Forest of Lies

Chapter 10-Magic Always Has a Cost

What little strength I have left after binding the Alpha King with my power, goes into running through the trees, rocks, and hardened ground. Pointed rocks dig into my soles, my hair whirls around my head and mask. The soaked hem of my cloak and dress, quickly pick up even more leaves, twigs, and dirt.

My heart beats wildly in my chest, all my thoughts have curled and twisted into one single need. Find Amira, protect Amira, save Amira. The priestess had not ruled that we could not receive aid from each other. Had not stated us to stay away from our companions in our time of need.

Awareness at this revelation crashes into me like a tree falling in the forest. She had not ruled out help for the wolves either. They were allowed to assist their fellow beasts as much as I could for my fellow Marked. The mere thought of the Alpha King breaking loose of his bonds, ushers in another vision that brings me to a grinding halt before an ancient oak tree with branches and limbs, thicker than the tallest male werewolf.

Blinding pain sinks into my skull, forcing me to my knees as my sight goes black. Sounds and smells whirl around me, giving structure to the furious form of the Alpha King straining against the twisted and thick tree roots. The image warps, turning in on itself and filling my eyes with the rushing form of the Hammer trampling the ground beneath his booted soles. Feiry red hunger blazing in his eyes, his mud splattered cloak of gray, fanning out behind him like ominous clouds over a clear sky.

Then the images of trampled broken and twigs, morphs into the fluttering hem of Ersa's robe and her fox fur cloak covered in leaves, dirt, and fresh red blood. Before I can see anymore, the world turns in on itself and reveals Orlan forced into hand-to-hand combat with the Scythe. Their limbs move fluidly as water, dodging each other's blows in a dance of deadly instinctual grace.

As before, the vision changes abruptly, leaving me reeling in fright as Amira appears. Her delicate hand gripping tight to large gloved fingers, while the other holds on to a branch poking out of the side of a cliff. Fearful tears pour down her cheeks, a mirror of the Axe as he continuously rearranged his footing to gain better traction on the uneven ground.

All at once, my sight clears, bringing with it a pounding cold into my head and heart. My hands find the bark of the oak tree, the sharp uneven edges of my nails mercilessly digging into the wood. I should have diswayed them from joining me, I should have come alone. Guilt eats at my heart, threatening to break through the harsh calm I've erected agaisnt the full force of my emotions. It was my choice to bring them along, and my choice to save them from my mistake.

On trembling cold legs, I push myself up from the ground and take off in the direction of Amira's frightened voice. The shadowed trees pass by me in a blur, my sole focus on pushing my body faster and faster towards the sound of crumbling rock and frantic shouts. It feels as if I'm walking through mud, that no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to be gaining any ground.

I push on, straining my lungs to the breaking point while jumping over a tree limb long overtaken by moss and rot. Soon, the trees soon thin, spreading out as I come to the edge of the forest, and the sheer expanse of a gap resounding with the echo of rushing hungry water.

As soon as I see it, I find the Axe struggling to pull Amira back up to safety. Though he is strong, the battering icy wind and spray gusting up from the river, seems to chip away at his hand entwined with Amira's. Without thought, I hurry over, careful to come up by his side and not his back. As I get close to the edge, I lower myself into a crawl and slowly shuffle over to the Axe.

My hands accidentally brush agasint a scattering of pebbles. The sound of skittering rock, pulls his attention towards me and gives me a single hateful snarl of snow white fangs. "I mean you no harm," I whisper, forcing the lie into a consoling croon of good intention. "Just let me help."

Upon hearing my voice, the Axe simple nods his head and turns his attention back down to where Amira lies clinging to the cliff face. "Be at ease fierce one, your raven haired friend is here," he utters, his voice deep and rumbling as the gentle lull of thunder.

"Nyx!" Amira shouts, her frightened voice ushering me over to the very edge. Imploring me to look down, where I find her just as I saw her in my vision, dangling twenty feet above the frothing river rush. Her face growing pale with fear, tears streaming down her lovely brown skin. Her eyes wide as boulders and her lip quivering from the pressure of a sob that threatens to rip from her throat.

"Don't worry," I croon, reaching with all my might down to the branch that is keeping her from falling into the torrent below. "All will be well, Lupus Venator."

With the last dregs of my power, I command the branch to grow and usher Amira up as the Axe pulls her with a gentleness I have never seen before in his kind. As soon as she is back onto stable ground, the towering wolf brings her into his arms. Cradling her with such care, that it leaves both Amira and I speechless.

I make to stand, hoping to implore the Axe to let me look her over, but I never get the chance. The terrible sound of splitting rock, travels through my ears like ravenous thunder. The next thing I know, I'm falling backwards into the ravine. Amira's shout mixes with the Axe's own frightened roar, but it is too late for them to grab me and pull my exhausted body to safety.

My world tips, all I hear is the howling wind and roaring of the lethal current, crashing against the ravine's walls. As soon as my skin greets the icy unforgiving river, my sight fades to black and no visions of impending doom or joy accompany me in the endless abyss of utter and complete, darkness.