Suddenly I stopped, my twin sister mimicking my motion. We were there, the cottage tucked in the meadow of the forest. My heart skipped with excitement, a smile dancing across my lips as I straightened up. I glanced a werry look towards my twin. She stood frozen like a child paralyzed with fear. Placing a strong hand on her small shoulder, I gave it a squeeze. She shook her head as if she was in a trance and rolled her eyes.

“Let’s get this the fuck over with.” She growled stomping forward.

I sighed but even her fowl attitude wasn’t going to damper my mood. I was going to see my father. The great Thayne slayer, the Breaker, a demigod! My beloved mother had told me many stories of his triumphs, how he laid with Goddess, his fighting skills. My father was a legend, damn near a Thayne.

I pressed forward, my broad chest slightly puffed out. My long legs easily caught up then passed my sister as we approached the cottage. My gaze had been focused on the door as we closed the distance that I hadn’t noticed the large dire wolf before it was nearly on top of us. With unhuman like speed and strength I moved my sister behind me and crouched down to give the beast a small target to hit. Just as the beast was about to pounce an angelic voice called out to it.

“Nymeria!”

The calico beast stopped mid stalk as a petite redhead came from the back of the cottage. Even with the dirt that covered her, her delicate hands, smeared on her slightly upturned nose and just on the corner of her lips that looked like plush pillows. Quickly she ran towards the beast, I held out my hand to protest but the large dire wolf chuffed cuddling her.

I cleared my throat and wetted my dry lips. I can see why my father was with her. Her beauty was breathtaking. Her bright orbs snapped to me as she wiped her hands on what looked to be her gardening apron. Her head tilted slightly with question and curiosity.

“Can I help you?” She said softly, a nervous hand tucking a strand of her striking red locks behind her ear.

“Certainly, we are looking for our father, Joshua Cronen. We were told he was here…”