Aarmau: Remember Me, Remember Us, Just Remember

Chapter 184

When Gabriel nods in agreement the forest releases him and he wastes no time retreating to the safety of the village. Aph turns to Zoey and studies her for a moment.

She glances back to where Gabriel retreated and frowns. "Zoey, instead of simply telling you my story would you be open to seeing my story?"

Zoey smiles and nods, "We often tell our children stories using memories so I would welcome it. While the memory is based on the individual's point of view it's more accurate than words. Plus it's much faster."

Aph glances around, "Is there a place we can do this?"

Zoey eagerly nods, grabs her hand, and pulls her toward a pond near the treeline, and waves her toward what looks like a meditation circle. Several children play close by and stare with their mouths gaping open as they look at her.

Aph smiles at them and releasing a slow breath tucks her wings, ears, and tail away. They all gasp and then clap with excitement as Zoey shakes her head at them, waves them away, and then settles on one of the meditation cushions.

Aph claims one of the cushions next to her and gets comfortable. She watches as Zoey crosses her legs in front of her and then rests her hands on the inside of her knees with her palms facing up and open in a standard mediation pose.

Taking a deep breath she reaches forward, trails her fingertips down the inside of Zoey's forearms, and then lightly rests them on top of hers. Before closing her eyes Zoey tilts her head and bites her lower lip, "What will you show me?"

Aph takes another deep breath, drawing on the magic of the forest as she closes her eyes, "Everything."

Zoey watches Aph's entire life replay in her mind. She watched her father walk away from her, life when she was homeschooled, her high school years, her first job, Comic-Con, Love Love Paradise, the lodge, Starlight, the Guardian Force, and each and every one of her friends. As each face passed she whispered their name.

When it finally ends Aph pulls back her fingertips and absentmindedly rubs them against the fabric of her dress. She didn't expect them to itch after the transfer.

Zoey notices her reaction and quietly laughs, "That's a common reaction to the memory transfer. It happens when your magic, your consciousness reaches out to touch another's. It should go away soon. I noticed several familiar faces in your memories including Aaron's yet he doesn't look exactly like the Aaron I remember. You remember them fondly but I also saw Zane and he was your enemy. How? And who are Zack, Sylvanna, Eric, Terry, and Melissa?"

Just as Aph was about to explain she hears her name being called from the treeline behind her. A gentle warmth rushes through her hearing Aaron's voice and she instinctively pushes to her feet and turns toward him.

It's clear Gabriel isn't pleased by the intrusion but he moves aside as Aaron makes his way to her. She meets him halfway and when he opens his arms to her she walks into them.

They stand in silence for a few moments while Zoey walks over to Hyria and Melissa who are waiting for them several feet away. When she finally tilts her head back to look up at him she can see he's frowning at her. "Are you alright? It was getting late I was starting to worry. Why did you hide your ears and tail?"

Aph had completely forgotten she had put them away and easily pulls them back out. "I'm sorry I lost track of time. We were about to head back to the cottage but I got distracted. I put my ears, tail, and wings away to surprise the kids."

Aaron glances off in the direction Aph nodded towards and catches several elven children staring at them. He quietly laughs and then waves at them earning surprised gasps just before they all run away.

Aph reluctantly pulls away from Aaron and then moves to join the others. She notices Gabriel is with them and can only imagine what brought him out of hiding.

She slips her arm through Aarons as she turns to Zoey and smiles. "Zoey, this is Aaron Lycan, my Aaron. And this bundle of energy is Melissa, Aaron's sister."

Zoey nods toward Melissa as she puts the name with the woman and then turns to Aaron, "Lycan? The memories make more sense now. Lycan is the family that was given the Ultima curse."

Gabriel takes a step back and glares at Aaron, "The Ultima? You are the Ultima Werewolf?"