Moon Child (Complete!)

Chapter 18

I sat on the log, by the dying fire. Smoke trailed up into the sky creating a hazy wall. The dull ache that never faded, had me crossing my arms over my body. I wish I could have been there to help Jared. I should have known, something was wrong. Now it was too late, he's dead.

But yet, hope blossomed in my chest. I never seen his body, Varlic could be lying to make me weak. Using his death as a leverage to get me out of the way. If he was still alive I swear by the gods I will get him back. I rubbed my left hand where the mark had been. Here in Agrela, this world was strange to me. Full of fae, shifters, and humans alike, all living in the clan. Somehow I knew it was only a matter of time before Agrela changed me too. For better or worse I knew not.

The laughter of children made me smile. The circle of fires stood at the center of the clan, while the huts stood around the fire's. Horses could be heard from the stable a bit far off to the left. It truly was peaceful here, despite the fae. Since this afternoon I hadn't seen or heard of Kian. I didn't want to know what he did in his free time.

After Kian had left me, Kanza took me to practice my powers. That went about as well, as the battle training went. According to Kanza the way I used my powers was a 'sloppy mess'. The next training session would include meditating.

People milled about the clearing, messing around waiting for the chosen hunters of the day to bring back game. I didn't blame them for being restless, I too was starving. After doing all that training had left me hungry.  Muscle aches were settled in places I've never used them before. 

Soft wind blew from the north caressing my face, It was a nice breeze after the hotness of afternoon. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught movement as someone sat down beside me.

"It's a lovley evening isn't it?" Simar leaned towards me on the log, his black eyes held no warmth. He smelled of alcohol, and blood.

"What do you want?" Acid lined my every word. That seemed to fuel him, he raised a hand fingers grazing against my cheek. I jerked back in disgust. Who does he think he is?. First fae magic, now this?.

"you're feisty aren't you?."

"Keep it in your pants." I shot back, I smirked as he blinked surprised at me. The surprise almost dissolved as he tightened his lips in a thin line. Simar's face turned a shade of red. I may have hit a nerve. 

"You dare speak to me in that way, I am captian of the hunt. You are nothing more then a conniving little human." He spat out 'Human'  Like it was poison on his tongue. If only he knew what I was. I ached to shift, and teach him a thing or two.

"You think that's going to make me cower?," I chuckled at his self absorbed self, "You've got another thing coming." I narrowed my eyes threatening him, daring him to make a move.  A vein popped out on his thick neck with anger.

"You Bitch," He raised a hand to strike me. I jumped up, missing his strike. Instead his hand connected with thin air. I backed away from him, trying to calm the anger residing inside of me. Simar had no such intention, he prowled toward me his whole body shaking with rage.

"You're going to regret that." He transformed into a huge black wolf. One of the wolves who guarded the portal I realized. He snarled showing his teeth, saliva dripping from his mouth. Just my kind of fighting. Human and fae alike now gathered around seeing what all the commotion was about. I didn't give him the chance to make the first move. I ran at him, shifting in mid stride.

I slammed into him hard, it threw us both off our feet. We rolled around snapping at each other trying to get the upper hand.  In this form I was stronger, I managed to sink my teeth in the scruff of his neck. Letting out a yelp Simar pushed me off of him. Tossed a few paces away we circled each other, snarling. Neither one of us daring to make a move. Sizing each other up.  a crowd now circled around us, forcing us to fight in a circle.

With a viscous howl he leapt at me. I wasn't fast enough as he caught me on my side. His teeth tearing through my fur and skin. I now dripped blood from the wound on my side. Simar dropped blood from his neck where I had got him.  The scarlet of blood gleamed in the setting sun. The world seemed on fire. The shouts, and cries of the gathered people could be heard. I even glimpsed the trading of money being passed along. That just made my blood boil even more.

I shot at him, a flurry of jagged teeth. I managed to grab a hold of his throat in a death hold. I clamped my jaws tightly around his juggler. Simar twisted and writhed trying to break free. But my teeth were like iron.

Not wanting to kill him, I let go at the last minute. He buckled to the ground, his paws giving out. Blood poured from around his neck in a steady fall. I flattened my ears, growling low threatening him to challenge me again. He kept his body low to the ground. I watched as he retreated shamefully. The crowed parted to let him through. Simar left a trail of blood in his wake.

 Kanza broke from the group dropping down beside me. I snarled at her as she touched the gash on my side. She only bared her teeth back, cold determination in her eyes.

"You need to shift back, so we can clean your wound," Her voice was icy, "Now." I didn't give anyone a backwards glance as I ran towards my hut, shrugging through the tapestry opening. I shifted back, only to find that my clothes were shredded. A moment later Kanza stormed into the hut looking furious. Her blue eyes were ablaze, her face reddening with anger. She pointed a finger at the tapestry.

"What," her voice was deadly calm, "was that." Her normally braided hair was now escaping it's braid looking like a frenzied mess. I shut my mouth knowing better than to argue with her. Better not to start another fight.

"Do you realize who he is?, what you did when you decided to fight him?." She pointed at me, her eyes narrowed angrily.

"No," I said a bit to sharply. Kanza moved around the circular room shaking her head. She brought out a wad of gauze and a salve from the dresser drawer.

"Simar is one of the most respected guy's in the clan." She motioned for me to lift up my shirt, I did as told revealing a nasty deep red gash below my rips, that stretched around my stomach. Kanza kept talking as she worked on my wound.

"By fighting him you may have offended the majority of the clan." I hissed as she rubbed a greenish salve onto the gash.

"you were foolish." She cut a piece of gauze wrapping it around my torso. Finishing she stood up, pacing around the room.

"It's not like they can get me out." I said crossing my arms, leaning against my bed. She stopped her pacing, running her hand over her face.

"No, it's worse you'll be walking around with a target on your back." I startled at her words. Did that mean they would all be trying to kill me?.

"What's that supposed to mean?. " My voice was hoarse, dry.

"It means, they will be after you, so watch your back." Kanza looked over me, she gave a disgusted sniff.

"Get changed, you look awful."

"Good to know." I replied, shooing her out of my hut. She paused in the threshold. Her arm holding back the tapestry.

"Just, be careful Lainey." With that she was gone in the blink of an eye. I stared at the tapestry where she had disappeared through. The days event's fully catching up to me. It weighed me down, drowning me in it's clutches.

Hoots could be heard from outside. The hunters must have returned with dinner. For once my I wasn't hungry. My stomach was leaden. If I ate I'd probably be sick. I pushed down the rising nausea. What I needed was to lie down, and sleep. The problem with sleep was, you could forget your problems for a little while. But when you woke up they would always be there until you faced them.

I just had a feeling, this was just the very beginning of my problems. I stripped off my shredded cloths. I hadn't bothered to throw on anymore cloths. I just climbed under the cover of my blankets. I drifted off listening to urgent talking outside. No doubt what had conversed between Simar and I spreading like wildfire. What ever happens from now on. I will take action to it. Even if I had to risk my own like to do it. Valric will die one way or another. I will be the one to do it once the time comes. Right now It was time for me to harness these powers.