Shadow of the Wolf

Chapter Six

            “Let me go please.” Her voice sounded foreign even to her own ears. “Give me space, please.” Saleene placed her hand against his chest and pushed him away, desperate to put any distance between them she could.

“Saleene, don’t push me away.” He pleaded. “I know you feel this connection between us.”

“I…can’t. Let me go.”

So many thoughts ran through her head that she began to move to the other end of the clearing. She pushed past Dartian’s friends, desperate to avoid eye contact with the others. She did not care what they thought. Nothing had happened, even though she felt it had. Dartian’s next words stopped her retreat.

“You need me, admit it.”

After all the years she had trained herself to be alone, the onslaught of emotions she felt scared her. His words woke her to just what she had almost allowed. She pushed the thoughts away as she again headed toward the entrance to the forest. Turning she glared at Dartian, striving to push her anger down, yet not quite succeeding.

“You are an arrogant man,” she shouted. “Let me explain this to you clearly though. If at any time I have any inclination that you have any side agenda other than finding the source of this evil you will find just how lethal I can be.” Her anger rose with every step. “You will do best not to find yourself on my bad side.” A look of puzzlement crossed each of her companions’ faces.

“Why would it be anything else?” They asked. She watched as Dartian moved back toward the tree, his face a hidden mask of emotions.

“I just want us all to be very clear on this. Keep your distance and I will keep mine. I would hate to have to fight you.” With that Saleene turned on her heels and sauntered out into the forest, her golden hair flowing in the breeze.

*****

Dartian’s men turned and looked at their leader, questions lingering on their faces. “What did you do to make her mad?” Raku asked first, his face full of confusion. Dartian simply shrugged his shoulders with a look of amusement in his eyes but no hint of laughter on his granite face.

“Nothing, let’s get things prepared.” He motioned to the others to put together a campfire and prepare the bedrolls for the night. All the while he could not keep his mind from Saleene. He had upset her, but she refused to understand their connection. He had felt it that first night. Why did she feel the need to balk at it?

His gaze moved to the path she had taken into the forest, her scent still in the air. He returned his attention to his men and the quizzical look on their faces.

“Raku, stay here and secure the camp. I need to hunt down some dinner or none of us will have the energy to continue this journey.”

He moved to the path Saleene had taken, concern for her welling up inside. He knew she could defend herself, but he feared she was not prepared for what may lie in wait.

“She’ll be fine Dartian. I’d keep some distance for the moment or you’re liable to get a dagger in your throat. Whatever you said to upset her, well you are better off keeping clear. ” He could hear his friend chuckle as he turned to head in her direction. He felt a change in the air. Something else hunted this evening, but he was not sure of whom it was after. Fear for Saleene replaced any other emotion.  He bolted into the darkness and headed toward the unknown.

*****

Saleene continued to wander through the woods. She needed a place to piece together the day’s events. She came upon a clearing with cypress trees and an abundance of violet and lavender bushes that flourished around an old stone slab.