by J. Todd
Chapter Nine
I do not know how long I was unconscious, but I was told it was for a very long time. I was also told I was carried the entire time by Arian. He brought me home. I had wanted to die, I think. I had been partially the cause of the monsters. I was not alone in the blame. My entire family was. The Changelings came back to the clearing with Arian and me. The baby that had been born and its mother were both glad to see our return. Hey had stayed in the clearing with Auntie. Auntie helped Arian care for me while I slept. I did not know why I continued to sleep, but I did.
I wandered in my mind, lost and alone. I saw the monsters I had hunted, both human and not human. I saw the faces of those I could not save. I saw the faces of my family. All were contorted into expressions of final pain before death. All were dead. I relived the death of my last remaining family member. I saw again and again Arian plunging the dagger into Uncle Erik's chest. I forgave Arian, he did what he had to do to save the remaining humans on Earth.
When I awoke I was not alone. I pretended to continue to sleep until the presence left. It was Auntie. I knew. I rose and dressed. I slipped out of the cottage and ran for the woods. I went to the graves of my mother, my father, and my sister. I fell upon them and cried. I was alone. They had left me to this nightmare I had called my life for so long. I knew now I had never lived. I had suffered with them and after they had left me I still suffered. All because of my family, my uncle, I suffered. I stood, finally dry of tears and walked to the vines that would end my life. Alone. I was alone.
As I reached the vines I felt a shiver of light enter my mind. I felt love. I wavered for a moment at the edge of the vines. I turned to look back one more time and found them waiting. Friends and love. Arian and Auntie waited in the front. Behind them were the Changelings and the townsfolk of Sanctuary. They waited for me. They said nothing. Just waited. I turned again to the vines. They reached for me, but could not touch me. I looked over my shoulder at my friends.
Tears filled my eyes, but I did not shed them. I stepped within reach o the vines. Then my body took over. I sprinted from a cold start. I could not die. My body wanted to live. It eluded the vines with the ease of practice. I jumped and tumbled and swayed away from any attempt the vines made to capture me. I stayed within the circle of vines. I never left its reach, but I did not give in. Everyone waited. Finally, I faltered and tossed my body from the vines reach. I lay on the ground and gasped for air. I exhausted myself. I waited. Alone. I waited alone for the love I knew I needed to survive.
Once I had my breath under control I stood slowly and turned to face the love I had for an instant discarded in favor of death. I waited for them. Alone.
Arian stepped forth first. He came to me and wrapped his arms around me. "I am here. You are not alone." He whispered. I realized I was never alone. This was why my body ran and jumped and avoided the vines. It knew I was not alone. I had friends, I had love.
"How did you know?" I whispered.
"You have been alone too long. I saw that when I first saw you, but you cared anyway." He whispered to me. "This is why we all love you. I never want to be without you. I would have went in after you if you truly meant to die there. That is how much I love you." He buried his face in my tangled hair. "I need you." He breathed into my neck. My arms wrapped around his waist and I wept. This time with happiness. When I was done Arian lead me to the townsfolk who had waited patiently. I walked among them tired and happy. I was finally home.
I learned from Arian and Auntie the townsfolk had come when she went to her od home in Sanctuary to get healing supplies for the Changelings. They had accepted the Changelings after they found they had gone to save me from my uncle. The Changelings had left the day after I had left. They had followed my tracks to Auntie. The woman with the baby had left the group upon Auntie's story of my visit. Auntie and the Changeling went back to my clearing. They stayed and waited. Upon the return of the Changelings and my sleeping body Auntie went to get the things required for my recovery and told the townspeople what I had done. The Changelings had not told them who I was in relation to Erik. Nor did they say Arian had killed Erik. They told everyone I had done the deed. They said I was outnumbered by fifty to one and even with my exceptional skills was hurt and faltered when they came in and saved me. They gave me the credit for everything.
I do not need the credit for my fractured heart. I have been through the furnace and found myself wanting. I decided I could no longer be who I was when I hunted. I became another person. I could again be the person I was before my family was killed, but this time I was stronger and although I was different inside I still found the corners where my former self had fled that day so long ago. I also found my hunter self had fled to those corners to await a day that self was needed again. I was again Ariana. White Owl had slept. Ariana had awakened and she was the one who had purged herself in the vines reach of death. White Owl had waited for my decision to live or die. If I had died, it would have been as White Owl. I had lived, however, and now was Ariana again.
That is my story. I found my life of loneliness had become full and happy. I had driven the monsters from my heart as well as purged the world of those who created the monsters who preyed upon the humans. I was a hero as White Owl, but as Ariana I was a woman. Arian and I were married later in the year. Now I am a town woman of Sanctuary. The Changelings and the humans were now one people.
I may have lived a nightmare in my youth, but now I am living a dream.
The End.
A Note from the Author
Dear Reader,
I am glad you have chosen Memoirs of White Owl to read. I really appreciate your willingness to read a new author. Please feel free to read any other stories I have written. The titles are: The Wish of Vesperia; The Lonely Bear; and The Brothel Chronicles. Please feel free to read any others I will be writing in the future as well. Thank you for supporting my meager skills.
Sincerely,
J. Todd
