Howl And Growl Complete Collection

by Cloe Cullen

  “Nyssa, Jorah!” The voices called again. “Come on, where are you guys? It’s dawn already!”

  Turning to shake her awake, Jorah’s eyes widened when he saw he didn’t need to help her along. He smiled, throwing her the clothes they had greedily torn off the night before. “Rise and shine, sleeping beauty,” Jorah said, crouching next to her as she pulled on her hideskin jerkin. “Looks like it’s finally time to head out. You ready?”

  “Are you?” She asked back, standing to pull on her pants and boots. “I’m not wrestling some other bear shifter in a ring in the snow.”

  Jorah chuckled. “But you’ll be watching me, just as everyone else will.”

  Finally, just as Nyssa finished clothing herself, Bronwen stalked around the corner, peering into the darkness and seeing Jorah help Nyssa smooth out some wrinkles in her jerkin. “There you two are. We were worried you both somehow snuck out of the cave,” she said. Looking them both up and down, Bronwen giggled. “Though this is the second time now that I’ve walked in on you two...I need to stop this habit of mine before it gets out of hand.” Both Nyssa and Jorah rolled their eyes, causing Bronwen to giggle. “Well, when you two are ready, let’s go to the front. Nyx is waiting for us, and says the Seers are growing impatient.”

  “The Seers will have to wait,” Jorah said. Grabbing Nyssa’s hand and pulling her forward, they followed after Bronwen.

  At the entrance of the cave, just like Bronwen had said, stood Nyx, along with the two prison cave guards, speaking to Finn and Keanu, with Lowell standing off to the side. Upon seeing the trio, Nyx placed her hands on her hips and frowned, the cool wind from the outside blowing her hair around. “You two are late...you are the one who challenged the Seers, Jorah, and now you’re making them late? They won’t be easy on you, just because of that.”

  Jorah shrugged. “We overslept. It happens.”

  Nyx sighed and mumbled something under her breath but nodded them towards the entrance. “Come on, we don’t have forever.”

  “You ready?” Finn asked Jorah as the entire group began to walk out of the cave and into the glistening snow fields.

  “Of course, I am. Just sit and watch me work my magic when we get to the ring,” Jorah said.

  Just like in Nyssa’s dream, the plateau of the Northern Mountains where the Bear Clan lived was serene and penetrated by the morning sunlight. The snow fields were smooth and sparkling under the sun, save for the few trails of footsteps that Nyx and other bear shifters had variously left in their wakes. The air was fresh and crisp, and as they walked Nyssa breathed in big gulps to cool her lungs. In the distance, as Nyx pointed out, a huge group of around a few hundred or so gathered, all standing and chatting to each as they approached. As the massive group of shifters saw them approach, they parted, allowing the group to pass easily to the center. The Seers stood in the center, conversing and shaking at the cold breezes.

  Dallan, in particular, spoke to a burly, hairy shifter whose face was buried by a messy, thick beard and small eyes. The man stood resolute in the cold, shirtless, with his arms at his side and his chest hair running down to his naval. The man made no sound as they approached and remained silent as Jorah left Nyssa’s side to march forward.

  Next to the man, Jorah looked down on him, but the shifter’s width far out-classed Jorah.

  “Ah, how good of you to finally join us,” Dallan said, squinting in Jorah’s direction. “We all thought you’d given up, dropped out of the contest.”

  “Please, and miss this chance to leave my mark on the world?” Jorah said with a jovial smile. “No, but I’m ready for this fight.” The burly man glared at Jorah and crossed his arms.

  “Then stand across from each other in this ring, and we shall begin,” Dallan said. Turning, Dallan pointed at Nyssa and the rest, signaling to get back. “You all, stand off to the side, and whatever you do, do not get in the way.”

  As everyone stepped back, Jorah and the other bear shifter moved to position only a couple dozen feet away from one another. Each remained still as stone as one of the Seers came forward with his wooden staff carved with intricate designs and stuck the staff in the snow. Dragging it along, the snow parted to create an even line as the Seer walked in a wide circle, eventually closing it after walking all the way around. Now that the circle was complete the Seer ambled back to the others, and Dallan stepped forward, raising his hands. All was silent, and Dallan gazed around, but before he could speak shouts from off in the distance pierced the air.

  Startled, Dallan and the other Seers followed the gazes of the couple hundred bear shifters to spy a battle raging across the frozen lake. Nyssa widened her eyes at the sight they all bore witness to. Dozens of bears fought and roared and swiped at wolves and cougars, their howls erupting in huge clouds of frozen air. The crowd of bear shifters recoiled at the sight, with many gasping and shouting themselves, and many beginning to back away as the bears were pushed back across the frozen lake. Wolves and cougars raced after the bears, unwilling to keep attacking so long as their enemies kept running.

  To her surprise, Nyssa saw tufts of gray and blonde hair among the shifters, as well as a overgrown and very loud cougar running alongside a smaller, blonde cougar. Speechless, Nyssa watched as the group of around ten or so wolves and cougars raced to a stop before the crowd of bear shifters, scaring many to the point of running to hide behind the Seers, save for Nyssa and her group.

  The gray wolf shifted back first, appearing as none other than Darius, her Alpha and friend, followed by Remus, Amara and her father, Torian, the rest remaining in their massive wolf forms. Snarling at any bears that got close.

  “Darius…” Nyssa said.

  Panting, Darius waved at Nyssa, but it was Remus who ran forward to embrace Nyssa.

  Her brother grabbed her tight, squeezing so hard Nyssa battered on his arm to let her go. But even as he stepped back his hands remained tight on her shoulders. “Do you have any idea how scared I was when I woke up alone in our house?” He said angrily. “Next time say something before just getting up to leave without me!”

  “B-but what are you all doing here?” Nyssa asked.

  Remus sighed. “Isn’t that obvious? We came to find you...and to talk to these Seers of yours.” Spying Bronwen prance over, he pointed a big finger at her. “You’ll have some explaining to do later.”

  “W-what is this?” Dallan suddenly shouted, stepping forward from his comrades who shook in fear behind him. “Who are you and what are you doing in our home? Have you come to slay us all? Ravage our caves and pillage our belongings?”

  Darius and Torian walked forward, naked as the day they were born, and stopped just before the circle in which Jorah and the other bear shifter remained standing in. “My name is Darius, Alpha of the Pack,” Darius said.

  “And I am Torian, Alpha of the Pride,” Torian said, his mane of hair dancing in the wind. “We’re here to negotiate a peace with you all. I presume you nine are the leaders of the fabled remnants of the Bear Clan?”

  “We are,” came Dallan’s spiteful response. “But we will not negotiate with you now! Nor do we plan to do so in the future. Currently we are in the middle of an important ritual, so stay back and do not interrupt us again! In fact, why don’t you simply leave?”

  Suddenly Nyx stepped forward. “Let them stay, Dallan. If the outcome of this contest ends in Jorah’s favor, then you Seers can speak to the two leaders of the Oldwood clans immediately after. There’s no reason to turn them away now.” She looked Darius and Torian up and down, wrinkling her nose. “Though maybe we should find them some clothes...I think the cold could bite them a little too hard in their current attire.”

  “No need!” Darius called, pointing behind him. “We’ve come prepared.”

  On cue, a wolf and cougar loped forward, carrying satchels in their mouths and dropped them in the two Alpha’s hands. Each proceeded to change into more comfortable clothes, throwing garments to Amara and Remus, who both fidgeted in the cold. Remus�
�� teeth chattered like crazy, and he stumbled more than once as he pulled on his trousers. As they clothed themselves, the rest of the bear shifters watched them with eagle-eyes, shock still inscribed onto their faces. Fully clothed the group marched over to Nyssa and the others, greeting her and the rest like they’d just seen each other an hour prior.

  “So, what exactly is happening?” Remus asked, glancing at the circle where Jorah and the other bear shifter still waited.

  “A contest,” Nyssa replied. “One that you all nearly ruined.”

  “So why is it happening, and why can’t we interrupt it?” Torian asked.

  “It’s a debate about our laws,” Nyx interjected. “Ever since we were forced out of the Blackwood by the Vampires and began to live on this frozen peak, we’ve lived in isolation in fear of being attacked again. But now Jorah is aiming to change those laws for good.”

  “We’ll explain as it happens,” Nyssa said. “For now, just watch.”

  Remus and the others blinked, but ultimately remained quiet as Dallan and the other Seers hesitantly stepped forward once again. No other bear shifters followed, leaving one entire side to Nyssa and the others. Clearing his throat, Dallan threw up his hands. “Despite these unexpected visitors, let us finally begin this contest. For I shall now speak!”

  Gulping, Nyssa eyed Jorah, who glanced over his shoulder to throw her a confident smile and a wink. It was now or never, and more than anything she wanted to jump in the ring with him, to give him support and get through this ordeal together, but if she even attempted that everything they had worked towards could potentially go up in flames.

  So, all Nyssa could do was hope and pray Jorah would get the upper hand and watch from her place on the sidelines.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine: Jorah

  I f brawling in front of the Seers and the rest of the Bear Clan was nerve wracking enough, then competing in the contest of strength in front of the leaders of both the Pack and Pride was downright frightening. Well, not that it would stop Jorah from winning the contest.

  He just didn’t expect it, nor did anyone else, apparently. He guessed leaving Remus back in the Oldwood was the cause of this little predicament, but maybe this was a blessing in disguise. Either way it made his heart pound in anticipation of the fight, with every pair of eyes on him; the pressure from everyone’s gaze stung his lungs, parching his lungs for air. Jorah glanced over his shoulder one last time to throw Nyssa a smile and wink to show he was confident, and he received a small smile in return.

  “For I shall now speak!” Dallan shouted, raising his arms to the sky, remaining surprisingly calm in the face of the newcomers. For once, Jorah actually praised his adopted father, something he thought he’d never do again. “This is a contest of strength! For all those who were at the Seers’ yesterday morning...and for those who have just arrived on a whim, let me share the laws of this engagement. In this contest of strength, we have Jorah...my son, fighting to abolish our laws of isolation, and Gareth, chosen warrior to represent the Seers in the contest, who fights to protect the laws of isolation.” While the other Seers twitched when they glanced at the wolves and cougars, Dallan remained collected and staring between Jorah and Gareth. “Whoever steps out, or is thrown out of the ring first, wins the contest, and therefore their word must be law. When I give the word, the match shall begin, and the two participants may do whatever they wish to win the duel.”

  Jorah took a deep breath, hardening his stance and tensing up his muscles, ready to pounce at the moment Dallan gave the word. He’d already formed a solid plan in his head; charge this Gareth first, get him off balance, then end the match quickly as he shoved the shifter out of the ring. Gareth watched Jorah the entire time, barely moving, only letting his arms persist at hanging at his sides. Too bad Jorah didn’t sweat; his sweat could have turned to icicles in this frigid cold, and he could have used those as tiny knives to battle Gareth.

  “Begin!” Dallan shouted.

  So, Jorah made his move, bolting forward at breakneck speed. The best strategy was always to put one’s self in the center, so even if Jorah’s plan didn’t work completely, at least he wouldn’t be near the edges of the ring. But Jorah’s confidence briskly transformed into stunned annoyance as instead of staying still, like Jorah had predicted, Gareth mimicked Jorah and ran forward. The two collided a second after Dallan gave the word to begin, and Gareth’s fist connected easily with Jorah’s jaw.

  The force of the impact sent Jorah reeling back, buckling to the ground. A gasp rippled through the crowd as Jorah scrambled to a kneeling position, caressing the numbness in his cheek. But Gareth wasn’t playing around, and he lumbered forward.

  “Get up, Jorah!” Nyssa screamed, breaking open the floodgates for the voices to start going wild around him.

  “You don’t need to tell me!” Jorah whispered under his breath as he kicked out at Gareth’s legs. The first time he kicked, Gareth caught his foot in both of his meaty hands, so Jorah lifted himself off the grounds with his own hands and twirled in the air to land his other foot on Gareth’s skull. This time, Gareth buckled, letting go of Jorah’s foot and stumbling back, grabbing at his head. Seeing his chance once again, Jorah clambered to his feet, clumps of snow flying everywhere, and darted at Gareth, slamming into the man’s stomach and rolling to the ground in the middle of the circle. Gareth clawed at him, grunting and growling, but Jorah remained resolute, angling himself to get a better grip on the big guy.

  By now the crowd was cheering and hollering, a rather unbefitting sight of the once renowned Bear Clan. It was almost as if they all treated this contest of strength like any other foolish brawl between young boys. Even Nyssa’s voice, along with Finn’s and Lowell’s, and even Remus’ reached his ears, though he didn’t have the time to make out exactly what they were saying.

  Getting underneath Gareth, Jorah locked his arms around Gareth’s neck, hoping to suffocate him to the point of falling unconscious. If Jorah could do that, all he’d have to do would be to drag Gareth to the edge and roll him out of the ring. But Gareth apparently wasn’t on board with that wonderful idea, as he elbowed Jorah in the sides, stabbing his ribs, causing Jorah to puff at the sharp pains and relax his hold a bit, allowing Gareth to roll off and punch Jorah’s chin.

  Nearly dismembering his tongue because of the punch to the chin, Jorah rolled away as well, rising to his feet in tandem with Gareth. The crowd roared in pleasure, the cold winds blazing through, and the once pristine snow before him now thrown about and mushed around. Gareth shook off snow that matted his head and back, while Jorah massaged his chin. The two circled each other, panting and never breaking eye contact.

  For a split second, Dallan caught Jorah’s eye, this adoptive father watching him closely, his thin lips and matted beard stoic in the raging winds, while all the other Seers rooted and hollered for Gareth to prevail. In that split-second Gareth darted forward, roaring a battle cry so deafening it quieted part of the crowd. Jorah sidestepped just in time to have Gareth come to a sliding stop only a foot away from the edge of the circle. He wobbled for a moment, but managed to keep himself from stumbling out of the ring.

  Clicking his tongue, Jorah clenched his fists. This fight was dragging on for too long! Any longer and Gareth could get the upper hand. Gareth must have had the same thought, because he pounded the ground and glared at Jorah, tearing off his shirt as he shifted into a massive, dark haired grizzly bear. Throwing off his own shirt, Jorah shifted as well, his body growing and sprouting locks of thick, brown hair all over his skin, tearing the pants and boots that warmed his body to shreds.

  As each bear slammed their paws on the ground, the plateau shook, and Jorah roared to install fear in Gareth’s heart. But instead of fear, Gareth matched his roar to the beat, and each then charged towards the other, their feet leaving behind pockets of empty air, snow being kicked into the air.

  When they met in the middle of the circle, they each rose to their feet and barreled into each other, grunting and gr
owling and battering each other with their paws, trying to dig in their claws. Jorah stepped awkwardly to the side, causing his stance to weaken, which Gareth took full advantage of; head butting Jorah, he rolled backwards, at which Gareth kept on the pursuit, pushing Jorah closer and closer to the edge of the circle. His heart hammering and mind rolling with his blood, flashes of Nyssa tore through his memory, her lips, her voice, her very touch sending waves of adrenaline pumping into his body.

  Right before Jorah was rolled out of the ring, he slapped Gareth in the eye, causing the brute to flinch and release Jorah for but a fraction of a second. That was enough for Jorah, as he used his smaller size to get under Gareth, lift him from the ground, and toss him forward. In a loud thud, Gareth landed on his side, sliding forward in the snow and roaring, scrambling to his feet to fight...until he gazed at the ground and froze.

  The entire crowd surrounding the ring grew silent as well, with only Gareth’s and Jorah’s heavy panting to fill the void. Narrowing his eyes, Jorah glanced from Gareth to the edge of the circle, seeing him well past the line.

  Time stopped, with the winds dying and snow drifts sparkling bright under the clear morning sun.

  Even Jorah found himself speechless, or roarless rather, as he stared upon his opponent standing completely on the other side of the line. Jorah...had thrown Gareth out of the ring.

  Shifting back to his human form, Jorah breathed heavily, his blood still burning in his veins and his mind still filling with images of Nyssa, her radiant figure shining brighter than the sun.

  Dallan stepped forward amid the silence, his own eyes as wide as the gaping jaws of the rest of the Seers behind him. “It appears as if this match has concluded. Jorah is the victor!” He called. “Jorah’s word may now become law.”