A map of the known world in this story. (I apologize if this map is hard to read. I had to take a picture of it with my sister's tablet and e-mail it to my computer.)
Prolouge: The New Kings
Spoiler
The tawny wolf stalked quietly through the mist-shrouded forest, the tips of her golden wings brushing against the trees. She was on her way to a den where two very special wolves had been born. They were the twin kings, whom the clans had awaited for centuries. They would be locked in a struggle for dominance that would determine the fate of the Clans of winged wolves. The victory of one would unify the Clans, while the victory of the other would forever tear the Clans apart.
At last the wolf, Sayla, arrived at her destination, a small den. Inside, a magical fire illuminated the cozy cave. In the back of the den were several wolves, expectantly watching Sayla. In the center of the den, two wolf pups were sleeping next to each other, their wings spread out on the ground. Even though they were just born, the pups were covered with soft, silky fur and their wings were fully developed.
"What are their names?" Sayla asked the two wolves in the front of the crowd.
"This one is Graenik," one of the wolves, the pups' mother, said, nudging the larger of the two pups with her nose. The pup's fur was pure white, and his feathered wings were a soft shade of silver. He slowly regarded Sayla with a bright blue eye before going back to sleep.
"And the other one?" Sayla asked. The second twin couldn't look more unlike his brother. Jet black fur covered the smaller pup, and the membrane on his batlike wings was so dark that it looked almost purple.
"Oh, that's Rodan," the twins' father said cautiously. "But are you sure that we should send him, too? I mean, do you really think he could be the one? He's so... you know... chaotic"'
"It is too early to tell which king is which," Sayla said. "They both need to come with me. When they're older, we'll know."
"We understand," the twins' father said. He nudged the two pups awake. "It's time to go. You have a long journey ahead of you, boys." The twins yawned and got up, curiously watching their parents and Sayla.
Sayla nosed the two kings towards the den's exit. "We have to leave now. We're going to your new home, Howlmont. Someday, one of you will defeat your brother rule the Clans from that mountain. For now, though, you must prepare."
At last the wolf, Sayla, arrived at her destination, a small den. Inside, a magical fire illuminated the cozy cave. In the back of the den were several wolves, expectantly watching Sayla. In the center of the den, two wolf pups were sleeping next to each other, their wings spread out on the ground. Even though they were just born, the pups were covered with soft, silky fur and their wings were fully developed.
"What are their names?" Sayla asked the two wolves in the front of the crowd.
"This one is Graenik," one of the wolves, the pups' mother, said, nudging the larger of the two pups with her nose. The pup's fur was pure white, and his feathered wings were a soft shade of silver. He slowly regarded Sayla with a bright blue eye before going back to sleep.
"And the other one?" Sayla asked. The second twin couldn't look more unlike his brother. Jet black fur covered the smaller pup, and the membrane on his batlike wings was so dark that it looked almost purple.
"Oh, that's Rodan," the twins' father said cautiously. "But are you sure that we should send him, too? I mean, do you really think he could be the one? He's so... you know... chaotic"'
"It is too early to tell which king is which," Sayla said. "They both need to come with me. When they're older, we'll know."
"We understand," the twins' father said. He nudged the two pups awake. "It's time to go. You have a long journey ahead of you, boys." The twins yawned and got up, curiously watching their parents and Sayla.
Sayla nosed the two kings towards the den's exit. "We have to leave now. We're going to your new home, Howlmont. Someday, one of you will defeat your brother rule the Clans from that mountain. For now, though, you must prepare."