It was three weeks before anyone questioned the whereabouts of Reiach and there was good reason for this: first, Phigaro believed that his friend has established a good rapport with Nape's pack and was diligently teaching and preaching the gospel. And secondly, Durro himself compounded lie after lie to hide the fact of his treachery. Phigaro would have never found out if God had not urged Phigaro to ask Durro a piercing question. “What happened when you went to see Nape?”
Durro was already uneasy from the circumstance that brought about Reiach's capture, he didn't want Phigaro to know anything else.
“Nothing everything went well.” said Durro quickly. “You're lying” said Phigaro.
“How about you two drop the subject, understand?” the white wolf said feeling the pressure.
Durro began to walk away, but Phigaro cut his walk short by running in front of him. “Where is my friend?”
“Get out of my way, Phigaro.” said the white wolf growling.
“Answer me.”
Durro grabbed Phigaro by the cloak and hoisted him into the air. He looked the aye-aye in the face.
“Who are you command me, huh?” said Durro giving him a shake, “ You think just because I let you stay here you can control me!”
“Put him down, Durro.” said Bertha.
“Stay out of this, mom.” he said and then he returned his glare to Phigaro. “You two wanted to mettle with wolves and now one of you will learn what happens when you try to change them. You should have kept you mouths closed like I told you; kept your writings to yourselves!”
Phigaro manage to pull out of Durro grip and fell to the floor. The white wolf marched to his room as his mother followed closely behind. Durro slammed his door and it flew open again with Bertha coming in.
“GET OUT!” shouted Durro.
Bertha came over and slapped Durro across his mouth, an act that any mother should perform when her child raises their voice. Durro quickly decided to never do it again. “All right since I got your attention,” said Bertha with hands hips, “Two things: you don't raise you voice at me--- I did my best to take care of your dirty tail for years. Secondly, you're up to something, what have you done?”
“I'm the leader of this pack, mom, “ he said, “ and I'll protect it from any wolf or any idea that will try to change it.”
“You gave Reiach to Nape, didn't you?”
Durro looked down to avoid his mother's glare. “Didn't you?” she said again.
“Yes!”
“Why?!”
“Your the only mother I know and I'm losing her.” he said, “ All this changing and giving up to God---I want the old mom back--- I want everything back to the way it was.” Bertha stepped forward and placed his hands under Durro's jaw. He pulled away, but his mother kindly took his face into her hands again.
“Listen, honey, I can't change your mind but I'll say this your fighting God tooth and nail. You have lied to me, your pack, and especially Reiach. If nothing else you need to make this right.”
“I have.”
“No, you've made it worse.” said Bertha.
She left the room as Durro pondered over her words. The rest of the day he was secluded to his room. He fighting every emotion from self-hatred to pride. The only relief he had was when he went to sleep. He awoke; and feeling hungry he left his room for a bite to eat. However, something was different about the castle. Yes, the walls, all the furniture, and the smell was the same, but there was a strange peace all around him. He went out into the main hall to see if any of his pack was there: it was empty. He went to their rooms: none of them were there. He called out for his mother and there was no response. Even Phigaro who was prompt to appear out of nowhere was as if he never existed. “Strange?” said Durro walking to the door.
“They've deserted me?” he said sadly, “I ruined. I--I have no purpose.”
He went out to what should have been his courtyard, but in its place was a golden wheat field that seemed to have no end. All the snow was gone and the trees too. The sun and a warm gale invited the wolf to gradually explore the field.
“This is weird.” he said swatting the wheat playfully, “What is going on here?” Suddenly Durro felt a intense heat upon his back. He turned and spotted some creature standing fifty yards away from him. Durro could not distinguish what type of creature it was, but it glowed; not like a like a light bulb, but more like a golden flame. The creature stepped forward, and the heat increased. Durro backed away: the creature continued to walk towards him. Durro gritted his teeth in pain--the heat was as if the sun was falling on top of him.
“STOP,STOP!“ he said shouting, “I CAN'T STAND THE HEAT---MERCY, PLEASE STOP!”
The creature stop only at the word of mercy. “So,” said the creature, “You want mercy?”
“Yes,” said Durro holding up his arms to protect his eyes, “The heat from you is to intense. I'll burn to death if you draw closer.”
“You deserve death, you know that don’t you?” Automatically Durro's mind took him back to Reiach. “If you mean Reiach….”
“I do.” said the creature, “Your life is rebellion to Me.”
“I do deserve to die, but I want to make it right.”
“You can, but you must allow me to do it?”
“What do you mean?”
“I'm a wolf I'm loyal to myself.”
“Then you will die.” said the creature walking towards him.
The heat increased again and was so hot that Durro fell to the ground. “STOP! STOP!”
“Judgment doesn’t stop for your sin but only for righteousness.” said the creature slightly backing away.
“What is righteousness?” cried Durro.
Durro understood completely: first, his obvious sins against Reiach and through out his life that would have him burned to death. And secondly, that there was a way out of it, but only by this creature's kindness.
“So what will it be?” said the creature, “Will you repent or will choose by your own hand to suffer?”
“Is there another way?” asked Durro, “I'll work for it; If you ask me to jump I'll say how high!”
“Fine,” said Durro giving up, “I can't run….I will not tell you to stop….save me.”
The heat immediately disappeared and Durro was relieved. The creature (Kleos if you haven't figured it out yet.) came over to him and gave him a hug with a pat on the back. It was as if Durro was his best friend. The white wolf returned the gesture with the sense that he would be o.k. forever. Kleos stepped back, looked at the wolf with a grin, and started clapping.
“What are you doing?”
“Celebrating your salvation.”
“Why?”
As Kleos continued to clap there appeared a multitude of one hundred thousand creatures of all species clapping, crying out in joy, and some even dancing around Durro. Here are a few familiar names: Gideon, Gabriel, Samson, Deborah, Tiber, Sebastian, Brute, and Sly. There was Yohan and Leopold with his wife, and to Durro amazement Horatio was in the midst of them. Durro stood a little embarrassed, and overcome with tears of joy.
Durro looked down into the eyes of the his savior and fell to his knees.
“I will,” said Durro with all his heart, “I will.”