Sapphire (42 page)

Lula continued. “Everyone’s already coming back, but
he didn’t want to go hunting with anyone else.”

“I—” Orin was staring at the surly looking soleon.
“Let me get my things.” He took off to get his hunting gear while
Antares followed.

Lula smiled. “Though I’m sure it’s just so that
Antares can finally eat him and make it look like an accident.”

“Ha,” said Ava, watching them eventually lope off
into the darkening woods. “You’re probably right.”

“Well if he does rip his big-lipped head off there’s
always soppy-eyes over there.” Lula pointed at a nearby fence some
people were repairing for their livestock. The boot-boy quickly
looked away and focused on fitting a beam into a post. Ava could
see that he was blushing.

“Nah,” she said. “One big-lipped soppy-eyed boy is
more than enough.”

Lula giggled then
eeped
as a small pack of
wolves came out of nowhere, charging straight for her, snapping and
snarling. Ava jumped aside as Lula zoomed away.

“I told you,” Lula yelled at the pack as they chased
her. “You look pretty!”

The pink wolves only barked and growled their
disagreement.

Ava went to help her parents make the feast for that
night. It was the villager’s celebration of the last day before the
snows came and also a celebration for all Ava and her companions
had done. It was completely dark when Orin and Antares returned,
laden with their kill. There was quite a lot of meat to cure and
save for the winter months with Antares’ help.

“Oh look,” said Lula, having ditched the wolves, and
now carrying a few frost-berries for a pie. “He’s still alive.”

Orin walked up to the Howling Hall with a bunch of
rabbits and other small furry creatures slung over his back.
Antares dropped a large pig at the feet of one of the butchers.
Orin dropped his gear and catch and went to wash up for the feast,
but not before giving Ava an overly dashing smile. She smiled back,
then decided she better slip away before anyone noticed. Everyone
was busy with some task as she quietly put down the knife she’d
been chopping roots with and quickly exited the hall. Hardly anyone
was outside as she walked through the village. She could smell the
delicious aromas wafting after her, but for the moment, just for a
bit, she wanted to be alone. She heard Mia’s fading laughter as
Antares, no doubt, was playing hide-go-seek with her again.

The merriment receded behind her as she climbed up
the rise away from the town. It was quiet when she came to the edge
of the ridge. The last sunset-kisses had closed their petals for
the night and she stood among them watching the stars.

The spicy scent of Griffon wood and the crisp sting
of distant snow filled her lungs. Leaves rustled, a dusk-a-dee sang
its tune, and she imagined the faint rhythmic beat of hooves
beneath her. She closed her eyes, and the sound of hoof-beats grew
louder until it drowned all other thought from her mind. The wind
rushed past her, and she heard powerful breaths as she gripped the
mane tightly in her hands. Her dreaming eyes opened to see daylight
and green earth flying below. A silver horn flashed before her as
Mira tossed her proud head, and Ava let go of the silky black mane.
Sunlight warmed her smiling face, and she opened her arms wide as
they raced across the hills, free and home at last.

Antares

~ Author Bio ~

Elayne Griffith grew up writing, drawing, climbing
trees,

and riding unicorns…er, horses as a young girl.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts,

and many years of job-bouncing, she suddenly

had an epiphany:

life is short, do what you love to do.

She quit her job in the city, moved back to
nature,

and many bags of rice and beans later, she has

written her first novel.

She currently lives in the mountains,

happy as a caffeinated squirrel,

while continuing to pursue her

writing and artistic career.

“Follow your passion, for it will be your greatest
love.”