I felt the prickling of power run across my skin, raising goosebumps on my arms.
I lifted my head off Alexia's fur enough to look in front of us.
I saw it, I saw Amearia's safe place.
The place I ran to for safety, for advice, for anything. She always told me the circle would open for me and protect me. The Ash tree was standing tall and strong, covered in leaves; the blackness didn't touch it. Zary, her familiar, was lying there under the tree. Strength ran off the air around him. I saw her flowers, the yellows, blues, greens, and the reds that circled her area. I saw the brown fence that she made to keep strangers away; granted, it didn't always work. Most people couldn't step into her circle.
Alexia jumped, and I felt another pair of hands on my back legs. Before I could make a noise, she landed in the sacred area, and I was let go. I looked up and watched the hands disappear into the shadow.
That wasn't normal, was it?
I heard the male chuckle again on the wind and felt myself shiver. I slid off Alexia's back and walked to the center of the sacred area.
Zary got up and walked over to me. His fur raised and made a sharp trail down his back. His growl was deeper than Alexia's, but the meaning meant the same.
"Looks like I'll have to come back. Don't think this means we're done, little pup."
I spun around, to where the voice came from, just in time to see a pair of red eyes glaring out from behind the shadows and a pale white hand extended towards us with nails that looked like they would cut if they just touched you. I felt the color drain from my face and kept my eyes locked on his, willing him to leave. The shadows covered almost every facial feature, but those eyes.
Red almond-shaped eyes kept looking at me. I felt myself shiver, and Alexia walked in front of me. Cutting off my sight from his eyes and she howled, a deep howl that sounded of sadness but also of warning. Zary joined her, and I heard a laugh on the wind.
I lay against her, her two paws sat on both sides of me while she kept standing. My back against her chest, and the bottom of her muzzle rested on the top of my head. My heart was pounding in my ears, and my hand kept a hold of a patch of fur on her legs. I never believed what Professor Sanders said about mental shields or safe places. I should start paying more attention in his class.
I turned around and put my face in her fur, bringing in her calming scent. Honey and Vanilla, with a hint of sandalwood. I never expected a wolf to smell almost like a home, the musk of the forest, and the softness of the wind, almost made me think it's what the smell of freedom was.
I felt Zary move closer to us, and thought it was crazy that my best friend's familiar came to protect me. It might just be my dream, and trying to think of something to protect me, but I was thankful. Zary died the same night as Amearia. We were told it's part of the familiar pact, that he was a part of her, just like she was a part of him.
I turned around and reached out to pet his fur, almost panicking when I didn't feel anything. I raised my eyebrow and looked at him. He looked at me with those blue eyes, and understanding was in them. He knew I needed him. I felt the burn of tears as they rolled down my face. I couldn't help it.
I wanted him and Amearia back. I wanted my best friend back.
"I miss her, Zary, I miss you." I felt the months-old sobs threatening to come back to the surface as I kept my eyes on him, afraid he'd fade away as soon as I looked away.
I knew when I woke, he wouldn't be there, but dammit, I missed him.
He lowered his head in a nod, and I felt Alexia do the same.
Then he spiraled up as a greyish blue mist, and for a moment, it twisted and then took the shape of a lunar pendant.
I sat up and reached for it. The beautiful metal had the perfect imprint of a crested moon and a paw print on it. It fell into my hand, and it felt warm, even if it was a dream. It felt like he gave the last bit of himself to protect me and made a protection ward.
I turned to Alexia and started to get up. She shook her head, sending her fur all around me in little waves. I stopped and looked out into the darkness again, surrounded by Amearia's flowers. I felt like maybe I could see if Red Eyes was still out there. The air wasn't as heavy, but something was still there.
I carefully climbed back up on her back and lowered my head against her fur. A part of my head wanted to believe that if I couldn't see him, he couldn't see me.
"What do I do? How do I get him out?" I sounded like a scared child. Like nothing I could do would get the boogeyman out of my closet.
He won't leave, not yet. He's watching.
He knows it's time, but you haven't been able to do anything yet.
Due to not knowing your heritage.
I felt the first thread of anger creep into the back of my head; the familiar warmth made me sit up and start to yell,
"Then tell me! Why is he trying to kill me? Why is everything a damn secret?!"
I tightened my grip on the pendant Zary made me and wiped the tears from my face with the back of my hand. Anger was comforting, but it wouldn't help me at this moment.
I almost screamed the last part and heard a raven caw from somewhere.
Maybe now wasn't the best place to let panic and anger take me over.
She huffed, and I felt her muscles tense.
Do you trust me?
I nodded my head, although there was a thread of doubt with everything that was going on. How could I not?
She just saved my life.
Good, I'm going to try and help you. I can't explain much, but I can try to show you instead. Close your eyes, listen to my heartbeat. Try to follow the pattern until it's in sync with yours. You must calm your mind, even though I know it's hard. You must.