Kei Valancia

 

We’re being followed, I commented with amusement.

Do you think I don’t know that? He’s part of Draven’s pack.

Anyway, hurry up. I can feel his eyes on our furry ass. She let out a wolf-snort before speeding up.

“Don’t worry, we’re almost—”

Rei never finished as we heard a loud yip and a huge furry body hit ours at full momentum. The weight instantly lifted off, and I jumped onto all fours. I bared my teeth in a snarl but stopped when I saw the familiar mint green aura. I shifted and stood, grinning.

“Draven, you Casanova, come give me a proper greeting.” I heard him shift, his energy rippling momentarily before his black form turned into a tall man.

“You look ten times better than the last time I saw you, and that was five months ago. Why haven’t you called? Sent me a letter?” Right after he finished his question, I was engulfed in a bear hug. I returned it with the same amount of intensity. The familiar scent of mint filled my nostrils, reminding me of all our times together.

“I missed you too, you big lug.” He pulled back at arm’s length, and I could feel his stare on my face

“You get more beautiful each time you come visit. Now, come. Maria is going to be so excited to see you.”

We began walking through the woods, our arms linked together.

“How’s everything going in the pack?” I asked him.

He chuckled. “If you’re talking about rogues, don’t worry. No attacks whatsoever.”

I smiled in relief. “That’s good. Now…” I stopped, and I felt him stop beside me, confusion evident around him. I lifted my hand and pulled it back, slapping him hard on the back of the head.

“What the hell?” He cursed, and he jumped away from me.

I crossed my arms and stood there glaring at him. “That’s what you get for creating another psychotic groupie.”

“What are you talking about?” He seemed to still be in pain, and I smirked.

“It so happens the pack that I’m in now had a woman that you had slept with. Lucky for me, she was insanely jealous and thought it would be great to try to kill me.”

“Oh!” His energy and tone showed his sheepishness, a light beige. “Sorry about that.”

I scoffed. “Oh, don’t apologize to me. Apologize to the woman that you slept with. Goddess knows how much you had to beg to get her in your bed.” I poked his arm teasingly, and he playfully shoved my arm.

“You’re such a jerk you know that?”

I laughed and threw an arm around his shoulders, pulling him down to my level.

“Fine, I guess I won’t tell you the big news.” I sighed dramatically and began walking, dragging him along with me.

He groaned and walked beside me awkwardly. “Kei,” he whined.

I shook my head in disappointment. “No. I’m a jerk, remember? Then it’s only natural that I act like one.”

“Come on, Kei, just tell me.”

I tapped my index finger to my chin as if thinking. “Well, all right since you’re so adorable,” I reached up and pinched his cheeks.

He swatted my hands away but chuckled, straightening. “You never change.” His voice softened, and I shot him a wink.

“Of course, I haven’t. Why would I?”

He laughed and ruffled my hair. I let out an annoyed grunt and punched him in the side lightly.

“So, what’s the big news?”

I heard a thwacking sound as if he had picked up a stick and began hitting nearby bushes with it.

“Well, you won’t believe who I met yesterday.”

He was silent in thought, letting my senses take in all of the information that was happening around me. The late afternoon wildlife was loud and wide awake. I could feel little pieces of the sun hit my skin while the cool shadows countered the heat. The normal auras of the plant life were a soft glow against the darkness, a few sparks of color from animals scurrying away. This was peace.

“Hmmm…Was it Larry?”

I turned my head and raised an eyebrow incredulously. “Larry?” I said his name with a scoff. “I haven’t talked to that old coot in months, and I can bet my life he doesn’t want to see me.”

“All right. How about Abby?”

“I don’t know an Abby.”

He paused. “Oh, oh, yeah, you definitely wouldn’t know Abby.”

I rolled my eyes at him. “You’re an idiot.”

“But I’m a handsome idiot.”

I gave him a strange look. “You just admitted to being an idiot.”

“But a handsome one. Girls totally dig the stupid Prince Charming.”

I furrowed my brows. “Uh, no, they don’t.”

“Sure, they do. Why else would they sleep with me?” He had a point.

“Touché, my friend, touché.”

We laughed, and I felt myself relax in a way that I hadn’t for a while.

“Back to the main topic. Who did you meet?”

I paused for suspense, and I knew that he hated it but stayed silent.

“It was Ryker Dare.”

That made him stop walking entirely.

“Oh, haha, very funny. Now, tell me who you really met.”

“It was Ryker Dare. I swear with my life.”

He was silent.

“And why was he at that exact location that you were in?”

I tried to decipher his tone but only heard the neutrality of it, along with his aura. Damn him, he knew how to mask his feelings, and now, I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

“He was coincidentally going to the same pack to offer his aid against the recent rogue attacks, and you won’t even guess what happened next.” I poked him. “Come on, guess.”

He sighed, but when he spoke, I heard the smile in his voice. “I don’t know. You tell me.” I smiled big.

“He’s my mate.”

Complete and utter silence followed those three words. And then his color burst with the brightest electric green and dark lavender purple.

“Oh my Goddess, I’m so happy for you! Dammit, Kei, you leave me and then come back to tell me that you found your mate? You’re a terrible friend.” His tone of voice was ecstatic, the exact opposite of his words. I laughed happily as he turned and hugged me.

“I know. Here, I’ll make it up to you.”

He gave me a doubtful look. “How?” he said, his voice holding doubt.

I smiled mischievously. “I’ll tell you how I beat the King if you’ll forgive me,” I told him.

He laughed loudly. “I knew you were such a badass,” he commented, and I pouted.

“Of course, I am.”

We continued to bicker until I noticed our surroundings change. I looked around, pushed out my powers, and noticed the black outlines of an open field, a large house nestled in between the cluster of trees.

“Why does it seem your house gets bigger and bigger each time I visit?” I mused. I felt the movement of his shoulders against mine as he shrugged.

“It’s probably just your imagination,” his humorous tone said otherwise.

Rolling my eyes, I began making my way towards it. I noticed but didn’t say anything as I felt four other wolves behind us, keeping watch. We walked in comfortable silence, enjoying the fresh air. About halfway, I saw a bright ball of energy burst out of the house and run towards us. I grinned widely and opened my arms just in time for a small body slam into mine.

“Kei!” A giggly voice squeaked with excitement.

“Hey, you little bumpkin.” I could practically hear her pout.

“I’m not a bumpkin!”

I laughed at the little girl in my arms, spinning her around. She laughed, her energy light and happy. The edges of her aura were tinted a light pink, representing her innocence.

“I don’t know, Maria. You smell like one,” I wrinkled my nose in pretend disgust but smiled.

“Nu-uh! You’re the one that stinks, Kei,”

I smiled at her in amusement. “Whatever you say, bumpkin.”

She poked my cheek, and I chuckled, setting the seven-year-old girl down back onto her feet.

“Rav, she’s being mean.”

The air around Draven was tinged with a light azure of amusement. “Now, girls, play nice.”

I glanced down at Maria and stuck my tongue out at her childishly. I can only imagine that she did the same to me.

“She started it.” I bent down and poked her lightly on the arm.

“No, you started it!”

I shook my head. “Nope. It’s all on you bumpkin.” I smirked, and she grumbled under her breath.

“You both are acting like children,” Draven said with an exasperated sigh.

I straightened and looked at him with wide eyes.

“But I am a kid,” Maria shouted.

“So am I!” I agreed, laughing.

“You both are idiots. Now, come on you two. The sun is going down, and dinner will be done soon.”

I noticed Maria’s dark form being lifted up, her energy separated from Draven’s as he picked her up. I hung back slightly as Draven bickered with his younger sister, a feeling of deep sadness filling my thoughts. I usually never thought deeply about my lack of eyesight, as I already have a different kind of sight to help me see. However, there are times that I would wonder what it would be like to see again. It’s not something I usually dwelled on, but I can’t help feeling that familiar grief creep back in from time to time.

“Kei, you coming?” Maria’s voice brought me out of my negative reverie.

Smiling slightly, I nodded. “I’ll always come for you guys.”

With that said, I caught up with them and got lost in the familiar feeling of being home.