This is where the story starts to develop the beginning of the plot. I am done with relationship development between Raven and Whisper, everything else between them will happen naturally.

This is where I start to throw many more characters into the story.

This is also the first arc: The Veiled arc.

Enjoy!


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Chapter 5: Veiled Forest Village

He laid on the cold stone floor scoping his surroundings while he laid motionless with one of his hind legs stretched out behind him, his fine blue muzzle resting on his paws. He had just woken up, with a throbbing pain in the side of his skull. He pulled back his leg under him to look less relaxed, as he was not. He was confused and panicky, and was too afraid to move. Fear froze his body yet again. He was in a dark stone cell with vines dangling from the walls.
Suddenly he remembered what had happened.
“Whisper!” He yelled out from the pit of his gut, jumped up and rammed his body into the steel cell door. The gate rattled in its joints and the impact shook through Raven’s bones.
“Whisper!” he cried out hysterically and slammed into the gate again. He knew it was futile but he was confused and in mental pain.
He slammed into the gate a couple more times and then passed out due to the mental and physical trauma.

“What’s with all the racket?”
“The prisoner is awake sir. He tried to break open the gate but his effort went to vain, he damaged himself and passed out” the guard sighed.
“He is a troubled wolf. Tend to his wounds while he’s still out”
“Very well sir”
Raven moaned as he heard voices in his half unconscious state. He scratched at his ear with his front paw as he tried to wake up again, he’s mind was in turmoil.
“Sir Wait, he’s waking up” Said the guard as he stared at Raven.
“Open the gate”
Raven heard the rattling sound of a key turning in the lock as his mind started to synchronize with his surroundings once again; he opened his eyes as his head was spinning and everything was in a blur. He saw a blurred silhouette of someone as he looked dimly through his eyelashes.
“Can you hear me?” said the dark green silhouette in front of him.
Raven growled under his breath as he got up, he shook his head and curled his lip up in a snarl.
“Don’t do anything irrational, blue. I’m not here to provoke you. I’m a friend” said the dark green wolf.
“Where’s Whisper?” Raven growled, still ready to attack.
“Your yellow friend is safe for now. Please calm down” He smiled.
Raven stared at the him confused and suddenly pounced at him and pinned the dark green wolf to the ground.
“Warden!” Yelled the guard that accompanied the dark green wolf.
“Take me to my friend or I will end your life” Raven barked at the warden as he stood above him. The warden sighed and looked at the wall, he then pulled his front paw back that was close to Raven’s chest and then vines suddenly grabbed Raven and pulled him off the warden and into the wall. Raven gasped as his wind was knocked out.
He was stuck against the wall with the vines tangled uncomfortably around him, holding him tightly against the wall and off the ground. Raven growled and kicked around in the air struggling to get free.
“I came here to check if you would cooperate. So that I could take you to your friend, but you just had to be violent. Now you will stay in this cell” Growled the warden as he walked out.
“Are you okay warden?”
“I’m fine” He barked at the guard as he locked up. They walked away in silence as Raven began to fathom what had happened at that moment.
“Come back!” Raven barked painfully. Then he fell to the ground with a thud.

Four days passed since his confrontation with the warden, or it felt like four days according to Raven. He was cut off from the world outside and no natural light came into the dark dungeon. Only source of light was the single torch in the corridor outside his cell that shone through a barred opening through his metal door. Raven felt a pathetic, there were no sign of water anywhere that he could manipulate and escape. And his body was too frail and weak to break open the gate.
The guards brought him dried out food twice a day and constantly forced him to eat ice to keep his body hydrated. The guards cleverly blocked all of Raven’s possibilities of escape.

“This dungeon is designed specifically for water scum like you” a guard taunted one day to break Raven’s spirit. But instead Raven’s ears rose and he stood against the cell gate and looked at the guard.
“Were there other water elementalists here recently?” Raven asked with a burst of relief.
“No” the guard replied bluntly “This cell was designed before the war, you are our first Waterwolf in many many years”
Raven dropped his ears and the feeling hopelessness rushed over him again like a dark cloud.
“You, my friend, are probably the last living Waterwolf. The rest died in vain, and soon you will join them in the afterlife” Laughed the guard darkly as he walked away.
Raven gave a painful whine and bit deep into his front leg with his powerful jaw, he cried as the tears ran down his muzzle that mixed with his blood. Raven pulled out the blood from the wound with his ability and continuously shot it at the gates lock. Raven grew weak after each shot as the blood in his body dwindled. After a few shots he stopped and his painful howl echoed through the dark corridors of the dungeons. The lock didn’t have a single scratch on it.
He fell down exhausted and stared into the dark oblivion of his mind. Raven thought of Whisper and knew she would be dead by now, he lost all hope and he didn’t care for escape. All he wanted was to die and be put out of his misery.

Raven, wake up.
“Huh... who’s there?” he asked confused and opened his eyes but saw no one.
I must be finally losing my mind, he thought to himself.
Suddenly he heard footsteps walking towards the cell. Raven got up and sat in the dark corner of his cell, fearing the worst.
He heard the familiar jingle of keys as the lock opened. The guard that always taunted Raven stepped in and saw him cowering in the corner with his ears flattened to his head and back arched to make himself look smaller. The guard gave a cynical laugh.
“This cell breaks a wolf’s spirit so quick. The wolf that was once full of anger is now cowering in the corner, just look at yourself. You disgust me”
“Get away from me” Raven barked.
“That’s enough. Get out of my way” demanded a deep voice from behind the guard. The guard moved out of the doors passageway and the warden stepped in.
“You have been in here for eight days now, blue. I suggest you cooperate now or you will stay for another week”
Raven growled submissively.
The warden looked around and saw the dried splattered blood around the doors lock and walls, his jaw nearly dropped open. He hadn’t expected his prisoner to inflict self pain just to have blood to manipulate. The warden was disgusted but awed at Raven’s strange will.
“You really are something else blue...” he said softly.
Raven growled under his breath as he looked away in embarrassment.
“Don’t try anything stupid, it won’t end well for you. Will you obey?” continued the warden.
Raven decided to listen to the warden and comply obediently. He didn’t want to be in the dark any longer, even though he thought they were going to kill him now.
He nodded to the warden and got up. He yelped in pain as he put weight on his damaged front paw, the self-inflicted gash was covered in dried blood. He slowly limped towards the warden with his head lowered, avoiding eye contact.
“Good choice, blue. Guards, restrain him” the warden ordered. Raven’s eyes widened as he saw two more guards come in. Two vines wrapped tightly around him, one around his chest and another around his waist. Raven grew anxious but submitted without a fight. The warden smiled and threw a third vine around Raven’s neck, but it didn’t tighten as much. The vines that were attached to him were wrapped around the guards’ front legs to prevent him from running.
The warden pulled Raven behind him as he walked out of the cell, leading him like a dog on a leash. Raven felt humiliated as his eyes searched his surroundings, it was a refreshing change of atmosphere since he has been locked in a small dark cell for so long. They walked through many corridors, for Raven it felt like an endless maze, with the warden in front, a guard at each side of him and the guard that taunted him behind.
Finally they started to climb a swirling flight of stairs until they got to a huge metal door.
“Open her up” yelled the warden. The door began to open with chains rattling from behind it.
“Don’t try to run. This vine will tighten and snap your head clean off, got it blue? Don’t make unnecessary trouble for both of us” he said with a relaxed tone.
“My death will be troubling for you?” Raven hissed.
“More than you can understand. Just don’t do anything stupid. The Village Elder requested an audience with you; he is a very important figure here so please respect him”
Raven stared confused at the warden.
“So this is just a small village? Why does a village have such a big dungeon?” Raven asked irritated. The guard just manage a chuckle and as the door was now almost fully open, Raven stared out in the blinding light as the Warden pulled him again. He’s eyes were shut tight as the light gave him a splitting headache.
They continued walking until he heard the warden starting to speak to someone. Raven couldn’t concentrate on what the voices were saying through the splitting pain in his head.
He continuously tried to open his eyes but the light was too much to handle. Being locked up in the dark for so long with the headache did a number on his eyesight.
Suddenly he heard his name and his ears cocked toward the conversation.
“Who’s there?” he asked.
“I’m a friend, Raven” said a soothing female voice.
“So everybody keeps telling me, and look how I get treated. Like filth!” Raven barked.
“Hazel leave the prisoner, he is dangerous” demanded the warden.
“I hate to play this card, warden. But I am the elder’s successor and you will treat me with the proper respect. Now release him” Hazel said almost shyly.
“But Hazel... We have direct orders from your grandfather, we can’t just let him go, he is dangerous!”
“Let him go now or I will have you severely punished” she growled. The warden’s muzzle wanted to go into a snarl but he tried to hold back.
“You heard her, release him” he ordered the guards dryly. The guards pulled their vines back and Raven could breathe properly again, since that two were awfully tight.
“Why are you doing this, female? You heard the warden, I could be dangerous” Raven said.
“Have you seen yourself, Raven? You are covered in wounds and your own filth. And you are thin to the bone... You didn’t look like this before, did you?” Hazel said sadly dropping her ears then suddenly anger flourished in her face “You haven’t fed him properly, warden. We aren’t cruel beings; we care for others even if they are our prisoners” Hazel barked angrily as she looked like she was going to cry. “The elder will be hearing of this. Get out of my sight” she hissed and the guards walked away with their tails tucked between their legs.
“Thank you female. But you’re eight days to late; the damage has already been done” He said and dropped his head in shame.
“I am so sorry Raven. I wish I could have come sooner, but I’m prohibited to enter the dungeons or interfere in any way. I could only come now since you are free now”
“Free, am I? You should have left me to rot”
Hazel looked at him with sadness filling her.
“What happened to you down there, Raven? You’re strong will seems to be completely broken, your will is what Whisper admires the most about you”
Raven’s head shot up, revealing his proud muzzle in the sunlight, he opened his eyes ignoring the pain the bright light caused to him.
“Where is Whisper? Is she here? Is she alive?” Raven demanded to know.
“Yes Raven, she is fine. She has been persistent to see you since she woke up four days ago”
“Thank goodness” Raven cried happily as the tears ran down his muzzle. Hazel smiled happily at him. He looked up to see Hazel’s beautiful green figure, and smiled at her through his tears of relief. He had happiness in his heart again and it felt good.
“Come on Raven, let’s get you cleaned up. And then I will take you to Whisper” Hazel said and Raven nodded with his tail wagging behind him.
“Follow me. And please call me Hazel; I know my gender thank you very much” Hazel laughed.
“Very well, I owe you that much... Hazel” He smiled.

Hazel grew concerned as she saw Raven limped next to her, the dried out wound on his front leg started to bleed again, and he was squinting his eyes in the daylight. She knew he was too proud to say anything.
“So where are you taking me?” Raven asked suddenly, catching her off guard.
“Oh uhm... to the bathhouse” she quickly replied.
“Water...” Raven whispered with his eyes glistening.
“Yes Raven, you probably haven’t seen water in a while. This is exactly what you need right now, right? To get yourself all healed up and all. So I arranged that the bath house should be empty, nobody would bother you”
“Thank you Hazel” Raven said relieved.
His eyes started to get accustomed the bright light again. He then noticed why the warden chuckled when Raven said ‘small village’ this village was huge with tall trees towering into the sky. In the trees there were houses resting on the convenient branches, rope bridges connected the houses to make it more mobile for the residents. The whole village was suspended above ground. On the ground where Raven and Hazel were there were beautiful gardens and natural features with only a few stone buildings.
“Beautiful isn’t it? A nature village untainted from war. Welcome to the Veiled Forest Village, Raven” Hazel said.
“It is truly an amazing sight to behold, yes. But why is it ‘Veiled’ Forest Village?”
“If you haven’t noticed yet, this village is surrounded by a mountain range. We are hidden from the outside world and they don’t know we exist, we make sure of that”
Raven was amazed at what Hazel had said.

“We’re here, come inside Raven” Hazel said and led him into one of the stone buildings.
Two wolves walked past them and eyed Raven suspiciously as they head out. Raven stared at Hazel’s lavishing long tail as she walked in front of him down the hallway. She noticed his eager eyes and smiled.
“In there”
Raven nodded and went through a corridor; his eyes grew big as he saw the wondrous sight. It was a big bath and in the middle there was a beautiful statue of a wolf covered in leaves with water running down her into the water. The room was under a layer of steam that stimulated Raven’s fur with nourishment as it swept over him. She stood there gawking at the sight with his tongue lolling from his mouth as he panted happily.
“Go in, Raven”
He bowed his head to Hazel in thanks then limped to the baths edge, it was quite deep and he didn’t just want to jump in, the water looked warm and he didn’t want to put his body through more shock. He surveyed the bath and saw steps then headed to it. He first stepped in with his one front paw, his body shook at the feeling of warm water around his paw. He exhaled out and walked all the way in until the water covered his legs and stomach. Raven flinched as the water burnt his wounds, he watched how the water around him turned brown from the dried blood and filth on his fur. He was embarrassed when he saw Hazel eagerly watching him from the edge of the bath with her tail wagging slightly behind him. They exchanged awkward looks for a while.
“Can I maybe get some pr...”
“Yes! Sorry. I will get you some food now” she barked foolishly and headed out, Raven rolled his eyes and laughed.
He went underwater and spun around, enjoying the nourishing warmth, but he was still badly damaged and needed to heal himself, he really didn’t feel up to it. He closed his eyes and concentrated, with his gathered strength he blew down into the water until an orb of clear blue light formed in the water. He closed his eyes and went under the water, the room fell silent. The blue orb suddenly burst and bright streams of light flooded the water. Hazel peeked from behind a thin wooden screen; she was awed by the beauty in front of her. But then she saw Raven’s once motionless body shaking violently under the water. She stared in horror as she heard his suffocating screams under the water.
“That ability of his is like a double-edged sword” said a voice behind her and she turned around.
“Vera...”
“Has the blue wolf caught your eye, Hazel?”
Hazel ignored the question.
“I know you’re overly friendly, but the way you look at him is slightly... different” Vera said teasingly, Hazel didn’t say anything.
“How long are you still gonna ignore me? Huh Hazel? This little game of yours is getting quite annoying, stop acting like a child” Vera snapped. Hazel turned to look her in the eyes.
“You left his friend to die. It’s your fault he has been through so much pain” she said sadly and looked at Raven slumped over the side of the bath panting heavily. “You should have helped them, Vera. Don’t you feel any regret? None at all?”
“Well...” Vera said as she looked away.
“You are dark, Vera” Hazel growled then walked out from behind the screen and towards Raven. Vera gave a sigh as Hazel walked away.
“Raven... Are you okay?” She asked and poked his head with her paw. He opened his one eye and peered up to her and smiled.
“I’m just great” He said a bit sarcastically. He got out of the water and stood in front of Hazel, she smiled shyly as she saw his dripping fur.
“So where’s the food?”
“What food?”
Raven stared at her blankly “You said you were going to get me some food?”
Hazel was quiet for a few seconds and stared at him puzzled “Oh right!” she barked “The food is ready for you in the other room; I had many dishes made up for you”
Raven smiled softly at her and turned around, as he walked next to the baths side he stretched his legs, finally he stood still and took a deep breath. Hazel looked at him amused wondering what he was going to do next. Raven shook his body that all the water from his fur flew off and levitated around him. From Hazel’s point of view it looked like Raven was surrounded by a divine aura as the water particle around him sparkled in the sunlight that shone through one of the many sunroofs. Finally the water gathered up into a ball and floated down to his muzzle, he blew at it and it began to shine the familiar bright blue glow. He walked towards Hazel and put the water orb in front of her.
“Here’s a little something for you, just to show my gratitude for your kindness” he said.
“Thank you, Raven. It’s beautiful, but what do I do with it?”
“Touch it. But first wait until I’m a safe distance away, I got enough healing for today” He said jokingly rolling his eyes.
“Uh... ok then” Hazel said a bit puzzled as Raven ran off the far side of the bath. He turned around and nodded; Hazel stared at him blankly then poked the blue orb. Suddenly there was an explosion of divine light and she was surrounded by a diamond mist. She gave a surprised gasp and watched the mist around her with awe. Vera stood by the screen watching them; her eyes sparkled as she watched, suddenly she snorted and walked away. Hazel dropped onto her back and laid there mesmerized by the beauty that surrounded her. Raven looked at her and laughed, and with a whip of his muzzle the mist dispersed.
Hazel had still laid there until Raven got to her, when she saw him she playfully rolled around on her back as she panted happily.
“That was amazing Raven! Your abilities are truly poetic” she laughed happily. Raven nodded in respect. Then Hazel got to her feet again.
“You must be starving by now, let’s go eat” she said smiling and started leading him again, they exited the bathing room and entered another, smaller room across the hall. Raven saw many plates of food and his stomach ached when he noticed the hollowness in it. Hazel sat down and told him to sit next to her; he stared at the food with his mouth watering.
“Eat all you want, Raven” she smiled. Before she could finish her Raven started gulping down food as fast as he can. Hazel stared blankly at him then started laughing.
“Slow down Raven, there’s plenty more food from now on. You won’t starve for weeks until your next meal here”
Raven looked at her foolishly with a piece of celery hanging out of his muzzle “I’m sorry, it’s a habit I guess” He said feeling embarrassed “Where’s the meat?”
“Oh right, meat. Yeah we don’t really have a big meat stock; most of the villagers here are vegetarian”
“Oh my gosh that’s horrible!” Raven barked surprised. She stared at him a bit agitated.
“But I will arrange some for your next meal?”
“That would be great, thank you. I need meat” he laughed. She rolled her eyes and they continued their meal.
“Are you full, Raven?” Hazel asked when all the food was done.
“Well as full as I can get on fruit and vegetable” he said insensitively.
“That’s great” she said dryly “Come on, you want to see Whisper right?”
Raven’s ears shot forward on attention and he quickly got up “Will you take me to her now?” he asked happily.
“Yes, Raven” she said and stood up, Raven ran out of the room and down the corridor. Hazel was surprised at his action.
“It’s the other way, Raven!” she barked and he turned around and ran past her, she laughed and ran behind him. He caught up to him “Why don’t you let me lead since you have no idea where you’re going”
“You do that”
They ran happily next to each other through the gardens as the villagers stared at them and whispered amongst themselves. Raven noticed as they ran, Small flowers grew where Hazel stepped. Hazel noticed him looking and smiled “It’s a habit”
“Right” he chuckled.

They stopped in front of a big tree with a very thick base and they both looked up at it.
“Whisper is up there, in that house... my house”
Raven’s tail wagged happily behind him then suddenly it stopped “How do we get up there?” he asked confused as he looked around to see no way of going up.
“This village is actually just for nature elementalists, we don’t usually allow outsiders. So if you’re a different kind of elemental you are going to have a hard time getting around”
“Oh that’s just perfect” Raven said dryly.
“Well you have me, Raven” Hazel smiled. Then she touched the tree with her paw and four wooden steps grew out of the base of the tree. She then smiled proudly at Raven then started to climb the steps, Raven followed behind her. As they ascended, the steps behind Raven went back into the tree as a new one formed in front of Hazel. Raven felt uncomfortable being so close to Hazel but it was clearly better than falling off behind.
“Are you sure this is safe?” He asked as he looked down to the ground.
“Yes of coarse Raven. Just as long as you don’t fall” she chuckled. Raven rolled his eyes as he stiffly continued climbing up. Finally they reached the deck and a hole opened for them. They climbed through, standing in front of a rather large tree house.
“I’m alive!” Raven barked jokingly and Hazel laughed.
Two guards were standing in front of the door and they nodded to Hazel in respect as they opened the door. Raven and Hazel walked in and Raven was awestricken by the beautiful natural decor.
“Are you an important figure in this village?”
“Something like that” she said dryly. “Whisper is beyond those doors”
Raven Rushed happily for the wooden sliding door and pushed it open with his paw, he saw Whisper and stood there motionless. Whisper was lying with her behind on a stack of pillows and her top side of her body on the floor, with her mouth open and her tongue lying on the floor. She looked like she was dead.
“Whisper!” he yelled as he rushed to her side, he laid down next to her and licked her muzzle sadly. “I thought you said she was okay now” he cried.
Hazel watched with a horrified expression on her face “But... she...”