Beasts- Chapter Four Minotaur

Tempest fumbled in her satchel, “I only have a few oranges and pieces of molasses left.” she told Brick. he knelt beside the river bed getting himself a drink.

“It is still two days to my home lands.” he told her, “I am fine living on the lands but Tempest you are a carnivore.”

she nodded. for the last 5 days she had only been eating what they had been able to find. she had stashed the oranges from a tree the day before. her stomach growled, she knelt down digging through her bag yet again, hoping to find a piece of dried meat that have perhaps gotten lost but found nothing.

Brick moved to her side and knelt beside her, “drink.” he told her giving her the canteen he had filled for them.

“Brick…” her eyes watered as she looked up at him, “I don’t wish to be a burden but…”

“You are growing weak.” he finished her thought. “I know this. I told you I am unable to protect you.” he looked around, “We are on wolf land.” he sighed when her hand touched her stomach, “Come, I know the wolves in this area perhaps they will assist us.”

“Are you sure?”

“We have little choice.” He lifted her in to his arms pulling his cape around them as the winter winds began to blow. He carried her along the road a bit longer until she saw a large country mansion move in to view. a female wolf stood on the porch, her long pure white tail moving behind her as she smiled up at a red wolf. “Do not let them know who you are.”

Tempest looked up at him, “My name is well known to all wolven kind.” she said worried suddenly. When he looked down at her she frowned, “I need a name.”

He nodded thinking for a moment, “I will call you Clara.”

She smiled, “Clara.”

he nodded, “My mother’s name was Clarabelle.”

She snuggled herself in to his strong chest, “I like it.”

He called out from across the way to the wolves at the porch, “I apologize for intruding but I am in need of assistance for my companion.”

Killen looked over, “Luna go inside.”

“Killen?”

“Go inside, I will deal with this.”

Luna looked at the large Minotaur that stood holding something in his arms. “Should I get Eyolf?”

“No, just go inside.”

She nodded and moved toward the door. she looked back once again before she closed the door behind her.

Killen stepped off his porch, “You are a far away from your lands Minotaur.”

“I am traveling home, but my companion and I are in need of assistance.”

“What can wolves do for you?” he questioned.

Brick approached Killen he stopped several feet away his hand moving to his cape. he pulled back the side of his cape revealing Tempest, “Clara is of your kind. we are still a long way from my lands but have no provisions left for her.”

Killen’s eyes moved to Tempest, “Your kind does not tend to travel with wolf kind.”

“No, but we met on my journey to the capital where I was asking for assistance with the humans who are encroaching on my lands. she asked to travel with me. as you can see she is young and has no family so I obliged her.”

“Are you asking for my pack to take her in?”

“No, she will travel with me. we have little to offer but she has not eaten in nearly 5 days.”

Killen looked between the two of them, “Cub, what is your true name?”

“Clara.” she answered. She let her paws touch the ground as Brick leaned down. “I have no home or family and met Brick in my travels. I have little I can offer but if you can please spare any meats…”

her hand held Brick’s cape tight. Killen’s blue eyes lit with his Alpha power as he looked over her body. her silk robe was worn and dirty. her small ears still flopped as she moved her head. He nodded, “Wait here.” he moved to the doorway, “Luna, Have the servants bring something for our visitors to eat.”

Luna stood in the doorway her eyes moved behind him. her body stiffened, a low growled from her throat. “Of course.” she forced out.

Killen was curious to her reaction. though he knew these two where likely the wolf and Minotaur that the king sought he still had no intention of turning them over as the young wolf seemed reliant on the Minotaur that stood at her side. “Come sit.” he motioned toward the porch.

Brick led the way up sitting on the top step of the porch while Tempest chose to sit in his lap. Killen grew more curious as his hand rested around her small frame.

“My mate will have the servants ready shortly.” he turned Luna stood in the doorway her eyes glued to the wolf girl. “Luna?”

Luna jerked at her name, “The servants are getting what is available.” she told him.

Tempest’s eyes grew wide, instinctively her body moved back in to Brick’s harder. he looked down feeling her reaction to the wolf mate. he wondered why she suddenly seemed frightened. though young the wolf woman in the doorway appeared to be a bit older than Tempest. her white fur was without flaw. though he preferred Tempest’s tan fur and white under coat.

Luna looked to her mate and motioned with her head. He nodded, “I will be back please rest yourselves.” he moved inside as the door closed he regarded his mate, “what is it?”

“that is no cub.” she told him.

“No?”

“She is older than I but a runt.”

“I take it you know her.”

Luna nodded.

“How?”

Luna realized that she was now going to have to tell him. her stomach churned. when he had given her the name Luna she had become no longer Veronica. She had gone from what she used to be to what she was now and though she missed working in the fields she liked the way things where now. she took a breath, “She is the younger sister of Torak.”

“Torak is the prince of our country.” the way she called him Torak and not Prince Torak issued warning bells in his mind. “You speak his name very informally.”

Luna nodded, “Yes. Torak is… was my betrothed.”

Killen’s eyes regarded her surprised, “Your betrothed?”

“before you gave me a proper wolf name I was betrothed to be married.