AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Yes, you. You can hear me. What do these others call you?
I cleared my throat. “I am called Soren. That is my sister, Lexi.” I pointed at her, her face scrunched up in confusion. I realized she couldn't hear his voice. Ha! One more thing I had over her.
The beast studied her for a minute before turning back to me. You can talk to her like you talk to me, but she cannot hear me. Why?
I shrugged.
It studied me some more. You differ from her. You can—work—the elements. I didn’t know humans had that ability. Teach me how.
I worked the elements? I frowned, trying to figure out what it meant.
Lexi must have been listening to my thoughts as I had this conversation, and figured out why I was confused. She mumbled, “You are a witch. It can sense you can do magic, Soren.”
My eyes flew open. “Oh.”
She giggled. “I think you now have a familiar, bro.” She started laughing harder.
The beast cocked its head. What is a fam-il-ar?
I glared at my sister, exhaling. I spoke out loud, so the others were part of the conversation. “As my sister told you, I am a witch. Well, I'm learning to become one. I can manipulate the elements a bit, but I need to learn more. Earth and Air mostly, but I have picked up Fire while here. On my planet, some witches have familiars. Most times, they are animals which help the witch control her powers. In exchange, the witch feeds and shelters her familiar. They become family.”
It thought about that, while Grulp stood up, taking a step back to join the rest of us. He pulled his daughter with him.
I would like that. Family. And I can help you and travel with you. The lecanifer rose, shaking its whole body. Where are you going now?
I stared at the others and then shrugged, turning back to it. “We are looking for a place to wait until a friend of ours opens an energy gate to take us back to Earth. We—my sister and I—came here because time moved at a different speed. Faster than it does on our world. When we return, we will be closer in age to our mates.”
And… I think I just gave it something more to concentrate on. Before he questioned me further, I put up one hand, moving so that I now stood in front of it. “I would love to go into a deeper explanation, but can I first ask what we should call you?”
Thorenthacan. Or if you want, Renth.
“Everyone, meet Renth. He—” I turned back to the beast, raising one eyebrow. Yeah, he sounded male to me. He nodded, so I continued. “He wants to come with us. To go to Earth.”
Lexi shot me a wary gaze. “We have nothing like him on our planet, Soren. How can we take him with us?”
Spinning away from her, I started walking along the path we had been taking. The lecanifer followed behind me, close enough that I felt his breath on the back of my neck. And yes, it was that tall.
I thought about what my sister had asked as I walked. How could we, indeed?
Everyone else fell in, the indistinct sound of talking coming from the others behind me. All except Shanni, who had run up to walk beside the enormous creature, one hand grabbing onto its mane so she could keep up with us. Renth slowed his pace, careful to not step on the little girl.
Tamerin appeared next to me. “I take it you don’t have lecanifers on Earth?”
I shook my head, pushing a tree branch out of my face. “No.”
“How will you hide him, then?”
I glanced over at the older man. “If you have any suggestions, I am open to them. I don’t think I can convince Renth not to come. Sort-of like you.”
He nodded, ignoring my last statement. “And you can speak with him?”
I tapped my temple. “Just like I can with my sister. And my mate.” Well, fuck. There might come a time that too many voices would be trying to get my attention inside my brain.
I would have to worry about that later.
I can change what others think they see when they look at me. Renth interjected.
I glanced over my shoulder at him before turning around and halting.
