Chapter 9: Pursuit in Battlecona Wood

Chapter 9: Pursuit in Battlecona Wood

Anneliese POV

The midmorning sunlight made the dried brown leaves of the autumn trees look a little less withered while making the green Battlecona pine needles sparkle. Anneliese and Patch had stopped to rest and see to Cyran’s and Tulaska’s comfort.

“Why can’t we transport to Wildefell?” Patch asked. “I know you told me twice, but I'm confused. I mean, Jiro and Dane let us go without asking the councils’ permission, and you witches teleported after the battle–”

Anneliese adjusted the blanket that covered Cyran and Tulaska inside the cart she drove from Red Crescent City. Of course, they were driving Cyran and Tulaska in style, in a wagon that Kyon had painted red and black to match the Crimsontail colors. He’d even added a rendering of a shaded new moon on the front. Somehow, Jiro and Dane had horses waiting at the border to hitch the wagon to. 

She answered Patch patiently. “That was an emergency, and they’re probably even more paranoid now because of threats from Hades’ followers … we can’t transport without the proper shielding. The councils are as mellow as clouds compared to the witches in Wildefell.”

“My sympathies.”

She sipped water from a sparkling river. Ahhh. Clear and delicious. Patch glanced around the river scene, a little uncomfortable. 

Anneliese’s brows arched. “Something wrong?”

“Mixed.”

“Mixed?”

“Yes, like when you’re picking fruits and some of them are rotten. Well, this river was where Dane and Lilia got cozy the first time … and where Cyran’s rogues attacked them.”

Lilia had told her about the “getting cozy” part, and a blush spread on Anneliese’s cheeks, followed by a sick feeling in her stomach because Lilia had suffered through the attack. And Dane fought those men.

“That was when you first met Lilia, wasn’t it?” she asked. “She said you came on like an army. Those rogues never had a chance.”

Patch’s face lit up. “I’ll never forget the first time I laid eyes on her. Did I tell you that story?”

He had, or his brothers had, but she wanted to hear it again. “Tell me.”

“Are Cyran and Tulaska—”

“We gave them water and potions, and … ew … cleaned them up afterward. They’re fine.” Anneliese climbed back into the cart. “Tell me the story.”

As Patch talked, describing how Dirge surprised the criminals first and how he came in hot on Dirge’s heels, Anneliese smiled, thinking about the beautiful and heroic wolves coming to Lilia’s and Dane’s rescue. 

“ … Dane was in wolf form and we could feel him. His need to kill those guys. His fear for Lilia. We could smell her … I smelled magic.”

“You did NOT!”

“I can smell magic,” he said.

“What does it smell like? What do witches smell like? Do we smell differently?”

He leaned in, sniffing with intense concentration. “Some witches smell like the herbs they use. Some smell like the kind of magic they specialize in. Lilia and Ravyn smell like crystal dust.”

“Then wouldn’t I smell like that too?"

Secretly she felt pleased that Patch noticed this much about witches. She felt pleased and humbled. Why did she keep underestimating this sweet, funny, brave man with a talent for good trouble?

“Gold dust.”

“What?”

“That’s what you smell like. Gold dust,” he said. “Gold is precious, and so are you …”

Anneliese blushed to the roots of her hair. It wasn’t the first time he’d complimented her … just the first time she took the sweet words as more than just his natural charm. Because he blushed too, looking down, shy. 

Patch Cresta, shy?

“But Lilia doesn’t smell like gold dust?”

“No. Crystals. Excerpt if you’re Dane, and then it’s lavender and rainwater. Anyway, we smelled Lilia through these very woods … that’s the gift the Moon Goddess gives us.”

She chuckled softly. “And you never get colds.”

He wrinkled his nose and sneezed in an exaggerated way. Anneliese giggled. Was it her imagination, or did she hear laughter from the back of the sturdy lindenwood wagon? At least as long as their patients stayed cheerful, the Dark Goddess couldn’t get at them. Which was good, because right now, she thoroughly enjoyed Patch’s company. Truth be told, she’d been enjoying it these last several months. They’d just never had the opportunity to spend time together without everyone else around.

“You mentioned the shifter councils,” she said, hating herself for bringing up something to spoil the good mood. “They’re tense right now since the fight with the Dark Goddess a month ago and what happened yesterday. Jiro and Garnet and Dane and Lilia can smooth things over, can’t they?”

“Now what kind of a question is that? Of course. Dane got away with bringing Lilia back home. And I haven’t even gotten to the best part of my story yet, and look at this perfect autumn day. It’ll be winter soon and these woods will be cloaked in snow. Enjoy this drive while you can. Y’know, I think it’s for the best that we can’t just whoosh into Wildefell.”

She elbowed him playfully. “Then stop asking about it and tell me your story.”

As she listened to his bright sunshine voice, she mentally thanked Lilia, Dane, Garnet, and Jiro for trusting them with this mission.

Patch’s hand, the one not holding the reins, found hers and clasped it. Anneliese decided, watching the leaves drift and dance, that autumn was her favorite season.

* * * * *

Garnet POV

Head Councilman Nikko of the Evenhide Pack bellowed, “Why weren’t we briefed? Why are we only finding out now that one of our own got lured by the witches into HUMAN lands?”

Garnet couldn’t quite get used to the sight of Evenhide Council members and Crimsontail Council Members sharing the same space. It never happened before, and she should know. Constantly moving, her quill pen flicked back and forth, cataloging the historic event.

Short and stocky Crimsontail Head Councilwoman Valentina Vermello, who often joked she had to crane her neck to look up at a dwarf, stood up on her chair in solidarity with her Evenhide counterpart, while Councilman Scipio and Councilwoman Sinapu, Crimsontail and Evenhide, also rose, indignant and wanting answers. The council members from New Moon City had traveled to Red Crescent City as a show of support for the new Crimsontail leaders during the Alpha Gathering, and they intended to discuss an exchange of ambassadors.

Councilwoman Valentina stared at Garnet. “The last time a Crimsontail Alpha sent people into Wildefell, we risked getting cursed within an inch of our lives by the witches, which would have been mild if humans had seen Cyran’s rogues shifting. We should recall Patch and Anneliese at once. And if the witches want to heal Cyran and Tulaska that badly, they can come fetch them.”

Nearly twenty pairs of eyes glared at the leaders of their packs. Garnet bit back a curse. Of course. Why hadn’t she, of all people, realized that the council wouldn’t be happy with what looked like deception on Jiro’s and her part?

Proud and tall, Jiro stood and addressed the council. “I apologize, but this is the first time I’ve done anything this major–including expelling the traitors from the pack–without clearing it with you first. Time was not on our side, or we would have called an emergency session.”

Councilman Nikko poured a cup of fragrant coffee from the pot of coffee on the table. Sipping for a long moment, Nikko growled, “You still should have asked permission.”

Dane folded his arms. “Your energies would be better spent on stopping Hades’ followers. And frankly, none of you prevented Crimsontails from trying to take revenge while Cyran lay helpless in the Healing Wing, which is why we snuck Patch and Anneliese out of the city before dawn."

Garnet winced. An excellent and beloved leader, Dane tended to charge into the fire whereas Jiro got the lay of the land first, and then if he saw the need, went in full speed. 

The council members all glared at Dane, but he wasn’t finished. “And I resent you trying to tarnish Anneliese Chalice’s character. The witches put her in charge of Cyran’s and Tulaska’s healing, which speaks volumes about her.”

Lilia rested her hands on the table, leaning on it so she could look directly into Valentina’s and Nikko’s eyes. “She didn’t LURE Patch anywhere. She just received her orders from the Wildefell Witch Circle. Their council is just as nervous as you are. And if you snarl and snap at them, they’ll just dig in their heels … and none of you have ever crossed Edna Chalice. She’s a sweet woman until you insult her daughter.”

Roslynn Rossa shook her head and her medicine rattle at Valentina. “This isn’t the same as Cyran hiring rogues and endangering us all with his demented games in Wildefell. Alpha Jiro would never do something like that, and Alpha Dane would kill him if he tried. Besides, they don’t come much more heroic than Patch Cresta. Anneliese Chalice has worked herself into near-exhaustion trying to help no less than Tulaska Volkov as well as the man who harmed her best friend.”

Azandra, who had taken her seat on the council in Tulaska’s absence, folded her arms. “Do you have any more objections?”

No one on the council did. 

Valentina cleared her throat. “Would they do any good?”

Jiro shook his head. “This mission needs a Cresta at the helm. I don’t have to tell any of you how vital it is that we get whatever information Cyran has locked inside his mind.”

The members of both councils all nodded.

Dane raised his coffee cup triumphantly. “But just to set your mind at ease, we sent a volunteer along to make sure nothing goes wrong. And in Patch’s absence, Beta Kyon and Aunt Ilya will be handling Evenhide Pack intelligence operations.”

Kyon rolled his eyes. “Just don’t ask me to go on any stealth missions unless someone can hide me in an overgrown bush.”

* * * * *

Patch POV

SEVERAL DAYS LATER

CRUNCH!

A day’s journey from Wildefell, Anneliese jumped into a pile of fallen leaves with Patch beside her. Laughing and shrieking, they rolled around in nature’s glory. They tried to swim in the leaves. 

“You never did this?” she gasped.

“Long ago,” he said with a grin. “It’s fun when you’re a cub.” 

But with Anneliese pressed against him, and the cushiony warmth of her body, he felt aware that he was no longer a cub. His hand brushed against her soft breasts.

He became very still, because he’d never touched heaven before. But what if she took it wrong? He hadn’t meant to behave boldly.

“Moon Goddess, Anneliese … I didn’t mean to … I’m sorry.”

Her voice was soft and husky. “I know that.” 

Did she sound disappointed?

No time to investigate, because he smelled something. Something rotten. The sickening sweet odor of that drug they’d purged from Cyran.

His ears pricked up and he heard voices. Low, sinister voices.

“Nice of someone to leave these gifts unguarded in the woods. Hades will be pleased.”

“Praise be to the Dark Goddess, the source of all our magic.”

Patch squeezed Anneliese’s hand and whispered in her ear, “Can you show them what real magic looks like? Maybe with these leaves?”

A squeeze answered him … and then the whirlwind started. A dizzying spiral of leaves that danced and swirled, then flew everywhere. Leaves became as relentless as arrows, smacking Hades’ deluded followers.

“The cart, Annie! Run!”

She didn’t even stop to correct him, but sprinted to the cart, dragging him by the hand, and hauled him up. Stronger than she looked, his witch, and so feisty.

What a woman.

Patch shouted to the horses, who really didn’t need him to tell them to do what their natural intelligence said to do. The cart zipped through the woods, moving faster and faster, crashing through the trees, headed for Wildefell.