Search for the Extinct [Last of Elves book 2]

Forty-Four: Kuraĝon

Kuraĝon

All was silent after the tale. None of them wanted to talk, and none of them did.

Instead, they curled around the gentle fire, each beastkin with their chosen. They were safe with the big creatures around. Nothing would get near them. Kú had vanished, as she usually did at night, to hunt and forage. She would return later, to curl between Ailill and Åska to sleep.

Despite that, Kuraĝon couldn't sleep. She lay on her back, staring up at the night sky, filled with stars. The tale haunted her, same as the legends of Åska always had, and she couldn't get it out of her mind.

Beside her, Vakt nuzzled her arm, perhaps sensing her restlessness.

She sighed, twining her fingers in his long coat. She didn't want to lose her brother, yet all the stories seemed to suggest that she would. She glanced over at him, lying on the other side of the fire, his back to them all.

Sometimes, she didn't believe he was the elf of legend.

Yet at other times, there seemed to be no other explanation.

She knew that he wasn't truly her brother.

He'd told her so himself, when she had been old enough to understand, yet still forgive him.

He'd been found as a child by their parents, lost and alone near the mountains, and they had taken him in, much to the disgust of their older brothers. So he'd grown up with them, yet always an outsider.

She'd been the only one close to him, because she was so much younger than them all. Now that she looked back, it seemed like he'd gone out of his way to be close to her, and as she looked at him through the fire again, she had to wonder why.

But no answer would come to her, even though she lay there long after the fire had burnt to just embers.

They were still quiet when dawn broke. As normal, Ailill disappeared, and she watched him go, worried. A touch on her arm made her turn, looking down at the girl.

Is he okay?

Kuraĝon sighed, shrugging as she got the fire burning once more. "I don't know," she answered quietly. She knew she probably shouldn't be telling the child the blunt truth, but she didn't see the reason behind it. She didn't see why she should lie when the truth was plain to see. "He worries me, Aura."

The girl nodded. Is there anything we can do for him?

"No. There's nothing. I don't know what he needs, or what is troubling him now. I thought it was just Åska."

Aura looked around, her dark eyes searching. Where did the nightbird go? She still hadn't found a sign for the little nightbird's name yet, clearly. Kuraĝon shrugged.

"Probably with Ali," she said absently, concentrating. A screech echoed her words, proving them right.

She straightened, the fire now crackling merrily, to meet her brother's eyes. "You caught breakfast?"

He shook his head, the little nightbird perching on his shoulder, and Åska by his side. "No. They were scared off by the little one here."

Kuraĝon rolled her eyes, and rummaged through the saddlebags for the leftovers from the day before. "Good thing we have leftovers, right? Ouch!" She yelped and pulled her hand back, staring at the leather bag.

"What is it?"

"I don't know." Frowning, she wiped the blood off her hand, and pressing the edge of her shirt to the bite. "But whatever it is, it has sharp teeth." She sensed her brother coming to her side, but she didn't dare take her eyes off the saddlebag. It was moving, the sides bulging as whatever it was inside moved about.