Winged Warrior

Chapter 10: Hidden and Hunted

Skye silently helped Emery to his feet, grabbed her bags, and brought him inside. She directed him to a restroom located on the first floor and opened the door for him. She followed him and pulled fancy disposable warm towelettes from a holder. She cooled them under the tap and applied them to his eye.

It was quickly turning a deep shade of purple and there was a small knick of blood beneath his lashes. Emery leaned against the counter and let Skye dab lightly at the spot and rinse the cloth. She sighed. "I know you're intentions were good," She started, "But, I could have handled it." She avoided his one open eye.

"Someone should stand up for you for once," He mumbled.

Skye offered an appreciative smile and brushed his hair off his forehead to cool his brow. She wasn't sure how to respond. She's had her fair share of help throughout her life. Uncle Rad had practically given up his own for her.

"Thanks."

"Y'know, I was suspicious of that jerk," He said.

"I know you were," she admitted, "You noticed how he was acting in class the other day."

"Yeah." He looked at her face, "Well, you have terrible taste in guys."

He was trying to make light of the situation, but Skye felt shame creep back onto her cheeks. "It's embarrassing to admit that I felt drawn to him for some reason, but I think I was more confused than anything."

He sighed, "I won't tell anyone if you don't," He offered a grin, "This bruise is from a branch swinging back in my face while working with shrooms outback."

Skye allowed herself to chuckle, "Deal."

"We'll leave this in the past, 'kay?" He cleared his throat, "I'm not sure of the details or how far things went, but it's over with now and he's no longer worth your time." He was trying to comfort her.

Skye fought the feeling to explain herself, "It wasn't even a kiss. More like an intimate moment."

He nodded slowly, meeting her gaze.

"So, you're wielding was impressive," Skye wanted to change the conversation.

"Yeah, thanks. That wasn't how I had planned to show you," He scratched his head bashfully.

"You can wield two...?"

"Elements. Yeah, I learned to wield water on my own, but my grandfather is teaching me earth."

"I see," She remembered how the earth moved with his pushing and pulling movements, "I'd like to see it again sometime."

"Sure!" He perked up, "Shall we make it a date?" His handsome, mischievous smile crept to his eye.

Skye let a laugh escape, "It's a date."

He stood up straight and peered at himself in the mirror, "What a shiner. It kinda suits me." He pretended to admire himself.

Skye couldn't believe it, but he was actually right. His blonde hair lay upon his head in a mess, his tattoos peeked through his collar and sleeves. His clothes were a little dirty from the garden.

"Were you working?"

"Yeah, I work more on the weekends. That's why I don't attend the training on Saturdays."

Skye did notice that he hadn't been present the last few weeks.

"Makes sense. The gardens are too huge for just one person to take care of."

"Yeah, I'm hoping Pop makes a quick recovery."

Skye smiled at his use of "Pop", it was nice seeing that side of him.

"I should head upstairs," She tossed away the towelettes.

"Well, Milady," He bowed and took her hand, laying a gentle kiss on her knuckles, "Thank you, and until we meet again."

Skye covered her shock with a laugh and curtsied with a fake dress in hand, "Until we meet again."

They left the bathroom together, giggling. Saying their goodbyes, Skye started upstairs while Emery walked through the exit.

"Shrew."

Skye spun towards the voice, but there was no one--no one she could see.

~~Riftan's POV~~

I'm not sure why I said those things. I had the perfect opportunity to tell her the truth, but when she asked to be friends and was being cool about the situation, it made me wanna hit something. For whatever reason, it literally hurts that she has no idea about being my mate. My only weakness.

Though it is said that humans struggle the most with adjusting to a werewolf's life, it is also common for them to reject their mate. Humans do not feel the mate pull nearly as strongly as werewolves, nor do they feel the excruciating pain that occurs when there is rejection. It is said to feel as if you are being torn in half. Few recover from the emotional and physical pain, and I can't afford that.

But...She feels a connection. She said it.

Damn it. I'm a fool.

But, she is weak. All humans are.

She also beat the crap out of Becca, though. Maybe she's different?

With the mate pull already in effect, there is no other way to get around it. Xerxes would go mad without her unless we were either accepted or rejected. Obviously, after today, it's likely the latter option.

Xerxes has been quiet since I insulted Skye. Usually, his temper is worse than mine, so I was surprised when he didn't take control when Skye's "friend" came at me. Xerxes hates him but still abandoned me when he attacked. I screwed up, okay? I'll figure it out.

Silence.

~~~~~

About a week had passed since the incident with Riftan. Skye tried her best to ignore him, but he was in every class. When Skye had gone upstairs after the boys had fought, Jesse was waiting. Skye told her what had happened and cried a little. But, Jesse listened and comforted her, making things a little easier.

Emery also hung out with the girls more when he was able to, keeping a closer eye on Riftan. Skye learned that he was a suspicious person, not very trusting of others.

Skye just had to get through one more day of classes. Tomorrow night was the ball, so there were plenty of things to keep Skye's mind occupied through the day. There was talk that the academy was considering canceling training for the special event.

The excitement of the ball and Jesse's consistent buzzing with enthusiasm helped keep Skye's spirits up.

Besides, it's like Emery said, "It's over and done with now. I don't need to waste my time with him any further." She found comfort in that. Boys are too stressful.

The recent "shrew" whispers and rumors continued, with more and more people coming to believe the lies. Skye felt that even some teachers would peer at her in distaste. It was a shame that her first time to build a reputation was going so horribly wrong. But, what could she do? She was already being the most authentic self she could be--almost.

When classes were finally over, Skye sought Emery in the garden for their "date".

"Well, you didn't have to get all dressed up for little ole me." Skye turned to the voice.

She stood, laughing in her plain, green school uniform, "How could I not?"

"I suppose you ought to save it for later," Emery winked.

"Oh? Are you going to the ball tomorrow?"

"Of course! Someone's gotta spike the punch."

"Of course," Skye rolled her eyes, "Thanks for the warning."

Emery displayed his wielding abilities with such grace. Skye watched in amazement as both water and earth would move with his movements, pushing, pulling, lifting, and lowering. Skye couldn't help but wonder what the ants and bugs in the earth that were being wielded were thinking.

Emery explained that though his movements may look graceful, that there was a great amount of strength behind wielding. Many can not achieve the ability because of the intense endurance that is required.

Skye wondered what he would think of her ability. Suppose he would be in as much awe as she was in this moment. She understood the endurance aspect of wielding--she also needed it for healing. Perhaps, one day she would be able to freely live as a Fenick. To use her abilities and stretch her wings as often as she wanted.

Skye pondered how much more she and Emery had in common.

When evening approached, Skye decided on a much-needed flight. Having become more confident since her first outing, she was venturing into the night more often. Admittedly, she would keep an eye open for the wolf that she had seen her first night, but failed to cross paths with it again.

Skye had become more familiar with the area and thoroughly enjoyed gliding over the cliff's edge. She loved how the gusts of winds from below, generated from the crashing waves, propelled her into the clouds.

With the treacherous cold moving in with the winter season, the fairies had already predicted snow for the night of the ball. Apparently "they are never wrong." Though winter is beautiful, it's also cold. This can make flying feel a little more like a chore. Having to bundle up, and being cold the entire flight because the higher you go the colder it gets, not to mention that no matter how many layers you wear, the freezing wind seeps right through your clothing.

In other words, this may be Skye's last flight for a while.

Her strong wings pumped against the current of the freezing wind, causing warm tears to squeeze out of her stinging lids. She flew like that for a while before she sought a place to land to warm herself before heading back to the academy. Skye had flown some ways away, having been lost in thought.

A daunting large forest came to view in the direction of "home", with colossus trees laying wait. She gently beat her wings, slowing herself enough to gently land atop a tree's sizeable branch. Skye relaxed her wings and breathed the humid air from her scarf in, tucking her frigid hands between her thighs. The bitter cold egged negative memories forth in her mind.

She had once experienced coldness like this without any coverings. Having escaped from an abusive man and his wife with a superiority complex. They had "rescued" her from her first captives, but she knew they just wanted to have a chance to flaunt their prize as well. They often reminded her that they were her saviors, and brainwashed her into thinking that they loved her. Yet, they had treated her worse in many ways, compared to the old man who had stolen her away in the first place.

One night she had climbed through her master's bedroom while the husband and wife bathed together. They had tied her wings tightly together so that she could not fly. So she had fallen from the second floor of their mansion, atop a pile of snow. Skye wasn't sure how long she forced herself to trudge through knee-deep snow in that blizzard. She didn't even remember when everything went dark.

When she awoke before a fire in a hut, with dry clothes, a glass of water, and her wings free, she had never been so confused. Whoever had helped her never returned, and she dared not look for them.

Skye had stayed in that hut on her own for many weeks before she was able to gather enough supplies to venture out in the cold again. Though she was a child, even then she was resourceful.

Skye had lived her whole life running, being captured, escaping or being rescued, and hiding. The last few years of her life had been the most stable. Uncle Conrad protected her, continuously traveling and teaching her how to fight. Sending Skye to the Academy for Fantastic Beasts and Beings was his latest attempt to give her peace. He remained in the human realm, living on the move, taking her pursuers on a wild goose chase. He promised to come back for her.

Uncle Rad was so excited to send Skye to the academy. He had expressed his hopes of her finding her "special somebody" amongst the young adults transitioning into adulthood. At the time she thought he was being foolish, but she regretted that thought now. Maybe it could be possible.

Small thuds echoed through the trees. Skye peered down into the branches below her trying to see what beautiful wildlife the forest would reveal this time. She was shocked to see, however, a pack of wolves. They seemed to be hunting, maybe? About six or seven wolves took turns sniffing the ground before raising their noses into the air. They almost seemed to be searching the trees.

They didn't howl or make any obvious noise but just sniffed.

Considering their size, they were obviously werewolves. But still, it was odd watching their actions. Their synchronization was perfect. They had to be communicating through their minds.

Skye was more curious than nervous. After all, she could just fly away.

She just watched as the group circled the trunk of her ginormous tree. They knew they were hunting for something, but Skye wondered if they knew what.

When she stood to stretch and continue on her way, a howl sounded. She froze. Could they really see her?

A branch below her rustled and she looked back down. Only four wolves remained at the base of the tree. Her tree began to shake a little and she panicked. Pushing off her branch she jetted herself up and above the tree with her powerful wings. As she reached the height of the tree, a naked woman with claws lunged from the darkness, scratching the outer layer of Skye's pants. The woman scrambled to try and grab hold of Skye's foot, but couldn't hold on as Skye kicked her back into the trees below.

Howls echo below as they chase Skye's shadow. It had suddenly dawned on her that werewolves are so much more capable than regular wolves. Of course, they can climb trees. She beat her wings harder, shooting herself higher into the snow-filled clouds. Skye realized that they may have weapons that could shoot her down.

She had to get higher so an arrow could not reach her. Thank their moon goddess that guns had been forbidden in Anasidora.

Full of fright and adrenaline, Skye flew as fast as she could back to the school, practically crash-landing in her dorm room.

She locked her window, double-checked her door, and closed her curtains, praying that they wouldn't track her scent back to her.

Skye started the shower, hoping it would both warm and soothe her nerves. She sighed at the fabric torn from her pant-lag, thankful that the woman's razor claws only penetrated one of the many layers.

Skye peeled off her clothes and tossed them into a basket. She tested the shower's water and hopped in. It felt as though it was scalding her skin, but she was just freezing. That was definitely her last flight for the season, though, she was sad it ended on such a frightening note.

Thoroughly rinsing the soap from her wings, Skye then stepped from the shower, wrapping herself and her wings tight with a towel.

She stepped back into her carpeted room and dared herself to peek from her window.

She wasn't expecting to see his face when she peered down though--Riftan's stood below her window, and his eyes met hers.

Skye flew to her feet and threw herself into her bed, hiding beneath her covers. She prayed he hadn't seen her.

He did. But, did he see all of it?

She was too scared to get up from her, now damp, bed, even to turn off the lights. Skye eventually fell asleep in her towel, buried in her blankets, with the lights on.