‘Good morning, Loher. Any news?’

  It’s Loherangrin... A sigh. Never mind. And no, there is no sign of the wolf. You don’t have to keep asking every single day.

  Vivian sighed. Seemed like today was a bust as well.

  It had been three days since Vivian visited Felix and convinced him to help her find the stygian wolf. Three days since she asked the druscans to keep an eye out for the elusive shadow creature. Three days of watching Aiden stumble around dead on his feet, looking well prepared for the grave. Last evening, he had finally given in and decided to stay at home, seeing as he could barely keep his eyes open. She had visited him that morning. The boy didn’t even leave his bed, exhausted as he was. Vivian had to stay six feet away just to make sure her shadow wasn’t anywhere near him.

  ‘... Is Felix still...?’ he asked hesitantly.

  Vivian shrugged. ‘I talked to him. I’m sure he’ll come around eventually. He just needs some time.’

  Aiden sighed. ‘This is the worst. I don’t think I can look him in the eye anymore... Perhaps I should just stay away.’

  Vivian rolled her eyes. ‘Yes, of course. Avoid conversation. That will fix everything.’

  Felix did seem like he had forgiven Aiden, even admitting that he had been overly sensitive, but it seemed like he wasn’t ready to face Aiden just yet. Still, Vivian had done everything she could. Now, it was up to them to get over their pride and fix this themselves.

  ‘He’s agreed to help me find that wolf. If that doesn’t say that he’s moved past it, I don’t know what will.’

  Aiden slumped back against his pillows. ‘He could just be doing it out of a sense of obligation.’

  Vivian wanted to tear her hair out. ‘What obligation?! He doesn’t owe you anything!’

  Aiden remained quiet, his face pensive. Vivian threw her hands up in frustration. ‘I give up. You two are impossible! You can fix this yourselves. I’m done!’

  Vivian moved towards the door, yanking it open only to find an eavesdropping Bruz on the other side, a platter with a cup balanced precariously in one hand.

  ‘Leaving so soon Miss Vivian,’ Bruz asked politely, still rubbing the slightly red ear that was up until a moment ago, pressed against the door.

  ‘Eavesdropping?’ Aiden asked. ‘In all seriousness Bruz, who raised you? I need to file a complaint.’

  Bruz looked utterly unperturbed. ‘l shall inform my mother.’ He held out the platter in his hand, the cup of tea sitting there long since gone cold. ‘Tea, Miss Vivian?’

  ‘Uh, no, thank you.’

  ‘Shame. Oh well, shouldn't let good tea good to waste.’ Bruz took a sip out of the cup only to spit it back out immediately. ‘Which this is not. Good call, Miss Vivian.’

  ‘Right...’ Vivian said slowly, before remembering that she was supposed to be angry. ‘Anyway, I’m leaving.’

  Vivian heard Bruz sighing as she left. ‘Well then sir, shall I arrange tea for one, with a single muffin and a lonely biscuit.’

  ‘Bruz!’

  ‘What?’

  Vivian loved that goblin.

  .........

  ‘Are you really not going to see him?’ Vivian asked exasperatedly. ‘I thought you had forgiven him.’

  Two days later, Vivian and Felix were walking down the winding road through the fields, the evening sun painting the world gold around them. The air was cold, near frigid, as they huddled inside their woollen cloaks, rubbing their gloved hands together for warmth.

  So cold... It might even snow tomorrow...

  Their breath fogged the air as they trudged towards the cottage, an inviting beacon of warmth in the distance. The goblins were gathering their tools, wrapping up their day of work with one final song. Vivian nodded at Feruz as she passed, too cold to stop to have a conversation. Feruz nodded back while still singing, slinging his sack over his shoulder before moving to join the others. Vivian turned her attention back to Felix once the song had faded away.

  ‘Well, aren’t you?’

  Felix sighed. ‘It’s not that simple.’

  ‘Why not?’ Vivian asked gently, exercising every bit of patience she had.

  ‘I... I over-reacted alright. It’s embarrassing. I was stupid.’

  ‘More so than usual?’ Vivian quipped. ‘You’ve done plenty of embarrassing things. Mostly involving Peri, but you’ve done them.’

  ‘Yes, but that’s just how he and I communicate.’ Felix grinned. ‘It’s fun to see him get irritated.’

  ‘Suicidal is a better word for it.’ Vivian grinned too. ‘But yes, it is fun to watch.’

  ‘But this, with Aiden, this is serious.’ Felix frowned. ‘I knew he was in pain, that he couldn’t sleep and therefore couldn’t think straight. In that situation, a real friend would’ve been understanding instead of making it all about themselves. I didn’t. And so, I’m not going to show my face in front of him till I find that wolf.’

  Vivian rolled her eyes. ‘Well, I’ve done all I can. You two can figure it out from here.’

  Felix smiled. ‘I know this hasn’t been easy-’

  Vanessa! A familiar voice broke into Vivian’s mind. Over here peasant. I have news!

  Vivian grabbed Felix’s arm. ‘It’s Loher. He says he has news.’

  The two of them hurried towards the proud druscan, his branches seeming to almost wave them over. Is that the fastest you can move? The scar-faced ruffian is right. You are in terrible shape.

  If Peri actually heard that, he’d probably agree with you, and then chop you down for firewood.

  He can try... Anyway, we have news. One of the druscans in the inner woods send word that they spotted the stygian wolf. Caught a glimpse of it leaving a cave in the cliffside.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Loher, you beautiful... tree!

  Vivian turned to Felix. ‘They found it! Deep in the woods.’

  ‘That’s great!’ Felix finally seeming to recover some of his excitable energy. ‘When do we go after it?’

  ‘That’s... our next problem.’ Vivian rubbed the back of her head. ‘Sith was very clear that she didn’t want us stepping foot in the woods.’

  ‘Well... technically she forbade you. I wasn’t there.’ Felix had a grin that spelled trouble spreading across his face. ‘Say we were to pretend that I didn’t know it was forbidden and went into the woods alone...’

  ‘Why, I’d have no other option than to follow you,’ Vivian said, matching his grin. ‘To protect you, of course.’

  Felix hummed in agreement. ‘Everyone knows how delicate a creature I am. I need the protection.’

  ‘So... tonight?’

  Felix nodded. ‘Tonight.’

  .........

  Vivian crept down the stairs as quietly as she could, cursing every plank that creaked under her feet in her head. At one point, she stopped, holding her breath as she thought she heard something move above her. After a minute, when no footsteps sounded down the stairs, she started moving again. She managed to make it to the front door without waking anyone. Before she stepped out, she patted her side to make sure she had her dagger. She hoped she wouldn’t have to use it, but better safe than sorry. Her knapsack was quite light, carrying just a torch, a length a rope and some pieces of meat she had managed to sneak out of the pantry when Sith and Peri weren’t looking. She wasn’t sure how they were going to see in the dark in the middle of the woods, but Felix had told her to leave that to him. She had just gripped the door handle when a familiar sound reached her ears.

  Mrow.

  Vivian whipped around, squinting into the dark room to find the three tailed cat she knew was there.

  ‘Ebion,’ she whispered into the darkness. ‘Come here.’

  She heard the soft pitter-patter of cat paws on the wooden floor as Ebion swaggered his way over to her, seeming to be in no hurry whatsoever. Vivian knelt down to stroke him behind the ears. The cat purred, which in the silence sounded louder than it usually did. Vivian raised a finger to her lips.

  ‘Listen, I have something I need to do. So, I need you to be quiet right now. Do not mess this up for me.’

  Ebion tilted his head in question. Mrow.

  ‘I’ll be back soon. Just don’t wake up Sith or Peri. Do that, and you can eat whatever you want off my plate for the next month.’

  Ebion rubbed himself against her leg. Mrow, he said, before jumping up on her shoulder and then onto her head.

  ‘Wait, no Ebion!’ Vivian exclaimed, trying to keep her voice to a whisper. ‘You can’t come with me!’

  When she tried to pull Ebion off her head, the cat sunk his tiny claws into her head, definitely drawing a little bit of blood. Vivian bit her lip to keep herself from yelping in pain. She sighed. The cat was glued to her head, and if she tried to pull it off, it might cause a ruckus.

  ‘Fine, you can come with me.’ Vivian grabbed the door handle again, slowly pulling it open. ‘But you need to stay right there. Do not move from my head. Understand?’

  Ebion mrowed in response, and licked his paws, seeming unbothered. Sighing once again, Vivian finally stepped out of the house and into the cold, night air. It was past midnight. The sky was pitch black as Vivian made her way over to the meeting point. It was a moonless night. Not willing to risk lighting a torch so close to the house, she had to depend on her slightly heightened vision to make her way towards the woods. She tripped and stumbled several times on her way, Ebion mewling in protest from his perch on her head every time he was jerked back and forth. In the distance, she could see a head of pale, blonde hair, moving back and forth as its owner paced in front of the woods, with what seemed to be a ball of light clasped in his hands. Vivian jogged the last bit of distance to reach him, Felix’s head snapping up as she approached.

  ‘Where were you?’ he hissed.

  She simply pointed to the cat on her head.

  ‘Oh, never mind then,’ Felix said, adjusting the bow and quiver of arrows on his back. He lifted up the ball of light in his hands. ‘What do you think? Pretty neat right?’

  Vivian leaned in curiously. ‘What is it?’

  ‘I got it from Ayda’s general goods store.’ He held it up so she could take a closer look at it. ‘It’s called an illuminator. Not a very creative name, but it does describe it perfectly.’

  ‘How does it work? Does it just keep glowing forever?’

  ‘No, no.’ Felix shook his head. ‘It only works as long as you pour your mana into it.’

  ‘Are you…’

  ‘Oh, gods no. I can barely make a breeze. I don’t know how to use mana like that. Look,’ He flipped the sphere upside down, and pointed at a small metal base. ‘There’s a small mana reserve in there that’s powering it, so it’ll last until it runs out of power.’

  Vivian tapped a finger against the ball. ‘I wonder how you even make one of these.’

  Felix shrugged. ‘I asked, and she said something about a weave, but I didn’t really understand it. Sounds like-’

  Felix was interrupted by a loud yowl from Ebion, followed by some hissing and spitting. The feline was clearly telling them to stop wasting time and get moving.

  Felix fixed Ebion with an annoyed look. ‘He is so loud. Are we really taking him with us?’

  ‘If we don’t, he’ll probably wake up Sith and Peri out of spite.’

  Felix shrugged. ‘Oh well, the more the merrier I suppose.’

  ‘Then I’m sure you wouldn’t mind if I tagged along,’ a familiar voice interjected from out of nowhere.

  The two of them jumped in fright. For the second time that night, Vivian whipped around trying to place the owner of the voice. It took her an embarrassing amount of time to make out the silhouette of a man leaned against a nearby rock outcrop. One who had fixed the two of them in his ice blue stare, an eyebrow raised in question, waiting for their reply.

  ‘Peri,’ Vivian said, scrambling to come with an excuse for their presence near the woods so late at night. ‘I thought you were asleep. What’re you doing here?’

  ‘I could ask you the same thing.’

  ‘We were just... moon-watching.’ Clearly, her brain wasn’t cooperating with her efforts to come up with a believable excuse. ‘It is truly beautiful tonight.’

  Peri glanced up at the sky, at the empty sky devoid of even a sliver of the moon. He looked back at her with a mixture of disbelief and pity. ‘You really need to learn how to lie better.’

  Vivian sheepishly rubbed the back of her head. ‘So, I’m guessing you already know why we’re here.’

  ‘It wasn’t hard to figure out.’ Peri snorted. ‘You came back home today with a stupid grin on your face and a look that clearly meant trouble. You’re lucky I had the foresight to keep you away from Sith today. She would’ve figured it out in a heartbeat.’

  Felix looked around nervously. ‘Is Sith...?’

  Peri shook his head. ‘Fast asleep. I might have encouraged her to indulge a bit more in her love of good wine today. Suffice to say, your gift was put to good use. Now,’ Peri crossed his arms and glared down at them. ‘What are you two doing here?’

  ‘I thought you said you already knew,’ Felix replied.

  ‘I do. But I want to hear you say it so that you can understand how moronic it is when you do.’

  ‘It’s not moronic!’ Vivian argued back. ‘We’re going to help a friend.’

  ‘By putting yourself in danger?’ Peri asked sternly. ‘Tell me, how would this friend feel if something happened to you while you were trying to help him?’

  ‘We need to do something,’ Felix said, backing up Vivian. ‘We can’t just sit here and watch him get worse without at least trying.’

  ‘I’m not arguing with that,’ Peri intoned calmly. ‘But jumping headfirst into danger isn’t the solution. You need to learn to come up with a plan. Did either of you even consider asking someone for help?’

  ‘We did ask,’ Vivian defended. ‘You saw how fast Sith rejected that.’

  ‘Second lesson. Learn whom to ask for what kind of help. You know how Sith is. She was never going to say yes. Neither would Cyrus. But you do know people who would’ve said yes. Such as Dixie, and me.’

  A silent pause followed his statement. ‘Wait, are you saying you’re coming with us?’

  Peri rolled his eyes. ‘Yes genius, I’m coming with you.’ He glanced over the two of them. ‘I suppose I should just be grateful that you’ve brought your weapons with you. Not that you know how to use them, but at least you remembered.’

  Vivian and Felix exchanged an annoyed look. It wasn’t their fault that they didn’t know how to use them. Their instructor had decided that they needed to learn how to evade an attack before they could even think of attacking. So, for the past three days, Peri had been chucking stones, pebbles and anything else he could get his hands on at them and yelling ‘duck!’ as they scrambled across the field trying to avoid getting hit.

  He rarely missed.

  ‘Well, who’s fault is that?’ Felix grumbled.

  Peri gave him a rare, patient look. ‘Most mages are long range fighters. And their attacks move faster than a stone, especially a lightning mage,’ Peri explained. ‘When fighting a mage, you need to be able to predict where they will strike, instead of just reacting once the shot is fired,’

  ‘So, we’re supposed to learn how to read minds?’ Felix asked exasperatedly.

  Peri shrugged. ‘Once you manage to dodge at least a third of the things I throw at you, I’ll start teaching you how to use weapons. For now, just try to keep the pointy ends away from yourselves,’ Peri advised. ‘And from each other.’

  Peri turned to face the dark, ominous woods that loomed over them in the dark night. ‘So, how does this work? How to do I get through without getting shredded by the trees?’

  ‘You just… stick with me, I suppose, and I’ll tell any who ask that you’re not an enemy.’

  ‘Very well then.’ Peri held out a hand, gesturing Vivian forward. ‘Lead the way.’