Tales of a Shifter (P6) - Child of Sun & Moon

Chapter 13 - Her Life

Chapter 13 – Her Life

Brandons voice was loud, his emotions on the edge of his control once more even as he tried to express himself without letting his mind and soul become to unhinged.

His and Ann's augment seemed to echo off into the night, making him deeply aware of just how isolated they were and how heated they were becoming in that moment.

After a pause of glancing around and seemingly also reminding herself not to fly too far off the handle herself Ann shouted back at him, her voice melding with the crackle of the flames and the sudden whoosh of air over the trees.

"I do know what your going through and I know why your choosing to do it! know more about your situation then you may realize Druid! In fact, know more than I can even tell you because its not my place to say more than this!"

"More then you can tell me? What the hell? What can't you tell me?" Brandon cut her off looking in her eyes and starting to get the weird feeling like they were talking around a subject that he wasn't really allowed to know.

"Ughhh, you don't understand and I need you to listen to me when I tell you that you being out here chasing after Ishtar is going to do more then get you killed...you are chasing shadows and leaving behind your future!"

My future....What does she mean?

Brandons mind turned over her words as a soft cold worry stirred inside of him. The Druid didn't like the feeling or the sense that the woman was dancing around an important issue, but he refrained from digging into she was alluding to hiding mostly because suddenly he was ducking his head in quick alar as the stick that Ann had been holding to tent the fire was lifted and hurled at him like a club.

Brandon snatched up after the stick sailed over his left shoulder and barked at Ann in surprise. "Hey! HEY! Watch it!"

"You act like your life is so inconsequential and like you can just ignore me when I speak!" Ann sneered at him, her eyes vacant of anything remotely kind as she said. "You know nothing of my life and the things I have suffered! I offer my words because no matter what you say, in the end you will regret this choice if it ends in your misery! You say you're willing to die and face all manner of things before you but what of the ones behind you who have to see this happen...Don't you regret the pain you will bring to them all in the name of your LOVE and dutiful SACRIFICE!?"

Ann's voice and the inflection as she spoke made Brandon aware that the woman wasn't just feigning anger and distress out of fear, but from a genuine place of concern....but Brandon got the distinct feeling that her emotions were being stirred up by something that had very little to actually do with him and more with her own inner issues.

You know nothing of my life and the things I have suffered!

Brandon flinched and went silent. He twisted his lip as her cold reprimand left a bad taste in his mouth, but he realized that she was speaking truth and he couldn't exactly just blow that of. Brandon needed Ann and he respected her power as a fellow Mana User, but he only had the smallest hint as to who the woman truly was or what she may have gone through in her lifetime.

Everyone's got a story...Mantilo...Glen...and Walter taught me that in the grand scheme of things you cant measure the pain or struggles of others against your own perceptions or beliefs. I know she just wants me to seriously consider what Im doing....and how my actions will affect Ezekiel as well as me. I...don't...really understand why she cares, but maybe this is more of her trying to uphold her oath to me as her Novice...

Taking a breath Brandon relaxed his jaw, and hands that he had balled into fists on his knee and he softly spoke. "I didn't mean to be cruel before...look..." Brandon touched his temple, sighed and he started again. "Fine...I get what your saying, but if your saying all this to convince me to turn back I wont Ann...I refuse."