— • ⚡️ Isabella ⚡️• —

I awaken to the gentle sound of bird song and wind whistling through the trees.

We crossed the boarder into free land and found refuge amongst some trees. Having no supplies, we slept in our animal forms curled up together to keep warm.

Today I think we should just rest after the ordeal we've been through. Surveying the area, I see that Emilia isn't with us. Claire is still curled up, still recovering from the fight yesterday. The woman, whose name I still don't know, is awake, just staring off into the distance. I should ask her, her name.

"Hey, where did Emilia go?" I question, careful not to be too loud as to wake Claire.

She turns to face me, startled, "She went hunting." She replies.

I nod my head. "Okay. Also, sorry I didn't ask before, but what is your name."

She gives me a quizical look. "I'm not sure."

I throw her a questioning glance. I don't understand how someone can not know their name, but as I'm not aware of her circumstances, I don't push any further.

She eyes me warily. "How come you look at me like that." I question.

Shaking her head, she smirks. "You have no idea who you are, do you?" She states, before simply turning and staring back into the distance. I follow her gaze; trees, birds, your typical forest view. I guess she was in those cells for a while due to her complextion and distance with me. Maybe thats just how she is.

I hear footsteps approach, so faint I can barely hear them and instantly act on the defensive. "Who's there?" I call.

The nameless woman, who im going to call Aspen since she doesn't have a name, and is seemingly fasinated by the trees that surround us, lets out a small chuckle. "It's amusing that you don't know." I turn my attention quickly to her, who still hasnt moved from her spot, nor has she turned her head to survey the danger.

The footsteps draw closer, and a flash of red darts between the trees. Goosebumps freckle my skin, and I narrow my gaze on the threat.

Emilia appears, her fox coat glistening under the streams of sun that filter thtough the trees, carrying three rabbits and some kind of bird, I'm not familiar with. I instantly relax.

She halts infront of me, dropping the food from her mouth.

"Breakfast." She states simply through the link.

I wander over to the pile of sticks and try to light a fire, which recieves me another chuckle from Aspen, as well as Emilia.

Emilia pads over lightly, and I notice how light she is on her feet. God she has to teach me that sometimes, and stops infront of the tent of sticks I call a fire. "I can do it." She says, before placing one of her paws on the fire. I watch as she does, the faint smell of burning wood floating through the air.

As she steps back, I notice there isn't a flame. Before I can question her, she blows on the bundle of heated sticks and it roars to life. "Fire," She states, "is my speciality."

I prop some sticks up at either side, and create a rotisserie, so the meat can be left over the fire unattended. It doesn't spin like the one we had back at camp, but it will do. A sudden pang of sadness piercess me at the memory of camp, at the nights spend around the central fire, but I shake it away quickly.

Stabbing the meat with the stick, I put it over the fire and leave it there. Turning to face Emilia, I see she has morphed back into her human form, as I did this morning.

"So you gonna explain that fire thing to me now?" I ask hopeful.

She sits down, and I join her. "It's kinda a long story." She says, before beckoning Aspen to sit with us, by the warmth of the fire. The sun is out, but the air is still cold, thanks to the wind whiping around.

Huddled around the fire, we both keep eyes on Emilia as she begins this seemingly long story, that turns out to be quite short in actuality.

"So obviously I'm different from other wolves, I'm a hybrid, technically a tribrid if you account for my human side too." I nod, noting her very obvious human features, which earns me a glare. Amusement dances in her eyes. "I have both a fox and wolf spirit. Why, I'm not sure yet, but there is something about a prophecy involving a girl born with two spirits, but I'll get onto that another time." She states, eyes darting to us both, before continuing. "Both my spirits have special abilities, which is uncommon amongst our kind, which I am assuming is something to do with this apparent prophecy. My fox has fire powers, and my wolf has some kind of emotion power, it's much more complex, and I don't know the full capabilites of them yet, but I'm trying to get a handle on it." This time she looks towards Aspen, who gives her a cort nod to continue.

"My fire, comes from within, I cannot just conjure it out of nothing, if what I believe to be correct is, then it is to do with the chemical energy stored into my body. It is converted to kinetic as it moves through me, before being converted into fire. The chemical reaction that occurs uses the oxygen and water in my body, along with some element or something that resides in me, allowing the combustion reaction to occur. The fire drains my body of energy the more I use it, as it also uses energy to complete the reaction, so I tire twice as fast when using it." She states before willing fire to her palm, flicking a flame of light gently between her fingers, rolling it around her hand.

"It feels like searing heat travelling through my veins as it flows, before coming out of the place I will it. However, it is not painful. Fire doesnt seem to burn me as it does others. It can come out of anywhere in my body, but I usually use my tail, paws or breath." She furrows her brows. "That I don't quite understand yet, as it is less like fire breathing, as a dragon would, but more like the energy carries in my breath and sparks where it lays."

Before emilia can continue, Claire pads over, her wolf settling at my feet. I reach my hand out, and she nods, allowing me to stroke her fur. "what you talking about?" She asks through the link.

"Emilia and her fire." I reply. Emilia waits, seemingly knowing that we are conversing. I am yet to figure out how to do a connected link, where multiple of us can talk at once, because it seems like they can only converse with me rather than to each other.

"She's just telling us how it works, I'll fill you in later." I say, patting her fur down, where it appears matted. She relaxes and looks to Emilia.

"It was difficult growing up." She comments. Pain flashing through her bright irises. "I was young when I first came to learn of my abilitites. I didn't have control over it then, some of my family bore the concequences." She quietens, clearly reliving a memory. A painful one. Anguish rolls off her in waves. She blinks back a few tears, before continuing with a choked breath. "One of my brothers, didn't survive the extend of my rage one time. I was blamed for it, and rightly so" she mutters the last part but I heard her.

"Emilia..." I say. She shakes her head. "No sympathy." She states. "It was tragic but that memory forced me to face the fact that there are concequences if I am not careful, and so I have been. I use it only when needed and spent many days and nights as a rogue perfecting my skill, so I would never do such a thing again."

"You're stronger than you know Em." I say through the link. "I'm so proud of you. You're my bestfriend and I trust you with my life." I reassure, and I swear I see hurt flash across her face, but if I did it was fleeting and instantly replaced with a gentleness.

"You don't have to carry on if you dont want." I say aloud. she nods her head and we sit absorbing all that was said.

The fire crackles sending sparks up into the sky, the smell of the meat enhanced to a smoky, mouthwatering scent. I nudge Claire forwards slightly, and rise to check on the meat. I turn it, so the other side can cook some more, before settling back down.

"Who wants to go next?" I ask. No one answers.

"Okay, guess I will." My story isn't anything like emilia's, in terms of tragadey.

"I grew up realtively happy, with a loving family, believing my whole life I was human, and that the rest of my family was as well, which turned out to not be the truth."

"I got my wolf on my 16th birthday, and it was a good day, but I saw my bestfriend transform into a wolf about two days after the next day. I confronted him, and he told me if I didn't find out, he would have never told me, which hurt, a lot. We always told each other everything. When I found out, I asked my mother and she bascially shrugged me off and didn't even apologise properly." I say hurt at the memory.

Emilia speaks up. "I understand you feel that way, but surely Julia had her reasons." She says softly.

At her comment, I let out a low growl. "Well they were shit reasons. I'm still a kid and she just let me leave."

Emilia looks at me with sympathy. "Would you have listened if she made you stay though?" She questions.

I sigh. "I suppose not." I stop, before continuing. "She always knew everything about everything, always the right thing to say or do when things went wrong."

Emilia smiles. "Sounds like Julia. I'm sure she had her reasons, and I'm sure soon enough you'll be able to ask her in person".

"Yeah." I grin, hopeful at the thought of seeing my mum again. "Anyways, I ran away from home, met Emilia in the forest, and was captured by Nathan and his little cronies, and that brings us up to speed on my story." I say.

Pausing, I recall how Nathan visited me in camp. "He actually came to visit me back home once, it was after I'd just beaten the shit out of my cousins, which shocked everyone, cause I have asthma, and we'd just run into trouble with some flying wolf creatures." Everyone stiffens at my comment for different reasons.

Emilia is the first to speak "Izzy. What did Nathan say to you when he saw you in camp?"

I shake my head. "I'm not sure. He was just a charming stranger. Although he did know my name when I never told him which was quite odd." I say thinking back to how strange that felt at the time.

Claire doesnt like the comment I made about him charming me, as she bristles under me. Rightfully so, they are mates. "Sorry claire, I didn't know at the time." I say through the link. She lets out a huff in response.

Aspen looks at me with terror in her eyes. "What did those creatures look like?" She asks, fear lacing every syllable that leaves her lips.

I think back, "Like a huge dark wolf, with wings shaped like those that belong to a bat, red piercing eyes, horrible yellow teeth, two sets of fangs, and they smelled like walking death." I say, shuddering at the memory, rubbing my neck. "One of them bit me actually." I say, which causes everyone to whip their heads round in worry. Aspen's, filled with the most fear.

"It's fine though, I was treated and have felt better ever since." I reassure them.

Aspen still looks terrified. "What did they treat you with?" She asks.

I look at her, my face now matching the same concern. I'm fine right? Why is she so worried? Is something going to happen to me? "I'm not sure." I state.

She roots around in her pocket, before throwing me a black rock. I gaze down at it. Charcoal.

"Chew on that, please. I know you've been treated, but a bite from the voltaninum can kill, they have a posion three times as deadly as any animal on the planet. Their name loosely translates to 'Hell flyer' and they should be regarded as such. No one I know has survived a bite from one, how are you alive isabella?" She questions. Asking the last part to herself.

I chew on the charcoal. "I'm not sure, but we can find out. Surely theres a town nearby with a library?"

Emilia laughs. "And what? You expect them to just let us wander in and use it. we reek of rogues, I mean look at us."

I sigh, deflated. "I don't know." I say exasperated. "It was just an idea."

I turn to claire. "How are your ribs?"

"Getting better." She replies through the link.

"Okay, good." I reply.

Standing once more, I take the meat off the fire, still on the stick, but remove a piece and place it in front of claire. "Eat." I command, before passing the stick to Emilia.

"Do you feel up to travel, or should we rest some more?" I ask.

Everyone is chomping on the food Emilia brought earlier. Both Emilia and Aspen say they can continue on, through mouthfuls of food. "I'm fine as well." claire chips in.

"You sure?" I question.

Athena?

How do I do the power transfer thing you did?

I wouldn't, conserve your energy. Giving energy to another takes it away from you. Save it for when Claire really needs it. She'll be okay.

okay.

"We ready to go then?" I check before extinguishing the fire with some sandy dirt and water.

Everyone nods in agreement. I shift back into my wolf for faster travel.

"Which way do we want to go?" I survey. Directing the link to all of them. Still need to figure this whole link thing out.

Emilia joined me in shift, this time transforming into her wolf, the woman riding on her back. It's nice how close they got. That Aspen finally has someone. I mean she has all of us, but it's nice she's got Emilia for company.

"We should go this way." Claire says motioning is to follow. "There's a town just a few miles from here. It shouldn't take long at all."

"Everyone follow Claire." I state through the link, unsure if they can hear her when she replies to me or not.

We head off through the woods as the sun climbs in the sky, casting smaller shadows the higher it gets. It's warmer now than earlier which makes for more comfortable travel, however we may need to stop for water soon. Hopefully we can hold off until we get to the town.

We had travelled for about a mile, when Claire begins to slow.

"Is everything okay?" I question. "Are you tired? Do we need to stop?"

She lets out a grunt. "No. I'm okay. I just thought I could smell something."

I nod my head and we continue on. When suddenly the wind changes and Claire stops in her tracks. I almost barrel right into her.

"What is it? What can you smell?" I ask, shifting my weight on my paws, anxious for an encounter so soon after the last.

"My sister." She states before turning around and charging straight through us like a ball in a bowling alley.

Me and Emilia exchange a glance, before following her.

She darts through the forest as we struggle to keep up, Emilia is behind me, Aspen weighing her down slightly.

What happened to her injuries? How can she run this fast? I suppose it is her sister.

Wait. What if it's a trap?

Then you better be ready to fight. Athena's voice filters into my head.

Great, just what I need. More violence.

Claire dives over some bushes into a small clearing. I stop just before, trying to assess the situation. It would be naive of me to dive in headfirst like that, if it is a trap.

I stand and smell the air, there doesn't seem to be any fresh scent of wolves. If there were, they're long gone.

Padding into the clearing, I see Claire nudging a body in the middle.

What the hell happened? I think to myself.

Upon closer inspection, I notice it's the girl I saved that time from those wolves.

"Omg Claire I'm so sorry." I say through the link. She wines at me.

"Is there anything you can do?" I shake my head and she turns to Emilia.

Before Emilia can speak I stop her. "No it's too painful, too risky. I can try do my energy thing again."

Nodding her head in agreement, I try to remember what Athena did.

I become acutely aware of the blood rushing in my veins, the lub dub of my heart. The energy fizzing in my cells as my body undergoes it's many chemical reactions. My energy. My strength. I channel it through my veins. My heart beating louder at the force. Lub dub. Through my heart, down my limbs, seeping out of my pads.

I place a pad on her chest, feeling it tingle as my energy slowly depletes at the action of transfer. It's not fast enough. Her breathing picks up, but she still lays emotionless.

Athena?! Why is it not working? I say desperately.

Have confidence in yourself, to give strength you must first believe you are strong. Find a memory, hold onto it. Remember all the things you have endured, how far you've come. Let it settle in your heart, pass it into your lungs and out in a single breath.

I nod and try that. I am strong. Hell even my asthma has cleared up since Athena. I can take down two men twice my size, in human form. I survived kidnapping, betrayal, poison, certain death. I am strong. I am strength.

I feel the heat bubble in my heart, chattering against the muscle walls, shaking my rib cage. I steady myself, breathing deeply, and push my energy, my strength, my very life source, forcing it into my lungs, through my veins. With a final steadying breath, I lean down and breathe onto Claire's sister.

Her body jolts and her eyelids flutter open, she lets out a sudden gasp and whips her head around wildly.

When her eyes settle on her sister, she visibly relaxes. "Hey, Claire." She says, pain laced through her voice.

Claire shifts back into her human form, and fussed over her sister. "What happened Cleo?" She asks concerned.

Cleo, sits up straight, and lets out a pained gasp at the movement. "Rogues." She simply states. "I'm not sure why they targeted me, but there were so many of them." She whispers.

Her hair whips into her face as the wind changes again. It's slightly lighter than Cleo's red brown hair. Her eyes the same stunning blue.

The scent of the rogues that were here is no longer prominent, but as the wind changes I notice a faint scent of pine, which is odd as we are in an Aspen forest.

Shrugging it off, I help Cleo up. "Are you okay to shift?" I say setting up a link between the both of us.

She looks around bewildered as my voice filters through her mind. Stepping forward, I watch as her eyes land on me and realisation lights her face.

"You're the girl that saved me from those wolves that time." She pauses. "How are you doing that?" She says aloud.

"It's a gift." I reply.

"Yeah I can shift, I'll be okay." She says, anxiety filtering through her voice, clearly not certain.

She shifts into her wolf, grunting in pain through the shift. Claire shifts at the same time, catching her as she almost stumbles.

"We all good to go? Cleo we're travelling to the nearest town. You're welcome to come with us, we can protect you, and can rest in the town somewhere." I say through the link.

She huffs in agreement and we turn back the way we came, all trailing behind Claire.

We travel through the woods until the sun begins to set. We're nearing the town now after our detour to save Cleo, but we still have about a half mile to go.

We push through a dense part of the thicket, and stumble into the path of someone I've never met before. I don't know why I would. I never left camp.

I shake my head at the thought. The woman in front of us seems dishevelled, but not in a way that seems like she's in trouble, more like she just rolled out of bed. Her hair is a mess all over her face, dark curls springing up everywhere. Her eyes are a piercing green.

"State your business." The woman calls out.

I quickly shift back into my human form. "I'm sorry for the intrusion, we are just passing through, hoping to get to Lakenn, that's the town just ahead right?" I reply.

"I'm afraid I cannot let you past." She states. "You have a dammed one amongst you. They will not be welcome in the town." She says, throwing a dirty look Emilia's way. She bristles, growling her displeasure.

"I'm sure we can come to some agreement. We just need a place to rest and we want to check out the library." I state, trying to convince this woman to let us past. "Please, some of our members are hurt."

She lets her gaze sweep over us all. "Aleria? Is that you?" She says looking at the woman perched on Claire's back.

So that's her name? Maybe.

She gives the stranger a confused look. "Aleria." She croaks out. "Doesn't seem right."

"So will you let us through?" I plead.

"Sorry, no can do." She simply states.

"Then you leave me no choice." I say hesitantly before shifting back into my wolf.

Im not going to hurt her. Just hold her down whilst the rest of them pass, to ensure none of them are injured any further.

This whole time, the rest of the group just looked on during the exchange but now they have their hackles raised, ready.

I flick my tail, motioning to hold off for now.

Baring my teeth, I shake my fur out, before stepping slightly closer. Before I can lunge she shoots a teal tendril of energy at me. Magic?!

I try to duck, but it hits me in the shoulder and pain sears through my body.

It ripples through me, the pain unbearable. Athena winces at the pain too. I crouch to the floor, trying to recover from the waves of nausea that roll through me.

When the pain subsides, I stand again, facing the woman, who looks at me apologetically.

"You bare the marks of Statera." She whispers.

"I'm so sorry your Royal Highness." She says rushing over and stopping a few paces away from me.

Your Royal what?

She must be joking right?

Athena, please tell me this is a joke?

It has to be. I'm 16. I lived in a camp Al my life.

What game is she playing here.

I eye her warily. "This is a joke right? What game are you playing here lady?" I accuse through narrow eyes.

She shakes her head and steps closer. "Not a joke, just look." She raises her hand and more teal sparks flicker in her palm but before she can hit me again Emilia runs forwards, putting herself in between me and her. She growls, snapping at the woman.

"Emilia just wait a second. I want to see what she does." I say.

She growls and eyes me in her peripheral, keeping her eyes on the woman in front of us. "Are you fucking joking? No. You got hurt, and you're just going to let her do it again? You were out for like a full minute, just writhing in pain. I waited for your command to attack but I'm done waiting. Not when it comes to your safety."

I soften at her statement. "Trust me, please, if she hurts me again I promise I'll let you at her."

She nods in agreement and stands to the side, not taking her eyes of the woman with the crazy hair.

The woman like before raises her hand and flicks of light pour out. She moves closer to me and rests her hand on my fur. It causes a tingling sensation this time to run through me, almost like faint electricity, the fuzzy pins and needles you get if you sit on your leg for too long.

After sweeping her hand from my head to my tail, she steps back. This time she holds her hands together and pulls them apart before shooting the energy into the ground and raising her hands back up, as she does a huge mirror made of wavering magic appears and I gasp at my reflection.

My usual grey sparkling fur, has tribal tattoos all along it, they dance along my fur as my coat shimmers in the reflection.

What... what does this mean. I ask myself.

Reading my quizzical look, she explains. "The markings on your fur indicate royal status, the royal heir to be exact. You are the lost princess." She says. "I always thought it was a myth, the royals never seemed to indulge in the rumours so I assumed they were simply that. But if you're here, and alive, then that means..." She trails off.

"That means what?" I ask but I get no reply. Dammit I can't link with her.

I shift back into my human form, noticing how the tattoos appear in the mirror on this form too, but when I look to my arms I can barely see them, just the faint flutter of black on my skin, as they creep around my body like bugs.

"What does that mean?" I ask her.

"It means a great darkness is heading your way. If you are alive then the prophecy will commence, if it hadn't already." She says fearful.

"A darkness, more dangerous than you have ever encountered will appear, you're going to need all the help you can get to fight it. As much as I don't trust this one." She throws her head towards Emilia. "She's a better ally than foe and will serve you well in your journey." She says.

"I will let you past. But be careful in Lakenn, do not reveal yourself, not let her. You must all travel in your human forms to ensure your safety. Things there are not as they appear." She states.

She does a swirly motion with her hands and passes me what she conjured up. "Take this. It will allow you to contact me. You can only use it once so don't waste it. I can help you on your journey but only if you survive long enough to make it. Don't be stupid." She says, warning me like a misbehaving child.

She turns to Aspen. "Aleria are you going with them or do you want to stay with me?" She asks.

Aspen speaks "I don't remember who I am, do you know?"

The woman nods. "We are cousins." She states. "You've been gone for almost a decade." She looks lovingly at her cousin.

She nods her head. "I will come with you, to find answers, but first I must speak with Isabella." She says before turning to me.

She clambers off Claire and walks over.
"I have already told Emilia this, but I know part of the prophecy. Your prophecy, if you would like me to tell you."

I motion for her to continue. She clears her throat and her eyes flash white.

"A girl of pure heart, Soul and mind.
Must come together, With those alike.
To defeat the evil, That stalks the night.
For if not, They won't survive.

A journey that is, Long and true.
Will test her abilities, And friends of few.
Follow the moon, It guides the way.
To those that you, Wish to stay."

She takes a breath and continues.

"The tethers of darkness, And streaks of light
Will come together, In an almighty fight"

She leans in close, her voice coming out as a whisper.

"Deaths be many, Survivors few
The darkness will fade, And fall will you"

Emilia must have heard it because she growls lowly and snaps at her.

I'm shocked with this information. Can I trust these people that I don't know? I mean I've never heard of this prophecy until just now.

"Thank you Aspen." I say and she pauses. "Sorry I gave you that name since you didn't know your own and well you seemed to like looking at the birds in the Aspen trees.

She smiles at that. "Aspen." She says trying the name on her tongue. "I like that."

"My name is now Aspen." She says to the other woman. "I may have been called Aleria but that woman I do not know, nor am I now after all I have endured. I am Aspen." The woman smiles at her.

"Okay Aspen, I'm Lirona. Nice to meet you." She says shaking her hand.

"Okay so what's the plan now then?" I ask, turning to face everyone? Do we still go to Lakenn or do we go to the palace since I apparently have family there?" I say still finding the whole notion somewhat odd.

"I don't mind, honestly I just want to sleep after today and yesterday." Claire says through the link, followed by Emilia.

"We could go to the palace but I don't know if I'd be welcome." She muttered through the link, looking at her paws scuffing in the dirt.

Lirona turns her attention back to me. "You could always just go to Lakenn for the night, I'm close by so I'll keep an eye out for you." She says smiling.

I nod my head in agreement. "Okay so we go to Lakenn tonight, visit the library as planned and decide what to do next based on what we find." I say.

We say our goodbyes and carry on our way.

We reach the little town as night falls. We transitioned into our humans upon reaching the tree line.

The streets are lit with gothic looking street lamps which contrast the cute little houses that line the road.

I locate a small pub and inn and we head inside. There's only four of us now so it shouldn't be too hard to find a place to stay right?

Word Count [5283]

It's a long one today, so thank you if you managed to read all of that.

Vote if you enjoyed (I'm sorry to ask but I lost a lot of readers since I haven't written in so long and I want some new readers to give me feedback and voting helps with that as well as motivating me to continue).

Thanks and I'll see you in the next one (I promise it's shorter).
- Bri xo