Evergreen [Book 1 of the Hierarchy Series]-Revising

Chapter 10

Chapter 6

            We walked silently for hours on end.  We all watched Liebei as she sniffed the ground, following Faeconi's scent.  She focused hard on the ground, trying to find where Faeconi was headed.  If we find Faeconi, we find Delsaran.  Delsaran will be able to help us, like he did before.

            "Excuse me miss," Dan said, trying to get my attention.  I didn't have to look at him anymore to know if it was him.  He was the one who was always nice to me, "does your wolf really know where she is going?"

            "Yup," I said with absolute confidence.  Liebei always knew what she was doing.  She had a great sense of smell, and Faeconi had a unique smell that she never forgot.  She always smelled like wolf and birch overpowered by lilac and vanilla.  That was what I remembered most about her, because her smell was so unusual, and strong.

            "But whatever she smells isn't going in one direction, it has a zigzag path," Dan said.

            "That's because she is following her own smell," I replied, "and she doesn't run in a straight line.  She likes to confuse other animals that would hunt her down."

            "What would hunt a wolf," Stephen said bitterly.

            "A pack of wolves," I replied, "if a wolf is alone, they try to overpower it.  So they don't feel intimidated."

            "Why would she need to follow her own smell anyways," Steven said, "she must have known where she came here from."

            "Wolves rely more on smell than direction," I retorted, getting annoyed by a stupid argument, "they're not like cats.  Cats rely on direction and sound.  Wolves rely on smell and sound.  You should know that."

            They both fell silent.  They followed us through the woods, watching us like prey.  I already knew why Liebei's path was so zigzagged.  Faeconi was in her giant wolf form, and the only thing that gets close enough to the ground to smell is her paws.  With long strides, it's hard to pick up the smell, unless their smell is strong and foul.  I heard a loud snap in the woods, and we all stopped.  Something found us, and it wasn't friendly.

            Liebei studied the forest in front of us, sniffing the air, but keeping her eyes level.  Something lurked in the shadows in the distance.  It was big, and almost bear-like.  When its grey and silver pelt flashed through a sun beam, I knew it was a lycanthrope.  Her silver-blue eyes glared at us, and she bared her teeth.  When she bolted for us, Liebei prepared herself for attack, growing and twisting into her giant form in front of me.

            The other wolf jumped towards us from yards away.  She pounced at me.  Liebei grabbed her leg when she was close enough to get a grip on her, and slammed her against the ground.  They attacked each other, growling and yapping, their jaws snapping as they tried to bite each other.  Liebei had the advantage, keeping the other lycanthrope pinned to the ground with her giant paws.  They mauled each other, but neither were spilling blood.

            "Stop," I shouted.  I realized it might be more affective in Tyran, "Creia!"

            At my last request, they calmed down, slowly stopping their attach.  Liebei still had the other lycanthrope pinned to the ground, but they slow stopped barking and clawing each other.  The one under Liebei just stared at me, studying my face.

            "Esteleth," she said, sliding into her two legged form, "Cassia?"

            "Yes," I said.  Liebei looked at the twins before changing into her two legged form and standing up.  She shook hands with the other lycanthrope, indicating friendship, "hello Faeconi."