Spirit Animals: The Keeper's Book

Chapter Fourteen: A Surprising Reunion

During "The Burning Tide."
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The rescued team of Greencloaks and three Redcloaks (Worthy, Talon, and Jolt) were at an alcove carved into the right side of the mountain. Though the air outside was freezing, the calming temperature in the alcove was comfortable. A vein of red lava flowed through a man-made channel that ran around the perimeter, warming the ground just enough so they could breathe without shivering.
"—You must make sure you or your spirit animal won't be touched by the parasites," Talon was telling Keith, who was clearly beaten by her again.
Jenna lowered her head and caught Worthy's bright golden eyes whilst giving him a playful wink. She might have trouble reading him with that cat mask on, but she can tell that Worthy was blushing bashfully and it made Jenna silently amused at the sight.
"Right." Jenna gotten up and dusted herself. "I'm going to practice with my sword. But I think I need someone else to train with me." She soon walked away to get ready for her training session.
Jolt nudged Worthy with a smile. "Ask her to train with you. I'm sure she'll say yes to you."
"I— I don't—" Worthy struggled to speak through his nerves as he searched for an excuse, any excuse floating about in his head. However, the boy drew nothing, but blanks.
"C'mon buddy, you got this!" Jolt encouraged, grabbing onto his friend's arm with a firm grip, before nudging him forwards.
Worthy was not the most coordinated when flustered, and stumbled several feet forward before stopping himself just in time from running into the unsuspecting Jenna. Jenna did hear the stumbling though and turned her head from her current conversation with the others to find the cause of the sound was from none other than Worthy himself.
Jenna then gave Worthy an endearing smile as she looked at the boy she cared for so much, his presence giving her an instant sense of happiness. Worthy couldn't help, but feel himself melt a bit under such a loving expression from his crush, and not just that, his cheeks began to heat up again as well.
"H-Hey Jenna, if uh, if you wanted— you don't have to! But I mean, if you— if you—" Worthy struggled to string his words together. It felt like his heart was pounding against his chest, and his thoughts were racing at a million miles an hour. He was also trying not to show it, but he could feel himself beginning to sweat as well.
Jenna's smile had faded a bit, and she started looking at Worthy with a confused and concerned expression, unsure what had him so tongue tied. Behind Worthy, and out of everyone's gaze, Jolt snuck up behind Worthy. Jolt then gave his flustered friend another unnoticed jab to the side. Worthy's face contorted a bit as he bit the inside of his cheek, but he then let out a quick exhale through his nose as he finally pulled himself together.
"Are you okay Worthy?" Jenna asked, confused and concerned.
"Y-Yeah! I was just trying to say, I could train with you. If you'd like, that is?" Worthy answered, giving Jenna a soft smile.
"Really? I'd appreciate that a lot Worthy," She responded, giving him another smile as well.
This fight was not some simple brawl either, no. Talon had specifically instructed that their respective powers were to be used, and as such both teens were giving it their all.
Her instincts have took over, and Jenna was just barely able to dodge the first swipe in time. Worthy, however, wasn't an amateur, as he immediately pulled back and launched onto the offensive. He traded blow after blow, feinting and slashing with the skill of a warrior.
Just as Worthy swung his clawed hand at her, she countered it with a swift block. Her eyes reflected off of the light, and it almost looked like her blue eyes was set aflame. Intense determination ran through her. She kept him from getting a shot at her as she dodged his attacks. Her senses opened up. She saw his attacks coming and started countering the attacks. She decided to try a trick of her own. Worthy deflected it easily, but she saw a change in his face. His eyes narrowed, and he started to attacking her with more force.
They were both growing tired, so Jenna decided to do her own technique. Jenna tried the thrusting maneuver. Her sword hit the base of Worthy's and Jenna pushed, putting her whole weight into a downward thrust.
"CLANG!" The sword landed on the ground. Jenna had officially won the battle against Worthy.
"Sorry about that," Jenna apologized to him.
"Ah, that's alright," said Worthy. "We are testing our strengths together." But a pause of silence passed between them. The silence between them soon disappeared when they heard Stead's footsteps coming towards them.
"Stead?" Worthy asked, sounding confused as they both put their respective weapons away.
"Worthy." The second-in-command nodded to him and gazed at the others with Worthy. "I'm just introducing some of our newest visitors here."
"Who's the newest visitors?" asked Desta warily.
Stead stepped out of the way, revealing two new kids that were both brought in by Abeke and Rollan.
There's a young girl whose fair skin is lighter than Jenna's. Her long, white-blond hair is twisted up on her head like a crown. She was wearing a leather brown tunic and pants with a pair of dark brown boots. But she had accepted the green cloak, which was flowing over her shoulders. But she was carrying an achingly familiar, beautiful swan with feathers as white as sunlit snow.
"Ninani?" Jenna gave a warm smile at the sight of the Great Swan and the lovely swan seemed to be giving Jenna a partial hug. "I was so worried. What happened?"
"I'm Tasha." The girl gave Jenna a warm, kind smile and she understood how Tasha bonded with Ninani. "Ninani's human partner."
Jenna stepped back from their embrace and smiled warmly at Tasha. "I'm Jenna Wiseheart, Destiny's my spirit animal." Jenna smiled as she petted Destiny and let her red wolf leaning against her right leg. "Keeper of Greenhaven." Ninani honked. "And Ninani's Champion."
Next to her was a young boy whose skin is the similar tan of Jolt's and his hair was black with hints of gold. His hazel eyes glimmered with confidence and determination. He's wearing beige linen clothes, with golden rings on his fingers and a Niloan necklace, probably a family heirloom. But walking proudly alongside him was a huge lion that must be Cabaro.
"Hello there," Jenna greeted him warmly. "Who are you?"
"And I'm Kirat." He eyed her warily and her wolf, clearly having his guard up and she could see thst he had decided not to be donned in the green mantle. He patted Cabaro's flank. "I'm Cabaro's human partner."
Jenna took notice that Kirat's name has the same letters as Tarik's name. She took a strong guess that Kirat's parents had mixed up the letters to name him after his courageous uncle.
Kirat hummed thoughtfully as he gazed at her. "Is it true that you could free animals and humans from the parasites?" Jenna could sense the aura of proud leadership coming from the younger boy. There was less arrogance from him and Cabaro, but there was great courage and confidence in the two of them.
She smiled at him. "Aye. It's true Kirat." But she remembered her and the team's failed attempts of tracking down Zerif and the stolen Great Beasts. "Why you ask?"
Kirat's eyes lit up with an idea. "Do you think you can save the infected spirit animals and the Greencloaks from Zerif?"
Jenna was surprised by the random question, but she understood his point. "When I was helping Worthy..." She gave a knowing glance at Worthy. "I was able to free the infected beasts and Maddox." Jenna's hand stroked Destiny's fur. "So, yes. I'm able to free them all."
"Perfect." Kirat smiled at her. "We might need you and your team's aid of freeing them from the parasites."
Jenna could see the fallen spirit of a late warrior coming from Kirat. And, frankly, she felt quite proud and confident as the young boy has finally become a man. They're going to stop Zerif and his army, once and for all.