Prophecy

Chapter 9

The sun danced on the walls as I was waking up, my eyes clouded still with sleep I stretch and for a moment I forget all that's happened deluding myself into believing it was an average day. But it comes rushing back to me and I quickly bunch up the covers around me as I remember Rafe sleeping in my room last night but as I glance around it looks as if he's already left. Feeling slightly disappointed about not seeing him I frown and quickly change into my freshly laundered clothes, breathing in the sweet soapy smell and yank a brush through my sleep tangled hair. I grab my now dusty back-pack and rifle through it making sure my fresh clothes don't get too crumpled and that I have enough room to place in supplies and the map. I suddenly remember back at Cherry's house when going through my bag there was a dress. Searching right to the bottom I notice it's still there but I can't bear to remove it, I suppose you never know when you need a nice dress.  Sighing I hoist the bag onto my shoulder and bounce down the stairs to a quiet conversation in the kitchen.

"Ready to go?" Rafe asks quietly as I sit down with some mint tea, inhaling the sweet scent I look up at him, his eyes light gold and I notice he's got the tourmaline back, this time on a rope hanging around his neck. I smile and he returns it as he notices my gaze drop to the crystal "As ready as I'll ever be." I reply as I subconsciously start to play with my own crystal that I have strung around my neck. Garmir sat at the other end of the table, taking long slow sips of the mint tea. "The Oracle will not be seeing us off. So when you are ready we can begin the journey." He stands with a bone weary sigh, leaving the room without even a backward glance as he heads outside, silent communication passed between me and Rafe as we raised our eyebrows at each other and smiled softly as the wolf promptly followed.

Going outside presented a pleasantly bright day with a soft breeze beginning to stir the leaves on the trees showing that some were turning red and orange. Autumn was in full swing and soon would follow winter. Taking a deep breath, I hoist my bag up and step down onto the crunching leaves that were beginning to swirl around. Rafe comes up behind me and brushes past my arm, goose bumps rise I shiver and inhale as he stands next to me. His scent sweet yet masculine, the sweetness of a summer flower yet mixed with the musky smell of masculinity part sweat, part mystery that made my knees tremble with want and with a new need.

I shake my hair over my face. These thoughts were getting dangerous, nothing was happening between the two of us. Like Pandora's Box, he was something I knew I could never have. That dark look that crossed his eyes sometimes, the shadows and that note, they all meant something, something that he wasn't telling me probably anyone and yet I want to open the Box and release that torment just for that last strand of hope to be set free.

 

A few minutes pass by before we all made a conscious decision to start walking, with one final look at the crooked Arcana house, I turn and walk away Rafe by my side, Garmir and Rao loping ahead in front setting the path to the future. We head towards the similar expanse of path that was set out before me on that first day mere weeks ago.
***

The day's progress slowly, passing through the small trails and barely existent paths. The Otherkin were scattered throughout the woods we'd bumped into vampires and redcaps aplenty by the time we reached the depths of the darker, wilder woods of Wintrem, their toothy smiles sending shivers down my spine as Rao growled and Rafe glared with his sharp metallic gaze. Garmir merely walking on by without a worry. At one point I was tripped by a wandering vine and Rafe caught me, sending the butterflies that I thought I had under control into a frenzy, he steadied me and held my hand through the toughening terrain making my blood boil and cheeks flare up from my lustful thoughts. Occasionally I caught Garmir glimpse back and raise his brow at us.

The past few days meant that Garmir barely spoke except for giving directions or as he instructed us in his serious tone as to what we needed to avoid. Rafe, however, kept up light conversations, which surprised me when he began asking me about books and my life. The deeper and further we walked into the older part of the woods meant fewer day-light hours and the constant sense of being watched. At one-point camping by an old twisted tree howls began to resonate around us, Rao's tail bristled and Rafe had begun to instruct me to stay hidden when a very angry, disgruntled gnome appeared out of the twisted bushes. The pressure and intensity of the situation built up and I couldn't help but laugh. Fits of giggles overcame me and I was gasping for breath as everyone looked at me like I'd grown two heads.