Bound to Earth

18: Co¢k Ring, Size XXS

I closed the front door of the warm log cabin, kicking my shoes off and huddling into myself. While it may have been spring, and the weather wasn't as cold as winter, it was still chilly. 

The past few days, I'd been left to myself in this house while the other four got to play Hide-In-Seek, in the woods all day. Lucky Bastards. Or maybe not, my nose was numb and stuffed from just exploring the town today.

By the end of the first day, I'd finished exploring and mapping every inch of the house. The second day, I shuffled around bored, waiting for them to return. Today, I took it upon myself to explore the small town on the edge of the woods. 

There wasn't much, most residents were witches, surprisingly. I would've thought the population would be shifter dominant with all the open land to roam freely. At least, from my past experiences.

The house seemed to be at least thrice as warm as it was outside. Enough for me to peel my gloves and scarf and coat off before I even took another step into the house. I hadn't remembered setting the heater up this high, but I wouldn't complain if it wasn't as cold as outside.

"We had a deal." Brynjar's voice startled me. He sat by the fireplace, an ankle resting over his knee and arms crossed. None of the others were in sight.

My eyes widened and I sucked in a small breath. They were home early. I met his stare with equal dominance. "And I didn't break it."

"You went out, on your own." Brynjar growled. The glow of the fire sharpened the angles of his face, reflected off his gold flecked amber eyes. It was rugged, handsome. "You agreed to come, if you stayed here."

My eyes dipped to the sliver of skin his v-neck didn't cover, and snapped up when another impatient growl vibrated his chest. The ferocity in him tempted the coils of power beneath my skin, despite how weak I'd grown the past month I'd known him. "I agreed to come, if I didn't go hunting with you. I was exploring the town today, nowhere near wherever you were."

"You shouldn't be alone out here, not right now." He took a sip from the mug beside him, the amber liquid inside sloshing, tempting.

"I wasn't alone. I was surrounded by an entire town full of people." I huffed and sat adjacent to him. Each passing day he'd become antsier from finding nothing on the Wendigo. Today must've been the same, nothing. "Besides, you were the ones who left me alone here. I think being alone, yet surrounded by people, if far more safe."

His chest vibrated, a mix between a huff and a groan, smoke barreling from between his lips. Onyx scales rippled down his arms, flickering between flesh and armor as he wrestled with control. 

I bit my tongue to keep the grin at bay. It was adorable. 

Alistar appeared in front of the fireplace before Brynjar had a chance to throttle me. "We still haven't found her. First the Wendigo and now Token. We're . . ." He trailed off, taking a good look at Brynjar's state, sniffing the air, and turning around. Strands of hair fell from his low bun, framing his beautiful icy blue eyes.

Innocently smiling, I gave him a small wave. This time, I did let the small grin form. "Hi."

"I'll go get the others." With a sigh, he disappeared. Exhaustion sagged his body and small threads of guilt wove through me.

"So you didn't find anything today, either?" Another huff was his only response. "Maybe I could go with you all tomorrow?" People were still turning up missing. Some in broad daylight. Yet, not a single lead had been found. Perhaps the problem lied in the town itself, rather than the woods.

Alistar reappeared in the kitchen, with a cranky Malachi and a grumbling Valentino. "Fuck, I need a damn shower. I stepped in a pile of mud, or shit. I'm hoping it's mud." Valentino held both shoes in one hand, socks nowhere to be seen.