Raven The Fire Blood Amulet

Chapter 8

Junaid rushes back into the house back towards the kitchen, but when he got there, Raven was gone. He sprints back out going up to her room, but she was not there either. He had checked the library and several other rooms, but she was just gone. She had strict instructions to stay in the house, where the hell could she be?

Junaid closes his eyes, the singular best benefit the imprint had was he could feel her, and that she was all right. His wolf enhances his senses and he reaches out with his mind, the possibility of connecting with her via a mind link was near impossible but he was desperate. There was a danger outside and he was not with her.

Raven?

Junaid? How…how are you in my head?

Where are you?

In the cellar…it is dark, Junaid…and there is something in here with me.

Junaid’s wolf growls and as he runs towards the cellar he shifts into his beast, the largest black wolf in the White Oaks Tribe. The formidable wolf climbs down the stairs leading to the cellar, growling and baring its sharp fangs. His eyes glowing, enabling him to search the darkness. Although he could smell the creature he could not see it. It was there, yet it was not.

Where are you Raven?

To your left in the corner.

Junaid moves to his left, his eyes still searching the darkness. The moment he reaches Raven, her hands reach out to grab the fur around his neck. He lowers himself, laying down at her feet.

Get on.

Raven obeys silently, straddling the giant wolf, her arms going around his neck, holding on tightly. With Raven securely on his back, Junaid lifts himself up to his full height. For a few seconds more his eyes search the darkness, but then instinct propels him into action and he runs from the cellar, back up the stairs, through the kitchen and down the hall.

“What is going on?” Raven asks shakily as Junaid stops in the foyer. They could hear fighting beyond the front door, growls, screaming and metal clashing.

“Creatures attacking from the forest” Junaid says, his voice deeper and slower than his human one. When in wolf form, wolfwalkers found it easier to communicate through the mind link, however they could talk if the need arises. Junaid knew Raven was scared, and he had the need to accommodate her.

Markus and Gizelle come rushing in through one of the side french window doors.

“We need to leave now!” Markus orders as he quickly hides his shock at how huge Junaid was in wolf form.

“They have the house surrounded,” Junaid says, shaking his head. Gizelle’s eyes were wide and she was visibly shaking.

“I know a way out,” the calm voice of Janelle comes floating down to them from the top of the stairs. Her feet glided effortlessly as comes towards them. Markus notices the amulet in her hand as she stops in front of him.

“For when the time is right,” she whispers to him, pressing the amulet into his hand and then turning towards the rest of them, “come with me.”

She turns to leave the foyer, pushing a panel against one of the walls behind the staircase, “quickly now,” she beckons, disappearing through the gap that had appeared.

Gizelle follows, with Junaid and Raven right behind her, Junaid struggles a few moments as his huge frame did not want to fit, but with a push from Markus, the wolf slipped through. For what felt like several minutes they rushed down a long narrow tunnel that led downwards to snake under the house. Finally they reached a cave, with two large tunnels, each with a railway track leading away from the house.

Janelle walks over to a box mounted against the cave wall, she opens it and inside was a scanner. Markus stares in awe as Janelle places her hand on the scanner. This was old world technology and it was still working. The ground opens up in front of one of the tunnels and an oval silver train approximately fifteen meters in length rises up to lock onto the railway track. The side doors open and Janelle turns to them.

“There are supplies to last for several weeks, plus clothes and anything else you might need. The tunnel runs to Pilgrims Reef, then it stops, after that travel east on foot until you get to the bridge. Across the valley you will find Saint Christopher’s Hamlet, we have friends there,” Janelle takes off a ring from her finger, a simple golden band and she hands it to Gizelle, “show them that, and they will help you.”

Junaid walks over to Janelle, with Raven still on his back. Janelle reaches up to cradle his head pressing her forehead against his muzzle.

“May the Silver Moon protect you,” she whispers and she releases him. Junaid turns away and enters the compartment. Raven quickly looks over her shoulder, her face distraught at the tears falling down the Queen’s beautiful face.

“Come with us,” Markus suggests, but he knew the moment he had said it was useless. Janelle was a Queen and a proud one. She will do anything to protect her tribe and she will not leave her wolfwalkers alone to fend for themselves. Markus’s only hope is, that if the creatures were after Raven and they realize she is not there anymore, they will leave White Oaks.

“Go” Janelle urges. Markus nods, and with gentle nudge he ushers Gizelle into the compartment. The doors close and Janelle presses a button and the train starts to move.

After depositing Raven back on her own two feet Junaid disappears into the back of the train, it was divided into four compartments. The controls section at the front, the living and kitchen section where they had entered, the sleeping quarters and a bathroom at the back. The train was spacious enough for Junaid’s wolf to move around without too much trouble. Several minutes later Junaid emerges back in his human form, dressed in a new pair of leggings and tunic.

“What the hell just happened?” Gizelle untangles herself from the leather bag she had been wearing, still stuffed with the various herbs, roots and mushrooms she had picked in the forest. The golden band the Queen had given her she slipped onto her finger, surprised that it fitted perfectly. She turns to look at Markus who was staring at the amulet in his hand.

“Markus?” she hesitantly walks over to him.

“Is this my fault?” Raven’s voice was soft and it was trembling, but it was enough to snap Markus out of his thoughts.

“It’s no one’s fault,” he tries to comfort her, “we are not even certain those creatures were actually even looking for you.”

“What were they?” Junaid asks, coming forward to take Raven’s hand and pulling her to sit with him on one of the long seats in front of the windows. The tunnel was dark and the only light was the low lighting emanating from the glow bulbs mounted along the top of the compartment.

“I can’t tell you, we never actually got a good look.”

“There was one with Raven in the cellar, I could smell it, but I could not see it.”

“Something is off…completely off. Is no one else wondering why Janelle has an old world train stocked up with supplies and in working condition ready to leave at a moment’s notice?” Gizelle suddenly roars, throwing her hands up in the air.