6 comments/ 18207 views/ 10 favorites Awakening Soul By: Lokiira The steady beat of an axe on wood echoed through the forest, loud in the absence of animals. It was foreign here, the first sounds of a long train of newcomers. It was wrong. For thousands of years the animals and their kin had run these lands, living in harmony with the forests and rivers that ran through it. Now man was coming, and with man came change. With man came war. With man, inevitably, would come death. Ano'ni "Papa!" The groan, exasperated but full of love, sounded loud in the close atmosphere of the small wigwam. Chuckling under her breath, Ano'ni Otenon gathered the knocked over mugs and plates, brushed aside by her father in his haste to escape to bed. It had been a long hunt for him, and the first kill in what felt like weeks. He'd crawled into his bed ten hours prior, and had yet to rise. He was so deeply asleep that even the soft snores that usually arose from his corner of the tent had fallen silent, drawing Ano'ni to check and make sure he was still alive. He was, just lost in a slumber she knew could last a full day, if not more. Prey was scarce, and this hunt had lasted for three days straight. The Hunters had almost turned back, giving up the fruitless hunt. Only at the last moment had a tired deer stumbled onto the path, giving them hope. One deer for an entire Tribe. It would last maybe a day before the Hunters would be back out, continuing their endless hunt in a dying land. Ano'ni looked to the deer-hide flap that served to keep the cold air out of the home, distracted by a hushed murmur coming from outside. It had been bothering her for awhile but had ignored it, believing it would fade. It hadn't, and was actually growing louder as time went on. She glanced back at her father, to be sure he wasn't disturbed, then stuck her head outside. Her ire was rising with her curiosity, and only grew as the sound picked up in volume, the hide no longer muffling it. Other tent maidens were also leaving their wigwams, their irritation an audible buzz in the air as they hissed amongst themselves. To disturb the Hunters' rest was unforgivable, and whoever was causing the commotion was sure to be punished. Ano'ni was the youngest of the distinguished tent maidens, the term given to the woman who cared for the tent or wigwam that a Hunter resided in. The Hunter she cared for happened to be her father, as her mother had passed on years before. She had gladly taken on the strenuous, and prestigious, task. Ano'ni's own hair contrasted starkly against the silver and grays of the elder women, being a dark brown that belonged only to the young. It complimented her light brown skin and youthful complexion, marred by life only through the scar her father had given her in a moment of pure, helpless rage. He had apologized for weeks on end, unable to forgive himself of such a weakness. The scar cut a line through her dark eyebrows, ending at the corner of her eye where wrinkles were forming from her endless mirth. Even that moment of pain and terror hadn't wiped the joy from her life. Now, though, the eyes that were normally a warm and caring brown were growing hard and angry. She stepped outside, tying the deer hide firmly behind her. She would not have her Papa woken early. He needed the rest. She followed the other tent maidens to the source of the commotion, the cool snow tickling her skin as it fell on bare flesh. When she saw the source of the commotion, the creators of the havoc, she could not help but to freeze where she was. They were so strange. She used her smaller size to slip through the older tent maidens, staring curiously at these invaders. They were captives, or so said the shield maiden who was trying to explain the commotion to the Head tent mistress. The poor little fool had not been aware that the Hunters were back, that her prizes would cause such a ruckus. For indeed one of the two, at least, was creating quite the scene. He pulled at his ropes and shouted as loud as he could, trying to stand before being forced back down to his knees by the embarrassed shield maiden. Finally she drew a knife and held it to his throat threateningly, finally silencing his shouts. They were human, they must be. Magickless and shapestuck. They were unlike any men Ano'ni had ever seen, very different than the men of the Tribe. One of these barbarians could only be described as the sun incarnate, with the fiery disposition to match it. Golden and handsome, light skinned and light haired. Even his structure seemed light, much thinner and weaker looking than the men of her own Tribe. His hair was like spring sunshine, a soft and gentle yellow, yet burning with the hidden fire of upcoming summer. His eyes were like the sky, blue and endlessly reaching on forever and ever. His skin was tanned lighter than theirs but marred by the same callouses that came from hard work. So different than the dark beauty of the Shi'tani people that she called family, yet beautiful nonetheless. The Shi'tani had dark hair and dark eyes, their skin tanned by the sun on snow, and made strong by their endless burdens. Still, he was not as strange and different as his companion. Whereas the golden man was loud and violent, his companion was the opposite. Dark, contemplative, and watchful. His skin, his hair, his eyes... They were all black, or perhaps a brown so complete it merely looked so. Even the Tribe men were lighter than him, their skin seeming light beside this intruder's. This man looked like he belonged in the sun, maybe even to the sun. He was silent, had not made a sound since his capture. He merely watched, silently absorbing all he saw. Ano'ni stepped away from him, fearing the intensity she saw in him, solid and overwhelming. He did not speak, and said a thousand things all at once. While the other man was loud and boisterous, even annoying, this man was terrifying in his silence. As she examined him his eyes suddenly flashed to hers. Locked on. Sound faded away, leaving her completely silent. The wrathful chatter of the maidens dulled to a merely murmur, the soft tinkling of the teeth of the foolish on the shield maiden's necklace becoming less than nothing, the maiden still gesturing on helplessly. All that existed was the man, and with the man the hate she saw burning in those black eyes. All the hate, and all of the consideration. She saw him, and he saw her. She felt she couldn't breathe, felt him sucking the life out of her through her eyes. He didn't have to say a word or speak their language to express all of the things he wanted to do to her . She felt like she was suffocating. Fur brushed under her fingers, strong and comforting, breaking her from the trance. They clenched in the soft pelt, reveling in the feeling of safeness that emanated from it. She looked down, met the golden eyes of the wolf. Loving, sad, and infinitely tired eyes. Her father, or one of his forms. "You should be resting," she murmured to him softly, kneeling. She used her free hand, the one not draped around the thick neck of the black wolf, to brush the fur away from his muzzle. Then she hugged him, felt the gentle feel of his tongue on her shoulder. Reassuring her despite his exhaustion. Then he pulled away, walking over to the dark man. They locked eyes, man and wolf, an instinctual battle of wills. Man and beast, captive and Hunter. Amber and a brown so deep it looked black. The battle went on for a minute, two, the silence surrounding them waking Ano'ni to the fact that the gathered women had fallen silent. A Hunter had come forth. Her father, that black wolf who now defending her from a hateful onslaught, had been roused from his rest. He had emerged wearily from his den to confront the commotion and to seek out the daughter that usually attended him so carefully while he slept. He had perhaps smelled the humans right away, had not been surprised like she had been. Man was nothing new to him, after all. They had always sought to cross the Pine Barriers and invade their lands. He might have even killed a man before. She didn't know. Her father snarled, sharp and forceful. Both Ano'ni and the dark man flinched, one in fear and one startled from her thoughts. Satisfied, the wolf then looked at the golden man through hard amber eyes, the fur on his ruff settling back into place where it had only moments ago been rising in anger. The man fell silent quickly, quelled by the new menace of a beast intelligent beyond its appearance. He was a foolish pup, thinking he could scare the women into letting him free. He would never be free. Not if the Shi'tani had anything to say about it. The black wolf returned to his daughter's side, then moved on past her. His pace was hurried. "Are they men, Papa?" she asked, turning and walking beside him, bare feet quiet on the caked-down ice of the camp. They were leaving the Hunter's corner of the camp, heading over to the Warrior's, and with them, the Pack leader's den. The black wolf looked up at her, blinking. The words he spoke slid across her mind, like a thought that didn't belong to her own self. 'Yes, daughter. They are men, and their presence this far into our land is troubling indeed. Were I not so tired I would have met them as man to assuage their fears, but I fear now that they've seen me they will bring the might of man upon our Tribe should they ever escape. To them we appear as demons, for men have ever been blind to anything and anyone too different from them.' Her father fell into a troubled silence, and Ano'ni did not press him into talking more, she herself reviewing and thinking of the words he'd pressed into her mind. They would have to move. It was the only conclusion she could come to, and it thundered in her mind as they approached to low-slung dark tent the Pack leader called his den. The Pack leader always remained in wolf form, the gods having taken his man form when he sacrificed himself to the pains of being leader of the Tribe. Before they could call in to announce themselves, the low growl of the leader invited them in. He had heard the ruckus, then, and had been waiting to hear what it was about. Entering the den left Ano'ni blind for a moment, but not long. Though she was not in wolf form, for women were prohibited from embracing that side of themselves, her eyes were, by nature, much stronger than any human's, quickly adjusting to dark and dim light. Her father had no troubles at all. What she saw inside the den startled her into absolute silence, so unexpected was it. It was a woman, not of their Tribe, and in wolf form. Ano'ni could not keep the distaste from her face, having been raised to think of such a thing as vulgar and rude. The wolf woman, however, seemed at ease and comfortable in her body, so evidently it was not a new thing to her. 'Do not fret, young one', a voice rasped in her ear, and Ano'ni realized it was her Pack leader. Falling to her knees she quickly twisted her head to the side, revealing her neck to the elder male. It was a gesture of submission, one which he released her from with a friendly thump of his tail. Time had aged the leader into a great silver wolf, larger than any others in the Tribe. Whereas her father rose to her hips, her pack leader's head rested at chest-height. She did not know how long he had led their Tribe through the ice and snow, but he had been there since her father had been a pup nearly forty-seven years prior, and her father often joked that he hadn't aged a day. Ano'ni had even heard the elder matrons say that he had been there since their days as pups, nearly seventy years past. Perhaps he did not age. A curse, or gift, of the gods. All she knew was that he was wise and kind, a benevolent leader to his kin, and cruel to those who threatened the Tribe. 'Do not fret,' he repeated, this time absently. 'This is Merikah, Pack leader of the Western Tribe. She has brought important news to me, news which I believe might be similar to the news you brought us.' His eyes turned to Ano'ni's father, and he continued in a somber tone, 'Terukah, tell me, what brings you here? I fear I already know, though I wish to hear it from you directly.' 'Man, my leader,' murmured back her father, Terukah by name. His tone was soft and respectful, and he, too, had been stretched out in a submissive stance that he now rose from. 'Two men were found by a shield maiden out patrolling today. They were distressingly close to camp before they stumbled into our traps, and she found them trying to escape. They are now tied amongst the tent maidens, who will keep them under watch until you decide what to do to them.' The Pack leader was silent, thinking the news over. His eyes closed, and Ano'ni realized humbly that he must be conversing with the Western Tribe leader. She had known for awhile that the other three Tribes ran different than her own Southern Tribe, though she'd never met another female warrior from them. She had never met another Pack leader, so that experience was especially unique to her, having not even known female Pack Leaders could exist. She had merely assumed that all pack leaders were men. Merikah appeared younger than their own Pack leader, still a brown tint to her silvering fur. Her eyes were mixed colors, one being a light green, the other being a dark amber. She was beautiful Ano'ni had to admit, and she woke a longing in the young tent maiden. What did her own wolf form look like? Would she ever know? She heard that when one underwent the womanhood rite, something she was due to undergo in only a few weeks, woman and wolf would meet and join into one body, even if they stayed only in that one form. Only rumors of it, though, for it was prohibited to tell what one experienced within those rites. The Pack leader's voice rolled over those thoughts, burying them for the time being. 'I had feared that was what you would say, Terukah. Merikah tells me that her own warriors have found a human in their traps, though he had perished from the falls. A search party sent out by her found no traces of other human scouts that may have been luckier, but still we must be prepared to flee. The Eastern Tribe will be contacted at once to warn them, and then we must join together to flee once more. Man is, finally, pushing us out of our last ancestral home. We have expected it, but to look it in the face....' The old wolf fell silent, sadness in his amber eyes. The Southern Tribe had undergone these migrations three times before, traveling to different lands. In the first they had been driven from their Southern lands, traveling East. From there, both the East and South Tribe had been pushed West, who had in turn been pushed north. Now all four Tribes resided in the Northern Tribe's lands, and they had nowhere left to run. The land they lived in now was unable to support four tribes, and it was killing the land. Too few calves from the deer and caribou to replace what was being taken, and too few fish returning from their breeding migrations. To the far, far north was only ice and snow, and while the Shi'tani people were unaffected by the ice and snow thanks to their nature, there was little prey there. Whales, sometimes, but whales were sacred and to be killed only for certain ceremonial rites. They would have to flee farther than ever before, far away from the lands their ancestors had been born to. South, probably, and to the west. There, supposedly, was land that had yet to be touched by man. Supposedly. The reports were hearsay only, with no scouts ever returning from their treks south. Ano'ni bowed her head in disbelief, digesting the words of her leader. Somehow she had always believed it wouldn't happen to them, that they wouldn't need to flee in her lifetime. She had believed that it was a problem for another generation, that she would live and die in this very camp. It wasn't to be. Her father was very much affected as well, his head hung low in sadness. 'I offer to send news to the Eastern Tribe,' Terukah said softly, finally looking up. His ice blue eyes were dark with a sadness Ano'ni knew she couldn't possibly understand, her own grief only a fraction to his own. Their traveling away would mean leaving behind the grave of the mother she never knew, yet her who father had loved dearly. Her heart ached for his pain, if not for the source of his pain. She had never known the woman he grieved so deeply for, but she knew the man and hated his pain. The Pack leader nodded absently, apparently conversing with Merikah already. 'Go, then, and may the gods guide your paws to safety,' he finally said, looking up. 'And Ano'ni, prepare yourself. We are pushing your womanhood rites forward, you will be joining the ranks of the shield maidens before the new moon. Begin your Hunt preparations'. He turned his back on the two, dismissing them. Ano'ni brushed her father's pelt with a deer-bone brush, spreading the oils to better protect him from the wind. Cold did not bother them, but the wind brought a bitterness that made even their superior bodies chilled. His tail was tapping impatiently, and finally she put it away. She ran a hand through the soft fur surrounding his muzzle, stroking the fur atop his forehead, short and soft. "Goodbye father, gods guide your paws, and come back soon." He looked at her, and he smiled a wolfish grin. Then he was gone, disappearing into the whirling snow. She stared after him for a moment, then returned to camp, missing him already. So soon after the last hunt. She was to be alone for awhile longer, then. Back inside the empty tent she realized just how lonely it would be once she was made a shield maiden. Her mother had died in childbirth and she had grown up with her father. Since women couldn't be Hunters, he had been teaching her how to be a shield maiden. The term "shield" was largely ceremonial, as shields were only employed by those who wanted it. She had trained herself to work a bow and daggers, with her father teaching her how to spar and battle. Up until now the daggers had been ceremonial as well, for war was unheard of amongst the Tribes. Her bow had brought down a rampaging bear in early spring of last year, and the Tribe had feasted for days. The bears had moved on, though, along with the rest of the game. All of a sudden the emptiness of the wigwam was too much, and the Tribal girl stood, quickly exiting. She tied the deer hide flap behind her, and set off randomly into the camp. Normally she would be stopped a dozen times by a dozen different people, but today the atmosphere was tense. The air itself was quieter, letting her know that the humans had been put away elsewhere, out of prying eyes. Curiosity led her feet in the direction of where she had last seen them, but the memory of those dark eyes kept her from seeking too closely. Without her father she feared she would be devoured completely by those eyes, should they happen to meet hers again. "Ano'ni, child, do you mind heading into the forest and fetching me some mint?" The girl whirled on bare feet, looking guilty at being caught looking for the humans. Her worry faded though as she saw the eldest woman in the Tribe, Ma'eya. Everyone in the Tribe referred to her simply as 'mother', including the pack leader. "I'm afraid I'm almost out and we're going to need it for your ceremony in a few days," continued the old woman, unaware of the fear she'd created in the young girl. "Yes Mother!" Ano'ni replied, hiding a grin behind serious eyes. Everyone knew that the Shaman's mistress had a fresh supply of mint, and it was easy to guess that Ma'eya was merely hoping to keep Ano'ni from being sad about her father's quick farewell. The elder acted strict, but she had long been a good companion to the girl. The Mother she had never had, so to speak. "I'll let you know when I have some!" With that she quickly kissed the elder on the cheek, darting out of the camp she called home. Awakening Soul Ch. 02 The jolt of landing on the splintery surface of the wooden floor woke her from her exhausted sleep, the blood rushing to her head causing a fierce headache in mere moments. She clenched her eyes shut, biting down on her lip to silence her whimper of pain. As her body re-adjusted to her upright state she cautiously opened her eyes, hoping to get a bearing on where she was and where she might be going. Despite the darkness she could see that she had been thrown into what could only be called a cage, though she had never seen one made out of the shiny material that rose in bars around her. She had only ever seen wooden cages before, made from willowy branches of trees and best used fresh to avoid drying out and an easy escape. Was it stone, perhaps? Hesitantly she reached a finger out, tracing down the bar. No, not stone. It was smooth and cold to the touch, but quickly warmed under her hand. With a start she realized this must be iron, something she had only heard about in Elders' tales. Once it had been common amongst her people, but years of disuse had caused the loss of the art of its manipulation. Ano'ni withdrew her hand, pulling it against her chest and tucking the fingers under her armpits. Her body was reacting badly to the icy wind, chilling her in a way that she had never been chilled before. Still, focusing on the cold was easier than focusing on what had just happened. She didn't want to think about what had happened in her home, about what had happened to her father, to Ma'eya, to the Pack Leader. So instead she looked at her toes, and marveled at how red they were turning. She jumped as the cage she was in started to lurch forward, and she realized with fear that she must be on a cart. Rarely, if ever, did her own Tribe use pack animals to pull carts, but the Northern Tribe did so often with domesticated Caribou, using them to haul whale meat from the ice flows when the season came. She turned towards the front of the cage, towards where the caribou must be. It wasn't caribou, however, that were pulling the cart, but two very odd looking deer-creatures. Or were they deer? Perhaps not. They had the long necks of deer, but had long hair going down one side of their necks. Big ears, too. They weren't brown, either, with one being a dark dappled gray and the other being a tan color. She had never seen the beasts before and decided they must come from the south, domesticated and used by humans only. Whatever they were, they were huge. The caribou she knew so well were much smaller and skinnier, and, in her opinion, much more graceful looking. Unfortunately for her, she couldn't keep her mind occupied with such trivialities for long. The beasts lumbered on, paying her no heed, and she saw no life around her aside from them. The humans must be around somewhere, but for now she was blessedly alone. Soon the image of her dead father returned to her mind, and tears threatened to spill. One last time she looked for the humans she knew had to be nearby, and only when she had guaranteed her privacy did she let the tears fall. Heavy, guy-wrenching sobs racked her body, contorting her body into a tight ball. Her hands clenched on her shoulders and she curled inwards, body heaving with loss. Warm tears splashed onto her bare legs, steaming in the frigid air. She could almost hear his voice, his last words. :Sorry I am late for your maiden rites, daughter. I hope you have met your sister, and I hope you can forgive me for returning so late.: The thought of his voice extinguished forever brought forth a soft keen from her lips, and her body heaved with another round of sobbing. The tears flowed hot and heavy, and she wanted to deny it all. She couldn't, though. Denial wouldn't solve anything. A crack in the trees silenced her immediately, swallowing her sobs. She kept her head between her legs as she desperately tried to stifle her tears. Quick, shallow breaths helped her calm her deteriorating control, and finally she was able to look up. She stiffened. The Dark Man watched her with obvious amusement, riding beside the cart on a beast like those that pulled the wagon. He had changed from the clothes he had been wearing when he'd been caught, now wearing a dark cape and trousers with a white long-sleeved shirt. She squirmed as she remembered the way he had manhandled her, unconsciously scooting backwards until her back hit the bars and she could move no further. He grinned, flashing his teeth in a threatening smile. She snarled back, but there was no guise of a smile with her. He laughed at her, their language barrier couldn't hide that. He was enjoying the stakes being flipped, and obviously held a grudge against her because of the way her father had treated him. She hated him for that. She'd had nothing to do with that, it was on him. He was the one who had tried to steal her soul through her eyes. He captured her eyes now, and the malice and desire that he looked at her with made her gut churn in distaste. She broke the eye-contact, looking at her legs. Eventually he must have tired of her lack of acknowledgment because he left, turning the beast around to join what she assumed must be the rest of the group. :Sorry I am late for your maiden rites, daughter. I hope you have met your sister, and I hope you can forgive me for returning so late.: The words ran through her mind again, unbidden this time. Something seemed off about it, but she couldn't place a finger on it. Suddenly she cringed, realizing. Sister. She had no sister, no family aside from him. He must be speaking of her Bonded, the wolf she had never met and had never taken into her body. She closed her eyes, mourning the loss of a Bond she had never been granted, and never would be. She would be shapestuck. A blight. Magickless. Tears threatened to fall again but she refused this time, not wanting to make any noise that might be picked up by her captors and used against her. She only regretted that they had heard her first bout of grief. A shadow to her left distracted her from her thoughts, the darkness quick and fleeting enough that for a moment she thought she had imagined it. It returned, though, and hope blossomed in her chest for a moment before she mercilessly crushed it. She wouldn't allow hope to be rekindled so soon after it had been devastated by the Eastern Tribe's treachery towards her father. To her eye the shadow almost resembled a dog, or maybe even a wolf. Her lip curled at the thought of the traitorous Eastern Tribesmen joining this parade of evil men, and a moment later her suspicions were confirmed. A white wolf appeared between trees, loping easily along. Wolves were made for running and these beasts merely meandered along. Likely this Tribesman was just keeping watch while the rest of his group, however many there were, rested behind. By the time they were rested they could easily catch up to the slow-moving group and switch sentries. In fact there were probably three or four more sentries posted around, and likely the posts would be switched within the hour. Night was fading, after all, and the sun was beginning the peak through the thick trees that surrounded them. Lazy and deceitful bastards. As if catching her dark thoughts the wolf turned and looked at her cage. For a moment she almost thought he looked regretful, and her anger burst forth. She uncurled and latched onto the cage bars, snarling, "Baby killer! Traitor! Murderer! Betrayer! Goddess Aa'eya hide her face from you!" She watched in satisfaction as the last curse struck home, and the wolf sped up to pass by the cart. She slumped backwards, falling onto her back. The rage had spent the last of her energy, and she found herself drifting back into unconsciousness. The wolfen shadow passed by again and she snarled, furious at the thought that the betrayer had returned. She pushed herself up into a sitting position, prepared to give him a piece of her mind. Instead she screamed in agony as something dark struck her chest, tearing into her. Her eyes clenched shut as if that would stop the pain, the feeling that something was digging and clawing its way into her body. Great streaks of red hot pain scratched its way down her sides and over her breasts, over and over again without ceasing. She fell back onto the floor of the cage, convulsing as she lost control of her limbs and thought. She could feel the cart bucking and swaying as the beasts that were leading it fought for freedom from the banshee they were toting, and she could hear shouts of men as they ran towards the out-of-control cart and their prize within. As sudden as it had started, it ended. Her eyes gazed sightlessly at the sky, and the last thing she felt before she lost consciousness was a feeling of regret, and love. *** Warmth. Why was it so warm? Even her fingers and toes were warm. She hadn't felt so warm in what felt like ages. And full. And content. It was as if she'd just had the best dream ever, though achingly sad. She could still picture the green meadow and a beautiful silver woman, a woman who cried while holding her. And a silver wolf, with eyes of ice and fur of fire. A smile curled her lips slightly as she thought of the beautiful duo, wishing she could return to her dream and try to cheer them up. No one so beautiful and kind should be so sad. A sense of warning filled her, desperate and wild. Ano'ni's eyes jerked open, breath caught in her throat. Her eyes gazed upwards, trying to make sense of her surroundings. Her eyes roamed from the top of the tent down, trying to remember where she was and how she had gotten there. She was in a tent, but unlike any that she'd ever seen before, and the Dark Man was watching her. That was all she needed to see before the past few hours returned to her, and the sense of contentedness faded. How could she ever be happy again? How could she have felt those few hours of peace when her entire world was gone? In his hands he held a dagger, the end pressed against his index finger as he spun it in circles. A red bead of blood was rising, and she watched it with fascinated horror. It took all of her willpower not to yelp when he spoke as the meanings came easily to her mind. "You gave us a scare, Wild Eyes. It wouldn't do to lose you, you're going to make us a pretty penny once we reach Nartinon." She stared at him in wonder, uncertain how she could understand him now, after failing to do so before. His tone had been a murmur, clearly talking to himself. He'd long given up the thought that she could understand him. His eyes, though, were intent on hers, and his now eyebrows furrowed in thought. Before she could think to control her expressions he was on his feet and stalking towards her, expertly skating around a small fire in the middle to stand next to her bed. Somehow him staring down at her was more frightening that when he'd been holding on to her, the total loss of control evident to her more than ever before. "Can you understand me?" His tone was tight, quiet, but there was an anger in his eyes. She realized with horror that he was furious, his fists clenched tight to his side. He thought she was toying with him, that she'd been able to understand him from the start and had been merely ignoring him. She shook her head furiously, eyes wide. Suddenly she stopped, groaning. Sleep and exhaustion had turned her into a damned fool. She'd just responded to his question! Idiot! She was as stupid as a teenaged boy around the maidens that had no shame! He was watching her, and a small curl at the corner of his mouth let her know that he had noticed the control over her as well, and was enjoying it. He reached out a hand to her and she flinched away, pushing herself as far back as the limited space would allow. He barked out a laugh and walked away, footsteps loud in the close confines. As he sat back down where he'd been at before, he commented. "So you can understand me. Good. That means your selling price will be that much higher." Selling? What was he talking about? Humans couldn't be sold, it was against Aa'eya's creed. But then, this man was a heathen. He didn't worship Aa'eya. Maybe none of them. It was a terrifying thought. Suddenly a warm rush of reassurance flooded her body and she shivered, curling into the blanket protectively. She didn't know why now, of all times, she was feeling so comforted, but she didn't mind it. Her father's words returned to her mind, sister, and she frowned. Was the Goddess watching over her even now? Especially now? She was, after all, maybe one of the last true worshippers of the Goddess. Who knew what had, or would, happen to the Western and Northern Tribes. Obviously the Eastern Tribe had turned towards the overwhelming power of the humans and joined their side. Maybe they had even been there to witness the slaughter of her people. As she pondered the possibility of the Goddess watching over her she felt that warm reassurance again, and her eyes cracked open. Are you answering me? she asked softly, uncertain. Again, the warmth. A soft sound of joy escaped her unknowingly and she blanched, looking at the Dark Man. He had been preparing a bed for himself but now he turned, watching her with a raised eyebrow. "Something you want to say to me, Wild Eyes?" The dark desire in his eyes had returned, and he crossed his arms over his chest in a disturbingly patient manner. She shook her head again, denying the fact that she could ever want to say anything to this man. He grinned, white teeth flashing dangerously. "I didn't think so. Moan like that again, though, and I might have something to say to you. Virgin be damned, you'll sell well one way or another." She snarled to herself, but knew that should she tempt him she would have no chance. No weapons, no strength, and no way of knowing how many men surrounded her. There was silence within the tent for a moment longer before the Dark Man grunted, returning to what he was doing. Despite her fear, Ano'ni felt herself drifting off to sleep. *** The camp was ablaze. Flames licked at the wigwams, but the screams had fallen silent. Burning flesh was a horrible scent, sending any of the remaining men away. This battle had been won. One or two women had been captured and kept, of course, but only the best. They didn't want to flood the market with cheap whores and bring down the price of the true beauties. It wasn't often that a barbaric civilization was tamed, allowing for the very rich to have their own toys. Their unique abilities were only a plus. Any of the wolfen bastards were slain, deemed too dangerous to transport. Bodies were strewn about in disarray, no funeral rites for the unlucky losers of an unfair battle. In the middle of the carnage stood a young woman. She watched the flames with unseeing eyes, unnoticed by the men who wandered right past her. She was as silver as the moon in the sky, and tears trailed down her cheeks. "See this, Ano'ni?" she murmured, silver eyes sad. "This is what you seek to avenge. Your people are dead. You, alone, have the ability to keep your people going. Don't ask me how, that's a destiny for you alone. Bring us peace, Ano'ni. My daughter. Bring your people rest, and bring them revenge." The woman faded from sight, like a ghost in the mist. Only the flames remained, the flames of the scent of burning flesh. *** A hand woke her, shaking her roughly. A gasp escaped her and she jerked upright, looking into the eyes of the Dark Man. There was anger in his eyes, and maybe concern? "Shut the fuck up, bitch, your howling is going to wake the camp!" Howling? What? She opened her mouth to argue, then snapped it shut. Her throat was sore from use, mouth dry. Howling? Why would she be howling? She vaguely remembered fire and silver, but little more. Only a sense of urgency that she must escape these people, or she might be lost to her people forever. Shaking her head she tried to get up, only to be pushed back down by the man. "You know what? Fuck this. We've still got three hours until daybreak and I'm not going to lose my sleep because of some crazy bitch." She squealed in anger as he wrapped an arm around her chest, lifting her into the air against his body. Before she could verbally object, though, he had laid her on the bed again and settled in behind her. His arm held her tight against his body, and, outraged, she tried to escape. "Squirming is only going to make this worse for you," he growled, "my control only goes so far." She stilled immediately, but the damage had already been done. There was a growing pressure against her back and the hand that had once been wrapped around her side was roaming lower, using force to keep her against him even as his hands greedily explored her virgin body. She whimpered, grabbing his hand desperately to try and stop him. "No, please," she whispered fearfully, eyes wide. As a shield maiden she wasn't supposed to have sex, not unless the union had been blessed by the Goddess. The words made the hand pause, but the pressure against her back grew harder. She was disgusted by the revelation that her begging was making him more aroused, but had little time to dwell on that as rough fingers slid between her legs. Too late, she tried to clench her knees closed, furious at her own distraction. "I knew you could understand me, bitch," he murmured in her ear, putting a little bit of affection into the pet name. She snarled, struggling renewed now that she knew sitting still would not help her. He laughed as her struggling loosened her legs and his fingers slid between, parting the folds of her womanhood. "Ah, you're not wet, huh? Oh well, I can fix that." She muffled a screech as two fingers jammed inside of her, stretching her in a way she'd never been stretched before. She rolled abruptly onto her other side, pushing fiercely against his chest. The fingers slid out with the sudden gap between them, but with a snarl her advantage was lost as he rolled so that his much, much larger body was pinning her to the makeshift bed. "Get off of me!" she hissed at him, trying in vain to force a knee between them. She was consciously keeping her voice muffled, despite the terror coursing through her. If she shouted she could wake the camp, and might find herself a spectacle that she couldn't escape. A soft laugh from him shook her, his hands roughly finding her young breasts and squeezing them before pulling the nipples in punishment. She whined, pushing herself against those hands as if it might ease the pain, instead allowing him the chance to slid his hand under her and against her ass. "Mmm, good girl. I knew you'd make this easy for me." The roaming hand spread her ass cheeks, lightly fingering the hole they hid. Instinctively she clenched her body, trying to force the invading body part away. "Virgin for the ass, too, of course. Good. That's more fun for me. It'll be a long ride to market." Dark eyes met hers as he pulled away, and again that dangerous smile. Her eyes were wide with terror, and tears threatened to spill against her hopelessness, but she refused to give in. The hard cock that she'd previously only felt against her back now rested on her stomach, thick and long and growing stiffer with every second. It was the first she'd ever seen erect, and it terrified her. There was no way it would fit into her, it was far, far too big. She whimpered again as the hand that had been probing her ass roamed forward, squeezing her hip and sliding between her thighs. Her body was weakening from it's constant tenseness, not to mention her general lack of nutrition and sleep from the past few days. Her strength was failing her, and he was noticing. "What's this? Are you going to give into me, bitch? Fight me. I want to hear you scream as I ram my cock into you. Scream my name. Kesh." Somehow the name shook her from her trance, and broke her terror. He wasn't the Dark Man, he was simply a dark man named Kesh. She wrapped her arms around his chest and, while he was still reeling from her sudden movement, bit down into his shoulder. Blood filled her mouth and she growled, feeling an ancient bloodlust rising in her. She would not lose here, she wouldn't! Kesh shouted, furious, and she had only a moment to react before he had pulled her off. His hand wrapped around her throat, pinning her to the ground. Terror filled her, having always hated hands near or around her face and neck, the pressure much worse than any of the previous invasions of his fingers. "I wasn't expecting that bitch, but good girl. Feel my cock, bitch? Feel it?" She gasped for breath as he easily pushed her legs aside, fingering her pussy with rough hands. She could feel it, rubbing right above her mound. She felt dirty where it touched her, but feared moving. With her every movement he pressed harder, dark eyes staring into her. "I'm going to fuck you with this cock, bitch, until you beg for mercy. And even then I won't stop." Awakening Soul Ch. 02 She cried out as he moved suddenly, moving backwards so that he was poised above her. She felt his fingers leave her, adjusting his length so that his head rested at her opening. She felt his head touch her lips. Agony burst through her, along with a crushing sense of fury. It felt like her skin was splitting in half, and felt an overwhelming sense of bloodlust rush over her. She screamed, convulsing for only a second, before her back split open. The change from human and wolf for the first time was never easy. Normally it was carefully watched by the Elders of the Tribe, to ensure that no parts got left behind or stuck. Ano'ni was granted no such privilege as her sister raged, forcing the human aside in order to protect her. One moment a girl lay under the large dark man, and the next there was a wolf. Blood dripped from the silver fur where skin had ripped and bone had been re-shaped, icy blue eyes replacing green. The Dark Man, Kesh, had only seconds to react. Before he could back away, though, his throat was in her maw. One twist of her head and she was, again, covered in blood, but this time it was his. His life seeped away quickly, and he was lucky in that he escaped the worst of his punishment. This changing wasn't one of mutual trust and understanding, it was the brutal take over of a inexperienced young girl and a raging wolf. The girl tried to regain control over the body they shared, but couldn't. Fury clouding her judgement, the wolf tore the dead man apart. Limb from limb he was dismembered, snarling in the tent where once there had been a struggle. Ano'ni watched with horror from the eyes of the wolf as the tent was torn down by men, and she found herself, the wolf?, surrounded. She could do nothing as her raging sister was captured, subdued. Tranquilizers were shoved into her, and she could only wonder with a fading mind how this had happened. She wasn't supposed to have a sister. She wasn't supposed to become a wolf. What had happened? *** "Ano'ni, Ano'ni, my daughter! Calm down! Regain yourself! Listen to me!" the voice dragged her from her drug induced slumber. Regular sleep allowed for dreams, and it was there she looked upon her Goddess once more. "Aa'eya!" she gasped, falling to her knees and baring her neck in respect. Below her green grass grew, odd for the winter that the land was now experiencing. She didn't have time to dwell on it, though, as the silver goddess gently pulled her to her feet. Without a word the young girl found herself in the arms of her Goddess, and without being bidden tears fell from her eyes. The memories of the attack, the near-rape, the death... the change. They all flooded through her, wrenching tears from her body. What had happened? "I'm so sorry," she whispered into the arms of the Goddess, knowing that somehow she had failed. She, a woman, had taken on the shape of a wolf. Not even her bonded wolf, for her ceremony had been interrupted before she could be bonded. "I don't understand." "Daughter, you don't have to understand. What has happened has happened because I wished it so. You are bonded, daughter, though I am deeply sorry for how it had to happen. Bondings that happen outside of the soothing flames of the maiden or manhood ceremonies are amongst the worst pain I know of, and I regret that it had to happen in such a manner." Ano'ni realized that the words of the Goddess came to her through her mind, that the beautiful mouth of the Goddess of the Hunt never opened. Her tears stopped falling and she felt a soothing balm rush over her, ending her need for them. Movement to the left of them made Ano'ni turn, and her eyes widened with shock. A beautiful silvery white wolf approached, icy blue eyes familiar. This was the wolf who had taken over her body, who had killed the Dark Man, had killed Kesh. "Who...?" she asked, eyes moving back and forth between her Goddess and the wolf. :Zaria.: Came the simple reply, from the wolf. Simple, but intelligent. Love welled up in Ano'ni, and she realized with shock that it wasn't her love she was feeling. It was coming from Zaria, the wolf, and was affecting her own feelings. That had been the feelings she had been receiving in the camp, which she had mistakenly thought was her Goddess. Agreement filled her, and she realized that Zaria had recognized her conclusions and was confirming it. "You can feel Zaria, can't you? You're going to have a unqiue bond with you sister, Ano'ni, for better or for worse. The shadow that attacked you in the forest was Zaria, of course, bonding with you in a forceable manner. Because you couldn't agree to the intrusion, like you would in a normal bonding, Zaria had to insert all of herself into you. In a perfect world with a normal bonding she would exist in two realms; the dream world, my world, and with you. Since the perfect world we once knew has been shattered, she exists only in you, and can only access the dream world when you do." There was a pause as Aa'eya let that sink in. "That means she can sense your thoughts, your feelings, your actions. She is you, in a way. You are essentially two beings sharing one body. You are, of course, supposed to be the one in control. It will be your personal battle to hold Zaria back to prevent what happened today from happening again." Ano'ni absorbed this with a pounding head. Her body wasn't her own? She had no more control, no more privacy, even? She felt an intense dislike for the wolf, then, despite knowing that it wasn't the wolf's fault. Behind the intelligence she'd felt, she also felt a simple loyalty. Although smarter than the average wolf, she was still an animal. She simply loved without reserve, and didn't realize that she'd terrified her host. Ano'ni, the woman, had lost control of her body and had slaughtered a man. An evil, foul man, but a man nonetheless. It horrified her. She had ripped his throat out with her teeth and torn him apart, piece by piece. "I can see on your face that you don't accept her yet," the Goddess said sadly, shaking her head. "I understand. Trust, love, and loyalty will come in time. For now I have given you the ability to understand and speak to your captors, use and hide that ability as you see fit. Many, many years ago men worshipped me as well, so I am able to understand an archaic form of their language. This means that you'll be able-" the goddess abruptly faded away, then re-appeared. Her eyes widened in shock. "You are waking! Prepare yourself, Daughter, and know that I watch over you always!" *** Ano'ni, daughter of Terukah and one of the last of the Shi'tani, woke to find herself covered in blood, and, blessedly human. She was bound in chains and leathers, bound to the cage she had been in the day before. As she swayed back and forth she realized that they must already be moving, and the sun that was halfway through the sky let her know that her tranquilizers had kept her out for hours. She was still naked, of course. The humans had realized quickly that she didn't feel the cold like they did, and beside that clothing gave the illusion of modesty and power. She was to be denied that until they decreed otherwise, it seemed. Human voices carried to her on the wind, and even though she was tempted to block them out she realized that it wouldn't be in her best interest. She had to find out what they thought of what had happened, what they planned to do to her. Sell her, she knew, but those plans might have changed due to her... ability. Again she cursed the beautiful white wolf who had protected her so well. She stilled and tried to silence the clinking of her chains on the iron bars, heaving a sigh of relief as the words came easily to her. "-a monster! Should be put down like the feral animal she is. We took her because she wasn't a wolf, right? Who in their right mind would buy something that could kill them as easily as she did Kesh?" "Kesh was a god damned fool and deserved to die. If he'd gone through with his plans he would be strung up and castrated for ruining a valuable slave." Slave? Was that the word they used for human property? "The Shade are wiped out, the only remaining living are captives who are going to be sold as sex slaves and trophies." Ano'ni's eyebrows crinkled, pondering the comment. Shade? Did they mean the Shi'tani? Obviously they had no way of knowing what the wolfen people called themselves, but the Shade? Really? It made them sound as if they were demons, or monsters. These past few days had shown that if anything, the humans were the monsters. As she listened once more she realized the voices had fallen silent, probably moving on ahead of the slow cart. Slumping against the cage's bars she looked up at the sky, sun high above. The forest was thinning, and the edges were charred. They were nearing the Pine Barriers, then, or at least what was left of them. The flames had done their best to tear down the proud old trees, but some still remained. Twisted and blackened they reached high into the sky, not bowing to the men who had forcibly entered their domain. Ano'ni whimpered sadly, closing her eyes at the stark reminder of their loss. Complete and utter annihilation. The words of the men returned to her and she straightened, eyes wide. They'd spoken of other women who had been taken captive, maybe even men. Hope blossomed in her, but she tampered it down. She didn't need to be showing excitement, that would only make the men wonder. For now she had to wait, to see where life would take her. *** At sunset food was thrown to her. A piece of hard, moldy bread and dried jerky. She left the bread and slowly began to chew on the jerky, knowing that any attempt to 'devour' it would leave her ill. It had been nearly three days since she'd eaten, and her stomach was letting her know that. The dried salty meat made her stomach churn but she kept at it, slowly nibbling away a few bites at a time. The cart stopped and the men re-appeared, unhitching the deer-beasts and setting up their tents. Tonight she was left in the cage, a man stopping to give her water before she was left alone. Without anything to do Ano'ni studied the way they set up camp, realizing that there was a hierarchy between the men. One man, who they called Captain, was ordering the rest around. She couldn't see any other cages, so those captives must be with another group of men. The thought made her heart sink. How many men were there? Already she was traveling in a group that was larger than her own Tribe. If there were more, how many more? Surely there couldn't be more than this? A fleeting flash of white let her know that the white Eastern Tribe Wolf was watching over her. She snarled to herself, wishing she could dig her daggers into his side, like they'd dug their fangs into her father. Unlike the other Tribes, most of the Eastern Tribe warriors were permanently in the form of wolves. They found the human form to be like a pupae stage in their lives, and the bonding of their wolf and human form meant they had overcome that stage. In a way, that was why she found it so puzzling that they had joined the humans. They regarded the human forms as weak and stupid, and had once been amongst the most violent towards the humans that tried to enter their homeland. :They killed our leader and threaten our pups and children with slavery and death,: the voice drifted across her mind, soft and warm as honey but infinitely more sad. :I witnessed your peoples' death, Wild Eyes. Ano'ni, is that your name? Your father begged us to spare you.: Ano'ni, stricken, knew that it was the white wolf that addressed her. She was young, the white wolf. From a distance Ano'ni hadn't realized that it was a woman, still stuck in her Southern Tribe idealisms of men only having wolf forms. Silently, Ano'ni nodded in response. The wolf sat down, watching her. Unlike Ano'ni's own bonded wolf, this one had amber eyes. She was beautiful, the silver tinge on her fur orange in the setting sun. :We gave who we could funeral rites. Not everyone, for humans love to burn their dead enemies, but the children we succeeded in. Even humans don't like to burn children. We didn't attack your father though, Ano'ni. The humans did. They sicced their foul wolf-dogs on him and laughed as he nearly died. They only released him so that he would get to watch his village die. Humans are sick, violent creatures. My only regret is that I was stupid enough to have a child, and that I love her so much that I will kill for her. They control me with her.: The wolf fell silent, obviously confronting her own inner demons. :They broke her leg and leg herself scream herself hoarse. I will never let them do that to her again. I may never see her again, but I will do what I can for her.: Ano'ni watched the wolf sadly, realizing that there were no winners for the Shi'tani people, not even for the traitorous Eastern Tribesmen. They were tools, just like the others. :I'm forgetting what I came here to say. The dark man, Kesh, he killed my brother. I thank you for killing him. If you can feel it, inside your heart, our bonded wolves are sisters from the same litter. I can feel mine calling to you, can you feel yours? We, I think, are to be connected. I'll watch over you while I can. Rest for now, Ano'ni Wild Eyes. It will be a busy day tomorrow.: The white wolf stood with a slow stretch, giving no indication that she had been speaking to the captive. With a flick of a silvery tail she disappeared back into the underbrush, and Ano'ni was left alone. Sisters? Yes, she could feel it. Waves of happiness and joy, and underlying sorrow, radiated from the being that was sharing her body. 'What is her name?' Ano'ni asked the wolf, genuinely curious. For some reason she had thought that the Bonded wolves were like spirits, generated and created by Aa'eya for the sole purpose of bonding. The idea of there being families of them, that they had fathers and mothers and sisters and brothers, seemed odd. :Samiya,: came the simple thought. :Sister Samiya!: Against her will Ano'ni smiled, sadness settling in her heart through the joy. Good that there was happiness in this world despite what had happened. Good that the beautiful wolf would find herself amongst family. Good, too, that there would be dissenters amongst the Eastern Tribe. That meant allies, when the time came. The humans thought the Shi'tani were crushed, but they were wrong. The Shi'tani would never be crushed, not while some still lived. Content with her new knowledge and the happiness of her Bonded sister, Ano'ni allowed herself to relax. Sleep came, restless and light, but still came nonetheless. *** She was awakened to the sound of the camp rising. No dreams of Goddesses tonight, just fitful sleep in the icy wind on a wooden floor. Something was off today, she could feel it. The humans were on edge, and the wolves were nowhere to be seen. Maybe shifting guard duty? The white wolf, for Ano'ni had realized she hadn't asked the name of the woman bonded to Samiya, had disappeared during the night. Content with the idea that that must be what was going on, Ano'ni watched the humans once more. Quickly the deer-beasts, which she had finally overheard were called 'horses', were attached to the cart and they were off and moving. By sun-high the wolves had re-appeared, and the tense-ness of the humans was growing. They were snapping at each other without reason, whipping their horses faster and faster, as if trying to escape an enemy. A distant howl of anger, agony, and torment ripped the air in half. The whole expedition froze, the humans looking at each other in horror. The wolves, too, had halted, confusion on their faces, before finally fury crossed their expressions. Betrayal. Another howl, but this one was cut off abruptly. It took only a split second for one of the wolves, a black male, to come to his sense. He leapt at a human, only to be shot down by one of the cart-leaders before he ever hit his target. His large body slumped to the ground, twitching feebly. As if that had been what they were waiting for the other wolves attacked, and Ano'ni searched desperately for the white she-wolf who had spoken to her last night. She spotted the beautiful white and silver wolf attacking on of their horses, snapping a foreleg with ease. The Shi'tani wolves were larger than any of the wolves the humans had come across, and the wolves were destroying the men. Something had obviously gone very awry in the mens' plans. They had probably ambushed the resting camp of wolves, hoping to end them before they could make a sound. They had probably not accounted for a sentry that would be watching the sleeping pack, and so had been given away. Now that the Eastern Tribesmen knew that the men were betraying them all bets were off. There was a grimness to them. They knew their loved ones, the ones who had driven them to side with the humans, were probably either dead or sold already. They had nothing left to live for. Ano'ni tried to scream out a warning as a man aimed at the white wolf, but all she managed to do was break the wolf's concentration. A flash of fire and a roar of thunder ended her attack, the bullet ripping through her haunches and sending her sprawling in the snow. Blood wept profusely from the wound, but Ano'ni could see it wasn't a fatal wound. Around them the rest of the wolves were dying, none remaining in the fight. It had been a fight that had lasted only minutes, but the casualities were high for both sides. Three horses dead, and at least ten men. Four wolves dead, and three left whimpering in agony. Two were ended quickly, but to Ano'ni's surprise the white one wasn't. The young caged woman watched the last of her hope bleed out on the snow, realizing that the last of the Eastern Tribe lay on the ground, bleeding out from the bullet wound in her flank. The last of the once-free and noble Shi'tani were dead or enslaved. Two of the humans talked quietly amongst themselves before one lifted the injured wolf into his arms. The Captain was taking a look at the carnage, then turned to the medic that traveled with them. "The white females will sell well in the market. Save this one if you can, and then place her with Wild Eyes. We'll reach the slave market tomorrow at noon." He turned to a young soldier with a wounded arm, disregarding his obvious wound, said, "Burn these corpses and catch up when you can, we have to keep moving. If any remaning wolves are seen kill them. I don't care if they're Tribesmen or not, take no chances." The Captain turned to the rest of the men and helped them clean up quickly. Before an hour had passed they were back on the road. Ano'ni watched the cart in front of her, where the medic had gone with the white wolf. Inside her fear was churning her gut, and she knew without checking that it was Zariya who was worrying. Worrying for her sister. For the sake of her bonded wolf alone Ano'ni closed her eyes and prayed to the Goddess Aa'eya to save this one traitorous woman, to forgive her for her sins. Too many Shi'tani had died recently, now was the time for forgiveness. Let her live. Awakening Soul As she stooped to pick the last of the mint, she had to hand it to the old coot. She'd chosen the herb that grew farthest away from camp, bringing her nearly to the Western Tribe's border. She could see almost all of her own Tribe's land from where she stood, the Western Tribe having a much higher altitude due to the foothills that ranged throughout land, sloping up to the highest mountains in the region, the Howling Mountains. A grin stole across her features as she thought of the name, quite proud that her people had driven the humans to name it that. Once the Shi'tani had found out the name they had happily adopted it in place of their own Kilana Mountains, which merely mean 'tallest' in their language. The scent of smoke filled her nostrils, alarming her enough to drop the mint and turn to look. As she turned she fell into a crouch, certain that this smoke could not belong to her people, they would never burn fires during the day. Her eyes widened in horror as she saw what was the source of the smoke, and what it would mean for her people. Smoke was curling above the pine treetops, the tallest ones of the edge of the territory. The Pine Barriers. There the pine trees were so thick that unless you knew the path through, the only way through was to cut down the trees. Or burn them. A whine stole from her throat as her nails pierced her palms, tears threatening to fall. The humans were burning their only barrier from the rest of the world. If, when, they fell... they would be open to attack. Forgetting the mint, the young girl ran as fast as she could to her home. Every step of the way, for every shard of ice that caused her feet to bleed, she wished for a wolf to call her own. The Tribe took the news well, or as well as they could. The Pack Leader called a meeting, reassuring them that the humans had no way of knowing that the Shi'tani lived in these woods, and so they would have a few days to migrate to their allies in the west. News had yet to return from the Eastern Clans, and as such they couldn't afford to go that way yet. If they had already fallen to the humans then there was no safety there. Ano'ni was told that her womanhood rites would be the next day, and to begin fasting immediately. Old Ma'eya never asked for her mint, having retired to her wigwam to ease the stress of potential evasion. Ano'ni didn't blame her, and was glad in a way. After all, the mint she had collected now lay on the ground, going to waste. As the girl returned to her wigwam, now too worried for her father to rest, she could taste the tension in the air. The Tribe hid their fear well, but it was there. Everyone was waiting for the attack. She crawled into her bed, realizing that it was going to be a long night if she wasn't allowed to eat. Sleep would make the time pass quicker. On the second day of her father's absence, Ano'ni prepared herself for her maiden's rites. Tomorrow the new moon would rise, meaning that tonight she would be bathed in fire to come to her adulthood. Before the Shaman came for her she must be cleansed and ready for the ceremony. She wasn't to eat, only drink water from the Shaman's spring. She had a flask of the water now, her stomach growling angrily at the lack of sustenance it had been given this day. She uncapped the flask and brought the bottle to her mouth, almost spitting it out at the shock of the frigid temperature. It was colder than any ice water she had tasted, a far cry different than what she had expected to come from a spring. Springs usually brought forth hot water, an amenity she had enjoyed numerous times in the past. The Shaman's water, however, was sacred. Only those going through their woman or manhood rites could consume it, and even then it must be on an empty stomach. This done, she knelt on the ground, pressing her forehead into the floor in a prayer to the Goddess of the Hunt and Moon, Aa'eya. Before the night was over she would meet with her Goddess in the flames, and her life would be changed. A hand on her shoulder woke her from her slumber, jolting her awake. Her eyes were wide, realizing that the sun had fallen. Pale silver light entered through the tent flap, illuminating the ground in front of her. A full moon. It was time, then. Tonight she would meet her Sister, and take her place as a woman of the Tribe, a full-fledged shield maiden. She would leave her father's wigwam for the last time, and take up her own home. "Follow me, sister. You have much to do before your Wakening," the elder woman, one Ano'ni recognized as the Shaman's mistress, lifted her to her feet gently. Ano'ni's bruised knees cracked in protest, and she had to push against her back to get the bones back in place from her awkward sleeping position. Her head swirled and she stumbled, falling into the mistress, who held her until she could move on her own. Once she was steady, Ano'ni followed the mistress through camp, followed by two Hunters, one on either side. They were both in human form, having rested enough this night and day to resume their original forms. She wished, halfheartedly, that her father would be there to see her. It wasn't to be so, though, as he had still not returned from his journey to the Eastern Tribe. Tonight she would be bathed in a pale fire and step out as a new woman, ready for a new life. She would do it alone, no family to guide her. She was led to the mistress's hut, where she removed her soiled clothes and waited direction. The mistress led her to a stone tub that was filled to the brim with steaming water, helping her in so that in her hunger-weakened state she wouldn't slip. She was cleansed, the dirt washed away from her body by tender, caring hands. The mistress was going out of her way to act as a mother, when she had none. Ano'ni loved her for it. When her bathing was done she was led out of the tub, and wrapped in a thick deer-hide wrap, one that would fall away easily when the time came. Then, using the silver Moonberries that grew only in certain places on the tundra, she had the designs of a maiden painted on her face, paint that would soon sear her skin and never again fade. No matter what, she would forever be a shield maiden of the Southern Tribe. Outside the tent she could hear the Tribe gathering, unusually hushed for such an occasion. She understood. The rushing of Ano'ni's womanhood rites bode ill for the Clan, and no one could forget the two humans who were even now kept under watch. Ano'ni could see them from where she stood in the tent, looking through a steam hole near the bath tub. They were watching the gathering with ill-concealed interest, gathering information for when, if, they returned to their own kind. The blonde man was easy to see, and for once he was silent of his own accord. The dark man was less easy to see, having sat in the shadows. Ano'ni knew immediately that it had been a deliberate choice on his part. He was not a fool. Teeth flashed in a snarl, or maybe a smile, as his eyes caught hers. She blushed, looking away. She wasn't supposed to interact with the humans, no one was. The Pack Leader had declared that immediately after the pack leader Merikah had left their camp to return home. After her people settled into silence she was led out of the tent, out of the dim yellow light created by candlelight and into the silver light of the Moon, and Her love. Aa'eya, her Goddess. The Tribe parted before her, dipping their heads in respect. Some couldn't meet her eyes, and some that did met hers with anger and disbelief. This was change. It seemed small, but it spoke of much more. The path was cold on her bare feet, unusual. It spoke of a frigidly cold night ahead. Suddenly the path ended, and a sphere of emptiness was ahead as the Tribe stood back. Her eyes rose from where they had been studying the ground, looking ahead now. The logs stood before her, three great ones reaching high overhead. She saw where she was supposed to walk into, an opening that just matched her height, and was suddenly nervous. What if the Goddess denied her? Brought the logs crashing down on her for being too early? Then she would die, she thought, heart hardening. And she would have died for her Tribe, without shame or regret. The fire flared to life, gold and silver intertwined to create a living beast, reaching high into the heavens. The silver began to take over, devouring the golden tongues that licked and fought for life, but were soon extinguished. Soon all that remained was a burning white fire, light blue flickerings deep in the depths. Ano'ni felt the mistress behind her, and braced herself. She sucked in a sharp breath at the sudden chill as the wrap was stripped away, leaving her bare except for the markings on her face. Her sense of modesty failed her, and she did not flinch away. She saw only the flames, for they had began to reach for her, whispering her name. They were not nasty whispers, but stories and promises of the beauty of life. Without her realizing it, she took a step forward. And then another, and then another. Only when the first flame licked her hand did she realize she was reaching towards them, nearly to them. She didn't pull back, though. She was enraptured, caught up in them. They, in turn, pulled her closer. Finally, she stepped inside completely. The flames were not hot, perhaps being the same temperature of the bath she had received before meeting them, though they were infinitely more comforting. They were like her father, brushing her hair from her eyes and pulling her into his embrace as he could not be there. They whispered to her, comforting her through her loneliness. The tears spilled silently, wiped away by the flames until all of her fears had been burned away, leaving only the promise of a new beginning. Just as she was relaxing the flames parted, revealing not the Tribe, but something else. A woman. Ano'ni's eyes widened in awe and she fell to her knees, baring her neck in subservience. The woman laughed softly, taking the new maiden's shoulders and lifting her into a warm embrace. "Hello Daughter, it is good to see you. I'm sure you're eager to meet your Bonded Sister, are you not?" The woman's voice flowed like liquid silver, warm and brilliant all at the same time. Ano'ni was finally able to lift her eyes from the Goddess' hem, to look her in the face. She was beauty, and kindness, and love. Aa'eya, Goddess of the Hunt and the Moon, had come to greet her. Did she do this to all men and women who were going through their rites? She must. The new maiden opened her mouth to reply, but couldn't seem to find her voice. Instead she felt a tightness around her throat, halting her breath. Her ears began to ring, softly at first, before slowly ascending to the screams of a dying beast. Confusion enveloped her and she looked desperately at her Goddess, wondering what was going on. Was this part of the rites? But no, it couldn't be, for there was terror in her Goddess' eyes. Terror, and despair. The screams in her ears were growing louder, more painful, and she wanted to beg the Goddess to make them stop, but she couldn't. Couldn't voice her voice, her breath. She was choking. She was enveloped again in arms as the Goddess held her, and it took all of her strength to hear her words through the screams, "You are under attack, Daughter! Wake! Wake and flee! Quickly! Go!" The peace of the white light blacked out as the flames were doused by cold water, drenching her. She whirled, disoriented by the sudden change in lighting and atmosphere, the screams no longer seeming like an annoyance, but a promise. They were the screams of the dying. Chaos surrounded her as people fled, making it only a few feet before a roar of thunder and a flash of light brought them low, holes in their bodies and lives fading. A cry escaped her as she tried to stumble towards one, but accidentally fell as her legs gave out. The ice ripped the tender skin of her knees, and she looked at the blood staining the snow in horror. It wasn't her blood. There was far, far too much. Shouting to her right drew her attention from the slaughter, and she looked into the black eyes of the human she so feared. He was approaching her with a deadly look on his face, lips curled in a feral snarl. Before he could reach her, though, a familiar voice brushed her mind. :Sorry I am late for your maiden rites, daughter. I hope you have met your sister, and I hope you can forgive me for returning so late.: Ano'ni jumped, then felt tears of hope burn her eyes. Her father had finally returned? Maybe he brought Eastern Tribe reinforcements? She pushed herself into a kneeling position, looking around, dark man forgotten as she desperately searched for her father. When she found him, she let out a keen of agony. He had no reinforcements. He was nearly dead, limping towards her with dulling eyes. Even worse his wounds appeared to be from wolves, undoubtedly the Eastern Tribe. He limped to her side, gently licking the side of her face in greeting. Then, as if this final movement had been too much, he slumped to the ground, resting his giant head on her knees. :I'm so sorry, daughter. I can't protect you now.: Ano'ni keened softly, wrapping her arms around her father's head. He was all she could see, the rest of the chaos fading into nothingness. His breaths were slowing, becoming labored. Finally his chest shuttered, and stilled. She ran her hands over his muzzle one last time, then closed his dulled amber eyes. Curling her body over his head she gave him one last hug, and then looked up. He was watching her, waiting patiently for the scene to end. Gone was the feral-ness from his eyes, replaced by a slight amusement. She bristled at the realized that her father's death had been nothing more than entertainment for him, that he was waiting for her to focus her attention solely on him. He grinned as he saw her watching, taunting her with his laughter. She screamed in fury, trying to stand only to come to the horrified realization that her father's body had her pinned to the ground. Weak as she already was from fasting and the ceremony, she could barely lift his slackened head. She struggled against his weight, watching in terror and agony as the man approached her, hands out in a mocking semblance of peace. He was speaking to her in a language she didn't know, words slow and calm. Was he trying to placate her? She snarled, something that would seem almost comical under normal circumstances but obviously had some effect on the man, causing him to stop. He said something else and she just glared, wondering if he was the fool he was appearing to be. Why was he trying to speak when he knew she couldn't understand? As she was silent he grew frustrated and shook his head, stalking over to her. He stood above her, then in a moment of rage, kicked the corpse of her father off of her. She gasped as the blood returned to her legs, but had no chance to move before he grabbed her arms, yanking her to her feet. He pulled her arms behind her back, pulling her against his body so that she couldn't pull away. From her standing position she could see how the battle, no, the slaughter was going. Ma'eya, Mother, was dead, slumped against a stump with her blue eyes wide open. The eldest was no more. The Pack Leader was dead, head lopped off at the shoulders. The Shaman's mistress was screaming in agony, a sword sticking out of her gut. Even as she watched another man, a human, approached and ended the poor woman's misery. Ano'ni's first instinct was to flinch away, close her eyes, but she forced her eyes open. She would not forget, not ignore, the death of her people. The gore-spattered man who had just slaughtered the Shaman's mistress approached the dark man who held her, gesturing angrily with his sword. Ano'ni whimpered, realizing that he wanted to kill her and didn't know why she was already killed. The dark man responded to the shouts with his own, and before Ano'ni could think he took his free hand and spun her around, forcing her to bend so that her ass stuck out. Laughing he caressed it, then gave it a slap. With a grin he pushed her towards the other soldier who easily wrapped an arm around her. Horrified, Ano'ni struggled in vain, fearing another groping. He had another thing planned for her, though, and dragged her against him as he began to walked through the bloody camp. A hand caught her eye, and she cried out as she saw it was the youngest child of the Tribe, born only three moons prior. Lan'ai, a beautiful little girl, extinguished. What had they done to deserve such a slaughter? Try as she might, she couldn't break the man's grip, and could only watch as they passed the body. Left to rot in the morning sun. She stumbled against the man and received a harsh jerk in return. In return to the sudden loss of balance she stumbled, and with a snarl he grabbed her behind the legs and simply lifted her over his shoulder like a bag of grain. It was almost a relief. Her strength was gone, and now she could only see his back. Her relief was short lived, though, as she quickly found out. In almost no time as all he was playing with her ass, pushing gloved fingers between her thighs and rubbing the harsh material on her bared sex. She snarled, wishing that she had her daggers on hand to teaching him a lesson in respect, and wishing more than the ceremony hadn't demanded her nudity. That was probably the only reason she had been spared, to become a whore for the trip back home. The trip through the forest back to the human camp was long, and it was cold. Her normally cold-resistant body was stung by the icy wind, and before long she was shivering miserably. Exhaustion dampened her mind until even the unwanted probing of the man didn't register. Finally the blood rushing to her head became too much, and she felt the blackness of sleep overcome her.