Mateo picked up on a spike of fear from Devon at the mention of the Chimeras. Mateo didn't like Chimeras either and he was pretty much inclined to agree with Devon's description of them.
They were just rabid monsters, designed for nothing other than killing. They were leagues apart from werewolves, even though that was who they came from, mutated and transmogrified beyond recognition. Disgusting, hairless bulks of gnarled flesh and claws.
Mateo felt a sudden yank on the ropes making him hiss in pain. He looked up and saw that Devon was pin wheeling his arms. The younger boy had clearly lost his balance, tripping over the slippery forest mulch. Mateo started forward towards him but Kashvi was already there, lending a steadying hand.
She shot Mateo a look with the clearly conveyed message of 'Stay'. Mateo huffed, he was only going to help. Every time Devon flailed or tripped it was another burn on Mateo's skin.
"At least I provide some physical comedy along with my razor sharp wit." Devon sighed. Mateo looked up.
"I don't find it funny."
"Oh..." Devon breathed, "Well sorry you got stuck with the faulty human."
Mateo shook his head, "I think it's a fucking miracle you've survived as long as you have."
Devon paused and cocked his head, "Is that a compliment or an insult?"
"It's an observation," Mateo retorted. He was actually highly impressed with how Devon managed to navigate his way through the trees for the most part. Mateo wondered if it was the magic in him that helped Devon sense things?
Although, Mateo still didn't understand the strange scent of witchcraft that lingered on his two kidnappers, there was no way they were full witches, but Kashvi had cast a hex on him...
"When did you lose your sight Devon?" Ruby asked. Mateo heard the spike in heartbeats from Devon and Kashvi but Devon's answer, when it came, was perfectly truthful.
"A year ago."
"It was..." Ruby began,
"Witches," finished Devon, "A curse."
Suddenly it all slot into place.
They are witches Mateo realised, just cast out from their own kind.
He wondered what they had done wrong to merit such a punishment and exile? The witches must have done something to the kids' magic too, that was why it smelled so faint, so distant.
Mateo wondered how much longer Kashvi's hex on him would keep up? It was obviously draining her of a lot of energy. Mateo had noticed her slowed movements, the way she kept snapping at everybody...more than usual.
"It was because of me," Mateo heard Kashvi explaining to Ruby up front in a hushed whisper; "Devon didn't have to come with me."
"He's your brother Kashvi, remember? So I think, he kind of did," Ruby replied and nudged the other girl's shoulder. It was an affectionate gesture and it made Mateo long for his pack, he forgot to look where he was going for a moment and knocked against a rotting stump with his leg.
"What happened?" Devon looked round, feeling the pull on the leash.
"Nothing," Mateo replied, feeling embarrassed and moving forwards.
Devon sighed and put his hand on his hip, "You know if you need to cock your leg against a tree or something you can just ask for me to stop."
"How about you stop with the dog jokes?"
Devon huffed a laugh, "Sure thing, as soon as wolves stop with the 'Little Red' jokes."
"They use those?" Mateo asked incredulously.
"Yeah! All the fucking time. I think you should apologize on behalf of your kind." Devon exclaimed, waving his hand in front of him in a sweeping gesture. Mateo cocked an eyebrow,
"You run into a lot of wolves?"
Devon nodded then turned to keep walking, "We've encountered our fair share of blood thirsty ronins yeah. So what's it like down south? You all Alphas and Betas down there? How does it work? Do you have like Alphas of Alphas?"
"Something like that," Mateo muttered, thinking of the Elders.
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." Devon turned round with a grin on his face and Mateo huffed. George Orwell, really?
"Why haven't you found a human settlement to stay in?" Mateo asked after a moment. Kashvi was far ahead enough to not hear him talking to Devon, and besides, she was engaged in deep conversation with Ruby.
Devon sucked on his lip, "How do you know we haven't?"
"You don't smell of other humans," Mateo replied.
Devon sighed and pulled his hood down, scratching the back of his head. Mateo spotted the thin black lines of an inked mark poking out from the top of the younger boy’s collar, stark against the soft, pale skin.
"That why?" Mateo asked, he knew Devon would realise what he was talking about.
"Yeah, some human settlements, they're just a bit...wary I guess."
"And you can't find other witches?" Mateo questioned.
Another spike in Devon's heart rate. Interesting.
"It's just me and Kashvi. Until we find somewhere to take us in. And that is where you come in my furry friend." Devon grinned round at Mateo, "You're our golden ticket."
"You think people will be willing to overlook the tattoos if you bribe them with an Alpha?"
"That's the plan," Devon laughed, but he stretched out his voice as if he was thinking, "Hey - are the trees getting thinner?"
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