Book 2: Chapter 73
John
The Moon was dark, and the witches did their rights along with my mate. They accepted and included her in their training drills and I ran as my wolf with their demons. It almost felt like I was pack here, though the word had gotten out that I was here.
Herrakken…. He had to know by now that I was here. I had been here a few weeks with my mate… and I was stronger than when I left home. I was tasked I think with this not because I was the only one, but because I was to be tested.
Also, maybe to send a message too. One that the House of Stone was to be feared; that even the youngest was unshakable in their protection of the King, and service to the people. If I could help it… I wouldn’t allow my mate to help me.
And I knew he was close. I would beat him here however, and hunt him down. He would pay for the grief he placed on good people, and especially for what he did to mother. Aemi didn’t deserve a shit son like him. One who was raised by her, only to almost get killed by him. It broke her heart.
I peeped my head down the hall before stuffing a bag full of supplies. I took a small axe, matches, some clothes, and the little pendant Heidi gave me. I swear I seemed to be unable to be lost, and I was glad for that. She was my mate, and anything she did for me made me feel special. She didn’t have to try to be that way for me, she already was.
My stealth was perfect, as I did read what Xavier had given me. I couldn’t shift into shadows or anything, but no one was out in the living room, as they were busy with their god. I didn’t know if it was disrespectful or not, but I opened the door, shifting, an closing the door.
I ran in the snow, feeling the sting of the cold air. I didn’t sense anything, but it was probably that it was because I hadn’t reached the barrier. I got to it in about the same length of time as it would take a pack run to the border. It seemed that that was a similarity we all shared.
I shifted, picked up a stick, and gingerly poked the invisible wall. I could literally see it sort of rippling as I did so. I didn’t know what it did once touched, so I would test it first. I shifted back and touched my nose to it, before figuring it was okay, and leaving. I knew she wanted to come, but it was much too dangerous for her, magic or not.
My brother is likely resistant to that, and her wolf is much too small to defend herself if he got close. I held the backpack in my mouth as I ran in the moonless night, worried for what that meant if I came in contact with a fully powered up creature I’d never met. I could probably take it… but I didn’t intend on fighting every thing that was between me and Herrakken.
Honestly, I didn’t even know which direction to go other than a feeling. I trusted my gut, running until dawn, and finding a large flat rock. I made camp, breaking a few snow covered branches with my grip, an splitting them in half. I manage to find a rabbit too, since it thought under the rock was a good spot to hide when it saw me. I skinned it, cleaning it with some snow, and splitting a slightly thicker log for a base to start cooking. That part was dry enough. I had a fire starter kit, an made a small one on top of the dryish wood, then let it grow. There was a certain satisfaction to that.
With the rabbit on a stick and my clothes laid like a pallet I ate the bones and all, shifting then sleeping with a relatively full stomach. I think things were looking up so far, even if I did already miss my mate.
I was awoken to unfamiliar growled words. The scent was shifter, and I opened my eyes. There were three large men, and two were enormous bears. The men had varying brown hair, large frames, but not overweight…. I could tell I could not best them, but I also couldn’t understand Russian. Shit.
Who are you? Growled the bear closest to me in very poor wolfspeach. He was grizzled with a deep scar over his left eye. That had to be one of their Warriors. I doubted an Alpha would come to engage a wolf… but he was nearly double the size of the already humongous shifters.
I am John Stone the Earthen One. I said sitting up, and rubbing my eyes after shifting. It was a universal way to show you mean no harm, but they looked at me with disgust.
Dirty wolf. Be-gone from our lands. He snarled, taking two steps forward. I knew I smelled something the same, but this one is a cub.
Whatever he has done, it is his own. I come from the House of Stone to end his wrongdoing. I said standing, and they could see I told them no lie, even though it took a minute to understand the last part.
I am Snarl-Snarl. Damnit… I didn’t understand that. It wasn’t wolfspeach, but I would try to copy that word exactly.
I bowed my head, something universally understood. I do not understand your name Snarl-Snarly. But he seemed fine with that.
Good enough. Leave. Follow the sun now cub. He growled. and I bowed again.
Thank you. He will pay. I growled.
He came under moon light. He asked for help, but left pack with money not his own.
I can replace. I said but he shook his head, shifting to a man the height of the King.
No. He looked east. No you can not. But if you see, bring it back.
A large claw grew from a finger, and he scratched into the stone what looked like a tree pendant.
What is this? I asked.
Mine. He looked as if he was thinking of how to word what he wanted. I do not speak wolf allot. He motioned around his neck. It is a gift from the Growl Snarldy. He pointed to the sky. It does no-thing… but I am from first.
“Holy shit.” I said in English, and he laughed. I only said it because I was talking to a war hero.
“Why didn’t you say you spoke English? My daughter lives in the Kingdoms-United. I am Ursul, Firstborn of the late Urson, the Strong One, the first bear.”
“I am John Stone, the Earthen One. Second born and Heir to the Second Seat of Shifters.” I bowed again and he bowed back.
“I didn’t understand any of your title in wolf… but you work with the King…. So that is good enough for me. For you to be heir that thief is an exile I assume?”
“Yes, and I assume he only spoke wolf to you?” I asked and he shook his head.
“He knows Russian.” He said gruffly.
“He’s trying to figure out how to use the gifts of the Lady, however only someone she chooses can activate the King’s weapon.” I said trying to keep it vague, but he knew exactly what I was talking about.
“The Gauntlets only work for the Blood of the King. He waists his time and spends my patience.” He snarled.
“I’ll be off then. I need to make headway if he’s out there.”
“I’ll escort you to the territory’s edge. He seeks the bastard son of the Dragon King; Frak’naw the Mighty One.”
“Would he help him?” I asked, and he shook his head.
“He eats our kind, so I would say no.”
“Very well.” I said getting my things, and they helped.
I ran east with them until the trees ended….. it was an open ice field that the bear shifters would not go beyond.
Far as we go. Do not change. He warned, walking off with his warriors. I hesitated, but I could literally feel that this was where I needed to be. I placed a paw forward….and ran as fast as I could go.
The snow was deeper here, and could not hold my weight. I struggled but pushed on, smelling the faintest scent of wolf. It had to be my brother, but there was barely any Earthen One scent to this. He must have done something to offend the Lady. But stealing something she made for the king and trying to use it on him would maybe do that.
There was a roar, along with a glint from a golden bronze something in the sky. It was my first time ever seen a dragon before, and holy shit I was unprepared for that.
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