Her father smiled then and it had everything of his love in it. “Yes, I loved your mother that much as I do you and I would do it again in a heartbeat.” Sitting back in the chair he reached for a pipe and filled it with powdered leaves.
“You never told me that they asked you to join them though. Why didn’t you?” How different my life would have been if you had. Judging by Pyter’s words I certainly wouldn’t be a healer now.
Fragrant smoke began to rise into the air and she watched as her father smiled as memories filled his head. “There are things about the Walkers you do not know. To join their family would have meant changing one duty for another and we had you to think about. They had no young children so it would have been lonely for you growing up.” He shook his head, “There were just too many reasons not to join them. But that is for another time. Now, tell me about the patient.”
“It was the leader of the tribe’s daughter, a young woman called Sasha. She had a wound on her arm which she claimed was a dog bite but it was more a blade wound, a sharp cut rather than a tearing action. It was in a bad way so I cleaned it with hot water, sewed the open wound closed and bandaged it with an herbal poultice to stop any infection. I will have to go back to make sure it doesn’t get infected though.”
He shook his head as great clouds of smoke rose above his head and her nose wrinkled at its burnt acrid smell. “Now it is clean the wound will not get infected. The Walkers have their own way of healing that deals with that. That they asked for help tells me this was no ordinary wound though. There is a mystery here.” She watched as he seemed lost in thought and then his eyes sharpened.
“You should go and spend some time with them if they will allow it. It will do you good to get out of the village for a little while and see another’s life. I will write you a letter and tomorrow when you go to them you will take it with you. Can you remember the way to their camp?”
She nodded. “Yes, but it will not matter. One of the Walkers will be waiting for me to guide me. The patriarch of their family, Pyter, he said I am to be given the safety of the forest.” She reached into the leather satchel and pulled the book out of it. “He also gave me this for you. Told me he wishes it had come earlier.”
Her father’s eyes narrowed. “So Pyter gave you the safety of the forest. You will be a part of their family whilst you are there. That is a good sign.” Reaching over for the book he opened it and smiled. “When I went to him for the cure he showed me a book that he had found a long time ago. Dirty and weathered he claimed he found it in a forest far to the south. Neither of us could recognize the writing but some of the plants were recognizable to me so we concluded it was an herbal of some sort. He swore he would get it translated and bring it back to me in case it had what I sought.”
He looked up at her “Tell me, daughter, what you thought of them? From your time there you must have picked some impressions up.”
Alice frowned. “I saw things I do not quite understand. I saw that they can walk through undergrowth easily. It is almost as if the forest helps them in their path. They travel in small groups, extended families I would suspect but have no children and that they seem to disavow weapons. I only saw one Walker with a weapon whilst I was there.” She thought for a moment, “I think they are a hardy people who are completely at home in the wilds.”
“Remember I told you that everything has a basis in something. Well, what we think of the Walkers also has a basis,” Cracking open the book once more she heard her father mutter, “A cup of tea I think if you please Alice and I will tell you something’s about the Walkers, things you might find interesting.”
Quickly Alice busied herself making the tea and then sat down opposite her father whilst they waited for the water to boil. “You know I do not come from this land originally. Instead, I come from far over the sea. From a place that does not have the same superstitions that the inhabitants of this land have. So when your mother was sick, I did not care about the rumors of the Walkers, I only cared that they may know a cure and that it could save your mother.”
“So I went to them and asked. I think that was what endeared me to them, the fact that I simply asked. Offered to barter my knowledge, offered to become their indentured servant for however long they needed if they would but help me. Sadly they could not.” He smiled then as bitter-tinged memories filled his head, “But they did share with me their camp. Many times when I was searching for new herbs within the forest I visited their camp. Many times they helped me find places in the forest I could never have found on my own.”
“During that month I found a people who are not what they seem on the outside. They can walk the deep roads of the forest and the high roads of the mountains without fear, not because of bargains with the Undergods, but because of service to the Celestials. They worship the same gods the people of this village do, just in a different way. The headman of this village values obedience, subservience, and hard work. They value independence, duty, and service.”
Alice sat enthralled as her father talked. He had never shared much of his life before, preferring instead to teach her about the world. Now she felt closer to him as he sucked on his pipe and occasionally sipped his tea in-between sentences.
“You know of the ancient history that the priest teaches? Of the night of falling stars and the Undergods incarceration and the Celestials rise? Well, there are pockets of wild magic, of deep evil left over from that night across these lands. The Walkers are vowed to protect those places from people, to make sure they do not get used again. That is their duty, their service to the Celestials and they have been gifted for it.”
“Is that why they protect the witch of the hollow as people say?” Alice could not help but ask and she saw her father raise an eyebrow.
“The witch of the hollow,” His eyes took on a faraway look. “I saw her once. She was impossibly beautiful, her and her partner.” Sighing he sipped his tea. “They do not protect the witch for the witch is too powerful. But they keep an eye on her and if the need arose I believe they would attempt to stop her.”
Reaching across he took her hand. “Alice, study these people whilst you are with them. They have much to teach those who are unafraid. Befriend them and they will protect you to the ends of the earth, cross them and they will become a baleful enemy. There are worse people to spend time with though.”
“And do they know magic? Can they curse a person to die or appear in their dreams?” she asked as she sipped her tea. “I’ve heard they can see the future.”
“They know a rudimentary form of magic, nothing like the sorcerers of old or those hunted by the church. They are gifted with a sight we do not have. They sometimes see visions of great evil or threats to their tribe. They have flashes of foresight that guide them.”
“Papa,” she asked in the following silence. “Is it possible for a person to turn into another form? Can magic allow them to do that?”
“Why do you ask Alice?” Her father’s eyes were upon her and they were as hidden and as clouded as she had ever seen them.
“Sasha, the daughter I treated. She has the same coloring as my wolf,” The words came out quietly, silently and now she had said them the idea did not seem as preposterous, the possibility was not as maddening. “And I have not seen my wolf since mother passed. Is that not the last time the Walkers were seen here?”
“That would be impossible daughter don’t you think,” Silently he pushed himself up, “Now time to rest I think before you get any more strange ideas.” She heard him moving away as she finished her tea.
Yet as she watched her father walk slowly towards the bedroom upstairs she had one thought and one thought only. Why is my father lying to me?
Chapter 8
Shards of sunlight fell around her like rain and the trees of the forest rose around her. Huge and foreboding they made her feel small and insignificant. “Alice, where are you?” she heard her father call and turning she saw the floor of the forest, dappled with sunlight and covered
with red flowers. A gentle breeze made them dance and for a moment they looked like blood drops.
“Alice,” she heard her father call once more and then he was pushing through bracken and fronds of green to stand before her. “There you are,” he said smiling and his arms reached out to her. She walked towards him slowly, feeling happier than she had for a long time. “Come, your mother is waiting for you.”
Reaching up to take his hand Alice saw hers, small and tiny compared to her fathers. “Is she better papa?” her heart beat fast as she saw her father look down upon her, a smile upon his broad face.
“Indeed she is sapling. Now all she wants to do is hug you and tell you how much she loves you and she is sorry if she scared you.” Alice skipped along with her father, her heart full of joy.
“I knew you would heal her papa. You can do anything.” Looking up at him she saw his smile, felt his hand covering hers and saw the flash of pain that took his eyes. Blinking she shook her head as he jerked, fell to his knees and coughed, just once. Blood gushed from his mouth and fell upon the forest floor spreading out amongst the red flowers. Not understanding what she was seeing Alice turned, and gasped.
A man, huge and ugly stood in front of her, spear in hand and madness in his eyes. “You can’t escape woman. You belong to us now.” Her father fell to the floor, his face a look of anguish and she turned to run. A hand came down upon her shoulder and she screamed. High and bright it echoed in the forest and spread out amongst the trees.
From between the trees, shadows came, flowing over ground and flower. She saw bright spots of yellow and white, blue and green amongst the shadowy darkness and then the hand was snatched from her shoulder as they leaped.
The man fell to his knees as snarling growls filled the air and the shadows moved in. Teeth, white and wicked tore at his calves and Alice watched as his hands flew to his throat. Red spilled from his hands covering his body and it became all she could see before he slowly, topped to the ground only to become covered by the hungry darkness.
Alice screamed once more, terror filling her voice with its awful cadence. She wanted to turn, to stop looking at this terrible awfulness and run but her feet would not move. Rooted to the spot Alice could do nothing but close her eyes to the sight, hearing instead, the shadows as they tore at the man. She could hear teeth as they ripped at his body, flesh tearing as strong jaws clamped down mightily. Tears ran down her cheeks, her heart beat faster than she could imagine and fear became everything she knew.
Then all sound stopped and she opened her eyes. The shadows watched her, becoming more solid, more wolf-like after feasting. Their eyes stared at her hungrily and dark coarse fur that promised oblivion if it covered her moved towards her before parting. They surrounded her and stood as if waiting and all Alice could do was stand and wait with them.
She could hear her heart beating in her chest, loud in her ears. The ring of wolves around her stepped closer and she could feel their panting breath against her body. The noise of them was awful and she knew she only had moments to live. Then they split apart and she was there, green eyes the color of spring leaves and a streak of silver that promised moonlight.
“Thank the gods,” Alice gasped and then she saw her wolf’s maw, red and sticky like the rest. Lips pulled back and she began to rumble from low in her chest. Pink saliva dripped from teeth so recently used and Alice could do nothing but shake her head. “No, not you as well,” she gasped and then as her wolf took another step closer her paralysis broke.
Her body moved before she could think. Turning she ran crashing through bracken and fallen branches, past leaves that stung and small animals that bolted. Her footsteps were silent as she ran. All she could hear was the pounding of her heart as it beat in her chest like a caged bird, her panting breath and the howling of wolves behind her.
As if she ran through a veil day turned to night. The shafts of sunlight, the only comfort she had winked out as if snuffed by death himself and darkness ruled. Broken moonlight, weak and ineffective shone down and the forest turned from a place she knew to somewhere that did not exist, could not exist. Trees moved, their branches reaching for her and she felt her long blond hair sending pain through her scalp as it was caught. Darkness became everything and she ran blindly, running into trunks careening madly as she sought to escape the wolves that chased her.
“You can’t run from your fate, Alice.” A woman’s voice spoke to her through the darkness and the pain. She turned her head as she moved, eyes searching out the voice and finding nothing but shadows that surged on either side of her. Tears fell from her face as she ran. Fear was so thick around her it slowed her down. “Mother!” she cried but no help came, nothing could save her from her fate and she knew she was to die.
A weight hit her and she felt claws at her back. Losing her balance she went sprawling, rolling through the undergrowth wildly. Twisting, she rolled onto her back, her eyes wide with fright and kicking with her feet she scrabbled backward. Shadows ran around her, eyes yellow and hungry glaring from black fur until one leaped for her. She saw it coming as everything slowed down, sailing through the air towards her, mouth open wide and teeth bright with death.
Then it was gone as another hit it. Silver flashed as they tumbled across the ground and their jaws snapped at each other as they tried to gain the upper hand. Fighting and snarling the two wolves spun and leaped, claws clashing and raking at each other. Until finally jaws found a neck and bite down. Yelping the loser ran and the winner stood proud, turning to walk over to Alice.
The wolf came to stand over her. As dark as the night around her apart from one line of silver, a moonbeam of light that promised safety against the darkness that promised nothing but death. But even the moon could be a lie she knew now as the wolf above her raised its head and howled triumphantly. The sound echoed through the trees before its eyes, those green intense eyes stared into her soul.
The group of wolves snapped and whined at her, attempting to goad her off but the wolf she once knew stood firm against them. Twisting her head Alice watched as, one by one, they all turned and slinked away, their shadowy presences becoming one with the night. Then she was alone, on the ground with the wolf she called friend above her.
Silently it turned, faced her with eyes that looked as green as the forest leaves and opening its mouth it spoke in a voice that should never have come from the creature. A voice that she recognized, female and sultry it said, “You are mine.”
Then its head snapped forward and Alice screamed once more as the wolf’s jaws closed around her throat. She could feel its weight against her, heavy and pressing. She could feel its breath against her cheek as its maw kept hold of her throat. She could feel the fur in her arms and smell its musk in her nose.
Struggling she fought to push it away, becoming weaker and weaker with each effort until she lay still and accepted her fate. As she did she found something, comforting, in the feel of the wolf against her. Then the jaws closed and all she felt was pain.
Alice jerked awake, her chest rising and falling urgently as she breathed quickly. Her body was sweaty and her heart raced madly as the dream stayed with her. “Gods above,” she whispered and turning on her side she stared at the wall. She could still feel the jaws around her throat, the sharp staccato points of teeth against her skin. It’s just a nightmare she thought, just a nightmare nothing more. Breathing hard she fell back onto her bed willing the last of the nightmare to go.
But her mind raced as she tried to get back to sleep. The Walker girls face haunted her now, the splash of silver in her hair the same as the wolf that had come to her in the forest as a child. They cannot be the same, she thought, that would be impossible.
“It’s just a dream, my friend wouldn’t hurt me.” She said it out loud, whispering it into her room. The act of saying it made the words more solid, “I will not fear her or the Walker girl.”Her hands clutched her blanket against her and her heart refused to slow down. “I will not give in to fear like th
e rest of this village. I know she would protect me. I know it. I don’t know why but I do.”
There were too many questions that she needed answers to and she would not get those answers here. No, I will get those answers at the camp. Eyes suddenly hard with determination Alice closed them once more and tried to let her body rest even as her mind raced. The camp, everything revolves around the Walkers. Is it just because they are new and different I feel like this or is it something else?
Slowly tiredness began to take her and her breathing became rhythmic, natural. She fell into the twilight between sleep and wakefulness. Outside in the forest, a howl quiet and far away broke the night, to be joined by others until they made a choir. It broke the silence of her breathing, echoed within her mind and her heart calmed at its touch.
Softly she whispered in her sleep, “I will be there soon Sasha, I will be there soon.”
Chapter 9
The second time she awoke it was to a shout from her father. “Come on you lazy child! The day is wasting.” Groaning she lay for a second, letting the last of her sleep leave her befuddled mind. She had fleeting impressions of terror and warmth, moonlight and comfort as the last vestiges of her nightmare left her. I’ll be going back to the camp today she thought and that thought held excitement for her.
And if my father gets his wish I will be staying for a little while. I should dress appropriately but I have nothing like they wear. Getting out of bed she washed and then pulled on her strongest wearing clothes. Taking a deep breath she prepared herself for the day.
Wolf Heart: Moon Born book 1 Page 5