Vera's Song (Creatures of the Lands Book 2) Read online

  “Yes, and he’s a boy, just like I knew he would be.” She smiled happily. “Oh, Ionan isn’t it great? We both got Accompanies!”

  “I know! Where is he?” he asked.

  “Over here.” Vera flew over and landed on the shoulder of a teenage boy. Keota gasped, and clung Ionan closer as he looked into those cold brown eyes, dancing with victory.

  Hundreds of miles inside the Ice Born Mountains, the purple dragoness was keeping look-out. The unicorn valley where the Great One lived was still a little while away, for a good reason. They needed a place close to the herd so they could act quickly, but far enough away they so they wouldn’t be discovered. Wyntier had made sure that he chose the most dangerous part of the Ice Borns, one that you could only reach with an experienced flyer. Not even Pegasi could fly up here. Too slippery for their hooves. Only another dragon could manage to land carefully.

  Vera sighed. She didn’t care about the cold, to a point. But the weather was so nasty here she couldn’t even change form, unless she was inside the hideout or lit a fire with her breath to warm herself.

  “Vera!” a voice called from the mountain’s belly. “Come in now!”

  Vera turned heartlessly towards the entrance. She lit a fire that didn’t even touch the hard ice in order to warm the air, changing into a sparrow and flying inside.

  It was dark and depressing inside the fortress, although the torches Wyntier had lit made it almost cozy, if a prison could be so. Wyntier beckoned her over and she flew wearily to his side.

  “This is it,” he whispered, and he held up a long, human device with a sharp ended tip. “This is what we have been working for years to achieve. With the liquid inside this syringe, my plan will begin to unfold.”

  Vera didn’t reply. She had tried many times to convince her Accompany to give up his ambition to ruin the Great One, but her plans had failed each time. Her protests weren’t worth another beating.

  “As soon as night falls, we make for the valley. Your job will be to get a unicorn away from the herd. While the Great One is distracted, we’ll set a trap for the child and his Changer. Then no one will be in our way.”

  “What exactly will that do?” she questioned, looking at the syringe unhappily.

  “What the humans made it to do, and what I made it to do...mutate the host. Once the metamorphosis is complete, the misshapen creature will be forced to bend to my will.”

  Vera still stood silently. “Be prepared to leave soon,” he said, hovering over his precious concoction. She flew out and back into the snow, changing quickly into her dragon form as she left. She sat in the frost and watched as a single feather fell off her right wing. Her thin body shivered. It was getting harder each day to change now, and not just because of the cold. A single tear fell from her eye and upon the snow, and the wind lifted the feather up and away from the mountain.

  Miles away, a young silver she-wolf padded along, circling the herd of unicorns that were content to eat in the valley. A small pink feather landed at her feet and, curious, she sniffed it. As she did so, she tilted her head.

  “I know that smell,” she whispered. It had been a long time, but she knew what it was by heart. There was a Changer nearby.

  She picked up the feather in her mouth, racing back to a large tree where a blonde haired fairy was sleeping. “Casiff!” she howled and the man woke up drowsily. “Casiff,” she cried, “Something is not right!”

  Chapter Two

  Powers of the Mind

  “Daddy?” Kennu jabbed at Keota’s forehead with one small finger. “Daddy?”

  Keota jumped as he was pulled from his memories, nearly falling over in surprise. “What is it Kennu!?” he asked, expecting some sort of disaster.

  “Who is Wyntier?” Kennu cocked his head to the side as he said the name.

  “Wyntier? How do you know about him?” Keota looked at his son, shocked that he knew the name.

  “What’s the matter Keota?” Kia asked, walking over to her husband.

  “He just asked me who Wyntier was,” Keota told his wife.

  “Wyntier?” Kia looked confused. “I’ve never heard of him in my life.”

  Keota wondered how to put it. “Remember the bully I told you about, the one who was in the army with us and almost got me and Ionan killed? Back when you and I first met?”

  “Vaguely,” Kia said.

  “That was his name. I was just thinking of him, and Kennu somehow knew who he was.”

  “Oh, how wonderful!” Kia swept her son into her arms and hugged him close, beaming with joy.

  “Wonderful? There’s nothing wonderful about Wyntier except that he’s far away from us,” Keota said in confusion.

  “No, not that, you dolt. My baby has telepathy!”

  “What?” Keota asked.

  “Telepathy. It is very rare, but on occasion a fairy will end up with it. It allows the fairy to read minds and move objects,” Kia said proudly. “And my baby has it! I’m so proud of you Kennu!”

  “Kennu has tele-paty?” Allie walked up and looked at Kia, slurring the word.

  “Yes, Allie, Kennu has telepathy.” Kia smiled down at the Changer.

  “Yay!” Allie jumped up into the air and changed into a lynx. She landed in front of Kia and got up to paw at Kennu’s leg.

  “Allie, get down, you’re going to knock me over,” Kia commanded.

  “No.” Allie said back. “No, no, no, no, no!”

  “Allie!” Kia gave the young Changer a stern look.

  “No!” Allie said again.

  “I’ll get her.” Keota grabbed the lynx and yanked her away from Kia. “We should probably head home pretty soon.”

  “Yeah, let’s get everything put together and get going,” Kia sighed.

  As they began putting away their things, Keota reminded himself that he had to be more careful with his thoughts from now on. He had been bullied enough by Wyntier as a child, and there was no need for Kennu to see something so humiliating happening to his father.

  Ionan looked up as Kia and Keota came into the yard, children in tow. Nodding a greeting, he turned into a hawk and went to sit gently on Keota’s shoulder. “How was the picnic?” he asked as the children played below.

  “It was a lot of fun.” Keota smiled at his Changer. “I was thinking about the day I found you.”

  “I thought someone was intruding on my mind,” Ionan chuckled.

  “Yes.” Keota hesitated. “I wonder why you chose to think about that particular moment in our lives.”

  “Oh, you know how it goes. I like to revisit all my memories. Keep them alive so they don’t fade away.”

  “Ionan. I think we both know better than that.”

  The Changer didn’t say anything. Then he sighed, looking at Allie as she licked Kennu’s face.“I miss her so much. When I think about her, it’s like she’s right beside me. I can almost feel her here, in the forest.”

  “That’s ridiculous. Her and Wyntier are probably off causing chaos like they were before,” Keota told the hawk.

  “I know, but I can’t help it. She has to be nearby,” Ionan whispered back.

  “She’s in your heart, that’s what’s important,” Keota said to try and make Ionan quiet. It had been years since they’d left Nesting’s Haven, and the last thing he wanted was Ionan bringing up the past. It seemed like his Changer had forgotten Vera was the reason they had fled from home in the first place.

  A small purple butterfly landed softly on the edge of a bird’s nest. She took in her surroundings, completely lost. What a fruitless mission this was. She wished Wyntier would give up and go...not back home, but anywhere. Somewhere where they could be together and not cause harm to anyone.

  “Hello there little butterfly,” a strong voice said, and Vera jumped as she stared into the brown eyes of a large black wolf, one who looked young, strong, and brave. “Are you lost?

  Frightened, she said,“I’m Vera. I’m new here.”

  “My name is Lilja,” he sai
d. “What brings you to the forest?”

  “I need to find my way around,” she answered. “My master wants to visit. He has business here and doesn’t want to get lost.”

  He cocked his head. “Your master? You mean your fairy? Is he a friend of Kia’s?”

  Vera didn’t know who Kia was, but she would do anything not to get caught. “Yes. They’re very good friends.”

  “Well any friend of Kia’s is a friend of mine for sure. This is my home, and I could give you a tour,” he offered.

  “Do you have a map?” Vera asked.

  Lilja shook his head. “No, but I know where to find one, if you wait.”

  “Thank you Lilja. I would appreciate your help,” Vera replied.

  When Lilja returned, he put the map on the ground, watching skeptically as the butterfly tried to lift it. “Are you sure you don’t need any help with that?”

  “No no, I’m fine,” Vera said. “I’ve taken up too much time of yours already, don’t worry.”

  “I suppose I should return to my pack,” Lilja said. “But I will be nearby, if you need anything.”

  Once he was gone, Vera transformed into a small sparrow, map in her claws. She flitted to a small tent pitched in a cropping of trees just outside the Verinian.

  “What took you so long?” Wyntier snapped at his Changer as he grabbed the map, observing it. “Well?”

  “I’m not the best mapmaker if you haven’t noticed! I needed to find someone to help me,” Vera replied.

  Wyntier slapped the sparrow from the sky. “Next time try to find someone who can find a better map than this,” he barked. “You will be resting out here for the night as a reward for the sloppy job.” He went back into his tent, angrily muttering insults about Vera under his breath.

  Vera sobbed silently from where she lay on the ground. Her right wing ached and she was unsure if it was broken or not, but it didn’t matter anyway. That pain was nothing compared to the pain of a broken heart.

  Back at his den, Lilja watched as his first litter played happily in the clearing. For years he and Cornia had tried to have children unsuccessfully, and Cornia’s difficult labor had made it so she could never have pups again. Because of it, he only valued his litter even more. The pups romped and fought much like he and his sister had so many years ago. His children were now five moons old and would soon be able to hunt with the pack. There were two boys and three girls, his pride and joy.

  “I thought I’d find you here,” a soft voice said from behind him, and he turned to see a brown she-wolf with brown splotches around her eyes.

  “Cornia.” He stood and walked over to his mate. “How was the hunting?”

  “We shall all eat well tonight,” she said proudly. “Where were you?”

  “Helping a friend,” he stated. “We have newcomers to the forest.”

  “Newcomers?” she said. “I hope they mean well.”

  “If they don’t, they’ll know what it means to feel Kia’s wrath,” Lilja laughed. He nuzzled her softly than laid down on the ground to watch their pups once again. She laid next to him and cuddled up close to his side.

  “Daaaaaaadddddd,” one of the pups moaned.

  “What do you want, Snapfoot?” Lilja asked the smaller of his two boys, a brown pup with a single black paw.

  “The girls won’t leave me and Shadowin alone!” he said, annoyed.

  “Not again,” Lilja sighed. “Jade, Midnightstar, and Caini! Get yourselves over here this instant!” he called.

  Three female pups ran over and sat in front of their father. Jade was completely brown, Caini was white, and Midnightstar had a black coat even deeper than her father’s, with white flecks like stars upon her back. “Yes Dad?” the girls said in unison.

  “Did your brothers ask you to leave them alone?” Lilja asked them.

  “Yes,” Caini said quietly.

  “But they were being mean and pouncing on us earlier!” Midnightstar said angrily.

  “Really?” Lilja looked back over at Snapfoot. “Is this true?”

  “Yes.” The young pup looked down at his feet.

  He sighed. “All five of my children will learn to get along. There’s nothing more important than family.”

  “I’d rather be separated from them forever, if you ask me. They’re all annoying!” a black pup with white splotches around his eyes growled, shaking his coat of dust as he trotted up to his family.

  “Shadowin!” Lilja said sharply. “Don’t ever say that again. Someday you might not get to be with all your brothers and sisters. Appreciate each other while you’re all still together. Do you understand me?” Lilja told them.

  “Yes father,” the five pups in front of him groaned.

  “Good. Now go play.” Lilja watched with amusement as his five pups tumbled around each other, not realizing how blessed they were, and how everything they cherished could be taken from them in an instant. He had been their age when he had lost his home in the fire. He bared his teeth as he remembered the day, and thought, No matter what it is, I’ll protect my pups. I will do everything in my power to make sure nothing happens to them.

  Keota and Ionan were having one of those rare times when they could just be together. Kia was watching over Allie and Kennu and had insisted that the Changer and Accompany went out flying for the first time in ages. They glided quietly among the treetops, disturbing no one as Ionan soared.

  “Keota,” Ionan asked suddenly, “When are we going to see Lottie and Lilja again? It’s been nearly a year since we saw them last.”

  “Vixen and Casiff will be coming back soon, Lottie with them,” Keota reassured the dragon. “And Lilja and his pack are preparing to welcome us also. I bet you’re excited to see Lilja’s pups, aren’t you?” he laughed.

  “Yes, I am. It seems like only yesterday that Lilja was a pup himself. I can’t believe that he’s a father. Then again, I can’t believe that you’re a father, either.”

  “Hey, I don’t do too bad of a job, do I?

  “Most of the time.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  Ionan went to answer but before he did something slammed into him in midair. Keota was knocked from his back and went careening towards the ground. At the last second Ionan caught him and down they spiraled until Ionan crashed into the earth, knocking over saplings in his way.

  “How many times are we going to fall from the sky? Twice and a near miss is enough,” Keota complained.

  Ionan wasn’t listening. He was staring at the creature they had crashed into, his body shaking. “Vera,” he murmured longingly.

  The female looked up instantly, happiness glowing on her face. “Hello Ionan,” she whispered before moaning in pain, shaking her head. Ionan was ten times bigger than she, and the blow had nearly knocked her out.

  “Oh Vera, did I hurt you?” Ionan asked.

  She sighed and sang softly to him, “Don’t worry, Ionan. I’ve felt worse pain before.”

  He ignored the strange answer and said,“Why are you here Vera? What’s going on back home? It’s been such a long time since we’ve met! Are you safe now? Is Wyntier gone?”

  Vera hesitated, then she replied slowly, her eyes flitting from his face.“I do remember. Things are the same back inland, and I’ve fled from Wyntier. We’re no longer partners.”

  “That’s wonderful!” Ionan said in a cheerful voice. “I’m glad that you got away from that awful Accompany.”

  The dragon nodded. “Yes. That’s why I came here, to find you. I have nowhere else to go. I’m scared to go home, because I don’t know what my family will think of all the awful things I did, and I’m a wanted criminal in Nesting’s Haven. But you’re my most trusted friend. I knew you would take me in.”

  Ionan nodded in understanding. He looked at her adoringly. “Oh Vera,” he whispered. “You look so beautiful and strong now.”

  Vera cast her blue eyes down bashfully. Keota wondered where Ionan’s brain had went. The arrival of his old friend must
have clouded his vision, for Vera didn’t look strong but ill, and she might have been beautiful long ago. But now her feathers were falling out, her body looked bruised and she was favoring what looked like a sore wing. Scars covered her face, and it wasn’t a mystery to Keota how she got them. Wyntier must’ve not taken her leaving him well.

  “It’s great to see you again, Vera, and without Wyntier is even better,” Keota said quickly, prying his eyes away from the injuries and focusing on her scarred face. “It’s been a while. You look like you’re hurt.”

  “Getting away from Wyntier wasn’t easy,” she grimaced. “I hear you have a son now.”

  “Yes, Kennu,” said Ionan proudly, as if he were the father himself. “Not only is he a fairy, but he has a little Changer too!”

  “A Changer!” she said. “That’s wonderful! I bet you’re so proud to be his dad,” she said, looking at Keota.

  Keota ran his hands through his black hair. “Well, you know…” he stuttered. “He, no, Allie actually, that’s his Changer, is a lot of work.”

  “I bet she is,” she cooed.

  “Would you like to see them?” Ionan said, already raising his wings in excitement.

  Vera hesitated. “Of course.”

  Ionan let out a joyful roar and scooped Keota with his head onto his back. “Hey!” Keota protested and Ionan rose into the air, crying out, “Follow me, Vera!”

  Kia watched her husband, his Changer and the strange new dragon land, balancing Kennu on her hip with the fawn Allie sitting on the ground. She watched Keota dismount, then turned to the dragoness. “Keota,” she asked curiously, a smile on her face, “Who is this?”

  “This is Vera,” answered Ionan before Keota could even speak. “She’s my dearest friend, ever since I was a hatchling.”

  “Really?” Kia asked and she put Kennu down. “If Ionan likes you, then you’re more than welcome here, Vera.” Kia put a hand on the dragon’s head gently. “How long will she be staying?”