seasons in Crimson

Chapter 2...
       Spring came to Crimson's Edge in a tornado. Flowers bloomed and the animals brought new life to the village. The pace of village life was a frenzy of to and fro in the eternal ebb and flow of yearly rebirth. Activity was happening in every corner of the village.
      Jareth was hard at work with helping his grandfather turn the dirt in the garden. The spring sun burned down on his sweat covered back. He had long since removed his shirt. He didn't mind the hard work that he did as he knew that his grandfather made his meager living mainly from the medicinal herbs that he grew. And the Roma's would be coming back soon.
     Jareth bent over to pick up a large rock when he heard a gentle cough behind him. He didn't need to turn around to know that it was Emma behind him. A small smile crossed his lips. Emma was familiar and welcome in ways that many would take the wrong way and cause heart ache for. She was a companion, not a maid to fall in love with, as Jareth saw it.
  When Jareth turned around he was not surprised to see the large basket hanging from her arm. She would have been out feeding all the working men. And she would have been helping the wives with the Littles. Emma was always thinking of others. That was just the way she was. Life was simple and good in Crimson's Edge.
      "Your mamma and Da asked me to bring Grandfather Sage the first crop of eggs from the chickens. As well as some other things for his table from the ladies around the village "Emma said. A slight pink flush graced her cheeks. She looked at Jareth for only a brief moment before edging around him and going the few feet to Grandfather Sage.
      Grandfather watched young Emma and Jareth. He knew that the villages Elders were planning the union of the young pair. However Sage knew that Jareth's life path lay in another direction. His heart was not going to be content tied to a plot of land. Though he knew that Jareth would do his "duty" and settle down to become a master at whatever craft he settled on. But Sage knew that Jareth was meant for something special...
      
     Lycaenia stood beside the cook fire. She gazed into the flames and let her mind wonder. She held the long wooden spoon in hand. She was in charge of the tea this evening for the Bandwise. She was glad for the distraction. She needed to be away from the rest of the Band this evening. It was another week until the full moon but she could feel the sway on her soul.
"Lycaenia something vexes thee?" Ze'Eva asked as she came out of their shared wagon. She watched as her beloved niece shook her head and poked at the fire with her bare foot. A small smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth.
Lycaenia smiled at her aunt. "Yes. Bastian and the boys are sniffing around me yet again. They followed me to bathe today. I had to get Papa Costas to chase them off." Lycaenia said. She didn't like the sound of the grief in her voice about it. But she was highly irritated about it.
  Ze'Eva nodded her head in understanding. She remembered the zest of youth. She remembered fondly her own youth. And youth was always a hard time in one's life. With all the changes that took place it was all so confusing and dangerous. And it could be especially hard on the youth of the males of their kind.
Lycaenia bent down beside the fire and pushed the wood closer to the middle of the fire ring. She could see the steam from the water starting to boil. She was glad for that. The sooner she passed out the nightly tea trays the sooner she could be on her own for the evening and in her own company.
"Don't be too hard on them. You are a beautiful Roma child. You are in the budding part of your life. And the a Bandswise's only daughter adds to the pull of your spirit. You are also a challenge to them. You grew up with them as is our way. You know them better than anyone else can. Your gift's are strong and always have been. They fear you and yet you call to them like a moth to a deadly flame. They respect you and yet they will try you when they think they can. It's your gifts and you abilities. Your mother and I had this talk while she carried you. She felt your powers even then. " Ze'Eva said calmly. She had felt the unease in her niece for many days now.
  Ze'Eva knew that her niece was as wild as she herself had been in the bloom of her youth. And yet Lycaenia also carried her mother's duty and concern for the Band. When she finally came fully into her gifts she would be a force to be reckoned with. She would rival any of the Bandwise down the Bloodline that had once been or would be.
  Lycaenia listened to the wisdom of her aunt. She knew that she spoke the truth. But on this the truth brought her no comfort. She did not mean to draw the young males in her Band. She had grown up with them, played in the same mud holes and stables as they had. She had pulled as many pranks as they had and been as scolded as they had been too, if not more so in fact.
  However she knew that one day she would be expected to choose one as her mate. And once she had she would be with him for life. The only problem was that she did not feel anything for any of them, except as a little sister. And that was not the makings of a bond with a mate that she had heard many of the wives talk about when the men were not around.
  Lycaenia was not the kind of girl to let her head be filled with fluff filled dreams of a happily ever after love. She was too practical for that. She knew that a Bond was something that took work. And it took time. But still the love between her mother and her father was often remarked on around the campfires at dark. That was the kind of Bond she hoped that she would claim. After all she had seen several Bond's that were not so nice. And why their goddess would allow a Bond to become so gnarled and twisted was beyond anything Lycaenia could or would ever understand.
  Lycaenia pulled the large kettle off the fire and placed in on the flat surface of the rock that her aunt carried with them in their wagon. She began to pour the herbs on the cloth that she would use to brew and steep the tea in. Her aunt was a healer of sorts. And the entire Band looked to her for medicines and herbal remedies. And it was a ritual that every night Lycaenia served the Band tea. It was something that she had started when she was but a wee cub at Ze'Eva's heels.
  Lycaenia let her mind wonder over her childhood. She had a fairly normal childhood. She was a Roma, a gypsy, a free spirit. She was used to living in a wagon and moving from place to place. That did not bother her as it did others. She enjoyed it. She didn't like being in one place too long. She had always lived with her aunt. She only shared her parent's wagon when she absolutely had to.
  Make no mistake Lycaenia loved her parents. But her mother, Evalena was a harder, stricter, less patient version of her twin sister Ze'Eva. Duty to her social status and her place in the Band came first and foremost. Evalena loved her family but duty came first. Duty and responsibility was all she lived on.
  Lycaenia had heard stories about how much lighter her mother had once been, especially while she had been pregnant. But the death of her infant twin brother had changed many things in their Band. However the most changes had taken place within Evalena. That was when duty became first and family second.
  Lycaenia knew that it had been hard for her mother. Being a Bandwise Bonded was not easy. When the Band expects many strong, healthy, and gifted children from their bonded leaders and a child dies it changes everything. The disappointment of losing a male child had to have been great. Then to find out that the remaining twin, a female, has the ability to still talk to her twin's spirit can be seen as even worse.
  Lycaenia put her vexing memories aside as she ladled the hot water into the earth mugs for the others. She knew that she needed to bring her calming face back to the surface. She didn't need word getting back to her mother that she had been anything but pleasant in all the Band's eyes.
  Her mother had made sure that Lycaenia knew her duty to the Band. She knew it was her responsibility to make sure that all appearances were kept in place and that the Band prospered. She was the next generation. And her gifts only ensured that she would have to keep up the charade. Though she had long ago stopped her dreaming of a life that did cage her in she knew her duty was to her band.  

May first....

   Jareth awoke early. Though he tried to lie in his bed to enjoy the stillness of the early morning his body would not have it. He had the itch to be up and out in the Forest before Mayday celebrations took place. Avoiding the maids was becoming more and more difficult when the entire match making mothers made excuses to have him and their daughter's share company.
    So Jareth rose and dressed quickly in the glimmer of the almost full moon. He quickly packed his knap sack and took his thinner woolen cloak and slightly left his home. He kept to the shadows as he made his way towards the Forest. And the dark pleasures that he was sure to find.
    Now Jareth was not as silly and superstitious as the rest of the young men his age. He didn't fear the dread darkness deep within Crimson Forest. Instead he found the dark and closed in feeling pleasant and rather peaceful. It was a place he could be alone with his thoughts and increasing feelings.  
   Jareth was wondering just how his mother planned to let him know about the decision that Emma was to be his wedded wife when he suddenly felt the eyes on him.
   He didn't change the pace of his walk. He kept it slow and steady as if nothing was wrong. Though he felt the eyes follow his every move he could not see anything in the brush or bracken as he followed the well beaten game trail.
   The sudden silence only confirmed his instincts. A large predator was near him. He was being watched. He was not sure what would be watching him. He sniffed the air. He smelt no bear or stag. There had not been a large cat in the area for many a year.
  Jareth was not a coward. His instincts told him that he was being stalked like prey. And that did not sit well with him. But he would not show fear. That would only make things worse. But it still drove him to distraction. And he didn't like that.      
   
   The black wolf stood deep in the underbrush and watched the young man. She had only been this close to a "human" in her wolf form a few times. They fascinated her and yet a chill of fear ran down her spine. She knew that humans were dangerous to her kind. They always had been. Her aunt Za'Eve had been telling their fortunes for many summers and she always said the same thing.
  The wolf slowly followed the young male. She could see that he was a lone wolf, even within his pack. He was sure of himself. The softness in his eyes told her many things about him. She could see that he was a man, though a young man, who knew his way around the woods. And he was not a coward. This was all for the better as far as she was concerned.
   She followed him deeper into the woods. She used all of her senses to follow him. She noticed that the closer to him that she got the quieter the Forest got. She had to admit that it was a little un-nerving to her. She had not ever been in a forest that was so quiet. The wolf didn't like it by far.
   She followed him for a while longer. There was something about the young male that called to her. She watched as he followed a trail that even she would have used all her senses to follow. He was a woodsman to say that least. And he was very cautious not to disturb anything. Even when he stopped to smell a flower or look at a birds nest, he was careful not to disturb anything.
  Now this wolf knew that she could have any male in the pack that she wanted. They had been sniffing her out for so long that it was not even funny. She often had to use her fangs and claws to get any peace from the needy males. She didn't try to catch their attention. She just did. She wished they would leave her alone in both of her forms, human and wolf alike.
   She walked along on her short stocky legs. She suddenly stopped when she saw the young man not three feet from her, standing with palms facing her, calmly looking at her. She looked into his eyes. For the first time she did not see fear. Instead she saw only caution and even curiosity. And even a little wonder in the depths of his eyes.
  She stood stone still and watched the young man who watched her in return. It caught her sense of humor for sure. She raised her lips in a lupine grin. She knew that the show of her fans would not be seen as a threat. Not after she had given the young man enough opportunity to harm her and he did nothing. It was by far one of the best laughs she had had in a while.
  She stood with her lupine grin still in place when the young man gave her a bow then turned on his heel and left. She stood there more than a little confused. Not once in her mere sixteen years had she ever had a male, much less a Human male, give her a bow of respect without knowing of her family importance.
  She was curious to see where the youth was going. She dropped her lips and took a miffed breath. The wolf did not like not being acknowledged for what she was, a living legend. Normally the wolf was not vain at all. But she didn't like not being passed by like she was normal. A shutter went through her at the thought of being normal.
  She had been raised with sympathy for Humans. She knew being a Roma and a Kin meant that she had to be more than just understanding to any human she came across. She was raised to almost pity them for not being blessed by the Great Wolf Mother. She had been raised to follow the Great Wolf Mother's rules very closely or face her wraith.
   Jareth was not bothered in the least little bit by the wolf following him. He continued on his journey through the trees. He began to hum a tune as he walked along. He was out to check his snares for the rabbits that he had set out the night before. He was also on the lookout for anything amiss in the Forest he claimed as his domain.  He was more than curious about the wolf that was following him. It made no sense to him that a wolf would follow a human for anything more than a possible meal.
  After collecting the rabbit from the third snare in his hunting area he stopped humming and looked behind him. The dark wolf was still there watching his every move. This made the furrow between his dark brows a little deeper. "I suppose to a hunter like you a snare seems like a shame. I have not your claws or powerful jaws. So this will have to do." Jareth said in his quiet tenor voice.
  As he spoke he saw the total understanding in the wolf's eyes. That relieved him. Though why the wolf's approval mattered to him was a bit of a mystery. He did try to make sure that all his kills were clean and not one animal suffered more than necessary. He made sure that all of his hunts were honorable.
  Jareth continued on through the denseness of the woods and along paths that he himself had created. One such path he had created when he was but nine summers old. He had been out gathering different flowers for the mothers in the village one particularly rainy spring. He was not surprised that the wolf kept up with his long strides.
  A very loud crashing sound about three hundred yards from where Jareth stood made him jerk his attention away from the wolf at his heels. Jareth stood stone still. He held his breath. The wolf turned inch by slow inch until it was facing the crashing. Jareth didn't know that he liked that. He didn't want to think that the wild child of the woods that stood beside him may be harmed in trying to protect him.
  Before Jareth could get any word out of his mouth four of the largest black and brown wolves burst through the bracken and began circling them. Jareth dropped the rabbits that he had been holding. He slowly reached for the knife that he kept strapped across his chest for emergencies. He tried to keep the strange wolves in his sight at all times. Though the way they moved it was getting harder and harder.
  The wolf at his back was much smaller in size and height than the four that frothed at the mouth in an almost calm frenzy. A sinking feeling crept into the pit of Jareth's stomach. Suddenly he knew that this was not going to end well and there was nothing he could do about it now. He reached down to touch the dark little wolf at his side. He knew that his may be the last chance he would get to touch such a lovely animal.
   She didn't like how these intruders felt to her. She knew just by their smell that they were Kin, like she was Kin. Though they did not seem to mind the most important rule set down by the Great Wolf Mother herself. And that was a bad sign for sure. She let out a low rumble of a warning, her fangs bared.
  She began to plan her battle plan when she felt the strong fingers gently delve into her thick fur. If it had been anyone or any other time she would have sank her fangs into the offender. However under the circumstances his strong touch was welcomed. It was almost a comfort strangely enough. As much as she wanted to offer what comfort to the human at her back she dared not take her eyes off the four rogues that were circling them.
  The next few minutes were a frenzied blur of steel, fur, and fangs. She was not sure when or how she had ended up with the two largest wolves attacking her. But as one wolf had her pinned in the hind quarters the other was after her throat. She bit and clawed with every ounce of muscle she had. Though she knew she was rapidly losing what little ground she had held. Her strength was starting to fade.
  Out of the corner of her eye she saw the human battling a wolf. Not far from where the human battled the wolf was the body of a Kin, only partially changed into a human body. She didn't have it in her to feel pity for him. She chomped down on the front leg that came close to her. The milk chocolate brown wolf let out a howl of pain that echoed in the forest for what seemed like minutes.
  The two remaining Kin took one look at their two dead friends and began to back away. They kept their eyes one the wolf and the human. The two remaining wolves still circled around them. She knew that they were only trying to wear their 'prey' down. It was a pack learned hunting tactic. They would circle until she or Jareth made a move or got tired. Then in unison they would attack.
  She shook her head. She knew that she needed to call out to her own pack. But they were so far away. And they would not make it to her in time. She was on her own as far as any help was concerned. And that was not a good place for any wolf to be. But she would hold out as long as she could before calling for help. She knew that she may do more damage by waiting so long to call for her pack.
  Jareth watched the rogue wolves. They circled around him and the black wolf menacingly. It was truly frightening how angry they looked. He had never had any living being look at him with such hatred and ferocity. He wished that he had more to protect them than the knife and the club that he had used already. And he didn't know how much longer the club would last.
  "If we don't make it I pray the Great Spirits of our races take mercy on us and our loved ones. I hope that your spirit reaches it rest in the matter than you desire. Thank you for standing by me. You are a great warrior and deserve to be honored as such." Jareth said. His voice was strong and true.
   The next moments were truly a blur in Jareth's eyes. Both of the brown wolves lunged at him and the black wolf in unison. It was a perfect attack. It all happened so fast that Jareth did not have the time to be afraid. His body was humming it was so alive and filled with the adrenaline. All that mattered was that he died with honor. He would try to protect the wolf at his back.
  He raised his knife and slashed with one hand while swinging his club with the other. He felt the club shatter when he hit one of the wolves in the rib cage. The wolf yowled in pain as it fell away from him and onto the ground.
  Jareth let out a battle cry that would rival the warriors of legends when he saw the black wolf fall under the weight of the largest brown wolf. Ice chilled the fire of battle in his veins when he saw the brown wolf go for the black wolf's throat. He threw the remaining piece of his wooden make shift club at the brown wolf. Then he started shouting all kinds of things.
  Jareth didn't know if the wolf let go of his wolf because the club chunked him in the head and caused pain or if it was shock. And honestly Jareth did not care. He was trying to buy them some time. Jareth was not having good luck trying to figure out a plan to save them. But he was sure something was about to happen. The sinking feeling in his stomach told him that.
  The blood on the ground was a mix of them all. And he knew the other animals would come to the metallic smell of the blood. And that was something he did not need at the moment. Jareth was on his way to help the black wolf when the wolf he had broke the club on sprang into the air and knocked him to the ground.
  The weight of the brown wolf knocked Jareth to the ground. The air rushed out of his lungs when he hit the ground. He landed on his stomach with a jar that rattled his teeth and made him see stars. He coughed and sputtered until he was able to drag an unsteady breath. Then instinct kicked in and he began to try to move towards his wolf.
  The large wolf was on him in that breath span. He covered his head and tried to roll over on his side to protect his face and neck.      He began to pray for strength when he felt the wolf's breath on his face. The blood scented breath made Jareth want to scream in rage. The scream got caught in his throat. It came out as a mix of a grunt and a gargle.
  She battled with teeth and claws for as long as she could. When her strength began to flag she knew that she had to act. And act quickly to boot. So she took what breath she could and went deep inside herself, calling upon the strength of her spirit, the blood of her people. She felt the warmth of the spring season begin in her lower belly and start to flood through her.
  And yet it was more than that. It was all encompassing. The raw power that flooded her soul filled her like a fog filling a sheltered glen at midnight. It made her body hum and shake with life. She felt like her body was so alive that she was about to burst. She felt every living thing around her from the trees to the flying insects. She was connected to it all; she knew the rhythm of the Forest in that moment.
In a matter of moments the flood of power filled her entire body. She closed her eyes for just a moment as she sent up a silent prayer as she released the burst of mental power along the common Roma mental mind path. She knew that the moment she let loose her power her aunt would be alerted. And she would send help in the blink of an eye. And Lycaenia was counting on that.
   Lycaenia let the power roll off her in short but powerful waves. She felt it slam against the red angry minds of the brown wolves. She felt the pain in their minds as soon as it touched them. She normally would not have let her power loose like she was. But she was beyond caring at the moment the power of the Goddess filled her. She did not feel righteous but she knew she was doing right by defending the human with her. And her Band would stand behind her on that. Of that there was no doubt.
  Lycaenia watched with approval as the two remaining wolves fell to the ground writhing in mental agony as the pain in their minds wracked their bodies. She dragged herself around them and over to the human male. She would protect him with her last breath. She had no strength left to fight. But her strong will would move mountains. She only had to last until her Band came to her aid.
  As Lycaenia looked at the human male she saw the blood coming from his body. It stained the ground he laid upon. A sliver of fear crept into the back of her mind. She used her muzzle to touch his cheek. She could smell that he was in danger of losing too much blood. Again she sent up a prayer to her Goddess for help and protection until her aunt reached them. And she prayed for the human to have the strength of heat to hold on to his life for that long.
  She staggered from the energy she had just used to protect them. Her breath still came in small amounts. She lay down next to the human, before she collapsed, to await the arrival of her Band.