Ghost Wolf (Avalon: Web of Magic #9)

by Rachel Roberts

  The mages and animals directed all their magic toward the ferret stone.

  Ozzie’s fur sparked and frizzled as the breeze increased. He bore down harder, sending a stiff wind sweeping across the grass. The rainbow seeds came loose and floated through the air in a twinkling cloud.

  “I think I’m getting the hang of this!” Ozzie exulted.

  “Fuzzy rocks!” a quiffle cheered.

  Ozzie’s stone glowed as a huge gust of wind ripped through the preserve, sweeping him off his feet and tumbling him into the trees.

  “Excellent!” Tweek approved, then turned to Adriane. “The last step is weaving the magic into the earth.”

  Adriane hugged Fred as the mistwolves moved in around her. With a nod, the warrior stepped forward. “We’re ready.”

  She could feel the melody building in the heart of her powers, her senses tingling with the magic floating across the glade.

  “It’s the Dream-er team!”

  The pack gathered around the warrior, sending her the power of their renewed magic. Storm stood at her right side, Dreamer to her left, balancing the wave of glowing golden wolf light spreading out from her jewel.

  The wolves howled softly, a low whine that rose and fell in pitch. Moving to the earth beat, the sound became a song—the song of Orenda.

  Turning and turning

  This circle of friends

  One world, one home

  Begins where it ends

  Thunder rumbled and Dreamer cocked his ears, listening to the mighty growls. Adriane closed her eyes, letting the magic rush through her as the spirit pack, thousands strong, swept across the sky.

  Releasing the wolf inside, she joined her packmates.

  Warrior and wolves shimmered and vanished. A cloud of glowing mist hovered where they had stood a second before.

  Suddenly Adriane was everywhere at once. The mistwolves swept over the entire preserve, seeking the magic that floated in the air. Adriane held on tight, her essence interwoven with the pack. They were united in a single consciousness, with one purpose: to save the forest. Clear and focused, she sank down into the earth, pulling the magic with her.

  A pulsing rhythm pounded in time with her heart, enveloping her with the full power of the earth symphony. Every tiny flower, every creature, every tree was a crucial part of the song. But none of it would flourish unless all living things were in balance, supporting each other in harmony—like her circle of friends.

  Deeper she went, treasuring the miracle of life at the very core of earth magic. With Storm and Dreamer by her side, a sphere of swirling light enveloped them. Adriane wove mist back to solid form.

  In the middle of the light stood a sylph, her flowing, fairy form surrounded by flowering vines. She greeted Adriane and the wolves with a radiant smile. The angelic beauty of her delicate features contrasted sharply with the craggy roots that spread from her arms and legs.

  “I am Wysteria, a sylph from the Moorgroves,” the ancient creature said, her voice resonant with the power of the earth. “Remember this song.”

  Adriane listened in wonder.

  “It is who you are.”

  The melody floated through her senses. The sylph’s song held the essence of every living thing in Ravenswood, from the oaks bordering Wolf Run Pass, to the rivers rolling through the deep ravines, to the wide, grassy expanse of the portal field.

  In the soaring notes, Adriane heard the echoes of wolf howls. Each refrain flowed into the next, telling of a vast network of forests woven together, of worlds connected.

  Adriane felt her packmates at her side and understood.

  “I am alone but also part of the pack, many wolves with one voice.”

  The fairy creature nodded, sudden sadness washing over her deep eyes. The melody wavered, notes falling flat.

  “What’s wrong?” Adriane asked.

  “Without a forest spirit, the magic will not last.”

  Adriane faltered. Without Orenda, the magic of the rainbow flowers could not sustain Ravenswood. The final piece was still missing.

  “I am ready.” Storm stepped forward, head held high.

  The sylph regarded Adriane, eyes full of compassion. “The mistwolf is a part of us.”

  “Storm?” Adriane’s heart wrenched as she realized what her packmate was about to do.

  “This has always been my path, warrior,” Storm said, her warm golden eyes full of love.

  Adriane knelt nose to nose with the silver wolf. “But I just got you back,” she whispered, fighting back tears.

  “You saved me, packmate.”

  Adriane smiled, finally realizing the truth.

  Storm had been born from the magic of Ravenswood, a world away from the mistwolves of Aldenmor. Though she was connected to the spirit pack, she was never meant to run with them. Her spirit belonged here.

  Dreamer bowed low.“I will keep her safe.”

  “So will I.”

  Adriane hugged Storm, holding on tight. She would remember this moment forever.

  “I am with you, Adriane,” Storm said to her packmate.“Now and forever.”

  The sylph reached out. Stormbringer walked to her, silver fur dissolving to starlight. Adriane gazed into her bonded’s golden eyes.

  “I love you, Storm.”

  Then, the wolf vanished.

  The mist shone in the center of the glade, separating and transforming back to warrior and wolf. The rest of the pack stood around Adriane and Dreamer, howling joyfully.

  “You did it!” Zach cried, hugging her as Drake danced from foot to foot.

  A huge cheer erupted. Her friends gathered around, laughing, hugging, and crying.

  Around them, the forest spread out majestically, trees and grass shimmering with vibrant greens and browns. A gentle breeze ruffled the sun-bright leaves as magic flooded through the preserve, clean and pure.

  Ravenswood was stronger than ever.

  Emily looked around, concerned. “Where’s Storm?”

  “She’s right here.” Adriane smiled, wolf stone glowing bright silver. “Home.”

  “IT’S A SYMPHONY,” Adriane said.

  “How so?” her father, Luc, asked, clearly pleased.

  Emily, Kara, Adriane, and Zach marveled over a series of swooping stainless-steel circles and squares, playing with the light like a mirror.

  “Different elements working together to make something beautiful,” Adriane responded.

  They stood in a wide gallery lined with large, frosted windows. Luxuriant light played over the serene sculptures.

  “I’ve never seen anything like it, Mr. Charday,” Zach said.

  “They’re amazing,” Emily agreed.

  “Minimal but elegant.” Kara’s blue eyes were narrowed in concentration. “Very power style.”

  “They’re awesome!” Adriane declared proudly as her dad slung his arm around her shoulder. “I’d love to see how you make these.”

  Luc smiled warmly. “We can work on them this summer… if you’d like.”

  “Sure, that would be great,” she answered.

  “Wonderful show.”

  Everyone turned at the sound of Gran’s voice. Her bright purple dress swayed as she walked confidently across the gallery with Willow, her dark eyes full of renewed strength.

  “She’s wearing me out,” Willow said. “You’d think it was me who just got out of the hospital yesterday.”

  “I haven’t felt this good in years,” Gran said, dark eyes dancing.

  “I’ve been showing off the big story.” Willow held up a copy of the Stonehill Gazette. “You guys are front page.”

  WOLF COMES HOME! was the headline atop a picture of Dreamer surrounded by kids from Stonehill Middle School.

  “The school started a petition to keep Ravenswood open,” Emily said.

  “There’s over one thousand names on it!” Kara added.

  “They’re even sending it out to other schools in the area,” Adriane said excitedly. Tiff, Molly, Heather, Marcus, Joey, K
yle and the gang had really pulled through.

  “Dreamer’s famous!” Gran read. “The official mascot of Ravenswood.”

  Luc shook his head. “To think he escaped the zoo and walked over a hundred miles to get back to the preserve.”

  “Wow!” Kara exclaimed. “Uh, I mean… poor little guy couldn’t bear to be without us.”

  “Ravenswood is clearly where Dreamer belongs.” Willow faced her daughter. “You’ve both made a good home there.”

  “Mrs. Windor doesn’t seem like the kind of woman who gives up,” Luc said thoughtfully.

  Gran snorted. “Windor has no choice. She’s been outvoted again, since Dreamer got such good publicity for the preserve.”

  Luc looked over at a well-dressed man waving to him. “Willow, I want you to meet the museum director.”

  “I’ll be right there,” Willow said as Luc walked away.

  “Kara, let’s show Zach the rest of the exhibits,” Emily suggested.

  “Cool.” Kara and Emily slipped their arms into Zach’s, pulling the boy into another room full of paintings.

  Grandmother, mother, and daughter—three generations—regarded one another.

  “Adriane, your grandmother and I have been talking,” Willow said, breaking the silence.

  “And we think it’s best for you to stay where you are,” Gran finished.

  “Yes!”

  “I’ve never seen you happier, and your friends love you very much,” Willow said.

  “Yeah, they’re okay.” Adriane smiled.

  Willow clasped her daughter’s hands. “Whatever this connection is that you have with Ravenswood, I think it’s a good thing. It’s almost as if you have an angel there, looking out for you. I just couldn’t hear her.”

  “Maybe you just didn’t listen,” Adriane said.

  “Maybe I couldn’t understand what was being said.” Willow took Adriane in her arms. “You are a wild spirit, baby girl. Don’t ever let it be tamed.”

  Adriane closed her eyes, hugging her mother tightly.

  Willow pulled away, patted her hair, and walked after her husband. Nodding in satisfaction, Gran took a seat to rest.

  Adriane scanned the gallery and saw Kara standing alone in the next room, studying a sculpture suspended from the ceiling.

  The warrior walked over and stood silently next to the blond girl.

  “Hey, what’s up?” Kara asked.

  Adriane shuffled her boot across the wood floor. “I said some terrible things to a friend.”

  “And?”

  “Do you think she would forgive me?”

  Kara faced Adriane. “If she’s really your friend, you shouldn’t have to even ask.”

  “Okay,” Adriane said.

  A slow smile spread over Kara’s face. “Besides, I was getting lonely being the only Level Two mage.”

  Adriane’s wolf stone flashed bright silver. “Not anymore.”

  SUNSET WASHED OVER the forest, kissing the trees with waves of red, orange, and purple. Adriane stood with the wolves near the lake in the glade. Moonshadow lifted his head and howled, a long wail that echoed into the sky. Dawnrunner, Dreamer, and the other wolves joined in the chorus. They were welcoming the new spirit of Ravenswood.

  Across the glade, her friends stood listening to the wolfsong.

  “How’s it going?” The warrior stepped forward, the wolf stone upon her wrist shining luminous silver edged with gold—Storm’s colors.

  “Your jewel is amazing!” Tweek inspected her wrist. “Stormbringer is a powerful paladin.”

  Kara twirled her pink and white unicorn jewel and regarded the warrior. “You know, I think Adriane’s jewel is really another color.”

  “What do you mean?” Adriane asked, anxiously studying her jewel.

  “Every time she gets near Zach, she turns completely red.”

  “I do not!”

  Zach walked up as the girls giggled. “The preserve looks great.”

  Adriane flushed red as a tomato.

  “You can feel her here.” He smiled at Adriane, gesturing to the lush trees and sparkling lake.

  “Zach, there’s a big school dance coming up before summer break,” Kara said slyly.

  “I’ve never been to one of those,” Zach exclaimed, looking at the warrior.

  Adriane blushed again. “It’s a date.”

  “All right!” The boy beamed.

  “O’ me twig.” Tweek twirled by, his HORARFF zipping through images. “We have a lot of work to do. If the spider witch plans to reweave the web, she’ll be going after Avalon’s magic to sustain it.”

  “But what’s inside Avalon, Tweek?” Emily asked. “Everyone we met seems to have a different opinion.”

  “Oh, there’s magic in there. You can bet your twigs on that.”

  “Yeah, but what kind of magic?” Adriane asked.

  Tweek regarded the mages as the animals of Ravenswood gathered around. “The only sure way to find out is by returning the nine crystals and opening the gates.”

  “Eight,” Kara said sadly.

  “Yes, one was destroyed. Two are with the Fairimentals. And now one is in the Spider Witch’s hands.”

  “So what’s next?” Adriane asked.

  “We go after the other five,” Ozzie said adamantly. “Then figure it out.”

  “We’ll have to be ready.” Tweek tottered back and forth. “We have two Level Ones—” he looked at Emily and Zach. “—two Level Twos…”

  Adriane and Kara smiled at each other, Dreamer and Lyra standing proudly by their sides.

  “And something else entirely.” Tweek looked at the ferret.

  “Hey!” the ferret protested.

  “I believe Ozzie is very important. A clear case of elemental transformation.”

  “Transformation—now that is interesting,” Ozzie said.

  “Precisely. You think the Fairimentals just picked any elf to turn into a rodent?”

  “Weasel,” Kara said.

  “Mammal,” Emily added.

  “Whatever!” Tweek hobbled about. “What I mean is, you have powerful magic, Ozzie.”

  Ozzie scratched his chin, pondering the revelation.

  “The mistwolves will return to Aldenmor and protect the Fairimentals,” Moonshadow said.

  Adriane nodded, jewel sparking.

  “You take care of Dreamer,” Dawnrunner said.

  Leaning down, Adriane rubbed her head against the alpha wolf.

  “Pup, you sure are a pawful of trouble!” Moonshadow growled at Dreamer.

  “I learned from the best.” Dreamer stood and stretched, his black fur glistening in the fading sun. He smiled the relaxed grin of a confident wolf, opening his mouth and letting his scarlet tongue loll out.

  “Just wait until you have pups of your own,” Adriane told Moonshadow.

  “That time is coming soon,” Dawnrunner’s eyes twinkled as she snuffled in his ear.

  Moonshadow’s eyes opened wide.

  Everyone cheered.

  The pack leader leaped happily around his mate. Zach grabbed his wolf brother and pulled him down so that he half jumped, half fell into the grass.

  “Let’s get wigjiggy with it!” Ozzie shuffled and leaped, landing on his rump.

  Emily and Kara danced with Ozzie, Zach, Drake, Lyra, and Ariel. The dragonflies zipped overhead, careening and twirling in joyous celebration.

  Adriane hugged Dreamer, her wolf stone shining like moonlight. She let her packmate join the joyous romp as she turned and walked across the glade.

  Adriane had never felt like she belonged anywhere. Torn between different schools, between the wolf pack and her friends, she never fit in completely with any group. Storm had made her feel strong and connected to her magic. When Storm was lost, Adriane had lost herself, too.

  Now Storm would be there for her, a paladin who would always come when Adriane needed her most. But Dreamer would be by her side every day, and she intended to make the most of it. They both had so much to learn a
bout their magic. Her bond with Dreamer would never be like her bond with Storm, but that was how it should be. Dreamer was unique. He held a special place in her heart that was his alone.

  She reached out to the forest and felt Storm’s presence all around her.

  The last of the day’s pink glow filtered through the trees, reflecting off her jewel. A million facets of brilliant love turned in the silver light.

  Since losing Storm, Adriane had kept her heart locked in a cage. Now, she was moving on. She had allowed the wolf in her to run free, and in doing so she had unlocked a part of herself. She didn’t know what would happen or where she’d be tomorrow. But she was strong; she was fierce. She was a warrior.

  Sparkling black eyes raised in laughter to the starry skies. Once again, she had followed her heart—but this time she had found herself.

  MOONLIGHT SPILLED THROUGH the trees, casting a silver glow on the dark-haired girl and the black wolf. They moved in sync, running through the lush forest.

  “It’s coming from the portal field.” Dreamer’s eyes reflected twinkling stars.

  Awakened in the night, they had both felt it: strong magic in Ravenswood.

  A breeze whispered through the preserve. Adriane could feel Storm watching her, keeping her safe.

  Breaking through the thick trees, Adriane came to a stop, Dreamer at her side.

  All was still across the field. Mist rose from the forest floor, veiling the trees in a primeval swirl.

  Adriane slowly stepped through the tall grass, scanning the trees at the field’s edge.

  Her stone sparked, and she suddenly reeled, sensing the powerful magic nearby. Dreamer growled low, pointing toward the source.

  Hidden in a thick grove of oaks, a shadow moved.

  “Who’s there?” Adriane called out warily.

  Teeth bared, Dreamer crouched, ready to lunge.

  Starlight spilled over the lone figure’s ragged coat as it stumbled forward, eyes flashing red.

  Adriane gasped.

  Mrs. Beasley Windor stood hunched, her face twisted into a menacing leer.

  Adriane swung into position, jewel flaring with power. “What are you doing here?” the warrior demanded.

  Like a puppet, the repulsive figure shuffled toward them. “I believe we have some unfinished business, warrior.”