Ruined
1686 Words
I WATCHED MY breath freeze as I exhaled. Harry was uttering orders to the mass of were-folk that had gathered in the grove of trees at the base of a steep incline. The fresh powder that had descended from the sky the evening before gave the landscape a clean exterior. Sniffing the air, I appreciated the scents of marine life as we were closer to the water line. My ears perked at the bark of a sea lion that was probably foraging for food. The sound of something familiar! Swinging my head, I couldn't quite make out the animal for the distance, but the warmth it brought me was priceless.
My eyes had followed the snaking trail that we would take up the mountain several times since we'd arrived here about 10 minutes ago. I'd already picked our first stop, based on the tree line alone. I wasn't an expert, but glancing through the crowd that had amassed at Harry's request, I could tell I was probably the most well versed in this terrain. Some wolfmen stood with pick axes, and others with shovels. Some wolfwomen had crates with what looked like warmers and towels tacked to them. Harry said they had all done this before, so why did everyone look so uneasy?
"There she is!" Harry's boisterous boom of a voice brought me back to the present. "The princess herself has come to he'p a poor man out!" My body tightened as I watched him pull Reule into a hug. What was she doing here? My mind started racing. Miss high-and-mighty had decided to grace us with her presence? We hadn't made her puke yet?
I was still salty.
And I hated that I noticed how beautiful she looked in the sunlight. Her creamy skin was framed by perfect, straight silver hair. Her eyes reflected the light of the sky, making her radiant with beauty. I had to stop my eyes from glancing down her body, my emotions reacting exactly how I DIDN'T want them to.
"All right! You know what we're here to do. We won't finish until our daylight dwindles, so let's hop to it!" Harry sauntered over to slap my back. "Follow the leader, here! He is going to lead us right to the source!" I forced my face to relax, rolling my shoulders back to exude confidence. I was determined to make the best out of this situation; blend into the tedious work of the surrounding folk, and then disappear for an hour or two...if I could. Watching the crew as they found their cliques of friends to the right and the left, I weighed my escape options. Today could be the day! I might taste freedom if I played my cards right.
I could feel a whistle on my lips simply thinking about it. What a rush! I had planned it all out on the walk over. I would get two different groups working, and then while I was out "scouting" the next area to plunder, I would sneak off as quickly and as fast as I could. I knew I would be able to tell exactly how long it would take me from the top of the ridge, since I would be able to see the closest ranger tower.
Thid was all dependent on if they let me travel alone.
The one hitch in my plan.
Conscious that I might appear a little too excited, I tried to suppress the pulse beating through my chest. No one around me seemed to be wise to my plot. Good. Hopefully Reule hadn't noticed the pick up in my heart beat.
Well. I wondered if I did disappear, would Reule notice? I cast a quick glance in her direction, only to find her eyes trained on me.
Ugh. Snake. Why did she have to come? Of course, she would be here to report everything that happened back to her precious father. She would ruin everything.
"Lad?" Harry was looking at me expectantly.
Shaking my head to expel all other thoughts, I focused in on my first task. "We're looking for black cottonwood trees," I howled against the wind, clapping my hands together. "These trees are the proof of enriched soil. The roots are going to be nutrient rich, meaning fairies will have a life source. Do not dig at the base of the tree, instead," I measured out a stretch of my hands. "Try to estimate about 3 paces back from the base. Start there."
We started the trek up the slick snow. I was amazed at how balanced my body felt as I pushed ahead. Gawky, pre-wolf Logan would have already fallen forward at least once, but now, each step was easier than the last. Keeping my eyes up, I spotted a tall cluster of trees about sixty yards from where I stood. These trees were thin, but effortlessly tall.
Does this moron even know what he's talking about?
He better not be wasting our time.
Good for nothing Mutt. They should have killed him.
I focused on cutting a straight path to our destination and not on the thoughts of the wolves around me. Each thought felt like the prick of a pine needle, pressuring until I moved, only to be met with another discouraging hurl or insult. Huffing in frustration, I tried to move around the phrases, like dodging baseballs in my head. Now would be a good time for those exercises Harry was constantly trying to get me to do. Training my mind on the nature around us, I suppressed my inner mind until it was almost silent. He had helped me form a mantra, and a breathing pattern. I intently worked on my breathing, hoping that by the time I reached the trees, I would be at peace.
Then, like a whisper, one voice quietly broke through.
I hope we find...good source here...those fairies... Dad needs to chill...don't want to marry...
These were different. They were fragments of a stream of consciousness. The voice, for some reason, I couldn't make out. My head whipped to face the group, my eyes scanning over the tops of them. Were these thoughts of compassion for the fairies? That baffled me. I hadn't witnessed anything close to that since being here. Well, with the exception of Harry.
Aware now that I had stared a couple seconds too long, I cleared my throat, trying to appear nonchalant as we traveled the remaining yards to our stop. "So, about...right here and there," I pointed. "If you shovel down, you should feel a slight give to the earth compared to the rest of the ground."
"We've dug for fairies before." Came a snarl. "You've served your purpose, now stand back." Mutt. A forceful shove to my shoulder knocked me back in shock.
"Geeze, like I care," I mumbled, rubbing the spot, glaring down the back of Typhus' head. Bully.
"He's always like that," Harry said from behind me. "Don't pay him any mind. Now," He rested a hand on my back. "You need to go on, and scout out any more areas. And here," He extended a vial towards me. "Spray this where we need to look. We can follow the scent."
An exhilarated breath caught in my chest. I would go out alone? What were the odds? I could use this to my advantage. I could tell them I got lost. I could...I could run! I knew these woods better than anybody! My mind was exploding with possibilities. Taking the vial in my hand, a slow smile spread across my face. "Sure," I breathed, trying not to sound too excited.
"Oh! One more thing!"
I stopped, wondering if the tick of my heart had given me away.
"Take Reule with you."
"What?!" We both exclaimed in unison. Her face had to have mirrored mine. I recoiled at the idea, a low growl begging to build. My heart was sinking while a fresh wave of anger thrashed through my bones. She. Ruined. EVERYTHING.
"That's what I said," Harry stated. His horns tilted in my direction, "And I'll take no lip for it, either." Looking at Reule, he calmly commanded, "You're to keep an eye on him." Then to me, he gritted through his teeth, "And you're to do as I instructed. Nothing else. Understood?" His fists were balled to his sides. I heard the underlying threat loud and clear, watching as his eyes narrowed to accentuate the silent warning.
"Fine," Reule rolled her eyes. "Whatever." Throwing her silver hair over her slim shoulder, she moved to come stand beside me.
Don't fight this, boyyo. I heard the thought plain as day. Harry lowered his head, sending the message. Remember the prophecy.
Uncomfortable, I shrugged off his words. Who cared about that stupid prophecy? Why did it have to be me? Trying not to look devastated, I chose a direction. "Let's start this way." I grumbled. And to think that I could have been to town and back in a matter of minutes if I hadn't been saddled with Miss Prissy Pants. What good was she for, anyways? My mental gripe echoed off the walls of my brain the whole trek up the side of the hill.
But why did I have to set people free? Like, what about me, making myself free? I could probably ditch her. I'd never seen her run. Sizing her up, I ran the numbers.
Yeah. I could totally outrun her. But she could follow my scent... And send the whole power of the army after me. And... I didn't know if that whole "control emotions" thing extended to the rest of my limbs. Could she stop my blood flow, sending me to the ground in agony as I gripped my jugular??
I'd seen the movies.
...But would she want to?
- Writer
