Chapters 12 & 13

Unfortunatly, after these 2 there is only one full chapter... i've got writers block :(

Chapter 12

Kira didn’t think; she just ran as fast as she could. She just wanted to put as much distance in between her and Scorpio. Once she tripped and fell over a root, were she lay breathing heavily. Thoughts came flooding back to her. She still held the dagger in her hand. Kira rolled onto her back and sat up. She took in all its features; a sharp silver blade, and a smart hilt, with a red ruby stuck in at the bottom. She toyed with the ruby. What if it leads him to us? Thought Agwang. Kira had to admit, she could be right. With that thought in mind, Kira stuck the dagger into the ground and started to run again.

She pushed through the undergrowth and stumbled to a halt. Breathing in great gulps of air, Kira realised she was lost. Completely and utterly lost, and she had no weapons, no shelter. She felt in her pockets and found only a box of matches – three matches left in it. She sat there, despairing, and didn’t even realise until the last moment that Agwang had taken over.

Agwang was free! She leapt up and, on four paws, trotted towards a tree. She could feel her pack; they were close now, but still didn’t know where she was. Alpha! Call to us, Alpha! Tell us where you are! It was them, howling to her. Agwang tipped back her head to howl. Wait, Agwang. It is your turn to remember. Agwang cocked her head to one side and thought. Scorpio. What should we do Kira? She asked. Agwang scented the ground and then the air. She couldn’t smell Scorpio or the boys. Climb that tree, the tall one, and see how far away they are. Wolves don’t climb trees! Agwang protested. Humans do, Kira replied. Agwang growled and jumped. She landed in the tree and, using human hands, began to climb.

When she reached the top Agwang looked around. She smelt a bear, a heard of deer and the wolves. Down wind, Agwang was surprised to smell smoke. She looked towards where it was coming from and saw a tower of smoke just below the horizon. By the smell, they were burning hay, wood and straw. The barn? Agwang thought. Climbing back down the tree, she knew Kira had seen everything. Agwang informed Kira that they were way out of the burning’s hearing range. Let’s just hope it’s the barn, Kira replied.

*

Scorpio looked into the trees, but knew he had lost Kira once again. He swore and turned on his heel, to where the boys were having a great time, burning the barn to the ground. Scorpio had wanted it burned – a place of failure is a place better gone. He toyed with the ruby around his neck. He knew Kira had the dagger. She had stopped moving. The dagger had his calling ruby embedded into it, and wherever it went, Scorpio would follow. He smirked.
“Boss?” It was Corcky again. After Kira had fled he had arrived – a moment too late.
“What?” he snarled. Corcky winced away and glanced to his right. Scorpio looked over his shoulder and met eyes with grey ones. Ash glanced at him and looked away.
‘Why isn’t he burning it?” Scorpio asked Corcky. Corcky turned and surveyed Ash. Then he turned back and shrugged.
“He was the one who went after the girl when she jumped the fall. He seemed pretty weird when we caught’er,” he explained.
“Weird how?”
“He was all kinda... sad, I ‘fink, ‘nd angry that we took her. We had to threaten him to co-operate. He did what I wanted him to, though, afterwards. I dunno what’s wrong with him.”
Scorpio grinned meanly. Kira had an ally? Ash was strange... the things coming from him...and he had grey eyes – Scorpio gasped.
“Corcky,” he said, beckoning Corcky closer, “get rid of him.”
“What d’you mean?”
“Shoot him, make him an outcast, banish him – do anything! Just make sure he will never meet Kira again!”

*

Agwang howled like she never had before. She knew the human boys and Scorpio would not hear, and let it all out. She howled to the sun, to the hidden stars and moon, she howled to the trees and the grass and the life... she howled to her pack and the deer and the bears; she howled, and Kira felt it. It was freedom she had never known. The story of the howl was long and she could tell the world what happened. She could rid herself of all the sadness, the grief, the fear and the anger, and finally move on...

*

The wolves were ecstatic when they heard their leader’s howl. It was the sweetest thing they had known in years, and was so full of emotion they couldn’t help to stop and listen. They sat and panted, ears pricked, and listened. So long it took, so long to go, come to me, my pack! Let us hunt in the gardens and sleep under the stars – the world is ours forever more! Watch yourselves dear ones, for danger is afoot! It stopped, and waited for a reply. The wolves sent up a song. Worry not little Alpha! Together we will chase the Aurora in the Great White, and play in the leaves that fall to the ground! Stay where you lie, and we will meet you there – and such a greeting, such a greeting it shall be!

*
Kira woke up in the dark. The wolves had not come to her yet, but there was a feeling inside that told her they were just around the corner. She grinned and shivered. Her clothes were not prepared for winter, and it was also just around the corner. Some trees seemed already bare, but others still had a green coating of leaves. She stretched and an image flashed before her eyes; Scorpio clutching his side, his green eyes glaring hatred she had never seen before. Suddenly the dark forest wasn’t so friendly. Even Lisa didn’t hate her that badly. Or had it just been the fact she had beaten him? Kira took comfort in that thought.

There was rustling in the bushes behind her and Kira turned. She stood up, and then crouched down again, as the first wolf came through the trees and up to her. She looked him in the eyes, but he glanced away. Knowledge came flooding in from Agwang, and Kira silently thanked her. Kira let her eyes slide from his and follow his body down. Then she lifted her neck and allowed him forwards. The other wolf wagged his tail and nuzzled her under her neck. It tickled but Kira stayed still. He backed off, and Kira crawled after him.
The wolves had found their leader.

Chapter 13

The greeting was grand, just as the wolves had promised. They lavished their leader in love and attention before they regained their social standings and stepped back in line. Kira’s – Agwang’s more like – deputy, or Beta, was a striking male wolf; the wolf that had come to her first. His pelt was a deep lush grey but he had a black muzzle and tail tip. No other wolf argued with him, and Kira found herself calling him Conall. All the other wolves did.

Kira stayed with her wolf pack for four days and grew accustomed to them. She understood their – complicated – language, made up of body language and sounds. Thanks to Agwang, who never strayed to fair back into Kira subconscious, Kira picked up even the subtlest gestures and knew what to do for the welfare of her pack. But things began to cloud Kira’s mind that night of the forth day. The ordeal with Scorpio… everything came sweeping down on her and Kira felt a sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach. She loved the wolf pack and didn’t want to leave, but what happened when winter came about? The nights were already chilly and Kira shivered often. She couldn’t afford to get sick.

That night Kira paced back and forth in the darkness, fighting with Agwang inside her head. I need to go, to find my parents. Your wolf parents are dead Kira – you have none. Maybe my spirit has no parents, Agwang, but my human parents are alive! How do you know Madam Meldina was telling the truth? She helped us didn’t she? I can’t stay with the wolves in winter anyway; I need winter clothes and food, weapons and shelter… all sorts! Agwang didn’t argue. I need humans! Thought Kira as she sat down in the midst of her resting pack. She was longing for company she could speak too; though Kira would never say it out loud, she was lonely.

*

Scorpio toyed with the ruby around his neck, seething. The gash Kira had inflicted on him was bound up and healing. He stood in front of the gang of boys, just staring at the hilt of his dagger, sunk into the ground where Kira had stuck it. The ruby glimmered at him and he bent and snatched it up, wiping away the mud from the blade. Anger welled up inside and split over causing a mature birch to groan and creak before the roots dried up and it tumbled over. Scorpio closed his eyes to regain control over his emotions and turned around to face the boys. They stood cringing in fear.
“She got away again,” stated Corcky.
“No – the chase has merely begun. Hunt her down,” ordered Scorpio. “If it’s the last thing you ever do, find her and bring her to me – alive!”
A strike of lighting lit up the clear sky and several of the boys ducked. Thunder roared a second later, and Scorpio turned away.

*

Kira stepped onto the path. It was a week after the encounter with Scorpio and she had left the pack behind; they did not understand why she felt she must go but they obeyed. I will find you – soon, she had told them. Kira had placed Conall in charge while she was gone. It was only fitting. She sighed and walked on. The town she came to was different to the village Kira had grown in. It was smaller but more compacted and had a labyrinth of winding alleyways. Kira was close to giving in. The only thing that had kept her going while living with the pack was water, and whatever the wolves could scrounge up for her. Fatigue was her main problem, apart from the notion of getting sick.

Kira came to a wooden hut with a bag leaning to the side of it. People were milling around; this was the main road, and on either side of the road were a collection of shops. Kira turned to the sound of clopping hooves as two horses and their riders went passed and disappeared into a barn up the road. A housewife came out of the hut with a baby on her hip, looking bedraggled. She saw Kira with preoccupied eyes and blinked, before setting off down the street with the baby and a basket. Kira heard the woman call out to her friend, but turned back to the bag.

There was a bow, and quiver with a protecting seal for the arrows, with the bag. There was also a rolled up cloak that looked like it was made out of fur… deer. Kira looked around but no one was watching. She needed that stuff, who would notice anyway? Kira treaded cautiously up to the bag and swung the cloak over her shoulders. It was lovely and warm. There was a musky scent on it that was familiar but Kira was to keyed up to notice who’s it was. She picked up the quiver next and then the bow, and finally slung the – heavy – bag over a shoulder.

Kira then noticed an alley that was next to the house. She peered in and from the depths someone shouted, “Hey!” It was the owner of the things Kira had taken! Kira squealed and turned the other way, bolting down the street. The owner came after her, his hood falling as he raced to catch up with the thief. Another bow was in his hand and a quiver slung over one of his shoulders, and as he ran the arrows inside rattled. Kira paced herself and made it out of the town back on to the road she had come from.

Footsteps behind her made Kira go from jog to sprint but it was too late; she dropped the bow and quiver, trying to trip her pursuer, and when that failed she dropped the bag. The footsteps seemed to halt, but then a heavy weight crashed on top of her and Kira was bowled over onto her front. She twisted around… and looked up to a face she’d though she’d never see again.

“Kira?” Ash’s surprised question drew her in and she shut her gapping mouth. He rolled over and off her and stood to the side, uncomfortable.
“Hi, Ash,” she said, avoiding his eye. Kira was full of mixed feelings. She was guilty for taking his stuff, glad she had, upset and angry, confused…
“What are you doing here?” he asked. She told him, truthfully, about finding the wolves and he took it in without flinching or drawing back.
“…But I needed supplies, and found this path.” She concluded. Kira was still wearing Ash’s travelling cloak.
“What are you doing here though?” she said.
“I’ve been… thinking. After you ran I didn’t know why I had let myself go back to the gang… and then,” he choked and continued, “They kicked me out. Drove me away. It was Boss’s orders, I know that much.”
“His name is Scorpio,” Kira said. Ash nodded unconsciously and went back to pick up the items that was been thrown to the ground. Blushing, Kira helped him, and together they stepped into the trees as a cart full of grain moved passed them towards the town.

The two of them felt uncomfortable in each other’s presence; their close past made it so. Kira had forgiven Ash completely, and was just glad of the company. But she was still wary of Ash, and still didn’t know if she could trust him or not. Ash knew what he had done, and was sorry, but he felt that he hadn’t had any choice. In his world, you could trust no one and only took care of yourself. He grimaced and with his tongue felt the bump on his lip that Kira had given him.

Ash shifted the bag and Kira finally noticed the bow she was holding. It was hers – well, the one she had stolen anyway.
“You…?” she spluttered. Ash glanced at her, puzzled. Kira turned to the quiver she was carrying. It was hers as well!
“You kept them,” she said, stating it more than asking it.
“Well, yeah. I didn’t know if I would see you again so I was going to sell them… but now you’re here I guess they belong to you.”
“What about my bag? Or all the food?”
“The gang took the food and shared it. Your bag is here,” Ash answered holding up his bag. “I stuffed it inside mine. Sorry.” He was saying sorry not just for the bag, but also for everything, and she heard it in his voice and his grey eyes.
“It’s ok, Ash,” Kira mumbled.

Neither had noticed the darkening sky and Kira only noticed when Agwang told her to look up. She did, and saw that the sky was now a dark hue of red and orange. Sunset. Ash looked to where Kira was looking and saw the same. He set the heavy bag onto the grassy floor. Kira looked around.
“D’you have the tent?” She asked, grinning. Ash nodded and smiled back. He turned over the bag and let the contents drop out before chucking them out of the way. A green tarpaulin surfaced and Ash handed it to Kira.
“I don’t get why you need that thing,” he told her. “You could just sleep under the stars, with a fire.” Kira shrugged.
“I prefer it, I guess.” She took a side and Ash took the other, and together they strung in up. The walls that Kira had built around herself seemed to slip, and so did those Ash had made. Secret smiles played at both their lips; they were glad they had found each other again even though they did not show it. An ally, Scorpio had thought. Ash was more than that to Kira – he was still not trustworthy, but to Kira, Ash was turning into the first friend she had ever had.

That night they sat by the fire and Ash showed Kira how the gang cooked. They some times used a big flat stone, but they were hard to come by, so mostly they used a spit or a water bag to make soup and heat water. They would never again mention what had happened between them, but that night the two were open with each other, and Ash helped Kira decide what she was going to do.
“What do you think? Should I look for them?” asked Kira, after telling Ash about finding out about the parents she had thought of as dead for the past thirteen years. Ash took another chunk out of some bread and swallowed. Then he nodded.
“Never knew mine, was a street kid all my life,” he confessed. “But yeah, I think if it’s worth it, you should fine them Kira. It’ll keep you out of trouble, at least!” He laughed and Kira smacked him playfully. The firelight sent his eyes a shinning orange.
“And…what will you do?” Kira kept her head down. She wanted Ash to come, but didn’t know what he would think of it.
“Well…I,” he muttered, suddenly uncomfortable. “I guess…well, now that you mention it, I’d thought…maybe – only if you wanted me to…” Kira looked up at him. She could see the same thought she had in his eyes. Kira beamed.
“I’d love you to come, Ash.” Ash sighed with relief and realised that he had been holding his breath.
“Well, it’s settled then.”

Kira rested her head on Ash’s shoulder and stared into the fire. She felt so sleepy and content in this moment. Kira wished it would never end. She turned her head up and met Ash’s eyes… Agwang leapt through the bond that had been made with that gaze and swarmed inside the boy’s head. His own spirit reacted but Agwang snapped at it and it left the body, moving to the closest other body – Kira’s. Agwang growled and looked around, puzzled. Why had she moved herself? It had been the medallion! The medallion’s essence had pushed her out of Kira and into Ash!

Kira felt nausea contain her for a moment and then white flashed before her eyes. Agwang was gone. In place was another soul, a boy’s soul. Ash! Kira searched Ash’s eyes and found a glimmer of amber behind the grey.
“Agwang, come back!” she shouted. Kira felt her heart had been pushed into her throat and her stomach twisted inside out. As a human, she followed her brain, and Agwang played a minor part in her choices. Ash was looking dazed, but he didn’t know what had happened and was staring at Kira, puzzled. He didn’t know what had just happened, that they had switched souls. Kira only knew it because she had become so familiar with Agwang’s presence that the minute it had gone she knew what had happened. There was another flash of white and Kira sat back, blinking. Blame the medallion, not me! Grumbled Agwang. Yes, it was me, said the medallion’s voice – sounding to Kira an awful lot like Madam Meldina’s – but the power will come in useful. Remember, you must learn to use you power and control it, Kira. Dark times are ahead.

*

Kira found out just how useful the new power she had witnessed was over the next few days. As she awoke from a deep untroubled sleep in the tent, with sunlight gleaming through the thin green sheet, for a heart racing second it felt like the morning of her capture; Ash was not in the tent – but she looked through the flap to find him smile and pass her a leaf with breakfast on it.
“What time do you wake?” she yawned.
“Early,” he replied. Kira saw a flash of darkness cross his face, as though Ash were remembering something.
“We start out today,” Kira told him.
“The sooner the better,” Ash agreed.

They packed up the tent and scattered the half-burnt rocks. Ash covered the scorched ground – where the fire had been – with moss and dirt.
“What’re you doing?” Kira snorted.
“Making it look like we were never here. Nature will take care of the rest,” he answered. Ash hitched the bag onto his shoulder and then they set of back down the track to the town. But when they got there, they knew that something had happened.

Masses of people had gathered in the centre of the town and were congregating around – Kira gasped – a gallow. Kira clutched Ash’s arm as she saw who was standing on it with the executer – Madam Meldina!
“Today we witness the hanging of one, Madam; here today for crimes against humanity and practicing religions other than that of Christ,” said the executioner, before chucking the scroll to one side. Madam Meldina’s eyes flashed and she saw Kira.
“We have to save her!” Kira hissed to Ash.
“Leave it to me,” he replied. Ash grabbed an arrow from his quiver and knocked it into his bow. He waited until the executioner was about to sling the loop over Madam Meldina’s neck and let loose. The arrow smacked into the executioners hand and he grunted in pain, then dropped the noose.

The crowd turned to face Kira and Ash, mostly looking angry at their interference. Kira realised she had attracted a huge amount of attention to herself and Ash. Kira could hear muttering from the crowd, and suddenly she knew they had become an – angry, upset – mob. Madam Meldina threw something onto the wooden stage of the gallow and disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke. Kira turned and Ash lowered his bow.
“Run!”

The mob caterwauled and shouted curses at the two strangers that had stopped the death of the witch. Kira and Ash were chased down the main road and out of the side of the town Kira had not ventured to. More people joined up, with pitchforks and torches, to join the massive group chasing the two outcasts. Kira thought her lungs were going to burst. They sprinted on past the outline of trees to pastures and fields where the towns’ people would have been working crops. When they came to a wide stream Kira had no thoughts, only instinct. She leapt and landed on the opposite bank. Ash hesitated on the other side.
“Come on!” Kira shouted. The mob was almost upon Ash, and he looked and saw them before hurdling over the stream and crashing to the ground besides Kira.

The mob stopped then, for none could be bothered to try the leap over the stream. Instead they turned back. Kira didn’t care what they did; she just tore down another field trying to get away from the pursuers. Finally, over come with fatigue and dehydration she and Ash collapsed in the middle of a wheat field.