The fire flickered in a rapid dance, as the wind blew harder, sending leaves and lose dirt into the entrance of a deep cave. A lone woman sat near the fire, and aimlessly poked at it with a twig and mused over the days events. Once again, she'd had to turn into the very thing she was running from. It was getting harder and harder to steal food from the local village, for they'd learned of her ways, and were taking more precautions to prevent anymore burglaries. Now two guards constantly guarded the small township all night, and though she could have easily taken them and gotten what she needed, she didn't want to have anymore blood spilled by her paws. Every time she caught a glance at herself in the reflection of a window of a cottage, or a river she happened to be drinking from, she found it near impossible to match the gaze that stared back at her. How long must she pay internally for the sins she'd committed? How long will her own image bring back murderous images, and deep pain? Leena eyed the fire with a deep, thoughtful stare, only her tail twitching agitatedly.
Another swift gale sent yet another barrage of dirt and leaves into her temporary dwelling, the wind attacking her fire with renewed vigor. Even the elements seemed to be against her lately, but as she went to snatch more brush for her fire from the now dwindling pile near the far wall, she noticed that something else had blown in with the wind. She reached down and picked up a tattered piece of paper, a wanted sign, with a mug shot on the front. At first she half expected to see herself on it, to see her own feline figure staring back at her, reminding her that her sins were about to catch up with her. Instead, there was a picture of another form, canine in nature, and it appeared to be not much older than herself. A young, male silver wolf stared back at her from the paper, with medium length hair, silver in hue, and though she couldn't tell for sure because the picture was black and white, it appeared that he had a pair of brilliant blue eyes.
The reward that was being offered was much too substantial for the small town she had settled down outside of. No, this bounty was not of their means, this sum was from someone, or someones much richer. The thought made her cringe as she looked at the bottom of the wanted poster, which read: WANTED, one Tahn Banesfoot, for stealing from the Baron of Celestia for crimes against his household including murder of the Barons daughter, Marlina, and the theft of a sum in total over 500 golden coins. The name made Leena cringe.
"The Baron.." she spat the words out as if even the thought brought a foul taste to her mouth.
Which; indeed, it did. Whether her hate for the man was so deep, or her mind was playing tricks on her, whenever his name was mentioned, a coppery bitter taste invaded her mouth. She knew what the taste was, it was the taste of blood, and it made her sick.
"The murder of Marlina..." she read the message again carefully.
Why would anyone want to kill her? From what Leena had heard and seen, Marlina was the only kind one of the Barons lineage. The thought of this Tahn fellow laying a hand on Marlina made Leena full of rage, though she could not rightfully imagine why. She had never met Marlina, nor the Baron, but for some reason an anger boiled within her when she thought of Marlina laying in a pool of her own blood.
Then a frightening thought crept into her mind, a painful awareness that could mean disaster for her. With a reward of this sum will surely have the townspeople searching high and low for the criminal. Which means, they will come here, and find... me. She sighed heavily and folded the paper, and stuffed it into her cloak pocket. The time had come; once again, to move on. She could not risk being caught now, when the people would be searching to the best of their ability to find this Tahn character. She couldn't blame them; really, for the town was of small size, and a sum that large would benefit them all.
Leena walked over to her buckskin bedroll and began to roll it up tightly, and then tied it with a piece of rawhide. She gathered up her other provisions and items; few they were, and tucked them inside her pack. She had little left, not near enough for travel of any sort. It was apparent that she would need to make one last "visit" to the town to get what she needed. She sat down to ponder what her plan would be, and being deep in thought, she did not notice the sun drift out of view until it was nearly out of sight. Needing to put the fire out, but not wanting to chance any smoke pouring from the cave, she opted to throw dirt on the fire instead of water. Once the last embers were cold, she scattered the rocks she had placed in a ring for a fire pit, and did her best to mingle dirt in with the ashes further, to be less noticeable.
Sticking her head just outside the mouth of the cave, she gave a soft dove call, three times in a row. She scanned the area, and listened intently until hoof beats could be heard; and soon thereafter, a ebony stallion came cantering into view. She smiled and offered him her last apple as he approached, stroaking his forehead, and then moving to his back to attach her pack and saddle. She had purposely removed the saddle and let him run free so that he would have the appearance of a wild horse. He had been with her for so long that he knew not to approach the cave at all until she called, which had been nearly a month. While the animal downed the apple, Leena finished loading him up, and put a bridle on him. He gave her a snort, for he had never liked the bridle, and especially after being rid of it for about a month.
"I know, I know.. believe me; friend, you are not the only one eager to be rid of bonds." Leena said with a solemn tone.
The stallion, dubbed Onyx, nudge her gently with his muzzle on the arm. She smiled and lead him slowly down towards the village, and told him to wait by a small rock outcropping about 100 yards from the towns timber outer walls. There were only three entrances to the city, one to the North, one to the South, and one to the West. The West gate was designated for traders and merchants only, since it lead straight to the local market. All three had a guard this night, and short of scaling the wall, they were the only way in. She pulled her black cloaks hood up over her head, and headed for the town. Her only way in was to fool the guards.
"Halt there, miss." said the guard of the North gate, as Leena approached.
"City's gates are all closed at this hour. You have chosen a bad time to visit, for their are criminals in these parts." he said with a stern look.
"Oh, but I have come to see my grandmother, for she is deathly ill. I've gotten word she will not last till the morrow." Leena said, crossing her fingers behind her back, and keeping her head low. "Sir, please.. I am the only family she has left!"
To her surprise, the guards face got graven, and sad.
"You must be here to see Mira. I am under strict orders not to let anyone in, but I am indebted to the woman, for she brought my son back to health after a fight with the plague. It was dire, and because of her, my son is alive today. I will allow you to enter, but I will escort you to her cottage."
"Oh, that isn't necessary, I know the way well." Leena said, pushing her way past the guard swiftly.
The guard grabbed her firmly on the arm, despite her attempt at a quick get away.
"I said, I will escort you to Mira's cottage. Either we both go, or no one goes."
Leena swallowed hard, but retained her composure.
"Yes, of course. That will be fine."
Leena made her way into town, and tried not to look as if she was lost. She did not know where the womans house was, and she cursed at the predicament she had gotten herself in. She turned to the guard, keeping her head low to prevent him from seeing that she was a anthro, and turned to the guard..
"I seem to have forgotten the way! The long trip was exhausting, and it's been ever so long since I've been to see my dear.. grandmother."
The guard eyed her suspiciously, but only for a moment. He pointed to an old, elaborate house on the other side of the town side street, and they made their way to the door. The guard moved to knock on the door, but Leena stopped his fist from rapping on the door.
"She must not be wakened if she is in slumber, she needs as much uninterrupted rest as she can get, because of her state of health."
"Right.. yes, sorry." the guard nodded, and added, "Please tell her that Rufus is eternally grateful to her for saving his son."
Leena merely nodded and slipped inside the cottage, and locked the door behind her. She put her back against the door and let out a deep sigh of relief, closing her eyes to calm her nerves. When she opened them again, she took in the interior of the elaborate cottage, her heart skipping a beat as she did so. Gold and silver embellishments were on every mirror, candle stick, picture and table. She cautiously made her way into the middle of the living room, and was taking in the sight of it all when she spied a bedroom down a hall to the left. She could see the door open, and a large box of jewelry on the dresser, a strand of pearls dangling tantalizingly over the rim.
She crept towards the room and looked in, to see a very elderly woman laying in a very large four post bed, complete with silk sheets and the finest silk pillows she had ever seen. The womans breath was very shallow, and labored, and it hurt to even hear her take each breath. Despite her condition, she seemed to be in a deep rest, so Leena tiptoed her way in, inching closer to the jewelry box, until she was standing in front of the dresser, her back to the old woman. She lifted the lid and eyed all the utterly breathtaking broaches, necklaces and rings inside. Grabbing the contents in her paws, she emptied them all into the secret inside pocket of her cloak.
"Emily? Emily, dear, is that you?" a feeble voice sounded from behind her.
Leena froze, and answered as calmly as she could,"Yes, yes, it is Emily."
The reply was of an odd sort, as a series of strained noises that resembled laughter came from the woman. They were mixed with coughs and gasps for breath, but to be sure, the woman was laughing.
"Do you take me for a fool in my old age? You have come to take advantage of a dying woman? You have much to learn, girl. I know no one named Emily, yet apparently she stands in my bedroom, helping herself to my heirlooms."
Leena turned around slowly, and looked the old woman in the face, a faint candle on the womans bedside table casting a glow on Leenas feline features. She was amazed to see a pair of sparkling emerald eyes staring back at her, looking more like the eyes of a vibrant youth, and far less like the eyes of a dying woman. Leena did not know what to say, so she just stood stalk still, half expecting the lady to scream for help, or make some effort to alert the guards.
"Oh, so you are an anthro. Do come sit," the woman said, patting the bed beside her, " I will not make any attempt to have you apprehended. I wish to speak with you, I would at least like to know the name of the girl who intends to run off with my jewelry."
Leena did as she was told, for lack of knowing what else to do. She knew the woman could be tricking her, trying to get her close so that she could she what she looked like to inform the authorities later on. A chill ran down her spine as she thought of seeing her picture on a wanted poster just like that villian, Tahn. Somehow, something in the womans eyes told Leena that she could trust her, so she approached and sat at her side, on the bed.
"Well then, let's have it dear. What is your name?" the old woman croaked.
"Leena." was the one word reply.
"Ah.. a fine name. Tell me, Leena, why are you taking that jewelry?" the woman studied her curiously.
"I, well.." Leena started, but stopped short.
"Oh come now! We are nothing if we can't be honest!" the woman said, placing a thin hand on Leena's arm.
Something about that tender touch warmed Leena to the core. She quickly told the woman about hiding in the hills, being an outlaw, and stealing from the town for food and whatever else she needed. Finally she told her about her ordeal that night, and how she came to the house, and why she was taking the jewelry.
"I see. Well then, I should quite like the idea that my heirlooms will be part of an adventure." she smiled sweetly, "In fact, I want you to take them. They are now a gift, so you have stolen nothing from me, let it not weigh on your conscious." The woman got a sort of intense look in her eye, and continued. "There are things that are revealed to you when you are on your death bed," the woman gave another raspy series of laughs, "I never did understand why they called it a death bed anyways. I should like to think that death is much more like a flying carpet, whisking you away to your next adventure. What do you think death is like?"
Leena had honestly never thought of death as some great passing to another adventure. Death had always been something you ran from, cheated, and did your best to stay away from. It was a foreign idea for her, to think of it as anything but a ferocious beast who's hunger was for souls, and it's favorite prey was the innocent. She could see that the woman expected an answer, and though she knew it was not the best time to give the answer she had come up with, she knew the woman wanted an honest answer.
"I imagine it as a beast, preying on those who are undeserving, and torturing the souls left behind by sparing the ones who truly deserve to be devoured and disembodied."
"I see." the woman mused, " Death itself is not an entity. Too many people would like to make it such so they have someone to blame for the passing of their loved ones. They want to have someone to hate."
"Is it wrong that we should want to have someone to blame for anothers death?" Leena asked.
"Yes." the woman answered with a determined look in her eye, "If you are looking to hate someone for anothers death, then your mind is not free to focus on their life. Hate will eat you up inside. It's like Thistle, that will grow rampant in your heart if you let it, and it will wrap your heart in it's thorny clutches."
How does this woman seem to know so much about me? It's like when she looks in my eyes, she sees to the very core of me! Leena could do nothing but stare out the window. She did not know if she was willing to give up her anger.
The woman could see the faraway look in Leena's, and decided not to press the issue any further. "I am Mira, by the way."
Leena turned back to Mira, and nooded. "The guard had informed me of your name." Then she remembered the message she was supposed to give the woman from Rufus, "Rufus was his name. He wanted me to tell you that he is eternally indebted to you for saving his son."
"Oh, that was not me." Mira gave a faint smile. "I was the vessel that carried out the deed; perhaps, but it was not me who healed his son."
Leena looked at Mira curiously. I wonder if she's losing it now, she appears to be quite close to death now.
"Oh! Don't you look at me like that. All the youth look at me like that, like I'm crazy." Mira reached a thin finger up and tapped the side of her head, "I can assure you all of my marbles are still in there. There are things we will never understand, Leena. Just because you don't understand it, don't think it can't be true."
Leena just turned and gazed out the window. "There are a lot of things I don't seem to understand lately."
"Maybe you aren't supposed to!" Mira got a mischievous sparkle in her eye, "Life would not be near as fun if we knew how things ended from the start. It's quite like a book.. yes, a book. There would be no great mystery if we knew the ending, and if nothing else, life is a great mystery. Yes, I think I quite like that analogy, life is like a book, and death is like a flying carpet."
"Then what is pain?" Leena asked suddenly.
Mira eyed her thoughtfully. "Pain, is necessary."
Leena made a "pfft" sound, and stood up from the bed. "If there is any mystery, it is why the good should suffer!"
Mira grabbed Leena's arm with a swiftness that caught Leena off guard. "SIT down."
Leena complied, and Mira continued, "Pain is necessary to grow the heart. If we knew no pain, we would know no love because it would be untested. A love that is never tested, can not be called love. Love endures all things; you see, and if it is not tested, then we would never know if it was really love or a fleeting emotion."
Leena knew there was great truth to that, but she refused to admit it. Instead, she just nodded to the woman, and stood up to leave. "I really must be going, it is too dangerous to leave the city during the day."
"Yes, yes.. but I have one request. If you remember just one thing I have told you.. remember this. You can't run forever, and demons from one's past are far faster than your feet can take you. There's only one way to get rid of them, and that's to forgive yourself. Forgiveness opens the door to your heart, and the rest will come later." the woman gave Leena's hand a squeeze, and closed her eyes. "Now you must go. Take this, and leave swiftly." the woman pulled an opal necklace from her neck, and handed it to Leena. "This stone is very special, it reflects matters of the heart. Go now."
Leena reached out to take the necklace, and as it touched her palm, it turned a deep, blood red. She couldn't take the time to marvel at it; however, for she needed to go, and now. The sun was slowly creeping into the sky, blanketing everything in brilliant sunlight. She had not realized just how long she had been with the woman, but as she exited Miras Cottage, she felt like she had known her forever.
As she approached the gate, she looked on in shock at the sight taking place in front of her eyes. A beaten and bruised wolf was being dragged through the north gate, bound behind a horse, arms and legs tied and a rope at his neck. She could tell who it was. Even from her distance from him, she could see that the rope had rubbed the skin on his neck raw, and she could also see why. The rider on the horse, a large man, was spurring his horse on sporadically, making the wolfs walk uneven. Every time his pace evened for more than a moment, the rider would spur his horse and the rope would tug on the mans neck. Serves him right for what he did. Though, as she looked on him, she did not feel the rage of before. Leena felt a warm sensation spread across her hand, and she looked down, amazed to see the necklace in her hands, except instead of the blood red color it had been when she had taken it, it was now bright white again, and glowing faintly. I could have swore I put that in my pack! I.. wonder why it is doing that. Well, no matter, I must get back to Onyx and leave this place.
As she approached the North gate, she saw that with all the commotion going on, there was no one guarding it. This was going to be easy, just slip out and head off, but as she drew closer in proximity, the necklace got gradually hotter, until the heat was so intense she actually winced in pain. She dangled it by the chain, and it seemed to draw ever so slightly in the wolfs direction. Oh you must be joking! This thing, whatever it really is, wants me to get closer to HIM? Forget it. She continued walking to the gate, but a memory of the woman flashed in her head, those eyes piercing her to her core as she said, "This stone is very special, it reflects matters of the heart." Leena's heart jumped to her throat. She looked at the necklace again, and felt a stirring deep inside of her. I owe it to her to pay attention to this. Then she sighed in frustration. There was an internal battle raging inside her. Doing this was foolish! Surely they would notice her, and she would be hanged with the villian. Mira had been right about everything else, though.. Finally, one side won the internal conflict, and she shook her head at thought of it. Mira said it was not always for us to understand things, and she certainly didn't understand why she was doing this. Leena.. sometimes you are such a fool. She tucked the necklace in her pocket, and dashed across the street.
Leena ran to the blacksmith shop, which was unattended as everyone was now in the crowd, watching the newly caught criminal. She pulled out one of the glowing hot rods, and flung it up onto the thatch roof, igniting it in flames instantly.
"FIRE!" she shouted, and the crowd quickly turned in horror.
"Form a bucket brigade!" came a cry from one of the men in the crowd, and others ran to comply, forming a long line to a well in the center of town.
Leena watched as the man on the horse dismounted and joined with the line. She ran up to the wolf, and she slipped the rope off of his neck, being careful not to further rub the tender skin. She put her finger to her lips, and guided him towards the gate. Thankfully, no one had seen them.. or so they thought. Only a short distance from the wall, Leena heard it.. the thundering of hoof beats behind them. She ducked and rolled, pulling the wolf down with her, just in time to dodge the riders blade. She hit the ground hard, and the wolf crashed down on top of her, knocking the wind out of her. She shoved him aside, and stood up, watching the rider as he made an arc back towards them. She tried to call for Onyx, but with her breath being illusive from the wolf falling on top of her, she could manage no such thing. The rider thundered toward her, and it she bent down and struggled to drag the wolf out of his path, but to no avail. He had passed out, and was now dead weight. She looked on in horror as the rider got closer, and she was sure that she was doomed this time. Deciding that there was no way to stop it, she shut her eyes tightly and waited for the impact.
All she heard, was a loud whinny and a very loud thud and skidding noise. She opened her eyes to see Onyx, still in mid air, his hooves pawing at the air. She then saw the rider, and his horse, sprawled out on the ground, a large skid mark on the ground from the horse and rider grinding to a stop after being rammed sideways. She wasted to no time, and with the breath back in her lungs, called for the stallion. He thundered over, and she groaned loudly as she tried desperately to heft the man on the back of Onyx. He's too heavy! Even if I can lift him, there is no way I can get him onto Onyx's back! Fear gripped her heart, and she tried again, with the same result. Onyx snorted, and lowered down to his knees, then all the way to the ground, and looked at Leena with intelligent eyes. Leena used all of her might, and succeeded in getting the wolf onto Onyx's back, and he sat laid limply across the saddle. The powerful stallion stood up, as fast as he could, and Leena hopped on, sitting far back on his flanks. She grabbed the reins, and they started off, Leena trying desperately to hold the reins with one hand, and steady her passenger with the other. She glanced back quickly to see the riders horse standing up, sniffing at its' limp rider on the ground.
They road hard for as long as they could, but soon it was time for them to rest. Leena lead Onyx up a trail into the forest, and they soon found a small clearing to set up camp. It was night, now, and even so, she did not risk making fire. She cut the bonds off of the man, and laid him on her bedroll. She hoped he would wake up soon, because she had no idea how bad he was hurt. She hoped her efforts had not been wasted on someone who was soon to die as soon as she freed him. Through the night, she got him to swallow some water, and by morning, he had awoken. She was washing up when he awoken, and she arrived back at camp just as he had fully realized where he was. He was looking around the clearing, searching for the one who had helped him. He was shocked when his eyes rested on Leena, for the last thing he expected was for it to be a female.
He knew he should say something, but he didn't know where to start. He had many questions, but he decided the best place to start would be an introduction.
"Hello, my lady. I am.." he started, but Leena interrupted him.
"I know who you are." Leena eyed him, "You are Tahn Banesfoot."
**To be continued.**
Topic: An unintitled (as of yet) story. (Read 2134 times)