BRUCE
I watched Jade and Enzo make their way out of the camp, it hurt a little that she would not take me into her confidence about this matter, but I tried to understand. Enzo was her friend, and they had already been through so much together. I watched her fade into the forest and my eyes drifted over to see Ember staring at the stream. I walked over and sat next to her. She looked up and smiled, but it was simply a movement, not a feeling.
I wrapped my arm around her and brought her close to my body, she sighed and relaxed into my hold. I watched the water pass down the stream and started to wonder how much longer it was going to take us to reach the mountain. There had to be a town, a city, hell a hamlet somewhere, this realm could not just be forest.
"I'm supposed to meet my mate in this realm." She sighed "A little over a hundred years ago one of the eldest among my community came to me and prophesied that I would only find my mate in another realm and the wolf who stands out amongst them all would be the only way I would reach this mystery realm." She finishes and continues to stare into the stream. I was stunned. I had no idea how much reaching this realm meant to her. I could see why her and Jade had formed such a strong bond.
"That must have been difficult. I cannot imagine what it was like for you wondering where that wolf was. Did the elder provide you with any further details to aid in your search? I asked her, hoping to learn more about her. She simply looked up and smiled at me, nodding her head.
"They told me that it would be a long time until the wolf would present themselves, and that I must spend that time learning about realms and how to access them."
I was speechless, she had waited over a hundred years just to meet Jade, and for the chance to meet her mate.
"I could not imagine knowing if I would ever be able to meet my mate Ember, you are so strong." I gave her a strong squeeze and she murmured a small thank you. I stayed with her until I could hear Jade and Enzo walking back towards our little camp. I stood and stretched myself out. Ready to hear what they had decided to do.
While it was strange to allow my baby girl to take charge, it felt right. I could not explain it and I thought that maybe it was because this was her realm, but Seth said it was more than that but would not elaborate. Jade caught my eye and smiled waving us over to the small campfire. She and Enzo explained his theory which was incredibly odd, and just seemed so impossible from what all of them have said about this realm.
I did not say anything as being with Enzo has definitely changed my perspective on Vampyres, but still the centuries of hatred for his species were hard to deny from one's genetic makeup. We all agreed to the lookout arrangements, and that we needed to pick up our pace to reach the mountain. Ember wanted to shift into Fern and fly above the treetops to scout, but we all felt this was an unnecessary risk. We did not want to put her in danger of being seen. Fern seemed irritated with this outcome, but Ember understood. We agreed to rest for the day and hunt for food, as our night was disrupted.
I agreed to take the first watch and Jade took off into the forest to hunt us up some food. Ember went to forage for edible greens, nuts, or berries, while Enzo tended the fire and relaxed against his bag. Soon Jade retuned with rabbits, and Ember had found blackberries, and mint sprigs. We cleaned and roasted the rabbits eating in silence as we all contemplated our situation. Jade and Ember made their bed rolls and dozed off quickly after. Enzo remaining vigilant.
"I will keep the first watch you should rest." I said to him quietly. A sad look crossed his face but was gone in a flash.
"Sleep eludes me with the swirling thoughts in my mind regarding this realm, my task and if I will ever see my family again." He replied in a hushed tone. I was shocked to hear him speak of his family, and his worries. Again, I am reminded that my whole perspective of Vampyres was conjured out of generational fear and lack of knowledge.
"Maybe a fresh outside perspective could help you sort the thoughts. If you do not mind sharing." I found myself replying. Enzo smiled and nodded his head, he stood, and we moved away from the girls to a nearby tree where we could keep our eyes on them and the forest, while being able to speak in normal voices. He told me about his family, what his mother had done, her punishment including her blood line. How he had spent his millenniums, long life journeying with his family to realm after realm and eradicating the Dark Ones that infested them.
I was fascinated and now had a much clearer understanding of why Jade and Ember trusted him so much. One thing stuck out to me that had the wheels spinning in my mind.
"You said that the Dark Ones had managed to tear their way into other realms to escape your family?" I asked. He nodded and gave me a quizzical look. "So, it's possible that they managed to reach this realm? And that's why your family has not been able to lift the curse?"
He gave me a half smile that held a sadness I could not fathom. I could tell he was deep in thought, so I turned my eyes to the forest. The feelings of being spied upon were gone, and all the remained was a weariness. I heard Enzo stand, and head back to the camp. I hoped he would rest. Seth needed out to spread his legs and so I shifted and spent the next few hours wondering the perimeter of our little camp.
"Is it possible, that creature, that vampire is a bastard version of Vampyres like Enzo?" Seth asked me as we started to feel the missed night's sleep. I pondered his question as I went to Ember and nudged her awake for her turn to take watch, she rolled over smiling and scratched behind Seth's ears and assumed her watch. Not bothering to shift I curled up next to Jade, and rested my head where I could see her sleeping face and allowed sleep to take me.
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Well wow, Bruce's point of view after all this time.
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