Page 62 of Scarred

Suni turned back to the fight, and for the first time he was shocked. When Amma had told him the warriors on the way were somehow changed, Suni hadn’t really given it much thought. But the warriors coming toward him walked on all four limbs and blood-flecked foam dripped from their mouths. Their eyes rolled in their heads and the noises they made were incoherent. He had never witnessed anything so disturbing in his life. The first one reached him, and he kicked it and slashed its shoulder with his claws. The warrior didn’t react. It was like the pain didn’t register. Suddenly, two of the mutated warriors froze in place. He didn’t have time to figure out why, because one of the others galloped toward his helpless mate with murder in his wild eyes.

Suni bellowed and spun in a circle to give his morning star more momentum. The spiked ball hit the male hard enough to crack his skull. Even as life left the creature’s eyes, he continued to try to reach Amma and her cousin. Suni whipped around to confront the rest, but the two who had been frozen were back in motion, ripping their ally to pieces. He glanced at his mate, knowing she had something to do with the turn of events. Still staying as a wall between his mate and the battle, he helped dispatch the remaining invaders. Not one enemy witch remained by the time Ru signaled the end of the battle.

Chapter 26

Amma

Amma had no idea what to say as noncombatants and warriors cleaned up the aftermath of the battle. Every surface was covered with a thick layer of blood and other bodily fluids. Wailing voices filled the air as loved ones found their dead. The witches were nothing but dust, and blowing in all directions while the warriors who had been under their control sat in a circle surrounded by guards. It was painful to watch the warriors’ faces express such horror and shame. They may have been weak-willed and manipulatable, but they didn’t deserve to be forced to witness the pain and suffering they brought to others. She wished her cousin Lesedi was present. She would have been able to help the warriors heal and face what they have done without emotional and mental damage.

She glanced at the two damaged warriors they had been able to save. Amma had cried when she had touched their minds and heard the screams of their souls. These two were both powerful warriors. Even after having been under a witch’s control for some time, their hearts had remained pure. The other two had become evil under the witches’ influence, relishing the horror and death they created. Amma had tried to spare Shelly from the worst of it, and had the younger girl pour a steady flow of healing energy to the two good males while she had dealt with the others. She was saddened that their minds would eventually be healed, but their bodies would stay forever changed.

“Don’t look so sad.” Jo stood by her side as their mates walked the battlefield, helping where they could. “I know we have lost some good warriors today, but we saved our home. The fallen will be honored and welcomed beyond the veil.”

“I know.” Amma crossed her arms to stop her hands from visibly shaking. “I wish they didn’t have to make that journey so early in their lives. I hope the evil witches of the High Coven stay up on their mountain.”

“I doubt they will take the killing of more of their own lying down,” Jo said with a sigh. “This is turning into a blood feud, and those never end well for anyone.”

Amma glanced at Jo. “Maybe we should be proactive and knock on their gates. Introduce ourselves. Explain that many of us are here, and as a family we can kick their butts, so they should stay away.”

Jo chuckled before turning serious. “I like the way you think. If we had more of our family here in the village, I would be right beside you on the march.”

“Do you think there are any good witches up there?” Amma hadn’t seen such blatant use of evil magic before. “Or are they all like the ones we have seen?”

“I have only seen the evil.”

“It’s a shame. We could have all been allies. Do you think Suni and I should stay a little longer? Make sure they don’t return?”

Jo faced her. “If they return, they return,” she said. “I want you to go start your life with your mate. Meet his family and set up house. If we need help, we can send a messenger.”

“I never thought you would be the reasonable cousin,” Amma said, and half-smiled. “I guess finding your mate has been good for you.”

“It has.” Jo's eyes bounced around the field and found her mate. “Ru has shown me that I am not only my magic. He loves me for me, and treats me like a queen.” She patted her growing belly.

“It never crossed my mind that I would have to go to another world to find true love,” Amma said. “Remember how we used to laugh and joke about love at first sight?”

“Yeah,” Jo laughed and shook her head. “I guess we were just in the wrong world.”

“Yeah, we were. Oh, I saw the warriors from Ru’s home village coming to our aid, did they ever arrive?”

“Oh yes.” Jo turned back to the battlefield. “They are the warriors over there, with green stripes on their arms. I fought alongside them, and they are just as powerful as our warriors.”

“I like knowing they are not too far away from you.”

“Don’t tell Ru, but I agree. We are still a new and growing our warrior force. Some of our defenses are still a little weak.” Jo cut her eyes in Amma’s direction. “So, you should know, there is this thing about Shelly.”

“What about her?” Amma knew what was coming. Shelly had always been a handful, and during the last couple of years she had started pushing back at anything she felt was a rule.

“I think she should go with you and Suni.” Jo held up her hand to keep Amma from answering. “Hear me out. You share the same magic, and she’ll need training. Look what she did during battle.”

“Controlling that many birds was amazing but dangerous,” Amma agreed. “If she had been in any other situation, someone could have wounded her or taken her out.”

“That was my first thought. I know she wants to be one of us, but she has years to grow.”

“And she will get them.”

“Speaking of leaving, will you guys stay for the burning of the pyres?”

“It would be an honor,” Amma said. “But would I be stepping on anyone’s toes? I didn’t know anyone who fell. What are their funeral ceremonies like?”

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