“Raven, it’s so good to see you up and about”. Nurse Caroline greeted with a kind smile. “Such a vast difference from when I saw you last”. “Thanks Caroline. I’m guessing you saw me when I arrived with a bunch of new patients for you to take care of!” I replied with a chuckle.“I think you took us all by surprise. I did help look after you for the first hour, but then they whisked me away to look after the nightwolves. I couldn’t believe I’ve had the privilege to care for such a legendary breed. I thought I’d never lay eyes on one, and now I’ve seen nine!” She exclaimed, looking a bit star struck. “They’re right this way, follow me”. She added as we walked through Wayne’s palace to his secluded gardens.“Well, I’m just glad they’re in safe hands now, but no wonder they went into hiding for so long, it just seems like someone’s always wanted a piece of them”. “Well, as much as your breed is respected, you’re also feared for your strength and capability of tearing through an entire pa
I stood outside of Leo’s room, my hand resting on the door knob as I gulped down the regret and woeful misery of having to leave him behind. I inhaled a deep breath and opened the door, and my heart fell just a little bit more to see him lying so still, so unaware in the hospital bed. Fresh new bandages wrapped around his slow healing wounds, and his cheeks weren’t as sunken and bruised as they had been. His breathing was regular and steady as I sat on the edge of his bed and scooped his hand into mine, fondly admiring each finger as I grazed my thumb across them and brought them up to my lips to leave a lingering kiss and feel the warmth of his skin on mine.As the humid breeze flowed calmly through the open window and the sun lit up the room, I closed my eyes and imagined us walking together outside, hand in hand, laughing and smiling as he pulls me in for a loving kiss. Although we were alone, with Caleb whisking Addison off for breakfast to give me some peace with Leo, oh how I wi
It took us a full day and night to move the carts through the forest, with the sun beaming, holding back the rain, the journey wasn’t as gruelling being able to pull them along on dry ground. With the little pathway now in view of the camp, we all passed a little thankful chuckle between us, that we had made it all the way without any curious rogues in our way, or Zach! The moment we passed the tall line of trees and saw the cabins, the cooking areas, the water well and the lookout bridge, we all simultaneously dropped the straps and looked around us with mixed emotions of being back in our old home, but being here after all this time, with it completely empty and uncomfortably quiet. You could hear the creaking of the trees as they gently swayed in the breeze and the flapping of the birds wings as they bounced around their nests. It was a comforting but odd feeling. No chatter, no hustle and bustle as everyone gathered food, water, and roasted our catch of th
My body jolted itself awake under the brightness of the sun and my attention fell straight on the wolves, realising I dozed off when Izzy and Dante took over patrolling last night. I sighed with relief, thankful that nothing had happened whilst I was sleeping. My body and neck ached from resting on the hard ground with my head against the log. Izzy and Dante were busying themselves, cooking and pulling up fresh water in the well bucket for our breakfast. I got to my feet with a stretch and scanned each of the wolves, checking their medicine and moving the carts under cooler shade. “Good morning sleepy head”. Dante chuckled as he roasted more fresh rabbit. “When did you hunt for that?” I asked curiously as I finished moving the third cart. “I went out this morning while Izzy watched over the camp. I figured you’d be asleep long enough for me to hunt and get back, that way
It didn’t feel as lonely and cut off for me Dante and Izzy with grams, mother and the guards now with us. All the guards took a break from their duty to sit with the rest of us when we all ate supper last night. There were more voices, chatter and conversation around the camp fire, and many questions for grams about the camp she was seeing for the first time. I had slept outside again, right next to the wolves with Izzy and Dante patrolling whilst the guards had their rest, and I woke up this morning to the smell of cooked fish that two of the guards had caught from the stream. Having them all here seemed to lighten our moods as Izzy and Dante laughed hand in had to their cabin after eating to get some sleep, and grams and mother were talking so intently as they set to making more of the concoction to last the rest of the day.Under the shade of the trees I carefully tended to each wolf, sponging down their paws and snouts, cleaning their wounds and applyi
Six days passed as we carried on with our chores and routine, gathering enough water and food for us all as grams and mother continued to make bulks of her mushrooms and herbs to sustain the wolves and help their muscle growth now that they were starting to wake up throughout the day. It would only last for a few minutes with their eyes opening and whimpering in fear at their new surroundings. But each time, I’d run my hand gently down their fur, and I’d smile with care, I’d tell them that they were safe and that I was a night wolf watching over them. It seemed to work enough for them to relax their tension under my hand and calmly let their eyes close again. They were even trusting grams now whenever she was nearby when they woke, she’d reassure them, and they’d listen. Yesterday, they showed their appreciation with a happy wag of their tails as we cleaned and brushed their fur, and we even managed to encourage two of them to eat some of the deer
The following day we stood at the gates of Lundberg as the guards opened them for us, alpha Wayne was already waiting anxiously to hear the reason for our sudden arrival.“Raven, how have you all been? I really do hope you haven’t come bearing bad news”. He said as he held my hand in both of his.“No, alpha Wayne, you can relax”. I chuckled and I breathed out a sigh of relief.“Well, that is very good to hear, so, in that case, I’m guessing you’re here to check in on Leo?” “Yes I am”. I nodded with a nervous smile. “Is… is he better?” “He’s still not awake unfortunately. But we do think it won’t be long until he does. Come on, let me take you to him”. He suggested as Dante and Izzy gave me a
Once again I had to leave Leo’s side and return back to camp. With Zach still out there, it uneased me to leave the nightwolves under little protection. When we left the gates of Lundberg, I could only hope that soon we would hear news of Caleb and my father’s return and success at finding and catching Zach, and that Leo would wake up and we could all start to move forward with our lives, no longer in fear of what hellish treachery would happen next. I had also been told by alpha Wayne that Violet had been taken back to Whitlock prison with the few guards and Whitlock men that had been instructed to start the build of the border wall. According to Wayne, Caleb still hadn’t decided whether to let Violet rot in a cell for the rest of her life or sentence her to treason by death or banishment. “What is it, Raven. You look as though you’re a million miles away in your thoughts?” Izzy asked as we slowed down our pace to a slow jog. “It’s nothing, I’m just thinking over a lot of things,