Next D 643

I nodded. “Is there anything to say before we drop this?” I waved at the bubble. 

No one said anything, but then my father grabbed me. “You are going to be vulnerable when you are doing this, I assume.” I nodded. 

“You are probably right.” I looked around. “This is a huge spell.” I looked at the map. “I don’t know how much power it’s going to take, or how long it will take. The faster we get this started, the better.” 

My dad nodded. “I was just thinking of the spy. The person is still on our lands, and your having to do the spell out in the open will pull them to you.” He looked around. ” We have to be on guard.” He rubbed the back of his neck, and I could see the exhaustion eating away at him. “We have all been running on fumes since before the cave–in. I just need you all to be extra alert. Amy needs to finish the spell. Or else we are all screwed.” 

One by one, everyone nodded. Once my father was sure everyone understood how serious he was, he dropped my hand. “Let’s go.” 

The bubble dropped, and we all stepped out. My chest gave a tug, and I knew where it wanted me to go. I walked away from everyone in front of the pack house to the middle of the killing field. 

The clearing’s grass, once tall, green and lush, now looked trampled. It held a rusty color that everyone knew was old blood. I heard the crackling of the fire behind me, and the sizzle of bodies being burned. 

I let all the pain and revulsion I felt have its moment. Because I knew once I started the spell my entire concentration would be on my magic. My stomach rolled when the smell hit me, and that too got its moment. 

I heard soft footsteps of people walking closer, but I closed myself off from everything happening around me. I needed to focus. I allowed my family to worry about everything else. I looked at my dad once more, and once he gave me his nod, I closed my eyes. 

I shifted my feet into claws, so I could dig into the soft grass. Then, I shifted my feet side by side until I was sunk down ankle deep into the earth. I knew I didn’t have to do it, but it just felt right. 

Before I called out to the gods, I wanted to take a few seconds to connect to the ground under me. I focused on the battle that was fought here, the lives that were lost, the blood split. I drew in a breath, and as I did, I pulled all of that power to me. 

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+25 Bonus 

The sacrifice of lives for protection, for family. For love. I pulled all of it to me. The power that the goddesses gave me in the abyss was already overflowing from me, and with the power in the ground, I felt my entire body buzzing. 

I took one cleansing breath, and then I started the spell. “Isla fo int ye per ta na shado.” The familiar words fell from my lips, and I pictured the first shield I ever created. The barrier protecting Carl’s grave glowed with a soft blue. I focused on our pack lands first. “Yi ka dum.” The second part of the spell I used to expand it over the cabin. The spell I created to protect my family. Carly’s face sprang to my mind, and I smiled. I was protecting not only my pup. My mate. I was also protecting all the packs across North America. But a simple expansion wasn’t going to do what I needed. “Orsha do ni ki por darla.” I felt my connection to the earth ripple, and I gasped when I felt the ground shift under me. It was waking up with my magic. 

Keep going godling. Gaia’s voice was a strong, comforting presence. I drew more power to me, and I drank the spilled blood around me. I needed every drop to do what I came here to do. 

“Ift sa cor ni keita bleg shorn cova.” I felt my power slam into the ground. The soil under my feet became soft. I sank into the ground until I was running through it. I ran deep, Gaia running beside me. Her laughter egged me on to go faster. We ran deeper and deeper until we exploded out the other side. Darkness was replaced by a blinding light. 

Still, she tugged me. Come deeper. Feel my center. See the beginning and the end of me, godling. She turned with a stunning smile, and I felt like I was drunk on the power coursing through me. I spun in the center of the world, hot red lava swirling around me, and I felt no heat, no pain, just power. Once we were at the center, she spun me in a circle. Now focus on the packs on the map you showed me. 

I nodded. “Gaia, mother of all, please hear my call. Send my power to protect those who cannot protect themselves.” I heard myself scream, and I felt the power rush out of me towards the packs. 

That’s one. Two to go. Gaia pushed me upwards, out of her core. Finish the spell, Godling, before it is too late. 

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