Howl And Growl Complete Collection

by Cloe Cullen

  Still, she remained asleep. He hadn’t seen when she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, but Jorah didn’t quite blame her for catching some shut eye. After barely getting any sleep that night, and the fatigue from climbing added to the stress of being cornered by Nyx just before their goal, it all must have sapped all her energy. Jorah didn’t mind the sight, or sensation of her touch again, either, though he did earn a few small glares from Lowell.

  Hours later, he couldn’t say how many, warm dawn sunlight began to breach the boulder barrier at the mouth of the cave, streaming in through the cracks. The light hit Nyssa square in the eyes, which bothered her enough to wake and stretch, her eyes slowly opening to the mix of bright rays and darkness. She glanced up at Jorah first, her eyes widening as she realized the extent of her use of Jorah as a pillow. Jerking up, she blushed bright red, visible enough in the relative dark. “Sorry,” she said.

  Chuckling, Jorah gazed at her, leaning over to wipe a bit of drool from her cheek with his thumb. Her cheeks were hot to the touch, causing his fingers to tremble slightly. “It’s alright, Nyssa. Honestly, it was pretty adorable,” Jorah proclaimed, getting a gentle slap to the shoulder from Nyssa. “I don’t blame you for sleeping through this wait. It’s morning already. Look.” Following the direction he pointed, Nyssa squinted at the few cracks of sunlight. Jorah found that if one looked close enough, they could just barely make out a sliver of the blue sky.

  “Still, though,” Nyssa said. “To fall asleep now, of all times? The stress must really be getting to me…”

  “As it is for us all,” Jorah retorted. “I wouldn’t want to go into these meetings drowsy-eyed. Imagine the offense the Seers would take?”

  Nyssa giggled. “Oh, I’m sure I can picture exactly how they would react.” Her smile dwindled, her head drooping. “I’m afraid…” she whispered, only loud enough so that Jorah would hear. “I’m afraid of what could happen now that we’re up here.”

  Nyssa’s words caught him off guard. He hadn’t expected her to be so forthcoming so quickly, but then a sense of calm rippled through his muscles, his blood flow setting into a slow rhythm. “Afraid of what, talking with the Seers?”

  Rolling her eyes, she leaned over to him once again, her arm pressing into his. “Yeah, them, but I’m also afraid of what’ll happen if we don’t succeed. I mean, they’ll just kill us, won’t they? The Seers clearly see us as some sort of threat. I just...I don’t want to leave Remus completely alone, or you, or anyone else really.”

  Watching her, Jorah saw her draw her knees into her chest, and wrap her arms around them, staring into the fire. Feeling the urge to comfort her, he placed his hand on hers, causing her to look up at him. “You want to know what I’m afraid of?” he said. “I’m afraid of failing to keep my people from starting a pointless battle with the Pack, and the Pride too. I’m afraid that the people won’t hear what we say, and instead listen to the Seers...I mean, did you see how that one guy reacted to Bronwen last night in the grove? Without a second thought he shouted for her death.”

  “But some didn’t react to him,” Nyssa said.

  Jorah shook his head. “But others did. I can’t imagine what it will be like to lose to the Seers now. In fact, I never want to imagine what’ll happen if our words fall on deaf ears.” He paused for a second. “Like Nyx, there’s a lot of pent up rage at the Vampires and will be for any outsiders now. There’s a good chance that it really will all come down to the trial by combat tradition.”

  Nyssa interlaced her fingers with his, the two staring and smiling sheepishly at their connected hands. “And if it comes down to that, I know you’ll win. I’m afraid for you, but I think you’ll be able to do it.”

  Nodding, Jorah stared in Nyssa’s bewitching, deep blue eyes. They were like oceans, stretching as far back as the eye could see, containing life and wonder unparalleled to anything Jorah had known before. “You’re right...I won’t lose, because I simply can’t stand the idea of being away from you, Nyssa.” Feeling adrenaline pump into his veins once again, he leaned forward, allowing Nyssa to cup his face in her hand, and they kissed. Pressing together, their lips melted into one another, sending waves of pleasure through Jorah’s body. When they released each other, Nyssa’s hot breath lingered on his chin, and her smile put him more at ease than anything else in the world.

  “Say,” Jorah said. “Hypothetically speaking, if we do end up winning this slow battle with the Seers and the laws change for the better, where do you see us?”

  Blinking, Nyssa cocked her head. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean where would you rather live? Up here, or down in the Oldwood?”

  Gawking at Jorah, Nyssa made to comment but stopped herself partway, the gears in her head clearly spinning with her furrowed brows. “I... haven’t thought about it.”

  Laughing, Jorah poked her in the arm playfully. “It’s not like the decision is that hard. What would you rather have all year round under your feet? The Frigid snow or warm forest floor?”

  Nyssa smiled. “Well, when you put in that way, yeah it’s a pretty easy choice.”

  Suddenly, Finn jumped from his seat with the others. “Ah, damn it! You cheated, Lowell, I swear you did!”

  Sighing, Lowell shot Finn a dangerous look. “How can I cheat when I literally am still learning the rules. You’re just terrible at this game of yours.”

  “What did you say?” Finn yelped.

  “Come now, boys,” Bronwen interjected. “It’s not like any of this really matters. We’re just playing to pass the time.”

  Keanu, quiet as ever, nodded.

  But just as Finn gripped his head in anguish at losing whatever game the four were playing, the boulder at the mouth of the cave began to move. Voices outside shouted and commanded, and soon enough morning sunlight flooded the prison cave where the six waited. A figure appeared in the light, one Jorah couldn’t make out because of the blinding light at first, but when she spoke, he recognized her immediately.

  “It’s time,” Nyx announced. “The Seers want to speak to Jorah and Nyssa first. The rest of you will have to wait.”

  “Why them?” Lowell quickly asked. “Why can’t we all go at one time?”

  “Because the Seers don’t want to speak to the rest of you. Just Jorah...and his new partner.”

  Gulping at her tone of voice, Jorah turned to Nyssa, who nodded, and so the two rose from their spot, their bodies aching and numb from sitting on the cave floor for so long, and moved towards Nyx. As they passed by Bronwen, the Vampire also rose to her feet. Frowning, Nyx glanced at her. “Why are you standing? You aren’t coming along.”

  “But I so dearly wish to!” Bronwen said. “I want to represent the Vampires in speaking to your leaders. Maybe show them we’re more complex creatures capable of friendship and peace and all that.”

  “That sounds like a good idea to me,” Nyssa agreed.

  Rolling her eyes, Nyx turned. “It’s a terrible idea. Come on already.”

  “Bring Bronwen along,” Jorah announced. “Please, Nyx. It would be good for our clan to see a living, breathing Vampire, one that’s actually friendly towards us. Just trust me.”

  Hesitating in the front of the cave, Nyx eventually clicked her tongue and nodded. “Fine, but we’ll be watching you closely, Vampire.”

  And so Bronwen came along, practically skipping out into the light, leaving behind a scowling Lowell, cross armed Finn and grunting Keanu. Jorah gripped Nyssa’s hand tightly as they walked, drawing his courage and energy from her touch. For now, Jorah had to push everything else out of his mind to focus on the walk to the Seers cave, where no doubt a huge crowd would be awaiting them all, and where Dallan would wrinkle his nose at Jorah.

  He just hoped the walk wouldn’t be too long.

  Chapter Twenty-Five: Jorah

  F inally, it was time. Time to call out the Seers once and for all, and to end the laws that could potentially doom their clan for good.

  Nyx led them through
the near knee-high snows that blanketed the plateau where the Bear Clan mainly resided. No matter how many trudged through and flattened the snow beneath their hundreds of feet, the winds always brought more. Because Jorah was used to the cold clawing at his feet, he didn’t think anything of it, but he couldn’t help but notice Nyssa’s teeth chattering and Bronwen’s frown as she stepped over the larger chunks of snow. Jorah smiled, finding the small distraction nice and a bit calming before the storm that was the Seers.

  In moments the Seers’ cave was in view, the mouth gaping and inviting, with two bear shifter guards standing outside at attention. They both glanced at Jorah and his companions, but otherwise didn’t make any kind remarks or faces, though they coughed as Bronwen walked by. Inside the cave the passage narrowed and curved to the right until it bled out into a larger cavern, just as Jorah always remembered it. Safely out of the cold, Nyssa stopped her teeth chattering, and Bronwen wore her safe smile once again.

  The interior cavern was filled once again with the remnants of the Bear Clan, or most of the them anyway. Jorah knew many of the faces by name, and when he passed them by they either stared unblinking or set their gazes on the wall across from them. Nyx pushed her way through as usual since there were barely any room for all of them, and single file they shoved their way to the front. Jorah followed behind Nyx first, then Nyssa, with Bronwen bringing up the rear. Many of the bear shifters trembled at the touch of Bronwen’s shoulders or arms, and some even gasped at the sight of her, though of course she remained focused and smiling.

  “A Vampire…” Someone whispered in the crowd, sending the noise ablaze as the group emerged into the small open circle before the nine Seers. Nyx kneeled quickly before them, with Jorah and the others mimicking her. He glanced up at Dallan, who stood front and center, his wrinkled eyes squinting back down at his adopted son.

  When everyone was kneeled, and the Seers ready to proceed, another Seer stepped forward and tapped his staff on the ground, calling on the crowd to quiet. But, because of Bronwen, the crowd had a more difficult time of staying still, with some even opting to scooch towards the curved tunnel just in case.

  “Quiet!” The Seer shouted once more, earning the silence that followed.

  But the silence didn’t linger, as Dallan stepped forward to eye Jorah. “So, I see reclaiming you was a much easier task than I’d originally thought. Who knew that after repelling Nyx’s attacks you’d come straight up to us yourself, and bringing some friends…” He leveled a look at Nyx, who gulped from Dallan’s gaze. “But I’m glad to see you are still alive and unhurt. I feared the ones below would have killed you by now.”

  Jorah struggled to keep himself from spitting on the old man’s boots as he lifted his head to look Dallan in the eye. “As if that would ever happen. The shifters of the Oldwood are friendly and welcoming, and even healed some wounds I sustained on the way down.”

  Dallan shook his head. “Nonsense.”

  With his body aching at Dallan’s quickness to disregard Jorah’s words once again, he didn’t wait to rise to his feet and stare Dallan down. “Enough, Dallan. I have more experience with wolf and cat shifters of the current world than any of you here. None of them are killers, or have the desire to kill any of us. I’ve seen it time and time again.”

  “And is that why they conspire with Vampires?” Dallan said with spite, his veins popping under his complexion. Pointing his long staff at Bronwen, who remained still and cozy kneeling on the floor, Dallan breathed in heavily. “Yes, I recognize the monster you brought with you...sent to destroy us for good, no doubt.”

  Nyssa suddenly shot to her feet behind Jorah, fists clenched. “She is no monster! If she’s so hellbent on destroying your people, then why is she just kneeling here instead of going on a rampage?”

  Bronwen, not wanting to miss out on the all the fun, nodded along. “She makes a good point, old one.”

  “Neither of you will speak in our home!” Another Seer shrieked. “Your very existence harms us, Vampire.”

  “Any who side with one are our enemy,” another said triumphantly.

  “They are devils,” a third spat out from a croaking voice.

  “Really?” Jorah said, opening up his arms to the room around them. “Who is it that ordered innocent shifters of the Oldwood dead simply because they knew we still existed? Who had Nyx carry out plans to start conflict in a land that has known peace between them and the Vampires for years now? Only one Vampire has ever shed their blood, and yet more than ten members of the Bear Clan almost killed not only the shifter I love, but also their leader. Do you even realize how attacking their home, unprovoked, would earn their ire? Start a war that could see our people nearly destroyed, all because you Seers were too stubborn to listen to reason?”

  Jorah’s words echoed around the walls and in the voices of the bear shifters encircling them, all whispering and questioning each other about whether there was truth in his speech. Dallan and the other Seers appeared taken aback at first, as if they hadn’t expected Jorah to suddenly burst into a speech that condemned their actions.

  “You forced our hand…” Dallan said quietly.

  “No, I did not,” Jorah replied calmly. “You Seers chose to risk our people by targeting those who had nothing to do with us. You Seers are the ones who keep us locked away from a healthy relationship with the clans of the Oldwood.” Seeing the shifters all around him, and even some of the Seers, latch their attention on to him, he went in for the kill. “Even the Vampires want nothing less than peace. For two years now Bronwen here, and the rest of her kin, have been pushing for things like trade and traveling between the Oldwood and Blackwood for both races.”

  Finally rising to her feet as well, Bronwen, cleared her throat. “What this boy says is true. There’s nothing I can say to excuse what happened those fifty-some years ago, but the destruction of your clan is not what we want. Not now, not even another fifty years from now.”

  Stunned the room went quiet, until Nyx got to her feet as well. Curious as to what she was going to say, Jorah blinked at her. “I concur,” Nyx said, shooting her eyes over at Jorah. “I’ve partially seen this coexistence, and so far it seems...almost natural. I think we should abolish the isolation laws.”

  “Unthinkable!” A fourth Seer said. “The isolation laws-”

  “Are killing our people,” Jorah finished, earning the furrowed brow of the Seer who spoke. “Times have changed, for the better now. We have a chance to make things right, to start making our lives better by interacting with those your laws are keeping us from. Please, revoke the laws, and let us be free.”

  At first, there was silence among the crowd, among Jorah and his companions, and among the Seers. Each Seer appeared to stroke their beards or pinch their temples or rub their bald head or do whatever it was while they thought, until they all rested their eyes on one Seer in particular: Dallan, who remained resolute in staring Jorah down. Apparently, they were looking to Dallan to make the final call, unsure of themselves. Time seemed to slow, with every breath and movement tempered and cautious.

  Finally, Dallan sighed, his face relaxing. Jorah, smiling, felt a wave of relief. He believed Jorah! Or at least, was ready to truly listen to him for once.

  But then Dallan’s eyes came back to Jorah, and he parted his lips to speak. “Folly is what this is,” he said. “No, the laws will not be revoked, and instead your judgement will now be passed on you all.”

  Stunned, Jorah trembled as he and the others in the room gawked at Dallan. Finding one last bit of energy, Jorah took a step forward. “If that’s your will, then I challenge you Seers to a contest of strength!”

  A few gasps in the crowd and the gaping mouths of the Seers showed he was heard clearly.

  Darkening his face, Dallan stared at Jorah. “You understand what you are saying, boy?” Dallan said. “Your life will be at risk.”

  Jorah easily nodded. “Oh, I completely understand. You cannot refuse.”

  “Folly,” Dal
lan said once again. “But you are right, we cannot refuse. But we are allowed to pick someone to fight for us, you realize?”

  “Yes, I know.”

  “Then the contest of strength will be held tomorrow at dawn,” Dallan said. “You’ll have a full day to rest up for the fight. If you win, then we shall revoke the laws and not punish any who wish to leave or venture down into the Oldwood. Now, Nyx, lead them back to the prison cave.”

  Nodding, Nyx motioned for Jorah and the others to follow. The crowds parted as best they could to let them through.

  The last thing Jorah saw as he turned to leave was Dallan’s glare of scrutiny as he turned to the wall, unable to watch as Jorah left his sight.

  Chapter Twenty-Six: Nyssa

  A s Nyx led the trio back out into the frigid cold, Nyssa grabbed hold of Jorah’s hand once again, lacing her fingers through his, her skinnier bones exchanging heat with his meaty hands. Normally Jorah would have turned to look at her and smile at her touch, but now all he did was stare straight ahead and follow after Nyx as they crossed the snow drifts.

  Nyssa was sure he was mulling over what had just happened in the Seers’ cave, about how quickly he had challenged the Seers to the contest of strength, or trial by combat, or whatever he wanted to call it. This fight would be a big deal, and she needed to make sure he was ready for it.

  “Hey,” Nyssa said, snapping her fingers at Jorah as they walked. “Listen to me, okay?” Looking her way, Jorah blinked. “I know we agreed to use the challenge as a last result, but now we can only focus on making sure you win! Whatever you need from me, just say the word, yeah?”