Chapter 436: Chapter 436

Chapter 436

Xander Wolves can run for a long time at a steady pace. Long, loping strides. Measured breathing. We’re built for long distance travel in our wolf forms, but even in our human shapes, we’re pretty good at it.

Even so, by the time we were seven miles away from Brightsky, the frozen tundra and equally frigid air was taking its toll. We might have shifted into our wolves, but that would have meant leaving our backpacks behind, and none of us were ready to do that. We’d eventually have to return to our human bodies, and we’d be naked in the Alaskan wilderness. Not ideal.

“We’re going to have to camp here for the night,” Mason said, looking up at the sky.

So far, even though it felt like the middle of the night, the sun hadn’t gone down. No moon had risen, either. I couldn’t tell what time of year or day it was.

“How long have we been at Brightsky?” I asked Lanie as she set down her pack with a sigh.

She shook her head. “I don’t know, my love. I’ve lost track of everything.”

“Same here.” I pulled her close for a hug and kissed the top of her head as we watched Stella giving Zane and Mason orders about how to set up camp. “No tents. No sleeping bags. Nothing to build a fire with.”

“Stella will take care of everything. Besides, you’ve had survival training, haven’t you?” Lanie teased lightly, nudging me in the side with her elbow.

“Yeah, sure. My father had us doing drills from the time I was weaned. We always had some preparation, though.”

“We have her.” She tipped her chin toward our daughter.

“I’ll need something to use for the fire,” Stella told us all when Lanie and I joined the rest of the group. “I can light it, but I can’t make anything out of thin air. Any transmogrifications need to have a source to change from.”

“We packed light, the way you said. I have this.” Lanie offered a popsicle stick picture frame the twins had made her in preschool. “I want to keep the photo, but I guess you can have the frame.”

“Perfect,” Stella said with a grin. “I’ll make sure they replace it with another one.”

We watched her break the frame into small pieces. She put them on the ground and concentrated.

The sticks grew larger, into a stack of firewood. She looked at us proudly.

“Bravo,” Mason said.

“Thanks, Abba.”

“But what about tomorrow night?” Zane looked around the bare tundra. “Those sandwiches aren’t going to last long. We can’t keep using things we brought with us to change into what we need, either.”

Stella hesitated, then knelt next to the pile of wood. She studied it in silence for a moment or so, then murmured a few words. It caught fire and was soon burning briskly. She gestured for us to gather around it. It was a little awkward, sitting in our bulky winter gear, but it also felt good to take a break.

“We aren’t going to walk the entire way. That would take us forever, first of all, and also, as you pointed out, Papa, we aren’t really prepared. I just wanted to get us as far away from Brightsky as we could to start.” Stella waved a hand over the fire, which blazed to even greater light.

It cast a dancing orange, red, and gold glow over her face. Her expression was solemn. She drew her knees to her chest and rested her chin on them.

“I’ve been in touch with some friends,” she said finally.

Lanie sat up straight. “What kind of friends? Why don’t I know about them?”

“We’ve never met in person. I’ve only been able to connect with them through a kin link,” Stella explained. “Because I’m a Celestial, I could make one with them even though I’m not…umm…”

“Stella,” I said sternly. “I think it’s time you came clean. Who are these friends, and what, exactly, are they supposed to do for us?”

“Slitherkin,” she said softly, almost like she was worried we would scold her.

Zane’s eyebrows rose. “What the hell are Slitherkin?”

“It sounds like snakes,” Lanie said with a frown. “Stella, please tell me that you are not talking about snakes.”

“Snow snakes,” she said apologetically. “They’re not like us. Shifters, I mean. They never take human form. They’re more like the enclavian spiders than they are like people. They live deep beneath the permafrost. They’re what created the original tunnels and caverns under Brightsky.

Malachi chased them off in order to take over their territory so he could build the enclave.”

“That sounds rude,” Lanie said, pursing her lips.

“They weren’t happy about it, that’s for sure. But don’t worry, Mother,” Stella said hastily. “I’ve been in contact with them, and they’re willing to help us get to Fallen Crest. Mostly willing. Okay,” she admitted. “I’ve had to use some strong mind power to get them to even agree to come meet us. But I’m pretty sure they won’t try to hurt us. Or kill us.”

“Pretty sure?” I demanded.

Stella gave me a sheepish grin. “…yes?”