“They’re coming,” Birchard squawked from the night sky. “They’re coming.”
“That answers my question,” Keira laughed.
“Set the teens up near the watering hole. I don’t want the boy anywhere near this spot even if he didn’t use the knife.”
“Very well,” Birchard answered. He tilted his wings and disappeared into the trees.
“Go join them child. We will speak again in the morning. Then I will take you to the gates.”
The Great Loon looked to the stars when Keira spoke, “Why the morning? Wouldn’t it be easier to be done with us now, well Riley at least?”
“I share your desire for haste, but I can only facilitate the using of the gates, when they are open.”
Charlie didn’t say another word. He flapped his wings and dove into the warm water below. Keira watched him nuzzle up next to another loon.
“His mate,” she said.
Part of her wished she could stay here with the birds but she relegated herself to spending the rest of the evening with Luza and Riley. Even though it was still early, she felt a tiredness growing over her body.
The area the Great Loon had directed Birchard to lead the other two was only a short walk away. Keira meandered past the fires and the view of the steam induced, light show worthy water. She was in no hurry, especially not now, knowing this island was as safe as any other location they had been.
Perhaps she should have stayed at Corky’s. At least there, she had more hope and faith that everything would be okay. Aside from the Tearel cabin on Manning Lake where she didn’t fully embrace everything happening around her, every set of eyes seemed to be enamored with where she went and what she had done.
Curses to Bilal, she spat on the ground, remembering his name. There was no justifiable reason for him to act in the manner he chose. Keira saw first-hand his destructive nature. Even though the bullets were gone from her body and the slash marks of his curved blade healed; she saw his work and hated him for what he done to her and to others.
Hate is a strong word, but there was nothing better to describe what Bilal had sought to bring onto others. There was only a thirst for blood and death. From Keira’s perspective, rightfully so, there was no place for that in this world. Those that yearned to live such a life were to be shunned and dealt with accordingly.
She hoped her father felt the same. His presence knowing he was still here on this planet kept her going. He was off to see Waliyah to get news of his loving wife and Keira’s mother, Roohi. For them, she fought onward. She continued with this plight that made her more irritable, scared, and aware that she had so few friends in this world.
Even now, as she heard the familiar voices of Luza and Riley, the teen felt more like an outcast than a friend. It reminded her of school, of the names she had been called, the bullying she faced; until she was temporarily released from that burden. Still, here it was years later. Bobby was a perfect example.
Contrary to Riley’s desire, Keira didn’t regret striking the ignorant teen from Barnstead. He got what was coming. Years of torment, some in person, and others when she was reminiscing, was enough for Keira to act. She didn’t regret what she did. Nor did she feel like it had to be justified.
She believed that she had set things right and perhaps saved others from Bobby’s hurtful comments and deeds. The teen half wondered had she stood up to him earlier, how life might have been different. These trying days could have been so much simpler.
Riley’s brown mop of hair told her as much. She never would have run into the boy for a second time because Bilal never would have seen or caught her with the Whistleberries. Poor Luza might have had time to recover and Lane would have taken them to Diana’s Baths to perform the ceremony.
Keira got lost in the what-ifs. One person, one word, one step, could change everything. Instead, she was here on Valo, waiting for the morning to come, to go through a gate that would whisk her to another side of the world. There was no telling what that future would bring.
Quietly, she arrived at her destination, a small apple grove, several turns and slopes away from the sanctuary the birds called home. She could hear the water crashing against the rocks below and wondered how warm it would be on this early November night. There were two wooden platforms placed between several trees. Blankets had been laid out and pillows as well. A small fire roared.
Now as she saw her traveling companions, she wondered where she stood with the two of them. The last few days had been a roller coaster of emotions, events, and trials. Keira felt awkward and alone despite the fact Riley and Keira looked up and smiled upon her arrival.
“I wondered when we would see you again,” Riley said. The light flickered off his doe colored eyes in an almost frightening manner.
Keira looked away from the boy. She couldn’t decide whether it was the fire or just the dim lighting, but she could see an anger resting underneath the surface of Riley’s face. She didn’t know if she was up for another battle of words or wills.
“I see you both sent out a search party.”
“We figured you would find your way. Birchard passed along you were getting the tour,” Luza motioned for Keira to join them.
“It’s okay. I’m tired. I think I’m going to lie down.”
Keira made it a point to not sit next to the fire. She noticed Luza’s backpack on the edge of one of the platforms. Wanting space, Keira sat down on the other one.
“Aren’t you hungry?” Luza asked. “I can get you something from my bag. There are apples too.”
Riley bit into a juicy Macintosh.
“No, I haven’t had much of an appetite since we left Corky’s,” she said softly. “It’s probably better if I just rest.”
She wondered if they would call her out on her anti-social behavior, but neither one did. Riley looked at Luza and shrugged.
“If you’re hungry let us know,” Luza said with an up-beat tone.
Keira yearned for the return to an awkward silence, but of course Luza had to engage her once again.
“Did you see anything worth noting?”
“I don’t know, did you?”
With her head resting on a rather comfortable pillow, Keira rolled onto her side.
Luza whispered to Riley, “Does she know?”
“I don’t think so,” he put his hands up, in a helpless gesture. Then he placed a finger over his lips.
“No we just got caught up in those fire plants. Riley also wanted to show me where —”
“I don’t really care what you two love birds are or were doing. Can I just get some sleep?”
“We’re not love birds!” Luza said.
“Yeah what’s up with that?” Riley tossed his half-eaten apple into the woods.
“You two could have fooled me. Don’t worry though I’ll look the other way. I don’t want you two to feel like there’s a third wheel.”
“I’m going to go over there and slap her,” Luza mouthed to Riley.
“You know I can hear you right?”
“Darn you Princess. Can’t you just be nice?”
Clutching onto her pillow, Keira sat up and glared at the two teens. “Leave me alone and I will be nice. Clearly we have some friction going on between all three of us, and I want a break from it.”
“You don’t want to talk about it? We can just put it out there and get this over with.” Riley stammered.
“No I don’t, especially not to you. How many times have we already gone over it?”
“She’s got a point there,” Luza commented.
“Shut up for a second.”
“Don’t tell me to shut up,” Luza jabbed Riley in the ribs.
He pushed her fingers away.
“Both of you, can we just leave it? We can agree to disagree.”
“No I don’t think that’s good enough,” Riley stood up from his seat near the fire. “I want you to work with us and trust us. Tell me one way or another that we can trust you.”
Luza rea
ched for Riley’s hand wanting to bring him back to his seat. He batted it away, waiting for an answer from Keira.
“Unless you want me to totally beat the crap out of you, I strongly suggest you sit down.” Keira felt herself losing control.
“You wouldn’t dare,” Riley egged the teen on. He nodded to her and patted his chest with his right hand.
“You’re not going to bully me Bucky.”
“I want an answer Keira.”
Done with the banter and with the deer-shifting teen, Keira transformed. Gone was her curly black hair and her thin frame, replaced with whiskers, paws, and a two-foot-long tail.
Her long teeth were front and center for Riley and Luza to see.
She didn’t move from the platform.
“See, she’s proving my point,” he said to Luza. “I can do that too Princess.”
“Go ahead deer boy. We’ll see how well you can handle these.”
Keira flexed her front paws, revealing the razor sharp nails that would easily ruin Riley’s day.
“Stand down Riley. It’s not worth it,” Luza pleaded. “Please. Save it for another day.”
He nodded to the former Arctic fox and then walked away from the fire and the apple grove. Keira didn’t care. She simply closed her eyes and decided to sleep in her current form.
Luza laid back on her blanket and pillow. She didn’t know how to respond. For several minutes she laid there in silence. The teen from the Northern Wood peered up in the sky and couldn’t fathom how her quest, her mission, had led her to this spot and these moments. It was far different than she had pictured.
Now as she saw the mountain lion stretched out on the platform meters away, she wondered if it was worth the effort. Was this what the Great Mother wanted? Did she really want these divisions? Was this part of the plan? What did it mean for not only Keira and herself, but for everyone?
No one ever said she had to stay with Keira after the ceremony was complete. She searched her conversations with Waliyah and not once was that piece of information shared. So it was, on that night as Riley roamed the island, looking for answers; Luza simply spoke up and asked, “Keira are you better off alone?”
There was silence, save the sounds of the smoldering fire.
“Keira?” Luza asked for a second time.
The mountain lion didn’t stir from her slumber. She might have responded to the teen had she not drifted into a very deep sleep.
It had been a long day and Luza felt herself waning. She closed her eyes shortly thereafter, knowing that things wouldn’t get any easier in the days ahead.
Chapter 14
Riley never returned to the apple grove. He wandered the island, unable to clear his mind of the visions he and Luza had experienced at the turkey fountain. Each step reminded him of when Bilal and Junkai used him to please their lust for killing. There was no peace for him here.
He avoided the entrance to the gates and where the birds would nest for the night. He would not be welcome anywhere save in the presence of Luza. Even now at this late hour, he didn’t know how he could make things any easier for her.
After hours of walking, he found himself back on the top of the steep ledge, the three of them had climbed the previous afternoon. He figured it would be the last place anyone would look, should they want to find him. Sitting on the ledge, he let the lull of the water calm his soul, as much as he would allow.
Keira had drawn the line, shifting her form, like it was nothing. He knew there were few options going forward and that frightened him, should he ever allow himself to admit it. He was wondering if there was enough space for them to reconcile. Yet in his heart, he didn’t want to do anything of the sort.
When the option presented itself, Riley knew he would need to break away with Luza. Keira was dangerous and a liability.
She no longer was a friend to him, if she ever was. At every turn she challenged his advice and guidance. He couldn’t and he wouldn’t allow for it going forward. They just had to get through the gate and then they would part ways.
It was decided.
* * *
KABOOM!
KABOOM!
Keira lifted her muzzle. Her ears pointed towards the explosion in the early morning sun.
She stood on all four fawn colored paws and looked directly at Luza.
“Run Luza! Run as fast you can. The nests must be protected.”
Not waiting for a response, Keira jumped off the platform and darted towards the direction of the explosions.
KABOOM!
* * *
Having nodded off in the early morning hours, Riley was sitting hunched over on the top step of the ledge.
KABOOM!
He jerked himself awake.
KABOOM!
No time to process, Riley shifted mid stride. Gone was his lanky frame and his brown raggedy hair. The four-point buck, six-and-a-half foot long deer, standing well over six feet tall, raced to the scene of the explosion.
He knew exactly where to go.
It can’t be. Not yet, not now.
* * *
In her current form, Keira avoided the trail altogether. She didn’t need to run across one direction and then cut across another when her four paws could take her faster through the woods and over to the other side of the island.
KABOOM!
What is going on? I need to get there, like now.
Zigzagging around trees, stumps, and rocks, the teen raced through the balsam and pine rich forest.
She saw the smoke and the flames.
Am I too late?
* * *
Luza couldn’t fathom that now of all times she had to leave the apple grove, race down the trail, and protect whatever birds remained.
How am I going to do this? The blasted knife! Riley took it from me. What am I going to do? What if they strike the nests next?
Luza was correct in her thinking. She couldn’t run anywhere as fast in her current state. Gone was her agility and nimbleness, replaced with an awkward gait and a short stature that would hurt her in any close combat.
Nevertheless, even if Keira hadn’t told her to run, she would have. Her body changed to two legs, but her loyalty would always be with the animals. If that meant giving her life, she would.
* * *
Smoke rose across the island. Riley strained to get to the gates. They were just through the next set of trees.
Please don’t be there. Please don’t be there.
He didn’t want to think about the possibility, should Luza have been in the explosion. What could he do? Could he still save her?
* * *
Coming out of the woods with reckless abandon, Keira shot out at the first creature she saw. She didn’t wait to ask questions. She knew they weren’t welcomed guests.
A large brown Berkshire boar was the first animal in her way. It had a satchel around his body, filled with timers and several sticks of dynamite.
Her instincts took over.
Keira cut to the side of the woefully slower boar. She clawed at his face with one paw, clawed the backside with another, and then dug her teeth into the animal’s unprotected jugular.
It collapsed as Keira moved on to the next boar only a few meters away.
As with the first Berkshire boar, this one also wore a satchel with timers and dynamite. It meant no difference to the teen.
She leapt onto his back, and thrust her paws into his face and neck. Riding the boar until he collapsed a second later, Keira lifted her head up and surveyed the scene.
With a rough headcount, there were more than twenty boars standing outside the remaining gates not covered in smoke or ash.
Two gates were blown to pieces, with their entrances collapsed and the hill they had been dug from leveled.
A team of boars were busy laying down another set of dynamite to the remaining ancient faerie structures.
* * *
Riley didn’t wonder who was behind this attack. The time of day and the sheer dramati
c effect only meant one thing. Sohon had sent the order.
Cutting through the open field, Riley lowered his antlers and struck out at the first creature he found.
The lucky black boar with his head turned towards the gates, received several puncture wounds to his body. That was only the beginning when Riley flipped his rack up, taking the boar for an unscheduled flight.
The animal collapsed unsure what had hit him.
Two other boars rushed towards the prince. They moved to their hind feet and transformed to full grown men with weapons on their side.
“How did they do that?” Riley said under his breath.
He panted. The knives the two burley men weld were going to complicate things.
* * *
Luza arrived at the ledges out of breath and confused.
The fires from the night before were smoldering and the birds, all of them, had remained close to their nests.
“Why is no one up? You’re under attack. You have to fight or leave. Do something or you all will die.”
Birchard was the first to greet her. He flew up from the water’s edge, his face void of emotion.
“We don’t need to do anything. We knew they were coming. It’s inevitable Princess.”
“Are you mad? Why lead us all the way here just to die?”
The red-eyed loon, blinked unsteadily at the white and black haired teen.
“You should go while you can Foxy.”
Baffled, Luza reached out towards the bird. He kept far enough away to maintain a safe distance.
“That’s right, come a little closer and I’ll strangle you myself. Come on Birchard, what really is going on?”
The bird repeated. “Go while you can.”
He didn’t stay for Luza’s rebuttal. The Manning Lake loon squawked and bid the teen adieu. Back into the fog he went, never to return.
* * *
Another boar lay dead; that made five if Keira was counting. She looked over long enough to see Riley had arrived and was contending with a duo of knife wielding men.
Valo Page 15
