Tom woke up to the scent of strawberries filling his nose. He opened his eyes to see Tess curled up next to him. Checking the bedside clock, Tom saw it was still early in the morning. He heard the potion bubbling at the foot of the bed. He untangled himself from Tess, then got up and stirred the caldron. His ears twitched when he thought he heard the door open and close while he was in the bathroom. He shook his head at the thought. The door was locked. Nobody would get in or out unless Tess was up.
He went back to his bed, laying down, ready to fall back asleep. He stopped when he realized something was missing. Tom looked at the bed, then around the room. Where was Tess?
“Tess?” he called, thinking she had moved to her own bed. He waited a few minutes, listening to the silence. “Tess?” he asked again, getting out of bed and turning the light on. The other bed hadn’t been touched. Tom’s heart raced. Where had she gone? Tom rushed to the door to see it unlocked. “Tess!” Tom called as he rushed down the hallway. She had never gone off on her own before. Why was she making a habit of it now?
Tess felt the wind in her hair as she walked through a daisy field. She breathed in a deep lungful of air; it smelt salty. A large fire in front of her surrounded by people. She could tell they were chanting something, but she was too far away to make out what they were saying. “You can share my fire,” a voice said next to Tess.
Tess looked to her right to see the woman that had given her some of her fire earlier that night. “Thank you.” Tess held out her hands and was given some of the woman’s fire once more. Tess continued to walk towards the bonfire, feeling drawn to it.
“Priestess,” Tess heard the people chant as she got closer. She looked towards the people, but couldn’t make out their faces. She shielded her eyes as the bonfire grew bigger and brighter. “Priestess, Priestess,” the chant grew louder. The people moved around her, making room for her to get closer to the bonfire. Tess’ face grew hot as the bonfire grew closer. She lifted her hands up and released her fire, offering it to the bonfire, the chants filling her with peace.
“Lass!” a voice yelled at her. “Lass! Watch out!” She gasped as the crowd shoved her into the fire before her.
The voice knocked the wind out of her as she was grabbed around the waist. She let out a shrill yelp as her eyes opened to the docks. “What... what’s going on?” Tess whispered as she realized where she was.
“Lass, what were you thinking, walking out to sea like that?” Destru’s concerned face appeared in her field of view.
“Walk out to sea?” Tess’ voice became small. She looked towards the angry waves under the dock. How close had she been to drowning herself?
“Tess!” Tom’s voice called from a short distance away.
“Tom?” Tess gasped, fear still clutching at her heart. Destru was kneeling next to her, where he had pulled her to the ground.
Tom pulled Tess into a hug once he made it to her side. “Why were you out walking this late?”
“I don’t know,” Tess stammered out in tears.
Tom helped Tess stand up, his face softening at the distress Tess was in. “Let’s get you back to bed.”
Tess nodded, then allowed Tom to lead her back to the hotel. “Have a good night Destru,” Tom called as they left the dock.
-----
Tess awoke to sun shining through the window, and Tom sleeping in a chair next to the bed. His ears twitching in his sleep as he dreamed. She sat up and removed the covers. “Oh, no!” Tess gasped, looking at the potion she was brewing the night before. It had simmered too long and was now a black, bubbling mess. “New moon, new me. What a joke,” Tess muttered to herself. She searched for towels to clean up what had spilled over the sides of the cauldron.
Tess glanced behind herself to see Tom was still in the chair. She shook her head. She could never understand how he was such a deep sleeper. Tess moved the cauldron into the bathroom; the contents sloshing on the inside. Usually Tom helped her move the cauldron when it was filled, but he looked tired, so she’d let him sleep. She strained the whole ingredients out, then poured the liquid into the tub. “So much for setting up shop today,” Tess sighed, looking at the blackened inside of the cauldron. She’d spend a few hours cleaning up, then go for a good cleansing walk in the woods, she figured.
“Tess?” Tom’s panicked voice came from the room.
“Bathroom,” Tess called. Why was he all concerned?
Tom ran to the bathroom and collapsed against the frame, relief clear on his face at seeing her.
“You okay?” Tess asked, confused.
“You don’t remember last night?” Tom asked, helping her right her now empty cauldron.
“What about last night?” Tess asked. She remembered following a flame into the forest, but she would not tell Tom about that. “I brewed a potion and went to bed,” she gestured towards the dirty tub.
“You don’t remember nearly drowning yourself?” Tom asked, trying to suppress his concern.
“I what?” Tess exclaimed, staring at Tom. “What do you mean I tried to drown myself?”
“You walked to the docks last night. If Destru hadn’t stopped you, you...you-” Tom stopped, inhaling deeply, trying to calm himself.
Tess peered at Tom. He was shaking from the night before. She must’ve scared him a lot to have a reaction like that. Tess stood up and gave him a tight hug. “Tom, I’m sorry for scaring you last night, but I don’t remember any of that.”
“What do you remember?” Tom asked, returning the hug.
He always felt like he was hugging a tiny little girl, because of their size difference. Tess was a good foot shorter than him and wasn’t very muscular like he was. He breathed in deeply. She was the perfect height for him to smell her hair. It always smelled of some type of fruit, depending on what she would make for shampoo. Tom pulled his nose away from her hair and sniffed the air, covering his nose almost instantly. “What were you making last night? It stinks.” He turned the shower on and began washing the remains down the drain.
“I wanted to try the warming potion without the ingredient I’m missing,” Tess sighed. She watched as her hard work washed down the drain. “Apparently it doesn’t work without it.”
“Are there other recipes you could try?” Tom asked, not meaning to change the subject, but he didn’t enjoy seeing her disheartened.
“I could, but I don’t think they’d work as well.” Tess thought, eyeing the other room, trying to decide which book to look at for a new recipe.
“You could give them some fire cider,” Tom joked, trying to get Tess to laugh.
“Fire cider.” Tess tapped her chin before realizing what Tom had suggested. “As if you’d let me do that,” she smiled, turning back to him.
“Made you smile,” Tom poked her cheek, then walked out of the room to get dressed. “What do you have planned for today?”
“Do you think we could go for a walk in the woods?” Tess asked, staying in the bathroom to give Tom some privacy. She looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was a mess, and bags were forming under her eyes. Maybe she should sleep some more? Tess straightened her shirt as she thought about the ritual she had almost walked in on the night before. She shuddered, then looked towards her hand. She had held fire. Could she do it again?
Tom was talking in the other room, of different things they could do besides walk into the woods. They had grown up in the woods; he enjoyed looking at all the open places that didn’t have trees every two feet. Tess concentrated on her hand, making it glow. She tried to envision a flame like the one from the night before. Smoke formed in her hand, a bead of sweat forming on her forehead as she tried to clear her mind. A small spark appeared in her hand. Tess took a deep breath, trying to concentrate. If her mind would decide to wander now, she’d lose it.
“Did any of those sound like-Tess!” Tom grabbed her wrist and ran water over her hand, extinguishing the flame.
“What was that for?” Tess shouted, glaring at Tom.
“Why was there fire in your hand?” Tom demanded, one ear pressing back against his head.
Tess was taken aback at his concern. He had never acted like this before. “I-I’m a witch,” Tess started. “Witches use fire.”
“Why are you trying to make fire suddenly?” Tom asked, kneeling down in front of her, gently holding her hands. “You know your powers won’t come in until you’re sixteen.”
“I’m sorry,” Tess looked away, not completely understanding what the big deal was. She was going to learn these types of spells once they made it back home to Tom's parents. They were only traveling for the summer, so she could have a break before she started studying. “I guess I’m just excited to learn new things.”
Tom turned her head to face him. His eyes searched her face for a few minutes before he let go of her hands. “I’m sorry,” he stood up. “I shouldn’t have gotten upset.”
“It’s okay.”
“Hey, you wanted to go for a walk in the woods?” Tom asked, changing the subject. “Get ready and we can go.”
-----
Tess walked ahead of Tom a short way into the woods. His tail swung lazily behind him. His ears continuously rotated, listening to all the sounds that surrounded them. Tess was regretting not bringing her herb basket. She had found so many plants that she wanted to take back with them. “Puffballs!” Tess kneeled down next to a giant cream looking mushroom.
“That one’s as big as your head,” Tom teased, pushing Tess’s face into the mushroom.
Tess glared at him as the mushroom squished against her cheek. “It’s soft,” Tess grinned. “Can we-”
“No.”
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
“But you didn’t let me finish,” Tess sprang up next to Tom as he continued to walk forward.
“You were going to ask me to carry the mushroom. Then we’re gonna walk in the woods for another two hours,” Tom answered, stopping a short distance in front of her. His tail had gone still. “Tess, turn around.” His hackles rose.
“What’s wrong?” Tess asked, stepping up next to Tom to see what he was seeing. She clasped a hand to her mouth. They were in the clearing she had been in the night before. Strewn throughout the clearing were bodies of five people, brutally mutilated. “What happened?” she whispered.
Tom turned her around and walked her back to town. He didn’t let his guard down until they saw their first set of people near the docks. Tom sat Tess on a crate once they were near the ships. He took her chin in his hand and looked her in the eyes, trying to determine if she was feeling okay or not. “Tess, are you okay?”
Tess nodded, not sure if she’d be able to utter any words.
“Do you feel okay?” Tom put a hand on her forehead before placing it on her arm once more. He knew she’d never seen a dead body before. If his family went out hunting, they’d never show her the kills... not that they hunted humans, but it happened occasionally.
“Y-yeah,” Tess answered shakily. “What would have done that?” she whispered, as a few people walked past them.
“I don’t know, but I think I should go find a sheriff and report it,” Tom answered. He looked around the nearby houses for a sheriff’s station. “Do you want to come with?”
Tess looked at Tom before trying to stand up. She fell back onto the crate. “No, I don’t think I’m ready to move,” she admitted.
Tom nodded understandingly. He didn’t want to leave her alone near the water. He thought about the previous night. But he also didn’t want her to come with if she didn’t feel comfortable doing that.
“Feeling better today, Young Lass?” Destru’s voice called to them.
“Haven’t you shipped out yet?” Tom sighed, as Destru came closer.
“Not until tomorrow,” Destru laughed, clapping Tom on the back.
Tom silently groaned as he rubbed his back where Destru had gotten him. “Destru, would you mind hanging out with Tess for a few minutes?”
“Is everything okay, Lass?” Destru turned towards Tess, noticing she wasn’t as peppy as the previous times he had seen her. “You look a little green around the gills.”
Tess offered a small smile, then looked back towards the ground.
“Hm, much too quiet for my liking,” Destru scratched his chin. “We’ll be on my boat once you return.” Destru picked Tess up bridal style, making Tess let out a surprised yelp as she put her arms around his neck. “Time to cheer you up, Little Lass!” Destru took her towards his ship, as Tom stood on the dock in disbelief. That wasn’t what he had intended. Sighing, he turned towards town and started looking for the sheriff’s station.
Destru took Tess to his cabin and sat her down on his bed. “Are you okay, Pet?” Destru kneeled in front of her as he gently stroked her cheek with his thumb.
“I’ll be fine,” Tess gave a small smile, trying to put on a brave face.
“What happened? Did your mate hurt you?” Destru stood and walked to a pitcher of liquid and poured a couple of drinks.
“Tom?” Tess asked in shock. She took the drink from Destru as he handed it to her. “He would never hurt me.” She took a sip of the liquid, then promptly began coughing as it burned her throat. “What is this?”
“Just a little whiskey,” Destru smiled. “Never tasted it before?”
Tess shook her head no. Her cheeks were heating from the liquid. Who needed a warming potion when they had whiskey? “Destru, may I ask you a question?” Tess asked as she swirled the amber liquid in her glass.
“Ask away,” Destru smiled. She could only imagine his ears perked forward under his hat.
“What’s the Last Prophecy about?”
Destru looked out a window thoughtfully before downing the rest of his drink. “That’s a tough question,” he started, standing up and began pacing. “Nobody knows what’s in the last prophecy except for the Wilkolaks that guard it.”
“How do you know it exists, if no one knows what’s in it?” Tess asked, cocking her head.
“That’s the interesting part about it,” Destru turned towards her, beaming. “The Wilkolaks were supposedly killed hundreds of years ago. Yet you’re walking around town with one.”
Tess looked thoughtful as she contemplated everything. “But Tom’s just a werewolf... I grew up with him and I can’t think of anything that would be a prophecy.”
“He’s transformed when there’s no full moon, right?” Destru prompted, as Tess watched him go behind his desk to pull out a paper.
“Well, yes,” she started uncertainly. “But can’t all werewolves do that?”
“We wish we could,” Destru gave a wry smile. “Wilkolaks are the only breed that can. They’re known as witches’ protectors in our stories.”
“Why would witches seek protection from them?” Tess thought back on growing up with Tom. She hadn’t met another werewolf while they had been at his parents’ home. She only really knew what they had taught her.
“I don’t know a lot about the protection service they offered.” Destru looked thoughtful from the paper he was drawing on. “I know the witches were usually highly ranked or were important somehow.”
“Like a Priestess?” Tess asked, not thinking and not knowing why she knew that word.
“Exactly,” Destru smiled, standing up and bringing the paper with him. “This is what would be near the prophecy. Do you recognize it?”
Tess looked at the paper to see a picture of a gigantic bird holding a paper in its talons. She shook her head. “No, sorry. I’ve never seen that picture before.”
“Aw, it was worth a shot.” Destru’s face fell at this news.
“He’s in here,” another voice said from outside the doors.
“Thank you,” Tom’s voice answered as he walked into the room. “Tess, how’re you doing?”
“Better,” Tess beamed at Tom, she sat the glass aside as she stood up to give him a hug.
Tom looked over at Destru to see the paper in his hands. “What’re you up to Destru?”
“Just asking if she’s seen any pictures around,” Destru shrugged, crumpling the paper up.
“He was asking if your family was guarding a prophecy. Do you think we could ask your mom if she recognizes the picture?” Tess looked up at Tom’s unmoving face.
Tom’s features hardened at the mention of his family. “That wouldn’t be a good idea, Tess,” he finally said, removing her hands from him.
“Why?” Tess asked. “Summer’s almost done, and we’d be heading back soon, anyway. Why can’t we head back sooner.”
Tom bit his lip before running a hand through his hair, sighing. He suddenly looked like a small, scared little boy.
“Tom, is something wrong?” Tess asked, fear taking a hold of her heart.
“Tess,” tears started forming in Tom’s eyes. “They’re dead.”
Tess looked at Tom in disbelief. “W-What are you talking about? They’ve been sending us letters. You’ve shared them with me! We just got one last week!”
Tom refused to meet her gaze. “They’ve been dead since the beginning of summer. I’ve been recycling what letters they had sent earlier, and have written a few of the others.”
Tess sat on the bed, her hand brushing against the glass she had sat down earlier. “How do you know?” she whispered.
Tom sighed, “Before we left...mom told me they were being hunted down. Someone was looking for the Last Prophecy. She wanted me to take you away so you wouldn’t get targeted either.” Tears formed in Tess’ eyes as her hand migrated to her mouth in disbelief. “It took almost a month and a half before I couldn’t feel them anymore. They didn’t answer my howls. I knew after that.” Tom’s tail was curled between his legs, his ears hanging limply at the side of his head. It was taking all his self-control to not cry.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Tess asked, her voice cracking.
“I knew you’d want to go to them immediately, and I’m in charge of your safety. Mom didn’t want anyone to hurt you,” Tom answered. He glanced towards Destru, who stood awkwardly to the side, not knowing what to do.
“What about-” Tess started, remembering Tom’s little brother they had left behind.
“Dead.” The coldness in Tom’s voice made her shiver.
“Can we go see them?” Tess asked, tears now flowing freely down her face. “Someone needs to bury them.”
Tom paused before shaking his head no, “It’s too dangerous, they’re attacker could still be there.”
“I need a moment,” Tess rushed out of the room. Destru caught Tom’s shoulder as he attempted to go after her. Tom looked over at him, a whine escaping his throat when Destru shook his head no.
“Let the Lass process,” Destru whispered, gesturing towards a chair near his table.
Tom took the glass Tess left behind and sat in the offered chair. He glanced out a window as Tess walked along the side of the ship.
-----
Tess walked along the railing of Destru’s ship, furiously wiping tears away from her face. She had remembered hearing Tom howling to the moon. She knew they had a way of communicating with each other that way. How had she not noticed the difference? Was she that bad of a friend?
“You okay?” a voice asked her.
Tess looked over to see a smaller werewolf holding a mop and a bucket. “Do you have another one of those?”
The wolf looked at the mop, confused. “A mop?”
“Yes,” Tess sniffled, her arms wrapped around herself. “I would like to mop.”
“Okay,” the wolf handed his mop over, confused. “I’ll be back in a moment with another one.” With that, he bounded off and reappeared within a few minutes.
Tess took her mop and put it in the bucket, then pulled it out, sloshing water out of the bucket as she jabbed it at the ground. She swished the mop side to side as she started working on her breathing. In with the good, out with the bad, she thought to herself. Trying to regulate her breaths until they were calm. Wash away the negative, Tess blew air out, trying not to think about Tom’s family. Her family.
Tess didn’t realize how zoned out she had become as she mopped. The wolf that had been mopping with her had quit a while ago. She had fully taken over as her thoughts swirled in her mind. Chasing after one another, one quickly replacing the other.
She jumped, letting out a shrill yelp of surprise, her heart racing when a hand was placed on her shoulder. “Tom!” she gasped, as she gently hit him with the mop handle. “Why did you scare me?”
“You weren’t responding when I called your name,” Tom shrugged. He took the mop from Tess, preventing her from hitting him once more.
“Sorry,” Tess looked down sheepishly. She looked around the deck to see she had almost made it from one end to the other.
“You’re hired,” Destru clapped Tess on the back as he looked at his deck. “I haven’t seen it sparkle like this in a long time. Little Rune will have to take lessons from you.”
Tess gave a small smile as she realized she had taken over the mopping. “Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize if you’re feeling better,” Destru smiled. “Are you feeling better?”
“I am, thank you,” Tess gave Destru a hug, then let go and gave Tom a hug. “Thank you for giving me time to process everything,” she whispered, as Tom hugged her back.
“No problem,” he whispered back, hugging her tighter, holding back tears of his own. He hadn’t fully processed the news, even though he had known longer.
They were now both orphans.
-----
Destru allowed Tess and Tom to hang out on his ship, as they figured out their next moves. They ended up sitting on the railing, watching the sunset. Tess leaned against Tom’s chest as he rubbed her back. They had gotten a lot of talking and crying done.
“What have you decided?” Destru asked, coming up to the pair.
Tess and Tom looked at him. Tess still had watery eyes, but had mostly recovered herself. Tom had pulled himself together faster. That was the benefit of having known longer, but he was thankful to grieve over his lost family. Tom nodded his head towards Destru’s cabin, swinging his legs over the railing. Tess followed suit, grabbing Tom’s hand as they headed into the captain’s quarters. “We should talk in private,” Tom called over his shoulder, making Destru follow them.
Tom waited until the doors to the cabin closed before announcing, “Tess is right. We need to go back and give my family a proper burial. After that, we’ll be moving on and seeing where life takes us. I have no desire to spend the rest of my days protecting something that is most already happening. If you’d be willing to allow us to ride on your ship, I will gladly show you what the prophecy offers you.”
Destru cracked a smile. “Lucky days. If you can help with a few ropes or meals, you can count on a ride.” Destru shook Tom’s hand.
“When are we leaving?” Tess asked, wondering if she would have time to get some supplies at the shops before they left.
“First thing in the morning,” Destru replied. “Get some sleep tonight. And Lass,” Tess looked at Destru with a raised eyebrow. “Please don’t go for a swim tonight.”
Tess glanced at Tom, a confused expression on her face. “I won’t?”
Destru clapped Tess on the back, laughing. “If you would like to, the both of you can spend the night here. I’ll get some hammocks ready for you.”
“We appreciate the gesture, Destru,” Tom answered, then turned to Tess. “Come on, Tess, let’s get what we need and be back by dark.”