The portal to Shadow Crest suddenly opens. 'It's time for you to meet your new family, Reaper,' I flash him a playful smirk.
'Yes, I can't wait,' he answers unenthused, his feathers ruffling slightly in a sign of indifference.
'Don't be like that, Reaper. You'll adore them, and there are more familiars among the five other witches with whom you might enjoy their company. May, one of the witches, is my sister,’ I tell him.
'Excellent, more vexing familiars,’ he huffs, a hint of exasperation evident in how he shifts on my shoulder. I pat him gently, trying to reassure him with a smile.
I can't help but chuckle. 'You poor creature, Reaper, you've been alone for hundreds of years, and now you'll have to suffer being surrounded by tons of love,’ I muse to Reaper, my eyes glinting with amusement as I pass through the portal, with him perched on my shoulder.
‘Nina!’ Magnus shouts. He moves forward to embrace me but pauses as Reaper flaps his wings, surprising Magnus. 'Wait, is your familiar supposed to have smoke flowing out of its feathers like that?' he asks, perplexed, with curiosity and mild concern.
Yiselda gasps and moves closer to inspect Reaper. 'It can't be? It’s the legendary Shadow Raven? I thought it was a fairytale, a myth,' she's taken aback in shock, conveying sheer astonishment.
'His name is Reaper. It's normal for him to emit black mist, not smoke,' I correct Magnus with a grin, my posture relaxed and confident.
Reaper caws and flaps his wings again, and I realize he's showing off. I try not to laugh, suppressing my amusement, while Magnus and Yiselda exchange surprised glances.
May dashes over, carrying Sabre in her arms. We exchange warm smiles with a sense of joy. May attempts to wrap an arm around my shoulder to hug me, but Reaper caws loudly in May's ear, forcing her to back away from me, being protective and assertive.
'Ugh, you don't have to be rude, bird. Your master is my sister,' May scolds him with mild annoyance.
'His name is Reaper. You'll have to forgive him this once. I found him in the dead woods, far from all the other familiars, where he has spent thousands of years being anti-social,' I explain with a sense of understanding and empathy.
'Oh, I see. Well, it's great to meet you, Reaper. My name is May, and this is my familiar Sabre,' Reaper acknowledges her with a low, bored caw.
May rolls her eyes playfully, showing her willingness to tolerate Reaper's unique and grumpy personality.
Magnus and Yiselda turn, facing the assembled crowd. Yiselda clears her throat, commanding attention.
‘It is done. We are now united, the first wolf-witch community to exist and live peacefully together. My sisters and I look forward to helping maintain this wonderful township of Shadow Crest with you,’ she declares, her voice resonating loud and clear.
The crowd applauds and cheers, their approval echoing through the night.
Reaper, my new companion, soars effortlessly to a nearby tree.
Filled with joy, I rush towards Magnus, kissing him endearingly. With pride and affection in his eyes, he returns the kiss.
Ryker and Astrid approach us with pride gleaming in their eyes.
‘We are so proud of you, son. Uniting with the witches will set such a wonderful example for the other pack communities,’ Ryker commends Magnus. Magnus nods proudly, shaking hands with his father.
Astrid warmly addresses me, 'Congratulations on your initiation into the Midnight Coven, Nina, and for your new little companion, Reaper.' Gratefulness reflects in my expression as I reply, 'I don’t know how I’m supposed to sleep with all this adrenaline and new power.'
Astrid, offering a knowing smile, suggests, 'Perhaps shifting and going for a run with Magnus might help burn some of that excess energy away?' I nod in agreement, 'Yes, great idea.'
We share warm hugs, and the crowd disperses, each person returning to their home.
Yiselda, addressing her coven, says, ‘It's time for me to return to Pandora's Box. I'm sure we'll see each other in the days ahead,’ she says, bidding farewell to Fern, Ela, Ria, and Lilac.
As Yiselda steps into the portal, the Coven sisters’ eyes tear up. Though they can still visit her, the realization sinks in that it won't be the same as living with her in Pandora's Box.
‘Let us show you your new bedrooms in the packhouse,’ I tell my new sisters. They perk up with smiles, following us into the packhouse.
Ascending the stairs, we lead them down the hall from where Magnus and I sleep.
‘Pick any room you like. The rooms are all identically sized, with their own bathrooms. The only difference is that the room colours are different,’ I inform them. Predictably, Lilac chooses the purple room with a delighted grin. Fern opts for the calming green, Ela for the cheerful yellow, and Ria for the passionate red. May waves us goodnight, retreating to her room with Sabre.
The packhouse is now not just a home for wolves; it's a haven for the amalgamation of wolves and witches.
'We should get some sleep too,’ Magnus suggests, his eyes reflecting exhaustion and contentment.
I raise an eyebrow at him. ‘I won’t be able to sleep. I need to shift and run with all this new energy and power in my system. I don’t feel the least bit weary,’ I explain, the adrenaline coursing through my veins, making it impossible to imagine settling down.
‘Do you want me to come with you?’ Magnus offers with concern.
‘Only if you aren’t too tired?’ I reply, gauging his fatigue levels.
‘I’ll be fine. Let’s go,’ Magnus smiles, showing a willingness to share this night-time adventure with me.
In our bedroom, we swiftly strip off our clothes, the air filled with the rustle of fabric. Shifting into our wolf forms, we bound downstairs and burst through the door into the cool night. The moon hangs in the sky, casting its light along the landscape. Reaper circles overhead, roughly fifty meters high.
‘Enjoying the view of Shadow Crest?’ I mind-link Reaper.
‘No, where are all the dead trees? Why is everything so bright, colourful, and...' he starts.
‘Alive?’ I complete his sentence with a laugh, amused by his bewilderment.
'Yeah, that,' he mutters with a clear disdain for our vibrant surroundings, even under the night's glow.
'Welcome to Shadow Crest, Reaper, the town of werewolves and now witches. A place where everything flourishes and never dies,’ I explain, a sense of pride in my voice.
'Lucky me,' he replies, maintaining his usual unenthusiastic tone.
'I'm curious, where do familiars sleep?' I ask him, eager to understand more about his existence.
'They may go wherever they want. I used to sleep in the dead moon tree in Silverfay Forest, but we're on our second lap around Shadow Crest, and there isn't a single dead tree in this entire town,' he grimaces, revealing a sense of nostalgia for the familiar landscapes he is used to.
'Well, let's go back home now that I've burned off some energy,' I tell him.