Spirit Animals Vol. 1

|Chp. 2: The town, the falcon and the bear|

"We are running out of food." Quinn said as he swung the blade of the axe down onto the piece of wood. The log split into two, to throw into a fire when we started it to keep us warm at night.

"How bad?" I asked. "We need to go hunting today or you go to town and work your magic there." Quinn said as Eden and Lupa came out. "How about both of us so we have lots of food to eat." I told Quinn who nodded. "I'll go hunting and you go into town." Quinn said and I nodded.

"Do you have the coins from when you moved that fallen tree from that ferret ladies yard?" I asked and Quinn nodded. He reached into his fur-skin pocket and pulled out a sack of coins. "Fifteen silver coins." Quinn said letting the sack fall into my hands with a smile.

"Is that good?" Quinn asked. "More than enough." I told Quinn before giving him a hug. 'Will I be attending into town with you?' Lupa asked. "Too small of a town Lupa." I told her and Lupa pouted. Sometimes Lupa could pass as a big dog hybrid.

But usually in big towns Lupa sorta just blended into the other canines there. "You'll help Quinn with hunting." I told Lupa who perked up at that making me smile at her. Lupa enjoyed a good hunt even if I couldn't come with. Quinn just wouldn't go unnoticed in the city.

Since I was lean I could capture a canary or falcon and pass it off as my spirit animal and not Lupa who was a wolf. Quinn however was tall and stocky so a bird would not pass as his spirit animal so we only sent me into the city with a bird.

Because unfortunately no tigers were willing to cooperate to bring Quinn in, so only I went. Sometimes Lupa went, but only in big established cities, where she'd blend in as a dog. I usually made some wild story about our bloodline that took a bit to explain.

Our dad was a mutt of a Great Dane and Dutch Shepherd while our mom was a Siberian Husky and German Shepherd husky explaining our height and coloring. When in truth our mother was a gray wolf with black and brown coloring not a husky and German Shepherd.

I didn't know what my father was. Quinn came over with a satchel that I put around where I'd store bought and stolen goods. Anything to survive. Might even buy some more clothes as we were running low once again from some tears and the fact that we had both grown some.

Quinn had gotten taller and I had grown an inch and put on some weight. You couldn't see my ribcage as much. "Be careful in the city. I worry when you go there." Quinn said. "I'll be fine it's not like I haven't done this tons of times before." I reminded Quinn.

"Just promise to be safe." Quinn said. "I will and bring back some butchered meat." I told him. "I'll bring back some food. I caught a group of reindeer and caribou running a few miles from here." Quinn said. "You suck at shooting." I reminded him and Quinn rolled his eyes.

"A boar if it comes down to it. Nasty creatures but I can stab it before it can rip my stomach open." Quinn said and I nodded as Lupa trotted over to go irritate Eden. "You should be the one being told to be safe." I told Quinn who simply smirked.

"I'll see you soon Quinn." I told him before going up to Lupa and scratching behind her ear. "You be good girl while I'm gone." I told Lupa. 'I'll only irritate Eden not Quinn.' Lupa promised earning a shove and chuffing noise from Eden making her snap at his paw.

"Bye Quinn." I said taking the small dagger attached to a bone and putting it in my boot and storing the bag of coins in the satchel before trotting off. The town was about thirty minutes to an hour away when walking. Much shorter if running, but I was going to run. Running was not something I was going to do.

So with that I continued walking through the woods. Once I was in town I'd be good. Just get the things we need, maybe some pickpocketing and then be on my merry way. With that plan I continued on.

~~~

The towns were full of people accompanied by animals. On the way I captured a canary, tied some rope to it's foot and then to my wrist so the canary can't leave. Many predators stared at the poor canary probably imagining how it'd taste. Especially domestic cats and I restrained myself.

Since it was a canary I needed to appear docile. Should of gone with a falcon even if the town was small. With a falcon you could act confident and stare down cats as falcons can steal cats. The town had tons of little markets full of cloth, food and much more.

With a small smile I went over to a meat cart where a forty year old man had butchered goods spread out. A large orange and black leopard was sprawled out sleeping. It's eyes opened when we came over and they went instantly to the canary who began to chirp in alarm.

I patted the canaries head. After this was all done the canary could go fly off and be free, but for now I needed the canary. "Hello little lady, what can I get you?" He asked as the leopard came over and sat down and watched the canary with the eyes of a predator.

I looked over the meat. "A pound of butchered cow, loins and then some venison a pound of thigh." I told him and he turned around to go get the butchered meat. When the leopard turned around I stuffed meat into the satchel then stopped when he turned around.

"Four coins." He said handing two big bags of meat which I put in the satchel then maneuvered the meat into it that I stole and pretended to dig for coins. Then I took out four coins and set them down. "And some free greens for the canary." He said with a toothy smile.

I accepted it before going on my way. "My big cat friend loves meat, thank you for the free greens." I said with a smile and the leopard pouted at the mention of another big cat. "Goodbye." The butcher said as I left and continued through.

I bought some fur pants and leggings made of fur then leather trousers. Thankfully my satchel fit it all. On my way I stopped at some jewelry place and was admiring a wolf necklace. Something rare to see, but it was very beautiful along with some spirit animal totems.

"You sell wolf jewelry?" I asked the woman who looked up. She had a canine at her side. "Yes, despite the fear of them their meaning is loyalty and they represent strength and courage. Would you like to purchase it?" She asked and I looked at the necklace. "How much is it?" I asked.

"Free for a girl that is not afraid of the wolf." The woman said selecting the necklace. She wrapped it up and handed it to me. "Especially one with a canary spirit animal. Your soul is free and willing to accept." She said and I smiled. Only if she knew the truth.

I looked over and a looming figure came into view. A brunette boy stood at another butcher place. He was tall and filled it with muscle like Quinn was. On his shoulder was a falcon and the falcon looked annoyed and uncomfortable. "Thank you for the necklace." I whispered and the woman nodded.

The boy looked over and brown eyes met mine. Time froze at that moment. He watched me curiously then looked at the canary who was struggling now. Then his nose flickered out as if he was smelling the air and the curiosity turned into realization.

For both of us.

His build wasn't just similar to Quinn who was a bear. He was a bear as well and I had no doubt somewhere there was a brown bear. He was a little shorter than Quinn, but he still had that bear build and he watched me before heading over.

He could smell the bear on me and might mistake me for a bear. "Thank you." I told the woman before walking away hoping to lose the bear in the crowd. It was just a scent. But looking back I wasn't given the pleasure to lose the bear as he was following me.

I sped up to get out and soon I was near the woods away from the city and now in the woods. Quickly I untied the canary just as the boy arrived no longer with the falcon. "I just want to talk with you." He said and I met his gaze.

A glow emitted from him and then a brown bear appeared next to him. Pulling your spirit animal into your body. Then letting it out. Something bears, foxes and wolves mastered to be able to evade being caught with a bear, fox or wolf and then hunted.

The bear watched me curiously before I took off into the woods. "Wait!" He called out before giving chase, but I wasn't going to let him catch me. No that was not going to happen so I took off as fast I could.

1584. You will discover about the bear in the next chapter. * * *