Page 24 of Full Moon
I look at the others, and we all shake our heads. "Not a word."
"Not even a growl." Torben says before Feray looks back at us, then toward the cavern she had inadvertently opened ahead of time.
"Let's eat before we continue. I'm not sure what's on the other side. My gut tells me the minute the cavern opens on the other side, I'll be attacked."
Her voice is hollow as she grabs hold of Torben and Khal, leading them back to the packs.
Diaval tilts his head in the opposite direction of the others. We walk for several moments, our steps crunching softly. I make sure to keep Feray and the others within my line of sight, sensing Diaval's tension as he turns to watch them eat. "I have several concerns," he says, his voice low.
"Like what?" I move to stand shoulder to shoulder with him as we vigilantly watch Feray and the others.
"It's not nighttime, and she opened the cavern without any instruction. Her instincts guided her."
"The moon should have done it for her. She reminds me of her ancestor, Jora. From what I remember, she was one of the most powerful Lunas until now." I stuff my hands into my jacket pockets.
"Jora was a powerful Luna, but she didn't have anything to fight for. Her mate was abusive and restrained her gifts with a mage's cage." Diaval growls deep in his chest. "Unfortunately, it is against the accords to interfere in the matters of mates."
Shaking my head, I look back at Feray. "It seems other than Clarion, all the females were used strictly for breeding and nothing else." The bitterness in my voice surprises even me. "It's the difference that being true mates makes versus an arranged loveless marriage."
"Dragon flights are no better. Neither are the nests of the basilisks. Bears have the highest success rate for finding their mates." Diaval watches Torben and Khal offering Feray more food.
"Wolves, oddly enough, have a lower success rate for whatever reason. It doesn't make any sense why. They have the numbers." I toss the thought out there.
"Do you think it's because the wolves are becoming too closely related? That the diversity is lacking?" Diaval strokes his chin.
"It's highly probable. Especially the northern packs. They've been cut off for the last forty years. How Feray's parents escaped is a mystery." My eyes drift toward the open cavern.
"If Lyra was anything like her daughter, it wouldn't shock me if she ripped the ice open to escape." Diaval turns his gaze to the darkening sky. "She was willing to die rather than be forced into an arranged marriage. As much as I don't agree with suicide, it takes a certain strength to maintain one's autonomy." Diaval speaks from a place of personal experience. Leaving his flight and the protection of the nest took a great deal of courage. I can see the pain flicker in his eyes.
"We should join the others and eat before we enter the cavern," I suggest, more for Diaval's benefit than my own. His shift demands more fuel to maintain its core temperature.
"I'm more worried about Feray eating than me." He sighs, signaling for me to lead the way.
"This is her natural environment. You, my friend, need it in case you have to shift." I pat his shoulder and give him a gentle push forward.
As we approach, Feray's keen senses alert her to our presence. She grabs a chunk of meat and rushes over to Diaval. "You need to eat more." Her voice blends concern and command. She waves the hunk of raw meat in his face.
"My eternal, in this form, I eat my meat mostly cooked. But thank you for thinking of me." Diaval bends down and kisses her gently.
I take the hunk of meat from Feray. Removing my gloves, I cup the meat in my bare hands and summon my flames, feeling the familiar heat surge through my veins. The mouthwatering scent of roasting lamb fills the air. Once it's cooked enough, I open my hands and offer the meat to Diaval. "No excuse now, old man..." I chuckle and walk away as he takes the meat.
"Old man? You're older than I am." Diaval protests.
"That's true, but you act like you're thrice my age." I retort with a wink, bending down to scoop a handful of snow to clean my hands. As everyone finishes their meal, a heavy sense of anticipation settles over us. The time to depart is near.
The northern territories await—a land I haven't seen since before the last wars. I can't help but wonder how much has changed, what new landscapes and dangers lie ahead. The thought fills me with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. The kind that only comes with venturing into the unknown.
And with Feray leading us, I know one thing for certain.
Whatever lies on the other side of that ice, we'll face it together.
