CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO FUN IN THE FOREST

  With Maldrin’s cottage now behind them, Onyx and Tal darted between tall trees, and then over a meadow of short grass. Though Onyx was faster than Tal, the mystic wolf was at a disadvantage, due to the squirrel’s ability to dart to and fro in an instant.

  The route they currently ran wasn’t new, and even though it was far from Onyx’s first time at this game, this was still Tal’s home. The mystic wolf watched as the blur of red fur tore around the bark of another tree and jumped again to the dirt, just out of the reach of his gentle bite.

  When the winding river that flowed around the wizard’s cottage came into view, Onyx licked his lips. Tal was nimble, but she couldn’t swim well. Both mystic wolf and squirrel eyed the staggered row of eleven rocks that peeked out of the shallowest part of the rushing river, allowing all manner of creatures to cross, after careful patience.

  Tal jumped onto the first rock and then the second. Then the third. After stopping for a few seconds, the squirrel leaped to the fourth rock, which was not just the furthest between jumps, but also the tallest. Suddenly, she heard a spsh and felt the air from Onyx’s gnashing teeth hit her tail.

  Onyx growled in anger at his near miss. Tal was nearly halfway across now, and if she made it to the riverbank, he wouldn’t get to even the score! Then the mystic wolf bounded through the river and made one st lunge as Tal hit the tenth rock. The timing was right. He opened his mouth mid leap, reminding himself to catch, not kill.

  Suddenly, Tal vanished in another red blur and something soft brushed Onyx’s face. The mystic wolf stopped short of the water's edge, and looked up to see a thin young woman with long bck hair pull Tal out of a net that was attached to a long stick.

  “Do not worry Tal, Lara has you,” said the young woman. Then she threw a rge book in Onyx’s direction. “You leave Tal alone!”

  Onyx slowly walked upstream a bit and then trotted onto the riverbank.

  With the big bck wolf moving on, Lara took Tal out of her fishing net and stroked her slightly wet fur. “You are lucky I was taking a break from studying, or that wolf would have had you for lunch,” said Lara in a relieved tone. Then she put Tal down.

  Instinctively, Tal ran to Lara’s bag and checked to see if she had any fruits or vegetables, or better yet any nuts, from the market she worked at.

  “Sorry, you silly little squirrel, I did not bring any goodies for Maldrin today. Only the books he let me borrow,” said Lara.

  Tal scurried from the bag and sat up on the small pile of books, entitled...

  From Parnigal to Aubrelon Volume Three: The Royal City We Deserve by the Sage Falldrim

  The Fabled Forest and Its Inhabitants by Rosabelli Grem

  and

  Magic Without a Mentor by Master Kobo.

  Lara picked up the books, but then slipped the spell book into her coat.

  “Do not tell Maldrin about this one. I borrowed it without asking, but I am sure it is okay,” said the young woman winking at the red squirrel, who was now looking for her old friend, who was no longer in the river.

  Seeing that the threat had passed, Lara went to fish out the book she had thrown to protect her furry friend. As she picked up the book entitled Academy of Higher Learning Handbook, Onyx stepped out slowly from behind a bush. Tal squealed in delight, ran up the mystic wolf’s back and then sat on his big bck head.

  After pulling the book from the net, Lara shook it to dry it off as best she could. Then looked over and saw the furry duo and her eyes widened in surprise at the sight. Tal and Onyx watched next as the young woman’s face went from shock to understanding.

  “So you must be Onyx, the mystic wolf that Maldrin talks about!” excimed Lara. Then she dropped to a knee and put her right hand out, palm up.

  Knowing now that the young woman was no longer aggressive, Onyx trotted over with Tal still on his head. Then, Tal hopped from Onyx to Lara’s shoulder, allowing her to pet the big bck wolf.

  “I thought that old wizard was teasing me, and the whole time you are real, and a mystic wolf at that,” whispered Lara as she started to scratch Onyx’s chin.

  Onyx closed his eyes, loving the new found attention. Then all of a sudden a loud bang rang out and clouds of smoke shaped like a wolf and squirrel formed above Maldrin’s cottage.

  Seeing the clouds, Onyx and Tal took off over the river in the direction of the old wizard’s home.

  Lara ughed as she started to follow. Though she knew that the sign was not for her, she did need to return the books that Maldrin had lent her. And she would not only get to see something as rare as a mystic wolf, but if Onyx was here, she would also get to meet the mercenary he was bonded to.

  After she finished her slow and steady trek over the river to dry nd again, Lara looked up to see a falcon descending from the sky. The beautiful bird of prey screeched and dropped something from its cws.

  Lara opened her hands in reflex and caught what she could now see was a small scroll, and then looked on as the falcon turned in the air and returned to Maldrin’s cottage. After the falcon faded from view, the young woman opened the scroll.

  Dearest Lara,

  Tal and I are going on an adventure for an undetermined amount of time. Please check in on my cottage every so often when you are on your way to and from the market. I worry about my spell books. And speaking of spell books, as payment you may keep the copy of Magic Without A Mentor that you thought you sneaked out. I put a locator spell on all my books, so I know you have it.

  Sincerely,

  Maldrin

  Lara ughed as she slipped out the spell book from the inside of her coat. Then she looked in the direction of Maldrin’s cottage once again and sighed. After patting the spell book lovingly, Lara continued to smile.

  “Safe travels, you eccentric old wizard. Safe travels... I know the tale you will tell when you return will be well worth the wait.”