Shifted Fate Novel

Chapter Fourteen +25 BONUS My father skidded to a halt at the edge of a small clearing with a stump in the center .

I slid off Lokis back and he trotted off to shift .

He walked back to me and gestured to the center .

Go sit .

I nodded and walked into the clearing .

The trees shadows were still deep , as the sun has just breached the tree tops .

I shivered , not from the cooler temperature since wolves burn hot , but from the feeling of woods .

It felt like something was here .

Something was waiting for this moment .

I turned to face my dad , and he was still at the edge of the clearing Why are you still back there ? This isnt for me , its for you .

I have already done my time in this place .

Your time ? What are you talking about ? This is a sacred place .

The clearing here holds our familys power , and its warded against it .

Against it ? Dad , what are you talking about ? Just listen .

Sit down on the stump .

I sank to the top of the stump and then looked back to my father .

Take your shoes and socks off , then plant your feet .

Why ? His laughed cut through the quiet air .

Are you going to question everything I tell you ? He shook his head and then waved his hands .

I took off my shoes and socks and then quirked an eyebrow at him .

Happy ? Yes .

Now the first lesson you have to learn is connecting to nature .

We pull our power from the world around us .

Give and take , push and pull , every action has a reaction .

My father planted his feet and took a deep breath .

The trees shifted toward him , like his intake of breath was pulling them to him , and then he blew out .

The trees bent backwards and shivered in the wind , almost dancing like they were happy .

Sometimes we take power , sometimes like now , I give it .

My mouth was hung open , and I was looking around .

How did you do that ? My eyes darted from the dancing trees to my father and his face was alight .

Magic .

His laugh was contagious , and I laughed with him .

Now to do that , like I said , the first step is to connect to nature .

How ? My mind was blown , and I had no clue how to connect to anything other than my phone .

how Focus on the air around you , the way the wind blows .

Focus on your feet , how the grass tickles your soles , the ground supports you .

How the trees pull energy from the sun and the land .

How the animals survive off the land .

Everything is connected and once you connect to the land , you can feel it all .

It will be overwhelming .

You will feel … alive .

For the first time in your life , you will truly feel alive .

Thats the only way I can explain it .

Okay I closed my eyes and felt the wind blow around me and it whispered through the trees .

I wiggled my toes in the grass and I felt..stupid .

How do I know if Im doing it right ? I cracked open my eye and my father was gone .

Hello ? Dad ? I stood and started walking to the edge of the clearing and called again .

Hello ? The dark trees shifted and I took a step back .

I was alone in the woods , and I had no idea what I was doing .

It was too dark to stumble through the trees alone and I felt like eyes were watching me from the darkness .

My skin pebbled , and I turned away from the dark shadows in front of me .

Dad ? Hello ! I called again and panic started to set in .

How was I going to get back ? # 25 BONUS Chapter Fourteen He told you everything he could .

Focus .

He will come back for you once you have tried for a few hours .

Nixs voice jolted me , as I was so focused on my father being gone .

I dont know what Im doing He cant tell us .

Loki told me the same .

He said all he could and now it is up to us to figure it out .

I sank back down to the stump and closed my eyes .

But every noise , every shift , had me jumping- There is nothing to be afraid of here .

This is a sacred place .

You are safe here .

Now focus .

I took a cleansing breath and settled myself again .

I closed my eyes again and focused on the wind and grass again .

I settled deeper onto the stump and focused on my breathing .

In and out , and eventually , everything started to fade .

You fell asleep , huh ? I jolted and fell off the stump , sprawling on the ground to my fathers laughter .

What ? Its okay .

I fell asleep my first time too .

Come on .

Its lunchtime .

I stood and made my way to my father , who ruffled my hair .

Cmon sleeping , beauty .

Im starving .

He walked away and came back as Loki .

I hopped on and we made our way back to the house .