TWIN ALPHA: REBIRTH

Episode 5

Blood-raw gasps shook the boy’s frame as the leather straps snapped loose.

Selene’s fingers burned from the constant struggle to get him to the healing grounds.

“Be careful! Hold him steady!” Moira snapped, bracing the cot.

A low chant drifted at the tent flap.

Gethryn. The old sage appeared from behind the curtains to the room. He seemed in no rush and quietly observed for a moment

Gethryn’s expression remained unreadable. Without a word, he crossed over to where the boy lay writhing placed a pale hand on the boy’s forehead and the convulsions faltered to trembling stillness.

Selene glanced around. The other healers had retreated behind canvas walls, whispering prayers.

“Bring me moonflower petals, black willow ash, and the ruby tears of the nightshade root.” Gethryn commanded.

Selene and Moira exchanged a look, then hurried away to gather the ingredients.

“I didn’t think this was going to be this difficult, my arms feel numb from all the struggle. It probably wouldn’t have been this bad if someone had done their job properly.” Selene jabbed at Moira who had seemingly calmed down a little.

“The way you handled him he might not even be alive if I wasn’t there.” Moira tried to defend herself

“Why do you care so much bout him anyway?” Selene was genuinely curious. Moira had always been kind, after all she was the first and just about her only friend since she had wandered into the pack, but this felt completely different.

“I don’t really understand it myself but I feel drawn to him in a way I’ve never felt before.” Moira confessed turning a bit red as she fetched the ingredients from the shelves.

“You made us do all this because you want to mate with him?” Selene asked genuinely confused at what was happening to her friend.

The question almost made Moira spill everything on the floor, but luckily, she maintained her balance.

“I-I-I don’t know what you’re talking about. Shut up and let’s take these back to Gethryn.” Moira shoved some of the items into Selene’s hands and fled the scene in a desperate attempt to hide her face.

Don’t ask me that. I don’t understand what is happening either. Moira thought to herself as she delivered the items in her possession to Gethryn. Selene also arrived moments later with the rest of the ingredients.

“Leave us.” He commanded. “No one is to set foot here till I am done.”

Gethryn proceeded to prepare a circle of charcoal on the rough-hewn table. He mixed the petals and ash into a paste, then drew intricate runes around the boy with a bone-handled brush.

“Spirits of blood and bone, flesh and fang, heed this old man aid these souls before me.” he murmured, his voice rising into a low cadence.

He poured the nightshade tears in a silver bowl, the ruby liquid glowed faintly, blood-bright.

He set it before the boy’s face parting his lips and letting the liquid flow down his throat.

Gethryn continued, chanting in the old tongue.

A gentle wind stirred within the tent.

Reyes’s body trembled. His feet flexed, and his claws retracted into fingernails. His wolfish snarl faded into a human groan.

Slowly, agonizingly, he opened his eyes, one gold, one silver.

The pain was gone.

Fragrant steam curled around wooden beams.

Gethryn stared at the boy laying there for what seemed like an eternity.

“Saying you are special would be a grave understatement.” Gethryn broke the silence. He waved some incense over the cup in his hands.

“Drink this.” The elder pressed the cup with herbs to the boy’s lips.

The boy gulped it down. It was so bitter he almost threw up. He managed to down it all and lay back down. Almost instantly he could feel his strength start to return and his body healing.

The fog in their minds also seemed to be clearing.

Kael are you okay?

I’m fine. Kael answered within not saying much after that.

“You two have experienced a lot. Your souls and minds were on the verge of collapse, but I have helped strike a balance for you.” Gethryn continued waving the incense over the boy who lay still but for the shallow rise and fall of his chest.

“Listen to me very carefully as I will not repeat myself. You are not to tell anyone your current…predicament.” He paused gesturing to the body for emphasis.

“Your name will be Reyes. Do you understand?” the boy nodded in agreement.

Lorien was not sure what to feel in the moment but he was glad all the pain and chaos was gone. Kael was there too, but for some unknown reason he was silent.

The old man before him continued to speak. It was like this old man was etching every word directly into their minds as he spoke so they would not forget.

“You must build your strength and skill for what lies ahead of you.” Gethryn got up from where he was seated and gathered up his things as he prepared to leave.

“Love and great sacrifice are why you still live. I have done what I can for you, the rest of your journey is up to you. We will meet again when the time is right.” And with that he left leaving Reyes alone in the tent.

Gethryn saw Moira just outside. Selene had one to get them some food and water. She walked up to the Elder not knowing what to expect from his emotionless demeanor.

“He lives, worry not.” He saw the relief on her face.

“You feel bonded to the stranger. You should know a time will come when you will have to make a very difficult choice.”

Gethryn then walked away.

Moira went into the tent not sure what she would see, but the boy lay there unconscious. No. He slept peacefully leaving her to ponder the words the sage had said to her.