Beautiful Ocean Moon

Something Is Not Right

“These caves are idea and they are close to the hot springs.” Ares said looking at one of the caves we were in front of. Ares, me, Tobias, Anubis and a servant I didn’t get the name of at the time had gone in search of shelter for the night. ‘How did I get paired with Ares?’ I had thought when we first started looking. But I was surprised he hadn’t been am asshole so far. “Yes and there is enough room for all of us and the animals and the supplies. We should figure out which cave should be uses for which purpose before we head back.” I said back. “Your different from what I first thought.” As we had just finished figuring out the caves Ares words caught me off guard. “What do you mean?” I asked looking to him. He didn’t respond just looked at me before turning and heading back to the camp. ‘That was strange.’ I heard Anubis through the link. ‘Yes it was.’ I said back but then shook my head. ‘Now isn’t the time to worry about it though we have more pressing matters at hand.’ With that I followed after Ares and saw that Tobias and the woman had headed off already. I noticed that Ares was waiting for me to catch up and I was confused by his actions. However my confusion didn’t last long because once I was five feet from him, his face changes and my hackles where raised. Both of us managed to get out of the way in time as a huge boulder came slamming down where we were both just standing. I stood up from where I had rolled out of the way and looked for Ares who was as standing up. “What the hell?” We said at the same time looking at each other and then back to the rock. “Something is not right.” I say turning to look at the small mountain side. “I don’t see anything resembling a rock slide.” I added. “Neither do I. But we will check it later right now we need to get back the storm is really starting to move in.” He responded back. I nodded but I knew that neither one of us was going to let it go. We took off back to the camp and the whole way I kept reaching out with my aura trying to feel for anything but I found nothing out of the ordinary. ‘Is there a chance that could have been an accident.’ Anubis said more than asked. ‘A huge boulder that landed precisely where we were standing with no signs of missing us had we not leapt away. No Anubis, that was no accident that was deliberate and it was also not made to look like an accident cause if it had there would have been signs of a fake rock slide but there were none. Instead it was just one large boulder and for the fact that it messed us just barely tells me someone was concealing themselves and their intent.’ I said back to Anubis who gave me a growl. ‘And if it was intentional the question is who was the target me, Ares, or both and the question is why when we haven’t even started investigating yet.’ These questions ran through my mind as we made it back to the camp. ‘Anubis not a word to the others and not a word home.’ I told him as we walked to the canopy. ‘Mira.’ Anubis was annoyed with that order but I could not risk that the attack was a way to draw out my family or the king himself. ‘Until we know more Anubis this needs to stay between us alright.’ It wasn’t really a question but Anubis gave me a nod nonetheless. And for some reason I knew that is what Ares is thinking too.

“We found some caves near the hot springs, there is more than enough room for everyone and our supplies.” Ares told the group once everyone was gathered excluding Lily and Jax though. Who were on their way back. As soon as we had returned Ares told Seth to have them return. “Then what should we start moving first everything is packed but we need to be smart about this?” Max asked. “Tobias and Anessa are already moving the horses and other servants there now. I told them that we would handle the campsite.” Ares said then looked to Asher who nodded. Both walked out from under the canopy and moved about ten feet away. As soon as they stopped I watched as their auras surrounded their bodies and then they changed taking on their beast form. Asher ‘s fur was a smoky grey color and his eyes were still forest green, he stood taller than the tents min fact if we walk over them I am sure his belly wouldn’t touch the tops. However I barely noticed Asher which wasn’t hard in my case because I was to stunned by Ares beast form. His fur was as black as his hair had been but instead of a single silver white stripe he had one on each leg and one that ran from his nose until the back of his neck. It was breathtaking to say the least. “Forgive this but why did they transform?” Max asked clearly confused. “We are going to load them with everything here so that we don’t have to make more than one trip and in doing so we can organize there.” I answered. “Lily and Jax will meet us at the caves so let’s get started.” I said and everyone did. It didn’t take long for us to have Ares and Asher loaded up and then get back to the caves. As we were unloading Lily and Jax arrived and by the expression on Lily’s face, something was wrong. “Let’s finish and then we will get an update.” I stated because everyone saw the same thing. Everyone nodded and we got back to work.

After we had finished setting up the caves for us to stay in Ares asked Jay and Cameron to get us food and they agreed. Jax and Seth had gone to make sure the servants were good and helped them out with whatever they needed. When they got back it was clear something was on Seth’s mind. “Thank you for building a fire, Rayna.” I said as I and Max walked back into the cave from gathering firewood. “Happy too.” “Well, this is perfect timing.” We looked to see Jay and Cameron with food. “We dropped some with the servants already so let’s cook this and then talk.” Ares said coming up with Tobias who nodded and walked back to the other cave that was a few feet down from us. It wasn’t long after that the storm hit and hit hard We finished cooking the food and then Ares spoke. “Mira you can create barriers that can block sound from getting out correct?” Ares asked and I nodded then made the barrier. “Lily what did you find after you closed the link?” Ares asked her. “Right after Seth and I closed the link something caught my eye and I signaled to Jax to give me a moment so I could check it out. As soon as he acknowledged I flew down and landed near what at first glance seems to be a storage building like where they would probably store rice or grain.” Lily paused for a minute to pull out the map that outlined the village and what was what in the village. As she laid it on the table we all moved to it. “However I had memorized the layout from the map and this building.” She pointed to one “this is the rice and grain storage.” She then pointed to a different building “but this is the one that caught my attention.” “That first storage building is that a food storage. But this one is most definitely not for food.” “And how can you know that?” Cameron asked. “Because I don’t know anyone that would allow Spotted Water Hemlock to grow near a food storage building let alone against the building itself.” She answered him. “Is that what caught your eye?” Max asked this time. “No what caught my eye was that on the roof of the building was a magic circle.” Everyone looked around at each surprised at that but I looked at Ares. “You didn’t know anything about that did you?” I asked him and he shook his head. “Wait a magic circle why didn’t that get mentioned and how could no one notice it?” Jay asked. “Who did the magic it circle made sure to put it on the roof and then disguised it as part of the wood design I only noticed it because, as the sky was darkening for the storm. So I decided I needed to look at it closer and that’s when I found the Hemlock.” Lily’s revelation had me suddenly remembering something my father had told me years back.