It was a bright sunny day in Lylat when a school of adolescents were visiting the museum. A small group of teens had wandered away from the class and decided to explore on their own. The smallest teen in the group was a young, golden fox named Aladar, and he had stopped for a second when he spotted a peculiar looking artifact. 

“What’s this?” The fox asked to himself as he examined the artifact.

The artifact looked like a silver horn, but it had a head of a bear where the mouthpiece should be.

“Horn of the Bear.” He said and pulled out a sketchpad.

“Correct.” A voice behind him said, startling the fox a little. Aladar then turned around to see an adult wolf with grey fur behind him, one of the workers of the museum. “That horn has some history behind it, do you want me to explain?” The wolf asked and Aladar nodded.

*Flashback 3,000 B.C.*

It was a grey cloudy day in Olden Time Lylat when two teens were leaving their village to go on a quest to stop a necromancer that was cursing the village and casting famine on their crops. The older of the two was a Brown bear with the name of Juuichi and the younger one was a yellow tiger by the name of Torahiko.

Juuichi was a martial artist who also used a sword while Torahiko was a red mage who used a combination of light and dark magic as well as a staff.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” The tiger asked the older teen.

“I’m sure if we talk to the guy we can work something out.” Juuichi replied.

“But we’ve seen what this guy can do, with his power, I’m not sure talking will solve anything.” Torahiko said with a worried face.
	
“You’re so negative sometimes, you should look on the bright side; if we can stop this guy, we’ll be heroes!” The Bear said excitedly and with a determined look. 

Tora then sighed at his friend’s confidence.

“Alright, but know this: the only reason I’m coming with you, is so if something happens I’ll be there to help you.” The feline stated and Juuichi then pat his head.

“That’s why you’re always there for me.” The Bear replied causing the tiger to blush a little. “Besides, there’s no way I’ll die, I still need to grow old and adopt a little fox to care for!”

Tora rolled his eyes, but couldn’t help but also chuckle.

“You on about that fox again?” The feline asked. “Why a fox?”

“Because.” The bear replied. “Foxes are awesome, and if I’m lucky, maybe I’ll come across a golden one.”

Not pressing the subject, the two had then spent the next few days traveling up the mountain where the necromancer resided. The tiger and the Bear had faced off a few bandits on the way up, but otherwise the path up was pretty smooth, but when the two were getting close to the top Torahiko had slowed down and slumped against the mountain wall.

“Are you alright Tora?” Juuichi asked and slowed down for the cat to catch up. 

“Sorry, I just feel really weak, and smell some dark magic ahead.” He said and sat down. 

Juuichi then looked up ahead.

“I see the cave,” The Bear said. “You wait here, I’ll go see the necromancer.” He said and the feline then struggled to stand up.

“No, you shouldn’t go by yourself.” Torahiko said then fell back to the ground.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” Juuichi said and headed towards the cave.

It had then been about an hour since Juuichi had went into the necromancer’s cave, and Torahiko was getting worried. It had taken all of his strength to stand up, and when he did, he leaned against the wall as he walked towards the cave. When he approached the cave’s entrance, the stench of dark magic flooded his nose and before he went in, he saw someone was coming out. 

“Juuichi?” The feline asked, but was silenced he saw it was someone else. This person was an adult wolf that had grey fur and was clothed in black robes. He was also holding what looked like a golden horn, but it had a head of a Bear where the mouthpiece should be.

“I have no use for this.” The wolf said and tossed the horn at Torahiko’s feet.

“Where’s Juuichi?” Tora asked as he held his staff. 

The wolf just stared into Torahiko’s eyes.

“I suggest you leave.” The wolf said then looked at the horn on the floor. “Unless you want to end up like your friend.” 

“No…” The tiger said as he fell to his knees and picked up the horn. “What did you do?”

“Immortality requires tribute.” The wolf said. “You are feeling weak right?” He asked and Torahiko didn’t look up. 

A second later there was a bright green flash and suddenly Tora’s weakness had vanished.

 “I’m surprised you managed to get this far, my magic drain curse should have killed you sooner.” The wolf said and Torahiko looked back up and the saw the wolf turn his back and face the cave.

“Wh-What?” Torahiko asked as a few tears ran down his face.

“Be grateful, I had cursed you long ago and was planning on using you as a tribute.” The wolf said and looked back at Torahiko, causing him to stand back up. “The Bear was no match for me, I was going to get you, but after I revealed my plan to him, he quickly vowed to take your place.” He said and turned back again. “Tell your village that they will no longer suffer from my magic.” 

Those were the last words of the necromancer as the wolf disappeared back into his cave. Torahiko just stood where he was and held the horn that was his former partner and friend.

“I’m sorry it had to end this way.” The tiger whispered to the horn. He then sat at the edge of the mountain and cried.

‘Besides, there’s no way I’ll die! I still need to grow old and adopt a little fox to care for, And if I’m lucky, I’ll come across a golden one!’

Those words rang in Tora’s head, and he couldn’t help but chuckle, wiping away a few of his tears.

“Don’t worry Juuichi, I’ll take care of that fox for you.”

*End Flashback*

“So, if the horn was golden, then why is it silver now?” Aladar asked the wolf guide.

“According to the legend, the horn turned silver the day Torahiko died.” The wolf replied.

“How did Torahiko die?” The fox then asked, tilting his head.

“There is no absolute answer to that question.” The guide said. “But from what we found, it had something to do with a cursed artifact.” He said leaving the fox with a disappointed look on his face. “But,” The wolf said catching the fox’s attention again. “I heard that the spirit of the Bear would be free if the artifact is held by a descendant of Torahiko.”

Aladar thought for a second of another question he could ask.

“Does anyone know what happened to the necromancer?” Aladar asked and the wolf unexpectedly flinched, and paused for a second.

“I-I don’t know,” The wolf replied. “But I heard that he lives among us, disguised as a normal wolf.” 

Before Aladar could ask anymore questions, he noticed that students were starting to line up at the doors, and his friends were calling him.

“Sorry, but it’s time for me to go, thanks for telling me that story, it was interesting.” The fox said as he and the wolf shook hands. “Funny thing, I also know a bear named Juuichi, and a tiger named Torahiko. They live in Japan, I’ll have to tell them this story sometime when I visit them.”

He then chuckled.

“Their personalities however are nothing like the ones in that story though.”

“My pleasure.” The wolf said with a smile. “And I’m not surprised. Those are pretty common japanese names given to bears and tigers. Also, I have something for you.” He said and pulled out what looked like an old coin from his pockets and handed it to Aladar. “I have a feeling this should belong to you, a little thanks for listening to my story.”

“Thanks, bye.” The fox said as he put away the coin and went to catch up with his friends. 

When Aladar got on the bus, he swore he saw a golden glow at the edge of his eye, but dismissed the thought as he sat down. He then pulled out and looked at the coin he had received from the museum guide, it was a little rusty, and both sides had a symbol of a fox’s skull on them.

“Cool, but a little disturbing.” Aladar said and put the coin back in his pocket, but as he did, his head started to hurt, and he began to feel a little ill.

“You alright?” His friend beside him asked, and the fox nodded.

“Just feeling a little sick, thank god it’s Friday.” Aladar said and rested his head on the glass window. “When I get home I’m heading to bed to take a nap.”