Cry of the Wolf (Avalon: Web of Magic #3) (17 page)

“Your magic is strong, but you cannot win,” the manticore taunted.

The animals pressed tightly around Adriane and Storm, trembling, eyes darting about nervously.

Adriane leaned against Storm, wrapping both arms around the mistwolf. She was drained. She felt as if everything was slipping away, out of reach—except for one thing. The thing that mattered most.

“Storm,” she said softly, her face buried in the wolf’s neck. “You came for me. You risked everything for me.”

“You did the same for me.”

“Moonshadow was right. I have only brought you danger. Go. Please!” she begged. “Save yourself.”

The wolf nuzzled Adriane’s cheek.
“I would not be able to go on without you.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“I love you, Storm.”

“And I love you, Adriane.”

An eerie howl split the night, echoing across the desert.

Adriane’s eyes widened.

Another howl, then another, swept over them like a ghostly chorus of ancient spirits.

Suddenly Storm raised her head to the moons and howled in response. Standing up, Adriane threw back her head and howled alongside her friend.

One by one, the animals added their voices, sending the wolfsong over the desert and back into the night.

The booming roar of thunder rolled over them, washing out the cries.

A huge cloud, black and gray, was moving down the dunes toward them. The cloud spilled across the sand and began to form into individual shapes—wolves. The entire pack racing straight for them.

And behind them, Adriane saw something else.

It was Zach, his Elven sword drawn to protect the big red baby dragon that lumbered beside him. The dragon craned its neck, straining to push forward, looking for something.

“They come!” The manticore roared to his serpent troops. “Tonight we will finish this. Ready!”

As one, the serpents raised their staffs high and aimed at the oncoming wolves. Green fire sparked from one tip to the next, racing across the line of weapons and joining into a single web of roiling fire.

Adriane looked in horror from the wolves back to the serpents as the truth suddenly hit her.

It was a trap! She had brought the mistwolves and the dragon to the sorceress. She was responsible.

No wonder it had been so easy to escape the dungeons. The sorceress needed
live
bait.

“Remember, we want them undamaged!” the manticore’s voice boomed.

“No! Go back!” Adriane screamed at the charging wolves. She whirled to Storm. “Tell them!”

But it was too late. The serpent army stepped forward… and fired.

Green lightning lit the night skies as the fiery net flew forward. As the wolves drew nearer, the net spread wide, ready to engulf the onrushing pack.

The manticore’s eyes blazed with triumph. “Yes!”

The net fell to the sandy ground in a haze of sparks.

The manticore’s eyes flew open in rage as the serpents began looking around frantically. Thirty animals and a hundred mistwolves had just suddenly vanished from sight.

From under the misty veil, Adriane knew exactly what had happened. At the last moment, the entire pack had dissolved into mist. The magic of the mistwolves had settled over the animals, making them invisible to anyone outside.

“Maamaa!”

Drake bounded into Adriane’s arms, covering her face in warm, wet dragon licks.

“Drake!” she cried happily. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“Find them!” the manticore screamed. Through the cloud, Adriane could see the manticore stomping around, enraged. It was searching for them, sweeping the sand into clouds with its huge wings.

“Hurry!”
The voices of the wolves filled the veil.
“We must move quickly.”

Under the magic mist of the wolves, the animals huddled close behind Adriane, Storm, and Drake, and began to move away.

Green flashes erupted around them as the serpents fired random blasts at the ground.

Adriane held up her stone and focused on the light at its center. Yellow-gold flashed. Concentrating hard, she sent a ghost image of her gemstone to a dune behind the guards.

“Over there!” one yelled, as a gold light sparked in the distance. They started running toward the false magic signal—away from their prey.

The manticore sniffed at the air and turned its head. Slit demon eyes looked directly at the place where Adriane and the others were hidden. Adriane held her breath. With a low growl, the manticore started for them—but stopped.

Adriane saw Zach standing in front of the monster, sword out and ready.

“We can’t leave without Zach!” she cried.

The manticore snarled and grabbed for the boy. Silver steel stung the beast’s arm and it roared in pain, lashing out. Zach leaped out of the way. Spinning around, he sliced into the manticore’s leg, sword flashing. The creature swung its body, plowing giant arms at the boy’s head. Zach ducked, but he was slammed to the ground by the beast’s iron-spiked tail. The boy shook his head, pushed himself up, and tried to get to his feet.

The monster raised a giant foot and roared. “I will kill you as easily as I killed your parents, boy!”

“Then you will have to kill me as well.”

A large shape materialized in the air as it flew at the monster, knocking it back and taking it down. It was a wolf, huge and black. The manticore fell with a booming crash as it tried to throw the wolf off. But the wolf was too stubborn and held on, raking its claws down the creature’s chest, locking teeth into its neck.

Adriane saw a sparkling orb dangling from the black wolf’s neck. It was Moonshadow.

The manticore writhed and struggled, pulling at the wolf with massive hands. It ripped the wolf free and threw him to the ground. The monster twisted to its knees and raised a giant fist, but Zach was much faster. He lunged forward, plunging the sword deep into the manticore’s side.

The monster screamed as green blood burst from the wound.

Wolf and boy stood side by side, watching the monster stagger to its feet, open its wings, and lift into the sky, trying to stem its lifeblood from spilling out into the sands.

Zach stepped forward, eager to finish the monster, but Moonshadow stopped him.

“Another time, brother,”
the wolf said.
“We must protect the others.”

Zach looked at his wolf brother, sheathed his sword, and gave a short nod. Together they ran toward Adriane and the animals and entered the cloud of mist.

“Move. Now!”
Moonshadow commanded.

Once again, the group started walking into the desert.

Zach ran to Adriane’s side, his face full of concern. “Adriane, are you all right?”

“Yes.” She smiled. “You rescued me again.”

He smiled back, and his face blushed bright red. Then his eyes opened wide as he looked past her.

A wolf stepped forward from the group of animals. Silver Eyes.

Zach and Moonshadow started toward her at the same time, then the pack leader nodded his head, and the boy ran to embrace his wolf mother.

“I thought I’d never see you again,” he cried into her fur.

“And I, too, Little Wolf, my son.”

They raised their heads and looked to Moonshadow. The great black wolf stepped close and touched his nose to Silver Eyes’ cheek.

“My heart soars with happiness, my wolf mother.”

“As does mine, Moonshadow, my son.”

Adriane looked on happily, Storm on one side of her, Drake on the other.

Moonshadow and Zach, Silver Eyes between them, stepped forward to lead the group. Everyone followed, moving quickly between the dunes.

“How do we find our way?” Adriane asked.

“The gift from the Fairimentals will show us,”
Moonshadow told her.

Adriane saw the sparkling lights of the orb that hung from the pack leader’s neck. He led the entire group into a shallow ravine beyond the far side of the dunes. The mist-covered group entered the hidden portal and vanished in a blinding white light.

“H
OLD STILL!” ADRIANE
said, tying a vine under the wolf’s chin. She adjusted the big, bright blue leaf in place atop Storm’s head.

“Why do I have to wear this silly thing?”
the wolf complained.

“Because it’s a party. We all wear them.” She grinned at the thought of the lovely lavender leaf draped over her head at a rakish angle. Even Kara would be impressed by this Fairy Glen fashion statement.

Adriane and Storm sat together by the shores of the sparkling blue lake. It was a beautiful morning and Adriane felt clean and refreshed, having spent practically two hours scrubbing every inch of her body in the cool, clean waters.

“Storm…”

“Yes.”

“I was hurt when you left…” Glints of sunlight played across the crystal waters. “But I understand why you had to come here.” She gazed at her friend. “What the mistwolves can do here, helping the Fairimentals and everyone in Aldenmor, is so much more important than… well, what I’m trying to say is… ” She cast her eyes down and tried to be strong. “If you want to stay here, I want you to, also.”

Storm nudged Adriane’s cheek with her nose and licked the girl’s face. “
Warrior,”
the wolf said.
“Thank you. Let us see what the pack decides.”

“Okay.” Adriane smiled. Grabbing an armful of leaves, she got to her feet. “Come on.”

The sun shone brightly through the trees as they walked down a path to a lush meadow.

Rainbow sparkles spiraled in the air. Adriane watched Drake open his beautiful red wings. They shimmered in colors. With a great flap, the dragon lifted himself off the ground for a few seconds, then crashed, playfully rolling in the heather. A moment later, he popped up again like a giant red kitten, trying to grab a gleefully singing breeze that hovered just out of reach. The Air Fairimental giggled as she danced around the dragon.

“Yeah! Stretch your wings. That’s it.” Zach circled, watching Drake intently. “That’s really good.”

The dragon hopped up and down excitedly and promptly rolled over on his back. Zach plopped down and rubbed his round belly. The dragon crooned happily, his big legs running in the air.

Adriane had her hand over her mouth, trying to hold back her laughter.

Zach looked up at her. “What? He likes his tummy rubbed.”

Adriane smiled. “You two were meant for each other, you know that?”

Zach smiled back. “He belches louder than I do.”

Adriane sighed as she and Storm walked over. “Here, put this on.” She carefully tied a big, floppy yellow leaf onto Zach’s head.

“Do I have to?”

“Yes!” She wagged a finger at him. “Don’t make me mad, now!”

Drake gazed hopefully at her with his big, puppy-dog eyes.

“One for you, too.” She tied a purple leaf between his horns.

A wet forked tongue licked her forehead.

She stepped back and admired the three of them, Storm, Zach, and Drake. “Perfect. C’mon, let’s go.”

As they headed down the path, Adriane moved up behind Zach and covered his eyes.

“Hey!”

“Shhh, it’s a
surprise
party.” She giggled.

Only when they entered Okawa’s meadow did she take her hands away.

Under the giant branches of the huge tree, all the animals had gathered. Cats, quiffles, pegasi, even two small wilderbeasts. They cheered as Zach stood, his mouth open in surprise. Ambia hovered next to Gwigg beside a wooden platform piled high with fruits, coconuts, and a tall layer cake that sparkled with tiny, sugary lights.

A pegasus pony with blue-and-white wings stepped forward. “It was the most daring rescue ever in the history of Aldenmor!” it exclaimed.

“This day will be remembered always,” a hamster-sized dog said.

“We will compose many songs for you, warrior,” a rubbery-beaked quiffle said to Adriane.

Adriane smiled. “Well, in the meantime, do you remember the one I taught you?”

“Sort of.”

“Okay, then, all together now… ” She raised her arms to conduct the animal chorus. They all sang as best they could, a cacophony of animal voices, hoots and neighs, growls and chirps, hollers and hums.