“Ragers made a base years ago in the lake.” Sunny’s cheery voice rings out beside my ear, the little pixie having grown tired of flying.
“How did they manage that?” I ask, keeping to the path she had pointed out to us. We have been walking for twenty minutes since meeting the three pixies, the three of us focused on saving Grace – Silver Fur as Sunny puts it. The little creature has been sharing stories of how she and her troupe have traveled the world, always returning to the Goddess’ forest during the Run to gather magic. How she and her friends came to know Grace and Amelia and how Grace has saved the Fae Princess on more than one occasion.
“No one knows. The Guardian of the lake never bothers them as usually they use boats to travel. But even it has been growing irritated by the lack of respect the Ragers have.” Sunny answers, kicking her little feet happily against my shoulder. I chuckle, her movements tickling me. I think when I take over, I will be making a garden for her and her troupe to visit when ever they want.
The sound of twigs snapping just in front of us on the same path has Amelia and I stopping mid step, our eyes finding one another before we prepare to fight whatever is coming our way. Without warning, a red she-wolf runs into me causing me to fall onto my ass and Sunny to take flight in order not to be smooshed.
“Hey, hey. I am not going to hurt you!” I say softly, seeing the she-wolf standing over me with lips pulled back into a snarl. I stay where I am, looking to Amelia who sighs and slowly walks over.
“He won’t hurt you. He and I are looking for a friend of ours.” She states, placing a gentle hand on the wolf’s shoulder. She gently smooths her fur, doing her best to calm the red wolf down. Others soon join us in the small path, a total of what I can see being thirteen she-wolves, and I wonder just where they came from as some look like they have been through hell.
The sound of shifting brings my attention back to the red she-wolf looming over me until a petite redhead stands beside Amelia.
"Are you friends with the silver haired she-wolf?" The redhead asks, catching my attention instantly. Amelia nods as I stand, the need to find Grace growing stronger.
“She is still at the lake fighting the Ragers.” She continues, a small smile on her lips.
“She saved all of us so please, go save - ” I don’t stick around to hear the rest of her words, my legs already racing down the path towards the lake. If the she-wolves escaped because of Grace, then she must be close, must be alive. Crashing through the last of the shrubbery, I find myself on the sandy shores of the lake, the crystal blue waters dyed red in many places. Something happened here, something that killed many wolves.
“Grace?!” I shout out, cupping my hands around my mouth as I frantically search the shores. I can smell her, smell her blood. She is injured and needs help. Her scent of lavender and mint permeates the air, making the fear and anxiety inside me grow.
"Grace?!" I call out again, tripping over a buried log in the sand and cursing my racing mind. I need to calm down if I am to find her.
"Grace!" I am loosing hope, my heart breaking as I stand once more. What if she had died and I will never see her again. What if I am too late and the Ragers took her to a new base. What if -
"Caden?" I freeze, the scent of lavender and mint filling my nose as the soft voice of the woman I have been searching for calls out to me, cutting off my train of thoughts. I turn to the right Grace laying on the shore, her battered body half out of the cold water. Without a second though I find myself racing to her side, kneeling onto the soft sand and pulling her body close
"You're okay." I whisper out while tears flow down my cheeks. I was never more relieved in my life to have her in my arms than I am now. How her soft body fits against mine and knowing that she is alive, that she is safe, is the best feeling I have ever felt.