The Wolf, The Fae and The Portal

Chapter 3 - Where is she?

Bjorn and Erik

Bjorn and Erik saw their sister take off towards the woods looking pissed off and upset. It was pretty normal that's where she would head. Out of all of them, she was the one who loved to visit the pixies and she would speak with the trees and willow whisps.

"We should see what's going on," Eric said to me.

"Yeah, we should and make sure Thorn doesn't follow her."

Nodding to one another, we walked off towards the woods so we could be sure Zia was OK. Our parents do love us ..in their own way and really all we have ever had is one another. We practically raised Zia and are very close to her. The thought of her being hurt or in danger isn't anything we ever want to think about. I just cant believe our parents would offer her up knowing how that family is. They are known for being abusive and cold hearted. It is no secret at all.

Once we entered the forest, I got a strange feeling and looked at Erik to see if he felt it as well.

"Bjorn, this doesn't feel right."

"Agreed we should find Zia right now and get her out of here."

Just then, a pixy came up to us tinkling very quickly, seemingly upset, trying to pull my shirt.

"What's going on, calm down your speaking too fast." The pixy girl looked at me like she was frustrated and tinkled slower. "Eric, did you catch it?"

"Something about Zia. Show us ...now." We took off running after the little pixy as we entered a part of the forest that seemed like it was almost night time. The hair on the back of my neck stood up.

"Where is she?" We looked at each other and then he heard her.

"Oh s**t help me guys!!" We both jumped and ran in the direction of her voice. Seeing a bunch of pixies around her trying to grab her.

"ZIA!" We both screamed at the same time, reaching for her. Suddenly she wasn't there anymore and we both fell down where she had been standing. Freaking out, we looked at each other.

"Where is she?" We asked the pixies, both of us getting more upset by the moment.

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Zia

"Oh my head" I said loudly as I tried to stand. Looking around, nothing looks familiar, even the trees are different. They aren't as green and the colors seem faded. Leaning against a tree, I placed my hand on it.

"Hello friend, can you tell me where I am? I seem to be lost." But the tree doesn't seem to want to answer me. That's odd. I have always spoken to the trees. I don't understand what is going on. Sitting back down, I leaned on the tree. I could feel its life force, but it seems it is unable to speak with me. Looking around, I notice how quiet the forest is. I hear a few birds but I see no pixies or willow whisps. I heard a branch snap off to the left side of me. Oh yeah, I heard my brothers. Maybe that's them.

"Bjorn?!! Erik?!! Is that you brothers? I seem to have lost my way." I really hope it isn't Thorn. I have no patience for him right now. After getting no answer, I decided to call out again. "Come on boys, I'm scared and lost. Please don't mess with me right now."

Man, my head hurts. I sat back down on the forest floor and leaned my head back against the tree when I heard growling. A type of growling I have never heard before.

"Wh..who's there?" This furry creature saunters out from behind the tree. It has yellow eyes and grey fur with a long tail. It's very large and beautiful. "Are you lost too furry creature? What are you? I have never seen anything that looked like you before." It growled at me again, baring its teeth.

"Ooook, not friendly, I get it. I'm lost. I am not trying to hurt anything, I just need to find my way home." Then another stepped out from the shadows also growling. It is also very large, but this one is brown. Touching the forest floor, I had the plants sprout and take me into the tree and then return to the forest floor. Watching them, they stopped and I could see intelligence that looked almost like surprise.

"If you could just let me go, I would leave the area. I simply wondered to far into the forest away from the castle. My brothers Bjorn and Erik were looking for me if you could just please let me go to them."

Both of these creatures lay at the bottom of the tree like they were waiting for something. Suddenly a strange looking man?? It looks like no man I have ever seen wearing strange clothes walks out towards me. I notice he is tan and his ears are rounded instead of pointed like mine.

"What are you doing in my packlands?"

"Packlands? I'm sorry I am lost. I don't know what that is or where I am. I was in the forests near my parents' castle in Cibbalon and now I am here with these strange furry creatures keeping me in this tree."

"Cibbalon?" The man growls out. "Never heard of it. What are you? I have never seen anything that looks as fair as you do with pointed ears and white hair. You two go shift and put some clothes on."

I watched as the two furry creatures walked off.

"I am Fae? I have never seen anything like you either. What are you?"

With a look of complete surprise, the man looked at me. "We are werewolves and you are on our packlands. My men were on patrol when they heard you. Come down its safe."

Patting the tree, a branch lowered me down. "Thank you friend". I patted it and it went back to normal. "I tried speaking to your trees. Do they not speak?"

"Speak? No, it's a tree. Your a Fae, you say? Hmm like a Fairy or an Elf?"

"Ummm Elves haven't been seen since we left the old world, but yes, I suppose an Elf would be closest. What were those furry creatures?"

"Those would be our Wolves. It's what we shift into."

Thinking while I look around, I can't say I like how this man is looking at me, but I have no idea where I am. I can only assume I am not in my realm anymore. Looking at him, he is a very big man, even larger than my brothers, who are very large for Fae. He is maybe 6'2" long blonde hair that is pulled back and gray eyes. He has a scar that runs through his eyebrow, but he is still a very handsome man, his eyes are not very kind. Very cold and calculating, almost like Thorn. Which causes a chill to go through my whole body.

"A wolf? I have never heard of anything like that....I wonder?" I said, looking around.

"Why don't you follow me back to the packhouse and we can speak there. I am Alpha Powel of the Crimson Shadows Pack."

"I am Princess Zia of Cibbalon. Nice to meet you. Ummm yeah I guess we can do that. I don't think I am anywhere near home." I said, frowning.

The two wolves that had left now came back as men and walked behind me as I followed Alpha Powel. I don't have a good feeling about this, but what choice do I have in the matter? I have no idea where I am or how to get home.