10 Journey Across the Ocean

The small boats drifted across the vast ocean, the townsfolk of Irukandji huddled together, lost upon the endless expanse of waves. The once-majestic Mount Aboyo was now a distant memory, its fiery heart casting them into the unknown. The sea stretched out before them, boundless and daunting, and hope seemed to fade like the sun slipping below the horizon.

In the quiet stillness of the night, Joose sat at the bow of the boat, eyes lifted toward the sky. Memories of Greymuzzle’s tales surfaced—the ancient stories told beneath the silver moonlight and towering trees of the forest. Stories about the stars, and how they had guided the first wolves, the legendary Star Hunters.

Then, there it was—the constellation Lupus shimmering among the stars, just as Greymuzzle had described. The wolf-shaped pattern seemed to call out to him, a silent howl echoing across the heavens.

Gathering his courage, Joose approached the captain of the boat. His voice was calm and steady despite the uncertainty surrounding them. “I know the way,” he said firmly. “The stars can guide us.”

Though desperate and unsure, the captain chose to trust the young man. Night after night, they sailed by the stars, resting by day and journeying under the constellation’s light. For three nights, the wolf-shaped stars led their path, and on the third day, a cry rose from the deck.

“Land ahoy!”

Bauer City emerged on the horizon, a welcome sight after their ordeal. The townsfolk rejoiced in their salvation, but Joose’s heart was pulled elsewhere.

As soon as his feet touched solid ground, he turned away from the city’s bustle and faced the sprawling forest beyond. The stars whispered their ancient call, and a deep, primal urge drew him into the wild.

Beneath the rising full moon, his journey continued—until at last, he reached the edge of the pack’s clearing. There, the wolves were gathering once more for the sacred Howling.