The desert, even with the blessing of the Free Lady, was still unforgiving. The sun glared down from above with the gaze of a disapproving parent. Constant and unwavering. Even with the assistance of magic, it wasn’t an easy trek. Especially for Snow, entirely unused to this type of climate. Her feet dragged in the sand as she trailed behind Ryza.
Ryza on the other hand, maintaining a breeze of magic in one hand and consulting the map in other, was no worse for wear. The air was hot and it rubbed the wrong way against her nose but she sniffed it regardless. An indescribable scent kept her going forward and an invisible arrow in her head directed her.
For the first time in a long time, she felt Shriek at her shoulder hanging around. “Yes little one this place is a kind of hell. It might be safer for you within my pouch though.”
His nose twitched staring at her and then glancing back at Snow. Positioning himself carefully he ran back and then jumped at her. Snow’s eyes went wide and reached to catch him in her hands. She focused in on him and he leaned forward sniffing at her. “Hi Shriek. Yes, this is kinda rough. But it feels right. Do you have feelings or instincts like that? Being you know? Not really alive.”
He didn’t talk because of course he didn’t but regardless she watched how he moved and sniffed at her and she felt lighter. Smiling at him she raised him to rest on her shoulder and immediately he dug into her hair. Climbing across the strands suddenly he was on her head and was fascinated by her ears.
Ryza watched the two of them and chuckled. Her best friend for years had been that simple rat. A dead rat that acted like it was alive. Kept her company and made her feel less alone every single time he popped up. And now he was playing with Snow, the person in her life that made her smile, that made getting up worth it. Seeing them together made her heart swell in a way she’d never felt before.
Turning back to focus on the journey she glanced at the map and then looked in front of them. It was almost like they hadn’t progressed forward. The way the sun glared down, combined with sand kicked up by the wind created a constant haze on her eyes. To the point where she didn’t trust them.
“If you cannot trust one’s eyes, your senses must assume another guise.”
She looked at the amused image of Gest but then listened to what the ghost of the jester was saying. But looking back in the direction that her instincts drove her she frowned hard. Again, she looked at her hand, saw the phantom image of another hand superimposed over her. But it was her imagination. It wasn’t a real change. She could feel it just out of reach repelling her.
Her hand shook and she swung it away, her tail swishing hard. She wasn’t going to be the one to find this place. But she didn’t have to be. “Snow.”
“Yeah Ryry?”
“I need your nose,” she said holding out her hand for her to come closer. “And your senses.”
Snow took it coming to stand at her side, “What do mean?”
“I can’t see through this. It’s messing with my eyes. Messing with everything that I know how to do. I can smell and sense where to go but, it’s not natural to me. I know we’ll get there eventually but I don’t know how much wandering we’ll do before we get there.”
Snow sniffed at the air, rubbing her nose for a moment but she was focused. Her ears moved slowly and Shriek readjusted himself as they did. “I know what you mean. I’d have to be in one of my other forms to really get us there.”
“Then do it. But!” she shouted right as the magic began to manifest itself. “Let me cast this spell first. Losing our clothes every time we shapeshift isn’t sustainable. Especially out here.” Holding one of her hands out flat she moved her fingers over her palm, making a few shapes with them.
She then spread her fingers and pointed at Snow. Two sparks of light appeared and surrounded her showering her with the light. She watched them fade and then took a step back as her clothes glittered for a second. She sniffed at her arm and then smiled, “So that’s what that smell is.”
“What smell?”
“Your magic has a smell. The necromancy version smells like a graveyard but this one smells like you. You but hot. Warm.” She hugged herself taking another deep breath. “Now can I change?”
Casting the spell on herself Ryza nodded, “Yes.”
She looked up at Shriek, “You gonna stay up there?” The rat made a quick squeak and she smiled. “Hang on then.” She spread her arms and leaned backward. The magic coursed over her, racing through her veins, fingers, and toes. She hissed opening her mouth as she grew, her fur flowing.
When the magic stopped, she huffed and turned around to face Ryza. Now towering over her she bent down and rested her snout against Ryza’s head. Ryza smiled and stroked her jaw, wrapping an arm around her own for a moment. She smelled amazing, especially in this form. A combination of her human and wolf form into something new.
Shriek peeked up from her head, shaking but still in position. She turned moving on her new limbs and crouched sniffing the air. She closed her eyes and stilled. Going low to the ground she started moving taking large loping strides that left Ryza in the dust. Startled she ran after her keeping pace with her best efforts.
They had broken off from the path that Ryza thought they were going to take, climbing into the dunes of the sand. The haze that clouded her eyes was almost impossible for her to follow. If it weren’t for Snow’s white fur and her scent, she would’ve gotten lost in seconds. She was her compass out here except she had no idea where north really was.
They trudged up and down various hills and then they slowed to a stop. Snow stood up straighter her snout to the air. Turning back and forth she sniffed again and then her eyes widened. She reached out toward Ryza, darting back to her side. Just in time as six shapes appeared from the haze like mirages. Some were morphed like Snow and one was on all fours.
Ryza put her back against Snow’s. Her tail thrashed as she pulled her shovel free. She felt Snow behind her readying her claws.
As they approached they showed off the fact that they were armed as well. “You see this Claudia? A wulf all on her own. I don’t recognize her scent either.”
Ryza knew almost immediately who Claudia was. Snow as well as she bared her teeth at her. The woman that had held Ryza back in Varuct. Claudia came forward, her ears brown against her black hair and smirking. She came forward tossing an axe back and forth in her palms then paused.
“Wait. I know you,” she said pointing at Snow. “The pup. You really mastered it. And even came back here. Which means you must be her necromancer pet.”
“Claudia look at her,” said one next to her, their face entirely covered in rags. They pointed a clawed finger at Ryza. “She’s not just some random mage. She’s one of us.”
Looking closely Claudia could see it. The ears, the tail, and more importantly the eyes. When she went to sniff the air, she could smell it. She looked at Ryza with a mix of awe and revulsion. “You’re one of us.”
Ryza nodded slowly, “I am. And we’re trying to come home.”
“What makes you think this is your home?”
Instead of answering immediately she looked at her side, looked at her wolf and it met her eyes. Closing her eyes, she reached out toward the wolf. She felt its presence in her mind and again she sought for a reason, to explain what that feeling was. And she couldn’t, but this time she let it be. She let whatever this new side was inside . It didn’t need to manifest apart from her. It was her.
The wolf disappeared, flowing into her and she gasped. She felt the heat rising inside of her and sniffed the air again. She could smell each and every wulf around them. The haze was gone and she cracked her neck slowly. Looking at her hand she felt the black claws forming against each finger.
“We’re going to Luthagen. And that can be with your help or through you,” she growled. “Neither of us is partial to one or the other.” Snow barked harshly for emphasis.
The tension on the air was thick, made worse by the heat surrounding them. Claudia grit her teeth together, “Stand down. We’re gonna escort them back.”
“What?”
She snapped at the one who questioned her, “Fall in. Unless you want to challenge my authority.”
They looked at her and then lowered their head backing off. The others did the same, circling around and grouping together. Ryza knew that beforehand they would have disappeared into the haze and she wouldn’t have seen them. But now she was seeing with more than eyes.
Snow didn’t relax as she turned to look at Ryza. Ryza nodded slowly and put a hand at her back, “Let’s go.”
They started running with the group, Claudia in the lead. Even in her normal form, it was a simple matter for Ryza to keep pace with them. She’d never been one for physical labor before but now she was an expert. Had great form, moving in time with Snow and the others. A few of them threw glances their way but most were focused on following the leader.
As they ran their surroundings shifted. The dark shape that had been visible in the distance was becoming very solid very quickly. It was more than just a shape it was the ruins of an old city. Massive in scope with crumbled towers and buildings. Similar to spots in the Free City, there were pockets of life. Greenery growing along the stone, smoke plumes from fires rising up, and more.
A call went out as a quick howl. Another answering one echoed in the city. And then Claudia called back followed by one more from their party. Ryza caught it first, an invisible barrier that had a scent to it. She glanced at the ground and didn’t see anything but there was definitely a territorial mark there.
They finally ran into the city itself, an open gate with guards in front. They broke into the courtyard and were greeted by even more wulves. There were dozens of types, some transformed and lounging around, some playing together and others as humans lounging or watching. From what Ryza could smell, there were actual wolves of varying ages.
Snow and Ryza looked around them, slowing down and just basking in it. Her senses dulled to the most relaxed Ryza had ever been. She felt like she could wander around nude in the middle of the night without a care. That she could talk to any one of them and have a true conversation. No lies, no hidden meanings. Just raw trust. It startled her.
“So this is what home feels like,” she mumbled and Snow took her hand.
The party they entered with went their own ways but Claudia and a new routine of guards came forward. A pair with long spears flanked by a couple of brown wolves. “Claudia who are these two?” one asked.
“Lost wulves returning home,” she said glancing at the two of them. “At least that’s their claim. There’s no way they get The First’s approval.”
One of the wolves came forward growling at Snow and she growled back. One of the guards pointed their spear at her and Ryza stepped forward, “We don’t want a fight. The only reason we found out about Luthagen is because of Dioh.”
The two guards flinched back at his name and the wolves whimpered. Even Claudia made a face at his name being said. “Fuck. What was that wild dog thinking saying that to you.”
“Oh do you have a problem with me being a wild dog?”
They all turned as a shape dropped out of the air. Dioh stood up from his crouch and stared at Claudia with a look in his eyes that made Ryza hesitate. And it made Claudia shudder in fear. He closed the distance between them flashing his teeth. She held up her hands and immediately went down to her knees and lowered her head.
“Please Dioh. I meant no disrespect. You know that.”
“Huh, do I?” he snorted moving to strike at her but paused. Turning slowly, he looked at Snow and Ryza. “Look at you! All grown up and a real wulf.” He sniffed again and looked at Ryza. “And then there’s you. Seems like you went and joined the pack.”
“Unintendedly but I don’t regret it,” she looked him up and down and didn’t relax. Not yet. Dioh seemed to realize that and laughed.
“Oh I think I like you.” Turning his attention back onto Claudia he growled. “I invited them and you weren’t going to let them in? Maybe I misjudged your character too.”
“No Dioh. I swear you haven’t.”
“That’s what all the mutts say,” he growled raising his hand.
Before he could strike Snow moved to stop his hand with her claw. She narrowed her blue eyes and met his red ones. He growled low in his throat, his own ears flattening. Despite Snow being shifted Dioh wasn’t that much shorter than her. “Protecting this mutt? Looks like I might have misjudged you too.”
“Dioh. That’s enough.”
The voice was soft but it was heavy. It echoed in their minds like it were their own thoughts. Ryza closed her eyes tightly and immediately turned to face the sound. A man approached them his skin black like obsidian, chest exposed and muscular. Even from here, Ryza could tell he was almost as tall as Snow transformed.
His nose was broad and lips thick but the upper half of his face was covered.
Going from the top of his face and going down his back was the skin of a wolf. Its eyes covered his own, snout over his nose, and traveled down his back. Around his waist was a skirt of fur similar to the one on his head.
He moved deliberately, his steps barely making a sound as he walked. His tail swished back and forth as he moved and he turned his gaze from Dioh to Snow and Ryza then Claudia. The wolves bowed their heads as did Claudia and the guards. Even Dioh stood upright and lowered his head. What’s more though Ryza and Snow both felt the need to lower their heads as well.
He stopped just in front of them all and waved his hand at Claudia and the rest. “You all may go. We wish to talk to you two. You’ve made us very curious.”
“Us?” Ryza said and her eyes glowed faintly. She stared at him and saw him but superimposed over him she saw a woman. Her skin and features were very similar to his, down to the wolf skin on her head.
The man and the woman stared at her and the weight of their compound gaze made her sink down to her knees and press her forehead against the ground. An involuntary whimper left her lips and she shivered.
“Who are you?” she managed to ask.
“You are talented child. Not a typical member of our pack,” they said in stereo, and Ryza’s eyes narrowed. “Our names, we’ve had many during our lifetime but forgotten many of them. However, every member of our pack since the beginning to end has called us The First. So you may do the same.
“But you don’t smell like one of ours. Not one was brought in by us directly. No, you were brought in by this one.” They turned their conjoined gaze onto Snow. Snow raised her head hesitantly and then lowered it again upon being looked at by them fully. “It is alright young one. Raise your head.”
She looked up and The First rested their hands on Snow’s muzzle. Snow closed her eyes and they leaned forward, pressing their foreheads against Snows. “You’ve been through quite the journey. Inherited your other half. Watched it destroy your family. You and your wolf were forced apart. To be aware of one another but unable to join. Such animosity. You would have torn one another to pieces if not for your companion. We’ve rarely seen a wulf so at home with themself.”
They stood slowly and brought Snow up with them, “Rise child. Rise and be formally welcomed into your new pack. Formerly welcomed into your new family.”
Snow stood slowly staring at The First, only seeing the man but smelling and feeling something more, unable to understand what exactly he, she, they were. But the words filled her with warmth. She whimpered and leaned forward pressing her face against their chest and they laughed.
But Snow turned to look at Ryza and their gaze followed. They sniffed the air coming forward. “You smell of magic young wulf. Though you are no more than a pup, the magic within you is ancient. The things you’ve seen and cast remind us of our own age. And yet you come here along with this one. What truly compelled you to come here?”
Ryza kept her eyes on them, meeting their superimposed pair of eyes, and shut her own. Before she would have been compelled to be guarded, to hide her intentions. To be careful. But under their gaze she had to be honest. She had to say the truth. No. She wanted to be honest. For a moment she was a little girl talking to her father again.
“Before Snow I had very little friends or family. And even less of a reason to be vulnerable around them. But Snow has shown me love I could not have ever found on my own. And since the change, something has clicked within me here. Something powerful. This place, the other wulves, and even you. You call to something deep within me. This is home. A home I’ve never had before. That’s why I’m here.”
The First stared at her and Ryza met their gaze unflinching this time. “You are not one that we chose to join the pack. You are fresh in many ways. Only transformed once. Your magic could be a great boon to the pack. Or very dangerous. What guarantee do we have that you would not endanger us? Our community is small but precious. We won’t suffer a threat to remain amongst us to cause potential harm.”
Ryza stared at them and growled under her breath. She felt the wolf inside her, called out to it and it answered immediately. It came forward and raised its head inside her. She felt her body change, she felt her bones shift and break. Felt the heat of magic race through her joints. This wasn’t like when she felt Snow change, this was her own version. She had to fight the scream in her throat as it morphed into a howl.
As she transformed and stood on her now taller hind legs, she howled and it echoed through the village. And it was answered by wulf and wolf alike, howls echoing like a wave. Ryza heard Snow’s echo the loudest and hers was the last one she heard as she stopped and crouched.
But she looked at The First, bowing her head and let the magic fade. Her black fur receded, her wulf body disappeared and she collapsed down to her knees. She could feel Snow’s large hands on her shoulders keeping her steady. Ryza cast her gaze up to The First and blinked shocked as she realized they were smiling at her.
“You are certainly a strange one necromancer. But despite how young it is, the wulf heart inside you beats strongly. What is your name?”
“Ryza,” she said voice hoarse and out of breath.
They looked at her and their grin broadened showing their fangs. “Then rise Ryza. And welcome to the pack.”
She felt Snow wrap her furry arms around her tightly shaking her and she laughed feeling her excitement reverberate inside her chest and up through her throat. The First took a step back and Ryza watched both halves of them tilt their heads back and howl. Unlike her howl moments, ago this one was powerful. It was like it had a physical punch to it and it almost knocked her over.
Snow howled beside her and slowly the chorus was taken over by the others in the village until their howl became a beacon in this place. And then an instinct took over, one that had nothing to do with the logic and book learned magic. It took control of her faculties and she found herself howling. Her other half howled through her human throat wearing it raw but nothing had ever felt so right.
The Harlequin Library 