Run with the Moon

by Bailey Bradford

  Most of the shifters wanted a resolution, not war with all humans. At heart, as Valen had told Aaron, they were a peaceful sort.

  As it turned out, Valen and the hunting pack weren’t moving as fast as he’d hoped. They stopped several times to sniff along the bank and make sure they hadn’t missed anything. He had to be certain that their prey hadn’t left the stream sooner than Valen thought they would.

  Valen feared that Aaron’s village would be attacked, the next victims of the marauders. It was a relief every time that he couldn’t spot smoke in the distance.

  Of course that didn’t mean the village was safe. There were many, many other ways to kill people.

  What Valen couldn’t understand was why the humans had attacked. Shifters had nothing of value, save those intangible things like love and the ties of family, memories and loyalty.

  Except, we had food stored. Meat from the last several kills as the elk and deer had been plenteous. And the meat storage building had been demolished by fire. Valen hadn’t thought to look for burnt chunks of meat. He wasn’t sure there’d have been anything left even if the meat had not been taken. The fire had ravaged the place.

  It was the only thing he could think of, though. Aaron’s village had been having a rough time of it when it came to hunting. Aaron’s lunch yesterday had been stale bread and some kind of flavorless, overly dried-out meat. He’d almost wept over the piece of cooked rabbit Valen had prepared for him last night, and he’d quickly devoured his breakfast of the same this morning.

  So food was scarce for the humans. They either had no skill for hunting large animals, or the beasts weren’t coming close enough to be hunted.

  And hunger could drive anyone to do horrible things, not that it was an excuse for murdering men, women and children. Had the murdering bastards not done such a sick thing and instead simply asked for help, surely Varex would have provided for them. He’d had a generous heart despite his harsh last words to Rivvie. Varex might even have offered them shelter and—

  And Valen could do the same—not with the ones who’d killed his loved ones and friends, but with Aaron’s village. They were struggling, and perhaps it was long past time for humans and shifters to live together. It started with one person, one couple, like him and Aaron. It could continue until the fear and rumors no longer existed between them.

  He would discuss the plan with Aaron once this was done. Valen was excited about the future, but to get to it, he had to finish his task.

  By nightfall, he knew that Aaron was a few miles behind them, and safe. It’d only taken a callout to check on him. Lanaka had howled back to him. All was well on the tail end of the hunting party.

  Valen slowed down and trotted to where he’d scented the attackers before. He didn’t smell anything at first, then it wafted downwind to him, and he spied the canoes hidden in the brush.

  Valen growled as softly as he could, flicking his tail. It was the signal for extreme caution to those with him. He slipped silently around the bushes that would have warned anyone of his approach had he gone through them. Ears pricked forward, he heard no patter of voices or jarring snores. Where are the humans?

  The silence was unnatural, even considering their presence. There should have at least been sounds in the distance, night hawks and bats, other animals—

  Unless there are predators, and what other predators are out tonight? He very much suspected it’d be the two-legged kind. There would only be one reason for them to be skulking about so quietly. They were lying in wait until the people in the village were asleep for the night.

  Valen wasn’t having it. He wouldn’t let them slaughter Aaron’s family and friends. Backing away from the canoes, he began to plan. It wasn’t a brilliant plan, just one he hoped would work.

  Not wanting to risk being heard, Valen shifted, signaling the others to do so too. He could hear hoof beats and knew that Aaron would arrive soon. “Go meet him, and lead him in quietly,” Valen said to Rivvie. “Bring everyone here so I only have to go over this once.” He didn’t want to have people repeat it to one another, either, because somehow in the end, what one said never matched up to the beginning. It was best to fill everyone in at once.

  Valen gestured for everyone to come close. Within minutes, Aaron rode up on Tentin. He dismounted with Valen’s help. Valen noted the circles under his eyes. “Did you eat?”

  “Did you?” Aaron retorted.

  “I’m not going to suffer if I miss a few meals,” Valen pointed out, then shook his head. “Let’s not argue.” Because he could see that Aaron would if he pushed. “I think the people that attacked our pack are going after your village tonight.”

  Aaron’s features hardened after a flash of fear crossed his expression. “Marco gave me a knife. I’ll use it. I can slip into the village and—”

  “No,” Valen said in a tone that brooked no argument. “They are watching, and we are a pack. We work together.”

  Aaron rolled his lips in between his teeth, then bobbed his head once. “Okay.”

  Valen took his hand and held it while he explained who would be work together in groups of five or six, and where he wanted them to go. “Basically, we will be surrounding the village. What time do most of your people sleep, Aaron?”

  Aaron looked up at the sliver of a moon. “I’m afraid many of them are in bed now.”

  “Then there’s no more time to spare. Be alert, let each other know if you encounter the humans, and under no circumstances are you to kill anyone from Aaron’s village. If you have any doubt at all, don’t attack. Look for familiar scents of the humans that attacked our pack. They have all had an acrid odor to them that is unlike Aaron’s, so that might be crucial in distinguishing who is the enemy. If we get to these monsters before they attack the village, then we know who the guilty parties are.” Valen helped Aaron back on his mount. “Spread out before shifting. Don’t spook Tentin.”

  Beal didn’t glare, which Valen took as progress with her. She would eventually see that Aaron and the people from his village weren’t to blame for what had happened to Varex.

  Once he believed it to be safe, Valen shifted. He had Rivvie and three other shifters with him, including his mother. The west side of the village was clear, with no murdering humans lurking around. Valen hesitated, but heard no sounds—at all, which meant that there were predators about.

  “Valen,” Aaron whispered. “I can ride in. It wouldn’t be suspicious. I’m from here, and I—”

  Valen growled. He was not going to agree with Aaron’s plan.

  But Aaron jutted his chin out. “You can get mad at me all you want. My family is in there. If I have a chance to warn them, I will. So would you.”

  How could he argue? Valen would just have to ensure that nothing happened to Aaron. He would enter the village in stealth, keeping to the shadows, shielding his eyes when in wolf form as much as he could so they didn’t give him away.

  Valen stepped aside, clearing the way for Aaron.

  “Thank you for trusting me,” Aaron said, the words barely audible. He clicked his tongue and moved his heel. Tentin began to walk. Aaron waited until he was close to the village before he began to hum.

  Whether he did it for his own amusement, to help settle his nerves, or to make it seem as though he had no suspicions about being watched, Valen didn’t know. He kept Aaron and Tentin in sight, creeping behind them.

  When they entered the village proper, Valen was ready for an attack, but none came. He skirted to the right, following a line of shadowed areas beside various decrepit buildings.

  Aaron kept up his merry tune, and while the village wasn’t large, it seemed to take him forever to reach his parents’ house.

  He dismounted from Tentin and almost fell. “Darn it,” he muttered. “Stupid leg.” He took his cane from the saddle roll and tucked it under his arm as he leaned against Tentin.

  The door to his father’s house opened. Anita poked her head out. “Aaron! You’re back! I didn’t think you’d
return from the shi—”

  “Mother! I’m so glad to see you. Could you help me get Tentin tied?” Aaron spoke loudly, much more so than he normally did.

  Valen slipped around the side of their house. He whined softly. Anita stepped outside, leaving her door wide open.

  “Of course I can help you, son. Your father is inside getting ready for bed. Just let me call him out here. He’ll want to see you before he goes to sleep.” Anita took the reins. “Go in,” she muttered to Valen. She moved Tentin over so that the horse provided a visual obstruction when combined with her and Aaron’s bodies.

  Valen ran inside and collided with Walter.

  “What the—? Oomph!” Walter went down hard.

  Valen couldn’t shift in time to stop him. Fortunately, Walter rolled and missed bashing his head on the stone floor. He looked warily at Valen.

  Scooting away from the door completely, once Valen knew he wouldn’t be seen by anyone outside, he shifted. “I think you’re about to be attacked by the same humans that killed my father and several of my pack.”

  Walter blanched. “You do realize that we’re humans too, that Aaron—”

  “This isn’t about that,” Valen snapped, slashing a hand through the air. “I am aware that the acts of those who murdered my loved ones aren’t the acts of every human. Now stop trying to start a philosophical debate and get ready to fight!”

  “You?” Walter asked then quickly shook his head. “No, you said the ones who’d attacked your pack. Valen, we aren’t a fighting people. We have few weapons.”

  “They used fire, and a…a flame accelerant of some sort,” Valen said as Aaron and Anita entered.

  Anita locked the door and leaned on it. “What’s going on?”

  Valen and Aaron filled them in quickly. “These—” Valen stopped himself from saying humans. That wasn’t the divide he was making. “These people are murderers. I believe they killed simply to steal the food we had stored.”

  “We don’t have food stored,” Walter protested. “Even our gardens have been unproductive more often than not. You can see that none of us has eaten well lately. All we have is—”

  “Water source, and shelter.” Valen nodded more to his own realization than to those around him. “They won’t burn you out.”

  Anita closed her eyes. “They’ll just kill us and take over.”

  “They probably wouldn’t kill everyone.” Valen assumed it was possible that anyone they deemed attractive be kept. Young children, too, perhaps to be used as slaves. Anyone seen as a threat or unwanted for whatever reasons, would not be spared. “But if it’s a food shortage they’re using as an excuse, then—”

  A long, strident howl pierced the night. Valen went still as he listened. “That’s Candace. She’s on the north point.” He’d barely finished speaking when howls rang out all around them. “Get your people. Gather them somewhere safe, somewhere not easy to burn to the ground. Try to keep them together so if my pack has to come down here to finish our business, they don’t mistake your people for the murderers we’re hunting. And keep Aaron safe.”

  “I’m not hiding,” Aaron said. “I’ll fight.”

  Walter stepped in front of Aaron. “We’re all going to hide, and fight only if that’s what we must do. Of course we’ll get out of the shifters’ way first.”

  “Let us do our part, Aaron,” Valen requested. “We are better prepared for this. If any of them slips past us, then kill them.”

  Aaron nudged his father aside. “I won’t argue. I’d just slow you down. Go, and I promise to use my head.”

  “No unnecessary risks. Don’t take off the talisman Lanaka gave you. It could save you,” Valen warned.

  “Same.” Aaron touched Valen’s. “Come back to me.”

  “Always.” Valen pulled Aaron into his arms and kissed him—a quick, fierce claiming before he had to leave. The howls had become interspersed with barks and shouts. “Be safe.”

  “You too.” Aaron clutched at his arm. “Valen, I—”

  Someone pounded on the door. “Walter! Mom! What’s happening?”

  “Matthew. Let him in and me out.” Valen shifted as Anita undid the locks. As soon as she had the door opened, Valen darted out, pushing past a startled Matthew.

  “I love you, Valen,” he heard Aaron shout. “Keep that with you!”

  Valen yearned to go back and kiss Aaron again, and maybe to tell him he returned Aaron’s feelings. He couldn’t. Now was the time to protect, and to avenge his pack.

  Valen ran for the nearest conflict. He veered behind the house and put every bit of his strength into moving faster. When the crumbling rock fence was the last obstacle in his way, Valen easily jumped over it. Around him he heard sounds of battle, smelled death and fear and more.

  He nearly ran over the first of the murderers he was looking for. Taller than Aaron’s people by about six inches, but just as lean, the man was clad in fresh wolf skin. Not from his pack, but it added to his fury regardless of that fact.

  Valen snarled and avoided the swing of the man’s knife. He didn’t toy with his prey, as much as he wanted to. Valen ripped his thigh open, tearing out a great chunk of flesh. There was the artery he was after. Blood sprayed out in an arc. Valen didn’t wait for the man to die. He would, very soon.

  Candace and the other four shifters were fighting a person each. None of Valen’s pack was injured, at least not severely.

  Valen didn’t worry about fighting fair or one on one. These were murderers, and they were dangerous. They had taken from him, from his pack, and they would do it again with no hesitation.

  Aaron’s life would mean nothing to them. It meant everything to Valen.

  He shot around behind one man and took him down by severing his Achilles tendon. Blood squirted on his fur before he could get out of the way. He left the death blow to Candace, and moved on to help the other three shifters. In less than a minute, Valen was leading them on to help the rest of the pack.

  There was an obvious odor to the ones they hunted. Smoke and an acrid tang of unwashed flesh. Apparently the canoes were the only things the murderers ever put in the water.

  It made them easy to find when they tried to hide.

  Valen’s fear that there would be children among them proved unfounded. Either these people did not reproduce, or they’d left their children elsewhere. Any other potential scenarios were ones Valen didn’t want to think of.

  After clearing the eastern side of the land by the village, Valen counted twenty-two dead. There were seven men and women in various state of fighting to the south. With as many shifters as there were, Valen didn’t interfere.

  He led his pack of hunters down into the village. “Spread out. Check for anyone who may have gotten past us.” His growls and barks had everyone splitting up into the same groups he’d assigned them outside the village.

  When he picked up the rancid scent of several prey headed toward Walter and Anita’s house, Valen’s wolf took over. There was no planning, no coordinating attacks. There was only death, and he was bringing it to the ones that deserved it.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Heart pounding, Aaron stood back to back with Matthew, each of them wielding knives too short to be called swords. They weren’t sharp, either. They could still be deadly. If Aaron could only bring himself to shove the blade into a chest or an eye or belly.

  “You really should go back,” Aaron said to the biggest of the man leering at them. Someone had called him Rusty.

  “I’m not afraid of you.” Rusty raked him over visually. “There’s nothing to you but skin and bones.”

  “And you’re any better?” Aaron retorted. “Gods in the skies, you reek.”

  “Guess they don’t know what soap is,” Matthew added.

  Rusty held up a very sharp, very long sword. “Don’t need soap when you got this.” With his other hand, he grabbed his crotch and jiggled it.

  Aaron scowled at him. “What does that nasty thing have to do with soap?”r />
  Matthew snorted. “It’s likely never seen it, just like the rest of him.”

  At least Mother and Father got away. They’d been out getting the other people up and armed. Matthew and Aaron had been supposed to meet them in the old stone silo that hadn’t been used in decades. All Aaron had wanted to do was put Tentin up in the barn. He’d been foolish. Valen would be disappointed in him.

  And Aaron really didn’t want to die. He knew that now, when faced with three men and two women who all looked like they’d enjoy hurting him.

  Well, he wasn’t going to make it easy for them.

  “I bet even soap would run away from that dick.” Matthew apparently wasn’t going to, either.

  Aaron had never heard his brother say that word before. It made Aaron giggle. His nerves may have contributed, too. “You really do reek. I can’t imagine how taking your clothes off wouldn’t make it worse. It would expose the stink there to air and spread it around.”

  “Shut up, you little fool.” Rusty spat at him. It landed on Aaron’s foot coverings.

  Aaron was appalled. “That’s disgusting!” He tried to spit back but his mouth was once more dry.

  “They’re all disgusting,” Matthew said in a cheery tone. “And murderers. We heard about what you did. Do you know, the shifters are going to be here soon?”

  “Surely you heard their arrival calls,” Aaron tacked on.

  Rusty shrugged. “Don’t really care. We can hold our own just like we did when we raided that pack.”

  Aaron should have maybe felt sorry for him, but he couldn’t. “You attacked while they slept, just like you’re trying to do now. It won’t work here.”

  “Seems to be working fine.” Rusty spat again, this time hitting Aaron right on the chest. “No one is gonna stop us. You two aren’t any kind of trouble.”