Yes, I left you on a little cliffhanger last time. Well, I'm back!
And now, on to chapter 8!
Chapter 8
When I unfroze, I ran home. Instead of entering through the front door, I entered through my window. I couldn't face my family, not now. They would know something was wrong and I didn't want to have them ask questions.
In my room, I changed into clothes more suitable for running, pulled my cloak off its hanger in my closet, and wrote a quick note. I would not be home for a while. I was running.
I jumped silently out of my window. When I touched ground, I started running, pulling on my cloak as I ran. The words of the note sank in.
We know where your vampire friend lives.
Vampires are fun to watch burn.
Ask your Thar to comply with our wishes.
Be afraid.
Sidewinder-Thar of Fire Clan
Emmett could be in danger. And I couldn't tell him anything. If I told him he might be in danger, he could react in a way which would put him in more danger. I was torn. I wanted to tell him, but I couldn't bear it if anything were to happen to Emmett.
"layN klee'ah bai. layN klee'ah bai. layN klee'ah bai." I repeated this sentence to myself, hoping the repetition would make it true.
I ran until I saw the ocean. I stood on a cliff, the wide, faintly shimmering, expanse stretching before me. The sun was just peeking over the horizon, not yet high enough to turn me invisible. The clouds turned red as blood. It was dawn, the beginning of a new day; Stratus's favorite time of day. The ocean reminded me of Michigan and the lakes. It shocked me to realize I no longer thought of Michigan as home.
"Lady Tharina," a wind said. "Your family is worried about you."
"Tell them I wish to be left alone. I am safe, and they do not need to worry."
"I will, wind sister," the wind said, rushing off to deliver my message. They knew nothing about the threat I had received. For threat it was. Fire Clan can make anything they want burn just by touching it and their blood is like liquid fire.
The sun rose higher above the horizon. Its light now turned me invisible. I stood and watched the sun climb higher and higher, until it was no longer touching the horizon. In the space of time, I made a few decisions.
One, I would have Mother inform the principal of Forks High that I would no longer be attending school. It would be easier for me to protect everyone if I did not have to go to school or do homework whenever possible.
Two, I would stay here. If I did not, I would be powerless to help if Fire Clan made a move against the Cullens. I wouldn't be able to bear it if they were hurt because of me.
Three, I would request Butterfly-Thar to come here. If Sidewinder-Thar really is involved, Butterfly-Thar would need to know so she could decide if we need to take this matter to the Council of Thirteen. No Thar will act against other Clans without first taking the issue to the Council.
Four, I would help my family brush up on their fighting skills. If there was to be fighting here, they would need to remember how to fight. Grandfather, Uncle Luke, Grandma, and I are the only ones in my family who regularly practice to stay prepared for a fight. Grandma is a retired general, and I am the tharina of Wind Clan, so I have to be ready to fight at any time.
I heard Sun land behind me. A cloud forced me into shadow, letting her see me. I turned to face her.
"Rain? What's wrong?" I knew she would ask this, as well as she knew I could not lie. We are eneskis, friends without secrets. I held the note out to her. Gently, she took it. "Oh, my."
"Will you take a message to Mom?" I asked. Sun nodded. I took the note back and wrote on it what I needed Mom to do: somehow tell the school that, for some reason of Mom's choosing, I would not be attending school here anymore. "Thank you," I said. Sun tried to read the note.
"I can't read your cursive, Rain."
"I learned to write in the 1800s. There is a reason why you have a hard time reading my handwriting." Sun smiled and flew away, her gold wings fluttering gently, but steadily. The cloud I had been behind moved, letting the golden sunlight shine on me once more.
I ran further down the coast, away from the cliff. I ran until I saw a house partially built into the water, in the style of Water Clan homes. I turned back, not wanting to intrude on her privacy. But, knowing she lives here is good, in case we need to make an alliance against Fire Clan.
From far away, I heard a stallion's call. I ran towards the call for a ways, into the forest, and then I whistled. The stallion called back, and I heard the thunder of horse hooves. My horse, Wings of Thunder, heard me and was coming. Thunder, my midnight black stallion, soon galloped into view. He did not slow as he approached me, but I knew he knew exactly where I was. He was still running when I jumped onto his back. Even though I had not seen him in a few human years, my riding ability quickly came back. It was pure fun, riding Thunder again.
Many Wind elves have horses. If their region or living area allows it, they have a horse. Or, rather, a horse chooses them. Elves do not own animals in the way humans think of ownership. The animal only stays as long as it wants and it comes and goes as it wishes. We only give the animal food (which it is perfectly capable of obtaining itself), shelter, care, and companionship. If the animal leaves, it is the animal's decision. If one of our horses decides to travel, it would and we would do nothing. We are only able to ride because our horses let us. We do not use any leather or rope on them; they listen to use because they want to.
The elves with horses only have horses because a horse chose her. We do not look at a horse and decide to ask the horse to let us ride; the horse chooses us as his or her rider. In a manner of speaking, our horses own us.
Thunder gradually slowed down. I sat comfortably on his back. His speed had caused tears to leak from my eyes.
"It is nice to see you again, Thunder," I said.
It is indeed. We run for fun, Rain, he answered in my mind. Horses who choose elves cannot be seen by humans, cannot be touched by humans, age at the same rate as an elf, and they can communicate mentally. This means, however, they only communicate when they want. Horses have free spirits.
"There you are," Cirrus said, trotting up on the black snowflake Appaloosa, Starry Night.
"Here we are," I replied. "Hello, Star."
"Sun brought home a note from you. Do you really care that much about Emmett that Fire Clan thinks they can get to you through him?"
"I do not know yet, Cirrus. I do know I would hate to have anything happen to him."
"I think, Rain, your heart has chosen Emmett, even if your mind does not yet recognize that fact. Listen to your heart. I wouldn't wait long to tell Emmett you love him, though." I knew my face was full of questions. "Speaking with you, even in this short space of time, I realized you love Emmett, even if you do not realize it yet. Trust your instincts, and try not to overprotect Emmett without telling him he is in danger." She turned Star around. "Think about what I have told you. I think I am more right than you think." Star and Cirrus cantered home.
I closed my eyes. One thing Cirrus said repeated itself in my mind. "You love Emmett," she had said. My heart agreed. It beat with the knowledge I would see Emmett again.
Shall we gallop, Rain? Thunder asked, interrupting my inner musings. I smiled, and then gently gave him the signal to gallop. Had I not been ready, he would have left me behind, breathing his dust. It does not hurt for me to fall off a horse; it is just a little embarrassing to be left behind.
I guided Thunder to the ocean, and then asked him to walk. He walked onto the sand. Once he became used to the sand under his hooves, he snorted, ready to run.
"Easy, Thunder, not yet," I murmured. He pranced under me, eager to go faster. I signaled him to trot. Gladly, he trotted. But it was not long before he held his head high, smelling something. I sniffed the air, trying to smell what Thunder smelled. I smelled wolf. "Calm, Thunder, nothing will happen." I dismounted and stood by his head, trying to calm him.
Looking around, I saw a shape shifter step out of the trees. Thunder threw my hand off his head and ran away, taking advantage of my lack of attention. "Thunder!" I called, and then whistled. He did not answer.
"Did I scare your horse away?" the shape shifter asked.
"Yes," I replied. "But it is all right. He'll just head for home. Thunder would never run away for forever." The wind shifted, blowing towards him, carrying my lack of a scent.
"You don't have your own scent," he said, surprised.
"No, I do not. This fact has surprised and upset many before you."
Rain, are you okay? Sun asked. Thunder just got here without you. Your mother says he's scared.
I'm fine, I replied. Now hush.
"Who are you?"
"You may call me Raven Valeneski. What is your name?"
"I'm Billy Call. Do you hang out with vampires a lot?"
"My grandfather and uncle are both vampires. They are also both visiting me. I apologize for their smell on me."
"Raven! We were looking all over for you! Please, let us know you are all right if Thunder comes back scared and without you. Mom is so worried!" Cloud exclaimed, stepping out of the trees.
"If Billy here had not started a conversation with me, I would have gone straight home, Camille," I replied. "I am sorry, Billy, but I must be going."
"It was nice meeting you."
"It was nice meeting you, too," I replied. Cloud and I walked back into the forest.
"Can you go anywhere without eventually meeting or talking to someone who lives here?" Cloud asked. I thought about my answer.
"I do not think so," I replied. She sighed and together we ran home.
Another important filler chapter. Don't worry; next chapter will not be a filler chapter. Something will actually happen in it! Actually, a few big events will happen in it.
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Common Tongue in this chapter:
layN klee'ah bai – He will be fine
eneski – friend with no secrets
Thar – leader, queen
Tharina – princess, heir to the leadership