Jazzy - In the Shadows

Wolf checked the area once more, then turned to Tony. "Okay. It's all clear," he affirmed.

"Wolf, remind me again why we had to wait until we were all the way out here to ask the mirror. Last night, all you wanted to do in Kissingtown was ask it."

"We were alone; nobody was outside then." He watched as Tony's expression still remained foggy and continued, "We don't know who took Virginia. Whoever did could have spies following us. We don't want them to know we're coming closer, or that we have a crystal of Amorex."

Tony sighed. "Good point. Okay, so, now what do we ask it?"

Wolf thought a moment as he stared at the mirror in Tony's hands. "All right, give it to me," Wolf spoke and turned his horse back, so that both horses were side by side. "Mirror, we have the first crystal, where is the second?" He asked simply, he wasn't going to waste time trying to think of a rhyme when it wasn't necessary.

The cascading swirls began to take motion, almost reluctantly. If Tony hadn't known better, they were waking it from a deep sleep. The small mirror came to life once again after the wavy quicksilver effect slowed down to a moderate rhythm. Tony and Wolf watched in awe, waiting for a response. After a few moments, it finally answered.

"Yellow crystal two is far from here, in a village that you, Wolf, shall fear. Two old men you meet along the way, to hear their words a hard price you pay. This crystal comes to you very soon, but you will be slowed by the full moon," it told them, then with a sparkle, once more was still. Wolf swallowed audibly and slowly handed the mirror to Tony.

"Cripes," he said quietly. His eyes were wide and his hands began to slightly tremble. This was going to be horrible, especially without his mate. He'd wanted to tell Tony about it when the time was right. Too late now.

"Wolf? Is it going to be bad?" Tony asked warily, noticing Wolf's expression and empty gaze. He remembered what had happened last time, and he didn't need that again.

Wolf turned to Tony and gave him a worried glance, but then flashed a hopeful smile. "I guess we'll find out ... unfortunately."

After another moment of recalling what had happened last time, Tony shook it off, snapped the leather reins on his horse, and began to trot down the path. The trees filled the forest, and bent slightly inward, creating a green ceiling over the ground. Wolf followed Tony's lead down the trail, trying his best to shake off the thoughts of the full moon.

After an hour of riding, Wolf glanced around cautiously, then ahead at Tony. This was horrible. Tonight. Tonight was the night. He could feel it. As the Evil Queen had made it so perfectly clear before, his blood was beginning to run hot and he could feel a slight sweat breaking out on the back of his neck despite the cool wind blowing on him. He quickly rubbed it away, and rolled up his sleeves.

The brisk motion of pulling his shirt sleeves up bothered his hand injury. He winced as the pain reminded him of what was there, but soon subsided. He turned his hand over, and inspected the wound after carefully taking off his blood soaked shirt piece. The night before it hadn't looked as bad as it did then.

The long slash still remained, but it didn't show signs of healing. A bruise formed around his long cut and had turned that side of his hand a dense purple and blue. He gently touched the cut out of curiosity, and received a painful, hot reaction in return. Why was it like this? Why was it refusing to heal? Then it dawned on him. The moon! The damn moon was causing his healing process to be slowed down.

Once again, he was reminded of it, even though it hadn't fully left his mind. This was absolutely incredible. His mate was out there somewhere, needing his help, and what was happening? That stupid orb was going to create a wall, maybe even a permanent barrier between him and Virginia. If he got slowed down now, who knows how long it would finally take them to reach her. This was so ridiculous! It was almost as if he was destined to live this ironic twist of fate.

It was still early morning, he wouldn't go 'wolf' completely until dusk. They could still get a lot done that day, there was still time to get far, and closer to her. He nodded, and told himself repetitively to look on the bright side of all of it. Perhaps he could block it all out if he tried hard enough. Yeah right, who was he kidding? There was no way to do that. He had tried so many times in prison, without any such luck.

Though, he had to try. With the possible life of his mate in his and Tony's hands, he knew he would die if he was the reason that caused them to lose her. He checked his wound once more, and torn off a new, clean piece of his shirt, which was now rather tattered and dingy. He tied the knot tightly, but very gently.

He kicked the horse to speed up a little, so that he could catch up with Tony. He looked up at the sky forlornly. The faster the day went, the slower the night would be. With the full moon, one night felt like a week. Not to mention the day after almost making him feel hung over, but with a rather large appetite and no self control. Who knew what he would be capable of tonight! The idea even scared him. The moon was a lurid curse to him, one that could be the difference between life and death for Virginia.