Page 93 of Empowering the Wolf's Heart

CHAPTER 32

Critters of All Kinds (and Heads)

ALIA

Theneedswere expanding. I was not only feelingneedsfrom those within my tribe, but those from animals in the woods and even lost children or those who were hurt and without homes. All theirneedsweredrawnto me.

“Wait!” I screamed, racing forward as I felt aneedscrape against my soul.

The archer in the trees paused. I stopped within ten feet of a stocky creature shaped like an alligator… with three heads. It was a baby hydra, dehydrated and far from her home in the woods outside of the swamplands to the east beyond Wintercrest, which spanned hundreds of thousands of acres.

She already had a single arrow in her hide from Reds trying to force her to flee. She had cuts and missing scales. A tiny mewl came from one of her heads. One head was on the ground, eyes closed as if sleeping, the second was listless, waving back and forth, and the center head was watching me through narrowed eyes. It hissed, but I was used to things like that from Ran, and it didn’t bother me coming from something that was only big enough to fit my arm in its mouth, not my entire body.

“Hey there, little one. You’re safe with me, ok? Let’s get ya looked after and then we’ll get you home.” She blinked, her hissdying in her throat. Ran landed at my back, leaning forward and booping noses with the center head.

The hydra rubbed her snout against Ran’s, even as Ran tried to retreat.

There was no retreat. Ran sat there stiff as a board as the hydra came and rubbed her snout like an adoring cat all along her neck and chin.

I nearly chuckled.

Don’t,Ran said, glaring down at me.

I said it anyway.Looks like you’ve found yourself a wittle baby.

Ran hissed at me, even as the hydra curled up beneath her wing and she covered the little one to shelter it.

“Brandt, would you mind getting Doc for me?” I asked.

I glanced back, only to find Brandt staring at the scene before him with an open mouth and hand on a bare sword outstretched before him. “Th-That’s a hydra,” he said.

“Yep. Exceptional skills of observation. Now go get Doc.”

He glanced at me before his gaze went back to the sleeping hydra. “Enforcer Markus would kill me if I left you.”

“I’ll kill you if you don’t,” I said.

“Enforcer Markus is scarier.”

“So help me?—”

“I’ll go, Lady Aurelia,” another voice spoke up with humor coating it. Elder Vera emerged from the growing crowd behind Brandt. She smiled, watching me argue with Brandt. “It seems you do not have great need of a bodyguard, what with the dragon around,” she said with a teasing grin.

I cracked a smile. “See!” I told Brandt. “I have Ran. No one will harm me with her around. Andyoudidn’t even get between me and the hydra.”

Brandt rolled his eyes. “I’d like to see anyone get between you and one of yourpets,ma’am.”

I choked on my spit. “Don’t youdarecall me ma’am. And they aren’t my pets!”

Brandt stood at attention. “Enforcer Markus told me to hold post. I shall not disobey.” He paused. Then added, “Ma’am.”

I stared at him with a gaping mouth. I was unsure if I should throttle him or?—

I saw the elder turn to get Doc from the corner of my eye. “Thank you, Elder Vera!” I yelled. She fluttered a hand in a wave as she trotted off to get Doc.

I glared at Brandt, who studiously turned his back on me and watched the crowd for any ‘dangers.’

I turned back to the hydra, muttering about idiotic and self-centered jerks who wouldn’t obey their matriarch over an enforcer.

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