Chapter 13

Unlike the wooden arrow back in the other kingdom, this magical fire force can cause genuine harm. Brown skin can burn to ash. Wounds can blister and burn. My brothers were in a similar boat of danger, a stranger was attempting to annihilate us with stolen power. The wave of fire rushed to close the distance. Fakir is shouting, his voice pitched and loud over the crackle-hiss of flame.

“Shepard!” Fakir’s panic kickstarted my adrenaline.

Feet are moving as my mind raced to catch up. With a bounce of the heel, I leapt high and driven over the large wall of wispy heat. I felt the fire scorching up the bare brown skin of my feet. I continued to soar with a grimace. For two seconds, I am reminded of how Ebony recently taught me to flex muscles properly, to extend myself beyond human limits.

All because I wasn’t human anymore, and to break the mindset of having been one.

I am limitless.

My claws extended as I positioned myself into a ruthless pounce. The never-ending rumble of my throat intensified as I located the target above the mess of blistering heat. I can sense Ebony rushing to guard Fakir while Ivory slinked back in the chaos. To steal the spotlight, rid attention off my family, I howled.

What a silly sound. Exhilaration rushed my veins anyway.

The Hunter briefly looked up, likely out of awe or confusion. I was upon them within gravity-bearing seconds.

My fangs tasted blood for the first time. I had bitten through their cloak, snarling while simultaneously beginning to grind teeth over the flesh. Through this enclosed distance, I see dull ginger hair. My claws scratched forward, grabbing for the goldfish mask.

The attempt was promptly caught by the Dulling deflecting my arm with the weapon. The fire fizzled out completely, the Hunter likely needed focus to control it. I didn’t hesitate to continue shoving my weight upon them, providing distraction.

“Now what are you?” The Hunter drawled, with a strained pinch to their voice. “Not a Dulling. Not with that much color.” Their grip tightened on the feathered weapon. “I suppose I should have taken your life without saying a word. Sorry about that, now you’re mixed into this. What an unlucky life you must’ve lived.”

I wanted to laugh in their face. My teeth stayed occupied in their arm, holding strong. I didn’t want this Threat to aim at the ones behind me. There is sudden push-back, but judging by the click of the tongue, the Hunter knew very well I prevented them from proper retreat.

“How dare you!” Fakir had long scrambled to his feet, emeralds ablaze. “Assassin, Hunter, whatever you are! You are a fiend to have attacked an unarmed individual!” I heard Ebony’s low snarl and a shift of Fakir’s robes. Fakir’s shout and Ebony’s muffled growl only tells me of what’s going on out of sight.

Why is this idiot trying to charge them? Is Fakir somehow worse than Ruby, the overambitious pup?

“She has two vicious wolves and is currently trying to eat my arm,” The Hunter crowed. “I wouldn’t call her defenseless.” There is a pause. “I’ll have you know when I get rid of witnesses, it is normally painless and quick. I am a professional,” Another pause. “...The same professional who is taking you in. Your Highness, your dear sister, wants you to come home alive.” It was delivered as if the Hunter wasn’t a trained mercenary. As if they weren’t a reckless killer with the desire to finish a job, no matter the cost.

“I’ll have to decline,” Fakir snapped out despite the underlying waver of panic. “I have long said my goodbyes, I will not return!”

I felt my ears twitch at his unbalanced-pitch. There is pain in his words, something like longing, something like forced acceptance.

A runaway then.

“Then I suppose I’ll just flame this…Beast.” There is a glint in the weapon’s opening turned my way.

“Wait…!” Fakir clamored.

Ivory’s paws slammed onto my shoulder as he leapt, then tackled the weapon out of the hunter’s grubby hands.

The Threat swore as Ivory scooped up the rod-weapon on his nose, then ran off with it. The white blur swiftly disappeared out of sight.

I dislodged my fangs, spitting out the red. I threw out a kick as the hunter shouted from disbelief, and we both went crashing to the ground. There was no time to breathe as a knife sailed to my face; my fangs clamped down on the blade.

“Stupid Beast!” The Hunter sneered as they tried to shove the metal into my throat, but nevermind the fact they couldn’t overpower me, I began pushing forward with a snarl, relishing in the Threat’s sharp in-take of breath. I had no idea what I looked like at the present moment, but I assumed it was something untamed and wild. There is a light stretch of fear in the air. Has the Threat finally realized the difference between us?

This poor excuse for a Dulling tried to burn my brothers alive for no reason other than existing.

It’s familiar, too familiar of a scenario.

I’m going to gnaw their arm off, finish the job. I don’t care how much blood I had to swallow, this person deserved the pain…!

I threw my head back roughly, teeth still against sharp metal. The Hunter didn’t expect it, gasping as they fell forward with an attempted kick to my waist.

The impact was like styrofoam. Curling my claws into fists, I slammed concentrated power onto the Hunter’s head.

They slump over, and then do not move. Like a broken toy.

“My Word,” Fakir rasped, and I turned to see Ebony holding him back by the robes with wolf teeth. “Are they dead?” He sounded spooked, quivering.

Ebony released him as I lowered two claws to feel for a pulse. I wasn’t worried, I could still hear the appropriate amount of heartbeats in the area.

“Alive.” I declared, rolling my neck lazily. “A vicious soul, they tried to stab into my mouth.” A very unpleasant thought.

Judging by Fakir’s skyrocketed heartbeat, I assume he felt the same.

Within seconds, Ebony was by my legs and investigating my state of health. He sniffed and sniffed, inspecting, thorough, and I had half a mind to pick Ebony up and throw the wolf back at Fakir. Too nosy, this brother of mine shouldn’t be so attentive! I’m not bleeding, the mad wolf.

The second-hand embarrassment ached fiercely. “I’m fine. I just need to wash out my mouth. Fakir, you coming?” I reached down, snatching up the dropped knife as a prize.

“Where?” Fakir swallowed thickly. “Furthermore, why are you inviting me to follow you? I caused this.” His calm was puppeted by politeness. The regret was in his words, sincere and painful.

“I thought you were supposed to be smart?” It hurt to hear such self-hatred. “Clearly, your psycho family wanted this to happen. Don’t steal credit from losers.” I finally nudged Ebony away with a foot, his prodding is not needed! “If you don’t want to be dragged back kicking and screaming, follow.” And I turned my head to the side, staring upon the current of the river. There is a thought to push the unconscious hunter into the water. Leave them to drown.

…And yet Ebony proved correct. I am not ready. The thought of crossing that line delivers an ant-hill slow building frost of panic.

“No need to be cruel about it,” Fakir scoffed but his face sagged. “ I…Will come. And I deeply apologize for this. I never meant,” His hysteria climbed with every word, every ramble.

“Forgiven.” The books are first to be gathered in my arms, Fakir is shaking too badly to carry more than two. “Ebony? Destroy any traces of us here. I don’t want to be followed again this soon.”

“Why are you asking…?” Fakir started, and his jaw clicked shut as a wisp of shadow later, and Ebony was already following the command with a whistle. “I haven’t heard of this before,” Fakir whispered. “Are those two wolves your familiars?” He sounded both amazed and dazed.

“They’re my brothers.” I curtly told him. “People I would never leave behind.”

Fakir flinched.

“Don’t misunderstand,” I turned to look Fakir in the eye. His attire is ruffled, hat nearly falling off his head. Even Fakir’s silver hair is messy. “I support abandoning family members who treat you like garbage, or don’t care enough to engage. My brothers today are the same as yesterday’s. They’re mine, and I treasure them. We care for each other.” I shuffle the books closer to myself. “I will protect them, like my wards, and still manage to protect myself.”

It is quiet before Fakir matches my steps at a careful pace. “Is that what you truly want?”

I smiled. “I want to live freely and happily, without the past getting in my way.”

Fakir barked a laugh, then choked, then sobbed. “As do I, Shepard!” He wetly agreed, rubbing harshly at his eyes with an arm. “As…Do I.”

I can detect Ebony listening in as he continued to decimate the last traces of us in the area.

“Come, Fakir,” I listlessly offered as the wind breezed through my ears and hair. “Let us learn together, and talk just a little more.”

And hopefully, we can both find a piece of what we’re looking for.