My sentence was cut short with one look from Willow. I’d not seen it in the whole of my time there. Glancing between her and Chester arguing with Alistair, I could see she was afraid. From the look on Alistair’s face, I was suddenly afraid too.
“Ava, perhaps you’d like to go and rest your head. I heard the knock you gave it, but don’t fall asleep. The rest of us should go back to the lounge. We’ve a few things to discuss.” Willow shot me a strange look, something between apologetic and accusatory, and I held up my hands.
“I wouldn’t even join you if you begged me,” I said lightly. Inside, however, my blood was boiling. Every inch of me was on alert. Just one look from Alistair as I made my way toward the terrace made me repeat the command over and over in my head: lock the door.
When I reached the room I shut the door behind me and walked to the opposite window. The twinkling light of morning had faded into a dull hue as storm clouds rolled in: the smell of rain filled the air.
Daeus, did it ever stop raining in this place?
I was perched on the sill, listening to the first droplets patter on the canopy, when the yelling started. It was indistinct, but mainly a dark, male voice countered by someone lighter.
“You’ve surprised us all today, Gnathian,” a gruff voice sounded by the bed. I’d almost jumped clear out the window before recognising who it belonged to. Theron lifted his head to look at me. “From the chaos I’ve been listening to this past month you’ve been quite the troublesome young pup.”
I eased down into the chair next to me. “After all that’s happened, I can’t believe I’m still surprised that you’re talking.”
“There was always something different about me. With a mind as curious as yours, you of all people should have expected that.” He dipped his head back into his paws.
“In any sense, I don’t actively try to be troublesome. It’s difficult to make proper judgements when you’ve got no idea what’s going on.”
“I know that you must have been confused. Even now to have to bring a guardian wherever you go must be frustrating. You certainly don’t strike me as the needy sort.” His mouth didn’t move as he spoke with such clarity – but he was a dog.
“It would be easier for everyone else if I was needy,” I scoffed. “I just wonder if they need to be so constricting. Things can’t be that different from where I come from. There are beasts, yes, but they’ve all got pointy teeth and claws.”
“In most cases they are the same, yes, but in some they’re as different as stone and water. We have bears and wolves like you, but the beasts native to Vremia are far more dangerous,” Theron eyed me with a great, golden gaze, “especially to impatient Gnathians who disappear in the middle of the night in a foreign land.” I bowed my head. Apparently my misadventure was not one I would live down any time soon. “You have a terminal ignorance of this part of the world, just like a baby. It’s hard to understand but you can’t, and won’t, survive on your own.”
Though I’d just been scolded by a dog, there was something comforting about his words. He was right, there was very little I could do until the threat of the Berserkers had ceased, so I sank in my seat. Considering they’d been fighting for hundreds of years that didn’t give me much hope – I’d be stuck here forever. If that was the case I’d have to understand the land a little better to at least give myself a fighting chance.
“From the way you speak of it, you make Vremia sound savage,” I said.
“Only small parts of it are savage, much like your own home, I expect. Some of those parts have grown larger, yes, but things will return to balance eventually as it always does. The beasts can still be taken down when one learns which blow to deal and where.”
“What about the good?”
He thought for a moment. “The beauty of this land is unparalleled, but tends to be overlooked in these darker times. It’s a shame,” Theron said dully. “I’m sure you’ll soon understand how our society exists here. Lavender will see to that, I’ve no doubt. In the same way I’ve no doubt you’ll come across some spectacular beasts in your time here.”
I already had. “That reminds me – how is it you’re talking?”
“I don’t rightly know if I should be insulted by that,” he grumbled. “You needn’t worry yourself, pup. I’m not like other dogs, or other animals at that. They call me Púca – a shape shifter.”
“Like Ric?”
“No, Skinwalkers only have their rebirth form. My kind has as many as we need. I’m a physical ghost – a solid spirit. I can be seen or unseen; heard or unheard. Luckily for everyone else, the Púca have only one master; themselves.”
“So there aren’t any on the other side of the fight?”
“Not that I’ve met, but never say never,” he huffed. “I’d have to be close enough to smell them distinctively.”
“Why do you stay here if you’re your own master? Surely you can go wherever you please?”
“I have a kindness to repay.”
“So-”
Theron’s ears picked up. “Pup, don’t misunderstand my behaviour to you as an extended hand of friendship. Because of your presence here I’ve had to stay silent for weeks, yammering on with yips and yaps to communicate with the others.” He hopped off the bed and stretched. “It was degrading.”
“Where’re you going?” I asked as Theron skulked to the door.
“If you wouldn’t mind.” He scratched at the wood until I opened it for him. “I don’t wish to be caught in the oncoming storm.”
I looked up at the light-grey sky. “What do you-?”
“I suggest you close and bolt the door.” His ears pricked up again. “If he has something in his path it may give the others time to get to you before you’re torn apart. Not that you’d go to waste.” He padded hurriedly across the bridge and descended to the lower levels. I closed and bolted the door like I should have done in the first place and retreated. ‘If he has something in his path…’
I shivered.
Something crashed far below and a babble of voices erupted, scrambled and chaotic. One voice was stronger and deeper than the others: Alistair’s. His temper had flared and broken in a sea of arguments which quickly turned to pleas of restraint as they came close to the bridge.
“Please, Alistair, stop-”
“You’ll kill her if you see her like this-”
“It’s not her fault-”
His footsteps caused the room to tremble and he launched himself at the door. “What are you?” he yelled over and over again. Had it been Gabriel outside the door I would have been out the window already. I slipped my fingers across the knife on my thigh and shook my head. No, I couldn’t use it even if things came to blows. The others wouldn’t let him kill me after everything. The wood beneath the hinges began to splinter as he came at the door again but I stood strong, too stubborn for my own good. I’d saved his life after all.