I make my way slowly towards the truck. Even though I just woke up, I’m exhausted. I lean against the truck when I reach it and look up at the sky. A rumble of thunder echoes across the clearing and the drizzle turns to rain. I should get into the truck but I don’t. I’ll be cooped up in a bus before long and this is the last time I’ll stand in this familiar place.
I smile and look around the clearing. My gaze traces the familiar shape of Maud’s hut against the gray sky and I take in the trees I know so well one last time. For so long this place was the only home I had. I’ll never forget it, no matter how long I live. I settle against the truck and enjoy the quiet of the morning. The quiet doesn’t last long though, before a shriek pierces the air and sends a flock of birds up from the trees. A second later, Bella comes charging out of the hut. The white puffer she’s wearing is smeared with black. She’s flailing like she’s fighting an invisible enemy and it’s only when she stomps her foot and screams, “Keiran!” that I realize she’s not fighting a phantom, just pitching a fit. It looks like she’s wearing a chimney’s worth of soot and I have to clap a hand over my mouth to muffle my laugh. Keiran comes tearing out of Maud’s hut and goes right to Bella, who screams again.
“Do something to her! NOW!”
I swear to Luna I’ve never heard a more terrifying screech than the howl Bella just let loose. I almost clap my hands over my ears to get away from the high-pitched sound. Another clutch of birds flies away too and I know they haven’t witnessedanything like this before either. I’m pretty sure her screaming has emptied the area of all wildlife.
Keiran answers but his voice is muffled and I bite my lip. What if Bella gets Maud thrown out over her stupid jacket? I start to worry and walk towards the hut but that’s when Maud sails out and slams the door behind her with a solid thud. She strides past Keiran and a still yelling Bella without a second look and jangles the keys in her hand at me.
“Let’s get a move on, sweet girl! Your freedom awaits!”
I open and close my mouth but don’t say anything until she’s close. “Maud, stop it,” I whisper-scream. “What are you doing? What if she gets you banished?”
Maud lifts a shoulder in a shrug. “Well then, I guess I’ll just have to come find you, won’t I? We’d be terrible together, don’t you think?” she asks, getting into the truck. “Get in, you’re soaked!”
I climb into the truck and sigh. “What did you do?”
“Just had a little accident with the ashes is all. My clumsy hands in my old age are just the worst. Such a shame about her nice jacket.”
“That was not incense ash. From the looks of it, you dumped the hearth on her.”
“I will admit that I might have scooped up some ashes from last night before I got started in a fit of creative flair when I was blessing them. If a fistful of soot got dumped with the incense smoke, who can say?”
I clap my hands over my face and double over. “Maudddddd! No.”
“What? She deserved it, flashing that gods awful ring around. A wolf like her is all bark and no bite. She won’t touch me.” Maud turns the key and cranks the truck to life. “Now, forget all about them and her. You’re onto bigger and better things, Cordelia.”
I don’t fight her on that because she’s right. I am. I have to be. I lean against the door and look out the window as Maud drives. I watch as Keiran and Bella fade from sight. I watch as the trees I know start to change and Frostclaw Village comes into sight.
“What kind of bigger and better things?” I ask as we drive into the village. Alpha Ashford is in the square with a crew. They’re clearing away the bonfire from last night but when Maud’s truck comes into view he stops working to look our way. I sink down in my seat when his eyes land on me. We drive past Alpha Ashford as I duck my head. I hold my breath until we drive past. When I look into the rearview mirror I see him still watching us. He doesn’t stop until we’re out of sight.
“Anything that isn’t touched by Frostclaw and its Alpha,” Maud tells me. “I’m talking about those bigger and better things, Cordelia.”
I pray she’s right. I don’t think I could take more of a place like Frostclaw.
Chapter
Eleven
CORDELIA
“Do you have the map?” Maud asks me. We’re standing at the bus station. I’ve just bought my one way ticket as far as the line goes, which is the Oak Fast bus station. I’m very lucky with the route. It’ll almost take me straight to Bloodstone Territory. It won’t be much of a hike from there from the looks of it.
I hold up my newly purchased map to appease Maud. “Right here.”
Maud nods approvingly. “Keep that ticket close to you. Don’t talk to humans. When they let you off at rest stops do not be late, you hear? They will leave you there.”
“I won’t be late. I swear.”
“If you get into trouble in Oak Fast, remember to ask around for Jazzy right away.”
I don’t ask how Jazzy will find me. If she’s Maud’s sister she’ll have her ways of finding me.
“I will.”
Maud opens her mouth like she wants to say more but she doesn’t, she just steps in close and hugs me tight. “I love you,”she says simply and my eyes fill with tears. I blink them back but it's no use. I cry as we hug.
“I love you too,” I whisper through my tears.
