Shadow of the Wolf

Chapter Seventeen

“Well, since I can’t remember where I left off, the beginning will have to suffice. It is said that one day one of our warriors was out hunting for a widow in the clan, when he happened upon a circle of stones near a forbidden part of the forest. From the direction of the stones he heard a beautiful, mesmerizing song. The pull in that specific direction was very strong. So strong, he could do nothing other than oblige the compulsion. As he approached the stones, near the entrance of this part of the forest, a multitude of forest creatures blocked his advance. Sensing their need to protect, the warrior shape shifted into the wolf form, which allowed him to move past the creatures guarding the pathway.” Nadrin watched Dartian’s face as he retold the story.

“After he had obtained entrance into the forest, he shape-shifted back into his human form and continued on his journey. He noticed that animals of all shapes and sizes seemed to be at ease in the area. A calming effect covered this portion of the woods like nothing he’d ever felt before. Then as the breeze blew across his face, the melodious sound of a female voice singing in the wind again captured his attention. They say the voice he heard was so pure it almost brought him to his knees at the goodness he felt from it.” 

“The sound of the voice compelled him even further into the forest. He wanted; no he felt strongly that he needed to find the source of such beauty. As he came upon the inner sanctum of the forest, there was another circle of stones with a polished stone slab in the middle of it. Next to the stone was a small woman with a wealth of golden hair cascading down her back. The warrior stood mesmerized by her beauty and the light shining from within her soul. Wanting to reach out to her, he feared his presence would scare her away. As if aware of his presence, the woman turned slowly around, her bright violet eyes capturing the warriors deep azure ones. They say the warrior wondered if he was dreaming or if this was truly happening. Before he could decide though, the woman floated on the air towards him, her feet never once touching the ground. The stories say her skin looked like honey and was as soft as a rose petal.”

No matter what he did, Dartian couldn’t stop listening. There were parts to the story that were familiar and others that he had never heard before. His mind kept swinging back to Saleene and the night she had raised her voice in the song of passing. He could understand the warriors inability to look away.

“Please continue on. What happened to the two?” He hated to sound impatient, but something inside him knew that his and Saleene’s fate were tied together just as the warrior and woman from the legend. He only hoped the outcome was a good one.

“They say as she came closer to the warrior, it was as if two parts which had been severed long ago, were finally brought back together. Their hearts and souls recognized the other. They knew, regardless of what the others thought, that they would find a way to make their worlds intertwine. Now, there was much strife at first, but it is also said that they were never apart, but had to travel a great distance away from their loved ones to prove that their union was true. No one knows if any children were born to the warrior and the woman, but there are many tales of our people coming into contact with people who have the traits of both.”

Dartian hoped that the legend held truth, as he knew it would mean much to both of their futures. He also knew that he and Saleene were becoming closer with every mind-share and minute they spent together. As he looked up to ask the old healer another question, he noticed that Nadrin was fast asleep, his breathing steady. Shrugging his shoulders, Dartian decided he could use some rest as well. He laid back on the cot provided by the old healer and had begun to rest his eyes; when he felt something cold pass over the house. Curious as to the source of the disturbance, Dartian rose out of his bed and wandered towards the window at the far end of the room.

Looking out, he saw at first nothing but a clear night sky with millions of stars that glittered like gemstones in the night. However, he was sure something had brushed by the house. Continuing to survey the area, he caught a glimpse of a figure hidden just out of sight within the shadows. He knew it was Viktor. No other had a reason to watch the house. He knew, without a doubt, that Viktor was not going to give up on his pursuit of Saleene. Snarling, he wanted to go out and confront the man but stopped short of doing so. He was in charge of this village and showing too much aggression would not work in his favor. He watched as Viktor began to approach the house. When he was about ten feet from the home he seemed to hit an invisible barrier.