Nydewin

Chapter 15

Chapter 15 

I woke the next morning to yelling. Remembering that I had drunk quite a bit the night before, I opened my eyes slowly, pleased to find that the rooms was not spinning like I expected. I sat up slowly, still cautious of how much I had drunk. I was pleased to find that I had gotten away without a hangover.

I looked over to find the bed Cormac slept in, was already made. I looked around the empty room wondering where he was. I dressed and went downstairs only to find that Cormac was sitting at a table with the others eating breakfast.

As if feeling my presences, Cormac turned and smiled at me. “How are we feeling this morning princess.”

“Just fine,” I replied,

“Good, as soon as you eat, we can get going.” Benita said gesturing to a plate filled with bread, eggs, mushrooms and tomato.

I sat down and started eating greedily, the smell had reminded me that I hadn’t eaten much the day before.

“Slow down before you make yourself sick.” Cormac said, frowning at me

I frowned back and let out an unintentional growl. Making the others laugh

“What did you do this time?” Sachi said smiling at Cormac as she popped a bit of bread into her mouth

“Hey! It’s not my fault she didn’t eat yesterday,” he said defensively, crossing his arms in front of his chest “I’m not her keeper.”

Benita looked from Cormac to me then back to Cormac “Is there something we need to know?” She asked

“No,” Cormac and I replied in unison

Benita frowned “Good, because I want us to get to the pack before the day ends.”

Before Cormac could protest, Benita continued “We need to get Amelia’s memories back, sooner the better. Besides we have already waisted time.”

I watched Cormac, clench and unclench his jaw. On impulse I reached over to put a hand on his arm to calm him. But before my hand contacted I paused realising what I was doing and pulled my hand away. I bit the inside of my cheek, trying to think of something else.

“I need some fresh air.” I said standing up,

“But you haven’t finished eating.” Benita said pointing at my plate

I grabbed the bit of bread that was left “I’ll meet you out at the horses.” I stared at Cormac’s back a moment, noticing how tense he was. Then walked briskly outside.

I sat down on a box, and lent against the paddock railings, picking at the bread, thinking about Cormac.

I was soon startled by a warm muzzle at my neck. I turned to hind Little Bee watching me with her intelligent brown eyes.

“What has you so upset?” she asked, sounding genuinely concerned.

I shook my head at her “I honestly don’t know.” I offered the mare a bit of bread, that she took approvingly.

“I can listen,” She offered,

Before I could respond Benita came out “So which are ours?”

I gestured to all five horses, as I called their names, so Benita could look them over.

“I thought I asked for four horses not five, and look at them, they must have cost a fortune, how did you pay for them?” She asked

I handed her the remainder of coins that she had given us to purchase the horses “Little Bee informed her owner who I was” before Benita could protest “Quart, gifted us the horses, feeling that he must do his part to restore Nydewin, also he wanted me to take Little Bee, because he hadn’t seen her take to anyone before and if she trusted me than so would he.”

Benita frowned down at the coins “He didn’t want any money?” she asked

“She had to guilt him into taking five silver, one for every horse.” Cormac confirmed patting the biggest of the horses Tapia

Benita shook her head “It doesn’t matter, as long as you got the horses.” She turned back to the horses.

She walked up to the fence, admiring them with a broad smile.

“Benita, this is Rain.” I said introducing them “She will be your mount.”

Benita smiled up at the young filly “Aren’t you gorgeous.” She greeted the horse, as she led her over to the tack. Rain seemed more than happy to go with Benita, as she pranced next to the elemental.

I turned to find Sachi had already introduced herself to her own mount, Twig.

“What is her name?” She asked brushing the horse

“Twig,” I smiled “Don’t let her name fool you though, she can be quite feisty.”

Sachi grin broadened “we will get along well then.” She said to the horse, who seemed to be enjoying the attention

“Who am I riding then?” Taril asked, standing next to me

I stiffened at his closeness, still not fully trusting the fairy

“Kenna,” I said pointing to the huge bronze horse next to Cormac

Taril gave me an awkward smile, opened his mouth as if to say something, then shut it again, before walking off to saddle his horse

I noticed Cormac had equipped storage bags to Tapia, explaining that we would be able to travel faster if, we distributed our supplies evenly, so the horses didn’t have to carry any unnecessary weight.

“He doesn’t intend to travel with us?” Little Bee asked

“He will travel in wold form.” I replied

We had travelled for most of the day, only stopping to water the horses.

By midday, I was laying on Little Bee, facing the sky, I watched Cormac flying about in circles, above us, before darting off into a random direction. I suspected that he was just keeping an eye out for other travels. I longed to be up there with him, flying and free.

I had started to think about the night before, the way his lips felt and tasted. I put my fingers to my lips, still feeling the warmth of his lips, on my own. I was starting to ache for more, I wanted so badly just to give in and let myself be happy. But the fear of feeling that pain and that heartbreak all over again, knowing no one could love me.

Little Bee snorted at me

“What?” I asked

“You humans make love more complicated than it needs to be.” She answered

“Love is complicated.”

“Only as complicated as you make it, if you love the shifter then love him. Stop fighting the connection you have with the shifter, one as strong as the both of you have, won’t break easily.” Little Bee responded

“What do you know about the connection?” I asked sitting up now, intrigued to know how the horse knew

“you have started imprinting.” I looked at Little Bee confused “Imprinting, it is when two halves of a soul come together, only to be separated at death.”

Benita interrupted calling a halt, so we could all drink some fresh water the creek that was trickling through some rocks on the side of the road, on the opposite side there was a large open area where the horses could graze.

“We have all felt and seen the connection between yourself and the young shifter,” Tapia added. he was looking at down at me, as I chewed on some of the fairy root. Taril informed me was called Duskroot. Named because it is harvested at dusk, if they did not harvest it at dusk then it would turn purple in colour and would then be known as Shadowroot and become lethal to anyone who ate it.

“What connection?” I asked still unsure what the horses where talking about

“You and the shifter’s spirits are connected, the longer you fight the connection the thinner it will get, until it brakes, and when that happens,” Tapia eyes filled with worry and fear

“Tapia, what is it?” I asked, feeling myself worry

“Princess, my mother only said that, if an imprinted soul doesn’t join, then both haves would wither and die, only to be born again to search again for their other half.” Tapia’s voice was soft and sad

“What if we are not imprinted souls? how do we find out?” I asked

“Speak to the Alpha of the pack, Corbin, is said to be a knowledgeable man, that sees more than most, beasts of all species go to him for advice.” Tapia answered

“How does someone so young know so much?” I asked

The horse laughed “My mother was wise, she told all of us stories, when we were young colts, that her mother told her, when she was just a filly.”

The rest of the day we travelled in silence. I was more than happy when we finally stopped at dusk to make camp. I sat under a tree watching the horses graze, letting my thoughts wonder, memories of Jason filled my mind. I felt tears starting to fall from my cheeks and let them. I had not cried for Jason since he left. I had continued to force the tears back, telling myself that he didn’t deserve them. It wasn’t until now that I realised that I wasn’t crying for him, the tears were for me, so I could grieve and finally move on.

“He hurt you?” Tapia asked pushing his muzzle into my neck to comfort me

“Yes.” I answered, wiping away tears

“Your shifter believes you are still in love with this man.” Tapia informed me

“What? how do you know this?” I asked

“It doesn’t matter how I know,” he nudged my arm “It only matters what you are going to do about it.”

“Amelia.” His voice was soft, and I could hear the concern in it.

I looked up to see that he was looking down at me stony faced. I wiped my tears away and stood up.

“Yes?”

“Are you okay?” Cormac asked his blue eyes felt like daggers

I nodded unable to look him in the face “I’m fine, just a bit of pain from the days ride.” I responded. Itwasn’t a complete lie.

I went to join the other at the small clearing where they had chosen to set up camp. There was plenty of green grass for the horse to graze on and a well filled with fresh cold spring water.

“What is this place?” I asked looking around

“It is a travellers rest. They are situated all along main roads.” Taril answered as he rifled through his bag.

“Is it safe?”

“We will only be staying until first light. We are less than a half days ride from the pack now,” I turned to find Benita standing next to me hands on hips frowning at Taril “Besides, it would be more suspicious if we didn’t camp at a Travelers rest.”

I looked around to find that everyone was going about doing their usual jobs, getting camp ready for the night before it got too dark to see.

“Can I help?” I asked looking down at a frustrated looking Taril

He looked up at me with a broad smile “Cormac says you did alright catching rabbits.”

I nodded feeling the excitement growing, in anticipation.

“Want to go see what you can get us for dinner tonight?”

“Yes!” I squealed

Taril laughed at my reaction “I only need one or two

“Okay.” I answered before hurring off towards the forest.

I looked around, noticing that the forest was beginning to change, the trees where further apart and the air was no longer as humid as it had been the previous times I had been in the forest, I looked closer at the trees, the species of trees had started to change as well.

“We are getting closer to the sea.”

I jumped, turning around to find Cormac, watching me, smiling.

“You scared me.”

“You should have heard me coming, you need to start keeping your guard up.” he stepped closer “Amelia.” I waited for him to continue, he shook his head “It doesn’t matter,” he clasped his hands together his mood changing “What are we hunting?”

“Taril asked for a couple of rabbits, but all I can sense is some sort of pheasant, I think.” I said sniffing the air, pointing in the direction I thought I could sense them in.

Cormac nodded agreeing

I could feel the silence starting to suffocate me.

“Fox?” I asked thinking a more agile, hunter would work better. I was also still frightened that we might come across another wolf, now that we were so close to the pack. Cormac smiled his approval and without another word we in simultaneously, shifted into our fox forms.

His red coat, seemed to shimmer a bit in the dull little, and his bright blue eyes, seemed brighter them ever.

He always seemed calmer, happier whenever he was in animal form. ‘Much like me.’ I thought. Seeing Cormac in this form so recently after thinking about Jason and his betrayal of me, reminded me of that afternoon. It wasn’t just a stray red, blue-eyed fox that had saved me from a dark, lonely place, it was Cormac. Cormac watched me as I struggled and fought with my emotions. I could feel him, trying to restrain himself from coming closer, from trying to comfort me. I looked into Cormac’s sapphire blue eyes and saw something in them that made my guts clench and my head spin. I turned and ran in the direction of the pheasant, I gave into my inner animal, and let her take control making it hard for my emotions to distract us from our present issue, food.

Without another thought, without thinking about what I was doing, I pounced out from a shrub and landed directly on top of a large pheasant, then back into the air to snatch one out of the air. I gave the creature a few shakes, snapping its neck. I then turned to find Cormac watching me.

“Better?” He asked

“Yes.” I responded picking up the other limp bird.

“If you want to talk about it.” He started

I cut him off, closing my mind to his. I saw the pain and shock flash over his eyes. I ignored it, I couldn’t talk to him, not when it was him that was making it hard, to control my emotions, not when I knew he couldn’t truly love me, not if he knew the truth about me. We made our way back to camp in silence, as I continued to get my emotions under control. I shifted, even as we stepped into the clearing, walking straight to Taril to hand him the days hunt.

“Sorry it’s not rabbits.” I said

“Oh, these will do just fine.” He replied taking them from me

He looked them over and looked up at me one brow raised “No puncture wounds?”

I shook my head

“You’re a natural.” Taril said, as he started cleaning the birds.

“Thanks.” I replied, before walking back over to the horses.

I heard Taril asking Cormac if I was okay.

“The hunt wasn’t challenging enough.” Cormac lied

Little Bee and the other horses welcomed me happily.

“How was your hunt?” Tapia asked excitedly

“Was fun enough I suppose, wasn’t as relaxing as I hoped.” I answered

I sat against the tree, quietly watching the horses, as they played and ate. I watched as the leaves from the tree I sat under, danced in the wind as they slowly made their way to the ground.

‘so much for not eating another animal, now I am killing them too.’ I thought to myself.

‘Do you do it only for fun? Little Bee asked

I shook my head ‘Of course not.’

‘Well then you are just like any other predator that hunts.’ Little Bee looked me in the face ‘You do it for survival, not just for yourself, but for your pack.”

‘I suppose you are right, it’s just after I first found out that I could speak to animals I vowed not to eat meat again.’

She snorted at me then her mind filled with laughter ‘I suspect most of your kind would think the same way. You just have to remember that it is not only your blood that make you who you are, but also your soul. Would you deny you r soul the nutriment it needs?”

‘no.’ I said thoughtfully. The horse was making a lot of sense. My inner wolf, even my inner fox all enjoyed the excitement of the hunt. Not because they got to kill something, but because they were able to provide for their pack.

I sat and listened to the birds that sing, as I contemplated what Little Bee had said. The sun was getting low now and the blue sky reminded me of an oil painting filled with beautiful bright colours, pinks, purples, and reds. I smiled up at the evening star, glade that somethings in this realm weren’t too different from my own.