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Howls in the Night
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
The Hunt for Knowledge Insatiable
Aquina’s eyes narrowed and she noticed five doors, each a different color facing the common area. She made a bee-line to the fanciest door and mumbled a string of curse words as she entered. It was a small room with a small bed and even smaller window. It was a utilitarian beige and had no flavor. Aquina turned back quickly to see if she could change rooms. The others had followed her lead and were all headed to their own doors. “I guess the saying, ‘You can’t judge a book by its cover’ works on doors too,” Beecher teased, poised and ready to open his own door. It was not painted and in fact looked to be made of distressed wood. “If there was any justice you would find a doggie bed inside your door.” Aquina blushed, knowing she had been caught trying to find the fanciest room. He opened his door and gasped. A large waterbed was the focal point in the medium-sized room. The walls were painted in an hombre fashion from a light sea green near the ceiling to a deep dark aquama
The Hunt for Knowledge Wolf Goddess
Rain broke the morning, pounding on the roof as if demanding to be let in. Katalea watched the gray sky lighten through the torrential downpour from the safety of the large, round bed she shared with Dakari. Currently she was trapped under his heavy limbs, but since the day looked so somber she felt no need to hurry extracting herself.She heard noise from the common area and realized that the others had begun to stir as well. The smell of coffee began to waft through the air and she longed for it. It took a few minutes to unwind Dakari off of her, but once she did, the coldness of the room shocked her. She grabbed for her hoodie and flannel pajamas and made her way toward the heavenly scent.As she padded into the kitchen she heard the front door close. It was almost inaudible, but the change in air pressure in the room confirmed her suspicion. Someone had been in the apartment.Three short beeps in quick succession had her head snapping back to the kitchen. Her first irratio
The Hunt for Knowledge Individual Needs and Selfish Desires
She walked with him to the diner. Foods he had never seen before enticed him, the scent making his mouth water. “They treat you like a servant, slinking out in the cold morning to fetch their food?” She spat at him. “You should be treated as a king with servants to do your bidding.” He looked curiously at her. There was a momentary twitch in her face, almost as if the shift hadn’t quite took. He shook it off, and turned to the man behind the counter. He placed his order, doing his best to communicate in broken Spanish and hand signals. They sat at a little table to wait and Ashara looked at him in disgust. “I will help you solve the riddle. Our pack here is army-like in size. We can find whatever treasure is promised you. You do not need those intruders. They want nothing but to use you and get the glory for themselves,” she spoke low, but with an intensity that made a light layer of sweat rise on her skin. Again, he noticed a momentary glitch. Her eyes seemed not to sy
The Hunt for Knowledge Dragged Off the Road
They loaded the car with the mundane: water bottles, snacks, rope, and blankets. No one was sure what the day might bring, and they wanted to be prepared for anything. Beecher raided the pantry in his room and brought boxes filled with chips, cookies, and protein bars. “Do you think this rust heap will get us there alive?” Aquina asked, gesturing to the car. The skeptical look on her face voiced her opinion loudly. Beecher snorted, “Underneath all the cosmetic issues beats the heart of a champion.” As he tried reassuring them of the cars’ inner worth, the door handle broke off in his hand. “Thankfully, we don’t need a door handle to accelerate.” He rolled his eyes and climbed through the window. “This baby’s engine has been modified from a military Jeep. We’re in good hands.” “I’m just hoping the metal under that big engine doesn’t rust off while we’re driving.” Aquina teased. “Maybe I should ride up front to keep an eye out for shrapnel as we head out. Beecher thrilled
The Hunt for Knowledge Between Reality and Heaven
There was no traction to be found in the sand. As if on ice, Beecher tried to turn the tires into whatever was pushing them laterally across the road. Nothing worked. They slid until they were forcefully stopped by a large cactus bush on the opposite side. Dakari yelped when his arm was punctured by the bush upon impact. For a moment there was silence. A sound Aquina had never heard before started low but steadily grew louder. To her ear it didn’t sound like what she imagined a gruppa of weredragons would sound like that was about to feast on a car full of misfits. She had fallen onto the floor of the car, wedged under Katalea, at the initial impact and tried desperately to see what was coming for them. She tried wiggling and found that Katalea too was trying to get herself back upright. Twisting her torso, she was able to see out the window, but only at an angle that told her that the rain had passed. Halfway off the floor, she was looking up, a weak sun was now streaming
The Hunt for Knowledge I Have Wants Too
The sun had reached it’s peak and nestled amidst the remaining clouds as Beecher signaled for everyone to hide. He knew Hassan could smell them, but he was sure hoping Dakari or Zinnia could help them with that. If they could just find a place to hide. A tiny slip of silver and blue caught his attention, like the spark of a match. He turned and watched a little bluebird flitter between two trees to his right. Behind the bird, there was a dark shadow. Could it be? The shadow was longer than it should be for this time of day. With the sun prominent in the sky, only one thing could cause such darkness. In his experience, a dark hole meant possible shelter. A cave. His heart pounded as he made his way towards it. He signaled the others to follow, but at a distance. The last thing he wanted was to bring all his new friends directly into Hassan’s waiting arms. It was a cave, the entrance partially blocked by the little bluebird's home. “At the moment, that cave looks more i
The Hunt for Knowledge She Went Down Hard
Eyes widened in terror, Aquina saw Hassan pass by the little tree outside. She backed away slowly and made her way back to huddle with the others. In the firelight, she didn’t see the rock. The heel of her hiking boot caught it and she went down hard. Her bones rattled inside her and she sat for a moment assessing the damage. She had managed not to cry out, but it had been close. The pain started at the base of her spine and ran upward into her neck. She had the mother of all headaches. For a minute, she thought she might get sick.The nausea passed, and she laid back. She knew she shouldn’t sleep, but it seemed like a wonderful alternative to the stress around her. She closed her eyes, and her hands came to rest by her sides. She gripped the stones she found there and willed herself to just let go.The stone in her right hand felt warm. In fact, it felt as if it had a pulse. Wary eyes opened quickly, afraid that she had found a rodent or insect. She sat up quickly and o
The Hunt for Knowledge Fear of Rejection
She stood in a stance that offered no threat. Her bronze wolf eyes looked at each of them in turn, radiating good will. “This is the form Hassan took when he met me in the streets,” Beecher snarled, his eyes never leaving the wolf’s. “He won’t fool me again.” But something was different this time. He could feel it. Instinctively knowing the truth, Beecher fell to his knees in homage, head bowed in reverence. He was in the presence of the real goddess.“Ashara, is it really you?” His voice quivered as his brain tried to keep up. It had been so long since his mother had told him about Ashara. She had seemed like a fairy tale when he was young, A guardian angel who could grant wishes and keep you safe. “Yes, my child, rise now, and receive your reward,” her voice was melodious and brought tears to his eyes. She was every bit as beautiful as his mother had divulged. He wondered if his mother had ever seen her. He wondered lots of things now. He had been so foolish to turn
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The Hunt for Knowledge Nothing But Dust
The cairn now glowed blue. It pulsed and throbbed as if it had a heartbeat. Kaya stood, just like Katalea’s premonition, pacing, but this time she was not intently focused on the stones, she was focused on Katalea. As if waiting for her. “Can you guys see her? Am I having another vision?” Katalea questioned.“Oh, we can see her, and frankly she is terrifying….” Aquina answered, awe in her voice. The big cat kept pacing, her soft pads making no noise in the silent chamber. Her eyes never left Katatea’s.“She means you no harm,” Katalea whispered, feeling the joy of her panther overtake her. “She is me…” Katalea continued, confidence radiating in her voice, understanding now. “She never left me.”Katalea felt the longing to be one with Kaya rise up. She hadn’t realized how abandoned she had felt by her own self.Kaya’s eyes filled with anguish now. Her proud head bowed, almost in shame. “It was not my wish either,” she said, obviously hearing the cries of Katalea's heart. “It w
The Hunt for Knowledge Outnumbered
As they made their way into the higher elevation, the mountain walls became craggier, and small cave formations began. The trees here weren’t as thick, this new harder soil obviously struggled to sustain life. Ahead, a rounded archway formed, looking more like an arbor than a cave. Katalea walked through expecting to come out on the other side of the hill but instead found herself in a large open space resembling the lobby of the ice hotel. Instead of beautiful ice sculptures though, it was just rough walls. A small stack of rocks to the left looked like a cairn left behind by someone else. There were the remnants of bones, small animal bones, she presumed, that had long since stopped having a body. Still, she felt no presence of evil or danger. They heard the deep dark laugh come from behind them. Katalea stepped forward as if to shield her friends against whatever was coming. ”So valiant, young Katalea.” They could hear Hassan, but there was no one there. He laughed aga
The Hunt for Knowledge Confused
“Ah Elskan,” he pulled back with such sorrow. “I want nothing more than the next millennium in your arms but I feel our friends call.” He pushed a stray lock of purple hair behind her ears, nibbled her neck, and inhaled deeply.“That word, Elskan, you have said it before. What does it mean?”“What?” He looked at her quizzically now. “I have said a word you don’t know?” Tilting his head in wonder, he added, “Out loud?”She smiled coyly now, “Yes, a few times. Elskan. Once when I was hurt, and I think another time when we learned of the sharks,”Visibly flustered, he put his hands at his sides. Tense now, he turned to go, but she grabbed his elbows, “Not so fast buster, you didn't answer.” The smile she gave him was playful, teasing, almost a challenge. He sighed and closed his eyes. Remembering. Oh, why couldn’t some things just stay buried? It had been so very long. Finally, he spoke, “It is the name a man calls a woman he loves. In your tongue, it would be equivalent to dar
The Hunt for Knowledge About That
“Go east she said,” Katalea whispered in her mind and chuckled, thinking of an American term she learned years ago in school in San Diego.”As I remember it, the phrase was, ‘Go West, young man, Go West.” Dakari countered.Katalea blushed, she forgot her mate could always hear her thoughts. “‘Ya, well, I was never very good in American history,” she giggled. It was an age-old joke between them. Dakari had excelled in school, but Katalea had been too busy dodging Dalya and doing gymnastics to pay much attention in high school.With the vampires gone for the moment, and the Hassan family of dragons keeping their distance there was nothing left to do but say goodbye. They thanked Freja for her help and Dakari made light of the situation by conjuring roses for her out of thin air. “We did not come away without losses,” Freja said heavily, “and they will not be forgotten for their bravery in battle.” All heads lowered. A few hands wiped eyes that found themselves moist. “We will ma
The Hunt for Knowledge Two?
To their amazement, they saw what looked like wolves wrestling people. These were not ordinary people, as Katalea watched one short dark man pick up a wolf and hurl it into a tree. They were close enough that Katalea could hear the curses from the man. They were not in any language Katalea had ever heard before. Two more wolves pounced on the man and made quick work of him. Another wolf came at a sprint, two pairs of feral red-eyed vampires at his heels. They recognized him at once. Beecher was in trouble.Dakari roared, and the scene stilled momentarily. All heads turned and in that instant Katalea called lightning to pummel the bloodsuckers. The wolves stood dumbfounded as all their foe just vanished into ash. As a pack, they turned to look at Beecher who was obviously sending them a message that these newcomers were allies. A few wolves shifted, while others remained on guard in wolf form.Never one to hide, Katalea shifted, while Dakari remained. “I have heard myths a
The Hunt for Knowledge Hassan is Coming
Perched high up in her tree, Katalea swayed, the fog swirling around her. Above her, the muted greens and pinks of the northern lights seemed to fight for control of the pre-morning sky. It wouldn’t be long before any vampire trapped outside would have to flee or risk being turned to dust without any help from their adversaries. The sun still had a few minutes to go before it began its assent into the sky but the sky had visibly lightened. It was coming. Katalea wondered if the sun was filtered through the fog if the vampires would be able to stay out longer. She imagined they could. It might be time to dial back on the mist.Light bursts could be seen from just past the crop of trees they were currently resting in. Katalea wasn’t sure if it was from lightning or a dragon blast, but they were drawing closer to their hideout. They would have to move soon.Dakari must have had the same thoughts, for as he touched her arm, she read the alarm in his eyes. It wouldn’t do to be so hig
The Hunt for Knowledge Predators or Prey
As he entered the clearing, the gray and black streaked wolf caught his attention first. He was the size of a Mac truck and looked as fierce with his teeth bared at the newcomer. He could see the moment his scent reached them. He had been upwind and had taken them by surprise. Muzzles dropped slightly as they afforded him the respect of a traveling alpha. Her scent permeated the area and had all heads turning. The beautiful lady in white from the ice hotel now stood before him in her true form. The vision of majesty as a pure white wolf and tawny eyes. He lowered his head in the traditional greeting to the alpha of the current territory. One that had already saved him twice.“Rise my cousin,” she chuckled. Beecher rose and went to her in the more familiar greeting of his kind. They nuzzled heads, his under hers. The subtle action was noticed by all in the clearing, and approved. They had accepted him. Without one word spoken, they all nodded in agreement, they would figh
The Hunt for Knowledge Hold Still
With Luca's enormous frame passed out across her, and snow almost covering the entire mouth of the cave Zinnia had no choice but to wait it out. She felt like a sitting duck knowing that Genevieve was out there. Worse yet, the bitch knew approximately where they were. “But what choice do I have?” she thought as she took in her situation. The cave was about the size of his body. Not much of a cave, more of a cavette. She giggled at her own lame joke.She watched with an increasing unease as the sky grew darker and the tiny cave was almost completely devoid of light. The eerie silence was almost worse than the deafening thunder from before. It seemed so finite. Would they ever be able to leave this place? and if they did, would it be to the waiting arms of a vengeful vampire? She curled up next to Luca for body heat. There was a little space just in front of him once he had stretched out and her tiny frame just fit. It might be better to sleep than to think.From this angle, s
The Hunt for Knowledge Avalanche!
She must have recognized the sound or felt the mountain shift for she was off him in an instant. She would not be more weight for him to have to climb with. In his mind he fought with her. He reasoned with her, he begged her, but she would not relent. She would not bring him down. She may be a third of his size, but she would climb as his equal. Again, she wished for her powers back, she could have just fluttered right up and found them a cave.Finally giving up on carrying her, he pointed the way and then hoisted her up., if she was going to climb she would damn sure go ahead of him. He prayed to whoever might be listening for a bit of luck.When she was no more than five feet up, he smashed his enormous body against the snowy mountain and started up the rockface, She moved slowly, cautiously. He fought the urge to rush her, trying not to think about their lack of equipment. He didn’t know if she realized they were fighting time as well.A sound like an explosion ripped thro
