Sunflowers and Moonmonsters
Quote from Mae on March 10, 2023, 2:44 amMercy stared at the window as she sifted through her thoughts, trying to imagine the future, wishing she could rewrite the past, and all of it coming to rest on one man. When Mercy's eyes lifted, the weeping woman's heart was steeled again, and the light of the hunter was in them.
"I'll help you." She said. "I want to help you - whatever it takes. Put him behind bars."
Sometimes life can be a pill. For Mercy, it was several pills swallowed all at once. She had grown up in a military family. Life was hard, but you didn't quit. She followed in the footsteps of her parent's mud boots. When Charlie came into the picture, she left active duty. She was on the hunt for work when she met Douglas at a private shooting range. He took to the woman, and her rifle. Over time, he introduced her to Harvey and the other hunters... then came that night four months ago.
HARVEY'S GARAGE,
REKNAB BEND COUNTRYSIDE - May 16thMercy Danbrook stood outside the back of Jon Dugston's truck with her partner, Douglas Hampshire. The moon was rising over the mountain ridge through a rolling thunderhead of dark clouds. In the clearing outside Harvey's garage, the rest of the crew were uneasily waiting for the buyer.
Mercy scanned the dark horizon under the mountain. She watched the swaying wheat warily. "How many more do you think are out there?" She asked.
"Just keep your eyes out." Douglas said.Mercy played a simple, supporting role: Watch everything and shoot only once. In high school her talent was a sure-shot that turned into a sniper's acuity, but it never gave her a civilian's job. When she came into contact with Douglas a few years back he offered a way to use her talents to put food on the table, but he'd been short on the job description. Douglas trained her to hunt and fight an exceptional breed of animal. All things considered, the training exercises had her expecting some form of drug gang. Douglas said 'werewolves' but Mercy never dreamed they were real until Phantom Mountain, when she saw the werewolf with her own eyes.
Now, Mercy was thinking of ways to tell her four-year old son about it. He was home alone right now, sitting quietly in her bedroom with his coloring pages and plastic toy trucks. Every time this job required her to work or train at odd hours she always told him the same thing: "Stay inside and keep the door closed. Momma's going to be back in time to make dinner, Charlie." He had no one to watch over him. But he seemed to understand things a four year old would not be expected to understand. Loving his mother dearly, he always did his best by her. Likewise, everything Mercy did was for him. Thinking of those nights when she set Charlie down to a warm meal, to fill his round belly, and snuggle him up in bed, made the struggle and tears of every day fade to grey behind the exuberant color of his contentment. He would love a story about the werewolf with the "rabbit-colored fur" after dinner tonight.
Mercy quietly patrolled around the side of the truck and saw Jon conversing with Daniel out the driver's side door. She could not hear what they were saying, but she noticed when the former motioned for attention of the latter to the southeast.
"There's a car out there." Mercy informed Douglas. He was standing on the back of Jon's truck with his eyes toward the mountain.
"Make sure you can see everyone." Douglas said.
Mercy saw Harvey, Alfred, Hal and Mary talking across the gravel road. Their attention was on the car far out to field, and another pair of passing lights."Who's coming to get these guys, anyway?" Mercy wanted to ask, "Who buys these things?"
Douglas wasn't a talkative man. He told her that the less she knew the better. As she thought about the scene before the werewolves were captured, she was inclined to agree.
Suddenly a cold wind picked up that sent a shiver down Mercy's back. Douglas caught her eye and signaled her into position as the black limousine arrived. Mercy would have the best vantage and feel less exposed in the wheat, and so long as Douglas' eyes were aimed out there, he would be watching her back. So, she stepped into the field, found an elevated mound amid the wheat, and knelt down to keep an eye on the transaction.Mercy waited and watched as the buyer drove up and stepped out. Harvey left his position, followed by Mary and the others. The 'buyer' was a strange bleached woman. Mercy got low and aimed her rifle to get a better look through her view-finder. There was something strange about her appearance. Mercy couldn't place it. Then, there was a strange feeling that raced up her spine. It was as if the hair on the back of her neck suddenly stood on end. She turned around and saw two glinting eyes racing out of the wheat behind her!
Mercy's scream penetrated the air. Deadly Douglas jumped off the back of the truck and raced into the field.
The next few moments were dim to recall. Mercy saw the wheat stalks flying past her as she was dragged backward into the field. She could feel her leg burning. The headlights of the trucks grew distant with remarkable speed. She struggled to retain her gun over the rough terrain. She managed to twist herself around and aimed to shoot the animal that had her by the leg, but just then it dropped her and vanished into the wheat.
****
Douglas only caught a glimpse of the werewolf. When he found Mercy, she was badly injured and quite shaken. He searched the wheat for her assailant, but found nothing except a three-toed pawprint in the mud... After securing the area, Douglas carried Mercy back to the garage. When he got back, he found the hunters nursing their wounds and all the werewolves were gone.
Mercy stared at the window as she sifted through her thoughts, trying to imagine the future, wishing she could rewrite the past, and all of it coming to rest on one man. When Mercy's eyes lifted, the weeping woman's heart was steeled again, and the light of the hunter was in them.
"I'll help you." She said. "I want to help you - whatever it takes. Put him behind bars."
Sometimes life can be a pill. For Mercy, it was several pills swallowed all at once. She had grown up in a military family. Life was hard, but you didn't quit. She followed in the footsteps of her parent's mud boots. When Charlie came into the picture, she left active duty. She was on the hunt for work when she met Douglas at a private shooting range. He took to the woman, and her rifle. Over time, he introduced her to Harvey and the other hunters... then came that night four months ago.
HARVEY'S GARAGE,
REKNAB BEND COUNTRYSIDE - May 16thMercy Danbrook stood outside the back of Jon Dugston's truck with her partner, Douglas Hampshire. The moon was rising over the mountain ridge through a rolling thunderhead of dark clouds. In the clearing outside Harvey's garage, the rest of the crew were uneasily waiting for the buyer.
Mercy scanned the dark horizon under the mountain. She watched the swaying wheat warily. "How many more do you think are out there?" She asked.
"Just keep your eyes out." Douglas said.Mercy played a simple, supporting role: Watch everything and shoot only once. In high school her talent was a sure-shot that turned into a sniper's acuity, but it never gave her a civilian's job. When she came into contact with Douglas a few years back he offered a way to use her talents to put food on the table, but he'd been short on the job description. Douglas trained her to hunt and fight an exceptional breed of animal. All things considered, the training exercises had her expecting some form of drug gang. Douglas said 'werewolves' but Mercy never dreamed they were real until Phantom Mountain, when she saw the werewolf with her own eyes.
Now, Mercy was thinking of ways to tell her four-year old son about it. He was home alone right now, sitting quietly in her bedroom with his coloring pages and plastic toy trucks. Every time this job required her to work or train at odd hours she always told him the same thing: "Stay inside and keep the door closed. Momma's going to be back in time to make dinner, Charlie." He had no one to watch over him. But he seemed to understand things a four year old would not be expected to understand. Loving his mother dearly, he always did his best by her. Likewise, everything Mercy did was for him. Thinking of those nights when she set Charlie down to a warm meal, to fill his round belly, and snuggle him up in bed, made the struggle and tears of every day fade to grey behind the exuberant color of his contentment. He would love a story about the werewolf with the "rabbit-colored fur" after dinner tonight.
Mercy quietly patrolled around the side of the truck and saw Jon conversing with Daniel out the driver's side door. She could not hear what they were saying, but she noticed when the former motioned for attention of the latter to the southeast.
"There's a car out there." Mercy informed Douglas. He was standing on the back of Jon's truck with his eyes toward the mountain.
"Make sure you can see everyone." Douglas said.
Mercy saw Harvey, Alfred, Hal and Mary talking across the gravel road. Their attention was on the car far out to field, and another pair of passing lights."Who's coming to get these guys, anyway?" Mercy wanted to ask, "Who buys these things?"
Douglas wasn't a talkative man. He told her that the less she knew the better. As she thought about the scene before the werewolves were captured, she was inclined to agree.
Suddenly a cold wind picked up that sent a shiver down Mercy's back. Douglas caught her eye and signaled her into position as the black limousine arrived. Mercy would have the best vantage and feel less exposed in the wheat, and so long as Douglas' eyes were aimed out there, he would be watching her back. So, she stepped into the field, found an elevated mound amid the wheat, and knelt down to keep an eye on the transaction.Mercy waited and watched as the buyer drove up and stepped out. Harvey left his position, followed by Mary and the others. The 'buyer' was a strange bleached woman. Mercy got low and aimed her rifle to get a better look through her view-finder. There was something strange about her appearance. Mercy couldn't place it. Then, there was a strange feeling that raced up her spine. It was as if the hair on the back of her neck suddenly stood on end. She turned around and saw two glinting eyes racing out of the wheat behind her!
Mercy's scream penetrated the air. Deadly Douglas jumped off the back of the truck and raced into the field.
The next few moments were dim to recall. Mercy saw the wheat stalks flying past her as she was dragged backward into the field. She could feel her leg burning. The headlights of the trucks grew distant with remarkable speed. She struggled to retain her gun over the rough terrain. She managed to twist herself around and aimed to shoot the animal that had her by the leg, but just then it dropped her and vanished into the wheat.
****
Douglas only caught a glimpse of the werewolf. When he found Mercy, she was badly injured and quite shaken. He searched the wheat for her assailant, but found nothing except a three-toed pawprint in the mud... After securing the area, Douglas carried Mercy back to the garage. When he got back, he found the hunters nursing their wounds and all the werewolves were gone.
Quote from Adriana on March 14, 2023, 7:09 pmI looked up. She had that look. I had lost that look a while ago, although I knew it all too well. I want to help you. That line was important because this wasn't about me. I didn't know the man who'd done her and her son wrong - leastways I don't think I'd met him, but they all blend together after a while.
Nonetheless, this - this was about vengeance.
In my heart of hearts I knew the battle was futile. You could take down a hundred like him and there they'd be - a hundred and ten more lined up. Blood breeds blood breeds blood. Put him behind bars and the next day the judge would let him loose, say there was some kind of mistake. Put him underground and ten of his men come looking for you.
"I'm not your woman. Maybe five years ago, maybe even a year ago, but today-I'm not your woman." I said softly, waiting for those embers to kick up.
"I'm about outta fight - now, someone comes poking their head around on this land, you can bet your good leg I'm going fight tooth and nail until one of us ain't standing. But I'm not about to go looking for trouble. The good Lord gave me about as many lives as a cat and I've gone and spent all but my last one just tryin' to stay out of trouble, I'm not gonna go looking. And for his sake... you shouldn't, either." I pointed with my two forefingers towards Charlie, my hands still intertwined.
I looked up. She had that look. I had lost that look a while ago, although I knew it all too well. I want to help you. That line was important because this wasn't about me. I didn't know the man who'd done her and her son wrong - leastways I don't think I'd met him, but they all blend together after a while.
Nonetheless, this - this was about vengeance.
In my heart of hearts I knew the battle was futile. You could take down a hundred like him and there they'd be - a hundred and ten more lined up. Blood breeds blood breeds blood. Put him behind bars and the next day the judge would let him loose, say there was some kind of mistake. Put him underground and ten of his men come looking for you.
"I'm not your woman. Maybe five years ago, maybe even a year ago, but today-I'm not your woman." I said softly, waiting for those embers to kick up.
"I'm about outta fight - now, someone comes poking their head around on this land, you can bet your good leg I'm going fight tooth and nail until one of us ain't standing. But I'm not about to go looking for trouble. The good Lord gave me about as many lives as a cat and I've gone and spent all but my last one just tryin' to stay out of trouble, I'm not gonna go looking. And for his sake... you shouldn't, either." I pointed with my two forefingers towards Charlie, my hands still intertwined.
Quote from Mae on March 15, 2023, 9:40 pmMercy was undeterred.
"I know where the bunkers are." She said earnestly.
Mercy said no more than that. She need say no more. Those were the most helpful words she knew, and the most dangerous words she could say.
HARVEY'S GARAGE,
REKNAB BEND COUNTRYSIDE - May 16th"Hal, go check on Calerry and Miles." Harvey said, and Hal scurried off like the thin-faced, broad-bodied weasel he was.
"I'm going to need your keys, Alfred." Harvey said. Alfred complied, cursing as he did so. The townsfolk of Reknab bend would later hear about how Al's car was totaled in a ditch in an accident that broke Harvey's collar bone, put Jon Dugston's head in bandages, and left the other hunters bruised and battered.
Meanwhile, Mary finished wrapping wounds and looked out on the field.
"Douglas and Mercy were supposed to be watchin' our backs." She said. "Where are they?"BADGERS ROW,
REKNAB BEND COUNTRYSIDE - May 17thRain pounded on the windows of Douglas' little log cabin. Mercy slowly began to come to. A deep sense of heaviness held sway over all her faculties. She looked around the room. She couldn't recognize anything, or remember the last time she saw a living soul. She heard the rain pounding the windows and the trees outside creaking in the wind. She was not conscious of any pain in her body, nor really any feeling at all.
"Where am I?" Her voice was only a thought in her mind. She hardly noticed the words leave her lips. "Where's Charlie?"
Vaguely she became aware that someone was in the room. She heard a voice, but did not understand what was said.
"Where am I? Where's Charlie?" She persisted. She attempted to lift her hand in vain.
The voice repeated itself but Mercy still could not understand.
"I need to see Charlie...." She muttered, but she remembered no more.
Mercy was undeterred.
"I know where the bunkers are." She said earnestly.
Mercy said no more than that. She need say no more. Those were the most helpful words she knew, and the most dangerous words she could say.
HARVEY'S GARAGE,
REKNAB BEND COUNTRYSIDE - May 16th"Hal, go check on Calerry and Miles." Harvey said, and Hal scurried off like the thin-faced, broad-bodied weasel he was.
"I'm going to need your keys, Alfred." Harvey said. Alfred complied, cursing as he did so. The townsfolk of Reknab bend would later hear about how Al's car was totaled in a ditch in an accident that broke Harvey's collar bone, put Jon Dugston's head in bandages, and left the other hunters bruised and battered.
Meanwhile, Mary finished wrapping wounds and looked out on the field.
"Douglas and Mercy were supposed to be watchin' our backs." She said. "Where are they?"BADGERS ROW,
REKNAB BEND COUNTRYSIDE - May 17thRain pounded on the windows of Douglas' little log cabin. Mercy slowly began to come to. A deep sense of heaviness held sway over all her faculties. She looked around the room. She couldn't recognize anything, or remember the last time she saw a living soul. She heard the rain pounding the windows and the trees outside creaking in the wind. She was not conscious of any pain in her body, nor really any feeling at all.
"Where am I?" Her voice was only a thought in her mind. She hardly noticed the words leave her lips. "Where's Charlie?"
Vaguely she became aware that someone was in the room. She heard a voice, but did not understand what was said.
"Where am I? Where's Charlie?" She persisted. She attempted to lift her hand in vain.
The voice repeated itself but Mercy still could not understand.
"I need to see Charlie...." She muttered, but she remembered no more.
Quote from Adriana on March 16, 2023, 12:58 pm"I'll discuss it once you get some rest and put something in your gut." I gestured at the bowl once more and stood. "Excuse me a moment," I said, picking up the wireless phone and stepping outside.
I dialed Uno's number and waited for an answer..
"I'll discuss it once you get some rest and put something in your gut." I gestured at the bowl once more and stood. "Excuse me a moment," I said, picking up the wireless phone and stepping outside.
I dialed Uno's number and waited for an answer..
Quote from Mae on March 18, 2023, 12:17 pmBADGERS ROW,
REKNAB BEND COUNTRYSIDE - May 18thIt was on that second day that Mercy came to and found Douglas there. It was then that she learned his history; that he was a child abandoned in the woods, found and raised by two women - sisters - werewolf hunters by blood; the daughters of werewolf hunters who were the sons and daughters of werewolf hunters, who were the sons and daughters of werewolf hunters for many lines. It was not only what he knew, it was all he knew.
Douglas was a young man when he learned that he was wolf-born; the child of werewolves, born without an alternative form. Whether it was a gift or curse, whether he was spared or denied it, it became his obsession; and from that time forward, he searched for the secret of the change in the blood and saliva of werewolves.Mercy was unable to cope with Douglas' reality. She rejected him. In his anger, he threatened her; he threatened that her son would not see her again, that he would raise the boy as his own, and the werewolf hunters would never know what happened to her. Thus, Mercy was subdued, but not for long.
On the morning of May 19th, Mercy escaped. Douglas had been like a father to Charlie, so he kept him close, but that morning he went out and Charlie was left at the cabin. When Mercy came to, she hastily took her son and fled into the woods. Yet, on an injured leg she was not bound to go far. Her retreat brought her into the werewolves domain, and that evening Douglas led the hunters on an assault of the mountain.
Did Mercy fear the werewolf hunter more than the werewolves themselves? Perhaps. But under the influence her judgement was impaired, and before long she was lost in the woods.
PHANTOM MOUNTAIN - May 22nd
THE FULL MOONFor the first time since the fall the previous year, no wolf song was heard over Phantom Mountain's peak. The Phantom had grown silent, causing those that recalled the silence that fell over the peak many years ago to look at it's dark shadow and wonder... what had become of the werewolves of Phantom Mountain?
Mercy shivered in her little makeshift shelter, holding Charlie close. His tears could not be quieted. His long, forlorn cries were heard in the dreary the night among the trees, while all else was still. Mercy held him close in one arm, and in the other she held her rifle. Every night was long and filled with fear, but that first night under the moon was one of the worst of all...
Three months was an eternity with every day built around survival. Still, Mercy found favor of providence. Though sometimes hard on the werewolves, Phantom Mountain showed kindness to Mercy and her young son. In the summer, wild berries grew plentiful in the valleys, and the woods were full of game. Clean springs and fresh water streams were also easy to find, and Mercy had all necessities met.
Yet, for all its bounty, Phantom Mountain held Mercy captive. She searched for towns and roads in vain. She never dared to light a fire. Her first flight had been with haste. She traveled a desperate distance from Douglas' cabin, but thereafter she progressed slowly. Her leg still afflicted her, its healing was hindered by constant use. Despite what she could do for it, infection slowly set in.
BADGERS ROW,
REKNAB BEND COUNTRYSIDE - May 18thIt was on that second day that Mercy came to and found Douglas there. It was then that she learned his history; that he was a child abandoned in the woods, found and raised by two women - sisters - werewolf hunters by blood; the daughters of werewolf hunters who were the sons and daughters of werewolf hunters, who were the sons and daughters of werewolf hunters for many lines. It was not only what he knew, it was all he knew.
Douglas was a young man when he learned that he was wolf-born; the child of werewolves, born without an alternative form. Whether it was a gift or curse, whether he was spared or denied it, it became his obsession; and from that time forward, he searched for the secret of the change in the blood and saliva of werewolves.Mercy was unable to cope with Douglas' reality. She rejected him. In his anger, he threatened her; he threatened that her son would not see her again, that he would raise the boy as his own, and the werewolf hunters would never know what happened to her. Thus, Mercy was subdued, but not for long.
On the morning of May 19th, Mercy escaped. Douglas had been like a father to Charlie, so he kept him close, but that morning he went out and Charlie was left at the cabin. When Mercy came to, she hastily took her son and fled into the woods. Yet, on an injured leg she was not bound to go far. Her retreat brought her into the werewolves domain, and that evening Douglas led the hunters on an assault of the mountain.
Did Mercy fear the werewolf hunter more than the werewolves themselves? Perhaps. But under the influence her judgement was impaired, and before long she was lost in the woods.
PHANTOM MOUNTAIN - May 22nd
THE FULL MOONFor the first time since the fall the previous year, no wolf song was heard over Phantom Mountain's peak. The Phantom had grown silent, causing those that recalled the silence that fell over the peak many years ago to look at it's dark shadow and wonder... what had become of the werewolves of Phantom Mountain?
Mercy shivered in her little makeshift shelter, holding Charlie close. His tears could not be quieted. His long, forlorn cries were heard in the dreary the night among the trees, while all else was still. Mercy held him close in one arm, and in the other she held her rifle. Every night was long and filled with fear, but that first night under the moon was one of the worst of all...
Three months was an eternity with every day built around survival. Still, Mercy found favor of providence. Though sometimes hard on the werewolves, Phantom Mountain showed kindness to Mercy and her young son. In the summer, wild berries grew plentiful in the valleys, and the woods were full of game. Clean springs and fresh water streams were also easy to find, and Mercy had all necessities met.
Yet, for all its bounty, Phantom Mountain held Mercy captive. She searched for towns and roads in vain. She never dared to light a fire. Her first flight had been with haste. She traveled a desperate distance from Douglas' cabin, but thereafter she progressed slowly. Her leg still afflicted her, its healing was hindered by constant use. Despite what she could do for it, infection slowly set in.
Quote from Indy on April 1, 2023, 12:17 amI was frying up a few eggs when the call came through. Given that there's exactly three people with my cell phone number - and any one of them weren't a thing to ignore -- I took only a quick glance at the number before I thummed the button.
"'ello there," the pan sizzled pleasant aromas, "It's not even Sunday yet. Miss me already?"
I was frying up a few eggs when the call came through. Given that there's exactly three people with my cell phone number - and any one of them weren't a thing to ignore -- I took only a quick glance at the number before I thummed the button.
"'ello there," the pan sizzled pleasant aromas, "It's not even Sunday yet. Miss me already?"
Quote from Adriana on April 1, 2023, 4:10 pmI blew up my cheek as I waited for his answer, leaning over the banister of the patio and looking out on the goat pasteur.
Never had to wait long.
“Of course,” I responded, blowing the air out of my cheeks and standing upright. My back hurt today. It felt like when storms were coming in. I had that subtle nagging ache - Momma always complained about it and I said she was foolin herself. Who’s a fool now?
”Just tell me not to do anything rash. I’ve got this-I’m just, Momma bear mode is in full throttle. Remind me I’m too old and too tired and too much out of good luck to do anything about it. I need you to talk me down asap, Uno.”
I blew up my cheek as I waited for his answer, leaning over the banister of the patio and looking out on the goat pasteur.
Never had to wait long.
“Of course,” I responded, blowing the air out of my cheeks and standing upright. My back hurt today. It felt like when storms were coming in. I had that subtle nagging ache - Momma always complained about it and I said she was foolin herself. Who’s a fool now?
”Just tell me not to do anything rash. I’ve got this-I’m just, Momma bear mode is in full throttle. Remind me I’m too old and too tired and too much out of good luck to do anything about it. I need you to talk me down asap, Uno.”
Quote from Indy on April 2, 2023, 6:45 pmI gave myself ten seconds to formulate an answer. I also managed to give my eggs a flip that would have impressed Robin, if she were actually there to witness it.
"Well... what makes you think me telling you not to do something now is going to stop you? It hasn't in the past... as I recall, you usually end up talking me into it," I was searching for the pepper in the cupboard still, even if my appetite had just taken a hike.
"But I'll give it a try... you're too old, too tired, and too unlucky to do something foolish. You have a knack for trouble and even if you're just looking for a rock, you'll probably find a mountain. And when you're up to your neck in high-water, you'll only have Chapman or I to fish you out".
I sighed and failed to catch the sound before it hit the mic, "How's that? Convinced?"
I gave myself ten seconds to formulate an answer. I also managed to give my eggs a flip that would have impressed Robin, if she were actually there to witness it.
"Well... what makes you think me telling you not to do something now is going to stop you? It hasn't in the past... as I recall, you usually end up talking me into it," I was searching for the pepper in the cupboard still, even if my appetite had just taken a hike.
"But I'll give it a try... you're too old, too tired, and too unlucky to do something foolish. You have a knack for trouble and even if you're just looking for a rock, you'll probably find a mountain. And when you're up to your neck in high-water, you'll only have Chapman or I to fish you out".
I sighed and failed to catch the sound before it hit the mic, "How's that? Convinced?"
Quote from Adriana on April 2, 2023, 11:03 pmI chewed my thumb nail. The sun was setting, the yard was awash in hues of gold, the rear of the house shadowed by the hills behind us.
"Hmm.... only a little. I'll keep you updated, promise I won't do anything rash. Need to get Momma and son down for the night. Gonna be a light night, I think. Hope the dogs grow on him, if not I may need you to see about getting them to Chapman for a while. Should be going love. Be well and stay outta trouble."
I chewed my thumb nail. The sun was setting, the yard was awash in hues of gold, the rear of the house shadowed by the hills behind us.
"Hmm.... only a little. I'll keep you updated, promise I won't do anything rash. Need to get Momma and son down for the night. Gonna be a light night, I think. Hope the dogs grow on him, if not I may need you to see about getting them to Chapman for a while. Should be going love. Be well and stay outta trouble."
Quote from Adriana on April 22, 2023, 2:06 amI hung up, and drew out the chain from around my neck, clutching the ring at the end.
A few short months had passed since Uno and I had danced with the Svalnaglas. There was mention, at that dinner table, of tracking down the hunters that had injured Josh... far be it from them to actually do anything useful.
The hunters were an asset as much as a nuisance; seldom would they venture into the throes of real werewolf territory. They picked off the loners and the smaller packs like the vultures they were. They were contracted out to do the dirty work for the big dogs. Someone gets out of line? Hunters. Need to eliminate some competition? You got it, hunters. I had been at the giving and the receiving end of that arrangement.
My mind went back to that table.
He wasn't there that night. He was a bodyguard for a faction that wasn't present. Probably for the best. Had he been there when I passed out, he might have given us both away. He had always been so protective.
Chasing a memory of his presence always seemed my lot. I was following footsteps in the sand at high tide. He told me he would come find me. Now I waited on the outskirts of trepidation and uncertainty.
I dropped the ring and put my hand on my shoulder opposite; the place where his would always be when I was feeling this way; that is, uncertain and afraid. He never said a lot. He didn't need to. His presence was always enough. I covered my face with my hands for a while. Then I drew them down over my mouth and exhaled into them, rubbing them together with the warmth from my breath. I looked over my shoulder and wondered if Momma had fallen asleep yet, or touched her food.
Her determination was frightening, but in time, maybe it would cool to an ember.
I hung up, and drew out the chain from around my neck, clutching the ring at the end.
A few short months had passed since Uno and I had danced with the Svalnaglas. There was mention, at that dinner table, of tracking down the hunters that had injured Josh... far be it from them to actually do anything useful.
The hunters were an asset as much as a nuisance; seldom would they venture into the throes of real werewolf territory. They picked off the loners and the smaller packs like the vultures they were. They were contracted out to do the dirty work for the big dogs. Someone gets out of line? Hunters. Need to eliminate some competition? You got it, hunters. I had been at the giving and the receiving end of that arrangement.
My mind went back to that table.
He wasn't there that night. He was a bodyguard for a faction that wasn't present. Probably for the best. Had he been there when I passed out, he might have given us both away. He had always been so protective.
Chasing a memory of his presence always seemed my lot. I was following footsteps in the sand at high tide. He told me he would come find me. Now I waited on the outskirts of trepidation and uncertainty.
I dropped the ring and put my hand on my shoulder opposite; the place where his would always be when I was feeling this way; that is, uncertain and afraid. He never said a lot. He didn't need to. His presence was always enough. I covered my face with my hands for a while. Then I drew them down over my mouth and exhaled into them, rubbing them together with the warmth from my breath. I looked over my shoulder and wondered if Momma had fallen asleep yet, or touched her food.
Her determination was frightening, but in time, maybe it would cool to an ember.
