill.

Steeling his eyes now, he drew his left leg forward while his fingers played at the hilt of his blade.

"3rd Prime, pa da.(12) awon irunmole e pa da. Leave it be. A Prickled wolf does not attack just like that." The Elder said with calm assurance, calling to Maerius to fall back.

Seeing this, the wolf charged. And then it leapt, springing itself forward as its open jaws began closing onto Sunday's head.

Sunday watched with calm eyes too. He saw the wolf leaping at him.

He saw the Irunmoles falling back.

He had thought The Elder wanted to take on this Rare Typed Beast by himself alone.

But then, a second thought crossed his mind. The elder saw him as a child. Taking down this beast that was powerful enough to send shivers down the spines of elite Irunmole's would prove that he really was no child.

Yes, this was his way of outrightly shaming his father. By taking down this beast, he would be able to rival Elites or even Alpha Irunmoles. By then, The elder would come to respect him.

Yes, he would respect him.

Sunday ground his teeth as a burst of energy was expelled from his body, spreading his aura into the air. He clenched his fists now. Waiting.

Time seemed to move slowly. Seconds ticked and ticked. The wolf drew nearer and nearer. To any one around, one would think he was attempting suicide.

But he didn't care about that.

'Elder has made no move now. It looks like he wants me to prove myself. I'll show you, father. I'll show all of you'

*** ***

The elder looked with steady eyes at the freckled wolf that had just sprung out from the forest to attack.

He loved Sunday so much. And he didn't want to lose him.

That's why he ventured out on this journey.

At Ifa place, they could find solutions to expel the shadows creeping into his life, as prophesied by that seer.

But he wasn't sure.

So far, he had been protective of Sunday so he could say confidently that the seer was wrong. But… No… She can't be wrong.

A Prickled Bane Winged Wolf was a Rare Type Beast that was drawn to fated beings. Its appearance here was no mistake.

In Orun, there were demons present. Though not in Orun rere but in a section reserved for them called Orun Apaadi.

Orun Apaadi was another realm where beastly creatures roamed also, aside from demons. Originally, It had being created as the garden for Eledumare where he created several creatures, mighty and strong. Creatures with untold strength.

However after the great rebellion, Eledumare was pained and then swore by himself never to create any other beings with high power levels. That was when Obatala was created. The demons who had fled to Apaadi had also contaminated the beasts making them dark and vile.

Seeing a beast here in Orun Emi Ogun was not meant to be. Especially a Rare Type beast.

There were three Types of beasts in Orun Apaadi. Common beasts, Rare and Mythical beasts.

Common beasts were beasts that bore similarities to creatures on planets earth. For example, the 10ft golden lion. Because of that, they were the most common creatures in Orun Apaadi. Mythical beasts were beasts that had infused so much darkness as a result of interactions with demons or infused some much light energy which was called Agbara due to it's location among Agbara users. This fusion with darkness or light, had made them the most powerful beast class, capable of taking down dozens of Primes.

On the other hand, Rare Type Beasts were drawn to fated beings and appeared mostly when a being was tampering with fate. They were a sign that something was wrong somewhere.

The Prickled Wolf appearing here, far away from Orun Apaadi meant something was definitely wrong.

Already the guard Irunmoles had formed a defensive triangle around himself and Sunday. He watched as Maerius walked with unshaking confidence to the front of the triangle as he felt for the hilt of his balde.

Maerius had not even know the full capabilities of a this prickled bane winged wolf and he was already standing so confident, preparing to strike at it.

So Arrogant! He exclaimed.

In a way, he liked Maerius's c.o.c.ky arrogance. Rare classed beasts were creatures that one could never know the true extent of their powers unless they used them.

'No, if Maerius gets in the way of this beast, I may never truly know who it is that drew the beast to us. It is drawn by fate so it will only attack what or who is causing imbalance in fate.'

"3rd Prime, pa da. awon irunmole e pa da. Leave it be. A Prickled wolf does not attack just like that."He ordered, watching as them fall back.

All except Sunday. His eyes widened.

'No, it cant be. It can't be Sunday. It has to be someone else. Oh Orisha Obatala, let it be someone else'

The Wolf leapt up, closing the distance between itself and the irunmoles as it bared its fangs ready to clamp down on flesh.

It saw the Irunmole fall back but didn't seem bothered at all. It seemed to the beast that they were retreating except one.

One young Irunmole. An easy meal.

It closed its jaws now on Sunday's head.

But Sunday was faster.

Quickly, he pushed his weight to his right foot, bending in the process and avoiding the wolf's jaws by mere inches.

He had just a second to react. A second later meant he was done for. From what he had known, Rare Classed beasts were extremely fast.

It was now or never.

Sunday channeled all of his energy into his Right arm, making it glow brighter than the other arm. His face went pale as a result of the energy he was pulling on.

Then he adjusted to the left, Firing his glowing fist into the massive cheek of the wolf, throwing it off momentum, into the air.

AWUULLL… The wolf w.h.i.n.ed as it crashed into trees, slipping down into the bushes below. It lay there stunned.

It had not expected that amount of force.

Once Sunday realized this, he knew it was his chance.

He felt drained, as his aura became increasingly aggressive. This was a result of the damage he dealt out. Auras of irunmoles fluctuated according to damage received and dealt out. Now his aura increased greatly, steadily shipping at his energy.

He wanted to stay back and relax a bit. After all, the wolf was stunned. For 3 seconds now, it was down there, dazed. He could just do that but wanting to stay back to replenish his energy was signing his death contract.

Already, the wolf had begun to stir.

POW!

His fist dug into the head of the wolf spending beams of light across.

The wolf w.h.i.n.ed now.

It seemed too easy. Too easy? He almost drained himself out, dealing his first damage to the wolf. That wasn't too easy. And besides, it was Rare classed.

For him to stun a Rare classed beast...

That was a feat applaudable. 'Father would respect me now' He smirked.

But it was rare classed…

"Aaargghh…" He screamed, pain tearing through his whole nerves as teeth dug into his legs."

"No…"

The wolf had bit into his legs and was attempting to gobble him up from beneath.

He had to do something. He could not show weakness.

Clenching his fists, Sunday yelled in fervent rage now. He raised his two hands up into fist. Light shone through the fist and symbols flashed about hands.

"IMOLE MO…"(13) The light shining at his hands suddenly morphed into short double ended daggers.

The daggers in turn glowed sharp yellow as heat spread through his hands. He wasted no time. Any time wasted, he could be gone. He slammed into the snout of the wolf with unchained fervor.

The wolf stopped swallowing for a spilt second.

Then, it rose up so fast that Sunday did not even know when he was spat out. His head hit the rocks as he landed sending sharp jolts of pain coursing through his body. The wolf was angered already. It howled loudly as its aura burst out, uprooting the trees around him.

It was enraged.

"No… I am going in, Elder." Maerius muttered, drawing his blade. He pushed himself forward but felt a resistance at his c.h.e.s.t, limiting him.

It was the Elder who used his staff to block his motion.

"You go, when I say you go, Maerius"

"It is a rare classed beast. For Eledumare's sake, you saw the extent of its aura. He… Cannot.. Handle… It…" Maerius said, pointing at the wolf.

The wolf had already puffed its mane, making its hairs stand all straight as it raised his wings.

"I know. That's what I am counting on" Elder said, maintaining a forward gaze.

"No. You can't be serious" Maerius' eyes widened, realized what The Elder meant. "HE IS YOUR SON… YO…"

Maerius couldn't complete his statement. A force of concussion hit him clearing himself and the guards off the ground.

The elder was faster though. He had exerted his aura out absorbing some of the concussion wind but even at that, the elder staggered backwards for 10 meters. From the corner of Maerius' eyes, he saw that the wolf had flapped its wings, attacking them with strong winds.

AWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUULLLLLLL!!! The wolf howled at them, attacking with sonic booms.

Maerius was deafened. He was trying to gain a footing of himself when the sonic boom hit him hard, unsettling his attempt. He saw that the elder couldn't deflect the attack this time as he too tumbled in the air.

But he knew the elder and even the other elites with him would be okay soon enough.

He was worried about Sunday. Sunday was a D ranked Irunmole, the weakest with them now. How was he holding up? ...

.