Guardians of Jasper

Chapter 23: Guardians of Jasper

Cars, concrete, exhaust fumes, to many this was horrid, to the rest they loved nothing more. Craig marvelled at humanity's progression as he stared out of the gigantic window that was his office, a glass of high grade brandy in his left hand, an expensive suit, all suited for this man. He was a giant compared to the people walking on the pavement bellow, he was unbeatable. An architect of his stature and position could never be stopped. Two schools, five rail road tracks, three sets of office buildings, one of which he now worked in, and soon one holiday village. He looked to his left out the window at the forest that would soon be no more. Nothing could wipe to smugness from his grin as he took another sip. So what if there had been some problems, the tons of illegal stuff he had to weasel his way passed and push through, the extreme contacts he had to acquire, the problems of building on these lands. However, nothing had stopped him in his conquests before; a couple of kids aren't going to stop him now after all these years.

He checked his watch, time to call it a day. Please, this was his building, he worked for as long as he saw fit. He tipped his head back and swallowed what was left of his drink, picked up his suitcase and his coat before making for the door.

He wasn't worried about anything, Jimmy and Jerry maybe the best, or so he heard, but he was better. Should for any reason they get caught, he was too high in power to be dragged with them. The people he knew, the money, the bribes he's given out to cover his tracks. It was all about the money. His smile never faded as he moved down in the elevator to the parking lot, multi-storey, this was the least pleasant of the areas here. His shining black Mercedes, parked on this near empty floor, truck opened at the click of a button. He heard a small commotion, looking to his right and walking up the ramp at a fast pace was a man, a camerawoman and a second man. He was no stranger to the press, but he clasped his briefcase of "darker" information a little tighter.

"Not this evening people." Was all he wanted to say and carrying on walking to his car.

"Mr. Daniels, what have you got to say for yourself?" The second man holding a pad and pen belted at him.

"That I'm tired and ready to go home." He chuckled as he neared his car.

"What about the scandal?" The first reporter asked. This made his ear twitch, surely not…

"I assure you there's no scandal, I'm a legal businessman." He answered, the best way to get rid of the press was to keep moving, don't let them block you and give them little answers.

"Mr. Daniels, there is rumour that a group of hunters were illegally hired by you to clear out the local wolf population from Jasper park." Ok, now this was bad. Still, he kept moving, placing his briefcase in his trunk. He had to keep his cool here.

"What nonsense, I have no desire to construct in that area." He still smiled under the pressure. He closed the lid and turned but the journalist suddenly shoved a phone in his face displaying a video.

"He wanted to area cleared by three days time." Jimmy said, his breathing clearly showing stress and fear.

"Craig said he'd pay us half before and then the rest after the job was done" Jerry added in the same knelt down state. "He's a real time architect, the things he's done before, the things he's made us do. He thinks he can get away with anything." Craig just laughed and pushed the phone away from his face. "You know how many Craig's there must be in this industry? I can't be the only one."

"Not in this area." The reporter responded. "This video is of two of the group of hunters, both confessing that you are their employer and paid them to exterminate the protected species of this area."

"They're a couple of hillbillies drunk on too much moonshine, nothing is true." And with that, he closed the truck, moved passed them and got into the driving seat. He breathed quickly, this wasn't good at all. He had to get home and think this plan through now. He reversed, looking at the three news people quickly before driving away down the ramp. He was only on the first floor, so the exit was more or less right there in front of him. This was going to be ok; everything was going to be ok. He'd move away, get to another far away state where he wasn't already a wanted man.

Suddenly, the exit was blocked as a police car screeched to a stop, making his car abruptly do the same before a head on collision. He jerked a bit, hitting his steering wheel in frustration. Looking in his review mirror, the reporters still watched on and a second police car moved in behind him and blocked him off. He was trapped.

Two officers stepped out of the car in front of him, one with his hand on his gun. Craig sighed there was no point in fighting this.

The reporters caught it all, the block off and Craig's arrest. It went widespread across the town and state by that afternoon. Many tuned in and watched it, unable to believe how they thought that, such a nice man, could do such horrid things after all these years. So many wonderful places build on the blood on innocent things.

"Digging into the history and account of Craig Daniels, he's paid members of his teams and contracted people outside of his company to pave the way for his success and fortune. One of half a dozen rail roads he was contracted to construct were built across ancient burial grounds, the previous Native American settlers paid one third of the genuine price the vacate." It was seen by thousands through the news, but only a minor few saw the real picture. Thousands saw the news reader, the video of Craig's arrest and the two hunters confession, but only a trained eye would have seen the small detail in the hunter's confession video.

For example, one young boy who didn't pay much attention at first, like many, continued studying in his room with the news on in the background. He looked back at his television for a second, that second was all it took to spot the small mistake in the video. He whirled around, watching the small square video in the corner again, waiting for it. But it didn't come. So he launched himself across his room, grabbing the remote and rewinding it. Taking it back he played it again. From the looks of it, it seems multiple colours of smoke grenades had gone off. But no, it can't have been, It didn't make any sense. He saw the two hunters in a panic, unaware they were being recorded from above in what looked to be a rocky area. Still, he watched, his face was mere inches from the screen when finally he saw it. He rewound it again, and watched even closer, he couldn't believe it!

In the distance, for a split second. There was a boy running, and in a flash of orange smoke there was suddenly a wolf. It was a moment no longer then two seconds, and it was in the distance from the camera within the mist, it took a careful eye to see it. But it was a breakthrough, in his mind; he wasn't the only one…

That night was full of celebration in that small cabin in the forest, a usually silent place, but now full of cheering. Misty and Oscar brought the good news to them and made their risks worth the while. They had given so much for that pack and what they did paid of after all. Now all they had to do was gather the pack back into their territory and share the good news. But they had to leave that from later since night came faster than expected. The next day however brought a surprise.

Patrolling the forest to be sure the hunters had gone, even the cabin which seemed to have been cleared out, it was necessary, a precaution to make sure all was back to how it was before the pack returns tomorrow. But upon returning to their home not only did they find Samuel sat in his usual afternoon rocky chair outside, but three other teenagers were with him. It was amazed how a message intended for one person affected others.

Guardian's, fresh and trying to understand why they were here. First fourteen year old Darryl, a head full of blonde, near white, hair with green eyes. A mark just about seen for a second on the underside of his right forearm. The easiest way to describe it would be the letter "Z" with a vertical line slicing through the middle. No larger then the size of a fist.

A ginger haired girl then caught Oscar's eye, Kathleen, seventeen years of age, but born in England. At first sight, Oscar was drawn to her; she was incredible in his eyes. He took in her every detail, even her own mark which peeked out from her tatty, ripped jeans with many holes. Just above her knee, and what could only be described as two overlapping "W". One the right way, the other upside down. She smiled and him, to which he smiled in return.

Lastly, Janette had to be around fifteen, short black hair no more then a few inches in length. A piercing in her left eye brow with a kind of gothic style of clothing. Her mark was on the back of her neck, and from the quick look they had of it, before Samuel pointed them out, it was best described as three ticks starting in the centre before sharply turning fort five degrees outwards. Admittedly, even to her, it wasn't far off from being a Nazi symbol, but it gave her and her friends something to laugh about. But it also gave her a reason to have it covered up for the majority of the time.

Three new Guardians, fresh, young people, wanting to understand why on earth they were here, as did the others. Samuel had a theory. They were drawn together; it was safer for Guardians now, their instincts driving them together. It was time for the Guardians to rise again! Nobody understood it, why it was happening now and how on earth these three came to find one another and come here. But one thing was for sure was that they knew they wouldn't be the only ones.

Day two was full of more jobs to do, the kind of "clear up" stage before the pack returned. During the morning a stolen car had to be returned, and with Oscar's help, Alfa and Micky came with him to return it to its rightful owner along with a letter. Tim, the head care-worker of the care home that raised Alfa into the human world and encouraged Oscar, stepped out of the front doors to find the car there, magically and seemingly appearing out of no-where. A letter lay underneath the windscreen wiper that read upon opening. "We never understood what it meant to have a family, thank you for giving us the means to make our own. Alfa and Oscar." He simply smiled and admired is classic beauty again, running his hand across the bonnet, before turning around and heading back inside.

The afternoon brought a second task, the retrieval of the pack, they needed to come home and the Southern pack needed to travel onwards as well. This was a job for Micky and Oscar, after they could finally pry to two away from Kathleen now Micky had her in his sights. It had been a few hours now since they had left, the three newest Guardians remained in the general pack area, getting to know one another better and understand their wolf forms more. Obviously, they didn't know yet how to control the change, that would change however, they'd learn soon enough. Alfa and Misty strolled through the forest, working themselves up a gentle hill. They had a plan, it was agreed between all of them now, now it was just a case of telling Alfa's family.

"Ahh, hey, what the heck?" He asked, bring his tail away from her quickly and checking it over.

"Look ahead for once and you might see." He looked head, yeah…it was the Valley, the pack area and…looking down a cliff! He jumped back and away from the edge, so fast he even tripped with shivers running down his spine. "You've seriously got to stop losing yourself in that head of yours. I'd love to know what goes on in there." She giggled.

"You know me too." He breathed out a laugh.

"It's not funny; you've given me a heart attack twice in the same place!" But she still couldn't help but laugh a little bit too.

He sat back up to have a better look; the two came here to wait for the pack and to keep an eye on their three new "recruits". Alfa's secret hideout, known only to three wolves. The three of them ran around below and in the distance around six hundred metres away, maybe playing a game of sorts. They both fell into silence as they took in the view of a nearly fading sun, a couple of hours of sunlight left maybe, give or take. The trees rustled as the wind picked up some more, the birds sun in the distance and all around them. It was just like one of those mornings he used to wake up to as a pup. Although now he was waking up to it with Misty with him. He glanced at her, her gaze transfixed on the spectacular view before them both. He got that gooey feeling again, the exact same one before she gave him that "confidence boosting" kiss the other day. He had no idea what it meant, it bothered him a lot, yet he didn't say a word about it. Her shining coat sort of glistened in the sun, her fur waving with the breeze, his heart fluttered as he stared at her. But why?

She happened to catch a glimpse of him staring at her, feeling some awkwardness about it. "Hey, what's up?" She asked.

"Nothing, everything's fine." He replied quickly for an answer and abruptly looking away.

"Really? Because asides from the fast hart beat and short breathing, your claws are digging into the ground." She giggled gently. He retraced them out, waving the dirt off afterwards. The bad part about being sat next to a Guardian; from this small distance she could hear his own heartbeat!

"See, all good. I'm fine." He insisted after calming himself.

"Weirdest panic attack I've ever seen you have in a while." She responded, humoured.

"How'd you know I had those?" He asked curiously.

"Well, besides spending a lot of time together." Misty grinned devilishly. "I tend to learn things off most in that time."

"Creepy." He mumbled loud enough for her to hear.

"Hey." He was shoved by her playfully. "So come on, what's up?" Once again, he found himself being worked up, that state he just got himself out of again returning. "Come on, you can tell me anything."

"Nothing important, don't worry about it." She didn't take his answer.

"Shut up, now come on, quick messing. I'll find out sooner or later." He darted his eyes to her that attempted to keep his contact with hers. He was defeated. He recalls the time when Oscar told him "It's pointless arguing with him, nobody would get through." It seems he'd found his match now.

"Well…It's kind of awkward." He started, his heart beating a little faster. She listened keenly. "Err… remember what happened the other night? When we finally got everyone to leave?" He face blushed a red; thank god he had fur right now. "What part of…oh…that?" She quickly understood what he meant. She only understood because that's what her own mind instantly clicked to.

"So…umm, w-what was that about?" For the first time he now saw her fall silent, remembering back to that night and why she had done it.

"You know…a confidence booster." She shrugged. "You were about to back out."

"Well…I guess it sure fixed the problem." He laughed nervously.

"Yeah, I guess it did." She answered symmetrically.

An awkward silence fell over them, neither able to look at one another, so they stared off again into the view. Disappointed, seemed to being growing on them now, neither could be sure of what that was all about. He kind of hoped something, hoping it was more then a confidence thing. And next to him Misty was wondering the same. Did it mean more?

Alfa recalled all the things he had heard from his family and friends, those things they said about one certain emotion. That weirdest, ugliest, yet most beautiful, feeling in the world. It made his head spin if all that he just remembered was true... It defiantly fit his feelings now. And then the realization hit him like the bullet he got a while back, but this time in a good way. He lifted his eyes back at her; she also stared at the ground just like he did before.

"Umm, Misty?" Alfa called her name, trying to collect the tiny fragments of his confidence. She lifted her eyes off the ground to see Alfa staring at her with an uneasy look. It made her feel kind worried what he had in mind.

"You know when we first met; I ruined your hunt...?" He started the best he could "And because of that your dinner ran away?"

"Yeah, I remember." She replied puzzled, where was this heading now?

"Well, about that..." He started while he started to swirl his paw in the dirt. "I was wondering if you would...you know, like me to get you that dinner?" He now looked directly at her eyes.

Obviously she was shocked at hearing this, this was the last thing she expected to hear from anyone in her life, even more from this guy. Look at what happened between her mother and father, a human and Guardian. "Are you asking me...?" She gulped as she became just as nervous as Alfa was "To go on a date with you?" She whispered the last part as she tried to progress it all.

"Yeah…I guess I am." Alfa croaked out as another panic attack started to build up again. "I mean…you don't have to of course... if you don't want to then that's cool."

Misty stared him with wide eyes and mouth wide open, she had no words to say but she knew already her answer. Alfa just looked at a spot on the ground; he'd rather hear her reaction then see it.

His vision was becoming blurry as the long seconds passed; his legs started to become weak and if that wasn't enough his heart was racing so hard that it even hurt already. It would leap out of his chest soon if it didn't settle. Then he felt something touch his right shoulder which started to loosen up his panic attack slightly. Then out of nowhere, he felt the same feeling he did few days ago, that gentle peck on his cheek.

He took a deep breath, his vision became clear again and his legs started to work. He turned his face towards Misty who smiled at him, a happy glint in her eye. Alfa looked at her with a surprised look and wide eyes as he tried to find something to say. Thankfully she was the one to speak first.

"Well Alfa, I remember that you do owe me a dinner... And it would be boring to eat alone." She smiled kindly at him "I would love to go out to dinner with you."

"Really?" Alfa gasped, unsure now if this was really happening.

"Really." She smiled at him. How did this happen? He just asked a girl out and she said yes?!

"Misty I…"

"Alice " She interrupted with a little more of a serious face. He tilted his head to the side a little bit.

"What?" He questioned.

"Alice is my real name; I told you "Misty" was just a nickname after my fur." She laughed lightly. He now smiled; he had completely forgotten it was just a name.

"Well, Alice, I really enjoyed your company from the start." Alfa blushed under his fur. "And I hope we can have it that way." He now smiled at her

"And I am sure we can." Misty giggled. "But if you tell anyone my real name…" Mid sentence, she changed in her blue mist to reach her human hand towards his neck. "I'm putting this back on." She slid a key inside the padlock, and with a twist of her wrist it unlocked and after removing it the collar was undone.

"I'll just stick to calling you what I've known all this time then, Alice." He smiled with her doing so in return.

It was then they both heard a howl, so looking across the valley they saw what they had waited for, the great convoy that was the pack trekking back into the Valley through the trees. Now they could finalise their plans, everything was drawing to an end. "It's finally over." Misty said relived.

"Almost, there's one last thing to do." Alfa corrected.

"Then I'll race you there!" She then exclaimed before jumping to her feet, the padlock and collar in her hand before leaping down the funny steps to the side of the cliff. Alfa laughed as he ran after her, changing in the first drop to keep up with her.

It didn't take long to reach the pack, they were n longer afraid to run towards them as a human, even if it took the pack a moment to recognise who they were. They walked through them as if nothing was different, even with the most of them staring. They headed to the leaders den, where up the rise they found Micky and Oscar talking with the three newest editions along with Winston, Eve, Kate, Lily and Humphrey to the other side.

"Hey, remind me next time to find them as a wolf, not a human." Micky rubbed the small scratches on his shoulder.

"Really? It's pretty much common sense." Alfa chuckled.

"That's what I told him." Oscar added with his own laugh.

Alfa looked to his left, his family waited patiently for him to come to them. He looked to Misty. "I'm not running anymore." He said before turning to approach them. They weren't afraid of him now; they happily let him approach them as who he was. They couldn't make him act like something he wasn't, it was unfair, they wouldn't have it either way.

"Is everyone ok?" He asked as he neared.

"Thanks to you my son, I can't tell you how proud we are of you." But there was something else in his mother's voice that indicated there was more to her behaviour.

"What's wrong?" He sensed it in each of them, but he couldn't quite put his paw on what it was.

"Well…a few things maybe." Humphrey answered.

"How come? The Valley is secure, the hunters will never come back again, and we're here to fix everything…"

"You're going to be an uncle." Kate suddenly said. He didn't understand, well…he did, but in what way was he?

"Wait…what?"

"It's been on our minds for a while." Humphrey responded with a brief smile. "I guess it crept up on us." He nuzzled Kate's cheek and she smiled too, loving his touch.

"Sis…that's incredible." He couldn't believe it. "You see mom, it's like you used to tell me, get rid of a negative, and a positive will come around soon enough."

"That makes no sense." Lily said, she didn't see any way it related.

"It makes perfect sense." Winston replied. "The hunters are gone, now there will be additions to our family."

"I thought of it as another way." Alfa corrected.

"You were the negative." Kate saw and understood. He nodded.

"Running away was the greatest thing that happened to me, had I not, had you helped that human you saw that night lying in pain, I wouldn't have become who I am today." He allowed his mind and body to relax, and with that his green mist consumed him in seconds, just as quickly dissipating. "I became your son." He finished. "Only family would help met to realise who I really was. The stories growing up, the lessons, the confidence you tried to give me. You guys made me who I am."

"But everything we said…I said." Winston said and stepping forward.

"You can either learn from the past or let it hurt you." He smiled. "And you guys helped me to learn."

"So, you forgive us?" Lily asked sweetly.

"Of course." He replied. But Kate now heard something in his voice, there was a "but" coming. She had an inkling of what it could've been

"So what now? Life goes on?" Eve questioned.

"You're not staying." Kate answered. She was right and Alfa nodded to confirm it.

"I have my own pack now." He looked back to the rest of his fellow Guardians, talking amongst themselves while they waited for him. This was the plan all along; the Guardians were reborn, regenerated. It was time to carry on their duties and destinies. Sure, Janette, Kathleen and Darryl all had families, hence why Samuel had found an area perfect. It was on the other side of Jasper town, amazing all three of the children lived in this town. Samuel had found a larger cabin secluded within the forest, perfect for his family and for whoever else may come. Obviously it wouldn't house everyone, but dens and shelters could be made out there. For Janette, Darryl and Kathleen it was a case of they were welcome whenever they wished. They were now a part of the family.

"I belong with them." Alfa continued and turning to face his family again. "Away from wolves, humans, a secret is how we need to remain."

"So does that mean we'll never see you again?" Humphrey wondered.

"Of course you do, I'll always be around to see of you've hurt yourself on that sled yet. Or to check up on my nieces and nephews." He smiled at his sister. "Maybe to chase away a hunter or two, if there's anything you ever need, the Guardians will always be there as they once were. "All I want to say is keep the legends going, tell those stories dad, you never know when you'll need a legend around." He walked towards him, crossing his neck with his father's in an embrace. He then stepped passed him to his mother and Lily, wrapping a foreleg around each of them. "Take care guys."

"You too my son." Eve couldn't help but let a tear fall as he let go, her young pup now a full adult wolf leaving to start his own pack. He then approached his second sister and her mate, embracing them both as well.

"You take care of her buddy."

"You got it." Humphrey chuckled while he slithered out of her grip.

"This isn't goodbye." He told them. "So I'm not going to say it." Then without another word he turned around to leave. He walked towards the rest of his own pack, collecting them as he walked passed and together the seven of them moved down the slope. The leaders and the rest of the family walked to the edge of the rise and watched them walk through the wolves of the United Pack. Strong, mere children in the human world, but stronger then any human and wolf put together.

Alfa looked to his right at one point, catching the eye of Richard his former bully, looking better after his gunshot wound. Richard smiled and dipped his head in respect to the Guardian, as did his brother and the rest of the gang to which he returned. He looked at Oscar who was looking back at him; he smiled to him as they carried on walking ahead.

Witches, Werewolves, Demons, or maybe monsters, creatures or myths, they're called by many names throughout history and in our time within to two species they change into. But for this purpose, and for the reason the gods gave them their gifts, they are forever known as The Guardians of Jasper.

As sad as it is... This is the end of Guardians of Jasper ;_; It has been almost a year since we started this huge story that started just by few messages way too many crazy reviews. I am forever grateful to TheFalconWolf who decided to write this with me ^_^ I Honestly never thought that would happen :D It has been one big ride with this story and I enjoyed it all! I hope you did also if you made it this far :D

I want to thank every single reviewer and one person who's name we stole... She knows who she is ;)

And to that Guest asking something about Alfa's human friends, I have no idea what you have been talking about :P We couldn't contact you since you were a guest but I would like to know why you were talking about these Alfa's human friends :P We thought you might have confused two stories :P

Anyways and I heard some has asked about a sequel, well so far we have no plans for sequel :P

And thank you all who had used their time to read this, review, follow and favorite this :) I was surprised to see how many reviews we got in such short time :D And once again, thank you FalconWolf for doing this with me! ^^

Wow, that's all I can really say. So much for my retirement. What a way to finish off a crazy writing phase of my life. Thanks everyone who reviewed or at least read the story. More so, to my good friend and partner in crime, Northie, I'm honoured to have done this with you. I still can't believe you made me post it here though, but then again, there's no point in arguing with him, he always wins!

Adding to his statement towards the guest reviewer, I'm going to come straight out with it and say we have no idea what you're talking about. We would've spokne more about it, but looking through the previous reviews when you spoke of "Alfa's human friends" we didn't know who you were talking about. Also someone named "Jack" and giving him powers. Sorry, but nothing was going to turn out that way, maybe you had to story confused?

Any-who, I've said this in a few stories, and I highly doubt she'll see it. The main person I need to thank is that one girl that got me into this mess. Two years now, if you're reading this then know I intend to keep my promise, a man of my word I am. Thanks stranger. :D

The FalconWolf