Journey to the Unknown

Something was wrong with his sister,had been since the day of the attack. He sat at his mother's side, she was asleep. He had to wake her and tell her that he was leaving with Emily, she stirred slightly looking up at him from lashes that were so similar to his sister's, and his it was a sore point for him when he was younger– having girl eyelashes.
He had gotten used to it over the years and did not make a fuss about it anymore, she was tired. He had expected that especially since their journey had been spent trying to avoid all the ghouls that had been stationed around the pack lands so he understood and she would likely not want us to leave but maybe this was for the best. Emily was still broken in a way, he had never lost a child so he wasn't sure what it felt like or what to do but if she needed time he could give her the safety to work that out.
His mother's eyes blinked open softly and she sat up
" What's wrong is it your sister" she asked and he shook his head
" She is fine, sad but fine " she sat up blinking as she took a few breaths
" What's wrong then " she asked and he took her hand
" Emily wants to leave the pack" he said and she frowned
" And go where " she asked
" I don't know, but I didn't want to let her go alone" he muttered and she nodded
" That's fine, she should not be alone. She should not even be traveling in her condition"
" I know but she is headstrong stopping her won't work the best we can do is follow her " she nodded taking his palm in her hand
" Take care of her " she whispered and he smiled nodding– he would do what he could because Emily was his family and family protected each other.
" Will you be ok" he asked and she nodded
" I'll be fine, I'm sure they'll need my medical experience here " she murmured and he nodded rising to his feet
" I have to go or she might actually leave me " he hissed grabbing his bag and rushed out of the room to the corridor, he had been right, the pain in his ass was actually attempting to leave him, he rushed to them and slung his arm over Emily shoulder
" What is so funny" he asked ignoring her when she looked at him with a sour gaze
" You are a pain in the ass" she muttered and he shrugged
"I am your best friend" he said and Emily grinned and Aspen chuckled softly, he swallowed ignoring the thumping of his heart at the attention given to him. He pulled off and walked behind them trying to put as much distance between them as possible, he missed most of what they said and came to at the last words
"Since when do you see vision" he asked and she huffed
" Does it really matter when " she asked and Aspen muttered beneath her breath as they went on
" I have been having them since the battle at the Golden Fang pack" she responded simply and he nodded ,that was new and unexpected
They walked the path through the forest, he wasn't familiar with the place but Aspen seemed to be and Emily wasn't complaining but followed her dutifully as well.
The effect of the battle at the pack could be felt in the forest, there was a quiet hum in the air to be felt and silence from all the woodland creatures they didn't move or make a sound as if trying to escape the death that had happened here.
He had not been here for the battle but he had heard the rumours and stories.
" I don't care what it is but we're going to get rid of him, I promise you that" Emily mumbled and he nodded with all seriousness
" That's highly ambitious but I'm with you" he grinned and she shoved his arm and he laughed
Aspen shrugged
" It does not matter, we're getting rid of him"
" Did you feel that " Emily asked her and she nodded
" I did"
He wasn't sure what they were feeling but the breeze had turned a little cooler, leaving an eery feeling in the air. He looked around trying to make sure there was nothing that would affect their trip
" Did you see that" she asked and Sam joined her out of breath and looking just as bewildered as she felt
" Yes, that is not supposed to be normal is it" he muttered, because just in front of them a child had melted right before their eyes disappearing like a ghost,
" Well dear none of us are truly normal now are we " a woman with, red hair, in a white dress.
She was definitely beautiful but he didn't trust her one bit, in fact as they moved through he scanned the area for ghouls and any other thing that pose a threat
She led them to a cave a nice place considering it was in a cave, the plants seemed to bristle and Sam wasn't at all sure he was fond of that much movement
" This is not just a cave " she muttered, as she moved around the room stirring cups and pans then she returned with a tray that she had cups of tea.
" Then what is it " Emily asked
" It is my home and these plants all creatures that live here are mine "
Emily took one sipped at it and dropped it back ,and Sam stared at his like it was about to bite him, the liquid was a little too dark to be tea of any sort that he knew but he couldn't say that to her face. He drew it to his nose and brushed his lips over it wincing at the bitter taste in his mouth.
Emily huffed in amusement turning to the strange woman , she sipped at her cup once, twice and dropped it to the table looked to them and smiled
"You are having visions" she murmured, and Emily nodded sharply
" Yes, so many but I've never–" she huffed stopping just as Aspen patted her hand as she laughed
" That is fine, it's a new talent one that can be honed with time "
He stopped paying attention at some point just trying to look around wary of the plants that could talk and move which was not something he wanted to think about at all.
" There are things I want to know " she replied and he sighed
" You don't really believe that do you" he asked looking incredulous and trying not to look incredulous but she just smiled and looked to Emily
" You can chose to believe but it's all up to you" she nodded looking her and asked
" I want to know what you saw "
He leaned into Aspen the scent of her soap and her natural smell teasing his nostrils
" You can't really believe this stuff " he asked and she hissed at him
" There are things beyond our understanding, we don't question them we just learn " she replied.
Sometimes he felt a little behind, maybe it was because they had not grown in the pack– he and Emily but sometimes when he thought about it he wasn't really sad for it. He had a good life and a good upbringing and his parents would be proud.
" I guess" he shrugged pulling away.
Emily was twirling her cup with much consideration before she sighed and huffed
" I keep seeing mountains, the peak covered with snow and ice, I have no idea if anyone is there but there is a voice that always says north. " She whispered
" I figured it was telling me to go to a pack up north" she mumbled
" There are not many wolf packs up north" the woman murmured
" So what the hell are we looking for up north" he asked and she smiled
" They are other beings that live up north, other were creatures, other magic beings "
"You are enjoying milking my disbelief aren't you " he asked and Aspen laughed , shrugging him off
" Of course I am dear" the witch or whatever the hell she is said
" As I was saying, we have shape shifter of all kinds, all a form of magic and all has to do with how you wield that magic " she gulped. Sam had to admit that being tossed into the world of the supernatural was not as bad as he thought it would be.
He wished his father had told them a long time ago maybe it would have made a difference
" I keep having a dream of a white wolf, do you know what that means" she asked and she shook her head
" Most time it's a symbol for peace and in other times a war. I sense a magic within you but the problem is it's too unstable to be of any use to you , you must learn to keep both stable so you do not burn out "
" And what does a burn out look like " he asked,Aspen shot him a look and he huffed
" What, it's a valid question"
"It is" Emily agreed
" A burn out could range from many things, you could be paralysed, die in your sleep, or fall I'll for no obvious reason just slowly withering away" she muttered and Emily paled swallowing softly
" That is not very fun " she hissed, he laughed– no it wasn't at all either she was trying to scare them or she was telling the truth and they needed to be very careful.
" If she goes north can she learn to balance out her power," he asked
" That is a journey you will have to take on your own " she muttered her eyes glowing softly in the dark
" She doesn't do anything on her own " Aspen muttered firmly

" You can only walk her road so far"
" Thank you, mistress" she mumbled and hot a small nod, he moved from the wall hands on the handle of his sword
" We will be on our way "
" I can help you some of the way" she mumbled to him and took their hands all clasped together.
She mumbled a few words beneath her breath
The force of the wind was too much pulling them more into itself,he felt like his skin was about to fall apart, buzzing uncontrollably, but she stood with them unaffected by the wind, her dress didn't rustle her hair didn't flutter she looked like she was in a calm summer day.
The room tore apart, and they were tossed into space he closed his eyes to escape from the sand that was flying around the room.
Emily and Aspen were screaming their heads off as they were tossed about he jammed against a tree trunk, and landed with a soft grunt, this was not a nice start to their journey at all, he sat up slowly wincing at the pain in his elbow and back, she could have chosen softer landing he opened his eyes to look around and blinked twice – well hell, he wasn't sure where he was but they were definitely not home.
A loud screeching noise came through the clearing.