Never ownED myself

Chapter 2: destination

╔═══════════╗
Even when things are tough,
Keep your smile,
Its a new lesson,
learn from it.
MJ1
╚════════════╝

Hours went by and Leah hadn't lose her stamina, she was just happy to be in the open after so many years boxed in a corner of Annie's head graciously made by her mother's enchantment.  Annie was astounded, it never occurred to her that Leah needed so much physical activity. She felt bad, she knew so little about wolves or any animal for that matter. Perhaps she had given too much into her fears and let Leah pay the price. Tom kept giving instructions until Leah seemed to slow down.

It was time to get back to her human body, yet Annie felt conflicted. There was a peace that came from being a spectator. She could see the world and live without the pressure of daily decisions weighing on her mind. She was always wavering between her thoughts and it was excruciating, but in this form, she was just there living the moment. A luxury really.

Leah stopped at Tom's command and dropped to the ground. Bigger than a pony, Leah wouldn't risk Tom falling and twisting an ankle. After all, a wizard was close to a human in terms of injuries. They were frail things. Keeping his balance by holding onto Leah's fur, he slid from her back but kept his eyes on the sparse trees and the many pines that surrounded them. Then it stroke her, Annie knew Tom well enough, he was on edge. Meaning, this wasn't their final destination. This was but a mild stone on their way to the Resistance.

Making up his mind, he sat down by a pine tree, he pressed his hand against it and chanted an incantation, but nothing happened. He repeated the same thing over and over again, but there was no change. Tom's face grew paler against all odds.

Knowing how secretive the Resistance was, Annie was convinced that once the first message was opened, some sort of timer was triggered making each minute count. Defeated, Tom sat on the floor, using Leah's wolf body as a pillow.

Annie kept burning her brains out. The clues had to be related? Unless it was some sort of charade ! One thing was sure, this was a stalemate and they couldn't afford it. Of course, being his usual self, Tom couldn't just admit it and ask for help. He was always playing hero and refused the help.

It was now up to her.

"Can I see the parchment?" Tom placed the paper between Leah's furry paws as a response to Annie's surprise.

Leah kept him occupied while Annie theorized about the words under her eyes. There were instructions followed by a poem. It had to be the key. Since he had already read it, that meant there was some kind of riddle behind it that held the spell. She read the beginning of each line, trying to evoke a magical reaction, followed by a few mixes that sounded like a new possible rhyme.

The paper disappeared under her eyes. "That's it! You are brilliant!" Tom rubbed Leah's furry ear, sending shivers of pleasure down her body. Her back paw lifted, she shook it with contempt and asked for more.

Tom laughed before returning his attention to the paper. He repeated the last incantation Annie had tried, and a light emerged from the paper. It searched across the place, emitting a red light like a probe until it found Tom. The light became a beam that moved through the dense forest.

Fascinated, Leah ran after the light like a cat. "You're so pretty! I'll buy you toys and take proper care of you when everything's back to normal." Tom said from behind.

Finally, the light stopped and pointed a tree. Satisfied that she had accomplished her mission, Leah approached Tom, wiggled her tail while circling him and climbed on top of him.