"Leaph. I found it. I found the spell that should work." Kallon says as he stands for the chair. Leaph looks over at Kallon. "I hope you're right. We can't afford another Leigha incident." Kallon walks over to Leaph and sits down. "What happened out there Leaph?" Leaph takes a deep breath. "Let me start from when you walked back into the castle to check on Mayla."
(LEAPH'S POV) Leigha asked for a wolf heart. I can't believe that she is willing to go to such lengths to remove Willo's power. Maybe she feels threatened by him. I don't like this plan of hers but if it needs to be done then there has to be a way. I leave the courtyard and run off into the forest to find a wolf. Every fiber of my being is yelling at me and telling me to stop. This isn't the way we do things. The deeper in the forest I go the more I notice that the animals are all gone. Where could they be? I think to myself. I slow my pace and start to listen. I come across a cave and I can senses animals inside. I take my dagger out and leave it on the ground at the entrance of the cave. I slowly walk in. In the back of the cave I can see some young pups and some elders laying down. I move closer then I start to hear the growls of the Alpha and the fighters of his pack. I stop moving and take a breath. "I don't know if you understand me or not. I would like to think you do. I am here because I need something from one of you. This doesn't come easy because this is not the way we do things. I need a heart." I speak out like I'm talking to another elf. The growls get louder and closer. I stand my ground while I sit still and breath calmly. I look around and see that I am surrounded by wolves. None of them are happy. I'm not happy. "I understand the position you're in. I am asking too much of you and it's not fair." The wolves move closer. What I assume to be the Alpha is right in my face. I can feel his breath on my skin. "Forgive me. I will honor what you do." I say to the wolf. His glare was so intense and he never stopped showing his teeth. Suddenly an elder wolf walks up to us slowly. The wolves move enough for him to come closer. The elder wolf lay down in front of me. "I don't understand." I say out loud. The Alpha stops bearing his teeth and he wines a little. I place my hand out for the elder wolf to smell. I place my hand on his body and can feel that is heart is beating slowly. His breaths are fast and very short like he can't catch his breath. I lean down to the wolf and whisper the hunter's prayer
May your spirit be embraced by the creator,
knowing that you have served your purpose,
fulfilled your destiny.
Thank you Lord for sharing your incredible nature and creatures.
Grant me always, wisdom and respect in the pursuit,
Keep me humble in the harvest.
Please embrace this animals spirit.
I reach for my dagger and place it on the wolf. "I am so sorry for what I am about to do." I tell him, before I can pick up my dagger the wolf stops breathing. He passes on to his next life. I didn't have to take the remaining life he had left. All the wolves howl in remembrance of their pack member. I look to all the wolves. As a tear falls from my eye I tell them "I will honor him. I will make a blanket for Willo from his pelt. His meat will feed our Elders in respect of him and your pack. I will bury his bones at the base of Mother Tree and will hold remembrance of him on this night every year to come." The Alpha looks at me. I bow my head in respect. "Thank you." I tell them all. I carry the elder wolf close to the courtyard where I then remove his heart. I smear some of his blood on my forehead. I walk back to Mother Tree when I hear Leigha. The closer I get the more I see. I arrive to find a blade to Arwyn's throat and a threat to take her heart. As calmly as possible I walk up with the warm heart in my hand. Leigha took the heart and did the spell. The thing was at first nothing happened. She chanted louder and louder till she was screaming it. Willo started to cry it then began to storm. Mother Tree was thrashing in the strong winds. I grabbed Willo and the council and I went into the castle. We stood there and watched Leigha as if she was a different person. Her wings came out and she started to rise off the ground. The louder she screamed the worse the storm was and then there was a blinding blue flash. We all were fine except Mother tree lost some of her huge branches and Leigha was badly burnt. Just her left arm that was holding the heart and her wings were burnt off. (End Leaph's POV)
