Yara: Civil War

Chapter Three

    Yara turned to see her father and Phoenix walking towards them, their figures shadowed in the dark. “I just thought they would have waited till morning.” Several of the wolves whined and sat while their Alpha shifted back into his human form. 

    “We couldn’t risk it, we’ve been attacked.” The alpha had long, wavy brown hair with bright golden eyes, the blood of the wolf prominent. Yara was shocked at his statement.

    “What?” her father exclaimed. “How? And from who?” 

    “It seems the vampires are getting out of control,” another voice spoke, and Yara instantly knew it was Logan. She kept herself turned towards Jorrund, unable to handle much more emotional turmoil. In response to Yara, Jorrund held his arms around her, fuming. She could feel Logan’s pleading gaze boring into her skin. His black hair covered his golden eyes, and she swore she could hear him growl. The tension was killing her, but she had to hear the rest of Alpha Ivar’s story. 

    “A few hours ago, out of nowhere, a group of vampires, maybe twenty or thirty of them, invaded pack territory. Luckily they were unorganized and disoriented, so we think they were freshly created vampires. We were lucky that we didn’t loose any lives.” Yara shifted, uncomfortable. “Early this morning, I received a letter on my doorstep. It was from Dorran. He wished to make an alliance, and if I refused, my pack would face more vampire hoards.” Yara became furious. 

    “This is his civil war,” she hissed. “Why drag more people into it?” Jorrund gently squeezed her, feeling her stress. “I don’t understand. You were attacked tonight?” Alpha Ivar nodded his head. Yara looked at Jorrund and her father each. “I only just got back home a few hours ago, and Ivar received a letter this morning. He had to have had this planned before hand. When Phoenix brought us here, it was morning in Spain. So for him, he probably had everything set up last night, so yesterday morning for us.” Yara turned to Ivar. “Did you ever give an answer?” Ivar shook his head. 

    “Wait, Yara, how did you know you were in Spain?” Jorrund questioned her. She tapped her head.

“I’m starting to remember things again. Remember, Dorran’s hoard is in Spain, we just don’t know where exactly. He’s got those stupid fir tree’s native to that country all around his place.” Yara scrunched her nose playfully at Jorrund, remembering he wasn’t really into learning history and paying attention to his lessons, unless it required military tactics and fighting. She heard Logan growl lowly and her stomach knotted up, but she ignored it. 

    “So, for him, right now is morning. So when it was morning here, it was the night before for him.” Jorrund looked at Yara as he spoke, and she nodded her head. “Why wouldn’t he wait then, for Ivar’s answer?” 

    “It could have been a warning,” she said, now looking at Ivar, who pondered the idea. 

    “It would explain why we weren’t over run or seriously wounded. Maybe to force us to say yes so we would seek safety in an alliance.” Ivar looked to some of the pack members that had accompanied them, and then at his son Logan. Yara looked at her feet, the grass, the night sky, anywhere but Logan’s pleading face. They both knew she was betrothed now, but he wasn’t making it easier on her by defying it. 

    “Then we need to make some new arrangements,” Yara’s father spoke, while Phoenix silently watched the event before her. “Alpha Ivar, the pack members you have with you now are more than welcome to stay, help yourselves to the house, rest up.” Yara cringed inside, knowing Logan would try to take advantage of this time to talk to her. Oh lord, help me now. 

    “Thank you, for your hospitality,” Ivar said, walking forward and shaking her father’s hand. As the wolves shifted and took their human forms, Yara and Jorrund conjured simple shifts to help cover their naked bodies. 

      See, some people do walk around naked, even if for a moment, Yara heard the Phoenix’s voice in her head and she nearly jumped out of her skin. She smiled apologetically to the woman she was handing a shift to, and stepped off to the side. 

    “Phoenix?” she whispered to the night. 

      I’m speaking to you in your head, darling. Sorry if I startled you, Phoenix chuckled. Your father and I are seeing that the kitchen and dinning room, as he called it, are stocked with food. These wolves, they can change their shape, can they use magic?

     No, Yara replied. They are just shape shifters, and wolves are one of the most common shifters you will find on earth. 

     I see. I knew of a planet that was inhabited solely by shifter kind, but they were dragons.

     No wonder my father wants to pick your head, Yara chuckled to herself, and she noticed Jorrund looking at her funny. You’ve been everywhere it seems.

     Only where my magic will allow me. There are pockets in space that are completely void of magic entirely.

    “Are you okay?” Jorrund asked Yara, and she brought her attention to him.

    “Yeah, why?” 

    “You just look super spaced out right now.” He put his arm around her, and she knew it was a display for Logan, as they walked into the house. 

    “Yeah, I’m fine, Phoenix was just mind talking to me,” she murmured. Yara saw the pack members stuffing their faces, finally at ease now that they were on Senex property. The warning intruders received depended on their intent, and with some of them being injured, and allies, her father’s magic actually helped them heal. Had a vampire intruded with the intent to kill, down to dust they go. 

    “Phoenix was talking to you in your head?” Jorrund asked, puzzled. 

    “Yes, her kind is telepathic. She can also mind link.” Yara heard the last part in her head from Phoenix. 

    “Meaning?” Jorrund pressed, glaring at Logan as they passed through. Logan growled lowly and continued to check on his pack while Ivar conversed with Jordan in his study. It was a conversation Yara got snippets of through Phoenix. 

    “Meaning, she can link herself to multiple minds. Think of it as a group chat,” Yara explained, having the run down herself a minute ago from Phoenix. “She can link us two together, and we can all talk to one another.” 

    “That’s going to come in handy at some point,” Jorrund commented, letting go of Yara as they entered the living room. Yara set everything up for entertainment, and grabbed the blankets and pillows from a nearby closet. The Senex family had wolves holed up in their home before, during pack wars and territory battles, so they were well prepared to accommodate them. Yara wondered though if they could manage more than one pack, as she suspected there would be more Alpha’s forced to make a decision. Damn that stupid vampire, Yara thought to herself, and felt Phoenix in her head agree. 

    “It’s been so long since I’ve been here,” Yara heard a feminine voice, and she turned to see a woman with long black hair and bright gold eyes. She recognized the woman, it was the one Yara was handing her shift to before Phoenix scared her. Yara smiled at her. 

    “It’s a popular place it would seem,” she sighed contently. Yara offered the woman a blanket and a pillow. “It’s not much until we can construct the rooms for your pack,” she said apologetically, and the woman thanked her. 

    “I remember when you were just a little thing,” the woman said fondly, and Yara had to pause. 

    “I’m sorry, I don’t recognize you,” she blushed, now feeling kind of bad. Jorrund had finished what he was doing and walked over to the women. 

    “It’s quite alright hon, pack life keeps Omega women like me busy.” The woman clasped her hands over Yara’s. “I helped your mother when she gave birth to you.” Yara felt tears in her eyes, wondering why she hadn’t seen this woman more. 

    “Really?” she breathed, hardly able to get the words out. The thought of her mother still hurt. 

    “That woman was strong, let me tell you,” she chuckled. “You certainly didn’t make it easy for your mother.” Both of them laughed. 

    “Can I ask,” Jorrund interrupted, “Why didn’t her mother have one of the witches from the family be her mid-wife? I mean no disrespect,” he added quickly. “I’m just confused is all.” The woman nodded her head. 

    “It’s quite alright, we were a little shocked as well when she asked Alpha Ivar if one of his Omega’s could come and be her mid-wife. She asked a few months before Yara was born, so when I was picked to go, I was informed I would be living here for a time. I was here until you were a year old.” The woman smiled at Yara, and she wondered why her mother or father never mentioned this woman. “You were so adorable, and you’ve grown to be such a beautiful young lady.” Yara blushed at her compliment. Soon after, other pack members started to file into the living room, and her father beckoned from the doorway. Yara grabbed Jorrund by the hand, thanked the woman for telling her about her mother, and they both met Jordan in the now empty dinning hall. 

    “Are you two ready? I don’t want them all to sleep on the floor. I’ve heard what happened from various members of Ivar’s pack, they’ve had a rough night. We are going to have to set up an infirmary as well, some of the people they’ve left behind have grave injuries that need tending to.” As Jordan spoke to them, he had led them to a hall that was on the west side of the house, void of doors.

“Of course, I still have strength in me to help dad.” Yara put her hand on her fathers arm, and he scooped her up in a hug. 

    “I’m so glad you’re okay,” he sniffed. “I know we’ve had a lot go on since you’ve been home, but I’m so glad you’re alive.” 

    “I know dad,” she said, her voice muffled in his shoulder. Yara was trying hard not to cry. “I’m okay, and we’ll talk more later, when we’ve had rest.” She pulled away and smiled at her father, his brown hair messy and greying. His blue eyes were full of love and worry, and she knew she had to tell him about her new blood magic. 

    “Alright kids, you know what to do,” Jordan said and left them to it. While he went down the hall a ways to set up the infirmary, Yara and Jorrund faced the wall and held hands, closing their eyes. They chanted in unison, slowly at first. Once they had a rhythm going, the chant was faster. Yara focused on a door, imagining a room behind it full of beds and dressers. Because she was making the room, Jorrund simply focused his energy flow into Yara, hoping she had enough energy to handle it. Finally, she raised her hand and cut the flow of magic.

    “There, that should do it,” she panted, looking at a lavish oak door with a silver door handle. Yara opened it up to see exactly what she had envisioned. Multiple bunk beds lined the walls, comfy comforters and fluffy pillows already made up. Lamps were mounted to the walls, and dressers were fit between the beds. “It’s not much, but it should accommodate those who are here now. We’ll have to have help to create more.” Jorrund squeezed her shoulders in reassurance. 

    “It’s alright Yara, this is good for now. It’s late and everyone needs rest.” He looked her over with his green eyes, and realized she looked dead on her feet. Jorrund scooped her up in his arms.

    “What are you doing?” She squealed with surprise. Yara looked up, and blushed at their sudden closeness. His chest was warm, and she realized just how tired she was. Soon, her head was leaned against his chest, and she felt at ease. 

    “I’m taking you to your room so you can sleep,” he told her softly, and she could feel the low vibrations in his chest. Yara was mildly surprised she was feeling this way. Then again, you’ve spent three years getting to know a man you have to marry. I guess it was bound to happen. 

    “That sounds nice,” she whispered, closing her eyes and sighing. Yara curled herself into his chest, and let herself totally relax. Before she knew it, they were up the stairs and in her room, and he laid her down in her bed. Jorrund covered her up, and before he could pull away she reached up and cupped his face with her hand, and he froze for a moment. “Thank you,” Yara yawned. “Thank you for keeping this secret, and thank you for every moment after that.” Jorrund could tell she was fading fast, and smiled at her words. 

    “Your welcome.” Jorrund wanted to lay with her; suddenly his chest swelled with pride that she was to be his wife one day, and before he could help himself, he impulsively leaned down and kissed her forehead. “My love,” he whispered, knowing she was already asleep by the way her breathing had slowed. Jorrund walked out and closed the door, sighing. 

    “It’s been a long day,” Jordan said, walking down the hall to his own room. “Thank you, for being here. It’s been a huge help.” He clasped Jorrund on the arm, and said his good night. Before Jorrund walked into the guest room, Jordan called down the hallway. “Goodnight, son.” He then disappeared into his room. Jorrund laid down in his bed, with a huge smile on his face, and his heart soaring.