Novice Defender

by Marisa Chenery

  Jerrica thought over what her dad had said. She nodded. “I think you’re right. I will bring my bow and arrows tomorrow. I won’t be able to carry them as a wolf, but I can keep them in a place where I can easily get to them if needed.”

  “I’m sure I can come up with something that will work while you’re in your other form. Let me think about it.”

  “Okay. But there’s no rush. You’re busy.”

  “I know, but I can make time for it.”

  “I think you’re going to use it as an excuse to get out of some of that bookwork,” Jerrica said with a chuckle.

  Her dad smiled. “You’re right.”

  She shook her head with a grin. “I’m going to leave you to your work and head up to the loft. Since I’ll be patrolling, I have to be up early. Are you working in the orchard tomorrow?”

  “No. I have things to do inside the walls. Hunter will be there, though.”

  Jerrica stood, then gave her dad a kiss on the cheek. She did the same to her mother before she crossed the room to the ladder that would take her up to her loft bedroom. She climbed it, then went to her bed. Until recently, there had been two twin beds up there. She and Hunter had had to share the space. Now that he had a child of his own, her brother had taken his old bed to his cabin, so Seth could use it when he was old enough.

  She changed into her pajamas, then sat on the bed. Jerrica hadn’t lit a candle. She didn’t need it. Now a Defender, she could see just as well in the dark as if it were day. She climbed under the covers then lay down. Her thoughts settled on Calan. She didn’t have to worry about him being beyond the walls, hunting zombies, but that didn’t stop her from thinking about him out there alone. Nights like that were supposed to be over for him now that she was his mate. She would get over her fear, no matter what it would take to do so.

  Chapter Two

  The next morning Jerrica had just come down from the loft when the cabin’s door opened and Calan walked in. He was now considered part of the family, so her parents had told him he didn’t have to knock every time he came over, as he had been doing.

  “Hey,” he said with a smile once he saw her.

  “Hi,” she replied. Jerrica crossed the distance between them and gave him a kiss. “How did last night’s hunting go?”

  “All right. There weren’t that many zombies in the area.”

  “Good.”

  Calan had had the big job of clearing out a large number of undead that had been drawn there by the pig and human blood John and his son had used to set the attack into motion on the settlement. Zombies could smell it from miles away, especially human blood, and they had followed it to its source.

  “Enough talk about zombies,” her mom said as she placed two bowls of oatmeal on the table. “Breakfast is ready, and you two need to eat before you go on patrol.”

  “Yes, Mom,” Jerrica said with a smile.

  She and Calan sat, each picking up the spoon that had been set next to their bowl. Jerrica took a mouthful, chewed then swallowed. “Where’s Dad?”

  Her mother took a seat at the table across from Jerrica with her own bowl of oatmeal. “He ate already then went out to the barn to feed the livestock. He said something about working on that project for you.”

  “What project?” Calan asked.

  Jerrica turned her attention to him. “My dad and I were talking last night after you left. He suggested I bring my bow and arrows when I patrol. He thinks they might help me get over my newfound fear of zombies, since I’m used to taking them out with that weapon.”

  Calan nodded. “That’s a good idea.”

  “The project is him coming up with something to help me carry my bow and quiver while I’m in wolf form, so I don’t have to always carry them in my mouth or leave them someplace nearby.”

  “That would be handy, if it works. It’ll have to be something you can put on by yourself once you shift, or put on before and it will fit your much larger wolf size.”

  “I’m sure he’ll take all that into account.”

  She and Calan finished eating, then headed out of the door to the yard. Jerrica picked up her bow and quiver from the porch. Her dad came out of the barn as they crossed on their way to the dirt road that would take them to the center of the settlement and the gates.

  “Jerrica, before you go, I want to show you what I came up with,” her dad called. He was carrying something.

  She stopped and waited for him to join her and Calan. “Hi, Dad. What have you got there?”

  He lifted what he held and spread it out for her to see. It looked like a harness made from leather straps. She gave it a closer inspection. They appeared to be old reins that her dad had stored in the barn.

  “It’s for you to carry your bow and quiver while you’re in your wolf form.” He took the items from her and attached them to the harness by metal clips. “Try it on.”

  Jerrica eyed it. “Ah, Dad, that will fit me in this form, but it’ll be too small once I go wolf.”

  “No, it won’t. I made it so it’ll adjust when you shift.”

  “If I do that while wearing it, it will just disappear, like my clothes.”

  The magic she and Calan used to shift to their wolf forms stored their clothes. Where they went, neither one of them knew. Wherever it was, it made them like new and clean once they returned to being human. He had been wearing the same pair of jeans and T-shirt since he’d been turned.

  “Not necessarily,” Calan said. “You just have to picture the harness on your back when you shift, then it should stay put. I once shifted with a blanket wrapped around me and thought to keep it on me as a wolf. I did what I told you to do, and it worked. That was in the early days after I’d first woken up. I still thought of myself as mostly human, and I figured I needed a blanket to sleep as I had in the past.”

  “Will you give it a try?” her father asked.

  “Okay,” she agreed, excited at the thought.

  He walked around her to her back, then slipped her arms through the harness. He came to stand at her front and fastened a section across her upper chest that was attached by a series of metal rings. A long piece of leather hung down at her side.

  “You can shift now,” he said.

  Jerrica pictured herself as a wolf and made the shift. The excess leather slid through the metal rings, adjusting to her increased size. She walked toward the cabin, then back to her dad and Calan.

  “It fits,” she said telepathically, directing her words to them. “It doesn’t feel as if it’ll slide off.”

  Her father smiled. “Good. Now shift again.” Once Jerrica had taken on her human form, he said, “To tighten the harness, just pull on the strap at your side.”

  She tugged on the bit of excess leather, and the harness shrank to her new dimensions. Jerrica gave her dad a hug and kiss. “Thanks, Dad. It works perfectly.”

  “You’re welcome,” he replied. “I won’t hold the two of you up any longer. Have a good day patrolling.”

  She and Calan said goodbye, then headed to the road. They held hands as they walked. It was comfortable, and Jerrica would never regret her choice to be Calan’s mate.

  They reached the gates where the teenaged workers congregated, waiting to start the day working in the field. Mathias, the adult who supervised, waved when he spotted Jerrica and Calan. They went to him.

  “How’s our new Werewolf Defender?” Mathias asked with a smile.

  Jerrica grinned. “Good.”

  He leaned his head to the side and glanced at her back. “You brought your bow and quiver. I would have thought those would be a thing of the past for you now.”

  Jerrica looked at the ground, then back up at Mathias. “I might as well tell you. Calan took me hunting last night. I froze when we came across some zombies. My dad suggested I keep my bow and arrows with me until I can get past that. He said they’re familiar, and I’ll feel safer with them.”

  “Perfectly understandable. Whatever works best for you.”

&nbs
p; He stepped a little away from them and called loudly to have all the workers’ attention. Mathias didn’t take long to outline what needed to be done that day in the field. After that, everyone gathered behind the horse and wagon that would precede them.

  The gates opened, and the workers set out. Before Jerrica shifted, someone called her name. She turned to find Austin walking hurriedly toward her.

  Calan, who had already gone wolf, rubbed his furred side against her. “I’ll meet you out there.”

  She gave him a scratch behind his ear. “Okay. I won’t be long.” He bounded through the gates, following the workers. Jerrica turned to Austin, who stood behind her. “You’re late this morning,” she said. “You missed Mathias’ talk.”

  “I know. I overslept. How are you doing?”

  “I’m good.”

  “Have you adjusted to the new you?”

  “Yeah, I have. Calan has been a great teacher.”

  “Glad to hear.”

  They fell silent. Before meeting Calan, Jerrica had had a crush on Austin, and he’d had feelings for her as well, to the point where he had wanted her to be his wife. Now that she was Calan’s mate, there was no question of that ever happening. Austin had held the hope that she’d pick him over Calan, but that was before she’d become a Werewolf Defender.

  “I guess we should get to the field,” Jerrica said, breaking the silence that had grown a tad uncomfortable.

  “Yeah, we should. And I should talk to Mathias to see where he wants me to work.”

  “I’ll see you out there then.”

  She turned to leave, but he stopped her. “Jerrica, wait. I want us to remain friends. I can accept you’re with Calan. If not for him changing you, you’d be one of the undead. I hope we can all be friends.”

  Jerrica smiled. “I never stopped thinking of you as a friend, Austin, and I’m sure Calan feels the same way.”

  She went wolf, then walked out past the walls with Austin. The gates closed behind them. Jerrica stayed with him until they reached the others before she joined Calan at their lookout spot, which was a small hill next to the field. It gave them the best view of it and the surrounding area.

  Calan greeted her by rubbing his muzzle along hers. “Everything okay with Austin?” he asked.

  “Yes. He wanted to know how I was and to let me know he’s accepted that we’re mates. He hopes we can all be friends. I told him we would be.” Jerrica returned Calan’s show of affection.

  “I’m glad to hear he no longer has hopes of winning you from me.”

  “That will never happen.”

  “I know. How’s the harness holding up?”

  Jerrica gave a little shake. The harness didn’t budge. “Very well so far.”

  “Your dad came up with a great design. It’ll come in handy.”

  She peered over the field to the tree line that edged the field. “Do you think we’ll be troubled by zombies today?”

  Calan looked in the same direction. “I don’t think so, given how I didn’t run across too many last night. Plus, I did a good job of thinning out the herd before what was left moved on.”

  After she’d awoken from the sleep that she’d sunk into while she’d changed, Calan had spent hours clearing out the undead so the workers could leave the safety of the walls and work in the field and orchard. This time of year was crucial, since there were crops that were ready to be harvested and the rest watered and maintained. No one wanted to face a winter without enough food put away to last everyone in the settlement.

  “I hope we have an uneventful day,” Jerrica said.

  * * * *

  The morning went by with Jerrica and Calan dividing their time between patrolling the field and the orchard. By noon, the settlement’s gates opened, and another horse and wagon exited. It headed straight for the field. The workers’ lunch had arrived. She and Calan would be fed as well.

  Jerrica shifted to human form. “I’ll get our lunch,” she said to Calan, who remained wolf.

  She went to the end of the line that had formed at the back of the lunch wagon. It inched up until Jerrica was at the front. She smiled at Maria, the woman who was in charge of bringing the workers their food every day, then she had to hold back a scowl when her gaze landed on the girl who stood beside Maria—Becca, the daughter of the former leader.

  “Hi, Becca,” Jerrica said. “I guess your arm is better.”

  Calan and Jerrica had saved Becca from some zombies who’d wandered onto the field before the attack. Becca had frozen in fear, and Calan had had no choice but to shove the girl out of the way. That had left Becca with a sprained arm and no longer wanting to work past the walls.

  Becca sneered. “Don’t talk to me. Here.” She shoved two paper-wrapped sandwiches at Jerrica.

  Jerrica turned then walked away before she said something nasty. Becca had always been unkind to Jerrica, but it would seem Becca’s dislike had increased in intensity now that Jerrica’s dad had displaced Becca’s father as leader. Becca could think what she wanted. Jerrica would do her best to stay clear of the girl.

  She returned to Calan then took a seat on the ground next to where he stood. “Are you going to shift to eat or do I have to feed you?”

  Calan shifted with a bright flash of light. “It should be all right for me to feed myself,” he said with a smile. “I saw Becca was at the lunch wagon and that the two of you had words.”

  Jerrica snorted as she unwrapped her sandwich. “She told me not to talk to her. She was her usual rude self. I’m sure she hates me more than she did before.”

  “Don’t let her get to you.” Calan sat beside her, then picked up his sandwich, which Jerrica had placed next to him.

  “I won’t. I’ve had to deal with Becca being nasty to me since we were little, so I’m used to it. I guess we’ll be seeing her every day now if she’s working with Maria.”

  “If you want, I can get our lunch from now on.”

  “We can take turns. I don’t want Becca to think she intimidated me enough to scare me away.”

  Calan smiled. “Good point.”

  Jerrica turned her gaze to the wagon. Even though she was a fair distance from it, her new heightened sight allowed her to see it as if she were much closer. Becca must have sensed Jerrica’s gaze, because Becca turned her head in Jerrica’s direction and sneered. Calan let out a snort.

  She turned her attention on him. “You saw it too?”

  “Yeah. She really is in a mood. Her eyes are practically shooting daggers at you.”

  “And you,” Jerrica added, once she’d glanced at the wagon again. “It would seem you’re on her hit list as well.”

  “Yay me,” Calan said with a chuckle.

  Jerrica took a bite of her sandwich and noticed Austin climbing the hill, carrying his lunch. Once he reached the top, he sat next to Calan.

  “I hope you two don’t mind if I join you,” Austin said as he unwrapped his sandwich. “It’s gotten decidedly chilly down there, especially near the wagon.”

  Jerrica grinned. “Becca giving you the evil eye too?”

  “Yes. Her whole family has been giving mine the nasty stares. I guess they don’t like that my father and brother helped kick John and his son out of the settlement.”

  Those two members of Becca’s family had been banished for inciting the zombie attack and had deserved what they’d gotten—at least Jerrica thought so. Austin’s dad and brother—blacksmiths and very large men—had walked the pair out of the gates.

  “They’ll have to get over it eventually,” Calan said. “The change in leadership isn’t going to shift back to their family. John was corrupt and needed to be removed. He almost cost everyone’s lives.”

  It was Jerrica’s turn to snort. “I doubt they’ll do that. Their family had held power ever since the founding of the settlement. I’m sure they think my father is a traitor for taking John’s place as leader. And it doesn’t help that the fabled Werewolf Defender is now part of my family, and that I’m y
our mate and a Defender as well.”

  Calan put his arm around Jerrica’s shoulders and pulled her tightly against his side before he kissed the top of her head. “Well, I am a part of it, and I have an eternity to spend with you. That won’t change, no matter how much they wish it.”

  Austin cleared his throat, and Jerrica shot her gaze to his face to find him looking a bit uncomfortable. She gave Calan a squeeze, then released him and put some space between them. They didn’t need to throw their relationship in Austin’s face, considering he’d wanted her as his own not that long ago.

  “I guess I should get back to work,” Austin said. He crumpled the wrapper from his sandwich into a ball. “Becca is harmless, but I don’t know about the rest of her family. I’d keep an eye on them, if I were you. I sure am.” He stood, then headed down the hill.

  Jerrica watched him until he reached the bottom, then she turned to Calan. “I think we got to him a little.”

  “He’s going to have to get used to it. I won’t act as if we’re not together when he’s around, just to spare his feelings.”

  “I wouldn’t expect you to, but I don’t like making him feel that way.”

  Calan smiled. “You’re so soft-hearted. Austin’s a big boy. He’ll adjust.”

  Jerrica figured Austin would. She did want them to remain friends, as he’d said earlier that day. She didn’t have too many of those, and she didn’t want to lose the ones she already had.

  Chapter Three

  A week went by, and Jerrica hadn’t moved on from just patrolling the field and orchard with Calan. She was comfortable doing it. She knew she needed to get herself to do more, but she couldn’t bring herself to try just yet.

  She, Calan and her parents were halfway through their dinner when a loud knock came on the cabin door. Her dad went to answer it. One of the settlers who stood guard at the gates was on the porch.

  He gave her father an apologetic look. “Sorry for interrupting your dinner, Geoff. We have a situation at the gates, and you need to come handle it.” He paused then flicked his gaze toward Jerrica and Calan. “And please bring the Defenders.”