The Prey (LGBT+)

Chapter 23: Human Ingenuity

Parker

"Omnious Caldera nostra Ekko." I chant.

I slipped away from the pack house and Kohl's overly watchful eye. To my surprise, Kohl has been as generous as he can about giving me space. I have noticed whenever he caresses me, he tries to slyly touch my stomach. It is annoying. I have also noticed that he meets with midwives and he asks Dr. Pavius every question he can. He even offers to get me whatever food I want.

While I can get used to it, I do not want him to feel obligated to cater to me. I still do not know what any of this entails. Yes, I am having a child but what are the effects on my body, what are the risks and what, exactly, does this look like for me?

The answers are not there for me. I do not know what to expect or what comes next. It feels like I am jumping into something without looking. It is confusing to say the least. So, I slipped away. I feel bad but I need to get away from the wolves.

Even Akari is protective of me.

I breathe in the clean air and exhale. The spell did not work. I am trying to open the portal to Pantheon without blood. I have been able to use slight magic in order to do things like refill beverages and create flames but nothing substantial. I have tried to move objects with my mind but they either do not move or slightly move. I have also attempted telepathy. It was not successful and I am sure I almost burst a blood vessel.

I groan and open my eyes, looking down at the piece of paper I wrote the spell down on. I copied the spells from the spell book in the trunk at the pack house. I decide to move to the next spell, to commune with nature.

"Naturis Akis Ohmus Nos."

I feel like I am sinking into the ground. It feels like meditation on steroids. It is like being everywhere at once and being nowhere. It is a void but it is also everything. I raced through the woods in many directions before shooting into the sky. Two clouds shoot lightning between themselves. A gasp brings me out of the spell.

I hear growling and turn to see brown wolves. The two are snarling at me. I stand slowly. I feel a sense of déjà vu. I mentally go back to the night I met Kohl and Jasar. I remember running. I remember hitting a pole. I remember bludgeoning a wolf, Mickey, with a blunt object.

I also remember getting a concussion.

"Hey, wolf one and wolf two. I know you don't know me and I probably smell like honey or something weird. Never smelled anything like me. Taste good. Heard it all." The wolves are clearly put off by my rambling. I start to think about a plan but I need more time, "I have to let you know. One of you is probably going to get smacked with something. The other may or may not turn out to be my other mate. Not unheard of."

The wolves snarl again.

"Or not. Not is good." I nod, "Just one more thing. Ignis!"

A flame roars between them, causing them to yelp and jump away. I take the time to run down the river and around them, heading towards the clearing. I can hear the wolves gaining ground on me. My mind pulls at memories to remember anything to help me. I formulate a plan. I need to remember an illusion spell. If I can cast an illusion in front of something solid, I can take one out. The other, I can deal with in a similar fashion.

As I pass a tree, I point to said tree and yell "Procidat Deceptinem" and continue running. I do not look back, even when I hear a large thud and a whimper. I continue as I get closer to the clearing, I trip over a large branch. I instinctively smile.

"Procidat Deceptinem Multiplus."

I watch as the wolf bounds into view but stops, its head turning in different directions. I watch as it turns, snarling in a circle. I pick up the thick branch and sneak towards the wolf. It turns just as I am close enough. I pull back and swing the branch, connecting with a crack. The wolf whimpers as it lays on the floor of the woods. I feel a pang of guilt as the wolf whines on the ground.