Beasts

13: Planning Naps

  "Agh!" Phoenix said and threw down his book. "My brain. Too much information!" He rested his head in his arms and groaned.

"When was the last time you did an assignment?" I giggled.

"I don't know. When I was sixteen? After that I was accepted into the Council." He said without looking up.

"Couldn't they let you finish school first?"

"As long as you can read and write. You're good. You don't need to know the molecular structure of a chair."

"Um, you don't learn that-"

"Sh," He held up a finger. "I was just trying to make a point."

"It was a lousy point." Iridescent chuckled as she flipped the page of her book.

  "Find anything?" I asked.

"I jotted down some things." Iridescent passed me my journal. She had wrote down an entire page of notes. Her writing was so neat too. Damn girl was too perfect!

"Let's see..." I said and read over everything.

Wolves

-Counter's to Golds

-Can fully turn to wolves but magic is weaker

Pretty basic so far.

-Can induce deep slumbers to their victims by scratching or biting them

-Always hunt in packs of at least four

-Like to live in caves

Okay... The rest was just things we didn't need to know or already knew so who cares about that.

  "Cool. What do we do after we find their tribe though?" I asked and Iridescent shrugged.

"Actually... If we can get the Wolves to surrender, then we're all good. That's what happened with the Golds and them last time. You're super great grand father killed their chief at the time so they were forced to surrender." Phoenix explained.

"So we have to kill the chief? Then everything will be fixed?" Iridescent asked.

I looked down at the book in my lap. "Hold on, we need a Wolf to undo the spell on everyone."

"Oh, so we also have to kidnap one of those demon spawns. Great." The way Phoenix called them 'demon spawns'. I know he didn't mean it but I couldn't help but think of that grey-eyed wolf. It was stuck in my head. How it looked so...sorry.

"Hey, kitten." Phoenix snapped in front of my eyes and the puff of fire shocked me out of my thought.

"Sorry." I said and shook my head. "Can you repeat that?"

"I said: do you think they're okay? What if we go there and they're dead?" They looked at me with concerned eyes. It was when I realized that I was their leader. Their chief. Well it's not like I can fail the tribe anymore. I can imagine my gravestone now. June Caron. Tried her damn best.

"Well, if that's the case, then we still have to save the tribe. They would want us too." I choked out. I really hope that isn't the case. The others nodded knowing it was a possibility. "Let's take today to gather ourselves. We're all physically, and emotionally, drained." I added and got up.

"What are you doing?" Phoenix asked.

"Putting away the books." I answered and started slotting them back in place. Back in school I was one of the library helpers so shelving unattended books was a habit.

"There's glass everywhere and you care about the books?"

"Yah. Why?" It was so hard to keep a straight face on. Messing with him was hilarious because of his reactions.

"You're hopeless." He shook his head and started helping me shelf the books. I let my smile take over my face.

Two hours later...

  I wake up. Don't you find waking up a weird thing? It's like: one second you're unconscious, next you're not. You don't even feel like you fell asleep yet you're totally energized. Wait, why was I so warm? Something shifted behind me and next thing I know, there's a hand on my shoulder. I squeak and jump out of bed. "Phoenix?" I said even though I knew he slept like a bear.

  "God. That's right..." I said to myself. I was dog tired and decided to take a nap. I was trying to beat Phoenix's high score before going to sleep, which I did. 197. So proud. Then Phoenix said he was going play until I fell asleep. In case the Wolves came back so he could wake me up. I guess he was just as tired and fell asleep while playing.

  I grabbed my phone from the pillow and- 204!? How did he-!? I sighed. Whatever. I shook it off and went to the bathroom. I quickly brushed my hair then went back out. Iridescent said she was going to move everyone to somewhere safer. Where would 'somewhere safer' be exactly? I was about to leave when something caught my eyes. I looked back and saw a head peaking behind my desk chair. I spun the chair around and there she was. Curled up in my chair. Fast asleep. What was up with people and falling asleep in my cabin? I thought it was supposed to be private.

  "Psst! Phoenix!" I whispered and poked him. He groaned and flipped over. "Fine. Be like that." I took my earbuds and book then stepped over him. I sat against the headboard with the pillow at my back. I slipped on my earbuds and started up a playlist of songs. There only about ten of them. Though, I did change the songs frequently to keep from getting tired of them. Alright Bilbo, let's see what you do with ol' Gandalf.

  Now, when I read with my earbuds, I sometimes forget about the world. So when I felt that brush on my foot, I almost slapped Phoenix over the head with my book. Apparently that's what my reflexes wanted to do. Bonk my best friend over the head with The Hobbit.

He looked up at me with a drowsy smile. "Hey, kitten." He said in a husky voice.

I rolled my eyes and pushed him onto his back with my foot.

Phoenix propped up on his elbow and ran his fingers through his bed head. "Where's Iridescent?"

"Try looking behind you." I gestured with my book.

He turned around to see Iridescent conked out on my chair. "Oh. How long have you been awake?"

"Um," I looked down at my phone. "about fifteen minutes now. You should of hear yourself sleep talking."

"What!?" He shot up and I burst out laughing.

"I'm kidding! Your face though, priceless!" I laughed, trying not to wake up Iridescent by covering my mouth.

"How could you?" Phoenix was smiling too and slapped my leg.

  I ducked my head and turned off my music. When I looked back up, Phoenix was staring back with the fiery eyes I've grown to love. I smiled and he gave a puzzled look. Then, I kissed my hand and pushed his chest. He fell back on the bed and propped up back up on his elbows.

"Not cool, kitten." He blew a little puff of fire at me and I laughed.

"Guys?" We looked over at Iridescent who yawned and rubbed her eye. Now she wakes up?