The fire quickly died back behind a wall of steam and smoke, and it soon became impossible to see the flames. The night was filled with the roar of raindrops rushing earthward, and the howls of rage from creatures locked behind a wall of pine forest.
The unceasing rain came down all night. Sam wandered amongst the laughing men, shaking hands, embracing and sharing jokes.
Eventually, he sought out Carter and found him sitting under cover. He looked exhausted, now that the expectation of battle was over.
‘I was looking for a runner,’ Sam said.
Carter stood up, relief on his face. ‘That’ll be me,’ he said.
‘Will you take a message back to the Meeting Place? Tell them we’ll be home for breakfast.’
Carter smiled at Sam. ‘I’ll see you then,’ he said, and started his trek south.
Sam next went to find Naz and Vin. They both looked waterlogged, their thick fur soaking up the torrential rain. They were sitting discussing the best filling for pies. They both smiled as Sam arrived.
‘Who’d have thought it?’ said Naz laughing.
‘It was the miracle you were asking for,’ Sam replied.
‘I’m glad I was here to see it.’
‘I’d like to extend that invitation,’ Sam said. ‘Will you stay a while longer? I think it’s a good time to arrange a celebration. You’ll be our guests of honour.’
Naz and Vin looked at each other, grinning at the thought of a feast to come.
‘It’s been a long time since we’ve had anything to celebrate. Hope you don’t mind if we don’t dress for the occasion,’ said Naz looking down at his sodden fur.
‘Come as you are,’ Sam smiled.
‘It’ll be a real pleasure,’ said Vin.
Carter stood alone under the thatched shelter at the Meeting Place, watching the rain come down, at peace with himself and his world.
I love water he thought; it’s the best thing since…
His thoughts were interrupted by someone passing in the rain.
‘Be careful you don’t drown out there,’ he said.
She stopped. Her soaked hair was flat and dishevelled against her face, the water dripping down over her nose and mouth. She wore a smile from ear to ear.
‘I was looking for you,’ Kerri said.
‘I’ve been here, washing away some memories.’
She looked at him, now standing taller than she, his body filling out, seemingly years beyond his age.
His eyes look so... what is it... deep? she thought. She took a deep breath.
‘Carter, let’s be children, one last time, just for tonight.’
‘How would you like to do that?’ he asked, confused.
‘Come dance in the rain with me.’
‘I don’t know how to dance, I kind of missed that part of my youth.’ He seemed almost sad.
‘Don’t know how? When did that ever stop you from doing something,’ she said, feigning an annoyance in her voice she did not feel. ‘You didn’t know how to be a hero till you tried.’
‘I’m no hero, Kerri, I just followed in your footsteps.’
‘You’re a hero to me, Carter,’ she said softly. ‘Please dance with me, before all those girls over there come and ask you.’
It was his turn to take a deep breath. ‘Kerri Carpenter, could I please have this dance?’
He stepped out from the shelter and touched her hand. They stood face to face in the mud, the torrential rain pouring down. Kerri reached up, putting her hand on his shoulder. Carter put his arms under hers.
He lifted her up and swung her, around, and around, and around, and around.
The CHANGING TIMES trilogy continues in PART 2
* * *
Part 2, Chapter 1
The morning after, at the Meeting Place
It was a morning like no other. The forest in the distance was steaming, mists slowly rising from the canopy. A smell of burnt pines was all-pervading. The sky, grey and heavy from the rising smoke and steam of the forest, and the low, rain-filled clouds, seemed to weigh down Naz.
He rolled onto his back and let out a long, low moan. His fur, soaked and matted from lying in the water logged mud, now took on a grey-brown colour. Looking down at himself, he thought, Well, at least I’m well camouflaged now.
Turning his head, he saw Vin to his left, huddled in a ball, only gently snoring for a change. He lay in a pile of ash where he’d collapsed hours earlier, exhausted from the previous evening’s action.
At least we’re still alive, he thought. That was some night.
As his mind slowly warmed up, he tried hard to piece together the night’s events. He saw himself again, standing on guard, with the burning forest drawing closer, the hate-filled red-glowing eyes watching their every move, then the downpour of rain. He couldn’t remember ever before being so happy to feel rain running down his face. And then the celebrations began.
He remembered the moment when everyone knew it was all over, they were saved, and the forest would still stand. Some of the men had fallen to their knees in exhaustion, the adrenalin preparing them for battle no longer required, making their knees now shake. Others held their hands high into the air, shouting and laughing and singing.
But Naz and Vin had acted as professional guards. They held back, only looking at each other and smiling.
‘Looks like we’re going home, Vin. Have you got any of that pie left?’ Naz had asked hopefully.
‘I’ve been saving a piece, just in case,’ Vin had smiled.
‘Better to have one and not need it …’
‘Than want one and not have it,’ finished Vin.
And then they too had started laughing, till their bellies ached and tears ran down their cheeks, mixing with the rain. He remembered Vin had collapsed from laughing so much, and that’s when he’d stopped any pretence at being a professional and also fallen over in fits of laughter, finally releasing the pent-up tension of waiting for the beasts to arrive.
Between fits of laughter, Naz had managed to say, ‘Always knew you’d make a good guard, Vin. A guard always know where his pie is.’
‘Thanks, Naz, but where’s your pie?’
‘In your bag.’ And they’d both fallen over again in another fit of laughter.
But that was last night. He could remember the singing had started, and then the dancing. Food had appeared on lots and lots of plates. Roasted fish and vegetables laid out for them, with lots of thick, heavy bread. Someone had passed him a cup, with what looked like yellow juice in it. Frank, he said his name was. He made the best yellow berry juice in the South Lands, he’d said.
Naz lay on his back and tried, but failed, to recall anything else past that point in the conversation. He remembered feeling Frank was his new best friend and all the Southerners were really nice people, but he could not remember getting here, or where ‘here’ actually was.
I’ll rest a little more, it’ll all become clear soon, he thought.
His eyelids were becoming impossibly heavy, and Naz happily felt himself falling again into the oblivion of a dreamless sleep. His last coherent thought was, We’ll soon be going home.
Vin shot upright, the scream making the fur on his spine stand on edge.
‘Trouble, Naz,’ he called, his mind instantly awake and engaged.
The scream echoed again across the open ground. A man’s scream, a young man, afraid but not in pain, over on the other side of the encampment. The thoughts tumbled through his mind, making a picture of the danger around him. Naz groggily rose to a sitting position.
‘I’ll check it out, Naz,’ Vin said.
They both clambered to their feet. ‘I’m with you,’ Naz called, from one stride behind. Walking quickly across the open ground, they both shook off the aches and pains of sleeping in the wet grass, rising to their full imposing height of fit and mature Snow Bears.
They saw other people running towards to shelter from where the shouts had come; a few of the men now stood around outside.
Sam emerged, ducking below the shelter’s frame as Naz and Vin arrived.
‘It’s okay, just a bad dream. Nothing to worry about,’ Sam called to those around.
‘He’ll likely have those nightmares for a while after what he’s been through,’ said Naz.
Sam turned to see Naz, standing at the back of the crowd of men.
You suddenly look very old, Naz thought. Last night must’ve taken its toll on you as well. He decided to say nothing, keeping it serious.
‘Carter’s gonna need a lot of help and understanding,’ Naz said, ‘I’ve seen this sort of thing before.’
Kerri arrived running, pushing her way between the two mountains of fur towering over her.
‘Is he all right, Sam?’ she asked, the deep concern in her question plain for all to hear.
‘Just a nightmare, Kerri.’
‘Can I see him?’
‘I’m sure that’ll make him feel better.’ Sam agreed.
Kerri, pushed her way through to see Carter sitting on his bed. She dropped beside him with an exaggerated fall to sit facing him.
‘What’s up, dream you were coming second in the race behind me?’ she joked.
Carter raised his head to look at her. She could see the smile was forced, and could see the weight sitting on his shoulders.
‘It’s just too real, Kerri,’ Carter whispered.
Keri put her arm around his shoulders, ‘You’ve got to let it go.’ she said gently.
‘She’s still out there, alone.’
Kerri stiffened, ‘You’ve got to let her go,’ she said more forcibly.
‘Kerri, I’m hearing her voice when I try to sleep.’
‘It’s because you feel responsible for what happened. It’s wasn’t your fault. You did everything you could. It was the storm.’ Kerri shuddered again at the memory of that night, which now seemed long ago but was probably only last week. She squeezed him to her.
‘It’ll go away soon, you’ll see,’ she said quietly, her voice soothing him back to the reality of the morning.
‘I wish you were here every morning when I wake up,’ Carter said, with a real smile this time.
‘Don’t let your Mum and Dad hear you say that!’ she replied, elbowing him in the ribs.
‘Oh, Kerri, you know what I mean.’
She stood quickly. ‘Come on, let’s go find some pancakes, that’ll make you feel better,’ she said, turning for the doorway.
She stepped out and saw Lulu waiting for her. There was a look of deep concern on her face that Kerri had never seen before.
Lu’s always so carefree, what’s the matter? Kerri thought.
‘Just a bad dream, Lu,’ Kerri said, but as she came close, it seemed Lulu didn’t see her there, as if she was seeing something far away that she didn’t like.
‘Lu? what is it?’ Kerri now feeling a little uneasy.
‘Just a bad dream,’ Lulu repeated, without any conviction.
‘Will you come and eat with us?’ she asked, trying to lighten to mood.
‘Sure,’ Lulu, said snapping out of her trance.
‘What about you two overgrown fur balls? Do you eat anything other than pies?’ she said to Naz and Vin.
‘Afraid the belly’s a little fragile this morning, but I could do with some of that moss for a sore head that you gave Vin.’ said Naz.
‘Too much yellow berry juice?’ Kerri laughed.
‘Just trying to be sociable,’ said Naz quietly.
‘You’ll find Doc Mossman over there,’ said Lulu pointing to where the men were now dispersing in search of food.
‘Thank you, Miss Lucinda.’
‘No need to stand on formalities,’ she said. ‘You can call me Lulu, everyone else does.’
Naz bowed slightly, still aware of the position Lulu held in the clan.
‘I never realised you guys were so light on your feet,’ Kerri said to Naz and Vin.
‘Was that dancing you were doing last night?’ Lulu said, joining in the banter.
The embarrassed grin could have been seen as a snarl, with flashing white fangs, to anyone who didn’t know the Snow Bears.
‘Just kidding you, big fella,’ said Kerri, playfully slapping Vin in the belly.
Vin doubled up, expecting a knock-out blow from the girl who’d got the better of him once before.
‘Are we going to see what you guys really look like before you go?’ Lulu asked them.
‘Now that’s something we need to speak with Sam about,’ said Naz, quickly changing the subject.
‘What, changing?’
‘No, leaving,’ said Naz. ‘We must leave soon.’
There was genuine sadness in her voice when Lulu said, ‘Come and find me before you leave, please.’
‘We will, Miss Lucinda… Lulu,’ Naz corrected himself. With a bow of his head, Naz turned towards the men now eating breakfast at the tables arranged in a circle.
‘Let’s go find that moss,’ Naz said, as Vin turned to follow him.
When the bears were out of hearing, Lulu turned to Kerri. Linking their arms,, Lulu led Kerri gently towards a fallen tree on the edge of the encampment.
As they sat down together, Lulu said, ‘Can I ask, did Carter say what the dream was about?’
There was an audible sigh when Kerri straightened herself. ‘He said he’s hearing her voice in his sleep.’
Lulu said nothing, staring off into the distance again.
‘Lu, it’s just his conscience making him feel responsible, right? He’ll get over it soon, d’you think?’
Lulu sat for a moment without answering.
‘He’ll be okay, won’t he, Lu? He’s young, and it’s all so fresh in everyone’s mind, but I know he’ll be okay.’
Lulu brought herself back to look at Kerri. ‘I’m just afraid he’s going to do something really stupid.’’
‘What d’you mean?’ said Kerri, shocked now at what her friend was saying.
‘I’ve a bad feeling about this.’
‘About what, Lu? Holly’s gone. I checked her myself and I couldn’t feel her breathing. She’s not coming back, and now we’ve got to help Carter understand that, to understand that it wasn’t his fault,’ Kerri said quickly, all her concerns tumbling out in a rush.
Lulu squeeze Kerri’s arm. ‘I know you’re right. I don’t understand what’s going on in my own head at the moment,’ said Lu. ‘It’s just that I thought I heard Holly’s voice as well, and I ‘felt’ Carter trying to reach out to her.’
‘Lu, you’re starting to scare me. Stop all this stuff, right away.’
‘Kerri, I’m so sorry, I know you loved Holly to bits… I’m starting to scare myself now. Just promise me, if he comes up with any stupid ideas, you’ll come and talk to me, okay?’
‘Who else would I talk to?’ Kerri could feel tears welling up in her eyes, but breathed deeply, determined to force them back. You’re not going to cry, not today, she told herself.
Lulu squeezed her arm again and smiled. ‘It’s lack of food making me think such silly things. Come on, let’s eat.’
Naz and Vin strolled slowly over to the circle of men eating breakfast at the tables. The smell of freshly cooked bread soon had their stomachs rumbling in protest. At the sight of cheeses and roasted fish, they forgot about any feelings of sore heads for the moment.
Sam saw them approached and called them over to join him for breakfast.
‘Quite a party last night,’ said Sam neutrally, but with a smile on his face.
‘You guys sure know how to have a good time,’ replied Naz, as a compliment.
‘Help yourselves to something to eat,’ Sam offered them.
After the bears had filled their plates with a generous helping each, they sat beside Sam and Casey at the rough wooden table.
‘Sam, as much as we’ve enjoyed your hospitality, we really must leave here,’ said Naz.
‘I understand,’ said Sam, ‘Is being here a strain on your body, making you old?’
‘We’re okay at the moment, being here as bears protects us from the worst of the aging that affects us when we cross a border, but I don’t think we should stay here much longer. We’re already pushing our limits on the time spent abroad.’
‘Have you a plan for returning? Those apes are going to be pretty mad after last night’s rain put out the forest fire. They were ready to break through here and run amok, they’re sure to be charging up and down the border.’’
‘We’ve discussed it and think it’ll be best to head out far to the west and cross near the foothills. If we are ambushed, we can make a run for the high alps. They’ll never survive in those temperatures and heights at this time of year.’
‘Good plan,’ agreed Sam. ‘It’s a pity you’re leaving, I was hoping to spend some time talking.’
‘We too, there’s so much we don’t know about you and your land. But we can stay today, right, Vin?’’
Vin could only nod in reply, his mouth full of bread and cheese.
‘I’d like that,’ said Sam. ‘We can sit with my daughter Lulu.’
‘We’ve met Princess Lucinda,’ said Vin, joining in. ‘She asked us to visit her before we leave.’
‘Lu will be queen here one day, so I’m sure it’s in everyone’s interest to talk., and I’m sure she’ll be happy if you call her Lulu. Everyone else does.’
The bears smiled around their bread.
‘It’s a very different custom you have. In our land we acknowledge each other’s rank.’
‘We don’t stand on formality. Everyone is free to speak and to be heard, except on one day: the day of the ceremony when the new leader is crowned. But that’s more to uphold the tradition, and the kids love it,’ smiled Sam.
‘There are some things I’d like to ask, if I may?’ said Naz.
‘Go ahead, as I said, everyone’s free to speak,’ encouraged Sam.
‘Could we take the black stone that we saved yesterday, to open a gateway out of here?’
‘Of course, it’s already been prepared for you. I guessed you’d be wanting to leave soon.’
Shifters Alliance Page 26