Realm of the Rogues

Chapter XI

I freeze. Simply freeze. And stare. Quite shocked, to be honest.

So, these two selfish pricks decided that their love, which had only lasted for a couple of hours, was much more important than Hera's and my LIFELONG companionship?... I'm simply at a loss for words... This is the worst day of my entire life. Not only had I seen my little sister being assaulted, but I myself had also been mauled by the command of my own father, almost died, been excommunicated as a rogue, and now I'm a simple human being, with no chance of ever protecting myself from the shit-ton of people out for me now. This is just awesome...

I feel the tears burning behind my eyes, but I refuse to show my vulnerability. My eyes flicker between Kai and Hera. "Kai. Hera. Tell me this is a joke.", I say while feeling on the verge of killing someone. Hera looks up at Kai concerned and then back at me. My fists are at tight balls by my sides. Hera and Kai look hesitantly at me, probably smelling my rage.

"I know this must be hard to comprehend," Kai begins, "but I only brought you up here for your own sake." It sounds like he doesn't even believe in this one hundred percent himself. "You see that stone?" He gestures to a tall stone at the top of the mountain. "Whatever you wish for at this stone will be granted on the night of the Super Blood Moon. My initial plan was for you to wish for healing.". He then looks down at Hera with a tone of guilt in his voice. "But then we got sidetracked...".

I take a breath trying to cool down. "So let me get this clear; while I was passed out and Hera fronted, you two ran up to this small mountain and wished for the ability to communicate." This I can understand. Without communication, it is hard to help each other out. "But then you thought it would be the best course of action - for BOTH Hera and I - to split me and her up?!" I struggle with my anger. Such egoistic douchebags.

Hera and Kai lock eyes, which I have now come to understand means that they are mind-linking. I trip my foot impatiently. Kai looks up at me, and I can't determine whether he is feeling sorry or if he is indifferent.

"Yeah, Hera told me to tell you that she is sorry for the outcome of her wish and that she didn't mean for you to become vulnerable..." He looks down at Hera, as if to confirm her story and continues; "Or for you two to be completely separated in mind as well. She says she just has this incredible urge to be with me and didn't think straight or consider the consequences of her wish before wishing for it." He looks down, but I don't think it's because he regrets his actions. It seems more like he is struggling with Hera's feelings towards him. But aren't they mates? They should both be head-over-heels in love. But to be honest, I don't care about their love life right now. I feel hurt, mistreated, and disappointed, in Hera especially. I turn around prepared to leave them. I need some air to cope with all these changes I have been subject to today. I start stomping off but halt as I hear the same ruffle of leaves that I had heard down at the pond. I turn around and notice that Kai and Hera have heard it too, as they both glance observantly around the bushes. Again, the sound is back, and I look at Hera.

"Does it smell like a rabbit, or..?" She barely gets to sniff in the air before she jumps off into the bushes. I'm about to run after her, but Kai holds me back.

"It's not an animal in there. Don't follow her, you are weak.". Excuse me, what? I'm about to scold him, but before I get the chance he shifts in the blink of an eye. His now silver-grey wolf body leaps into the bushes where Hera just was. I stay back but feel horribly exposed. Not so much because of my nakedness, but more because of the fact that for all I know, I'm a simple and weak human being standing all alone on the top of a hill with nowhere to hide in sight. I can hear Hera and Kai grunting and stomping around nearby and wonder whether or not I should follow them or stay back as Kai ordered. I don't feel like being subject to Kai's command, so I begin jogging off to the bush but stop as Hera and Kai jump back out. Kai shifts to his human form mid-leap. Quite impressive to be honest.

"Well. What was it?" I ask, but Kai seems confused as he tries to gather the pieces of information.

"I'm not sure..." He looks back at Hera and they mind link. A second later he continues; "Hera didn't see anyone, and when I arrived, whoever it was was already long gone. I'm sure it wasn't an animal, because as I said it didn't smell like that, and even if it did, no animal can escape that fast." He rubs his hand across his chin, deep in thought. "Did you see or hear anything that might help? I know you don't have any special abilities anymore, but maybe they ran past you?". I feel offended by that remark as if I'm useless just because I'm a human. If he only knew that I didn't actually have access to Hera's abilities before either and still got by fine. The only reason I'm 'less' now is that I can't go hide and let Hera front to beat the asses of whoever wants us killed. I get over my butt-hurt and remember the strange sounds I heard at the pond.

"Well, actually, I heard some scramble in the shrubbery when I went down to the pond to wash. But I thought it might just have been an animal. Could it have something to do with each other?". I pray that it's just something harmless, but it becomes increasingly hard to convince myself of that.

"Don't worry, we will figure something out, but for now, it might be wisest for you to keep close to us. Just in case, so we can protect you." Kai is about to turn around to Hera and sit down to relax, but I stop him.

"Yeah, about that. I can't stay human forever, you know. Do you have any more magic tricks up your sleeve that might actually help me?" He looks down while thinking. I can see his brows furrowing. He looks over at Hera, who also seems a bit worried, and then he looks back at me.

"I don't know, but I've heard rumors about druids who supposedly have a base around here. But I don't know where, or if it's even true. It might be worth a shot to check out, however."