Wyntier's Rise (Creatures of the Lands Book 3)

by Natalie Erin

  Lilja sat down, his giant paws resting underneath his bushy tail. “I understand, my son. I knew this day would come, though it seems it has come too soon.”

  “Then you understand. We have to go with him,” Jade said, and she took her place by her brother, patiently waiting.

  Snapfoot looked around in confusion to see his two remaining sisters by Shadowin’s side. Caini came forward and said, “Normally we would all go our separate ways, but ever since Wyntier captured us, I don’t think we can stand to be apart.”

  “But Shadowin, you’re the oldest. You’re supposed to be leader after Father,” Snapfoot argued. “Why would you go off on your own and make a new pack?”

  As it slowly came to him, Snapfoot felt shivers run down his spine. He bared his teeth and said, “When did you all decide this without asking me? This is unfair!”

  “No it’s not, Snap. Shadowin never wanted to fight Dad for the pack. He always wanted to go off and make his own,” Caini said softly.

  “And he has to take both of you? The only sisters I have left?” Snapfoot growled.

  “We’ll be nearby.”

  “Yeah, sure, I bet you’ll...”

  His last sentence was cut off as his father flew at him, fangs bared. Snapfoot rolled underneath him in surprise and pushed his father off of him, snarling. The other three wolves watched them, waiting expectantly for the outcome.

  As they circled, Snapfoot’s mind whirled. He didn’t know how he was supposed to beat Lilja. He was an older wolf with much more experience, and bigger by far. Lilja flew at his son and pinned him to the ground, lunging for his throat to signal victory.

  Snapfoot reached around and bit his father’s heels, causing him to stumble back. Lilja was tossed to the ground as Snapfoot shoved the old wolf’s body upward with all his strength.

  In that moment, Snapfoot recalled flashbacks of fighting with Allie. It had always been in play, but they had fought so fiercely that it had scared everyone else. He had always lost against the griffin, but there were times in which he had nearly won.

  And his father was much weaker and slower than Allie was.

  A bout of confidence surged through the young wolf. Snapfoot jumped over Lilja and swept his father’s legs from out from under him. Using his front paws, he shoved the old wolf to the ground and pinned him by the throat.

  Moments passed before Snapfoot let him up. His siblings had left immediately after the fight was over, to make a new pack. There was no place for old wolves in the new order. Such was the way of their kind.

  “So comes the end of a legacy,” Lilja said. “You fought well, my son.”

  “It feels wrong,” Snapfoot confessed, looking down at the ground.

  “What does, replacing an unsuitable leader with a new one, who is more able to lead the pack?” Lilja licked his fur clean of dust.

  “You’re the best leader the pack has ever had. Everyone says so,” Snapfoot replied meekly.

  “With good time, I’ll soon be second best. I’m sure you’ll lead our pack into a bright future, my son.”

  Lilja started walking towards the camp, nudging his son in front of him to take the lead. The full impact of what had been done struck Snapfoot. He was leader. All the things he had wanted, had planned for the pack but thought would never come true, could now become reality.

  He raised his head high, walking with grace. Things had changed abruptly in the past few weeks. But Lilja had chosen and challenged him to take up the role of new leader. No matter what, Snapfoot swore he wouldn’t let his father down.

  Chapter Ten

  A Very Important Birthday

  Days passed, the cool March air turning softly into sweet whispers of spring. As Kennu and Allie awoke simultaneously and looked at each other on March twenty-first, huge smiles spreading across their faces. It was, they remembered, Kennu’s birthday, and the sixteen-year anniversary of when they had been bonded as Changer and Accompany. Kennu leapt out of bed and Allie with him, jumping as a lynx into his arms.

  “Happy Sixteenth, Kennu!” she cheered, snuggling against his chest.

  “Happy Sixteenth, Allie!” He squeezed his Changer, swaying back and forth. She fell out of his arms, changing into the smallest doe form she could fit in the house and running to his dresser.

  “Come on, come on!” Allie began pulling clothes out of the drawers, scattering them around the room.

  “I will, I will! Just stop messing up our room,” he laughed.

  After quick selection Allie pranced to the door, helping Kennu down the stairs. For once, Kennu felt good... he hoped there were no seizures today. Ionan hopped around the kitchen eagerly as a rabbit at Kia and Keota’s feet. For the first time in weeks, they weren’t arguing.

  “Today is a special day for you both.” Kia smiled and brushed back Kennu’s hair, kissing his forehead.

  “Indeed,” Ionan said. “Sixteen years together is a great feat. You are now old enough to be called a man in our society, Kennu, and you a grown lady, Allie.”

  “I think we still have some growing up to do,” Kennu laughed nervously.

  “That depends,” Keota said, though his smile didn’t seem completely honest. “You can’t come in the house today. We’re getting surprises for you.”

  “No peeking around at all?” Allie moaned, and she poked her head into the closet.

  Ionan hopped to the door and put his paws on it. “Oh, no you don’t. Go outside and stay there. You have visitors waiting for you.”

  As they opened the door to the outside world, Allie jumped in front of Kennu instinctively as several voices screamed at them all at once.

  “Happy birthday Allie and Kennu!” every animal in the forest screamed, hopping up and down in the trees and on the lawn. There were dozens upon dozens gathered in the small clearing. Creatures had come from long distances, merely to wish them well on their birthday.

  Scarlet landed on Kennu’s head, appearing very pleased with himself. “You like the surprise? I’ve been planning it all week. Happy birthday!”

  “Yes, a very happy birthday indeed, young prince.” Sunset slunk from behind the house with Lyrica and Mirabelle. The two girls were wearing multiple ribbons on their heads in celebration, which streamed behind them in the wind.

  “Wait until you see all that we’ve planned for you guys!” Lyrica squealed, but Mirabelle smacked her tail in front of her mouth. The two girls giggled and ran off. Behind them, everyone in the forest was bustling in preparation.

  “Shoo, shoo.” Sunset pushed them away with her head. “Out of the backyard. Go fly around in the forest or something.”

  “Oh, must we?” Allie complained, but soon there were many paws on their backs shoving them into trees.

  As they headed away from their house there were many cheers, Snow Drop crying, “They’re gone! Let’s hurry, before they come back!”

  Allie changed into a griffin, scooping Kennu on her back. “I’m in a right mind to go back and spy,” she said mischievously.

  “You’ll ruin their hard work. Surprises are no fun unless they are surprises,” Kennu reprimanded playfully, bouncing because of her high trot. She crouched and jumped without warning, Kennu clutching onto her feathers to hang on as they sprung into the air.

  They flew as high as they could, until the air thinned so they could no longer breathe. At this point Kennu smiled and let go, falling off of Allie’s back to skydive towards the ground.

  Allie waited a few seconds before chasing after him. He fell faster and faster, but only exhilaration reached him, only joy entered his mind. He spiraled downward in the sky until Allie caught him in her claws, performing a spiral and placing him on her back again.

  “That’s the best thing ever.” Kennu sighed in happiness and laid his head down on Allie’s neck. It was the ultimate form of trust between Changer and Accompany, and they had performed it many times, but it was always out of sight of the adults or anyone else.

  “It always scares me a little,” Allie
confessed. “What if you had a seizure as you fell?”

  “I won’t have a seizure. It’s too perfect of a moment.” He closed his eyes and rocked back and forth on her, making her sway as she flew.

  “All the same.” Allie’s eyes narrowed.

  “You’re the bravest griffin I know. You wouldn’t let me die.”

  “I’m the only griffin you know.”

  “Well, even if I knew all the griffins in the world, you would still be the bravest, as well as the best Changer.”

  “You don’t mean that.”

  “Oh, yes I do.”

  “Well, if I’m the best Changer in the world, then you are the best Accompany. I’ve never met a better one than you.”

  Kennu made a face. “Allie, I’m a horrible Accompany. I’m not tall, or strong. I don’t even have a pure bloodline. Not to mention my health sucks.”

  “And that’s what makes you the best. You’re my Kennu.”

  Kennu shook his head, burying his face into her feathers. “I love you, Allie.”

  “And I love you, Kennu.”

  Kennu scoured the ground and spotted a lone figure walking in a field filled with yellow flowers below. “Hey look, its Reagan! Why don’t we invite her to the party?”

  Allie shot him an angry look, then sighed, turning downwards to descend. “Alright. Invite the human girl. But only for you, Kennu.”

  Kennu jumped off of Allie before they even touched ground, sprinting towards the girl. “Hey Reagan! Guess what? Today is our birthday!”

  “You have the same birthday too? Is there anything you don’t share?” Reagan said in disdain.

  “No, there’s not. Not anything.” Allie stepped forward smugly, flicking her tail

  “Good to know.” Reagan shook the blonde hair out of her eyes. “So sweet sixteen? That’s a good year. My party was huge. I invited over three hundred people. Are you going to have a party?”

  “You bet. Everyone in the forest is coming. We were wondering if you wanted to come,” Kennu said.

  Reagan glanced at Allie before smiling reluctantly. “Sure. I’ll come.”

  Kennu noticed the look on Allie’s face. He grinned and said, “Allie, it’s our birthday. Cheer up.”

  “No,” she said grumpily. He started scratching the area behind her owl ears, and her body instantly sagged in relaxation.

  “Hey, cut that out. You know that feels really good…stop it…” Allie started to twitch, thumping her leg against the ground.

  Snow Drop descended from the sky, landing by Allie. “My mother sent me to make sure you don’t go sneaking back to the party,” the Pegasus said. “She knew that you would try.”

  “Allie would try, not me,” Kennu said. “But since you’re here, why don’t we have some fun?”

  “How so?” Snow Drop neighed, flicking her tail.

  “We should have a race! Reagan on Snow Drop, and me on Allie. If that’s alright with you, Snow.”

  “That sounds wonderful! I haven’t been ridden in ages.” Snow Drop said, before looking at Reagan. “You do know how to ride, right? Because I’m not stopping if you fall off.”

  “Of course I know how to ride!” Reagan said snottily. “My friend used to have horses! She didn’t grow up in the suburbs of Detroit like I did, lucky for her. She got to live in Bloomfield Hills.”

  “Okay, whatever that means,” Snow Drop said as the girl climbed on her back. “It’s your fault if you go tumbling to the ground.”

  “Ready?” Kennu asked. “To that stone and back.” He pointed to a boulder at the other end of the field. “Ready…get set…go!”

  At his word, both creatures charged into a speed that seemed magical. Allie had changed into a chestnut mare to keep up with Snow Drop, who flew just as easily along the ground as she did the sky. Allie took the lead, and Kennu whooped in exhilaration as they began to pass Reagan and Snow Drop.

  “Oh no you don’t,” Reagan murmured, and she urged Snow Drop to go faster. Allie and Snow Drop soon were neck and neck, tying when they reached the end of the boulder.

  Kennu’s windblown hair was everywhere. “That was crazy! I’ve never seen Allie run so fast!”

  “Let’s try again, after I catch my breath,” Snow Drop gasped. They waited a few more minutes before racing twice more, with the same result.

  “We’re never going to crown any winners this way,” Kennu complained. He glanced at Snow Drop and said, “Hey Reagan, why don’t we switch?”

  “Excuse me?” Allie snapped.

  Kennu got off of his Changer and said, “Why not? I’ll ride Snow Drop, and you’ll ride Allie.”

  Allie and Reagan stared at each other, their gazes filled with absolute loathing, before the human girl reluctantly dismounted the Pegasus. Kennu hopped on Snow Drop, teasing, “Come on girls, or I’ll leave you behind.”

  Allie snorted when Reagan climbed on her back. The Changer danced back and forth as Reagan grabbed her mane, her muscles tense.

  “Don’t buck me off,” Reagan grumbled to her, sure Allie was seconds away from doing so.

  Allie gnashed her teeth. “You should feel lucky I haven’t tossed you to the ground already. Are you sure you can hold on?”

  “Are you sure you can keep up?” Reagan said.

  Allie went to say something nasty back, but Kennu whirled by her on Snow Drop, laughing loudly. “You lost your chance!” he called, hurtling towards the boulder.

  Kennu’s cheating caused them to spur into action. Allie took off before Reagan had even a good hold, flattening her ears against her head. Their mutual dislike of one another was pushed aside as Reagan and Allie raced towards the finish, closing the gap between their competitor. Even though Kennu had gotten a vast head start, the girls quickly caught up. It wasn’t long before they flew by the Pegasus, crossing the finish before Snow Drop and Kennu had gathered what happened.

  Reagan slid off of Allie’s back instantly, the immense enmity between them evolving once more as Kennu and Snow Drop trotted across the finish.

  “You guys make an excellent team,” Kennu said. “Snow Drop and I weren’t even close.”

  The girls didn’t say anything. Taking a deep breath, Snow Drop said, “It’s time to go back, Kennu. Your party’s ready by now.”

  Once they got to the backyard, Kennu’s mouth dropped open. Golden streamers were hung along the trees, and yellow cloths covered a long table in the middle of the backyard. Luciana and Rex were gathered at the end of the table, along with his grandmother, Carolinia. He gave her a hug before his mother tapped him on the shoulder, handing him a giant card that looked handmade.

  “Soran, Zorna, Vivi and Melodi all send their love,” Kia said. “They promise to come visit as soon as school ends.”

  “Zorna’s coming this summer?” Allie asked, her ears perking up. Kennu grinned slyly at her, tilting his head. She added coolly, “That’s great. I’m excited to see them.”

  “Sit down, sit down!” Lyrica pushed her cousin into a chair and Allie plopped down next to him, changing back into a griffin. “It’s time to start dinner!”

  Casiff and Vixen brought out a great deal of trays covered in food, the animals cheering in excitement. This was their favorite part of the party. As the feasting began, Reagan looked around and asked, “Hey, where are those dogs that you always hang around with?”

  “They’re wolves. And they’re all kind of...busy,” Kennu said. “It’s complicated.”

  Mirabelle stood up, and Lyrica rushed to her side. “We would like to give Allie and Kennu their present now, if that’s alright.” She looked at Ionan, and the great dragon nodded. Lyrica and Mirabelle climbed on a platform covered in golden ribbon, and Lyrica pulled out a harp.

  “We wrote this song for you and Allie,” Lyrica said. “We hope you like it.”

  Together, they began to sing.

  “Your wings are my stronghold

  They help me to fly

  You clear away tears when I cry.

  Each breath you ta
ke is mine

  Each heartbeat mine too

  Each movement as one

  My safe heart song you’ll always be,

  Because I will go on and you with me.

  Live everlasting with you by my side

  A joy that will never be matched

  The truth in your eyes

  Comforts my pain

  And I can go on as long

  As you’re with me

  Heaven’s song cannot compare

  To the smile I see on your face

  Eyes gleam in the moonlight

  And stars dominate the skies

  And I will go on

  If you stand with me.

  A life renewed

  On a joyous day

  A world of hope

  Because I know you’ll stay

  And I will go on

  If you stand with me

  No matter the trouble we get into

  No matter the pain that I feel

  As long as I can run to you

  I can go on with my life

  I will go on

  If you stand with me.”

  The girls finished their song and the clearing erupted in a roaring applause. Even the hungriest of the animals had stopped eating to listen to them. The shy Mirabelle stepped out of the circle of attention and Lyrica with her, both girls receiving strong hugs by their fathers.

  “That was great, Lyrica!” Kennu said, giving his cousin a one-armed embrace. As he said this, Kia and Keota came out carrying a giant gold cake, several layers tall.

  Kennu smiled as he loaded the biggest piece he could onto his plate. It only took minutes for half the cake to be gone. Most of the animals had taken out giant chunks with their teeth, leaving the fairies to cut around the fragmented pieces.

  “Here, darling, have some cake.” Casiff hurried towards his wife, carrying a plate. Unexpectedly, he tripped and the piece he had been holding flew right into Vixen’s face.

  Casiff gasped. “Vixen, I’m so sorry...”

  Vixen smiled foxily and pushed her own cake into his face. As this happened, the whole forest suddenly erupted. Cake began flying through the air, splattering into the faces of animals and fairies.