The Quest

Tom found a hidden door at the rocky hill, entering as soon as it had opened. He only regretted his decision when the door slammed close behind him. "Typical," he muttered to no one in particular. His ears rotated all around him, searching for anything that sounded out of place. Tom followed a narrow hallway that led from the door. There didn't seem to be many places to turn off of to explore or get lost in. The hallway finally led into a large room filled with mirror-like rocks. He did a double take when he saw Tess' face looking at him in one of them.

"Tess!" he yelped, then looked closer at the image. This wasn't the Tess he knew. This was her younger self. He studied the mirror as Tess' face changed. It wasn't as zoomed in now. She was laughing and holding a stick. A black animal ran by her as she threw it. Tom started at his realization. The black animal was him in his transformed state. They were playing fetch.

He finally ripped himself away from the mirror and moved further into the room. Every mirror seemed to have a memory that he shared with Tess. Theo's first transformation. Tess working on a healing potion when he had hurt himself. Family picnics... Tom felt tears fall from his eyes. None of the people in these memories were with him anymore.

Tom continued further into the room. He looked into the last mirror to see a memory he didn't remember. Tess was smiling at him. She looked so happy. Tom reached a hand out to the mirror, trying to touch her cheek. Her smile was so warm and inviting, he almost didn't notice her silvery skin shimmering in the light. Her lips began glimmering as he moved closer to her reflection. Tess' image suddenly darted forward, black needle-like teeth bared as she went for his neck.

Tom let out a yelp as he fell back from the mirror, his eyes wide in horror. "No," he gasped out, realizing that this image was of Tess turned into a siren. "No, Tess, you wouldn't," he cried. He felt his heart breaking as the reflection continued to try to attack him. He scrambled out of the room into this new hallway, trying to convince himself the image wasn't real.

The rest of the rooms and hallways didn't seem to hold anything of interest. They made him impatient about getting to his destination. The last image in the room of mirror rocks was still haunting him.

His ears perked forward upon hearing someone talking to themselves. Their voice echoed just enough that he wasn't able to make the words out properly. Tom cautiously made his way forward, staying aware of his surroundings. He rounded a corner to see...

"You're that cat!" Tom shouted in surprise.

The orange tabby jumped into the air, puffing up in shock. The cat turned towards him once it regained its footing. "And you're an insufferable dog," the cat spat back, then cleaned its fur, pressing it back down.

Tom was taken aback by the venom in the cat's voice. "I apologize for startling you, Mr. Cat, but there's no reason to be so huffy."

The cat glanced at him mid-lick, then ignored him, continuing to smooth out its fur.

Tom edged into the room, looking around. It was a large circular room; the ceiling reaching much higher than he figured was necessary. It was filled with ornate carvings of past heroes defeating their big evils. All except for one small area that was blank. "Why's that spot blank?" Tom asked, pointing at the ceiling.

The cat gave an exasperated sigh. "Will you leave faster if I tell you?"

"There will be a better chance of it," Tom admitted, his ears folding back at the cat's attitude.

The cat swished its tail back and forth as it pounced on Tom's shoulder, catching him by surprise. The cat breathed in as it sunk its claws into Tom's shoulder. "Dog," he cursed, acting like he would puke. "Insufferable wet cur."

"Insulting me won't get me to leave any faster," Tom said through clenched teeth. "Especially when you're attached to me."

"Worth a shot," the cat grumbled. He settled onto Tom's shoulders, his tail tickling Tom's face as it waved lazily in front of it. "The reason that spot is blank is that the prophecy has yet to be fulfilled...now leave," the cat growled. He jumped off Tom's shoulder to a nearby ledge.

"But you haven't heard why I've come all this way in the first place," Tom argued. His heart sinking at the cat's stubbornness.

The cat laid down, his paws tucked in. "Will you leave if I listen?"

"There's a better chance of it," Tom said once again.

"Fine, why are you here, dog?" the cat yawned, its ears pinned back in annoyance. Tom was wearing out his welcome... not that he had been welcomed to begin with.

"I came to see if the guardian of the Dias could help me." Tom decided to let it all out and see what options he was given. "My friend was taken from me almost two years ago, and I've been trying to get her back. But I don't know where else to go...to get help. She's all I have left and I can't even help her because I don't know what to do." Tom ended all this with tears splashing down his face. He suddenly felt like a small pup calling for his parents. His ears fell in sorrow, his tail between his legs.

The cat tsked at Tom's sudden mood change. "Young wilkolak, that is not a way to ask for help."

Tom's head shot up as the cat recognized him. "H-how did-"

"I am one of the oldest creatures in existence. I think I'd recognize a wilkolak when I saw one... few of you are left. Are you the last one?" the cat stretched.

"Oldest creature in existence..." Tom mused. He looked the cat over before realization dawned on him. "You're the guardian?"

"Nothing passes by you, does it?" the cat replied, exasperated. "Now, are you the last or not?"

"I am," Tom replied, not sure why that had any importance to the subject at hand.

"Well, you read the prophecy, didn't you?" the cat asked, its ears alert for Tom's answer. "The last of its kind will become the first of an old."

Tom thought for a few minutes before shaking his head. "It doesn't say that."

"Do you have it here to verify?" the cat gave a smug look.

"Well, no," Tom started becoming flustered. Had he translated it wrong? "Its back on the ship."

The guardian rolled a yarn ball in front of Tom. "Pick that up and look at it."

Tom looked towards the yarn, confused, but did as he was told. The ball shone brightly as he saw an image of the prophecy as it was being written. An old man was speaking, while a young man with gray ears wrote. A wilkolak, Tom realized.