Chapter 19: Nine - Part One

FAUNA AND THE WEREWOLVES

Adrenaline pumped through her veins as she crouched in place and waited. Her fingers dug into the earth and she could practically smell the anticipation in the air.

Fauna looked up from her spot and swept her eyes through the crowd, but he was still nowhere to be found.

Her heart fell. She hadn’t seen him all morning, and she had a feeling afternoon was rapidly approaching. It was odd. She couldn’t see the sunlight, but she could tell what time of day it was. Perhaps that was also magic.

Magic had been used for sure where she crouched though. What was formerly a dining area had been transformed into what looked like a human stadium. At least, that’s what Zara said. There were running tracks drawn into the earth and the merfolks and bears who were not participating in the race sat in platforms that hovered above the tracks.

The participants of the race were cubs. Bear cubs that were as tall as Zara, strong and fierce looking, and Fauna could tell they were also fast. Amor had told her before the race started that she was supposed to be the fastest creature in the forest as she had the speed of the cheetahs in her.

Fauna didn’t feel very fast.

She could feel emotions bombard into her and it kept drawing her focus away. The racers were filled with anticipation and the determination to win, the onlookers were excited, someone was nervous, she couldn’t tell who. Her breathing became uneven and she looked to the crowd again.

He wasn’t there.

She caught Ava’s eyes and the little mermaid raised her two thumbs as she grinned widely at Fauna. Beside her was Amor, Alton, Doka, Penny, Honey and the tiger. They were all excited, but they didn’t seem to be rooting for anyone to win, except Zara anyway who liked competition. They all just wanted them to discover and utilize our speed.

There was going to be a reward though. Doka had mentioned that the winner would have fresh honey awaiting them, while the loser would have to take a plunge into the lake which was near-frozen, thanks to magic. Fauna didn’t think she could win, but she sure didn’t want to fail.

She returned her eyes to the tracks and at the cubs lined up beside her. They were bigger than tiger cubs. They were also stronger and faster. She swallowed hard.

A loud trumpeting sound which reminded Fauna of an elephant’s call was heard and they all dashed across the field, each trying to outrun the other.

There was a commentator who narrated the progress of the race. His voice, coupled with the cheer from the crowd and everyone’s emotions was too much for Fauna’s senses, she faltered and came to a slow stop which allowed everyone she had left behind gain on her.

She raised both hands and covered her ears. She could hear the fast-paced beating of her heart. She could feel the confusion of some of the bears and merfolks, she could hear the tigers urging her to go forward. She shook her head and started to run again, but she was slow. She knew she was, but she just couldn’t concentrate on everything at the same time.

“You’re distracted!”

She looked up to the crowd when she heard his voice in her head. He was there. He was watching her.

He was watching her fail woefully.

“Yes, I’m here, and I don’t care if you fail, but I know you have the speed in you. You have to block everyone else out, and stop looking for me. Face the track.”

She inhaled deeply. How was she supposed to block everything out? It was all too much.

“Your sixteenth birthday is coming up and while you cannot morph yet, your powers are surfacing, which also means heightened senses. If you don’t learn to block things out, you’ll go insane. You have to concentrate, dear one.”

‘No pressure then,’ Fauna thought.

She crossed the line that marked the first lap of the race, but she was in the rear. How was she supposed to win this? A cub was already entering the third and final lap while Fauna could feel her energy rapidly draining. She was absorbing way too many things. Lyle was right. She needed to block all distractions out, but how?

“You’re not focusing. Forget everyone here. We’re just noise. It’s just you and the field in existence.”

“I can’t,” she admitted to her mate. “I’m running out of energy.”

“You can. You still have time to make a difference. Give in to the speed. I can feel it in you struggling to break free. Stop thinking it. Just let your body take control.”

Fauna frowned. He could feel the speed struggling to break free? It didn’t make sense, but she trusted him.

Fauna closed her eyes as she continued to run. She took in deep breaths as she placed all her focus on placing one foot in front of the others.

‘Everyone else is just noise’ she reminded herself. She could feel the adrenaline move in her body, filling her with strength and speed.

“And Storm is half-way through the last lap. She sure likes her honey, doesn’t she?” she could vaguely hear the commentator. He was just noise. It didn’t matter what he was saying.

Fauna could feel her whole body pulsing, her ears were drumming. She felt energy gather in her chest, begging to burst free. Her instinct was to fight it, but she didn’t. She trusted Lyle.

“Snow has come to an abrupt stop. Is she giving up?”

She couldn’t move. She wasn’t even trying to. She could feel the energy spread all over her body and for a second, she couldn’t hear, she couldn’t see, she couldn’t smell, she couldn’t feel anything. It was just blank.

Almost as quickly as the nothingness came, it was gone and much to her own surprise, her body moved across the field at an insane speed. Everything was a blur around her as she raced past them, a huge smile on her face.

“And Snow just entered the third lap. My dragons! Have you ever seen anyone run that fast? And she is… Holy moon goddess! And third to cross the finish line, we have Snow. This is an exciting day to be alive everyone! You should listen to my heartbeat right now!”

Fauna slowed to a stop and grinned at the people who were bursting with excitement. She couldn’t believe it. She actually did it. She actually came third. She didn’t have to take a dive into the deep, freezing lake, but more than that, she was fast. Wicked fast!

“That has to be the most impressive thing I’ve ever seen, and trust me, I’ve seen a lot of impressive things,” she heard Lyle’s voice in her head. She looked around in search of him. She was barely aware of the people that had gathered around her and the other winners, congratulating them, or those that were telling her how impressed they were by her speed.

Fauna just wanted to find her mate.

“That was super cool!” A bear told her as he stared down at her with kaleidoscopic eyes. He was tall and bulky with heavily bearded face. “You went from last to third in about four seconds!”

“Cool?” The cub who came last walked up to her. “It wasn’t cool, it was the most marvellous thing I’ve ever seen! That was spectacular!”

“Indeed, but you do know you have to jump into the freezing lake, don’t you?” The older bear wriggled his brow at the younger girl who shrugged. She didn’t seem upset at all.

Fauna left them and weaved through the crowds, but was stopped by Saber who pulled her into an embrace that was joined by Zara.

“You should have seen yourself,” Zara gushed, enthusiastic as always. “You went from pathetic to incredible so fast, I think I got a whiplash!” She was grinning widely as she pulled away from Fauna and gave her a friendly pat on the back. “Saber cried.”

“I didn’t!” Saber objected. “You accidentally clawed my eye when you leaped for join.” He rolled his eyes at the tigress who waved off his words. “I’m really proud of you though, you used the speed of the cheetahs, is what I heard.”

“At least, you can now outrun Ari. I wonder what’s next. I want to see some fighting, and with the bears.” Zara’s purple eyes twinkled with excitement as she threw an arm around Fauna’s shoulders, oblivious that the girl was distracted. “I’ve challenged Honey to a match. She’s huge, but she doesn’t seem fast, plus she’s very clumsy.”

Fauna wasn’t surprised. Zara was always excited to train, and fighting with the bears could really help her with her strength and endurance. Perhaps, she may return to the clan stronger than even Bone. How exciting would that be?

“Then why don’t you challenge Doka? Afraid?” Saber teased and the duo began bickering, giving Fauna the opportunity to slip past them.

She finally found him and she felt her lips tug upwards with a grin. He was talking to his mother while his little sister held his hand and stared at the duo, not seeming to grasp what they were talking about.

She was the first to see Fauna and when she did, her face lit up with a smile that melted Fauna’s heart. She was incredibly beautiful. All the merfolks were. She tugged on Lyle’s hand and he looked fondly down at her. With her head, she gestured towards Fauna and Lyle looked up at his mate.

Their eyes met and Fauna’s breath hitched in her throat. He was the most beautiful creature she had ever set her eyes on, and he wasn’t arrogant about it. His smile was soft and disarming, and his eyes… Fauna could get lost in his golden eyes.

He walked towards her and his short pale hair bounced against his pale skin. When he got to her, Lyle chuckled lightly before he took her hand and pulled her into a warm embrace that made her stomach flutter and her heart display acrobatic skills.

“You were magnificent out there.” His voice was soft and held so many emotions, it was pleasing to Fauna’s ears.

“All thanks to you.” She smiled shyly as she looked down to the grassy earth. She couldn’t keep staring into his eyes as she feared she could get lost in them. How couldn’t she? “Thanks for being there for me.”

“I’m your mate, dear one. It’s what we do. Moreover, it was all you. Come, let’s get away from the noise.” He intertwined their hands and led her away from the crowd. When they passed Ava and Amor, the mermaids placed their right palm against their chest and then towards the pair who returned the gesture.

Lyle and Fauna walked in the direction of her room. When they left the brightness of the stadium, balls of light materialized over their heads and illuminated the path ahead. They walked in silence for a while until Fauna recalled something that happened.

“During the race, I started feeling hot, then the dress seemed to become cooler,” Fauna gestured to the clothe she was wearing. “Now that I’m kinda cool, it’s heating up.”

“Cool, isn’t it?”

“So, it’s magic?” Fauna raised a brow in awe and Lyle shrugged.

“You both are. There’s a reason only merfolks wear it. It needs magic to sustain it,” Lyle explained and Fauna frowned in confusion.

“I’m not magic,” she objected as she shook her head.

“When I met you, you had fists of fire. That’s magic, from the dragons themselves. You can sense the emotions of others. Even merfolks can’t do that.”

“You can sense my thoughts and emotions,” she argued and Lyle chuckled. They approached the caves and the earth rumbled underneath them before lifting them towards Fauna’s room.

“We’re mates. We’re connected, so that’s why. The point is you’re the one manipulating the temperature of the clothing. You’re just not aware of it. This leads me to believe you can access magic better than your other strengths. It’s fascinating though as magic is the hardest.”

The earth stopped moving and her cave opened up for them to step in. Lyle gestured for her to go first and with a smile, she did. When they were inside, the entrance closed up, sealing them in.

Fauna jumped unto her levitating bed and tapped the spot beside her, inviting her mate. He looked around the room with furrowed brows for a moment, then he joined her, his legs tucked beneath him.

“You feel sad,” Lyle said after a moment of silence. It wasn’t a question, but an observation. He could tell his mate was upset and he wanted to know why. He wanted to make her feel better.

“Indeed.” Fauna nodded slowly before she released a heavy sigh. “I miss my family – the tigers. Lord Bruce, Bone and the others are probably having a hard time, yet here I am playing catch with a bunch of cubs.”

Lyle watched as her shoulders slumped and he inclined his head to the side. His mate was always worried. She was always thinking about the people she cared for. He thought she was perfect.

“Playing catch helped you discover your speed. And you’re only going to be stronger in animal form.”

“How does that help me defeat Ari? He’s going to keep terrorizing my family until he gets his claws on me.” Her eyes glistened at the thought and Lyle once again took her hand in his and with his thumb, he drew circles on the back of her palms.

The motion was therapeutic and distracting, but it wasn’t enough to make Fauna forget the pain she was feeling. She needed to be strong. She needed to be able to fight Ari.

“You won’t be of much help to them until after you morph, Sn – Fauna. I know! I could go with you and fight with you.”

Fauna looked up at him with wide eyes. “You’d do that? Why? Can you even fight?”

Lyle didn’t look like one to fight. He didn’t seem to have a violent bone in his body. He was so kind, so nurturing, and as much as she adored that, she didn’t think it would be very helpful against Ari.

At her question though, the young merman laughed and shook his head, which caused his hair to bounce around his face. He wasn’t surprised she thought that. A lot of people did.

“My father taught me to fight before he died, so I’ll say I’m a pretty good fighter. Also, I’m great at magic. Ari won’t see that coming.” He grinned, revealing his sparkling teeth and Fauna’s heart skipped a beat. “If that doesn’t work, I guess I’ll just have to charm him with my smile.”

If Ari wasn’t a heartless lion, Fauna was sure that the second option could work. Lyle really did have the prettiest smile and the most charming personality. His aura was so pure and welcoming, it made her feel safe with him despite knowing him.

“Fauna?”

Startled by the sudden presence in her head, Fauna yelped and fell off the bed rather clumsily. A crease on his forehead, Lyle looked down at her, his head inclined to the side.

“I’m sorry! It’s just Doka in my head.” She tapped the side of her head and Lyle nodded as he stretched out his hand which she accepted, allowing him to pull her back onto the bed.

“I’m sorry I scared you. We’ve been looking all over for you but you – that’s not what’s important. You have to come meet me above immediately.” Doka sounded urgent and Fauna groaned. Couldn’t she catch a break before she resumed training?

Sure, she only ran, but she was already exhausted. She really didn’t like exercising. That was Zara’s thing.

“Can’t it wait for a while? I’m with Lyle right now and –”

“I’m sure that’s a lot of fun, but this can’t wait. You have visitors and they claim to be from your father.”