Mia was as bemused as her father. The images of her father were clear in her mind though the memories were faded. How could those memories be false when she could instantly recognise her father through them. Though Mia was a half wolf, her sense of smell wasn’t that strong. She relied of her other senses to get her through. She kept looking at her father’s face. The image in her mind was of the exact same person, only a little younger.
The foxes and wolves aged differently. They did grow up like a human but then after attaining maturity , they took a very very long time to reach old age. Mia was having a hard time digesting the turmoil within her.
“Are you saying father, that you haven’t taken me for a ride in the woods before? ” Her eyes were tearing up, ” Wasn’t it you who took me to the village fest and bought those toys? ”
“Mia. Moa calm down. I would have done all that, and much more had I known where you were. Rather, had I known that I had you. But why do you say it was me who did those things? Did you see the face of the person you are referring to? Did he look like me? ” Even the wolf king seemed disturbed with these.
Mia looked this way and that, as if trying to find an excuse to rationalize what she was saying. But couldn’t. She looked helplessly at Lin. He immediately stood up and came by her side, ” Why don’t we take a walk down that beautiful garden for a while Mia. I’m sure your father needs to attend to other issues as well. Let’s take a short breather. We will be catching up afterwards. Is that ok with you your highness. ” Lin asked the wolf king.
“Call me father, ” He dropped the formality at once. ” Take care of her. And let me know when she’s relaxed. It’s now something she is making up. But who was it that she saw. We need to get to the roots of it. ” He whispered into Lin’s ear who nodded with understanding.
” By the way Lin, I asked the ambassador to the fox kingdom to delay for a day. After we discuss the situation we are in thoroughly you can decide how to let you father know about all this. Will that be ok? ” He asked.
“That would be perfect. ” Lin smiled, finally one stress lifted from the long list.
Roe and Xie had been walking up and down their dormitories all day. They were too eager and impatient. There was no way of knowing what was happening behind the closed door of their father. Yet their curiosity was getting the better of them. Finally Roe went upto her brother and suggested, ” There’s a way to hear what they are talking about without them being able to see is, ”
” Are you crazy. Why would I do that. That would be against father’s orders, ” Xie refused very half heartedly.
“Alright. As you wish. I thought you wanted to get the whole picture, ” Roe pretended to walk away.
“Wait. Wait. wait. wait . Wait, ” Xie immediately stopped her by her robe. Roe smiled. The fish had caught the bread.
” Ummm, are you sure we won’t be caught? ” He asked half looking in her direction.
” Certain, ” Roe smiled and then pulled her brother behind her.
They had been hiding behind the storage chamber above the exit all this while. They had both listened to the tragic love story of the I’ll fated Nanako and Jin. They even heard about their half sister Mia’s mother. They too had many questions and queries that they wanted to throw very badly but it was enough for the time being that they were able to just be aware of what was going on around. When Lin took Mia and came outside the entrance, he stopped for a moment. He then put Mia down, smiled and then looked above.
” I didn’t know the wolf palace had mice all around, ” Lin joked.
” Mice? ” Mia asked reluctantly. Her mind was somewhere else trying to solve the maths in the head.
” Yeah mice. Human ones. Are you two going to come out now by yourselves or am I going to have to inform the king? ” Lin called them out directly.
Roe and Xie had no other option but to drop infront .
“Were you eavesdropping on your own king? ” Lin asked mocking with laughter.
“No. I mean it wasn’t like that…, ” Xie was trying to reason but Lin cut him short, ” Let’s go towards the garden. ” He said.
“What? ” Roe and Xie chorused?
“What? You want to go inside instead? ” He asked pointing inside where the king was.
” Not that. Not that. It’s good to get some fresh air. I’m going. ” Roe immediately changed camp and jumped beside Lin.
Xie had no other option but to join in.
The cool breeze greeted the group as they walked towards the beautifully decorated Royal garden. With every fruit hanging from their trees to every colour in every leaves, it was a breath taking place to be in. The glittery butterflies of their region were filling every corner. They were a special kind that could be seen both during the day and night. In the day time the glittery wings would shine as they would reflect the sun’s rays. At night the wings would glow like fireflies. These were another spirit animal, native to the wolf clan. Mia stretched her hands trying to touch one, momentarily forgetting her worries. Aa soon as her hands tapped one wing it melted into water and evaporated away.
” Aaaaahhhhhhjj, ” This made Mia scream and fall back in surprise. The others immediately gathered around her who were totally unaware as to what had happened just then. Mia looked around them as they towered over her as she laid in her falling position.