Secrets of the First Moon

Chapter 8: Perimeter Run

Owen POV

Owen watched Arion move her body to the rhythmic music. She strolled over to him, took his hand, and pulled him roughly against her. She placed his hands on her hips as she swayed and turned, letting the music lead her. Owen let his fingers clutch her more tightly. He turned her and she spun into him, her breath close enough to be felt on his neck. She tilted her head up and closed her eyes, leaning closer to Owen. He slowly bent down to meet her lips....

“Owen! Get your a*s up," his father shouted, jolting Owen from his dream.

Groaning, he rolled out of bed, not letting the feeling of the dream escape him. Nothing was going to ruin today.

A day prior, when William had come to tell him about Arion's quick visit and note, Owen thought it was a joke. When he actually saw the handwritten request, he was filled with… he wasn't sure what to call it.

Whatever it was, the feeling was strong enough to not let his day be ruined by his belligerent father.

Before leaving the house, Owen had been greeted by the argument of his still-drunk father and trying mother.

“I don't see why you have to be like this all of the time," he heard his mother spit angrily, but on the verge of tears.

“Like what? Just a happy-go-lucky jackass like everyone else is? Is that what you want, Evaline?"

“No Isaac, you know what I mean. Drunk."

“Ha! This is just how I get through the day. I'm not changing because nothing suffers, not my business, not my-“

“We do! Your family does."

Silence.

“You just say that because you're so worried about what everyone thinks."

“No," Owen had said, coming around the corner. “It's embarrassing to have to carry your drunk father home as he argues, yet unable to stand."

Isaac had straightened up when his son entered and was now looking down at him. “You dare talk to me that way, boy?"

As father and son squared up, the mother inserted herself between them.

Owen backed down, not wanting to hurt his mother more than she already was.

“That's what I thought. Now, why don't you go play with your friend with your wild ideas and leave the real men to work." His father walked out and slammed the barley-haning door.

“He doesn't mean that honey, he knows you work and help out with everything." His mother was trying to comfort him, as always. He knew now just to let her, she didn't need more arguing.

Owen smiled, kissed her forehead, and whispered a thank you as he left for the day.

As he walked, his mind wandered his dream, then it triggered his memory of Arion's dress snagging. He was thankful she hadn't noticed that he had cut himself on her dress. How do you explain that you can heal instantly and have no idea why? In a time were people were discovering monsters made everyone suspicious of everything. This was not a good ability to have.

He remembered when he thought everyone could heal like him. When he showed his dad at three or so years old, he had instantly shunned Owen and warned him that it was the worse thing that could have happened to him. And that was it.

The thing was, Owen thought that his father and him had a happy relationship until then. He had dropped it after his father decided he despised everything about his own son.

He found William outside the tavern. The two often were the ones to gather wood for the village. Today would be no different, just an added detour.

They set out.

Owen didn't know how to explain the way he had felt since visiting with Arion that day. He had wanted to see Arion the moment she had left the village that evening. He had felt a pull to her. Even though it sounded ridiculous, it was as if she was this piece of him that he didn't know was even missing.

Owen wondered if William had felt the same way. As they walked, he decided to ask.

“So, you really like Reni, huh?"

William looked at him quizzically. “Why yes Owen. I do. Is that not why we are on this outing?"

“Well yeah, but like, how does she make you feel? What made you want to see her again?"

William thought about it and then answered, “She listens, she's beautiful, she's smart." William was starting to drift out in thought.

“Yeah, yeah, that's great. But like, do you feel a sort of pull to her, like she… completes you?"

“What? Well, I don't know. I want to see her, sure, but I don't feel as if I will absolutely die without her. We have only fully gotten to enjoy their company once. I want to explore it more."

And that was the difference. Owen did feel as if he could possibly die without Arion. Which was absolute nonsense. But the feeling felt real. He knew Arion, so why was she so different now? Sure, she was beautiful, but it was something more. Her mind, her passion, her independence.

Owen laughed out loud at that. He had called that stubborn and it used to annoy him more than anything about her. Owen was hoping he was just being dramatic, but something told him this was real. It made him feel…vulnerable.

'I'm sure I have made it bigger in my head with her absence. Everything will be put back into perspective once we see them again.'

He couldn't have been more wrong.

***

The red and black wolf looked like slick blurs dodging in and out of the trees. They zig-zagged between each other, tongues rolling out as they enjoyed the sprint of running the perimeter.

Arion could tell Reni was enjoying this. She knew it was going to be tough to get her to go, but now that she was here running, away from the rest of the pack, it seemed as if she was looking forward to it.

Arion hadn't told Reni what Phinn had said to her. She didn't want to worry her more, especially since it was nonsense. It did make her wonder though. She had contemplated talking to Dorin but quickly talked herself out of it.

'We should shift here, it's close to the spot,' Arion's mind linked with Reni's so the black wolf would do the same.

They shifted and Arion caught the boys' scent in the air.

“I think they are already there. Or at least close."

Reni simply nodded, a blush suddenly rising to her face.

Arion smiled and reassured her it was just good company to talk with other than their pack. She had also brought in the idea that this could be considered intel. The aspect of outside viewpoints and knowing what the humans know. Arion knew it was a false truth, but she saw it as a possible benefit.

They reached the hidden meadow outside their territory and saw the boys sitting against a tree throwing…were those dandelions? All Arion could do was shake her head. Sometimes boys were the same in all species.

As the girls approached, the boys ceased their shenanigans and put on a mature air.

“Don't stop your fun just because we're here," Arion laughed as she came up and sat beside Owen, her directness catching him off guard. This made her smile even wider.

It was the usual awkward first meet-up where you sit in silence and make bad jokes or completely uninteresting conversation. That is until someone finally just breaks those tensions and the true interactions can begin.

Like she had said; sometimes it was the same with all species.

The girls sat with the boys for quite a while enjoying the company. How or when it happened was unsure but eventually, both pairs had formed two separate conversations from each other.

The faint moon had started to show in the sky. Arion and Owen were laying beside each other looking up at it. Hands extended, playing with the grass, but never touching.

They heard William call over saying they needed to get back soon. Arion's heart seemed to falter at his words, but knew they needed to do the same.

Why was leaving his side harder than the last time? When they hugged goodbye, she felt as if her gravity was him. The moment they pulled away; she almost went with him.

“I really enjoyed getting to see you again, Arion. Having less than a year to wait was also nice." Owen smiled at her with his lame attempt at a joke.

Arion smiled back. “Yeah, but a year ago you would have said it was too short a time."

“True."

William and Reni approached them both, already having said their goodbyes.

“Listen, we can guarantee the spot, but not always the time. So, if we are all in agreeance to meet again, then it will be like before. I'll let you know," Arion addressed the group.

They said goodbyes one more time and then went separate ways.

Reni spoke as they broke the tree line. “I wouldn't be opposed to going with you again."

“Oh really? Good to know," Arion said as she smiled, shifting into the large red wolf.

She and Reni raced back to their home just in time to wash up.

Phinn was standing by the trough outside the eating cabin, arms crossed.

“Where have you been?"

“Running perimeter," Arion retorted.

Arion pushed past him, and he froze. She noticed his stiffness but continued in.

Suddenly fear and guilt had her by the neck. She pushed it down, hoping Phinn hadn't caught the subtle scent that lingered on her.