The Night's Curse #3 (Waverly Stump and The 7 Realms)

Chapter 19

Chestnut hovered over camp unwilling to land. His blue eyes impatiently scanned the environment in search of any sort of help. He howled loudly, causing some of the trees underneath him to tremble then peered down again.

Several doors simultaneously opened and armed soldiers poured out with their armor scandalously worn over their robes. They searched for the threat only for a few seconds before they glanced up and spotted the enormous creature hovering above. They became alarmed and took aim but their arrows never seemed to reach Chestnut. He scoured through the increasing crowd in an attempt to glimpse a familiar face.

Then he saw her - the same purple haired girl that had fed him a delicious meat dish the day before.

"Chestnut?" Phyllis called in disbelief as she also recognized him. She ran forward and began to scream. "Hold your peace."

The soldiers desisted more in surprise than of compliance. Chestnut bounded toward Phyllis and his gigantic paws touched the ground. His head towered over her but she reached up to touch his chest.

"What is it? Where's Waverly" She asked.

He gave a sad moan in reply and turned around then laid as flat as he could on his belly. At first, Phyllis saw nothing in the sea of silver fur then she spotted the faint blue shimmer of Waverly's wrist band.

"Waverly!" She screamed and began to scramble up Chestnut's back.

Waverly was unconscious and bruised deeply across her body. Blood pooled around the spot she lay on Chestnut's back, staining his silver fur a deep red.

"Help me get her down." Phyllis cried.

A couple of brave Elven soldiers ran forward and began to climb atop the wolf who laid utterly still to allow them work.

The Elfin officer amongst them who was in charge of their camp axis - a woman named Merula - ordered for a moveable bed to be brought from the infirmary. With the utmost care, Waverly was lowered down onto the bed and hurried to the sickhouse.

Chestnut shrunk down to pup size once more. Phyllis tried to pick him up but he refused and ran after Waverly instead.

"What has happened to her?" Merula asked Phyllis. The Elfin's voice was slightly intense and almost musical.

Phyllis wiped under her tearstained face with the hem of her sleeve. "I don't know but i hope she is okay."

One of The Nurses - Reela - was summoned to check on Waverly when it was discovered that the damage far exceeded her physical injuries. Reela passed her hands across Waverly's face and bandaged skin with her eyes closed, inhaling deeply as she combed through her patient's innermost psyche.

Inside the room with her was Phyllis, Merula, Dermot and Regent. Dermot had been on the night patrol in the next camp axis which was only a few horseback rides away. Phyllis had gone to fetch him with the news that Waverly was seriously hurt.

"Well?" He asked when Reela finally opened her eyes and dropped her hand.

"I fear tis be the work of an older, greater power." Reela said sadly.

"Older?" Phyllis asked. She had her robes curtained around her shoulders and her face was still wet with tears but she had since stopped crying.

"Yes, my dear. Older. The youngling has faced an Elemental godhead and i mean to be precise when say i that tis no ordinary godhead but Chaos himself. The very one who has orchestrated the war we face now."

Everyone in the room glanced at each other. It was Merula who spoke first.

"But my lady, how is it possible that she has come face to face with an Elemental? They cannot be seen."