Cold Blooded by Duron Crejaro (top non fiction books of all time .txt) 📕

Wylder, or complicated, as I would put it, Tarin voiced logic that they would slow us down in the Old World. So with reluctance, they agreed to stay behind. All that decided, we parted ways for the night, agreeing we would leave at first light. Chapter 3: Badlands of the Old World

We left in the morning. The sun just started waking, climbing, it still hung below the horizon. The pink orange glow of light signified the beginning of its ascent. We packed little. Our Wylder forms required nothing. We would live off the land with ease; hunt when hungry, sleep when tired. I relished the idea of travel. I grew up in Nashboro, and desired to see more of the world beyond.

 

We traveled much of the day. We stopped twice to rest, and eat a small meal to keep our energy up. What little we did bring, Binala carried in a large pack, slung over her massive frame. Any other time, I would’ve laughed at the sight of a huge bear wearing a backpack.

 

By noon we passed the spot Rees’ trail went cold. A cold barren hilltop overlooked the area, and I gazed down over it while we waited for Binala to catch up. An eerie vibe echoed up from the valley. I perched, overlooking the area. A whisper in the wind, then it disappeared.

 

The snow started melting after noon. The slushy mess worked its way in-between my paws before melting. We thudded along the countryside. Most of the land southwest of Springwell consisted of overgrown farmlands interspaced with patches of light forest. Depressed, that’s how the land looked. Locked in the grip of winter, the trees bare of greenery. Twisted brown grasses, weighed flat under the snow cover. Ivy hung limp and lifeless from trees. It carried a despairing beauty to it all; the hibernation of life as it waited for spring.

 

As evening approached, we entered an enormous expanse of dense forest. We navigated the thick woods as best we could, but were slowed by Binala’s massive size. As the sun stooped lower and lower towards the horizon, the angled light started casting odd shadows through the trees. Small shadows danced in fickle patterns around us.

 

“Maybe we should stop for the night?” Gloria said.

 

I shifted to normal and leaned against a tree, “Gloria’s right, it’s getting late, we should probably stop for the night. I’m hungry anyway.”

 

Tarin circled back, returned to his normal form as well, “You’re always hungry.” He teased.

 

I rolled my eyes at him, “This place looks as good as any. Besides, Binala looks like she could use a break.”

 

“I’m fine.” A gruff raspy voice thundered from somewhere in the trees. Her dark fur camouflaged her well in the fading light. She crashed through the trees, and made a lot of noise as she broke and crushed brush.

 

“Look, I know you want to find Rees, but running yourself into the ground isn’t going to get us there any faster. We need a good nights rest, and some dinner. Which I will be happy to go hunt down.” I said.

 

Binala crashed to the ground, didn’t bother to shift back to normal or protest further. She grumbled at no one as she slid the pack from her shoulders, and let it hit the ground with a resounding thud. She then moved to a nearby tree and started using the tree as an oversized back scratcher.

 

“I’ll get a fire going. Unless you two want me to go hunting?” Gloria said.

 

“No I think Tarin and I can handle it. Two cats on the prowl.” I said.

 

Tarin groaned, and I grinned. I knew how much it infuriated him to be compared to a house cat. I walked off into the woods; Tarin would of course follow me. Together we headed into the deep shadows of the woods in search of food, leaving Gloria and Binala behind to setup our makeshift camp.

 

We shifted as we moved through the dense forest. Our superior senses picked up the trail of a deer. I relished in the smell, letting it waft through me. I salivated, the human side of my brain recoiled, but I pushed it aside. Behind me, Tarin stalked in unison of body and mind that excited me. Step for step he followed, our padded feet silent on the snow packed ground.

 

Before long, a large white-tailed doe came into view. Its head buried in thick brush, foraging for meal. I started forward, inch-by-inch, and used what trees and shrubs I could for cover. I never looked back; Tarin circled our prey from the other side. Once I found a good covered position I waited, ready to pounce. The call came from the opposite side of the doe. It’s head jerked to the sound, startled. It turned to run, my legs twitched in anticipation, muscles vibrated, tense as a spring, ready to fire off.

 

It never moved. It grew calm again, settled its head back into the shrubbery and continued eating. A noise echoed around me, loud, booming. It startled me from my confusion and I turned, ready to face whatever came crashing through the woods at us.

 

“What the hell are you doing in my woods?” A voice thundered.

 

I cowered for a moment as it appeared. A huge man, the largest I’d ever seen broke through the growth into view. His stature surprised me, very few people were bigger than Binala, and this man stood a good foot taller than her. My eyes easily pierced the darkness. He looked naked, until I realized his entire body was covered in a fine thin layer of fur. I gazed up from my crouched position and shrank back further, he bore massive stag horns, fourteen points in all.

Chapter 4: Stag Wood

Fight or flight kicked in. Should I run or go for the throat? My mind jumped back to the blood already on my hands. Mrs. Davenport’s lifeless eyes stared at me. Blood trickled from my fingertips. No, not again. Not if I could help it. I slid to my human form, and wagered that discourse was the better answer.

 

“Who are you?”

 

“I think the intruder should identify herself first don’t you.” He said

 

“I’m Eliza Blayne.”

 

“Well Eliza, I’m Horace. Now, I ask you again. What are you doing in my forest?”

 

“We didn’t know these woods were claimed. We were just hungry.”

 

His expression softened, “That I can understand. We all hunger, but what is it that you hunger for?”

 

I arched an eyebrow; the question took me by surprise. What did I hunger for? I glanced in Tarin’s direction without thinking. Then back in the direction of our camp, I feared for them as well. Then my gaze went to the darkness, Rees jumped unbidden to my mind. That’s why I came, for him. I shook my head, and refused to put words to my conflicted thoughts.

 

“Dinner.” I said and licked my lips. My gaze went unbidden back to the doe, which stood nearby ignoring us all.

 

“I think dinner can be arranged. I assume that those two beasts are your friends as well?”

 

“Binala and Gloria? Yeah they’re with us.”

 

“The large one, the bear. She is quite noisy, tromping through my woods.”

 

“Sorry about that.” I said.

 

He shrugged, “Let’s go then, and tell your boyfriend to come along.”

 

Tarin slipped from the shadows. He was still in his leopard form. I figured he was waiting to spring into action, if things had looked ugly for me. I smiled; he always looked out for me, even when I didn’t ask. Together, the three of us walked back to our makeshift camp. Gloria stacked wood near a roaring fire. Binala sat nearby, absorbed in the flickering flames until she heard us. She looked up, a wave of disappointment crossed her face at the lack of food; then perked up when she noticed we had extra company. That’s Binala for you, always suspicious. No wonder her and Rees hit it off so well. She started to get to her feet, ready for action, but stopped when I shook my head. No need to get our guest riled up.

 

“Where is dinner?” Gloria looked disappointed.

 

“We ran into some difficulties.” I motioned to our guest.

 

“Greetings, I’m Horace.”

 

They looked shaken by his odd stag head. I found it comical, Wylder being weirded out by another Wylder. I moved to the fire and started warming myself. This late January weather was terrible without the warm fur of my Leopard form. My shadow flickered against the darkened woods.

 

“Horace, this is Binala and Gloria.”

 

He bowed, “A pleasure. I hear ya’ll are in need of dinner.” He pulled a small horn from his side and blew into it. The sound echoed through the forest. He put it away before he settled himself on a log.

 

Alarms went off in my head, had he summoned help? Were we in danger? I hoped not. A few minutes later, the brush stirred, and several creatures emerged from the darkness. At first, I assumed they were Wylder, but changed my mind. They were simple creatures, natures own, somehow bidden to do Horace’s will. They brought with them delectable fruits, gathered from places unknown within the wood, and laid it all at the feet of their master. As soon as they dropped their cargo, they scurried off back into the darkness.

 

“Why does the wildlife obey you?” Binala asked.

 

He shrugged, “I have a special relationship with this forest and those that live within. That’s how I knew ya’ll were here, my friends told me. Not that I needed it, your friend Binala was making enough noise to alert everything within fifty miles of ya’ll.”

 

We passed out the fruit, and started eating. I would have preferred meat, but nature’s bounty filled our bellies. I was surprised at the variety of food considering the time of year, but decided not to ask.

 

“I’m sure ya’ll have plenty of questions, but for now, eat and rest. Tomorrow I will return and we can discuss things. I have other matters to attend to this evening that aren’t as pleasant as ya’ll.” Horace said.

 

He stood and stretched. His form melted before us, and was replaced by an enormous white stag. I could’ve sworn he smiled at us, before he zipped off into the woods.

 

“Does anyone else think Horace seems a bit off?” Tarin asked.

 

Gloria laughed, “Yeah, but then again, what do you expect? We are out here roaming the countryside in wild territory unknown even to us. You should probably be glad that he is the weirdest thing we’ve run into.”

 

I stared at the fire, and my thoughts turned to Aeolia’s