No, she didn’t start running. She bolted! She didn’t get tired, she felt like she was only walking. She kept on going for a good while. She wanted to test her limits but she saw no end to them! She stopped at the pond where she saw someone. She repressed her powers and snuck closer. Her heartbeat quickened as she saw it was Ryan. She knew Caleigh was right: talking to him was inevitable. She took a step closer but decided on a direct approach instead. She didn’t call his name. She wanted him to notice her. Without turning around, he started talking to her.
“You have grown.”
“How did you…”
“I sensed your power.”
“Does it mean everybody knows now?” she asked scared.
“No.” he turned around “It’s only because we… we have started bonding. That’s the only reason. Are you repressing your powers again?”
“I am.” she nodded.<
Lydia thought for seconds. Then she looked at Ryan smiling.“Scary but amazing. She is… amazing. Please don’t believe I’m not scared. I know what’s at stake. I don’t want to die just yet.”“Well, maybe you can help me if my wolf can come out.”“Happily!”“Do you still have time today?” he asked as he grabbed a plate.“It depends.” she sent her a cheeky smile “What do you want?”“Work out.”“We’ll see. I think I can squeeze you in.”“So you do have time before swimming and archery practice?” Caleigh joined them in an elevated mood.“Someone seems happy!” Lydia chimed.“So what?” the huntress grinned.“Will you ever tell us why you are this happy?” Ryan asked.“Maybe,” she said as they sat down.“Com
Lydia sent her a soft smile.“Just ask.”“Did you tell him?”“Told him what?”“That you love him.”“Oh, wow!” she blushed “Love is a very strong word!”“Is it?”“It’s not love.” she shook her head.“Yet. Am I right?”“I can’t…” she sighed “We will go separate ways. And I’m afraid that will be the end.”“So you don’t believe you will meet again?”“Maybe, someday. Who knows. My uncle might kill me, too.”“With such power? I doubt it, Lydia. Show me.” she stepped closer “Release it. Just for a second.”“Okay,” she said hesitantly and released her power for some seconds then repressed it again.“Wow!” her eyes widened “This is not your full power, is it?
Once they arrived at the archery range Lydia picked up a bow and quiver immediately. Caleigh smiled at her enthusiasm. As the girl took her place and bent the bow the huntress stepped behind her and lowered her elbow, making her lower the bow.“Watch me again,” she said as she took her stance and bent her bow.Lydia tried to watch every single she made. As she closed one of her eyes she bent the bow more and in the next second the arrow was flying through the range and penetrated the middle of the target.“You need to remain calm.” she looked at her “I appreciate the enthusiasm though. Now, show me if you can hit the target this time. Calm down and shoot.”The girl nodded and reassured her stance. She lifted the bow and bent it. She tried to remember what Ryan and Caleigh taught her at the same time. She closed her eye and tried to focus on the target. She lifted her elbow a little bit and aimed a little higher as the m
By the time Lydia woke up the following day Caleigh was nowhere to be found. She breathed a sigh and walked out of the cave to have some breakfast. As she kept eating she still couldn’t shake off the feeling about the huntress being in trouble. A deep voice dragged her back to reality.“Can I sit down?”“Sure. Good morning, Ryan.” she sent him a warm smile.“You look tired.”“Rough night.”“Another nightmare?”“No, I’m just…” she changed her mind “Never mind.” she decided it’s safer if she doesn’t talk about things just now.“What’s bothering you? Is it still me?”“No, not at all. Just thinking about training and strength and… It’s scary, you know.”“I understand. So, what are you up to today?“Honestly? I have no idea yet.”“Are you free for training then? Strength training I mean.”“Yes.” she nodded “But nothing you wouldn’t be able to handle.” she grinned.“You think you are already stronger than me?”“I see the possibility. My stamina and endurance are already better.”“That actua
The girl rolled her eyes.“You won’t give up…”“No I won’t!” he grinned.“Okay,” she grumbled.Once they left the clan the man looked at her excited.“Ready?”“Whenever you are.”“On the count of three. One… two… three!”Lydia bolted without hesitation even with her powers being repressed. Yet again, she felt no pain, no exhaustion. She didn’t even start to sweat. When she washed her face on the pond then sat down and waited for Ryan. Several minutes have passed by the time he arrived huffing, puffing, and sweating. He also washed off his face and turned to Lydia.“You didn’t even want me to win!”“Why would I?” she scoffed “You knew I’m a little bit stronger than you now. I told you I’m not going to tell her a secret. That’s up to her. Once she’s ready, she will tell you.”“Okay, fine.” he sighed “You didn’t even break a sweat! You’re so annoying?”“Why, because I’m better than you?” she grinned.“Because I’m much weaker! I really wish I had my wolf.”“You will get him when the time
Lydia screamed out in pain again. She felt like her blood was on fire. Or rather there was a fire in her veins instead of blood.“You need to calm down now.” Nathaniel said “You need to see her. Concentrate, now! Or she will eat you alive.”The girl closed her eyes and focused so she could see her wolf again. She concentrated but it was hard because of the pain. It took several minutes to see the animal. It seemed agitated. She was raging, trying to break her chains. Lydia was scared but took a step closer to her wolf.“Hey, hey, calm down!” she took a step back when the wolf snarled at her “Why are you so angry?”The wolf didn’t even look at her just started to chew one of her chains.“I thought we both understood we need each other. What’s gotten into you?”The animal looked at her. Her eyes were bloody and she was foaming at the mouth. She growled and started to jump, up and down. Then she tried to break her chains again.“If you break those, we will both be dead before we know it!
Lydia hesitated for a second then breathed a sigh.“I lost control because of Caleigh.”“But it was nothing more than an accident!”“You’re wrong about that but I’m still not willing to tell her secret. I got upset, my wolf got upset. She wanted to break her chains. All of them.”“And what happened? Could you calm her down?”“It wasn’t easy, but yes.” she nodded.“And as I can sense you removed another chain.”“I had to. My body is ready. The better question is, however, how much longer I can repress it.”“We’re not ready. We don’t have a strategy.” Nathaniel mused.“I know.” the girl sighed “But my strength is growing rapidly and… she will be out soon I’m afraid. I can’t stop her and I don’t even want to, I think. I don’t think I would need protection.”“You saw our reactions!” Ryan shook his head “How do you think the others would react? Are you sure you’re ready for all this? Once we decide to go on this road, there will be no turning back, Lydia.”“Yes, I know.” she brushed off he
Lydia kept looking at her for some seconds then breathed a sigh. She walked to the huntress’ bed and sat on the ground. She did not want to upset Caleigh but she that it would be better if she knew what happened. She bit her bottom lip and then started to speak.“Well, we went training. Nothing extraordinary, really. Squats, push-ups, weight lifting… Then I just…” she blushed “I lost control.”“What how?” her eyes widened “More importantly, why?”“I… got angry.”“What for?”“Because of you! What they did to you was unexpected and unfair and could have cost you your life! That’s why! I want to find them and just…”“Whoa, calm down! What exactly happened?”“I lost control. It felt like my blood was liquid fire. I though I would die. Because of my own feelings, my wolf got angry and started to rage. She almost broke all her chains.”“And then?”“Somehow I managed to calm her down. But I had to break a chain.”“The first chain. I knew it. I sensed it when you set foot in the cave.” she si