Page 54 of Fire Touched

Unlike Ella, I chose to wear jeans. They’re infinitely more practical. As we wind through the long, curling path, I wonder how she knows her way. If she knows her way.

There’s a lot here, in Terran, that we don’t know about, and I’m starting to wonder what kept us in that guesthouse until now. The idea that I wouldn’t be welcome—and having just come from being a prisoner—are two unsettling thoughts I try to push away.

Terran is beautiful—at every angle, in shade and sunshine. The grass at our feet seems to glow, though is neatly trimmed. A smile tugs at my lips. Something moves before us. On the path, a rabbit sits, chewing. Plump and fuzzy, my inner wolf stirs, ready to pounce.

Ella sets a hand on my arm, shaking her head. ‘Not here,’ she reminds me.

I blink, reigning my wolf in. Right. No hunting. I lower myself and hold my hand out. The rabbit pauses, then hops right over to me. More trusting than the people of Terran, it rubs its cold nose against my palm. I pet behind its soft ears.

The town centre appears as though out of nowhere. As we emerge from the path, rounding a corner, there it is, nestled into a wide valley: an array of wooden buildings spread out, people chatting to neighbours, some hawking their wares, others holding children’s hands.

Just ahead of us at the edge of the path, a family, a mother and father, swing their little girl between them and she squeals in delight. They do that all the way until they reach the edge of the town. At the last moment, the girl turns and sees us.

The mother and father turn, too, but their reactions could not be more different.

The parents grasp each other, pain, fear and anger rippling over their faces. The girl starts, eyes wide, and runs up to us. The parents, horrified, start after her.

‘It’s okay.’ Ella raises her hands and kneels down, an easy smile on her face. ‘Hey, there.’

The girl, maybe six years old, has long, brown hair past her butt, and wide brown eyes, curious and bright. ‘Hi.’ She reaches up and brushes Ella’s unfamiliar blonde hair. ‘Like straw.’

Ella smiles again. ‘Yeah, my hair does look a bit like straw, doesn’t it?’ She glances at the parents, still as statues. Ella glances up at me and holds out her hands for me to join.

Oh, I’m so not good at this.

‘This is what Elga wants you to do,’ Ella reminds me quietly.

Bring the packs together. Right. I kneel just behind Ella.

The little girl’s eyes nearly bug out of her head. ‘Fire!’ She doesn’t say it like a warning, but she rushes to me and lands in my lap, desperate to touch my flaming hair.

I can’t help the chuckle that escapes my lips. With the little girl pawing at my head, Ella talks to the parents. ‘Hey. I’m Ella, this is Katherine. We didn’t mean to alarm you.’

The mother’s gaze never leaves her little girl. The father offers an awkward smile. ‘We—we’re not used to strangers. I’m Scott, this is my wife, Amy. And that’s—’

The little girl has started braiding my hair, singing, ‘Fire fire fire, fire fire fiiire.’

‘That’s Melody. She’s, uh, sorry about that—Mel, leave the lady alone.’

I smile down at her. ‘It’s okay. She’s cute.’ I look over at Melody. ‘I take it you’ve never seen a Fire Wolf before?’

With a sigh, she leans against me, pressing our heads together as though we were long-lost sisters. ‘No.’ She stares intently at my eyes, her nose pressed to mine. ‘Eyes are fire, too.’

I set her down gently and offer my hand. She takes it, squeezing delightedly. ‘It’s nice to meet you all.’ I know Amy and Scott do not feel the same about outsiders as sweet little Melody, but I’m glad they haven’t passed it on to her.

Amy gives me a tight smile and holds her arms out. ‘Mel, come here, baby.’

But Melody reaches up with her other hand and takes Ella’s. ‘Nope. Fire! Water!’ She calls, unsettling the quiet of the air.

I can’t help but laugh. It seems to ease a little of her parents’ tension, too. I feel the urge to assure the parents we won’t be kidnapping their daughter, but I don’t think they would take that well.

Instead, Ella smiles, gesturing to the town just over the hill. ‘Would you mind if we walked with you?’

‘Mine,’ Melody says, squeezing both of our hands.

‘It would seem not,’ Scott says, but this time his smile is a little easier. ‘Okay, so, Ella, Katherine, how did you two come to meet? I didn’t realise Water and Fire were friends.’

Oh. I glance at Ella. ‘That’s kind of… a complicated story.’ I glance down at Melody, aware of her little presence. ‘I… I went to stay at Ella’s alpha’s estate. That’s where we met.’

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