by B. Buechter
“This city before,” she whispered to Tommy, still keeping her wits about her. “It must have been so amazing to live here… Until...”
She trailed off.
The young boy responded with a pat on her arm and nodded, still as silent as ever. Even though she did not know a single person from those days, she still mourned their loss. Once again, she smiled down at him. For some reason, this little boy who never uttered a word had warmed her heart. And once again, she responded to his softness by clearing her throat. Now, she had to focus on finding Jake.
Eva and Tommy stayed close to the buildings, looking through each one as they passed. At one point, they decided to double back and comb each structure more carefully, including those that were clearly too unstable hide. They had traveled well past the first block when they began to worry. Tommy felt a cold shiver race up his back when they stepped into the crosswalk to the next set of roadways. At this point, Eva regretted letting them split up. After spending a significant amount of time in the next part of the city, she began to feel sick to her stomach. The whole block was completely devoid of humans, friend or foe.
“We are venturing into more dangerous territory.” She tried to remain calm in front of the young boy. “The Gangs like to pillage around here. But these are the Gangs from across the forest in the West. I don’t have many dealings with them, so we have to be extra careful.”
Tommy swallowed the lump in his throat and stopped in his tracks for a moment, then raced back up to Eva. The further that they ventured down the street, deeper into the city’s center, the more her concern grew. But she refused to admit that she was wrong for teaching these brothers skills to survive.
It’s not my fault that he can’t follow simple directions, she reasoned. His brother is ten years old and he does exactly as I tell him. Why is it so hard for the idiot older brother? I can’t help it if he got himself captured or killed. That’s his fault for not staying in the block.
Jake had, indeed, run off, but Eva and Tommy were not far behind him. While he was trying to hide at the end of the block, something caught his eye. Someone in layers of thick animal hides running through the streets, bare feet slapping against the asphalt. At first, Jake believed it was Eva disguising herself as a distraction. He thought about how great it would be for him to find her first. - the hunter becoming the hunted. When the figure rounded a corner a few blocks down, he found himself surrounded by rugged people with torches, weapons, and unusual markings on their body.
Eva had also noticed the bobbing lights along the buildings a few blocks down. The jerking feeling in her stomach became more violent. She knew Jake was there. With one deep breath, she raced off towards the light leaving Tommy far behind her. He was safe, Jake may not be. When she heard the sound of Jake’s voice, she dug her feet into the cracked pavement into a full sprint.
Why am I risking my life again for this stupid guy? she asked herself, but her feet continued to carry her forward.
“Please don’t kill me,” Jake begged. His weapon brandished in front of him and his back against a brick building. “D-don’t take m-me to your compound.”
Eva finally made it to the small crowd with a blade in one hand and her gun in the other. Her lungs felt like they would explode when she finally reached them. Suddenly, the whole crowd turned to her. She was ready to kill. But then, she stopped dead in her tracks and lowered her weapons.
Chapter 4
When her vision finally adjusted to the torchlight, she recognized the rows of unkempt warriors. All of them had unusual markings on their faces. Jake could see her between the group of disheveled people. As she lowered and sheathed her weapons, he called out to her. His heart was racing.
Are we done for? Are there too many? Why isn’t she fighting them?
“What are you doing?” he yelled frantically. A few from the mob turned to him and scowled. “They’re going to kill me.”
“They don’t even have their weapons drawn,” Eva shook her head as Tommy finally caught up to her, gasping for breath.
“Isn’t this a Gang?” he called back.
She laughed. “No Jake. No Gang that I know of dresses like these people. These are Nomads.”
Jake was still paralyzed with fear. One of the Elder Nomads proclaimed that he recognized Eva’s voice and walked closer to her. She removed her hood as he shined his torch to her face. As soon as the Nomads saw who was under the cowl, they all bowed and chanted “Wanderer” in unison.
Jake lowered his weapon. “What. The. Shit… is going on?”
Eva put her hand up as the Nomads rose again. The Elder smiled and looked at Tommy, who had hid behind her. Both brothers watched in confusion as she grabbed the forearm of the Nomad, and he followed suit. With her other hand, she made a fist, placed it over her heart, then opened her palm to his. Again, he did the same.
“You and your friends are welcome for a meal Wanderer,” he said and began walking around the next block. “We have made our camp nearby. Please, we insist.”
Eva stomach yawned with hunger. She followed the Elder with Tommy at her heels. Jake rushed up to them after realizing that they were going to leave him whether or not he decided to follow. He grumbled something inaudible under his breath about these people. The Nomads followed behind their leader, silent as they strolled through the grass.
They were led to a part of the city that had been flooded for years. The sidewalk was filled with greenery and a flowing creek had replaced the street. Nocturnal animals filled the air with their calls. Life flourished in this part of the metropolis. It was no wonder the Nomads set their camp up here. The trickling water soothed Eva and the McAvoy brothers. It was breathtakingly serene. As they were walking down the road, a herd of deer passed by them undeterred by the sight of the group. One of the fawns passed in front of Tommy long enough for him to reach out and touch it’s fur. Neither he nor his older brother had ever seen one up close. The whole experience was surreal. It was almost as if the Nomads had a divine connection to the earth and all living creatures.
By the time the group reached the camp, fires had already been lit and soup pots were boiling with water and herbs. A few Nomads had been carrying the carcasses of various animals, holstered by rope and twine over their shoulders or around their necks. They presented their catch by bowing to their kin who had stayed behind rinsing vegetables in the stream. Eva’s stomach began to rumble.
She and the rest of the Nomads began taking their seats around the large bonfire. On the outer ring were more of the mismatched hides and fabrics used for their living spaces. Smaller children who were playing there had stopped to join their families near the fire.
The Elder grabbed Tommy and Jake by the arm and pulled them to the center of camp. The congregation began howling like animals. The brother’s hearts were pounding in their ears and their legs grew soft and jelly-like. Eva wanted to be alone and had found a small nook to watch from the perimeter of the congregation. She pulled her hood over her head and covered her face, watching from the shadow of two brick walls. Even from afar, she could see the fear flickering in their eyes, but knew it would end soon.
“Tonight!” The Elder settled down the crowd of Nomads. “We gather in the name of our Great Mother.”
Eva rolled her eyes and snickered.
“Our Mother is who gives us these beautiful flowers, this delicious food, and these wonderful people. Our connection with nature was bestowed upon us by her. Let us not forget that we have duty to preserve the beauty during this time of rebuilding.”
It started as a low hum and rose to a high pitched screech. The Nomads all howled in unison. Such a haunting sound chilled Jake and Tommy to the core. Only the Elder and the brothers were near the fire, the rest of the Nomads remained at the edge of the camp.
“As our tradition dictates,” the Elder continued. “We must bathe these boys in the love of our clan. They are good friends of The Wanderer.”
Whispers of “The Wanderer” started to arise i
n the congregation. Many in the crowd looked around, but did not see Eva. The few who were nearby placed their fist over their heart and opened their palm to her in greeting. She returned the greeting. Two children from the crowd walked towards them carrying tunics made of animal hides. Both bowed and draped them over Jake and Tommy. The congregation began humming and howling in unison. For a moment, the Elder disappeared, returning with a bowl of red liquid. He lifted his wrinkled hand in front of Tommy and shut his eyes.
“Your energy is strong little one,” he began. “It flows with such ease through your body. Our Mother has given me insight into your heart, but your openness allowed me to enter into the energy. May you always remain this way under her guidance. You and Nature will become one. I will bestow the mark of the Owl upon you. May you cut through your enemies with the same ease that they cut through the night sky. Silent and stoic.”
The Elder placed a dot between Tommy’s eyes and a line down the bridge of his nose. On each cheek, he drew a crescent moon shape, and three small dots down his chin. Eva leaned forward and watched Tommy bow to the Elder in thanks. She recalled the mark she had been given by Mother Nature five years before.
He does have a very strong yet passive air about him, she thought. These Nomads and their spirituality is a silly thing, but it seems to work for them. They have been around for years.
Next, it was Jake’s turn. Truthfully, his fear had been replaced with anticipation of what animal he would be marked with. It has to be something stronger than an owl. As the Elder walked over to him, he puffed out his chest and lifted his chin. The Elder’s brow furrowed as his hand hovered over Jake’s face. He moved his hand down to his heart area and he lifted his head.
“Interesting energy you have,” he chuckled. “I have not seen a heart so hardened in a while. You try to shut out your feelings, but someone with the same blocked energy will warm them. Stubborn… but you bear the weight of the past on your shoulders. Your courage will come with time. I give you the mark of the Coyote. They are stubborn, but they care deeply for their pack. May you always remember who your pack truly is, and let go of stubbornness.”
Jake was taken aback by the Elder’s words. Stubborn? Him? No. However, he once read that wolves were great hunters, so he did not argue. The markings he was given was one circle on the tip of his nose, two horizontal zigzags under each eye and a complete hand print on his chest. Another Nomad grabbed some soft dirt and sprinkled it on the brothers and then poured water in their hair.
“The five elements are given to these two new family members,” the Elder turned back to the crowd with his hands raised. “We are each marked with an animal - the element of life. Sprinkled with earth, dipped in water, breathe in the air, and have a fire in our belly. Now, let us feast!”
All of a sudden, some of the Nomads began dancing and playing instruments. Others formed lines around the cooking pots for the meal. Eva had pondered the symbol that Jake had been given. She wasn’t too sure that he would have been a coyote. Maybe a donkey or a mouse. Laughing to herself, she stood up and leaned against the toppled brick wall. A small Nomad girl brought her a platter of vegetables and meat. Jake and Tommy had gotten food themselves after the Nomads took turns welcoming them.
Tommy was quickly swept up by a girl around his age and sat next to her. She was very talkative, so he just listened to her while he ate. His older brother spotted Eva from across the crowd, sitting in the nook, almost completely hidden. As he went to go sit near her, the Yidi, the Elder, pulled him aside and offered him a seat next to him and his wife, who introduced herself as Masha.
“Do not take my husband’s words too personally,” said Masha as Jake sat down. Her voice was slow and melodic, almost like being in a trance. “I read energies better than him anyway. But he likes the attention from our clan. However, stubbornness can sometimes be a good thing. Especially when you know what to fight for. Coyotes are known to be followers of the righteous path.”
Jake nodded and smiled. The old woman’s words comforted him.
“From where do you hail?” she inquired. “Your energy intrigues me. You do not look as hardened as any slave, Nomad, or Rover.”
“We came from a vault in the hills,” Jake responded. “Eva came looking for any survivors, and we were the only two left. My brother and I are searching for our father who left a few years ago. Do you happen to know anyone that came from there?”
Masha turned to her husband. Yidi thought for a moment, “Not here… But you know what… I did hear rumors about a Gang through the forest enslaving an older man that came from the hills. He was middle aged from what I heard.”
“Thank you so much.” Jake smiled. “It’s better than nothing.”
“I’m surprised The Wanderer allows you to walk with her.” Yidi said. “Ever since her parents were taken from her years ago, she prefers to be alone.”
“What happened to her parents?”
“That girl became a great warrior through a hard life,” Masha shook her head. “She’s more resilient than most of us. The Wanderer bears stronger energy than I have ever seen, but also the hardest soul to break.”
“Do you know what her life was like before?” Jake moved closer to them as they nodded.
“It was years ago,” Masha started. “She was born to a Rover family near the Serpent’s compound, I believe. Those people no longer exist today. But she was a sweet child and her parents frequented our small group of Nomads. Adventuring is in her blood. And then one day, everything was taken from her. The day that the Serpents attacked.”
Jake glanced over to Eva who kept her head in the shadows. Masha continued.
“They usually enslave more than what they did that day… They killed everyone… almost. She was the only one left alive. Her kin were burned, along with the town. One of the Serpents must have felt her strong energy and dragged her back to their compound where she was enslaved for a decade or so.”
“But she told me that no one ever escapes the compounds-.” Jake finished his food but stayed at the edge of his seat.
“And that is true to this day,” Masha lifted her hand in protest when Jake started to speak. “No slave ever has. But The Wanderer is different. You see, she did something that no slave had ever done before. Challenged the leader.”
Jake’s eyes widened.
“Granted,” Yidi stepped in quickly. “She endured years of unspeakable torture. Passed around by the men. Beaten by the slave-drivers. Scars… mental and physical. That, and watching her whole colony killed. I’m sure those scars never really healed.”
A large lump formed in Jake’s throat that he couldn’t swallow. He felt like he wanted to vomit trying to imagine Eva in the compounds as a young girl. Everything she had gone through. No wonder she was so cold and distant. Her trust for other humans had completely vanished, and understandably so. But what was most unsettling to him was the knowledge that there were countless children who were still slaves to the Gangs.
“She must’ve watched the Gang members train,” Masha nodded. “That is how she learned to fight. Through the days of torture, she practiced battle. She learned the hierarchy of the Gangs. And finally, one day, she challenged the leader. She called him out for a battle to the death. Winning was the only thing that would ensure her freedom.”
“Did she win?” Jake instantly realized the stupidity of his question.
“Why do you think she stands before you today?” Yidi laughed. “And she bested him with only a piece of metal pipe. The leader at the time fought with the same shortblades she now carries. After she ended him, she took them… And she has been alone ever since.”
Jake stared off into the crowd of dancing Nomads. “How do you know all of this?”
“Five or six years ago, she came to us before she moved to the Rover colony,” Masha answered. “We tried getting her to talk, but we were only able to get some of her story from whispers as she battled with the demons of her dreams. I’m sure there are many other secrets that
she will take to her grave.”
Jake’s heart dropped. He had treated Eva poorly since they had met. Questioning her every move. Fighting about everything. But now, he felt for her. After a few moments of pondering what he had just heard, he excused himself from Elder Yidi and Elder Masha. Slowly, he weaved his way around the celebrating Nomads. His gaze was fixed on Eva.
“Saving this seat for anyone?” he chuckled.
Eva reluctantly offered him a space near her. As he glanced back to the Elders, his mind went blank. “So what animal did the Elder give you when you joined them?”
“I never joined them.” Eva lifted her head and locked eyes with him. “I saved them.”
“How?” Jake forced his focus on her story though his mind was elsewhere.
“They were a small group,” she bent her legs and hugged them. “They ran the risk of being exterminated by the Gangs. I taught them to fight. They taught me to scavenge. And now their numbers have grown ten times over. Some stay to themselves, others are led by Yidi and Masha. Even some of the old colonies of Rovers came here to join them.”
“That’s amazing,” Jake tried to hide his pity, but Eva caught onto it quickly. Her half smile dropped.
Her voice became stern. “They told you, didn’t they?”
“What are you talking about?” Jake tried to lie, but realized it was pointless. She saw right through him. He felt the color drain from his face and changed his tone. “Yeah… they did. I am so sorry for everything you had to go through.”
“Don’t be,” Eva sighed. “But I guess you would’ve found out sooner or later. I don’t need your pity.”
“I didn’t mean it that way. I haven’t seen the amount of death or torture that you’ve faced. I won’t pretend I have, even with all that happened in the Vault. But I have had personal loss. My mother died before our dad left.”
“Everyone has seen loss Jake.” Eva’s tone softened. “It’s hard to move on. Especially when it is someone close. But that is why I live. I live for the ones that I have seen suffer and die. I fight for the children whose lives were cut short. The women who have been ravished by men. The men who tried to shield themselves with their hands against the barrel of a gun.”