CHRONICLES OF AADYA

Episode Twelve

ALISDAIR

Once the bizarre creatures had been lost to sight, the aura returned to its earliest form. The two gaped back at me in a fogged manner as I turned to catch a glimpse of them.

"What is the matter, brother?" Bellamy was the first to raise a query, voice doctored by worry as he observed me from the near distance they were.

"Do you not see the birds? Or you tend to act like you weren't aware of their message just now"

He slightly screwed up his face "What birds are you referring to?"

"I saw no birds" Gunner chipped in

Although it began to seem I had only witnessed that alone, and yet I continued wanting to be certain of the situation. "You implying that none of you had glimpsed even the slightest change of the aura around?” I inquired.

"What do you mean?" Gunner asked, the corner of his eyes a bit wrinkled as he attempt to avoid the sun. Bellamy's eyes mellowed as he approached me, he clasped my shoulder and then looked me straight in the eyes, his voice materializing into a low bass. "You did you see something, what was it, brother?" He appealed calmly.

"I must have hallucinated them" I finally admitted "I'm positive it correlated to Aadya. Let's proceed to West, I will make clear to you as our journey progresses," I ensured him and he nodded.

"What seem to be the problem? Is there something I need to know?" Gunner asked coming in between us.

"We will be heading West, Gunnar" I declared openly.

I have to admit that the recent arising events were certainly not what I believed possible. It wasn't just about finding Aadya, there is more to it, and that is what I can't enfold my head around. Being a werewolf has its edges that I and every other werewolf are adept with, although none of that comprises the ability to listen to a person's heartbeat more than five tons of miles away, and yet somehow I can. It has been ensuing ever since the incident at Opheena, then I had brooded it was only because of the vision, and yet it prevailed. Even so, I must concede that there is something about it that makes my worn-out face smile for no apparent reason. Hearing how her heartbeat quickens before settling back to normal sounds made it feel like a peculiar kind of trait that only I could acquire, one not known to others. There was nothing purer than that.

I had been so edgy when I sensed her fear and how her heart had beat a few phases ago. The alarming sentiments I had sensed had thrived my anxiety, I wasn't certain of what to expect but then her heartbeat gradually began to fall to the usual which I was thankful for, though yet, I was still curious about what had led her to be that alarmed.

Although it is irrefutable that in the course of these inexplicable circumstances I unexpectedly grew to be diverse from the same man that had begun this journey, my perspective of things has altered from its initial. Perhaps, that might have also contributed to Bellamy's latest attitude. I've known him long enough to be able to tell when he's ready to talk about whatever's upsetting him, and right now he doesn't seem like someone who is willing to talk to me, let alone share. I only hope that whatever is upsetting him won't be an issue we can't resolve.

I returned to where we had settled for the evening scarring a mule deer I had caught "Gunnar. You can help me cut open the deer" I urged him as I lowered the deer before causing my path to the near stream to rinse off the blood stain on my hands.

"I have only just washed" He lamented from a bit far distance.

"The deer will be pleased" I retorted halfway to the stream. "Where's Bellamy?"

"I don't know. I haven't glimpsed him since you took off"

I knelt by the water and started rinsing off the stains on my hand, pausing briefly to see if I could sense him nearby, and then I continued to scrub my hands after I had sensed him. Likely, I won't be going after him even though he wasn't far from us, it was noticeable he needed some alone time to ponder on what was troubling him. I rose, after which I peeled off my shirt to wash the little amount of blood that was on it.

"I will be fourteen by next week, would you believe that?" Gunnar let out as we both settled near the roasting meat.

"Yep"

"My father would be entering me into the knight trails once I turn fifteen. Though I'm not sure I will be able to handle a sword, I just prefer being an archer"

"Why do you desire archery?"

"I don't know. I just think I might not be able to handle being so close to my opponent during a battle"

"Well, that's totally understandable. Though have you ever at least attempted sword combat with someone? Maybe your friend?" I observed as he chuckle at my words.

"Lief's not stronger than a jackrabbit" He let out and continued to laugh.

"Strenght isn't everything, Gunnar. It takes skills and speed to win a combat. You might as well attempt handling a sword, perhaps you will be surprised how things turn"

He waited a while “Perhaps you should teach me the basics. I'm a quick learner”

“I hope it is the same in mastering the sword” My gaze trained skyward, gaping through the tree branches to the sunset, this would presumably be a good time to instruct some good tricks in handling a sword.

"Side-on, Gunnar! Side-on!" I urged him. He grunted reaching to pick up the wooden sword that had fallen off his grip. "Deflect the blow. Don't block it! Gunnar! Come on! Remember what I had taught you" His panting increased as he parried quickly, reflexively. He kept moving back and forth until he started to think, to act instead of reacting as I kept throwing aloft cuts. He might be thinking he was getting to it, but not until I whacked his blade aside.

"He has the fighting instincts of a stuffed duck" I hear Bellamy say from behind and I turn to face him.

"The boy does try, Bellamy. There has been some improvement. Whereas it only his first time"

"I didn't see any"

"You might think so, but I'm strong as an ox" Gunnar let out defensively and Bellamy raised a questioning brow in his direction.

"Show me" He challenged and Gunnar groaned. "Come on, boy. We haven't got all day" He urged him and then immediately came for my sword.

"Gunnar! Focus. Attack. Shield" I yelled at the boy when Bellamy charged at him. I wasn't certain why Bellamy had to charge at him in such a manner, there was something awry with the battle, Bellamy seemed engulfed with outrage, one he was firing on Gunnar. He exerts a force on the young boy that sent him to the ground and I quickly went for Bellamy when he was about to strike again, sending the both of us to the ground. Surprisingly I was hit with a force that sent me backward and he charged up and lunged at me, swinging with a hard left hook. I dodged it and endeavored to cease him though he reacted quickly, using his body to lift me off the ground with a grunt, throwing me about eight feet away which brought about me gliding to an extent.

I rose and moved quickly to him before seizing him against his color, thrusting him backward until I trapped him between me and a tree.

"BELLAMY!" I roared making sure he could hear my wolf voice and his now glowing eyes relaxed. I moved back a bit "What's the matter?”

"The boy has to learn. The world won't be easy on him, either. What's the point of training him when you don't go hard enough. He doesn't stand a chance like that"

"That isn't what I ought to know," I told him, and he brushed past me without another utterance and headed for the cliff.

"You're bleeding" Gunnar shortly informed me. "Your back" He signaled at my bare back not moving from his position. The sudden fight between me and Bellamy must have been an eye saw to him.

"Are you okay?" I asked walking toward him and he nodded "You may be leaner and less strong... but that makes you quicker and a harder target to hit. You did well in your first training. About what happened, you don't need to think much about it, he is no such person. I just need to know what he is going through, okay?" I watched him for a while before he eventually nods. "You should check the meat before it gets burnt" I joked though he seemed not to find it funny.

"What about your bruises?" He asked fiddling with the hem of his cloth.

I snort "It healed already. I will go wash up" I informed him and headed for the stream.

Tracing Bellamy’s scent, I came to reach him sitting alone on a hill, his knuckles stained with blood, he must have likely poured out his frustration on something, something rather hard enough that could have caused him to bleed much since the blood was his. He didn't make any attempt to look at me as I proceeded to settle next to him. What could have been bothering him this much? I thought. I've never witnessed him this distured, and he seem to be suffering, he is suffering.

I cleared my throat looking out to the darkness that has covered the hills and beyond. “I need you, brother...” The words came out as sincere as I felt. No matter what changes that part will never alter, I know that within me. “I don't know what's wrong with you, you have ceased to be the person I understood ever since that night, and it bothers me... It bothers me knowing that there's something disturbing you so much and yet you don't want to open up to me. You are always there for me, shoving me when my range got the better of me, setting me a part to self awareness. I don't know what have caused you to change but you are my brother! You’re my family. And I need you, we need each other. I need you to talk to me, I need you by my side” I let out breathlessly.

He stayed quiet for a while “Thanks for conjuring me back then” He whispered and glance at me. “...” He wasn't able to continue as I bitterly grunted due to the agonizing pain that ran across my chest like lighting ready to reap off my flesh. “Ali?” I heard Bellamy call before my blood froze in my vain as her heartbeat started throbbing loudly swallowing me whole. I've listened to these beats, but this time, she wasn't just scared, nor was she exceedingly terrified. What I felt was beyond such mere nouns.