Traversing Worlds

Arc One Ch. 27

Late in the evening Marcus paced the small enclosed back garden of the pack house. There were a few benches that carried a mixture of scents from couples who could usually be found early in the morning eating and chatting. He wasn't interested in the few belonging to fellow pack mates but another scent that had been driving him mad since entering the pine forest surrounding the Pine Wood pack. Along the fenced in area a few neatly tended garden beds could be found with healthy green plants. Her scent could also be found lingering heavily in the small space, pacing a few times his eyes naturally went to the waning moon.

Even dimmed and surrounded by the dark expanse about Marcus found himself looking to the Moon Goddess for guidance to his problem. Each time she came within his vicinity the carefully maintained calm and collected attitude would vanish as his brain went muddled turning him in to a reckless fool. He honestly didn't know what was wrong and even a visit to the pack healer only left him with more questions than answers.

With an apathetic gaze Kira silently watched as Marcus restlessly paced the back garden. She still was no closer to finding a tangible lead into Karin and Edwin deaths. Her eyes narrowed a fraction at the clueless idiot who'd unknowingly made discreetly questioning the young single female wolves a nightmare as they already caught onto his obvious attraction to her. It didn't matter to her that they wouldn't know anything important even a flimsy lead was something compared to the nothingness she was working with currently.

Tired of watching him struggle for the night she got up from the window seat and headed to bed.

In the early morning Audrey walked along the dirt path towards her aunt's house, a feeling of reluctance rose up that she immediately stamped down. She clutched tightly on a small pouch which normally sat on her hip. The smell of fried eggs grew stronger the closer she got as the urge to turn around and leave grew stronger.

Before she could even make it to the door Mina the youngest of her aunt's four living children opened the door. A wide smile spread across her sweet face that others might find adorable, to her it only scared her further. "Audrey your running later and later these days hurry up and come on in mom is almost done cooking breakfast." She cooed sweetly which sounded more acidic in her ears.

Hesitantly Audrey forced herself to show a small smile while stepping in through the door. Mina never someone touchy reached out and held onto her shoulder tightly while showing none of her current irritation on her face. "So have you done what I asked you to do yet or..." The cute little laugh had Audrey sweating. "...well we both know don't we." The light tap did nothing to encourage confidence but fear instead.

"Mina..." She spoke the other girl's name hesitantly but whatever she was about to say got trapped in her throat as the deep look in her eyes quieted any notions of trying to dissuade her. "...you look really nice this morning." It wasn't a lie to say that she appeared more dressed up than usual. "Thank you for noticing, I don't normally care to do so because no one has ever truly caught my attention before but now, well I need to stand out properly from those other bitches eyeing the male I have set my eyes on." Her voice and tone didn't seem to match the words but this didn't shock Audrey in the slightest.

"It wasn't easy but I managed to get close with Aaron who seems to be the only wolf close to him. He told me about a bet currently going on amongst their group about whether Marcus will finally approach a female he has taken a liking to in our pack. He couldn't tell me who she was exactly but that she isn't seen around him too often." She said honestly hoping that whoever he had a thing for wouldn't be so serious as to have him turn Mina down.

Mina chuckled at something before smiling at her. "Not too bad Audrey, though you're getting a bit slow." She said letting go of her shoulder and walking ahead into the dining room where her oldest brother and third uncle could be seen sitting at the already set table.

Audrey shivered uncontrollably for a brief moment, thinking about what might happen if Mina ever found her useless. As she thought about the fate of her two older sisters who didn't have very good ends came to mind. Walking into the dining room with these heavy thoughts she'd gotten an even bigger shock seeing her third uncle waiting at the table like he had done so all along and hadn't been sent away.

A large smile curled up onto his face seeing her. "Little Audrey you're looking well tell me how is your father doing these days?" He asked pleasantly though she felt the anger in his words. After all why wouldn't he be angry? It was her father who forced him away at that time.

Keeping her head up and sitting down next to Mina she gave a pleasant smile of her own but didn't look at him. "He is doing quite well these days and how about you uncle, is the far off northern territories as cold as they say?"

Giving a small chuckle his eyes narrowed. "It's much worse than you can imagine lost three of my toes during the first winter there. Not a whole lot of deadly plant life though that just made the predators all the more dangerous to hunt and kill though their pelts aren't bad for trade."

"Sounds like you had an enlightening experience." She said still refusing to look at him.

"You could say that, if it had been anyone else who knows if they would've been able to make it back." He said now trying to get a raise out of her.

Mina frowned as her good mood was slowly being ruined by the uncouth words being spoken by her third uncle towards Audrey. Though she'd been slow about getting what she wanted it was still promptly delivered this morning. "Third Uncle must miss the frozen north very much I can have a talk with mother later and have you sent back promptly."

Hearing the words sent back his overbearing charm that he had been oozing vanished. "Please don't do that Mina, it's been much too long since I have seen either you who have grown up so lovely or my beautiful sister who has only gotten more so since I've been away."

Mina's souring mood perked up hearing the compliment. "Oh so you've noticed too third uncle? Hmm...it's only right; after all doesn't a girl only become lovelier when they are in love?" As she spoke in a gently voice, she couldn't help preening herself slightly.

Audrey felt sick hearing her speak so as she didn't become lovelier at all instead she'd became more unstable but didn't disagree with her.

The threat of being forced back into the frozen north quickly quelled his simmering rage as he swiftly agreed with her words.

Stepping into the dining room Mina's mother smiled bringing in the last dish for breakfast. She sat down pleased to see the table not so empty at breakfast for the first time in a very long time.