by HC MacDonald
“Yeah, a little.” Was my response.
Our conversation if you could call it one, was very guarded. The jovial banter and forthcoming of answers gone from the day before.
We were making good time. We could reach my home by midnight at the pace we were moving. The children were in good spirits and well behaved. Lunch was berries and nuts collected on the way and what she had gathered that morning.
Dinner time was on the horizon. I killed a rabbit this time. We built a fire, cooked it while the children rested. Then cleaned up our area and ate as we walked. We still had a few hours of sunlight, and she requested we walk a little further before we camped for the night.
We were well into the territory of my village. Following a path I often wandered that would lead to my home. It ventured thru the trees starting at the edge of our land, then through a meadow of wild flowers, then back into the darkness of the forest. Eventually, it would end at my door step.
We came to the meadow that overlooked the South end of the forest. She stopped and we decided to set up camp. I was okay with this. No one from the village usually came this way. The solidarity of the meadow was a place I often went to sort out my thoughts. Based on my instructions to Ethan, no one would be out looking. I would have one more night to contemplate my argument for the Elders Council.
She had just taken off her boot to check her wound, when we heard the crash of trees to the East and the gut wrenching growl I knew to well.
She was on her feet posed for a fight. Blades in hand, facing the direction of the noise. Children huddle behind her. I respected her gumption, but this was not a fight they should be involved with.
Another crash of trees, and a heavy growl echoed in the air. I moved to her side. Seeing the trees sway from the monstrous beasts movements. I turned to her, “Run! Grab the kids and follow the path to the home at the end, you will be safe there. Now RUN!”
She took a step forward, as the trees parted. Pushing Raina aside, I watched as a grey furred Asbjorn 12 feet tall barreled out of the forest and into the meadow. Coming to a halt less than a hundred meters below us.
I stepped in front of them all, and from the corner of my eye saw her grab the kids, throw our things from the sled, put the kids on and run as fast as she could, sled in tow. I picked up the spear laying on the ground from when she dumped the sled contents. I took a running step and launched the spear aiming for the heart. Grabbed a boulder by my foot, secured it in my hand. I then gave a slow high pitched whistle then charged the beast.
Chapter 10
Cabin
Raina
I had made it about a mile, and could still hear the deafening roars, and sounds of the fight. I looked back at the children. Tears running down their little faces and fear in there eyes. Wyatt was holding my boot as if it would protect him. Juji holding the sled so tight her knuckles were a bright white. Keiko held them both. Protecting them. I kept running, following the path as Leon suggested.
We rounded a large boulder and I came to a complete halt. Jumping into our path a large black wolf. He gnashed his teeth and growled. I pulled my daggers and began circling with him. Always keeping the children behind me for protection. My mind was racing. The wolf crouching, ready to pounce. I was ready.
Then the high pitched slow long whistle from Leon sounded again. As fast as we encountered the wolf he turned his snout and ran in Leon’s direction. Within seconds two more wolves coming from the same direction as the first burst through the bushes and ran toward the meadow. I hoped they were going to help. My mind conflicted. Go to the cabin or back and help Leon. What if they were not on his side. One glance at the children made up my mind. On to the house we ran.
By the time we got there, it was well into the night. My foot swollen and bloody. New cuts along the bottom and sides of my foot from running without the protection of my shoe. I was in pain and completely exhausted. The children had fallen asleep not long ago. The fear and long day getting to them.
I left them hidden behind a bush to the right of the home we had come across. Hoping they wouldn’t be seen. I wasn’t sure what to expect. It was a modest log cabin home. Stone porch with green tin awning stretching from the roof to the edge of the patio. The build was solid, and seemed to blend into the landscape around it. As if the trees tried to protect the cabin with there branches. With a dagger in each hand, I crept to the door and lightly knocked.
My nerves were frazzled just listening, waiting. No movement could be heard inside. I knocked again, this time louder. Waiting patiently, no answer. I twisted the knob to the door, and it opened easily. I opened it wide and left it open. Hesitating before moving, I gathered my self and in I went.
I searched room to room, no one was there. It seemed relatively safe so I hurried back out to fetch the children. One by one, I carried them in and laid them on a bed I found in one of the adjoining rooms. This cabin had two bedrooms, a simple kitchen, a sitting room, and a single bathroom. It was a luxury to have amenities again. Ten years since I had been in a proper home.
Once all the children were nestled in bed, I bolted the door, found a chair, sat by the unlit fireplace, and waited.
I was awaken by the crashing of wood on the patio and pounding on the door. I grabbed my blades and prepared to fight. The knob turned violently. Then the bolt retracted and the door flew open.
It took a minute while the stranger holding Leon and I evaluated one another. I quickly tucked my blades back in there sheath and moved to help carry Leon to the empty room.
This stranger said nothing. I wasn’t going to volunteer any information either. We laid him down. I could see multiple claw marks on his chest, arms and legs. He had blood dripping from his hairline and a rather large bite on his shoulder. He was in bad shape and my heart fluttered that I may loose him.
The stranger left the room and returned moments later with bandages, lotion, and gauze. He too was covered in wounds and bleeding. Getting his own blood on the white of the gauze.
Not looking up at the stranger I said, “I can wrap him if you like?”
He grunted a yes and I heard him leave the room and the door close and bolt behind him.
I assessed the supplies our stranger had brought us. Looking at the bandages, medicine, and blood stained gauze. I needed something to clean him up with so I could dress his wounds. They were deep and bloody themselves.
Finding some rags and fresh water in the kitchen, I started with his head. Once cleaned up, it was a small scratch and nothing to worry about. Next I moved to his shoulder. I washed the area. It would need to be sewn back together. I prepped a needle I found in a basket in the sitting area.
I started the task. To my surprise, his tanned flesh began a transformation. Long golden brown hair began thickening and covering every inch I could see of his body, and his face now transformed to the snout of a wolf. Laying on the bed was no longer a man, but a large beautiful golden brown wolf. I shifted in my seat. I had seen this before in some of the prisoners I’d helped. I wasn’t surprised by the transformation, but that he didn’t tell me. The rest of the dots from the other night connected completely.
The wolf howl, the men talking, the whistles. He was a shifter and this village was a pack. This is why permission was needed to be here. They did not like outsiders. I moved the needle to get a better grip, he shifted with the move and without warning I felt a sharp pain rush thru my shoulder. He had bit me! It wasn’t vicious, but it was forceful enough to break the skin causing me to bleed. My wound would have to wait till he was stable and cared for.
He then transformed back into the man I was getting to know. Gingerly I finished the stitches and wrapped his shoulder. It took another hour to dress and clean all his other wounds. I still needed to stitch my arm, and look at my shoulder and ankle.
Leon was sleeping peacefully, and so where the children, but morning would be upon us soon and I needed a few hours sleep if I was going to be of any use tomorrow.
The morning started w
ith giggles and laughter in the bedroom. That’s what awoke me. I was glad to start a new day.
I ravaged the pantry and cooler for food. Prepped a filling meal for us and sent the kids exploring through the cabin. I hoped I could get Leon to eat something. He was still sleeping. I entered the room and shut the door. I didn’t want the children scared if he were to change again.
He was sweating and restless in his slumber. I checked his bandages and went about changing them. I had finished with no incidents. I dabbed his brow freeing him from the sweat collecting there, and placed my hand on his forehead. He had a slight fever. I cooled his body the best I could. Then tried to rouse him. He weakly opened an eye and mumbled something undecipherable. I managed a few sips of water, and a handful of bites of food before he slipped back into his restless sleep.
I had each of the kids take turns watching over him and cooling him down with wet rags. While one was busy, the others got a bath and their clothing washed. Soon I had three naked kids exploring the cabin and I was nursemaid to our sick host.
It was well into the night when his fever broke. Rest now came natural to him. After a day of multitasking and worry, I was grateful for the change in Leon’s status and the children falling asleep.
Sitting in a chair by his bed, I would kept a vigilant watch through the night, in hopes his fever would not return.
Chapter 11
Night
Leon
It was just past dawn when I stirred awake. My body sore and tight. As I shifted, I could feel the pain of my shoulder shoot thru my body. Then the tightness of bandages wrapping my chest and legs. I blinked rapidly removing the sleep from my mind. I could feel the gentle touch of a hand on my chest, and smell the aroma of summer I had become so accustomed to.
I turned my head and saw Raina sitting on a chair pulled to the side of my bed, hand reached out to me, resting on my chest; foot wrapped and resting on another chair. My heart leaped out to her. She looked so peaceful. She had since showered, and the dirty blonde hair was now flowing down her back like rays of sunshine. Her skin, pale and soft, no longer blood stained and grey from dirt and soot. Her arm bandaged from high on her shoulder to her wrist. Ankle, wrapped and no longer bleeding. I noticed many cuts that were beginning to heal on the bottom of her foot. These were new. I didn’t recall her having them at our camp. Then it dawned on me, the meadow, she was not fully dressed.
I didn’t want to wake her. I slipped out from the other side of the bed. Slowly I crept through my house. Three clean snuggling babes were in bed in my other room. A line of clothes hung out to dry. Opening the cooler, I saw a plate of food and my stomach growled. Hunger hitting me like a lead boot. I leaned against the pantry and devoured the food. Scrounged around for more and ate till my hunger was no more.
I moved to the washroom and began the process of changing my bandages and applying a special healing lotion our elders make. It would make the wounds heal faster. As I reached my shoulder, pain was moving up and down my arm. With the bandages off, I could see her handy work of stitches. I applied the lotion and the pain instantly subsided. As I finished with the wrap I heard the footsteps of one of my tiny visitors.
Poking my head out of the room, I saw Juji’s behind sticking out of the pantry, then slowly start moving up the shelves. She was climbing them.
I walked swiftly over and grabbed her. Giggling, she had two cookies in her hands and proceeded to shove them into her mouth as quickly as possible. I couldn’t help but laugh at the sight. She then jumped out of my arms and ran back into the bed she had come from. Within minutes she was quietly breathing and back to sleep.
I needed to see the Elders. I changed my torn up pants and put on a fresh clean shirt. Cautious still not to wake Raina. Out of the cabin I slipped headed to the Council’s chambers.
Chapter 12
Sanna
Raina
I awoke stiff with a sore neck, kinked back and ankle throbbing. I looked at the bed. Surprise hit me, Leon was not there. I slowly rubbed the back of my neck and stood. Blood rushed to my ankle and the throbbing worsened. Gently I walked into the main room where I found Keiko and Wyatt playing quietly stacking blocks and wood. Juji was still sleeping.
I searched for something we could eat and settled on cooked oats. As breakfast was about ready I heard an enthusiastic knock on the door.
I wasn’t sure if I should answer it, but Wyatt had ran to the door and was already turning the knob to let in our unknown guest.
Standing at the door was a tall slender women. She had olive skin and her face reminded me of Leon. She had darker brown hair then him flowing mid length down her back and deep violet eyes. The color of twilight. She smiled at Wyatt and opened the door wide. I wasn’t sure what to do. I just stood there.
“You must be the reason my brother is so mysterious these days?”
I didn’t know what to say. Brother? Was he being mysterious? I wouldn’t know.
She looked at Wyatt, patted him on the head and then glanced behind her. She was looking for something.
“Sasha, Get in here! Sasha!” She yelled with a smile.
Before I knew it a small young wolf pup with fire red fur crept around the door hinge and hid behind this women’s legs.
The minute Wyatt saw her, he tried to grab her.
“Puppy.”
Before you could blink, Keiko, Wyatt, and Juji were cooing the pup out from behind the pair of well toned legs. I didn’t even know Juji was awake. At the sound of puppy, her eyes must have popped open and there she was in the mist of the group.
“Where are my manners? I’m Sanna. Leon’s big sister. This is Sasha. My husband Ethan told me Leon had guests and I had to see for myself. Hallelujah! Miracles must exist.”
Sanna sauntered right over to the fire I was standing in front of and started stirring the oats. Before I knew it, we were all eating and talking over breakfast. Sanna was very open, warm and full of questions. She was casual and easy to talk to. My head was spinning from all the information she was giving me and I was surprised at my forthcoming of information in return.
We had been talking while the kids and Sasha played. I had opened up to her about things I had never told a sole. We talked about my life before the fortress. What the fortress was like. How I followed my mother in the prison wagon to the holding cells. People and creatures I had seen. The arena games. How I left. How the kids came to be family. How we got separated. Day to day life? Finally, How we got to here.
Sanna was just as forthcoming about them. She told me that when Leon was twelve years old there village was in a terrible dispute over the Eastern border. Their father, the chief, had taken a pack of warriors to defend the border from Raiders and River Pixie’s. They secured the border and made a treaty with the Pixie’s. As they were returning home. A small band of Raiders ambushed them. Many were killed, including their father. Leon became chief of the village then. Their mother was so heartbroken and distraught, she left the village. Said she couldn’t stay. To many memories. She visits occasionally. Last time, was when Sasha was born.
“So Sasha, can she shape shift back and forth?” I asked.
“Yes, and No. She doesn’t have the ability to control her transformations at this young age. Babies are born like you. When they reach about four, sometimes earlier or later depending on there developmental state. They transform to a puppy like state. They can understand you perfectly. If you are one of us, you can understand them back. Sasha will be like this for a few years, then she will be able to start controlling the transformations. It takes practice.”
“So, you can transform as well? Can everyone here transform?” I was intrigued by this revelation.
“Yeah, did Leon tell you nothing?”
“Nope, not a thing. Told me he hunted and helped keep the village safe.” I said sarcastically.
“That’s Leon, the big talker.” She rolled her eyes as she spoke.
“Are you all wolves, and how many are you?”
/> “Yeah, to the South is another group. We rarely see them. There are some rogue packs that are dangerous. They wander the Western woodland area. We stay clear of those woods if we can.”
“Do you not travel much then?”
“No, we stick to our lands. Any outside travel requires permission.”
“So how does this Elders Council Leon mentioned work?” I asked next.
“The Council was originally put in place over a hundred years ago to assist the Chief. They are to impart knowledge, counsel solutions, and help implement strategies the Chief has decided are best for the Village. When Leon became chief, he was so young, they took on a more active role. He fights with them now all the time. They make laws and rules without his consent. There is one council member, Sr. High Councilman Raoul, who has been trying to help Leon change things back to the way it was. Elder Erebos, if he has his way, would kick Elder Raoul off the council. Luckily, he doesn’t have the power to do that. He has however, taken away Raoul’s vote in most matters.”
“Is that why we need permission to be here?”
“Yes, they put that rule in two days after my mother left; to protect the borders they say. Leon thinks it’s more political. Thinks they didn’t want our mother influencing him. Raoul says, it to keep out information from the outside world, then whatever lie the Council comes up with must be truth. No one to say otherwise. That’s what Leon tells me anyway. We in turn never leave. That’s also why our Mom doesn’t see us much. Leon says they are the ones stopping her from returning. I believe it. She had to plead with the Council for three months just to visit us when Sasha was born. Even then she was only granted a weeks visit, unable to return permanently.”
“Can the villagers or anyone else do anything to stop the Council?”
“Most are scared they will be banished from the village. Lose what protection they have. So it’s hard for them.”
