Of the Woods

by J A S Bennet

  When she arrived downstairs she immediately smelled the coffee that was brought from the pub. That meant the guardians were there with all their muscles and sweating. It was a wonder Ava could concentrate on anything. Usually having that many hot bodies in one spot made her too preoccupied to make any attempt at breathing, let alone anything else. Ava spotted Deaglan arranging breakfast crap on a table. She headed in that direction because she needed her daily dose of caffeine.

  Deaglan came around the corner to finish his setup of a quick power breakfast. He knew that the American girls needed their coffee, and of course sweet Sheridan needed her Diet Dew. As he placed all of the power bars and protein shakes around the table, he casually looked up from his attention to detail when he heard the clanking of a familiar sound. He shook his head when he saw Ava enter. She set her computer bag down next to him before continuing her search for caffeine. “What are you wearing?”

  “Clothes.” Ava grabbed the closest cup of liquid black love and chugged a huge gulp before she turned to face him. She looked him up and down, admiring the lean, fit body he was displaying this morning. She raised her eyebrows twice and grinned. “What are you wearing?”

  “I thought we went over this yesterday, Ava. You can’t work out in clothes like that. You need to go upstairs and change into loose-fitting clothes you can move in.” Ava contemplated just how badly she wanted to piss off a man who was about to train her. She was ready to let him boss her around for training purposes; she had to have a big self-talk to convince herself to allow anyone to tell her what to do.

  “Did I appear to have any problems yesterday, boyo? I was the best one in the workout room, including all of your guardians who were dressed in the loose-fitting clothes. Oh, that’s right, you didn’t stay for the show, did you? You ran after Sheridan, didn’t you? Well, you should know that I kicked ass, which was no surprise to me, but your guardians, especially the ones with balls, were a little shocked when I took them all down. Obviously, this place suits me.” She stood up straighter, if that’s even possible. “Now if you would like a demonstration of what you missed I would be happy to play ‘toss the guardian’ again after I finish my coffee.” Taking another swig, she leaned against the table and sighed as the caffeine hit her system.

  Deaglan had heard the stories about how she performed in the workout room while he was gone. They all talked about how she tossed everyone around like dolls, whilst wearing her short heels. To tell the truth, he didn’t really believe how fast her powers seemed to be developing. What he did know for sure was that he now owed Jenny one hundred euros for the bet they made yesterday. He hung his head for a moment.

  “Actually, I would love a demonstration, but I won’t be training you today. I’m giving Sheridan a tour of the grounds. You’ll just have to hope you don’t break an ankle or throw out your back before I get my chance.” He finished his breakfast duties and started to leave to meet Sheridan.

  Jenny followed the smell of coffee to where Ava, in heels, and Deaglan were talking. Passing Deaglan on his way out of the dining room, she put her hand out. “Are you ready to pay up?”

  “Double or nothing?” He knew who was going to be training them today, so he felt confident. “If she kicks off her shoes at any point today, I win.”

  “She won’t. You must love to lose money.” He hadn’t been there. He hadn’t seen it. It made her feel in awe. Ava could literally kick ass and take names. “Doubling down is a foolish move on your part.”

  “We’ll see.” He smirked as they shook on the new deal. He made his way to the entry to wait for Sheridan.

  As Deaglan made it to the entryway, Cian walked in. The relief must have been obvious on his face, because Cian instantly knew something was up. “What do I need to do?” Deaglan smiled broadly as he explained to Cian what needed to happen so that his account would not be two hundred euros lessened.

  Looking up at just the moment when Ava was mentioned, he saw her walk into the entryway with her cup of coffee. He made eye contact and she raised one eyebrow. She put her head down and continued toward the guard house. Deaglan warned Cian that she was aware of talk about her, but to his knowledge there was no way she knew about this bet. Cian headed to the guard house behind her and Deaglan continued to wait for Sheridan. He was looking forward to spending time with her, probably more than anything else he had in a while.

  Shaking his head in disbelief, he uttered one word. “Fucked.”

  Sheridan opened her eyes and immediately remembered that today would be her day to recharge. In the forest. Nature walking would be a good way to get herself centered again. She could almost forget that she would have to share the woods with Deaglan. Almost.

  After showering, getting dressed, drying her hair, and completing the rest of her morning routine with makeup, she practically skipped down the stairs. She had on her usual uniform of cutoff denim shorts, a fangirl T-shirt—Kentucky basketball today—boots, and her backpack. Deaglan was waiting for her. He held out a Diet Mountain Dew and she took it.

  “Thank you.” Finding it was chilled, she placed it in her bag and took out her last warm one. There was no need to exchange any more words. She was still mad about what happened yesterday, and his apology just wasn’t enough for her to forget it. At the very least she still felt icky from the idea that her asking wasn’t enough for him to let go. The fact it was her body should’ve meant it was her decision, so when she asked him to let go and he didn’t, that crossed her comfort line. It made her feel disrespected and somehow unsafe. Men could really be as dense as Ava always thought they were.

  The first breath of fresh morning air rolled around in her lungs like a soothing balm on a nasty burn. She could practically hear the trees calling to her. There was no fair method for choosing which one she would introduce herself to first. But she would meet them all eventually, that was her vow.

  They got outside the wall surrounding the castle and went left until the cliffs stopped them. “This is what we call the first quarter.”

  She spent only a moment viewing how the wall protected the castle halfway down the cliff. A few more minutes passed while watching the water meet the rocks below. Then, her authentic spiritual awakening began. The forest that she would call home was waiting to meet her and she it. Her veins pulsed with its energy.

  She began her trek by following the stream that was flowing over the cliff’s edge. People tended to overlook the ponds, streams, and creeks that were a part of the forest. These were integral to the life that lived within these woods.

  She saw oaks and cherry, willow and holly, crabapple and yew all growing together in harmony. The wind gently blew the branches and the sun glittered across her face. She felt love and loved here. It gave her a sense of belonging and peace just by walking among these beautiful beings.

  A fluffy, long-eared rabbit trotted out into view and stopped to investigate the visitors. It turned, scrambled off, and, within a minute, was back with friends or family. She walked toward the rabbits and they ran, not away, but toward her. She dropped to her knees in the fallen leaves and scooped the first one up. “Oh my goodness, aren’t you the sweetest greeter?” She gave it a gentle snuggle and kiss on the head, then set it back down.

  “And who might you two be? Let me guess, you are the best friend and you must be the other best friend.” They seemed to nod in response. Deaglan had never seen anything like it. He had seen wood nymphs, but this was different. She was a part of this place without even gaining her powers. Once she did get them, he had a feeling that this forest would know a real queen of the woods.

  Deaglan kept his distance and, thankfully, he kept his mouth shut. The forest was like her church. People tended to not understand the importance of quiet when with the trees. People talked way too much in general, in Sheridan’s opinion. The woods needed room to speak. People needed to learn to listen.

  When they reached the boundary for a new section of the forest, he would announce the name and describe how the guardi
ans determined where the previous section ended and where the new one began. This was information she knew she would need to store away.

  Overall, it was simply beautiful.

  Where there was enough sunlight for grass to grow, it was plush like fancy carpet. Everywhere else the ground was littered with discarded sticks, leaves, and petals that no longer had a place to cling to. She paid her respects to those beings on her way. They had an important job to do in fertilizing the earth where they lay.

  The canopy of trees was so full and lush and it made her wish she had thought to bring a blanket so she could nap beneath the protection they offered from the harsh sun.

  He watched her walk in this place he had known his entire life. With her here, it had a new life. The birds, raccoons, deer, wild cats, and wolves would quiet as she approached. The trees seemed to sing, the flowers bloomed, and the streams glistened even brighter. All because of her love for them. They were returning that love. He felt it. She had stopped to feel the petals of a yellow rose. Looking back at him over her shoulder, she smiled. He felt as if he was punched in the heart. It actually skipped a beat.

  “This is the final section of the woods. It ends with the cliffs on this side of the castle.” Deaglan’s voice was almost lyrical, lulling her into peaceful reflection.

  At that moment, Sheridan felt something urgent. It was like a pinch in her leg and panic in her heart at the same time. It didn’t feel like an anxiety attack; her mind wasn’t racing, it was calm and determined.

  “I have to get back to where we started.” Standing abruptly, she grabbed her pack and tossed it to Deaglan. She couldn’t explain how she knew, but she did. Something needed her. She took off in the direction of the need.

  “What are you feeling?” Deaglan jogged beside her. He was capable of much faster speeds, but she hadn’t been formally trained and her powers weren’t fully charged yet.

  “An animal is caught by its leg. It needs me.” Sheridan groaned as pain spread across her back between her shoulder blades. It was excruciating, but she didn’t even slow down or care. The animal was her priority, not herself.

  Deaglan had to pick up his pace as she began to move faster. Sheridan’s legs weren’t moving any quicker than they were a few seconds ago, but somehow each step was covering more ground. It wasn’t until Deaglan had to move at full speed when he realized her legs weren’t touching the ground at all. She was flying.

  The animal who needed her was in her sights before she could even ask herself how that was possible. She set down next to a small spotted fawn who was frantically trying to untangle his leg from the crux of a tree with two diverting trunks.

  “Shh, now. Sometimes to go forward, you must first move back.” She gently pulled the baby’s leg free and held on to the creature to inspect the scraped limb to ensure there was no permanent injury. She anticipated a struggle from this sweet creature, knowing it had been frightened. But now it was calm. Sweet black, long-lashed eyes looked up at her with complete trust. It let her hold it and care for it. It trusted her. As she watched, a light left her fingers and entered the fawn’s body. The scrape disappeared and the fur returned to its place.

  “You’re amazing,” Deaglan whispered in awe. He put his hand on his chest and bowed like he had the first time they met. Sheridan blushed just as much this time, if not more so. Stroking the woodland babe, who was sitting contentedly in her arms, was her only defense against her growing feelings toward this man. She felt joy. A shocked joy, but joy nonetheless.

  “I don’t know how I did that.” Her murmurings were not going to decrease the awesomeness of what she’d just done. Even she felt how cool it was.

  “That’s what makes it so amazing.”

  She set the fawn down and watched as he ran off toward his patiently waiting mother. He was appreciative, she could feel it, so she didn’t take it personally.

  “Your wings are beautiful.” Deaglan took a step closer to her. She couldn’t see them, but she felt them. They were still causing her pain. Now that the animal alarm had been silenced in her body, her own hurts were occupying her mind. “Shawn told me how painful his were when they appeared for him, or rather, the muscles that came with them. He wasn’t even able to use them, like actually control them, for a week. You used them the second they appeared. Would you like me to massage them for you?”

  Did she? She was still harboring some anger from the fact he held her against her will yesterday for however brief a time, but the truth was she was in pain. She turned her back to him and spoke. “Be gentle until I get used to it.” He could see and feel the pain she was in. It was not a sensation he liked, at all.

  His fingers were as soft as feathers as he traced where the new appendages met her back. It wasn’t easing the pain, but it felt nice. She pushed back into him a little bit, signaling he could use more pressure. Deaglan was right, there were new muscles back there along with the wings and she’d just given them their first workout with no warmup or warning.

  “What color are they?” She wanted to see them for herself, but they didn’t wrap around. They weren’t big enough.

  The massage paused for a second.

  “They are the most beautiful shade of green. They match your eyes.” He said it with an affection she had never heard directed toward her before. “Can I ask you a question now?” Deaglan’s fingers were working magic—the pain was easing into an ache, but she didn’t want him to stop. Not yet.

  “Mhm,” she moaned.

  Sheridan could feel the puff of air that escaped with his short laugh at how his touch was affecting her compared to yesterday. He was never going to figure her out, and somehow that was okay with him. “Well, your wings ripped your shirt. I’m afraid it’s bound for the trash receptacle. But there is this green mark showing on your shoulder and I was wondering if maybe I could see the rest of the tattoo?”

  Nature was her thing, and what was more natural than nudity? Without thinking twice, she pulled the shirt off. It got tangled in her wings a bit, but she managed. It caused her to sigh. The shirt must have been pulling on her wings because there was an instant release of some pressure from back there.

  After her sigh, she noticed how quiet it was. Maybe she had shocked Deaglan. She looked over her shoulder and then she turned all the way around. He looked like he had seen a ghost and maybe that was a real possibility on these grounds, it wouldn’t surprise her. “What’s wrong?”

  “That tree.” He pointed to the one inked on her shoulder. “I’ve dreamt about that tree regularly for five-and-a-half years now. It started on Christmas Eve. I was sure that tree was going to be in my stocking on Christmas Day. It was so vivid and real, but it wasn’t. Now it’s here. On you.”

  It was her turn to be surprised. This tattoo was her Christmas present to herself five-and-a-half years ago. The tree of life with big roots to celebrate the lives of her parents and to symbolize they would be a part of her future, if only in the wisdom they’d passed on to her. “Oh.”

  She couldn’t think of what more to say. Ripping the hole in the back of her shirt bigger so it wouldn’t aggravate the wing area, she slipped it back on.

  “This just confirms it for me. Do you feel it between us?” His tone was hopeful, and his face was still in awe of her.

  She was not answering that question. Yes, she felt it. That didn’t mean he needed to know that. Damn it! She had never loved a man and did not intend to start now. She had too many other things to worry about. Nope. Nope. Nope!

  “I need to get something to eat, I think.” Sheridan was five steps away headed back to the castle before Deaglan realized the conversation was over. He didn’t follow her. She knew how to get ahold of him. Maybe all she needed was some time.

  She headed back toward where their tour had ended. Her wings closed back in and her first thought was, “Where did they go?” This was way weird, but amazing, too. She had wings. Freakin’ wings, for goodness sake, and she flew! Once she knew she was alone, she took the seat of
fered her by the large oak tree beside a running stream. She needed to think for a minute. The sound and feel of the tree calmed her.

  Watching the water flow by, she saw her reflection in ripples. She still looked like herself. That was odd, because so much about her was changing rather quickly. She closed her eyes and her first thought was of Deaglan’s hands on her back. She allowed herself to enjoy that memory. No one had ever touched her like that and she already missed those hands on her.

  15

  More Training

  Patrick had filled Brecon, this mountainous beast of a man, in on Ava’s and Jenny’s strengths and weaknesses. Well, to be honest, he was filled in on Ava’s strengths and Jenny didn’t have many of those, but her weaknesses list was long. He decided she would need his undivided attention after her and Ava completed their warmup.

  Cian watched intently from the corner of the room. He didn’t join in, he didn’t make a comment. Not one single word. He sat on a stool and waited for just the right moment. He’d heard talk about the first training day. Half of the men who returned came to him with stories about Ava. Everyone knew there were to be three, one of the woods, one of the sea, one to protect the castle. It was clear Ava would be the warrior. He had her pegged from the beginning, but he needed to see the proof himself. So he waited some more.