Chapter 436


    Chapter 436


    Xander


    Wolves can run for a long time at a steady pace. Long, loping strides. Measured breathing. We’re


    built for long distance travel in our wolf forms, but even in our human shapes, we’re pretty good at it.


    Even so, by the time we were seven miles away from Brightsky, the frozen tundra and equally frigid


    air was taking its toll. We might have shifted into our wolves, but that would have meant leaving our


    backpacks behind, and none of us were ready to do that. We’d eventually have to return to our


    human bodies, and we’d be naked in the skan wilderness. Not ideal.


    “We’re going to have to camp here for the night,” Mason said, looking up at the sky.


    So far, even though it felt like the middle of the night, the sun hadn’t gone down. No moon had


    risen, either. I couldn’t tell what time of year or day it was.


    “How long have we been at Brightsky?” I asked Lanie as she set down her pack with a sigh.


    She shook her head. “I don’t know, my love. I’ve lost track of everything.”


    “Same here.” I pulled her close for a hug and kissed the top of her head as we watched Ste giving


    Zane and Mason orders about how to set up camp. “No tents. No sleeping bags. Nothing to build a


    fire with.”


    “Ste will take care of everything. Besides, you’ve had survival training, haven’t you?” Lanie teased


    lightly, nudging me in the side with her elbow.


    “Yeah, sure. My father had us doing drills from the time I was weaned. We always had some


    preparation, though.”


    “We have her.” She tipped her chin toward our daughter.


    “I’ll need something to use for the fire,” Ste told us all when Lanie and I joined the rest of the


    group. “I can light it, but I can’t make anything out of thin air. Any transmogrifications need to have a


    source to change from.”


    “We packed light, the way you said. I have this.” Lanie offered a popsicle stick picture frame the


    twins had made her in preschool. “I want to keep the photo, but I guess you can have the frame.”


    “Perfect,” Ste said with a grin. “I’ll make sure they rece it with another one.”


    We watched her break the frame into small pieces. She put them on the ground and concentrated.


    The sticks grewrger, into a stack of firewood. She looked at us proudly.


    “Bravo,” Mason said.


    “Thanks, Abba.”


    “But what about tomorrow night?” Zane looked around the bare tundra. “Those sandwiches aren’t


    going tost long. We can’t keep using things we brought with us to change into what we need,


    either.”


    Ste hesitated, then knelt next to the pile of wood. She studied it in silence for a moment or so,


    then murmured a few words. It caught fire and was soon burning briskly. She gestured for us to


    gather around it. It was a little awkward, sitting in our bulky winter gear, but it also felt good to take a


    break.


    “We aren’t going to walk the entire way. That would take us forever, first of all, and also, as you


    pointed out, Papa, we aren’t really prepared. I just wanted to get us as far away from Brightsky as


    we could to start.” Ste waved a hand over the fire, which zed to even greater light.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    It cast a dancing orange, red, and gold glow over her face. Her expression was solemn. She drew


    her knees to her chest and rested her chin on them.


    “I’ve been in touch with some friends,” she said finally.


    Lanie sat up straight. “What kind of friends? Why don’t I know about them?”


    “We’ve never met in person. I’ve only been able to connect with them through a kin link,” Ste


    exined. “Because I’m a Celestial, I could make one with them even though I’m not…umm…”


    “Ste,” I said sternly. “I think it’s time you came clean. Who are these friends, and what, exactly,


    are they supposed to do for us?”


    “Slitherkin,” she said softly, almost like she was worried we would scold her.


    Zane’s eyebrows rose. “What the hell are Slitherkin?”


    “It sounds like snakes,” Lanie said with a frown. “Ste, please tell me that you are not talking about


    snakes.”


    “Snow snakes,” she said apologetically. “They’re not like us. Shifters, I mean. They never take


    human form. They’re more like the envian spiders than they are like people. They live deep


    beneath the permafrost. They’re what created the original tunnels and caverns under Brightsky.


    Mchi chased them off in order to take over their territory so he could build the enve.”


    “That sounds rude,” Lanie said, pursing her lips.


    “They weren’t happy about it, that’s for sure. But don’t worry, Mother,” Ste said hastily. “I’ve been


    in contact with them, and they’re willing to help us get to Fallen Crest. Mostly willing. Okay,” she


    admitted. “I’ve had to use some strong mind power to get them to even agree toe meet us. But


    I’m pretty sure they won’t try to hurt us. Or kill us.”


    “Pretty sure?” I demanded.


    Ste gave me a sheepish grin. “…yes?”