Bloodlines

Mina trotted quietly through the outermost region of the Forest of Canaan. The clan had sent her out to discover whether there was any worthwhile game in the area. Their normal hunting territory had recently been confiscated by the P.O.D. Alliance. The joint armies of the pixies, ogres and dwarves had terribly outnumbered her people, forcing them to give up the land they had lived on for thousands of years.

For now Mina thought bitterly. Someday my people will regain our ancestral home and those murderous harpies will pay for all they have done. At least the centaur village itself was still intact and hidden from prying eyes. The elders who had built the village had done so in a hidden valley, and only centaurs knew where the entrance was. Of course everyone knew it existed, but no one knew where to look. It’s exact coordinates had been kept secret for generations and the penalty for telling anyone was severe. Centaurs generally avoided talking about it all together, the thought was so disturbing.

Mina shook her head furiously. Now was not the time for such thoughts. She had a job to do and only a short time to get it done. She began to pick up her pace, the pack strapped to her girth tapping lightly against her back. Puffs of dust flew up from under her hooves while her dark hair streamed behind her like a banner. She felt the reassuring weight of her bow and quiver across her shoulders and knew her dagger was safely secured in her pack.

As she passed the different trees that made up the forest, Mina smiled sadly. It’s hard to believe that centaurs used to be peaceful people. Everyone has to travel armed now or else risk being taken by the Alliance to work in their mines. Mina shuddered. As a centaur, she naturally had a fear of being below the ground. Centaurs are meant to feel the earth under their hooves, not over their heads. Mina slowed her pace subconsciously as discouraging thoughts jumbled in her head.Sometimes I wish I had been born in the days of our ancestors. Everything was so peaceful then, so simple. But times change...and so have we.

Mina scowled and increased her stride once more, shaking her head in annoyance. The past could not be changed and it was time to concentrate on the present. She had a job to do and if her mission was successful, her people would have one less problem on their hands. Thoughts of her family drove her on and Mina flew through the woods, her ebony tail flying out behind her.

oOo

Several hours later, Mina came to the edge of a small clearing. Her chestnut hide glistened with sweat and she panted slightly as she surveyed the area. The grass was a soft golden color, suggesting that it had not rained in the area recently. Where the clearing ended, the mass of trees began. All of them a luscious green color, which made Mina raise an eyebrow in confusion. Now why would those trees be perfectly healthy when the grass only centimeters in front of it is dying?

She carefully bent the human part of her body until she could reach the brittle plants surrounding her. Raising a handful up to her tanned face, she gave a small sniff and then looked at her hand in confusion. I smell sorcery! But that’s impossible, sorcery has been lost ever since the Alliance took over Cita Crystala. Mina frowned at this disturbing development. The Crystal City had been destroyed over 1000 years ago when the Alliance had been in it’s infancy. The crystals secured in that city had controlled all of the magic in the realm. When the city had been destroyed, magic slowly diminished until it had become extinct. No on could perform any magic without the crystals to channel their thoughts except for a few fairies. But even they can only perform mere parlor tricks. There’s no way they could have done anything of this magnitude.

Mina’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of twigs being snapped underfoot. Her pointed ears immediately perked towards the sound and the golden stalks fell to the ground. She swiftly but silently removed her ready bow, the ebony wood gleaming in the afternoon sun. Taking a fletched arrow from her quiver, she quickly notched it on her bow. She cautiously walked towards the place where the sound had originated. Her hooves quietly crunched the dry grass and her pack jingled slightly, causing her remove it from her back and place it carefully on the ground.

Her eyes roved around the clearing as she neared it’s edge. A dark silhouette stood among the trees, causing her tail to swish nervously against the ground. After a few tense moments, Mina finally came close enough to see the features of the figure a few feet from her. Even though their back was to her, Mina immediately recognized the creature who created the disturbance. She sighed in a mixture of annoyance and relief before replacing the arrow back in her quiver. She held up her bow in front of her face as an idea formed in her mind.

Smiling slyly, she gave a loud battle cry before swooping down on the unsuspecting figure, who was immediately captured between the belly and string of her bow. Struggling against her strong grip proved useless and Mina’s prisoner resorted to shouting obscenities at her.

Mina only laughed at her prisoner’s discomfort.

“Now really, didn’t your mother teach you not to insult your betters?”

The young girl stopped struggling to turn and look at the smirking centaur.

“Didn’t your mother teach you not to sneak up on a defenseless girl?”

Mina chuckled and removed her bow from around the young girl.

“Touché. But as you have told me many times, you are not as defenseless as you look”

Blue eyes glared at her as the girl rose to her feet, dusting off her backside as she did so. She stuck her tongue out in a childish gesture that made Mina laugh. The young human in front of her pretended to be angry, but laughter was alight in her sapphire eyes. After a few seconds, her facade dropped and she joined Mina in laughter. They embraced tightly as their laughter quieted, both happy to see each other. When they parted, Mina gazed down at her young counterpart.

“I haven’t seen you in awhile Terra, what have you been up to?”

The raven-haired girl giggled before answering.

“Oh you know me, I’ve just been busy with schoolwork and stuff.”

Seeing the critical look in her friend’s eyes, Terra smiled innocently.

“I’m serious Mina. I’ve just been really busy with...stuff.”

Mina shook her head and gave an exasperated sigh. Turning back towards where she had left her pack she continued their conversation over her shoulder.

“So what is all this stuff you’ve been so busy with? And before you say just some human stuff you wouldn’t understand, you must remember that I know you better than that.”

The 16-year-old grimaced as Mina retrieved her pack. She watched her friend struggle with it for a moment before going to help her. After placing it back in it’s previous location Terra turned to her waiting friend.

“If you must know, my mom was in an accident awhile ago. I’ve spent the last two weeks at a friend’s house while my mom’s been at the hospital in a coma.”

Terra glared at the hard ground as her feet shuffled the brittle grass. “I just feel so helpless. I know there was nothing I could have done, but somehow I feel like if I had been there she wouldn’t have gotten hurt.”

She kicked a small rock with the edge of her white sneaker, sending it flying into the trees. Mina followed the path of the stone with her sharp brown eyes before turning back to her young friend. She saw the frustrated tears in Terra’s face and decided not to pursue the subject further. When Terra was ready she would tell her what happened. Instead she looped an arm over the teenager’s shoulder, giving her a small hug.

“Well I’m glad you’re back. Things have been almost quiet without you.”

Terra stuck out her tongue yet again and gave Mina a small smile. She wiped her eyes quickly on her jeans before responding.

“So how have things been since I’ve been gone? Have you found a new hunting ground yet?”

Mina stiffened as she remembered her mission. She removed her muscular arm from Terra’s shoulder and bent down to study the dried grass.

“That’s why I came here, but the land seems to be barren of anything larger than a squirrel. But I did find something interesting. Take a look at this.”

Terra crouched down beside her with a quizzical look on her face. Mina gestured to the grass, already pondering the possibilities of her discovery. Terra ran her fingers through the prickly plants and frowned. “I thought everything in this forest was extremely healthy. Why is all this stuff dead?”

Mina met the gaze of her young friend. “I don’t know, but it reeks of sorcery, and there hasn’t been any of that in generations.”

The centaur maiden drew up to her full height and gazed around the clearing. Terra stood beside her, her head barely reaching Mina’s shoulder. “If this was caused by sorcery...could that mean there are Crystala crystals near by?”

Mina shrugged as she considered the possibility. “It’s highly unlikely, all of the crystals were lost when the city was destroyed.”

“But then how could anyone perform magic without the crystals?”

Terra glanced up at her mythological friend. Her face was set in concentration and Terra sighed, knowing that her friend wouldn’t hear her if a bomb went off under her hooves. While she waited for Mina to come to some conclusion, Terra studied the centaur in front of her. Her horse parts were a golden chestnut color, except for her fetlocks, hooves and tail, which were all black. Her human parts were that of a 20-year-old woman.

Her hair was the same color as her tail and fell in soft waves down her back. Her angular face was accented by her pointed ears and sparkling brown eyes. On her right wrist she wore a golden band that had been a gift from her father. A brown leather wrist guard adorned her left wrist, the same color as her corset styled vest, which was tied tightly in the front with a strand of rawhide. Around her neck lay a black leather band studded with small pieces of silver, matching the one that lay around her upper left arm. Also around her neck was a golden chain with a small circular pendant that displayed her personal crest (a group of fiery arrows) inlayed in a ruby.

All in all, Alamina Firearrow was an impressive specimen to behold. And for some reason she’s friends with me, Terra thought wryly. Maybe her father’s right and she is crazy for being friends with a human. Terra’s thoughts turned sour at the thought of Mina’s people. To say they had welcomed her with open arms would be a lie. A more accurate description would be they welcomed her with open arrows. Although Terra understood their behavior. They had no reason to trust her since humans were the reason they had been banished to the Netherrealm. And no matter how beautiful it was, nothing could take the place of earth. And with the stress of recent events, everyone in the Netherrealm blamed the humans. Terra’s thoughts were interrupted by her friend’s musings.

“If there are Crystala crystals here, then we need to find them immediately. The last thing we need is for the Alliance to have another weapon to use against us.”

Terra nodded in agreement. “But how do you know the crystals are still here? I mean, couldn’t they have just done this and then left with the crystals?”

Mina shook her head. “The crystals have to be in the same area as the object they are effecting. If they were to leave this clearing, then everything would return to it’s former state.”

Terra cocked her head at the information. “What kind of idiot made that up?”

Mina gave her friend a warning look before beginning to search the clearing. Terra sighed, shrugging her shoulders as she too began to scour the clearing. Mina watched her out of the corner of her eye. She knew there was something the teenager wasn’t telling her, but it would come out in time. Terra was not one to keep secrets for very long. As her friend knelt down to study a clump of grass, Mina studied the young girl.

For a human she was fairly good looking. Her black hair fell past her shoulders with bangs that fell to her cheekbones, framing her face perfectly. Her sapphire eyes were at the moment completely immersed in the ground in front of her. She wore a sensible short sleeved shirt the color of her eyes and long blue pants that flared out at the bottom, blue jeans she had called them. On her feet rested two small, white shoes that Terra had told her were called sneakers. On one wrist was a small, silver device that somehow kept track of time no matter if it was night or day. Adorning the other wrist was a mass of multicolored bands that were used to tie back one’s hair.

Around her neck was a small golden locket that contained a picture of Terra’s family. She had told Mina once that it was the only picture she had of her father, who had disappeared when she was 5 years old. Terra had lived alone with her mother ever since. Mina’s gaze tuned to her friend’s ears, where two golden hoops swung lightly as Terra searched the clearing. They had been Mina’s at one point, only to exchange owners as a sign of trust. They had belonged to Mina’s grandmother and were a precious family heirloom. Giving them to Terra had shown her people how much she trusted the human. In return, Terra had given Mina the golden hoops her mother had worn on her wedding day. Mina reached up a hand to finger the earrings that she never took off.

For as long as both of them kept the other’s gift, there would be an absolute trust between them. And so far it had succeeded, although Mina had almost been disowned when her father had found out. The earrings also served another purpose. They were Terra’s keys to the Netherrealm. All she had to do was picture the realm in her mind and she would instantly be transported there. Since the earrings had belonged to Mina, she always landed somewhere close to her. How Terra had gotten to the Netherrealm in the first place was still a mystery, but Mina had never been one to ponder over such things. That was the elders’ job, hers was to hunt and fight for the village.

Mina shook her head in an effort to clear her thoughts. Now was not the time to think of such thoughts. She had a job to do, and it was growing more important by the minute. If there are Crystala crystals here, then we need to find them quickly. If the Alliance has regained the use of sorcery, we will need every defense at our disposal. Mina trotted to the edge of the clearing to stand before the large trees. If Terra was searching the clearing, then more ground would be covered if she checked the nearby woods.

They had been searching for about half an hour when the discovery was made. Mina had just started her second sweep of the forest when she heard Terra cry out, “I found them!” Making her way quickly back to her friend, Mina found Terra standing in the middle of the clearing with her hands cupped before her.

“You found them?” Mina asked.

Terra nodded excitedly before opening her hands. In her small palms lay a handful of small crystals. Diamond in shape, they shone in the afternoon sunlight, small rainbows playing across their exteriors. Each one was about the size of an acorn and were extremely sharp. Mina could see the many small cuts on Terra’s hands from picking them up. But the girl didn’t seem to notice, as she was beaming wildly. “These are them right?”

Mina looked at her in something akin to awe and simply replied, “Yes.” As Terra’s smile got wider, Mina felt her own joy welling up inside of her. She began to smile before laughing happily. “You found them Terra! You found the one thing that may help us destroy the Alliance!”

Mina enveloped her in a crushing hug, emitting a startled laugh from her friend. She reared on her hind legs, swinging them both around wildly, before calming down enough to let her friend go. Terra stepped back from the lighthearted centaur, clutching the precious crystals to her chest. It wasn’t often that Mina lost her cool, but when she did it was more than entertaining for the young human. She watched as Mina let loose all her energy in one more rear before coming back down to earth. Then, gasping slightly, Mina slowly calmed her raging emotions. Breathing deeply helped her keep all four hooves on the ground, but she couldn’t keep the excited smile off her face.

Terra couldn’t resist teasing her friend a bit, since the opportunity was so rare. “Alright Ms. Excitable. Don’t you think we should do something with these things before you ride off into the sunset?”

Mina gave her a half-hearted glare before nodding her head. “You’re right, we have to get back to the village now! Before the Alliance figures out we’ve found Crystala crystals and decides to take them from us. We can’t leave any clues to show the crystals have been disturbed.”

Terra nodded her agreement and walked a few feet away. A hole in the ground testified to where she had found them. Terra placed the crystals in her jeans pocket before kneeling down next to the hole. She began to push the dirt back into the hole, wincing as the cuts on her hands came in contact with the soil. Patting it down firmly, she replaced the circular patch of grass she had removed. Over all, her handiwork paid off. There were no clues whatsoever that the crystals had been disturbed. When she stood up, she held out her dirty hands in front of her, hissing slightly in pain.

“Remind me to wear gloves next time I touch those things. They hurt!” She looked down at her hands sympathetically. “And this dirt isn’t helping either.”

Mina inspected Terra’s hands. While the cuts weren’t very deep, they had still broken the skin. They were bleeding more than was necessary, causing red streaks to intermix with the brown of the dirt. Mina hissed in sympathy. “We should clean those out before they get infected. I saw a stream on my way here. It’s on our way to the village, so you can wash up there.” Mina reached an arm back to her pack and removed a small glass vial. “Until then, we’ll put this on your hands. It should help stop the bleeding.”

Mina took one of Terra’s hands in her own and opened the vial. She tipped some of the contents onto Terra’s cuts, apologizing as the teenager winced in pain. After repeating the process with the other hand, Mina gently blew on her friend’s hands, banishing the sting. When she finished, Terra waved her hands in front of her as she tried to get rid of the sting. “What is that stuff? Peroxide?” Mina replaced the vial in her pack while giving her friend a quizzical look

“I don’t know what peroxide is, but that’s a serum that the elders make. It’s made from the sap of a Galgatha tree. And it wasn’t that bad so stop complaining!”

Terra rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let’s just get going ok?” Mina nodded briskly before kneeling down in front of her. Terra’s eyes widened. “You want me to ride you!”

Mina glared at her. “No, I want you to just stare at my back all day. Of course I want you to ride me. It’s 10 times faster than having you walk on those puny legs of yours.”

Terra ignored the jibe about her legs for a moment. “But I thought centaurs hated to be ridden? At least that’s what I’ve gathered. And what would the elders say if they saw me riding you? You’d get busted big time!”

Mina’s gaze softened slightly as she looked at her young friend. “This mission calls for speed, and the quickest way back to the village is for you to ride me.” She saw her friend’s apprehensive gaze and smiled wryly. “Terra, if I cared what the elders thought of me, I wouldn’t even be talking to you right now. Now jump on before I make you walk.”

The teenager jumped slightly at the thought of walking the long miles back to the village. She approached Mina carefully, as though afraid she would change her mind. After a moments hesitation she hopped onto her friend’s back, settling herself between Mina’s shoulders and her pack. She gasped as her friend stood, straightening her front and then back legs. Looking down at the ground, Terra said, “You know, I never realized exactly how tall you are until this moment.”

Mina laughed good-naturedly. “Well enjoy the view while you can. I don’t plan on making this an everyday occurrence. And you’ll be getting off before we reach the village.” She adjusted her quiver before adding, “We don’t want to give the elders anymore reasons to get rid of you.” Terra grunted her agreement, which quickly turned to a squeal of excitement as Mina took off. She gripped her hands tightly around Mina’s waist, wincing as her cuts came in contact with the dusty leather of Mina’s vest.

As the centaur’s hooves beat a steady rhythm into the earth, Terra couldn’t help but look around in awe. To see things from Mina’s point of view was an incredible experience. One that she might never get again, so she was determined to make the most of the gift she had been given. She clutched her friend tighter, raised her mouth to her pointed ear and said, “Is this the fastest you can go? I thought you said we were in a hurry?”

Mina looked over her shoulder, a smirk plastered on her face. “We are, I was just pacing myself. Now hold on tight.” With that said, Mina surged forward, causing Terra to squeal excitedly. Not caring that her friend’s long hair was waving in her face, Terra laughed joyously. She couldn’t even describe how she felt at that moment, but it was something she would never forget. She felt the wind flowing through her hair, the warm sun shining down on her face. She forgot the pain in her hands and her early fears as she lifted her face to the sky.

As she closed her eyes in pure joy, Terra finally put a name to what she was feeling. It was freedom, absolute freedom. As she became lost in her own world, Mina chuckled quietly to herself. Seeing her friend so happy was worth the risk of their ride together and it was as though Mina was experiencing her first gallop all over again. As they sped towards the valley where the village was hidden, Mina’s pace increased even more. They had to get to the village before dark, otherwise they risked being discovered by the Alliance. But it took me a day and a half to get here, Mina thought, I don’t know how we will get there in time. Maybe once we reach the river I’ll think of something.

oOo

It was several hours later when they finally reached the river. Mina slowed next to the bank, before coming to a halt. Her tired legs bent wearily for her passenger to get off. When Terra tried to stand, she wavered uncertainly on her feet for a few seconds. “This is what I get for riding a centaur for 3 hours straight.” Mina chuckled tiredly, remaining on the ground. Terra looked uncertainly at her friend. “Are you alright? You’ve been running for hours, not to mention having me on your back the whole time.”

Mina gave her a tired smile. “I’ll be fine, Terra. I just need a few moments to rest my legs. You go wash out your cuts in the water. There’s some spare cloth in my pack, you can wrap them in that until we get back.”

Terra nodded suspiciously. “Are you sure you’re alright?” Mina glared at her, brown eyes sparking. “Don’t treat me like a sick filly, Terra. If I say I’m fine, then I’m fine. After 200 years, I think I know how to listen to my body. And right now it says I just need to rest for a bit.”

Terra glared at her, a sharp retort on her tongue, when she was interrupted by a loud howl. Mina scrambled to her feet as it resonated throughout the woods. The two looked at each other before a smile began to grow on Terra’s face. “Is that who I think it is?”

Mina shrugged irritably. “Probably, why don’t you find out?” The young human grinned before cupping her hands around her mouth and letting out a loud howl of her own. They waited a moment before they received an answering call. Terra laughed out loud and howled again, her voice sounding exactly like a wolf’s. “It’s him, Mina! He’s here!”

The centaur rolled her eyes. “Oh joy, just what we need.” Terra glared at her before retorting, “Hey, he might know a shortcut to the village. And he’s not that bad so stop complaining.”

Mina returned the glare before sighing heavily. “Alright, but if he nips my tail again, I’m going to shoot him and use his pelt as a winter coat. Understand?” Terra rolled her eyes and flapped a hand impatiently in her direction. A loud rustling in the nearby bushes dispelled the argument from going any further. Although Mina couldn’t help but add one more snide comment at the approaching figure. “Oh look, we’ve picked up a stray.”

For walking down the riverbank was a huge black wolf, the size of a small lion. His huge paws traveled silently over the ground while his jaws spread into a smile, bearing his snow-white fangs. His large yellow eyes were full of mirth and his long, bushy tail swept gracefully over the grass. “Nice to see you too, Arrow. Long time no see. Kill any unsuspecting creatures lately?”

Mina snorted disdainfully at the wolf. “Actually it’s been awhile since I made a nice kill. Why don’t you come a bit closer and we can fix that, hmm?”

The wolf chuckled nervously. “Sorry to disappoint you, but unfortunately I still value my life at this particular moment in time.”

Terra, feeling a bit left out, decided to intervene before the argument went too far. “Well it’s nice to see you too, Shade. Don’t worry about saying ‘hi’ or anything. Go ahead and talk to Mina. I understand.” She turned away with a fake look of sadness before the wolf grinned at her. Without any warning, he leapt at her, knocking her to the ground. While she wriggled under his heavy paws, he laughed loudly. His fangs glistening in the sunlight. “Is this better, Terra? I wouldn’t want you to feel left out.”

She smiled charmingly. “Oh yes this is much better. Thank you ever so much, Shade.” The wolf chuckled as he nosed her face gently. “You’re very welcome my young human friend. Besides, you should be used to looking up to me by now. After all, I believe that is how our first training session went.” He laughed once again. “And you couldn’t do anything about it then either.”

Terra grimaced. “You had to remind me.” She was silent for a moment and then smirked slyly. “But when we first met, I didn’t know how to do this!” At that she grabbed his ruff with both hands and pulled hard. Shade growled loudly as she twisted her body so that it lay on top of his. The wolf stared up at her in annoyance while Terra smirked down at him. “As you can see, I’ve learned a few things since then. And I had a great teacher.”

She nodded her head in Mina’s direction, where the centaur was smirking proudly. “I love it when she actually listens to me.”

Terra smiled at her before turning back to the captive wolf, whose only comment was, “Well you know Terra, I’ve learned a few things too.” At that, he grasped one of her hands gently, but firmly in his mouth, causing her to cry out in pain before jumping off of him. She held her hand to her chest as tears began to swim in her vision. She whimpered softly as Shade looked at her in confusion from his seat on the ground. “I didn’t bite you that hard, did I?”

Mina glared angrily at him before smacking him none too gently over the head. “You idiot, she’s been in pain the whole trip and what do you do? You make it worse!” She shook her head angrily before taking Terra’s hand in her own. The cuts had reopened and were now bleeding freely. Mina growled in frustration before releasing Terra’s hand. She reached into her pack and revealed several strips of cloth. Walking to the stream, she took one of the strips and dipped it in the water. Then she once again grasped Terra’s hand in her own and began to clean the wounds with gentle hands.

Shade, meanwhile had walked up to Terra and was whining softly. He took a seat next to her and looked up at her with apologetic eyes. She looked down at him with watery eyes and gave him a small smile. “It’s alright, Shade. You didn’t know, and it’s not that bad.” Mina scoffed under her breath as she finished cleaning Terra’s hand. She began to wrap it in the wet cloth when Terra pulled away suddenly. “There’s no way I’m gonna let you wrap my hand. Last time you nearly cut off the circulation!”

Mina tossed her the cloth, a scowl on her face. “Well then you do it yourself. Have fun.” Terra glared at her as she tried to wrap her hand. Unfortunately she was having little luck. Shade stared up at her in amusement before saying, “Need a hand?”

At her reluctant nod, the black wolf backed up a few steps. Then he began to change. His large paws became tanned hands, his ears lost their tufts and moved farther down on his head. His fur was exchanged for a head of black hair and his eyes became a golden amber color. When the transformation was complete, a tall man had replaced the black wolf. There were few traces of his former shape. Only his long black hair and sharp teeth gave away the fact that he was more than just a simple human. He was dressed in black breeches and knee high black boots. Over his muscular torso he wore a loose black cotton shirt. It had a large tear in the front that ran halfway down his chest.

The werewolf walked over to Terra and took one of her hands in his. She blushed before handing him the strip of cloth. He smiled and set to work wrapping her hand, grimacing as he saw the extent of her injuries. “How in the world did you manage this, Terra? Even you can’t be this careless.”

The human glared at him before looking apprehensively at Mina. The centaur shook her head slightly, indicating that they should remain silent about the crystals for now. Terra glared at her, she thought they could trust Shade, but nodded anyway.

“Oh I just fell on some rocks earlier. It’s no big deal.”

Shade raised an eyebrow skeptically. He accepted the other cloth from Mina and soaked it in the river before replying. “Even you aren’t that clumsy, Terra. For a human you’re actually very graceful.” Terra blushed slightly as he took hold of her other hand and held it close to his face. “And these cuts are too clean to have been made by rocks. They were made by something sharper and stronger.” He sniffed her hand lightly before his eyes widened. He jerked his head up to look in her eyes. “Terra, these cuts smell of sorcery! What in the Netherrealm happened?”

Terra turned an I-told-you-so gaze towards Mina before answering. “Shade, before I tell you, I need you to do something.” At his nod she continued. “You have to promise not to tell anyone of what you’re about to see and hear.”

“Oh Terra, you don’t trust me? I’m hurt, really”

A smile lit Terra’s face before she became serious once again. “Shade, this is serious. I need you to promise me, alright?”

The werewolf nodded, a solemn look on his face. “I swear on my friendship with you that I will not tell anyone of what is about to transpire.”

Terra nodded and Mina finally spoke. “I’ll hold you to that wolf boy.” Shade rolled his eyes at Terra who hid a giggle behind her bandaged hand. He grinned and said, “Come on, we’ll finish bandaging your hand by the river.” Terra nodded and began to walk away, when she noticed Mina following them. “Oh no you don’t, Missy. You are going to stay right here and rest your hooves while I talk to Shade. We still have a long way to go and I don’t need you passing out before we reach the village.”

Mina gave her a bitter look. “I’m only this tired because there was a heavy human on my back.”

Terra rolled her eyes. “Yeah whatever. Just lay down and rest ok?” Mina settled herself on the ground, grumbling something about ‘humans’ and ‘bossing me around like I’m a filly’, although secretly she was relieved to have a chance to rest. Terra smiled indulgently as Shade said, “You mean you let her ride you!”

Mina rolled her eyes as Terra dragged the stunned werewolf down the riverbank. When they had gone out of Mina’s hearing range, Terra pulled Shade down onto the ground beside her. She held out the other bandage, which he promptly fixed to her hand. Then he rested his arms on his crossed legs and raised an eyebrow. “I’m listening.”

Terra sighed and began to tell him about their discovery. “Well, this morning when Mina was looking for a new hunting ground she found a clearing full of dying plants. It turned out that there was sorcery involved and after I got there I helped her find the source.” Terra paused for effect as the werewolf leaned forward expectantly. “Well, what was the source?”

“These.” And with that Terra carefully removed a few of the crystals from her pocket. Shade’s eyes widened in shock and he held out his hand for them. When Terra placed them in his calloused hand he sniffed them carefully, shaking his head briskly afterwards. “These are definitely Crystala crystals. But how in the world did they get there?”

Terra shrugged before taking the crystals and returning them to her pocket. “We don’t know, but Mina thinks it might have been the Alliance.” Terra could almost see her friend’s ears perk up at the mention of their enemy. His gaze turned thoughtful as he stared out at the river.

After a moment he spoke, saying, “If that’s true, then we are all in danger. I can see why you were in a hurry to get back home. And why Mina let you ride her.”

Terra glared at him. “The centaur village is not my home and it never will be. If any of them even heard you suggest such a thing they would skewer me without a second thought.”

Shade chuckled, a deep purring sound that sent tingles down her spine. “Forgive me milady, how dare I even suggest such a thing. Your humble servant begs your forgiveness and begs you to spare his life.”

Terra shook her head as a smile pulled at her lips. “What am I going to do with you?”

The werewolf put a hand dramatically to his forehead before falling to the ground. His head landed in her lap, where he stayed, grinning wildly. “Mercy milady! My life is in your delicate hands.”

Terra smacked him lightly on the nose before joining him in laughter. The two friends enjoyed their moment of merriment before settling into a comfortable silence. Terra waited a moment before making her admission. “I’ve missed you, Shade. It’s nice having someone who isn’t afraid to laugh around.”

Shade chuckled softly. “I’ve missed you too, Terra. I came to see you a few days ago, but Mina said you hadn’t been back in awhile. I think she was worried about you.”

Terra averted her eyes from the werewolf’s penetrating gaze. “Well I’m fine as you can see. I’ve just had some stuff going on, that’s all.”

Shade used one of his hands to turn her face back towards him. “Come on Terra, I know you better than that. We’ve been friends for a long time. What’s wrong?”

Terra found herself caught in his deep amber eyes and sighed wearily. “My mom was in an accident two weeks ago. She was on her way home from work when a drunk driver ran through a stoplight. He hit her head on, the doctors say she was knocked out instantly. Now she’s in a coma and the doctors won’t say when she’ll come out of it.”

She turned her suddenly watering eyes towards the river and stared off into the distance. “They won’t say it, but I know the truth. They don’t think she’ll ever come out of it. I heard some of them talking about it this morning. They’re giving her another week at most, before...before she...”

Terra stopped as the tears she had held back began to flow. She felt Shade sit up and then take her in his arms. She clutched his shirt tightly as she sobbed into his chest. He didn’t say anything, just let her cry, rubbing her back occasionally as she let out all of her pent up emotions. It wasn’t until a few moments later that her tears ceased and she lifted her head, not meeting Shade’s amber gaze. “I’m sorry about that.”

Shade lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. His golden eyes were soft and full of understanding. “There’s nothing wrong with crying, Terra. It’s better to let go of your emotions than to keep then all hidden inside.”

Terra smiled softly. “When did you get so smart, Shade?” He kissed her forehead gently before resting his head against hers. “I must have gotten it from you.”

She giggled quietly and wiped the tears from her face. She embraced him tightly, enjoying the feel of his arms around her. “Thanks for being there for me.” She felt his arms tighten around her as he whispered, “And I always will, Terra. I promise.”

They remained locked in their embrace until Terra pulled back reluctantly. She cleared her throat and wiped away any trace of her tears. “Well, we had better get back to Mina before she skins us both.”

Shade chuckled softly, “You’re right of course. We’ll continue this later alright?”

Terra shook her head slightly. “There’s nothing more to discuss. I’ll be fine. And getting the crystals to the elders is more important right now.”

She stood and turned to leave, when she felt a hand grab her own. She turned back to the werewolf as he clambered to his feet. He grasped both of her bandaged hands lightly in his own and looked down at her. “Not to me. If those old nags don’t care about you then fine, their loss. But don’t you ever think you’re not important Terra Skyla Nova, because to all of us who care to look past your humanity, you are important. And don’t you ever forget it.”

Fresh tear welled up in her eyes as Terra placed a hand on her friend’s handsome face. “That’s sweet Shade, but I’ll be fine. I promise. And if I ever feel upset again, I can always beat the tar out of you right?”

He chuckled and ruffled her hair lightly. “That’s my girl. Now let’s get going. I know a shortcut that will get us back in half the time.” Terra smiled excitedly before running towards their waiting friend. “Well, what are we waiting for?”

Shade laughed before chasing after her. They raced back to Mina who, when she saw them, quickly scrambled to her feet. “So are you two finally ready to go?”

Terra nodded quickly. “Yep, and Shade knows a shortcut that will cut the rest of our journey in half.”

Mina smiled wryly at the werewolf who stood protectively behind Terra. “So you finally decided to make yourself useful, huh, wolf boy?”

Shade growled slightly at her before responding, “If naptime is over, we should get going. There’s only a few hours of sunlight left.”

Mina nodded shortly, a small scowl on her face. Terra sighed, With the two of them together, it’s gonna be a loooonngg trip. She shook her head slightly. Sometimes it amazed her that her best friend’s couldn’t stand each other when they were so alike. Deciding to intervene before they broke out into an all out war, Terra made a suggestion.

“Why don’t you guys go ahead and I’ll just come back tomorrow? Mina is perfectly capable of carrying the crystals to the village herself and I would just be extra baggage.”

Mina shook her head. “No Terra, you found the crystals and you should get the credit for it. And besides, I can just carry you again. You won’t slow us down any that way.”

Terra disagreed. “You can’t carry me all the way back Mina. You’re exhausted as it is and carrying me would only slow you down. You two go ahead. Besides, if the elders caught me riding you...” Terra shuddered. “...they’d shish kabob me.”

This time Shade shook his head. “Did you not hear a word I said before, Terra? Forget about the elders. You’re coming with us and that’s it. You can ride me, it wouldn’t be the first time and it probably won’t be the last.”

Terra looked at him skeptically as he began to change back into a black wolf. “Are you sure, Shade? It’s a long ride and...”

“When you’re done thinking of excuses we’ll get started. And I thought we were in a hurry here?” Now fully immersed in his wolf form, Shade stood proudly on the ground, his head reaching Mina’s waist.

Terra smiled wryly before adding, “That’s my boy!” The werewolf raised one eyebrow at her choice of words. “Are you coming or not?”

Terra stuck her tongue out at him before climbing carefully onto his back. Situating herself just behind his shoulders, she grabbed his silky ruff in her hands. Shade looked over his shoulder at her briefly, “Are you ready?” He waited until she nodded, and then took off down the riverbank. Mina following closely on his heels.

Remembering her earlier flights upon the great wolf’s back, Terra crouched her body low over his. For all the world looking like a jockey riding a favored steed. Her hands gently pulled his fur as she tried to keep her balance. She glanced back briefly at Mina before allowing herself to relax and enjoy the ride. While it was true she had ridden the great werewolf many time, it was still an amazing experience. And while riding Mina had been exhilarating, it still felt wonderful to be so close to one of her dearest friends.

They had only been traveling for a few minutes when Mina pulled up alongside Shade. “We’re in a hurry here werewolf, so can you pick up the pace a bit?”

The wolf looked up at her and grinned a wolf’s grin, letting Terra know he was up to something. “Of course, Arrow. I was just letting you rest for a few more minutes. But you’re absolutely right. We are in a hurry.” He looked at Terra over his shoulder. “Hold on tight.”

Terra grinned, knowing exactly what he was up to, and quickly obeyed. As soon as he was sure she was ready, Shade suddenly put on a burst of speed, leaving a very annoyed Mina in his tracks. She soon caught up to him though and smirked at them both as she passed them. “What’s the matter wolf boy, too tired to keep up?”

Terra felt him bristle beneath her and lowered her body so that they were practically one being. “Come on, Shade. Let’s show her how it’s done.” The wolf let out a joyous howl before speeding ahead, the trees flying by in a blur. As they caught up with Mina, he began taunting her. “Did you really think you could outrun me centaur? I thought you were smarter than that.”

Mina looked down contemptuously at him, never losing a beat. “I don’t think it furball, I know it.”

“In your dreams Firearrow. Just try and keep up alright?” With that, an all out race began between the two.

“Once we reach the village, I’m gonna skin you, Nightshade!”

Terra laughed at her friend’s antics and pressed herself tighter against her friend. “Did you hear that, Shade? I think she might be serious this time.”

“And I’m gonna get you too, Terra. I’ll hang you both on a rack and feed you to the harpies! Do you hear me!”

Terra and Shade just laughed carelessly and bounded ahead of her, leaving Mina to gallop along behind them.

oOo

The sun was low in the sky before they reached the village. They had reached the entrance in record time, thanks to Shade’s shortcut. When they arrived at the base of the mountains that surrounded the hidden valley, Terra leapt off her friend. She smiled her thanks and then turned to the weary centaur. “Isn’t this the part where you blindfold us and take us through your secret entrance?”

Mina looked down at her. “Normally, yes. But since the blindfolds are wrapped around your hands, we must wait for someone to bring them to us.”

Terra grimaced as she looked at her bandaged hands. She mumbled a sarcastic apology, which caused Mina to roll her eyes. “I wasn’t blaming you, Terra. I was merely stating a fact. Besides, it won’t be long. We’ve already been spotted and someone will arrive shortly.”

Terra nodded and turned to Shade, who was now in his human form. He sat on the ground behind them, leaning against a large apple tree. His amber eyes were closed and his large hands lay limply in his lap. Terra’s eyes narrowed in concern. She walked over and knelt down beside him. She touched his shoulder lightly, worry alight in her sapphire eyes. “Shade? Are you alright?”

The werewolf opened his eyes slowly. He looked at Terra’s troubled expression before giving her a tired smile. “I’ll be fine, Terra. I just need some rest is all.”

Terra looked at him skeptically before responding. “No you’re not fine” She halted his protests with a finger to his lips. “Don’t argue with me, Nightshade. You’re exhausted and we both know it. You shouldn’t have carried me so far.” Shade rolled his eyes as he replied, “I’m fine, Terra. I’ve been on longer runs carrying things twice your size. All I need is a little rest and I’ll be back to normal.”

“Oh, wonderful,” Mina teased. Shade smiled charmingly at her, while she scoffed at him. Terra shook her head as she stood. Shade offered her a hand and she pulled him to his feet. Just then hoofbeats could be heard coming towards them. Mina immediately recognized the centaur and raced out to meet him. They embraced quickly before cantering over to Terra and Shade.

Spotting Mina’s companions the other centaur cantered ahead and with a loud, “Terra!” immediately pulled the human into a tight hug, causing her to emit a surprised laugh. When she was released, she smiled at the young centaur before her. “It’s good to see you too, Aaron. My goodness, you’ve gotten big!”

The sandy-haired centaur boy grinned proudly as a small blush tinged his cheeks. Terra tousled his curls lightly as Shade cleared his throat. “Well it’s nice to see you to, squirt. Don’t bother saying ‘hi’ or anything.”

Aaron rolled his eyes before smiling happily. He held out a hand for shaking, wiping the grin from his face. “It’s nice to see you again, Shade.” The werewolf held back a smile before taking the boys hand. They shook hands firmly before Shade pulled Aaron into a manly embrace. They clapped each other on the back, chuckling, while the girls simply shook their heads. They were used to the male’s antics by now, although it was still an amusing sight. Mina smiled indulgently. “When you two feel ready, we really should get going.”

Aaron turned to her and nodded before removing two blindfolds from the pack on his back. He quickly tied them around Terra and Shade’s eyes before pronouncing them ready. The two felt hands take their own and they began making their way into the village. The blindfolds were quite effective, especially since they were spelled to block all vision from the wearer.

After a few moments of being led by their companions, Terra heard the usual chatter that inhabited the centaur village. Their blindfolds were removed and she squinted at the sudden change in light. The centaur village looked more like a campsite than a town. No houses were visible, only tents ranging in all different colors. Terra had learned on her first visit that centaurs disliked houses of any kind. They were reminiscent of the barns humans had imprisoned them in long ago. Her thoughts were interrupted by Mina saying, “We need to see your grandfather, Aaron. Can you take us to him?”

The young centaur nodded. “Sure, follow me.” He turned to lead the way as Terra and her friend’s followed. As they walked through the village, Terra studied her friend. Aaron had indeed grown since the last time she had seen him. His body had grown leaner and more muscular and his sandy curls had grown lighter. At nearly 130 years old, he was starting to show signs of the man he would become. His emerald eyes shone with more wisdom than she ever seen before, and he grown at least two inches. He now stood slightly taller than Terra, when only weeks before they had been of the same height.

They continued on their path, and it was only as they approached their destination that Terra became nervous. Caldon, the village leader, had always been wary of the human who had stumbled into their world. While he had always treated her with kindness, Terra knew that if she made any mistakes in his presence, she would be banished from the village forever. The very thought made her bite her lip nervously. What if he decides to get rid of me this time? I don’t know if I could bear not seeing my friend’s again.

Shade noticed his friend’s nervous expression and gently tweaked her nose, penetrating her thoughts. She turned to him in annoyance as he smiled gently at her. “You’ll be fine, Terra. Caldon won’t dare to banish you after he finds out about the crystals.”

Terra’s expression softened and she gave her friend a grateful nod. Within moments they had reached Caldon’s tent, a large red mass decorated with golden braid. Aaron turned over his shoulder saying, “Wait here.” and then proceeded into the tent. He returned after a few seconds gesturing for them to enter. Terra took a deep breath, and then followed Mina into the home of the man who would decide her fate. Aaron gave her a reassuring smile before he left, indicating that his grandfather was in a good mood. Shade followed her into the enclosure closing the tent flap behind him.

Across the room stood Caldon, the current leader of the centaur village. He was an imposing figure, standing taller than most of the others of his race. His horse parts were a deep brown color and his hair and tail were black with a few strands of white. His muscular chest was bare except for a golden amulet containing a large ruby. Engraved in the red jewel was his personal crest, a golden eye with rays of light surrounding it. His own eyes were a deep chocolate brown that could penetrate even the hardest heart. Shining with all the wisdom of his 900 years, they were currently locked on the group who had entered his home.

Mina bowed deeply, followed by Terra and Shade. Caldon smiled warmly at his niece and her friends before gesturing for them to rise. “Welcome my friends. Was your mission successful Alamina?” Mina smiled at her uncle before gesturing to Terra, who stood uncertainly behind her. “Unfortunately no. But Terra found something that I think you might like to see.”

Caldon’s gaze turned to the young human who had befriended his niece. Terra stepped forward towards the desk that separated them. She dug her hand into her pocket and pulled out all of the crystals they had found that morning. She placed them on the wood in front of her and then held her breath. Caldon’s face remained passive, but his eyes shone in amazement. He slowly reached out and lifted one of the crystals to his face. “Where did you find these?” Mina opened her mouth to answer, but her uncle stopped her. “No, I want to hear from the one who found the crystals.”

He set the crystal back on the desk and turned his gaze to Terra. “Tell me everything, Terra. And I do mean everything.” Terra nodded understanding the silent meaning in his words. Her fate in the Netherrealm rested on what she told him, and so she took a deep breath and told him everything. Caldon listened quietly, his gaze never leaving hers, an unreadable expression on his face. Terra left nothing out, except for a few personal details, such as her crying on Shade’s shoulder and her ride on Mina. When she was finished, Caldon once again lifted a crystal to his eyes. After a few moments of silence, he turned to Shade. “Thank you for your assistance, Nightshade. Your help in this matter will not be forgotten.”

Shade bowed his head in acknowledgment as Caldon turned to Mina. “Well done, Alamina. You have done well. Even though you didn’t find a new hunting ground, you have performed a great service for your people.”

Mina beamed proudly at her leader’s praise but quickly sobered at his next statement. “I would like a moment alone with Terra. Would you two mind stepping outside for a moment.”

It was more of an order than a request. Mina looked at him nervously, but her uncle only nodded at the door. Mina reluctantly left, after giving Terra a small smile. Shade also turned to leave, but gave her a reassuring grin over his shoulder. As he exited, Terra struggled to control her rapidly beating heart. Being alone with Caldon left her extremely nervous and she felt her palms begin to sweat under their wrappings.

Caldon waited a moment before turning to her. He motioned for her to have a seat on his desk. After a moments hesitation, she perched herself on its edge as Caldon came around from the desk to stand in front of her. He took one of her bandaged hands in his own before speaking. “What happened here?”

Terra gazed at her hands, not daring to look into his eyes for fear of what she might see.

“I wasn’t very careful when I picked up the crystals and I got a few scratches.”

Caldon looked at her skeptically and began unwrapping her hand. When her cuts were revealed, his face remained as passive as ever. His voice however carried a hint of concern when he next spoke. “These are more than scratches Terra. I’m surprised they aren’t still bleeding.”

“Mina put some kind of stuff on them. I think it was made from the gal...galgonta tree?”

“Galgatha,” he corrected, amusement in his voice. He released her hands to remove a vial from his desk. Returning to her side he carefully dropped one drop on each of her hands. Almost immediately, Terra felt the pain in her hands fade and her cuts slowly disappeared. Leaving no trace that she had ever been injured. She flexed her hands slowly, amazement alight in her eyes.

“This is also from the Galgatha tree. Although it is much stronger.”

Still not meeting his gaze, she murmured her thanks, truly grateful to be free of the pain. Caldon chuckled quietly and gently raised her head, so that she was forced to meet his gaze. “Do I frighten you that much, Terra? That you cannot even look at me?”

She shook her head quickly. “It’s not you I’m afraid of. It’s what you can do that I fear.”

Terra felt a flash of alarm run through her body as soon as the words left her mouth. She lowered her gaze once again, afraid of his reaction, when to her amazement, he began to laugh. Her eyes flew up to his face and widened at the smile upon his face. It remained there as his laughter died down.

“If you think I’m going to banish you, I assure you that is not my intention. You have done nothing worthy of such a punishment, at least, that is my understanding?” He paused, raising an eyebrow at her questioningly, a smile alight in his eyes. Terra shook her head rapidly, a smile forming on her lips. Caldon nodded and continued. “In fact, I intend to do just the opposite.”

Terra looked at him questioningly. Caldon smiled warmly at her before he uttered the life changing words. “I would like to make you a part of my family and a member of the centaur clan.”

Terra’s eyes widened in astonishment. This was the last thing she had expected. She had known Caldon would be pleased to have the crystals in his position, but to invite her to join his family! That was more than she had ever hoped for. She stared down at her hands. “Why? Why would you do that? You hate humans.”

Caldon was quiet for a moment as he considered her words. “While it is true I do not care very much for humans, I have found that you are nothing like the savages in the legends of old. I find you to be an honorable young woman who would be a valuable asset to my clan.” He paused, as though choosing his next words carefully. “And I also believe that you are a very special human. Over the past three years I have watched you grow and learn in our society and I think you are extremely gifted. This will give you a chance to show your gifts to everyone. And I think Alamina would enjoy having a sister.”

Terra chuckled as tears begin to cross her vision. She looked up at the centaur’s face. “Are you sure?” she whispered hesitantly.

Caldon nodded his head solemnly. “If you agree, we can perform the rite at this very moment.”

Terra was silent for a moment before she nodded. “I would be honored, sir.” Caldon nodded and again pulled an item out of his desk. It was a small silver knife, the hilt decorated with small silver dragons. Caldon held out his arm and slashed his wrist. Terra jumped at his sudden action before he said, “Hold out your arm.”

Terra took a deep breath and held out her arm. She closed her eyes as Caldon quickly slashed her wrist as well, the cut just deep enough to draw blood. Then he joined his wrist with hers and let their blood mix. He began to speak in a language that was unknown to her and Terra felt a tingling sensation move from her arm throughout her entire body. Overwhelming at first, it slowly faded until it was nothing but a memory. Opening her eyes, she saw Caldon giving her a warm smile. “Welcome to the family Terra.”

She smiled dazedly, hardly noticing as he bandaged her arm, while her mind whirred in excitement. Then, to her amazement, Caldon grasped her tightly. At first she stiffened in surprise, but then slowly relaxed into his embrace and even dared to return it slightly. Pulling back, he looked down at her and chuckled softly. “Go to your friends Terra. I’m sure they are worried about you.”

She nodded and slid off the desk. She bowed and then made her way to the door. At the last moment she turned back. “What about the crystals?”

Caldon smiled indulgently. “They will be taken care of. Thanks to you, we now have a weapon that may help us defeat the Alliance.”

Terra smiled, “All in a day’s work, milord.”

Caldon laughed and Terra giggled, her earlier discomfort forgotten. The centaur swept a hand at her, “Go to your friends, Terra. I’m sure you have much to talk about. Tell Alamina that I will explain everything later.”

Terra nodded and bowing once more, left the tent. She was immediately greeted by the worried faces of her friends.

“What happened in there Terra?”

“Are you alright? What did he say?”

Terra gazed down at her bandaged wrist before her face erupted into a wide grin. “You guys are never going to believe this!”