Goddess of the Night: a soul book story

Animals trying to chat up Nick and Ryan

It was actually a beautiful day for their picnic in the gardens. The sun was shining and the birds and butterflies were busy trying to chat up Nick and Ryan, much to their annoyance and everyone else’s enjoyment.

                Gwen watched the group as they walked and she fell a bit behind them to survey her surroundings.  She liked how Skye walked with Cassidy’s hand in his; it was obvious from the way he walked that he was being protective of her. His hand probably gripped hers a bit tighter than normal and his body hunched slightly over her showing his true feelings in what otherwise appeared to be a relaxed casual walk with his sister. Alex on the other hand kept to the other side of the princess casting weirded out looks to Nick and Ryan who were busy trying to look normal as they tried their best to shoo away butterflies that were flying to close to be natural. Gwen stifled a laugh; one of her gifts was the gift of language so while the guys didn’t know this she actually understood everything the animals said.

                “Big strong men, mind if we land here?” One white butterfly asked Nick as he pushed his glasses forward in a hidden attempt to brush the butterfly away.

                “Oh! There with the princess and the prince! Hot things, earth and all,” A bird commented.

                “Hey! I got a cousin Vinny with a broken paw mind fixen him up for me earth guy?” One squirrel asked with an accent that almost sounded akin to this world’s Brooklyn accent. Ryan quietly shook his head and Gwen tried again not smile.

                Suddenly Cassidy turned around a noticed Gwen trailing, “Ms. Hallow-way! Gwen! Come here I wanna hwold your hand too!” Cassidy complained childishly and mischievous glint back in her eye.  

                “Alright, alright,” Gwen said with a smile as she hurried to catch up and grabbed Cassidy’s hand. They walked for a couple seconds in silence both Skye and Gwen swinging Cassidy’s hand back and forth as they neared their destination. Finally they came across an open meadow filled with wildflowers.

Cassidy looked around her and gasped, “Oh look it’s so pretty!” She exclaimed, quick as lightning she took Gwen’s and Skye’s hand and switched them so that they were holding each other’s hands as she ran off to examine the flowers.

                “Careful!” Skye called out before he became aware that his hand was now holding Gwen’s. He glanced over and saw an adorable blush cross her face which made him smile smugly inside and vow to both get Cassidy back for this and thank her for her medaling. He knew what she was up to and while he might like the results he wasn’t sure if he wanted help from his sister. Gwen kind of liked that her hand was being held by Skye’s but she wasn’t going to admit that to anyone just yet. Still, she allowed him to hold her hand until they reached the spot they were going to set up for the picnic.

                As they released hands to help set up Gwen looked up at their group. Ryan and Nick were both hiding smiles but Alex had an approving and curious look on his face. He looked as if he was trying to figure out a hard math problem. Brushing it off Gwen sat down and began to enjoy their picnic as they watched Gwen play in the flowers.

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                Gwen laughed as both she and Skye joked around together. Nick and Ryan were busy discussing the annoyances of talking animals and Alex was busy texting on his phone as Cassidy laughed and played chase with some friendly squirrels.

                It happened almost all at once the second Cassidy stepped just over ten feet away from them, in pursuit of her wayward animal friend, a shiver ran up Gwen’s spine and a flash of lightning and roll of thunder crashed over them. Instantly Gwen and Skye’s heads shot up. Gwen quickly stood at the same time as Ryan and Skye.