Page 14 of Beasts of Mine

“I won't hurt you,” the spirit promised, stopping several feet away.

“I feel like that sentence should be reassuring, but it really isn't,” I told the spirit, shifting my weight as I considered whether running would accomplish anything.

“You are very suspicious,” the spirit said, the edge of a smile appearing again.

“I found out magic exists about five minutes ago,” I reminded the spirit, gesturing toward the clearing around us. “I think I'm handling it pretty well.”

The spirit took another step.

“What are you doing?” I asked, watching the light brighten slightly in its palm.

“Giving you something,” the spirit answered, its expression becoming more serious.

“I don't need a reward,” I told the spirit, shaking my head as I held my ground.

“It isn't payment,” the spirit replied, lifting its hand.

“That somehow makes me more nervous,” I said to the spirit, my shoulders tightening when it came within arm's reach.

“Wait,” I blurted, raising one hand when the spirit reached toward my face. Two warm fingers touched the center of my forehead.

Sound rushed through me. My knees buckled before I understood what was happening, and I hit the damp ground hard enough to jar my palms when I caught myself.

I pressed both hands over my ears.

It didn't help.

Bird calls overlapped above me. Insects buzzed from every direction. Something scratched beneath tree bark. Wings beat overhead, while another animal moved through leaves somewhere beyond the clearing. Water shifted around the exposed roots beside the pool.

Every noise demanded my attention at once.

“Stop,” I gasped to the spirit, squeezing my eyes closed as panic tightened my breathing.

Then the sensation changed.

The sounds didn't disappear.

Instead of one overwhelming rush, I could distinguish them individually. A bird called somewhere to my left. Something small moved beneath the plants several feet behind me. A larger animal passed through the forest beyond the clearing, far enough away that I couldn't see it.

I slowly lowered my hands.

The spirit crouched nearby.

“What did you do to me?” I asked the spirit, breathing faster than I wanted as I tried to adjust to how sharp everything suddenly seemed.

“For a little while, you'll hear the forest in a way humans normally cannot,” the spirit explained, watching me carefully for any sign that I was still overwhelmed.

“What does that mean?” I asked the spirit, pushing one hand against the damp ground as I sat upright.

“You'll understand soon enough,” the spirit replied, a small knowing smile returning.

“That isn't an explanation,” I told the spirit, irritation finally finding room beside the confusion.

“It wasn't meant to be,” the spirit answered, appearing entirely unbothered by my frustration.

“You're being vague on purpose,” I accused the spirit, narrowing my eyes as I realized exactly what it was doing.

“Perhaps,” the spirit admitted, its smile becoming just a little more obvious.