Daughters of Artemis

by Della Buckland

  "So there's nothing magical about the full moon?"

  Susan smiled. "Oh, I didn't say that. The moon is a very powerful symbol for us. There are some Lakota rituals that can only be performed under a full moon. But it doesn't control the wolves, no."

  "But still, if I wanted to see a wolf, the night of the full moon would be my best chance."

  "If you were foolish enough to go looking for wolves at night, the full moon would be your best chance of seeing them in time to avoid them," Susan said bluntly. "Wolves will defend their territory. With some animals, you'll be told they're as afraid of you as you are of them. But not the wolf. Make no mistake: the wolf is not afraid of you." Jesse's encouraging smile had turned into a stunned expression, and it appeared so out of place on her otherwise soft face that Susan immediately shook her head, counted to three, and started again. "Most wolves know better than to try and hunt during the full moon, but at this time of year when food is getting scarce, often they have no choice. So, yes, you might have a fair chance."

  Jesse had to take a couple of breaths to steady herself before her next question. "Your tribal group here is known as the Family of the Wolf. Does that mean you have a special kinship with wolves?"

  Susan shrugged in what she hoped was a convincing way. "You would have to ask the ancient fathers about that. It is a name we have carried for hundreds of years. No one today could tell you how the name originated. We respect the wolf, but no more than we respect all life."

  Jesse looked up at Tyler and gave a curt nod. "I think that's all we need for now. The light's starting to shift anyway." She looked back to Susan. "You were awesome. Maybe you should be doing this instead of me." Tyler and Jorge nodded in agreement, even clapping lightly for her.

  "Being the youngest of the council means that I have to be able to speak well in order to be heard by anyone. Perhaps I'm learning after all."

  Jesse leaned forward, pitching her voice lower. "Did you mean that? About the wolves not being afraid?"

  "In this part of the world, the wolf has no natural predators. They've learned that not even a man on his own can stand against them. It's only when men are armed that they have the upper hand. If anything, the wolf fears the gun more than the hand that holds it."

  "That's a chilling thought," Jesse admitted.

  "What can I say? Nature's a bitch."

  Jesse laughed, and Susan joined her, releasing some of the tension from moments ago. "Well, I'll let you get back to your work," Jesse said once they'd caught their breath again. "Thank you so much for doing this."

  "Not at all. If you need anything else, just ask."

  "Oh, I will," Jesse promised, though there was something in her voice that made Susan think they weren't talking about interviews anymore.

  Susan looked up at the bright, clear sky, the forest around her small cabin seeming hazy in the odd heat. She sipped her icy water, swiping the sweat from her brow. These rare times, when the cold and frost of October were driven back by the brief breath of a summer that refused to give to winter, were some of Susan's favorites. Summer, in her mind, should never give in gracefully to the snows. It wouldn't last long, she knew, and so she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and basked in the solitary moment.

  "You look content."

  Susan's eyes flew open, her vision immediately filled with Jesse's hesitant smile. Jesse was only in a pair of cut-off denim shorts and a sports bra, and Susan wasn't sure she liked the odd thrill that moved through her at the sight. "I'm enjoying the respite from the cold."

  "May I join you?" Jesse asked, motioning to the empty space on the hard-packed ground beside Susan.

  A small voice told Susan she should keep her distance, but there was an even louder voice ringing in her head demanding she sit as close as possible to Jesse. Susan decided there was no real harm in sharing some water and company. "Of course," she murmured. "Would you like some water?"

  Jesse flopped down beside her, leaned back against the smooth wood of the cabin wall. "I'd love some water. I thought it would snow soon, but it's been really hot the last couple of days."

  Susan rose and ducked inside the cabin, grabbing an extra glass. In a matter of minutes, she was back on the ground, holding out a glass of the cold water to Jesse. "Indian Summer," she said, a brief breeze making the bare flesh of her arms and legs prickle with gooseflesh. "It doesn't happen often."

  "Indian Summer," Jesse whispered, looking around them and taking a deep drink of her water.

  "False summer," Susan explained, her eyes watching Jesse's throat work as she swallowed. "It only lasts a few weeks, and then the first snow will fall. It's like summer's last attempt to take back the world, but it's actually more like its dying breath."

  Jesse's gaze finished taking in the fiery leaves of the trees surrounding them and returned to Susan. "That's... really quite poetic."

  Susan felt warmth spread over her cheeks at the compliment. "No. It's Black Crow who is the poetic one. I just repeat what he's been saying for most of my life."

  "Do you think it's summer's dying breath?"

  "I think it's a brief memory," Susan said, a sense of foolish indulgence washing through her as she spoke about something so intangible. "Whatever it is, a meteorological phenomenon, summer's dying breath, or a memory of warmer, richer times, it's a time that comes too infrequently and will have the deer more active."

  Jesse nodded. "And active deer are good?"

  Susan finished her glass of water and set it aside. "Active deer means more meat stores through the winter when hunting isn't as easy. We stock up on dry goods from in town so we don't have to leave the reservation in the deep snows, but we prefer to hunt for the meat we'll eat."

  "I still can't get the sight of you with that buck on your shoulders out of my head," Jesse whispered.

  Susan turned to face Jesse, and what she saw in the young woman's eyes made her heart race. "It wasn't anything special." She hunted all the time, dragged in her kills on her own each time she was successful.

  Jesse gave her a lopsided grin, and Susan almost flinched when Jesse's hand reached out and brushed along her cheek. "It was amazing." Jesse's fingers trailed down Susan's jaw. "And, if I'm honest, sexy as hell."

  Now Susan knew she blushed furiously. "Jesse—"

  "I want to kiss you," Jesse said, and her fingers went from touching her to cupping her jaw, drawing Susan closer. "I think I've wanted to since I saw you with that buck."

  Susan barely heard Jesse's words, her heart pounding in her ears drowning out almost all sound. Her eyes darted from Jesse's eyes to her mouth, and then those full lips were pressed against hers. The simple kiss sent a sizzle of sensation through her body, and she didn't know if it was Jesse's lips or the breeze that made her shiver. Susan forgot to breathe the moment Jesse parted their lips and her tongue slipped into Susan's mouth.

  Had that moan been hers or Jesse's? Susan couldn't tell. Her eyes closed, and she leaned closer, hoping her inexperience didn't show. She let Jesse lead, take her mouth, kiss her until she was panting. How could a kiss make her feel so much? Heat and wetness and a desire to rub against Jesse, scent her, mark her as hers. Susan's head spun as one kiss bled into another. She lost track of everything but Jesse's mouth against her own until Jesse's hand cupped her breast through the thin tank top she wore.

  It was like a splash of cold water. The heat she'd felt evaporated, leaving her chilled as her nipple tightened against Jesse's teasing thumb. Susan pulled back, panting softly as she stared at Jesse with wide eyes. Had she lost her mind? She was making out with an interloper who wanted to expose her tribe to the world, expose all their secrets. It was clear Jesse wanted more than the kisses, and Susan couldn't give that yet.

  She didn't know if she could ever give it.

  Susan stood up, gathering their glasses and the pitcher of water. "You should go," Susan said.

  Jesse got to her feet, confusion radiating from her. "Susan—"

  "Enjoy the warm weather while it l
asts," Susan was saying, backing up into her cabin. "Have a good afternoon." She shut the door on Jesse's bewildered face, and then just leaned against the door. It took a few minutes, but she heard Jesse's footsteps begin to move away from the cabin.

  It took Susan a dozen deep, calming breaths before she could push away from the door and head for her bathroom. She needed a cool shower, and then she'd go out for a hunt once the sun set. No matter how much her body might think it wanted Jesse, Susan knew better. Jesse was trouble, a momentary distraction for the pack that would leave by the time the deep snow fell. Keeping her distance was the wisest choice, and she nodded to herself as she began to undress. Yes, distance was the best path for both Jesse and herself.

  The following morning, Susan had exited her cabin and noticed that the black SUV was gone. She felt a momentary ache, but quickly swallowed it down and went on with her daily affairs. The filmmakers did not return that day, or the next, and Susan had all but pushed them out of her mind when the SUV returned early afternoon on the third day. Jesse spoke briefly with Black Crow, but as Susan was determined to stay as far away as possible, she did not pick up on the conversation. Just before sunset, though, Susan saw red smoke coming from Black Crow's chimney, signaling his wish for a council meeting.

  "Our young friends," Black Crow explained once the elders had assembled, "have informed me of their intent to go into the woods tonight in an attempt to see one of their wolves. I trust that I do not have to explain how disastrous it could be for us if they succeed. I know that hanhepi wi waxes full tonight, and many of the young will be unable to resist its call, so it will be up to us to ensure that they are kept out of the forest."

  Susan suddenly recalled the interview she had done with Jesse, and Jesse's question about the full moon being the best chance to see a wolf. She was, of course, thoroughly aware that tonight was the full moon, but she hadn't made the connection between that and Jesse's return until Black Crow pointed it out. She had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from cursing.

  Two Feathers stepped forward, and Black Crow passed the talking feather to her. "I will keep the youngest with me, those who have not undergone the Change. The others should be divided among the largest homes and watched over by any who can control themselves."

  The talking feather moved around the room, with each of the elders taking responsibility for three or four families. Through either luck or a silent consensus among the others, the entire tribe was spoken for before the feather passed to Susan. Susan instead agreed to stand watch in case their guests chose to return early.

  There was little else to say, and so the elders dispersed to spread the word among the tribe. Susan did her part, though she suspected she received considerably more grumbling about the state of affairs than the other elders did. Nevertheless, her directions were not questioned, and by shortly after moonrise, everyone had divided into their assigned areas.

  If Jesse or the others found anything odd about the situation, they kept it to themselves when they ventured out into the forest. Jesse tried to say something as she passed, but Susan refused to make eye contact and pretended to be absorbed by stoking her fire. She couldn't help but notice, though, that the trio were heading out armed with only a night-vision camera and a couple of flashlights. Wakan Tanka be thanked that they at least had the sense to wear dark clothing. Even so, they clearly did not understand the danger they were putting themselves in. The other predators in the area had learned to avoid this area of the forest when the wolves ran, but with their absence, they would feel no need to stay away tonight.

  Susan looked around and saw that all of the homes were tightly closed, shades drawn. She knew that inside, those resisting the moon's call would be clearing furniture and other belongings to make room for those who would already be in the middle of their Change. She quickly extinguished her fire and slipped silently into the woods, telling herself that she would just keep an eye on them. If they turned around, she would still have enough of a head-start to get back before they did.

  Even in her human form, Susan's senses were sharp enough to see the clumsy trail the three had broken through the woods and to pick up their scent trail with barely any effort. More specifically, she realized after following them for several minutes, she had picked up Jesse's scent. She recognized it easily as the same scent filling her nostrils during their impromptu kiss. Just the memory of that shared moment tightened her nipples and sent a rush of warmth between her legs. But immediately after that sensation came a rush of shame like a slap to the face.

  She hadn't been lying to Jesse when she'd said the Lakota in general, and she specifically, were comfortable with homosexuality. In others. But at the same time, it had only been an abstract notion to her before now, and certainly not something she had ever considered herself to be. True, she'd never had this kind of visceral reaction to a man ever before, but no other woman had ever moved her to this degree, either. And after forty-five years, it was becoming clear to Susan that no one ever would. Until someone had.

  So what did that mean? Was she a lesbian? Susan turned her thoughts inward and admitted that the label didn't feel right to her. On the other hand, neither did the label 'werewolf', and yet by all conventional definitions, that was exactly what she was. Does the chicken reject the name 'bird' simply because it cannot soar like the eagle?

  A distant growl snapped Susan's mind back to awareness. She scented the air and quickened her pace, moving in a wide arc to remain undetected by the three she was protecting. The scent grew stronger as she approached, and very soon she caught sight of the source. A cougar had run down a coyote and was sharing the kill with her three young cubs. Jesse and the others had surprised the mother, who was now staring them down and warning them off. But instead of backing away slowly, they were standing frozen with their eyes open wide. To the cougar, of course, this was a sign of a challenge, and she refused to abandon her kill.

  Knowing that the cougar could attack at any moment, Susan didn't waste time undressing. Because of the full moon, changing form was less a matter of willing the Change as it was to simply stop fighting it. Her fur-body trembled in relief as it burst forth from her skin, leaving her clothing in tatters on the ground. She jumped into the clearing, deliberately making noise in order to draw the cougar's attention. Her hackles were raised, teeth bared, body low, and her growl rumbled menacingly across the distance.

  Susan caught the acrid scent of urine suddenly, but could not spare any attention to determine which of the boys—she somehow knew it wasn't Jesse—had soiled themselves. Breaking eye contact with the cougar now could be deadly. Susan was larger in her wolf form than most normal wolves, but the cougar was only slightly smaller, and had the benefit of a mother's ferocity. Her only real chance was to convince the cougar to take her cubs elsewhere rather than chance a physical confrontation.

  The tense standoff dragged on for over a minute, but it was the cougar who looked away first, calling a warning to her cubs and nosing them away from their meal. Once the little ones had all been convinced to stop eating, the cougar backed away from Susan submissively and led her children deeper into the woods.

  Susan relaxed her stance and spared a quick glance at the three interlopers to be certain they were unharmed. Apart from the dark patch on Jorge's trousers, she determined they were fine, slowly recovering from the shock of their experience. Odds were good that they'd be heading back for the village any moment, so Susan turned away from them and ran along their backtrail as fast as she could ever remember running before.

  It wasn't until she broke through the tree line at the edge of the village that she dimly remembered seeing the faint red light on Tyler's camera indicating that it had been recording the entire time.

  Jesse was waiting for Susan the next morning. She was trying not to be obvious about it, but Susan had noticed her outside the cabin for twenty minutes without turning the page in her book. And while going outside to face her wasn't high on Susan's list, she had responsibi
lities. She opened the door and stood just inside the frame. "Come in if you're coming."

  Jesse smiled gratefully and accepted the invitation. "I wasn't sure you'd want to talk to me," she said once Susan had closed the door behind them. "After... what happened, I mean. But I didn't know who else to talk to. I don't think anyone else would believe me."

  Susan poured them both mugs of hot tea. The Indian Summer had broken in the night, and there had been a frost on the ground this morning. Even midday, the air outside was cool. Jesse gave her another smile as she took her mug, and Susan sat across from Jesse at the small, simple kitchen table. "Believe what?" Susan asked before taking a sip of the herbal liquid.

  "Last night, we went to look for the wolves. Well, we found one. Holy shit, did we find one."

  Susan listened as Jesse recounted the events of the previous night from her point of view. She had to look away to hide her smile when she heard herself described as "this gorgeous gray wolf" that came "bounding out of the woods to save us". Jesse also went on to confirm what Susan had feared—Tyler caught the incident on tape.

  "I've probably watched it twenty times," Jesse was saying. "That wolf coming out of nowhere, staring down the mountain lion, like she was watching out for us or something. It was incredible."

  "How do you know it was a she?"

  Jesse shrugged. "Something in the eyes, I guess. It was just... feminine. Anyway, after the lion ran off, she just looked at us, like she wanted to make sure we were okay. And then she just took off again. I'd never seen a wolf run that fast before."

  "You're right; that is an amazing story," Susan agreed, trying to keep her voice light. "Perhaps Grandmother Earth felt you needed some looking after."

  "I guess it was kind of silly, going off like that at night without any idea of what we'd find. Like they say, God protects fools and children." Jesse took another sip of her tea, and then sighed. "Susan, I didn't get a chance to say this earlier, but I'm sorry about the other day. I was forward and pushy, and I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."