“Kitalia!” Kre said in a chastising tone, which only earned him a stern, come-at-me glare from his companion. He changed his tact almost immediately. “Sorry, I mean… meant… let’s just not resort to name calling here. Bel has been exceptionally kind to us.”
Kitalia cocked her head to one side and her look changed to one of confusion, “Wait, you think… oh Creator save us all…” She rubbed one of her hands against her forehead and sighed. “I think we need to start at the very beginning here.”
She waved a hand at Bel and gave a curt nod. “I offer you the right of the first telling. You are the elder, after all, by a fair bit.”
That last bit actually made Bel chuckle. “I suppose that is true. First though, we should get a fire going and start prepping some food. Tales are best told over a shared meal.”
Both Kre and Kitalia peered at the other checking to see if maybe, beyond hope, the other had remembered to grab a pack before they had run from the wolves in the forest above. Unfortunately, neither did.
“We never had a chance to pack up our camp,” Kitalia explained to Bel. “We have none of our supplies.”
Bel nodded, almost as if expecting that response. “The one you call Red was pretty relentless in her hunt. I had a difficult time masking your trail from her… allies… but I was able to collect your bags from the river while she was otherwise occupied with you.” She gestured to one of the rooms behind her. “You will find your belongings in the rooms down that hall.”
Kre had to shake his head a few times as he started to pace for a few steps before spinning around. “How in the world? When would you have time to do any of that? I can’t… I mean, I’m not seeing…” The shrill wind outside seemed to grow in intensity as Kre paced, and the sounds of things slamming against the walls of their building increased in volume.
Bel looked at the main door, a worried look crossing her face for an instant before the serene mask returned. “Please, the more agitated you become, the harder it is to hide you from the forces outside. You are a very excitable young man and you present such strong emotions.”
Kre felt a wave of calm dousing his anxiety like a pitcher of cold water puts out a bed of smoldering coals. “That,” he said, struggling against the sense of calm as something at the back of his mind told him that there was something he should be concerned about. “That wave of peace. It’s not the first time I’ve felt it… and every time I do, it’s when you’re around. What is that?”
She took a deep breath as she considered her next words carefully. “I’ll offer this much now, and the rest can wait until we have settled a bit.”
“No!” Kre stomped his foot, his face growing redder with anger. Something heavy slammed against the door, sending a booming echo throughout the room they were in. Bel’s light dimmed considerably, providing little more than a match flame’s worth of light. The shudder seemed to rattle the very bones of the building and even Kitalia, as fearless as she seemingly was, took a hurried step towards the middle of the room.