40 Journey

Mingan had caught up with news of the Tutelar, and though there were a great deal of happenings, not much of it interested him.

First on his list of priorities was to hunt down Lokni. It seemed that Elloreah had nearly forgotten, immersed in her work with Alistair and the time she spent with the horses.

Mingan packed up his room, storing all his personal belongings away to make the room easy to clean, and if needed, open to a guest. It was his home more than most places, but he was gone more often than not. He wasn't one to accumulate belongings, though it was nice to know when he returned he had a few comfortable, familiar things. Clothing that fit, a few old keepsakes, but not much more.

Just as he'd put the final items away, Elloreah turned up, freshly washed from a day at the stables. Her boots and jeans still held the signs of the time she'd spent there, flecked with mud and horse hair, the smell of the horses and dust still clinging to her, but her face and hands were clean.

"You coming for dinner?" she asked, though her voice held other questions.

"I'll be there in a minute," he assured her.

She hovered, a fingertip on her lips. "You're leaving," she stated more than asked.

"Tonight, when it gets dark." He didn't pause in his work, going back to his room to fold up a few last items and straighten his bed.

"Were you going to tell me?" she asked, her voice carefully neutral, though he could hear the hints of anxiety growing.

"At dinner, or after." He made his way out the door, past her into the hall, not giving her as much as a glance. She trailed after.

"Why?" came the single syllable, as much a protest as a question.

"To find Lokni," he replied simply. He almost wanted to add, 'for you, silly girl.'

"Oh!" she exclaimed. "I had forgotten."

He chuckled. "I thought so."

"Alistair said he would contact Lokni…"

Mingan shrugged. "I know where he is at, and I've grown restless. The run will do me some good."

She picked at her dinner, contemplative and silent. She didn't follow him immediately, as if daring him to leave without a goodbye. Instead, she waited until the sun was setting low on the horizon and Mingan had settled into his favorite chair on the back porch for a smoke. She brought a few plums, offering him one as she sat on the edge of the porch, almost at his feet.

"I thought you would be gone by now," she said, biting into one of the overripe fruits.

"I prefer leaving in full darkness. The ranchers aren't over fond of wolves."

"To be honest," she added, "I had expected you to leave sooner."

"For some reason, though, I felt the need to stick around. You wouldn't know anything about that, now would you?"

She glanced at him, and then back at her hands, examining the fruit she held as if the purple orb was of utmost interest. "I admit, I wanted you to stay," she said. "But not against your will. You could leave at any time."

Mingan chuckled. "I could, could I?"

"I am not holding you Mingan, not intentionally. Though I do not think you mind it so much." She turned to him. "Do you?"

He smiled, a slight curl of his lips. "No, you're not bad company. Still, I hope that if Lokni is able to do what you and Sarah hope that the need won't be so great. I prefer to wander, and would soon resent being bound to any one place for long."

"I know," Elloreah said quickly. "You have done more than enough for me."

He inclined his head, then put the cigarette out on his boot heel and looked to the darkening sky. "You can repay me when I get back."

Elloreah gave him a slight nod. "Of course," she replied. "Though I am not sure how."

"You'll have time to think on it," he told her with a wicked grin. "Make it good."

She laughed, and shook her head. "I don't have anything to give, except gratitude."

"Then I suppose that will be enough." He came down the stairs to stand beside her. "Keep up with your studies with Alistair and stay put. Don't agree to do anything for the Tutelar. I'll see you..." he paused considering. "In a week, two at most."

Elloreah raised her hand to give a small wave. "I will. Be safe."

With a flash of a grin, Mingan turned for the groves and shifted seamlessly into his wolf form. It was if the man simply shimmered for a moment and was replaced by a large, grey beast. He loped into the orchards, disappearing into the shadows with fleet footed silence.