The Tribes Luna

CHAPTER 17

ERIK'S POINT OF VIEW

After being told what Mona's thoughts were on the subject, I decided to take that notion to Bard. After discussing it, we decided it'd be best for Astrid to come straight home with me and my brothers and Geir. We went back to her cottage and started to pack up everything she would need for at least two weeks. Her father said that he'd send everything else to us over the week and to just take what we can fit in the car for now.

Right now, I had just managed to close the boot lid, after rearranging the luggage for the sixth time, while Astrid and her father were taking a little walk and saying goodbye. Turning round, I found my brothers facing me.

"So, there are now two more people plus a bloody bird, how are the seating arrangements going to work?" Asked Logan.

I don't think Loki liked how he said that as he flew over kraaing and flapped his wings fiercely in Logan's face, causing him to shriek and hide his face under his arms and whist, simultaneously waving his hands to fend himself. My gamma, my third in command, is afraid of a bird. The rest of us were bent double laughing at this beahavouir. Once I quickly caught my breath, I whistled quickly and sharply, thinking this might get Loki to stop. It did, but also called Loki over to sit on my shoulder, which made me jump.

"Okay, regarding the seating arrangements in the car, I thought at least one or two of us could run with the car and maybe Loki could fly?" I finished this, facing towards Loki, who seemed to nod, like he approved of my idea.

"I don't mind running with the car." Came a voice from behind me.

I turned round to see Geir walking up to us with nothing but a large duffel bag slung over his shoulder and again wearing nothing but his guard uniform and some form of gray/brown fur over his shoulders. He walked up to Danny and held his hand, giving him a small peck on the cheek. This caused Danny's face to almost be set on fire with how red he became.

Danny then looked nervously over at us before saying "I think I'll run with the car as well." He said more to my feet than anything.

"Sounds good." I said, smiling at them both.

I don't know why Danny thought he had to hide this part of himself from us. I kicked myself inwardly, knowing I didn't make him feel more comfortable.

"Glad that's sorted." Said Logan, walking over to the side mirror to sort his hair out from Loki's assault.

Logan had always been a pretty boy, caring an awful lot about how he looked. He bent so he could see himself better and started to twiddle with his hair. I rolled my eyes, as Camron tip-toed up behind him and ruffled his hair up even more and ran away before Logan could do anything. Logan screamed curses and ran after him. They began a semi-playful wrestling match. This made the rest of us start laughing, as Bard and Astrid came walking back to us.

I could see from here that she had been crying, her eyes were red and puffing, still glistening, slightly. They both chuckled softly watching my adult brothers act like pups. When she was in my arms reach I pulled her into my chest and she wrapped her arms around my waist and buried her face in me. I stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head lightly. Looking over the top of her head, I could see Bard's eyes were slightly red and damp.

"Are you ready to go?" I asked gently.

I felt her nod against my chest and Bard nodded once as well. Kissing the top of her head again, I let her go back to her father for one last hug.

"Oi, Dumb and Dumber!" I shouted to Camron and Logan, who had each other in some sort of choke hold and rolling about in the dirt. They stopped at once and looked up. "Come on, we're getting ready to leave now." I told them.

They pushed on each other to get up from the ground, then sprinted back. Both covered in dry dirt and minor grazes, already starting to heal over.

"Shot gun!" shouted Logan, reaching the car.

"UGH!" Exclaimed Camron, looking to me for help.

"He ain't sitting next to my angel." I said, chuckling to myself.

They both got into their chosen car seats, Camron being the best driver. Danny and Geir took off toward the road before shifting. Loki flew from my shoulder to the roof of the car as I went to open the back car door and wait patiently for Astrid and her father to let go of each other. When they do, Astrid just turns round and heads straight into the car without looking up. I looked over at Bard and held out my hand.

He grasps my forearm firmly and tells me "You better look after her." I nodded once and squeeze his forearm back.

We let go at the same time and I turned to get in the car and close the door behind me. Camron puts the car in drive and we begin our car ride home. I look and see Bard standing watching the car, expressionless. Astrid looked back at him and I heard her sigh heavily. I pulled her into me once more, without either of us saying anything. We drove for a minute before we left the tribe's territory and I saw Danny's wolf join us on our right. Turning, I saw what I assumed was Geir Lychan running on our left, both a few meters ahead of the car, occasionally crisis crossing in front and around the back of the car. When they did this, coming in close to each other, they would playfully nip at one another. Causing us all to chuckle, lifting the mood in the car slightly.

We were half an hour into our trip home, with grassy fields on one side and woods on the other side of the road. Astrid had fallen asleep leaning against me and gently stroked her hair. I was gazing off into the trees when up ahead something caught my eye.

The car went past it too quickly to get a good look at it, even when I turned around to keep it in my sight. But it looked just like a cloaked person with their hood up over their head, like they were trying not to be seen. They had been a few trees in the woods, but from what I did see they were simply standing there watching the road. Then a more daunting thought crossed my mind. What if they were watching us? I shook that thought from my head quickly, thinking it might not have been a person at all, but a half fallen and broken tree. I didn't get a good look at it after all, so it could've been anything.