Page 34 of Wolf's Whisper

Chapter 9. Chesca

The icy cold wind clashed on my skin as it chased the freshly fallen snow back up in the air. I shivered slightly, my hand tightening around the handle of the cauldron.

I looked back over my shoulder at the cave, a picture of the group flashing through my mind. I had never been part of a group before and although it was pretty damn nice, the quiet was a welcome change. Like the embrace of an old friend.

How long had I been with Aspen and Ashleigh? Maybe a week? A little bit longer? I wasn't entirely sure. Time is a fickle thing, especially out here in the wild.

I sighed as I deeply inhaled the fresh air. It sure was nice not to be breathing murky cave air. For a moment, I set the pot down and with my arms spread, I let the wind play with my clothes and hair.

I had forgotten how nice the Aladwin Forest could be when you weren't packed in a cave with your two mates who always seemed to be in constant conflict. I had seen how they fought about the last piece of jerky, or who got the nicest fur. I really didn't want to think about what kind of all-out war I could cause.

The dark strands of my hair playfully danced in the wind as it tugged on anything it could. I enjoyed the cold breeze whirling around me, not noticing how it slowly guided me into deeper into the forest.

It wasn't until I heard a faint cry in the distance and opened my eyes, that I realised how far I had strayed from the cave. I turned my head towards the noise, trying to pinpoint the location.

"Heeelp!"

A young, female voice found my ears and if the call for help wasn't clear, she sounded clearly distressed. With my fantastic instincts, ahem, I navigated myself towards the source.

"Hey, hey lady! Up here!"

I tilted my head upwards, wondering what "up here" meant and quickly came to realise that it meant, "Up here in the tree".

"Ehmmm... Hello?" I called back, wondering what was going on.

"Hi! Can you help me?"

I internally groaned. Why did I keep finding strays in the middle of nowhere? Was this some sort of practical joke? A scavenger's hunt nobody told me about? Find the strays?

"What is the problem?" I inquired, already cursing at myself for straying so far from the cave. Bad Akira, this is what happens when you go out on your own. You find people.

"This is kind of embarrassing, but... I seem to be stuck?" the girl shouted, looking a bit unsure of herself.

"You seem to be stuck?" You'd think that was something that was quite clear. Either you were stuck or you weren't.

"Well... I was chasing this little bird and it flew into this tree. So, naturally, I followed it. But now that am up here... I think I forgot I can't fly?"

"You forgot?"

"Well, yes. I mean, I’m quite sure that in one of my past lives I could fly. But then again, maybe not. It is all a bit hazy."

"The flying part or the past lives?" Why did all the people I found have to be crazy as coo-coo birds as well?

The girl held her chin as she seemed to ponder over the question. "Both, I think."

I softly banged my fist against my forehead, already knowing I would regret this. "What can I do to help?"

"Weeellll... Maybe... I don't know, hack down the tree?"

Ironically, I knew someone who was quite proficient in that. An image of Ashleigh cutting down the tree with a naked Aspen in it flashed through my mind.

No, better leave them out of it.

"Or you could... You know, climb down?"

The girl facepalmed herself. "Oh, so silly of me, if only I had thought of that!" she sarcastically called back.

"Just a suggestion," I muttered under my breath, part of me wondering if I could just leave her stuck in the tree. But as I looked at the panicked look on the younger girl's face, I realised that probably wouldn't be good for my karmic reservoir.

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