Page 17 of Ruarc
Myev holds her arm up, stopping all of us in our tracks, pointing out some of the deadfalls and other traps that have been put in place around the perimeter of their new dwelling. They are so excellently placed and well hidden, that I did not spot them until Myev made it clear where not to tread. Squinting my eyes against the bright rays of light that reflect off the side of the mountain directly in front of us, I finally see movement behind some sort of clear panels fitted into the side of the mountain, creating what appears to be a false wall of some kind.
Lurtza turns back toward us. “Let me run ahead and tell them that you are a friend and not a foe, Slavic.”
“There is no need, youngling. I know my own offspring, no matter the distance.”
A low, raspy voice forces those words out, but there is something about it that sounds almost… familiar. Turning my head from my intense perusal of the mountain face, I see a lone figure, and it takes a tic for recognition to flare, but when it does, it hits me like the force of a blaster.
And there she is … like a ghost from our past … my mam. I do not remember putting Kallen down, but I must have, because my legs will not carry me fast enough up the small embankment to get to where she is standing. Mam holds her arms out, a radiant smile on her face as her eyes well with tears, and I practically tackle her as I grab her close, spinning her around, my face buried in the crook of her neck as my tears fall in hot tracks down my face to splash against her scarred skin. Her comforting scent and the aura of unconditional love soak into my neglected psyche. Suddenly, we are surrounded by Slavic and Falon before another set of arms wraps around us as Einar picks all of us up in an enormous hug, but it is the small, high-pitched, yet hostile voice that causes us to separate sooner than any of us wanted to.
“Put my mam down before I stab you.”
Untangling myself from the group hug, my brothers and I look down at a face that mirrors our mam’s. The youngling has a fierce snarl on her little face as she holds a spear larger than she is, ready to defend her lifegiver.
When I do not back away fast enough, she strikes out at me in a surprisingly adept move, and I dodge it before stepping into her space. “Be at ease little one, we would gladly sever our own heads before hurting your mam as she is ours as well.”
She lowers her spear, but not before looking up at mam who is still wearing a huge smile on her face. “Atasha, I would like you to finally meet your brothers.”
Shock fills her face, then Atasha drops her spear and launches herself into my outstretched arms, and I cannot help the tears that reemerge and flow freely down my face as her small arms grasp me tightly. Falon stands behind her as I rock her back and forth, his large hand against her head, patting her lovingly as she cries like her hearts are suddenly broken.
“No tears, little one, this is a happy time, come now, calm yourself, and let us meet the others.”
“I … didn’t think … you were real. I was scared … that you were the bad ones … and you were here to hurt mam like the others did.”
Her words are hard to understand as emotions seem to be overwhelming her.
“Atasha, sweetness, come here and give me a hug. I have missed you terribly.”
The sound of Kallen’s voice next to me makes her snap her head to the side, and her eyes widen in delight as she practically leaps out of my arms.
“KALLEN!”
Kallen falls to her knees as she cannot hold Atasha’s weight. Peering around, I do not believe there is a dry eye around us, as many unfamiliar faces have emerged to surround us.
Slavic has not moved from mam’s side, and the sight of her leaning against him twists me up inside. I had hoped, dreamed, and prayed that she was alive, but I do not think I ever trulybelieved it. My mind is still telling me that all of this is a dream, but if that is the case, then let me slumber never to wake again.
“Come, let us break our fast, and you boys can introduce us to the females who are accompanying you.”
I see Slavic turn toward Ruby. She just smiles and motions for him to go on. Einar, apparently unwilling to wait on their shorter legs, quickly picks up Rowan in one arm while motioning for Ruby to brace herself as he scoops her up with the other. Jogging behind Slavic, he quickly catches back up with mam as she waves for the others who had come out of the mountainside to return. A giggle behind me has me turning back toward Kallen and Atasha. Her little hands are patting Kallen’s face, seeing things that only a young one truly can.
“Kallen, you look tired.”
“I have not been resting well little one, but I will be better now that I am home.”
“I will bring Dolly over to sleep with you. She keeps all the monsters away, just like you said.”
“I am glad she is still watching over you in the darkness. Let’s get up and head in with the others.”
Reaching down, I pull both of them up into my arms. Atasha’s squeal of laughter makes my lips twitch. “Kallen, he is hauling you around just like you are little like me.”
“Ruarc is very strong. I have missed your smiles, little one. It does my hearts good to see that you have grown so much since I have been gone.”
The warmth and honest affection in Kallen’s voice catches me off guard. She mentioned my sister in passing before, but I did not realize they were so close.
“You have been gone such a long time, I was beginning to doubt mam when she said I should ask my hearts if you were still alive. Every darkness, I would pray to the Gods of Ruk to bring you back home, and they did! I was very sad when I could not find you in the fields after the big bugs came, and I searched for rotations until mam threatened to lock me in my room if I did not stop sneaking out.”
“You should always listen to your mam. She is only doing what is best for you.”
“Yes, yes … I know this … but you are my truest friend, Kallen. But I must tell you, even though you made Dolly for me, she could not keep the monsters away in the light. They took you away, and no matter what I did, I could not run fast enough to protect you from them.”
