Chapter 26. The unexpected
1123 Words
"This I soul cleansing, I link Brian. "That it is. "Every muscle in my body is burning from the pure power output of the run. "It's a high I've rarely obtained outside the space we have. "So you don't need a spank Brian asks? I huff and growl, "Sir. I always need a spank, "so very true" he huffs.
I snif the air, "do you smell it Eli? "Yip, I think we are coming up on someone's camp. "Brian, I yip, "I know we will tjek it out carefully. Brian and Eli cover me from sight as we approach, on a treelog sits a rather tall, very solid build elderly man and stir a pot of something that smells heavenly. "Welcome, he says. You were drawn in by your noses, I assume, Brian nods his head. "You are welcome to share my meal and fire. He smiles. "Is the lady of yours shy, since she is hiding back there. "Let me me in between you, Eli.
"Mother spirit be blessed" the man says. He stands slowly, only to kneel and bow his head. "Now I have seen it all he smiles, "I think we are pretty safe to shift , " Brian says. We shift behind a small gathering of bushes dresses and return to the man. who, in the meantime, have moved in a log for us to sit on. "Welcome to my humble camp. My name is Nathan. "It's rare I get visitors, so forgive the simple camp".
"Thank you for having us, I say. "My name is Fortunia Night , and these two are my mates Brian and Eli. "Good evening. "Sorry if our behaviour was a bit cautious, but we were not expecting to come upon any on our way. "No worries, better, safe than, sorry, and so on. "So what does a lone bear do so far from anything Eli asks? "I'm an old bear young man. I don't fancy living near my clan anymore they are too noisy simply put. But sometimes it gets lonely, so a rare sight like a moon blessed wolf is a welcome diversion".
"You know about wolves that's unexpected of a bear", Brian says. "Well, some of us have an appetite for knowing the world we live in", he says, laughing. "You called me moon blessed my I ask why, "certainly but first some food yes? "It's a deer stew with forest roots and herbs a bowl will fill you right up". He hands us a bowl and spoon each and then grabs one for himself, "You're right. This tastes fantastic".
"Thank you, young one. "So moon blessed you are Nathan says, "you carry the mark of the moon mother. "Oh, that, does it mean something to you? "Old legends tell us about only the very pureste, strong-willed, and gifted carry a mark like that. "Which is not surprising in your case being a white wolf on top. "Well, let's just say your pack is blessed to have you".
"Fascinating", Eli says, "we don't hold many other shifters texts in our pack," so this is news to us. "Thank you for sharing a little of your knowledge with us and the meal".
"We do not mean to be rude, but we must travel onwards. "Please take this as a token of our gratitude. "No one outside of the pack has one of my knives, may it serve you well, Nathan. "Should you ever grow tired of solitary, you are welcome with the pack down south. "Just show the patrol that knife. "Thank you, young one, safe travels to you all".
We bid Nathan goodbye and take our leave. "well, that was interesting. I had no idea other shifters were interested in wovels or shared some of our legends. "Me neither Brian says, but Eli is our expert, "did you know? "Vague reference, but nothing as solid as this. It's worth remembering most certainly".
"Let's shift. I think I have one more stretch in me. Are you two okay with that. "Fine by me, "we have had a much better pace than expected. we should be at the boarder to the Solaris territory by midday tomorrow, depending on how much sleeping we do. "Let's get moving"..
Little do they know, they are being tracked. "Alfa, yes? "They are travling westbound. Their pace makes it hard to keep up. "If you lose them, you lose your head. "Yes, Alfa".
"I'm calling it for the day, I link Brian. "Fair enough, there's a clearing up ahead that will work well for a minimal camp. Shifting back, we get to work on trip snares firewood sitting down covered in blankets. We share some wildberry tea. "I'm busted, but I have a question for you two". I stare at them a little. "Oh, oh , Brian grins sheepishly, "yup, she is a smart one, "Eli says, grinning.
"So correct me where I'm wrong agreed, "yes little one. "You called him Sir, and he has a pet name for you. Brian, did you teach Eli like you did me? and when"?
"First of all, we did not have the same dynamics. It was not intimate" Brian says, "but yes, I helped Eli find balance. "I'll take this part I left for some weeks after we buttedhead the last time, I could not find peace, balance, or control. I ended up spending around two weeks climbing mountains. It was beautiful. I just did not find what I needed when I got back. I was close to going feral on your dad and Brian".
"I managed to ask for help, and Brian had to force me to submit to keep my beast under control. "After a few months, it got better, Brian shared his experience, and it saved me a lot of struggling. "But it also made me realise I have an attraction towards men. "There is nothing wrong with that, you know my opinion in regards to those things i say. "So yes, Brian taught me in some ways".
"That explains so much, I always wondered how on earth you became that controlled. Brian grins, "yea, that was pretty darn perfectly timed in regards to you two. "I had no idea, though I will say that, and neither did Eli before you told him. "Well, I'm not complaining. "I get the best of both of you for as long as we live".
"And we get much more" Eli adds shyly. "That is very true". Brian nods. "I'm ready for sleep. "Will you join me? "Always they say kissing me goodnight. We shift, and curle up in a pile of fur and love.
As they slumber deeply, Fortunia dreams of wolves howling at the moon embraced by a glowing being.
- Writer
