“Ah. Selah, my child. I am surprised to find you here so early,” Thantis remarked. The elder death priest had pulled back the cloth flap covering the entrance to his temple to find his pupil already awake and studying, even though the light of the star, Seil, had just crested the trees to the west. “You look restless, Xan.”
“I’d prefer you not call me ‘child’ for one, old man,” the former guard retorted, looking up from his hide scrolls. Multiple furs were draped across his body, obscuring the bandaged wound he’d received in defense of the village some weeks before. Thantis raised his brows at his new apprentice.
“Old man? Says the young lad confined to a chair?”
“That’s a low blow, Thantis.”
“Already dodging the issue I see, but I suppose your request is a reasonable one,” Thantis acknowledged, stroking the slightly unkempt, brown and grey fur of his chin. “You must forgive me my habits. You all seem as children to me now. Perhaps one day you too will see the world that way. Will ‘apprentice’ suffice for now?” He asked kindly. Xan nodded but didn’t meet his eyes. “I do apologize, Xan, but it is the truth, is it not?”
“That I’m a cripple? Yeah, you don’t have to remind me,” Xan said bitterly. Thantis’ visage noticeably saddened at the young one’s comportment. Walking over to his apprentice’s chair, Thantis placed a paw tenderly on his shoulder.
“I have my reasons, I assure you. Why don’t I assist you to the back? We can have some tea and breakfast.”
“Not if we’re just going to talk about my leg. I’d rather study runes.” Xan grimaced as his words elicited a chuckle from the elder.
“I know for a fact that you hate runes, my apprentice. Your conversations with young Veera carry quite a ways, to be sure. Why don’t I instruct you instead in the ways in which I serve Kel, as you will in turn?” Thantis proposed, extending a hand to Xan. The young Cauthan took it with a confused look, gingerly pressing himself upright and grudgingly accepting his master’s cane for the short distance to the back. As he hobbled along he could practically feel the shame rattling the scales of his forearms, but Thantis was only kind, even swatting away his other hand as he made to scratch at the crude, leather eyepatch that covered his wounded eye. When he was seated comfortably, Thantis made a fire and offered him some day old bread and dried meat.
“This doesn’t feel right, Thantis. Others need this more than I do,” Xan insisted, holding the calorie-rich food in his hands.
“Hardly! I do not think any of those currently residing in the temple of Meylith would begrudge you the energy you need to recover. But I am nevertheless heartened to hear you think of them, even in your condition.”
“I don’t need reminders, old man!” Xan snapped.
“Yes, of course,” Thantis agreed calmly, setting water to boil and allocating dried leaves to two wooden mugs. “Then let me tell you how we serve Kel, as promised.” Xan met his elder’s eyes.
“Yeah, I’m actually kind of confused about that. What do you mean by ‘serve’ Kel?” He asked, earning a warm smile from Thantis.
“Never stop asking questions, young Xan. Now, to your current question, does Ratha not serve Valta, the Huntress? Does Antoth not serve Uthos, the Protector?”
“At this point it feels like Antoth serves Seil as well, but I get your point. We’re different though, right? We don’t go around…killing other Cauthan.” Xan and Thantis shared a chuckle, the former being careful to not agitate his wounded leg too badly.
Thantis eyed the pot of water closely, gauging the amount of steam coming off of it as he replied. “Most perceptive, my pupil. I daresay you did plenty of that in Uthos’ service. Do you regret it?” He asked pointedly, pouring the not quite boiling water into their mugs and ensuring that the fire would continue to burn hot and soothe his student’s injuries.
“Of course not!”
“Even if it means becoming like me at a very early age?”
Xan’s eyes hardened as he held his master’s gaze. “Not even then.” His defiant reply was rewarded with a nod.
“That is how we serve Kel.” The elderly priest smiled as his pupil’s small crown feathers rose in confusion.
“Uh, what? You lost me, Thantis,” Xan said before taking a sip of tea. The warmth soothed some of the painful, tangled knots in his gut, remnants of a sleepless night.
"All of us return to Mara one day or another. So yes, there is no need for us to expedite the process. The gods can be cruel, however, and it is our service to Kel to ensure that our people do not fear him or curse his name. For just as your injury was earned in the service of Uthos, protecting your home and those you love, the cold of winter eventually delivers us into the warmth of spring, stripping the world of chaos so that we may begin anew in Seil's light. Besides, it would be a sad state if something as beautiful as snow were to be feared, no? For what else is it, if not a herald of new beginnings..." The elder was interrupted by the rumbling call of a watch horn. Xan felt his hands tightening around his mug as he listened for a second or third blast that never came. Thantis watched him closely with narrowed eyes. “We will speak of your injuries and sleepless nights later, Xan. I feel you will not want to miss this, if that horn heralds what I think it does.”
“You really think it’s them?!” Xan asked excitedly, demeanor turning on a dime. Throwing the last bites of food into his mouth and chugging his tea, Xan tried to stand while choking and fanning his mouth, prompting his master to ensure he remained seated until he was well and finished.
“If you’re quite finished trying to injure yourself anew, I will guide you to the north gate.”
“Thanks Thantis,” Xan replied earnestly, silently thankful that he would not have to speak with the old one just yet about his restless nights and shocked at how perceptive the old Cauthan proved to be. “I hope…I hope he made it back safe.”
“So do we all, child. Come; let us be on our way.” Xan didn’t bother correcting Thantis on that particular occasion.
-----
“There you are, Zolta! I was about to head to the temple!” Asha cried out, finding her mate easily in the growing crowds that streamed from home and temple to the source of the latest commotion. His broad shoulders and leather apron helped him stand out, hallmarks of his service to Tyrdus, god of the forge.
“If you had just waited at home, I would have come for you and-”
“And miss any of this? Not on your life, Zolta,” Asha insisted. Her mate relented easily enough, though he still regarded her with an intent expression.
“I was just worried.”
“And I love you for it, but the dangers are long past.”
“You don’t know that he succeeded.”
“Oh come now, do you really believe what you’re saying? Him of all people, failing?”
“No, I just don’t want to hope.” Zolta’s words compelled Asha to take his arm in hers, snuggling up to his solid frame as they walked, the smell of soot faintly clinging to his clothing.
“You were at the forge again, were you? It will be alright, you’ll see.”
“Ok. I’ll believe it if it’s you.”
Sparkling green eyes met Zolta’s remark as he leaned into her touch. “What happened to that nervous cub from the festival?” Asha teased lovingly. Her mate managed a smile for her.
“A certain human kicked his ass…and then a certain female said yes,” he replied, voice dropping as they shared a tender moment, waiting with any townsfolk willing to brave the cold as the gates were slowly opened. At the head of the gathering the guard captain could be seen conversing with his sentry.
“What do you mean you didn’t see them? Then why in the name of the Sentinel did you blow the horn?!” Antoth demanded, torch blazing in hand as his cloak billowed lightly in the wind. The Cauthan on guard began a hurried explanation.
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“I’m sorry Captain, it’s just that you said to notify you the moment there was news and I did see the human and Veera emerge from the forest so I blew the horn and ran for you.” Antoth looked to the opening gate and grimaced. He didn’t want to show it, but he knew some of the worry and fear would creep into his scowl. Please be alright, you crazy, red-furred bitch. He turned back to his guardsman.
“You did well then,” Antoth acknowledged, feeling a different weight lifting from his shoulders as more and more of the northern fields became visible to him. “If the human and Veera are both alive then…” Antoth’s final words were drowned out as a cheer erupted from the assembled onlookers.
“They did it! The human did it! Do you see the fur?”
“Who cares about the fur? Look at all of the meat! Every sled is full!”
“Seil be praised, they’ve actually done it! They brought down an ursae! We’re saved!”
The cheers grew louder and louder as the hunting party emerged fully from the snowbound forest. Led by the human and his mate, the former outcast turned savior and guardswoman. Behind them walked Ratha, her face full of pride tempered by the knowledge that this time the glory was not hers. Every hunter and guard with her was pulling sleds piled high with much needed essentials, the meat and pelts of a monster brought low. Some required multiple Cauthan to move, the mountains of flesh coated with pelt and lashed tightly to wooden frames. She would have begrudged the human his lack of payload, were it not for his injury…and the amusement it was causing her at that moment. She allowed herself an introspective whisper, breath freezing to vapor as it left her lips. “Heh…they can’t even fight as well as Antoth and I do. Wonder what you’ve been up to, scarface.”
“What do you mean I’m not going back out there? There’s still more than half a carcass in those woods!” First Lieutenant Russell Winters of the Human Expeditionary League threw his arms in the air in frustration, wincing as dull pain flared in his ribs. His mate glared hotly at him.
“I mean exactly that, you big, stupid, noble human! I don’t care if you’re wearing armor I could see your arm move just fine from here. You’re hurt and so is Io. You’ve done your part, more than anyone could ask. Now my people and I will finish the job!” Veera insisted, her golden and black feathers waving and flaring under her cloak.
“Absolutely not! There’s a pack of at least twenty hyrven that will no doubt come back looking for seconds. We already left too few men as it is and there’s no way I’m letting you-”
“You do not get to tell me what to do just because we’ve known one another intimately!” Veera fumed, wishing that for once her headstrong mate would listen to wisdom and let someone else shoulder the burden for a change.
“What does our sex life have anything to do with this?!” Winters shot backed, finding it difficult to be upset with Veera but maintain his stance that she would absolutely not be going back into those woods under any circumstances. Enough bad things had come out of them to last him a lifetime.
“Just as much as any other aspect of our relationship does, Russell. The rest of the ursae must be protected and delivered back here. That task falls to the hunters and the guards of our village, and that means it falls to me as well!” Veera insisted, tightening her grip on her spear as Winters’ helmet turned silently towards her, the two of them barely noticing that they’d already crossed the gatehouse and entered the village.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “What was that?”
“I’m a member of the guard force now, Russell. My people needed me, and I answered,” his mate responded with pride. Winters looked around, seeking to find answers in the overcast sky.
“I…what…but I need you, Veera. Gods damn it all I just got you back. You think I want to lose you again now that my ring is on your finger?” He pleaded, still very much aware of a new, solid sensation at the base of his left ring finger, pressing against the material of his combat gloves.
“Do you think I wanted to let you go after that monster alone?!” Veera countered.
“But I won!”
“And you two almost died for it!”
‘Oh, the two of you are just absolutely wonderful! Forget the wedding; the pair of you are already the perfect married couple!’ The voice of Winters’ AI companion, German accent alive and well, rang out happily in their earpieces, the damaged state of her main CPU not placing any sort of damper on her spirits as her two companions argued in the most lovable of ways.
“How the hell do you figure that?!” Veera and Winters both yelled at once, finally broken out of their own little world by Io’s laughter as a slim finger pointed around them. No less than a hundred villagers stood by in utter silence, a respectful but confused gesture as their protectors bickered about gods knew what.
“Uh…babe?”
“I forbid you from calling me that; that sounds like a name for pathetic human women with no claws, fur, or feathers,” Veera hissed as Io began convulsing with barely suppressed giggles before suddenly stopping and jerking her head around to face her partner’s chosen female.
‘Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?!’ She demanded.
“I love you, Veera.”
“I love you too, Russell. We can talk about this later.”
The human sighed heavily. “Yeah, I guess we can. Uh…” he looked around at the onlookers. “Hi?”
“Bwahaha! You have got to be the least threatening avatar of Kel I’ve ever seen!” Antoth bellowed, stepping forward from his leaning position against the wooden palisade. He watched the human’s shoulders square as he turned to face him.
“Antoth! How are you doing you son of a hyrven? And pray tell, what other avatars of Kel have you seen lying around?”
“Don’t bring my mother into this, Winters, but it’s damn good to see you. I don’t know whether to feel bored out of my mind or crushed by the weight of running a partially burned down village, but enough about me. What’s your status?” He demanded, reaching the armored human and slapping him heartily on the back.
“Antoth, stop! He and…his spirit are hurt!” Veera whispered urgently, catching herself at the last moment. Her news didn’t leave a dent in the captain’s happy expression, though he did step back a pace.
“That may be so,” he said, looking out into the snowy fields just outside the gate. “But he’s alive, and unless my eyes deceive me the beast is dead and we’ve all been given a second chance at surviving this winter.” Antoth’s eyes briefly caught Ratha’s before he turned to his people, drew his sword and held it high. “The Avatar of Kel and the Slayer of Ursae! ” He yelled, prompting the loudest chorus of cheers yet from the assembled Cauthan as they moved forward to surround their alien savior and to take a closer look at the treasures he’d procured on his quest. Holding Veera, the village ‘mutt’ turned protector and partner to his side, Winters began greeting friends and acquaintances, answering questions and trying to keep anyone from getting too close to his injured side. While Io made a great show of waving to the crowd like a member of the European nobility of antiquity, Antoth used the chaos to escape after a promise to converse with Winters at a later time.
“Took you long enough. Done with your silly speeches?” A certain steely voice called to Antoth, its owner immediately invading his private space and planting a firm kiss on his muzzle.
“I missed you too, Ratha,” Antoth growled back happily, hoping his tone didn’t make it too obvious that it wasn’t just a joke. The Huntress gave him a calculating look.
“This isn’t over, Antoth. We’ve got more than half an ursae corpse out there and the hyrven didn’t just drop dead the moment loverboy over there took his trophy. Though he did kill a few of them too.”
“That human…how in the name of Valta did he kill it anyway?”
“You think I care? Ask him sometime when we’re not running this sorry excuse for a village,” Ratha shot back, prompting Antoth to pull her into the shadow of the gate.
“The human got you all steamed? Fine, I’ll get the story from him. Though I seem to recall a particular female going off to chase the prey of her dreams while I got left dealing with a bunch of whiny farmers and destitute villagers.”
“But you’re a hero of the people,” Ratha teased. “Doesn’t it just get you going hearing about burned houses and dead priests?”
The midnight-furred captain growled deep in his throat. “I know what you’re doing, Ratha,” he insisted. She cocked her head with a smirk.
“Whatever are you talking about, Antoth?”
“You said there’s half a carcass out there. Your men have orders? Don’t act like you aren’t trying to get my fire burning.”
“We leave at dusk. What about yours?” Ratha replied easily, ignoring his last comment.
“My second rotation is ready to go. They were all told to prepare to leave at a moment’s notice. Dusk is fine.”
“That optimistic, were you?”
“I had no other choice. If you never returned…” Antoth paused for a moment and looked away. “You’re going again, aren’t you?”
“Of course I am. But don’t think I’m leaving before you bite my neck like you did that one night,” she insisted, standing on the pads of her toes to nip at her lover’s lips.
“Ratha, I-”
“Look, scarface. I don’t care about being the crazy hyrven bitch that does things to the Captain in public that festival maidens would only dream of; but you’re deceived by the Twins if you think I’m going to let you get all soft with me in front of everyone,” the Huntress insisted fiercely, keeping her voice low. Antoth could only shake his head and bare his teeth at her.
“Loving you must be Uthos’ punishment.” His simple proclamation caught Ratha flatfooted, her crest feathers vibrating under her hood.
“Can we leave?”
“Yes.”
“Alright then!” She yelled loudly, making a show of dragging Antoth through the crowd as she called over her shoulder to her second in command. “You know what to do with the pelts and meat. The Guardian and I are going to discuss the details of the next sortie. West gate at dusk.”
“Yes, Huntress!” Came the reply as Io watched them leave.
‘Sir, how did I lose to that?’ The AI lamented.
“What’s that, Io?” The soldier asked, preoccupied by the task of making sure that none of the eager and well-meaning villagers touched any of his firearms. Safeties were only so foolproof. The AI just shook her head, strands of blonde hair swaying elegantly in front of her viridian eyes as she watched Antoth and Ratha turn into an alley that led to the temple of Valta.
‘Oh nevermind. Well hello there, adoring citizen! Yes it was I who slayed the beast, of course. Pay no heed to my biological partner here. His flesh is weak.’
“Says the woman with the cracked brain?” Winters chuckled, taking a moment to chat with his best friend and longest-standing companion on the planet Mara safely within the confines of his helmet.
‘And how did I ever end up with you?’ She replied tenderly, smiling as Veera left their side to stride forward to where the crowd was parting slowly to allow the passage of Xan and Thantis. Winters matched her grin and shrugged.
“Sheer, dumb luck?” He replied happily, spotting a particularly bushy tail attached to a particularly happy looking mother to be. “C’mon, Io. We’ve got some catching up to do.”
The AI nodded sagely as Winters began to politely excuse himself and walk forward, his voice translated seamlessly into the Cauthan native tongue thanks to one of Io’s earliest feats of computational superiority. ‘As you say, sir. It’s good to be home.’
“Yeah, Io. Yeah it is. Hey, Zolta! C’mere, kid!”
“I’m not a bloody kid, Winters!”