A loud, rhythmic knocking startled Laughlin and he jumped as he tried to hang his tunic to dry beside the brick fireplace. The shirt dropped to the floor and he looked between it and the door, unable to decide which was more urgent. He picked up the garment and instead of hanging it on the hook by the hearth, Laughlin laid it across the back of the wooden dining chair. He crossed the room quickly and opened the door shirtless; beads of perspiration glistening on his chest in the early evening sun. Juniper took in the sight of him and stood speechless for a moment. His dark brown hair hung loosely on his forehead accentuating his deep green eyes. She marveled at her incredible luck that she held the affections of such a man.

Behind Laughlin, a dark gray wolf with ice blue eyes sat patiently waiting to say hello.

“Good Evening, Juniper,” Laughlin said with a smile as he moved close and planted a quick peck on her cheek.

“Go ahead, Dusk, say hello.” Laughlin moved to the side so Dusk could approach Juniper. The wolf nuzzled her hand and she bent down to give her a proper scratch behind the ear.

“I have planned a hike and a camping trip for us this evening, it’s spontaneous, I know, but I hope you will come with me unless you’re otherwise engaged with pressing business here?” she asked, rising to meet Laughlin’s gaze.

“A hike sounds fantastic, let me get some things together,” he replied.

Juniper loved his cabin, it smelled of apples, cinnamon, and the wood stove. She and Laughlin had only been courting for a few cycles of the moon, but Juniper already knew her heart was his. She wandered around the sitting room as Laughlin rummaged around in the back.

“I’m ready,” he said, emerging from the bedroom with a pack strapped to his back. His bedroll was secured to the top of the pack and his water skin hung from the side of it, the liquid sloshing with every step. Laughlin had a short sword sheathed on his left hip and when he noticed Juniper's gaze on the weapon he quickly explained.

“Just in case, you never know,” he shrugged.” It looks like you packed light,” Laughlin said, gesturing to the small pack Juniper brought.

“It will make climbing the mountain much easier,” she replied. “Come on, Let’s go.” Laughlin and Dusk followed her out and Laughlin paused to lock up.

Juniper linked her arm through his and they walked up the muddy path together. Along the sides of the path, the first signs of spring were just breaking the surface of the ground. Juniper motioned for Laughlin to wait a moment as she bent down to pick some curled fern.

“These are delicious when you cook them with some herbs and fresh butter,” she explained, putting them into a pouch on her belt. When she had foraged as much as she needed, she rejoined Dusk and Laughlin on the path and they made their way out of the forest.

Juniper led them past Blackwater town square, and out the northern gate toward the eastern side of the mountain range, which by far, was the easiest side to climb and the safest. For a few hours, the walk was a gradual incline, with streams and budding plants. Soon there would be berries too, but for now, they would have to settle for fish and fried fern if they got hungry. As they ascended the mountain, the air became cooler and the sun dipped below the western peak, darkening the path. Juniper had no trouble seeing in the dark because of her elven ancestry, but Laughlin’s human parentage did not afford him this particular feat.

“Hold on a moment, Juni.” Laughlin took off his pack and pulled out a torch and a canister of oil. He dipped the tip of the torch into the oil and struck a piece of flint with a steel ring. The spark took to the fabric and illuminated the area. Laughlin handed Juniper the torch as he packed the things back into his pack, making sure the canister of oil was closed tightly before putting it back into the bag.

“Okay, I’m ready,” he said, taking the torch back. Juniper continued leading the way. They had been hiking for close to four hours when Juniper finally told him they were almost there.

The climb became steeper as they reached the switchbacks and the path was soggy from melting snow. The terrain flattened slightly as they reached their destination. Laughlin’s legs ached and burned. He hadn’t been hiking for quite some time and his muscles reminded him of it with every step. Chopping wood and building his cabin required mostly upper body strength and he hadn’t noticed how long it had been since his legs tingled as they did now. He looked around at the camp site Juniper led them to.

Tall pine trees covered in a layer of snow surrounded the clearing where they now stood, and in the center, a steaming hot spring beckoned them to soak their aching muscles. Lanterns were strung from one tree to another and enveloped the area in a soft romantic glow. A large tent sat off to the side of the hot spring, open and lit with the same style of hanging lanterns as the ones strung from the trees. Inside the tent, Laughlin could see the floor lined with warm fur hides and adorned with beautiful pillows. Dusk ran inside and immediately rolled over on her back, snuggling herself on a hide.

“Juniper, this is more beautiful than I ever imagined. You took a lot of effort to plan this, and it looks amazing.” He took Juniper in his arms and kissed her deeply. When the kiss ended, she lingered for a moment, eyes closed, letting the sensation fill her with warmth.

They put their packs inside the tent and Juniper took out two bronze chalices and a bottle of wine. She walked outside and sat them on a flat rock beside the hot spring, then stood to undress, draping her over clothes over a low-hanging branch nearby. In only her undergarments, Juniper eased herself down into the steaming water and sighed with relief as the heat loosened all the tension her body held from climbing the mountain twice in one day.

Laughlin watched her as he took off his clothes and slipped into the heated pool. He moved to sit on the underwater ledge next to Juniper and smiled as she poured the wine into the two chalices. She handed him one and raised her cup to his. They clinked softly together and then Laughlin and Juniper relaxed, quietly sipping their wine beneath the starry sky.

“This is so beautiful,” Laughlin said, looking around at the decorated clearing. “You’re beautiful,” he said, taking her wine glass and setting on the flat rock beside his own. Now he was looking into her eyes and she could feel the blush rising to her cheeks as he leaned in and softly brushed his lips against hers, letting his fingers trail down the side of her neck. Despite the warmth of the water, his touch brought out the goose flesh on her skin and she shivered with delight. Juniper rested her head on Laughlin’s shoulder and he brushed his fingers up and down her arm as they enjoyed the closeness of each other.

“How did you find your way to Blackwater?” Laughlin asked, finally breaking the silence.

“When I left home, I was with a friend; her name was Maureen. She knew a guy in Northport and she said he would pay us quite well to work in his tavern. I thought it sounded perfect until we got there and we realized his tavern was actually a brothel and the work he wanted us to do was to serve his patrons’ twisted desires. I hopped on the next ship out of there but Maureen stayed. The ship brought me to Blackwater. I found work with the guild and decided to remain here and my skills have proved valuable to the guild.”

“What skills are those?” Laughlin looked at her with such interest.

“I am a druid of the Forgotten Grove, I can shape-shift at will into many different animal forms. I have a bond with nature allowing me to heal wounds and I draw energy from the moon.”

“So, is that why your last name is Moonshadow?” Laughlin asked.

“Not exactly, Moonshadow is the name of our community circle. Every child born in the community is given the name Moon, when a druid is born, there is a solar eclipse and they then are given the name Moonshadow. It is the way we identify those with druidic powers.”

“I see. So why did you leave home?” Laughlin asked.

“The reason I left is a much longer story.” Juniper sighed and her eyes drifted slightly as she remembered the events of long ago causing her departure from the Forgotten Grove. “My mother and father wanted me to join the order of nature at Moonshadow temple. There, they choose a husband for you; one who matches and compliments your abilities, to strengthen the community circle and produce more powerful druids. I didn’t want to disappoint my parents, so I did. I was matched with a husband, and we were given one year to produce a child.” Juniper paused to wipe a tear from her cheek. “I wasn’t able to do so, and after my second year of failing to get pregnant, they chose a new wife for my husband and I was sent away from the temple. In the years I spent with my husband, I did grow to care for him, and it hurt me to see him with his new wife. They conceived a child so quickly and I know I should have been happy for him, but it broke my heart, so I left.” Juniper wiped a tear from her cheek. “I’m sorry, I know no one really wants to hear about the past relationships of their date,” Juniper said, pouring her second glass of wine.

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“Juni, I’m sorry, I didn’t want to bring up pain from the past for you. You have an amazing heart and you are so very thoughtful.” Laughlin gestured at the beautiful retreat Juniper made for them. “He was a very lucky man to have you as his wife, even for a short time.” Laughlin held Juniper in his arms until they grew tired and then he helped her out of the hot spring and gathered their clothing on the way to the tent.

Dusk was waiting for them, happily lying on a fur hide just inside the entrance. Once they dried off, the three of them snuggled together. Laughlin and Dusk fell asleep right away, but Juniper did not require sleep in the same way they did, she only needed to meditate for a few hours to feel refreshed. Laughlin was still asleep next to Dusk when Juniper heard the sound of feet crunching through the snow north of them.

“Wake up, someone is coming," she said, rolling over to nudge Laughlin awake. "I’m going to check it out.” Juniper’s body began to glow white and the sound of cracking bones as her shape twisted and shrank startled Dusk, but the wolf remained quiet as Laughlin dressed and grabbed his sword. Laughlin watched in amazement as Juniper’s body continued to shrink and her clothes, which were now too large, fell to the floor. Juniper had seemingly disappeared, and in her place, a tiny field mouse nosed its way out of her crumpled clothing.

The little mouse scurried out of the tent and in the direction of the footsteps. Remaining out of sight, Juniper got as close as a field mouse could, to the cloaked figures heading toward their camp.

“Are you sure you know where we are going?” One asked the other in a raspy deep voice.

“Yes, it is here, beyond this mountain, I can feel the orb’s power like it’s calling to me. The thief is in the city just beyond the pass.” The other figure said, pointing toward Blackwater.

“What will we do when we find it?”

“We kill the one who stole it, and take it back, they do not know what they are in possession of.”

Juniper ran back to the tent and shifted back into her human form. She quickly grabbed her sleeping shift she'd packed, threw it on, and dug two daggers out of her bag.

“They’re going to kill someone in Blackwater. They’re looking for an orb of some kind. I have to warn Leon,” Juniper said.

“We should take out the threat first,” Laughlin suggested, unsheathing his sword.

They waited until the assassins were past the campsite and quietly peered out of the tent. “They’ll hear us as soon as our feet make the first sound, I will take the one on the left, can you take the one on the right?” Laughlin asked.

“I think I have enough energy to shift again, I will make it count,” she said, dropping her daggers. Juniper began to shift, growing larger and sprouting thick black hair all over her body. She assumed the form of a large black bear and her dress shredded into pieces as she grew. Laughlin gaped at her in her bear form, his face showing slight concern—maybe even fear, hoping Juniper still recognized friend from foe in her predatory form.

“Are you ready? On three. One, two… THREE!” Laughlin shouted and the bear beside him roared as it sprinted toward the assassin on the right. Laughlin charged the man on the left who drew his sword quicker than he thought possible. Their steel clanked together, ringing out through the air.

Juniper bit down with all her force on the appendage nearest her mouth, which happened to be the assassin’s left arm. He swung his sword with his right hand and caught her left shoulder with his blade. The animal roared in pain and swiped at the assassin with its massive claw.

Laughlin blocked the strike of the assassin he was engaged in combat with and lunged forward to strike, but his opponent was agile and whirled out of the way, then spun around and tried to make contact again. Laughlin brought his sword up just in time to parry the strike, and with a flick of his wrist, disarmed his opponent. Laughlin glanced over at Juniper just as the other assassin drove his sword through the bear’s middle. The beast fell to the ground and slowly, all the hair disappeared and Juniper was left naked and bleeding from her abdomen.

“Drop your weapon, or the girl dies,” the assassin commanded, holding his sword to Juniper’s neck. Laughlin could see a slight rise and fall of juniper’s rib area, but she didn’t look like she would last much longer. Laughlin raised his hands and let the sword go.

As his hand opened, Laughlin let out a sharp whistle and before the sword reached his chest, Dusk lunged at the swordsman threatening Juniper, knocking him to the ground. When the hilt of Laughlin's sword reached his waist, he made a quick grab for it and ran it through his unarmed attacker, slicing upward, spilling his insides onto the ground in front of them.

Dusk held the other combatant down. Laughlin kneeled beside the assailant, pulling the red mask down to the man's chin so he could see his whole face. Laughlin noticed the side of his face was covered in what appeared to be scales. Not natural scales, but much like the orc tribes who disfigure themselves by cutting their ears or burning themselves to appear more frightening, he thought it must be for intimidation.

“Hold him there, Dusk,” Laughlin said, rushing to Juniper’s side. “Juni, can you hear me?” He gently slid his arm under her neck and cradled her to his chest. “Juni, please.” The clouds parted and the light of the moon shined down on them. The beams illuminated Juniper’s body in an ethereal glow and her wounds began to close, although the bruises remained. “Thank the druids and their power,” Laughlin whispered. He left Juniper lying in the moonlight and grabbed the rope from his pack. He tied the assassin’s hands and gagged him with a piece of cloth from the man’s tunic. Once he was secured, and with Dusk still standing guard, Laughlin moved to help Juniper stand.

She leaned on his strong shoulder as he stood up slowly, guiding her to an upright position.

“Can you walk?” he asked.

“I’m not sure,” she replied truthfully. She tried to move toward the tent. Every step sent a shooting pain through her stomach and she sat back down after only three steps. “No, it’s okay, get him to Leon, I will be fine here for the night, I will rest, and meet you at your house in the morning,” she said.

Laughlin wanted to resist but knew this was urgent and as much as he hated to admit it, Juniper would slow him down.

“Okay,” he finally agreed, “Dusk, stay here with Juniper, keep her safe.” Laughlin scratched his wolf and kissed Juniper on the forehead. “Can I take you back to the tent at least?” he asked.

“No, I need to stay in the moonlight as long as possible. I will be okay. I have Dusk.”

Laughlin turned and grabbed the man by his arm. “On your feet, assassin,” he said through gritted teeth.

Juniper watched as Laughlin marched him forward until they disappeared over the switchbacks descending the mountain.

***

The sun was just beginning to peak over the horizon when Laughlin opened the door to the Silver Talons Guild Hall and guided his prisoner inside. He approached the desk, keeping the prisoner firmly in hand.

“I need to see Leon Rend right away, please, it’s urgent,” Laughlin spoke quickly, yet respectfully.

“Let me see if he is available.” The man behind the desk closed his eyes and was very still for a moment or two and then he opened his eyes. “Commander Rend will be right with you.” Laughlin assumed they must be using some form of magical communication as no words were spoken out loud.

“Thank you,” Laughlin replied.

While they waited, Laughlin took notice of the beautifully decorated guild hall. The marble floors were pristine and the grand staircase behind the desk was carpeted in a deep greenish-blue fabric accented with silver trimming on each side. A crystal chandelier hung from the vaulted ceiling, with candles flickering light throughout the entrance. The lobby smelled of fresh pine and clean linens. Finally, Laughlin heard the sound of boots coming down the stairs as the Guildmaster, Commander Leon Rend, approached to shake his hand. Several guards followed him and stopped a few paces behind.

“How can we help you?” Leon’s voice was deep and gruff. From up close, Laughlin could see the flecks of gray peppering his hair as well as the stubble on his chin.

“I was sent here by Juniper Moonshadow. We were camping on the mountain just northeast of here when this man and his companion passed our campsite. Juniper heard them talking about an orb of some kind and they said the person who stole it was here in Blackwater. They planned to kill the person and take the orb,” Laughlin explained.

“Where is his companion?” Leon asked. For a moment it appeared Leon’s face had gone pale, but his stone expression did not change.

“When we heard their plan included the murder of a Blackwater resident, we did not hesitate, we attacked. Juniper was injured and is healing at the campsite, the other man did not live to make the journey here,” Laughlin replied, leaving out the details of how he had been the one to spill the man's insides.

“Guards, take this man to the dungeon, I will be down to interview him shortly. Hank, will you please send scouts to the mountain to retrieve both Juniper and the body of this man’s accomplice?” Leon requested, facing the man behind the desk. Hank nodded and whispered to a nearby squire who ran off to deliver Leon’s orders.

The guards moved up, each gripping one of the man’s elbows. They moved him swiftly from the hall.

“Thank you, I’m sorry, I don’t think I caught your name,” Leon said, looking at him as though he were a drifter.

“It’s Laughlin, sir. I live in a cabin in the western woods of Blackwater,” he explained.

“Oh yes, with the uh… the wolf, right?” Leon asked.

“Yes, sir.”

“Well, thank you for bringing this man to me, we will take it from here. If you are ever looking for work, the guild could use more muscle and honorable men.” Leon nodded farewell before turning toward the dungeon, the sound of his heavy boots striking the marble floor faded before Laughlin moved from the spot.

Not quite what I expected, he thought, turning to leave. He wasn’t sure if he should go back up the mountain to find Juniper or if he should stay out of the way so the scouts could do their job. It was still early, and Juniper did say she would return Dusk to the cabin when she felt rested.

With heavy thoughts and worry, Laughlin returned to his cabin and tried to go back to sleep for a while, but all he saw when he closed his eyes, was the scaly face of the assassin as he thrust his sword through Juniper. He got out of bed and grabbed his tunic, hastily pulling it over his head. He couldn’t wait any longer to know if Juniper was okay.