Finding a Wolf In the Trees

Chapter 11~

Saxen woke slowly, more slowly than he normally did. His brwas was filled with the fog of sleep when usually he was alert as soon as he woke. He was also... relaxed. He didn’t know how else to say it for it had been so long since he had felt so at ease. It was then that he noticed the warm body next to him, clinging to him. Nydia.

The memories from the night before came to him in a rush. The dreams, awaking with a shout, his whole body shaking. And then the gentle touch on his shoulder, her arms wrapped around him, and her calm whispered words. No one had comforted him like that for... thirteen years, since he had lost his parents. It had been a strange and welcome thing to feel her comforting touch.

Nydia shifted in her sleep and her hand touched the bare skin of his arm. A wave of uncontrolled power rolled though him, causing him to inhale sharply. That would have to change, sheded ded to know. He wasn’t a person that liked to make long speeches and that’s exactly what he would have to do. He needed to explain everything in order for her to understand.

He sighed and rolled away from her and standing. Nydia whimpered at the loss of warmth, but quickly curled into a ball to make up for his body heat. Saxen looked down at her for a moment before straitening and sniffing the air. The wind was coming from the west and the scents that were unique to a town or village drifted to his nose. He faded smells of meat and spices, mixed in with the scents of sweat, horses, and dogs.

It was a day and a half walk, he guessed. And sniffed the air again, this time catching the scent of two rabbits. The were close, thirty yards at most. His stomach growled, reminding him that he had not eaten in three days. He bent to pick up his dagger and then rose, running swiftly away from the small camp. His hunger caused him to run faster and more silently, fueled by the promise of fresh meat.

As he killed the rabbits and the smell of blood entered his nose and stirred his senses he gave a short laugh. “Heaven help me, I really am an animal.” He said, as he walked back to the camp, the two dead rabbits held in his hand.

~~~

They had eaten silently and traveled silently together that day. Both feeling that words were not necessary. Now, as they got ready to make camp Saxen’s mind was running at a fast speed, trying to figure out where to begin. Trying to decide how he should tell her. His mind was elsewhere as he went to hunt, only barely catching the rabbit and a squirrel that would be their dinner.

When he returned to the camp the fire was already burning and Nydia was kneeling next to the stream they had been lucky enough to find. He skinned and gutted the two small animals and placed them over the fire. Nydia turned and he saw that she had something in her hands. She put her hands on a cloth that had been placed on the ground and opened her hands.


Berries landed on the cloth. They were ripe red berries, but Saxen noticed something strange about them. Then it hit him. That kind of berry didn’t grow in this area. It did grow near her home village which was why she was familiar with them. Well, at least it will give me a place to start my explanation.

“I was looking in the bushes while you were gone and I found these.” Nydia said, pointing to the berries. “Do you want some?”

Saxen nodded absently as he took the meat off the fire. Letting it cool for a few seconds he handed Nydia her’s and then bit into his own. Eating only a few of the berries Nydia offered, Saxen did not talk through out the meal. He was still trying to work out what he should say to her. He had to be careful so she wouldn’t run away. He knew he would be able to catch her, but it would take longer to get to the village that way.

After they had finished their meal and had quenched their thirst Saxen cleared his throat. He sat at the base of a tree, arms crossed defensively over his chest. Nydia looked up at him from where she had been drawing pictures in the dirt. “We need to... There’s something I need to tell you.”

Nydia looked at him, startled. They had barely spoken at all over the weeks they had traveled together and no he wanted to talk? He was confusing, distant one minute and then he was looking at her nervously thet. Wait! He’s nervous? Saxen ran a hand though his hair and sighed. That simple gesture made him seem more human to Nydia so she nodded. Silently telling him that she would listen.

“I don’t really know where to begin, so I guess I should start at the beginning.” He said, earning another nod from Nydia. “Well, everyone has heard stories of how this earth came to be. Some stories hold more truth than others, but they all come to the same basic conclusion in the end. There is a heaven and a hell an our planet in between. All three were made by higher powers, and those powers rule over all three to this day.

“That’s true. There are higher powers... or essences, for they are all pieces of one whole. The higher essences are Fire, Water, Air, Earth, and what I guess you could call Spirit. Most everyone knows those, but many do not know of the lower powers. The essences of Life and Death. Humans were made from all five higher powers, anen ten the essence of Life gives us breath. And then, when our time comes, the essence of Death takes it away.”

Saxen paused and leaned his head back to look at the trees above them. Nydia was leaning forward slightly, her eyes wide. She hung on his every word, and committing it all to memory. What he had said was true. She had been taught about the five higher powers, but she had never know of the existence of the lower two. She waited breathlessly for him to speak again, hopelessly mesmerized by the varying soft and gruff tones in his voice.

“That’s the way it was in the beginning, the Heavens, Hell, and the earth were made and the five higher, and two lower essences put humans on the earth during life, and in the Heavens or Hell for the afterlife. That’s how it worked for a long time. And then the humans started to die.


“It wasn’t clear at first to the essences why the essence of Death was suddenly coming for the humans in bunches. But the humans knew, and they prayed to the powers to give them more food. The essence of Death was only doing what it was supposed to do, bring the humans to the afterlife when they didn’t have the will to keep the breath of life in their bodies any longer. The food was running out, and the humans were losing their will, thus bringing death. The humans were just living on the food that the earth gave them, berries and roots.

“The powers didn’t want the humans to die, so they gave them a new knowledge. The humans began to farm, bringing crops up from the soil. But, the cold season still came every year. The food began to run out during the winter and the people began to die again. Then the humans had to wait after the winter season for the food to grow once again. It was then that a new essence was born. This new power became the sixth higher power, which many people don’t know of. They still think that there are only five powers, but the sixth is why they are alive.”

He paused then, and took a drink of water from his water bag. Then he turned his head to Nydia and took in the look of awe on her face. “This essence was known as the Beast, for it put animals on the earth.” He said, looking her square in the eye, and he heard her breath hitch slightly. “The humans were frightened when they saw these new creatures, but the powers once again gave them knowledge. The people began to hunt, andcklyckly learned what animals were dangerous and which ones were not. The people thrived and the powers were pleased.

“That’s the way it was for hundreds and hundreds of years. Every once and a while the powers would give the humans knowledge, to help the humans advance their ways. The candle for instance, gave them light after the sun set. And the use of plants and herbs to heal gave them a longer life. It worked well, until the humans started to ignore the powers, feeling that they didn’t need something ruling over them.

“The humans began to fail again, the powers punishing them for their desertion. But, then the humans cried out and begged the powers for forgiveness. Forgiveness was granted, but then the humans deserted the powers again. Then when things became hard they again pleaded with the powers. Twice more they deserted, and twice more forgiveness was given. Then, on the fifth time forgiveness was not granted, and the humans began to fail.

“They screamed and cried and pleaded, but the powers did not answer. The humans started to die out, they were becoming scarce and the land was being taken over by the animals. Then the essence of the Earth took pity on them, for it had helped create them, and it loved them. The essence of the Earth called to the other essences, both higher and lower and made a deal. It has never been known exactly what the deal was so we can only guess, but a deal mad made and the essences helped the humans once again. But, thime ime they did not just grant forgiveness.”

He paused again and took another sip of water. Nydia waited tensely for him to continue. She was fascinated by the story he was telling. And, somehow, she knew that every single word was the truth. Suddenly Saxen turned toward her again, his golden eyes serious beneath the shadow his black hair created. “Now, Nydia, listen very closely for this is the most important part of this whole tale.” Nydia nodded, almost eager for him to continue. She was anxious to know why he felt that she needed to know all this.

“They did not just grant forgiveness this time. They found eight different women, scattered across the planet and they waited. When one of the women conceived a child one of the powers would pass into the woman and become the soul of the child. This happened eight times, until each power, both higher and lower, had taken human form.” Nydia gasped at this and Saxen paused for a brief moment before continuing.

“The humans thrived this way, unaware that the essences of Fire, Water, Air, Earth, Spirit, Beast, Life, and Death were living side by side with them. They never forgot the powers again, for the essences in human form made sure of that. The humans worshiped the powers and even learned to accept that evil was always going to show it’s face every once and a while. The humans learned to accept the good with the bad and they thrived like never before. The powers were pleased with what they had done and felt no need to go back to the way things had been.

“So, when the human they inhabited had a child with their wife or husband, the essence would leave them and pass into the child. This happened for hundreds of years, and the humans that were home to the essences were never aware of the power that stirred inside them. Unaware, that is, until the essence decided it was time for them to know, or they could go on for generations without ever revealing themselves.

“I was not aware of what resided in me until it was revealed eleven years ago, when I was the age of twelve. My eyes changed from dark brown to a rich gold, and it was revealed to me what made up my soul. The essence of Beast resides in me, and I have found that I am able to communicate with one species of animal. Only one because it was the one that the Beast ese fae favored.” Nydia’s eyes were wide and her breathing was coming in gasps.

Then a large grey wolf came into view and she screamed, tumbling backwards. She watched in fascination and horror as the grey wolf looked at her for a moment before slowly laying down near Saxen’s feet. Her eyes flicked up to meet his and he nodded. “Yes Nydia, I can speak to wolves, because they were the favorite animal the Beast essence created. To them I am Young Hunterspeaspeak their language and my physical senses of sight, smell, and hearing match their own. To them I am just a wolf in human form.”

“Why?” Nydia asked in a choked whisper, and she wondered briefly if he could smell her fear. The answer was quickly decided in her mind; yes, he probably could. She straightened up from where she had been lying in a heap on the ground, and summoned up all the courage she possessed. “Why are you telling me all this? Why did you tell me that story, and why did you tell me your secret?”

Saxen met her eyes evenly, hiding nothing from her gaze. “Because, I know secrets about you that you aren’t even aware you possess. I told you the story to help you understand what I am about to tell you. You Nydia hold inside you one of the original essences. The essence of Earth.”

“What?”

AN: sorry it took me so long to update... I had coer per problems and then I got sick so this chapter got delayed. I hope it was worth the wait. Please read and review. It\'ll help me get over the last of this damn cold if I know you care. :-)


Reviews:

zelix- yeah I\'m just really good at reading people like that, don\'t ya know. I\'m glad you like. And thank\'s for the review. It meant so much to me. *Sniffle* heehee

Hello Betty- I sorta thought Saxen was a little *too* mysterious ya know? So tada! DREAM SEQUENCE!!! And I know, when I wrote the part about Nydia comforting him a part of me just went \"awww\". Well, I hope you like this chapter as much as the last one teehee