Calli had only on thing on her mind as she sped across the streets of Hogsmede:
Get to Ginny. Get to Ginny. Find Ginny.
She stopped abruptly at the bend in the road, and continued running even before she had come to a full
stop. The idea pounded painfully in her head.
Get to Ginny.
Across the street, not paying any attention the cars rushing by. A big red jeep honked it's horn and
narrowly missed hitting her, but she paid no heed.
Run, run, run. Get Ginny, Get Harry, run.
Another sharp turn, a long road, across the middle of a neighborhood, Hogsmede had never seemed so big.
Run, run, run, keep running, don't pay attention to the stich in your side, just run, run to Harry, run
to Ginny, run, run, run, hurry, hurry.
How could he? She missed him with all her heart, but she could wait until they could build their lives
on steady ground, instead of broken stones, covered in blood from the war. But maybe he couldn't. Maybe
it had been to long. Just a year, a little longer and it would have been over, she could have seen him
again. But he'd had to go and stab himself, dammit.
Run, run, run.
Yet another turn, a long row of houses, a small tree-lined street.
Calli plunged into the woods that littered one side of the road. She would come though the trees, from
one isde to the other, instead of following th bending road. It would take to long, and she had no time
to waist if she wanted to get back to him in time.
As she dashed through the woods, she pictured when she would come out. By the corner store, next to the
retail office. From there she would take the left street down to where Ginny and Harry had their house,
down by where the train would drop off the Hogwarts bound students.
'On the opposite side of Hogsmede,' she reminder herself grimly, before pushing the thought out of her
head. Yes, now she could see the little store.
But before she could take another step, another wolf stepped into her path. She skidded to a stop,
breather heavily, a gloomy feeling in her chest. This disturbance might make her to late!
"Marenvea?"
The voice sounded shocked and curious, but Calli had no time to greet he former pack leaded, Nikomel.
"Nikomel...can't talk...have to hurry...he's dying...have to get the people..please move..."
The head wolf waisted no time in moving out of her way, but as she resumed her fast pace, Nikomel
shouted from behind her, "I'll retrace your trail and see if I can help the human. Good luck, Marenvea!"
Nikomel truly was a great wolf, but she had no time to do more then nod in responce.
Please, please let her get there in time!
There, she could see their house, she was almost there.
But as she hurried up to the door, she stopped very suddenly and pricked her ears, listening.
She heard Nikomel's howl. If only she had time to work out what he was saying!
But the tone of his voice was enough.
Nobody, human or animal, can mistake a wolf's mournful howl, the cry of sadness.
Get to Ginny. Get to Ginny. Find Ginny.
She stopped abruptly at the bend in the road, and continued running even before she had come to a full
stop. The idea pounded painfully in her head.
Get to Ginny.
Across the street, not paying any attention the cars rushing by. A big red jeep honked it's horn and
narrowly missed hitting her, but she paid no heed.
Run, run, run. Get Ginny, Get Harry, run.
Another sharp turn, a long road, across the middle of a neighborhood, Hogsmede had never seemed so big.
Run, run, run, keep running, don't pay attention to the stich in your side, just run, run to Harry, run
to Ginny, run, run, run, hurry, hurry.
How could he? She missed him with all her heart, but she could wait until they could build their lives
on steady ground, instead of broken stones, covered in blood from the war. But maybe he couldn't. Maybe
it had been to long. Just a year, a little longer and it would have been over, she could have seen him
again. But he'd had to go and stab himself, dammit.
Run, run, run.
Yet another turn, a long row of houses, a small tree-lined street.
Calli plunged into the woods that littered one side of the road. She would come though the trees, from
one isde to the other, instead of following th bending road. It would take to long, and she had no time
to waist if she wanted to get back to him in time.
As she dashed through the woods, she pictured when she would come out. By the corner store, next to the
retail office. From there she would take the left street down to where Ginny and Harry had their house,
down by where the train would drop off the Hogwarts bound students.
'On the opposite side of Hogsmede,' she reminder herself grimly, before pushing the thought out of her
head. Yes, now she could see the little store.
But before she could take another step, another wolf stepped into her path. She skidded to a stop,
breather heavily, a gloomy feeling in her chest. This disturbance might make her to late!
"Marenvea?"
The voice sounded shocked and curious, but Calli had no time to greet he former pack leaded, Nikomel.
"Nikomel...can't talk...have to hurry...he's dying...have to get the people..please move..."
The head wolf waisted no time in moving out of her way, but as she resumed her fast pace, Nikomel
shouted from behind her, "I'll retrace your trail and see if I can help the human. Good luck, Marenvea!"
Nikomel truly was a great wolf, but she had no time to do more then nod in responce.
Please, please let her get there in time!
There, she could see their house, she was almost there.
But as she hurried up to the door, she stopped very suddenly and pricked her ears, listening.
She heard Nikomel's howl. If only she had time to work out what he was saying!
But the tone of his voice was enough.
Nobody, human or animal, can mistake a wolf's mournful howl, the cry of sadness.
