increased in length and girth so the notes climbed the
scale as his lips moved from side to side. It looked like little
more than a bunch of sticks strung together, but as soon as Tiarn
began to play, it was magically transformed. He somehow made the
simple instrument sound as lovely as a full classical orchestra.
Though there were no words to his song, the notes he played weaved
a sad tune of love lost or unrequited. Morrigan closed her eyes and
allowed the beauty of the music to embrace her soul as it resonated
through the quiet forest. She would have listened to him play
forever and was more than a little disappointed when the sonata
came to an end and Tiarn packed his pan flute away.
“You can do a lot better than just carry a
tune.” Morrigan was so deeply moved by the beauty of the music, she
had to clear her throat to speak clearly. “That was amazing. Thank
you for playing for me.”
The werewolf definitely blushed. “Yes, well,
I think that is enough art for one evening. We should both try to
get some rest, as we have a hard road to travel on the morrow.”
Morrigan nodded her head. Her eyelids were
already heavy, and she knew she would have no trouble falling
asleep anymore, despite all that had happened that day.
“Good night, Tiarn.”
He didn’t respond, and she figured he wasn’t
even paying attention. She hated to admit it, but it kind of hurt
her feelings he didn’t acknowledge her after they had shared such a
pleasant evening. She was too exhausted to let it bother her for
long. In fact, she was just on the verge of sleep when she felt him
stir. Tiarn must have thought she had drifted off because he rose
beside her, and with fingers that were softer and gentler than she
could have imagined, he brushed a loose strand of hair behind her
ears.
“Goodnight and sweet dreams, my Morrigan. May
the Goddess grant us both her protection on this night.”
With the ghost of his touch still lingering
against her skin, Morrigan drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
Chapter Nine
When Morrigan opened her eyes, she couldn’t
help but admire the beauty of her surroundings. She breathed in the
fresh, clean air and could smell the dew that still clung to the
grass. The early morning light filtered lazily through the giant
trees. Some were familiar, like the red oaks and pines, many of
which stood at least a few hundred feet high. Nearby, one of the
largest trees had a thick trunk that had been hollowed out through
time, with a hiding place big enough for full grown man to squeeze
into. She watched as a small squirrel climbed inside with a
mouthful of some unknown treasure and disappeared from view. Yet,
its roots still thrived, and its canopy towered above her,
providing shade that blocked the bright sun.
There were many other species of trees she
didn’t recognize at all and some she had seen only in photos of
faraway lands, all mingled in with hundreds of varieties of late
blooming wild flowers. It was strange how such a vast array of
greenery were able to live in harmony in this one enchanted forest.
The branches of the trees swayed in the crisp morning air, as if
welcoming her home. All of the trees, the grass, the flowers, and
even the blue sky and puffy white clouds seemed much more vibrant
in the light of day. She sensed their presence around her,
thrumming with life and even awareness. The earthy scents whirling
around her were rich and intoxicating. It was the most glorious
morning Morrigan had ever awoken to, despite the fact her muscles
were stiff from spending the night on the hard ground.
As she stretched out on her sleeping roll,
Morrigan never felt more alive. She rolled on her back, happy to
drink in the beauty of the new land that felt so much more like a
home than any of the dozens of foster homes she had stayed in. She
hated to get up, but nature was calling, and some calls had to be
answered. The cats apparently felt just as at home, because they
didn’t even stir as she pulled herself
scale as his lips moved from side to side. It looked like little
more than a bunch of sticks strung together, but as soon as Tiarn
began to play, it was magically transformed. He somehow made the
simple instrument sound as lovely as a full classical orchestra.
Though there were no words to his song, the notes he played weaved
a sad tune of love lost or unrequited. Morrigan closed her eyes and
allowed the beauty of the music to embrace her soul as it resonated
through the quiet forest. She would have listened to him play
forever and was more than a little disappointed when the sonata
came to an end and Tiarn packed his pan flute away.
“You can do a lot better than just carry a
tune.” Morrigan was so deeply moved by the beauty of the music, she
had to clear her throat to speak clearly. “That was amazing. Thank
you for playing for me.”
The werewolf definitely blushed. “Yes, well,
I think that is enough art for one evening. We should both try to
get some rest, as we have a hard road to travel on the morrow.”
Morrigan nodded her head. Her eyelids were
already heavy, and she knew she would have no trouble falling
asleep anymore, despite all that had happened that day.
“Good night, Tiarn.”
He didn’t respond, and she figured he wasn’t
even paying attention. She hated to admit it, but it kind of hurt
her feelings he didn’t acknowledge her after they had shared such a
pleasant evening. She was too exhausted to let it bother her for
long. In fact, she was just on the verge of sleep when she felt him
stir. Tiarn must have thought she had drifted off because he rose
beside her, and with fingers that were softer and gentler than she
could have imagined, he brushed a loose strand of hair behind her
ears.
“Goodnight and sweet dreams, my Morrigan. May
the Goddess grant us both her protection on this night.”
With the ghost of his touch still lingering
against her skin, Morrigan drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
Chapter Nine
When Morrigan opened her eyes, she couldn’t
help but admire the beauty of her surroundings. She breathed in the
fresh, clean air and could smell the dew that still clung to the
grass. The early morning light filtered lazily through the giant
trees. Some were familiar, like the red oaks and pines, many of
which stood at least a few hundred feet high. Nearby, one of the
largest trees had a thick trunk that had been hollowed out through
time, with a hiding place big enough for full grown man to squeeze
into. She watched as a small squirrel climbed inside with a
mouthful of some unknown treasure and disappeared from view. Yet,
its roots still thrived, and its canopy towered above her,
providing shade that blocked the bright sun.
There were many other species of trees she
didn’t recognize at all and some she had seen only in photos of
faraway lands, all mingled in with hundreds of varieties of late
blooming wild flowers. It was strange how such a vast array of
greenery were able to live in harmony in this one enchanted forest.
The branches of the trees swayed in the crisp morning air, as if
welcoming her home. All of the trees, the grass, the flowers, and
even the blue sky and puffy white clouds seemed much more vibrant
in the light of day. She sensed their presence around her,
thrumming with life and even awareness. The earthy scents whirling
around her were rich and intoxicating. It was the most glorious
morning Morrigan had ever awoken to, despite the fact her muscles
were stiff from spending the night on the hard ground.
As she stretched out on her sleeping roll,
Morrigan never felt more alive. She rolled on her back, happy to
drink in the beauty of the new land that felt so much more like a
home than any of the dozens of foster homes she had stayed in. She
hated to get up, but nature was calling, and some calls had to be
answered. The cats apparently felt just as at home, because they
didn’t even stir as she pulled herself
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