AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Ease up. It’s been centuries since I’ve been around one,” complained Canis.
“You’re sup…sup…. Wolves! You’re supposed to be wolves!” I slurred as I desperately tried to focus.
Grimm rose to his full height, towering over me as he placed his hands on my shoulders to steady my swaying frame.
“You! You!” I accused as I pounded the tip of my finger into his chest. “You’re the one who hurt me…who made me…made me…feel…feel those things.”
Everything tilted and pitched as Grimm swung me up into his arms. Another of the men approached me and pried the wine bottle from my grasp.
“Don’t think you will be needing this anymore.”
A protest died on my lips as the warm strength of Grimm’s arms seeped into my bones. Without thought, I rested my head against his shoulder as he carried me deeper into the cave. Lowering me to the ground, he once more placed me on a bed of furs. Softness caressed my cheek as I snuggled in deeper. I felt a hand pet my hair.
“Sleep, little one. I fear tomorrow will not be any easier for you.”
I closed my eyes and let the sweet oblivion of sleep carry me away.
“She stinks.”
“Helm.”
“What? She reeks of the humans.”
“We are still human.”
“My brother. I accepted my fate long ago. You should do the same. We are cursed to roam this Earth as wolves, and wolves we will stay.”
“I am not resolved. There must be some reason why this lass has been sent to us. Some explanation as to why she can see our true form.”
“While you ponder the mysteries of the fates, I am taking the lass to the hot springs. She stinks.”
As I listened to their hushed conversation, I couldn’t help but lift the collar of my tattered gown up and inhale. True, I smelled a bit like stale wine, but I would hardly say I stunk, I thought indignantly.
“Lass. It is time to arise.”
“My name is Red,” I grumbled.
“Your name is whatever I call you. Now arise and serve us.”
Leaving the comforting warmth of my fur cocoon, I wrapped my red cloak more firmly about me and followed the disgruntled man-wolf out of the cave. As the night before, the fire still burned brightly in the hazy morning light. The rest of the men were crouched around its welcoming flames.
The one who woke me gestured to a large copper pot nestled above the fire. “Serve.”
Casting him a peevish look, I knelt down before the makeshift hearth. There was a stack of wooden bowls and carved spoons on a straw mat. Giving the porridge in the pot a stir, I began to slowly ladle out portions into the bowls. My mouth watered as the sweet, nutty scent of the cooked oats wafted over me. Handing each man a bowl, I took my own portion and settled close to the fire but slightly away from the intimidating men. Scooping a steaming bite onto my spoon, I stopped just as I raised it to my mouth, startled to see all five men digging into the hot porridge with their bare hands. Once again they were grunting in pleasure as they had done with the cakes the night before.
Noticing my regard, one of them stopped and elbowed the one next to him who nudged the one next to him and so forth. Each man slowly stopped eating. All that could be heard was the crackling of the fire and the morning birdsong from the trees.
With a sigh, Grimm leaned forward and picked up a spoon. Casting a meaningful glance at the others, they did the same. Then all eyes turned to me. Slowly, I lifted the spoon and sampled the porridge, watching as they awkwardly mimicked my actions. There was a strange, companionable silence as we all broke our fast.
Grimm spoke first. “You are here as the blood moon sacrifice from your village. Do you understand that?”
I nodded.
“You are payment for our protection and, as such, will bend to our will and serve us in any manner we demand. If you do not, the innocent lives of those in your village will suffer.”
Again, I could only nod.
“I am Grimm. This is Helm, Beo, Canis and Rood.”
During the chaos and fear of the night before, they had all seemed as one to me, brother beasts, with glowing amber eyes. Now, in the morning light, I could see the subtle differences.
Grimm was the oldest and the clear leader of the pack. He was tall with ink-black hair tinged with silver and had a forthright manner.
Helm was the brawniest of the five and by far the angriest. His massive chest was covered in thick swirls of chestnut hair. He seemed the most beast-like.
Rood had yet to speak. He was tall and sinewy. His hair was a light brown which only emphasized the amber of his eyes.
