Caspian's Legacy: The Scent of Truth (book two)

Chapter three: A World of Wonder Unveiled

Author's note: Caspian has in fact finally opened his eyes for the first time at fourteen days old! his parents and other caretakers are so happy to see him crawling around more

 Caspian had finally revealed his blue eyes to the world after fourteen days of life back at the den. The morning was warm, the sun was bright, and the air was filled with the sound of seagulls calling from above. Jace and Cedar walked side by side, carefully making their way through the dense forest that led to the beach. Their senses were on high alert, ready to detect any danger that might be lurking nearby.

"Have you thought of having a family with Talvi?" Jace asks, trying to make a conversation. He knew it was a delicate subject for Cedar. They had been friends for so long, and he wanted to make sure Cedar was happy.

Cedar sighed, the sound rustling the leaves around them. "It's complicated," he began. "I love Talvi more than anything, but I can't help but feel like I'm not cut out for this whole 'fatherhood' thing. I want to be the best mate and friend to her, but I don't know if I can be the best father too." Jace nodded, understanding the struggle his friend was going through.

"That's how Luna wanted me to be a father for the first time; we hoped to have more pups in the future," Jace explained. "I don't think there's a right or wrong way to be a father; it's all about learning as you go and figuring out what works best for you and your family. I mean, even I don't know what I'm doing half the time." They reached the edge of the forest, the scent of the ocean filling their nostrils. "But one thing I know for sure is that you're going to be an amazing father to Cedar," Jace said, nudging his friend. "You've always been there for me, and you'll always be there for Talvi and your pup too."

Cedar smiled softly at his words, feeling a warmth spread through his chest. "Thank you, Jace. That means a lot." They continued their journey to the beach, navigating through the dunes and finally spotting a small group of humans at the water's edge. The music they had heard earlier was coming from a portable speaker one of them had brought along. There didn't seem to be any immediate danger, but they stayed cautious.

"I personally do forget how bad humans can smell," Jace huffed as they approached the group of humans on the beach. "But we're here to make sure they're not up to anything dangerous, not to judge their personal hygiene." Cedar snorted softly, trying not to laugh at his friend's joke.

"Agreed," Jace responded, trying to keep his expression neutral as they neared the group of humans. They both took a deep breath, steeling themselves for whatever they might encounter. The group seemed to notice their approach, and some of them turned to stare, their expressions a mix of curiosity and wariness.

"Is that what I think it is?" One of the girls in a pink bikini asked, pointing to Cedar. He glanced at her, feeling a little self-conscious under her stare. She was human, just like the others in the group. Her voice was high and squeaky, and she had a look of awe on her face.

The guy in a blue trunk beside her grinned. "Yeah, that's a wolf dog." Pretty cool, huh?" Cedar felt a mix of disgust and awkwardness at the girl's reaction. He glanced over at Jace, who nodded, his expression neutral. The girl in the pink bikini kept staring at Cedar, obviously fascinated by his wolf features. "What's his name?" she asked, moving closer.

"no. no. no. Don't you touch me!" Cedar yelled, his body tense and his muscles ready to spring into action, as the human girl in the pink bikini reached out to touch him. Jace's eyes widened in surprise, and he quickly stepped between them.

"wait, stop it!" Jace said, stepping between them. "Cedar isn't used to humans touching him. It's just a habit." The girl in the pink bikini pulled her hand back, looking a little hurt. "Sorry," she muttered.

She doesn't understand how or why she can understand them, but somehow she can. She looks from Jace to Cedar and back again, feeling a little embarrassed about her behavior.

"I'm sorry," she says again, a little more softly this time. "I didn't mean to scare you." Cedar glances at Jace, who gives him a small nod, indicating that it's okay. The girl in the pink bikini studies Cedar for a moment, taking in his wolf features and gentle demeanor. She wonders if he's ever had any bad experiences with humans before.

"How can we understand you? I can hear you two talking. I knew I wasn't crazy!" She asked urgently, and Cedar and Jace exchanged glances. They had never encountered a human who could understand them before. Jace cleared his throat, unsure of how to respond. "Well, it's just something that happens between us, um, shape-shifters," he said carefully. "It's a gift we have. But you shouldn't tell anyone about it, okay? It's a secret."

"I'm not a wolf dog, by the way; I don't even know what a wolf dog is." Cedar reminded her calmly. "Jace and I are both wolf-shifters; we can change into wolves whenever we want. It's part of who we are." The girl in the pink bikini seemed fascinated by this information, and Jace could see the wheels turning in her head.

"I won't tell anyone; I didn't catch your names." The girl in the pink bikini assured them with a serious expression on her face. "I promise I'll keep it a secret." Jace nodded, seeming satisfied with her response. "Alright then, just be careful around other humans, okay? They might not understand as well." He cautioned, glancing at the other people on the beach. "And if you ever need help or just want to talk, you can always find us here; we'll be happy to listen."

The girl looked at the older male human, Jace, with awe in her eyes. "Thank you," she said softly, feeling a sense of relief and gratitude wash over her. She knew that she could trust them and that they understood her in a way that no one else did. "My name's Sophie," she introduced herself, offering her hand for them to shake.

"I need to shift into my human form for that," Jace teased playfully, winking at her. The girl in the pink bikini giggled, a sound that was surprisingly sweet and melodic. "Well, I'm Jace, and this is Cedar. It's nice to meet you, Sophie." He glanced over at Cedar, who was watching the exchange between them with curiosity.

"What the hell is going on?!" The older human male in blue trunks shouted at them, drawing their attention. Cedar's hackles went up instinctively, but Jace put a calming hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, Cedar. He's just upset. Don't worry about him."

"That bloody hurt my ears." Cedar grumbled, still feeling a little wary. Jace nodded in understanding, but he didn't want the girl in the pink bikini to feel uncomfortable. "Well, it's nice to meet you too," Jace said with a friendly smile, "but we should probably get going. We have some things to take care of." The girl in the pink bikini looked disappointed, but she understood that they had their own lives.

"I hope to see you both soon!" she cheered, giving them a little wave. Jace and Cedar waved back before they turned and walked away, disappearing into the edge of the forest. Sophie watched them go, feeling a little sad that they were leaving but also grateful for the brief encounter. She knew that she would always remember them and the strange and wonderful gift they had given her of understanding their language.

"that was strange encounter," Jace admitted, once they were out of earshot of the girl in the pink bikini. "I wonder what she meant about hearing us talking before...?" He trailed off, shrugging his shoulders. "Well, it's not like we'll ever see her again."

Cedar shrugged his shoulders, unconcerned. "Maybe she was just hearing things. People do that sometimes on the beach." He glanced at Jace, who looked unconvinced. "Anyway," he continued, "we should get back to the others. I'm sure they're wondering what happened to us."

Jace nodded his head in agreement and they started to make their way back to where they had left their clothes. As they walked, Jace couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to the girl in the pink bikini than met the eye. He found himself wondering if she was indeed a wolf-shifter like them, or if she was somehow connected to the world of the supernatural in some other way. The more he thought about it, the more curious he became.