Volk: NO, EVERYTHING ISN'T ALRIGHT!
Sobaka: Whoa, whoa... what happened?
Volk: We lost Inu, and Kitsune lost an arm...
Sobaka: Oh... I uhh—
Volk: Don't say a word... let's go check on Okami and Kit.
Sobaka: Right...
Volk: Lykos, you coming with?
Lykos: I gotta check on Ale, I'll go after.
Volk: Alright.
Volk made his armor disappear and started walking to where Okami went. Lykos ran over to Alepou and Skylos.
Lykos: How is she?
Skylos: Well, she's breathing...
Lykos: Let's head inside. I'll carry her.
Skylos: Sure.
Lykos scooped Alepou up and carried her to the bedroom, carefully setting her down. He sat beside her, gripping her hand tightly. His mind kept dragging him back to the nightmare—the future he had to change.
"So, can you give me a chance at having some sort of life now?" Argos's voice echoed in his head.
Lykos: Now's not the time. Once we get out of this mess, I'll think about it.
Then, something else gnawed at him. Hildur mentioned Accalia... He frowned. What the hell did she mean, 'Children of Accalia'? What the hell was Dad up to...?
"She could be referring to these two. They were the only other ones in the dark room," Argos chimed in.
Lykos: UGH! Whatever, that old bastard never came back!
Frustration boiled over, and he kicked the doorframe as he walked into the room.
__________
Meanwhile, in the other house, Okami sat next to Kitsune, watching over her as she lay unconscious. Volk and Sobaka stood nearby, ready in case he needed anything.
Okami: Hey, Volk... why'd you just stand there when Thor was blasting you with lightning?
Volk: Oh, that? I'm immune to electricity... but I can't move when I get hit by it. That smoke coming out of my mouth? Side effect—I had to vent the harmful energy somehow.
Sobaka: You should've seen him back at the academy. This man got struck by lightning and just kept walking like it was nothing.
Okami: What the hell?! How do you even find out you're immune to electricity?
Volk: Well... the first time I got hit, I was a kid—struck by lightning three times. Then, when I was still in school, I was walking home, and some random guy threw a fucking eel at me.
Okami: WHAT? How does a man just throw an eel at you?!
Volk: Beats me. Just happened. But that's not all—the third time, I was working with a car battery, and out of curiosity, I shocked myself to see if I'd survive.
Okami: Why?! What in heaven's name made you think that was a good idea?!
Volk: I was testing the theory that I was immune. I mean, at this point, I think I'm immortal until something proves me otherwise.
Sobaka: This man fought a bear once. No weapon. No armor. Just fists to claws. He won.
Okami: What the actual fuck is wrong with you?!
Volk: Again—immortal until proven otherwise.
Okami: What the actual fuck...?
Volk: What about you? How'd you get the stretching power?
Okami's expression darkened. He glanced at the floor, taking a deep breath.
Okami: Oh, that... when I was young, Inu and I had...
He trailed off, voice heavy.
Okami: I... don't want to talk about it right now.
Volk: Fair enough.
Okami: But that did remind me—check where Hildur died. There might be an orb there... also, check where Inu was.
Volk: Right. Sobaka, stay here.
Sobaka: Will do.
Volk left, making his way to the battlefield. He spotted Aster and Lykos already inspecting some orbs on the ground. Approaching them, he waved.
Volk: Yo.
Aster: Oh, hey. Everything alright?
Volk: Yeah, uh... Okami told me to check if there were orbs, and looks like you beat me to it.
Lykos: Do these things mean anything?
Volk: No clue. You should probably ask Okami. Come with me so we can all ask him.
Aster and Lykos exchanged glances before following Volk. Just before they reached the house, Lykos grabbed Volk's coat.
Volk: Hmm?
Lykos: I'm confused about something... where's Inu's—
Volk: Gone. When a Telum user dies, their body just... disappears.
Aster: I heard about that but never actually saw it happen.
Volk: Yeah... it's convenient, but... I wouldn't want to just vanish like that.
Lykos: Hmm...
Volk: Let's head in. Try not to mention Inu. Please.
Aster & Lykos: Yeah...
They entered to find Sobaka mid-story.
Sobaka: —and then he says, 'Just go in! It's not that big.'
Volk: What the fuck are you talking about?
Sobaka: Oh hey, remember that one time you were playing that tank game—
Volk: Ah... right. Anyway, these two found some orbs on the ground.
Lykos: Actually, four.
Okami: Four?! Hand 'em over.
Aster and Lykos handed them over. Okami inspected the first—an orange, blazing-hot orb.
Okami: This is Inu's fire power...
He picked up the next one—cyan, oddly light.
Okami: No clue whose this is.
The third one—figures shifting inside, like flickering visions.
Okami: This has to be his future sight...
The last one—deep blue, swirling with spirit-like animals.
Okami: This could be Hildur's reviving power.
Lykos: So those orbs hold the abilities of the last user?
Okami: Sort of. Sometimes they change when they pass to someone new. My stretching power? Got it from an orb. The original user could reshape his entire body.
Volk: Okay, I know the future sight orb is Inu's. You should keep it, but... can I use it? I'm the only one here who really understands Telums.
Okami: If I give it to you... promise to tell us everything important you see.
Volk: I swear, I'll make sure no harm comes to you.
Okami hesitated, then handed it over.
Okami: Use it wisely.
Volk: I will... but, uh... how do I use it?
Okami: ...You're supposed to be the expert.
Volk: Telums, yes. Powers? No.
Okami sighed, holding out his hands.
Okami: Squeeze it like you're trying to break it.
Volk did as instructed. Instantly, his eyes widened.
Volk: Whoa... Let me guess, your next line will be—
Lykos: Oh...
Volk: Yep, it worked. But... why did you say 'oh'?
Lykos rubbed his arm.
Lykos: ...I, uh, kinda accidentally used an orb before. That's how I got my healing power.
Okami: How do you accidentally— you know what, never mind...
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