Planetoid Volume 1: Forest

Chapter 10: The Meeting

Aya walked in the direction of the coast with Jeeg and Flora, her body wrapped tightly in the cloth Mrs. Du Bois had given her. Flora was still full of adrenaline and her thin body jittered a little as Aya expressed her gratitude to her. "Flora, in all these years I've known you. I could never imagine you doing something so daring."

Flora's words buzzed with excitement too. "I've never been pushed into a situation like that, but between choosing between certain death and my best friend, I chose my best friend. I'd never let that rake mess with you."

Aya rubbed her hands together with a slapping motion. "Thanks for helping me take out the trash. You're the best friend I could ever ask for."

Flora grinned so hard it almost looked like a cringe to Aya. She was silent so Aya went on, "Let's get me some clothes and head to the meeting. I need to hear what the town's plan is so I know how to help them."

They went along the sandy path to Jeeg and Aya's shining cabin; but as they reached the tiny front porch, they saw Old Wing sitting in front of it. Jeeg walked over to Old Wing with a smile. Aya felt surprise when he walked up and pet the old wolfhound without as much as a nip at his hand. "Why if it isn't Old Wing."

"You know him?" Aya's voice raised.

Jeeg gave a caring old laugh as he reflected on times past. "Why I cared for him after he had a dire fight. I had to amputate his wing because it had grown diseased and sickly. This was a long while ago."

Aya was happy that one of her friends already had repartee with Old Wing but Flora was quite the opposite. The adrenaline buzz Flora was feeling wore off and with an "eek" she jumped behind Aya. "Best friends in wolfhound form are one thing. But I'll let you and Jeeg handle the real ones."

"No need to fear," Aya said, turning to her best friend. "He is a friend, but first, I need to speak with my associate."

Aya looked down at her tattoo to see the visage of Eterna growling and foaming at the mouth. "He is no friend of mine," said Eterna. "No, he is a swine in candragon form and I'd literally take our rivals the thunderboars over him."

Aya's eyes grew compassionate for the scorn of her spirit guide, having been scorned herself, but she took one look at Old Wing. He looked miserable in broad daylight. Any hint of his cocky demeanor had long since seeped from his expression and he looked like half a male. Aya felt compassion for both of them and decided it would be best to play the peacemaker. "Eterna?"

"Yes child?"

"Would you believe that when I spoke to him in wolfhound form, he told me he wanted to apologize to you?"

Eterna turned her head to look at him before snarling. "Tell him that I'd tear his apology limb from limb."

Aya's ears twitched and she held Eterna closer to her. "That's not all he said. He told me that he'd rather be known as the mate of the great Eterna rather than the leader of the pack."

For the first time, Eterna's eye shone and the tone of her voice changed, "Surely you're putting me on."

"No. He learned his lesson when he lost all of his respect as an alpha male. He spent the time after your fight as a one winged outcast that hid in the shadows."

Eterna's wolfish desires for blood, seemed to retract in favor of a womanly reflection of empathy. Her fight with a Noctursa had left her crippled in a similar manner. The next time she opened her mouth, her tone had altered to exclude gruffness. "Does he really wish to apologize to me?"

Aya walked over to One Wing who was still being doted on by Jeeg. Eterna began to flinch in fear, "No I don't want him to see me like this. I uh..."