Book 2: Chapter 76
Heidi
“There, so you won’t have to use magic. I naturally breathe hellfire, so if Frag’Naw is still searching, he’ll only smell smoke, not you.” He said quietly, laying down on the wood. “Come. My fur and fire will keep you warm when these flames become embers. The cold cannot kill me and it would be best if you shifted as well, but I doubt you would be comfortable with that arrangement.”
“I’d rather not.” I said having him pick me up, and rest me on his chest like you would a puppy. He was surprisingly soft furred.
“I thank you for your trust, mistress.” He said quietly.
“I don’t know why I wouldn’t. You trust me while you’re in my pocket.” I smiled, and I could tell he at least tried to return it. Facial expression didn’t really happen.
“Yes, and I nearly fell out when you almost crashed.” He said looking at the tree line. “I don’t see or smell anything. Go ahead and rest.”
I don’t know why I thought he would be scruffy, but he wasn’t. I could hear his heartbeat… and honestly I didn’t feel weird like I thought I would, being so close with a male besides my mate. I didn’t know how to describe how I felt other than safe. He felt like I was at home back with my adopted parents. “Goodnight.” I told him, and he let out a rare chuckle.
“Goodnight Mistress. How you feel now is how I feel of you.” he said closing his eyes. “It reminds me of Tartaron after I pleased Master.” He said in contentment. We held a bond of master and familiar, so in a way, we were kindred. His job was to protect me, and in this instance, he’d keep me from quite literally freezing to death. I would have said more, but he seemed to be sleeping. The rise and fall of his chest was rhythmic and held a gentle chuff, not yet a snore. Above my head I could hear the winds whistle, and I was thankful he was so large.
This place was very unforgiving. No one would be here to help me if I was in danger, besides my familiar, and what I knew of magic. I love sparkle, but against another shifter, we would be no match. But she was my strength if a caster was around, because I was pretty immune to magic, and my wolf could help me. She puffed with pride, wagging her tail at my thoughts, and I silently laid the back of my head down, relaxing my muscles.
Rahrraam snored. It was a good indicator that nothing was around, and I slept soundly, though I woke up slightly before the sun. I was hungry, and thirsty. “Thanks.” I mumbled to my still sleeping familiar. His sleep to me felt more like a light one. He could wake with the slightest provocation, but unless there was danger, he continued to softly sleep.
The bite of the wind was harsh, but I gathered a few sticks, putting them on the almost out coals from the enormous log he placed down in front of us. The fallen tree we slept under blocked allot of the wind, and there was allot of wood collected last night. I was thankful, rekindling the fire, since it was already going, and made breakfast. I opened two soup cans, and let them get warm, then I nudged him awake.
“Oh no, Mistress I could have caught myself game. Those are for you.” He complained taking a can. In his hands it looked almost like a small teacup, and he drank it in about four gulps. He wiped his mouth and trudged in the snow leaving for about 3 minutes, coming back with a hare and a pheasant. “See.” He showed me his prize proudly.
“We can cook those for later…. Thank you.” I said, being handed the already dressed meat.
“It’s my job to keep you healthy, but you should have this now to maintain your strength.” He said simply. He handed me the makeshift bed, catching the hovel on fire. “Just in case. You left no tracks, and my scent is in the trees. Now your scent should be masked a little better.”
“And you did a good job. I didn’t even get cold.” I said rolling up the blanket, that now smelled of demon. Now that I thought of it, so did my hair and clothes. I didn’t mind though, and when he became a rat, jumping into my pocket I was a little grateful. I didn’t want to deal with a bitter dragon, especially one of a king’s line.
-------John------
If I was human, I’d be crushed by the rock that decided to fall while I ran under. I was trying to keep cover, but the only thing that was around in the small clearing was the flat boulder. I attempted to make a shortcut by going through exposed lands, instead of the long way around, however I tripped on nothing. I had to have run through a trap, and I was being crushed, slowly inching my way through the underneath of it until I was at a slow crawl. I almost lost my damn tail, and my wolf was upset that now it was sprained. I couldn’t hold it high like a brown flag, instead it was a little bit droopy.
It would be probably sprained like this for a few hours, and I ran with it low to his destress. I was an Alpha, so showing weakness, even if I couldn’t help it, was almost like disrespecting myself and my bloodline, but all that would have to wait. Spraining a tail felt like the equivalent to stubbing a toe or hitting your shins. Bravado can wait. If I looked like an Omega, at least I was alive.
He humphed, refusing to talk to me as I trudged through the heavy snow. I hadn’t eaten since yesterday and I used that energy to run the entire night. I’d actually lost track of what time it was because the sun here goes down so fast.
It didn’t help that it was sundown, and on the wind I could smell wolf. I was coming near a pack, and they were deep out here in the middle of nowhere. The chances of them knowing universal shifter was slim, and even slimmer that they would know English. I was hungry, but at least as a wolf I wasn’t cold. That combination would be disheartening.
I was trying to be optimistic, but realistically, my brother was here first, so he’d likely done something to piss them off out here. And sure enough, I heard a deep howl of likely a Warrior, but something was strange…. The trees here.
Something about this place suddenly felt old, older than I’d ever felt. Older than the King, and deep in my chest I responded a howl I’d never heard from myself. It was a rich howl that came from the soul, one of my wolf without restriction, and one so long I ran out of air.
What was that…
The return was much closer, and from the trees a grizzled wolf of black and gray came from nowhere. I could tell the gray was from age, not his coat color, and he had to have been twice the size of the King…. and it made me wonder if something like this was out here, how did he rule unless the crown was given, not earned.
Who is this? You smell of The Other Pup. He growled. His voice shook my bones, and I bowed my head. Terracotta was in full control, something I didn’t give him, nor did he take… it just was.
I am the Second Son of the house of Stone, the First Earthen One, Second to the First Charred. I growled. I’d never spoken this dialect, yet here I was confused but thankful.
Your blood could not pass. He was Weak Minded, but I see your heart is not his. He said looking at me with golden eyes. They looked like burning embers, and behind him was a smaller black wolf, one that smelled of him, but half his size.
I am the First, molded by the Pale Lady of Night. He said stiffly. From me, all who shift are.
I am the last made from The Moon Goddess, The Night Mother. Said a gray one emerging from nowhere. Through me, none more will ever be born as we are, but my son I smell on you. She said. They were the original shifters, the stories of old, the stuff of legends were in front of me, demanding my passage.
The King, Ashital, sent me to retrieve my blood…. My older brother has betrayed, and I have come to make this right.
They test your mettle. They test your soul. They purposefully sent you to Me. Boomed the Old One…. I shifted, becoming a naked pup compared to him, kneeling in the snow. These were things my body could not help, but happened because of his power.
“What the fuck.” I mumbled. I looked at my hands still covered in fur. I’d only half shifted but it didn’t hurt.
Follow. He’d commanded with hot coal ashen breath, and walked leading me. I had to shift, and run to keep up.
I walked in awe of the giant old trees, and light glows of blue wisps that trailed him. Occasionally, one or two would look like a wolf for only a moment, and as we walked, there was less snow until we were on green grass…. I was warm. I could hear water, but I had no idea from where…. I trotted a little faster. He was so massive that his gate was as if I were running next to a giant, as his paws were. I only went about halfway to his knee. This was Grendel, the First. The Charred One… father of my King, and true seat to the throne….
I’d found the source of my people…. And I followed. To where I had no idea.
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