11. REMEMBER ME
1343 Words
I had 2 hours until Odessa would come to check on me, so I had time to recover from my encounter with Cleo. I splashed cold water on my face to help with the stinging, before making myself comfortable in my bed with my schoolbooks to rest my leg. I hadn’t broken any new bones, just set the healing ones back a few hours. I could use the excuse that I tried walking normally to and from school even though she had told me not to use my full weight, yeah, I could stretch the truth a little. I was lying to her about my name so why not this?
But I couldn’t focus on my homework, I was too taken with the look the guys gave me just before they left. I knew they were kidding around but the gentleness that they cared for me was touching, and they were both incredibly handsome.
Knock some sense into yourself Cassie. It’s just them being decent. I tried to read the same sentence for the 8th time, but failed. Face it, you have a crush. You have a crush. My internal monologue was singing as it teased me. I tried to tune it out once more.
You can’t get rid of me Cassie. I can see into your mind.
This was a different internal voice.
I searched the room for signs of anyone there, peeked out the window but saw no one.
I’m not there Cassandra.
Who are you and how do you know my name?
I’m you. Part of you.
Okay me. Where are you?
That’s harder to explain, I am in your mind currently. Happily nestled into a memory of your father teaching you how to swim in that little waterfall pond back home.
How did the voice know that?
In your mind remember.
You can read my thoughts?
Yes Cassie, you can’t hide anything from me.
This is creeping me out. Who are you and what do you want?
I want you to remember.
Remember what?!
Remember me.
I’ve never met you! How am I supposed to remember you?
Think Cassie, about that day in the pond.
So, I traced my mind back to that day, my memory was fuzzy, and I struggled to get the details. I was about 4 in age, I recalled how cool the water felt, how deep the pond was to my little legs, but it barely came up to my father’s waist, I could see my dad cheering me on as I swam towards him, and the sound of the waterfall, how gorgeous it looked as the water crashed against the rocks below creating a white foam. I remember my father’s Beta had arrived with news about something, and I went towards the crashing water. I wanted to feel the power of the stream. I remember reaching out my hand before a yell came out behind me and I was pushed underwater, through a tiny gap in the rocks. I struggled to breath, darkness and water flowed all around me, I started to panic.
Breathe Cassandra. Stay with it.
****
I didn’t remember all this when it happened but reliving it now with this voice inside my head, I remember waking up muddy, cold and wet. It was dark and there were these tall, so tall they could touch the sky, structures around me. There was a breeze and the structures moved slightly. They were trees, I was in the woods. But where? I looked around searching for any sign of my father, or a landmark of my pack grounds, something, anything to help me and then something moved. Deep, and dark in the shadows of the trees something big moved. One leg, two, three, four... and tail, it was barely bigger than me but it was a wolf. It had this most gorgeous sapphire colouring across its back and tail, before it blended into a teal on its paws and face. Its eyes were brilliant gold, just a fleck of blue hiding in them. It was almost a reflection of the sky above, it was stunning, the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. Something stirred within me and I knew it meant no harm, I walked closer to it and held my hand up to its snout. It bent down slightly to touch my palm and something in me stirred.
“You’re here to protect me girl, aren’t you?” A nudge and gentle luck from her confirmed I was right. “Can you take me home?” She crouched for me to climb on top and she took me through the twisting, winding woods. Where sharp noises and cruel sounds echoed in the night but I wasn’t afraid. After a short while I could hear the edge of my father’s voice shouting out for me. “Daddy!” And we took off in a run towards his voice, I could see a clearing and the lights ahead but the wolf stopped dead suddenly throwing me off and over her head.
“What’s wrong?” I saw her whimper and back away from the lights. “They’re friendly, they’re my family.” But still she shied away, a twig snapped behind me and when I turned back round to her, she was gone. “Oh...”
“CASSIE! Oh, Cassie there you are!” My father wrapped me in a tight hug. “We thought we lost you; your mother would rain hell on earth if anything happened to you.”
“I’m fine, a wolf saved me.”
“A wolf eh? What did it look like?” My father adjusted to hold me on his side as he headed towards the lights, no doubt already sending through the pack link that I was found safe.
“She was stunning. A beautiful sight of blues across her body, her paws and tip of her tail where different shades. Almost like my water colours when they blend together. But her eyes... they were gold.”
My father stopped. He looked back at the direction in which he found me. “I wonder my dearest little one, if you found what Lycans have been looking for for centuries.”
“What’s that Daddy?”
“The Goddess Wolf. Stories go that the Goddess sent a dozen wolves down, that stand alone from their Lycan halves, and they are the most beautiful, strongest, wondrous wolves that have ever been. Of course many have searched for them throughout the years, seeking to claim them as their own or as a present to win a possible mate. But only those of true, pure heart can ever find them and once you’ve found each other nothing can break that connection.”
“Wow.... you think I found one?”
“No, my sweet, I think she found you.”
****
I came crashing back to my room at Odessa’s. Breathing heavily and in a panicked sweat.
You’re Cora.
Yes. I could hear the voice smile. You took my name I see.
Sorry, I just pulled it out of thin air. Where are you?
Look to 7 o’clock.
I turned to my back left, and there hiding in the undergrowth of the woods was Cora. My wolf. But she was in shades of green, beautifully disguised in the leaves of the forest.
How can you---?
I’m iridescent or opalescent.
Huh?
I can change my colour to my surroundings if I want, or simply change my colour. Sometimes I appear as a rainbow of colours if the light hits just right.
That’s amazing... I admired my stunning wolf for a moment. Did you follow me here?
I’d follow you anywhere Cassie, but be careful there are dangers here too.
I wanted to ask her more but the front door opened as a tired Odessa came in, with Alicia strapped to her front.
“What a day!”
I looked to where Cora had been hiding, but she was nowhere to be seen.
“Yes Odessa, what a beautiful day.”
- Writer
