Auror

I’m still paralyzed by the courage I had to watch over her while she slept. Even in the dark, the uncontrollable urge to go to her took over, and I went. Her scent holds something I can’t explain.
Restless, I pace the room, trying to understand how such a small and fragile human can affect me this way. Determined to forget it, I throw myself onto the bed, feeling exhaustion weigh down on me.
I’m heavy-eyed when furious knocks on the door startle me. Growling in anger, I descend the stairs, open the door, and find an unamused Black.
“What the hell is going on? I need to sleep!”
“The veterinarian.” — Hearing this, I sense that nothing good will come from his next words, so I raise my eyebrows for him to continue. — “She’s an angelic.”
“What???”.
“That’s exactly what you heard.”
“It can’t be.”
“Not only can it be, but it is.”
“I want Luna here, and I want her now!” — I roar my command.
“She’s already on her way. We just sent the information we had, along with a photo.”
“What photo?”
“Of her with Jacob.” — A cell phone is thrust in front of me.
The image of her with Jacob, smiling as if they were companions, makes me crush the phone in my hand.
“What’s wrong, Auror?”
“Are they together?” — I growl furiously.
“I wasn’t informed about that.”
“They look like companions.”
“They aren’t. If they were, Jacob would have told me. He’s as surprised as everyone else.”
“Why wasn’t Arow with her?”
“We were coming back from a hunt and were far away. Jacob was assigned to spend the day with her, but he found her as an angelic.”
“This isn’t possible. Something is happening, and I don’t know what it is.”
“Why are you saying that?”
“Everything that has been happening to me these past few days, Black, must be because of her.”
“Do you believe she could be your companion?”
“I don’t want her as a companion. She’s a small and fragile human. There are no angelics outside of Forty Mile.”
“Well, not wanting her as a companion isn’t the issue here. If she is your companion, your instincts will pursue her like demons, and nothing will keep her away from you. As for her being an angelic, I’m still trying to understand how, since, as you said, there are no angelics outside of our community.”
“Luna will tell us.”
For a while, we remain silent, which is very unusual for someone like Black. My mind battles the madness of what I feel and the desire for more information about what has been revealed to me.
The delay of Luna’s arrival makes me snort in frustration at times, as I hate waiting, and everyone knows it. With a snap of her fingers and magic, she could materialize right in front of me. Black’s dark gaze on me doesn’t help my situation. I want to rip his throat out, but I can’t do that, not with my best friend, the only person who has tolerated my outbursts over the years.
The door opens, and the ancient angelic, accompanied by two oracles, walks through it.
We are in front of the sacred triad.
“It’s time for us to talk, Auror Vont’in.”
The silver eyes of the ancients lock onto me, and her way of speaking sends a wave of euphoria and anticipation through my body. Whatever is happening, she knows, and I will soon find out.

***

Anira


My day passed slowly and gradually, but it wasn’t idle; on the contrary, the clinic was bustling with locals coming in for routine animal check-ups. It became clear why we need two veterinarians—it’s essential.
I’ve been monitoring a cow since late afternoon, and if her labor doesn’t progress, I’ll have to assist her myself. I left my personal phone number with the farmer, who was supposed to call me if things didn’t go as planned. Since he hasn’t called yet and it’s almost seven in the evening, the calf has likely already been born.
A loud thunderclap and a flash of lightning light up the sky. The day has been filled with rain threats, and it seems like tonight it’s finally going to pour.
I sit in the armchair by the fireplace with a cup of tea and a book, when my phone rings.
“Doctor, the time has run out. The calf hasn’t been born,” Jhonn’s worried voice makes me jump up from the chair.
“I’ll be there soon. Don’t let her lie down.”
“Alright.”
I quickly change clothes, grab my keys and phone, and head out before the rain starts. I drive, following the GPS and scanning the signs until I find the Northwill farm. I follow the road and soon see the lights.
“How is she, Jhonn?” I ask as I get out of the truck.
“Same as before. She looks tired and is about to lie down.”
With the wind blowing strongly, I adjust my hood and head towards the barn where the cow is.
For nearly three hours, we struggle with the delivery. The calf is positioned incorrectly, and we need to tie a rope around its legs and pull. My only hope is that it’s still alive.
When we finally manage to get it out, relief washes over me. It’s a large female calf and it’s alive. We help the mother clean her with the hay on the ground. Soon, the calf stands up and, staggering, makes its way to its mother to nurse.
"That’s it, Jhonn."
"Thank you, Doctor."
Exhausted, I start packing up my materials to head home.
"Don’t you want to spend the night here, Doctor?" — Irina, Jhonn’s daughter who had been helping us, asks.
"No, thank you very much. I’ll head back soon."
"It’s going to rain," — she warns.
"I hope to be at home or near it when the sky breaks."
With everything ready, I leave, hoping to avoid the heavy rain threatening to pour down on us.
Driving cautiously, I don’t make it to the road before the rain hits, heavy and with strong winds, as I expected. Not knowing the way well and having been guided by the GPS, which is now out of service, I redouble my attention, hoping just to get home safely.
The downpour seems to have worsened in the last few seconds, leading me to make mistakes with the route. I’ve circled around twice and always end up here, at the same house — the Auror’s house, the only forbidden property in Forty Mile. But I’m tired and afraid of having an accident.
I park the car and decide to stay here. Fear overwhelms me when a branch falls heavily on the hood of the truck.
"Haaa!" — I scream in fright, and then I notice that it wasn’t just the hood that was hit; the windshield has cracked completely. "I can’t stay here."
Panicked and with my heart racing, I get out of the car, facing my fears and running to the door in front of me. Before I can touch it, it opens, making everything even more terrifying.
Where are you getting yourself into, Anira? Turn around and get out of here.
Why don’t I listen to my inner voice of reason?