Chapter Five:
The forest was almost completely silent, all of it's inhabitants lulled and sleepy in the warm, fresh summer air. Hardly a thing was stirring, except for the occasional small creature who dared sneak out of his hole, or something who had stopped for a drink at the spring, always careful avoiding the cursed lake that fed it. Dethrin plodded down the path, enjoying it's peaceful silence, which was sometimes broken by a bird singing, or something he couldn't see moving in the brush.
How he loved this place, his home! He had only just managed to convince Amaris to go play somewhere else, that he wanted to go for a walk alone, to enjoy the sweet solitude he so rarely had, what with his sister and their many friends, and she had been rather disappointed, but had grudgingly obliged to his wishes. And so he was alone, if you didn't count the numerous forest creatures, and glad for it. Much to the scorn of the other young males, he was a thinker and a dreamer, and enjoyed every chance he had to be alone with just his thoughts, to contemplate over the many mysteries of the world.
And besides, he needed dreadfully to stretch his legs, do a little running. That winter some of the icy castle mountains wind and snow had come their way, a rare occurrence indeed, and because of it had been a rather long while since he'd been able to exercise properly, or at least not without getting frost bite. He was also secretly hoping he might run into Shanara, another thing the winter had deprived them of. It had been roughly four years, possibly more for all he knew, he wasn't a good keeper of time, since he and her and his sister had all become friends, and time had made their bond stronger. If only they weren't different species, if only they were free to be friends without the worry of what their elders would do if they found out. Dethrin sighed slightly at the thought, for he knew good in well what would happen if he was discovered in the company of a human. They would kill her first, ask questions later. That was the way his people were, they hated humans, same as every other creature on Rawn.
He didn't understand why his was, as none could fully understand anything until they experienced it themselves. As far as he could see, and he thought he was an expert on the matter, he had after all been the best friend of a human for years now, that there was absolutely nothing wrong with humans. He valued Shanara's friendships even more than that of his own kind. Never, ever, had she acted the way his people said humans did.
Lost deep in his thoughts, Dethrin, who normally could never be sneaked up on, was completely unaware that he was being followed, and not exactly stealthily either. It was only when he heard a badly stifled giggle that he turned around to look, truly alarmed, and then it was fart to late for him to do anything about it, for right as he turned a rather small, brownish-red wolf shot out of the trees at him, nearly knocking him over. He stumbled for a moment, startled and trying to think of some way to defend himself, and toppled right over, a very grievous thing for one who has a horse body. For a moment he was frightened, thinking himself in danger, when quite suddenly the snarling wolf turned it to a girl, doubled over with laughter and for a moment unable to speak for she was laughing so hard. "You....I...thought you said you couldn't be sneaked up on, Mr. High and Mighty. And here I've got you on the ground.... Ha! Serves you right!"
Dethrin just stared at her a moment, then joined in her mirth. When he thought about it, the situation he was in was quite funny.... "Well, Shanara, I thank you for teaching me how very vulnerable I really am." he said jokingly once he could breath again. "And I must say you're getting rather good at the whole shape changing thing."
Shanara finally managed to stop laughing and found herself quite pleased with her friends praise. It had taken her the best part of two years to work it all out, and another two to become anything that wasn't humanoid, and even that was still rather difficult, but, she had found that she could turn into a few things, a crow and her favorite wolf among them, with relative ease, and spent as much time as she could possibly manage practicing. "Gee, you really think so?"
Dethrin nodded, and then climbed to his feet. "Yeah, I do. It bit more practice and I bet you'll be the best there is!" he smiled at her warmly, then turned his attention to his forelegs, who's knees had been skinned in his fall. he winced slightly. "But don't do that again, okay?"
Shanara got the feeling he was only saying that to be nice, but she flushed with pleasure at the praise all the same. At his later statement she grinned broadly. "No more bragging and I promise I won't. But by boasting so much you you were just challenging me to try that you know." she winked at him playfully, and he found himself grinning as well.
"Agreed. No more bragging. But I can hear really well you know..." she scoffed at him and said sarcastically, "Oh yeah, I could tell. Best ears in the world you've got. I imagine next time they'll save you eh?" she smirked at him before standing herself, and the two began walking down the path again, Dethrin blushing slightly at her comment, but fortunately for him it didn't show up on his dark skin.
"So," Shanara said, swinging her arms in a childish manner that often annoyed him, "Where's Amaris? I'd rather be talking to her than you ya know. She's more fun." now of course this was far from true, but she loved to tease him. Dethrin, just scowled at her and said, "Well, next time jump on her then." then remembering her question, "She didn't come with me. I was hoping to have a nice, peaceful walk, alone, if you take the hint." she apparently didn't, or chose to ignore his last words.
"Eh, don't be such a spoil sport. I was just having a bit of fun. I told you I wouldn't do it again." she wasn't sure how truthful this was, seeing as she enjoyed shocking him like that, but what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him. "If you're so interested in being alone, I'll go then. I need to get home anyway, dad will be missing me."
Dethrin couldn't help but notice how she said 'dad' instead of 'father' as she used to. He had noticed subtle changes, like this, in how she viewed her father slowly developed, though he couldn't be sure what had brought about this change. he was just glad his friend was happy. "Oh, all right then. Bye." he sighed and continued, "And don't you dare come back!"
Shanara just gave him her most charming smile, and then, before his eyes could quite register what had happened, she'd changed into a rather large crow and flown off. He stood for a moment, gazing off in the direction she'd flown off to, suddenly wishing she hadn't gone. He some how felt empty when she wasn't around.... he sighed deeply and took off at a galloped, decidding he wanted the company of his sister after all.
**********************************************
Shanara was a little depressed at once more being trapped inside the castle, surrounded as always by freezing snow, but it couldn't be helped. The years, few as they had been, had had a great effect on her father, and she had quite suddenly come to realize just how old he was. He hadn't changed in appearance all that much, a few gray hairs here and there, the lines on his face deepened, but it was more his manner and great weariness that had clued her in. That and the sudden sickness. For, try as he might to hide it, he was ill, and dreadfully so. He was occasionally torn by wild coughing fits, and the cold was effecting it much more than it ever had before.
And though she was loath to admit it, Shanara was beginning to realize that Tharn, her beloved father wasn't going to be around forever. He had thus far used his magic to sustain his youth, but he was very old, older than Shanara could guess at, and whatever foul sickness it was that plagued him was fast removing his strength. And though he would never admit it, he needed her to take care of him.
The cat familiar Pat, had noticed this as well, long before Shanara had. He didn't know how much longer Tharn could hold out, how much longer he wanted to hold out, though he could tell he was trying his darndest to stave off death until Shanara was grown. But in truth, Pat knew for sure, Tharn was ready to die. He had lived long years, filled with pain and sorrow and bitter happiness, and he couldn't take it any more. He just wanted to rest. And Pat was forced to half heartedly agree, much as he tried to deny it.
The cat sighed and turned away from the window were he'd been watching Shanara approach, looking at his master through wise, intelligent eyes. As is feeling his companions gaze upon him, Tharn looked up from his desk and smiled at Pat warmly, but he could not hide the infinite sadness in his eyes. Pat decided against telling him just now that his daughter had left the castle. Indeed, Pat had known for some time now, but he imagined she was safe enough, and he didn't want to trouble Tharn any more than necessary.
"Ah my friend, I think I favor a nap just now." Tharn got to his feet, and stretched, yawning loudly, rather a lot like his cat familiar. Pat to felt very weary just now, and agreed solemnly. He leaped into Tharn's arms, purring contentedly, but at that moment Tharn happened to cast a glance out the window, were Shanara was still just a few feet from the large front doors. If it weren't for the fact it was completely pointless to go out there, the only thing you'd do is manage to get frost bite, he might have thought she'd just been in the court yard. But he somehow knew better. He dropped Pat, who hissed loudly, and then was off like a shot, determined to intercept her before she'd gotten far.
The forest was almost completely silent, all of it's inhabitants lulled and sleepy in the warm, fresh summer air. Hardly a thing was stirring, except for the occasional small creature who dared sneak out of his hole, or something who had stopped for a drink at the spring, always careful avoiding the cursed lake that fed it. Dethrin plodded down the path, enjoying it's peaceful silence, which was sometimes broken by a bird singing, or something he couldn't see moving in the brush.
How he loved this place, his home! He had only just managed to convince Amaris to go play somewhere else, that he wanted to go for a walk alone, to enjoy the sweet solitude he so rarely had, what with his sister and their many friends, and she had been rather disappointed, but had grudgingly obliged to his wishes. And so he was alone, if you didn't count the numerous forest creatures, and glad for it. Much to the scorn of the other young males, he was a thinker and a dreamer, and enjoyed every chance he had to be alone with just his thoughts, to contemplate over the many mysteries of the world.
And besides, he needed dreadfully to stretch his legs, do a little running. That winter some of the icy castle mountains wind and snow had come their way, a rare occurrence indeed, and because of it had been a rather long while since he'd been able to exercise properly, or at least not without getting frost bite. He was also secretly hoping he might run into Shanara, another thing the winter had deprived them of. It had been roughly four years, possibly more for all he knew, he wasn't a good keeper of time, since he and her and his sister had all become friends, and time had made their bond stronger. If only they weren't different species, if only they were free to be friends without the worry of what their elders would do if they found out. Dethrin sighed slightly at the thought, for he knew good in well what would happen if he was discovered in the company of a human. They would kill her first, ask questions later. That was the way his people were, they hated humans, same as every other creature on Rawn.
He didn't understand why his was, as none could fully understand anything until they experienced it themselves. As far as he could see, and he thought he was an expert on the matter, he had after all been the best friend of a human for years now, that there was absolutely nothing wrong with humans. He valued Shanara's friendships even more than that of his own kind. Never, ever, had she acted the way his people said humans did.
Lost deep in his thoughts, Dethrin, who normally could never be sneaked up on, was completely unaware that he was being followed, and not exactly stealthily either. It was only when he heard a badly stifled giggle that he turned around to look, truly alarmed, and then it was fart to late for him to do anything about it, for right as he turned a rather small, brownish-red wolf shot out of the trees at him, nearly knocking him over. He stumbled for a moment, startled and trying to think of some way to defend himself, and toppled right over, a very grievous thing for one who has a horse body. For a moment he was frightened, thinking himself in danger, when quite suddenly the snarling wolf turned it to a girl, doubled over with laughter and for a moment unable to speak for she was laughing so hard. "You....I...thought you said you couldn't be sneaked up on, Mr. High and Mighty. And here I've got you on the ground.... Ha! Serves you right!"
Dethrin just stared at her a moment, then joined in her mirth. When he thought about it, the situation he was in was quite funny.... "Well, Shanara, I thank you for teaching me how very vulnerable I really am." he said jokingly once he could breath again. "And I must say you're getting rather good at the whole shape changing thing."
Shanara finally managed to stop laughing and found herself quite pleased with her friends praise. It had taken her the best part of two years to work it all out, and another two to become anything that wasn't humanoid, and even that was still rather difficult, but, she had found that she could turn into a few things, a crow and her favorite wolf among them, with relative ease, and spent as much time as she could possibly manage practicing. "Gee, you really think so?"
Dethrin nodded, and then climbed to his feet. "Yeah, I do. It bit more practice and I bet you'll be the best there is!" he smiled at her warmly, then turned his attention to his forelegs, who's knees had been skinned in his fall. he winced slightly. "But don't do that again, okay?"
Shanara got the feeling he was only saying that to be nice, but she flushed with pleasure at the praise all the same. At his later statement she grinned broadly. "No more bragging and I promise I won't. But by boasting so much you you were just challenging me to try that you know." she winked at him playfully, and he found himself grinning as well.
"Agreed. No more bragging. But I can hear really well you know..." she scoffed at him and said sarcastically, "Oh yeah, I could tell. Best ears in the world you've got. I imagine next time they'll save you eh?" she smirked at him before standing herself, and the two began walking down the path again, Dethrin blushing slightly at her comment, but fortunately for him it didn't show up on his dark skin.
"So," Shanara said, swinging her arms in a childish manner that often annoyed him, "Where's Amaris? I'd rather be talking to her than you ya know. She's more fun." now of course this was far from true, but she loved to tease him. Dethrin, just scowled at her and said, "Well, next time jump on her then." then remembering her question, "She didn't come with me. I was hoping to have a nice, peaceful walk, alone, if you take the hint." she apparently didn't, or chose to ignore his last words.
"Eh, don't be such a spoil sport. I was just having a bit of fun. I told you I wouldn't do it again." she wasn't sure how truthful this was, seeing as she enjoyed shocking him like that, but what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him. "If you're so interested in being alone, I'll go then. I need to get home anyway, dad will be missing me."
Dethrin couldn't help but notice how she said 'dad' instead of 'father' as she used to. He had noticed subtle changes, like this, in how she viewed her father slowly developed, though he couldn't be sure what had brought about this change. he was just glad his friend was happy. "Oh, all right then. Bye." he sighed and continued, "And don't you dare come back!"
Shanara just gave him her most charming smile, and then, before his eyes could quite register what had happened, she'd changed into a rather large crow and flown off. He stood for a moment, gazing off in the direction she'd flown off to, suddenly wishing she hadn't gone. He some how felt empty when she wasn't around.... he sighed deeply and took off at a galloped, decidding he wanted the company of his sister after all.
**********************************************
Shanara was a little depressed at once more being trapped inside the castle, surrounded as always by freezing snow, but it couldn't be helped. The years, few as they had been, had had a great effect on her father, and she had quite suddenly come to realize just how old he was. He hadn't changed in appearance all that much, a few gray hairs here and there, the lines on his face deepened, but it was more his manner and great weariness that had clued her in. That and the sudden sickness. For, try as he might to hide it, he was ill, and dreadfully so. He was occasionally torn by wild coughing fits, and the cold was effecting it much more than it ever had before.
And though she was loath to admit it, Shanara was beginning to realize that Tharn, her beloved father wasn't going to be around forever. He had thus far used his magic to sustain his youth, but he was very old, older than Shanara could guess at, and whatever foul sickness it was that plagued him was fast removing his strength. And though he would never admit it, he needed her to take care of him.
The cat familiar Pat, had noticed this as well, long before Shanara had. He didn't know how much longer Tharn could hold out, how much longer he wanted to hold out, though he could tell he was trying his darndest to stave off death until Shanara was grown. But in truth, Pat knew for sure, Tharn was ready to die. He had lived long years, filled with pain and sorrow and bitter happiness, and he couldn't take it any more. He just wanted to rest. And Pat was forced to half heartedly agree, much as he tried to deny it.
The cat sighed and turned away from the window were he'd been watching Shanara approach, looking at his master through wise, intelligent eyes. As is feeling his companions gaze upon him, Tharn looked up from his desk and smiled at Pat warmly, but he could not hide the infinite sadness in his eyes. Pat decided against telling him just now that his daughter had left the castle. Indeed, Pat had known for some time now, but he imagined she was safe enough, and he didn't want to trouble Tharn any more than necessary.
"Ah my friend, I think I favor a nap just now." Tharn got to his feet, and stretched, yawning loudly, rather a lot like his cat familiar. Pat to felt very weary just now, and agreed solemnly. He leaped into Tharn's arms, purring contentedly, but at that moment Tharn happened to cast a glance out the window, were Shanara was still just a few feet from the large front doors. If it weren't for the fact it was completely pointless to go out there, the only thing you'd do is manage to get frost bite, he might have thought she'd just been in the court yard. But he somehow knew better. He dropped Pat, who hissed loudly, and then was off like a shot, determined to intercept her before she'd gotten far.
