Chapter Eight #2
I’m shaking as Blackfire steps through the portal perfectly, not rolling in the snow like me, just perfectly steps through like a damn god walking this world.
He looks down at me, growls in annoyance at whatever he sees before he grabs my arm, picking me up to drag me through the snow.
The falling snow is pounding in every direction from the harsh wind, and I can barely see one step in front of the other until we step into a dome.
The snow stops battering against the sides of a dome of pure magic, the air shimmering like glittering water when the sunbeams sneaking through the clouds hit it.
Water magic. Whoever is doing this must be from the Maiden Pack.
They control water, after all, and snow is a version of that.
It’s still cold though, and I can’t stop shaking as Blackfire comes to a stop and lets me go.
I feel eyes on me, but I don’t look at anyone else.
I have already made two enemies, Blackfire and Orion, and honestly, I don’t need another one.
The tension is high as the wolves and I all stand in silence at what feels like the edge of the world.
Finally, the priest from the selection walks out into the centre of the dome.
He taps his cane on the snowy ground, and slowly, a stone pedestal rises out of the ground.
It’s a simple pedestal with a flat circular rock face, only the rock is marked red with old bloodstains.
Ew. I’m not touching that. It definitely has a virus on it.
The symbol of the triple goddesses is stark in the middle of the bloody rock, and it begins to glow gold.
“Welcome to this holy place and treasured land. It is said the goddesses first stepped onto this world here, and they made this pedestal to mark their arrival so time would not forget. When they first made the Folkland for the first royals, they changed this place to be the beginning of all leaders. They began here, and so did each of you. As I look around this group, I am looking at the three leaders who will walk out of the Folkland as heroes to our world and change our world for good.”
He doesn’t look at me. Fair enough.
“If you die, know that you have stood in a holy place. Very few are ever allowed to stand here and witness this. This holy land is protected by the goddesses’ magic, and they do not let anybody step here unless they are one of their chosen or blessed, as I am.”
Okay, I think he was looking at me that time. Does he actually believe that’s comforting?
“Your selected wards are already on the island and waiting for you. It is your job to hunt them down by scent and find them quickly before anyone else does. There will be dangers on the island that you should be aware of, creatures of old who have been exiled to the island for the safety of all wolfkind. It is important to watch your back not only for your fellow Folkland chosen but also for the ancient creatures that lurk in the forests. Scent hunting is taught to you as pups, and it should be easy for you.”
He purposely doesn’t look at me again. We both know my selected is doomed.
I’m tempted to raise my hand and ask whether we could both be given whistles to make it fair.
At least I can whistle to find her. But I don’t want to attract more attention to myself, so I stay quiet.
I have to figure it out as I go along. “If your selected dies, you will struggle in the trials, but the goddesses will be judging you, so I would suggest doing everything in your power to keep them alive and not dead.”
He babbles on about more things, and I grow bored of listening, moving my gaze around the dome.
Everyone has coats, thick ones, and I shiver harder.
I meet the eyes of one of the female wolves.
There are two, but this one, her eyes are kind as she meets mine.
Her dark skin is perfect, and her long hair is braided with blue waves and blue streaks in it.
She nods her head at me. I nod back. Maybe she might be an ally; women protect women, after all.
She probably will still kill me, but for now, I’m going to pretend she’s my friend in all of this.
I finally listen in to the priest again.
“The island will provide what is necessary for you to survive. Food, clothing, it will all be available to you as the goddesses see fit. If nothing appears, then the goddesses have decided you do not need it at this point. To walk the path is to walk in the belief that you have been guided to a higher cause. Now, come forward and leave a single drop of your blood on the stone, and you will be taken. The goddesses will separate you.” Blackfire tenses and glares down at me as I grin.
Finally, some good news. “To make sure it’s fair. ”
People move, but Blackfire steps forward, grabbing my arm, and his nasty growl is nothing short of a threat.
Everyone freezes, including me. “We are first.” His eyes look around the dome with a challenging glint of fire in the depths of his eyes.
When I don’t move, he swears under his breath and drags me with him towards the stone.
When we both stand in front of it, I smile up at him. “I’m going to hide from you, Blackfire. I hope we never see each other again.”
“I’ll find you first,” he snarls maliciously at me.
I shiver, the smile dropping from my lips.
I’m so dead. I don’t even see the dagger until he cuts it across my palm and, to my surprise, slides the dagger into the clip on my belt.
My eyes lock on his as he leans forward, whispering low in my ear just as he slams my hand onto the bloodstone and everything disappears into darkness.
His whisper haunts my mind. “I’ll find you, Hopeless.
There is nowhere in existence you could hide from me. ”