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Despite the frost and ice formed crystals, the rays of the sun trickled in through the window and into Keira’s room. Sound asleep, the princess had earlier covered her tired face with her pillow and several blankets; hopeful there would be ample time to rest. The alarm clock across the room was ceremoniously unplugged and hanging over the edge of the table.
She might have slept all day, but a familiar face, renewed from a solid night’s rest had already crept into the room and had taken a seat on the edge of the bed.
Luza changed her clothes from the previous day. Gone was the lone shirt posing as a dress or the letter jacket that went down to her knees. Replaced by a pair of blue jeans that actually fit her legs properly, the teen would finally blend in with others of similar age. She wore a light pink long sleeve shirt with the white inscription “Foxy” clear for all to read. Her outfit was brought together by a red knitted scarf that she wrapped around her neck, more for show than warmth. Unable to return to her Arctic fox form, she still maintained the body warmth, eye sight, and hearing of her previous state.
Dangling from the edge of the twin bed, Luza looked curiously at her off white, high top Converse shoes with the bright blue star.
“I miss my paws,” she said, “But I guess these will do.”
Keira didn’t move.
“What do you think? Are these better than the hack job we did yesterday?”
Luza gently prodded Keira by poking her in the leg.
“How would I know, I’m sleeping,” Keira whined.
“Now you’re not. Come on, look at my shoes. Are they better than yours?”
Keira flung the pillow off her head and threw it at Luza.
“What are you doing?” Luza cried.
“That’s my question for you. Let me sleep. I’m tired.”
“Maybe if you had stayed in bed then you wouldn’t be tired.”
Keira found herself more alert. Suspicious she opened her eyes and tried to sit up. It hurt to move. Clutching onto her ribs, she knew they were still healing from her late night activities.
“I did stay in bed,” Keira lied.
“Which is why I woke up to a delicious treat waiting for me in the kitchen. Don’t worry I’m not complaining. I still don’t know how to make it from scratch though.”
“Oh Luza, you didn’t?” Slowly the teen sat up. She made sure to remain covered by the afghan.
“What there were only three on the plate?”
“That’s fine, I suppose. Did you leave the pepperoni in the fridge then?”
Luza laughed. Looking away from the teen, she jumped onto the floor and walked over to the window.
“I’m not sure what happened to that. There’s still food though, plenty of it. You should probably get something before we leave.”
“Already?”
She nodded. “Riley and Birchard are out front. Both were ready to barge in when Corky told them otherwise. She sent me instead.”
“Why do I think you’re leaving out something little one?”
“First of all I’m not little. I’m petite. In fact, I feel taller today. What do you think?”
Keira squinted and then gave the teen a once over. “You do look taller. It must be your shoes. But what’s going on with your hair?”
“Who knows? Racing stripes I guess. I think they are kind of cool.”’
Keira looked curiously at Luza’s long black strands, now on both sides of the girl’s head, intertwined with the rest of her white hair.
Luza rested her hands on her hips and then bobbed her head to the left. “I don’t need any awkwardness today. So whatever happened between you and Bucky last night, leave me out of it.”
Placing her legs on the floor, Keira rubbed the top part of her head. Her left shoulder stung with irritation.
“What do you know? You didn’t hear anything, did you?”
The look Luza gave Keira was all she needed. There was a slight nod and then a roll of her eyes. Resting her hands on the edge of the door, Luza shrugged and said, “Just get ready Keira.”
The Arctic princess shut the door behind her. Keira found herself alone and slightly agitated. She dropped the blankets and stood. It was hard to move which she found odd because before she fell back asleep everything seemed and felt fine.
She stood in front of her door-length mirror. Stepping closer, Keira looked at her plaid pajama pants and had to chuckle. Her pants were muddied on the cuffs and thighs. They were torn on the seams as well, just like her t-shirt that looked more appropriate for a heavy metal concert than for everyday wear. There was a large noticeable bruise on her forearm.
“This couldn’t have been all from last night. There’s no way,” Keira said.
Running her fingers through her thick curly hair, Keira untangled her black strands. She noticed several pieces of brown and grey fur. Cupping as many as she could find and placing them in her left hand, Keira open the adjacent door to the en suite.
* * *
To Riley’s displeasure, Keira took as much time as she needed to wash away proof of her late night affair. She changed into a clean pair of corduroys and a dark green turtleneck she found in the dresser. With a pair of loosely tied army boots on her feet, the teen had only to repack her bag. Intending to take her mother’s letter, she thought better of it and instead read Roohi’s words one more time before placing the weathered envelope on the desk.
She shut the door behind her and headed down the hallway towards the living room where the others were waiting.
“Nice of you to sleep the entire day away,” Riley commented from across the room. He was sitting on the edge of one of two leather oversized couches. His arms were crossed and not to anyone’s surprise Riley was still dressed in his torn jeans and in a badly faded black t-shirt. The boy elected to go bare foot.
“Savage,” Keira said under her breath.
Birchard propped his beak back and squawked. “You know what they say Princess about the early bird?”
Before she could respond, Corky stepped forward in a heavy wool robe, with a black sash wrapped tightly around her waist.
“That he must be lonely because all of his friends are asleep,” Corky said loudly. She carried a small plastic container.
Birchard turned to Riley and said, “That’s not how it goes.”
“Be gone ancient loon. She will join you soon enough — you too Prince of Perucica and Princess of the Northern Wood. May the Great Mother look over all of you so that you might do what is necessary.”
She gave an extra long look to Riley, before motioning Keira to follow her.
“We have to go,” Riley said.
“Enough! Out with you! I will send her along when I’m ready.” Corky pointed at the door.
Birchard didn’t wait for another tongue lashing. He flew over to Luza and rested on her forearm.
“Remind me to never get on her bad side Foxy.”
“Remind yourself to never get on mine,” Luza snickered.
She led the loon out the door with an annoyed Riley close behind.
“They’ll wait. Don’t you worry, not that you are.”
Keira looked into the warmth of the woman’s eyes.
“I don’t understand the rush. It’s not like the Great Loon goes anywhere; far from it if I recall. When you meet him child, don’t let him go off on his prophecies for all the good they are, it creates more confusion that frankly none of you need. Just get through the gate and be on to the next task.”
“Gate?”
“What we use to go from here to over there. I’m sure the prince will tell you all about it when he thinks you need to know. In short, that’s how your father got back to Europe.”
“Europe?”
“Yes love. Now take this.” Corky handed the teen the small plastic container. “This is a healing ointment for your scratches and cuts. It’s not a healing pool, but it will patch you up in a jam.”
“Thank you so much,” Keira sniffled. She felt torn with leaving so soon.
“Your mother would be so proud of you, especially after well you know,” Corky raised her eyebrow and smiled. “Now go child. Your room will be waiting when you return.”
With that Corky gave Keira a long, thoughtful hug. After several seconds, she released the teen from her grasp and watched Keira head outside to the others.
Several tears fell on the shepherd’s face as she watched her dearest friend’s daughter venture on to her next challenge.
* * *
“Are you done saying goodbye?” Riley asked with a permanent frown on his face.
“Are you done being an — ”
“That’s enough from both of you. Riley stop being a dick. And Princess be a little nicer,” Luza gave both of them a glare they would remember. The girl’s eyes were more menacing in the current light with her long white and black hair now held back by a hair tie she had found in her room.
Keira was about to retort, but decided to keep her mouth shut as they stood next to the Dodge. Curious, she wondered why no one was getting in the truck.
Finally, she couldn’t bare it anymore and asked, “Is there a reason we are standing here?”
“Yeah, in case you need anything,” Riley said.
“Aren’t we taking the truck?”
“No you’re following me now,” Birchard squawked.
“Great,” Keira said sarcastically.
The loon took off from Luza’s arm.
“There’s a reason why I wanted to leave early. I hope you like walking.” Riley abruptly turned and headed into the woods.
“Truly? Isn’t there a boat or something? I seem to remember water,” Luza looked back at Keira.
Both teens followed Riley’s brisk pace.
“The first stop is the lake,” Riley shouted.
“How far is that?” Keira wondered.
“A couple hours assuming we don’t crawl.”
Both girls sighed.
“But again no one wants to listen to me,” Riley shared.
* * *
Whether it was just a matter of good timing or divine intervention, Riley came to a screeching halt as they made their way deeper into the woods. He put his hand up in the air and said nothing.
“What is he doing?” Keira said.
Luza put her fingers up to her lips. She poked her head around the closest tree and saw four coyotes salivating at the sight of the young prince.
She pointed in their direction. Keira paid no attention and kept walking.
“What are you doing?” Luza whispered.
“Come on, they won’t bite. I promise.”
Not waiting for Luza, Keira continued to walk.
“I guess this is one of those moments you can’t turn into a buck huh? Four against one? Now what do you do Mr. Always right?” Keira pushed him gently. She would admit to herself later she felt vindictive to the boy.
“Are you crazy,” he mouthed.
“Maybe, I’m not sure. Let me say hi to my friends.”
Keira walked over to the four coyotes. There was no snarling or growls. They wagged their tails if such a thing was known for coyotes to do and greeted the princess with kisses and hugs.
“You can keep walking. I don’t think they’ll hurt you unless you give them a reason.”
Luza marveled at the four legged beasts that caused many a problem on her journey south. She felt hesitant to pet or engage them the way Keira did. No, Luza knew better than to mess with one of her natural enemies.
* * *
Riley eventually regained his composure. He said next to nothing as they hiked through the forest of pines close to the banks of Moosehead Lake. When he did speak it was only to Luza or to Birchard. Keira stayed back, away from the group, with the four coyotes always within sight of the teen.
She could have pushed the pace, but the more she walked, she understood better that time was irrelevant. Even now as she avoided another branch to the face, she found it ironic there was no forced march last night through the woods. They had already pushed themselves so hard from the death of Bilal to getting to this distant part of Maine, for what reason did they stop?
No, she decided that if Riley had his way, the four of them might have left in the early morning hours even before the first glimpses of dawn. She could see it clearly, him leading them out of the lodge, the sleep still in their eyes, all with the shared goal of getting to the shore before the first rays of the sun appeared.
Her bed prevented that from ever happening. Heck the excursion with Corky made sure of it too. If Riley was mad at her, he should be blaming himself. It was only after his behavior that Keira left the house. She smiled, satisfied with delaying his plans.
Even though she was upset and annoyed by the teen, she knew that he could help her get to Lane. With her father’s face fresh in mind, like her mother’s, Keira pushed onward hopeful this would be one of the last days they would be apart.
* * *
“I miss the days that I could just sleep on your neck and be carried from point to point,” Luza said with a smile.
“I’m sure you do. Don’t get any ideas. You’re too big for me now.”
“Riley!” Luza held her hand to her mouth. “Didn’t your mother ever teach you about manners? I’m not too big. You’re not strong enough.”
For the first time in a while, Riley laughed. “You got me. I can’t handle your awesomeness.”
“That’s better. If you insist, you can carry my bag.”
“Since when do you have a bag?”
“I don’t know since I’m the only one who apparently needs to eat and well Corky gave me cookies, beef sticks, and baggies of Cheez-Its. What was I supposed to do? Say no? You clearly don’t know me.”
“At least you are thinking with your stomach. I like your clothes by the way. You look ...”
Luza stared at the young buck, “Yes, what are you going to say?”
“You look pretty.”
“Wow, you’re a charmer today. Do you do this with all the girls? I mean CAT LADY back there might need a compliment or two.”
“Hey, I’m not listening, but I heard the ‘cat lady’ reference Luza. I’ll get you back for that one,” Keira bellowed from a good one hundred feet away.
Luza rolled her eyes. “Noted, she definitely has animal hearing now. How I forget.”
“No Princess, no compliments for the peanut gallery, only you,” Riley said in a very low voice.
“Thank you, my prince.”
He grabbed onto Luza’s hand and led her around a large pine tree.
“Wow holding my hand now. Taking some initiative I see.”
“Oh stop, I’m guiding you along.”
“Then let go of my hand,” Luza said, “Or don’t. I don’t care.”
Luza squeezed Riley’s hand. She was grateful for his company. Regardless of his ongoing dispute with Keira, he was always good to her.
* * *
The oversized loon looked down on Keira from an old nest he had found. Birchard’s red eyes stood out in the mid afternoon twilight, as the sun had shifted into decline.
Even if Keira hadn’t been scanning the woods, she would have noticed the bird. She had slowed her pace the last half hour to let the two “love-birds,” as she had appropriately dubbed them, more space to talk.
“Why are you back here? I’m not blind,” Keira directed her query towards the bird.
“What? They sent me back to see if you were okay.”
“Clearly I’m struggling in this chilly weather. First we went over the hill, now under, on this journey to the center of the world. There’s no hope of it ever ending, and of that I mean Luza and Riley talking.”
“I follow you.”
“Do you? I just want to have some peace and quiet.”
“I liked you better in the lake. You weren’t so — ”
“Standoffish?” Keira replied.
“Not exactly.”
“I’m waiting. So what were you going to say Red-Eye?”
“You’re different, perhaps in a good way. I don’t know. Who am I to judge?”
He swooped down from the tree and glided to a lower more distant branch.
“Too scared to land on my arm, like you do with Foxy?”
“I didn’t take you as the type.”
Frown in place, Keira offered her left forearm to the bird.
Birchard peered cautiously at the teen. “This isn’t a trap? You’re not going to strangle me Princess?”
“Why would you think that? Get over here or I’m going to turn into something and then you’ll be sorry.”
He flapped his wings and squawked. “I don’t think you can fly.”
“Yet,” Keira corrected. “Come on.”
The old loon landed gracefully on her arm.
“Are you sure they can find their way without you loon?”
“The boy has been here before as has the fox. They can figure it out now that we are on the trail.”
Keira made another mental note about her traveling partners and their familiarity with the area. She seemed to be the only one unaware of this place. It was slightly unnerving.
“What do we need you for then Red-Eye?”
“Oh me, this old bird?”
“Do you always ask a question to a question?”
“Do you?”
“Can you just answer the question,” Keira raised her voice.
“I suppose I can, but do you really want the answer?”
Keira shook her arm and Birchard flapped his wings to remain balanced.
“You’re not fun. Would you prefer a riddle or just straight to the point?”
“Again with the questions and commentary, just be done with it.”
Birchard lowered his beak and sniffled. “No one has time for an old loon anymore. Things used to be different. There was reverence and respect for my kind.”
With her free hand, Keira made a circling motion towards the bird. She shifted to the right to avoid a low hanging free branch.
“Maybe I would show you some if you shared some of your wisdom.”
He coughed and his little stringy tongue appeared, ever so briefly. “For one Princess I would keep your night time activities to yourself.”
“Is this about Riley?”
“No,” The bird looked into Keira’s amber colored eyes with blue specs. “My goodness this was the real news of the day. Even the owls that should be sleeping were catty on your account.”
“You don’t think Luza and Riley know? Do you?”
“Not yet, but soon.”
“I don’t know what the big deal is.”
“It’s BIG.”
Keira looked crossly at the bird. “You’re not going to tell me why?”
He laughed at the teen. “We’ve seen this before, my fellow loons. It is not news to us, but it will become news to others.”
“Good or bad?”
“It depends on the side one falls on.”
“Fine don’t tell me. I’ll figure it out soon enough.”
“You will child. Be careful.”
* * *
A couple hundred yards ahead, Riley continued to lead Luza through the less dense foliage. He continued to hold her hand and she remained close to his side. Neither said much as they trudged along the hard packed pine needle surface, but nor did they have to.
Luza felt safe with Riley. It wasn’t that Keira hadn’t protected her as well, but the Prince of Perucica had kept his promise. He never veered far from her and now in her new form she felt like she needed him more than ever.
The boy was still upset about the previous night. It wasn’t just about getting on to the Great Loon and the gate. This was a bigger issue, that of putting Luza in danger which he had vowed never to do if he could avoid otherwise. The ordeal at the fast food restaurant weighed on him greatly. There was a sullen melancholy look to his appearance from the downward shifted shoulders and he didn’t walk with his head upright.
“Luza,” he said softly.
She leaned into him as they walked underneath a series of interlocking branches from several trees.
“Yes my prince.”
“I’m sorry I failed you yesterday. There was a lapse in my judgment, and for that I’m sorry.”
Squeezing tighter onto his hand, she grinned. “I’ve had worse. The orange soda tasted good at least.”
Halting, Riley smiled weakly at the Arctic teen. Still clasping onto her hand, he placed his other on the side of her face.
She closed her eyes and pressed his hand against her cheek. “It’s okay Riley.”
“I will do anything to keep you safe, especially now.”
Luza stared longingly into the doe colored eyes of the teen. She kept his hand on her cheek and smiled. “I don’t like being a helpless two-legged freak, but at least now I can feel this.”
She released his hand and reached for his neck, pulling Riley’s face closer to hers.
Their faces were only a few inches apart when a loud squawk filled the air. Immediately they separated and stepped behind different trees.
“What is going on here?” Birchard said loudly.
“Nothing Red-Eye,” Luza said with a sly look towards the bird.
“And I was born yesterday right Princess?” The loon had remained on Keira’s arm.
“I don’t think you were,” Keira raised an eyebrow. She noticed that both teens were blushing. She looked over at Riley and then at Luza. “Why did you stop? Aren’t we close?”
Luza replied in a snarky tone. “Oh shut up Keira. You know why we stopped.”
“Did you drop something? Did Riley freeze up from a bright light?”
“Lover’s quarrel perhaps?” Birchard added.
“You never know with kids these days. Come along my faithful loon, not much farther to go I presume, unless you’re Riley there trying to get to first base.”
Keira giggled as both Riley and Luza let her pass.
Birchard glanced over to Luza. “Save it for the dark.”
Riley was speechless. He didn’t even look at Luza, almost ashamed for what happened or didn’t happen. He simply kept walking and motioned the girl to follow.