Talarine: Ally to the Angels

Chapter 2

Tal slipped through the underbrush without a sound. Thanks to her "moon-touched" fur no one would easily spot her, unless it was another shifter or a magic user but she soon felt eyes upon her and stopped with hackles raised. She bared her teeth and lowered herself to the ground. She would try to hide from whoever was following her but knew that it had failed the moment her back leg was caught in a trap. A pained howl came from her as she felt the trap dig into her leg. She looked up to see at least ten of the rival pack and snarled with her fangs glistening in the moonlight. "Here she is. Just like the scouts reported, leaving the safety of her own town to travel to Caldeum by foot. You know the bosses orders: kill her!" Tal snarled as she felt the trap ease up thanks to her quick thinking and lunged as they started the attack. Two of the rival pack stood as humans as she torn into the rest of the "hunting" party, then when she shifted into human form one of the remaining two managed to throw a dagger into her left leg. She snarled in pain but before either of them could attack a light blindsided them all.

"Leave her alone!" a strong male voice snapped out the words in a commanding tone; both wolf-shifter males came to face to face with a greatsword of angelic make. They looked up to see the owner of the voice was in-fact an Angel from the High Heavens. "This woman has called to me and I have come to lay claim to her. Leave and tell your leader to never search for her again." Tal ignored the angel and the other two as she worked the dagger from her leg, slowly and with extreme pain. A dying scream caused her to see that one had run away in fear and another had idiotically impaled himself upon the Angel's sword. She went back to the dagger and focused on getting it out of her leg, once more ignoring the angel as he turned to her. "You should not be doing that. You could hurt yourself worse then what you are already." He commented as she barely spared a glance at him.

"I need to do this or the wound will close around the blade." Tal felt it come lose and yanked it free of her leg. She bit her tongue to keep from screaming and tasted blood as she flung the blade away from her. She attempted to stand but found herself cradled by a pair of strong arms. Tal looked up to meet the Angel's eyes and both found themselves stopping; neither could describe what they felt in that moment but Tal knew then that Alpha had been right in attempting to describe an imprint to her.

In that moment it was as if both of their worlds were torn apart. Tal felt disconnected from the mortal world and the Angel felt disconnected from his almost immortal one. Neither could speak as the calling for their connection stopped and let them see each other truly. Tal could not find words to speak but the angel did. "Talarine... Yes I know who and what you are so there is no need to introduce yourself to me. Let me tell you who I am: I am Xypherius. An angel from the Courts of Justice and twin to Xypherael, who you will meet in time." As he spoke his armor began to almost glow gold and white in the light of the now rising sun. "Now I believe you have something to deliver?"

Tal shook herself mentally then, "Yes I do." She picked up the almost forgotten package and felt Xypherius scoop her into his arms. "I can walk you know."

Xypherius snorted, "Not until I feel that your wounds have healed. I will not put you down until they are. Now hang on." With that he took off into the air and felt her tighten her grip upon his shoulders. He grinned at the noise she made as he did and kept it as he flew.

*******

When they reached Caldeum, Xypherius looked to Tal and reluctantly woke her up, only to take the package from her and let her stretch her muscles. Thanks to her shifting ability and the blacksmithing she had done, her body was perfectly lean and the muscles tight and he found it impossible not to stare at her. He handed her the package and became invisible to all but her. He followed her as she walked through the crowded streets only to end up near the palace. Xypherius placed a hand upon her shoulder to keep her from going crazy with all the people around her, as if he could sense her feelings. Tal sighed as his touch somehow brought clarity to her mind and spotted the woman she was looking for. As they walked up the woman looked up with surprise. "I...uh...I, truthfully, had not expected you so soon." The woman told a calm Tal.