CHAPTER 8
THE DARK WOODS OF ARMAGH
The guys could sense the tension between Bonnie and Amarog and they didn't miss the angry glares Bonnie gave Amarog when ever he turned around to give orders to them.
Or
Amarog smirking at Bonnie when ever she glared at him.
They wondered what happened between the two and judging from what they are seeing it didn't go well, but none of the guys dared to ask the question out loud. The guys even tried to coaxed Bonnie into conversation but her answers was short and blunt.
Sandalio suddenly stopped. He turned to Amarog and whispered. "Riechst du das auch?"
(Do you smell that too?)
"Ja, ich kann" (Yes, I can). Amarog replied with a worried look on his handsome face.
"Why are we stopping?" Bonnie asked Ruelle who was in front of her with his nose sniffing in the air.
Ruelle was about to answer her when Amarog said in an urgent voice. "Verstecke das Kleine Mädchen und entferne ihren Duft" (Hide the little girl and remove her scent).
"What is he saying?" Bonnie asked loudly.
Rudolph quickly covered her mouth with his hand and said in a soft voice. "Aldolpha I need you to come with me. We will explain later. Do you understand?"
Bonnie took Rudolph's hand away from her mouth. "Like I have a choice." She said cheekily and rolled her eyes.
Rudolph smiled and took Bonnie's arm. They walked back in a different direction.
"Wie viele davon?" (How many of them?). Wolfgang asked Sandalio.
"Es sind acht von ihnen" (There are eight of them). Sandalio replied and narrowed his eyes. "Sie sind nah" (They are close), he said to the guys.
Ulmar put his hand on his knife but Amarog stopped him.
"Kein Blut wird mein Bruder vergossen werden" (No blood will be spilled my brother). Amarog said to the guys.
"Ich halte nur meine Hand darauf" (I'm just keeping my hand on it). Ulmar said with a smirk.
The guys came to a clearing in the woods ... and waited. Every sense on high alert.
Suddenly the leaves of the trees above them rustled and like phantoms they jumped from the trees and landed gracefully on the ground in a circle around guys.
The guys found themselves surrounded by eight beautiful she- wolfs.
-X-
"So what are we running from?" Bonnie asked out of breath once they stopped.
"Other wolves" Rudolph said vaguely.
"But why? Aren't you all brothers to the end." Bonnie said mockingly.
"Yes we are, but when we feel threatened we react unpredictable." Rudolph said and kept himself extremely busy with sharpening his knife just to avoid Bonnie's questioning eyes on him.
"These other wolves, they are she-wolfs right?" she asked with folded arms.
Rudolph quickly looked up at her. "Yes they are. How did you know?"
"Call it woman's intuition. So I can forget about asking one of them for a clean dress or at least a brush for my hair." Bonnie said with a sigh.
"Unless you want them to slid your throat." Rudolph said with a laugh.
"I would like to see them try." Bonnie said with a serious face.
-X-
"Was haben wir hier?" (What do we have here?). Sandstorm the Alpha she-wolf asked with a sexy smirk.
"Ihr vermisster Bruder" (Their missing one brother). Smoke- Feather, Sandstorm's second in command said and narrowed her eyes.
"Hi Ulf," said Fern in a low sexy voice and blew him a kiss. Fern is a petite blue eyed girl with golden hair.
Ulf turned bright red.
The girls laughed and Fern winked at Ulf.
Sandstorm who stepped closer to Amarog trailed her finger over Amarog's face and stopped on his lips. She leaned closer to him as if she wanted to kiss him but instead whispered in his ear. "Vermissen sie mich?" (Do you miss me?).
Amarog smirked. He gently took Sandstorm's finger away from his lips without breaking eye contact with her and said. "Nicht so sehr wie du mich vermisst" (Not as much as you miss me).
Sandstorm laughed and slowly took out her knife. The guys stepped closer to Amarog and the she-wolfs moved closer in on them.
-X-
Bonnie was sitting next to Rudolph when something caught her eye. A pale, almost ghostlike beautiful girl came out from part of a tree. Instead of hair, she had small upright branches with leaves. Small tree branches grow from her back. She was naked and her feet was rooted out like a tree. The girl did some kind of dance. Her delicate pale arms swinging gracefully above her head.
Bonnie gazed at this girl in awe. Never in her life had she seen something like this. Part woman, part tree. Part of nature. It was beautiful.
"Wood nymph. Beautiful and very mischievous but harmless unless you give them some attention." Rudolph said with a laugh.
"And if I ignore them?" Bonnie asked with a smile.
"Then you will feel a tree branch slapping you hard in the face." Rudolph said and they both laughed.
Bonnie waved at the wood nymph and the girl waved back before she quickly disappeared with a beautiful melodious giggle.
Rudolph patted Bonnie on the shoulder and said. "Looks like your not getting slapped.
-X-
Sandstorm laughed and slowly took out her knife. The guys stepped closer to Amarog and the she-wolfs moved closer in on them.
Sandstorm looked around her and smiled. She looked back at Amarog. She ran the blade against his neck. Her full lips now slightly parted.
The guys now on high alert waited for Sandstorms next move. When Amarog quickly took the knife from her and turned her around with her back to his chest. He was holding her own knife against her throat.
He whispered in her ear. "Immer noch gerne rauh spielen." (Still like to play rough).
"Immer noch der einzige, der ein Messer aus meiner Hand nehmen kann." (Still the only one who can take my knife out of my hand). She said and turned her head to him. Their lips almost touching.
With a grunt Amarog crashed his lips on hers. The kiss was aggressive and passionate. The two gazed in each others eyes after the kiss. Sandstorm's full lips was now red and her chest was heaving up and down.
Amarog smirked and released her and said to her. "Wir sehen uns wieder zu House." (See you back at home).
After the girls left Ruelle cleared his throat and said. "Soooo we are going to pretend that, that didn't just happened."
Amarog turned to him and said sharply. "Go get the Little Girl and Rudolph. We've got a long way ahead of us."
"Why did I had to open my mouth." Ruelle mumbled to himself.
-X-
They kept a relax pace. Not the fast gruelling one of yesterday.
Up to now the sky had been perfect, but it was changing. The beautiful cocktail-blue shade was beginning to darken into gravel-grey. Dark clouds began to gather in the sky. Lightning flashed across the sky.
Bonnie looked up as the first splatter of rain began to fall. Then the rainfall became more intense. So much rain was falling that the sound blurred into one long, whirring noise and still they kept on walking.
Why don't we take cover. Bonnie thought in anger. She was just about to protest loudly when she heard Sandalio say. We are here and what Bonnie saw infront of her made her heart sank.
A wild raging river with muddy brown stormy water. The river was splashing angry from side to side. It flow strong and swiftly. The guys moved down to the river bank while Bonnie, Amarog and Wolfgang stayed behind. It was still raining but not so heavy as earlier.
A roaring thunderous sound came from the river that vibrated right through her. Bonnie imagined that noise coming from a huge hungry nine headed hydra waiting for unsuspected prey to devour.
"W ... w ... what is in there?" Bonnie asked with wide eyes.
"She's just dirty. Nothing frightening is in there Aldolpha," Wolfgang said.
Bonnie looked at him suspiciously.
"Because she is in one of her moods. You should see her on a really, really bad day." Amarog said with sarcasm.
"You think?" Bonnie asked and stepped right in front of Amarog. "And you don't want to see me on a really ... really ... and I mean really bad day." Bonnie said deadly calm in his face. She promptly turned her back to him and Amarog narrowed his eyes behind her back.
Wolfgang quickly removed the smirk from his face.
"What are the guys doing down there?" Bonnie asked the question to Wolfgang.
"They are going to tie the rope to that tree," he said and pointed to a tree where the guys are. "Then they will tie Ulf with the end of the rope. He will swim over and secure the rope on the other end for us to cross over."
"Wait ... What? Are you serious?" Bonnie asked with a fast beating heart.
Amarog rolled his eyes behind her.
"She is only raging on the surface. Underneath she is calm as can be. Ulf is a strong swimmer Aldolpha, that's why Amarog chose him." Wolfgang said.
"Why didn't he choose himself? Or is he scared to get his fur dirty." Bonnie asked Wolfgang.
Wolfgang quickly swallowed his laugh and kept a straight face as he looked over Bonnie's head at Amarog's angry face.
"You do know I can hear you." Amarog said behind Bonnie.
Bonnie slowly turned around to face him. "And you do know I don't care." She said and walked down to the guys.
Amarog turned to Wolfgang and said. "I saw that."
"Saw what?" Wolfgang asked innocently.
Amarog sigh. "Go ahead and laugh."
Wolfgang shook his head and laughed.
Amarog couldn't help but to smile.
Bonnie turned around and looked back when she heard them laughing. Great, their laughing when Ulf might die down there, she thought in anger. She quickly turned around when Amarog winked at her and walked fast to the guys down at the river.
She called out to Ulf right before he was about to dive in.
"Yes, Aldolpha?" Ulf asked with red cheeks.
She softly kissed him on the cheek. "Be careful down there."
Ulf touched his cheek in wonder. "I ... I ... will Aldolpha."Ruelle started to smile and Ulf gave him a dead glare.
"Hey at least you will die in peace down there if anything happens." Ruelle said with a smile and patted Ulf's back.
"Great. Just great. Amarog said annoyed. "Now lover boy is going to breath down there because he got his first kiss."
Wolfgang chuckled. "He will be alright."
They waited and to Bonnie the wait was agonisingly slow. Shouldn't he have been on the other side by now. Is there really no other way to the other side.
"He will be fine Aldolpha." Rudolph said to her ... And just then Vilks called out that the rope was secured. They can cross over.
Rudolph could see Aldolpha was scared, but she kept brave. He admired her courage. To be fair he was a bit scared himself, but he can't tell her that. They will both end up hysterical.
"You ready?" he asked softly.
She smiled. "No, but I'm as ready as you are," she said to him.
-X-
"Little Girl can't cross over by herself." Bonnie rolled her eyes when she heard Amarog speak. "She will be tied to me." You wish, beast. Bonnie thought to herself.
"Ulmar, you and Rudolph will follow behind us. Ruelle, you and Sandalio behind them and Big guy and Wolfgang will be behind them. Right," Amarog said as he looked at the river. "What ever happens, do not let go my brothers. We have one brother safe let us not disappoint him."
Bonnie was standing with her back to Amarog and looked at the river with deep concern on her beautiful features when she suddenly felt two strong hands on her waist. She was turned around and pulled closer to a hard chest.
"What are you doing she hissed in his face?"
"See this rope I'm going to tie it around you waist. Or do you want it around your neck?"
Bonnie just glared at him.
Amarog smirked down at her and took his sweet time to tie the rope around her waist and then around his.
"All done ... and now." He placed both hands under her bottom and lifted her up.
"Is this really necessary?" Bonnie asked with flaming red cheeks.
"We can always try it the other way around. My legs around your waist." Amarog said with a smirk clearly enjoying her discomfort.
Bonnie looked away in anger.
"I thought so." He whispered to her. "Right wolves lets do this." Amarog said and throw his head back and let out a loud howl. The others followed him and a chorus of howls could be heard.
He looked back at her and said in a serious voice. "Hold on tight."
The water was Luke warm and it smelled like wet ground after a rainfall. Her legs were wrapped tight around Amarog's waist and her arms were iron grip around his neck.
Amarog's hands was clamped tight around the rope above their heads and they moved at a slow pace. His muscles bulged from the strain in both arms, carrying his weight and hers. They were pushed around like ragdolls when the first powerful stream hit them. Then a another one and this time water went into her mouth. It tasted like mud. She spit it out and it went straight into Amarog's face the moment he turned his head.
"Sorry," she choked out, but he barely heard her. He was more concerned with getting them safe on the other side.
Another strong stream came down that pushed Bonnie off of Amarog. Her hands went flying in the air and she felled backwards in the water. For a fleeting scary moment Bonnie thought she was going to drown. A strong arm went around her waist and she was lifted up.
Amarog held Bonnie closed to his chest with one arm. The other arm gripped the rope above them. Bonnie's face was in Amarog's neck. He could feel her body trembling and her hot breath against his neck.
When she heard the thunderous sound coming from deep down in the river she screamed and struggled wildly in Amarog's arm.
Not good. If I don't do something soon she will go into shock. Amarog thought to himself. There was no river bed beneath his feet.
Amarog's eyes went from blue to silver grey.
"Look at me," he said to Bonnie.
She shook her head no.
Amarog gritted his teeth. "I cant move us with one arm. The others are behind us and if we don't move then they don't move. Aldolpha look at me ... please?
Bonnie slowly lifted her head and looked at Amarog.
Amarog could feel another strong stream coming . "Close your eyes Aldolpha." He said to her and looked deep into her eyes.
Bonnie slowly closed her eyes.
"They say the mind is a powerful weapon. Now take yourself back to your fondest memories." He looked at the dirty stream of water coming for them and then back at Bonnie. He said to her. "I'm going to take arm away. You hold on tight to me ... I won't let you go."
Bonnie nodded with eyes shut tight. Her arms and legs tight around Amarog. She felt the water hit them hard and they were pushed in the air and landed back hard. Fond memories, fond memories. Bonnie thought to herself. I have no more fond memories. Its too painful to remember and to damn hard to think about it.
"Then clear your mind and think about the present Bonnie." A voice said.
Bonnie opened her eyes and looked at Amarog confused.
"Do you think its only the living that have hearts. A heart that can give and receive love. A heart that can be hurt immensely. A heart that can heal from all pain...
Bonnie looked around wildly.
"She too is in pain Bonnie."
"She? This river? Bonnie asked unsure.
"Yes Bonnie. She is in great pain, but she is fighting against her own pain. She is cleansing her heart. Do not be afraid. For we all carry a little hurt in us ...
The feeling that came inside of Bonnie was indescribable. She felt free. She looked at another strong stream coming and she softly said. "Yes." When the water hit her in the face she laughed. "Yes! Let it all out." She screamed and tears rolled down her cheeks. "That's it" she said with a smile and lifted her face to the heavens. Another stream went over her face. This one not so strong. "For you are a giver of life. Part of this world like the air that we breath." Bonnie rested her face in Amarog's neck and said to him. "She is calm now."
The water around them calm and clear.
-X-
The guys set up their camp near the river. It will be night soon and they don't want Aldolpha to walk at night. Too many creatures come alive at night. Rudolph went down to the river where Bonnie was sitting peacefully.
"To think she almost made me go to Guille for eternity and look at her now. Calm as can be." Rudolph said with a smirk.
"She is at peace now," Bonnie said with a smile. She looked back at the river and remembered something. "Tell me, can you all turn in ... into ... she stumbled.
"Beasts?" Rudolph asked with a smirk.
"No," she said and smiled. "Into wolves." Bonnie said softly.
There came a serious expression on Rudolph's face. "To turn ones body into its werewolf form is hard Aldolpha and not just on the body self, but also on the mind.
Bonnie looked at him confused.
"It starts when we turn fourteen year of age. Our sense of smell gets stronger. Our sight gets exceptionally well. Our bodies become more leaner, more muscular and we can run for long distances without getting tired. Some of us even find our mates at that age.
"And then you ... you ... mate?" she asked with red cheeks.
"No," Rudolph chuckled. "First we have to finish our transitioning, then cut off the head of the Great White Beast before we are welcomed into the Brotherhood of the wolves and are allowed to mate."
"So when do you turn into werewolves for the first time?"
"The day we go into The Cave. The same day we turn sixteen years of age. We all fear that the most, but we don't say it. Its best to keep that with oneself." Rudolph said deep in thought.
"Why?" Bonnie softly asked.
"I can't say Aldolpha. Its something we don't talk about, but what I can say is that your first transition is thee most painful experience to your body that I would not wish on anyone. We are beasts who are part of nature., Aldolpha. Born to run free in the wild ... But that dark cave takes that away. You see yourself clawing with long sharp nails against the walls. You scream in pain when you feel your limps being pulled out of place ... by the time you come to your senses you are chained up against a wall. Screaming your lungs out. I think that cave was created to bring out the beast in us." Rudolph said with a chuckle.
"But if your alone in there. How do you get chained up?" Bonnie asked.
There was silence between the two before Rudolph answered her question. "Something older then time is in there." Rudolph said with a serious face. "Something ...
"Something better not talked about with Little Girls who still get nightmares." Amarog's harsh voice said behind them.
-X-
That night around the fire it was only the eight of them again. She listened and laughed at their hunting escapades. Even Ulf had a lot to say. Her mind drifted off to Amarog. Where could he be. Doesn't he miss the warmth of the fire and the companionship of his brothers. She wondered to herself.
It was Wolfgang's voice that snapped her out of her thoughts. "Well wolves and she-wolf, time to get some shut eye. Goodnight Aldolpha, the guys said one by one. "Goodnight wolves" Bonnie said softly. She turned to her side and closed her eyes.
-X-
Deep in the dark woods. On a branch high up in the tallest tree in all the sixth realms sat Amarog comfortably. A thick bear skin wrapped around him. He looked at the full silver moon that's hung low over the majestic mountains of ANVARD. "Goodnight Little Girl." He said and closed his eyes.
