Never ownED myself

Destination

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Even when things are tough,
Keep your smile,
Its a new lesson,
learn from it.
MJ1
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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. A cage graciously made by her mother's enchantment. Yet, Leah existed. She hadn't been there long, but she was now. Fact was they both existed and deserved to live. Tom kept giving instructions until Leah slowed down, making Annie aware of her surroundings.

Leah stopped at Tom's command and dropped to the ground. Bigger than a pony, Leah couldn't risk Tom falling and twisting an ankle. After all, a wizard was closer to a human in terms of injuries. They were frail things in comparison to a wolf.

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. Leah didn't seemed to notice the small change on his behaviour, but Annie did. He wasn't very expressive, but the way his muscles tensed was telling enough. 

He was on edge. It wasn't their final destination. The resistance was well known for their ability to remain hidden from the council. Even after three years of service to them, he had gathered little information himself. 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. This was but a clue within the clue and he was already failing at it.

Annie knew little about the Resistance, but Annie had a hunch.  Is there a timer making each minute count ? But the question was left unanswered. 

Defeated, Tom sat on the floor, using Leah's wolf body as a pillow.

Annie kept burning her brains out. The clues, they have to have a purpose ? Unless it is some sort of charade ! 

Tom, he remained nonchalantly petting the wolf. Tom kept his face still. Stay calm. Inside, he was spiraling. I'm supposed to have the answers. I brought her into this. Told her it was safer. What if I was wrong? He glanced at the wolf containing both girls' souls. Annie trusted me enough. Can I ask her for help? He clenched his jaw.

Can I see the parchment? Annie asked. 

Tom, darling, can you share that piece of paper with us?  Annie thinks she can help you. Tom placed the paper between Leah's furry paws.

The paper began with a set of instructions followed by a poem. There had to be something else. Like a key. Since Tom had already read it and nothing had happened, it meant that there was a riddle involved. Then something would happen most likely a 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. Every enchantement had a song behind. You could have the words, but without the tune, the magic wouldn't happen. She just had to find the song hidden within the lines.

"That's it! You are brilliant!" Tom rubbed Leah's furry ear, praising the wolf. Her back paw lifted, she shook it with contempt and asked for more.

Tom laughed relieved. He repeated the last incantation Annie had tried with another note, and a light emerged from the paper. That song. He knew it. After all, her mother used to sing to him a similar tune. What was the meaning of it? Had his mother being part of the resistance?

The beacon 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.