Her grandmother turned to her, resting a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “Be strong,” she mouthed before darting around the table rock and straight into the center of the wolves.

  The brown wolf lunged at her. The silver vial Grandmother held flew through the air. It hit the side of a rock before falling to the ground. A strange, silvery blue liquid poured out of it and melted into the patchy grass.

  “No!” Her grandmother’s strangled cry was filled with despair. She didn’t even notice the alpha charging her as she lunged after the vial, grabbing it up and staring as the last drop sank into the ground. The alpha slammed into her. The old lady’s head clipped the side of the rock as she fell.

  “Grandmother, ” Rosie screamed, forgetting her own fear as she flung herself between her grandmother and the alpha.

  The brown wolf took a step back in surprise, but recovered quickly, stepping to lean over Rosie as she covered her grandmother’s body with her own. She clutched her grandmother’s cold hand and felt for a pulse as she stared up at the wolf.

  His snout widened into what looked like a sneer, his large white teeth glistening in the moonlight. How was he so big? Rosie had never seen a wolf so large. If she stood up, his head would surely be as high as her own.

  She swallowed hard and masked her relief at feeling a steady pulse in her grandmother’s wrist. Letting go of her grandmother’s hand, she spread her cloak widely over them both, making sure the red side was up.

  The wolf’s face fell, and he let out a grunt as he took a step back. “We can’t touch her. She’s one of them,” he growled with disdain.

  Rosie’s mouth dropped open. Was she going crazy? Had he just... spoken?

  The silver wolf stepped forward then, pushing the alpha back as he looked into Rosie’s eyes. His large gray ones looked back at her, filled with warmth... and love?

  “Grandfather,” Rosie whispered in awe. “Is it...is it really you?”

  The silver wolf nodded. “Yes, my darling girl.”

  He spoke words Rosie could hear, but his mouth wasn’t moving. “Your grandmother, is she okay?”

  Rosie nodded, still staring at the wolf. “She... she has a pulse. Are you...talking?” she asked.

  The alpha snorted and turned to face the other wolves. “Go on if you wish. You’ll get nothing here tonight.” He shook his head and sank down to lay on the ground a few feet away from them. None of the other wolves moved, their glowing eyes all still glued on Rosie and the wolf talking to her.

  The silver wolf nodded ignoring the brown wolf’s dramatics. “Yes, but not in the normal way I would if I were still human. And not every human can hear us. In fact, most can’t. You can because of the cloak.”

  “The cloak?”

  “Yes, it’s your birthright, Rosie. You are the protector of the family now. That cloak has been passed generation to generation to the eldest child of the direct descendent of Asher.”

  Rosie nodded. “I remember the story, Grandfather, but I don’t remember anything about being a protector.”

  “That’s because we hoped not to have to tell that part, but it appears that it is past time you learned about it. You already know how Asher was one of the first people to come live in Anderi. He had a large family and was looking for a place with plenty of space for them to roam, grow crops, and build houses. But what he didn’t realize was that part of the land was occupied by wolves, wolves much bigger than average. Wolves with the power to turn a human into a wolf with one bite.”

  The alpha wolf snorted again. “Oh, please, it’s not like it’s that bad. You’re much more powerful now than you ever were as a mere human.”

  Rosie’s grandfather ignored the brown wolf and continued. “The wizard Griffin came and granted Asher the red cloak that would protect his family, but magic comes with a price. And in this case, only the oldest child of a direct descendent of Asher could wear the cloak and be safe. As such, each oldest child has been given the cloak and the task of protector. And for such a long time, the wolves weren’t a threat, so we were hoping you’d never have to worry about it, but...” The silver wolf shook his head, his gray eyes solemn.

  “I have so many questions I can’t even think of where to begin with them.”

  A groan came from under the cloak. Grandmother was waking up. Rosie started to turn, but her grandfather’s voice, low and urgent, stopped her. “You must take your grandmother and go, quickly before she wakes up and sees me. You are protected, but she is not, and if she is not right with you as you head home, they will attack her.”

  “She thought she could change you back. I didn’t even believe you were still here...” Rosie’s mind spun. How could she just leave her grandfather here, now that she knew it was him?

  “I must go now. If your grandmother sees me, you won’t be able to get her home. Someday it may be possible to change me back, but today is not that day. Take her home and don’t let go of her.” With that, the silver wolf turned and dashed away.

  “Rosie, what happened? Are you okay?” Grandmother’s voice was weak and thin. Rosie bent down and helped her sit up. A knot was forming on her forehead, but otherwise she looked okay.

  “Yes, the cloak works. It’s okay, Grandmother. But we must get home. Now.” She pulled her grandmother to her feet, not taking her eyes off the wolves.

  The alpha wolf had risen from the ground and took a step closer to them. His large tail flicked back and forth, and his mouth was open, his large teeth once again gleaming in the strange pink moonlight.

  “What’s your hurry, little girl? Afraid of the big, bad wolf?” he snickered.

  Rosie couldn’t make out all the bodies of the wolves, but she could see their eyes, glowing in the night.

  “We need to go as quickly as we can, and you can’t let go of me,” Rosie squeezed her grandmother’s hand.

  “But wait, where’s the silver wolf? Your grandfather? I’m sure I saw him.” Her grandmother’s eyes darted about, squinting as she tried to make out all the bodies of the wolves in front of them.

  Rosie shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know, Grandmother, but look at that brown one. He’s not playing around. If you don’t stay right with me, he’ll be after you in a flash. Don’t let go of me.”

  Grandmother sighed heavily and nodded. “Okay, okay. But where are we going to go? Will they let us into the village now?”

  Rosie wrapped her arm around her grandmother and pulled her cloak tighter around them both before shaking her head. “I don’t know, but we’ll have to try, even if they just let you in. Arin’s the night guard tonight, so we’ll have a better chance with him than anyone.”

  Her grandmother’s eyes lit up as she squeezed Rosie’s arm tighter. “Oh, the cute one who’s sweet on you. He’ll let us in.”

  “Grandmother, he’s not sweet on me. We’ve just been friends for a long time.”

  “Um hm.” Her grandmother nodded knowingly.

  Rosie couldn’t help but smile a little. Her grandmother had always been good at easing tension, and she hadn’t lost any of that skill with age.

  She pulled her grandmother to the path, and they started the trek back toward the cottage and the village. Would Arin actually let them in if it was after midnight?

  Leaves crunched and branches snapped behind them. Rosie didn’t have to look back to know the whole pack was behind them. They were literally leading them to the gates of the village, but what else could she do? Grandfather had insisted that they get back to Endy, and she had to trust he knew what was best.

  She'd left with a little extra time to go to her grandmother’s cottage, gather up anything her grandmother would need, and return to the village, but how long had she wasted chasing after Grandmother and then talking with the wolves?

  They might be able to make it to Endy before midnight, but only if they hurried. She picked up the pace. “You okay to go faster? We’ve got to hurry.”

  Her grandmother just nodded. Soon they had reached her cottage and the path had finally widened up a bit. Rosie shot a glance behind them. The wolves were still there, one near the front licked his chops as he stared at them.

  “Females are my favorite meat,” he growled.

  Rosie couldn’t stop the shudder that passed through her. She was just thankful that her grandmother couldn’t hear the wolves. It seemed to take twice as long to get back as it had to come, but finally Rosie saw the gates rising up in the distance. “Look, we’re nearly there.”

  Grandmother nodded, breathing too heavily to speak. Rosie hoped she hadn’t injured herself more seriously than they realized when she fell. “You okay? Should we stop a moment to rest?”

  “No, no. We must get to the gates.” Grandmother glanced behind them, shivering. “Will they even let us in? We’ve brought the whole pack to the gates.”

  “They have to. As long as we make it by midnight, they have to.” But Rosie wasn’t sure. Would the wolves try to charge the gates? She was the only one they couldn’t touch. How was she supposed to protect everyone else?

  And then they were there. The iron of the gate was smooth and cool, and Rosie rested her head against it for a second before calling out to Arin. “Arin, I’m back. And I have Grandmother with me.”

  Arin’s face appeared in one of the slats between the iron rods that made up the gates. He smiled, his eyes sparkling. “I knew you would.” Then his gaze darted past Rosie. “Whoa, did the whole wolf pack follow you here? Rosie, what were you thinking? I can’t open the gates with them right outside.”

  Rosie shook her head. “I know. I didn’t know how to get rid of them. Please just crack the gate open enough for Grandmother to slip through. I’ll stay outside and guard the gate. They can’t approach me while I’m wearing the cloak.

  Arin hesitated half a second. “You’re just going to stay out there all night?”

  “I’ll be fine. Please we just need to get Grandmother inside and to Alina. She fell and may have injured herself more than I realized.”

  Grandmother shook her head and forced a smile. “I’m fine....sweetheart.... Don’t worry...so,” she huffed.

  Arin’s eyes widened. “We’ll have to be quick. On the count of three you need to be ready to squeeze through, Mrs. Packe, okay?”

  Grandmother nodded and Arin counted, “One, two, three.” He flipped the complicated lock through its positions to unlock it and held the gate open a few inches, just enough for Grandmother to squeeze through as she turned sideways.

  A rustle sounded behind them, and Rosie turned to face the wolves. The alpha had charged forward, his teeth bared as he growled deep in his throat. Without thinking, Rosie ripped her dagger from its sheath and plunged it towards him. It scraped his side, drawing blood. He yelped and stumbled backwards,

  The moonlight hit the dagger, and it lit up, glowing a bright pink. Bright enough that Rose could make out all the wolves slowly backing away from her, their eyes wide and full of fear.

  “She’s not just a Protector, she’s the One,” a dull colored gray wolf hissed.

  “A girl, it’s a girl,” another said in awe.

  “The One,” a third gulped.

  “We need to get out of here,” the alpha growled at his pack.

  None of the other wolves needed anymore prompting. They all turned and dashed off into the darkness. Only the alpha hesitated a second. He took a tiny step forward and sneered at Rosie.

  “Magic goes both ways, girl. And someday, I’ll find a way to come back and make you sorry you ever messed with us.” He whirled and skulked off into the darkness.

  “Oh wow, Rosie! That was amazing.” Arin creaked the gate back open, though he kept it small, and pulled Rosie through. “How did you do that?” He stared at the blade, the glow lessening until it diminished completely once Rosie made it safely inside the gates.

  Rosie shook her head. “I don’t know.”

  Grandfather hadn’t mentioned anything about her father’s knife. Certainly nothing about it glowing, or anything about her being the One. What did it all mean?

  Alina lunged at her, throwing her arms around Rosie’s neck. “You’re okay. You’re both okay!” Wetness from her sister’s tears fell onto her neck, and Rosie squeezed her sister back. Alina pulled away and grabbed their grandmother, hurrying her toward their house, chattering away.

  Arin reached out and caught Rosie’s hand pulling her to him. “You okay?” he asked, his eyes as serious as she’d ever seen them. “That was quite some craziness. It almost looked like that wolf was talking to you, but that’s crazy, right?”

  Rosie swallowed hard and nodded. “Yeah, I’m okay. Thanks for checking.” She squeezed his hand before darting after her sister and grandmother.

  The next couple of days were joyful, but every time Rosie tried to bring up the wolves and what being the One meant, her grandmother brushed it off as nothing. For the moment though, Rosie was content.

  She’d gotten her grandmother back to the village before midnight and convinced her to move to Prospera to live with Rosie and Alina. But she knew the peace and contentment she felt for the moment wouldn’t last forever. One day she would have to go back to the woods, back to the pack and her grandfather, back to find out what it all meant. Back to face her destiny.

  Jack the Dragon Slayer

  Once the was a poor lad named Jack. Jack worked for a rich merchant who had a beautiful daughter named Lusilla. Day after day Lusilla was kind to Jack, bringing him water when he was thirsty, bringing him food when he was hungry, and talking to him while he worked.

  Before long, Jack began to care for Lusilla, but he knew he wasn't worthy of her – not so long as he was a poor servant.

  “What can I do to be worthy of Lusilla?” Jack asked his burro, Pepi. “Perhaps she doesn’t even care for me the way I do for her. I suppose I should find that out before I do anything.”

  Pepi snorted and butted his head into Jack's chest. Laughter, like a tingling bell, filled the air.

  “Pepi is so funny,” Lusilla said as she came around the stable to stand next to Jack, resting her hands on the fence Pepi stood behind.

  Jack jumped a little. “Oh, hi Lusilla.” Jack laughed nervously. He gulped down his fear as he tried to think of how to tell Lusilla about the way he felt.

  “I’m uh, ... Jack took a deep breath and tried again. “There’s something...” His throat tightened and he couldn’t get the words out.

  Lusilla put a gentle hand on Jack’s shoulder. “How do you feel about me, Jack?” she asked with a knowing grin. “I'm certain it's quite obvious how I feel about you. Why do you think I bring you water, food, and conversation?”

  Jack smiled hesitantly and held out his hand. She placed her small hand in his. It was so soft, like the petals of a rose. Jack's hand was callused and rough. He shouldn't be holding such a fine hand. He tried to pull his hand away, but Lusilla tightened her grasp.

  “Don't pull away, Jack. I know you feel it too. We belong together. You understand me in a way no one else ever has.”

  “I'm flattered, but your father would never approve of me. I'm just a peasant. I don't deserve someone like you.”

  “Just because I'm rich, I'm better than you?” Lusilla scoffed. “I thought you knew me better.” She started to pull away, and this time Jack tightened his grip.

  “I didn't mean you. But your father, others – will judge you. And I can't afford to give you the life you live now.”

  “Who cares about what others think? I know I don't. And I never said I wanted this life,” Lusilla laughed as she waved her arm over the vast land that surrounded her mansion. “All I've ever wanted is adventure. You know that. It's what we've always talked about. That's all I expect – to live a life of adventure with you.”

  “Well, then, I'll talk to you father,” Jack said. He took a deep breath steeling himself for the conversation he was about to have.

  He went to the door of the mansion and asked to speak with Lord Geraldo, Lusilla's father. The housemaid gave him a pitying look as if she knew what he was about to ask and that it wouldn't go well.

  Lord Geraldo laughed when Jack requested Lusilla's hand. “You, a peasant boy? Why would I let my sweet Lusilla marry you, when there are literally hundreds of noblemen vying for her hand?”

  “Please sir, I love her. And she loves me. If you would just give me a chance? A way to prove myself?”

  “Hmm,” Lord Geraldo paused for a second, and then walked over to his desk. He picked up a scroll, the red royal crest had already been broken. “A chance to prove yourself, you say? This might be the perfect thing. Yes, I think this is perfect.” He smirked as he handed Jack the scroll.

  Calling all able-bodied young men interested

  in becoming an esteemed Knight of Anderi.

  Whoever can slay the dragon assaulting the

  capital will receive a full Knighthood with

  all the honors and the pay of the knights who

  were born into such greatness.

  The winner of such honor must only

  bring the dragon's cup as proof he has

  indeed slayed the great beast. The manor that

  sends such a winner will also receive

  an additional stipend for lending one of their

  own to this most worthy endeavor.

  -By order of His Highness, King Raul

  Jack's heart leaped as he read the note. He could become a Knight of Anderi, him, a lowly peasant. All he had to do was kill the dragon.

  “Of course, sir. I'll head to the capital immediately after packing my things. May I keep this?” Jack asked, barely waiting for Lord Geraldo to reply. He dashed out to where Lusilla was waiting and thrust the scroll into her hands.

  “I can gain your father's approval and make the money to fund any adventure we want to go on. This will be my first. I can be a knight. I never even knew it was possible!”

  Jack ran into the stable and back to his little room. He continued to talk as he threw things into his knapsack, not noticing the way Lusilla stood in the doorway, crestfallen. She finally trudged over to him and took his hand.

 

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