the fight. I wanted to help you so badly but I couldn’t. You don’t have to do this, Missy. I can’t bear to see you hurt like that again. After surviving your world into mine, how can I risk losing you now? Losing you once was enough.” He pulled her into his arms and blinked back the tears stinging his eyes.
“But I did it, Charlie. I completed my first quest. I’m stronger now, can’t you feel it?” She pulled back. The hurt in her chest was gone now, he should feel it too. Missy leaned in and planted a small kiss on his hairy lips. A little blue spark popped as their lips touched. Tingles rippled through Charlie’s body. Then he felt the change, the strength returning. He did feel stronger. Getting out of bed, he walked the room, testing himself. He turned to face Missy and smiled. She smiled too and rushed to him.
“I can do this, Charlie. Trust me. I didn’t fight my whole life with cancer to come here and get taken out by some mag i cal creatures. I’ll fight, and this time, I’ll win.”
Charlie lifted her from the floor and whirled her around the room. He put her back down and wrapped his arms around her small frame, sighing into her hair.
“I love you,” he said.
“I love you too, Charlie,” Missy replied.
“And I love the horns,” Charlie whi s pered.
Missy drew back and felt at her head. Two small horns like a lamb’s were embe d ded in her hair. She rushed toward the mi r ror and stared in awe.
“I guess I am becoming a monster,” She said as she stared at her reflection, poking the horns with her fingers.
“They look good on you,” Charlie complimented. They both laughed.
Charlie led them from his room and down toward the cooking fires. As they entered, sounds of celebr a tion filled the large room. Warm smells wafted through the room sending spicy smoke up the high cei l ing to a venting window carved in the stone. Small birds sat on the edge and snatched small crumbs caught in the current. Sophie and Atian came forward and ushered the couple to the center table where a feast of sweet breads, warm butter, fruits, and sliced meats awaited them.
“We celebrate my son and his human today,” Atian shou t ed. “Her quest to become a monster has begun. May they live long and happy lives together in our world.”
The shouts and well wishes rang out as others of the clan came by to greet the newest member of the family. They laughed, danced, and enjoyed the m o ment for all too soon the next quest would begin.
Birds flew to and fro from the Bullclan territory. A pair of keen eyes watched from a distance, his mu s cles twitching in agitation. Soon, a sun yellow wren from the cooking fire’s wi n dow flew too close to the predator’s deadly grasp. He snatched his victim from the sky and squeezed the bird in his hands. A black smoky film swirled around the long muzzle otherwise hidden under the ove r sized cloak. The bird struggled painfully against the force holding him captive, lifting from him the sights and sounds he’d wi t nessed in the Bullclan’s territory just minutes before. A sinister grin spread over r a zor sharp teeth at the celebration and the newest member of the Bullclan. Sati s fied, he let the film dissipate and die away before he snapped his jaws around the small morsel in his hands. Climbing down from his treetop perch, he examined the u n conscious bull on the ground. Another animal joined him and pulled the large bull from the ground, and slung him over his shoulder with ease.
“Find out where the human girl child’s next quest will be,” he said before morphing and disappearing into the forest.
Chapter 11
M issy squinted against the intense su n light as she walked across the field to the enclosure. Tucked snugly inside her fur hat, coat, and boots, she’d grimaced when she first saw her r e flection in the mirror, thin k ing Chewbacca stared back. Once she stepped out into the cold morning air, she felt thankful for the warm clothing. She
“But I did it, Charlie. I completed my first quest. I’m stronger now, can’t you feel it?” She pulled back. The hurt in her chest was gone now, he should feel it too. Missy leaned in and planted a small kiss on his hairy lips. A little blue spark popped as their lips touched. Tingles rippled through Charlie’s body. Then he felt the change, the strength returning. He did feel stronger. Getting out of bed, he walked the room, testing himself. He turned to face Missy and smiled. She smiled too and rushed to him.
“I can do this, Charlie. Trust me. I didn’t fight my whole life with cancer to come here and get taken out by some mag i cal creatures. I’ll fight, and this time, I’ll win.”
Charlie lifted her from the floor and whirled her around the room. He put her back down and wrapped his arms around her small frame, sighing into her hair.
“I love you,” he said.
“I love you too, Charlie,” Missy replied.
“And I love the horns,” Charlie whi s pered.
Missy drew back and felt at her head. Two small horns like a lamb’s were embe d ded in her hair. She rushed toward the mi r ror and stared in awe.
“I guess I am becoming a monster,” She said as she stared at her reflection, poking the horns with her fingers.
“They look good on you,” Charlie complimented. They both laughed.
Charlie led them from his room and down toward the cooking fires. As they entered, sounds of celebr a tion filled the large room. Warm smells wafted through the room sending spicy smoke up the high cei l ing to a venting window carved in the stone. Small birds sat on the edge and snatched small crumbs caught in the current. Sophie and Atian came forward and ushered the couple to the center table where a feast of sweet breads, warm butter, fruits, and sliced meats awaited them.
“We celebrate my son and his human today,” Atian shou t ed. “Her quest to become a monster has begun. May they live long and happy lives together in our world.”
The shouts and well wishes rang out as others of the clan came by to greet the newest member of the family. They laughed, danced, and enjoyed the m o ment for all too soon the next quest would begin.
Birds flew to and fro from the Bullclan territory. A pair of keen eyes watched from a distance, his mu s cles twitching in agitation. Soon, a sun yellow wren from the cooking fire’s wi n dow flew too close to the predator’s deadly grasp. He snatched his victim from the sky and squeezed the bird in his hands. A black smoky film swirled around the long muzzle otherwise hidden under the ove r sized cloak. The bird struggled painfully against the force holding him captive, lifting from him the sights and sounds he’d wi t nessed in the Bullclan’s territory just minutes before. A sinister grin spread over r a zor sharp teeth at the celebration and the newest member of the Bullclan. Sati s fied, he let the film dissipate and die away before he snapped his jaws around the small morsel in his hands. Climbing down from his treetop perch, he examined the u n conscious bull on the ground. Another animal joined him and pulled the large bull from the ground, and slung him over his shoulder with ease.
“Find out where the human girl child’s next quest will be,” he said before morphing and disappearing into the forest.
Chapter 11
M issy squinted against the intense su n light as she walked across the field to the enclosure. Tucked snugly inside her fur hat, coat, and boots, she’d grimaced when she first saw her r e flection in the mirror, thin k ing Chewbacca stared back. Once she stepped out into the cold morning air, she felt thankful for the warm clothing. She
Similar Books
