The Unthought Fate [MxM]

Chapter 2

    Vlad

  We have been traveling for a whole week by now, and the weather is beginning to get colder. We will have to find a more permanent shelter soon, one that can accommodate us for the winter.

Because we are going on foot, it is a slow process, but it's nothing out of the ordinary. Maybe for some it would be boring or tiring, and it is not easy, but I enjoy the little things in life.

Every once in a while, my dad and I split up. As independent as we are, we still need information and some supplies, like clothing or food. And since it is out of the question for me to go and get said things, I hide in a small hole or very high up in a tree while my dad makes the short trip to the village. The bigger the village, the more chances of finding a hidden refuge for shifters. Some are running from the war before it reaches them, some are already injured and want to either heal and return to fight or run for their lives. I run for my life, so no judgment there.

My dad is very good with his hands, a sort of craftsman, and he makes awesome bows and arrows and exchanges them for what we need. Usually, a bow and a dozen arrows are enough to get food for a whole month—that's how good my dad's work is.

While I am waiting for him, I have time to enjoy my favorite activity: meditation.

I know it's weird. I should be playing, not meditating, but I do play all the time while traveling and practice my fighting skills at the same time. I can be quite creative, and my dad never misses an opportunity to make a prank or say a stupid joke. Last time, he tried to trick me into believing he was ill and made me search for a certain plant for his fever. In the meantime, he scattered my clothes in all the holes he could find and blamed the squirrels. Sometimes I wonder who the child is in this relationship!!!

But meditation gives me the opportunity to connect with nature, because nature is life, and I love life. I take deep breaths and relax my muscles. My senses become sharp, and I listen to the sounds that surround me, the smells in the air. I let my body feel the ground's vibration from all the animals and insects that live in it. This is bliss for me—I can feel my soul become energized. It makes me happy.

Remember when I said that I have no powers? Well, it is very true, but my meditation is my semi, half wannabe power. While it doesn't do anything to others, it allows me to perceive my surroundings through my senses—it creates a mental map of the life around me. It's not something I can do quickly or easily, and not even that accurately.

Unfortunately, it doesn't last long because my father returns rather quickly and brings me back to the present when he makes his presence known by our special sound. In order for me to know it's him and not someone else, we have our own signal. It is a short whistle followed by a sequence of high-pitched sounds, and it ends with another short whistle. It's not as long as it seems—in reality, it's quite fast—but that makes it unique and hard to replicate, especially since Eric is a bird shifter and high notes are easy for him even in human form.

Once I see my dad and take in his face, I know he brings bad news. His grim look says it all—you don't even have to know him to tell it's not what he wanted to come back with.

"Vlad, it's not that bad," is the first thing he blurts.

"You started your sentence with my name, Dad, which is bad, and you continued with 'it's not that bad'—" I say while trying to imitate him—"which is worse. So now the only sane conclusion is that you bring really bad news," I tell him without blinking an eye.

"Damn it, why do I feel like the child all of a sudden?" is his only response.

I look at him and can't stop thinking the same thing, but I manage to say, "What are the news, Dad?"