Natalya: Wizards of White Haven

by Frances Howitt

  ‘Do any of you still have the school bed or a spare mattress down here?’ he asked his pack.

  ‘I do,’ Dustin said. ‘You wish her to sleep apart from you?’ he asked.

  ‘She’s sleeping in my bed right now but I don’t think she’s ready for me to be in it with her. We did just meet today,’ Freddie reminded them.

  ‘We’ll go fetch it for you,’ Dustin volunteered and they all rose and trotted over to Dustin’s house. The bed was already partially disassembled and his house on the same lane to Freddie’s, so they were back within ten minutes. Freddie allowed them to help him get the unwieldy metal poles and pieces up the stairs and into the second bedroom. They assembled it quietly, not wishing to disturb Natalya’s sleep. None were surprised Freddie ushered them back outside as soon as they were done.

  Freddie got up and prowled round the house, even going back upstairs to listen at the bedroom door to her breathing. He went out on the upper balcony, looked around carefully, and then jumped up onto his roof. Whilst his reddish mottled coat toned with the terracotta roof tiles, he was careful to stay off the ridge where his outline would be conspicuous. Because his house was partway up the hillock he could see over the village rooftops to the perimeter wall, but only from this rather precarious vantage point. In wolf form particularly, he had excellent senses of sight, hearing and smell. He sat still and scanned the breeze coming to him from the forest. That was where enemies tended to hide whilst waiting for nightfall. Not detecting anything untoward, he next turned his attention to the main gates. There were many faint scents confusing the breeze in that direction however. It was difficult to know if it was gate guards, visitors or even scents carried from the nearest human village a few miles beyond the walls.

  ‘Freddie, what are you up to?’

  It took him a moment to recognise Cassy’s voice speaking quietly in his mind. He turned and saw her watching him.

  ‘Just checking all is well,’ he spoke the words in his mind knowing Cassy could pick them up. ‘The enemy wizard and Catchers were hot on Natalya’s trail this morning. I doubt they’ve gone home,’ he told her and even heard the echo as she spoke mind to mind with Drako.

  ‘Do you sense anything?’ she asked.

  ‘Not in the forest, but I can’t tell if there’s anything untoward by the gates, the scent is too mixed. I think we should do some patrolling of the grounds.’

  ‘Drako agrees, but you should stay with Natalya. She’ll panic if she wakes alone. Send your pack, they can trot round discreetly. Drako and I will go to the gates and check that area out,’ she told him, already walking hand in hand with Drako down the steps from her house. ‘How’s Natalya?’ she asked and received such a flood of emotion from him she nearly didn’t hear the calmly delivered response.

  ‘She’s sleeping,’ Freddie told her simply.

  ‘Perhaps you should stay up there away from her,’ Cassy remarked.

  ‘Why?’

  ‘So you can cool down and concentrate on keeping watch for danger. You’re already besotted with her,’ Cassy added gleefully.

  He groaned mentally that Cassy was witnessing just what a mess his emotions were at the moment. He had an almost overwhelming desire to sit by Natalya’s side and gaze at her as she slept.

  ‘I’ll stay here then. Now get out of my head,’ Freddie told her a little sharply, feeling acutely embarrassed. He was left with an impression of her laughter, but what Cassy knew so too would Drako. From the roof he watched Drako speaking with the pack still gathered around his house below him. The pack soon trotted off, saving him from having to come all the way down just to speak with them. Drako and Cassy ambled into the village hand in hand and disappeared amongst the buildings but quite quickly they came back into sight out the other side. They left the village and turned right onto the main school drive heading for the main gates. Freddie kept an eye on them; it was ingrained in him to watch over and defend Drako. He was not only their leader but their clan lord’s son. Drako had also been his friend since childhood. They knew each other well. Drako was an experienced and accomplished warrior. Cassy would be able to sense any animus, or wizards for that matter, beyond the gates once the village itself wasn’t in the way, confusing the scent. Cassy had told him that such a concentration of animus people actually helped disguise the individual magical signatures emanating from White Haven Village, particularly with wizards close enough to mingle the signature. A wizard would sense a great deal of magical power combined here, but unless they were very strong or very sensitive they wouldn’t be able to determine what proportion of the magic was animus and what wizard.

  Freddie sat back and kept watch. He could see his pack in the distance, trotting the boundaries and also Cassy and Drako moving about in the watchtower by the front gates. Everyone’s lack of alarm slowly reassured him no threat was imminent. He waited until his pack had completed their sweep before coming down from the roof and going back down to his veranda to meet them.

  ‘Any of you detect anything out of place?’ Freddie asked once they’d gathered by his door to report.

  ‘I smelt something odd up near the training ground wall but it was very faint and went quickly,’ Dustin reported.

  ‘Was it near that copse of trees?’ Freddie asked and Dustin nodded. ‘There used to be a hole in the wall there. It’s where Louis first entered the grounds before we met wizard Jim. As soon as Jim took over, he sealed that hole in the wall, as well as all the others, but I understand there had been a gap for months previously. It stands to reason anyone spying on the school would know of such a handy secret breach in the defences and may be checking to see if it is still there. Or maybe it’s simply a local moving about in the forest? Who knows, but we should keep watch on the perimeter. The wizard hunting Natalya was using an animus owl to track her from the air too. I doubt the wizard can get in unnoticed but an owl can bypass all our defences. That’s what I’m most concerned with at the moment. We’ll do another sweep at dusk in about an hour,’ he added so they wouldn’t rush off anywhere in the meantime, using up their energy when they might need it all later.

  ‘Freddie,’ Natalya called softly and the wolves all turned to look up at her in the upstairs bedroom window.

  ‘I didn’t think you’d be awake yet; you haven’t slept long,’ he chided.

  ‘You didn’t really think I was going to did you? Anyway, would you mind if I had a bath? You seem to have a nice tub,’ Natalya asked shyly.

  ‘Please go ahead,’ he said, only just managing to avoid the temptation of inviting her to make herself at home. ‘Take your time,’ he added.

  ‘Thank you for standing guard. I’ll be ready for your patrol in an hour’s time,’ she told him and left the window.

  ‘Natalya?’ Freddie instantly called her back into sight. ‘There’s really no need, we can do that. You’re worn out. Let us help.’

  ‘Like you, I will only relax once the threat is over and not before,’ she told him and closed the window.

  ‘She’s determined isn’t she?’ Dustin commented with a broad grin. Freddie would have his work cut out with this indomitable female.

  6. The Owl

  Exactly an hour later the blue eyed wolf came downstairs. Freddie stood by the open doorway his ears pricked towards her and his tail waving a silent greeting. He turned and stepped outside and she followed. He nudged his front door closed and noted his pack stood attentively waiting and alertly watching them both. She came to stand side by side with him and suddenly he felt strangely bereft that she no longer scented of him. She now felt like a beautiful stranger rather than already being his. He knew she deserved to be courted properly; but he didn’t have to like it! He also had no intention of letting anyone else muscle in. Losing her was unthinkable.

  He quickly instructed which areas he’d like the three males to cover. ‘Natalya and I will go up to the training ground and check out that copse.’ Abruptly she licked his muzzle. ‘What was that for?’ he asked in surprise and aware his wh
ole train of thought had just slipped from his mind.

  ‘For not trying to leave me behind,’ she told him happily.

  Freddie stared at her until he realised the others were laughing at him and she was watching and waiting for him. Turning his mind to business, he trotted down the steps and down the lane, Natalya by his side. He was glad for some action after sitting around fretting all afternoon. The others flanked them until their paths diverted.

  They trotted up the drive, their steps in unison. He realised she was nearly as big as him; she was a tall and powerful wolf, unusually so for a female. They moved onto the grass trotting silently, their mottled coats blending into the evening twilight. They kept their keen senses fully alert. The main problem was the distraction of each other’s presence. He would far rather gaze at her than hunt.

  They thoroughly searched the whole area up this end of the grounds, combing the dark copse of trees and the training ground buildings themselves too. Finding nothing untoward she led him away from the buildings to a wide open stretch of grass where she sat down.

  ‘What are you doing?’ Freddie asked.

  ‘I’m turning myself into a tempting target. If that owl’s about he’ll come to us. He never can resist waking and harassing helpless creatures,’ she said with calm disgust.

  Freddie sat with her but angled to face her so they could both see anything trying to creep up behind them. ‘Has that owl seen you in wolf form?’

  ‘No. He’s only seen me as a tiger. I had no choice but to change from my kitty. He’s a very big owl and could have easily grabbed me in that form. My tiger isn’t helpless, easy prey. He didn’t dare come too close.’

  ‘Tell me about yourself,’ Freddie invited eagerly. ‘Where do you come from?’

  ‘Braytree island originally. My parents were both very gifted, mother a wizard and father animus. They were teachers and when I was young they accepted work on the mainland. I don’t really remember too much of that time, but I know father was attacked just for being animus and had to leave us. Mother was arrested when I was ten, I don’t know on what charge and we were separated. I was taken to a lord’s manor. I never saw either of my parents again and never learned what became of them. I can only assume they were murdered,’ she said bleakly. ‘Not long after my arrival, the lord pressed me to reveal my animus form. I’d heard from one of the servants that the guards were wary of me because they knew I had ability but not what form I was able to take. They worried I might be something fearsome. I’m not sure why they thought that, I was just a ten year old girl.’

  ‘You don’t have a weak body or character; that’s what they would see. I imagine that was just as clear when you were a child. Our personality is what dictates our animal form. They were right to be concerned.’

  She nodded; that made sense. ‘They feared me so I searched for a creature that couldn’t be misused and was considered harmless. So I tried a cat, the little tabby, copying a stray I saw. No-one knew I could be something else; well I didn’t either at that point. Fortunately, by the time I did realise, I’d also learned it wasn’t safe for anyone at the manor to know.’

  ‘I thought you’d been in wolf form?’

  ‘I saw a real wolf about two years later. I’d slipped over the wall and was walking alone in the woods one evening when I was meant to be in bed. He seemed curious about me and came close. I suppose it appealed to me that he was so wild and free as well as being so gentle. He was also beautifully coloured. I copied his form and colour and ran with him for a few hours. But I was a child and tired quickly. When I returned home he followed me but the guards saw him and drove him off. They never saw me; I was always careful that they never knew I’d been out. My cat was very useful for that. I believe he lingered nearby for a few days before leaving. I was dreadfully lonely, as was he, but knew that if I met him again he’d be encouraged to stay nearby and someone would kill him. I never let anyone see my wolf form, or any other shape I practiced in secret. It was better to become a pet cat rather than something he could misuse.’

  ‘So what happened?’ Freddie asked.

  ‘A wizard used to visit the lord regularly and often brought his son. Nathaniel was a few years older than me and training to be a wizard. I became their source of entertainment. One day the son turned up alone. I was summoned before our lord, and told to be in human form. One of my friends from the stables heard the order and warned me that I shouldn’t go, that they had plans for me. But before I could turn about and flee I was grabbed and taken before them.’

  ‘What plans? What happened?’ Freddie asked seeing stormy emotions on her face.

  ‘My lord had decided to marry me off to Nathaniel. He would then have a tame wizard to call on in his holdings. Any child of mine was likely to be talented and become his to groom into something more useful than I obviously was to him.’

  ‘So the wizard we saw in town today; that was your suitor?’

  ‘No! That was one of the catcher team leaders. Suitor indeed! Nathaniel wanted the salary the lord was offering, the comfy apartment and me. He’s a thug. He knew no one would criticise him for beating and brutalising a useless animus woman. They actually held me down so he could rape me. They knew once I was pregnant I wouldn’t be able to change into my cat, I’d become slow and easy to manipulate. I got free enough to change; he couldn’t rape my cat. I scratched and bit like a demon before escaping out the window. I’ve been running from him for three weeks now. He knows he’s been close many times. I suppose my escape has caused considerable embarrassment and probably lost him a cushy career. The lord must have been under some obligation to keep me at his holdings and not running loose. I know he had offers from others wanting to take me off his hands, but he always declined. Nathaniel’s deal with him specified that I continue to live there, so having lost me, he must have been ordered to retrieve me. Having said that, now he’s called in the catchers, he must have decided to cut his losses and see me dead.’

  ‘That’s awful. The way you’ve been used makes my blood boil,’ Freddie growled angrily.

  She licked his face gently, trying to calm and distract his anger. ‘I’m no longer hungry, tired and alone,’ she told him, remembering his words to her.

  ‘So what happens if this owl does come?’ Freddie asked glancing around them again carefully now darkness had fallen properly and an owl would be in his element. ‘I assume you have a plan?’ he added noticing just how relaxed she appeared.

  ‘I’ve been thinking about it yes. He’ll probably dive at us; try to take us by surprise, especially sitting out here in the open. If he recognises me he may try and grab me but he’s never seen me in this form. Obviously with two of us the odds are better to turn the tables. But those buildings are handy for shelter if we need it,’ she added.

  Freddie nodded, they couldn’t do much planning. An owl in flight was out of reach, but for him to grab Natalya he would have to either land or attempt to capture her in a low pass. Owls had ferociously long sharp talons designed to grab and impale their prey. He didn’t like to imagine what those things would do to either of them.

  Their wolves had speed agility and excellent senses, but their only weapon was their teeth. He looked round sharply, hearing the little creatures in the wood suddenly fall silent.

  Natalya heard the warning lack of sound too and was searching the cloudy dark sky. ‘There,’ she whispered hearing the faint but distinctive sound of soft wings that she’d become adept at listening for in the last weeks.

  Freddie yelped; a man sized owl was plunging towards them at frightening speed, talons outstretched and only moments from striking. They leapt aside and began running in separate directions.

  The owl swerved and went after the nearest wolf; the one that had yelped. Natalya turned and tried to run up behind the low flying owl following Freddie but Freddie was running too fast. He was running flat out to avoid the talons of the owl; she simply could not catch up, nor would she be able to leap on to the owl’s back. She turned a
nd ran back to the buildings instead.

  ‘Freddie, get inside!’ she called to him.

  He couldn’t see her but the building was where her voice was coming from. The owl wheeled with him and tried to block him but he leaped at the creature teeth bared. The owl squawked and veered away sharply. Freddie’s teeth snapped on empty air but he could now run unimpeded for the safety of the building hearing the creature turning to follow. He ran inside and pushed the door shut in the owl’s face. He searched the dark interior but Natalya wasn’t there. If she was still outside she was in danger. He stepped back outside cautiously and searched for the owl; he couldn’t see it. Freddie raised his nose and howled warning to his pack. The owl squawked in anger and dived at him, silencing him mid howl. Freddie was blocked from running back inside so he ran around the building, the owl hot on his heels. How had Natalya evaded such a vicious and fast hunter? Where was she? But if the owl was still flying after him it could not have found her.

  He got back inside and stood, trying to catch his breath, watching the owl sweep on past the open door. He suddenly heard the roof above his head creak and the thuds of bounding feet. He dashed back to the door following the route of the steps. A piercing shriek rent the air and he gaped in amazement. The owl was plunging helplessly earthward with a huge tiger clamped to his back! The owl’s wings could do little more than slow their rapid descent. His body cushioned her fall but they fell apart on impact.

  The tiger was up and had pounced on the human sized owl again before he could do more than hop. The tiger smashed the owl flat on his face, her claws pinning him. He wildly tried to throw her off, thrashing his wings dangerously. The tiger snarled, responding by digging in her claws deeper. The owl snapped and bit with his wickedly sharp beak trying to maim or drive off the heavy legs with their dagger tipped paws that were impaling his body and holding him down. He made contact, forcing one paw to let go for a moment. His big powerful wings thrashed as he tried to lever himself up beneath the tiger’s weight but also aiming to smash them into the tiger’s face. The owl squawked; one of his wings had been grabbed painfully and was being restrained.