They crested a small hill and headed to the shore of the river. Fish jumped and flipped in the gentle current. No predators from above or below to worry them. Saskia couldn’t imagine the Salmon People would actually eat the salmon.
“Estuuya was a girl used to getting her way. She met her father by the sea and demanded he let her marry me. When he struck her, I could not stand by. I charged him. I decided I would win my bride by force then.” Petuwaq stopped by the river’s edge and stared at the water. “The chief easily knocked me down. Even with my passion driving me, I was no match for him. He threatened to drown me if I did not leave the village. Estuuya… she snapped.”
He paused and swallowed. “She grabbed her younger brother and threatened to drown him if her father didn’t let us marry. Her father held her head under the water. I couldn’t get up quick enough to stop him. She fought, so much more a warrior than I ever was, but he killed her and tossed her body out to sea without an ounce of grief.”
No wonder Estuuya hated men. Her father was one of the despicable ones. Saskia could sympathize with her urge to want to drown all men.
“I followed her into the sea. I let the cold water take me.” Petuwaq squatted by the edge and ran his fingers through the water. “I died because I thought I couldn’t live without her, but I should have lived for her.”
A tragic tale of love. Blah, blah, blah. And it wasn’t as if Saskia didn’t have any sympathy for him, but what the fuck did it have to do with what was going on now?
“Sad story,” she said, managing to keep her voice even.
“Now you understand why I can’t see her.” Petuwaq hung his head. His hair covered his face.
“No, I don’t.”
His head snapped up. “What?”
“Yeah, you did something stupid. All Estuuya wants is to see you. Maybe she’s angry. Maybe she’s not. But here’s the thing.” Saskia yanked him by the upper arms into a standing position. She was a good six inches taller than he, and she used her height to lean over him. “Many, many more people could die. Do you want to be responsible for that because you can’t get over something dumb you did years ago?”
“Don’t try to bully me.” He lifted his chin and straightened his back.
Saskia rolled her eyes. “I’m not. I just want you to see how immensely important it is for you to come with me.”
“You are. You’re standing over me and trying to force me to see your way. Don’t think I don’t value all those lives. I do, but…” He tilted his head back, looking up at the faux sky. “Do you know what it’s like to be in love?”
Unfortunately. “Yes.”
He locked his gaze with hers. “Then you must understand.”
Weren’t the Salmon People supposed to be wise? First they had her doing menial chores, and now this sap was going to doom every shifter in the world because he couldn’t deal with what he did. Something that only affected himself.
Would anyone try to stop her if she knocked him out and dragged him with her? It probably wasn’t a good idea, but she didn’t know what else to do.
Saskia stomped away from him before she did lash out. She’d have to take on Estuuya herself. At least the mad hag seemed more reasonable than Petuwaq.
Shit. She turned and walked back. “How do I get out of here?”
“When you’re ready, you can leave.” He sat by the river and rested his elbows on his knees.
Strangle, smack, punch. None of which she took into action, but the guy was pushing her buttons. “I’m ready to go now.”
“No, you’re not.” He glanced at her. Not a hint of amusement or malice in his eyes. Just… was that pity?
Hell no. “Tell me how to go home.”
Petuwaq sighed. “Everyone’s way out is different. I cannot tell you how to leave the Salmon People because I still have not found my own.”
Saskia had to leave Petuwaq then, before she beat him to a bloody pulp. Furious as she was with him, she was angrier with herself. Why did she think this would be easy? And how idiotic of her to think she could walk into the Salmon People’s realm and leave as she pleased.
The place had welcomed her. And clearly it also wanted something from her. Did they need someone who was tall with a strong back to do chores? The whole settlement was in disrepair. A strong breeze could blow the homes down.
Damn. Did they need a carpenter? Fuck, she hoped that wasn’t it.
She kicked at the ground as she walked through the village. No one glanced her way or looked concerned. What if she shifted and went on a rampage? Maybe they’d kick her out then.
No. There was always a lesson to learn in the old tales. So many times Azarius had told her the stories, but she didn’t listen much. In fact, she remembered little about them except for the battles. If only she could recall something he said to be a key to getting out of there.
Okay, think. She pounded her forehead with her palm.
The only tale about the Salmon People Saskia could remember was about the boy who broke taboo and was disrespectful to everyone. The salmon drowned him and brought him down to their home where he grew into a wise man.
So the moral of that story was always be respectful. Saskia was respectful. Mostly. Sometimes. When people deserved her respect.
Sedge waited for her in the boat. He couldn’t stay there for more than a few hours. He’d freeze, and the boat could get stuck in the encroaching ice. And the whole damn world waited for her to get that totem from Estuuya.
She’d just have to find a way out on her own. Test the boundaries of the realm. Go—
“Pardon me, child.” The old woman Saskia had first talked to approached her carrying a bucket. “Do you think you could help me with this?”
Dammit, not again. Saskia peered into the bucket to see it filled with fish skeletons. Maybe the Salmon People ate them after all. “If you’d like me to dump the bones, I can do that for you as I go search for the way out. You wouldn’t happen to know where I can leave?”
Qaiyann smiled and handed Saskia the bucket. “Yes. Thank you.”
Did she mean yes she wanted Saskia to dump the bones or yes she knew the way out?
“I need to bring the children to the river to be reborn, though.” The old woman gestured to the skeletons.
That still didn’t answer Saskia’s question. She slowed her pace to keep in step with the elder. “So you do know where I can leave?”
“Yes, I just said that, dear.” Again, no further explanation.
Saskia swallowed a groan. “And where might that be?”
“Why, anywhere you can walk or swim.” Qaiyann stepped carefully down beside the river. Petuwaq was gone, and it seemed just the two of them. She motioned for Saskia to set the bucket down. “Here we go. Live again, little fish.”
Once Saskia put the bucket on the ground, Qaiyann tenderly lifted the first skeleton and immersed it in the water. She released it. It got swirled around and then pulled down by the current. A few seconds later, a salmon with shiny scales leapt up and splashed them.
Qaiyann chuckled and picked up a second skeleton to repeat the process.
Trying to think of a way to get the answers she wanted, Saskia watched the salmon frolic. “Do the fish live here in the river?”
“No. They swim upriver into the ocean to be reunited with the others.”
“A tough journey for ones just born again.” Saskia squatted and fiddled with the grass. Was the lady giving her a hint to swim up the river?
“Not tough. They just swim with the current.” She pointed to the right. A third fish was born again and came back to wiggle against the old woman’s fingers.
“The current goes that way, though.” Saskia jerked her thumb to the left. The river wasn’t rushing by, but it wasn’t meandering either.
Qaiyann picked up a fourth skeleton and dunked it in the water. “There are two currents in every river. The one on top that we see, speeding by and picking up everything.” She let the bones go, and they were swept away down
river. A few seconds later, a living fish emerged and jumped into the air. It then dove down to swim upriver. “The other current lies deep at the bottom. It is stronger than the one above, but not so easily found.”
“It’s how they get upriver to breed.” Saskia’s dad did teach her a few things. Maybe he might have done better with the Salmon People since he loved fish so much.
“And to die.”
Saskia hoped the old woman wasn’t trying to tell her something. She wasn’t going to stay there until she died. She needed to get back as soon as possible. How much time had passed already? Sedge better not dive down into the sea to look for her. Damn stubborn bear.
Qaiyann lifted the fifth skeleton and removed something from its skull. She held out her hand to Saskia. “Here is your beacon, child.”
“Thanks.” Saskia stuffed the tracking device into her pocket and tried to decide if there was more to this conversation than just fish and water currents. “Do you think the salmon know they’re going to die when they swim upriver?”
Releasing the last fish, Qaiyann shrugged. “Whether they do or they don’t, it doesn’t matter. They live in the moment.”
“Why is Petuwaq still here?” The question came from Saskia quick, and she couldn’t take it back even if it wasn’t her business.
“He does not live for the moment.” Qaiyann stood and rubbed her back. “Thank you for your help, child.”
So that’s why Petuwaq was still there, but it wasn’t true of Saskia. Of all the people she knew, she lived most for the moment. She wasn’t going to proclaim she was all wise, but it was incredibly stupid to keep her there.
“You’re welcome.” Saskia nodded to the other woman.
Qaiyann picked up the empty bucket. “It’ll be night soon. Best you don’t go out when it’s dark. You may come share my furs with me. I’ll be making a stew tonight.”
“Okay, thanks.” The sky was already darkening, and Saskia gritted her teeth. The night wasn’t going to deter her, but her stomach rumbled. Maybe she could pick the old woman’s brain for more answers while they ate.
As she followed Qaiyann back to her home, she spotted Petuwaq dragging his feet as he walked back into the village. “Hey! I want to talk to you again.”
Petuwaq looked up, wide-eyed and pale, before taking off again away from the river.
Let him run off. Saskia would catch him later when he didn’t expect her. Maybe she could convince him to leave his past behind and live in the moment, to see Estuuya again. That could be why she was in the Salmon People’s realm.
Night descended, and her mind kept wandering back to Sedge as Qaiyann prepared dinner and scooped out a hefty bowl for both of them. Halfway through the meal, Saskia heard the screams.
The shrieks reached heights only pure terror could provoke. Qaiyann protested as Saskia jumped up and raced outside. That old woman didn’t follow her, which should’ve been a sign. What could frighten a people who were already dead?
Saskia ran away from the river and the small cabins up a grassy hill where a few old trees creaked quietly with the wind. Another cry let her know the person was male and heading in her direction.
Her boots crunched on the hard soil, and the rush of the river seemed louder than earlier. Mist clung to the top of the hill and swirled like an agitated pot of gray soup.
With another yell, Petuwaq stumbled into view and almost fell in front of Saskia. She darted forward, grabbed his forearms, and helped him to stand. His left leg turned at an odd angle. “Are you all right? What the hell is going on?”
“Get inside!” He pushed her toward the village. “You’re only safe if you’re inside!”
Saskia didn’t budge. “From what?”
A keening sound, something akin to metal scraping along metal, blew through the fog.
“From them.” Petuwaq’s chin quivering. He tugged on her arms as he started limping toward the village.
“Go.” Saskia pushed him on. “I’ll keep them distracted while you get to safety.”
“No, you can’t!” He pleaded, reaching for her again.
A second… howl? Maybe there were Wolf People that preyed upon the Salmon People.
“Go!” Saskia faced the mist and heard Petuwaq whimpering as he hobbled onward. She turned her nose to the air and sucked in the scents of the night. Fish, water, grass, fire… decay. Another sniff, and oh yeah. Maybe Death followed her to this realm.
The tightness of her body made it difficult to breathe, and her heart beat fast and loud. Let it be Death. She’d beat him down and get the fox token he stole from her.
That totem should have been hers. And the owl for Azarius. Instead, Ametta and that damn cat Kinley was dating had tokens. No way was she going to miss out on getting the salmon. Bring on the monsters in the mist.
A dry, papery snarl accompanied the puffing of fog to her left. She raised her fists, ready to hit or shift if need be.
Something round and dark emerged floating about three feet off the ground. Long tangled hair surrounded it like a halo around the sun, but there wasn’t a bright or pretty thing about this monster. Not only did it stink of rot, but it looked like it just crawled up out of the ground.
If it had hands. Or a body.
The flying head’s huge nostrils twitched as it turned toward her. Its tongue hung out over broken and sharp teeth. Dry and cracked, a weird foamy saliva dripped from it. Its bulging eyes were milky, lacking a defined pupil. Was it blind?
Saskia didn’t shift, remaining more still than the trees. What the fuck was it?
Azarius had told her stories about some weird creatures—like the gigantic vagina with legs that ate unfaithful men—but this wasn’t any of those beings. It was a four foot tall head.
And it knew she was there.
It bobbed closer, keening quietly. It didn’t know exactly where she was, but its sense of smell worked just fine.
A garbled growl caused her to jerk her head to the right. A second flying head zipped out of the fog. Shit. Now she was sandwiched between the two. The other one was a little smaller, but its tongue nearly reached the ground. The grass wilted under its drool.
Two heads. Sure, they might try to bite her, but she could bounce them around like basketballs and dunk them into the river.
“Don’t let them lick you!” Petuwaq hollered up the hill. What the hell was he doing back? “Their saliva is poisonous!”
Just fucking great.
Both heads turned to him and jetted toward the sound of his voice.
There was no way Petuwaq could outrun them. Saskia shifted and the freeing rush of leaving her human form for her bear form propelled her forward. She leapt onto the bigger head and readied herself for it to crash into the ground. It didn’t.
It did a dramatic bob and tried to spin around to bite her. She latched on with her claws and crunched the top of it with her powerful jaws. The bone cracked and rancid juices seeped out. She fought back the urge to puke.
The head howled and spun like some out of control carnival ride. If the rot didn’t make her vomit, the spinning would.
The second monster left chasing after Petuwaq to fly to its companion and bounced as it chomped at the air. Its twisted face reminded her of a gnarly tree. No way was she going to let it bite her ass if it got close enough.
So if she couldn’t smash the monstrosities on the ground, maybe she could bang them together. She slid off the head with a good grip on its filthy hair. Using the momentum of her fall, she flung the creature and underestimated her strength and the weight of the thing. It sailed into the fog and disappeared with a croaky wail.
One down, one to go.
Saskia bellowed as she rose to face the smaller head. Its hoarse cry answered hers, and it charged like a raging bull.
She dodged to the side, but it moved quicker than she anticipated. It whipped around and whacked her front leg with its tongue. No wet sloppy sound accompanied it. Just a meaty slap and a sudden burning on her skin.
Re
coiling, she shook out her leg and pushed away the pain as she circled the head. No sneaking around as a polar bear. The monster heard every step she took and kept its face toward her.
“Don’t let it touch you!” Petuwaq threw a rock at the creature. It ignored him, intent on bigger prey.
Yes, don’t let the fiend touch her. Saskia didn’t need to be told twice. If she couldn’t crush it, she needed to tear it apart. Though how toxic the rest of the head was compared to its saliva she had no idea and wasn’t keen on finding out.
It charged again, and Saskia rolled under it. Its tongue swept over her lower back. She hissed and pounced, raking her claws down the back of the head. Hair and flesh ripped free as if from a rotten piece of fruit. She prepped to fling it like the other one, but it twisted to one side and flew out of her grip.
Her front leg throbbed, and as she lowered to all fours, she winced at the jolt of pain. Her limb had swollen, making it difficult to bend.
When the head came at her once more, she dodged and swatted it. Again and again like a boxer trying to get a read on her opponent. Except Saskia wasn’t certain what to do.
The bloated leg grew even larger. Dashing about on three legs wasn’t going to work. To top it off, her back was slowly losing movement. She couldn’t keep this up.
Did she have the speed to retreat to the village? Maybe. But Petuwaq was still there chucking rocks as he tried to distract the head. Idiot. He should have run for shelter when she told him. She wasn’t going to leave him.
Damn, if some stinking head killed her, her family would never know what happened to her. She’d fail every shifter in the world. More so, she’d fail Sedge.
No. He needed her. For once in his damn long life, he needed someone to help him.
Her belly roiled and bile threatened to explode up her throat. She couldn’t be sick. The fucking head would chow down on her if she bent over to throw up.
Deep Current (Totem Book 6) Page 5
