FOREVER KNIGHTS: #9 Feral Breed

Grier Tutelage, Meadowbrook, Grier Country

DERAGAN

Wolves, Deragan’s wolves, filled the open drive with shades of gray, black and white. Jumping through windows or launching against doors until metal bowed and gave. A wave of fur surrounded Nora’s carriage. Between them were men. Well-muscled and handsome. None of which she’d seen before. Staring ahead, they seemed to only see the stones of the tutelage. Moving as if floating, they said nothing. Failing to even acknowledge her presence. The backs of the wolves rippling like an ocean of muscle.

All was silent. Sound suspended. She drew a shaking breath. Her ears popped, and noise flooded in. Sounds of glass shattering and door locks cracking, the screams of her threatened horses as they rocked the carriage with their rearing, and rumbling thunder.

Nora looked up at a sky black with heavy clouds. Darkening it to nearly night.

When her gaze lowered back to the drive there was...nothing. An abandoned road. Still as if nothing had dared disturb it.

She drew a hissing breath.

Deragan followed her gaze to a commotion near one window. A cat-sized black blur was thrown from it. Eerily limp. A Noni.

Go Nora. He cast his voice into her mind.

Jerking in surprise she lifted shaking hands to flick the rein. Sending the equine lurching into motion. Rubbing her forehead, she guided the carriage back into reality. Shaking her befuddled head.

Deragan lowered his furred head and ruptured into full speed. Tailing the carriage down the winding dirt path.

“Fallen.” She murmured to herself.

What the creature had called her. Deragan had overheard that much.

A glimpse into Nora’s thoughts revealed her contemplating her two options.

Consider if she as crazy as her mother…Or consider it could all be real.

She’s not fond of either option.

Along one side of the road, was the familiar yellow field indicating she drew close. The road gave way to a stand of maples. Deragan rode the ridge parallel to the path, weaving through trees to keep her in view.

As she began to relax, her grip on the reins loosened. Focusing ahead she barely noticed movement next to her. Head whipping as she realized something ran the treeline.

She recognized it as the wolf. Keeping pace with her carriage. And the horses. Leaping a fallen trunk, its head jerked sideways. Glowing blue eyes meeting her gaze.

Unwittingly jerking the reins, Nora tried to correct the veering horses from the opposite edge of the road. Closing her eyes, she pulled the rein. Despite her efforts, the carriage careened sideways toward a thick trunk. Skinny wheels grinding as they clung to bare dirt. Weeds rattled under the boards as the vehicle careened toward the edge.

Everything became loud and slow. A sound like pouring water made her peel her eyes open.

A black circle formed around her. Like paint over a shining bubble. The carriage within slipped and jolted over the rough ridges of the embankment. Hearing the doors crushing and windows collapsing, she threw her arms up to block the impact.

But to her shock everything was soft. There was no impact. Retracting from around her, the black bubble dissipated into shining black pearls. Plopping to the wood planks and soaking into the wood.

Blinking at the reins still gripped in her hands, she verified the prancing horses were okay. Still staring stunned and neighing nervously.

Nora caught her breath. Unable to move until she could breathe again, she swiped hair from her face. Movement to her right caught her attention.

From the other side of the road just behind the carriage, there was a man still as a statue. Watching.