* * * * *
Morning came and Anika woke with the sun, as usual. She rubbed Laka’s head, who was still asleep on her floor. Then she washed her face with water from the large bowl that she kept in her section of the house.
The house had four rooms in it: one for her, one for Farra, a common area, and one that was used for preparing food. She prepared a small meal for Farra and was sure to include her favorite, twilka berries. She had earned it after having the courage to face the Elders the night before. Quite honestly, she was relieved that the Elders denied Farra’s request to go off and aid the boy on his journey.
Still, she sympathized with Farra. She understood how important the quest was to her. It was her mother’s instinct that wanted to keep her home and away from danger. And it was her mother’s instinct that wanted to help cheer her up now.
She carried the food across the common area and into Farra’s room. She managed to hold on to the tray, but her limbs almost went completely limp when she found Farra’s room empty.
Anika placed the food on a small stone table in Farra’s room and ran into her own compartment. “Laka!” she called her wolf. “Farra is gone. Help me find her!”
Laka rose from her sleep and looked at her mistress intently. Anika gathered her cloak and staff, and set out to find her daughter. It was still early, and there were not many people out yet. She approached a fellow Animan, carrying kindling wood, and stopped him.
“Have you seen Farra?” Anika asked desperately.
He shook his head and she ran toward a group of nearby children. They were busy playing with the new pups at the outside kennel, wondering which of the young wolves would be theirs someday.
“Children!” she shouted “Have any of you seen Farra?”
“No, ma’am!”
Anika’s attention turned to Laka, who was focused on Farra’s scent. Anika’s sacred union with Laka allowed her to smell what Laka smelled. The two followed the scent until it was clear that Farra had gone beyond the village.
Anika went back to their village to request an emergency meeting with the Elders. When she arrived, she found the dome empty. Personally going to an Elder’s home was a bit unorthodox, but that is exactly what she did.
She arrived at the First’s house and knocked on his door impatiently.
“You may come in Anika,” the First said with his old fragile voice. She wondered, at first how he knew that it was her, but then she dismissed the thought quickly —Elders often did strange things like that. But this time it was no magic, or clairvoyance. He expected that she would be coming.
“Elder! I fear that Farra has disobeyed you and run off!”
The elder chuckled under his breath.
“Elder, please. She could be in danger.”
“We already know,” he said.
“You know? Then you have sent someone after her already? Why didn’t you wake me?”
“I knew before you even left Council hall last night.”
“I don’t understand. Yesterday, you denied her request. She didn’t pass your test. She’s not ready,” Anika pleaded.
“We told her what she needed to hear, and she saw what she needed to see.”
“Then she was to go all along?”
“We believe that she was meant to go.”
“Then the Council is not worried?”
He put his hand on her shoulder and smiled. “The Council is always worried. It comes with the job. The question is, should you worry, and the answer is no. You should pray to the gods for her strength and her safety during the journey. It will be difficult for her, but we feel this is something that she must do.”
“I’m sorry for the way that I acted. I will put my trust in you.”
“No, put your trust in her. Fear not, the moon shines bright on young Farra.”
Chapter 3
COMPANION
The Ancient Lands: Warrior Quest, Search for the Ifa Scepter Page 5
