The Blood Witch Chronicles

by L. A. Stinnett

  12

  U’ka and company neared the encampment of Master Shen's after being away for three weeks. She pulled Bud to a stop and looked down at Runt knowing they couldn’t enter the camp with a Shadow Hound. Calt already had so much disdain for her. She didn't want any more of her hate.

  "Runt. Pull up your disguise and keep it on while we’re in the camp."

  Runt snorted as the air shimmered around him, his Arish Wulfhound guise appearing.

  As they got closer, U'ka heard the sound of lovemaking. In the tall grass, she could just make out the two entwined naked bodies of Calt and R.K. They were so involved in their lovemaking they didn’t even notice them passing by. She averted her eyes and saw Teek doing the same with a huge grimace on his face. Most of the Green Folk were disgusted by the sight of human mating. Runt sniffed the air, catching the strong scent of their pheromones and changed direction towards the lovemaking couple.

  "Runt! Get back here!" U’ka said in a harsh whisper.

  He looked back in confusion but changed his direction to trot next to Bud.

  They entered the encampment to find Master Shen sitting on the ground with Daisy's head in his lap, gently stroking the mule's neck.

  "You are back just in time," said Master Shen.

  "R.K.'s training is done then?"

  "We finished a few days ago. I told you I was good."

  "Thank you for training him, Master Shen."

  Daisy's nostrils flared as he caught the scent of the Shadow Hound. He let out a panicked bray and scrambled to his feet to run away.

  "Daisy, no!" Yelled U'ka. "He won't hurt you."

  The mule stood at the edge of the encampment, ears back, looking unsure. Bud lowered his head down to Runt and the two nuzzled against each other. Daisy took a few tentative steps forward before stopping. Runt wagged his tail and padded slowly forward, lowering his front end in a play position before Daisy. The mule dropped his head down to sniff the hound. In response, Runt raised his head to give the mule a quick lick on his cheek. Daisy took a startled step backward but did not run away. Letting out a loud woof, he ran in a playful circle around the mule, who brayed and shoulder bumped the hound.

  'Runt make new friend. Happy day!'

  She left them to their play and helped Master Shen to his feet. Calt and R.K. entered the camp covered in bits of dry grass and looking more than a bit disheveled. U'ka raised her eyebrow at them. Calt just rolled her eyes, R.K. looked away embarrassed.

  U’ka shook her head, turning back to Master Shen, who now sat on his bench.

  "Have the medicines helped your cough?"

  "Yes. Yes. Haven't breathed this well in a long time."

  "Do you want me to take care of settling Bud?" said R.K.

  "If you don't mind. Make sure you give him a good brush out and walk him down to the creek for some water."

  U’ka handed him Bud's reins and took the deer meat from the saddlebag. She turned to see Master Shen wrapping a thin wool blanket around himself. Before R.K. took Bud away, she pulled the rolled-up deer hide from the saddle and handed everything to Calt.

  "What’s all this?"

  "Deer meat for the evening meal and a deer hide you can use to make Master Shen a blanket or cloak."

  "You found a deer?"

  "A whole herd of them and a bunch of other animals too. The Green Folk have been secretly taking care of the animals until their numbers improved."

  "Huh," Calt said. "Good for them, making sure we didn't kill the remaining animals."

  U'ka looked back at Teek. "Yeah. They'll be releasing them soon, so expect to see deer and other animals wandering the grasslands again."

  "At least some things are getting back to normal," said Calt, unwrapping the meat.

  "I hope so," replied U'ka.

  Master Shen started laughing behind them. U'ka turned to see Runt with his head in the Master's lap, his leg thumping on the ground from being scratched on his side.

  "I've missed having a dog around even if it is a dark creature like this," he said as Runt gave him big sloppy licks on his cheek.

  Calt turned back to U'ka with a glaring look. "What dark creature? What is he talking about?"

  U'ka sighed heavily. "Please don't be mad. It wasn't my fault. We found a Shadow Hound while we were exploring the Daemon encampment. He marked me as his Master," she said, holding up her hand to show the symbol.

  "How can I not be mad at you bringing such a dangerous creature here?!" Calt yelled.

  "I'm sorry, but he's not that dangerous. I mean, look at him," she said, waving her hand towards Runt, still giving the giggling Bo Master big sloppy licks.

  Calt just shook her head in disbelief and threw her hands up in exasperation. Master Shen already accepted the animal, so there wasn’t much she could do to protest.

  "Set up the spit so I can roast the meat."

  Calt unfolded the deer hide and wrapped it around the Master's shoulders while U'ka set everything up and started another cooking fire to boil the wild vegetables they gathered on their way back.

  "So you and R.K., huh?" said U'ka.

  "We're just helping each other to satisfy our needs. Not like we're getting life bonded or anything."

  U'ka knew the feeling. She too longed for a man's touch.

  "Why don't you and R.K. get together? He's not too bad, still young, but eager to please,” said Calt.

  "No. I'm his protector. I feel more like an aunt or a big sister to him. Besides, I don't think he likes me that way."

  "Why?" said Calt.

  "He's mad at me because there's a place he wants to go and I told him we couldn't go there until after I finished our mission. You saw the map tattoo on his arm? Did the design make any sense to you? He wants to go there and I have no idea where it is,” said U’ka.

  "I really wasn't paying much attention to the tattoo."

  When R.K. finally returned to the fire; the smell of roasting meat filled the air. U'ka filled wooden bowls with the boiled vegetables and Calt added the meat to the top before handing everyone their meal.

  "When'd we get a dog?" he asked.

  "Long story for later," said U'ka

  "This smells wonderful," said Master Shen.

  "A welcome change from rabbit stew," said Calt, eagerly shoving the deer meat in her mouth.

  Runt looked up at U'ka with big, pleading eyes. "You ate five rabbits on the way here."

  'Still hungry.'

  "Then go hunt something," said U'ka.

  Runt snorted before disappearing into the grasslands.

  "Did you find anything interesting at the Daemon encampment?" said Master Shen.

  "Only Runt," said U'ka as she bit into a carrot soaked in meat juice. "We explored a few other burnt-out villages Runt led us to, but there was nothing else to be found."

  "Pity," said Master Shen, lifting the bowl to his mouth to get every drop of meat juice.

  "We'll be leaving in the morning. Teek can arrange to have one of the Green Folk take you anywhere you like. The village of Forlorn and the Lonely Hilltop Outpost are starting to rebuild. They

  both could use your help."

  Calt looked over at Master Shen, waiting for his answer.

  "For the time being, I think we will stay here where we know it is safe."

  U'ka nodded then leaned towards Calt. "If you change your mind just press your magic into the earth and call out for Teek; he'll have one of the Green Folk come here to help you."

  "Thank you," said Calt.

  Runt returned to the campfire licking his jowls before letting out a huge burp.

  "Find something, did you?" teased U'ka.

  'Yes. Yes. Good hunt.' Runt opened his mouth wide in a big yawn before doing a head to tail body shake and laying down beside her.

  "So, where are we going next?" said R.K.

  U'ka knew Teek was subtly steering the direction of their journey. It wasn't a coincidence they ended up at the Bo Masters encampment right when R.K. needed training. She’d
trusted his judgment so far and kept faith they’d end up where they needed to be.

  "We'll continue north and see what we find," said U'ka, finishing off her bowl of food. "Hopefully, the answers we're seeking will come to us."

  Part Three: Redemption

  1

  The Great Migration

  Ivy strolled through the lush forests of the land the Green Folk called Eleanthra. Everything here was beautiful, but so quiet and still. The only movement was the branches swaying gently in the breeze. All this incredible life all around her, but she still felt something was missing. At the boundary where the land met the great water, the sound of huge waves crashing against the rocky shore filled the air. Ivy saw the movement of small water creatures scurrying across the warm sand. She kneeled to watch the creatures going about their business, gathering food and trying to avoid becoming food for other creatures. She decided this is what was needed, beings such as these to live in the forests among the trees. She raised her arms, sending out a call, rippling out across the vast expanse of water.

  Over many sunrises, she came to the beach to see if anything answered her call. It did not take long before the flying creatures responded. Small ones, at first, that buzzed and floated in the air. In response, the plant life developed sweet-smelling flowers to attract the tiny creatures and feed them life-giving nectar. Then larger, brightly colored creatures which soared high in the air and filled the trees with beautiful songs came to the land. Soon other creatures arrived at Eleanthra’s shores floating on large tangles of plants or fallen trees. Some of the creatures' bodies were covered in a strange soft fuzz, others with shiny, scaly skin. They made their homes in the trees, among the plants and dug into the soil. Pleased with the life that answered her call, Ivy still couldn't help but wonder if this was all there was.

  As the season turned into the time of frost, she was drawn to the far north of Eleanthra where the land became frozen and covered in a white blanket. Standing at land’s end, she saw the great water was frozen over too. In the distance, larger creatures crossed over the icy expanse making their way to her land. They were bigger than any of the previous creatures who answered her call. Some had hooves and hard branch-like structures coming out of their heads who traveled in large groups. Others long teeth and claws that hunted the hoofed animals. They filled every area of Eleanthra with abundant new life.

  Many more seasons passed before another life form landed on the shores of Eleanthra. They walked on two legs as the Green Folk did; arriving on large structures made of wood that floated on the great water. These structures contained even more four-legged creatures they brought with them. Ivy was wary of these new two-legged beings. She met them with the other Green Folk, closing off the forests to these new arrivals. Teek had tasked her to find out more about these new arrivals before they wandered too far into the interior of Eleanthra.

  Through Mind Sharing with the new beings, the Green Folk learned their language and that they called themselves humans. More and more ships arrived on their shores. The Green Folk learned the humans were refugees from far away lands torn apart by war, famine and disease. Some were escaping slavery and there were others exiled because of their religion or societal views. They all had one common desire: to find a place to start life anew.

  Ivy instructed the Green Folk to provide them with food from the forest while she reported back all she’d learned to Teek. She did not like these humans and felt they’d only bring trouble to Eleanthra.

  There was a familiarity to these humans that were part of some forgotten memory of long ago. They answered Ivy's call; Teek felt they had a responsibility for the humans now and wanted to give them a chance for the new life they desired.

  "Many of the ancient forests do not want these humans here. They build their ships and homes out of wood. I will not stand for them killing our kin," said Ivy.

  'Then we will put restrictions on them. They are forbidden from cutting down trees,' answered Teek.

  "I have seen into their minds. Many of them are not good at following rules," said Ivy.

  'Tell the humans the forests will defend themselves if they try to fell any trees. They may collect deadfall for their needs and build their homes out of mud and stone.'

  "These humans war among themselves frequently. We live in peace here. I do not want war in our land."

  'Tell them war is forbidden here. They must find a way to live together peacefully, or they get back on their ships and leave.'

  "I still feel they will be nothing but trouble. I do not like what I have seen in their hearts."

  'Then we will subtly guide them with a gentle hand to keep them in line,’ said Teek.

  Ivy bowed her head. "It will be done as you command."

  The humans agreed to the Green Folks terms as they had nowhere else to go. They dismantled their wooden ships to build their homes and moved into the interior of Eleanthra. The human population grew steadily over many generations, with the Green Folk subtly intervening when necessary to redirect humans from their own worst instincts. They lived in peace until one young woman with a lust for power unlocked dark magic, long forgotten.

  2

  The Omen of the Red Raven

  U'ka lay with her head on Runt's side, lightly dozing on the floor behind the driver’s seat of the caravan. They’d met up with a small company of soldiers who were hunting down a group of marauders led by a magic-wielding assassin. The rouge men were causing trouble for the local villages. Rumor was the small settlement of Foggy Vale would be their next target, so they were trying to beat the marauders there to defend the Vale.

  Teek reached into the caravan to shake U'ka awake.

  "Come on, mom. Just a little while longer, please," she said, with her eyes still closed.

  Teek grunted a warning.

  "Alright. I'm up. I'm up." U'ka stood, drawing her dirks.

  "Ready your weapons. We're under attack!" She yelled to the rest of the group.

  All around her, the soldiers pulled out their swords and readied themselves to fight. R.K. 's eyes grew wide as he pulled out his staff and brought the caravan to a halt.

  "Alright, R.K. Time to show off your skill with a bo."

  "I'm ready," he said, jumping to the ground and settling into a defensive stance.

  U'ka bent next to Runt. "Keep R.K. and Daisy safe. His blood must not be spilled. His Daemon will

  awaken and he will become uncontrollable. I don't want to have to hurt him."

  'Yes. Yes. Runt protect.'

  "Good dog," she said, scratching his ear. She swung her blades, readying herself to fight. Bud, already in his Iron Oak armor, moved in close to protect Daisy. The air shimmered and she felt a Spell of Hiding fall away as the marauders rushed forward. They were surrounded. U'ka ran towards two of the attackers. One she stabbed through the neck, the other she ducked low and slashed open his calf sending him to the ground where she stabbed him through the chest.

  She glanced over at R.K. to make sure he was holding his own. He hit one man on the base of the skull and another man in the sternum, both fell to the ground dead. It seemed Master Shen taught R.K. one blow kill shots. Runt let out a throaty growl, leaping up to rip out a man's throat. U’ka hadn't thought he'd be much of a threat since he hadn't been trained to kill humans, but he proved himself to be as deadly as any Shadow Hound.

  Teek roared, surrounded by a group of marauders hacking futilely at his Iron Oak bark. Raising his arms, giant roots burst from the ground, impaling his attackers — the roots wrapped around the men before pulling them underground. Bud let out a fierce squeal, kicking out his back legs, sending a man flying through the air to smash against a large tree, he did not rise again.

  U'ka thought the fight had gone well for them until she saw all the dead soldiers the marauders overcame. Three large men made their way toward her. Putting away her dirks, she drew her Daemon sword, feeling its eagerness for blood. One of the men recognized the type of sword she carried and backed away in fear.
The other two kept advancing. She blocked several of their blows before she stabbed one of them in the gut, feeling the swords delight as it drained all the blood out of him. She swung her sword around, slicing the other man's shoulder. He screamed, feeling the blood rush from his body. The sword hummed hungrily for more of the red liquid. U’ka turned to see that her group were the only ones left standing. She sheathed Blood Drinker, who howled in frustration, then went over to Teek.

  "No one left alive? Remember what I told you about leaving one person alive so we can question them?"

  Teek just shrugged. Hearing strained coughing, U’ka turned to see R.K. kneeling beside the leader of the soldiers. She rushed over to attend to him but knew by his wounds, it was too late. He reached out to her.

  "You must stop the assassin. He’s killed too many already. Those who live in the Vale are good people. Please don't let our mission to save them fail," he said, eyes rolling back. A shuddering breath escaped his lips and he was gone.

  Runt came up next to her panting heavily; his jowls and chest stained with blood.

  'Runt do good? Protect them like you say.'

  "Yes, you are a good boy," said U'ka, patting him on the head; her hand coming away bloody. She wiped it clean on the grass before standing.

  "Alright, let's keep going," said U'ka, walking over to Bud, still in an agitated state from the fight.

  "It's okay. It's over. You don't need your armor anymore." It faded away and she climbed up into the saddle. Teek once again took the lead.

  U’ka slowed Bud to let the caravan catch up to them. "Did those men look familiar to you?"

  "I don't know. I was a little busy trying not to die," said R.K.

  "They had the same manner of dress and fighting style as the men who attacked us the first night I found you."

  "Great. Looks like I still got a price on my head," R.K. sighed