16. Ylfa
Humans point bladesof silver from all directions, and they don’t just have knives. They have guns with silver bullets, too.
Coming here was a bad idea. They really will kill us.
To my surprise, Brianna steps forward, blocking my view of a large, burly man with a red beard. “Tim... they’re with us...”
Tim? Wow. Cool name for one so big and tough-looking.
Tim sneers. “Bree, move out of the way. I don’t know what kind of magic they’ve cast on you, but they’re the enemy...”
I refrain from rolling my eyes. We don’t cast magic. We’re shifters, not witches.
Brianna snarls, swinging her leg around as she kicks the rifle from Tim’s arm, and the man looks at her aghast.
Several weapons point her way now.
Brianna couldn’t care less, though. She just throws her arms up and damns the sky. “For the love of God, Tim! I am not brainwashed! We’ve teamed up with these wolves. They mean no harm. If they’d wanted us dead, we wouldn’t even be standing here now. Use that thick skull for once!”
Tim bends down to retrieve his gun from the sand, his arms shaking. The wind howls, wafting through his long, red beard, and I give a shiver. It’s bitterly cold in this cove. I always thought that the sea would be balmier than this.
Brianna casts her gaze around the beach now, addressing anyone who cares to listen. “These wolves come in peace. They only wish to speak with Raven. They spared us our lives if we promised to bring them to her. But I mean what I say... they don’t want to cause us harm.” She peers at me. “Well, go on, Wolf Girl. Tell them what you told me...”
My eyes expand, and now my heart skips a thunderous beat. Holy crap. I’m having symptoms of stage fright, and I’m not even standing on stage.
You can do this, Ylfa. If it helps, I was human once, too. So I understand their fears. So channel into my memories and use my emotions to guide you. Man has become primitive yet again in his fears. Just like the humans of my first life...
She’s right. We pretty much sent them back to the Stone Age, mentality wise, and no wonder they hate us. These people are terrified. When I glance around, I know it’s more than the cold that has them shivering.
They are facing their biggest threat. A threat that is a danger to them in more ways than one. We’re not just bigger and stronger. We make them sick, too.
I try to tell myself that a hundred years have passed. This generation of humans will have developed the antibodies they need in order to survive in the face of pestilence, and oh lord, we really are like the Four Horsemen of The Apocalypse here...
Not only do we bring the threat of war and death, but we bring the possibility of famine and pestilence, too.
Their fears are very, very justified.
I draw in a breath, wincing when I taste the bitter, salty air, then address the crowd. “It’s true. We wish to negotiate with you all and come to some form of understanding. We can share this world together. That is why I must speak with Raven, your savior. We promised each other back when she was a prisoner that we would do everything we could to prevent war. So, let’s make a vow for peace right here on this beach.”
Silence. Awful, awful silence. Seagulls cackle in the sky as waves crash against the shore, and it’s like they’re mocking me. I must look and sound so silly right now, but I don’t care. I will stand my ground.
Tim lowers his gun, staring at me in disbelief. He looks surprised that I can actually talk. I don’t know why. We’re not complete monsters.
Finally, he releases a gritted sigh, holding his hand up. “Withdraw. The wolf woman speaks the truth. There are no lies spewing from her mouth.”
I raise an eyebrow. How does he know that? Intuition?
The others lay down their arms, and all the air leaves my lungs. Thank goodness it didn’t have to come to bloodshed.
I look Tim straight in the eyes. It’s time to reunite with an old friend...
“Take me to Raven. P-please...”
I add the last part so he doesn’t think me rude. As I said, we’re not complete monsters. Some of us wolves have manners.
Besides, I like how he called me woman. It’s either girl or bitch from these humans, but never woman.
Tim exhales, looking at me apologetically. “That I can’t do... because Raven is no longer here...”
My heart sinks like a sunken ship lost at sea, and now I drop to the sand, the fatigue of the last few days finally catching up with me.
Well, looks like we only ended up wasting our time.
Raven wasn’t here after all.