章 116: Chapter 116: The River's Fury
Ravyn POV
The world came apart around her!
Where was Jude?
His terrified howl pierced her to the core. She looked around, trying to see through the shaking and clouds of smoke around her, and saw Jude being swept away by the rising water. The river had unleashed a mighty flood.
"JUDE!"
Ravyn willed herself to stand up. Her legs felt battered and bruised, and she smelled blood. But no time for moans and groans. She dove into the water, swimming with the current. "Don't push against the current," she yelled at Jude. "Try and float and grab onto something!"
Rocks, stones, plants, and animals brushed past her. She swam for her life, towards Jude's bobbing graying head. One powerful hand broke the surface and latched onto a tree limb. He floated about in the rushing waters while he tried to pull himself to safety.
"RAVYN! Grab onto me!"
She didn't have to be told twice.
Her fingers gripped his waist, and she felt him rise up, hauling himself to a perch in the overhanging tree. She braced both of them by snagging a higher branch and wedging them both at a junction of branches. Gasping, they both took a moment to regroup and catch their breath while the world tore itself to pieces.
"Do you see a safe spot below?" she asked breathlessly."
He grunted. "I can't see anything. Got water in my eyes."
She rested against him, sensing that he needed a break and the comfort of physical contact. "It's alright. Maybe the Dark Goddess will get bored when she realizes we're out of danger."
He growled. "You really are an optimist, Ravyn Faolan."
"It's kept me alive to fight another day. Never lose your hope." She wiped the water from his eyes with her hand.
Blinking, he scanned the ground below, pointing to an outcrop. "I think we can walk on a nearby branch and jump to safety."
"Or I could levitate us down."
A muttered curse. "Why in Fenrir's name didn't you say so in the first place?"
He had a point. "I was going to–"
"We don't have time for 'going to,' Ravyn. Let's get in position and then you get us down. Preferably in one piece."
She caught her breath. "Right. Let's see if that branch can take our weight."
Or they could just teleport. They could teleport out of here.
She attempted to teleport them out, to form the spiral. Nothing. She couldn't even teleport them to the ground.
Jude's irritation faded away as he noticed the expression on her face. "Ravyn, I didn't mean to be short with you."
"Oh, it's not you. It's the Dark Goddess. I can't teleport us out of here!"
Jude gripped her hand. "But you can levitate us, can't you?"
"Well, I'm not so sure about that, but I'll try."
He squeezed her hand and she followed him out on a limb, literally. The branch felt solid enough to take their weight. Inching along until the branch started to thin out and taper, Ravyn held Jude's hand and made the symbol for levitation.
She and Jude floated off the branch. Yelping, Jude flailed with his arms as the sensation of floating overtook him. "Don't panic," Ravyn told him in a calm voice. "This is perfectly natural. Don't fight it. You'll only defeat the spell."
"Right." He stopped struggling and surrendered, floating down with Ravyn to the tiny outcrop island, a refuge in the midst of the turbulent waters.
Ravyn breathed a sigh of relief as they stood upon the outcrop. "We can't teleport."
Jude lifted his head and sniffed, then whirled and pointed to the south. A shimmering translucent barrier had formed behind them. Ravyn spotted one to the north, across the river. Scowling, Ravyn said, "That's an impressive trap."
"All traps have their weaknesses. Maybe if we cross the barrier, we can teleport to safety. I'll shift and you can ride on my back."
He changed into wolf form and she climbed on his beautiful, furry back. He huffed softly in acknowledgment, then leaped into the floodwaters and swam or waded toward the barrier. Ravyn grabbed handfuls of his fur to stay on his back.
Please, Moon Goddess and the Goddess Brigid, let them pass through the barrier and escape.
Jude's determination boosted her spirits and her nerve.
* * * * *
Jude POV
He allowed himself a moment to enjoy Ravyn's touch before he swam for the barrier. His muscles worked overtime and he could feel the burning sensation while he powered through the flood, swimming with the current.
At last! Barrier ahead! Inches away from him lay safety–and a narrow gap in the field. It would be a tight squeeze, but he could make it.
He had just reached the gap when Ravyn's bloodcurdling scream made him break off and swim for another outcrop, where he hauled himself, soaking wet, out of the water.
He tried to mind-link with any of the Crestas but couldn't. He tried Bram, Emer, and Eamon. Nothing. He tried Harland. No one.
But he did feel a presence. It felt like Hades' energy … and it seemed friendly. Even reassuring. He sent an urgent plea for assistance.
Panting, overwhelmed by the unbelievable events, he felt Ravyn slide off of him and sit, curled up, holding her knees. He shifted and sat beside her. "You're as pale as the moon!"
She was paler, if that was possible.
Her silence terrified him, and he nuzzled her hair, staying glued to her side.
"It's an anti-magic barrier," she growled. "You can pass through, because the fiend has limited control over a wolf in the primal state. But if I try to go through, I'll die."
NO.
His enraged howl soared to the sky.
"We can't just stay here and drown! We are NOT dying here."
Ravyn's violet eyes pleaded with him. "We have one chance. The option you didn't want."
It made perfect sense, and yet he trembled, knowing that Ravyn would experience the stress of transformation. "It's very painful. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
"They haven't. I think that's one reason Dane, Patch, and Dirge haven't encouraged Lilia, Anneliese, and Thessi to transform."
"Most likely. No self-respecting wolf wants to put their mate through unnecessary pain."
But this would be necessary pain.
"But this is necessary." Her eyes swirled with love and faith. "You know it."
He growled, nuzzling her, breathing in her sweet scent. "You don't play fair, do you?"
"Not when you're being stubborn and gambling with our lives. Do you have another alternative?"
"Hades knows we're in trouble. I asked him for help."
Ravyn sighed. "The Dark Goddess' barrier would destroy him, too."
"Maybe he could knock it down along with the other mages in the family?"
"But that'll take time."
The waters sucked at their feet and began to cover the outcrop.
Jude bowed his head. "We don't have a lot of options …"
"We have one. ONE. It's our only chance, Jude. Make me a wolf. I want it. PLEASE. Think like an Alpha, not just my mate."
Torn, Jude made his decision and hoped for the best…
クリエイターの想い 
AmandaMadden
AmandaMadden Being a wolf is going to change Ravyn's and Jude's relationship...
What color will Ravyn be as a wolf? What do you think she'll look like?
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
Creation is hard, cheer me up!
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