Chapter 37. Who is Drake?
"You may call me Drake." The deep rumbling voice lilted through the clearing as everyone was able to raise their heads and stand upright.
Erza narrowed her eyes as she regarded the newcomer. "Not to sound ungrateful for your timely arrival, but care to explain what exactly is going on?" Her voice was calmer, and more collected after she witnessed Gavin's wounds close. There would be a chance for retribution later, and she would deliver it personally.
Drake bowed low, his right arm swept dramatically behind his back. "A thousand apologies. We were given orders not to injure the wolf or his companions. Orders that were chosen to be ignored." He directed his words towards Kara. She had the sense to look bashful as he straightened.
"I promise, Kara will be punished according to our laws for striking your wolf." Drake continued and Kara visibly paled but said nothing.
Erza noticed this and ended the fire that coated her fists. "So, what is going on? Why are you here?" Her tone was a mix of anger and curiosity.
Astrid walked over with Gavin's unconscious form held in her arms. She laid Gavin on the ground at Erza's feet gently. "Just so you know, I never intended to kill him. Just wanted to make you stop before Kara reacted." Astrids' cold voice trembled slightly as she glanced between them and Drake.
At a nod from Drake, Astrid walked over to stand behind him, her hands interlocked behind her back.
Drake let out a drawn-out sigh of frustration. "We three were sent as messengers from Lady Lunaria. She wanted to have a meeting with the wolf." Drake continued as he walked over and placed his hand on Gavin's furry chest. "Awake." His hands glowed a vibrant white that spread from his fingertips through Gavin's body.
Erza watched as Gavin's body glowed warmly. Suddenly, without warning Gavin jolted up gasping for breath. His breathing was ragged and panicky as he looked around in confusion.
"What the hell happened?" he asked as his eyes found Erza's first then noticed the newcomer that had his hand pressed to Gavin's chest.
"Who are you?" His growl of warning and glowing red eyes made the newcomer laugh at the bravery, and utter stupidity of his actions.
"Relax wolf. I'm the one that saved you and your group from utter death and destruction. The name's Drake, and I've been wanting to meet you." Drake said with a grin as he held out a hand to Gavin and offered to help him up.
Confused, Gavin took his hand in his claws and allowed the man to pull him to his feet. His wounds appeared to be healed, but his body was stiff and sore as Gavin rose to his feet.
Notice. Hp is fully recovered through magic. Body will remain sore for a short while until fully rested.
Gavin noticed that Astrid and Kara stood several yards away. Kara had her head held down and wasn't dancing around. Astrid was as stoic as ever. But Gavin noticed there was extra tension in her rigid stance.
"What do you want?" Gavin asked as he shifted back into his normal body. He ran a hand through his curls, pushing them out of his eyes as he regarded the blonde man. The man was ripped head to toe in enough muscle that it would make a body builder jealous. His long-blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail.
"As I already informed your companions. We were sent by Lady Lunaria to request a meeting. She wishes to meet the wolf that Lord Koray has chosen." Drake's words were friendly and polite but carried a tone of authority that gave the impression that this wasn't an offer they could refuse.
Tessa scoffed as she walked over to stand by Aria. "Who is this Lunaria and what does she want with Gavin?" She demanded dismissively.
Immediate tension could be felt as both Valkyrie sisters reacted instantly. The calm, cold and collected Astrid was red in the face with rage as her wings unfurled from her back. Kara's wings were already out, and both took one step forward towards Tessa.
"Watch your tone human. You speak of our goddess!" Kara snarled as her ever shifting colored wings turned a deep shape of green and twitched.
Drake turned and lifted one eyebrow at the girls who immediately quieted down.
"Tessa, stay quiet." Gavin admonished her. The last thing I need is Tessa pissing off agents of another god. That little display proved without a doubt how weak I am. He stepped forward and blocked Tessa from view of Astrid and Kara as he looked at Drake.
"Please forgive my friend. I haven't gotten around to explaining everything to them yet about the gods." Gavin apologized for the disrespect that Tessa unknowingly gave their goddess. He only hoped to avoid another one-sided fight in the clearing.
"It is alright. Most of humanity doesn't know or remember who the true gods are. No offense was meant, and none was taken." His words were softly spoken as he glanced behind him. Astrid and Kara had their wings tucked behind them and stood with hands behind their backs.
"Allow me to properly introduce myself. You may call me Drake. I am the right hand of Lady Lunaria and Head General of the Valkyrie race. I was one of the first Valkyrie ever created by my Lady. The two behind me aren't quite as old as I am, but they are my disciples, nonetheless." He extended a hand towards Gavin.
Gavin hesitated for a moment. It is alright Master Gavin. He means no harm. Veronica's calming voice filled his mind and soothed his nerves as he nodded. He extended his own hand and gripped Drake's. "I'm Gavin Johnson, eighteen years old, Alpha Were-Wolf shifter. This is my mate Erza O'Malley. That's Aria Quinn." He started the introductions as he pointed to Erza and Aria.
"That is Lyla Bain. The three of them are were-cat shifters. The mouthy one is Tessa Allasandra, human." Gavin's snark made the corners of Drake's mouth twitch slightly. The girls glanced among themselves and shifted back into their normal human bodies. Tessa's eyes narrowed dangerously but kept quiet as she walked over to join them.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance." Drake inclined his head to each of them as Gavin introduced them.
"The blonde in the back is Astrid Bloodson. The crazy brunette is Kara Stormsdottir." Drake pointed to each of the Valkyrie sisters in return.
"I'm confused about something. If Lady Lunaria wanted to meet with me, why didn't she just yank my consciousness like Koray does?" Gavin crossed his arms in confusion as he looked at Drake.
A thick vein on his forehead twitched slightly before he responded. "Lady Lunaria has more curtesy and respect than Lord Koray. She prefers meeting with people in person and after requesting instead of just yanking their consciousness to have a conversation."
"Well, I suppose we don't have any option to say no, do we?" Gavin sighed as he stepped beside Erza and interlocked his fingers with hers. She gave him a comforting squeeze in response.
"Unfortunately for you, no you don't. When the Queen Mother summons you, you come." Drake's reply was gentle as Astrid and Kara stepped up behind him.
"We will go to her domain, then I will return you all back to this place once she is finished." Drake's voice maintained its' polite cadence.
Veronica, what should we do? Gavin's question lingered between them.
Veronica sighed in his mind as she considered all the options. I think we have no other choice. You are too weak to put up any fight against the Valkyries. Drake seems to be even more fearsome. So, we go along with them. Maybe Lunaria can provide us with some assistance.
"I don't like this situation, but we will go with you." Gavin announced calmy after he looked around at everyone's faces.
He turned to Tessa. "Long story short, there are eight gods that exist in the world. Each of them created a race of beings. Koray created the shape shifter race. Lunaria is his mother and created the Valkyries." He hiked his thumb over his shoulder towards Drake and the sisters. "That would be these guys."
Tessa's jaw dropped as she listened in, and the horror of her earlier words washed over her. "You mean… I just insulted an actual goddess earlier?" Her face paled as she glanced at the newcomers.
Gavin nodded. "Yup. When we get in front of Lunaria, you keep your mouth shut unless spoken to. These people can kill all of us without even blinking." Gavin's stern warning hit home as he remembered the way that Kara effortlessly knocked him aside and almost killed him with that single, simple kick.
Tessa swallowed and nodded. "Right, I understand."
Gavin let out a breath of relief as he looked at Erza. "I'm assuming there's no chance you will stay here and let me go alone?"
Erza took a moment to process everything that happened that afternoon. She locked eyes with Gavin, and a smile broke across her face. "Not a chance in seven hells. You go; I go." She declared. Her hand shook as she squeezed his.
He leaned in to press his forehead against hers. "I know better than to waste time arguing." He looked over at Aria and Lyla. "You too are taking all this awfully quiet."
Aria smirked as she cast a worried glance at the sisters. "After what I just witnessed, I'm not stupid enough to argue." She crossed her arms over her chest as she walked to stand beside Erza.
Lyla followed suit and nodded in agreement. "Yeah, what she said. If they can knock you on your ass like that, what chance do we have of surviving?" Lyla reached out to place a hand on Erza's shoulder. "We stand together, right?"
Erza nodded as she looked at Tessa. "Do we?" Her words were quiet, apprehensive as she clenched her fist by her side.
Tessa hesitated as she looked at Erza. "I still don't like you, Erza. But I won't be left behind." She stubbornly said and walked over to stand next to Gavin.
"Good, now that everything is settled. Let's get going!" Drake declared as he clapped his hands, and a blinding light enveloped them all.
Tessa panicked and held onto Gavin's free arm. Gavin winced from the contact, his body still sore. She cried out in fear as she shut her eyes while the light wrapped around them all.
"Welcome, to Lunaria's Sanctum Sanctorum." Drake's voice filled their ears as the light dimmed and faded.