Coming of Age

Chapter 6

©CRGangell aka Whitesabretooth

Chapter 6

Serenity and Crystal pulled their bikes into the driveway, and turned to grin at the girls riding behind them. Jasmine and Sky grinned back, enjoying the freedom of the bike ride home after classes.  Jasmine took her helmet off as she stood on her suddenly shaky legs. “How do you get used to the vibrations?”

Serenity grinned, “try doing it with a piece of metamorphic jewellery piercing…”

“Don’t want to know!” Sky exclaimed cutting into Serenity’s sentence.

Crystal and Serenity laughed. “Goddess of the moon you are such a human.” Crystal said in a teasing manner.

“Dah!” Sky answered which caused more laughter. A deep timbered voice joined theirs and everyone turned, Crystal and Serenity were instantly alert. Serenity willed a dagger into her right hand.

The gentle fall of hooves had both women relaxing as a large reverse palomino Centaur made himself known. He had the golden body which gave his kind their looks only he didn’t have a white tail or mane, no his were midnight black which gave him a beautiful unique look. A beautifully crafted black, red and green phoenix ran up his right arm onto his chest, ivy crept up his back, snaking around his body as if it had grown, using his own muscles to direct where the vines were. The last, the smallest, tattoo sat just under his left ear, a stylised quill and ink pot with a symbol either side of the quill marking him as a master artist.

“Nhor!” Sky cried out and ran to him. He smiled and scooped her up when she reached him, giving her a big hug. He put her down and cupped her face his eyes searching hers for a moment before he kissed her forehead.

He turned to Crystal and held out his hand, “thank you for protecting her.” Serenity made the dagger in her hand vanish as she dismounted.

Crystal smiled and took his hand giving it a firm shake, “she’s my friend and I protect my friends. Have you been waiting long?”

“About twenty minutes, I didn’t know if anyone was home, I didn’t see any cars so…” He said with a shrug as everyone went to the front door. Inside Rayven paced, just outside the range of the light coming through the door, she had heard the visitor but didn’t know what to do and if what Serenity had done extended to open doors.

“Rayven, the doors and windows if left open won’t harm you, test it if you like.” Serenity said as she walked in. “Just don’t let your hand or body go past the frames and you will be safe.”

Nhor paused at the door which suddenly was big enough for him to enter when moments ago it was normal sized. He walked in hesitantly his eyes focused on Rayven, he knew of her, in fact he had only heard good things about this Death Walker. “Rayven Swift-strike.”

She bowed in reaction, “Master Nhor.” She said in informal Centaur greeting. “I would help you with your bags but they need to be inside first.”