Thanks! Lol...just a little more shouldn't hurt...

This is a VERY long chapter lol. It might be even longer than Chapter 2. Here's like..a quarter of it lmao.

By the way, you'll notice Staar's character start to come out a little bit. At first he was quiet and maybe more inquisitive. He gets a good sense of humour.


Chapter 4

After Tymber had a nice warm bath in a big tub, she rode off on Seabring's back. When she got to the end of the road, she waved at Daire, and watched him wave back. She had forgiven him for his earlier outburst, and was really beginning to like him. There was more to him than those sky blue eyes.
I want to go hunting. Staar said. That way I can present my gift to Presta today.
"You go ahead." Tymber said. "School will start soon." Tymber reached down and pulled off Staar's red collar.
Ah, he said, a mountain breed for half a day, and a wolf for the other! Cheers sister! He ran into the distance. We are pack forever!
Tymber shook her head and smiled.
She was entering the forest now. She quietly put Seabring into the small corral, untakced him, and then walked into the village.
"Where have you been?" Neolyn stood in front of Tymber, blocking her way.
"I was riding." Tymber answered through her teeth.
"Riding!" Neolyn scoffed. "Where were you..'riding'?"
"Why does it matter? Seabring needed exersise so I rode him."
"Seabring?!" Neolyn laughed, "Oh for pity' sake, what a terrible name. Anyway, Staar is a terrible name too. Where is that mongrel anyway?" she asked, looking around.
"He isn't a mongrel!" Tymber's blue eyes flashed with anger. "He's a wolf, and you're just jealous!" Tymber looked at Neolyn's arm. It was covered with dry blood and gashes from where Staar had attacked her.
"You know what the people are saying about you?" Neolyn asked. She shoved Tymber when Tymber tried to push past her. "They're saying that there's never been anyone with a wolf spirit bond before. Nobody knows what that means. But I know it means your just a freak." Neolyn pushed past Tymber.
Tymber watched Neolyn walk away and wiped her tears. "I'm not a freak." she whispered. She heard a bell ring. She knew what that meant. She walked into the line that was in front of the Elders' main tent. She saw only boys in front of her, and when she looked behind, she, again, saw only boys. What if Presta had gotten confused, and sent her on the wrong day?! No, Presta is much too clever to make such a mistake. So, she waited in line, and finally she was at the front. She looked around and people were staring at her. Tymber was the only girl in the whole line. Her face reddened.
"Tymber." The Elder at the front said.
Tymber bent down and bowed her head. " Yes Elder." she replied.
"Here." the Elder handed Tymber a large leaf. "This displays the classes you will be taking. Take fortune, child."
Tymber took the leaf from her hands and was surprised to see the Elder wink at her. She smiled and said "Thank you, Elder."
When she had gotten away fom the lineup, Tymber looked down at the leaf. She couldn't believe her eyes! Boys classes! They had put her in boys classes! Maybe it would be a good thing if all the girls got to be in boy classes, but she would be the only girl! Tymber almost fell over.
Sister! Staar called. He ran up to her. What troubles you? I could feel it from way over there.
"You were right, brother." Tymber replied. "They put me in boy classes. Why would they do that?"
I don't know. Maybe --
"Tymber." Tymber turned around to the sound of her voice and saw Presta's granddaughter. "Tymber, Elder Presta would like to speak with you."
Tymber uneasily walked up to Presta's tent. She pulled back the flap and cleared her throat. The Elder was seated oppisite of Tymber, facing the back of the tent. This was Tymber's chance to look around. She noticed colourful things decorating the tent walls. She saw bottles and pots. Most interesting, a skull that sat on the corner of the short table that was in front of Presta. To Tymber's surprise, the Elder had turned around and was now facing her. Tymber quickly regained a straight face.
"Find my belonings interesting, child?" Presta asked her.
"Um, yes." She felt her eyes trail back to the skull on the table.
"Deer." Presta said. "Do you like deer?"
"I - I suppose I do. I mean, I like the taste of them..."
"Your spirit bond is searching for deer now?"
"Yes." Tymber said uneasily. "But -- how did you know?"
"Tymber, sit." Presta ordered.
Tymber sat down and felt herself sink into the bear fur. She welcomed the softness on her legs. Presta looked down, and then looked into Tymber's eyes. "You know," she said " you don't owe me anything. Neither you nor your spirit bond." Tymber felt her mouth slowly open and she pressed her teeth together so much that her cheeks hurt. "What you are doing is dangerous. The townspeople and our tribe do not find eachother pleasant company. But then, I suppose you don't care what people think of you." Presta spoke. "And if you do, you shall have to learn not to, as I'm sure you realise now." Tymber was confused at the Elder's words. "As you must know now, I have placed you in classes that do not match those of the other women of this tribe. I know you can read the words written on that leaf." She waited for Tymber to nod before she went on. "You are different than others." Presta sighed. "Tymber, you have a wolf as your bond. This is a spectacular thing, as it has never happened before. And I must say, that I have no reason to understand why this has happened to you, so do not ask. I just know that you are someone very special." She waited. "Tymber?"
"Elder..." Tymber whispered. Then she looked into the Elder's eyes. "I have waited my entire life to be different. I've always wanted to be special. And now that it has happened, I'm not sure why, and I'm confused. Why do I take these lessons?"
"You are the catalyst!" Presta shouted, surprising Tymber and making her jump. "You are the one who will change the life for us, for better or for worse!"
"But what does that mean?" Tymber asked quietly, frustrated.
"Nobody knows what it means! I know the best of any of us, and I don't know alot. It is written in the prophecy. Child of the wolf; that is you. You are the catalyst; you will change the lives of all of us!" Tymber looked down, confused. "When you are done your lessons you will leave."
Tymber's eyes shot up. "Leave? Where?"
"You will choose where. There is evil brewing child. Evil that will rid the worlds of our people. There are so few of us already."
"But I don't know where to go, let alone fight --"
"You will learn!" Presta's eyes flashed yellow momentarily. She stammered and fell back.
"Elder!" Tymber rushed to her side.
Presta tried to sit up but couldn't. She looked into Tymber's eyes. "You see child? I felt your power. It brought power back to me; something I have not felt for a long time. Did you see it? Did you feel?" Tymber shook her head. "There are certain things your class will not teach you." Presta told her, her voice weakening. "You will come see me when I call for you. And only when I call." Tymber nodded. "You must go now." She watched Tymber walk past the table and push open the flap. "And Tymber.." Presta called. Tymber looked back. "I give you permission to leave the village." Tymber smiled. "You are special.

"Remember that. You are special."