11. Anger, Sadness, Loss, and Goodbyes.

Everyone in the room cringed at the anger in Eva’s voice. The one in front slowly lifted his head up to look at her and said,

"One of us was captured in a raid and used as bait for the others. Slowly he captured all of us. We are sorry..."

"DO NOT EVEN TRY TO APOLOGIES." she cut him off.

"Who was the first. Who started this." she said searching the group. "Tell me quickly, or else."

They all looked at each other and finally a young boy of no more than 16 stood up.

"It was I Great Mother." he said meekly. "I was foolish and thought I had nothing to fear from the sorcerror. But I was wrong and my foolishness has brought shame on my brothers and sisters." He did not look at her as he spoke.

"You are right about that." she told him. "Tell me. Has he shared his knowledge with others?"

He hesitated, then said, "Yes, Mother."

She had not wanted to hear that. She looked as if she was going to tear someone’s, anyone’s, throat out and the boy looked like the best target.

"Then this is what you must do as punishment for your foolishness." she told him. "You must go out and find any others of your siblings who may be in the same situation as you were. You will release them and kill the one who has them. I do not want this knowledge allowed to roam free. And the rest of you will accompany him until all are free, and only then may you leave each other’s company. And if you find the one who was here, I want him brought to me alive. I don’t care if he is hurt, as long as he is living. Am I clear on this?"

They all nodded. "We do as the Great Mother asks." said the leader.

"Then go now. I am sick of the sight of you."

They changed and the pack left the building, except the one woman who still stood nearby.

Eva looked at her and said, "I have no hold over you. It is up to your Father Bear to decide what to do with you. I will not interfere in the raising of his children."

"Father Bear has already decided my punishment." she said. "After I was captured trying to free the others, Father came to me in a dream and told me that he would not free me, but that I was to wait, and when I was released, I was to be servant to the one who freed me, for one year and a day. So I am yours as recompense."

Eva looked at the muscular woman who stood with straight back, and a small smile touched the corner of her mouth.

"Far be it for me to go against the wishes of your Father." she said. "Very well I accept. What is your name?"

"Then wait outside for me and we will discuss your duties later." She waved her away. Gytha changed and lumbered outside.

Soft crying could be heard in the room and Maria looked to see that Ablaa was holding a lifeless Sallem in her arms, and Ruwayda was comforting her and whispering to her. Taamir just stood there looking stunned.

Maria turned to Faaris.

"You have nothing left here." she told him, trying to sound more sure of herself than she really was. "Take your army and leave this city. What you tell them is your problem, but leave these people alone. They have suffered enough because of Nu’man’s greed, and so have your people."

He turned to go but hesitated. Finally he turned back to Maria and asked, "May I at least know the name of the one who showed me for the fool that I was? I at least deserve that courtesy."

"My name is M...."

"No." she told herself. "You are not Maria here. Not now, not when you are doing what you have accepted to do. No. Right now you are a..."

"Hunter." she said aloud. "You may call me Hunter."

His eyebrows raised but he showed no other signs of surprise. Maria could hear a surprised sound coming from the direction of Ruwayda and Taamir. She felt her mother’s hand touch her shoulder. She felt that she wanted to collapse but willed herself to be strong for a little longer.

Faaris bowed to her. "Goodbye Hunter." he said. "I hope we meet again under better circumstances." He bowed to Death and then to Eva. "Goodbye, Great Mother Wolf."

She made no response as he turned and left.

"Taamir, Ruwayda," she said. "go and gather the others. I will be along shortly and explain what has happened and why. I think you deserve that much for what my actions have brought upon you."

"Yes Ma.... Hunter." said Ruwayda. "But you are not to blame."

She cupped Maria’s cheek and looked her straight in the eyes. "You were only doing what you had too. It was the actions of others that brought you here. You are not the cause of our problems."

"But I did nothing to make it any better." she said her voice almost breaking. "Ablaa has lost her husband and others have witnessed their loved ones leaving in the same manner. I could not help them. All I could do was take what I came to get, no matter what would happen after. I felt so helpless."

"Never hesitate to do what you must." said Ruwayda. "You can not help everyone." She turned to her husband. "Help me with Ablaa. We must get everyone to the hall."

The two of them helped Ablaa out. After they left, Maria threw herself into her mothers arms and cried. Soon another pair of arms wrapped themselves around her as Eva came over. Once when she was younger Maria found herself in the same position, held between the two of them. That time she had felt suffocated. This time around she wished she could stay there forever.

Finally she stopped crying and pulled herself out from between them.

"I am sorry." she said wiping her eyes. "Thank you both for coming. This was a little more complicated than I thought."

"This will not be the last time, dear." said her mother. "Not all will understand what you do and will be angry and hurt by your actions. Not all, but many. You must be strong and remember that what you do is right."

"I know." she said. "But it is not easy to see something happening and knowing you can’t help but only make the situation worse."

"But you stopped a war." said her aunt. "That is not a bad accomplishment. They should write a ballad about that." She gave Maria her biggest smile. Maria laughed.

"Right. I can see it now. Troubadors singing about the beautiful hunter who stops wars and such. I doubt it aunty."

"Don’t be surprised then." she said. "Now if you will excuse me, I have a servant to instruct." She smiled mischeviously.

"She is your servant, sister." said Death. "Not your slave. Don’t run her ragged doing everything for you."

"Would I do that?" she said, looking at her sister with large innocent eyes. "Don’t answer that."

She became her wolf self and went outside.

Maria sighed. "thank you again mother. I will be fine for now. I must go and speak to the people and let them know what happened and help wherever I can if they will let me."

"You are welcome, dear." her mother answered. "Always remember to come home if you need. I will always be there for you."

"I know."

Her mother stepped through the portal and disappeared.

"Well, Theodore." she said to her companion. "Shall we go to the meeting?"

He jumped to her shoulder and settled himself down.

"Lead on my friend."

They had questions. She expected them to, and she answered as best she could. Some were angry, as mother had predicted, but some where more reasonable, and listened with an open mind. Ruwayda and Taamir both helped keep order and even defended her against some of the more angry people. Even though they had lost as much as some of the others, they still believed in her and that made the time more bearable.

She stayed for a few more days helping them rebuild the city. Ruwayda, Taamir and even Ablaa, called her Hunter while others were around, but still used Maria when alone. She appreciated that.

Soon came the day when she had to leave. Ruwayda, Taamir and Kamal accompanied her out of the city to the tree line. There they all hugged, and Maria walked into the forest, opened a portal and went home.

As she walked up toward the house she could see Annie waiting in the doorway. She smiled at her and Maria began to run.