Evergreen [Book 1 of the Hierarchy Series]-Revising

Chapter 13

Chapter 9

"We should probably slow down a little," Liebei said after a few hours of galloping through the woods.  A small clearing appeared as they slowed down.  I already passed the clearing, but could hear everyone talking together.  I slowed down; just to make sure I didn't lose them.  "Especially since Cassia is still changing."

"How long does the process take to get used to," Stephen asked, frustrated.

"Until her first full moon," Faeconi replied.

"That's a week away," Namung said before Stephen could retort a bitter comment in her face.  "I think we should rest for the night.  Cassia will change again tonight under the moon's strength."

"She's changed three times already," Liebei said as I jumped off Luthera.  I walked her towards the stream below, too far away for anyone else to see.  Luthera never went against Cassia, and always showed her if something felt wrong.  Cassia sensed Luthera's tenseness, but kept going.

"Luthera, I don't understand this whole lycanthrope thing," I said, out of earshot from everyone.

"It will make sense in time," she said, in some horse language I wasn't supposed to understand.

"Can horses talk human language," I asked.

"Only if their taught by another horse," she replied, "but I can communicate with you.  Delsaran made sure of that."

"Did he use magic," I asked.

"He used old elf magic.  It is safe," she replied, bowing her head to me.  "He also informed me of what I was going into."

"And what is that," I asked curiously as we reached the riverbank.

"That is what you need to find out," she said, dipping her head into the water.  Her head shot up at the sound of crunching leaves.  I looked in the same direction, finding one of the twins approaching.  I somehow knew it was Daniel, even though I couldn't see his eyes in the darkness of night.

"Hey," he said, approaching me, his horse's reins in one hand.  My heart lurched at the sound of his voice, and my chest tightened with nervousness.  I speechlessly watched him loosen the reins so the horse could take a drink.

"Hi," I said, trying to find words.  I obviously failed.  He eyed me, staring at me like I had two heads.

"Is everything okay," he asked, lowering his head, but not his gaze.

"Yeah," I replied, studying myself for emotion.  "I'm just overwhelmed I guess."

"Well, you did just find out you were a lycanthrope," he insisted.  "And you lost a friend."

"I didn't just find out I was lycanthrope," I lowered my voice and looked at the glistening clear water.

"What," he asked, almost like he didn't hear me.

"I've always known I was lycanthrope," I replied.  "I just, never changed."

"But if you knew, you should already have changed," he said.  I looked up into his eyes, only a few feet away from me.  They glistened, even in the dark.  My heart skipped a beat, and I almost melted under his gaze.

"I didn't understand that either," I replied.  "All of my family changed before they were eight...except me."

"Well, I must say, you are a beautiful wolf," he insisted, a crooked smile showing sincerity.

"Thanks," I said, looking away again.  It hurt to look into his eyes.  They drew me closer every time I found myself staring, and it was too hard to resist.