MS_Chavez

Mingan, something of a lone wolf, has his solitary wanderings interrupted when he's put in a position to rescue Elloreah, one of the rare Ethereal. There is a demand for rare creatures such as Elloreah among the mythic black markets. Mingan cannot turn a blind eye knowing what will become of her should she fall prey to poachers. By rescuing her, he finds himself pulled back into the vast network and influences of the Tutelar, the shadow organization that keeps the magical elements of Earth under wraps. His fate is soon intertwined with Elloreah's, whose exile from her home world is far more complicated than either of them realize. 
​
The Wind Shifts is a rural fantasy novel based in the Central Valley of California, and follows the lives of the mythic creatures that hide in plain sight during the late 1960s.

This work has been completed for the moment. There is a book 2, but unless there is a demand for book 2, I'm going to focus on the rewrite. 

Are you enjoying this work? Support me on Ko-Fi.com, my user name is MSChavez.  https://ko-fi.com/mschavez

I've decided not to sign this work with WebNovel, so this work is entirely unpaid and will not have locked chapters. Donations are much appreciated and keep writers like me writing.

The Wind Shifts

Late into the day, the rumble of a car in the drive alerted Mingan to Lokni and Hayeta's arrival. He made his way wearily out to the hall, watching as Margaret fussed over Lokni while Liwanu helped an annoyed Hayeta with their bags. 


"Lokni is feeling better?" Mingan asked, taking the bag from Hayeta, forcing her to take the lightest item, the last bag left on the floor in the entrance-way where Lokni had deposited it.


"He made me drive most the way, cat napping cross country," Hayeta snorted. "He'd better be well rested."


Mingan chuckled and tossed the bag into the room Lokni was most fond of. He leaned on the doorframe.


"You made good time," she commented, giving him a considering look. "Your wolf sprout wings while you were hiding out in the mountains?"


"Knowing all the old short cuts helps."


She cocked a hip and eyed him. "And just how many of those old short cuts have new housing tracks or farms on them now?"


"Mingan, we can't afford to lose you to a farmer's gun. You know better."


He laughed in earnest now. "Are you actually lecturing me, Hayeta?"


She stepped up to him and shoved a hand against his chest, pressing him against the frame with force. She twisted her hand, gathering up the cloth of his shirt in it, giving him a little shake. "I wouldn't if I didn't have reason to believe you were being blatantly stupid."


"Down, Hayeta," Lokni barked. Pulling his sister back, he leaned over her shoulder. "She's cranky from the drive." He grabbed Hayeta's wrist, giving it a shake. "Let go!"


She reluctantly released Mingan's shirt and shook her brother off. "Our bloodlines grow thin, and still you fools act as if death cannot touch you." She turned a pair of glowing gold eyes on her brother. "Go back to flirting with that mortal." She promptly ignored Lokni and pushed her way into Mingan's personal space once more.


He smirked, amused by the fact that despite all her fierceness, the height difference clearly bothered her. She lifted on to her tip toes for good measure, and grabbed the back of Mingan's neck, pulling his face to hers.


"I don't want you getting killed, you old bastard," she said, a slight growl in her voice.


"You're not the only one," he muttered, shrugging her off. He turned away, heading for the kitchen. "Come on, then, you've made your threats. I'm hungry and I'm sure dinner will be soon."


Hayeta huffed and trailed behind him on their way to the dining room. She ran to catch up to Mingan half way down the hall. "What about your Ethereal girl? Is she here?" 


"Of course," Mingan grumbled, pulling out a chair and sitting down unceremoniously. "Though she doesn't belong to me." 


Hayeta settled in the nearest chair. "Well you did run right back to her in a hurry." 


He shrugged. "Had no interest in being stuck in a car for hours on end with the two of you. She's likely out with the horses," he added.


Lokni arrived shortly. He paused in the doorway, clearing his throat to get their attention. It was clear by the way his face fell that he was disappointed to find that it was only Mingan and Hayeta at the table.


"Where's Alistair and that redheaded creature we rescued? I didn't get much of a look at her before, considering she'd just been knocked unconscious by that old monster."


"Alistair is busy with work. I believe he had a business meeting in town," Sitala answered, coming in from the backyard, Liwanu at her side. The hulking, quiet, Liwanu pulled out the chair for Sitala, who settled into her seat with a regal air. 


"Are we waiting for Elloreah, then?" she asked, milky white eyes gazing around the table in her hauntingly perceptive way. 


"Unless there are other guests I am not aware of," Mingan said. 


"I'm sure she'll be in as soon as she's done washing up. Liwanu mentioned that she was on her way in from the barn just moments earlier," Sitala answered.


44 Lokni & Hayeta