Cantores

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I spent the night packing my favorite things, and anything I couldn't do without. With a last glance at the picture of the Emperor that hung on the door, I slipped out of the house that had once been mine just after dawn. I closed the door gently behind me and touched the peeling blue paint for the last time.

“Goodbye, Mother,” I whispered. With luck, she'd think I'd gone to fetch water, the first of my morning chores, and wouldn't realize I wasn't coming back until I was long gone. I hadn't taken the water bucket, so maybe that would clue her in sooner, but I couldn't take that from her. It was her only one.

And I'm her only daughter.

I almost turned back then. What was I thinking? I should stay, take care of her….

I couldn't die here.

One step after another, I left my onetime home behind. My feet felt heavy, the grass catching at my shoes at each step.

Vida. My thoughts turned to her as grass turned to bare dirt, to cobblestones, and back to grass, my stomach twisted in worry. What if she'd been lying? What if she wasn't waiting for me, what if she didn't truly like girls? No other girl did. Or what if– what if she got to know me, and didn't like me?

I could still go back. Keep the memory of her forever, and never let her break my heart.

…Or I could take the chance.

I crested a hill, and quite suddenly Vida was there in her full spritely glory. Her clothes were simpler than before, no longer the performer's costume, but her ears and wings were on full display. In the sunlight, her spread wings glowed, each panel of green framed by shining deep brown.

She laughed lightly at my surprise and held out a hand. “You came. I wasn't sure if you would.”

I took her hand more hesitantly. Her skin was warm against my palm, and the way her fingers curled around mine just felt… right.

“Destiny,” Vida said carefully, almost as if testing the name.

I couldn't help my grin. It felt remarkably nice to be called by another name than the one I'd hated for so many years. “Yeah?”

“Something I didn't think to mention. The rest of the group… Two of them are human.”

I frowned. There had definitely been more than three performers in Vida's group. “Two. And the rest are sprites like you?”

“Nnno,” Vida said. She tucked a lock of hair that had come free of her braid back behind her ear. “They're werewolves.”

My hand tightened in hers. “But werewolves are…” They'd all looked human.

…So had Vida.

“I know,” she said. “I know what they say. Animals, right? Barely better than wolves? Monsters, even, sometimes?”

I nodded.

“That's what they think in every human or demon town we've been to, and some fae ones I've visited. They're all wrong. Werewolves are just people who can switch between two forms at will, that's all.” Vida paused thoughtfully. “Well, and some cultural differences, but they're really just people.”

“Are you sure?” Wait, no– I shook my head. “Wait, that… that came out wrong, I didn't mean–”

“I've been traveling with five of them for near on four years, love. I'm pretty sure.” She turned and her dark eyes found mine, her fingers brushed my chin. “Do you trust me?”

I hesitated. “I… think so. You're not enthralling me, are you?”

Vida laughed to the sky. “Trust me, love, if I ever thralled you, you'd know.”

I bit down on the inside of my cheek hard enough to taste blood. “...Okay then. Yes.”

“I promise,” she said softly. “I promise you're safe with us.”

I wanted to trust her. I nodded.

Vida folded her wings, first straight back like a butterfly, then down against her back, and led me down the hill towards a single covered wagon with two brown horses hitched to it and three tents nearby. There didn't seem to be any people around, until a slim blond man appeared from the wagon. Shaggy curls fell around his face and over his glasses, but it didn't seem to bother him as he strode over. “Hello! You must be Destiny. I'm Seren Cantores.”

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“Good to meet you,” I managed. He didn't look like a werewolf, he looked as human as I was and barely taller. Maybe he was one of the two humans.

“Seren's pack leader, along with his wife Blythe,” Vida explained. She grinned at Seren. “They picked the rest of us up like stray dogs.”

Not human.

“Why?” I asked. I fiddled with the strap of my bag, unable to look at him.

“Why… what? Take people in? They needed it.”

“That’s the only reason?” I hesitated, mouth drying with worry, but I had to ask. “What if someone’s…” My gaze dropped to the ground, “broken?”

Silence.

I looked up to see a deep, sad look on Seren’s face. I flinched.

“You’re not broken,” he said firmly, taking my hand to press it between both of his. “Do you hear me? You’re not broken, and you never were.”

I squeezed my eyes shut to keep from crying.

Letting go of my hand, Seren said, “Destiny, half the pack’s felt broken at one point or another. That’s why we’re here, together. Vida, could you help her get settled and introduce her to everyone?”

“Of course.” She lifted my bag away and tugged me towards the wagon. “Do you like horses, Destiny?”

“I– d-on’t know,” I managed. The tears still threatened, so I rubbed my hand across my eyes as if that would hold them back. How could Seren say so easily that I wasn’t broken? He didn’t even know me.

“Would you like to meet ours first? Their names are Hope and Song, they’re both very sweet mares.”

“I guess?”

Vida set my bag inside the wagon, then led me along the side til we reached the horses. “This one is Song, she’s got a white blaze. Hope doesn’t. You can pet her if you like, either of them, they don’t bite.”

Hesitantly, I touched the horse’s shoulder. She was huge, and I could feel warmth radiating from her body. She turned her head towards me and nudged me– harder than I was expecting. I pulled back.

“She’s asking for treats,” Vida informed me.

“Oh.”

“She likes it if you scratch by her ears.”

I tried that. The horse, Song, lowered her head to let me.

“She’s sweet, isn’t she?”

That wasn’t Vida. My head snapped up and I looked around until I saw a golden-haired girl on the other side of the horses, adjusting Hope’s harness. She straightened and grinned at me. “I’m Fionnuala, the oldest one after Vida. I play guitar. You’re new?”

“Um… I’m Destiny,” I said. I suddenly felt self-conscious– what if she thought it was stupid?

“You're next eldest now?” Vida leaned on Song. “What would Fia say?”

“Who cares what Fia thinks?” Fionnuala patted the horse and fed her something. “I am and that’s a fact.”

“Mm.” Running a hand over the horse’s rump, Vida walked around her to face Fionnuala. “Destiny, this is Fionnuala, or Fin. She’s either Seren and Blythe’s oldest child, or she’s the second oldest. Fin, Destiny’s new, we picked her up in the last village. I’m showing her around.”

“Oldest or second oldest?” I echoed, confused.

“Werewolves have a lot of multiples,” Fionnuala explained as Vida fluttered over to the wagon. “I have a twin who thinks he’s oldest.”

“How old are you?” I asked.

Fionnuala grabbed the horse’s mane and threw herself over its back. Grinning down at me, she said, “Nineteen. And our little brother is fourteen. Can you ride?”

I shook my head.

“Want to learn?”

I touched the horse’s shoulder. “Sure!”

By the time Vida returned, I was on the horse behind Fin, grinning and unsteadily holding on to her shoulders.

“Having fun?”

I didn’t dare move for fear of toppling us both over. “Yeah!”

“Good. Er… Fin, can we have some privacy for a moment? Me and Des?”

“Sure.” Fin reached back, and somehow managed to help me down without getting down herself. “Go off there, it’s as much as anyone can have here. Ma said we’re heading out in, I think it’ll be ten minutes by now.”

Vida nodded and walked off, jerking her head for me to follow. When we’d gotten far enough away, she stopped, ran a hand through her hair, and sighed.

“Vida?” Was she going to tell me to leave?

“Look… I wasn’t really… I didn’t think…”

“I thought you liked me.” I couldn’t help the note of a whine that snuck into my voice.

“I do!” Vida protested. “But… all I expected that night was a flirtation for a day or three. A few kisses. That’s not anything to build a relationship on.”

“Then why did you let me come with you?” I demanded. Tears sprang to my eyes now, angry instead of worried. “Why didn’t you tell me no?” I stepped back.

“Never,” Vida shook her head. “I’d never tell someone to stay somewhere they feel broken. No, I’ve had enough of that. If you want to come, love, you’re more than welcome, but it’s not too late to turn back if you prefer.”

I looked at the hill, towards the village. My stomach twisted at the thought of going back now, back to my ordinary life and my chores and my mother’s expectations.

“No,” I said. My hand curled into a fist, tight enough that I knew my nails would leave a mark in my palm. “I’m not going back.”

Vida sighed and reached out. Without really thinking, I took her hand.

“I’d love to be friends with you, Destiny,” she said softly. “Maybe– maybe more, someday, but I don’t want to risk never properly knowing you just because you’re a good kisser, alright? So don’t let that be the reason you stay.”

I managed a weak laugh. “Alright. I–”

“Yeah?”

“I haven’t had a real friend in years,” I confessed. “Maybe ever. No one I could ever tell… the things I told you.” Eighteen years, and the girl I’d known for a matter of days was the one I chose to tell one of my two deepest secrets. What was wrong with me?

“All mine live in this camp,” Vida said. She gave my hand a quick squeeze. “Now come on, let’s get into the wagon before Blythe comes to yell at us for holding everyone up, yeah?”

“Okay.” I squeezed her hand back.

I had a friend.