by JF Holland
“Cold,” Balin ground out, teeth rattling as he shook uncontrollably.
“We’ll have you feeling better soon,” Sam assured him as he tried to manoeuver him into a better positon, needing to clean him thoroughly. Just then Lana came into the room, mouth tight and eyes bright with unshed tears as she stepped into the shower with them fully clothed.
“Lean him on me.”
“He’s heavy,” Sam told her.
“I’ll stand against the wall, that way I can keep him upright and you can get him clean.
“Lana,” Balin frowned, trying to think past the shivering and pain. “Shouldn’t be in here, not right,” he rattled out, teeth crashing together as he spoke while shivering.
“Be quiet while we get you sorted, you can fight over right and wrong once you’re healed,” Lana told him, as Sam slowly leaned him against her.
“Not going to work, he can’t stand on those smashed legs, not enough hands in here.”
“You need a bigger shower cubicle,” Leonard said, pushing his way into the bathroom.
“Jesus, there are more people in here than in the kitchen,” Sam muttered.
“Yeah, shower party,” Leonard replied dryly, shaking his head over the state of Balin as he brushed past Sam. “Lana, take his knees, and I’ll take the rest of his weight, that way it’ll free Sam up to get him washed and out of here.”
Nodding, Lana reluctantly allowed Leonard to slip beneath her and grip Balin under his arms.
“These need to go,” Sam said looking at the filthy black jersey boxers, the only thing Balin still wore.
“Well, get it done,” Lana said kneeling on the base of the shower, and turning her back so they could rest Balin’s knees over her shoulders.
“Not right with you in here,” Sam muttered and she snorted.
“Seen it all before,” and shrugged.
“No, leave them on,” Balin gritted out, shaking and Leonard looked down at him, his own hair and clothing now plastered to his body.
“No time for modesty, and trust me, you are not my type,” Leonard grinned. “Although I do love his shower, it has definite possibilities with the right company.” Balin rolled his eyes then sucked in a breath as Sam extended a nail and sliced down the side of his boxers.
“Hey... favourites.”
“Suck it up, payback for what you did to mine,” Lana said over her shoulder and Leonard’s brow rose.
“See, now that story sounds much more interesting than your naked arse.”
“Prick,” Balin chattered, teeth still rattling.
“Guilty,” Leonard replied. “Now can we get done already, this is doing nothing for my reputation.”
Sam began to use a sponge and neutral shower gel to wash Balin - making sure to clean all the filth from his body, the water a lovely mix of brown and red as it ran down the drain.
Agatha came through the door next, Sam sighed and Balin groaned at yet another person seeing him at his lowest, unable to even cover himself. She carried a large jug in her hand and passed it over to Sam who looked down at the strange, pungent smelling liquid, his nose wrinkling.
“What’s this?” he asked taking it from her.
“You need to rinse him with it, just pour it over him but make sure it doesn’t go into his eyes. It’s a mix of Usnea, Snakeweed, Mahonia, Elder leaf, Cotton Wood, Comfey, Yarrow and White sage. They all have beneficial properties in healing, helping with infection, pain and swelling.”
“I just pour it over him?” Sam asked, nose wrinkling again at the overpowering smell.
“Yes, use it to rinse him, and it will help start the healing process and hopefully give him a little pain relief. I’m heading back into the bedroom now, I’ll take some towels with me to place on the bed,” she said, grabbing a couple of the thick, fluffy towels off the shelving.
“Okay, let’s get this done,” Leonard said, getting a better grip under Balin’s arms, his body becoming slippery.
“Close your eyes,” Sam told Balin, and he complied, too tired to fight.
Sam began pouring the liquid over his head and running it down his body, making sure it hit all the areas that were damaged.
“Fuck,” Balin groaned as his wounds began to throb and burn as the liquid hit them. His stomach on fire and he turned his head, unable to hold the nausea at bay. Heaving, he groaned again as the action pulled on his stomach wound - water fountaining from his mouth and splashing onto the tiles. Dry heaving now, stomach throbbing and nothing left to bring up, he breathed deeply to control his gag reflex. Then the contents of the jug landed on smashed his legs. He gave in, the pain too much to take as his legs began to burn as if being eaten away by acid, the black void sucked him under once more.
Lana sobbed at the sounds wrenched from Balin, feeling his pain and discomfort. He was mortified at being unable to help himself, angry at feeling so helpless unable to control what was happening to him.
“We’re done,” Sam said, putting the jug down and stepping out of the shower. Switching the water off he grabbed a dressing gown telling Lana to shut her eyes as he quickly stripped and pulled it on. He then took another off the peg behind the door, and Leonard helped him put it on Balin before running a towel over his hair and taking him from him. Sam then strode out of the bathroom, Balin in his arms as he headed into the bedroom. Leonard got out next, again stripping and pulling on a robe, then quietly he left the bathroom as Lana sat on the bottom of the shower, allowing her tears free reign.
There was a knock on the door and Maya shouted to her.
“Are you okay, do you need anything?”
“Just… can I just have a minute, please?”
“Sure, I have tea waiting for you in the kitchen.”
“I need to shower quickly, and then I’ll head into the bedroom to sit with Balin,” Lana replied.
“Agatha likes to work alone,” Maya told her through the door. “Come down to the kitchen, let her work and you can rest. I’m afraid there is no quick fix for him,” she told her. Then she was gone, leaving Lana alone with her thoughts, worrying over whether Balin would come out of this on the other side.
Chapter Twenty-Five
J aden made it across the river, the other shifters coming up behind him. Shaking, to remove the excess water from their fur as they clambered up the banking. Luc set down before them, releasing Sophia as Lara and Helena floated over the surface of the water. Jaden’s eyes widened in disbelief of their capabilities. The women in his family were a little scary to say the least. He for one would not like to get on the wrong side of them, he thought as the two women finally lowered their feet to the ground.
Shifting to his human form he turned to the assembled.
“Eyes peeled, she’s running - so is now more dangerous than ever. She has absolutely nothing left to lose and everything to gain if she can escape, but we need to make sure that doesn’t happen. This ends tonight, we’ve lost enough of our friends, family and neighbours, no more. Now let’s keep vigilant and stick close to keep each other safe, I don’t want to lose anyone else; not due to mistakes. I’ll try to pick up her trail, but we may have to follow Sophia’s lead as the bitch seems to have become adept at hiding her scent,” he mumbled with disgust. With that he once again went from two to four feet and lowered his muzzle closer to the ground, sampling the air, whiskers sifting through the various scents available to him. Ears moving around, he tried to pick up on any sounds of footsteps or areas where it was too quiet, in Maisie’s case that could also be a clue. If there were blank areas, it could be indicative of her being close and covering her tracks.
A sound came from deep in the woods, too dense to make out - but there was something going on further in there. Chuffing, he sloped off into the trees, moving in a zig zag formation, not holding to a straight path as he tried to make it harder to pinpoint his exact location. Sophia stepped in his path, making him halt as she held a hand to her lips and her head nodded further in front of them. Luc pulled her behind him, guard
ing her and using his own body to protect her.
“Luc,” she said tapping on his back and his head turned, looking at her over his shoulder. “She’s again left her mark, so there are traps in store, although she’s not too far ahead of us. I will go first,” his brow furrowed at this and he shook his head. “I can find her markers, I can also try to counter-spell anything she’s left behind,” again he shook his head and she growled low in her throat, hands coming to rest on her hips as she looked up at him. “Look, I appreciate you are trying to protect me, I do, but I need to see what’s in store for us. I can’t do that hiding behind your wide load, now move,” she hissed, tapping a toe of her boot. His brow rose further, his head cocking to one side and his hair fell across his forehead. “You have horns,” Sophia said, her hand raising and he flinched. “Sorry, I’ve just never seen them before, may I?” she asked, her eyes dropping to hold his dark gaze before rising to his horns again. Slowly, he lowered his head and tentatively she raised a hand again, running it over the small horns normally hidden beneath his fringe. Gasping, she pulled her hand back. “They are warm and soft, not what I expected at all,” he just shrugged and straightened, his head turning back towards the interior.
Stepping to the side, he held a hand out, waggling his fingers. Sighing, Sophia slipped her hand in his and fell in step by his side. The shifters spread out around them, Lara and Helena moving to either side of her and Luc, eyes sweeping the interior. A twig snapped up ahead and both Lara and Helena’s hair began to move as their hands came up and both of their feet began to leave the ground once more. Floating now, they moved slightly ahead, Jaden growling a warning from behind which they ignored.
Suddenly, the trees began to thin out, making them break cover. Up ahead they caught sight of the redhead as she moved rapidly, a black jaguar limping at her side, being tugged along on a chain.
Jaden growled, and Lara gasped as the jaguar looked over its shoulder, pinning them in his cat’s green gaze. Then turning, his shoulders lowered as he had to pick up speed as she dragged him, the limp more pronounced.
“He’s hurt,” Lara murmured, watching as he bumped into the witches back as she suddenly halted and spinning, her hands came up as she threw a spell at them. Sophia tugged her hand from Luc’s and threw a counter-spell, stopping it, but Maisie was quicker, throwing a second their way. Helena released a blast of fire, and it shot across the distance separating them making Maisie squeal as she ducked, the fire singeing her right cheek as it soared past.
“You will not win,” she screeched, hands lifting to counter attack when a light came on behind her, as if a door had opened. A tall, bulky, shadowy figure lumbered out, grabbing hold of Maisie’s arm and she screamed, trying to pull herself free.
“Finally, my bitch wife, I have found you, it’s time you came home,” the shadow rumbled, his lisping voice carrying across the distance.
“No,” Maisie screamed, frantically tugging to free herself of his grasp, but he held firm. Stepping backwards, he dragged her screaming and kicking with him, and in turn she pulled Davion along with her. Lara lunged forward, hands coming up to throw more fire towards Maisie’s hand, trying to get her to release him.
“Goodbye,” whispered in her mind as the cat once again looked over his shoulder before he disappeared with them into what looked like a doorway. Lara took off at a sprint, desperately trying to reach them, Jaden and the others on her heels, but halfway across the distance separating them it was as if the light had been switched off. There was nothing there, no trace of anything, a fading mist the only sign that anyone or anything had been there. The treeline once again silent, apart from Lara’s, echoing scream.
“God damn it, no,” Jaden growled staring at the space where they’d been. “I’m sorry Lara, they seem to have vanished and what the hell was that?”
“Dream demon,” Sophia added.
“A what?” Lara added turning to Sophia
“A Dream demon, from the fae realm, not of our plain of existence,” she added.
“So, how the hell are we meant to stop her now?” Jaden asked, his head turning back to the spot where they’d vanished.
“I’ll speak to Agatha and see if we can come up with anything between us,” Sophia told him.
“Is it worth checking if they come out further in the treeline?”
“No,” she shook her head, “as I said, they are from another plane, so will be long gone now.”
“Davion?” Lara asked, Helena coming over and placing her arm around her as Sophia shook her head, mouth grim.
“Let’s head back then, I’m sorry there’s nothing else we can do Lara. I’ll make sure a patrol is still done daily though, no one is safe until we know the bitch is dead,” he gritted out. “The grizzly twins will bring you both back across the river,” he added, turning and shifting, heading back to the other side of the bank. They all needed to get across, it was time to check how Balin had faired at her hands.
To be continued in the second part, Light up The Moon coming later in the year
Meanings and interpretations of each rune stone are shown below: -
FEHU - F: Cattle
Abundance through effort, inheritance of self and self-value, material gain, earned income. Success, happiness and wealth.
Reversed: Abandonment of plans, loss, disappointment, frustration.
URUZ - U: Brute Strength
Strength, home love on all sides, health, changes, a forceful masculine archetype.
Reversed: Missed abilities, weak will power, lack of motivation
THURISAZ - TH: The seeing of the future
Opening the door or gate to see the future, luck reflection for action, protection. You will see the truth.
Reversed: Not willing to heed information given, having a stubborn mind-set
ANSUZ - A: references the ancestral god, Odin.
Message from within (listen to your 'little voice'), advice from others, chance encounter, careful thought so you will know what to do from this point in time
Reversed: Watch out for trickery, the dark side of yourself when others interfering with your plans, or there is failed communication
RAIDHO - R: Journey
You're about to embark on a journey - either in the physical world or a journey of your soul to heal something that needs healing.
Reversed: Unexpected, unpleasant journey, transit problems, upsetting plans, lost tickets, communication
KENAZ - K: Beacon or torch.
When you feel in the dark - this rune will bring an opening, to help you open to who you are and your highest possibilities. From the darkness - light will come.
Reversed: withdrawal, anxiety, closing, loss
GEBO - G: Gift of Harmonic Relationships
Unity with self and all others - especially with our higher selves, nature and all things around us. Cannot be reversed.
WUNJO - W or V: Bliss and Glory
You do not Need anybody. Peace, pleasure, self-worth, joy and serenity, happy results, harmony, prosperity
Reversed: Sorrow, dissatisfaction, disappointment, friction, delay, possession by higher forces
HAGALAZ - H: Destructive forces
This refers to the destructive forces of nature, and things that are out of our control. Cannot be reversed.
NAUTHIZ - N: The Negatives of Human Needs
Caution, hold, coming in touch with a side of you that you may not like, resistance, distress, delay, constraint or restraint. Reflect on how bad things can and appreciate what you have.
Reversed: Improper course of action, think twice before acting, don't make hasty judgments!!
ISA - I: Ice
Frozen in time, calm, non-action, everything on hold, letting go of ego and seeking your inner truths, you are blocked by your emotions. Cannot be reversed.
JERA - J or Y: The Cycle of One Year
Reaping of a reward when your world seems stagnant, harvest the seeds you have planted, gain, fruition, things happening in their own
time and space when they are supposed to! Cannot be reversed.
EIHWAZ - EI: Yew Tree
Stability, doing the right things, patience, perseverance, endurance. Decided what is the right way to get the things accomplished in your life. Cannot be reversed.
PERTHRO - P: Initiation, Things Unexplained, Something Hidden
A hieratic or mystery rune pointing to that which is beyond our frail manipulative powers.
Perth is associated with the Phoenix, the mystical bird which consumes itself in the fire then rises from its own ashes. Its ways are secret and hidden. Powerful forces of change are at work here. Yet what is achieved is not easily or readily shared. After all, becoming whole - the means of it - is a profound secret. On the side of the Earthly or mundane, there may well be surprises, gains or rewards that you did not anticipate. On the side of human nature this Rune is symbolized by the flight of the eagle. Soaring flight, free from entanglement, lifting yourself above the endless ebb and flow of ordinary life to acquire broader vision - all this is indicated here.
Perth stands for the heart of Initiation - Nothing external matters here, except as it shows you in its inner reflection. This Rune is concerned with the deepest stratum of our being, the bedrock on which our destiny is founded. For some Perth means experiencing some form of death - or transition. It is a letting go of everything, no exceptions, no exclusions. Nothing less than renewal of the Spirit is at stake.
