Kelly walked out of the portal. Her body started to shake and she dropped to her knees, tears flowing freely. She felt hands on her shoulders, the two Valkyries. It was comforting, but didn’t help. She had walked away from her children. She had walked away from her husband.

And for what?

“Ah, you are back,” a harsh and cold voice said, coming closer. “It is about time.”

That was why she was back.

Kelly wiped the tears away, standing up, head held high. On either side of her, XXX and XXX held their spears tightly, glaring at Senora Barkfall who walked forward, as arrogantly as ever. The elf priestess looked past Kelly at the rapidly shrinking portal.

“Now come along, we have work to do.”

Senora turned, walking away. Kelly didn’t move. Neither did the other two. It was a couple steps before Senora realized no one was following her. She turned back, looking imperiously over her shoulder, angry that she wasn’t being obeyed.

“We do have work to do,” Kelly said, walking forward. “But not what you want.”

She kept walking, forcing Senora to take a step back to avoid getting pushed. XXX followed, just a step to the side, making Senora move even further back. XXX was two steps to the side. As she walked by, Senora stepped back and off the walk, heel of her boot catching in the soft soil. She almost stumbled but managed to catch herself. She glared at the three Valkyries.

“Stop.”

None did.

“You will listen.”

They didn’t.

Kelly led them out of the cemetery gates, stopping to look up and down the street. People moved around in the midday sun, talking and just doing nothing. There was nothing for them to do. They had spent days there waiting on her. But even then, they had nothing to do but walk and keep walking. She looked at the Spatial Bag that Lisa carried, filled with weapons and what few supplies Loch’s people could spare.

“Let’s find the others and get the weapons spread around,” Kelly said, looking up at the sun. “We got a couple hours to get some training in.”

“Sounds good to me,” Lisa said.

“Let’s get this column whipped into shape,” XXX added.

Kelly smiled as the two walked off. She heard footsteps, boots slamming on the ground and angry breathing coming her way. She held the smile, waiting until Senora stopped in front of her, turning to glare at Kelly.

“What are you doing?”

“What I should have done a long time ago,” Kelly said, the smile fading. She returned the glare. “I don’t know what Freyja wants with all these people but I’ve decided that she doesn’t get to decide their fate.”

Senora’s face filled with hate. She took a step forward, hoping to use her taller size and presence against Kelly, who didn’t budge. Senora only had a couple inches on Kelly but looking at the two, people would have thought Kelly the taller. Her state seemed to make Senora shrink.

“You may be stronger than me,” Kelly started. “But you no longer are in charge of me or any of those people.”

Senora took a step back, looking around, hoping for support but there was none. A couple people, including some of the Valkyries and other fighters, had stopped to watch. They all stared at Senora, the same as Kelly did.

“You can stay or you can go,” Kelly said. “Your healing will be welcome but you are no longer in charge.”

Senora looked back at Kelly, standing at her full height, trying to regain her arrogant stance. No one was buying it.

“Freyja will hear about this,” she said, turning to stalk away.

Stolen story; please report.

“I hope so.”

***

“Was that smart?,” XXX asked.

She had stayed behind, filling Kelly in on everything that had happened since she’d been gone. There hadn’t been much. The column hadn’t moved. It gave the people needed time to rest. There had been some monster attacks, but nothing they couldn’t handle. Together the two walked past some of the people training with the swords they’d just gotten. It was awkward, most lucky they didn’t hurt themselves.

“I don’t really care,” Kelly said. She sighed, letting some of the anger go. She was still mad at herself for leaving Loch and her children. “But it had to be done. I’m done waiting for Freyja and Senora to decide our fates. They’ve been leading us around for months and for what? We just keep walking and walking.”

“We’re still going to be walking,” XXX pointed out.

“Yes, but now we have a destination.”

“It’s pretty damn far away.”

“Hopefully that problem will be solved pretty soon.”

“How?”

“A girl’s gotta have secrets,” Kelly said with a smile.

XXX laughed.

“And elf ears are pretty good,” she said, glancing past the training people to where Senora stood.

The elf glared at Kelly, the stare icy and full of hate. Kelly ignored it. Senora wouldn’t do anything, at least not unless Freyja willed it. Kelly didn’t think she’s angered Freyja.

Yet.

It would happen. That was the one thing Kelly couldn’t plan for. What would the Divine Being do?

“Make sure to grab the Portal Stone when Senora isn’t looking,” Kelly said, speaking in a whisper.

“Will do.”

***

“It is not easy to say goodbye to one’s mate,” Little River Stone said, his deep voice coming from the trees to the side of the road.

Loch, the girls and the horses paused, waiting for the Sasquatch to walk out. The large humanoid wasn’t visible one second, visible the next, stepping out of the shadows beneath the trees. Little River Stone paused, looking at the horses.

For their part, the animals didn’t react.

Loch patted Jarl’s neck, ready to sooth the animal. But it wasn’t needed. All four horses looked at the Sasquatch, Larry giving a soft chuff. Little River Stone laughed, the sound like rocks tumbling down the mountain.

“It seems not all of this world have forgotten the Sasquatch,” he said, walking forward.

Loch shook his head, giving Jarl a slight nudge. Not that it was needed. The horses had already started walking, Little River Stone next to them. Even with the height of Jarl, Little River Stone’s head came to Loch’s shoulder. He didn’t have to look up far to talk.

“Do you have a mate?” Loch asked.

“No, I am far too young, but I have seen it often in the Clan as we move and have fought.” He paused, looking into the forest. “I saw my father say goodbye to my mother one too many times.”

“He returned each time, right?,” Piper asked.

Loch could hear the hope and desire in her voice. She wanted Little River Stone’s story to have a happy ending.

“Of course young one,” Little River Stone said. “Of course.”

Loch could tell by the way the Sasquatch looked away, the set of his shoulders, that his story didn’t have a happy ending.

They continued in silence, the curve in the road just ahead. Loch could already hear the sounds of the Clanhold. There was always activity. Coming around the corner, he saw the first signs of a busy Clan. Two guards on either side of the gate came to attention when they recognized Loch and the girls. Two men were pulling wagons down the slope toward the fields, each piled high with supplies. A couple other people moved about outside the wall, doing what Loch wasn’t sure, but they looked busy enough.

There were far less people sitting around doing nothing lately, which Loch was glad of. The depression level of the Clan had risen. There were still people unhappy with their new lot in life, but most people were starting to accept what had happened and where and what they were doing. Some that had just been laborers had started working more toward gaining a true Crafting Class or even had picked up a sword.

A lot still didn’t want to fight, but many more were accepting that fighting was part of their new world.

Two of the new elven Clanmembers walked out of the gate, moving to join some of the humans that had already been out. The small group talked, chatting as they continued walking down the slope.

Maybe there was hope that the new world wouldn’t be a constant battle.