hello

 If youve read the stories ive written here i hope you enjoyed them,  lets enjoy the world ive created in my head of machines, mutants and magic. =)  and yes if you think they resemble Philippine mythology, you got it right. most my stories are strongly influenced by Philippine mythology and the cultures of the countries ive visited. Thank you to my parents who without question let me travel all over. 

Ive written many short stories of the Iron Reign series. 

    Iron Reign: The Black Coffin

    Iron Reign : Flaming Heaven

    Iron Reign : Angel Claw

    Iron Reign : Frost King of the Wastes

    Iron Reign : Demonic science

    Iron Reign : Sands of damnation

    and many more... its just jumbled ..=)  

Tower of Thorns Tower of Fangs Volume 5 Chapter 7 Hatchling

 

Chapter 7  Hatchling

Moon discovered the dragon entirely by accident. Which, in hindsight, explained almost everything that followed. The young celestial had spent the morning gathering berries beside a mountain stream. Tapio had suggested exploring the southern valleys. The old forest god regretted that suggestion almost immediately. Because whenever Moon went exploring something happened. Usually something strange. Occasionally something dangerous. Almost always something ridiculous. Today was no exception. 

The forest slowly gave way to rocky foothills. Ancient cliffs rose above winding rivers. Patches of snow still lingered among the higher peaks. Moon floated peacefully through the wilderness, humming softly to himself. Birds followed him. Several fairies of moonlight drifted nearby. The day felt perfect. Then he heard it. A tiny noise.

"Skree."

Moon stopped. His black eyes blinked. The sound came again.

"Skree."

The celestial looked around. Nothing. Just rocks. Snow. Grass. Mountains. Then

"SKREE!"

Moon jumped. The noise came from directly beneath him. The celestial carefully looked down. A tiny creature glared back. Moon stared. The creature stared. Several seconds passed. Neither moved. Finally Moon crouched. The tiny creature was no larger than his hand. Its scales shimmered red and gold. Two tiny horns protruded from its head. Its wings appeared much too small for its body. Its tail wagged angrily. Most importantly it looked absolutely furious. Moon blinked. The creature hissed. Tiny smoke emerged from its nostrils.

Moon's eyes widened.

"...a dragon?"

The creature immediately attacked. Or at least it attempted to. The hatchling launched itself forward. Its tiny jaws opened dramatically. Then it bit Moon's finger. Moon froze. The dragon froze. Nothing happened. The bite wasn't even strong enough to break skin. The hatchling growled. Moon looked down. The dragon continued chewing. Moon tilted his head. The dragon chewed harder. Still nothing. The celestial carefully lifted the tiny dragon into the air. The hatchling dangled from his finger. Still biting.

Moon stared. The dragon stared back. Still biting.

Moon finally asked:

"Are you finished?"

The hatchling bit harder. Moon sighed. Several minutes later the dragon finally let go. Mostly because it became tired. The hatchling landed on a nearby rock. Immediately puffed out its chest. Spread its tiny wings. And released the most intimidating roar it could manage.

"Skree!"

A small puff of smoke emerged. Moon covered his mouth. The dragon narrowed its eyes. The celestial looked away. The hatchling looked suspicious. Moon's shoulders began shaking. The dragon became offended. Moon accidentally laughed. The hatchling immediately launched itself at him again.The battle lasted approximately thirty seconds.

Moon won decisively. Mostly because he simply picked the dragon up. The hatchling hated this.

Moon thought it was adorable. The dragon bit him repeatedly. Moon remained entirely unharmed. Eventually the celestial sat beneath a tree. The hatchling sat beside him. Both pouted. The dragon crossed its tiny arms. Moon crossed his. Neither spoke. Then the hatchling's stomach growled. The dragon froze. Moon froze. The hatchling immediately looked away.

Moon smiled softly.

"You haven't eaten."

The dragon growled. Its stomach betrayed it again. Moon offered a berry. The hatchling stared. Then suspiciously sniffed it. Then ate the entire berry. Including Moon's fingers. The dragon immediately demanded another. Moon laughed. The hatchling glared. Then accepted several more berries. By the time the sun began setting they were friends. Or at least the dragon tolerated Moon's existence. Which was essentially the same thing.The celestial soon discovered several important facts.

The dragon was extremely small. Abnormally small. Even hatchlings were supposed to be larger. The dragon was also extremely greedy. Moon offered it food. The hatchling accepted. Moon offered another berry. The hatchling accepted. Moon offered twenty berries. The hatchling accepted. Moon offered a shiny pebble. The hatchling accepted even faster. Moon blinked. The dragon hugged the pebble possessively. Its eyes sparkled. Moon slowly produced another shiny stone. The hatchling gasped. Actually gasped. Then immediately stole it. Moon laughed. The dragon looked offended. Then stole another pebble.

Three days later the hatchling had accumulated a treasure hoard. A very tiny treasure hoard. Consisting entirely of pebbles. Moon found this endlessly entertaining. The dragon considered it serious business. One evening Moon discovered the hatchling sleeping atop its collection. The dragon was using shiny rocks as a pillow. Moon stared. The hatchling snored proudly. The celestial smiled. Then gently draped a blanket over it. The dragon immediately grabbed the blanket. Adding it to the hoard. Moon laughed again.

Eventually the young celestial asked the obvious question.

"What should I call you?"

The hatchling looked up. A berry hung from its mouth. Moon thought carefully. The dragon waited.

The celestial smiled.

"Ashkar."

The hatchling blinked.

Moon smiled wider.

"I think it suits you."

The dragon considered this. Then nodded proudly. As though it had chosen the name itself. Moon laughed.Ashkar puffed out his chest.

The following morning Moon woke to discover Ashkar sleeping on his face. The dragon had somehow migrated during the night. Its tail wrapped around Moon's neck. Its wings covered one eye. Its tiny claws clung to his hair. Moon carefully lifted the dragon away.

Ashkar immediately woke. Then climbed right back onto his head. Moon sighed. The hatchling refused to move. The celestial eventually gave up. Thus began a pattern. Wherever Moon traveled Ashkar followed. Like a duckling following its mother. Or a chick following a hen. The dragon followed him everywhere. Streams. Forests. Mountains. Ruins. Everywhere. If Moon stopped walking Ashkar climbed onto him. If Moon sat down Ashkar occupied his lap. If Moon slept Ashkar somehow appeared nearby. The hatchling became his constant companion. Neither realized it then. But someday Ashkar would become ruler of the Fire Mountain. A dragon king. A lord of flame. A being feared by kingdoms. Someday. For now he was simply a tiny dragon stealing shiny rocks and attempting to bite trees. Moon found this wonderful. The world had become much less lonely. And somewhere high above the ancient wilderness the stars watched a celestial and a hatchling begin a friendship that would last centuries.

Neither understood it yet.

But both had found family.

Tower of Thorns Tower of Fangs Volume Five Chapter 8 The Angel Named Sky

 

Chapter 8  The Angel Named Sky

Moon first saw the angel descending from the sky. Literally. One moment he sat beside a river feeding berries to Ashkar. The next the heavens opened. Moon looked up. Ashkar dropped his berry. The clouds parted. Golden light spilled across the world. Not sunlight. Something older. Something sacred.

The sky itself seemed to unfold like vast white wings. Then a figure emerged. Beautiful. Radiant. Impossible. Moon stood slowly. The angel descended upon a pillar of light. Long blonde hair flowed behind him like liquid gold. The ends curled softly. His skin appeared flawless. Almost translucent. His crystalline blue eyes glowed with ancient wisdom. Yet the most striking thing about him was his wings. They were not symmetrical. His right wing was magnificent. Pure white feathers. Brilliant. Holy. Beautiful beyond words. His left wing was different. Dark. Scaled. Almost draconic. Part bat. Part dragon. Part demon. The contrast should have looked wrong. Instead it made him breathtaking. Like two worlds sharing one soul. Ashkar immediately hid behind Moon. The hatchling peeked around the celestial's robes suspiciously.

The angel landed gently upon the riverbank. Grass bent beneath his feet. Flowers bloomed instantly. The entire valley became silent. Even the wind stopped. Moon stared openly.

The angel smiled warmly.

"You must be Moon."

Moon blinked.

"You know me?"

The angel laughed softly.

"I know of you."

His voice sounded like distant bells. Like music carried upon the wind. The celestial tilted his head. The angel stepped forward. Then bowed politely.

"My name is Cielo."

Moon smiled.

"Hello."

Cielo visibly relaxed. The angel had expected many things. Suspicion. Fear. Questions. Moon offered none. Only kindness. The celestial always did that.

Ashkar finally emerged.

Very carefully. The hatchling studied the angel. The angel studied the hatchling. Then Ashkar hissed.

Cielo looked offended.

"I haven't done anything."

Ashkar hissed louder.

Moon sighed.

"He doesn't trust strangers."

The angel looked amused.

"He is a dragon."

Ashkar immediately puffed out his chest proudly.

Moon smiled.

The angel laughed. 

Several moments passed. Then Cielo became serious. The smile disappeared. The atmosphere changed. Moon noticed immediately. Something important was coming. The angel looked toward the horizon. Far away. Beyond mountains. Beyond forests. Beyond rivers. Toward places unseen.

Then he spoke.

"The Chosen have arrived."

Moon blinked.

"The what?"

"The Chosen."

Cielo folded his wings.

"They came yesterday."

The celestial frowned slightly.

"Who are they?"

The angel was silent for a moment.

Then answered carefully.

"Young mortals."

"Many of them."

"From another world."

Moon's eyes widened.

Another world?

Even Ashkar looked curious.

Cielo nodded.

"They were summoned here."

"Why?"

The angel's expression darkened.

"Because the world is dying."

The words felt heavy. Ancient. Important. Moon listened carefully. Cielo continued.

"The age of the old gods is ending."

Moon thought of Tapio.

The angel nodded.

"As the old fades..."

Golden eyes lifted skyward.

"...the new must eventually rise."

The celestial frowned.

"I don't understand."

The angel smiled sadly.

"I know."

Cielo walked toward the river.

Moon followed.

The angel touched the water. Images appeared across the surface. Like reflections. Like dreams. Moon stared. Young people. Dozens. Hundreds. Boys and girls. Different faces. Different appearances. Different languages. Different lives. All frightened. All confused. All gathered within a vast wilderness.

"They have been chosen."

Cielo's voice became distant.

"Each possesses the potential for divinity."

Moon stared.

"Gods?"

"Future gods."

The angel nodded.

"If they survive."

The last words changed everything.

Moon looked up sharply.

"If?"

The angel's silence answered. The celestial frowned deeply. Ashkar growled.

Cielo looked away. Then finally said it.

"The Chosen must compete."

Moon disliked that immediately.

The angel noticed.

"Not all will survive."

The celestial's expression fell.

"Why?"

"Because power demands sacrifice."

Moon's eyes narrowed.

He hated that answer.

The angel sighed.

"I know."

The river images shifted. Moon watched young warriors struggle through forests. Fight monsters. Fight hunger. Fight fear. Some fought each other. The celestial didn't like that either.

"They're children."

The words escaped before he could stop them.

Cielo smiled sadly.

"They are."

Moon looked genuinely upset.

The angel suddenly understood why certain higher beings had spoken about this celestial differently. Moon saw people. Not tools. Not pieces. Not future gods. People. The distinction mattered.

The images shifted again. Three young men appeared. One laughed while carrying knives. One wore strange face paint. One stood silently with his face hidden beneath a hood. Moon stared. Something about them felt important. Though he couldn't explain why.

The angel followed his gaze.

"Those three are interesting."

Moon looked at him.

"Why?"

Cielo smiled faintly.

"Because destiny has already begun circling them."

The answer made little sense. The angel clearly intended it that way. The images vanished. Silence returned. The river flowed normally once more.

Moon remained thoughtful. The angel studied him.

Then finally asked:

"What do you think?"

The celestial answered immediately.

"They sound lonely."

Cielo froze. That wasn't the answer he expected.

Moon continued.

"They were taken from home."

The angel remained silent.

"They don't understand this place."

Moon looked toward the horizon.

"They must be frightened."

Cielo slowly smiled. A genuine smile. Perhaps for the first time in centuries.

"You're very strange."

Moon blinked.

"I've heard that."

The angel laughed. The sun began setting. Golden light painted the world. Cielo spread his wings. The heavens answered. Moon realized the angel was preparing to leave. The celestial looked disappointed.

Cielo noticed.

"We will meet again."

Moon brightened immediately.

The angel smiled.

Then his gaze softened.

"Be careful."

Moon tilted his head.

"Why?"

For the first time Cielo looked worried.

"The Chosen will change this world."

The wind stirred.

The angel's wings shimmered.

"Some will become heroes."

The light intensified.

"Some will become monsters."

Moon frowned.

"And some..."

Cielo's blue eyes became distant.

"...will become both."

The words lingered.

Heavy. Mysterious. Foreboding. Then the angel rose. Light gathered around him. The heavens opened once more. Ashkar hid behind Moon again. The hatchling remained unconvinced. Cielo laughed. Then ascended into the sky. Higher. Higher. Until he vanished completely. The heavens closed. The world became quiet.

Moon stared upward for a long time. Thinking. Wondering.

Far beyond the horizon young mortals struggled through an ancient wilderness. Unaware that gods, angels, and destiny itself had already begun watching them. And somewhere among them three boys from a distant world were walking toward a future that would one day break the heart of a celestial.

Though none of them knew it yet.

Not even fate itself.

Tower of Thorns Tower of Fangs Volume 5 Chapter 9 The Three Boys

 

Chapter 9  The Three Boys

The first thing Eemil did after being transported to another world was swear. Loudly. Repeatedly. And creatively.

"Perkele!"

"This is complete bullshit."

The dark-haired teenager kicked a tree.

The tree remained unimpressed.

Eemil immediately regretted it. His foot hurt. His pride hurt more. Around him stretched an endless wilderness. Ancient forests. Towering mountains. Strange glowing plants. Absolutely no sign of civilization. No roads. No cities. No internet. No electricity. No answers.

"Mita vittu!"

"This is definitely bullshit."

Nearby, Matias sat upon a fallen log. Watching. Laughing. Not because anything was funny. Matias laughed whenever he felt uncomfortable. Or nervous. Or confused. Which meant he had been laughing almost continuously for the past hour.

"Hehehe..."

Eemil glared.

"Stop that."

"Hehehe..."

"Seriously."

"Hehehehehe..."

The dark-haired boy considered throwing a rock at him. Instead he sighed. Because Matias had always been strange. Even before this. A short distance away the third member of their group stood silently. Watching. Listening. Thinking. Nico. Always Nico. The quiet one. The mysterious one. The boy who rarely spoke. His face remained hidden beneath a black hood. A dark neck gaiter covered everything below his eyes. Only those eyes were visible. Blue. Calm. Unreadable. He stood with his hands in his pockets. As though being stranded in another world was merely a minor inconvenience. 

Eemil hated that. Mostly because he was jealous.

"Can you at least pretend to be worried?"

Nico looked at him.

Said nothing.

Eemil threw his hands into the air.

"See? That's exactly what I'm talking about."

Matias laughed harder.

"Hehehehehe..."

"You're not helping."

The three boys had known each other for years. Not particularly close. Not exactly strangers. Something in between. School. Sports. Shared history. The sort of friendship built through proximity rather than intention. Eemil naturally appointed himself leader. Nobody asked him to. He simply declared it. Repeatedly. Until everyone stopped arguing. Matias generally followed whoever seemed confident. Nico followed nobody. He simply happened to walk in the same direction.

The sky darkened. Strange stars appeared overhead. Different stars. Wrong stars.

Eemil noticed first.

His expression finally became serious.

"Those aren't ours."

Matias stopped laughing. Even Nico looked upward. The realization settled over all three. Heavy. Unavoidable. This wasn't a dream. This wasn't a prank. This wasn't some elaborate misunderstanding. They truly weren't home. For the first time silence settled between them. The forest watched. Ancient. Patient. Hungry.

Then the monsters arrived. The first creature emerged from the darkness shortly after sunset. Long legs. Too many eyes. Teeth where teeth shouldn't be. The thing resembled a wolf. If wolves were designed by someone who had only heard vague descriptions.

Matias immediately stood. The laughter vanished. Eemil grabbed a fallen branch. Nico quietly stepped forward. The creature growled. The three boys stared. The monster stared back. Several moments passed. Then it charged.

Everything happened very quickly. The monster lunged. Eemil swung his branch. Missed completely. Matias screamed. The creature tackled him. Everyone panicked. Including the monster. The fight became chaos. Branches broke. Leaves flew. Somebody punched something. Nobody knew who. Eemil somehow ended up climbing a tree. Matias accidentally kicked the creature in the face. Nico remained strangely calm. The monster lunged again. This time toward Eemil. Something happened. Something impossible. The shadows beneath Eemil's feet moved. The darkness stretched. Twisted. Changed shape. Then a small fox emerged. Made entirely of shadow. Its eyes glowed silver. The creature froze. Everyone froze. Including Eemil. The shadow fox immediately bit the monster. The monster screamed. Then fled into the forest. The shadow fox proudly sat beside Eemil. Its tail wagged. Silence followed. Long silence.

Then Matias pointed.

"What."

Eemil pointed back.

"What."

Both looked at the fox. The fox looked pleased with itself. Then sat directly on Eemil's foot. Claiming ownership.

Nobody slept much that night. The shadow fox refused to leave. Every time Eemil moved it followed. The creature behaved like an extremely loyal dog. Or a very judgmental cat. Neither comparison felt comforting. The fox eventually curled beside him. Eemil stared. The fox stared back. Then closed its eyes. Sleeping peacefully. 

The boy looked horrified.

Matias immediately started laughing again.

"Hehehehehe..."

Eemil threw a pinecone at him.

The following morning they met others. More young people. Lost. Confused. Frightened. Some spoke familiar languages. Others did not. Groups began forming naturally. Alliances. Friendships. Rivalries. Nobody fully understood what was happening. But everyone understood one thing.

Survival.

That afternoon the sky split open. Golden light flooded the wilderness. Every chosen participant stopped. Every conversation died. Every eye turned upward.

Something descended. An angel. Beautiful. Terrifying. Impossible. Long golden hair. Mismatched wings. One holy. One monstrous. Crystalline blue eyes.

Cielo. The Angel of the Sky. The messenger. The judge. The guide. The executioner. The angel hovered above them. Watching. Silent.

Then he spoke.

His voice carried across the entire wilderness.

"You have been chosen."

The words echoed. Thousands listened. Some trembled. Some prayed. Some cried.

Eemil grinned. Matias looked terrified. Nico simply watched. The angel continued.

"You stand within Elyria."

"A world nearing its end."

The wind stirred.

"The old gods fade."

"The new gods must rise."

Nobody fully understood. But everyone listened.

"The power to become divine exists within you."

The wilderness fell silent. Even the monsters seemed to listen.

The angel's gaze swept across the gathered youths.

"Survive."

The word felt like a command. A challenge. A sentence.

"Grow stronger."

"Awaken your gifts."

"Overcome one another."

The silence deepened. Then came the final revelation.

"The worthy shall ascend."

The stars seemed brighter. The world seemed larger. More dangerous. More beautiful. More terrible.

Eemil smiled slowly. The excitement in his eyes frightened Matias. Nico remained silent. Watching. Always watching. Because while others heard opportunity Nico heard something else. Loneliness. The beginning of something vast. Something that would change everything.

That night three boys sat beside a fire. A shadow fox slept nearby. None of them knew their future. None of them knew what waited beyond the trees. None of them knew that one would become a king of shadows.

One would become a laughing reaper. And one would become the White King of Eternal Winter.

Nor did they know that somewhere deep within the ancient wilderness a celestial with long black hair and eyes like midnight was about to step into all of their lives.

And nothing would ever be the same again.

Tower of Thorns Tower of Fangs Volume 5 Chapter 10 Shadow Fox

 

Chapter 10 Shadow Fox

The first power belonged to Eemil. Of course it did. If anyone was going to accidentally discover supernatural abilities while showing off it would be him. Three days had passed since Cielo's announcement. Three days of survival. Three days of hunger. Three days of monsters. Three days of wandering through an endless wilderness that seemed determined to kill them. The excitement had worn off. Reality remained. Eemil hated reality. The self-proclaimed leader sat atop a fallen log sharpening a crude stone knife. His leather jacket had long since torn. His boots were muddy. His dark hair was a mess.

His patience was gone.

"Vittu!"

"This is stupid."

Matias sat nearby.

"Hehehe."

Eemil pointed the knife.

"You say that one more time."

"Hehehehehe."

The knife lowered. Eemil sighed. Nico sat nearby beneath a pine tree. Silent as always. The hood remained up. The black face covering hid everything except his eyes. Those calm blue eyes. Watching. Always watching. Eemil found it annoying.

The forest around them was beautiful. Ancient. Untouched. Sunlight filtered through towering pines. Silver rivers wound through valleys. Strange flowers bloomed beneath roots. But beauty did not fill empty stomachs. The three boys had not eaten properly in nearly two days.

Which explained Eemil's mood.

"We need food."

Matias nodded.

"Hehehe."

"That's not an answer."

"Hehehehehe."

Nico pointed silently. The other two followed his gaze. A deer. Standing among the trees. Watching them. Beautiful. Healthy. Large. Food. Eemil immediately stood. A grin appeared. Finally. Something simple.

The hunt began badly. Then somehow became worse. Eemil chased the deer. The deer ran. Eemil ran faster. The deer ran faster. Several bushes suffered greatly. A tree somehow got involved. Nobody understood how. The deer remained completely unbothered. After nearly twenty minutes Eemil collapsed against a rock. Breathing heavily. The deer stood fifty feet away. Watching. Judging. Mocking. Probably. The dark-haired boy pointed dramatically.

"kisspää!"

"I hate you."

The deer blinked. Then casually walked away. Eemil nearly exploded. That was when it happened. Frustration. Humiliation. Exhaustion. Anger. Everything built together. The emotions twisted inside him. Something responded. The shadows moved. At first nobody noticed. Not even Eemil. The darkness beneath his feet stretched unnaturally. The shadow grew longer. Thicker. Alive. Nico noticed first. His blue eyes narrowed. Matias stopped laughing. The forest itself became still.

Then

the shadow stood up.

A creature emerged. Small. Elegant. Beautiful. A fox. Made entirely of darkness. Its fur appeared woven from living shadow. Silver eyes glowed softly. Its body flickered occasionally. As though existing between worlds.The fox stretched. Yawned. Then looked directly at Eemil. The boy stared. The fox stared. Neither moved. Several moments passed. Then the fox sat. Patiently. Waiting.

Eemil pointed.

"What."

The fox tilted its head.

Matias pointed too.

"What."

The fox yawned. Nico remained silent. Which somehow made everything worse. The shadow fox stood. Then casually walked around Eemil. Examining him. Judging him. The boy felt uncomfortable. The fox eventually sat beside him. Its tail curled neatly around its paws. Then it rubbed against his leg. Like a cat. Eemil froze. The fox looked pleased.

Matias laughed so hard he fell over.

"Hehehehehehehe!"

"This isn't funny!"

The fox immediately climbed into Eemil's lap. The laughter intensified. The dark-haired boy spent the next hour trying to understand what had happened. The fox refused to help. Mostly because it was a fox.

The creature simply followed him everywhere. Whenever Eemil walked the fox walked. Whenever Eemil stopped the fox stopped. Whenever Eemil sat the fox appeared beside him. The situation became increasingly ridiculous. Eventually Eemil tried commanding it.

"Go over there."

The fox ignored him.

"Sit."

The fox was already sitting.

"Do something useful."

The fox stared. Judgment radiated from its silver eyes. Matias laughed again. Eemil considered violence. Then danger arrived. A monster emerged from the forest. Large. Twisted. Covered in bone-like armor. Its jaws dripped venom. The creature towered above them. This wasn't like the smaller predators they'd encountered before. This thing was dangerous. The monster roared. Matias immediately stopped laughing. Nico stood. Eemil grabbed his knife. The shadow fox rose too. Its silver eyes narrowed. The creature charged.

The battle lasted less than ten seconds. The monster lunged. The fox vanished. One moment it stood beside Eemil. The next it appeared behind the monster. Shadow exploded. Darkness erupted across the forest floor. Dozens of black tendrils emerged. The monster froze. The tendrils wrapped around its legs. Its throat. Its body. The creature screamed. The fox's eyes glowed brighter. The shadows tightened. The monster collapsed. Dead. Silence followed. The tendrils vanished. The fox casually walked back. Then sat beside Eemil. As though nothing unusual had occurred. The boys stared. The fox licked its paw.

Nobody spoke for nearly a minute.

Then Matias whispered:

"mita vittu! ...what."

Eemil nodded.

"Exactly."

Nico crouched beside the fox.

The creature watched him calmly. The hooded boy studied it carefully. Then finally spoke. His first words in nearly two days.

"A shadow."

Eemil looked surprised. Nico rarely talked.

The hooded boy continued.

"Your power."

The realization settled. Slowly. He was right. The fox belonged to Eemil. It had emerged from his shadow. Protected him. Obeyed him. Mostly. The fox still seemed to possess opinions. Strong opinions. Judgmental opinions. That night the shadow fox slept beside Eemil. The creature refused to leave. Several times the boy tried moving away. Each time the fox followed. Eventually he surrendered. The fox immediately curled against him. Comfortably. Possessively. Like a loyal companion. Or an annoying pet. Possibly both. Eemil stared into the darkness. Thinking. Wondering. Power. Real power. Not imagination. Not fantasy. Real. The angel had been right. Something inside them was awakening. Something dangerous. Something extraordinary. The fox opened one silver eye. Then closed it again. Sleeping peacefully. Eemil smiled despite himself. 

The first power had awakened. And somewhere deep within the ancient wilderness fate quietly took notice. Because this small shadow fox would someday become a pack. Then an army. Then a kingdom.

And the boy who summoned it would one day be known as the Shadow Wolf Lord. But for now he was simply a teenager trying to sleep while a magical fox stole half his blanket.