Raven Saga 01 - Raven

creatures that had taken him. But he had told me this journey was one that must be taken in human form, regardless of what happened.
    So I stood still and breathed deeply, just as Rose had shown me. I had to keep calm and relax.
    “Ah... you're awake,” yelled a cheery voice and my entire body slumped forward in relief.
    “Gabriel... I thought something had happened to you.”
    “You seem to forget that I am becoming an old man. My ears aren't quite as good as they were when I was your age,” he laughed, “I was just washing my face in the stream,” he added.
    Since discovering the truth about myself, I had become more of a worrier. I decided it was something I needed to work on as we both sat down and enjoyed a nice cup of tea.
    “We have a long and arduous hike ahead of us today, Lilly. It's important that we stay focused,” he said, adding “but if something should happen, remember what I told you. This is a journey to be made in human form. You are not to transform yourself, except only in the most dire of circumstances.”
    I agreed, wondering why it was so important, but I didn't ask. I was too busy thinking what 'the most dire of circumstances' could be. A niggling little doubt crept into my mind, that something awful was going to happen.
    On the other hand, it could be a test. Could Gabriel be testing me? Was this some kind of ritual that all changelings had to go through? I hoped it was, at least then I didn't have to worry about a nasty experience awaiting us. Did I?

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

    After we had eaten a good, hearty breakfast and set off on foot, we spent the majority of that day hiking through forests until eventually the terrain began to change and the trees became a little scarcer. It was the beginning of the ascent up the mountains. Although I loved being among the forested areas, I enjoyed the change of scenery and the mountainous region was absolutely breathtaking.
    Gabriel and I spoke about all kinds of things as we walked together, him always in front, leading the way. He wanted to know more about my life in London, not that there was an awful lot to tell. He already knew what living there had been like for me, mostly lonely and uneventful.
    But still, he wanted to know what my school had been like, whether or not I had ever had any friends, if the teachers had been fond of me – everything.
    “December Moon was my one and only friend,” I had told him. “My life was incredibly dull until she arrived.” I smiled as I thought about the quirky girl with the red hair that had brought some sunshine into my otherwise dark life.
    I told Gabriel all about her and her own strange, unhappy life.
    “Perhaps we could arrange for her to come and visit some time,” he had suggested.
    “Oh that would be wonderful. I'd love for you to meet her. I just know that everyone would love her. She would just fit in with us here, if you know what I mean?” I laughed.
    Gabriel nodded and smiled at me and I was suddenly reminded of my father. I don't know what it was, perhaps an expression that Gabriel shared with him. I felt a sudden pang in the pit of my stomach and I had to stop walking for a moment.
    “Are you all right, my dear,” he asked as he pulled out a bottle of water and handed it to me.
    Taking a deep drink, I nodded. “Yes, I'm fine. You just reminded me of father.” He nodded too and smiled sadly, “We will find him, Lilly. If the search takes me to the grave, we will find him,” he said sombrely.
    I gulped another swig of water and attempted a smile. That was not a thought I would cherish. The search sending Gabriel to his grave, or the search taking that long.
    My heart began to feel like it was breaking just a little bit more and Gabriel obviously sensed it so he changed the subject again.
    He began to tell me about his long and eventful life in Powell River and I learned even more about my family. The heaviness in my heart was lifted and I became intrigued, as we continued our long walk.
    Perhaps this was another reason for our journey. We could finally talk honestly together, just the two of us.
    He talked more about his wife, Elsebeth, who had died of breast cancer when she was just 31. It had been a very aggressive form of cancer and she'd had little time between her diagnosis and her death, “but she was happy that she had the chance to say goodbye to everyone that she loved,” he said.
    “I'm sorry Gabriel. It must have been heartbreaking to see her like that. How