Chapter 127

Solar opened his mouth to speak but looking around warily it seemed that he decided against it, "Come, we will speak in here."

He walked them to a large, cedar wigwam and pulling away the rawhide curtains they entered behind him.

The inside was warm, the entire Haven felt like spring with a brisk chill but warmth from the sun, inside the wigwam there was a fire in the centre to keep things warm. The ground was covered in woven mats and furs, Raphael sat down.

Solar sat on a chair in the back and he seemed very nervous he kept glancing at the entrance and looking at the fire.

"Solar, we're here to investigate, and maybe deal with the two bodies that were found. We are very grateful that you allowed us passage into your Haven, but one of our Lycans was killed, we need to know what happened." Ditri said very calmly.

Raph continued to observe as Solar pondered Dirti's words.

"We found Jewel and your Lycan on the far side of the protectors' reach. I do not know how he got inside but it looks the same as Sage." Solar said quietly.

Ditri nodded looking at his Gamma, Raph could see that they were mind linking, he wanted Brooke, not just because he missed her but her ability came in handy.

He shook his head, he shouldn't think about her that way. She's his mate.

Solar rose and the three men followed.

"I will show you where we found them." Then he walked out the door, the three others followed, ducking out through the door.

They walked out of the village and into the forest, Raphael was finding that the temperature was steadily dropping degree by degree. It was gradual but one could notice it.

He rubbed his hands together and blew into them.

Soon they entered a clearing, the grass was peeking through a thin coat of snow. He surveyed the area and soon found two forms lying in the snow a short distance from him.

He sighed heavily and walked towards them, only to be stopped by a loud shriek. He looked up and saw something large, circling in the air above him. It shrieked again and he clutched his ears. Next to him Solar appeared and spoke a few words unknown to Raph and the creature disappeared.

He glared at Ditri and his Gamma, they shifted uncomfortably at his anger looking at their shoes, "What was that?"

Ditri looked up at the light, grey sky, "That, Beta, would be one of the Protectors." He lowered his gaze, levelling it with him, "A Griffin."

Raphael raised his eyes, squinting at the bright sky, "A Griffin?"

"Yes." Solar said quietly, "They are our protectors."

Raph just nodded and continued on his course to where the two bodies lay. A young female Fae, her wings were torn off and lying on the ground next to her, their brilliant colours faded. Her skin looked scorched and charred as though she had been burned. A few metres away lay the Lycan, he seemed young, his claws were extended and he had multiple wounds across his body.

"Who is he?" He asked no one in particular.

Ditri's Gamma walked forward and examined the body, "Peter, it's Pete." He said, his face saddened.

Ditri walked forward and crouched down next to the Lycan's body, "He was our newest shifted. He was training with Rob."

Raph looked up and saw that Rob was the Gamma's name.

"How did he get inside?" Ditri muttered as he closed Peter's eyelids.

Raphael looked around and couldn't see any tracks at first, the entire area had scuffle marks and signs of struggle.

He turned to Solar, "What about her? What was she doing out here?"

Solar turned his glistening eyes to look at Raph, "Jewel? S-she often spent her time in the woods, she would forage… mostly. She hunted some… but she did not take to it. She and Sage, t-they loved it out here." He seemed to be reliving a past memory as he turned in a slow circle taking in his surroundings.

"Yes, Sage. He was the first one? Could you take us to see where you found him?" Raph asked.

Solar, roused from his thoughts, turned to face Raph once more with a tired expression, he nodded numbly, "Yes, it is just this way."

Raph heard Ditri say to Ross to stay and continue to investigate the scene there.

Solar left the clearing and entered into the trees again, Raphael and Ditri followed close behind.

After walking for twenty minutes or so they reached a grassy knoll with weeping willows scattered about, Raph could see rabbits and steller jays dispersed throughout the vicinity. The air was damp and crisp here he looked up and saw a rock face in the distance that reached high into the air, atop it he saw what he thought was a Griffin.

'Interesting.' He thought placing his hand to his mouth, pondering a thought.

"He was gardening in this grove. It was his favourite place." He heard Solar's mournful voice say.

Raphael scanned the knoll, it was rather large, surrounded still by firs and cedars with the willows in the middle.

"Where was he?" Raph asked.

Solar nodded and walked to the trunk of one of the willows, "Here. He was here."

The grass was blackened and the base of the tree was burnt. He could just make out a handprint in the soft ground and could see one on the tree's trunk.

"This is…?"

"Elf magic." Ditri answered.

Raph fought the temptation to roll his eyes, of course he knew that it was obvious. He took a breath and lowered his gaze once again to the black marks.

"Hold up, Rob's found something." Ditri said as he turned to look back at the trees from where they'd come.

A dark, grey wolf came crashing through the brush, -This way.- He said to both of them then sprinted back into the woods.

They both turned to look at Solar, "It is alright, I can track you."

They nodded and shifted into their respective wolves and ran off, both of their senses being heightened as wolves they could easily track the Gamma.