Read Online The Forest of Aisling: Dream of the Shapeshifter (The Willow Series Book 1) by D.S. Elstad - Free Book Online
Authors: D.S. Elstad
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encroaching pack, and stood
my ground. I felt the skin around my mouth stretch and reveal my teeth in
a vicious snarl. The pack quickly backed off, moving slowly back into the
woods. As I turned I saw why. The large gray wolf that had appeared
in my dreams was moving towards me. Instinctually I knew I needed to
cower down, to be submissive. I sensed a power deep within the wolf.
I looked up and found myself being toppled
uncontrollably to the ground. The gray was on top of me, its eyes
piercing deeply into mine. I felt it trying to communicate. The
hypnotic lock of the wolf’s gaze was broken by the sound of a screeching bird
overhead. The wolf looked up and released me, then let out a low
howl. I rolled over and stood up, eye to eye with the creature.
Footsteps and voices were upon us now as the wolf nuzzled close to me, almost
affectionately, its eyes holding tightly onto my own just before it turned and
ran into the woods.
I shook my head and watched in wonder as my
giant paws suddenly became the sneaker-clad feet I had known. Lifting my
bowed head I looked toward the direction of the incoming voices as my eyes met
the disbelieving stare of Quinn, who was shining his flashlight on me.
“It’s a lucky thing Quinn heard that bird
screeching, it’s what led him to you, Willow,” panted Uncle Eagan, trying to
keep pace with everyone.
Quinn continued staring at me, wide-eyed.
Thankfully, he was being quiet about what he saw, probably because he wasn’t
sure himself. And being in the middle of everyone, walking on the path
back to the cars, I wasn’t sure what had just happened either.
“Wait a minute,” Kelleigh stopped and looked
around, “where’s Bram?”
“He was with us when we started running over
here,” Melissa replied.
“Braaaaaammm,” yelled Melissa.
“Really, Melissa? Do you think that’ll do any
good?” Quinn asked shaking his head.
“Oh, wow, how stupid of me.”
“It’s ok, Mel, we all have done that one time or
another,” Sinead offered.
Kelleigh was waving the flashlight in the air in hopes
of Bram seeing it. We were just about to split up and go on yet another
search when Bram stumbled out of the bushes, looking disoriented. Quinn
rushed to his side and began signing his questions. “He says he just got turned
around, that he’s ok, not to worry.” Bram let out a low moan and shook his
head.
Sinead walked over and offered him a drink from
her water bottle. Bram gulped it down, then splashed his face, his eyes
meeting mine as he wiped the excess water from his brow. A faint smile
crept across his lips. I felt a chill as we locked eyes, wondering where
he’d really been.
“Well, now, since everyone is accounted for let’s
be off, shall we, before someone else disappears,” Uncle Eagan said
breathlessly. The excitement of the last hour was taking its toll on him.
Once we made sure Uncle Eagan and Cryer were
home safe and sound, Kelleigh suggested taking me back to the hotel. I
was more than ready; my shoes were muddy, I felt like I had been rolling around
in the dirt – which I guess I had – and was in serious need of a shower.
I sat next to Bram and fought the urge to look up at him. I had a feeling that
he saw more out there in the woods then he was letting on.
Quinn sat up front but kept turning back,
engaged in a conversation with Bram. It was all sign language this
time. Bram said nothing in voice, only with his hands, so I had no idea
what he was talking about – which was ok because I was lost in my own thoughts.
We pulled up to the hotel and Quinn offered to walk me up to the room so
Kelleigh wouldn’t have to find a parking space. I said goodnight to
everyone, then looked at Bram so he could see my face. “I’m glad you’re
ok.”
“I’m glad you’re ok.” He smiled and gently
touched my hand. I felt the warm flush on my face again and was relieved to know
we were in the dark. That
my ground. I felt the skin around my mouth stretch and reveal my teeth in
a vicious snarl. The pack quickly backed off, moving slowly back into the
woods. As I turned I saw why. The large gray wolf that had appeared
in my dreams was moving towards me. Instinctually I knew I needed to
cower down, to be submissive. I sensed a power deep within the wolf.
I looked up and found myself being toppled
uncontrollably to the ground. The gray was on top of me, its eyes
piercing deeply into mine. I felt it trying to communicate. The
hypnotic lock of the wolf’s gaze was broken by the sound of a screeching bird
overhead. The wolf looked up and released me, then let out a low
howl. I rolled over and stood up, eye to eye with the creature.
Footsteps and voices were upon us now as the wolf nuzzled close to me, almost
affectionately, its eyes holding tightly onto my own just before it turned and
ran into the woods.
I shook my head and watched in wonder as my
giant paws suddenly became the sneaker-clad feet I had known. Lifting my
bowed head I looked toward the direction of the incoming voices as my eyes met
the disbelieving stare of Quinn, who was shining his flashlight on me.
“It’s a lucky thing Quinn heard that bird
screeching, it’s what led him to you, Willow,” panted Uncle Eagan, trying to
keep pace with everyone.
Quinn continued staring at me, wide-eyed.
Thankfully, he was being quiet about what he saw, probably because he wasn’t
sure himself. And being in the middle of everyone, walking on the path
back to the cars, I wasn’t sure what had just happened either.
“Wait a minute,” Kelleigh stopped and looked
around, “where’s Bram?”
“He was with us when we started running over
here,” Melissa replied.
“Braaaaaammm,” yelled Melissa.
“Really, Melissa? Do you think that’ll do any
good?” Quinn asked shaking his head.
“Oh, wow, how stupid of me.”
“It’s ok, Mel, we all have done that one time or
another,” Sinead offered.
Kelleigh was waving the flashlight in the air in hopes
of Bram seeing it. We were just about to split up and go on yet another
search when Bram stumbled out of the bushes, looking disoriented. Quinn
rushed to his side and began signing his questions. “He says he just got turned
around, that he’s ok, not to worry.” Bram let out a low moan and shook his
head.
Sinead walked over and offered him a drink from
her water bottle. Bram gulped it down, then splashed his face, his eyes
meeting mine as he wiped the excess water from his brow. A faint smile
crept across his lips. I felt a chill as we locked eyes, wondering where
he’d really been.
“Well, now, since everyone is accounted for let’s
be off, shall we, before someone else disappears,” Uncle Eagan said
breathlessly. The excitement of the last hour was taking its toll on him.
Once we made sure Uncle Eagan and Cryer were
home safe and sound, Kelleigh suggested taking me back to the hotel. I
was more than ready; my shoes were muddy, I felt like I had been rolling around
in the dirt – which I guess I had – and was in serious need of a shower.
I sat next to Bram and fought the urge to look up at him. I had a feeling that
he saw more out there in the woods then he was letting on.
Quinn sat up front but kept turning back,
engaged in a conversation with Bram. It was all sign language this
time. Bram said nothing in voice, only with his hands, so I had no idea
what he was talking about – which was ok because I was lost in my own thoughts.
We pulled up to the hotel and Quinn offered to walk me up to the room so
Kelleigh wouldn’t have to find a parking space. I said goodnight to
everyone, then looked at Bram so he could see my face. “I’m glad you’re
ok.”
“I’m glad you’re ok.” He smiled and gently
touched my hand. I felt the warm flush on my face again and was relieved to know
we were in the dark. That