Dawn

by Marcus LaGrone

  Kate flashed a glance at her bandaged wrist before snarling back, “Whoever I pick is mine―just get used to it.”

  “He doesn’t even like you.”

  “That’s what you say now; when I get done with you, he’ll spurn you like the trash you are.”

  Dawn cocked her head as she felt her blood starting to boil, “And just what do you think you can do to me?”

  Kate laughed a cruel laugh, “I’m going to hunt down all the dirt on you, everything you’ve ever done, everything you’ve ever tried to hide and I’m going to parade it around in front of you. I’ll destroy you in front of his very eyes.”

  “You don’t get it,” began Lynn, “tearing someone down doesn’t make you any better, it just makes you petty!”

  Kate’s eyes flashed with rage and she backhanded Lynn hard enough to send the unsuspecting girl to the floor, “You stay out of this, snowball! This is between soot girl and me!”

  Dawn’s pulse went level and an unfamiliar calm swept over her as adrenalin dumped into her system and her father’s training took over, “You know, I was raised originally as a Winteroak. Diplomacy and the effort to help all people see eye to eye was the staple of my early life.” Her eyes narrowed as she continued, “But now, I’m a Stratford, and Stratford girls don’t take crap from anyone, much less self-important troglodytes with delusions of grandeur.” Something from deep down welled up inside, and her voice tightened another notch, “You have insulted me, tried to steal my boyfriend, and you hit my best friend.” Twin curved short swords winked into existence with a blue flourish and she brought them to bear on Kate, “You have ten seconds to get your whiny butt out of my sight.”

  Flabbergasted, Kate recoiled, “You, you wouldn’t dare hurt me. My mother…,”

  “Your mother isn’t here! I am! And no, I’m not going to hurt you…” Dawn cracked an evil smile.

  Kate gulped nervously.

  “I’m going to shave you!” Dawn finished.

  Kate’s eyes went wide and her mouth went dry as she fought for air. Kate staggered momentarily before she ran screaming out of the restrooms.

  Dawn let out a long sigh and then crumpled against the wall as the swords winked out and were gone. She had both rocks and butterflies in her stomach at the same time―to think some people went in search of an adrenalin buzz! Quickly she shifted gears as she saw poor Lynn struggling to get up off the floor. “Are you okay?” Dawn asked as she tried to help Lynn up.

  “Wow! You Stratford girls are pretty serious!” she tried to joke. “I’d hate to see what the boys are like!”

  “I think the forces of nature have aligned to make sure that doesn’t happen,” she joked in return. “How bad did she hurt your face?”

  “It stings, a lot!” Lynn dusted herself off and had a good long look in the mirror.

  “It looks like you have a slight cut under your eye. I think it was from a ring she was wearing.”

  Lynn poked the area lightly and winced lightly, “Yep, that is going to be fun in the morning.”

  “Here, let me help wash it up.” Dawn took a hand towel and soaked it in cold water before trying to blot the wound.

  “Odds are, my eye is going to swell, too. This is going to be fun to explain.”

  Dawn made a mild raspberry, “Heh, just tell the truth. Psycho girl went all crazy because she couldn’t handle the truth.”

  “If I didn’t need to go to the bathroom before, I sure do now. That was intense!”

  “Is there a problem in here,” called a voice from outside. Dawn’s mind raced as she tried to place the voice.

  A second later her guess was proven right as the Lady Mayor stepped in, “Kate came running out in quite a state, is there…” She caught a look at Lynn’s face and instantly melted. “Oh, please tell me Kate didn’t do that to you.”

  Dawn and Lynn looked sheepishly at each other.

  The Lady Mayor grimaced, “Not again! When will that girl learn some manners!” She fussed over Lynn, wetting another hand towel and tended to the wound. “Oh, you poor dear.”

  Dawn was just grateful they didn’t have to explain why Kate went running. “It looks like she has a slight cut under her eye too, ma’am.”

  The Lady Mayor rotated Lynn in the light and remarked in disgust, “Yes, it looks like she caught her with either a ring or a claw. Please tell me she didn’t go for the eyes on purpose.”

  “She didn’t, ma’am, she backhanded me,” Lynn offered.

  “So Kate lost it on you and then Dawn stepped up to help,” she led.

  Lynn nodded, “Pretty much.”

  The Mayor turned to Dawn, “I don’t know what you did, and honestly I don’t care. Kate most likely deserved it. Oh! That girl.” She paused to catch her breath and fumed to herself a bit before turning back to Lynn, “Lynn my darling, tomorrow morning and every morning for the next week, Kate will come by your house. If you have any chores, or if you family needs any errands run, she will do them for you. If she gives anyone any lip, we’ll tack on another day or two. Does that sound fair to you?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” replied Lynn.

  Dawn almost laughed. Kate having to do whatever Lynn said for a week. That was going to be fun. The same thought must have hit Lynn as she too started to smirk broadly.

  “Okay, Dawn, can you help her finish cleaning up? I need to go apologize to her First Mother.”

  “Gladly, ma’am,” Dawn replied smartly.

  The Lady Mayor kissed Lynn gently on the forehead, turned, and headed out.

  Dawn sighed audibly before the two girls made eye contact and then broke out laughing. Lynn cut the laughing short as the severe facial movements suddenly made her cut hurt even more. She quickly reapplied the wet towel and continued her mirth more moderately.

  “Maybe you should have shaved her whiskers off at least!” Lynn offered.

  Dawn shook her head. “No. I dodged that one and that is good enough for me,” she smiled back.

  With a cold towel still on Lynn’s face, the pair emerged only to find a bit of a crowd was gathered near the door. They tried to ignore them as a parade of elders made sympathetic noises in Lynn’s direction. They threaded through the small crowd giving noncommittal smiles as they went in search of Gavin.

  “Over here,” he called out and waved to catch their attention. His broad smile turned to concern as the girls approached. “What in the world happened to Lynn? Is that what all the screaming was about?”

  “I’m all right, really. Kate kinda hit me and then Dawn made her leave,” Lynn assured.

  “Made her leave screaming like a ninny!” Gavin observed. He shot a glance at Dawn, “Are you all right? You are shaking like a leaf in autumn.”

  Dawn tried to smile. She guessed her nervousness was showing outside as well! “Just a little rattled. No big deal compared to Lynn.”

  Gavin smiled and gave them both a careful hug, “You two need to pick your battles more carefully if you want help with them in the future. There are some places I just won’t go,” he joked.

  “Dawn held her own,” Lynn said proudly.

  “Speak for yourself! Next time something like that happens, I want Gavin around, even if we have to blindfold him!”

  They all laughed at that and started to thread their way back toward the dance floor.

  Suddenly Dawn’s head started to spin and her fur started to stand on end. She stopped and quickly surveyed her surroundings. Her instincts started to kick in as a tale-tale smell teased her nose. She strained her head as she sniffed around her.

  “Inhale through your nose and your mouth. It helps separate the smells,” Gavin suggested evenly.

  Dawn was suddenly aware that she had held up the group and started to apologize, but Gavin cut her short.

  “Something set you off. Don’t hide it, don’t fight it. Your senses are trying to help you. Now breathe and think,” Gavin instructed.

  Dawn closed her eyes as she spun slowly sampling the air.

  �
�What is the first emotion that comes to mind?”

  “Fear,” replied Dawn without even thinking. “Fear on my part, hunger on the other.”

  “Forget smell. What do you taste?”

  “It is sweet but putrid.”

  Gavin suddenly grew more anxious, “We need to find Owen or your father. Now!”

  “Kartivalds?” Dawn whispered.

  Gavin nodded, “Quite possibly. Better safe than sorry.”

  Dawn spun and looked to the stand where her mothers were performing. She caught the eye of one of the twins and then mouthed “father.” The twin turned and pointed to the far end of the court. “Come on! This way!” Dawn called. The three fought their way through the crowd, more rudely than they cared for, but with an urgency on their face that brought them many pardons. After what seemed like an hour, but had to have been only a few minutes, Dawn caught sight of Llewellyn sitting on a bench.

  “Father, I think there is trouble,” she began as they closed. She stopped short as she noticed blood all over his pants and then realized they were the source of the acrid sweet smell.

  Llewellyn smiled broadly at the trio, “Good nose on you girl! Oh yes, plenty of trouble.”

  “Was it kartivalds, sir?” asked Gavin more than a little curious and nervous.

  He smiled and nodded, “Just a few. We had to put two of them down, but the other three we subdued and then we tied their furry butts up! That was the easy part. Just have to handle a few loose ends. Go and have fun at the dance, don’t let other people spoil it for you.” He suddenly caught a good look at Lynn’s face, “Ouch! What happened, little one?”

  “Oh, it’s not as bad as it looks, sir,” Lynn replied. “Kate just had a bad day and got carried away.”

  Llewellyn cocked his head and looked at Dawn, “Did you shave her bald?”

  Dawn and Lynn both shared a laugh at that. “No, Father, but that is what I threatened.”

  “Good girl. Now go dance, play, and have fun. Owen and I are working hard so it doesn’t spoil your day. Is all our work going to be in vain?” Llewellyn asked playfully.

  “No, Dad.” Dawn smiled and carefully hugged her father, dodging the foul smelling stains. “You may need to burn those pants.”

  Llewellyn nodded and laughed, “It is quite a stench. Now go!”

  The trio made short farewells and turned to rejoin the dance floor. Once again, they threaded through the crowd, this time with more courtesy and much less apprehension.

  “Your father is way too calm,” observed Lynn humorously.

  “No, he is just that awesome,” countered Gavin.

  “I’ve seen him upset, once. I’m quite happy with ‘way too calm,’” laughed Dawn. Dawn suddenly found herself staring at the back of Gavin’s head as he peered at the upper floor of a nearby building. “Gavin?”

  “There is a fist fight in that room,” he said calmly but quietly.

  Lynn shivered and moved in close to the pair, “Do we need to tell your father?”

  Suddenly the third floor window broke as a man fell out. He bounced off of an eave on the first floor and landed with a grunt on the ground not far from them. Owen peered out the window to the fallen figure below and then dashed back inside.

  Battered and bruised, the man tried to try stand up.

  “Oh, no you don’t!” shouted Gavin as he quickly delivered a roundhouse to the man’s head. “If Owen wants you to stay down, you stay down!”

  A noncommittal grunt came from the fallen man as he rolled over in obvious pain.

  Dawn started to join Gavin when she saw the man produce an off-world pistol from under his coat. Without even thinking, Dawn lunged and a short sword flashed blue as it split the weapon in half. The man recoiled and then froze, held in place at sword point.

  Owen and Llewellyn closed in flash. “Hey, Owen, I thought the plan was to take him quietly. Now we have to replace a window,” complained Llewellyn with a grin.

  Owen frisked the man, producing two more weapons which he cast aside before shackling the prisoner’s arms and legs together. “Didn’t get a chance to finish reading ‘the plan’ to him before he decided to improvise. And the rest of the cast?”

  “Two small fries on ice. Up for a good chase through the woods for the rest?”

  “Let my boys lock him up and then it does sound like a fun way to spend the evening. Running through the woods after felons with murderous intent, dodging ambushes―great fun.”

  “I knew you’d see it my way,” beamed Llewellyn without a hint of sarcasm. He cocked his head at Gavin and Dawn, “Now look, you two, while we appreciate the help, we’d really appreciate if you two would march over there with that nice girl, um…”

  “Lynn,” prompted Dawn. “Would you like a formal introduction?”

  “Dear me, no! And spoil my reputation? You kids go grab Lynn and go have a good time.”

  Dawn laughed, “Yes, Father.” Dawn bit her lip as she stared at the fugitive carefully, “Did you get the ‘Eric’ guy?”

  Llewellyn shook his head, “Unfortunately, no. He left town as soon as we found his little pets. Actually that isn’t true; he hadn’t quite made it to town yet. Heavens, those things smell! Makes them easy to track! But you knew that, eh? We intercepted the first group early today actually, and then just waited to see if the rest were dumb enough to proceed without hearing back from the other group.” A great laugh erupted from him as he continued, “Oh yes! They were plenty dumb, but Eric kept to the rear and made good his escape at the first sign of trouble. First and foremost, he is just a bully, and deep down, bullies are all cowards. They may poke and prod around the edges, but then they get other people to do their dirty work. But when your coat is all combed, they will run from a fair fight. Not that we planned on being all that fair.” His grin would have scared Dawn if she didn’t know him better. “Gavin.”

  “Sir?”

  “If those two nice girls don’t have a good time, I’m holding you responsible! Now get! I should be looking at the back of your heads by now!”

  Dawn and Gavin laughed as they rejoined Lynn.

  “Shall we dance?” asked Gavin, “Before I get in trouble!”

  They watched as the interloper was hauled away and turned as the crowd started to disperse to rejoin the main festivities.

  “I don’t envy them in the woods. Once a person’s plans go awry, they are more likely to do crazy or stupid things. Few things are worse than an injured animal,” observed Gavin.

  A sudden chill gripped Dawn. Kate. Kate had her pride wounded. How dangerous would she be? How low would she go? Dawn pulled away from the trio and turned away as she fought to keep the tears under control. Everything is so perfect! What would Kate do?

  Gavin turned to Dawn, “Dawn? Are you okay? Did I say or do something wrong?”

  Dawn just wailed and pushed him away.

  Lynn looked horribly confused but tried to solace, “Dawn? What’s wrong? Don’t leave Gavin hanging; he is just trying to help.”

  Dawn looked up into Lynn’s sincere eyes and then hurried away with her to a quiet corner, “It’s Kate! Just like Gavin said: wounded animals are dangerous. Her pride is shot, and boy is she an animal! What is she going to do? Is she going to make good on her threat?”

  Lynn looked her straight in the eyes, “Look girl, there is nothing in the world that could shake Gavin. He adores you! Anyone can see that! Besides, you are what, fourteen? How many deep dark secrets can you actually have?”

  Dawn looked up, all but bawling, “I have one… One only my father knows about… I haven’t even told my Second Mother!”

  “You are young, the world is new and full. There is nothing that you can’t learn from and make better. Whatever this secret is, it is too early in your life to let it wear you down. You have been through so much already.”

  “But what if he turns me away! You and he are my only friends outside of family right now. I cannot afford to lose you two. I’m such a freak.”

  “A
freak because of your coat? You are unique, not a freak. Your coat is no secret and he loves how you look. I’m more than a little envious of how glossy your coat is, I do confess.”

  “It’s not just the coat. It’s far worse than that. All my sisters used to pick on me for it.”

  “Did they pick on you for the color of your coat as well?”

  “Yes…”

  “Well, that is a pretty low bar then, isn’t it? Siblings can say pretty rotten things. Trust me! I had three! Odds are if they were picking on you, they were also jealous.”

  “I doubt that.”

  “Ugh… Let’s try a different approach: if you think Kate may find out this secret anyway, then it is to your advantage to tell Gavin on your own terms. Do you think you can hold this secret tight forever, or will it get out anyway at some point?”

  Dawn just blinked absently.

  “Who is in charge, girl, you or someone else? Who is controlling your life?”

  “I am…”

  “Then take charge! Take initiative! Diffuse Kate before she can strike!”

  Dawn thought for a long while, “Will you come with me?”

  “Certainly! Let’s get you cleaned up a bit first and then go have a nice talk with Gavin.”

  Lynn took the cold towel she had been using for her hurt eye and carefully cleaned the tears from Dawn’s face, “There you go. I’m with you. We do this together.”

  Dawn nodded and the pair walked to the edge of the crowd and waved the nervous Gavin over to them.

  “Dawn, are you all right?” Gavin asked more than a little worried.

  Dawn nodded, “Kate threatened to hunt down everything wrong with me, so I figured I’d tell you first.”

  “Hey, you’re wonderful! You’re cute and smart and…”

  “We will see how cute you think I am in a little bit,” Dawn said nervously. “Let’s cut over to that alley. Lynn, you too!”

  Lynn smiled broadly and held Dawn’s hand as they entered the alley.

  When they were quite sure they were alone Dawn turned to Gavin, “Okay. Now undo the back of my dress.”