Journey to pythia

THE JOURNEY TO PYTHIA

The Pythia is originally called "Ingrid" the high priestess who held court at The Delta popularly known as The Pentagon, the sanctuary of the Northern Pacific, a sanctuary dedicated to the king of alphas.

Ingrid was highly regarded, for it was believed that she can channel prophecies from the moon goddess herself, while steeped in a trance.

Originally the moon goddess was channelled only once a year, but at the height of its way of life, it increased to twice.

An Ingrid was chosen among the priestesses of the temple upon the death of the previous Ingrids. The moral character was of utmost importance, and even if the newly-chosen Ingrid was married and had a family, she had to relinquish all familial duties in order to fill her role in the temple. Ingrids were likely women from higher-class families, who were educated, and well-read.

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"So, this is the place," Gwen looked so small in front of the old building. "How many years has it been?"

"The architect of this is a futurist. This building can stand for years," Bryan said.

"We are not here to examine the building, we need to go in and come out as soon as we are done," Shefiniah lamented.

"Why are we here in the first place? I don't get it,"

"There is no need to get what we are trying to do here. Your own is to protect everyone from harm," Shefiniah responded.

"Just you can protect us all. Why be sarcastic?"

"I wasn't. I'll be distracted most of the time and I don't want anything to happen to my subordinates," Gwen blushed at the words of her mistress.

"Can you just tell me what we are looking for exactly?"

"Constellation board of the three alphas. I need to know where the fourth star is," she stopped talking. "Can we go in now?" She took the first step and everyone followed.

Just as the outside walls are tall and huge, the inner chambers are extremely intimidating when it comes to size.

"Are you sure it was the divine that built this?" Gwen asked.

"When it comes to divine beings they can do much more," Shefiniah smiled. Shortly afterwards she groaned in pain. "Argh!"

Gwen and Bryan ran forward to prevent her from falling. "We are detected. Kalamura, protect us until we find the boards,"

"How are we going to find the boards in this huge place?" Kalamura asked.

"Just do as I say!" Shefiniah's eyes were red. Obviously, she is in a lot of pain.

Quickly, Kalamura shifted into his wolf form as his bright eyes shone toward them. Shefiniah closed her eyes and calmed her spirit.

"How are we really going to find the boards this place is fucking hu–"

"Shhhhhhh!" Gwen shuts Bryan and points at Shefiniah. "Keep quiet," she said inaudibly.

Shefiniah pointed toward the north. "There," she said.

Gwen and Bryan rushed to the north chamber and Shefiniah followed swiftly with Kalamura behind her.

Shefiniah took three boards from the set of boards aligned on the shelf. "Those are mine?"

"Yes, and the other alphas of the Northern Pacific,"

"So, it is true that our future has been written down already," his voice echoed in his wolf form.

"Would you stop talking? Your voice literally would get us killed,"

"You know who you are talking to right?"

"That won't matter when we are dead," Gwen eyed him and followed Shefiniah.

Bryan kept up the pace. "That was some nerve!" He yelled gently but Gwen ignored him.

There was a pool of water in the middle of the room they entered. Shefiniah gently placed the boards inside the water. The sun shines directly into the pool, making it difficult to stare at for a long time.

Following the spiral, it lightened the way deeper into the water and caused a ruffle.

"What is happening?" Kalamura asked.

"Solving mysteries," Shefiniah replied simply. "We shouldn't be here. But, it is needed for the survival of the whole clan. The three alphas are getting older without a mate. Something must be wrong," she whispered.

The boards emitted bright light and they prevented their eyes from getting blind. After a few seconds, everything went down and the three stars were visible in the sky as the sun dimmers.

"They all shine brightly," Kalamura changed into his human form.

"Yes, on a normal day one should shine brighter," she pointed at the sky – From the left, "That's Bath, Abyshama, and yours" she stared at Kalamura.

"See!" Gwen shouted. "Stars are fading in and out beside each bright star!"

Shefiniah frowned. "Which message is this trying to pass?"

A thud – Another thud – continuous thuds followed by a shrieking sound.

"Dejanstahl Voban," Shefiniah said.

"Deja what?" Kalamura leaned his ear forward. Shefiniah repeated herself. "What is that?"

"Head of an owl, body of a snake, and legs of an alligator. We need to run!" She yelled.

"Let's try to stop it!"

"Stop it? We are like a helpless ant in front of a hungry lizard!"

"Why don't you teleport?"

"Teleportation doesn't work here. Shaman's powers are useless," she gasped for air, holding her dress as she ran.

"How did you find the constellation board then?"

"That's just a normal sense of reasoning!"

"How did I shift into my wolf form?"

"There is nothing you can do while in here!"

In a blink of an eye, the dangerous beasts stand in front of them. Just as Shefiniah had described it, so it is.

"It is huge," Gwen parted her lips.

"Should we run?" Kalamura asked gently.

"What's the use?" Shefiniah responded.

The beast got closer and their hearts beat faster. Face to face with Shefiniah, the beast roared but Shefiniah didn't move an inch. The beast took a last glance and suddenly grabbed Gwen.

"No!" Shefiniah yelled and Gwen screamed. "Bring her back!"

They felt totally helpless. Shefiniah couldn't take her eyes off the trail of the beast. "Don't," Kalamura who has been watching her warned.

"It is for the greater good," her voice was faint.

"It is Gwen! You can't let her die like that! She has been with you since when she was a kid! That's not fair if you do nothing!"

"Life is fair," Shefiniah said and turned around while Kalamura followed. Bryan took a last glance and joined them as he wiped the tears from his eyes.

The journey back home was silent. Each thinking about what Gwen would be passing through at the moment. Is she okay? Is she alive? Who knows?

"I'll be going back to my region," Kalamura announced.

"Alright," Shefiniah responded. "Tomorrow, assemble yourself in the Alpha's Quarter by noon. We need to settle this dispute amongst the three regions once and for all," there is bitterness in the words of Shefiniah, but she did well in hiding it facially. "Bryan, send a message to the other alphas about the meeting,"

"Alright Mistress," Bryan bowed and left her presence.

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"Alpha!" The Beta of the Abyshama Pack barges into the room. He got the attention of Jarek.

"Where are your manners?" Jarek's voice will never be caught, not intimidating.

"Sorry alpha, I was happy and nothing more," Jarek fixed his eyes on his beta.

"Alright," he looked back at the book in his hands. "Spill,"

Excitedly, "They dethroned the alpha of the Danbury region," she announced.

Again, she caught the attention of Jarek. "What did you just say?" He asked, closing the book. The Beta repeated her words and Jarek retaliated by slamming the book on the table. "What?"

Jarek's quiet lifestyle is one thing and his anger is another different thing entirely.

"What is wrong here?" Jarek's mother entered his room, but he ignored her.

"Who confirmed the news?" Jarek asked.

"It was Jeffrey and Gordon,"

"The twin brothers?" Jarek asked and she nodded her head. "Voluntarily or you sent them?"

"I asked them if they are willing and they accepted,"

"Where are they now?"

"They are tending to the stables," she replied.

"Fetch them for me," Jarek ordered and picked up the book he slammed earlier.

"What is going on?" Jarek's mother asked again, but the result was still the same.

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Jeffrey and Gordon, the identical twins. There are hardly any differences between the two. The Beta found them in the stables. When they got a glimpse of her face they knew everything was not well.

"I tried to convince you to inform the alpha first, but you declined. Now, we are about to get toasted," Gordon banged the wooden door, took a quick look at the beta and found his way out.

"He will be fine. As long as we are not dying tonight. We will be fine," Jeffrey nodded his head and left the stables. "We will clean ourselves and we will be outside in a minute,"

"Alright," the beta responded. She blessed her eyes with the horses and other people taking care of them. "The horse traders are yet to come," she talked to herself as she tried to run away from the bad smell coming from the stables.

"We are done," Jeffrey emerged with Gordon trailing behind him.

"Alright," she responded and took a look at Gordon whose face was planted on his toes. "You won't be penalised," The beta assured him and led the way.

They got to the alpha's chamber. "Prepare, we are heading to Delta," Jarek informed his beta.

"Delta? For what?"

"The shaman seeks my presence. We need to discuss the kingship,"

"It is only right that it is yours,"

"Still, without a mate, I can't be crowned,"

"But, you're crowned here and doing well with the pack's livelihood,"

"So? Our pack contains mostly teenagers and a few calm adults who don't mind an alpha without a mate,"

"But still —"

"No buts, Laura"

"I can't watch you fight for what is originally yours,"

"Stop complaining and prepare to leave," he looked up to see Jeffery and Gordon. "When I'm back, we will discuss what you had done,"