Tuesday Tales – Old – The Raven

by Sarah | Jun 21, 2015 | Books, The Tribe, Tuesday Tales, Writing

Welcome back to Tuesday Tales!  This weeks prompt is Old.

Well well well it’s been a long time since I have played this game!  I’ve had a rough start to my year (let’s not talk about how far behind I am on my writing goals).  BUT, in the past couple of weeks I’ve really begun to push myself back into working. With edits in on book one of my Tribe series, I decided to get a kick start on book 4, The Raven before I really have to buckle down for the next in my Lake Point series.

So here we are with my favorite Shifter native Tribesmen, Nirvelli “Velli” Misu and Kane (no last name).  As a refresher, Velli’s been to hell and back but in this fourth book she’s sort of actually found happiness. Kane is a 300+ years old Shifter with Healing magic. The bird they are referring to is an ancient Raven, one of the last of his kind on this earth. In some Native mythologies the Raven is known as a bringer of magic. He has sought out Velli for reasons unknown to her, although she’s begun to speculate. She didn’t come to the sanctuary to find out, she came to help out a friend – unfortunately the friend’s sanctuary is where this bird lives.

Is that clear as mud? lol. Sorry, trying to get you somewhat caught up before I throw you to the ~ahem~ Wolves:

“I don’t think I get what you’re saying.” Kane paced the length of the room. On the bed Velli glared at him deeper with every step. “What do you mean?”

“If I knew I wouldn’t be asking you now would I?”

“You know that isn’t what I meant, smartass.”

“All I did was ask why a Raven’s feathers would be turning silver.” She pushed to standing. By the time he’d made another circuit of the room she stood in front of him to block his path. “I thought they were gray at first, but today I got a better look and I’d swear they were silver.”

“It’s a Raven, Raven feathers are black.”

“Duh.”

He growled when she rolled her eyes. He didn’t like what she was telling him at all. Whatever it mean, he was sure it wasn’t good, and he was triple sure he didn’t want her involved in whatever it was. “Asking you ignore it is pretty pointless, isn’t it?”

“Not entirely.” She set her hands on his chest. “I haven’t said a word to the bird. I’m pretty sure he wanted me to see it this last time, so I kept my mouth shut. I don’t know what it means, and I won’t say a word until I have a better idea.”

“But asking you to forget and move onto something else?”

She shrugged.

“That’s what I thought. It’s pointless.”

“I think something’s wrong. While I don’t trust him to lead me down that path himself, I want to know what’s going on. I’m too curious to let it go.”

“You’re curiosity is a dangerous thing, you know.”

“I know.” She grinned as she met his gaze. “For all we know it’s a style choice and he was looking for a fashion critique.”

“You really think we’re that lucky?” He chuckled at her answering shrug. “If you were to give him a fashion critique what would it be?”

“He’s gone far too subtle with it.” She practically hopped with her enthusiasm over the silly subject. “The silver is too hidden to be glimpsed easily. At least one feather should be visible enough to make us seek out the rest.”

He frowned, even though she said it in jest. “Why wouldn’t he just mask them from you? He sure has the ability.”

“What if he doesn’t? What if it’s an illness?” The giddiness of the moment passed as her features lost their spark of joy. “What if that’s why he wanted me?”

“He’s an ancient Spirit. I don’t think illness is likely.”

She sighed and sank onto the bed. “I sort of like the old bird.”

“That doesn’t mean you need to get sucked into whatever ploy he’s scheming.” He sat on the edge of the bed. “Just leave it be, would you? Do what we came here for.”

“Sorry.” She sank down next to him. “I know you still don’t trust him, and I don’t trust him completely either.”

“Then drop it. I’d rather us not be stuck here any longer than necessary.” He draped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. His tension eased as she snuggled closer. “I also like having you happy, and most of all, safe.”

“Blah blah blah.” The way she wrapped her arms tighter around him didn’t match her droll tone. “You’re such a sap in your old age.”

“You hate that you like it.”

“You don’t know me.”

“Oh, but I do. Which is why I also know you haven’t dropped the subject. You’re placating me with your nearness.”

“I just want to call Noelle and check her grandmother’s journals.”

“Then will you let it go?” He didn’t like how she’d managed to get wrapped up with the bird. Even though he trusted her to be smart and not get wrapped up in any sort of deal with the bird, he didn’t like where this was going at all.

“Depends on what they say.”

“Vels.”

Rather than answer, she moved fast enough to surprise him. In a quick minute she straddled him. Every nerve in his body came alive at her simple, possessive touch.

He groaned and gripped her hips. “Vels. You’re changing the subject.”

Her lips brushed along his ear. “You’re complaining?”

“I should, but fuck no I’m not.”

She squealed when he grabbed her around the waist and spun her fast until he had her pinned hard against the bed. With a husky chuckle she arched into him. “You are such a man.”

“You never complained before.”

“And I’m not now. Come here.”

 

*~*

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Tuesday Tales – Father – The Wolf

by Sarah | Jun 15, 2014 | Books, The Tribe, Tuesday Tales, Writing

Welcome back to Tuesday Tales!  This weeks prompt is to be inspired by the word Father.

I’m sticking with the next installment of The Tribe series – The Wolf again this week. 

To set up the scene ever so briefly without revealing too much, Velli and Kane have made a plan to find out where her ‘boss’ is…which involves using her as live bait. Kane pretty much hates the idea, but doesn’t have a better plan. His nerves are getting on Velli’s nerves so she goes over the plan again…but the conversation eventually takes a turn:

She let out a growl very much like her Wolf was near the surface. “Let’s go over it again, then. Best way to Sal is through Chicago. The club there is the slimiest of the lot, and the two guys that run it…”

He gritted his teeth at her shudder. “Then it’s not the best way.”

“The darkest path is the best one to get where we want to go. Plus, Larry and Carl are sick, but spineless. One of your brutal protection measures and they’ll spill Sal’s location as they piss their pants.”

“It’s not fool proof.”

“Never said it was.” She drank her beer leisurely. “Anywhere else would be foolish. They’re more organized and careful, like the place you found me at in California.”

The mere mention of California had him grabbing for his beer to cool off. Velli’s moves on stage were as impressive as her moves in battle. Worried as he might be at the upcoming plan, he was still an animal.

“I’ll go in alone. No point in setting off alarms this early in the game. I’ll do what I can to extract the information without trouble.” She polished off her beer and pushed it across the table where the bottle met his in a quiet clink.

“You said Hunters guard the place.”

“Yup. Then there’s Bacey. Best bouncer of the lot spends most of his time there, because he can handle the riff raff. He was good to me.” She narrowed her eyes at the curtains. “He never touched me, though he intimated he wanted to. I think it was a rule set down by the boss.”

“Sal.”

She didn’t answer immediately, and the familiar flicker of confusion creased her features.

“You’re not sure Sal is the boss, are you?”

“He’s boss Sal.” She bent her knees so her feet sat flat against his thigh. Gaze on the tequila, she fidgeted in her seat. “It’s one of those things again. I just have a sensation that I’m talking about someone else when I say the boss. I can’t explain it.”

“Sure you still want to do this?”

“Yes. I always knew he wasn’t the biggest man on campus—but he’s high up enough to know where she is. He was there, in California.” She glanced his way. “Fifteen minutes. Promise me you’ll give me fifteen minutes. You’ve seen me battle, you know I can do this.”

“Not one minute more.”

“If you think this is bad, you’re a pussy.”

“It’s never been my mate before.” He frowned at her attempted lightheartedness. “And as for seeing you battle, I have seen it. I often wondered why you didn’t try to be a Warrior. You sure have the skills for it. There aren’t a lot of female Warriors, but they’re there.”

“I never had the discipline. Skill isn’t all it takes to become a Warrior. I was never good at following proper behavioral rules and all of that.”  She smirked when he snorted. “As you’ve seen for yourself.”

“You’re a spoiled brat and content to be so.” He grinned in relief at her chuckle. “I get that, although you probably still would have made it. A few of the Warriors I met on my last visit were not up to the usual strict standards.”

“Our numbers were dwindling. I remember Father and Silver Fox talking in hushed tones about the problem. They were trying to pinpoint when the magic started to falter.”

“They felt it, too.”

“Of course they did. They were two of the most powerful men in the Tribe.” She shuddered and sat forward to wrap her arms around her legs. “The magic must be growing weaker now with Silver Fox gone.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to go see Reed?”

“I’m not ready.” At least she didn’t bolt at the suggestion, even though her body tensed. “I’m sorry. It’s selfish.”

“It’s not selfish to worry about your child first.”

“That’s not all I’m worried about. I’m worried about what he’ll think of me.”

“The man couldn’t hate you if he tried. Much as I dislike him—the guy knows you. He hasn’t hated you all these years knowing all about you, he won’t hate you now.”

“I’m the reason his father is dead. The reason he has to return to the reservation.” She’d whispered the words, but he’d heard clear as day. After a minute she rubbed her palms along her cheeks and sniffed. “Let’s get our drink on.”

“You trying to kill me, woman?”

“Healing magic, remember? Alcohol is going to hurt me more than it hurts you.”

He could push the matter of Reed, but he decided to pick his battles. In too few hours he’d be sending her to the wolves, he might as well make the next few hours easier.

*~*

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*~*

Tuesday Tales – Bottom – The Wolf

by Sarah | Jun 1, 2014 | Books, The Tribe, Tuesday Tales, Writing

Welcome back to Tuesday Tales!  This weeks prompt is to be inspired by the word Bottom.

I had intended on returning to Natural Selection for this week, but then as I was writing the next installment of The Tribe series – The Wolf, bottom naturally appeared. I figured I might as well get it down while the getting was good. 🙂

To set the scene, it’s been six very long years since Kane and Velli have seen each other. Torturous in many ways for both of them, but Kane finally found her. She fought him tooth and nail the night before, causing many bruises when Kane tried to keep her still, but there are others that were not by his hand. When she finally slept, Kane relaxed, hoping he might break through her resistance to help.

Kane’s offer to help is in more ways than one. He is a Shifter, and he has Healing magic. His own body heals easily…but he can also heal minor injuries in others, and he wants to heal her wounds…both the obvious ones, and the ones in her soul. She is his mate, although she has yet to believe him when he says so:

Velli stirred in his arms, her soft whimper as she sat up drew his attention away from his dark musings. In an effort to keep her calm, Kane shut his eyes as if he slept to allow her to do what she felt she needed to. He’d only react if she tried to attack or escape.

Once she’d stood and crossed the room, he opened his eyes a crack to keep an eye on her. There were bruises on her wrists from their struggle the night before, and his Healing magic told him there were more.

She had fought tooth and nail against him, but knowing her fight had caused them didn’t lessen his guilt over the injuries. He would make amends and Heal them. Then maybe, just maybe, she’d be calm enough to let him talk.

Once she disappeared behind the bathroom door, he sat. He exhaled a long breath and scrubbed his hand over his face. This would not be an easy day, and to make matters worse he’d found her the day before a full moon. The fates were conspiring against him, for the full moon meant pain for them both, and would add to Velli’s crankiness.

The shower turned on, the drumming of droplets on the tub’s bottom thumped in his ears. A few seconds later he knew she stepped in by the change in sound. Maybe he’d make coffee, have it ready for her when she got out. Perhaps over neutral territory like coffee they could get everything started.

A deep sob broke through the steady patter of water. Kane flew to his feet. Maybe he’d imagined it. No, there was another one. She was crying now, he knew it, and trying to hide behind the sounds of the shower.

His heart wrenched. For far too long he’d been away from her, unable to aid her suffering. He wouldn’t let her grieve alone when he was right there. Even if he might be the cause of her tears, or because he probably was the reason. No matter the why’s, he wouldn’t stand by.

On the way to the bathroom, he stripped down with an easy grace. Modern belief held that Native’s were modest about their bodies, and most were. That was a behavior and belief system instilled in the known tribes when they broke off from the core magical Tribe they’d been created out of, and became mostly human. The core Tribe held the balance of Shifters.

To protect what they were, the Tribe made sure all descendant natives became modest, so the Shifters that couldn’t afford to be modest would be safer. It is hard to believe a culture that is naturally modest would so easily shed clothes to Shift, after all.

At the bathroom door Kane hesitated. He took a moment to brace himself against whatever attack she’d launch before he entered.

When the door opened there was no reaction from the shower. Her soft sobs echoed out from behind the curtain. He pushed aside the barrier between them, doing his best to not flinch when her shriek echoed through the enclosed space.

“Vels.” His heart ached to have her shrink back from him. Still, he didn’t hesitate to step into the shower. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

“Go away.” She turned her back on him, but didn’t run away or attack. Was that really good, or terrible? What was it Lily had once said about her? Velli is volatile.

She certainly was. Kane stepped closer, the water hit his feet in rapid beats now. “Let me help you. Just this once.”

“Why? So you can betray me again? Go away.”

He touched her shoulder before pulling on it gently. Once she’d turned to face him, he brushed some tears from her cheek. With a sigh, he pulled her close and relaxed when she didn’t fight him. He closed his eyes and rested his cheek on the top of her head when she rested her forehead on his chest and let out another gut-wrenching sob.

“It’s not your fault,” she spoke through hiccups. “I was marked for this long before you. You just made it worse.”

“Well I’m here to make it better.”

“You can’t. Nobody can.”

“I’m a Healer. I can make anything better.”

“It’s too late for me.”

“It’s never too late.”

*~*

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