The second chapter of my exciting fantasy series. In this chapter I introduce the second of my three main characters, The character you will most likely fall in love with.

Enjoy and don't forget to comment!

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Chapter 2: forest spirit

The yellow-eyed wolf snooped around the oak tree, her body and tail was straight and she was on alert. Her ears shot in all directions for every little sound she heard. She scented the air and looked around secretively as if she was on lookout for something. She watched Raven’s sleeping body from the corner of her eye. When she was sure they are alone and safe her tale lowered and she was in a relaxed pose again, she gave a sigh of relief and strolled slowly towards Raven. She sat down in front of him and sniffed him gently; she then studied his body and gave an eager smile. She tapped him with her paw on his neck but nothing happened. She tapped him harder the next time and only his ear flicked, she started to get annoyed. Then she put her paw on his cheek and started tapping continuously, harder and harder each time. She looked at him happily as his eyes slowly opened, but he just gave a low growl and hit her paw away unconsciously and his eyes shut tight again. She was really annoyed at his deep sleep and hated being ignored like that. She stared blankly at him then suddenly a mischievous smile formed on her face. She lifted up her paw and a small spark jumped around on it, she then slowly lowered her paw towards Ravens thigh and when it was a small distance away the small spark shot to his body and he jumped up with a frightful yip deeply confused.
“What the… who are you?” Raven barked in confusion and got into an attack stance.
His sight was still dazed and needed time to adjust to the moonlit night, all he could see was a silhouette in front of him. The female wolf stared at him foolishly not afraid of his aggressive state, she opened her mouth and was about to speak.
“Answer me or I will attack you” Raven hissed.
His eyes adjusted and he saw a beautiful young female wolf with black and yellow fur sitting in front of him. She had a neatly layered long black fringe that her bright yellow gentle eyes with black lightning markings under each of them peered through. Her black hair went between her grey ears right down her neck and back straight down to her pure black tail in a narrow passage. There was a large black lightning marking on each side of her body surrounded by a divine yellow colored fur and she had a strange black lightning mark on her chest that looked like a scar.
“Wait, I’m not a threat to you” She said calmly in a slight giggling voice.
“Did the village send you to capture me?” he asked suspiciously.
“What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play dumb female. Did the Deeproot guards send you?” he barked.
“Does it look like I’m a Deeproot citizen?” she asked dryly.
He checked her out again and dropped his tail; she didn’t look like a Deeproot citizen. She would stand out of the crowd like he did.
“So you’re a hired mercenary?” he growled and she looked at him confused.
“I have no idea what you are talking about, and I’m way too young to be an assassin. Even though I wouldn’t mind being one, I hear the pay is good”
Raven’s tail rose again and he snarled “I said mercenary, not assassin. So is that what you are?”
“You don’t listen well do you?” She said mockingly and got up, she started to circle him slowly “If I was an assassin you’d be dead now. I think the first rule of assassination is to make a silent kill” she continued.
Raven could see she was temporarily lost in thought and took the chance and knocked her to the ground, he pinned her paws down so she couldn’t escape and there he stood above her snarling. She knew she was vulnerable in that state and her instincts went into a panic.
“So who are you?” Raven demanded.
She smiled coolly and stared into his eyes “well well… you surely know what you want” she laughed.
“I’m not kidding around. Answer me or I’ll kill you where you lay” he snarled.
She inspected his eyes and gave a soft smile, "You don’t have the eyes of someone that would take a life. She gave a sigh “very well… my name is Whisper, but my friends call me Whisp, you know, like a lightning whisp” she said proudly.
“Friends? There are more of you?”
“More of me? Like another me? That would be fun”
Raven growled and she stared at him blankly.
“No, I’m all alone in this world. I don’t have friends or family blah blah blah the whole sob story of a lone wolf” she said mockingly.
“Why should I believe you?”
“Why wouldn’t you? Now can you please get off me, this is getting rather uncomfortable”
“No” he growled.
She stared at him agitatedly and gave a sigh “Very well then” she whispered.
Whisper closed her eyes and jolts of electricity bounced all around her fur, suddenly a surged of electricity ran through Raven’s body and he fell to the side yelling in shock. His body shook on the ground in spasm while Whisper casually got up and shook the dirt from her fur.
“Oh come now, that was just a few volts, hardly enough to kill a squirrel” She laughed mockingly as she watched Raven shakily getting to his feet.
“Lightning wolf” he hissed.
“You didn’t think I was as defenseless as I look right, I got the talent to match this pretty face” she laughed.
Raven shook off the static from his body and went into an aggressive stance again, ready to pounce at her.
“Just relax would you” she said rolling her eyes.
“What trickery is this? I thought the lightning breed was extinct” he growled.
“No trickery, and clearly you thought wrong. Or maybe I’m just a ghost” she said smugly.
“Enough of your foolishness. Tell me what you’re doing here, female”
“I said my names Whisper, you may call me that. Now tell me strange wolf, what is your name?”
“I’m the one asking questions here!” Raven barked.
“Do you want me to talk or not?”
He growled and looked away “Raven” he said dryly.
Whisper smiled gleefully “Wow, a handsome name for a handsome wolf. Nice to meet you Raven” she said and dipped her head.
“Stop this foolish game” he barked “Why are you here?”
“I came to warn you…”
“So you are a Deeproot mercenary” He interrupted with a snarl.
“What, no. just listen to me” She snapped and made Raven feel foolish.
“I heard your howl so I thought someone was in trouble, I couldn’t find the wolf who made that deathly sound so I assumed the Spirit who roams these woods got to him” she continued.
“And yet here you are, how did you find me?” Raven asked suspiciously.
“I thought you were going to respond on the Spirit part first, but very well. I found you by chance, I was just wandering around then I saw you sleeping peacefully”
“You expect me to believe you?”
“I don’t expect anything from you” she smiled.
Raven snorted.
“Aren’t you afraid of this dark forest? Many myths surround it” she said trying to scare him.
“You are a fool if you think I would believe in such childish nonsense” he hissed.
“Nonsense? But I have seen this Spirit for myself. And believe me, it aint friendly. Do you want to be one of the many victims who disappear in these woods?”
“I can take care of myself. Now get away from here or I will force you to” he growled.
Whisper smiled and laid down; Raven’s threat didn’t bother her at all.
“You wouldn’t hurt me. You wouldn’t hurt the only possible lightning survivor nor even a defenseless female” She said smugly, taking his bluff.
Raven stared at her in disbelief thinking of the nerve she had. He dropped his ears and gave a low growl while he relaxed his tensed body and she smiled.
“It’s not every day you see a lone waterwolf in this part of the kingdom, what’s your business here Raven?”
“I don’t have to answer your questions, what do you want from me?” he growled.
“Stop being so arrogant, and I don’t want anything from you”
“Then why are you here?”
“I’m just looking for company, that’s all. And I might want to protect you” she said with a kind smile.
“Protect me from a Spirit? Do you not hear how foolish that sounds? I don’t need your protection, I can take care of myself” Raven said proudly.
Whisper laughed. “Well you’re stuck with me now for the time being. It’s your fault I’m out here and there’s no way I’m walking around in this forest alone at night”
“You’re scared to be alone? What kind of lone wolf are you? Don’t answer that” Raven said sarcastically and Whisper just smiled dumbly.
“I still don’t trust you, female” he growled.
“It’s Whisper, say it with me, Whis-per” she mocked “And it’s your problem you don’t trust me. But I feel safe with you” she said, Raven rolled his eyes and looked away.
“Just keep your distance. I need my rest so I’m going back to sleep. And don’t try anything.” he said and dropped down in front of the oak again. “I hope you will be gone when I wake up” he mumbled and dropped his head onto his paws, still staring at her.
Whisper slowly crawled closer to him with a foolish expression on her face, every time he opened his eyes she stopped. He noticed her and quietly growled under his breath.
“So how old are you?” she asked. He ignored her and she felt offended.
“I’d say you’re about 16. Well I’m 17 years of age…” she continued but still no reply.
“Where are you from?” she asked.
“Can you please keep your mouth shut?” he growled.
She sighed “If I keep my mouth shut then I won’t be able to talk. Don’t you want to know where I came from? She asked curiously.
“Listen to me, I don’t care about your age or where you’re from, I don’t care about anything you want to say. So please just leave me alone” he snapped.
Whisper dropped her ears “Fine… Rude bastard” she hissed under her breath and walked away. Raven gave a pleased whine and drifted into sweet slumber.

“Raven… Raven, wake up” Whisper whispered as she nudged Raven on his muzzle.
“Go away” he mumbled and turned around.
“Raven, I think I saw something”
“There’s no evil spirit or whatever, please just leave me alone”
An owl hooted and Whisper nearly fell over as she swung her muzzle around in fright, she looked around with her fearful eyes sparkling in the moonlight.
“Don’t make me shock you again” she said in a trembling voice.
Raven growled under his breath then turned around to face Whisper, he saw the fear in her eyes and felt a sudden pang in his heart.
“A lone wolf that’s afraid of the dark?”
“I’m serious, Raven. I saw a shadow on the ground as I walked through the forest, near here. I heard whispers then the shadow of a wolf flew over me and I ran here as fast as I could” she said frightened.
“Since when do wolves fly? Do you hear how ridiculous you sound?” he growled.
“Spirits fly, Raven”
“Spirits don’t exist” he said dryly.
“Yes they do. I’ve seen it with my own eyes” she barked in defense.
“You saw a…” Raven said but fell silent at the sound of a deep moaning noise that sounded like a thick tree branch cracking slowly.
“What was that!” Whisper yelled in horror as she looked around to see what dangers are possibly stalking them. Suddenly a shadow flew by in front of Raven and the rustling of leave could be heard from a tree a short length away from them.
A mischievous grin formed on Raven’s face and Whispered stared at him confused, fearing the worst.
“Don’t” she whispered.
“Let’s go find your spirit” He said and darted to the tree, looking up into it but saw nothing out of the ordinary.
“Don’t go, Raven. Do you want to get cursed?” she trembled.
“I’m already cursed”
Suddenly another tree’s leaves rustled as a weight crashed into it further along, Raven immediately rushed towards the tree.
“Don’t leave me alone” Whisper yelled and chased after Raven.
Raven ran after the shadow, knowing it couldn’t be a spirit. He thought that if somebody had skills to move like that, darting from tree to tree, it would be a worthy opponent in battle. Raven needed badly to get rid of his frustrations and felt the anger burn in his veins, he felt unstoppable. But little did he know the distance between him and the stream increased, and he would be practically defenseless without the source of water.
“Have you gone mad?” Whisper Shouted from the back “Who knows what that thing is you’re chasing or how dangerous it is, stop running”
“I didn’t ask you to follow me” Raven yelled back to Whisper.
“Then at least slow down so I can catch up” She growled.
Raven smiled darkly and increased his pace. Whisper eyes widened and she noticed his spitefulness. She closed her eyes as she ran and her fur began to light up with volts jumping around on it, and in a bolt of lightning she was right next to Raven. He stared at her awestricken and then smiled.
“Nice trick” he said.
She stared at Raven miserably but smiled gleefully when he looked away.
The shadow’s pace quickened and the sound of leaves faded as the distance between them increase.
“Dammit” Raven hissed as the ‘Spirit’ disappeared.
They slowed down and walked while looking around; Whisper noticed the desire in Raven’s eyes and stared at him puzzled. He noticed her staring and snorted and turned to the other direction.
“So what’s your plan? If you even have one. This is an idiotic thing to do, chasing after a spirit. You put both our lives at risk”
“Again. I didn’t ask you to follow me” he snapped.
Whispered looked down, hurt at his attitude towards her.
“Why are you following me, Whisper?”
She smiled “You said my name for the first time”
Raven stared at her confused and felt ashamed. Suddenly they heard a howl and their ears shot up.
“There you are” he said and started running to the howl’s direction.
Whisper followed against her better judgment. They ran through the trees and dived through a bush and into a small open clearing in the middle of the towering trees. They stopped dead in their tracks as they saw dark, almost black eyes, staring back at them. The creature snarled at them looking as if he was going to pounce at them at any time. Raven and Whisper inspected the creature as he shone in the moonlight peeking through the stretching arms of the great trees. The creature was in fact a large greenish-black wolf with ruffled up fur.
“Shadow Stalker” hissed Raven as the beast snarled furiously at them.
Whispered swallowed deeply and began to tremble “What should we do, Raven?”
“Don’t move a muscle. I’m thinking” He whispered and his mind went to work again, thinking of any possible plan and outcome. He felt dim-witted forgetting about the stream he wandered away from. The beast slowly paced forward making savage noises with drool dripping from his violent fangs, making Whisper feel sick to her stomach.
“Do something, Raven” Whisper cried.
Raven went into a deep concentrating state and was trying to feel and pinpoint the location of the nearest water source.
“Run. Follow me” he yelled and ran away from the scene.
“Your plan is to run away?” she replied and darted after him “This is something I would have thought of” she continued.
The creature chased after them barking furiously.
“Uhm… Raven?” She said hysterically.
“Don’t stop running” he yelled ahead of her.
“Yes I was about to stop now, thanks for the tip” She replied sarcastically.
The beast quickly caught up to Whisper and was snapping at her tail.
“Get away from me” she yelled hysterically.
The beast was so close behind her that he could snap her tail off without any trouble. She panicked. The sparks ran across her fur again and towards her tail. She jumped into the air and spun around to slap the beast with her tail across the face and with a crackling sound the beast yelped in pain and fell backwards. Raven looked back and smiled.
“You have some skills other than annoying others with your element I see” He laughed nervously.
“When can I see your skills?” She snapped.
Raven ignored her and kept running. His hopes lifted when they got to the stream again running through a larger clearing. He stopped in front of the stream and turned around, waiting for the beast to emerge from the shadows.
“Don’t you think we’ve lost him, Raven?” Whisper asked.
“Shadow stalkers don’t give up so easily, their bloodlust are to strong” he hissed.
“Oh great…” she replied.
Moment later the beast walked out of the shadowy foliage and into the moonlit clearing, he snarled furiously.
“Now the fun begins” Raven said darkly.
The beast charged for Raven then pounced at him with his jaw snapping in the air, Raven easily sidestepped him and the beast landed on his paws nearly stumbling into the river.
“Try again”
The beast jumped again and a stream of water shot out the river and grabbed the beasts paw in mid air, tossing him to the side and slammed him into the earth. Whisper flinched as she heard the breath of the creature knocked out of his lungs. Raven laughed darkly.
“You're awfully slow, mindless abomination” Raven laughed.
The beast got up and snarled furiously at Raven. He shook his body and wet drops formed on his fur.
“Finally you’re starting to get serious” Raven growled.
Whisper backed away, not wanting to get in the way “Be careful Raven”
Raven made a stream of water circle around his waist; he walked to the creature and shot water projectiles towards the creature while doing so. Each projectile hit the beast and he yelped in pain at each hit. Raven stared at him confused, wondering why he’s not trying to avoid them. Suddenly the beast charged at him and snapped at Ravens neck, he missed by a hair as Raven sidestepped and then punched the beast in the gut with a water rapid. The beast swerved through the air and flew into a tree stump with a loud yelp.
“Is he dead?” Whisper asked.
Raven ignored her and stared at the beast. After a while the creature struggled to his feet and snarled furiously, exposing his big white canines. He stopped and closed his mouth, and then suddenly he spat a projectile at Raven from his mouth. Raven stared at the dart in his leg in horror.
“Poison” he hissed and dropped to the floor, struggling to get up again. Whisper watched in terror.
“Run away, Whisper. He’s stronger than I thought” Raven yelled.
“I can’t leave you, not like this” She yelled with tears flooding her eyes.
“Do as I say or you will be killed”
The beast walked towards Raven, growling, it sounded as he was laughing through his savage growls. He stood over Raven and was reaching for his throat. Whisper panicked as she stared, not knowing what to do. Raven whined as the beast almost had a grip around his throat. Whispered yelled and charged for the beast, she pounced at it, knocked it off balance and they flew over Raven, rolling around on the grass snapping at each other. She bit into its neck and tightly held her grip, then suddenly in flashes of lightning; she electrocuted the beast with her deathly grip. Raven stared in awe as he watched her determination as the blinding sparks jumped all over her and the beast, scarring the earth around them. The beast howled in pain and shook under Whisper, when suddenly all fell quiet and the beast laid there with smoke coming from its scorched fur. Whisper stumbled off him and walked towards Raven. She licked his muzzle and dropped down next to him with her eyes closed and breathing deeply.
“Are you alright, Raven?” she whimpered through her panting.
Raven stared at her in confusion and at the same time bewilderment; never did anyone risk their life to save his. He didn’t know what went through her mind or why she followed him in the first place. He wondered why a kind-hearted wolf like her would take the world on alone, without anybody besides her. Then he wondered the same thing about himself, he knew he can’t get through these hard times alone. Then he became aware that he needed a companion like her, to keep him from slipping into the darkness of his own mind.
Raven crawled closer to her and gently put his head on her neck, he could feel the electricity still escaping from her fur but he ignored it.
“I’m so sorry, Whisper. I should have listened to you” he whimpered.
She managed to laugh softly “arrogant male” she mumbled as she fell into a deep sleep.
Raven licked her ear gently. They laid there in that position for about ten minutes; he kept his eyes on the beast lying motionless when suddenly it began to move. Raven stared wide-eyed at the burnt creature wondering how it could still be alive after Whispers brutal attack. It got to its feet and Raven growled at it as his heart began to race, he knew he had no way of protection himself or more importantly, protect Whisper.
The beast limped to them growling darkly. It was about halfway when Raven lost all hope, like back at the fountain in Deeproot village. He was ready for death once again but he refused to accept the death of Whisper. Raven Struggled to his feet with all the power he could gather in his body, he put his paw over Whisper and growled. He could barely stand up or keep his eyes open, the only thing that made him stand his ground was the will to protect his new friend. The beast was about to jump when suddenly a great thorn shot out of the ground and pierced the beast through its gut right out of his back, he died instantly.

Raven stared in shock, not knowing what just had happened. His limbs grew weak and he collapsed on Whisper, trying to fight the sleep that was trying to take over his mind. His sight blurred as he struggled to keep his eyes open. In the corner of his eye he saw a shape descent from a tree without a sound. The shape moved closer until it was standing in front of him, he could only see a blurred silhouette in front of the moonlight that gave it a light green aura. Raven felt a sense of peace rush through him.
“Are you the forest spirit?” he whispered to it.
“Forest spirit?” a female voice snorted “Did the poison affect your brain?”
Ravens mind became clear again and his body started to prickle all over.
“Who are you?” He demanded.
The mystery wolf moved out of the moonlight and walked to the stream.
“That is of no importance to you. I suggest you leave my forest immediately, or I will have to force you”
Raven’s paralyzed body began to regain feeling again and he crawled off Whisper towards the stream.
“If you think you can take me on, then you’re making a big mistake waterwolf, but try if you want. I will enjoy putting an end to your miserable life” hissed the female voice.
Raven ignored her and continued towards the stream, when he reached it he dipped his face in the water and stayed like that for a moment, the female wolf stared at him confused pacing back and forth. When he lift his face from the water he shook the wetness off and was now able to see properly again, and his body was nearly fully healed from the poison that infected him.
He turned towards the figure and saw a beautiful green wolf with spiking black hair on her head that went up between her dark olive ears and down her neck that formed three black spikes markings on her green fur. She had striking sly blue eyes and had strange Egyptian style black markings around her eyes that stretched out towards her muzzle in two spikes. Her front legs were covered in black spiked vines that circled upwards until it formed peculiar thorn markings that stretched out on each side of her body. She had a lavishing black tail and the black ran down the back of her legs that formed two waves on her green thighs. She had a lighter green belly and big green paws.
“Leave us be. We don’t want any trouble” he said and dipped his head.
“Lift your head you coward. You trespass in my forest and expect me to just let you stroll around?” she hissed.
“Your forest?”
“Yes, mine. I’m the guardian of this part of the forest. Now leave” she demanded.
Raven snorted and didn’t want to take her aggression, but he had Whisper to think about before he did something he would regret later.
“My friend isn’t well, she needs rest. Can I wait ‘till she wakes up first?”
The female wolf looked away and Raven knew she was busy thinking.
“Very well” she hissed “But you better be gone by sunrise”
“Thank you” he said dryly.
She turned around and was about to jump off.
“That spike, is that you’re doing? Why did you save us?” Raven asked.
The wolf peered over her back and stared Raven in the eyes.
“It doesn’t really matter; your friend is dying anyway”
“What are talking about? She’s just exhausted from using her ability”
The female wolf sighed “I saw your battle from within the trees. The drops that formed on that creature’s fur were poison. Well your little girlfriend there bit him and the poison went into her system. She will be dead within two days”
Raven looked at her in horror then stared at Whisper’s calm body.
“There has to be a cure. How do I save her?” He demanded with sadness filling his voice. The wolf smiled at him.
“There is no cure. She’s not a waterwolf like you who’s immune to all poisons. You don’t know how lucky you are, but you are weak and will die due to your arrogance” she said dryly.
“You are hiding something” Raven yelled furiously. The wolf laughed.
“Remember what I said, waterwolf, you’re gone by sunrise” She said and disappeared into the shadow of the trees.
“Come back here” He yelled at the trees, but no answer.
He paced to Whisper and watched her sleep peacefully with sadness in his heart. If she died then it would be a heavy burden on his conscience, because she risked her life to save his, even though he had nothing to live for in the world.
“I’m not going to leave you, Whisper. I’m not going to let you die” He whispered as he lay over her body, keeping her warm. He whined as he thought of her dying so young, before they could become friends. He felt horrible for treating her so lowly the time they’ve spent together, but it was his nature to push other wolves away, to avoid getting hurt.