At the end where Destiny awaits: Book 6 of the Kinstone series

The trails soon teeter off or outright vanish the closer we approach my intended destination. This isn’t exactly on any trail or worn path. It can really only be reached by those who know how to get to it. For me, I simply stumbled upon it after wandering aimlessly through the forest after my falling out with my birth family.

I smile as I smell the scent of warm grass, a stark contrast to the bitter cold of the rest of the forest. I then see the border of my glen, my sanctum amongst the entire Estate. I slide off of Ember and lead him in, tying the reins on a branch near the stream. The warmth envelopes me as I stroke his neck while he drinks.

The glen is bright as the grass underneath is bright green. I see fae stones all around us, feeling their link to the realms from which they sprouted from.

Fenris quickly retakes his spot under the willow tree. I smile to him, his tails swishing softly in the grass. This is where he and I, or mostly me, would often disappear off to when I wanted to be alone.

I then pan back other to Athena as she stand by the threshold. She looks around, seemingly unsure about this place. I smile to her, “Come on in, Athena.”

She nods softly, smiling as she slowly crosses over. Her fur then bristles, no doubt understanding what this place truly is. I watch as she slowly trots over to Fenris and joins him under the tree. I smile at both of them as they nuzzle each other, hearing little groans.

The warmth of the glen is really starting to get to me as I start to take off my coat and then boots and socks. My tails swish on the soft grass as I look around. Mom said it was dead or at least lifeless when she visited it. Maybe because it wasn’t tied to leyline or cut off from the fae realms.

It’s always been a gateway for the fae, yet only Titania herself or the messengers she would send to me would enter. In one of her notes or letters to me, she admitted that the glen is guarded and known only to a handful of fae. So that’s always good thing.

I stroll around the glen, feeling the warm grass under my toes. I smile, still remembering a lot of events happening here. I met Titania for the first time here. That really was a terrifying experience for me.

Athena looks around with a puzzled look on her fae. Her eyes darting around as she warms up on the tree. I smile to her, “This place is tied to the fae, so it’s often only the place in the entire Estate that’s a constant spring no matter what.”

She nods slowly.

Fenris smiles, swishing his tails. “This place is one of wonder and peace,” he says softly. “Where our little one would come to feel her heart connected to the land itself and more.”

I blush softly. He’s right though, here I felt more like myself as a kitsune than anywhere else on the Estate. Maybe it’s because of how similar fae are to yokai in some regards. My tails swish softly more against the warm grass, eyes gazing once more at the fae stones.

“I truly love it here,” says Athena. Her voice is filled with awe and soothing warmth. “These lands are wonderful, possessing a beauty onto themselves. Your father took me on a grand tour of them since we arrived here.”

I look to her, coiling my tails around me. “It’s…it’s not as expansive as the forests of Murvol.”

That was truly an incredible sight to behold. Forests that stretched for miles and miles, filled with wildlife that would defy normal human logic. Creatures that ranged from the smallest of squirrels to powerful drakes and dragons roamed the near-endless arboreal ocean.

The beauty of the ancient forest was without equal in that part of Europe. Trees stretched high into the air, reaching over eighty to even a hundred feet in height. I often thought I had landed in Mirkwood or Fangorn forest from Lord of the Rings.

Murvol was her birthplace, where she and her pack roamed for centuries. There she was raised and explored, growing into the wonderful wolf before me.

She smiles warmly, swishing her tails as she rests beside Fenris. “It does not matter. My home is your home,” she says. “My little girl’s place is here, so is mine.”

My cheeks turn bright red as I smile to her. I stroll around the glen more as my wolfish parents watch me. It’s still incredible that I have parents that aren’t human. To be honest, most of my family now isn’t human.

Yet here are my wolves, beings that claimed and have even raised me as their daughter. I still feel my heart shudder whenever Fenris calls me “daughter”. I truly am his child and now I have another with me.

I then stroll over and join them under the tree. They each smile, curling around me, each nuzzling my face. I smile warmly, stroking their faces wrapping my tails around theirs, listening as they groan happily. I blush softly, now really feeling like their little pup.

I stroke my hands over their fur, listening to the sound of the brook flowing behind us. The more they nuzzle and groan, the more I want to slip into the fantasy that I could be transformed into a wolf pup. This is made even more apparent when Athena begins to preen my hair while Fenris presses his face into mine.

Although, I know that I am kitsune. Forever shall I be one.

I sigh happily as I sit in the middle of them. I gaze softly towards the lake as it shimmers in the distance. I recall my time in Dewloura with them, racing through the city on their backs or simply being at home with them in the den.

My fingers cling tightly to their fur, missing the pack and the pups even more. They too became a part of my family the more time I spent with them. They became a part of who I am, not only because I’m a daughter of Shyair, but because who I am as a person.

Fenris was my first link to the Bond, that ancient kinship between man and wolf which founded Dewloura. During my time there, they helped me grow, fueling a never known part of my being.

I feel a cold, wet nose, nudging my face. I turn to see Athena wearing a worried look in her face. “Are you alright, little Aria?” she asks.

I smile, nodding. “Just…thinking of loved ones.”

She smiles, nuzzling my face. “I feel your pain. You became part of our pack, and I too miss them.” She then looks to me, her ice-blue eyes gazing into mine. “However, I am glad to be here with you, my little one.”

I giggle softly, “I really do have two mothers now, don’t I?”

Athena grins, tightening her grip on my tail. “You mother and I have spoken often while you were not with us.”

I blush softly, smiling to her. I…really shouldn’t be that surprised, Marron and Fenris did the same back in the fall.

I turn to Fenris, seeing him tower over me. He smiles, leaning over and gently licking my face, causing me to giggle. “Papa Wolf.”

He grins, puffing his chest with pride. It was among the easiest things to call him after we bonded, seeing he quickly came to treat me as his own.

I nuzzle his face, clinging to his fur. “Thank you for being my father.”

He smiles, groaning softly and happily. “I am proud that you are my daughter. You have a bright and grand future ahead of you. I foresee you learning and growing every day into a beautiful woman.”

I blush softly. Heh, I still can’t believe how easily I blush. I guess I’m still more of a child than I thought.

I pull a bit from Fenris and look to Athena, smiling.

“Mama Wolf.”

Her fur fluffs as she presses her head into mine.

“Daughter.”

I giggle softly, feeling my heart racing she calls me that. I smile to both of them. “Thank you so much for being with me.”

They each smile, gazing warmly and lovingly to me. We’re family, have been since our first meeting. The Bond is what brought us together, but it love that turned us into a family.

I kiss both of their noses and gently pull away from them, strolling a few paces away. I hold out my hands, feeling the energy flowing all around me. It’s still amazing how I found this place, it quickly becoming among my favorite places on the Estate. This is my place, my special place here.

I think of my first meeting with Titania, at how scared I was of her. Yet we soon truly became close since, finding how much we live each other. I move on to when I lied in her lap before I had to flee here. Such a turbulent time for me, both times in fact.

I close my eyes, listening as the stream flows nearby. My ears twitch as the wind rocks the trees around me, feeling the subtle mana and magic of the fae as it permeates my glen.

I smile, still in disbelief that I’m really here once more. I soon feel my body swaying to the wind, feeling my soul bonding to the land. This is my home, where my heart lies eternal.

My ear then flick to the sounds of more footsteps. I open my eyes to see Mom and Marron walking towards us. I giggle as I look to them. “Hey sissy, hey Mom.”

They both grin, with Marron looking around. “I never thought such a place even existed here. Hell, I can’t believe that I’m actually seeing anything like it.”

I grin, “This is my secret that everyone knows about. However, only few are ever allowed to enter it. With one that comes regardless.”

She smirks, looking to me. “Am I allowed?”

I smile warmly. I sort of feel like a little child, proudly stating I have a secret base or refuge that I have to give permission to enter. “Yes, you are. In fact, I’ve wanted to bring you here for a long time.”

She smiles, as both women cross over the threshold. Mom then begins to take off her coat, followed by Marron. My sister even takes off her sweater, gently laying it on the ground.

“I can’t believe how warm it is here,” states Marron.

Mom smiles, “Well, the fae do prefer springtime over any other season. The Seelie fae in particular.” She looks around, “Yet I agree with you, I’m still amazed that such a place exists here.”

I smile at the walk around. I resume my little dance, feeling free again, my soul lighter than ever before. However, there’s still one lingering grip on my heart that keeps me grounded. A duty that I must perform.

I see Marron smiling as she watches, strolling over to the wolves while Mom rests under the tree, leaning against it. My sister smiles as she watches me dance. “You look more at peace here than I’ve seen you since we were in Japan, sweetie.” She looks around as my tails twirl in the air, “You truly seem one with this place.”

I giggle, blushing softly. I then feel something growing within me, something that really wants to get out. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this way, yet now it’s bubbling to the surface from the depths of my heart.

“Sweetheart,” declares my mother, “I know what you are holding onto. So let it out.”

I stop, looking to her, to all of them. My tails coil around my feet, feeling the dam of emotions bubbling up. It’s not so much I’m about to burst into tears, more like it’s a prayer that’s coming forth. Or rather…a song.

I smile to them as the wind seems to grow silent, the trees settling down as if in anticipation. The air feels light with the grass under my feet becoming softer than before. I feel at peace as the music seems to swell from within my heart, a melody that is so beautiful yet I know from perfect memory that I sway it to oh so gently.

I slowly open my eyes as I gaze at everyone, smiling to them.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound.

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost, but now am found.

Was blind but now I see.

In my heart, I know that is the first time I’ve sung in years, well openly. I feel the emotions coming forth as I sing. The first verse feels like the first full year after I was reborn. I didn’t know where or how my life was going to turn out, yet through it all, I had the love of my mother and sister, in fact everyone here guiding me through it.

My movements are subtle, with my hands moving but a hair’s width. I then summon a clone as the melody progresses. It's light and airy, yet somehow I feel the land itself beginning to provide an accompaniment as tiny lights start to appear around the glen. They dance and float like fireflies in summer, yet move in accordance to the unheard music.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear.

And grace my fears relieved.

How precious did that grace appear.

The hour I first believed.

The clone and I harmonize perfectly together as we sing. We each take a role in the song, one remaining the steady, with the other adding emphasis.

The second verse feels as though I am viewing my life after Mom began to raise me. I feel how each day I learned more and more of the world she brought me into, feeling the fears and anxiety of stepping into it. I see images of my travels, the places I’ve been to, and the people I’ve met.

I learned so much these past few years, it’s like I truly started over again. I learned how to overcome my fears, my pain thanks to so many. Yet I gave praise to God for each and every day after my rebirth.

The unheard music then steadily grows in strength yet now it makes itself known as the swirling light starts to grow in intensity. A second clone then emerges much the amazement of everyone. We take each other’s hand as we turn and look to our audience.

Through many dangers, toils and snares

We have already come.

’Twas grace that brought us safe thus far.

And grace will lead us home.

And grace will lead us home.

I feel myself choking up as we sing the third verse. I feel each word is a testament to everything I’ve been through, all the struggles I’ve endured. I think of all the twists and turns I’ve been on, all since the day I fled here.

Tears begin to roll down my cheeks, thinking of the true meaning of the verse. The heart-wrenching agony of loss, yet now I rejoice in how truly grace and God brought me safely home. Back to those I had missed so much.

I look to everyone, seeing them all smile as they. Their eyes seem to sparkle as their attention is kept on me.

The music then settles briefly, only to grow once more. It now crescendos, filling the glen and the surrounding forest with light, as if an orchestra has suddenly appeared around us.

As I start the final verse, I feel everything pour out of me. Emotions, dreams, wishes, all made manifest in my heart, now ready to burst forth.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound.

That saved a wretch like me.

Our voices echo and swell, filling the glen and in fact the entire Estate with singing. The lights around us intensify even more, swirling and dancing the more we sing.

I once was lost, but now am found.

Was blind but now I see.

Was blind but now I see.

As we near the close, I smile to my clones, watching as they slowly fade away as I finish. I pant softly as more and more tears stream down my cheeks as I look to my family. Mom and Marron each look to me as tears roll down the faces. Mom even is holding her face and covering her mouth, trying not to burst into crying.

“It’s been so long since I last heard you sing,” says Mom. “So beautiful.”

She then looks around. “It seems this place truly does bring forth your gifts.”

I blush softly, looking to her, “You were the one who gave me these gifts to me. You gave me everything, and so much more.”

My smile widens, “I am of you, and forever shall be.”

She smiles as more tears roll down her cheeks. She then opens her arms to me, to which I waddle like a toddler into them. I feel two set of arms wrapping around with tails around mine. I look down to see both wolves smiling to me. I smile to my bondeds, feeling the loving gaze of parents.

I feel someone kissing my temple, looking up to see Marron smiling to me. I lean my head into her chest, feeling her heart beating against it. “Thank you for being my sister, in this life and in the past.”

She smiles, stroking my hair. “I am forever grateful to have a younger sister like you.”

I smile as both women hold me closely to them.

I feel Mom gently caressing my ear, causing me to roll my eyes back as I smile. “I forever shall bless the day that you came into this world. Your rebirth was a true beginning. Now you are mine, and have been from the very start of it all.”

I look up to her confused. I know that I’m truly hers, yet now this? “What do you mean?”

Marron smiles, “You already know the answer, sweetie. However you didn’t fully understand it.”

I look to her, showing the same confusion with as Mom's comme.

Mom holds me close. “What she means, is that I am now your birthmother. Yet the fact of your old linage remains just as strong and is also true.”

I look up at her, blushing deeply.

She smiles, tearing up as she caresses my face. “You were born here, my love. Yet not fully and completely the first time you transformed. While your original birth is true and shall never be lost.”

She then starts to stroke my hair, her violet eyes never moving away from mine. “When your old self passed on, you fully became mine, through merely more than the mana bond or how you explained it.”

She leans in closer, “You are of me, through heart, mind, and body.” Mom then chuckles, “In truth, it was Marron who explained everything to me.”

I lean back, looking to both women, feeling my heart racing wildly in my chest. My eyes dart about, trying to process all of this. So what does this mean? I know I am Mom’s forever, being reborn through her. Yet now…now I’m reborn from her. I cling tightly to my mother and sister, feeling my world’s changing yet again.

So it begs the question…who am I truly now?

I smirk, you know the answer to that already you idiot.

I look up at Mom, smiling. “I still have one final attachment to my old life that I’ve been holding on to. One I think I’m finally ready to let go of.”

Marron smiles, kissing my forehead. “I know what you’re talking about. I still remember the conversation you and I had during Christmas.”

I smile, nodding. “It’s time that I do.”

Mom looks to me, “Are you referring to the last thing you and I discussed on the day I adopted you?”

I nod. It’s something that I think I’ve been holding onto for a bit too long. It’s also kept me alive in some ways over the past year.

She smiles, kissing my forehead. “You truly are my daughter, through blood and soul. Born of my heart and deepest love.”

I giggle, nodding. I am hers, through everything, starting from a mana bond, growing to when she shared her own blood with me. But now…now it’s so much more than that.

“Granted,” I add, “I won’t do it until after we settle things with Regulus.”

She nods, then grins, “You already have a plan don’t you, sweetheart?”

I giggle, “Always do.”

She chuckles and then looks to Athena. The wolf smiles, leaning in and nuzzles Mom’s face. “Our daughter is truly special.”

Mom beams and looks to me, stroking my hair. “Oh, so very true.”

I blush deeply while Fenris puffs his chest with pride. This is a bit too much for me. Mom and Athena have both declared that I am equally their daughter. Again, I know the dynamics between human and non-human parents are completely different, yet this is just nuts.

Mom then leans over and kisses the top of my head. “Why don’t we all head back? I’m fairly certain that dinner should ready soon.”

We all nod and rise off of the grass. As we put on our coats, I almost wish Titania would show up. It wouldn’t be that far out of character to come unannounced and needing little reason to do so. However, I know she will when it’s time to. I sigh softly, missing all of them.

We summon our coats and put them on, with me sliding me socks and boots back on. I glance over as my wolves remain on the ground while Mom slides onto Fenris with Marron onto Athena. I smile and walk over to Ember, untying him from the branch and hop onto his back.

The six of us then turn, quietly leaving the glen.