Filed to story: Wolf Crying Mate of the Alpha by Jazz Ford
I take his leg and remove the dressing. Maia hovers her hands over. A purple and then green mist forms and soaks into the scar, which becomes much thinner and smaller.
She steps back, ‘How does that feel now, Vermillion?’ she asks him. He places his leg down and can now bear weight on it. He runs around in a circle, then up a stone path and returns. He sits and blows fire into the air.
‘Well, I’m glad you feel better,’ she says to him.
‘How’s Reaper?’ I ask her.
Maia giggles, ‘Let’s just say he is much better now,’ she smiles and points to a tree in the distance. I can just make him out in the tree. That’s odd, though. He hasn’t come to me yet. What could be more important to him than me? I wonder.
‘I’ll go and check on him, and then I will be back,’ I say to Maia.
She nods and continues to giggle and pat Vermillion.
Reaper is warbling for some unknown reason. He then keeps leaning over. As I approach, I notice another raven in front of him. I cross my arms and smile, observing him. Reaper warbles again, singing to the she-raven. She caws at him, but she doesn’t seem impressed. Reaper then tries to get closer to her and attempts to preen her feathers, but she clicks her beak at him. He jumps back and attempts to warble again.
‘Reaper, what in the wands are you doing?’ I mind-link him.
He jumps on the branch, startled by my voice. He turns to see me and flies onto my shoulder.
‘N-nothing. I see you’re back?’ Reaper says nonchalantly.
‘And I see your wing looks much better?’
‘Queen Maia healed it when she woke this morning,’ he replies.
Mhmm, well, I’m glad you can fly again, but If I didn’t know any better, Reaper. I’d say you’ve been busy trying to court that pretty little raven up there.’
I hear him sigh in my mind, ‘Yeah, okay, you got me. She seems to hate me, though. Every time I try to sing to her, she caws. Every time I try to prune her feathers, she bites me,’ he says dismally.
‘Well, you only met her this morning and women these days are harder to impress. Give it time, Reaper. You’re a handsome and loving raven. Hard work will always pay off,’ I say to him.
‘Do you think she will really come around and like me?’ he asks.
‘Of course,’ I smile and scratch his head. ‘But for now, your lady will have to wait. I need you to hear what I say to Maia and the guardians.’
‘Is it about the war-what in the wands! Is that a dragon!?’ he says, flapping his wings and flying a step backwards in fear. Black mist emits quickly from his feathers. He is preparing to use his shadow powers against the dragon.
‘Reaper, it’s okay,’ I say to him.
‘It’s okay? Are you crazy? Have you forgotten I was chased and attacked by a swarm of those creatures?’
‘No, I haven’t forgotten, Reaper, but this one is different. He’s our friend and on our side,’ I inform him.
‘You’re kidding me, right?’
‘Nope,’ I smile, ‘Come, say hello to him,’ I say.
‘I’d rather not,’ he says, raising his beak.
‘Come on, don’t be such a snob,’ I reply.
‘I’d rather be a snob than become a dragon’s roast dinner.’
I laugh and pull him into my chest to hug him as I approach Vermillion. Alec smiles when he sees Reaper and pats him.
‘You look well, Reaper,’ Alec mind-links him.
‘I’d be better if I weren’t near this dragon,’ he replies.
I keep Reaper snuggled in my arms while Vermillion begins to sniff him. His is so big Reaper could easily fit inside the dragon’s nostrils.
Suddenly Vermillion gives Reaper one big lick with his gigantic tongue that is the same size as I am.
‘Ergh,’ Reaper and I say as I get the brunt of the lick.
Slobber dribbles down my arms and legs and off the edge of Reaper’s beak.
Everyone nearby laughs.
I look down at Reaper, ‘Well, at least you know he likes you,’ I shrug.
‘We should bathe before we have the meeting,’ I say to Reaper.
Queen Maia laughs and points to a little hut, ‘That’s the bathhouse. Go freshen up.’ She looks me up and down and frowns at my grubby, torn dress, ‘And I’ll have the villagers organise you something to wear,’ she smiles.
‘Thanks, Maia,’ I smile back and retreat to the bathhouse.
The door creaks as I push it open. The wooden tub takes up half the room in the hut. I repetitively push down on the lever to pump the tub full of water. Reaper perches on the edge of the bath as I strip my dress off and step in. I scrub the slobber from my arms and face and then scoop my hands with water to let it trickle over Reaper. His wings expand and shakes. Water flies from his feathers onto the ground. He uses his beak to reach and clean the rest of himself.
As I step out, I hear a faint knock and open the door a tad. There’s a plump middle-aged woman holding a dress with a towel folded on top.
‘Thank you,’ I smile as she pushes it through the gap.
‘You’re very welcome. It’s the very least I can do for a Guardian of Mysteria. I will leave the shoes here outside the door, ready for you to step into,’ she says and bows her head.
The towel smells of potpourri. As I continue to dry myself, the aroma tickles my nostrils, and I sneeze all over Reaper.
He opens his wings and gives them a shake before giving me an unimpressed look.
‘Oopsies, sorry, Reaper,’ I shrug.
I put the modest brown dress on. It reaches my ankles and has a straight cut above my breast, covering my cleavage. The sleeves are long but ruffled at the end. I take the thick leather belt and place it around my waist and buckle it up. I scoop water from the tub again to help rewash Reaper after sneezing all over him. He shakes it off and perches onto my shoulder. I open the door and slide my feet into the simple matching brown shoes that have a darker brown ribbon that is tied into a bow on the front.
I approach Maia and the others who are chatting amongst the villagers.
‘Queen Maia and the Guardians of Mysteria. I require the presence of all of you at the pavilion, please. I’m afraid this conversation cannot wait any longer,’ I inform them.
Alec takes my hand and walks with me to the large wooden table. The villagers return to their huts or to maintain the village grounds. I’m feeling nervous and having second thoughts about becoming a Goddess. But once we’re all sitting, I stand and make eye contact with everyone.
Maia, Kadva, Yiselda, Hugo, Fern, Ria, and even Ember sitting on the chair in her fox form. I can’t let them suffer and have their lives taken away so soon. Not just them but all of Mysteria. Saskia and many others have already lost their lives. I can’t let the rest of them perish like them, knowing there was and is something I could do about it. I shake my head at any thoughts of backing out, and without this sceptre, I may not even be able to save Magnus, Damon and the others. It’s my only choice and the only hope we have. It would be selfish of me to refuse this power and let everyone suffer Thypon’s wrath.
Alec squeezes my hand reassuringly as everyone patiently waits for me to speak. I take a deep breath.
‘Queen Maia, Guardians of Mysteria. Last night, whilst I was away. Something incredible happened. I was taken to the Celestial Realm, where I met the Moon Goddess, Selene herself, as well as Valkrim, Cerridwen and Ogrun.’
Everyone gasps and chats with one another.