I don't think we should wait any longer. We should move, I said.
I agree.
Murmurs were moving along in hushed tones in the beginning and growing into an even hum. Everyone was feeling it. The time to go was near and anxieties were high.
Marren leaned into me. “Let's get this over with,” he said in a hushed tone, then moved to stand so everyone could see and hear him. “I want everyone to travel together in a group. Once we're crossed over, you can find your families and join them. I highly suggest that you keep your identity a secret, as much as possible. I understand some of you may have a harder time doing that than others. My advice then is to stay out of sight from humans. Wait it out and be careful. Things have changed more than you may realize in the time our people left the mortal realm. And always remain wary of those who side with Jiren. You may find yourself in a trap before you know it.”
With a nod, people started to file through the opening of the cave to the cross over and the mortal realm beyond. Marren rejoined me, with Enid and Raden by our side. Ildir stood at the mouth of the cave, assuring himself of the races safety.
“Do you plan to remain with us, Raden?” I asked.
“I intend to for a while, aye.”
“And you, Enid?”
“Of course, dear A'lainn,” he replied.
“What about Ildir?” I asked.
“The mountain on the other side is where his home is,” Marren said. “He will be rejoining his people there and will destroy the cross over when it's time.”
I nodded as I watched Naloud turn over a rock she found sitting at our feet. She stared at it intently opening and closing her hand several times. I reached down and picked her up, resting her on my hip. My mind once again drifted to Serid. “I keep thinking about Serid, Marren. Do you think Jiren killed him and Okelo?”
“Jiren isn't the type to take prisoners, Relena.” He grabbed my hand and led us to the mouth of the cave, behind the rest of the races.
“What happens to this place once we cross over?” I asked.
“It will remain, until it is safe for us to stay on the mortal realm for good,” Marren replied.
“Are there others that are staying?”
“I don't know. My hope is that everyone will cross over, eventually.”
I stopped and turned to take one last look at the immortal realm. The looming forests ahead of me, the shadowed peaks beyond, the darkening sky above, and the slowly setting sun along the horizon. I would miss this place. The smells, the sounds, and the feel. Finally, I took one last deep breath of the air then said, “Let's go home.”
We turned around and walked through the cave. Once again feeling the ink, thick as water, swell around me in a cold embrace. I held on to Marren's hand and Naloud's small body as we walked through the disorienting shield that protects the immortal realm from the mortal one. Slowly, the inky black lightened into dark gray, and then lightened more as a light appeared in front of us, dotted by bodies of the races. Their cheers and excited murmurs filled the mouth of the cave and echoed back. The cool night air blew, swimming around me as if in a hug of welcome. The smells of the mortal realm assaulted my senses. Dirt, must, iron, and death. A smell that I recalled as being a part of the woods but after living in the immortal realm, where death seldom exists, I realized it was the sign of mortality that lingered in the air. It sweetened it, making everything—especially living things, seem much more sacred and special.
As we stepped out of the cave, we said our goodbyes to our friends and turned, with Enid and Raden, towards our home that waited for us.
I found myself longing for the white polished stone and enchanted wood carvings of my home. The home that I was brought to, very much against my will. The magic surrounding the palace worked through my guard—my shield—over my heart, and allowed me to see it for what it was. Simple beauty and love. And Marren, I fell in love with him quickly. So persistent he was. Persistence that paid off in the end.
So caught up in my daydreams of remembering our home and what I remembered it as, it came as a total and complete shock to see that there were people there. Marren snapped something incoherent in his native language. Nevertheless, it forced the hairs on the back of my neck to rise. One syllable was recognizable in his rant. Cyrs.
I clutched Naloud closer. They were making good on their threat and would no doubt try to take my daughter in my place. I could tell the way that Marren stood in front of me, he feared that as well.
Don't let them take her, Marren.
I won't. I promise. He turned towards Enid, “Go check the stables. Try to remain unseen. If it's clear, come back and take Naloud. Hide there with her.” With a nod, Enid ran as fast as he could within the shadows of the trees that surrounded our home.
“What about us?” I asked, feeling the fear of letting my daughter out of my sight with the Cyrs around clutch my heart.
“You,” he said, turning towards me and pulling the hood of my cloak over my head, “will be with me. We're going to scare them off.”
I couldn't help the smile that came to my face. The idea of just desserts replaced my fear. “Mm, I like that idea.”
Marren chuckled, sending my heart in a light, fluttering dance. “Raden,” he said.
“Aye?”
“I’d like you to stick with us. But, I will understand if you need to go see to your forge.”
“Wouldn't dream of leav’n ya.” Hearing the sound of rapidly approaching feet, Raden propped his axe up on his shoulders with both hands on the handle, ready to decapitate the intruder. I clung to Naloud tighter, who had fallen asleep in my arms. Her head rested on my shoulders. “Oh, Enid my boy! Don't ye know better than to sneak up on a dwarf?”
“My apologies, old friend,” he replied, bowing slightly with his hand over his chest. He turned to us and said, “The stable's clear, but it doesn't look good.”
“How so?” I asked.
“Well, it appears that they held someone there and... well, there's a lot of blood and it smells horrible.”
“Damn it!” Marren snapped a little loudly. The sound traveled too well through the trees and caused Naloud to startle. She resettled quickly with her breathing returning to the slow and even pace. Marren stomped in front of me, with one hand on his hips and the other cupping his forehead. I tried to listen for anyone investigating the sound. “Go check Raden's home and forge. There has to be a place we can hide her.”
“Wait!” I said suddenly. “There is.” Marren stopped pacing to face me with expectant eyes. Even Enid and Raden were waiting with somewhat surprised expressions on their faces. “The cave.”
Marren's lips parted with eyes that seemed cold, but alert. I didn't know what it meant. Was it shock? Surprise? Anger for not thinking of it himself? All of them? I didn't know. We seemed to stand for several precious long moments while he thought it over. His eyes fell to the ground and pursed his brows together.
Raden cleared his throat, which forced Marren's angry eyes onto him. “Not that I don't want a fight, but I think Relena is right. The cave would be the best place for her—even if it's only temporary. We can turn back and make it by dawn. Rest there—”
“No. Not that cave,” I interrupted.
Again, looks of surprise and this time confusion.
“The cave no human will go into because of the stories about it.” The one we spent my first night as a werewolf in...
The light behind Marren's eyes illuminated, his sudden realization of which cave I was referring to. A small smile pulled at the edges of his mouth. I knew he was thinking of that night too. I forced the blood to leave my cheeks. Not that anyone could see me blush at night, but I didn't want to risk it.
“Well, what are we waiting for?” Marren said, stepping in the direction of our temporary sanctuary.
***
At some point, we realized we were being followed. Marren noticed it first, then me. He used his private way of communicating with me.
We aren't al
one. Someone must have heard us and is following a short distance behind. Marren said to me.
I know. I thought I heard someone a few times. But every time I look back, I see nothing but trees and foliage.
Take Naloud and Raden to the cave. You remember the way?
Yes. I answered quickly to keep Marren from worrying. I knew how important it was not to lead anyone to the cave. It served as our only shelter, our only sanctuary, when out on hunts or runs.
Good. Stay safe. Wait there for me.
You too. I will wait.
“Enid. Run with me,” Marren said, then took off in a full run. I watched as Enid's form took up Marren's flank. They ran in an arc away from us. I knew he meant to approach from behind our pursuers.
“What's that all about?” Raden asked.
“We're being followed,” I whispered.
With a nod, Raden's hands tightened on the handle of his axe. I placed a hand on his shoulder. When he looked up, I shook my head. Sighing in defeat and disappointment, he relaxed his hold a little.
We approached the mouth of the cave. I looked behind me and strained to listen for any sign of Marren, Enid, or worse—our pursuer. I stood still, waiting for the slightest flinch in an aura. A difficult task given the slight breezes that blew through, gently shaking leaves and small branches of various different plants. Nothing large enough to belong to a human. Even a sorry excuse for one, such as a Cyr.
I walked into the mouth of the cave slowly, facing the woods. Just in case. Raden propped his axe against the wall on the inside with a tiny clank. Even that tiniest sound bounced back and forth, echoing our appearance.
I glared at Raden who sighed and puffed up his shoulders, letting them drop heavily. I held back a laugh. Seeing the dwarf shrug with armor almost made his head disappear beneath his breast plate.
Naloud needed a bed or something soft to lie on. Taking off my cloak and folding it so that it made a soft cushion, I laid it on the floor of the cave. After brushing away the loose rock and other debris, I laid her down on top. She squirmed. A small sound of scorn escaped her lips. But she quickly settled down, placing her fingers in her mouth and sucking.
“Now what?” Raden asked.
“Now we wait for Marren.”
“Is it just me or is it too quiet for trying to capture someone with a death wish?” Raden asked after a few moments of silence.
I had to admit that even I had silently questioned the lack of sound in the woods. I had tried to keep myself from acknowledging the thought, but now I was forced to face it. Something was wrong.
Just before the dawn had turned the dark sky into lighter shades of blue, illuminating the shades of green within the woods, I left Naloud in the care of Raden. He didn't like the idea, and quite frankly when Naloud woke up, she wouldn't either—but this was what I was forced with. I had to find out why Marren hadn't come to the cave and how a small group of Cyrs managed to overtake two very powerful werewolves.
I found my way back to my home. Sometime before arriving, the smell of burning flesh filled the air and clung to everything in sight. Loud voices floated on the wind. I hesitated, not recognizing either of them and for a moment worried about Marren, but reminded myself that if I was alive, so was he.
Moving forward, more hesitant than before, I made my way to the garden, now filled with piles of beaten and broken bodies. The smoke stung my eyes, but it was the sight that caused me to tear. They were girls of different ages, sizes, and shades. Most, if not all, were covered in bruises. At least the parts that weren't already charred. Not even feeling my feet or even realizing I was moving, I had approached a pile.
Defiled women.
My sadness quickly turned into hatred and anger so great my vision nearly clouded. A hand gripped my wrist. I did only what I could do. Fight.
I closed my eyes against the stinging smoke and swung. My wrists were caught. I tried to blink the fire away, but only a blurred image was in front of me. They were shouting something I couldn't understand. It sounded as if it was coming from underwater or from behind a thick door. Nothing but garbled gibberish. I lifted a leg to kick my capturer off of me, only to have it used against me. My other leg was knocked from underneath me. I fell to the ground, peeling the first few layers of skin off of my elbow.
I started to scream, “Get off of me,” but it came out like, “Ge oufmi.”
Then his voice entered my mind. Relena, love. It's me. Why are you fighting me?
Only then, did I realize I had been crying very loudly. Only then did I realize that Marren had me pinned to the ground. He was petting my head and shushing softly into my ears. My body shook violently with the sobs that racked my body so completely.
***
It took me nearly the rest of the morning to calm down. When I did, it was only because exhaustion had taken me. I woke with a sight all too familiar. The balcony to my room with Marren staring out over the dense trees before the towering Peaks of Domar. The sky had darkened to a deep blue at the peaks and lightened gradually towards our home. It was sunset. I had slept the entire day.
“Marren?”
He turned. Worry had creased his forehead and saddened his eyes. His lips pulled down at the corners. He was human. I had forgotten that night and day held no bearing on our appearance on the immortal realm only. Here, on the mortal realm, we were human during the day. He sat on the side of my bed and gripped my hand into his. The warmth of his skin seeped into me and brought with it a slew of memories from a time that seemed so long ago.
He smiled.
“You look... beautiful,” I breathed the last word.
“You look even more so.”
I reached up a hand to touch my face. I had forgotten how my face felt as a human. Smooth subtle skin in place of the skin of a werewolf—strong and hard.
“Naloud?” I asked, sitting up.
Marren nodded towards the direction of where the sitting area used to be. Now, only remnants of the furniture we had were seen there. Tucked into a corner and held in place by a pillow was Naloud, bouncing her hands and kicking her feet. A loud coo filled the room. We laughed.
“What happened?” I asked.
“I will tell you later. First, you need to see what happened to our home.” Marren's voice cracked on the last word. His face became solemn and worn. It was the first time I’d seen any age on his face. It shocked me and made my heart dip a little lower in my chest. Of course, that could have been Marren's feelings, but it still hurt to feel it nonetheless.
“What about Naloud?”
“She'll be fine. She's quite entertained,” he assured.
Hesitantly, I stood with him and let him escort me—hand in hand—to the hall.
I was glad that Marren told me not to worry about Naloud. I nearly fell to my knees to see how much destruction was done to our beautiful home. The enchanted carvings were cut and removed from the door. The wooden posts in the stair railing were completely missing. Only remnants of what they once were remained. The wolf embedded into the floor of the foyer was broken apart into pieces.
Everything that was beautiful in our home was destroyed. Not one thing was left untouched, unmarred, or intact. The library inside Marren's study was destroyed. Many of his family’s priceless heirlooms were gone, burned by a fire that was held in the middle of the room. Blood covered everything, staining the once brilliant white marble.
While he gave me the tour, he told me of how he found the Cyrs that were following us. He and Enid had broken their necks before they had a chance to react and alert the others of their coming. Every room, except for ours, had bodies of dead girls in them. Mauled and barely recognizable as having once been human. Marren thought they were so that the blame could be placed on us. An attempt to expose us for what we were and create such an enormous fear that we would be hunted. He and Enid had killed most of the Cyrs that were there. The rest ran back to where they came from. Whether their plan would still work or not would remain to be seen.
We walked outside so that I could see the damage done to the garden. I had been so consumed by my emotions, I didn't pay attention to anything but the mounds of dead bodies burning. Lives lost so needlessly. I was saddened, but not surprised to see that the statue of the woman, who once looked as though she was at a perfect peace was now reduced to mere pieces of rubble.
My beautiful home, in pieces.
“Why didn't you come back to get us?” I asked as soon as I was able to find my voice.
“Because we were clearing out as much of the mess as possible. You loved this place, if not more than I, and I knew how much it would've affected you.” I listened as he explained and formed his apologies. I smacked tears from my cheeks as the last light of day faded beyond the horizon. “I'm so sorry I made you worry and you had to find this.” He gestured to everything around us.
I nodded, realizing that night had fallen, I hadn't changed and Marren was still human. “Why hadn't we changed?”
“Dark night. No moon, no werewolf.”
“I don't think I'll ever know enough about this,” I said.
He chuckled. “Trust me, you will…Someday.”
“So what do we do now?”
“Now we take things a day at a time.”
“What about Jiren?” I knew it would only be a short span of time before he would start to worry about him again. Even I had thought of looking over my shoulder after every turn just to make sure that shadow in the corner of my eye wasn't him.
“We follow the plan,” he replied.
Nodding, I turned and walked into our sad and debilitated home and straight to Naloud, who was still playing on the stone bench. I knew Marren was behind me. “Why did they leave our room alone?”
“It's hard to say, but I know the doors won't let anyone who’s out to do harm through them. It's very likely they couldn't scrape enough of the carvings off to be allowed in.”
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