Nydewin

Chapter 5

Chapter 5 

I woke looking up at a full moon, smiling at her beauty. At first, I was confused, I had no idea where I was, I sat up and looked around. I was in the grove. Then like a crashing wave, the memory of what happened, came to me. I laid back down on the rock, hugging it, praying it was all a dream. I wanted to cry but there were no tears to cry, there was no energy to cry. I was too exhausted.

“Hey sweetie.” said a flowing, soft voice.  “Aren’t you just the cutest.”

I looked up to find two big beautiful, round, orange eyes, accompanied by a beak, looking down at me. I sat straight up and looked around for the owner of the voice.

“Are you okay?” asked the voice again.

I ignored the question and continued to gaze down the length of the creature standing in front of me. The front half resembled that of a giant eagle, with beautiful feathers, that blended in seamlessly into chestnut coloured fur. The creature had wings that could have been easily twice the length of the creature's body when outstretched. The other half of the creature was what looked to be a large thoroughbred horse, with beautiful long strong legs. My eyes caught a glimpse of the rather large talons on the two front legs that also belonged to the eagle half of the creature. Half eagle, half horse. I shook my head. No. not half eagle, but half griffin. She was a hippogriff. She stomped her feet a little, I could feel the frustration coming from her.

I noticed one of her wings were drooping slightly,

“Are you hurt?” I asked without hesitation. My voice was little more than a whisper. So, I cleared my throat and asked again “Sorry,” I coughed a little, throat dry “Are you okay? Are you hurt?” I said pointing at her wing.

“Oh!” she moved her body around so that I could have a better look at her wing. “I was shoot, not too far from here, by one of the black witch hunters.” She answered, I could hear the pain and anger in her voice, I could feel it radiating from her.

“May I?” I asked pointing at the black, blood stained arrow.

“Oh, if you would please?” she said stretching her wing out for me to get a better look.

I stood slowly, as not to spook the Hippogriff. I examined the injury and decided on the best cause of action.

“I’m sorry, but this is going to hurt,” I told the hippogriff.

The hippogriff gave me a nod, then looked away. I felt her body tense as I touched it. as I grabbed the arrow a small spark came from my left hand. Ignoring it, I grabbed the pointy end of the arrow, snapped it off then pulled the arrow out. Without thinking, without knowing what I was doing, I placed my left hand over the injury and thought ‘heal’. I felt my hand start to produce some heat, as I felt my own energies start to leave my body. I watched as the wound healed, into a small scar. I stepped slowly away from the hippogriff, as she examined her wing for a while, stretching it a bit, before looking at me.

“You must be Thiajar’s heir.” She said, I could hear the smile in her voice and see it in her eyes.

“Who?” I asked, feeling confused

“Prince Thiajar, I can see the resemblance” she said doing a little bit of a dance “I felt you enter the realm, and wanted to come and meet, my dear friend’s offspring,” her voice lost its cheerfulness “that’s why I got shoot, I was too busy trying to get here, before you could leave.” The hippogriff gave a snicker “turns out you weren’t in any hurry to leave,” she tilted her head and looked at me with sad eyes. “you look like her you know,” she turned her head away from me. To hide the tears, I had seen forming I thought.

“who do I look like?” I asked patting her neck.

I felt the hippogriff tense at my touch, then relax again just a quickly. She turned and looked at me.

“You have his touch.” I must have looked confused “Prince Thiajar.” She said matter of fact, like. She leant forward and rubbed her cheek against mine “I hope you share the same heart too.” She said

The hippogriff started to turn away from me.

“Wait!” I called following the magnificent creature

She turned and looked at me “What is it child?” she asked startled

“Do you know how I can get back home? Back to the other realm?” I asked wishfully, slumping back down on the rock, that was now cold and unfriendly, I frown in disappointment, the rock no longer had the homey feeling it had only moments before.

“You are sitting on the portal child,” the hippogriff gestured to the flat rock “But unless you know someone powerful enough to take the curse the black witch put on it off, then there is no going back.” The hippogriff was very blunt and unfeeling with her words.

That’s when the tears finally started to fall, when my only hope of making it back home was lost. No matter how hard I tried to make them stop, no matter how many deep breaths I took, they just kept coming. I couldn’t make the tears stop. Maybe I didn’t want to.

“Oh, there will be none of that!” the hippogriffs words felt like an order.

My body unintentionally, took a large gulp of air, and froze.

“That’s better.” She looked around the grove. “I best be going.” She looked back at me “Your people will be here shortly to collect you. Trust them, they will help you figure everything out.” The hippogriff then plucked one of her own feathers, handing it to me she said “Wherever you are, if you are in need of help, let this feather sore through the wind, and one of my kind will answer your call for help.” I grabbed it from the hippogriff’s beak

“Thank you.” I said smiling shyly at the hippogriff

“No, thank you child. you have helped heal my wing and brought hope back to this old girl.” The hippogriff turned to leave

“What is your name?” I asked

She smiled at me, “we don’t have names, we can recognise each other through sight and smell, each hippogriff has their own unique sent.” She answered by ruffling her feathers, then shaking them flat again.

I was greeted by the most pleasant of scent. I smelt a mixture of pine needles, nutmeg, and something sweet, something that I hadn’t smelt before. I closed my eyes and let the sent linger just a little longer. I opened my eyes again, feeling the hippogriff watching me.

“you smell beautiful.” I said smiling at the extraordinary creature.

“you are sweet child.” she took a couple of steps closer to me “now my turn.” She said before nuzzling her beak into my hair. She pulled back and gave a little sneeze “you smell similar to your blood kin, but you have a strange smell about you.”

Just then there was some rustling in the under growth, both of us looked over to find large bright blue eyes staring back at us.

“Cormac?” I asked standing, to get a better look.

Instead a large black wolf stepped out from the undergrowth. My heart sank. I stepped back in fright and tripped over the flat rock. The hippogriff reared up and kicked at the wolf. The wolf took a step back and bowed to the hippogriff.

“I don’t not mean to scare the girl.” I heard the wolf’s thoughts “I was sent here to watch over her.”

“Sent by who?” asked the hippogriff her voice was stern, it no longer sounded sweet or friendly “give me a name wolf, or these will be your last moments.”

“My pack’s Alpha Daeveth,” the wolf lowered himself further, so he now laid on his belly “the group that was meant to meet her here, knew they would be late, so sent me ahead, to watch over her.”

The hippogriff looked back at me “I must go,” she eyed the wolf “do you trust this wolf?” she asked

I looked from the wolf to the hippogriff and back. The wolf kept eye contact with me. His eyes looked so familiar, they looked too much like the fox’s. I put my hand in my pocket, looking for my grandmother’s stone, but my pocket was empty. ‘I must have dropped it when I passed out’ I thought to myself.

“do you know the fox that was following me? That brought me here?” I asked the wolf

The wolf grind “The red, blue eyed fox, you call Cormac?” he asked

I nodded.

“I know the fox well.” He answered, then stood on all fours. His ears twitched “your friends are close.” He said

“Amelia do you trust this wolf?” the hippogriff repeated

“yes.” I said nodding to the hippogriff

“Very well, time to go then sweetie.” The hippogriff turned, trotted only a few steps, before her wings lifted her into the sky “Until next time child.” she called before she disappeared into the night sky.

I looked back at the wolf, but was greeted by empty space, I frowned.

“wow!” I heard someone say, from behind me.

I turned to see three strangers stepping out of the forest into the clearing. “did you see that?” said a male excitedly, still looking up into the sky. “I haven’t seen a hippogriff in many years.” He turned to the two women following him. “They are all but extinct.”

“What do you think it was doing here?” asked the blonde woman who was looking down at the ground, making sure she didn’t trip.

“I do believe the hippogriff, was here for her.” Said the fiery red head woman, pointing at me.

I froze, I couldn’t decide whether to run and hide, or fight. I heard a small chuckle from the undergrowth. I looked over to see the wolf hiding.

“you can trust them.” He said, softly

The red-haired woman, walked over to me first, smiling. There was a little spring in her step as she approached me. She was a little on the short side, with olive skin that matched her golden-brown cat like eyes. Her strange beauty hypnotized me. Never had I seen such a combination of dark skin and red hair before.

“you must me Amelia.” She said, rocking back and forth on her heals, her voice velvety soft “I’m Benita,” she put her hand out, when I went to shake her hand she instead grabbed my forearm and bowed her head, before releasing my arm and gesturing to the other woman with short blonde hair, standing behind her “this is Sachi. And that is Taril.” She looked around, as if looking for another member of their group, then frowned “seem we were a little late, glade there was someone here to greet you.” she said pointing at the feather in my hand

I hid the feather behind my back without thinking.

Taril gave a small chuckle and stepped forward. That’s when I noticed how tall and skinny, he was, with skin so pale it was nearly transparent. His short dark hair framed his pointed features including his pointed ears. ‘Fairy!’ I thought to myself, remembering some of the characteristics from my grandmother’s old books.

Taril smiled at me and put his left hand out, I reached out and grabbed his forearm like Benita had grabbed mine. When I tried to pull away, Taril held tighter. He was looking at something on my arm, that when markings started to appear.

“Guys, look at these.” He said looking over his shoulder at the others.

“No!” said the blonde

“look.”

I was starting to feel uncomfortable. My heart was starting to race. I could feel myself panicking. I closed my eyes and wished for them to back off. I felt a surge of energy, of heat then my arm fell back down to my side. I opened my eyes to find all three of them, had moved a few feet from me. And they looked surprised, even scared.

“what was that?” Asked Benita

“I do believe, our little witch just had a freak out, and pushed us back with an energy shield.” Said Taril

“When did you learn to do that?” asked Sachi “What else do you know?”

I could feel my anxiety starting to flare up even more. “I don’t know what you are talking about.” I had no idea what was going on, and it sounded like these people thought I did. Benita looked at me and pressed her lips together, looked at the others and frowned

“Cormac didn’t tell you anything did he?” Benita asked

“the fox? What does the fox have to do with this?” I asked confused

Sachi shook her head “she doesn’t even know what she is, or why she is here.” Her voice was harsh “How are we meant to defeat an evil crazy witch, with more experience than all of us combined, and a child with no experience?”

Benita said something under her breath that I didn’t recognise.

Ignoring Sachi, Benita said “You should sit.” pointing at me, she then turned to Sachi “Would you get firewood.” Then she spoke to Taril “Could you get food ready, I think we will stay here till morning.” And just like that. Without a word of protest, the others went about doing as Benita asked.

“Sit.” she ordered again gesturing to a patch of grass.

I sat, gratefully. Worried that I was going to fall over from exhaustion at any moment. I watched Taril, take the cap of a leather skin, pour some liquid out into four cups, recork the bottle, then sprinkle something that smelt truly awful into the cups. He then proceeded to hand Benita the cups. The first two cups she gave straight back to Taril, the next she handed to me

“carful, it might be a bit warm.” She said, handing me the wooden cup

I frowned as I took the cup, as she was right, the cup was quite warm. I looked from the cup to Benita, back over to Taril, back to the cup and then at Benita again. “How?” I asked sniffing the now delicious smelling brew.

“How does it smell so good, after smelling so bad? Or how did the tea get hot?” ask Benita, sipping at her own tea, smiling.

I sipped my own tea, worried that it would taste just as bad as it had smelt earlier, only to be surprised by just how nice it tasted. “both,” I answered taking another sip. The second sip tasted slightly differently, but just as tasty as the next. Again, the next sip had a completely different taste, but still tasted just as scrumptious as the next.

Benita gave a little giggle “fairy tea.” She said smiling at me, I must have had a confused look on my face, because she continued “It’s why, it tastes differently each time you take a sip. It will change flavours depending on the drinker’s taste buds.” Benita took a sip of her own tea. “it is also the same reason why it smelt so terrible before it was heated.”

I drank the last of me tea, and placed the cup down beside me “but how was it heated?” I asked

“I heated it with my hands.” Benita answered by showing me one of her hands.

I saw, Taril smirking behind Benita as he prepared some suspicions looking food. “she still doesn’t understand.”

Benita looked behind her at Taril then back at me, as if to confirm what he was saying. Sighing she took the last swig of her own tea and got into a more comfortable position.

“You see there are all type of magical begins in this Realm.” She started to say before I cut her off

“I still don’t know what Realm I am in.”

“Oh, sorry.” Benita picked up her tea and frowned at the empty cup, before placing it back down.

“Food will be ready soon, just waiting on Sachi with the firewood.” Taril said

“Any way.” Benita started “This realm is called Nydewin, and the realm you were teleported from is known as the Coahar Realm.”

Benita cleared her throat.” Now as I was saying there are many different times of creatures in this world. Some harmless and some more dangerous than that next. If you hadn’t guessed by now, Taril is a fairy.”

I nodded smiling at the fairy who was now sitting with us.

“well Sachi is a.” Benita hesitated “our human protector and I am an Elemental, with some seer abilities.”

“speaking of elementals, can you light the fire?” Sachi asked, sounding a little annoyed.

I looked from Sachi too Benita. Wondering what was going on.

Benita smiled at me “Watch.” Was all she said, before standing up to walk over the small pile of wood Sachi had collected.

I watched as she rubbed her hands together, like she was warming them, before she hovered them over the pile of wood and started whispering to herself. I couldn’t understand what she was saying, but I could feel the power in the words. I watched as her eyes changed from a brilliant gold to glowing red. Then a spark flew from her hands, and instantly the wood caught fire.

I gasped in surprise, looking from the fire to Benita and back. “So, you are a fire Elemental?” I asked finally.

Benita gave me a look that made me think she had just been slapped in the face with a wet fish. “No!” she sounded a little offended. “Well kind of, I have the ability to control all four elements, fire is just my primary one.” She said matter of fact.

“So, you are direct descendent of Kinen, the first Elemental?” I asked

There was a short silence “How did you know that?” Benita asked

I hesitated ‘How did I know that?’ I thought to myself  “I. um. I don’t know.” I answered

Benita frowned at me.

Before I could react Sachi had me pinned by the throat on the ground “She is an imposter!” she said a blade to my throat.

“Sachi get off her!” Benita voice was harsh to my ears “she is definitely not an imposter, look how scared she is.”

Sachi searched my face, looking for something. Before she lent close and whispered, “If you threaten me or my friends, I will not hesitate to slit your throat with this blade,” she sat up to look into my face “Do you understand?”

I wanted to nod and agree, I just wanted the blade away from my throat and this psycho off me. But something was holding me back, I didn’t just want this woman off me I wanted her to know she wasn’t better than me. I could feel through the physical connection that I was more powerful then she was, and something deep down was making me want to prove it.

I could feel myself starting to dislike her more and more. I glared at her as she glared back. I could feel the power radiating off her, and every muscle in my body wanted to look away, but something in me told me that if I did, Sachi would see me as weak and would never take me seriously. I saw a smile start to form at the corner of her mouth. I felt a flash of anger course throw my veins. I tried to supress the urge to growl at her, but I couldn’t, a deep growl left my mouth, as I beared clenched teeth at her, fear showed in her eyes.

It all happened so fast, that I didn’t know how it happened. One moment I had a dagger to my throat, with a psycho on my chest. The next the blade was being pressed to her throat and I was atop of her.

“I understand that, you are here to protect your friends, but let’s get this straight,” I said as I stood up and took a few steps away “I don’t like being threatened.”

I through the dagger to the ground beside her, I then looked over to Benita. “I’m sorry,” I said feeling light headed

There was quiet, for a short while before Taril and Benita started laughing

Benita shook her head “It’s fine, Sachi shouldn’t been so quick to judge.”

“Wow! who taught you that?” Taril asked handing me a bowl of stew.

“What to fight?” I asked, silently thanking my grandmother for forcing Tia Kung Do lessons.

“Shift?” he said tilting his head to one side.

“What?” I said looking at him, confused

“Just now.” He said pointing at Sachi “when you two were having an alpha dispute, your eyes started glowing, and when you bared your teeth your canines lengthened.” Taril looked at me with raised eyebrows “Your telling me that was your first time?” he said before he started laughing. “Oh! Sachi you were bested by a baby that didn’t even know she could shift!” Taril called out laughing.

I looked over a Sachi who now looked more dangerous than ever. ‘great’ I thought.

“You did good, she will get over it.” the voice sounded proud, I looked for the wolf hiding in the forest, but couldn’t find him.

“Who do you keep looking for?” Taril asked looking over me into the forest

I investigated my bowl of stew, “Oh, no one.” I ate a mouthful of the delicious stew before saying “I didn’t even know I could shift, so how could I have done it?”

Taril looked at me for a while “You are a descendent of Thiajar, one of the most powerful witches that ever lived, his ability to shift was legendary, it is possible that you could have the same affinity with your shifter side as he did.” Taril studied me for a while “you are taking this whole situation very well, for someone that doesn’t know anything.”

I looked at him and gave him a half smile, before finishing the rest of my dinner “All my memories of magic and my ancestry have been locked away since I was twelve. Just recently the spell that my grandmother and I cast to bound my powers and memories broke.” I paused to look down disappointedly at a very empty bowl as my stomach growled loudly.

Taril laughed before filling my bowl with more delicious food. I smiled a thank you at him.

“So, if the bound was broken, how come you still know very little, but seem to know everything we are saying?” Benita asked frowning

“My memories are returning slowly, the more you talk, the more I remember.” I paused, trying to think of the right words “It’s like you are filling in these large gapes in my memories, and the puzzle is slowly coming together.” I looked over a Sachi “For instance, I can tell by the way Sachi holds herself, by the way she moves, that she is actually an assassin. Someone who prefers a silent approach.”

Sachi’s eyes narrowed at me, hate and anger filling them.

“That still doesn’t answer my question.” Taril pipped in

I looked over at him and sighed “As soon as I woke up and was confronted with the hippogriff, I have placed a barrier around my emotions, so that they don’t take over and I can concentrate.” I answered

Taril looked concerned “It is not good to bottle your feelings,” he grabbed my empty bowl “you won’t be able to learn how to use or control your powers if keep bottling them up.” He said as he left.

“You should listen to him,” the voice seemed to wrap around me like a hug.  I felt myself smile and relax a little.

“They won’t stay bottled up, when I sleep tonight, I will lower the barrier.”

Taril and Benita both nodded in satisfaction.

“why won’t you come out?” I thought to the wolf

“the time isn’t right yet.” Was all he said before I felt his mind leave my own.

I sighed heavily. I somehow felt connected to both this wolf and the fox, something about them, made me feel like I wasn’t alone. These people that I now sat around the fire with, didn’t quite seem like friends just yet. Not like the wolf.  I put my hand in my pocket, looking for the stone Grandma gave me, but remembered it was no longer there. My heart sank. I looked down at my hand that had burned earlier from the stone and found a mark burned into my hand, I traced the mark with my other hand, curious. A shiver of cold ran down my spine and the mark started to glow.

“it’s your family sigil.” Benita said, watching me “it glows, because your body is cold. You are using your own powers to keep you warm.” She was smiling at me “you are quite a natural.”

“I don’t even know how I got the thing, or what I am doing it.” I said still looking at the symbol

She looked at me frowning “You really don’t remember any of the lessons your grandmother taught you?” Benita looked thoughtfully into the fire before looking over at Sachi

I watched Benita, watching Sachi awhile. And for a flitting moment, I saw a thin golden, thread connecting their auras.

I shook my head “As I told you earlier, some of my memories are returning. But I still have no knowledge of my powers or how to use them. The only gift that I ever remember having was the ability to speak to animals.”

 “Excellent! So, we need to find you a teacher?” Benita asked looking thoughtfully at Sachi and Taril

Sachi was nodding “But we don’t know any witches, not ones like her.” She eyed me with distaste

“No but we know plenty of people that can teach her different aspects of her magic.’ Taril’s eyes glowed green with excitement “Benita, you can teach her elemental magic.” He paused thoughtfully “I’m sure the Alpha would be more then happy to teach her how to shift.” He was all but bouncing up and down on the spot with anticipation.

“Yeah, but its not just going to happen overnight,” Sachi looked at Benita “we will have to find a seer first,” She paused looking sympathetically at Benita “A stronger seer, one with experience in unbinding spells”

“Okay, it’s settled then,” Benita replied grinning ear for ear.

“Excuse you me, I’m right here!” I knew I sounded angry, but nowhere near as angry as I was starting to feel. “they were locked away for a reason.”

Sachi and Benita looked at me in shook

“Why?” Taril asked his voice soft

“Because I can’t control them, I get too emotional when I use them.” I answered

I could feel the anger and frustration building, I could feel the all to familiar heat and pain growing in my chest. I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths. Counting backwards from ten.

“We need you to know how to use your powers Amelia” Benita said softly. “if that means we need to unlock some memories, no matter how bad they are. Then that’s what we need to do.”

I tried ignoring her, I needed to calm myself before I started speaking again.  The shield that I had put up to garde me against my emotions was starting to c***k and flow over. I was too angry, and if I started speaking I might lose control and I didn’t want to have a break down in the middle of nowhere in front of strangers.

“Relax.” The words were soft like velvet, I felt some of my anger lesson.

“I can’t do this.” I said out loud my eyes still closed

“Yes, you can. Just concentrate on me, no one else.” I could feel his mind in my own, it felt so familiar, so soothing. I could nearly feel the hug. “I’ll be there soon.”

The voice in my head was helping with the emotional tornado that was raging inside me, but I knew if I didn’t find a way to calm myself, I would eventually break. I knew the last couple of days had been tiresome, stressful and somewhat out of this world crazy. But I hadn’t realised how, much it had been affecting me

“Are you okay?” I heard someone ask

I ignored them. I didn’t want to be here any more. I wanted to wake up. I wanted to be home.

I heard some excited chatter, coming from the group. They were greeting someone. ‘great, someone else I can lose control in front of.’ I thought to myself

I heard a chuckle from the wolf. “I’m here, open your eyes.” He said

“I don’t want to.” I said out loud, shutting my eyes tighter

“Is she talking to him?” I heard someone ask

“Yes, I do believe she is.” Someone else answered

I heard a deep, loud growl, come from in front of me, then heard everyone quickly scuffle backwards.

“Open your eyes.” It was an order not a suggestion

I opened my eyes to find, two big blue glowing eyes, framed by oddly red fur, looking at me.

“good now follow me.” He said as he walked past me

“Where are we going?” I thought to the wolf

“I’m going to show you how to control your emotions, without hurting anyone.” I followed him into the forest.

It was difficult following the wolf in the dark, I kept tripping over roots sticking out of the ground, fallen trees and rocks.

I heard the wolf chuckle a few times, before he stopped and looked at me.

“use your shifter abilities and shift into a wolf.” He said sitting in front of me

“I don’t know how.” I said sternly to the wolf

“you can, I’ve seen you partially shift already.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t even know I did it, let alone how I did it.” I answered

“Then let me teach you.”

I sighed heavily “Fine.”

“close your eyes,” I did as I was told “good, now listen to the forest around you, feel the energy that flows through her.”

I smiled, this had been one of grandma’s lesson, to help me control my emotions. So, I silenced my own thoughts, and took slow deep breaths through my nose, letting the fresh forest air fill my lungs. I could already feel my heart beat slower, so, I concentrated on the sounds surrounding me. At first all I could hear was the wolf panting in front of me, I blocked out that sound, and listened more to the rustling of the leaves as a small breeze came through. Then I started to hear the other animals in the forest, big and small. There was a squirrel in the tree on my left, picking small twigs and leaves to make its nest more comfortable. There was an owl, only two trees away, watching the squirrel, waiting for the opportune time to make its move. I could even hear a small group of deer, not too far away, grazing in a small meadow.

“good, now open your mind, using your imagination, picture a wolf.”

I did as the wolf said. I pictured a wolf, with light grey fur, with two white socks on its front feet and a white snout, its tail long and bushy.

I could feel the wolf smiling as he spoke to me “now, imagine that fur covering your body, picture your ears growing, and your body slowly changing shape.”

I imagined, my skin growing the same grey fur, my ears growing long and pointy, I even imagined growing the same long bushy tail. That’s when I felt my body getting hot, it reminded me of the same burning feeling from only hours before. I felt myself starting to panic. My heart was starting to beat incredibly fast.

“breath!” his voice was like ice cutting through the blur.

I took a deep breath in, then out, trying to calm myself. The burning feeling wasn’t going away. And when I tried to open my eyes they wouldn’t. ‘not again.’ I thought.

“it’s okay, just breath, I’m right here nothing bad is going to happen, I just need you to trust me.” He walked over to me; I could feel his soft fur against me “can you do that?” he asked.

I nodded, scared to speck.

“Good. now I need you to concentrate.” I felt him circling “concentrate on me, my breathing, my heartbeat, my movements.”

I tried my hardest to forget about the burning and concentrate on the wolf, his steady breathing, his slow even heartbeat, the sound each paw made as it hit the ground.

“good, good.” he stood in front of me now. “now I need you to let the burning feeling fill you up, I need you to let it in, if you don’t fight it, it will only last a couple of seconds, but if you continue to fight it, the shift will be painful.” I could hear the concern in his voice.

I nodded; I could feel the tears running down my cheeks. I was so scared. I just wanted the burning to stop.

“it will stop I promise, I just need you to stop fighting it.” I felt him put his head in my hand “I won’t leave, just let go of the pain, and anger.”

I grabbed a hand full of the fur at his shoulder, took a deep breath, and stopped fight against the burning.

Straight away I felt the heat cover my body, then disappear. It all happened so quickly. I tried to reach out to feel if the wolf was still with me. But felt only earth. I opened my eyes and this time was successful. Everything seemed brighter, sharper. I looked around and found the wolf, sitting next to me smiling.

“wasn’t so bad when you stopped fighting it, was it?” he asked

“I barely felt the burning once I stopped fighting.” I thought back to the wolf

He nodded “good, now let’s get back” he said standing “Don’t want everyone thinking I kidn*pped you.”

“I trust you more then I trust them.” I said

It wasn’t until that moment, when I took my first step that I noticed something was amiss. I looked down, to find two paws, covered in white fur. I followed the length on my legs up then, looked down the rest of my body right down to my tail. I looked at the wolf who looked like he was having a hard time trying not to laugh. Then back at my tail. I flicked it from side to side a couple of times, just to make sure that I wasn’t imagining it.

I looked back at the wolf. “this is the same wolf I pictured earlier, right down to the two white socks and the long bushy tail.”

He nodded “yes, and now this wolf will be your main shifter form, you will learn how to shift in to other animals, when you are stronger, until then you can learn to shift from human to wolf and back without fighting the burn.”

I looked at him in disbelief “that happens every time?” I asked

He nodded “yes, but you will get so use to it that you forget to feel it.” he started walking away “now we must be going.”

I looked at him unconvinced that I would ever forget the burning feeling.

“how do you know all this?” I asked following him

I found it easier to travel in the dark, in this new form. I could see better in the dark forest and move quicker on four legs.

“I live with one of the biggest shifter packs in Nydewin.” He looked backed at me “you seem to have adjusted well to this new form would you like to travel a bit faster?” I could tell he was avoiding the subject

So, I nodded.

At first the pace wasn’t that much more than a walk, then he quickened it. I started to feel the power in my legs pushing me forward, my tail was just an extension of my body, helping to keep my balance when I turned sharp corners to avoid trees. Again, he quickened the pace. I put all my energy into following him, trying to keep up, that I forgot about all my surroundings. Just as I followed the wolf around a corner, I lost sight of him. I slowed a little, wondering where he had gotten to, but before I could react, a big black blur shot out of a shrub beside me, tackling me to the ground.

Before I knew what had happened, the wolf had me pinned to the ground with his, jaw around my neck.

“you are sloppy” he said stepping back “you need to learn to use all of your senses not just your sight. It doesn’t matter what form you are in.” his voice was stern, I could feel the disappointment in it.

I sat up and looked at the wolf, and without hesitation, lunged at him. And just as quickly I had him pinned, my jaw around his throat. Without another word, I let the wolf go and started running as fast as I could back to the others. I could feel and hear him following close behind. I could feel the excitement coming from him, as he gained on me. I could see the light from the campfire, just up ahead. Without looking back to see if the wolf was still following, I pushed myself to go faster. My heart was only now starting to beat faster, my legs were only just starting to feel the burn. ‘nearly there’ I thought to myself. I heard a soft chuckle from the wolf following me. Which only made my heartbeat even faster. 

Just before jumping out of the forest and into the clearing, I felt a change in the wolfs pace. Then felt his full weight on my back, without hesitation, I used his own weight and rolled with him out of the forest and into the small clearing. We growled at each other as we fought to pin the other. Once we stood facing each other, eyes locked. I could see the excitement we felt reflect in his bright blue eyes. Before I even knew what was happening, the wolf lunged at me, distracted by his eyes, he was able to pin me.

He sat back on his hindlegs, panting. “well done, you learn quickly.”

I sat up facing him, something about the wolf’s precents made me feel comfortable, calm, in control, at home.

“time to shift back.” He said, sounding disappointed. “it will be easier to shift back. Just imagine, transforming back into your original form, just remember not to fight the burn, just let it wash over you.”

“Do I have to? Why can’t I stay a wolf, I feel more comfortable in this skin.” I replied

“the others will find it hard to communicate with you.” Was all he said

Reluctantly, I closed my eyes, and started to imagine, being me again. Long red curly hair, green eyes. Just like before I felt the burn, for only a moment did I try to fight it, scared of what might happen. But soon remembered how quickly it had passed last time, I shifted.  When I opened my eyes again, I was sitting on the ground, in front of the blue-eyed wolf.

I had a strange feeling that there was someone watching me, and fare enough when I looked over at the fire, Taril, Benita, and Sachi were all staring at us wide eyed.

“you did well.” I felt and heard the affection in his voice “you are a fast learner, keep it up and no one will be able to take you down.” Then just like that he made his way back into the forest, at the same time I felt the absence of his mind. Loneliness started to set in straight away.

“that was amazing!” Benita said almost running at me “how did you learn to shift so quickly?”

“I honestly still don’t know how I did it. the wolf wasn’t very forth coming with information.” I answered, looking back at where the wolf had left.

Sachi stood over me now “luck.” Was all she said before going back to the fire.

“don’t listen to her” said Taril extending his hand to help me up “You’re a natural, she is just jealous that she cannot shift.” He patted me on the back “well done” he said before he also left to go sit by the fire.

“come, you must be tired” Benita said gesturing for me to follow “we made a bed up for you. it isn’t much, but it will help you rest.”

I followed Benita over to the bed roll and thankfully nestled into the surprising comfortable bedroll. After a while of staring into the flames, watching them dance, I started to hear drums beating softly. I looked up to find Sachi tapping a small drum, the rhythm was slow and steady. Then she started to hum, in sync with the drum. I felt the air around us start to move and vibrate with the sound. As I listened to the drum, I felt my eye lids becoming heavy, the harder I tried to keep them open the heavier they got. I finally gave in and closed my eyes. As I laid there listening, I felt all my bruises, and scratches start to heal. All my worries start to disappear. Then all at once sleep seemed to swallow me whole.