6. Goldie
SIX
As I stumbledbackward in the dimly lit alley, the chaos of the struggle echoing around me, a weak voice called out from the shadows. ”Touch him.”
I froze, my heart pounding as I scanned the darkness for the source of the voice. ”Who”s there?” I asked, my voice trembling.
”It”s me,” the voice replied, barely audible over the sounds of the fight. ”Just touch him. You”re his mate. You can stop him.”
Confusion and fear churned in my stomach. How could I possibly stop Fenris in the midst of a fight? And who was this mysterious voice, claiming to know about our connection?
”I don”t understand,” I said, my voice shaking. ”How do I do that? And who are you?”
There was a moment of silence, broken only by the sounds of Fenris” growls and the man”s cries of pain. Then, the voice spoke again, weaker this time but filled with urgency. ”Just trust me. Touch him. You”ll know what to do.”
I glanced back at the ongoing struggle, torn between the desire to help Fenris and the uncertainty of what was being asked of me. But as the sounds of the fight grew louder, the urgency of the situation became clear.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, my hand reaching out into the darkness. ”Fenris,” I called out, my voice trembling. ”I”m here. Just...just hold on.”
And then, my fingers brushed against his fur, the rough texture sending a jolt of electricity through me. In that moment, everything seemed to slow down, the chaos of the fight fading into the background. ”Fenris,” I whispered, my voice barely above a whisper. ”It”s me. Goldie.”
And then, something shifted. Fenris” growls softened, his form beginning to relax as my touch seemed to calm him. It was as if a wave of tranquility washed over us, drowning out the violence of the alley.
I watched in awe as Fenris” transformation slowed, his snarls fading into whimpers. And as he finally regained control, he turned to me, his eyes filled with gratitude and relief. ”Goldie,” he murmured, his voice hoarse with emotion. ”Thank you.”
I felt a surge of warmth in my chest, knowing that I had been able to help him in his time of need. But as the adrenaline of the moment began to fade, I couldn”t shake the feeling of unease about the mysterious voice in the darkness.
”Who are you?” I called out, my voice echoing off the walls of the alley.
I noticed a faint rustling coming from a nearby cage. Cautiously, I approached, the tiny chipmunk-like creature inside catching my attention. Its eyes were wide with fear, and its small form trembled as it pressed itself against the bars of the cage. With gentle hands, I reached for the latch, my heart aching at the sight of the frightened creature. ”It”s okay,” I murmured, my voice soft and reassuring. ”I”m not going to hurt you.”
As I released the latch, the cage door swung open, and the creature hesitated for a moment before cautiously emerging. It scurried forward, its movements hesitant as it approached me.
I crouched down, meeting its gaze with a gentle smile. ”There, see? You”re free now.”
To my surprise, the creature didn”t run away. Instead, it tentatively reached out a tiny paw, its expression filled with curiosity and hope.
I held my breath as it climbed onto my outstretched hand, its small form trembling against my skin. And then, in a sudden burst of movement, it leaped forward, wrapping its tiny arms around my neck in a tight hug.
I couldn”t help but laugh, the warmth of the creature”s embrace filling me with a sense of joy and wonder. ”Well, hello there,” I said, my voice filled with affection. ”It”s nice to meet you too.”
But as the creature nuzzled against my cheek, I noticed something glinting around its neck. A collar, small and delicate, but unmistakably there, glinting with a magical gem lock.
My heart sank as I realized what it meant. This creature had been trapped, enslaved by someone who sought to control it. Anger burned within me at the injustice of it all, but I pushed it aside, focusing instead on the task at hand.
Gently, I reached for the collar, my fingers trembling as I worked to unfasten it. The creature watched me with wide eyes, its expression a mix of fear and hope.
And then, with a soft click, the collar fell away, landing with a muted thud on the ground below. The creature let out a sigh of relief, its small form relaxing against me. ”Thank you,” it whispered, its voice barely above a whisper. ”Thank you for setting me free.”
I smiled, feeling a sense of satisfaction at having helped this tiny creature regain its freedom. ”You”re welcome,” I said, my voice filled with warmth. ”Now, what”s your name?”
The creature hesitated for a moment before responding, its voice soft but filled with determination. ”I am called Tumble,” it said. ”And I owe you my life.”
I reached out, gently stroking its fur. ”Well, Tumble, it”s nice to meet you,” I said, my voice filled with sincerity. ”And don”t worry, you”re safe now. We”ll take care of you.”
Tumble let out a contented sigh, its eyes closing in bliss.
I glanced up at Fenris, then back down to Tumble nestled in the crook of my neck, feeling the warmth of its tiny body against mine. ”How did you know I”m his mate?” I asked quietly, directing my question to the magical creature.
Tumble shifted slightly, its small eyes meeting mine with a knowing glint. ”I smelled it,” it replied simply, its voice soft but filled with certainty.
I blinked in surprise, taken aback by the creature”s straightforward answer. ”You smelled it?” I repeated, incredulous.
Tumble nodded, its tiny form trembling slightly against me. ”Yes,” it said. ”There are scents, subtle ones, that reveal the truth to those who know how to listen.”
I felt a shiver run down my spine at Tumble”s words, the implications sinking in. So this tiny creature had sensed our connection through some mysterious scent, something beyond my comprehension. It was both unsettling and intriguing, the idea that there were forces at work beyond my understanding.
”What are you?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, filled with wonder and curiosity.
Tumble looked up at me, a mischievous twinkle in its tiny eyes, and then it simply smiled, a knowing expression that seemed to hold secrets beyond my comprehension. Without saying a word, it nestled back into the crook of my neck, its small form relaxing against me. I watched in awe as Tumble closed its eyes, its tiny chest rising and falling with the rhythm of its soft snores. It seemed content to keep its mysteries to itself, leaving me with more questions than answers.
With a small smile of my own, I gently stroked Tumble”s fur. Whatever Tumble was, whatever secrets it held, it had brought a moment of comfort and companionship when I least expected it.
Tumble”s soft snores filling the air, I couldn”t help but feel a sense of gratitude for this unexpected ally.
I felt Fenris” warm breath tickle my ear as he murmured softly, ”We should keep moving.”
His words sent a thrill of excitement coursing through me, and I nearly dropped the basket in my hands as a shiver ran down my spine. His proximity, his voice so close to me, it all sent a rush of tingles through my body that I couldn”t ignore.
With a quick nod, I tried to steady my trembling hands, the weight of the basket suddenly feeling heavier than before. ”Right,” I replied, my voice slightly breathless. ”Let”s go.”