Spirit Wolf - New Beginning (Book One)

Chapter 2

REI'S POV:

The woods up here are deserted and out of every route but from time to time it is possible to meet any lost tourist or hiker so I need to be careful and listen to sounds around me to slow down in case there is some human. I think they would be pretty shocked seeing me run as I do. 'You could bet on that. We are pretty fast.' Maat agreed with my thoughts and smiled proudly.

'You know. You are the reason I survived until now.” I told her. “The reason why I survived in a desolate place like this is you, my dear sister. Only thanks to you.' I talked lovingly to Maat on our way to the city. She might be too bossy sometimes and a pain in the ass but still she is my sister and my best friend. 'Yes, yes I know.' She agreed happily and I could feel her love for me radiating from all over her. 'But if someone saw you how you talk to yourself or how you look like when we have a conversation inside our mind, I guess they would lock you directly in the mental house.' She joked with me and showed me in the picture the image of me looking like crazy talking to myself. I had to laugh at that image. 'Stop joking. Don't forget you would be in the mental house with me.' I turned the ball back to her. 'Oh. That's actually right. I wouldn’t be able to run.' She pretends to think about it like it is new information for her and like she really thought about putting me to the mental house.

The time flew when we were enjoying our pleasant conversation during the run in the woods. I felt Maat's wish to take her wolf form and run freely too but we couldn’t risk anybody seeing us. But the thing was we didn't look like a typical wolf, so we couldn’t afford to be seen in our wolf form since we couldn’t even pretend, you were a stray wolf, living in the woods.

I could already smell the scents of humans, their food, and gardens. We were close to the city. It was a really small city consisting of maybe thirty houses with the town hall in the middle. Up from the town hall was a police station in the same building as the library, and left from there a few shops including the gas station and doctor’s office. There was even a small building right from the town hall with the cross above the roof they called the church. The city itself wasn’t on the main road or closest to it at all. Actually, if there were some tourists, they most likely just lost their way because even the closest highway was at least hundreds of kilometers away. This was a deeply remote area and just skillful hikers came here once or twice per year to spend a week or two in the woods.

I slowed down my pace as I was close to the city and headed directly to the shop of Madam Rosewoods. She was selling her homemade jams and syrups from her orchards and has to say so far it was the most delicious ones I ever tried. Not like I tried a lot but I remember some from back in my pack. She was the only one who let me stay in her shop for a day to sell my cosmetics and medicine and actually was friendly to me.

'They wouldn't be so afraid of you if you would not wear this cloak with the cape and dye your hair.' I sighed at Maat's comment. 'They already think that I am a witch. Plus, with my silver hair, they would be sure I am a witch especially with those golden eyes.' I was really tired of arguing with her. 'Try to get it into your thick head that we do this for our own safety and protection.' I used her own words against her and she frowned at me when she realized that. 'Don't use my own words, young lady.' She scolded me. 'Hey hey. Technically you are younger than me. I am in this body longer than you.' I told her since she made her appearance when I reached my eleventh birthday. She still appeared five years earlier than a wolf should but technically I was older. I know her soul is older, much much older, and this is not her first life but now she is living with me. And in this body, I am the oldest one. 'Ah, so this is how you want to play the game?' She asked me back. 'Nah, I am not playing any game with you. You are always cheating.' I heard her take a shocked breath to reply. 'How you dare to say something like that about me? I never cheat.' I could sense that now she feels insulted. 'I could say that because you are my sister and I love you. Plus, you know I am always teasing you and joking with you.' I gave her my mental laugh and tried to fix it with her. The only thing I earned back was her mhmm before she went back to her place in my mind. I guess I would have some fixing to do later. 'You could bet on that.' She commented before she closed herself away from me. It made me chuckle. Older or not sometimes she was so sweet when acting like a spoiled child.

I had already arrived at the shop of Madam Rosewoods and slowly entered. "Good morning misses Rosie." I greeted her. Don't ask me why but yes, her name was Rosie Rosewoods. Funny right? She was a decent lady about fifty years old. Her husband died a few years ago shortly after I arrived at my clearing deep in the woods. If I would come a few months earlier I could save him. Now she is alone just with her only son helping with the huge orchards. But even now you could see in her face that she had to be very beautiful in her young age and she still keeps her energy and smile. Her green emerald eyes didn't lose the spark and despite some grey hair locks, most of her hair still kept their red color. It was like a fire laced with snow. It looks mystical if you ask me.

"Good morning my dear." She greeted me back. "I am glad you came. I already finished the lavender soap and blackberry shampoo. Also, your Melissa tea and your herbal face mask. And if you have those sleeping herbs that would be great." She even didn't let me put my back down before she informed me about all she wanted for herself. I was glad that she liked my products because if she liked them all the citizens like them too. Rosie was a much-respected person and her opinion is sacred here. I am really grateful she approved me a few years ago and let me stay here every two weeks when I came to sell my stuff. I could even leave the rest with her and just collect the money or goods on my next visit.

"Thank you misses Rosie. For sure I have all you want. You don't know how much I am grateful for you and glad that you like my stuff." I spoke to her while taking off my backpack and slowly taking out all she wanted. "Oh, my dear believe me we are thankful for you. None of those expensive and chemical cosmetics could compete with yours. And with your medicines, I am sure even my late husband would be still here." She took me into a strong hug. "Witch or not, we should thank the Lord that he brought you to us." I am not sure who exactly that Lord she talks about is. But from what I learned it had something to do with their own religion and that building they called the church.