Page 2 of The Chosen Fae

“In their own time. They’re loners. They don’t know how to interact with other wolves. They will have to do this on their own.”

Moon Gazer was right, but Star Gazer still wished she could nudge them in the right direction.

Truly, their job was done. The wolf pups would have to learn to live on their own, two special wolves that the wolf goddesses loved so much, to the heavens and back.

Rune loved to wander and explore, and when she was a year old, she saw the strangest sight in another glen. A wolf larger than her sniffed the air; the male of white snow was catching fish in a pond. She knew he was like her, though her fur was golden and she was more petite. She’d seen her own reflection in the ponds and ice when the ponds were iced over.

She was curious about him. She’d never seen another wolf like her.

For three days, she returned to observe him while she hid in the bracken. Then suddenly, the wind shifted, and he must have gotten a whiff of her scent.

He rushed at her, snarling and growling. Her fur stood up on end, and her hackles raised. She didn’t growl menacingly at him but stood her ground. Maybe he felt this was his territory, but she wandered wherever she wanted.

He bit her cheek when his aggressive behavior didn’t get him the reaction he wanted. Not hard, but she winced and instantly retaliated. She bit his nose—hard. He squeaked and ran off. She would not be cowed even by a bigger male wolf. Then she returned to the Glen of Lily Brooke to fish in her pond, where her fish were bigger.

Stone had been so startled to see a female wolf encroach on his territory that he’d tried to make a stand. To show her this was his land—a natural instinct for wolves. But the minx bit him hard on the nose, and that hurt.

Despite liking his solitude, he had to learn where she lived.

After two days of searching for her scent, which had been carried on the breeze and was hard to follow, he found her fishing in a pond in a different glen. Her fish were even bigger than his!

He thought he would chase her off and take over the larger pond, but when she saw him and raised her tail, her golden hair fluffed to the max, he changed his mind.

He swore his nose still hurt from when she had bitten him!

1

In the bracken, Star Gazer stood with her sister, Moon Gazer, the stars and moon glittering in the night sky, as they observed Rune splashing in the pond. "You know we must release them from their wolf halves and allow them to evolve into their fae personalities."

"Aye. We'll have to give them clothes until they can learn their fae powers and finally establish contact with other fae. They'll need an occupation to earn money to support themselves in the way of the fae."

"Right. I'll bring clothes for Rune."

"Do not make them frilly and impractical. I know you, dear sister, and you'll want to dress her like a fae princess when she still needs to live out in the wilderness on her own."

Star Gazer smiled. "She can have both."

Moon Gazer sighed. "I will dress the boy in rugged clothes."

"Regal. He is a prince of the moon, just like Rune is a princess of the stars. Sure, they will have appropriate clothes for out here, but when they become part of the fae culture, they'll need to present themselves in the best way possible."

"Clothes do not make the man or woman."

Star Gazer knew better. Impressions could significantly impact relationships with others. Dressing as a vagabond or as royalty made a huge difference.

Moon Gazer sighed. "They will also have to find their way in the human world and cause mischief like the rest of their people."

"They have so much to learn."

"Aye. But so far, they have done well. We have guided them. We'll continue to guide them until they know who and what they are and their place in both worlds as fae and wolf."

Star Gazer smiled. "Off to make her clothes." She would weave the magical threads to create garments distinguishing Rune from any other fae or wolf out there. Despite her sister's comments, she knew Moon Gazer would do the same for Stone.

The strangest feeling washed over Rune as she played in the water before bedtime. Suddenly, she was standing in water up to her waist as something other than a wolf. The full moon's bright glow lit up the pond, and she stared at her reflection, then glanced back to see that no one else was really standing there, but no, it was her. A…fae. She'd seen them travel through the glen before while she hid from sight. But what was this? She wasn't frightened, just curious and surprised.

Long golden hair spilled over her shoulders, and her skin was pale pink in the moonlight. Now what would she do? She was naked, without a stitch of clothing, and the summer night was warm, but it could grow chilly later in the evening.

She heard rustling in the bracken and glanced over her shoulder. A red fox stood watching her for a moment, then dashed off.