Chapter 4

Holy mother of God. I was going to die! For real.

Closing my eyes against the oncoming blur of trees, I dug my hands deeper into the wiry fur of the wolf’s neck and swallowed the scream building in my chest. How had this day gotten so out of hand? I was riding an effin’ mutant wolf at breakneck speed through a dense forest. All it took was one wrong move, one short stop, and I would go flying over his massive head, crash into the trees, and break my neck. Or topple off his back and over the side of a ravine to the jagged rocks below. The differing scenes of my gruesome death played over and over in my head like a video on a loop. I know Kara said the wolven had taken us back to my grandmother’s village after the attack, but I didn’t remember any of that. I’d been too out of it. This wolf riding was all new territory to me, and I didn’t like it. Not one little bit.

And to make matters worse, I swear the creature underneath me was swerving and barely missing the trees on purpose. Like he knew I was terrified and laughing at me every time I muffled a scream or a curse. Of course my ride would be the asshole of the pack. That’s how my luck was running.

I gathered up my courage and pried one eye open, glancing over the top of his big head. The oncoming forest was a blur, but I caught sight of a low hanging branch as my guy decided he would head straight for it instead of swerve away like the other wolves were doing.

“Watch out for that tree…” I broke off as I dived low on his back again, the musky smell of his fur embracing me and filling my nostrils with its wet dog odor. The wolf veered at the last moment, and I gritted my teeth, trying to bite back the scream on my lips, but a tiny yelp managed to escape. Hunched flat against the creatures back, there was no mistaking the jolt of laughter that rippled through him. He was laughing at me. I knew it. This was all a game to him. What a dick.

I twisted my neck and glanced over at the rider next to me. Zoe was sitting tall on her red-furred, magnificent creature, face held high to the sun dappled trees and laughing her fool head off. She was absolutely loving this. Of course she would. That was Zoe.

“Isn’t this awesome!” she screamed at me, her voice distorted by the whizzing wind.

She reminded me of some Greek goddess charging into battle on her fierce steed. Meanwhile, I hung from my wolf’s back like a limp suckerfish.

“Just peachy,” I yelled back but don’t think she heard my feeble reply. I closed my eyes again and rested my forehead against the furry neck, fighting against the wave of motion sickness fluttering in my stomach. Lord, this day had to be over soon. It felt like we’d been riding for hours. I wanted to whine how much farther into the wolf’s ear, but I knew he’d just ignore me. Would serve him right if I gave in to the sickness and let him wear my breakfast. But just the idea of that made my stomach roll again. Ugh.

Hang in there, Jette. This is all for Starke. You can put up with shaggy dickhead for as long as it takes.

Focused on my misery and keeping my breakfast down, I lost track of how much more ground we covered. What felt like hours later, but was probably only thirty minutes real time, shouts and howls of excitement roused me from my sick stupor. I lifted my head, trying to see the cause of the excitement.

The forest had thinned, and the field beyond bordered what appeared to be a massive rock canyon. I squinted into the evening sun, trying to understand what our next move would be. The canyon appeared to be miles long and at least fifty feet across to the other side. Far too wide for any creature to jump, yet none of the wolves appeared to be slowing down. They all kept barreling toward the fast-approaching precipice. I swiveled my head, the wind whipping my hair about my face. Why were we not slowing down? They weren’t seriously thinking about trying to jump this, were they?

“Bishop?” I yelled in part disbelief, part terror, as my wolf suddenly decided he was in the homestretch of the Kentucky Derby and bolted past every other member of our party. Bishop’s response to my cry of panic was ripped away by the wind. Or possibly swallowed up in my scream.

“What the hell?” I shrieked, digging my fingers into the tan fur. “Are you blind? Slow the hell down.”

Instead of doing just that, the wolf sped up, aiming straight for the two column-like boulders situated on the edge of the chasm. My fingers gripped tighter, practically yanking out the creature’s fur as I tried in vain to veer him away from our doom.

“Stop!” I cried, my voice falling into the abyss. “What are you doing? You’re going to get us killed.”

I tensed, ready to leap from the wolf’s back, and probably break my neck in the process, but there was no way on Endova I was about to let him take us both to our deaths. Holding on for dear life with one hand, the other scrabbled for the sai sheath at my waist. Maybe I could pull magic and stop my fall at least. Before I could yank it free, I swear the creature hissed the word ‘trust’ over his shoulder at me, rooting me in place. I didn’t have time to debate if I imagined it or not since the crazy creature leaped between the rock columns into midair.

The scream ripped at my throat, and I closed my eyes in terror, expecting to feel the wind snatch me away to my ultimate death. Instead, all I felt was the vibrations from the wolf’s massive paws thumping solidly against… what? Empty air?

Peeling an eye open, I glanced past the furry back. Instead of falling through space like I expected, the sight of solid rock under us almost made me cry in relief. Deflection magic. Of course. The path was hidden to those who didn’t know it was there. I should have known. Even after months, I still wasn’t used to all these magical possibilities.

Feeling a little embarrassed at my freak out, I mumbled at the creature’s head, “Don’t you dare laugh again.”

So, of course, he absolutely shook with laughter, reconfirming my earlier consensus of dickhead. But I soon got over my anger. I was too busy exploring the totally solid forest where a canyon had been just moments ago. The change of scenery and solidity of what should have been open air was almost mind numbing. Magic could be a real bitch to understand at times.

I glanced over my shoulder as the others came through the ward and popped into existence behind me, Jill screaming as loudly as I had been earlier. Obviously, she hadn’t understood the deflective magic happening in time either. Good. Somehow knowing I wasn’t alone in my stupidity made me feel that much better.

The wolves finally slowed, padding through the trees and coming out into what was obviously their village. White-capped mountains surrounded the village on all sides, nestling it in a protective valley away from prying eyes. The whole valley was dotted with log structures with single-pitched roofs. Covered in branches and leaves, they blended in with the trees, like they were just an extension of the forest. Their homes? Dens? Not quite sure what to call them, but as we approached, other creatures began emerging from the formations. Our welcoming committee.

My wolf finally came to a standstill and lowered his massive girth to the ground so I could slide off without breaking my neck. I hit the ground hard, resisting the urge to kneel and kiss the solid ground under my feet. Stretching my back, I ignored the aches and pops. I was just damn happy to be standing. Jill, Zoe, Bish, and Kara joined me as our wolf companions moved off to make room for the newcomers.

The big wolf leading the welcoming party stood up from his four-pawed approach and covered the remaining few feet separating us on his two hind legs. It amazed me how he went from the typical animal stance to walking like a human with so little effort. I recognized him immediately. It was the same mutant wolf who had approached Starke and I on the way to prism tower. He smiled as he neared. Well, bared his razor-sharp teeth; I just preferred to call it a smile. It made me breathe a little easier.

“Good to see you again, Galt.” Bishop stepped forward and laid his hand on the brute’s massive forearm. The wolf-man reciprocated as he towered over Bish, his shaggy paw with the twelve-inch claws looking like it could rip Bish’s arm straight from his body.

“Bish-up,” the wolf growled.

I didn’t know Bish had made friends with the beast. I guess I missed out on a lot by almost dying.

The wolf’s dark eyes scanned the rest of us before settling on me.

“Water wielder.” His voice was as deep and raspy as I recalled from our first meeting.

I nodded. “You remember me. I hear I have you and your brethren to thank for saving my life.

So, thank you… Galt.”

He ducked his shaggy head. “The Ca-ni… serve the… elementals.”

His words were slow and deliberate, like he had to think hard on his enunciation.

“Ca-ni?” I asked. “Is that what you call yourselves?”

“It is… the name given… by auctor.”

“Auctor?” I repeated.

“Auctor is Latin for creator,” Jill whispered to me, her eyes still huge in her pale face. I didn’t ask how she knew that. Of course she would be a language geek. Didn’t surprise me.

“Creator? Like Asha?” I aimed my question at the giant wolf. At the mention of the evil queen’s name, an angry growl rumbled deep in Galt’s chest, joined by a barrage of snarls and roars from the wolves at his back. I stepped back nervously. I probably shouldn’t have said that.

“I believe Galt is referring to the prism as the creator, yes?” Bishop added, and the giant wolf snorted in agreement.

“You were created by the prism?” I tried to wrap my head around the whole thing. “But Starke told me Ash… that his mother created you.”

“The queen may have spoken the spell that tried to turn them, but the prism gave the Ca-ni life. Long before Asha drained it of its magic. The prism created them to be world guardians. Protectors of the elementals, not henchmen for the queen’s sordid tasks.” Bish tilted his head. “So the tale goes.”

I glanced over at Bishop in puzzlement. “You know of their creation?”

“Most Endovians do. It is a story that has been passed down through the years. But most people have never met the wolven. They were thought to be what I believe you call an urban legend in your world. Spoken of but never seen.”

“So, basically, the Ca-ni are Endova’s version of Bigfoot? Only with magic?”

Bishop’s lips tilted. “In some ways, yes.”

“Well, I, for one, am very glad they are the guardians of the elementals,” Kara added, smiling at the head wolf in respect. “Or else none of us would be standing here right now. I know I’ve said this before, but thank you, Galt. You have all done the prism proud.”

“And thank you for protecting our village. Without you all, the queen would have destroyed us by now.” I had a new sense of respect and reverence for these creatures. Not only had they saved us all but had lost some of their own in the process. A sacrifice they had given willingly. “Keeping us safe has cost you and your brethren much. I don’t know how we can ever repay you.”

I wasn’t sure if the beast understood everything I said. He studied me with his expressive eyes, choosing his words carefully.

“Save elementals…save auctor.”

His words were few, but his message was unmistakable. They had one mission. Keep the elementals safe so we could save the prism. They had kept up their end of the bargain, and he expected us to do the same. Got it.

“That’s the plan, my friend.” I hoped I sounded as sure as he did. “But we can’t have the queen follow our next jump to retrieve the last elemental. Are you sure you can keep her from following us through this new portal? The magic hiding your village is strong, but is it strong enough to keep her out? Do you have a safe place for us to jump?”

The wolf sniffed, like he was offended I even asked that question.

“Come,” he growled, turning his wide back to us and walking toward the village.

Zoe and Jill fell into step with me as we followed Galt and his companions. More wolves had joined us while we’d been talking. Creatures of all sizes, the smallest of them frolicking around us and yipping excitedly.

“Those must be the children,” Jill commented as she smiled at their antics. “Or pups. Cubs? What should we call them?”

She spoke low so only we could hear.

“Whatever the big guy tells us too,” Zoe responded, jerking her thumb at Galt. “Don’t let those puppy dog eyes fool you one little bit. He is one big scary mofo.”

“Puppy dog eyes,” I snorted. “Like he could be mistaken for a harmless dog—” I pulled up short and stiffened, like I’d just been struck by lightning. “Freakin’ fudgesicles. How did I miss that?”

The others all pulled up at my cry. Bishop and Kara twirled and stared back at me in confusion.

“What is wrong, Jette girl?” Bishop glanced around as if expecting to see the answer to his question.

“Amy. The dream walker from the other world. She said the big dogs would help save them.” I smacked myself in the forehead as my gaze met Jill’s dawning expression of understanding. “Why didn’t I connect this before? The big dogs. She was talking about these guys. The Ca-ni are not only the guardians of Endova. They are destined to save the other worlds as well. We have to take them to Amy and Bixby’s Earth.”