Chapter Seven
Kadewasdifferentinthewolfkingdom.Notcompletelydifferent,ofcourse,butitstruckFlorianhowmoreopenheseemedaroundtheotherwolfshifters.Florianheardhimspeakmoreoftenthaneverbefore.Hewaslessstandoffish,morewarm—atfirst,FlorianhadthoughtitwasasideofKadethatonlyhehadseen,butheguesseditwasn’tquitesorareafterall.Maybehehadbeenwrong:Kadewasn’tstoicorserious,justshy.Itwassomehowevenmoreendearing.
He was starting to get a better understanding of the dynamic between Kade and his siblings as well. While Kade was a doting older brother to Amka and especially Yuka, catching up or playing games with them whenever they had free time, his connection to Bowen was harder to pin down. Bowen would flit in and out of their interactions—every time he did, Florian thought, it seemed he was either coming back from the woods, or about to go into them. No one else seemed perturbed by it, so he decided Bowen was simply more of an introvert than he seemed and didn’t think too much on it.
They would visit cousins, or aunts and uncles, often as well. Florian usually sat quietly as Kade caught up with the local gossip and shared his own stories of the past year. He smiled and laughed often, and Florian thought that he seemed well-loved by everyone, which made his heart flutter with happiness. He had only known Kade so far as an outsider, a visitor to the Winter Court; but here he was one of many cousins, a beloved nephew, and a member of a close-knit community.
It felt like a real home, Florian thought, as he watched Kade showing Yuka and Amka how to use a practice sword their last evening before setting out. Maybe they could come back for a little while after they had the Arrow... That would be nice.
But all too soon, their break was over. The morning they were to set out into the Blight once more, Florian barely slept, and his stomach was a churning mess of nerves. Every time he closed his eyes, his mind wandered back to their last fatal trip into the Blight, the gruesome sound of his father being attacked, the blood, and his rattling, labored final breaths—
And if he lingered on it too much, he started feeling that strange distant sensation again: the way he had at his coronation, the moment his memories ended. The easy way his brain had seemed to simply turn off frightened him, and he shook himself awake every time the feeling, or anything like it, started to creep along the edge of his temples.
Needless to say, he slept very little, which only made him feel more anxious about the journey. Kade seemed much less perturbed, packing up their things as casually as if they were heading out on a mundane day trip.
“Nervous?” he asked, looking up at Florian.
“Yeah,” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. Kade straightened, eyeing him with an expression Florian couldn’t quite place.
“Me too,” he finally sighed, glancing away. “It’ll be okay, though. I’ll keep you safe. Promise.”
Florian managed a smile. “I know.”
Kade’s family gathered at the front door to see them off. Florian had almost expected Bowen not to be with the rest, considering how fleeting his appearances were; but now he stood with the rest of their family, and to Florian’s surprise he was the first to move forward and hug Kade, one arm wrapping around his shoulders.
“Be safe out there,” Bowen said, and Kade nodded.
“Kade,” Yuka exclaimed, as Bowen stepped away. “You’ve gotta be really careful, okay? And tell me about the monsters you see. You have to tell me if you find a really gross one.”
“Yeah, I will,” Kade laughed, grinning at him and leaning down to pull him into a hug. Amka hovered nervously next to Yuka, grabbing at Kade as soon as his arms were free again. “I’ll be alright, Amka.”
“Just be careful,” she said, glancing over at Florian. Her hair was in a braid again, and she was smoothing her hands along the length of it over and over as Kade released her. “You too, Florian.”
Florian managed a smile, though it didn’t seem to ease her obvious anxiety.
“We will,” he answered.
“All this nonsense,” Meriwa muttered, fussing with the bag straps slung around Kade’s shoulders. “You should stay home where you’re safe.” Kade managed a wry smile.
“Don’t listen to her,” Kallik said, glancing between him and Florian. “You’re both doing us all a service. Safe travels to both of you.”
“We should be back within three days or so,” Kade said, patting his mother’s shoulder, though he looked at Kallik as he said it. “You can worry about us then. But we’ll be back soon.”
With a few more goodbyes, Kade and Florian set out. Kade led them through the main street and out into the woods. Florian held the map, but Kade was the one who knew where the edge of the wolf kingdom ended and the Nova Blight began. It was as cold as ever, and they were bundled in their heavy coats. It was strange to think that it was so much hotter in the Blight, and that their winter gear would have to be left behind.
When they were truly alone in the forest, Florian reached out with one hand to lace their fingers together. A soft smile spread across Kade’s lips, and he squeezed Florian’s hand reassuringly.
“Thanks for putting up with everyone for so long,” he said, glancing down at Florian who laughed.
“You don’t have to thank me,” he said. “It was... nice. I liked it here.” He paused, then added, “You seemed to like it too.”
“Of course I like it. It’s home.”
“Yeah, but you were different. More relaxed.”
Kade raised a quizzical eyebrow at him. “It’s home,” he repeated.
“I guess I just thought you were so quiet with everyone,” Florian said, shrugging. “But I guess you’re just shy.”
