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Prophecies

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance

Tags: Shifter, Bear, Kingdom, Attack, Hidden secrets, Matriarch, Tribe, Saving his kind, Spirit bear, Rare

Synopsis:

Astoria Faxon, otherwise known as the Matriarch, outcast to the wilderness for her omnipotent mind. A feared adversary of Kalania Kingdom, she's hidden to the world only sought after by distant travelers.

Rowen Selke on a hunt for his blood brother Julian seeks the knowledge of the Matriarch. Desperate to find his brother he's faced with knowledge of a destiny more powerful than himself and his spirit combined. When he's faced with the brutality of hunters, his rage is the only thing that leads him to his true destiny.

What kingdom suffers from the greed of their leaders?

Excerpt:

"Rowen, slow down, our horses will keel over if we don't pause fer a rest." Caleb announces out of breath, pulling his steed to a stop. Thomas nods with weary eyes as he watches his steed snort, out of breath from the long gallop.

"Nay, we shall be upon the Matriarch's cabin by night." I growl, as my horse stomps snorting her unease.

"No matter if we have a break, we'll arrive before dusk." Thomas speaks up, his voice deep, roughened by age. An elder within our tribe, tasked with travel on the important matter.

"The sooner we arrive the better, who knows what trouble Julian has found." I have to argue, watching as Caleb swings his leg over his steed to drop to the ground, taking no heed of my words.

"Julian's of age, he's found his Spirit, ye explored just the same, remember that Rowen." Thomas murmurs lowly as he dismounts, clutching at the saddle, his legs wobbled like that of a newborn. The long hard ride weary on his old bones.

"He's been amiss fer weeks, ye and I both know the hunts have been increasin, our numbers are dwindlin." Thomas' green eyes flicker brown at the questions.

"Enough Rowen... I know ye fear for yer brother, but killin our horses won't get him back." Caleb sighs at the fact, guiding his horse to water.

"Rowen, we're all worried about Julian. Ye and I both know he's a sound fighter, a strong warrior. Have faith in his ability" Caleb offers quietly, being Julian's friend and battle mate, it's of no surprise this has been hard on him.

"I have plenty o faith in 'is ability, but ye forget, what's entered into battle. They have guns, how is 'e to fight that? In 'is Spirit no less!" The surrounding Kingdom's have brought guns to the field, it's been a slaughter against the shifter's.

"Ye have to believe that he's protected, taken to cover fer night, around the humans." Thomas argues quietly, drawing my attention. "If we lose faith in the goddess above and her protection of him, we'll never stay strong, not united." I shake my head, fighting the deep churning in my belly. My mind hasn't found peace in the past week, something is wrong, I can feel it deep in my bones.

"Somethin's off with 'im, I feel it in me bones." The knowledge has weighed heavy in my mind.

Thomas releases a sigh as he fixes his tunic. "Rowen, deep breaths, we don't know what Julian's doing. Fer all we know he could be exploring the world." Caleb nods in agreement.

"Deep breaths? Really? That's what ye offer me? Me brother is out wanderin the plans o' the land in 'is spirit form!" Thomas frowns and shakes his head.

"It's been weeks, he would've changed by now. Rowen, ye ferget, ye wanted space to travel yerself." He said with a heavy sigh making me frown. My gut says otherwise.

"With all respect fer ye Thomas... I know Julian, 'e would na, do somethin like this. 'e's na one to wander the planes fer nothin. That's na like 'em, ye know it."

Thomas stared at me before shaking his head with a deep frown. "Rowen, enough with yer frettin, it's not goin to brin Julian back to us. We'll visit the Matriarch and get her wisdom. Her wisdom is key to our knowledge." Thomas answers with a small smile. The Matriarch is a legend, myth among common folk. An elder who lives amongst the wilderness, hidden from the greed and destruction of a Kingdom.

"How are we to know we are on the right path? To find her that is." Caleb asks with a frown, patting his horses sturdy neck as he grazes.

Thomas chuckles softly as he settles against a fallen tree, the small alcove offers a mid day reprieve from the stark sun. "The legend goes, tucked away betwixt battlin grounds, hidden in the depths of the mountain. She offers her wisdom to all that travel, offerin their goods. If she deems ye fit, at night she's blessed with wisdom to the worries that plague yer days. If ye are unfit, ye are sent on yer way to find yerself."

Caleb frowns at that and stares at him. "Battlin grounds? The coves and mountains between Kingdoms?" He asks as he glances around. Thomas hums at his question.

"She's hidden to all, it takes a mighty adventurer to find the right paths to find her camp." He offers as he turns towards me. "No one can say what goods are deemed worthy by her, or what is to be done to deem yerself worthy."

"We 'ave to be deemed worthy? O what? 'Er words? Tisn't that a bit backwards?" I frown with a growl.

"Her wisdom could do both good and harm to the world. Think fer a minute, would you willinly share wisdom that could end the tribe?" His words give me pause as I snort.

"Nay, but now tisn't the time I want to be panderin to a woman. Julian could be out there hurtin, or worse." Thomas had the audacity to chuckle at me.

"Panderin? Nay, I'd say yer, were provin ourselves to the Matriarch. We have to earn her knowledge." I growl, listening to my mare stomp and snort, blowing her nose harshly to the predator in me. My spirit close to the surface with my emotions.

"I don't 'ave time to waste earnin knowledge and wisdom, Julian needs me, somewhere." Not knowing where he's wandered too has killed me and my spirit, Julian is our kin, the last living member of my blood family. The Tribe is close, as close as we can be in this time, taking to hiding our younger generations. In an attempt to preserve our people.

"Julian is a smart lad. Ye never know, he could've spent the time travelin, explorin good land for another Tribe. There was talk before he departed." Caleb nods to Thomas' words.

"Tis true, he could've wandered the lands to find a good camp fer our next generation, away from the risin tensions." I heave a sigh at their words as I turn to watch the open road.

"Tis could be... Me gut says other wise." I know Julian, he's a young male, learning the ways of his spirit. Distracted with learning himself to want to find the Tribe land.