Developing Strength

One cannot combat strength with fear. You either climb or you fall.

Dax circled me, his sharp amber eyes fixed on mine, and his words rang in the clearing. Though my muscles hurt, my breathing was under control and sweat ran down my cheeks. I maintained my hold on the blade constant.

First I lunged low, as he had instructed me. He sidestepped easily, grabbed my wrist and whirling to cause me to drop the sword.

Again, he snarled and let me go with a forceful push. "You're dragging back."

I snapped, grabbing the dagger off the ground, not sure.

"Yes, you are," he said, closing the space between us with one step.

His hand sprang out, touching the mark on my arm—the one that pulsed every time danger lurked. "You really have more power than you would think, Zaia. Make advantage of it.

I turned away his contact, my breath stitching as an unusual heat bloom developed under my flesh. It was something much more basic than mere anger—something deeper. My wolf agitated, hungry and restless.

You don't get it, I growled. "Something terrible happens every time I let it out."

Then stop fleeing it, Dax urged, his voice lower now. Whatever is within you is not disappearing. Learn to under manage it; otherwise, it will ruin you.

I despised his sense of logic. Ever since the vision of the Moon Goddess, the unusual energy had been intensifying and surged randomly throughout battles, scorching like fire in my veins.

Fine, I said, lifting the dagger once again. " lets try this your way."

We sparred for what seemed like hours, every action intensifying my concentration. With every blow Dax drove me harder, pushing me to depend more on instinct than expertise.

Approval from my wolf howled, pushing me to release the power coiled inside of me.

Dax feinted left suddenly, then rushed right, knocking the blade from my grasp. I stammered, then his face inches from mine as he pressed me into a nearby tree before I could respond.

He hissed, "You're still holding back," his breath heated on my skin.

His words set off something wild and untamed inside of me that I could no control. Heat burned more brilliantly than it had ever done through my body.

I pushed my hands into his chest before I knew what I was doing; from my palms, a blast of energy shot him across the clearing.

Dax dropped hard, dropping to a squat with a growl and extending his claws naturally. His eyes opened to absorb what had just transpired.

His voice sharp with amazement, "What the hell was that?" he said.

I looked at my shaking hands, weak traces of brilliant silver still flashing down my fingers. "I: I'm not sure."

Emerging from the tree line, the scout had a suspicious look and drew a dagger. " What did you do?"

I muttered, pulling away as terror coiled in my chest, not intending to. "Just happened."

Dax rose, wiping dirt from his garments; his face was insensible. "The mark of the Moon Goddess links to your power."

"No," I responded, shaking my head. "This is yet another thing."

The scout focused his gaze narrow-wise. You are more dangerous than the rogues we are battling if you cannot control it.

His charge wounded, but I could not refute. Not even sure what I had done, much alone how I can stop it from occurring once again.

Dax moved between us with steady eyes. She is not dangerous—at least not to us. Whatever this is, we work out before the next battle.

Though he didn't dispute, the scout's jaw tightened.

"I need answers," I replied gently, my voice shaking even with my best attempts. "Before I damaged someone else."

I stayed by the fading fire, looking at my hands, later that evening as the others slept. The remembrance of the power I had released still tingled my fingertips.

Dax walked up, his motions slow but methodical. "you ought to be sleeping."

I gave my head a shake. "I'm not able."

He sat next to me, near enough to let some of the residual ice in my chest go. His warmth drove away "Your fault was not this one."

My voice trembling, I said, "It felt like... I wasn't even in control."

"What if I injure you the next time? Another person?

Dax fixed me, his amber eyes softer than I had ever seen. "then we take care to prevent that."

His comments helped me to relax the terrible weight of my anxiety.

We were moving once again, further into the woodland before morning. With every stride, the hum that tormented us became louder, pulsing under the earth like a live heart.

We arrived in a little valley covered in mist, the odd symbols we had seen on the altar carved on the surrounding trees. My brand burned intensely, pumping stinging waves of energy over my body.

Dax said, "We're close," staring out towards the far tree line.

"Whatever has been hunting us; it is waiting."

The air changed suddenly, as shadows started to gather into known, twisted patterns. From the mist corrupted rogues appeared, their brilliant green eyes fixed on us.

Dax yelled, "Get ready," drawing his sword.

I was unable to move, however. My mark blazed more brilliantly than it had ever done, glittering light flooding my view.

A voice then softly and melodious spoke through the wind, sending shivers down my spine.

"Zaia... return home.

The earth shook as the animals neared, and I felt wild and uncontrolled power inside me rise. My vision hazily and for a time I didn know where I stopped and the enchantment started.

Dax's voice loud and forceful pierced through the fog. "Zaia, keep with me!"

Still, the cry became stronger and drew me forward into the light.