“No,” I exhale, bowing my head in embarrassment. “I apologise. I did not intend …”
She raises her hands and exhales. “Come,” she motions towards the bed. “Let us attend to those wounds.”
I recline on the bed, remaining completely still while she binds me. She murmurs softly while tending to each injury, and I discern that she is weeping.
“I apologise. I did not intend my previous statement,” I replied, and she compelled a grin.
“No, it is not that,” she said, wiping her eyes. “Merely observe the devastation that… that monster inflicted upon you…”
“I am well,” I tell her. “It was merely a few lacerations.”
She indicates the s-shaped scar on my hip. “He branded you.”
I gaze at the unhealed flesh, still inflamed and painful from the silver.
Jaxton had designated me as a Blue Sky wolf, but I was gratified to learn that my father had similarly recognised him.
“It is acceptable. Jaxton acquired a corresponding one as well,” I chuckle uncomfortably.
She does not perceive it as humorous and persists in tidying me up. Upon completion, she retrieves two cans of chicken soup from her grocery bag and warms the meal on paper plates. We dine in a serene calm, and I express gratitude to the Moon Goddess for not being alone on this voyage.
———
My body continues to ache in the morning, but the bruises on my face and chest have disappeared. Melina rebandages my hip and many wounds on my back before we check out and proceed downtown to the bus station.
I purchased two tickets to Kentville, located just outside King County, and we boarded the large Greyhound bus, with Melina fixated on the window to observe the scenery. The journey was lengthy and arduous, but after nearly a day of travel by bus and ferry, Melina and I arrived in Liberty Bay in the late morning hours. It was a small town situated on an island just off the state’s shores, encircled by trees and water.
Fatigued, Melina and I discover a modest motel on the periphery of the tranquil town, both of us keen to repose for a few hours. However, I grapple with insomnia, my thoughts racing over our alternatives. We still possessed sufficient funds from Gamma Rocco, which would adequately cover a deposit on a small apartment. I merely needed to secure employment promptly if I wished to provide Melina with a warm, comfortable bed to claim as her own.
Jimmy stirs in my mind and groans, desiring to go for a run. It has nearly been two weeks since my last shift, and he requires to stretch his legs. I turn onto my side and discover Melina wide awake, silently gazing at the ceiling. I toss a pillow at her to gain her attention, and she sits up to growl at me.
“Would you like to go for a run?””I smile, and she responds with an enthusiastic nod.”
We proceed to the adjacent forest, and after a brief examination of the surroundings, I stand guard for Melina as she disrobes behind a tree. Moments later, a snout nudges my back, and I turn to encounter a small light brown wolf playfully bowing at me. Similar to Melina, her wolf, Lizzy, is both deaf and mute. Nevertheless, Lizzy’s heightened senses compensate for her auditory impairment; she possesses superior vision and olfactory capabilities. Her green eyes sparkle with joy at her newfound freedom, and she tugs at my shirt, beckoning me to join her.
I conceal myself behind a tree and disrobe, examining my nearly healed injuries prior to transforming.
Like my parents, Jimmy is also a Moonlit Wolf, his metallic fur shimmering in the fading sunlight. Regarding abilities, I was aware that my powers pertained to the mind, yet the magnitude of my strength remained elusive. For a month following my initial transformation, I was inundated with the incessant thoughts of every individual I encountered, their inner dialogues nearly driving me to madness. I could perceive their memories, dreams, and emotions. It was dreadful to be perpetually assailed by random thoughts, rendering peaceful sleep impossible. Jimmy struggled to manage his thoughts, and I confined him to the dark recesses of my mind until I learnt to erect a mental barrier against the voices. This marked the decline of our relationship. Even now, he refrains from communicating with me; he merely growls or grumbles in irritation occasionally.
Melina attempted to assist me in mastering my talents; but, each time I accessed her mind, she would lapse into a catatonic condition for many hours, and I found it unbearable to witness her become so blank and vacant. I have refrained from using my capabilities for years, fearing that I would cause harm to someone.
I relinquish control of my body to Jimmy, permitting him a modicum of freedom with Lizzy. He reciprocates her playful bow, and they dash through the trees, leaping over stones and stumps until they are breathless. Exhausted from their sprint, they proceed to a small stream to hydrate. Lizzy immerses herself to refresh, swimming languidly while Jimmy basks in the sun.
