Myth (Book 1)

by Angela K. Crandall

  The picture had made its way into Mike’s hands. He reached over the table giving it back to him.

  “There is a way to enhance the shadow bringing out her spirit form. It won’t be perfect, but we should be able to tell if it’s her or not,” he said.

  “How?” I asked.

  “Starla, you were pretty close to Cal. Eva you’re her mom. You both need to step over here, touch the area of the photo near the image and concentrate on a specific memory you had with her. One, where you connected to each other’s spirits. Then hold on to it and push it into the photo. If this works, it will bring out her human and fox features. It will be hazy, but it will serve its purpose.”

  I was reluctant to do what he said. Playing with magic? I was warned of the aftermath, if it backfired.

  “Go on,” said my father, urging me to start the proceedings.

  “Give me a minute. I have to concentrate. It’s been ages since I saw Cal,” I replied.

  Eva moved to stand on the other side of Cavin. She reached out her hand towards me. I thought maybe she wanted me to take it, but she was motioning me to join them.

  “It’s time you trust us. We had faith you would provide us with new documentation, and you have,” said Eva.

  “Yes, but, it is old evidence in which new data has been found.”

  “If it helps us to find Cal, and Lang, who cares!” exclaimed Star.

  She was right. Why was I being so hesitant, to comply? Shaking off my self-doubt, I joined them on the other side of the table. Without being asked, I touched one of the sides of the photograph, bowing my head, to begin.

  “Be calm, let your past, guide you. Now push your memory into the photo,” urged Cavin.

  Lucid images flashed in my brain on and off. The time, Cal and I met until it stopped, at a single memory. We are darting and dashing in and out of trees in a forest setting. The sun’s shining through golden leaves drifting down around us from the magnificent Oaks. I looked just about five years old. No, Ok, yeah, this was behind our old elementary school, I’m not sure where our parents were at.

  “I’m a fox,” said Cal

  “No, I’m the fox,” I replied, as we tagged each other and fell laughing on the ground.

  Is that a tail I see, am I imagining this? My mother would never have let me show my true form. I don’t remember this. I opened my eyes, pulling my hand away from the photograph.

  “What was that?”

  “Your mind focused on an important incident you experienced with Cal. There you united as clan members. You didn’t know you were linked, but you sensed it. This opened up your mind to a part of you that was lost. An episode that had been concealed until now,” said Cavin.

  Shoving the photo aside, I gave my father an angry glare.

  Eva took my hand.

  “Calm down now, it was only done for your protection,” she pleaded.

  “Was that the only time?” I asked.

  “The only time I’m aware of,” Eva replied.

  Cavin picked up the print, examining our results his eyes teary.

  “It’s her.”

  Everyone peered at the snapshot sitting in the middle of the table.

  “What do we do now?”

  Cavin’s eyes met mine. A quick shiver crawled down my back. I breathed in and out sensing the emotions of fear, contemplation, grief, acceptance, and at last optimism. They were depending on me. I was supposed to be the hero, but I couldn’t do it alone.

  “You’re not alone,” he replied reading my thoughts. “Owl is a good guide, but you’re a guardian. The fox that followed you to the Sub-shack was sent by me. I thought you might be being pursued. No one was detected, though.”

  “Which Fox was sent?” I asked.

  “Nayla, a rare white fox, and close friend of my wife’s. She habitually visits once a year. This time she made an exception due to our circumstances.”

  “She’s not here because?”

  “Large groups of people make her uneasy. When she is traveling, moving, roaming about she stays invisible preferring not to be seen. She enjoys her anonymity choosing only a few relationships with others,” he said.

  “Will we be introduced?”

  “That is highly unlikely. She may shadow you if needed,” he stated.

  I stood up and gave a little huff. Was this clan run, by men? Did they make all of the decisions for us? If so I wasn’t going to fit in well.

  “I prefer to make my own choices,” I spat.

  Owl wore an expression of shock at what I had just said. Cavin pushed his seat back appearing as if he were about to exit.

  “That’s OK; we’d rather have strong females in our group. I didn’t mean to offend you by my sternness. I’m trying to act in your best interest. Right now a meeting is not a necessity, but if it comes down to it, we can set one up. If that’s what you wish,” offered Cavin.

  My father motioned for me to sit.

  “Minder, Gladiator, Gavin, and Sika, what do you know about them?” I asked.

  “We never had names before. We’d catch glimpses of their figures in raids of violence. Flags rose with the name Bandits appearing at each site they overtook,” said my father.

  “What!” I exclaimed, standing up.

  “I didn’t want to alarm you, and we didn’t even know if they were involved. Now we have proof!” said my dad.

  “Proof of what? It’s just a picture. She could have been standing behind a tree watching, for all we know. It’s still not clear,” I spoke.

  “She’s right. It still doesn’t prove she was taken by them, but it definitely makes me more suspicious,” said Eva.

  “What are you hoping to discover at the cabin?” asked Mike.

  “Notes, clues, threats, home invasion, anything that could be seen as foul play,” said Jenson.

  “And this Jones character?” asked Cavin, speaking to the Ranger.

  “Jones is only aware of what happened to Cal, and her mother. He’s been a professor at the college for years. Strange, I might add that he doesn’t seem to age. Urban legends and myths are his specialties. From time to time, he’s proved helpful to me. Dan and I have never had a reason to see him as a threat,” Mike responded.

  Lance gave a low growl in the back of his throat as his ears shot up.

  “What’s wrong?” said Molly.

  Shaking off the bad vibe, he relaxed again.

  “Nothing, probably a few rabbits, and I smell a squirrel roaming about,” he muttered.

  “Control yourself, hunting can wait until after this, and then we have to take them to Nuria’s,” replied Shellena.

  I laughed, nervously wrapping my arms around myself, feeling suddenly chilled. Jenson took his coat off wrapping it around me.

  “Speaking of Jones, I found this stashed in my coat pocket the other day,” said Owl throwing down a long envelope.

  “What’s in it?” asked Mike.

  “Don’t know, haven’t had the guts to open it,” he answered.

  “If it’s anything like that Spirit animal magazine, it will just leave you pondering if what you think is true,” I said.

  “What’s, to question?” asked Owl.

  “If you have an animal guiding you, that is, a spirit can you take the outward appearance of that animal?”

  “It’s possible, but highly unusual for that to occur. They’re meant to guide you, not possess you. If you belong to a clan, or a tribe the animal may choose to unify with you in battle,” Owl replied.

  “Alright, now what’s in the envelope?” asked Cavin.

  “Why don’t you open it? I’d really rather not,” Owl answered.

  “Men,” Eva and Star, replied in unison.

  I snatched up the packet, rapidly opening it before anyone could object. I pulled out a heart shaped locket by its chain careful, not to damage any prints that might be on it. Then I took out the note.

  “Read it,” said Owl.

  My hands trembled as I unfolded it. Cal’s handwriting, but i
t looked aged as if written exactly after her disappearance.

  Dear Mom or whoever finds this,

  I am in a safe place. They are looking for me. The dog I chased turned out to be a wolf sent to protect me. At least I think he is. I have not been harmed yet. There are rows and rows of apple trees here, and I often play in the fields. They don’t let me go to school. Half-breeds, saving me, most of it, I don’t understand. XOXO

  Love Cal

  “Can I have the locket?” asked Eva.

  “I have to take it in for prints. Please, place it all back in the envelope carefully,” said Dan.

  I did as he said, and handed it to him.

  “At least we know she’s safe,” said Star.

  “It can’t be the bandits,” I said.

  “Or one of them went rogue,” interrupted Molly.

  I gave her an inquisitive gaze.

  “She means maybe one of them got fed up with the killing and turned against the others. Consider this, if one of them decided that this killing was senseless, that the peace treaty was something they wanted, what would they do?” asked Cavin.

  “It’s pretty obvious. They would separate themselves from their current race, to protect those their clan would target, but how would they do that?” questioned Jenson.

  “Change their appearance... I don’t know...” I responded.

  “This is a lot to take in, Owl you and the group get ready to head out to the cabin. Shellena and Lance go, pack up some of those left over’s in the fridge and take water and soda,” said Mike.

  Cavin came over to me, setting his hand on my shoulder.

  “You’ll do fine; I hope you’ll consider joining us after all this is over. If not, at least remain an ally,” he said.

  My stomach was empty, lightheadedness took over, and I passed out. That was the last thing I recalled.

  Chapter 24

  Something nuzzled me. “Fritz, is that you?” What had happened? Where am I? The last thing that occurred what was it?

  “Are you OK?” asked the voice.

  “I don’t know where I am? What’s going on?”

  “Open your eyes, you’re fine. You just passed out,” said a girl.

  My eyelids fluttered, but they didn’t want to open as if something held me back.

  “Jenson, where is he? Molly? Owl? Did they desert me?”

  “They left to put supplies in the van just relax,” said the stranger.

  I began breathing deeply in and out as she’d said. Afterwards, I managed to place my legs up to my chest in a sitting position.

  “Look at me, you have sleep covering your eyelids. How did that happen? Tsk, Tsk,” she spoke.

  Her paws slowly rubbed gently at my lids, and I heard her shuffle aside.

  “Now try opening your eyes dear. You should be able to see now.”

  Slowly, I opened them. There before me stood, Nayla?

  “Where did you come from? Cavin, said you prefer small groups, to be on your own, that you’re not comfortable around others.” Looking around I didn’t see anyone else but the two of us. A white fox how had she?

  “Dear one, it is an honor to finally, meet you. You’re correct, I don’t particularly fancy large crowds. Cavin warned me coming here today would not be in my best interest. In spite of that I wanted to meet you, having heard you’re a part of the investigation concerning the Du-Vance fiasco.” A sly smile spread a crossed her lips. She tapped her right paw on the floor, “You are a smart one. I admire that in a girl. These men don’t often give us the time of day.” She placed her paw back down firmly on the wood floor and moved about the room.

  “Can I go now?” I asked.

  “You wanted to meet me, so here I am.”

  “Are you going to watch over me? How did you wipe my eyes with your paws?”

  She stopped pacing and sat on her hind legs, paws up resembling Fritz.

  “Here and there, we keep track of our members, monitor them and their contacts. Background checks are performed to ensure that no damage will come to you, or us. We determine with this who means us harm and those who are trustworthy.”

  “And...”

  “Loyalty is in your veins, Strong, naive but strong. You’ll have spells to master, thought speak might be possible, and your willpower is beyond measure. I don’t see you letting them stop you.”

  “Who?”

  “Those who wish us destruction, the ones you’ve been trying to pinpoint, in, order to find Cal and Lang. Nuria, she was an amazing woman.”

  “I don’t think she’s dead. Where are my friends? I should be leaving,” I replied, standing up. The door to the lodge swung open.

  “The van’s all packed up and ready to go,” Mike said, shutting the door behind him.

  “OK, are you going with us?” I asked Nayla

  “I’ve planned to follow from afar. If something should go haywire, I’ll ring the clan via their tattoos. If yours goes all glow crazy, get back to your home base,” said Nayla.

  “Why? What does it mean?”

  “Enemies are close by, danger.”

  I laughed, “We haven’t seen any peril since I started this investigation. I’ve been startled a few times, but nothing too rash has taken place.”

  “I advise you begin, observing, the area’s around you. Now that you’re on track extra caution must be taken I’ll be here as a guide, but my ability to protect you is limited. Please, we don’t need another River Rogue,” she stressed.

  “You were there?”

  “Yes, now go with your friends. They’re waiting for you outside. I’ll be right behind you invisible to the eye. If you need me, try saying my name in your head. You’ll have to master this. You don’t just wake up a guardian you require training. Did anyone tell you this?”

  “No, only that, I had a choice of where and how I would live,” I replied.

  “Hmm, well, it seems they have left it up to me then.” She turned around with a wink and disappeared.

  “Mysterious one she is,” Mike said.

  “I’d better go.” I stood up and opened the door to leave.

  Mike nodded at me as I left the station.

  Jenson wrapped his arms around me. I snuggled into his warmth, to take pleasure in a few moments of peace. He pulled away slightly, gazing at me.

  “Are you alright? We’re all packed up. Owl and Molly are in the back seat of the van. I counted on you preferring to ride up front with me.”

  What I most wanted was a long, slow kiss; I reflected, staring into his blue eyes. I touched his face with my hand and leaned my forehead against his. OK, get your mind where it ought to be. Concentrate on the case girl, I told myself. Moderately my heart rate calmed, and the flutters in my chest subsided.

  “Yeah, I’ll be fine,” I replied, untangling myself from his embrace.

  He opened the passenger side door, and I stepped in, sat down and buckled up. We didn’t need any cops pulling us over, safety first!

  “Where are Lance and Shellena?”

  “They’re right in front of us in the blue van,” he said pointing. “We’re going to follow them.”

  Molly gently touched my shoulder, and I turned to face her.

  “What happened after we left?” she asked.

  I leaned back in my seat while Jenson started the car. He put it into gear and lurched forward.

  “Sorry guys,” he said, waving his hand.

  “Just focus on driving for now. You know how traffic can get at this time of the day,” snapped Owl.

  “Will do, I’ll just be the chauffeur,” Jenson joked.

  “Only until we get there, then you can use your remarkable skills to uncover clues,” I teased patting him on the back. It never hurt to indulge the boyfriend.

  “Will do,” Jenson replied.

  “Okay, Molly this is what happened after you left. I woke up, and Nayla was there. The white fox I insisted on meeting. Pretty strange if you ask me. I couldn’t even open my eyes. She somehow wiped away the goop.
I found her rather crafty implying I needed training to advance as a guardian. I’m not sure I told you, but Star revealed this to me when we met. At the time, I was honored, but didn’t give it too much consideration. I’m not sure when or where lessons will begin.”

  “It probably has a lot to do with what Cavin spoke with you about earlier,” theorized Molly

  “Learning to speak to someone without being heard would be an advantage when protecting one’s clan,” I admitted.

  “Yep, pretty obvious and you’ll need some coaching in, order to gain the ability to control and handle, spells,” Owl piped up.

  “My mother is going to love this. Remember when I e-mailed you about that book I took out of the library on Wicca?”

  Molly laughed. “Yeah, your mom flipped her lid. Afterward, you had to promise you wouldn’t try to use them unless it was to solve a mystery.”

  “And I bet she said only in life and death circumstances!” Owl exclaimed loudly.

  “Come on guys I’m trying not to lose sight of the van. Keep it down a bit,” said Jenson.

  “Okay, let us know when we get there,” I insisted.

  “How should I know, I’ve never been out this way before,” Jenson remarked.

  “Good point,” I snapped. “Now about learning spells, Mom almost certainly didn’t want me to recognize my capability to perform them. She already knew how much I admired Willow on that Buffy show,” I giggled. “Now there isn’t much she can do. I’m in the middle of it all. It makes sense that I find a way to embrace it.”

  “Weren’t you upset with your dad and mom over all this?” asked Owl.

  “I was for a bit. Mom shared pictures from her past and a diary from her youth. Dad has been over a lot more which makes Megan really, happy. She’s optimistic we’ll be a family again. It’s a possibility, but not a guarantee. I’m still not ecstatic about finding out the way I did. It was shocking, after all. I’m just glad to move forward. It will be even better after Cal is home.”

  “Without a doubt. Owl, how do you wager Jones got a hold of that note from Cal?” asked Molly.

  “I’m not sure, but it’s exceptionally odd it was delivered to him instead of, Mike.”

  “If what my clan says is true, he almost certainly discovered it alongside a path in Hunters Park. I’ve seen him strolling in the early morning there near the college,” I said.