The Majors, Cold Fury (Book 2)

Chapter 47: Shrub POV

It had been many months since I left the Undergrove.

I wasn't needed anymore. No people to guide...what was the point of staying and building up the empire when I was the only gnome that would ever live there...the only gnome to live anywhere.

I was leaned up against a sleeping Zodiac in front of a dying fire. My pack of wolves were all sleeping around it and my small tent was set up a few dozen feet away, but I didn't feel like getting up. Zodiac's fur was soft, and I turned on my side before falling asleep...

I woke up to the sound of flames crackling. I blinked, pushing myself up a little and looking towards the charcoal pit from last night. Except there was a girl there, stoking the fire with a stick. She looked up and her eyes glinted red in between her strands of white hair before she disappeared.

I jumped to my feet and looked in every direction for Phoenix before diving for my axe and continuing to turn in circles. "I know your there!" I shouted.

I heard crunching behind me, and I spun around bringing my axe down. But it stopped. I looked up to Erin holding the handle, her mouth curled into a grin.

"Now that's not how you treat an old friend." She said with a smirk. I stared at her blackened forearm, and my jaw dropped.

"Ph- Phoenix what-" I started, but then I caught sight of the Xornoth crystal hanging around her neck. "Scott gave that to you-"

Phoenix threw her head back and laughed. "Of course not. He's stupid but not that stupid." Her wrists were rotating strangely, and red magic twisted around her fingers, her fingers twitching. I swear the world was slowly getting darker...

"Why would you-" I cried, but she cut me off.

"You can develop quite a grudge in almost two years. I've heard you've been on your own little, vacation." She grinned.

"They- they didn't need me anymore." I stuttered.

"Yes. Well, unfortunately, I need you." She said with a mock frown, before leaning down to be eye level, letting go of my axe, her eyes glowing red even brighter. The world right out of my peripheral vision turned completely dark. "I suggest you run."

I backed up a few steps as the smile on Erin's face grew. "ZODIAC!" I screamed, turning around, and running for my giant wolf. Her eyes snapped open, and I jumped onto her back, wrapping my fingers in her fur. Zodiac howled and all the other wolves woke up and we took off.

The wind whipped my hair as my wolf ran, her paws pounding at the gravel beneath us. Our pack was right behind us as the pines all blurred into greens and browns, but I glimpsed red magic and the darkness gaining on us. I pressed my chest into my wolf's neck to avoid being thrown off as we ran. Katherine. We needed to get to Katherine.