Chapter 15 #2
“It’s powerful.” Kira sneezes. “It’s like ozone and magic.”
“Also, the wildness to the smell of ancient forests and fresh water,” Greyson says. “It’s Pan.”
“I didn’t think we would see Pan,” I say, bouncing on my toes. “He’s not busy with the war the way Hermes and the others are. Thank the gods.”
“Let’s go see what he has to say to us this time.” Raven adjusts her grip on her sword.
I race ahead of the group, excited to see the nature god. He has been a friend to us many times over now and if he’s here, he has news about what we may face moving through this forest to the final battle.
His little shop comes into view up ahead in a small clearing. The sign hanging to one side stops me in my tracks. Is everything okay with the wild god?
“Why is the sign like that? Is something wrong with Pan?” Raven asks.
“I don’t know. Let’s be cautious. We could be walking into anything in there.” I call my whip with my charm and electricity crackles down.
I push through the door and the little bell jingles merrily as if nothing is wrong in the slightest. The store is similar to how we left it in Arcadia. It looks like a cyclone hit it. Shelves overturned and equipment strewn everywhere.
“Has he just not cleaned up since last week or did something else happen?” I ask no one in particular.
“I don’t know, B. It could be anything at this point.” Raven steps up next to me, twin blades in her hands.
“Pan? Are you here?” I call through the chaos of the shop.
“Beth? You’re here?” Pan pokes his head out of the back room. “This isn’t good.”
“What’s wrong?” I ask. “What happened to the shop?”
“The shop is fine for now. My wife is tending to the trees. She’s nervous about the volcano god weakening.”
As Pan has told us many times, his wife is the only reason the shop is organized most of the time so her focusing on the trees is a problem for the poor satyr.
“That’s what we’re trying to fix.” I step over a piece of climbing gear to get closer to the wild god. “Have you heard anything about what’s going on at Etna?”
“You mean Elkhorn?” he asks with a small smile. “That’s what it’s called here, yes?”
“Yes, but we both know it’s really Etna.” I raise a brow.
“Yes, there are powerful creatures in the wild lands. You may have trouble hiking to the mountain. There are traps.” Pan waves us into the back room.
“Anyone specific I need to worry about?” I ask.
“I can’t get a read on who they actually are, only that they are Olympian. Someone powerful has cloaked them.”
“So, a god or goddess on the queen’s side is in the forest setting traps for us? That’s just delightful.” I flop into the overstuffed armchair next to the fireplace.
“Your fire wolf should be able to track the scent and find out who it is with her nose.” Pan eyes Kira. “Though, the last we met I don’t recall you being a shifter.”
“Aggie gave me a wolf but I haven’t met her yet.” Kira glances away.
“You will meet her soon, I am guessing by her strength.” Pan nods.
“Okay, so we’re going into the forest toward the mountain with an unknown Olympian setting traps for us along with other powerful creatures who want us dead? That tracks.” I slump.
“We’ll be okay. We’ve faced similar odds before. I mean we’ve gone up against Titans in the past and won. We’ve got this,” Raven says.
“I hope so because the entire world depends on us getting to the mountain.”
“You must avoid whichever Olympian is in the wilds close to the mountain at all costs, young ones. They are extremely dangerous.” Pan grips my arm. “Do you have everything you need for the journey?”
“I think so.” I rub my forehead. “Raven packed hiking and climbing gear. That’s why we weren’t sure we would run into your shop out here.”
“I will always be in the wild places where you need me. I can sense you all now.” Pan stares Kira down.
“What?” Kira asks.
“Her time is almost at an end for these adventures but yours have just begun. Just remember if you ever find yourself lost in the wilds, I can always find you and help you in your time of need.”
“Are you sure that you don’t have any kind of sight?” Kira folds her arms over her chest but she’s shaking.
A flash of red and orange lights up her eyes so quick I might have missed it if I blinked.
She’s going to shift soon, and I just pray it’s not at the worst possible time.
We need Kira the demigoddess to get into Hephaestus’ forge.
The fire wolf will be a complication we don’t know how to deal with. Except for maybe Greyson.
“Your wolf is fighting to get out, isn’t she?” Greyson whispers. “You can’t hold her back or it could cause problems once she does force a shift for the first time.”
Kira nods. “I can’t let her out yet. There’s too much at stake.”
“You grew up around shifters. You know the consequences if your wolf doesn’t trust you to let her roam freely.” Greyson leans back against the wall.
“Yes, I am aware, but I’m the only one who can go inside the forge and get the hammer. She just has to wait a little longer.”
Draven stiffens. “What consequences?”
“It’s nothing. I won’t let that happen, plus she hasn’t even been with me a day. I have time before she could possibly force a shift.” Kira turns away.
“No. I didn’t ask for bullshit that won’t happen answers. I need to know what could happen if you don’t let her out, Kira. Greyson sounds serious so tell me what I’m missing here.”
“She could…” Greyson trails off as Kira shoots him a glare. “You need to tell him the risks, Kira, because no matter how long it’s been since she surfaced, it’s a real possibility based on how powerful she is.”
“Fine. If a wolf doesn’t trust their human counterpart to allow them out when they need it, the wolf is likely to take over and refuse to shift back,” Kira mumbles.
“How long?” Draven says between clenched teeth.
“Until someone more dominant than her forces the change.” Greyson pushes off the wall. “And seeing how there are no other fire wolves, I doubt there will be a shifter alive who can.”
“Outside. Right the fuck now, Kira. If what he’s saying is true, she may never allow you to shift back if you don’t do it now.” Draven’s hands clench into fists. “I’m not losing you to your wolf.”
“We can’t do this now, Draven. What if she burns down the forest or something?” Kira’s shoulders slump.
“The forest will be fine, young one. I protect all the things in the wilds. You need to do this now or you could destroy everything. You have a destiny to fulfill that your wolf doesn’t care about.
She will let the world burn if you don’t show her the respect she deserves.
” Pan grips her arm and they both vanish from the shop.