Discover the shadows( name may be changed)

Chapter 9

My heart dropped out of my chest. "You're dying?" I shrieked out loud, not caring that we could be discovered or that the others would be worried. Ananya, Midnight's mate, whipped her head to look at us, and even with the tough, weathered scales I could see her horrified expression. And to my rage, my familiar had the audacity to use her talons to shut her ears and glared at me. "NO, IDIOT! I've lived a thousand years, and I mean you will probably be my last human partner. You're half arcana, aren't you? I'll live to 250 years or 300 if I'm unlucky and then I'll return to the darkness." She hissed, her harsh features only softening as my knees gave out and I crumpled to the ground with relief, as she instantly stretched out her massive wing over me, mercifully shielding me from the others. I slowly and unsteadily got to my feet, brushing off Ashwini's concerns as I once again addressed them. "We ought to go. It's getting late. You all know the location of the school, and even if you don't you can ask Midnight and Lycan for directions if you ever want to visit."

A cacophony of howls, hoots, squawks and roars greeted us as Midnight's voice clear, calm voice rang out as she spoke in the language of shadows, Nox, "Masters, as your faithful servants we bid you farewell on your journey. Once again we thank you for your graciousness and help and we hope all the best for you."

"Midnight and I, as your familiars, will join you, and leave Ananya and Linda, our respective mates, to care for our kin in our stead." Lycan continued, his voice rough and primal somehow as he and Midnight glanced back to their mates, who smiled and reassured them as they turned back to us. "We will not," Midnight began once again, "stay in the school stables like some barn animals." here they both wrinkled their snouts in disgust and Ashwini and I glanced at their mates as the four of us tried to conceal our amusement. "However, we will stay close by and assist you should you need anything, or want to "hang out", as you kids say. Due to our proximity, as well as our age, these bonds are stronger and you will, as a result, be more powerful than you already are. We will come to your school in three days after we have made the preparations to leave." she concluded.

Goodbyes were pretty quick after that. Just as we were about to leave the woods, an old, raw, powerful mind connected to my own and a familiar voice hissed, " Shreya!" I nearly stopped dead in my tracks before he frantically yelled into my mind, "Don't react, KEEP WALKING" I hurriedly picked up the pace, telling Ashwini that I was just a little tired as I awaited Lycan's instructions. I had never had a mental connection with him like this before, and his mind was ice cold and rough, as compared to Midnight's warm, refined mind.

"Listen to me very carefully." he explained, calming down as I kept walking alongside Ashwini who was oblivious as always. Sensing that the mental connection was growing unstable due to the distance between Lycan and I, I hastily muttered a pathetic excuse of having to tie my shoelaces and that I would catch up to him. Shrugging, Ashwini checked his watch, did a double take and sprinted off and disappeared down the winding path.

Dropping the cheerful, apologetic persona, I tapped my foot impatiently as my frown grew, raising my eyebrows as Lycan prowled out of the woods and growled, "You are in grave danger."

I don't know what scared me more, that Lycan, who was as old as Midnight and had never addressed me personally before was telling me that I was in danger, or the fact that he spoke to me in English, as opposed to Nox.