Chapter 7
As the afternoon drug on, Jade prepared herself for the trip, it must have been all the talk about the wolves but she was nervous. Nathan's worries had been passed down to her. She met the group in the village before heading out into the forest. The presence of the hunters made everyone edgy.
When Jade was young, as a precaution that she had setup with her father when she first started doing this with the village ladies, her father had taught her how to make a long tunnel barrier. It would lead all the way back to the village keeping them safe from pursuing predators. All she had to do was activate it. As their group walked out into the forest, Jade checked the spell posts for any damage and made sure that they would be ready to activate if needed. They were all working perfectly, which helped Jade relax a bit. With the extra hands from the hunters they were able to pick what they needed faster than usual. But they also had wandered farther than the barrier spell her father had constructed allowed. Jade was anxious to get back within the boundaries of this spell.
They were beginning to talk about heading back when one of the hunters gave a shout. He could see something in the woods. Immediately Jade ordered everyone to fall back to the borders of the barrier. They had almost reached it when the growling of the wolf could be heard. Jade raised the barrier and told everyone to get behind it. She could see at least six wolves out there. The ladies began to scurry through the tunnel barrier back out of the forest. The hunters with their guns raised towards the stalking wolves followed slowly. Jade followed behind the hunters disturbed. The barrier was not as strong as it should be. The spell the Beast had put on her, dampening her magic, made it so she couldn't make the barrier as strong as it should be. "It should be enough," Jade thought to herself as she followed the hunters. They were half-way out of the forest when it was noticed that the number of wolves had doubled. They were also definitely following them, which was unusual behavior for the wolves.
The hunters and Jade warily watched them as they continued to leave the forest. Jade was so preoccupied watching behind her for the wolves that she didn't sense that the barrier to the front left of her was weakened. A large wolf jump at this weakened spot and tackled one of the hunters. The other hunters quickly shot this wolf while Jade restored the barrier. Jake had some scratches but was fine to walk so they kept going. Jade reviewed the barrier and found several other weak spots in it. As she strengthened them she was confused. She was weakened a little bit by the Beast's dampening spell but not to this extent. Something was attacking the barrier enough times to break a hole in it.
She motioned to one of the hunters, Paul, "These wolves are not normal. We need to get out of here as fast as possible."
Paul nodded, "They are behaving unusual."
"I think they are attacking the barrier so they can get through. I have never had them do that before." Jade admitted.
Paul nodded again his eyes searching the forest as they walked. They were falling behind from the main group, but they let them go, as Jade held up her hand to stop Paul.
"There is another break in the barrier." Jade said annoyed that her barrier broke again. "It is behind us." She turned around muttering words to close the gap. Paul turned around as well, his gun raised.
"Let's stop these blasted wolves here. The rest of the group is traveling fast, they should be back in the village soon." Paul commented.
Soon they saw several pairs of glowing eyes approaching them. Paul took aim and fired, while Jade brought a fire spell to her fingers. She flashed it forward at any wolves that got too close. Paul had already taken down several wolves but the problem came from the fact that more kept appearing. Jade could feel her store of magic disappearing and wondered how much longer they could hold out.
Paul next to her yelled out as a wolf attacked him bringing him to the ground. Jade with a quick levitation spell threw the wolf off and dropped to Paul's side. Paul was unconscious and the wolves were advancing again.
Jade brought up her fire again, causing the wolves to stop and pace around her. Jade watched them wondering why they were here, and if they were demon wolves.
After a while she had to concentrate to keep the spell going, and the wolves were still there waiting for their chance to attack. She heard a roar, distracting her, causing the fire spell faltered, then a wolf jumped in. Jade flinched, throwing her arms up. She felt pain falst through her right arm as a wolf sprang forward. She waited for the weight of the wolf to crash into her but all she heard was a whine coming from the wolf. She opened her eyes to see the Beast fighting the wolves, with a fierceness in his eyes that she had never seen anywhere else. After a shocked moment, Jade snapped herself out of her awe and she concurred up her fire spell again and helped scare the wolves off.
After he was sure that the wolves were gone, the Beast turned to Jade and commented, "See I told you the wolves were bad this year."
Jade smiled at him, wondering at the change in his eyes. A few moments ago they were fierce and hard, now they were soft and concerned.
"I didn't think they would be this bad." Jade commented back. "How did you know to come?"
The Beast looked over to Paul's still form, "The others from your group reached the village but you two didn't, I came to find you."
"Thank you." Jade said quietly.
He went and carefully picked up Paul. "Let's get back to the village." He said.
They walked in silence until they were almost back to the village, where Jade spoke, "We need to put your hood up."
The Beast looked at her surprised as he realized that he didn't have it on. Jade interrupted him as she started to put down Paul. "No, let me do it."
Jade reached up and gently put his hood over his face.
"Thanks," he mumbled.
Martha bandaged up Jade's arm while Jade told the story of what happened to them, with some slight changes. For example she told them that Nathan used his magic to scare the wolves away and not his beast side to fight them off.
It was almost dawn by the time Jade and Nathan returned to the castle. Jade followed Nathan to his rooms after sending James to the workroom for her medical kit.
"Why did you follow me?" Nathan asked her.
"Because I am pretty sure that you got hurt. And I would like to help you get cleaned up." Jade replied.
"How are you so sure that I got hurt?" He asked back.
"You are favoring your left arm and leg." Jade answered back.
James came in at that time and handed Jade her kit and then with a slight smile on his face as he left. Jade turned expectantly to Nathan and asked, "Well?"
Nathan sighed and took off his gloves revealing his claws and started to roll up the sleeves on his cloak.
"Just take the cloak off, it will be easier that way." Jade commanded her focus on her kit.
"But…" Nathan started to protest.
"Don't worry about it. I will not be frightened like I was last time. Just take it off." Jade commanded again.
Nathan reluctantly took off his cloak and winced when Jade finally looked up and him and jumped.
"I am sorry." Jade whispered, "I just need to get used to it. So it is important you don't hide it away."
Hesitantly he asked, "What changed your mind? I was sure you would never actually talk to me again, never less look at me again."
Jade had froze on his arm for a moment before answering, "Seeing how fierce, you were with those wolves, then I saw how gentle you were with Paul and me made me realize that even though you look like a beast, you have never acted like one. You have never acted like those wolves that attacked us so relentlessly."
Jade looked at his surprised face, blushed a little bit, before focusing her attention on wrapping up his arm.
Silence stretched in between them before Jade asked suddenly, "Did you actually do this to yourself?" seeing his blank look she continued, "Did you actually become a Busenat on purpose?"
He looked at her for a long moment before answering sadly, "I can't tell you."
"Oh," she responded looking down at her work again.
"It is not as if I don't trust you." Nathan said rapidly, "I can't tell you or anybody about this curse. It won't let me."
"Really?" She asked, "Nothing?"
"Unless you already know, I cannot discuss it."
"So how you became to be cursed, how you can break it… you can't say anything?" Jade asked curious.
Th this Nathan shook his head.
"How long have you been cursed?" Jade asked.
"Can't answer that." He mumbled back.
"How old are you?"
"The same age as you." He stated, "I'm 25."
Thinking about her next question Jade asked, "When I turned 18, there was a conference for all young mages in Ethien. Did you go that that conference?"
"No, I wanted to, but I had some difficulties." He said holding up his claws.
Jade smiled and then asked, "When mages turn fifteen, they are able to go to a nearby castle that is positioned on a lay line to learn about them. Which castle did you go to?"
"I didn't go, I had the same difficulties as the last question." Nathan responded.
Jade looked at him surprised, "You have been a Busenat for over ten years? How could you have actually performed the spells required to become a Busenat at such a young age? I hear they are very difficult."
"I cannot tell you." He responded sadly.
"Then what can you tell me?" Jade asked.
"I can tell you that it has been a very lonely ten years. James is the only one who has been with me the whole time. I have avoided most contact with other people. And I am glad your father invited me here."
"I wished he would have explained that reasoning with me." Jade said.
"He told me before he passed on that if I stayed here and protected both you and this land, that maybe my cure maybe lifted."
"I wonder how he knew what was needed to left the curse. You can't give me any hints?" Jade hopefully pressed.
"I am afraid not." Came his answer.
"Stupid curse." Jade muttered.
"I agree." Nathan muttered back.
Author's note- I hope that you are enjoying the story so far. If you like it please review! Thanks!
