Drake immediately made his way to Nape's Castle. It was perfectly built with high towers, defensive walls, and treated wood. It was more of a cell than a castle from Drake's perspective, but he had little time to criticize his brothers style of design. Drake was a known favorite at his bother's castle; so when he came to the entrance, the sentries atop the castle main wall greeted him. The draw bridge was lowered and Drake entered. He asked for his brother's whereabouts at which he was directed to the leader's chambers, where he spent most of his days. Coming up to the chamber's door, he took hold of the handle, but hesitated, knowing that his brother hated rude introductions. He knocked; and after properly asking for entrance, he was given liberty. Nape was sitting at his desk with his back turned.
“We need to talk.” said Drake walking to his brother, “Have you heard about the copies of----”
Before Drake could finish, Nape held up a sheet of paper with the words of the Gospel written all over it.
“What are we going to do about this?” said Drake madly, “The whole country has probably heard about this---Durro's up to this I know it!”
“No,” said Nape calmly turning in his chair, “He's not.”
“Then who is?”
Nape overlook the paper he held in his hand, giving little care to what was there.
“I met a rooster a few months back that was apart of Durro's pack. Now granted, Durro has nothing to do with this, in fact, I believe our renegade brother is against this too. I think there is another creature among Durro's small pack that is doing this.”
“How do you know?” said Drake.
“Well for one thing: Durro can't write and the wolves in his pack cannot comprise such an eloquence of words. Granted I hate the words; I despise the meaning of it. But whoever is writing these letter is schooled and he's not from this country.”
“Your skill of deduction amaze me,” said Drake, “Do you have any problem solving skills too?”
“Naturally.” said Nape smiling, “I want to talk to Durro and your going to join me.”
“He's not going to talk to us,” replied Drake shaking his head, “He's afraid of us and for good reason: the moment I get my hands on him ----”
“Calm down, brother, all in good time.” said Nape, “We first have to deal with the one who is writing these letters.”
Nape sent a letter by courier to Durro's castle. It stated, in rudimentary terms, that a truce would be in session, if Durro would join him and Drake at a neutral area to discussion a grave concern to all Goshans. A family meeting was needed and Cooter's Mill (an old childhood rendezvous) would be the perfect spot. At first, the white wolf dismissed his brothers gracious extension of peace, but after a few days he began to wonder why Nape had prompted such a truce between them. He left his pack secretly one day and came upon Cooter's Mill. It was still run down from what he could remember as a child. It was here that the three brothers had friendlier times: playing hide and seek, tag, a pretending grown up as many children do. However those days were long gone, despite Durro's desire to have them again. He walked across the bridge to the mill's door that was half eaten by mold and mildew. Inside the only light present was the sun that beamed down through a opening in the roof. The dust was so thick that it seemed like stagnant snow floating in the air. The old grinding-stone was still there where Durro and his brothers would chase each other in glee. He started to day-dream seeing himself as a youngster playing with his brothers around that grinding-stone; he smiled---oh how he missed those days! Suddenly his day-dream was interrupted by a smell: it was familiar smell.
“Drake,” said Durro, “I know you're here. This is no time for hide and seek---come and play.”
Drake sprung from the darkness madly, swing his claws and biting trying to assail the white wolf in anyway. Durro gracefully dodged every blow, giving his brother a sharp jag to the upper jaw. This hardly phased the brute; and taking Durro by surprise, he grabbed him lifting into the air and bring Durro down hard into the mill's floor. Drake went to repeat, but found that a sharp bite to the hand prevent him and he repaid with Durro's fist: five fierce blows to the chest.
“Playing tag are we?” said Drake laughing as he brushed his chest proudly. “We're not kids anymore.”
“Then let us finish this game.” said Durro taking his fighting stance.
“How about we don't.” said Nape appearing from behind Drake.
Durro took a few steps back. Between the older brothers, Durro feared Nape the most. Drake was easy to handle: a few punches, a few words, make him look like a fool, and the day was done. But with Nape one move could be the last and his capricious habit with his axe could not be calculated. Nape step in front of Drake taking a short bow to show that his intentions (for the moment) were purely innocent.
“I have a question,” said Durro. “What?”
“Do you ever leave that axe at home? You carry it as if it was a baby.” Nape chuckled in a tone mixed with agitation and embarrassment.
“You're funny,” said the wolf giving the axe to Drake, “ but this is no time for comedy.”
“Why have you call me?”
“There is a cancer in Gosha and the three of us have to stop it.”
“What are you babbling about?” said Durro.
From under his jacket Nape revealed five of the letters that were circulation throughout the land.
“These letters!” Nape said, clinching his teeth, “Whoever is writing this propaganda needs to be brought to justice. There are wolves who are leaving our gang---even yours I assume--- to follow this “King of Kings”. Gangs have been the way of life here for centuries: we live it, we are consumed by it, and this Gospel will eat at it. And I also have come to the conclusion that you have been a willing accomplice in the entire thing.”
“What?!” said Durro surprised.
“Don't give me that what garbage!“ shouted Nape. “A rooster shows up in Gosha and you make him apart of your small pack” replied Nape circling Durro, “ He goes around preaching---to which I quickly stamped out--- and you have the nerve to stand there and ACT LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON!!”
Nape ears were flung back and his teeth were bared. The rings down his muzzle seemed to be redden as hot coals by his temper: he looked more monstrous than Durro had ever seen him.
“I want to know who is writing these letters?”
“Who are you to question me?” said Durro.
Drake stepped forward.
“Look you worthless runt, if you don't give us a name I'll kill you right now.”
“Drake you couldn't kill a fly let alone me.”
Drake went to attack Durro, but Nape jumped in front of him.
“No reason to lose our tempers, taking into account that I lost mine, “ said Nape taking his axe back, “Durro can't understand the consequences of allowing this preaching to continue, Drake. He isn't as smart as we are--doesn't have the right genes.”
Reverse psychology was Nape's forte, and it worked. “What consequences?”
“Wolves have to stay wolves. We cannot change. If we change we'll lose everything that makes us: our pride, our ambition, self, our will.”
“But you'll gain better things.” came a voice from the shadows. Bertha came into the sunlight to her sons' discontent.
“Mom, how did you know that we were here?” asked Drake.
“I'm your mother I know everything.” she said truthfully, “So what's going on here, I'm surprise you three haven't killed each other yet.”
“Tried.” said Drake under his breath.
“If you don't mind, mom,” replied Nape, “We have some business to discuss.”
“Like what, and don't hide anything from me because I know everything.” she said pointing at her son.
“We were just talking about this new thought going around Gosha,” said Durro, “You know-- the Gospel.”
“Oh!” she said excitedly, “That's just what I wanted to here. I have something to tell all of you.”
“Not now mom we don't have time.” said Nape.
“There's always time for you mama.” she said, “Now you're going to listen whether you want to or not.” She cleared her voice.
“ Now Durro, Drake, Nape I should have told you all earlier but …..I have become a believer---isn't that great!”
Bertha read the expressions on each of her sons faces: Nape was trying to speak but was chocking on his words. Drake's jaw dropped and looked like he was going to cry, and Durro started pacing in circles debating whether or not to smack Reiach and Phigaro around when he returned to the castle. It was good news, but bad at the same time: for they never conceived that there own mother would have accepted this new way of living. “This is your fault,” said Nape to Durro, “You taken my father from me and now you've allowed my mother to be brainwashed.”
“He didn't allow nothing,” said Bertha, “ I chose this and it is one of the best decisions I've ever made. God is real and he had helped me.”
“Helped you in what?” said Durro.
“Remember when I use to cry in my sleep? I don't do it anymore.”
All three brothers looked at each other, each remembering the nights when they tried to comfort their mother and could not.
“You would never have cried if he--” said Drake pointing at Durro, “ if he had never been apart of this family! HE'S THE REASON THAT DAD IS DEAD!”
Emotions where high and for the first time in Durro's life he saw Drake tear up and shake from the loss of his father, even Nape had a lump in his throat. Bertha, as any loving mother should do, put her hands under her son's chin.
“Listen to me,” she said looking Drake in the eyes, “You father had many faults, we all do, and I know you love him---I can see that, but you wouldn't have a mother if your brother….”
“He's not my brother,” said Drake tensing up.
“He's your brother. I can't make you love him again, but maybe God can…”
“Mother, please, “ said Nape rolling his eyes, “ none of that God stuff right now.”
“Well it's the stuff all three of you need.” she said, “Hating each other isn't going bring your father back, but since Reaich and Phigaro told me about Kleos I now know what love is and want to share it.”
“Insanity!” said Nape dumbfounded.
Bertha gave him a motherly look that said: Are you calling your mother insane? To which Nape apologized for using the word. He was also taking account of the two names his mother had mentioned.
“I'll leave you three to your secret.” she said leaving the mill. “ Durro will you escort me back to castle?”
“Sure, mom, I'll be out soon.”
When mother left the conversation returned as it was before.
“Reiach and Phigaro?” said Nape smiling, “Who are they: two other birds?”
“If you must know ones and otter and the other an aye-aye.”
“By mother's confession both of them are just like that rooster. Tell me which one of them is writing the letters?”
“Drop dead, Nape.” said Durro, “I'm not a traitor.”
“No, you drop dead,” was Nape's retort. “Because that's what going to happen once this way of thinking reaches its pinnacle: you'll be nothing to nobody and all that you are as a wolf will be worthless---do you really want that?”
Durro said nothing.
“I can stop this thinking in its tracks, but you have to help me---it's for the good of all of us, including mom! All you have to do is allow me to take the one who is writing the letters and I'll do the rest.” said Nape.
“By winter let me know, o.k.?”
Durro turned to walk away, but looked over his shoulder.
“By winter.” repeated Nape as Durro left the mill.
“Will he do it?” asked Drake. “He has done it.” said Nape.