Falling into Mythica

Chapter Nine

VIDA’S POV

We followed Kenneally around the outskirts of the main town and then took about a ten-minute walk through the forest until the most gorgeous double-storey log cabin came into view.

“Well, this is it. What do you think?” Kenneally asked, turning to look at me with a satisfied grin on his face.

“It looks amazing. Are you sure you can afford something like this? I will get a job as soon as possible, but this place looks expensive.” I blabbered, unsure what else to say.

“It’s fine. Beta’s earn a pretty decent wage, so don’t stress too much. Come on, let’s go and have a look inside and have something to eat.” He said, and my stomach growled on cue. Both Kenneally and Elida laughed.

Well, it had been a while since I ate. My face burned with embarrassment. I hmphed at them and walked off towards the cabin.

Kenneally unlocked the doors and stepped back to allow me to enter first. It was so gorgeous inside. It was all wood, stone and glass. It was so bright and cheery. A girl could get used to a place like this.

Kenneally walked us around both the bottom and top floors, showing us everything there was to see.

It had four bedrooms, a massive main bathroom as well as two decent-sized ensuites. The kitchen was massive and had everything we could possibly need to live comfortably.

It even had a wrap-around porch at the back with a swing chair. I was in love with this place. It was far nicer than the place I was renting back in my realm.

Sĥiţ, I wonder what is happening with my home. I haven’t been gone long yet, but what if it took me weeks or even months to get back? I would more than likely be returning to no job or home.

My thoughts were thankfully interrupted by my growling stomach and Elida calling me to the dining room to eat. I walked into the dining room, and there was heaps of food waiting on the table.

I walked over to the dark wooden dining table and sat down opposite Kenneally; I didn’t really feel comfortable sitting next to him. Elida, being so small, sat on the table cross-legged with a glass turned upside down like her own mini table; it was kind of cute.

We ate in silence, which sadly gave me plenty of time to think. The more I thought about everything, the more weighed down I felt. By the time I was done eating, I felt sick to my stomach from the stress.

“I can sense you are feeling overwhelmed. How about we make a plan for moving forward to try and reduce some of the burdens you are carrying?” Elida said.

“I found a notebook and pen in the kitchen drawer so we can write stuff down,” Kenneally added, producing a green A4 spiral-bound notebook and black ink pen.

I nodded and took the pen and book from Kenneally, but I had no idea where to start. There was so much going on in my head that I didn’t even know what to focus on first.

“I’m a little stuck. I don’t even know where to start with all this. My mind is all over the place,” I mumbled, placing my head on the notebook lying open on the table.

“That’s OK. We are here to help. Let’s start by focusing on what is important straight away. We have somewhere to stay, so the next thing would be for you to find work, though to be honest, with a Princess and a Beta here to support you, you really won’t be lacking anything.” Elida said.

I looked over at her. I know she meant well, but that actually made me feel worse. I was keeping two very important and well-to-do people from their own jobs. No, I would not inconvenience them more than I already was.

“I appreciate you saying that, but I already feel bad enough for taking you both away from what you are supposed to be doing. I will not sponge off you more than I absolutely have to for the present time.” I practically shouted at them. Why was I feeling so emotional right now?

I think it comes from my personality. I hate having to ask for help and would normally just suffer in silence rather than approach people or, worse yet, acknowledge I need help when asked. This whole being in a new realm was way out of my comfort zone.

Kenneally reached over the table and took my hand, and I felt that same instant calmness come over me. I took a deep breath and looked up at him. Did he have some kind of magic calming power?

“Neither of us could possibly understand how you feel at the moment, but know we are both here to support you in any way you need. Just tell us what we can do to make this all easier for you?” Kenneally said and squeezed my hand.

“Thank you both for everything. You are right, Elida, about me needing to find a job next. Since I know nothing about this place, would you both be able to fill me in on what sort of jobs would be easy to get and which people are safest to approach?” I asked. The last thing I needed was to get myself in trouble here.

“Of course, let’s brainstorm potential jobs after we give you a quick rundown on the species you will most likely come across here in the capital, especially those who work here,” Elida said with a smile.

They proceeded to spend the next hour telling me all about the people who regularly hang out in the capital and those who usually have jobs available. We then went over what kinds of jobs that people might have going and which I could be suited to.

Kenneally was adamant about coming with me anytime I left the house, as he didn’t feel it was safe for me to be left unsupervised, but once again, I couldn’t help but think it might be more to do with the fact four others people were looking for me.

Once we had some plans in place, Kenneally said he needed to let his wolf out for a run. I still found that really weird, but at the same time, I was intrigued. I wanted to see his wolf.

“Can I meet your wolf? Is it just you in a different form, or does it have its own personality?” I asked him excitedly.

He smiled brightly at my excitement. “His name is Harou, and he is his own entity. It seems complex, but it’s pretty straightforward. He is in the back of my mind when I am like I am now. I can actually see and hear him there….” He stopped to see if I understood what he was saying. I think I did.

“So it’s like he is in the back seat of the car, and you are the driver?” I asked. He cŏĉked his head to the side again, and I burst out laughing. He really did remind me of a dog at times.

What’s so funny?” he asked, tilting his head to the other side, making me laugh even harder.

“I’m so sorry, but you look like a dog when you turn your head like that,” I said between fits of laughter. I thought he would get mad at me, but he just smiled.

“I was confused by what you were saying, but if that’s what it takes to make you laugh, then I will continue to act like a dog, though my wolf is a little upset at being compared to one of your domesticated dogs.” I stopped laughing. I hadn’t meant to upset his wolf.

“Your wolf knows what I am saying?” I asked, awed by this whole thing.

“Yes, as I said earlier, we are one and the same but separate entities. Would you like to meet him?” he asked me. I nodded enthusiastically.

He stood, took a few steps back, and started taking off his clothes. “Wait, what the hell are you doing? Why are you taking your clothes off,” I shouted at him.

He stopped removing his clothes and looked at me, confused. “If I don’t remove my clothes, they will get destroyed when I shift into Harou.” He said matter of factly, like I should have known that was the reason.

I glared at him before pointing at myself, “Human, remember. How am I supposed to know how things work? People in my world don’t just randomly start taking their clothes off in front of other people; you could have at least warned me so I knew to close my eyes.” I yelled.

“Oh, and shouldn’t we go outside for this?” I was trying to avoid looking at him; he had his shirt mostly off, and wow, he looked like he had been carved from stone.

It was his turn to laugh at me. “Very well, let’s head outside. Oh, and Vida, I will be removing the rest of my clothes if you and the Princess wish to close your eyes, but it doesn’t bother me in the slightest.” he headed out the door, and we followed him.

For some reason, what he said bothered me, but I said nothing and just closed my eyes. I could hear the rustling of him removing his clothes, and then there was an almighty cráĉk; it sounded like a bone breaking.

I gasped and was about to open my eyes when I heard Elida near my ear. Don’t panic, Vida. This is completely normal for werewolves; it is their bones reforming into those of their wolf. Just give it another minute.”