Dark Twin Moon - The Awakening

Chapter 50:

Rapid footsteps broke the pleasant silence of the woods, and quick beating hearts accompanied them, almost faster than the footsteps themselves. Heavy breathing from all sides only brought more noise into this mostly peaceful night.

The feast of the Crescent, long forgotten, left behind, is a rush. Kayleb's mind was filled with images of Dal being slowly broken down. After he left Dal's head, all the brief moments of his existence over the past few years suddenly filled his mind like a final plea for help.

His mind was entirely consumed with his thoughts, relying on Chad to show him the way. Even at the high pace Kayleb was running at, the much larger wolf could easily keep up with him.

Chad had seen the concern on the lycan's face early on and never looked away from his face for long, making sure nothing was happening. However, when he saw that Kayleb's eyes become glossy, he quickly moved closer, barely in front of him, always able to look into the lycan's face while following the scent that Kayleb had told him to follow, as he was the only one who knew the person they needed to find.

On Kayleb's back lay Dal, unconscious, his arms lazily wrapped around the lycan's neck, held together by one of his hands. The same goes for the legs wrapped around his waist.

He made it look effortless carrying Dal's heavy body, just another reason for Chad to look at the other guy with glittering eyes.

Their togetherness was interrupted as they emerged from the forest far away from their homes. They had run for about an hour without stopping and were now east of Caldor. The forest seemed to have entirely stopped there. But it was still far enough from the coast.

The closest packhouse was the Eastwood Packs, which Kayleb tried to avoid as much as possible since the day he spoke to James's council of elders.

Careful not to scare Kayleb too hard, Chad stopped him by running right in front of him, catching him and lifting him slightly into the air, just enough to get him off the ground. The wolf didn't even have to say anything as the lycan's eyes suddenly came back to life.

Just as quickly as Chad had lifted him into the air, he set him down again. He swiftly moved to his side, Kayleb's eyes following his every move. Until Chad was slightly behind him, both facing forward.

All either of them could see were vast meadows and many yellow and green fields in the distance. Every few kilometers were a few buildings where the first lights were lit.

"Is he here?"

"The last of his scent stops here. I don't know exactly where he is." Chad said disappointedly.

Kayleb nodded, still quite panicked, as his soulmate's heartbeat began to go flimsy. He didn't have much time left.

All this stress made the lycan antsy. They were on the edge of a forest, surrounded by meadows and farms in the distance, which made him wonder where the hunter-mage could be hiding.

"Aiden! I know you're here! Come out, come out, or do I have to break into your little hideout?"

There was no sound except for the lycan's desperate breathing.

"You had your chance!" he shouted loud enough for even the dead to hear.

He knelt carefully so Dal wouldn't fall, then got on all fours and finally put his ear to the ground. He could even hear the grass growing. But that wasn't his goal.

It took a second, but he found it. A few heartbeats coupled with slow breathing. Some people were obviously sleeping right below them.

He straightened himself until he was standing proudly again. He took two steps to the side and dug his heels into the ground.