Chapter Twenty-One

Armand and his friends efforts to leave the strange people in the forest encounters a serious complication.

    I looked at Shasta. She was smiling at me, then her large round blue eyes swept over Miss Feather and Mr. Thunder. Then she turned her head to look at Quetzal.

    “We don’t know if we can trust the rest of your Wolf People but we do know we can trust you.” Shasta went on to say.

    “At least that is how we feel right now.” Kyle said. “I hope you understand.”

    “Well.” I said. “We are willing to meet the rest of your people.”

    “Please understand that we have our reasons.” Shasta said.

    “If we are to trust you and your people, you ought to trust us, our Wolf People included.” Miss Feather said.

    I was glad she just sounded matter-of-fact, not resentful or angry.

    But she was feeling resentful and angry. So were Mr. Thunder and myself.

    Knowing Shasta had some magical ability that was strong made me wonder what she and her people had to be so untrusting or fearful about.

    And I didn’t at all think Shasta was the only one with that powerful ability amongst her people.

    Recalling the stories my Wolf Mother told, whole groups of humans used magic, often living together in groups or meeting together to practice magic. And they gather together to perform magic ceremonies too.

    Why would these people be any different?

    And I knew from experience what Shasta could do.

    Shasta and Kyle didn’t look too pleased with Miss Feather’s comment.

    “We ought to try and trust each other.” said Mr. Thunder. “If you don’t feel comfortable meeting our people, then so be it.”

    Miss Feather and Mr. Thunder moved toward the door of this strange structure eager to leave, I knew.

    I was now eager as well. But not Quetzal. It was written all over his face and in his eyes that he didn’t want to leave at all. His eyes were smoky with his unhappiness, their usual brown color all but obscured.

    I wondered if he would even leave Shasta.

    Mandie and Joshie kept their hold on my arms, looking pouty now that it was apparent I was going to be leaving them.

     I sighed.

    Miss Feather was sending out emotional waves of her anger and resentment in my direction but skillfully managed to keep her face clean of those emotions as we all headed for the door together.

    Miss Feather, Mr. Thunder and I stepped outside, the twins finally having let go of my arms.

    The sky overhead was grey with the beginning of another daylight episode. Bird song was heavy on the warm breezy air.

    I took a deep breath, automatically taking in the scent of the forest around me.

    Except it wasn’t the scent of the forest around me that I took in, it was the smell of cold and deadness and it was thick. It created a rush of sickness inside me. I shook myself, trying to shake the sick feeling from my body. No scent of deer but I did smell elk. I saw several rats hop jumping near the entrance to the house.

    I wanted to shiver with the awful feeling but I wasn’t able to. I worried we’d been in this area so long that I was a little use to the odd way it felt.

    Shasta and Kyle came up behind us as we stood outside the door. I turned to face them and said, “We’ll see you later. Just us if we decide to return.”

    “I hope you decide to return.” Shasta said.

    “Please do Armand.” One of the twins said where they both were standing just inside the open door. Since we’d been moving about I lost track of who was who.

    I smiled at them then realized I’d just made a very stupid mistake.

    Hearing Miss Feather’s angry hiss only confirmed that.

    How stupid I am! I just made things between us even worse! I moaned to myself.

    You are stupid Armand, I heard Miss Feather’s voice in my mind. She’d easily picked up my thoughts.

    I flashed her a smile, hoping to make her and myself feel a little better.

    She only glared at me.

    I started walking away from the house. A bunch of rats went hop jumping in front of me, their hairless tails straight out behind them.

    “Ugh.” said Mr. Thunder who was walking alongside of me. He was watching the bizarre acting rats too.

    “I want to find out what is making them act so wrong. I want to know what Shasta has been doing around this part of the forest.” I said.

    Miss Feather walked on my other side.

    Quetzal was still with Shasta, Kyle and the twins.

    I was hoping we wouldn’t have to force him to come back with us.

    “The Big Fool isn’t coming.” Miss Feather remarked.

    I took a deep breath of air and let it out in a tired sigh but kept walking. Several more rats hopped jumped around us.

    Mr. Thunder kicked out his foot and sent a rat flying through the air. It arched high and landed a nice and impressive distance ahead of us with a satisfying thump.

    It just lay there.

    Miss Feather looked over her shoulder. “Yup. The Big Fool is taking fast to Shasta and Kyle.”

    I was watching the downed rat to see if it would get up and run off like the last one Mr. Thunder had kicked into the air like that.

    I didn’t want Quetzal to become a problem we’d have to deal with.

    Suddenly the rat stirred, got to its feet and shot off.

    I grinned.

    The sky overhead was getting lighter. It was a clear cloudless sky. The sun would be spilling over the forest real soon.

    I kept walking away from this odd part of the forest and its odd half wolf half human people.

    Mr. Thunder kept looking around. I was sure he was looking for another rat to send sailing into the air.

    Miss Feather kept looking over her shoulder until she finally decided to walk backwards to watch Quetzal.

    “Well?” I finally asked her. “Is he coming yet?”

    “No, still having a serious discussion with Shasta and Kyle.”

    The forest was closing in around us and soon the house and Quetzal would be blocked from our view.

    I really wanted to kick several rats into the air right now.

    But there wasn’t any around us at the moment.

    I stopped walking. So did Miss Feather and Mr. Thunder.

    “The Big Fool.” I said and turned around.

 

 

Reviews

[trish420]

Has teh spell been lifted? He said he was feeling better initially... or is he just being a silly boy and got hung up on the wrong female? Either way it smells b-a-d and doesn't seem like a wise choice to be making. And good luck to Armand! Sounds like he has alot of ground to make up with Miss Feather!

[Theresa]

Quetzal is still causing problems. I have a feeling he's not going to make things any easier as the story continues. Especially since he still seems to be under a spell. Really a great story, interesting and unique.

[Black Cat Fever]

Quetzal is out of sorts. I still think this is all going to go wrong. I can just 'feel' it. Over all this story/book is quite fascinating and really has my interest. Very well written, it sure pulls the reader in deeply.

[Star Wolf]

Wonder what Armand is going to do, Quetzal is making nothing but trouble but I suppose he can't help it. He must want Shasta, that's what I'm thinking.

I don't think the 'spell' on this Quetzal character has been lifted. He still seems attached to Shasta as if he wants to make her his mate or something... That's not a good sign.