Search for the Extinct [Last of Elves book 2]

Twelve: Kuraĝon

Kuraĝon

Much to her disgust, the snows came the next day, before the city pair could leave, and trapping them at her home.

She had to put with them for even longer now.

She did it by staying outside as much as possible, disregarding and uncaring of the deep snow that soon piled around their home and in the bare branches of the trees. Vakt stayed with her, a constant companion, and she knew that he was the only reason her brother didn’t worry about her. The beastkin would keep her safe.

The snow was her freedom. In it, she could forget about the hunters, forget about the humans. She could even forget that she was one of the last elves. She was young and free.

She danced in the snow.

Her laughter often spiralled up through the trees, reaching the grey, heavily laden clouds, as Vakt romped and played around her. His massive paws stopped him sinking too deep, but they both still managed to get covered in snow any time that they were outside.

Sometimes, she felt guilty. After all, she was escaping their predicament, and leaving her brother to deal with the captain.

It only took a few days before her guilt became too much.

Stopping in her tracks, she sighed, looking down at the beastkin by her side. He just looked back at her, intelligence shining in his golden eyes. She sighed again, and dropped to her knees beside him, wrapping her arms around his neck as she buried her face in his tawny fur.

“Oh, Vakt,” she muttered. “What should I do?”

He purred, not moving as she clung to him.

“I hate them being here, Vakt! I want it to go back to what it was before. Just us two, and you and Hunaja. Why do things have to change? I don’t like it. I hate change.”

A tear slipped down her cheek to bury itself in the thick fur.

The beastkin nuzzled her, wrapping himself around her body as he kept her warm, comforting her.

“Kura?”

She stiffened, and buried her face deeper. “Go away, Ali. I want to be alone.”

She heard him sigh, and then there was no more sounds. Warily, she lifted her face, and gave a sigh of her own as she saw that he was gone. Only his and Hunaja's footsteps were left behind.

She stared at them for a long time. The massive paw prints of the beastkin loyally next to the much smaller, light footprints of her brother.

The elves and the beastkins had always been part of each other.

It was snowing again, the tiny cold flakes dusting her hair and clothes, and turning Vakt’s tawny coat a pale golden. She got to her feet, and twined her fingers in his long fur, hugging her cloak around her with the other hand.

“Come on, Vakt,” she murmured. “Take me home.”

He moved, his paw prints matching those of the beastkin who had gone in front of him. She kept her eyes lowered, deep in thought, barely noticing the trees and snow around her. It was cold, but even that was hardly noticed but for a few shivers.

They stopped at the edge of their glade, and she stared at their home. The windows were lit by the flickering fire, the door slightly ajar to help the smoke escape. The footprints they had been following led straight to the door, but she didn’t want to go there. Instead, she let go of Vakt and wandered around the back of the house. There, she found the hidden trail that led to the cliff overlooking the River Sae.

She followed it.

Standing beside the ancient trees, she watched the frozen river. Even from the distance she was at, she could hear the muffled roar as it continued on its way to the sea under the covering of ice. She hadn’t known anything that could freeze the river completely. It was fitting for the lifeblood of the land.

Quiet footsteps behind her had her turning her head, and she rested her gaze on Vakt, the beastkin padding towards her through the snow. He stopped beside her, leaning on her leg, and she kept a hand on the mane-like fur he had on the back of his neck.

“The lifeblood is still alive, Vakt,” she said quietly. “The land is saved. It’s been ten years. But is everything changing now? I don’t know what to do.”

She was silent for a while, thinking it through.

“I want him to be happy, Vakt. I just don’t know if he’s happy here or with her. I don’t know which is best.”

The snow began to fall thicker and faster, and the beastkin turned, holding the edge of her cloak in his teeth. With a soft laugh, she let him lead her home, to the fire, and the warmth.

And her brother.