Falling Feathers Book I - Rogue Without Fear

Chapter IV

>>> Autumn Rose <<<
    It was late at night and I couldn't fall asleep. Not after what Soren had told me. He knew it was a lie, the entire time. I rolled over in my bed. I wouldn't fall asleep. There was too much to think about! Outside, I heard a lone wolf howling. It sounded so sad and lost, out in the woods. Where are the rest of the wolves? I wondered.  Don't they usually travel in packs?  I remembered the sound of men shouting, just moments ago from across the street. I remembered the strange cloaked man running out the tavern, fighting the other four strange men. I didn't know who they were, and I didn't recognize them.  As soon as the first man made it out the gate, the other four men walked away.  If they were chasing him, why didn't they pursue him further?  I wondered.  It was strange that they stopped, but thinking about it wasn't getting me anywhere.  I couldn't think of any reason for anyone to stop chasing him.
    I rolled over in my bed again. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't rest, or close my eyes. I needed to know who that was, who was chasing him, and why they were chasing him. I rolled over again. I couldn't stay here, but I couldn't leave. I remembered what Soren had said. It's too dangerous to leave. I rolled over again. I had to get out of bed. I had to get out this inn and find out who that was. Why did he run into the woods? Why didn't the other chase him into the woods?  Where they afraid of something in there?  Who were they?
    I sat up in my bed and looked out the window, down to the dark street and to the gate. It wasn't that far, what could possibly happen?  I can't go out dressed like this, I thought to myself.  If someone sees me in my nightgown outside, they'll think I'm crazy. I thought about it for a bit, then decided. I won't be out long, I reasoned. I got out of bed and grabbed my cloak. I draped it over myself, and grabbed the candle next to my bed. I stood looking out the window, thinking one last time. Did I really want to do this? I nodded my head. Yes, I thought.  I wanted to do it.
    I walked to my door, and quietly opened it. The floor boards creaked as I stepped into the hallway. I padded my way to the end of the hall and down the stairs. I walked through the black and opened the door. I stepped out into the night, a cool breeze brushing my face and tickling my nose. My hair waved gently in the wind. I heard men at the bar laughing and yelling, their voices the only sound I heard in the night. I walked down the cobble road, and down to the gate. Then, I stood there, listening. I heard the wolf howl again.  A thought crossed my mind, but I dismissed it hastily.  I had a strange urge to howl along with it. Don't be foolish. You're not an animal. I chastised myself, as I looked up. It was the full moon.  Could that wolf be a werewolf?  I wondered.  Stop, that's crazy.  You know there is no such thing.  A thought flashed into my mind.  I remembered when my village was burning.  The howling wolf tattoo on the arms of the raiders.  Could they have been - I stopped myself.  No.  I wasn't sure if I didn't want to think about it because I thought I was wrong, or because I thought it was true and I didn't want to admit it.  Either way, it was a thought I didn't want to dwell on, and that was all that mattered.
    I looked out the gate some more, and saw a pair of amber glowing eyes in the dark, a good distance away. It was so hard to see anything else, all I saw was those beady eyes, watching me. They were too small to be those of a human, they had to belong to an animal. I could almost see the pointed ears of a wolf. Maybe that was the wolf I was hearing, I thought.
    I felt amazed. I felt like the woods were ... calling me to the them. I wanted to walk into the night, to the woods. To just drop everything - the Inn, Soren, Alys and Peter, Shepherd's Rest. I wanted to go into the woods and explore. I wanted to see those eyes closer, and run in the woods and feel the wind on my face as I ran. I stood in the gate, holding the candle near my face, staring intently into those amber eyes as they stared into mine.

>>> Soren Hawethorne <<<
    I couldn't sleep. I saw Chase run out into the night, out of the tavern, four other men on his heels. Why were they chasing him? I wondered. I sat up and held the candle to the drawer. I yanked it open and rustled through the mess of papers. At the back and bottom I found it - the necklace. I held it in my hand and felt it grow warm. I lied back in bed, holding her necklace in my hand. I looked up at my ceiling, and debated walking across the hall to check on Autumn. I thought about her name. Why did she say she was Scarlet? And why Scarlet?
    I looked out the window to the sky, and out of the corner of my eye, noticed a small glow by the gate. I looked down, and saw a figure, standing, holding a candle. Autumn? I wondered. That couldn't be her, out at night like that! She had more sense, she had to! I caught sight of two figures in the shadows behind her. They stood perfectly still, watching her. I felt concern for the figure. That couldn't be Autumn! She was in bed, just across the hall! I flew out of bed and opened my flung open my door. I ran across the hall and burst into Autumn's room. Her bed was empty, the blankets thrown across the bed. I sprinted down the stairs and out the inn. It was her, standing in the gate, in her night gown. I stood in the doorway, watching her. I gently placed her necklace back in my pocket, and looked for the two figures I saw from my window.  With growing concern, I noticed I couldn't see them.  Where did they go? I walked over to Autumn and stood a few feet behind her. I didn't say anything, just watched her. She didn't move, or look around, she just looked out into the dark. What is so fascinating? Nothing is out there!  I figured for a moment that perhaps something had possessed her, but that would be ridiculous. I reached out to touch her arm, but stopped only inches away. She was cold. It wasn't a warm day out, but she was cold, and more than normal. Something was wrong, something was very wrong. I grabbed her arm, and she jumped. I covered her mouth so she didn't scream.
    "Autumn, It's just me, Soren." I whispered. She was breathing heavily and panting.
    "What are you doing out here?" I asked her quietly. I didn't know why I was whispering. No one was out except the usual drunks in the tavern, but they wouldn't be able to hear us. She regained her composer and looked at me, almost blankly. She shook her head at me, smiling feebly.
    "You really wouldn't believe me if I told you." She replied. I nodded, and swallowed hard.
    "Come back inside, to the Inn. Tell me there." I whispered to her.  She nodded and started walking slowly to the inn.  In the dark it was hard to tell, but I thought I could see her blushing. I wrapped one arm around her torso to help support her. She tripped over the ground, and regained her balance swiftly. "Sorry, I'm a bit dizzy," she whispered. I smiled. It's fine, I thought to myself. We got in the inn and went up the stairs. I nudged her door open with my spare hand and guided her to her bed.  She sat down, and I sat next to her.  "Now, what were you doing, staring into the woods like that?" I asked her, trying to sound as kind and polite as possible. I wasn't at all angry at her, I was just curious and slightly concerned. She shook her head.
    "I - I don't even know how to explain it. It was weird. I mean, don't call me crazy but ..." she paused and took a deep breath. "I felt like the woods were calling to me." She whispered, looking at the ground. "Please Soren I wasn't possessed, and I'm not a werewolf or anything.  I'm not crazy either, I just don't know what came over me."
    "Autumn, it's perfectly fine." I chuckled. I felt a knot in my stomach. I had the same feeling, on occasions. Like some part of me wanted to be in the woods, in the dark. I shook my head. "I'm sure that everything will be fine.  I think we should both get some rest. I do believe we're both tired." She nodded.
    "Yeah, that must be it. I'm just tired. Goodness, what was I thinking? Woods calling to me... Ha! Woods can't call a soul!" She lied down in her bed. "G'night, Soren."
    "Goodnight, Autumn." I stood up and walked out. I closed the door quietly behind me. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the necklace. She had the same yearning, the same calling from the woods as I have. Does this happen to others? I walked into my room and put the necklace back into the drawer. I rolled onto my right side, and looked out the window. I never stood at the gate, looking out. But I have felt like there was a part of me that was missing. Like a part of me needed to be out there. I rolled over again. I couldn't sleep anymore. Not after this. Something was wrong. This wasn't natural, and I didn't like it. What if we're both crazy? If anyone found out about this, I could lose the inn. I could lose everything! There's got to be a reasonable explanation. I thought about the guilds. The rumors that there were werewolves and vampires among us. What if the woods calling me is a werewolf? What if I'm a werewolf, and I don't know it? I rolled over again, dismissing the thought hastily. Don't be stupid. If you were a werewolf, you would know it.

>>> Chase Ashfield <<<
    The sun rose, the full moon was over. I stood up, smelling the spring air. I walked forward, and could smell the musty wood too. This way to town. I told myself, running through the woods. Once I was at the bridge, I stopped running. Not panting, I slowly ambled down the rest of the road and into town. I had to find the cellar. I needed to see if they'd done it. I found the Lumbering Bear, and went behind it. There, I found the tree. I moved the leaves aside, and found the wooden trap door. I lifted it, and climbed down onto the metal, rusty ladder. The door and leaves fell back into place silently as I went. I descended into the darkness. Once I was far enough down, I jumped. I hit the ground silently, and walked forward, down the hall carved out of stone. It had been made what must've been about a century ago by them, so they wouldn't be found out.  They made it when the first humans came to town, so that they could hide and meet in peace.  It was safe, it always had been for them, and it was my home. I was deep underground now. I found the wooden door, and of course, the guard. I was hooded, we all are when we walk out. The fellow at the door straightened himself up and stood taller. Once I was closer, I rolled up the sleeve to my shirt and showed him my mark.
    "Welcome back, Chase." He snickered as I entered. I walked through, and saw my brethren, sitting together, talking with Danny.
    "She had the calling..." I heard someone whisper. "That's why they didn't get her." I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I found Danny, talking to a pair of gentlemen. How do they know she had the calling? I walked to Danny, and heard him say,
    "You're sure she had the calling?" One of them nodded.
    "We watched her. She stood at the gate, looking into the woods." I shook my head.
    "Any moron can stare into the woods, that doesn't mean they all had the calling!" I growled. The other one snarled at me, and I snarled back. I felt my blood growing cold.
    "Enough!" Danny barked. We stopped snarling. I glared at him, and his eyes flashed dangerously. "This time, tomorrow, we'll attack. It'll cause a commotion and distract the town. If you find one of them, make sure they go back to their graves. Chase, you find the girl.  Bring someone with you.  When you find her, bring her here." Danny yelled his orders. They yelled their agreement and excitement. Danny turned to me, and whispered, "If you don't believe she had the calling, find out for yourself. But I want her here alive, understand Chase?" I nodded, and turned to leave. "And Chase," Danny added. I stopped walking. "Alive and unharmed. If she's hurt, it'll be on your hide." Danny threatened. I smirked to myself. "I'm up to the challenge," I muttered under my breath. Danny snorted. I'm looking forward to our little ... meeting, shall we call it? I snickered to myself, as I climbed up the ladder.  I found the girl interesting, and as much as I hated to admit it, I also found her mildly attractive.  Forget about her.  Just remember what you're doing.  Get her alive and unharmed.  I quickly and easily pushed her from my mind.  I pushed open the door and quickly climbed up the ladder. Once up and out, I shuffled the leaves so they covered the trapdoor again.
    Casually, I strolled into the inn, and sat down in my corner. I watched the girl. She looked distracted, and disoriented. Soren was sitting behind the counter, mopping it blankly. He was looking down, and his hand was moving in the same circular motion. He wasn't really cleaning, he was just doing it. Is it possible they both had the calling? I wondered. No, I would've seen Soren this way before if he had the calling, I reminded myself. But the girl... It was highly possible.
    She tripped over a chair, and both fell down. I could hear her gasping softly. Her face flushed red. She picked up the chair, and put it back. She flashed a glance at Soren, who was still mopping the counter. Noticing his lack of attention, She dashed up the stairs, and didn't come back down.