Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Kira was still shaking as she turned round. Ash had not moved from beside the fire. Already the calm before the storm was building, a harsh wind whistled through the trees. She crouched next to Ash, her hair swinging across her face, in the way. She brushed it back behind her ear and shook Ash.
“Ash,” she whispered, high and frightened.
“Ash, wake up, wake up…” She shook him again.
“Ash!” Kira whined, her voice strained.
“Ash, wake up!” She shook him hard now, and at last revived him.
“Wassamatter?” he mumbled, blinking sleep from his eyes.

“Come on, get in, get in,” Kira practically dragged Ash to the tent, where he willingly collapsed inside.
“The fire…” he muttered.
“Don’t worry, I’ll get it,” Kira whispered. She turned away from the tent and back towards the fire. She would leave it though. Instead, Kira made towards the rocks where the bows were.
“Hide them, keep them dry,” she murmured to herself. Hastily she stuffed them into a tree hollow, already stuffed with the food Kira had bought. Was there something else? Something she needed to do?
“No,” she shook her head and crawled into the tent. Ash was already fast asleep. Kira closed her eyes…that boy could sleep through anything…

*

When Kira finally pulled herself out of a nightmare – involving being gagged and meeting a pair of green eyes – she sat up. It was already morning; the storm had passed. Kira stretched and looked around. Ash had already disappeared. She sat in the tent for a while, listening for any kind of sound. It was unusually quiet. No birds singing, no breeze drifting by. Kira shrugged. She thought she heard an mmm… from in her mind, but ignored it.
“Ash?” She called, peering out of the tent, “Ash?” As she stepped out, Kira saw a flicker of movement behind her. She turned too late. Someone grabbed her from behind, cupping a cloth over her nose and mouth.

Kira screamed. The sound was muffled, but she tried to drag any the hand over the cloth away… she needed air…Kira took a great lung full of the cloth… there was a sickly sweet scent…it was mixed…mixed with the air…in the cloth…the world was spinning… “Night…” rang the words of the…Corcky… Kira groaned…and slumped, unconscious.

Corcky let go of Kira and she fell. He ignored her. He chucked the cloth away and wiped his hands. Whatever Boss has put in it, he thought, is strong stuff. He shuddered. A bickering and shuffling behind him made Corcky turn. Ash crashed into the clearing, held by Billy and Nob. His grey eyes were wide with shock; he was gagged, and his hands were tied behind his back.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the great and noble Ash,” smirked Corcky. Ash refused to look at him; he was staring at Kira, who still lay sprawled on the ground.
“Cute, isn’t she?” he whispered in Ash’s ear. Ash looked at him, his eyes now alarmed and furious.
“Here’re the rules, Ash…” Corcky settled himself down, smirking again…

Kira groaned. She tried to open her eyes. Sleep still lay heavily upon her, and she shook herself and forced her eyes open. They were blurry as they adjusted. It was mid-day. Smirking at her from a metre away was Corcky, who was sitting on a rock playing with a dagger. Kira couldn’t speak; she was gagged. She also had her arms tied behind the tree she had been leaning on. She was utterly stuck, in a very bad situation.

“Good to see you awake – and it’s a good thing you’re alive too, the Boss will be pleased.” Corcky said, standing up.
“And who shall we thank for bringing you in to us? I think it has to be...” He trailed away, as Ash was pushed into the clearing, followed by two other boys.
“…Ash,” Corcky finished. Kira felt ice spread down her body. She had trusted him…trusted him…told him her secret…told him everything…and he had betrayed her. She glared up at him, but his eyes stayed on the floor.
“Ash, why don’t you go the honours?” Ash looked up wildly, saw Corcky’s reaction, and nodded. He stumbled over to Kira, and went behind the tree. Kira felt her bonds loosen, and wrenched her hands free. But Ash was faster; he grabbed her hands as she tried to wriggle free and held them. The two other boys came over and pulled Kira to her feet. Ash let go of her hands – the soft, rough touch disappeared – and then came back as her hands cleared the tree. Her wrists were bound together tightly behind her back.
“I-I-” Ash tried to explain, but Kira turned away. She didn’t want to hear what he had to say.

Kira was led away from the clearing, and through the trees. More and more boys kept appearing, and Corcky always held his dagger to her back. Oh, my bow, Kira thought. Ash would have picked it up… maybe. But would he give it to her – no. At one point they stopped by a stream, and the boys drank. Kira was still gagged but as the boys filled their water flasks. Kira nudged it away from her mouth with her shoulder. When they started moving again, Kira nudged it once more and it came loose. She breathed in a deep gulp of the fresh air.
“Where are you taking me?” She asked Corcky, turning on him. He was surprised to find her gag around her neck, but quickly got over it.
“To the Boss.”
“Why?” Corcky turned her back around and pressed the dagger into her back.
“Boss won’t be very pleased if you kill me,” she warned him, “Now tell me why you’re taking me to your Boss!” Corcky pushed her on. She stumbled, but kept her balance, and began to walk forwards.
“We’re taking you to Boss because he told us to ‘bring the girl at the waterfall’ who just so happens was you.” Kira felt her mind whirring. Lisa had left her at the waterfall…she must have talked to someone…Boss was the bad force…he had talked to Lisa…he wanted Kira...Kira the Menphur... A flash of memory showed Kira the green eyes she had seen in the Inn. They were the same eyes as the ones in her nightmare…and half of the nightmare had already come true…it just didn’t fit together. But she knew one thing – Boss’s eyes were green. He wanted her – but why?

*

The group traipsed through the woods all day, finally coming to a stop as it neared dark. Kira’s legs felt weak; she had been walking all day. The rest of the troop sat wearily down and began to make camp. Corcky ordered some of the boys to tie Kira up to a tree – Ash being one of them. There was a stream close too were the camp was being prepared, and Kira heard it. Her lips were parched and her throat was dry, and she let the boys drag her a few paces away from the camp before stopping to tie Kira up.
“I’ll do it,” Ash volunteered, and the two others didn’t complain, they were too tired. Ash watched them go and then turned to face Kira. Kira looked to the ground. She didn’t want to speak to Ash, listen to him; didn’t want anything to do with him.

“Kira, I –”
“Don’t want to hear it!”
“No! You have to listen to me!” Ash pulled her towards him so they met eye to eye. She was still not tied to the tree. Kira struggled free and lashed out at Ash, though her hands were still bound. She tried to run there and then but Ash lunged and grabbed her legs tripping her. Hot tears began to well up in Kira’s eyes, but she blinked them away so Ash wouldn’t see. She lay quietly in the leaves. She wouldn’t move, wouldn’t struggle. Ash got up and wiped his hands, scattering dirt. He tied a length of rope to the tree and then to Kira’s binds. Kira realized she was on a lead. Ash then lay down next to her, and Kira closed her eyes to block him out. She could feel his grey eyes on her, feel his warm breath.
“Kira…I didn’t want this. I didn’t know what they were going to do; I didn’t plan it. Someone must have followed me to you. I never –”
“Never what? Expected this?” Kira sat up. “We live in a hard world Ash. Sometimes – sometimes bad things happen and we – we just have to try and get out of them. Unfortunately for me, my whole life is being circled by bad things, and you’re just making it worse!” She pulled on the rope as an example and sat with her back to him.

Ash sighed, and got up off the floor. Bad things did seem to circle Kira; her torn and worn pants showed it, she has holes in her shoes. She hair looked like it hadn’t been washed for days, and her long sleeved shirt was going to be no use with winter coming on. She buried her face in her hands, and heard Ash’s footsteps recede. Kira heard him turn and then say,
“I will never give away your secret,” he whispered. A breeze blew by, and Ash was gone.

That night was a long one. Kira stayed up for most of it, out of cold more than fear. She sat towards the camp, were she could see the fires gleaming. A tent had been set up near her, for her guard. The closest fire was that of the guards; but Kira was on the edge of it. She stood up and moved as close as her lead would let her. The orange glow only just hit her. It was here Kira decided to organise her mind and sort out her confused thoughts. She began with Menphurs:

Menphurs were all that Madam Meldina had told her about. Everything was connected to Kira being a Menphur – but how? She closed her eyes. Suppose, she thought, Agwang is the pack’s Alpha? Meaning I am their Alpha? She pushed that away. Madam Meldina’s note popped up in her mind; she mustn’t forget the pack. She needed to find her parents – and learn her powers. What powers? Menphurs switch souls – and the book had said they do more. Kira shook her head and cleared her mind again. The wolf pup was Agwang… her human soul was gone…was never coming back-

-A pair of hands pushed Kira over and she opened her eyes. All thoughts slid from her head. It was Corcky who was to take Kira’s first watch. Kira growled at him. She was not in the mood.
“What?” She spat.
“Nothing, just checking you still awake,” he snickered. Kira rolled her eyes. Corcky sat near the fire and placed a rock on to it. It was a flat rock and rested between four big rocks around the edge of the fire. Out of his pack Corcky took a carefully wrapped package. Kira watched as he opened the package and the smell of meat wafted over to Kira. Her mouth watered. Corcky spat on to the rock; it gave a satisfying hiss and Corcky spreads the meat over it. Kira sat back. He’s cooking, she thought.

Leaning her head against a tree, Kira tried to block out the smell of the cooking meat. It was difficult, seeing as she hadn’t eaten for a while. Corcky glanced over at her every now and then, to sneer and then prod the meat so the smells wavered off it more… Kira feel into a trance. Agwang wanted to get out. She wanted food… the smell was too much…No! Kira forced herself up. What had happened? Good, Kira. Learning to control your soul is the first step in using your strengths…your powers. It was the voice, in her head. What? Agwang was trying to get out! Exactly. Don’t let her out unless you want her out. Ok, she thought. It will probably prove more difficult said than done, she muttered.

Corcky stood up and stretched. He looked at the moon and then yawned.
“I’m off to my tent,” he exclaimed.
“What?” asked Kira, confused.
“You heard me, my shifts over. I’m going to sleep.” He picked up his pack.
“But – But what about the meat?” Kira asked.
“What about it? It’s not for me, I’ve had some already,” he snorted. A glint was in his eye. Kira’s stomach clenched. She felt rage swell inside.
“You! I – I…” She struggled against her lead, tugging at the rope. Corcky snickered.
“You what?”
He turned and walked away. Kira slumped down, fuming. Corcky had done that on purpose. Kira thought; I could let Agwang out, let her do what she wanted. But what if she howled? I can’t reach it from here… is there a stick I can use? Kira looked around, in the grass, around the bushes and up in the tree. She found a forked stick with two branches coming off to make a slanted ‘Y’ shape. She stripped some bendy bark and then grabbed some long grass and vines and sat weaving them onto the branch.

When it was ready, Kira shuffled forwards towards the fire and held out her hands. This was as far as she could go. She eased the branch out and edged it forwards, until she was only holding the very edge. The branch was in the fire. She hoped it wouldn’t burn before she could get the meat. The meat was scraping onto the branch…it was coming on…Kira could smell it. It was there! She had it! Breathing a silent thank-you, Kira drew the branch in and grabbed the meat. The heat shocked her and she dropped it in the grass. She licked her fingers… the juices came off and made her mouth water…Kira lurched…pain struck… and she scrunched up…

Agwang wanted the meat. She searched around for it – found it – and wolfed it down. She licked her lips and prepared to go and find her pack. She heard them howling; they were too far away for human ears, but she could hear them. But they were too far away. She sat on her haunches and threw back her head to howl to them. No! It was Kira. Kira’s presence was there. You do not want to find the pack? Agwang asked. I do, said Kira, but do not howl for them! Agwang cocked her head, and thought, why? Why should I listen to the human? I have never listened to humans before, why now? I am the Alpha! She lifted her muzzle to the moon…

…Kira forced her way through and took control. She shuddered and sat down with her back to the tree. It was only then she noticed a pair of eyes…grey eyes.
“Ash! Just come out!” she barked. Ash slid from the woods, bow strung.
“Ash?” Kira faltered. She saw the look in his eye… that wild fear of the hunter. She had seen it before, in the eyes of the farmers, when there was news of wolves in the area.
“Ash… Ash please! It’s not what you think!” She stood up and strained on her lead. Ash took a step back and tensed his bow.
“You’re a… a – wolf!” he cried.
“Ash – listen! I told you I was a Menphur…the switching souls thing…my soul is wolf, but I’m still me! You wanted me to listen to you – now listen back!” She took a step forwards and Ash loosed his arrow. It hit the tree behind Kira, missing her by inches.
“You didn’t listen to me, though!” Ash snarled. Kira sighed.
“Have it your way,” she sat down away from the camp, from Ash, from the fire. She sat as far as her lead would let her and went behind a tree, and began to sob.