Chapter 7

Twelve-year-old Krystal crouched tentatively at the edge of the forest, surveying the darkness beyond that fine line that defined the village limits. It had long been said throughout the village that anyone besides the village hunters who ventured into the forest would be eaten alive by terrible creatures.

She didn't believe it, even if every other villager did.

There was something out there, but it was not something that was going to eat her. It was calling her to come...

"Hey."

Krystal started at the voice. She turned and caught sight of Tony. Or was it Connor? Unless they were both there, it was nearly impossible to tell them apart. Truthfully, she had been avoiding him. She had reluctantly agreed four years ago to marry him, but now she was having second thoughts.

"What're you doing here?" She asked.

"I could ask you the same thing."

Tony. Definitely Tony. He was always a little more abrasive than Connor.

"I live right there. I can be here if I want." Krystal said, keeping her voice low so as not to alert her father to her presence near the forest.

"You're not supposed to be near the forest. Why are you avoiding me?"

She crossed her arms. "It's not like I'm in the forest."

"Answer my question."

She sighed. "I don't want to marry you."

His nose twitched slightly and a look of anger flashed across his eyes. "Why not?"

"Because, I don't. You're rude to me, you're rude to my family, and you're mean to your brother."

"Is this about my brother? You like him, don't you?"

She rolled her eyes. "I don't want to marry you, or anyone else, but especially you."

He balled his hands into fists and stepped toward her.

"What's going on here?" Michal stepped around the corner of the house, glaring at Tony.

"Nothing." The boy looked down with a scowl and walked away.

"Stay away from him," Michal warned.

"I've been avoiding him. He came looking for me."

"If he ever lays a finger on you, you tell me immediately. I'd love nothing more than to see that disrespectful imp thrown out of the village."

She smiled slightly. "Thank you, father."

"And stay away from the forest. It's dangerous. Next time I catch you back here, you'll miss dinner."

"Yes, father."

"I need to help Jak with some things, and I won't be back until morning. There's some food in the kitchen. Don't stay up too late."

"Okay."

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

Michal left his daughter alone in their small house. She opened the door to his room, glancing around curiously. On the floor beside his bed, his shortened staff floated mystically, rotating. Krystal looked over her shoulder, and then walked toward it.

She was forbidden to touch it, but it felt as if it were calling out to her. She reached for it, gently grabbing it at the middle. It was lighter than she expected, but still solid. She held it out before her, examining the beautiful turquoise gems. With a slight rotation of her wrist, the staff extended with a startling speed. She jumped slightly, and it returned to its shortened state just as suddenly.

I've got to find somewhere to play with this more. He won't be back until morning, anyway.

She found herself sitting silently on her favorite tree branch, looking over the ocean and the mesmerizing colors in the magnificent sunset. She held tightly to the silver staff in her hand, repeatedly extending it. It spoke to her in soft whispers and quiet sighs, although she could not understand what it was saying.

"Krystal?"

She gasped, turning to face the intruder with the staff drawn. She gave him a skeptical look. "Tony? What're you doing here?"

"I wanted to apologize for earlier. I'm ashamed of my behavior. I'm sorry. Also, I found something really cool on the beach. I thought you'd like to see it."

He's being awfully nice suddenly... Krystal thought to herself. She gave him a cautious smile and carefully climbed down from her special branch. "How did you find me?"

He hesitated. "My brother told me to."

"Oh." Connor had promised that he'd never tell Tony where her favorite tree was. Now I'll have to find a new hiding spot... She thought with an irritated edge. "So, what did you want to show me?"

"C'mon. Follow me." He took her hand and led her to the water. They walked along the beach for a little while.

He looked at the shortened staff in her hands. "Isn't that...your father's?"

"Yes." She said.

"Aren't you going to get into trouble?"

"Only if I get caught, but I don't care. It's..." She trailed off, remembering that Tony was not as understanding as Connor.

"It's what?" He asked. "I won't tell anyone."

She hesitated. He seemed different. Maybe he was actually making an effort to be nicer. It made her want to trust him. "It's... it's like it calls to me. Like we're connected somehow. I can't understand what it's saying, but I think it wants me to take it somewhere."

He smiled. "That's cool. I guess you're special, cuz it sure isn't talking to me."

She blushed a bit. "You're being oddly nice today."

"I am?" His smile disappeared.

"That's a good thing."

"Oh." He seemed concerned.

"You don't have to be mean all the time. It's nice to be nice sometimes." She said, hoping that he was finally coming around.

"I'm sorry I'm such a jerk all the time."

"I forgive you." She smiled at him as they walked. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see. I think you'll like it." He led her away from the beach and into the trees to a small tent that was set up to overlook the beach. He sat down on one side of a mat that was laid out inside. In the center of the mat was a box filled with seashells and stones.

Krystal sat opposite of him and peered into the box.

"This one..." He picked up a small blue rock and held it out. It fit nicely in the palm of his hand.

Krystal looked closely at the shining blue stone. At first, she thought that it was catching the sunlight; then she realized that it was giving off its own light. Little beams of white and light blue glinted inside the slightly transparent stone. She gasped lightly in awe of its beauty and reached for it. He placed it lightly in her palm.

A warm, life-giving feeling spread through Krystal's body. She giggled lightly. "Where did you find it?" She asked.

"On the beach, a few hours ago. It was just laying in the sand. It reminded me of you."

"It's beautiful," she said.

"Not as beautiful as you," he replied.

She smiled and looked down at the stone, a slight blush rising to her cheeks. She squeezed the stone tighter in her palm, glancing up into his blue-green eyes.

"Do you think you can reconsider marrying me?" he asked.

She was quiet for a minute. "I think you deserve another chance. You're being really sweet tonight."

He gave her a half grin, but he felt sad.

"Why are you sad?" she asked.

"I-I'm not! I'm happy."

"I can feel that you're not."

He shifted uncomfortably. "I'm sad that you got hurt, and that I have to apologize for it. You don't deserve to be treated poorly. I wish I could give you the world."

She leaned forward and planted a quick, soft kiss on his lips.

His face turned red and he gulped.

"Sorry. I thought that was something you'd like," she said, sitting back.

"N-no, I..." he trailed off, and then moved in close and kissed her. He pulled back, standing up suddenly. "I shouldn't have done that."

"What's wrong?" she asked, getting up. "Are you alright?"

"I-I have to go. Please don't tell T-... don't tell anyone. Don't say anything about this place, especially to... me."

She stared at him incredulously as the pieces started to fall into place. "You... you're not Tony, are you."

He looked down. "Please don't tell him."

She drew her arm back and slapped him across the face.

I deserved that.

His voice was clear in her mind, but he hadn't spoken. Yeah, you did, she thought, and turned to leave.

I ruined it. He's going to kill me. I could probably fare better in the forest than going back like this. My ribs haven't even healed from the last time I messed something up.

She froze, still only a few feet from the tent. "Did he... make you come here?" she asked, turning around.

Does she really think I would ever willingly lie to her?

She puzzled over what she was going to do next.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I would never have lied to you if I had a choice."

"Tell him that if he ever sends you in his place again, he will never be allowed near me, and I will marry you out of spite."

He grinned slightly. "I value my life more than I value hurting him."

She rolled her eyes. "Tell him if he hurts you again, I'll have him banished. I'll marry him, but only if he stops hurting you."

"That's not what I want."

"Well, it's what I want." She clutched her father's staff in one hand and the blue stone in the other as she walked back toward her house.

Connor waited a few minutes to let her get ahead before he set off for the village.

"How'd it go?" Tony asked as he opened the door.

"Fine. She said she'll marry you."

"That's it?"

Connor didn't reply.

"What did you do?" Tony narrowed his eyes, focusing on Connor's mind.

Connor cringed, trying unsuccessfully to block him out.

"You kissed her?"

"She kissed me. She thought I was you."

"She found out!"

"I lied to her... You made me lie to her."

"You did it willingly."

"Because you threatened me!"

"I'll do more than that when I'm through with you." Tony snapped, grabbing Connor by his shirt. Connor shoved him away.

"Leave me alone."

"What, you think you're so tough? Think you can handle me?"

Tears formed in Connor's eyes, but his face remained in an angered frown. "Leave me alone!" He cried.

Tony shoved him back. "Oh yeah? Who's gonna make me?" He spat, pushing him into the wall of their room. Connor bounced back and shoved Tony with all his might. He stumbled back and fell on the floor, banging his head on the wall, then reached up and touched where there was now a fresh cut.

He scowled up at Connor. "You're nothing!"

"I'm still more than you! I'm the one who won her back, and she promised that if you ever hurt me again, she'll marry me instead."

A murderous look entered Tony's eyes as he slowly rose from the ground. Connor turned around and fled out of the house as fast as he could run.

"You can't outrun me!" Tony called, not far behind.

Connor pushed himself to run faster, straight past the village lines and into the black forest. The moon was covered by dark clouds, intensifying the looming darkness of the trees.

He barreled over a fallen tree and tripped. Not daring to take the time to get up, he scooted half under the tree.

Tony stopped running as he reached the tree. He stood absolutely still except for his breathing, listening intently for Connor's footsteps. This time he would kill the brat...

Silence.

He slowly stepped over the log, perking his ears. Connor shrunk back into the shadow.

The sound of stifled panting reached Tony's ears. He grinned, looking down toward the sound.

"Hello, brother."

Connor cringed. A rough hand grabbed him by the arm and yanked him to his feet. Before he could react, Tony's fist came flying into his cheek with incredible force. Pain erupted in a bright light behind Connor's eyes. Tony's fist came again and again, despite his struggling and screams. Finally his brother's grip gave way on his shirt and he collapsed to the floor. Tony climbed over him, sitting on his stomach in a straddle and using both fists.

With a grunt, Connor closed his eyes and lashed out. He caught Tony in the jaw, knocking him clean on the ground. He hurriedly scrambled for the advantage, pinning down his brother and holding his wrists. Tony kneed him hard in the back and rolled on top of him again. It was all Connor could do to hold his arms protectively around his face. Tony's strikes did not relent for a good while. Connor closed his eyes tight against the pain and quietly sobbed. He silently begged for it to end. He wanted Tony to end it quickly.

An angry yell met his ears. Suddenly the pressure on his chest was gone. Connor rolled onto his side and curled into the fetal position, still sobbing.

"ENOUGH." The voice bellowed. The trembling volume was too loud to be any of the villagers.

Connor slowly opened his eyes. His vision failed him. A tall red blur was standing above what looked like Tony's trembling form. An ethereal red glow shone from his fur.

"Do you know nothing? He is your brother. Not just your brother...but the other half of your soul. And you are killing him!"

Tony sat on the ground with a horrified look on his face. Connor could not see the wolf's face; only his back.

"Go home, coward! Run!"

Tony scrambled to his feet and fled.

Connor still lay on the ground. The blur slowly turned around and looked at him. As his right eye slowly cleared, he noticed the blurry figure was a wolf. The glowing red eyes looked into his soul.

"You... you're as cowardly as he is, lying to her to save your own skin." Shinae shook his head in disgust. "Our power is finite, now, and here you waste our precious energies because of your cowardice."

A green glow came from beside him, and his body began to feel warm.

"Learn to defend yourself. We can't be here to save you the next time you're hurt," a woman's voice said. The green glow disappeared, and he was alone.

Slightly trembling, Connor stood up and turned around. The aches in his face were gone. He reached up and touched his cheek. The fur was clean and his cuts were healed. He stood for a moment in shock, and then he stumbled through the dark forest, back toward home.