Part 1

 

“I don’t have to sacrifice anything do I?” Hyacinth asked.

“Some pride I imagine.” Leon brought a hand full of water to his lips to hide his grin. Hyacinth of Brule pack watched him through the fog. The soft rays of sunrise were ethereal through the mist and made the stream and her husband glow. Husband in her sister’s sense of the word.

“Are you supposed to drink from a Holy stream like a…” She stopped herself before saying “dog”.

Leon sputtered and water came out his nose. He snorted and coughed then lost his balance, only just steadying himself as he laughed.

She grinned. Seeing him so happy did things to her heart.

“Oh my dear bride.” Leon wiped his eyes and chuckled.

Hyacinth winced as he blew his nose in his hand then washed the dripping snot in the stream. She put on her best neutral look.

Smooth river stones shifted under her bare feet. Magic never made sense to her to begin with. She would have been excommunicated in Irren for mentioning magic and the Light in the same sentence and now she was doing magic in the Light's name? Well, she would have likely been excommunicated for becoming a werewolf, so she supposed magic was the least of her concerns there.

“How likely is it that the ceremony will work?” She shivered, cold out of wolf form.

With an ease she envied, Leon pushed through the swiftly flowing water and closed the distance between them. He wrapped his arms around her waist.

She kept still, feeling as though any stir from her would break their new connection.

“How old do you think I am?” He asked.

She blinked, feeling older than him most of the time. There were moments he seemed older and more grounded than the mountains themselves. “A couple centuries I imagine.”

“Right around two hundred.” He looked over her shoulder, eyes distant. “Do you know what I’ve learned of love in that time?” He didn't wait for a response as his face lit with sudden passion, “Love isn’t about what a body looks like or can do. It’s the one thing we can never grow tired of.” He met her eyes. Was that a speck of desperation there? “Have faith. Faith in me and the Light. That’s the only way it will work.”

Faith? Her heart twisted. Blind trust?

A chorus of cats meowing had Leon looking like a fish had jumped up and slapped him.

Hyacinth laughed. Her cats were on the other side of of the wide creek. Frosty batted at the stream looking offended that it blocked his way. She wasn’t sure why they didn’t wade through since they were nearly the size of mountain lions now.

They mewed again, it sounded urgent. Though what noise from a cat didn’t? It still made Hyacinth’s forehead crinkle into a frown to see them here.

“The banshees.” Leon sighed, squeezing her hand. His face took on an expression of tender longing. “Please, say you’ll wait for me to return from this arduous meeting.”

She giggled and he grinned before transforming into his dark wolf form and bounding over to the cats.

The cats and Leon stared at each other a few minutes then the cats ran off.

Hyacinth waded to the bank as Leon returned and turned human, his expression distant again. “They were concerned for us.”

“Concerned? That I’ve been gone so long?” She asked.

“We have centaurs on the way.” Leon said.

“What? Here?” Fear coursed through her even as she felt her mind snap to attention. Looking at Leon, she felt ready for battle and more terrified than she’d been in years. Two werewolves against a herd? Their entire pack had barely pushed them back when they’d attacked their camp.

“We need to return to camp. But you aren’t ready.”

“I’m ready.” She said. It’d been two weeks, she’d been in human form only twice. Everything felt natural, as if she’d been a wolf her whole life.

“It’s best for you to learn to control your Turning before returning to the pack. Before you're challenged.” He looked skyward looking frustrated. “And before fighting centaurs.”

Hyacinth wanted to scream. How was it that she was a werewolf and still unable to help? Was he being over protective now that she was his wife? Her vision flickered, a growl escaped her.

Leon’s eyes snapped to hers in alarm.

She felt her body shift this time, the pleasant feeling of stretching as one yawned. Warmth returned as her pelt sprouted up but she took no pleasure in it. Her focus was on Leon’s throat. She lunged at him.

Leon was in wolf form with jaws around her neck in a blink.

She slipped out of his hold before he had a firm hold and he was left with a mouthful of loose hair. He growled and so did she, her anger making it hard not to give into the impulse to attack.

She needed to stay mindful, use the warrior part of her mind here but it was hard. Her wolf mind seemed to elbow her human mind away from her each time she reached for it. Her paw touched water and she stopped, he was trying to herd her into the stream.

She shook off the impulse to freeze and moved forward slowly, pushing him back. Except he didn’t move back, he moved towards her until they were a foot apart. She knew she was in over her head a moment before his teeth flashed and he had a hold of her neck again.

She jerked away but couldn’t get loose. She jerked and flailed harder until he clamped down hard enough to make her yip in pain. She stopped, anger make her shake.

Then he started leaning on her neck, making her lay down. She would not lay down. Her wolf side took over completely. She flailed and snarled. The pain in her neck got worse and felt wet until she was whimpering. But she slipped free and immediately went for his neck and set to work making him kneel.

Only he was a good hundred pounds heavier and his neck was all thick fur. She tried to dig down with long fangs to grasp skin but he threw her off, hard, and into the stream. The rushing water burned her neck and rolled her until she didn't know which way was up. Her human mind snapped back and she pushed through the shock that years of battles had conditioned her to. She flailed her paws and got her feet onto smooth river stone. Pushing against the barrage of water, she nearly gave in, then she spotted Leon on the bank. Wolf mind took over and pushed her to get to the bank. She lunged when close enough and he side stepped turning human as he did.

“Stop it.” He snapped.

Bright red smeared against white and gold embroidery on Leon’s robe made Hyacinth’s human mind snap back into full control.

Was he hurt? What was she doing?

It hurt to turn back but she forced herself to, afraid to be in wolf form any longer. Before she was able to ask if he was okay, pain drove her to her knees.

“You idiot.” Leon hurried over looking pained. “Turn back, your human form can’t take this right now.”

She did and lay on her side. Leon was above her, eyeing her neck. He touched it gently and she yelped.

He let out a low chuckle, “You’ll be alright, in a bit. You really are an idiot. I can’t believe you got away from me.”

She let out a halfhearted growl, her mind going fuzzy as wolf and human mind battled amid her pain You’re an idiot.

He turned and snuggled up to her. We don’t have time for this.

Her mind straightened out and she felt relief at the warmth of him against her back. Spent anger left her feeling like the idiot she was. Attacking him for unfounded reasons?

I’m an idiot. She conceded. Are you alright?

He let out a quiet howl. Laughter. I’m completely fine.

So that was her blood on his robe. She let herself doze lightly a few minutes, it helped the pain.

What am I going to do with you? Leon sighed after a while, Matters won’t stop for your Wolf Moon.

What just happened? Why..Her thoughts seemed to flit about her head like flies, something seemed to snap and suddenly my wolf side controlled me.

Now you understand why I can’t have you around the pack. You are still coming to terms with your new nature. It happened last week too, don’t you remember?

She’d tried to bite Leon during a hunt. It had been disturbing to her at the time but the impulse had been fleeting. She figured it was simply something apt to happen during a hunt on occasion, not this all consuming force that overcame her.

It’s normal for pups to get this way when things are stressful. It’s why we keep you away for a moon to adjust. He nudged her back gently. Why doesn’t anyone want to listen to those who know better? You all have to find out for yourselves don’t you? Run into a couple of a boulders to learn lessons.

Hyacinth huffed.

It was good to know she was normal. Only, how did one learn to control it?

We have to meet the pack. He got up, body tense. You’ll have to fight if challenged and there is nothing I can do for you. I hope my pack is wiser than a moon pup and save their challenges for after your Wolf Moon.

Hyacinth got to her feet, swaying but already feeling stronger. The knowledge that she would likely be dead in minutes if she were only human made the situation feel unreal.

Leon watched her I need to teach you better form. You had my neck then lost it! Impressive for a moon pup and deadly if I didn’t love you.

She didn't have the energy to respond but followed his slow trot through the stream. She smelled that they were following her cats trail.

Maybe if you lost some of that bulk.

He cast a glance back at her My my what cheek. I would be devastated if we were sitting down to gossip in Irren, over tea no doubt. With those tiny delicious cookies you Irrens are so fond of.

I would have devastated you with my courtly prowess in Irren. She insisted, resisting the urge to lay down and sleep.

Why do you think I had to come fetch you away from there?

She smiled.

Leon gave a loud howl. Then another, holding it for a couple of seconds. Five minutes later he stopped and howled again, Hyacinth couldn’t help but join in this time, following his pitch. It was fun. She could even understand a little of what he, they, were saying.

Pack, meet- Leon stopped then let out a series of short howls. It was some specific name of a place in the forest.

A minute later heard the response.

We are coming.

Twenty minutes of running hard, which her neck only protested a little. Was she healing already?

They broke out onto a road. Hyacinth felt like she’d fallen into a mire and backed into the woods. Leon sat on the road and looked her way, amused. Everything inside her hated the bare stretch of road. It didn’t feel right, too exposed.

Are you planning on meeting the Centaurs while hiding behind those bushes?

Where was this road on a map? How many roads were there in Adelli?

Leon yipped. Come here you worry wart.

She nipped at him but sat beside him. She had to trust him. Trust was related to faith right? How much was required when it came to the ceremony?

Soon she heard crunching leaves. Other wolves joined them. She felt the urge to get up and challenge each one but made herself sit looking straight ahead. A part of her was too tired to bother anyways.

Some circled her curiously, keeping a respectful distance. Some came in closer, thinking of challenging she could see it. She tried to ignore the part of her that hoped they would, especially when she spotted Delwin. Losing control was not an option now.

Two wolves in front of them let out barks. They’re coming.

 

Hyacinth felt a tremor of far off hooves through her paws. A growl escaped her. Leon nudged her. She had to work not to whine when every instinct told her to get off the road and hunt. Or get off the road and sleep.

The thundering grew louder and Hyacinth spotted a dust cloud. Soon the centaurs were visible, charging towards them. Leon let out the loudest howl she’d heard yet. It was authoritative but not threatening.

Parlay?

Leon stood, muscles taut. The rest of the pack sat on their haunches.

The lead man and woman centaurs held up their spears and the stampede stopped. Hyacinth sensing Leon movement, rose and followed him forward. The lead centaurs also moved forward.

“You are on our land. Again.” The centaur man was slim and muscular. He wore his hair and beard long and his skin matched his gray fur. What stood out to Hyacinth though was his narrow calculating expression she’d seen on more than one courtier in her life.

Leon let out a series of barks and growls. We seek temporary residence.

The woman laughed heartily, she was handsome with a muscled build and brown skin that matched her fur, “You are a fool Adellian King.”

I am not the Adellian King. You are mistaken. I am asking on behalf of my pack, Brule Pack, to give us a few days on your land and then we will move on.

The man jutted his chin towards Hyacinth. “You have made an alliance already. The Irren queen stands beside you as proof.” He shook his head, “The Irren king invited us to his kingdom and our envoys told us what they call you there. The Adellain King.” He tossed his head. “If you really are the leader of Brule Pack, stay on your own lands.” He studied Leon looking disgusted. “You have been thrown out of your own or you wouldn’t hide like a coward. We will not house cowards.” He gestured with his spear and the herd started back down the road. “For honor's sake I will return tomorrow so you can prepare for glorious battle.” His smile was sharp, “You will flee like a mouse before a hawk.”

The two kicked up chunks of earth as they raced after their brethren.

Hyacinth had to work to keep herself perfectly still. Leon turned his head to keep debris out of his eyes.

Once the herd was out of sight, Leon trotted back and past the pack. Hyacinth followed. The pack followed her as she followed Leon to camp and she might have felt odd about it if following him didn’t take all her focus.

They arrived at the camp and Hyacinth lay beside Leon on a mat before their tent. Madeline approached respectfully and nudged her. You’re bleeding.

Still?

Go see Ilorn. Leon said. Stay in form.

Madeline followed Hyacinth to see him without complaint, noting how the current camp looked exactly like the old one.

“You are fond of bleeding hm?” Ilorn opened the tent flap for them.

She noted he didn’t refer to her as queen. None of them had.

It was odd to once again be laying on a cot in his tent as he tended her wounds. It was strange just being in a tent when she’d slept on the forest floor under trees and the stars. Being in the tent didn’t feel right.

Ilorn declared she was fit enough to live “at least one more day.” Hyacinth thanked him and she and Madeline walked back to Leon’s tent. Well, it now belonged to both of them, unless there was some odd werewolf law about that.

“So you’re married then.” Madeline asked, in human form.

Hyacinth, in wolf form for the time being, looked her sisters way in surprise. Then she scowled.

Madeline let out a titter and Hyacinth turned away, embarrassed.

“You’ll always be a prude won’t you? What can’t you just...ah never mind.”

Hyacinth stared around at the pack as she waded through the crowd to take her place beside Leon. The world seemed hazy and different, detached. Everyone was in human form.

“War.” Charles spat the word as she neared. He was shorter but scrappier looking than the alpha.

Leon nodded, arms crossed and shoulders tense.

“We can't fight on two fronts.” Charles said as though Leon had argued.

Hyacinth sensed Charles strength, the way he rose up as he spoke. He didn’t do it to challenge Leon but to find weakness in him. Was Leon being weak? She felt her wolf mind looking for it too.

“We have to hear back from the spies before taking a permanent home.” Leon replied.

The two stared at each other and something passed between them. Hyacinth pushed aside the urge to stay in her safe wolf form and transformed.

“The spies haven’t returned?” She asked, noticing Madeline hadn’t followed her to the mats before Leon and her tent.

The two men looked her over. Leon’s forehead was pinched with what looked like concern for her.

Leon said. “The last one we sent two days ago couldn’t get close enough to find out the situation.”

Hyacinth felt sick. Their pack was stuck between battle and running again. They had to do something. Her instinct was to find safety. Her wolf mind agreed. “What of the Cursed Islands? Might we take up there?” She looked at the pack quickly, sensing they might not like it. “Until we can reassess the situation at least.”

“The what?” Charles asked.

“The West Islands?” She frowned at him. He hadn’t had a proper education but surely he knew the terrain of their own land. Well, Adelli wasn’t all the property of Leon’s pack so she supposed he might not know of the islands.

His eyebrows lifted, “Ah, you speak of the Turtles.” His stance eased a notch.

“That is very far from Brule. We’d have to pass through Tuj’s land.” Charles seemed to be reviewing the pros and cons. “The Turtles are neutral territory.”

The pack around them seemed to lean inward as the three decided their future.

“And we want to save all our energy to take back our land.” Leon gave Hyacinth a small grin and turned to face the pack, shoulders squared. Hyacinth felt her wolf mind relax as Leon assumed a strong stance. “We will send a scout to find out all they can and while they work, we will seek refuge on the Turtles. If the scout returns with the the news that now is the time to strike we will return immediately and attack Brule castle.”

The pack roared its approval and Hyacinth felt overwhelmingly proud to be Leon’s mate. She realized her wolf mind had crept into control and suppressed a chuckle at the base reaction.

“Who volunteers?” He asked, eyes searching the crowd.

Madeline stepped forward and Hyacinth’s eyes widened.

“Step forward honorable one.” He laid a hand on her head. “Light be with you. Report back as soon as you can. I will have scouts ashore to lead you to us when you make it to the coast.”

Madeline nodded and ran off as the pack dispersed.

Leon slid over to join Hyacinth on the mat. He rubbed a hand on her back in comfort, “She is strong.”

“I know.” Hyacinth’s eyes grew hot, her anxiety growing. She couldn’t stop her sister from going and wouldn’t since she’d volunteer for it if needed. Still. The thought of Madeline leaving on a dangerous mission when they’d just found each other again tore at her. She couldn't lose her again.

“Let’s hunt while they pack. You might not have a proper Wolf Moon but we’ll do what we can.”

Hyacinth stretched her neck by turning her head gently to the left then right and sighed in relief when it felt no more sore than if she’d slept on it the wrong way. She nodded, glad Leon was distracting her. She turned into a wolf as easily as she drew breath.

Leon took the lead and she was grateful to follow mindlessly through leaves and brush, down the mountain. He slowed and she tore herself away from dire thoughts to see a wide stream.

He changed and so did she. “We’d need the pack to help us hunt larger game and you aren’t yet experienced. So,” He nudged her excitedly with an elbow, “We fish.”

“Fish?” Hyacinth looked over the wide river. How? They didn’t have gear. A small fish jumped up, then another. They were everywhere, jumping with the current.

Leon turned back into a wolf and waded into the water. Fish jumped all around him. He still himself, eyes on the water. Hyacinth watched, licking dry lips. His muzzle flashed and he tore out of the water, loping around her like a giant happy dog. The tiny fish flopped uselessly in his teeth. He set the fish up further on the bank and bounded back into the stream.

Hyacinth huffed a laugh and turned into a wolf. This wouldn’t be difficult. She got a few slaps across the muzzle before she caught one by the tail. She snapped it up into her mouth and accidentally swallowed it. She let out a bark of frustration. Leon was bounding up the bank with his third fish and let out a laugh.

By the time Hyacinth caught her second, Leon, in human form, called her back up to his pile. He’d gotten at least ten. He pulled a sack out of his pocket and filled it with fish then turned and picked the sack up in his teeth.

They ran back as the sun set.

Faith.

Trust in the Light that was equal to her trust in Leon? She could see herself doing that, her heart seemed to miss a beat, maybe. If they ever got back to that stream to complete the ceremony.

Hyacinth did feel a little better. The camp was nearly packed up. Hyacinth changed her robe before their tent was taken down. It felt good to be clean from the stream and have a fresh robe on. She looked at her cot wondering how sleeping arrangements in camp might change now that she and Leon were married. She certainly didn’t want to sleep alone. What did werewolves do? Leon entered her room without knocking.

“Ah, I missed the show.” He said.

She laughed and threw her old robe at him, glad he hadn’t seen her sagging body in the light of day. If she had it her way he wouldn’t.

He grinned at the robe and held it up as if she’d thrown underthings. “Well that’s something.”

She started to grin then sobered. Eyes falling to the bed. She couldn’t reject him all the time though. “When will we return to the stream to conduct the ceremony?”

“Oh.” His grin faltered and he lowered the robe. “We don’t need to return to that stream, It can be done in any stream. Once we get to the Islands we can try it.”

Confusion and indignation twisted her face. How could he say something so important could be conducted anywhere? Did he even follow the same Light as she?

“When you say you follow the Light…” She frowned, not sure how to phrase it without sounding judgmental. “You mean, the Light the Creator and the Ghost.”

Leon nodded.

“This can be asked of the Pure Light in any stream?” She asked. “Could it also take place in a puddle?”

Leon thought about it, face free of his usual jesting, “I’ve never tried it. I suppose if you had a pure heart…”

“My lord, we need to take down the tent down to pack it.” A woman called from outside. Leon walked out and Hyacinth followed trying not to let shock show on her face. All her life she’d shown respect to the Light with ceremonies done in pure places of the Light. How could he, her husband, think that it was respectful to have the ceremony anywhere?

But her mind kept falling back on the fact that Leon knew more about this than she. She scowled.

Faith? She hoped it would be enough when the time came.