The village itself had remained standing after the moloch attack. Its people quickly went about making small repairs, gathering food, and restoring their home to the way it had been. Capella mainly ordered everyone around while Lula and everyone else helped the villagers in whatever way they could. At first Ava wondered if the wolves would return to the village when Faloan blew the horns on the third day. Zev had most likely left to his realm as Kryos, Karuna, and Lesath had.
Much to their rejoice, the wolves returned on the fourth day, and so did Zev. The villagers were honored to see their wolf lord and companions again. There was a lot of wagging tails, licked faces, and happy reunions between the wolves and their humans. Zev, in his smaller tawny-gold and black form, strode over to Ava and, to no greater surprise than hers, licked her face. Faolon’s laughter rang through the town at Ava’s disgusted face, then everyone around them joined in, everyone but Orin.
He had kept his distance from the villagers, including Ava, since they had returned. She finally found him at the ruin of his family’s home, knocking a piece of wood against his boot where he sat. She walked up to him and sat down. He didn’t look up.
“They need hunters for more meat before the winter comes,” she said. “They could probably use you.”
He shrugged.
“Did you ever think the prophecy was wrong?” he blurted out, looking off into the distance.
She bit her lip, then sat down and decided to tell him the truth.
He listened intently, then fell silent before saying, “It was all a lie?”
“I suppose it was.”
His face was growing redder by the second. “That…” he growled, gripping the stick so hard she heard it crack.
She knew he was thinking of not only Sirrush, but his kidnapper, Lorna. “Orin, don’t think about it. It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“Doesn’t matter?” His eyes were searching and switching between anger and acceptance at what she was saying.
She put her hand to his shoulder and his back drooped under her touch. “No, it doesn’t. You’re home again. That’s all that matters.”
“Is it?”
Ava caught his eyes with hers and held them. “Yes.”
He just looked away and let the stick drop from his fingers. She cupped her hands in her lap not sure what else to say as he stared at the burned earth beneath their feet.
“Do you think they would still be alive if the unicorn had found me instead?”
She reached out to touch his arm, then withdrew her hand. “It’s not your fault.”
He shut his eyes and clenched his jaw.
“It’s not your fault your family died, Orin.”
A sob wracked him and he put his hands up to his face, but the tears still found their way through his fingers. She wasn’t sure if he wanted to be left alone or not, but he didn’t protest when she wrapped her arms around him. They sat like that for a long time. The air was growing crisp with late afternoon approaching when he finally took a deep breath and raised his head from her arms, wiping the evidence of his pain away. He stood up, squared his shoulders, and walked a few feet away before turning back to her.
“So, they need more hunters?”
She smiled, rolled her eyes, then nodded.
“Good,” he said, also nodding his head. “That’s good.” He thumbed over his shoulder and looked everywhere but at her. “I’ll go, uh…kill…things, then.”
He cleared his throat and began walking away. She got up and strode after him.
“Orin.”
He suddenly turned, grabbed her up in his arms, and pressed his lips passionately to hers. The old desire to knee him was her first reaction, but then she relaxed and let herself flow away with the feeling. He finally pulled away, still embracing her, and exhaled as if he’d been holding his breath for ages.
“I’ve been wanting to do that for so long,” he said. “But I was afraid you’d kick me into the rubble.”
“No, actually I was thinking of kneeing you.”
He looked concerned for a moment, then they both laughed and he went for another kiss.
“No,” she said, pushing him away but smiling.
“No?”
She shook her head and stepped back. “You’ve gotten me into enough trouble.” She giggled at his incredulous look. “After everything I’ve been through, I just want to, um, get to know me. Know what I mean?”
At her own words, she felt a surge of new-found confidence and pride in herself, and an excitement towards what her future might bring. Orin, however, looked like he’d just seen Antares wearing a tiara.
“I also want you,” she continued, and his expression lifted. “To get to know me now that this is all over. Let’s just be friends…for now. Please understand.” His face fell and she bit her lip. Trying to dispel the awkward silence, she leaned closer and whispered, “You know, I’m not just an awesome sorceress with unicorn magic. I can also do this—”
She put on a comical expression of arrogance, picked up three rocks, and proceeded to try and juggle them until one flew straight at Orin’s face. As he rubbed his nose, he seemed to waver between grinning and frowning.
“Okay,” he said, nodding his head, but not looking okay at all. “All right. On one condition…”
“What?” she asked as he leaned in like he was also going to tell her a secret. “No more throwing rocks or flaming mugs at my face, deal?”
“Deal.” She giggled and smiled, then began to walk back to the village. When she noticed he hadn’t moved, she turned back around. “Aren’t you coming?”
“Yeah.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I’ll catch up.”
“Okay, sure.” She gave him a sheepish grin, waved, and walked on.
Soon as she was out of his sight, Orin reached his hand down the front of his tunic and pulled out the dull golden orb around his neck; the last fragment of the foal’s horn. He yanked and snapped the leather strap off. It glowed with immense power when he held up the shard. His mind wandered back to the day Mira had attacked him here and shown him what that golden stone truly was. Guilt and disgust washed over him and he raised his arm, ready to hurl the fragment far into the forest. But his arm remained still. He closed his eyes and lowered his fist. Night insects were beginning to stir as he stuffed the shard into a pouch on his belt and jogged after Ava. He never felt the ice-blue eyes watching him, nor did he see the flash of silver wings take off from a distant peak.
The sun had nearly sunk behind the mountains when he caught up to Ava. Their laughter and conversation followed their footsteps all the way back to the village. When they arrived amid all the town activity, Lula shot up to them in a golden haze of fury.
“What were you doing?!” she yelled at them, crossing her arms and fuming.
“Lula,” Ava began to say, exasperated, “we weren’t—”
“Not you,” she snapped at her. “Him. He’s supposed to be out hunting. Antares has been waiting all day.”
They all looked over to see Antares swishing his tail.
Lula continued. “Everyone’s already coming back, but he didn’t want to go hunting with anyone else.”
“I—” Orin was staring at the surly looking soleon. “Let me get my things.” He took off to get his hunting gear while Antares followed.
Lula smiled. “Though I’m sure it’s just so that Antares can finally eat him and make it look like an accident.”
“Ha,” said Ava, watching them eventually lope off into the darkening woods. “You’re probably right.”
“Well if he does rip his big-lipped head off there’s always soppy-eyes over there.” Lula pointed at a nearby fence some people were repairing for their livestock. The boot-boy quickly looked away and focused on fitting a beam into a post. Ava could see that he was blushing.
“Nah,” she said. “One big-lipped soppy-eyed boy is more than enough.”
Lula giggled then eeped as a small pack of wo
lves came out of nowhere, charging straight for her, snapping and snarling. Ava jumped aside as Lula zoomed away.
“I told you,” Lula yelled at the pack as they chased her. “You look pretty!”
The pink wolves only barked and growled their disagreement.
Ava went to help her parents make the feast for that night. It was the villager’s celebration of the last day before the snows came and also a celebration for all Ava and her companions had done. It was completely dark when Orin and Antares returned, laden with their kill. There was quite a lot of meat to cure and save for the winter months with Antares’ help.
“Oh look,” said Lula, having ditched the wolves, and now carrying a few frost-berries for a pie. “He’s still alive.”
Orin walked up to the Howling Hall with a bunch of rabbits and other small furry creatures slung over his back. Antares dropped a large pig at the feet of one of the butchers. Orin dropped his gear and catch and went to wash up for the feast, but not before giving Ava an overly dashing smile. She smiled back, then decided she better slip away before anyone noticed. Everyone was busy with some task as she quietly put down the knife she’d been chopping roots with and quickly exited the hall. Hardly anyone was outside as she walked through the village. She could smell the delicious aromas wafting after her, but for the moment, just for a bit, she wanted to be alone. She heard Mia’s fading laughter as Antares, no doubt, was playing hide-go-seek with her again.
The merriment receded behind her as she climbed up the rise away from the town. It was quiet when she came to the edge of the ridge. The last sunset-kisses had closed their petals for the night and she stood among them watching the stars.
The spicy scent of Griffon wood and the crisp sting of distant snow filled her lungs. Leaves rustled, a dusk-a-dee sang its tune, and she imagined the faint rhythmic beat of hooves beneath her. She closed her eyes, and the sound of hoof-beats grew louder until it drowned all other thought from her mind. The wind rushed past her, and she heard powerful breaths as she gripped the mane tightly in her hands. Her dreaming eyes opened to see daylight and green earth flying below. A silver horn flashed before her as Mira tossed her proud head, and Ava let go of the silky black mane. Sunlight warmed her smiling face, and she opened her arms wide as they raced across the hills, free and home at last.
Antares
~ Author Bio ~
Elayne Griffith grew up writing, drawing, climbing trees,
and riding unicorns…er, horses as a young girl.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts,
and many years of job-bouncing, she suddenly
had an epiphany:
life is short, do what you love to do.
She quit her job in the city, moved back to nature,
and many bags of rice and beans later, she has
written her first novel.
She currently lives in the mountains,
happy as a caffeinated squirrel,
while continuing to pursue her
writing and artistic career.
“Follow your passion, for it will be your greatest love.”
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