Nydewin

Chapter 13

Chapter 13 

“How long until the rain stops?” I asked Benita

It had been two days now and I was starting to feel restless. Something was nagging at me, telling me we needed to get moving.

“I don’t know Amelia, it could stop in the next few minutes or in a week, I just don’t know.” She frowned at me “What has you so impatient?”

I shook my head “I’m not sure, I just feel like we need to get moving.” I bit my lip unsure how to explain it better

“I agree with Amelia,” Sachi responded walking over to us, she looked me in the eye, then back at Benita “something is coming, and we need to get to the pack as soon as possible.”

Benita’s eyes widened. “You can’t expect us to travel in the rain on foot? With very little food.”

“Benita, I know you don’t like the rain, but we need to get moving.” Sachi’s voice was soft, and sympathetic.

Benita was quite for a while as she paced back and forth in front of the fire. I watched as the flames of the fire danced, ragging angrily, the wood cracking and popping as Benita forte with her own fears. Out of instinct, I started humming a song my grandmother would sing to me when I was scared.

I watched as the flames started to calm and new it was helping Benita. I heard as Sachi started to join in with her drum, I felt the magic grew stronger, I felt it building all around us, in the air. I urged it to go to Benita and calm her.

Soon the flames where dancing gracefully again and Benita had stopped pacing, now she was sitting on a log, staring into the fire.

Sachi smiled over at me and mouthed ‘Thank-you.’

“In the morning at first light.” Benita said still looking into the fire. “Best we all get some sleep, I don’t want to stop moving until either the rain stops, or we get to the nearest town.”

No one spoke after that. Either no one had anything to say or we were all too scared just in case we changed her mind.

The next morning, was much the same as it was the night before. No one spoke, we all just packed our stuff, and made our way to the nearest town, which Cormac estimated to be a full day’s walk, maybe longer, depending on how fast we travelled.

It was midday when I started to feel restless, my skin had started to crawl, my muscles ached to run. I turned to Cormac and imagined sending a mind prob to him, praying that it would work.

I watched as Cormac jumped slightly, as it pushed against his mind shield. I felt as he lifted the shield, letting me enter his mind.

“You are a fast learner.”  He said winking at me

I smiled at the shifter “I have a good teacher.”

He smiled back at me “What’s got you on edge?”

“how did you know?” I asked

“Can smell it on you. Even through Benita’s fear.”

“I honestly don’t know what it is, I just want to run.” I frowned kicking a rock.

 “Let’s go for a run then, we could meet the others at Wercast Creek.”

“Wercast Creek, is that the name of the town we are travelling to?” I asked

“Yeah, it’s one of the largest towns in this region, known for its large sale yards. Farmers come from all over to sale and buy stock.” I heard the excitement in his voice “That’s where we plan on getting horses.”

“Why are you so excited?” I asked

Cormac smiled widely at me “Means we don’t have to move so slowly,” he paused to look at the others, then back at me “I don’t like this slow pace either.”

“Let us run then.” I said, even as I felt the magic start to burn

Cormac’s smile deepened then he winked “okay.”

“I’m going to take Amelia to scout up ahead.” Cormac informed the group, as he pulled me away from the group.

“Cormac!” Benita cried over the rain “Take this and meet us at Wercast with horses, and a room for the night. I don’t want to travel in the rain at night.”

Cormac grabbed the money purse, before coming back. “Quickly let’s go.”

I felt the magic starting to burn, and travel through my veins.

Cormac smiled over at me, before shifting into a beautiful dark red wolf. Without hesitating another moment, I followed and shifted into my own wolf form. I felt instantly free, and relaxed. I continued to follow Cormac through the forest, enjoying the exercise. I picked up a little speed to run next to the him, leaping over a fallen log I howled with excitement.

“Faster?” I suggested

Before Cormac could answer, we were greeted by another howl. The howl, rumbled through my whole body, making my whole-body quiver. I stopped dead, looking from Cormac then back in the direction of the howl.

“Fight it!” Cormac urged me.

“But I want to!” I said, the pull, the urgency to go towards the howl was so strong. Nearly as strong as the pull to stay. Stay with Cormac “What’s going on?” I asked I was starting to panic.

“Look at me Amelia.” Cormac’s minds voice was scary calm.

Another howl vibrated through my mind and body calling me.

“Cormac, I’m scared.” I was starting to feel my body move involuntary, I wanted to go to whoever was howling.

“Shift now!” Cormac commanded. His mind voice stern and full of power. “Now Amelia!” he urged again.

I looked at Cormac, wanting to do as he said, wanting to obey.

“Amelia!” Cormac growled my name, before biting me.

In surprise I bit him back, hard enough that I tasted his blood on my tongue.

He growled in pain at this, before shifting to human form. Holding his forearm, he looked down at me with his bright blue sapphire eyes. “Shift now!” He pleaded

I shifted,

“I’m sorry! Oh my god, I’m so sorry.” I rushed to see how bad the damage was

“It’s fine.” Cormac said showing me his arm “See.”

I looked to find that where was no more than a couple of shallow teeth marks.

Cormac smiled at me “Told you, it’s fine.”

I shook my head “I don’t understand. There was so much of it.” I licked my bottom lip the taste of his blood still lingering there.

“Blood?” Cormac raised an eyebrow before smiling cheekily at me “Shifters heal faster than ordinary humans.”

“Cormac, what happened just now? It felt like.” I searched Cormac’s face, hoping he would understand what I was trying to explain.

“Like your mind, body and soul were fighting against each other.” He nodded “I know,” he gave me a crocked smile “It was the call of an Alpha, he scented you, and knew you didn’t belong to a pack.” He was frowning now

“What is it?” I asked

“Amelia.” I could tell by the way he said my name that I wasn’t about to like what he was about to tell me. “It’s as the buck said,” I noticed he was having trouble meeting my eye “Until you are either bonded or have the protection from an Alpha like my father,” he was looking at me now “Other,”

“Others will try to claim me, make me theirs” I finished for him

Cormac just nodded

“I don’t understand. Why must I be bonded? Why must I be part of a pack? Why can’t I just be left alone?” I felt myself starting to cry, “Why did you bring me here. I was happy at home on my farm.”

I felt Cormac’s arms wrap around me, I fought slightly before surrendering myself to him.

“My dear, I never meant to hurt you, I never meant for any of this to happen. You were supposed to have all your powers, all your memories, your guardian was meant to teach you about your past, about who you are, so you would be able to enter this world, knowing what needed to be done.” I felt as his kissed the top of my head “None of this was meant to happen.”

I pulled away from Cormac to look him in the face. There was something about this man, that made me feel so calm, that made all the bad in the world disappear.

“I don’t want this.” I whispered

I watched the pain flash over his face “Once we get to my father’s, and he unlocks your memories it will make more sense,” He gave me another half-smile “I promise.”

I knew he was right, the longer I was here, in this realm the more memories of my Grandmother telling me stories of a magical realm filled with magical creatures, most of which were waiting on their long-lost princess, to save them from an evil tyrant, determined to see the realm fall into ruins.

 I nodded “We best be going.” I said looking up at the sky. The rain had started to pick up again

“Okay, but this time I want you to try something different.” He gave me a smile that made me blush

How could this one man, make me feel so many emotions all at once.

“I want you to shift into a fox, this way we can still travel faster than on foot and you won’t have to worry about any more wolves.”

I felt the excitement before I even answered “Yes!”

“Come on then.” Cormac started off down the hill at a slow jog “You know what you need to do.”

He gave me what looked like a mischievous, playful smile, then shifted into a form that I had come to know all too well. A red fox, with shinning bright blue eyes.

“Your turn.” He said playfully

I let the image of a fox form in my mind, once I had every detail, I let the burning magic fill me, and shifted. When I opened my eyes, I found Cormac standing in front of me, eyes wide with surprise.

“What?” I asked looking at myself to make sure that I hadn’t done anything wrong, like give myself scales.

I was a light gray fox, with flecks of black. I had a rather bushy tail with a white tip that match my fore white soaks.

“Your eyes.” He paused “They changed colour.”

“My eyes have always changed colour,” I said excitedly “What colour where they?”

When he didn’t answer I started to feel wired and uncomfortable.

“Cormac!”

He shook his head, “It doesn’t matter, they are back to their usual beautiful green.” He winked at me before he started off again.

“They were purple, weren’t they?” I asked trotting beside him.

He froze, and I stopped with him.

“What?” I asked starting to feel scared again

“They often change to purple?” He responded walking again

“Usually only when I’m excited.” I nudged Cormac with my shoulder “My eyes change colour depending on my mood, you should only start worrying when they turn dark green.”

“Why?” He asked sounding genuinely concerned

“Because they only go dark, when I’m extremely angry.” I confessed sourly

Before bounding off into the forest. Cormac followed silently, obviously aware I no longer wanted to talk about it anymore.

“How long until we get to Wercast creek” I asked

“If we don’t have any more delays, we should make it there by mid-afternoon.” He answered

 True to Cormac’s word, not long after mid-afternoon we were looking down the valley at a large country village.