Page 58 of Empowering the Wolf's Heart

Alia now had the might of a nymph army at her back. Though she was the one person who would never use it. Nor did she evenknowit.

Alia's smile softened as the nymph child peeled himself from his mother and plastered himself to Alia.

"Name Ahhirian," he said, his voice no longer weak and his lips no longer cracked. His wide eyes stared up at his rescuer with reverence.

"It's nice to meet you, Ahhanhi and Ahhirian," Alia said. The child nymph smiled at the way her voice mispronounced the rolling vowels, almost as if they were a sound her vocals could not replicate. "I’m Alia."

"Alia and Shen, friend of nymphs, should you ever have a drastic need, call my name," Ahhanhi said.

Alia nodded. "Thank you, Ahhanhi. You have honored us."

"No, human knower of the dissenters, it is you who have honored us. You will be remembered. You can heal your broken soul, human knower of needs. You need not only meet otherswhere they are broken when you also have the power within you to heal yourself. And you, Alpha of werewolves, must not reach to the past for the future's answers. You need only speak to your soul. And last, you, little mage who is hiding."

The dark mage had tried to avoid the nymphs, but came forward at Ahhanhi’s insistence. "You no longer need to supplement your Gift to help your family. This will be all you shall need."

From the water emerged a waterspout about the size of a bird. It landed in the mage’s outstretched hands. When the water drained away, she was left with a simple, spiral pendent necklace.

"Go, and look to the dark no more for your answers."

The mage stared back and forth between us all before darting into another passageway, the necklace still glowing.

"Would you two wish to be taken elsewhere?” Ahhanhi asked.

"Can you drop us out at the ocean?" Alia asked, nearly bouncing with glee.

At the thought of another ride on the roiling waters of a nymph's powers, I nearly lost what was left of my breakfast.

CHAPTER 19

Purpose

ALIA

That was eventful.

“Yes. And now I never have to see the werewolf again.”

Ran snorted, shaking her glorious mane.Mhmm.

“Seriously. He’s a pain in the boot. One of those in the sole that you can’t quite get out and was built in so it constantly gives you bruises, ya know?”

Mhmm,she said again.Did he say anything about the puppy?

A grin crossed my face. “I thought you didn’t like the puppy.”

I don’t.

“Mhmm. He mentioned Fenbutt.”

She picked up her pace for a few steps and then stopped abruptly. I nearly sailed over her head into the water, but I buckled down.

A laugh bubbled from my lips. “Fine, fine. He said Fenbutt is staying with a friend and doing well. He has other pups to play with and is happy.”

I don’t tell her about the escape attempts.

Heard that.

It’s super amazing to have a pony who reads minds.

---