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

Chapter twenty-five

Caspian didn't know what to make the most of from this as he and Oak sprinted out into the moon craven, their hearts thumping in their chests. It felt like the spirits were watching them even as they raced through the trees. The forest seemed to come alive around them, ancient trees towering overhead, their branches

"This is crazy!" Oak panted, her breath coming in ragged gasps as they dashed through the forest. "I can't believe we're actually doing this!" Caspian shot her a sideways glance, managing a weak smile as he, too, tried to catch his breath. "It's just another adventure, right?" He asked, trying to reassure them both.

"This wasn't the first time!" Oak scoffed, wiping the sweat from her brow. "Remember when we went near the dark moon pack and they almost killed us for wondering on their grounds? Or when we climbed that giant tree and almost fell because Soren got too carried away with that maiden? We've been through worse, remember?" Caspian nodded, trying to catch his breath. "Yeah, but this is different, Oak. This is the first time we're doing something like this on our own. Without Soren or anyone else to help us."

The fact that they have completely forgotten about Soren and Aurora and are out there by themselves sends shivers down Caspian's spine. He wipes the sweat from his forehead and then looks around and says, "Well, it's not like we can back out now. Let's just focus on getting those items and finishing this ritual." Oak nods, determined to not let fear or doubt get the best of them. They continue their search, gathering the mistletoe and river stones without much trouble. However, when they reach the hearth, where the charcoal is located, they come across a small group of faeries dancing around a bonfire.

"You have got to be kidding me," Caspian says sarcastically as he and Oak see the group of faeries dancing around the bonfire. "Great, just what we needed." Oak sighs, rolling her eyes. "Let's just try to get their attention quietly." They approach the fire carefully, trying not to startle the faeries. As they draw near, one of the faeries notices them and flies over, hovering in front of Caspian. "What business do you have with us, wolf-shifters?" she asks in a musical voice. "We require some charcoal from your fire for a sacred ritual," Caspian explains, trying to sound confident and respectful at the same time.

The faerie nodded her head, her wings shimmering in the firelight. "Very well," she said, her voice softening. "You may have our charcoal. But first, you must prove yourselves worthy. You must complete a task for us." Caspian and Oak exchanged glances, unsure of what the faerie meant. "What sort of task?" Oak asked hesitantly. The faerie smiled enigmatically. "You must find a human child who has been lost in the forest and return them safely to their parents." The two shifters looked at each other, feeling a mixture of trepidation and determination.

Caspian and Oak gave each other an exhausted look. They knew they had to do this, but the thought of finding a lost human child in the middle of the night in the middle of the forest was daunting, to say the least. They nodded in agreement, and the faerie smiled. "Follow me," she said, flying up into the air and leading them deeper into the forest.

Caspian and Oak braced themselves for what was about to come as they followed the faerie deeper into the forest. The further they went, the thicker the foliage became, obscuring the starlit sky. The air grew cooler and the ground more damp as they ventured deeper into the heart of the woods. They came across a small clearing where they could hear the distant wailing of a child. The faerie landed gracefully on a branch above them and pointed toward the sound. "That is the child you are seeking," she whispered.

"Is the child human or a wolf-shifter?" Caspian asks the faerie as they carefully approach the clearing, where they hear the child's cries. The faerie gives him a look of disdain before replying, "Of course it is human, foolish boy. Now hurry and find the child before it comes to any harm." With a sigh of frustration, Caspian turns to Oak. They share a brief, silent exchange before nodding in agreement. Together, they cautiously venture into the clearing.