~ Magical Spirits ~
by Wolf Nightwind and Hippie Squirl

Disclaimers
See Part one for disclaimers.



Chapter 4


Wolf trooped down the stairs to the tavern, once again holding Shadow's hand. Surveying the room, she saw that most people were eating what looked like chicken, with some unidentifiable greens and bread.

"Looks like we get a halfway decent meal tonight." Wolf said.

"Yuck!" Shadow made a disgusted face. "I think I prefer what you catch to that green slime."

"Well, I can't catch bread and chicken."

Shadow found that the meal was satisfying, save the greens that neither she nor Wolf liked very well. The only thing to drink, however, was beer and whisky. I guess I'll hafta drink it anyways. Shadow thought. She took a swig from the mug, and felt it burn her throat when she swallowed it.

"Oh gods YUCK!" Shadow gagged and stuck out her tongue. "How can anyone drink this stuff?"

Wolf, who had had ale before, laughed at her. "Sip it slowly and it's not so bad. Just don't drink too much now."

Shadow took a tiny sip. "It still tastes awful!"

The two finished their meal, then Wolf looked over at Shadow. "I guess it's bath time now, huh?"

"I thought it was dinner time?" Shadow looked completely confused.

Wolf cocked her head. "You got drunk on me, didn't you?"

"I ain't drunk." Shadow threw back her head and laughed. "Who'd drink me?"

"I think that confirms it." Wolf shook her head. "Come on." She stood up and grabbed Shadow's hand, leading her through the crowd. Luckily, the Halfjin followed quietly.

The bathhouse was a dark building in the back, by the horse stables. There were no windows, only little slits along the ceiling and some torches in the corner. There were a couple of bars of soap, and some scratchy brown towels. The actual bathtub was a small pool, bubbling in the center from the fire beneath it.

"Wow! There's fishies in the water!" Shadow said, leaning over the edge of the pool.

"What?" Wolf looked into the tub. "There aren't any fish, Shadow."

"Yuh huh!" Shadow pointed. "They's bubblin' ain't they?"

"All right, strip." Wolf took off her clothes and climbed into the water, hoping Shadow would copy her. "Come on, clothes off." She mimed taking off a shirt. Oh please don't make this difficult Shadow. Wolf thought nervously. The Were knew her feelings for the Halfjin grew growing quickly.

Shadow cocked her head at Wolf, then took off the strip of cloth serving as her shirt and handed it to wolf. "You gonna catch the fish?"

Wolf threw the shirt by the towels, blushing as Shadow's small mounds were againg exposed to her. Clearing her throat she croaked out. "Now take of the loin cloth." Oh boy. Shadow did so, and threw it by the towels, too. Then she looked at Wolf. " Good?"

Yeah very good. Wolf's mind thought evilly as she looked the drunk girl from head to toe.

"Yeah, now..."

"Ahhhh!" Shadow yelled and pointed to the towels hanging from hooks on the walls. She cupped her hand around her mouth and whispered to Wolf. "It's a chipmunk."

Wolf ignored the comment and grabbed a bar of soap. Better not let yer mind go much father there Smokey. She ducked her head under the water to wash her hair, and when she brought it back up, she saw the Halfjin creeping toward the towels with the new sword behind her back.

"Shadow, what the hell are you doin'?" Just then the brunette gave a wild yell and the sword slashed through the air, cutting one of the old towels in half. The top part stayed on the hook, which Shadow quickly took care of with another slice of her weapon. Wolf jumped out of the tub, and grabbed the sword from the girl's hands.

"What are you doin'!?" Wolf set the sword in the far corner of the room, very aware of both their nakedness.

"I missed." Shadow looked disappointed.

"Missed what?"

The brunette cupped her hands over Wolf's ears. "The pink jellybean!"

Grabbing her hands, Wolf half dragged her into the tub then walked to the other side to put distance between them. The Were's body was humming from the brief contact of skin on skin. She tried tossing Shadow some soap, but the Halfjin watched it arch through the air and plop into the water.

"What was that?" She put her hands over her mouth and looked astonished.

"Soap, now pick it up."

Reaching down to retrieve the soap, Shadow lost her balance and fell face first into the water. She came up with the soap and grinned. "You've got a funny ear." Wolf felt her ears to see if anything was wrong with them. "No, EAR!" Shadow touched her nose.

Wolf shook her head. "All right you, time to get clean." She dunked Shadow under the water, then brought her up and started washing her hair. Shadow tried to see what she was doing, but only made it harder for Wolf. For Wolf's part she managed to keep her hormones under control for the rest of the bath. When she started cleaning off the girl's arms, Shadow started to cry. "What's wrong?" Wolf thought she was hurting her.

"The chipmunk ate the pink jellybean." Shadow pointed to the towels. "He ate the whole thing!" She wailed.

"Well, then we's can barbecue the rodent." That started the younger girl to laughing. Wolf chuckled as well. The Were finished washing her off, then let her play in the bubbles while she took her own bath. When that was done, she dried off and got the clothes back on Shadow. She wrapped Yotay's cloak around her, and picked up the sword, putting it in her own belt. Before leaving, she stuffed the chopped up towel under the only bench. "Come on, and hold my hand." She lead Shadow outside, and up to their room.

Wolf led a drowsy Shadow into their room. Setting the drunken girl down on the bed she made sure she had the Halfjin's attention.

"Ok now listen. I need to go take care of Jellybean. She can't stay tied to the post all night. You. Stay. Here." She spoke each word slowly. "Do. I. Make. Myself. Clear?"

Shadow got a look of hard concentration then grinned and poked Wolf in the tummy. With a look of triumph, she said, "Nope! Yer purdy solid!" She continued to poke at the blonde's tummy.

Wolf groaned in frustration. I watched her. She only had one mug! How can she be THIS drunk! A finger found a practically sensitive spot. Oh boy. The Were grabbed hold of the poking fingers and held both of Shadow's hands. "Just stay here ok?" The girl nodded and sat cross legged.

Wolf took a breath and grabbed the money pouch heading down stairs and out. As fast as she could she found a boy who would take the mare to a stable, brush her and feed her. After paying, Wolf rushed back into the tavern. On her way to the stairs she heard a horse voice holler.

"Jinnies I tell ya! It's all cuz of those damn Jinnies!" Murmurs of agreement followed. Wolf turned to see an old drunk man preaching to an equally drunk crowd. This could be trouble. Wolf walked up to the crowd to listen in.

"Da Vampri are snatchin' anyone day can! Cuz day want all da Jinnies! Want dere power or somethin'! Think dere blood give it ta 'em! Ah ain't got nothin' ta gettin' rid of 'em freaks! Da Were's too! But good folk gettin' taken. Good folk gettin bled for 'em! Ah say we get 'em Jinnies first! Give 'em ta da Vampri! Den day leave us normal folk alone!" The crowd cheered.

Damn! We gotta get out of here! Wolf turned to race back to the stairs when she heard a now familiar voice. In the corner Shadow was balanced on a chair, surround by laughing and leering men, singing her heart out.

"Went to the town of Mow, across the river wide.

And there's man that's so purdy, it made me want ta cry.

All us girls followed him until he had no peace,

So he ran and hide and then he said 'Please I have ta pee!'

Off he went in a dash for the old red outhouse.

And those of us who wanted a peek followed quiet as a grey mouse.

Up the rafters went all went so he wouldn't see us.

So he dropped his drawls and shut da door, and closed it on his peoooff..."

Wolf clamped her hand over Shadow's mouth. "I thought I told you to stay put!" Shadow's response was a bunch of mumbles from behind Wolf's hand. The Were glared at the men till they parted and led the girl back to the stairs. Just as they took the first step they heard shouts. Wolf looked to see the chair Shadow had been standing on floating in a circle three feet off the ground.

"Jinny! Dere's a Jinny here!"

"Shit." Wolf cursed quietly as she quickly led Shadow upstairs. Entering their room she closed and locked the door. Staring at it for a minute she took the only chair and braced it against the door knob. Shadow stood weaving back and forth. Her eyelids kept slipping down. Wolf sighed and walked up to her, taking off the cloak."What were you doing?" She asked in a soft scolding tone. The Halfjin didn't answer. "Come on, hopefully no one know's it was you. Let's get some sleep, cuz I'm gonna need it to deal with a hung over Jin in the morning." Shadow smiled sleepily and followed Wolf to the bed. The Were pulled back the covers and told Shadow to lie down. When she did the blonde covered her up and patted a cheek. "Go to sleep my friend." Wolf waited until blue eyes closed before walking to a corner and curling up on the floor.

Hours later an inky figure appeared in the window, casting long shadows over the sleeping form in the bed. The figure looked down at the girl before slowly reach out a hand towards her face. Suddenly, the figure's arm was grabbed and the person was flung across the room. Shadow sat up to see Wolf straddling an older man. One hand tangled in filthy brown locks, the other held the foot and a half dagger blade to a racing pulse point.

"What do you want?" Wolf growled out.

"I-I just wanted to see if she was one of them!"

Wolf's eyes narrowed."One of what?" Her grip on the dagger tightened.

The man yelped. "A Jin!"

"And just what would you have done if she was?"

The man swallowed hard. "Tell her to run. My best friend was a Jin. I didn't want to see her fall to the mob down stairs earlier if they figured out she was the one who moved the chair."

Wolf loosened her grip on the man's hair. "She only half Jin. We're leaving come daylight."

The man nodded. "Then I've gave my warning. Umm, I'll leave now."

Wolf arched an eyebrow but let the man up. As he turned to go he felt the cold point of steel pressing into his back. "Breath a word of her to anyone and yer a dead man." The intruder nodded shakily. He didn't hold any doubt that this fiery blonde was true to her word. Climbing pass the still groggy Shadow he climbed out the window.

"My name is Jimmy. And by the way, keep her away from the ale. Jin's can't hold there drinks. Jerried never could either." With that he was gone. Wolf looked at the confused brunette.

"Can't hold yer liquor huh? Now he tells me." Shaking her head she replaced the dagger and prepared to curl up on the floor.

"Wolf?" Shadow spoke softly.

The Were looked up at her. "Nano?"

The Halfjin didn't answer right away, but held up the covers, blue eyes pleading. Finally she spoke. "I had the dream again, I don't want to be alone anymore." Wolf smiled sadly and climbed in beside Shadow. The girl curled up beside her older friend. All was quiet until Shadow propped herself up on her elbow. "Wolf?"

"Hmmm." Asked a sleepy Were.

"If that man had been bad, then you just saved me?"

One green eye opened to look at still cloudy blue ones. She still not all here yet. "Yeah I guess I did." The eye closed. Both flew open when she felt lips softly pressed against her own.

Wolf stared at Shadow after the kiss. "Thank you." The Half jin said softly. Then she laid her head on Wolf's shoulder and flung one arm and leg over the shorter girl. "G'night." Shadow finally fell asleep.

Wolf laid still for a bit more before gentle reaching up to touch her lips. The ale talking. It's gotta be the ale talking. Looking down at the peacefully sleeping form she thought, Damn I wish is wasn't. It was nearly dawn before Wolf finally found peace in her dreams.

***




"Monkey go bananas."

Wolf woke up. "What?" She said sleepily.

<Don't move, it hurts.> Shadow was using Wolf's chest as a pillow, she had one arm thrown over her, and a leg wrapped around her hips.

<I don't think I could move if I wanted to.> Wolf lay still soaking in the warmth of Shadow's body on her own. Shadow was still.

<Good, then don't. I don't want you to move.>

<Why not?>

<Mmmm.> Why not? Cuz any other time I'd feel stupid layin' on you, and I probably won't get another chance to. Shadow opened her eyes to look into smiling green. Oh gods! I think I just got a crush on my friend. And I don't even know if she's my friend or not! Oh, this is bad. Shadow raised herself up on one elbow. "Ohhh!" she groaned and dropped back down. "My head HURTS!"

"Well, since I don't think I'm gonna be moving anytime soon, I guess I can just tell you what happened last night."

<Did I get knocked out or somethin'? I don't really remember anything.>

"I guess you could say that," Wolf said. "You got yourself wasted on ONE DRINK!"

<What? One can't make you drunk.>

"It can make YOU get drunk."

<But I've never drunken anything before.>

<Yeah, now you know why, yer mama knew you'd go crazy!>

<I did not go crazy, I woulda remembered if I had went crazy.> this argument was not helping Shadow's head. She covered her head with one arm, listening to Wolf's heart beat next to her ear.

<Oh yeah? Do you always sing bout watchin' guys take a leak?>

"What!?" Shadow picked her head up to look at Wolf, headache momentarily forgotten. "I was singing about what!?"

Wolf tried not to laugh. "Something about all the girls following some guy around 'til he had to pee, then sneakin' into the outhouse and watching. It was an interesting song."

Shadow groaned and sat up. "Me and my friends used to sing that one." Shaodw was now straddling Wolf

"You had quite an audience, and when I took you back upstairs, you made the chair float."

<Ooops.>

"Some guy snuck into our room last night, wanting to see if you were a genie. He said he was gonna tell you to run, but I'm not entirely sure." If he had came here to turn you over, I would have killed him in a hearbeat. "He also told me that Jins get drunk real easily, which woulda been nice to know earlier."

"I didn't know!" Shadow protested. "Now my head hurts, too."

"Well, if you move yer leg, I could go get you something."

<I'm sorry.> Shadow blushed and moved.

As she was walking out the door, Wolf turned around. "By the way, you kissed me last night, too."

Shadow stared at the closed door. Oh, man. I'd better think of a dream to explain why I kissed her before she really freaks.

Wolf couldn't help the silly grin on her face. That was mean and you know it. Yeah? what of it? It's not nice to tease and she looked really embarrassed. Maybe she's regretting kissing yer ugly mug. "Og!" Wolf hated when she argued with herself, and lost. Approaching the bar, the blonde noticed that only the unconscious crowd members still occupied the tavern. Taking a deep breath she was thankful for the reprieve from the smoke. Heightened senses can be a real disadvantage sometimes. Walking up to the bartender, this time a pimply faced teenage boy, Wolf guessed him to be about Shadow's age. Leaning against the bar she asked. "Got anything for those who enjoy the ale too much?"

The kid smirked."Your singing friend wake up huh?"

Wolf arched an eyebrow. "Yup."

"I'll see what I can do." The boy went to mixing things behind the bar. Seeing the smile still on the Were's face he asked. "You seem down right chipper this morn."

Try waking up like I did and see if you can keep from smiling. Wolf remembered the warmth of Shadow's body on her own and grinned wilder. "Just had a good dream that's all."

The kid handed over a not so nice smelling mug of unidentifiable contents. "Say, your friend's quite pretty." The smile stayed on Wolf's face.

"Yeah she is." Don't I know it.

"You guys gonna hang around awhile?"

"We might. Got a good market here?"

"Oh yeah, one of the best until ya reach Manomay up by Clear Water Bay."

Wolf felt the pouch tied to her belt. We need supples, better now then later. "Yeah we're be around a bit."

The kids face light up. Wolf's faltered a bit. The boy leaned forward and spoke excitedly. "There's a festival tonight. Celebrating the harvest. There's a dance. Think your friend would like to go?"

The smile left Wolf's face totally. Picking up the mug she said. "I don't know, you'll have to ask her when she's feeling better." She turned to leave and barely miss being flattened by a Halfjin missile. Shadow rushed out side, quickly followed by retching sounds. Turning to look at the boy, Wolf smirked at the strained look on his face. "Got any Roseweed Berries?" The Boy handed over a few plus a skin of water and a rag and the blonde made her way outside to where the brunette was still emptying her stomach. Wolf wrinkled her nose as her own stomach flipped. Gods I hate being a sympathetic puker. Swallowing hard she kneeled down and gather up Shadow's hair, holding it away from her face. With her free head she rubbed the shaking back.

"Hey take it easy, yer be fine."

"Gods."

"Hee hee, not even they can help you now." Wolf smirked. She received a glare before another round of dry heaves started. When the Halfjin's body had expelled all the ale it could Shadow sat back. Wolf handed her a wetted down rag and she wiped her face. Sipping some water she cleaned out her mouth. Wolf held the mug to the girl's lips and Shadow almost went into heaves again.

"Oh Gods Wolf, that stinks. What is it?"

"Don't know and I doubt you'd want to. Just drink it, it'll make yer tummy and head settle down ok?"

Shadow look skeptical but then held her nose and drank the foul stuff. Sticking her tongue out she grimaced at the after taste until the Were handed her the Roseweed Berries. "Eat 'em. it'll take away that taste and make yer breath nonfatal."

The Halfjin glared at the blonde before chewing the sweet berries. "Thanks"

Patting a slumped shoulder, she said, "Hey it's what friends are for right?"

"Friends?"

"Yeah, that what we are, aren't we?" Wolf voiced faltered at the end.

Shadows face seemed to light up. "Definitely friends." They both sat grinning for a bit before Wolf broke the moment by standing up. Holding out a hand she said. "Come on, it'll be awhile until you should eat and the berries are gonna make you sleepy. Why don't you go back to sleep while I get some supplies. Then we'll grab a late lunch ok?"

"Sounds good to me." Shadow took the offered hand and stood up. Weaving slightly she grinned when Wolf slid a supportive arm around her waist.

"You doing ok?"

"Yeah. Just a little off balance that's all." They walked back into the tavern and up to their room. Wolf tried not to glare and the boy on their way by. I don't even know if the kiss was for real, why should I be jealous if a guy thinks she's cute. We've been together what, three days now? I don't know her. Oh grrr. Wolf lead Shadow into their room and tucked her in.

The berries were kicking in for her eyelids were getting heavy. Shadow fought the effect as she remembered a dream from the night before. "Wolf?"

"Yeah"

"Have you ever seen an up side down pentagram?"

Wolf sat on the bed and looked at Shadow curiously. "Can't say that I have. Why?"

The Halfjin took a deep breath, not meeting Wolf's eyes. "I-I had a dream last night. It started out like the nightmare I always have of my family being killed. But this time, when they came in, the men all had a symbols on their robes. An upside down pentagram. Then I was back at the camp, the one we escaped. And there was a upside down cross on fire. And the Vampri were running around chanting, there were cries, and there on the alter was a goat. Only it wasn't a goat, I dunno I can't explain it. But, gods, I could feel the pain of those crying out. And blood! There was blood everywhere. And. And," Shadow stopped, lost in her nightmare until Wolf gently touched her shoulder. The brunette startled. Looking up at the blonde with watery blue eyes she said. "It felt real, so real." Wolf held her friend as she began to cry softly.

When the tears stopped Shadow was finally asleep. Wolf carefully laid her down and covered her. Smoothing hair out of the younger girl's face the Were smiled and placed a soft kiss on the Halfjin's forehead. Picking up her short sword she left the tavern.

Entering the market place Wolf grimaced. The noise level and down right painful. Smell of all sorts, both good and bad, mingled in the hodge podge pantomime that was the market. Colorful banners hung from railings and merchants preached for their keep in their booths. The air was once of preparation for the up coming festival.

Wolf traveled the streets bargaining and buying what supples they'd need to make it to White Tree's. Blankets, packs, dried food, cheese, bread, and rope. Walking by one stall the glint of metal caught Wolf's eyes. Approaching the stall the Were bent to examine the pair a braceletes. Measuring about three inches in length they were a mastery of metal work as silver and gold were blending into a swirled pattern. Wolf smile as the design reminded her of Shadow's color problem back at the cave.

"Ahh ya like yes?" And elderly woman with no teeth asked. She picked up the bracelets. "Dey quite beautiful yes?"

"Aye, they are."

"For ya M'lady, six shyns."

"Nay, I would have no use for them."

"Ah not for ya no, but fer a friend, maybe ah lady friend, dey be pretty on her yes?"

"Aye they would... hey wait!" Wolf looked at the old hag's knowing grin and sighed. "Three."

"Five"

"Four."

"Deal." The old hag gave in. Wolf handed the money to the woman as she carefully wrapped them in a goods cloth. "Dank ya, hope yer lady likes 'em."

"She's not mine." I wouldn't mind if she was though.

As Wolf made her way back to the tavern she heard a ruckus from an alley. Entering it, the Were saw a pack of street dogs nipping at a small huddled form. As her eye adjusted she saw it was a small spider monkey. The animal looked to be quite young and taking a beating from the canines. There not even after it for food, they would have killed it by now if they were. Greenish blue eyes narrowed.

"GGRRRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOAAAAARRRR" Wolf leapt at the nearest dog. Upon hear the roar the dog turned and growled. But once it found itself face to face with a werewolf it high tailed it with its tail between its legs. The other dog's quickly followed. Morphing back to human Wolf groaned at feeling the rip in her loin cloth from where her tail had been. At least the damn flap and shirt cover it. Kneeling down next to the small form, Wolf scooped up the whimper monkey. Cuts covered it's small arms and legs but nothing a little time wouldn't heal.

"Yer quite tamed ain't ya?" Wolf smirked as the monkey didn't struggle. "Musta been someone's pet. Chances of finding them are slim though huh? Guess I'll take ya with us for now."

Walking back into the crowd Wolf continued talking to the small animal. "Just wait till Shadow sees you. What should I name ya?" Looking around the blonde saw a man sketching pictures of people for a fee. "How bout Sketches. Ya like that name?" The monkey snuggled more into Wolf's arms. "I'll take that as a yes." Suddenly the monkey freaked, screaming and thrashing until it crawled out of the Were's arms and clung to her back. "What the..." Wolf stopped.

In front of her, about 20 yards or so, stood a black goat. Compared to the bustle around it the goat seemed to be unnaturally still, and staring straight at Wolf. The blonde's breath caught as the world seemed to fade away around herself and the goat. The noise around them muffled, except for a pouding heartbeat. Wolf's eye shot open when she realized it wasn't her own, but someone elses. The eternity lasted only seconds, and then a person crossed between them. When Wolf's view was clear the goat was gone.

Breathing heavily, Wolf felt Sketches crawl back onto her shoulder. Reaching up and cradling the monkey, Wolf started again for the tavern and her friend.

Continued in Chapter 5


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