The Hunter and the Rogue Workers Union

Chapter 9

Pretty Lady and The Lake

That night Sally found herself on the edge of a giant hole. There was a storm raging all around her with a cold wind punishing the trees. Nature herself must have been scared by this display of power, but what was the source? Sally could feel her fear as nature pushed back against this unnatural force. But Sally neither felt the rain nor the cold. A flash of lighting revealed a large rock church almost filling the hole below. A pair of dark eyes looking up from the steps of the church locked eyes with her. A tiny hand softly touched her arm, causing a smile to slowly cross her stone face. “Soon” vibrated through the chaos, causing a smile to grow as an ancient song started to make it to her ears, “Home, child.”

“Mommy, I need you.” She thought she heard before opening her eyes, seeing the saddest teary ovals ever staring back at her. “Please, wake up. They are gone.” Said the child as her tiny tears grew huge before running down her face. “Daddy and mommy are gone. Starlit said before getting into bed with Sally and crying in her arms. Sally wrapped the child up tight in a hug, worried about the tiny child.

Russell was standing at Sally’s bedroom door with a long face staring at the ground. “We went to get her some more clothes from her house, but everything was gone except her clothes. Not like there was much in there to begin with, but what little they did have was taken with them in the middle of the night. A sick feeling filled her soul as Sally fought to keep her stomach in check. She took the child into the living room and rocked for over 2 hours before the angel fell asleep in her arms. Russell paced the room while Sally just stared forward, not making a sound. He tried to take the child from her arms, but she would not let go of her. He spoke to her, but Sally would not respond to his voice. Without a word, Russell shot out of the cottage and towards the packhouse as fast as his human form would allow him. He shifted half way to the packhouse, which caused quite a stir in the pack, but he did not care. It was noticed enough that the Luna and Alpha met him on the steps of the pack house. He shifted back fully clothed. He may not shift often but his mother made sure he had a wolf pendent at a young age to keep her child from showing off his private bits to the world.

“Luna, it is Sally! That jerk face rogue and his tramp took off in the middle of the night. Starlit cried herself to sleep and I can’t get Sally to respond to me.” The Alpha looked confused as his Luna started back into the pack house to grab a few things.

“How is that harming her?” He asked, causing his mate to turn and just shake her head at him.

“Oh, Siman, you really don’t pay any mind to anyone but me, do you? They are mates, my love.” Said Luna Bethari.

“Who is,” Alpha Siman Sliver asked?

“The Rogue Alpha and Sally. She is going into shock my dear.” Bethari turned to Russell, “Do not worry. This should be just a mild case. I mean they have just met and as long as they have not progressed very far, which I would think not since he was able to leave her so easily, then she should recover very quickly.” Russell still looked worried and the Alpha looked surprised at this sudden news. He really did not pay anyone any mind except his love. The Luna, on the other hand, noticed everything.

“I will mind link the Doctor. Can’t be too careful in cases like this.” The Alpha muttered under his breath as he waited for this mate to return with a few supplies.

As the Luna walked past them, she spoke very quickly to Russell. “Is either of her parents still alive?”

“Her mother lives on the Rocky coast across the ocean. Being human, it was decided to keep her as far from the war as possible. Her Aunt is also one of the 120, but she is always on some secret mission. Her step-father is currently in the nearby human village. I am not sure why he is here, but it must be important. He is an odd man, but I guess he is no different than most hunters. I would not call him. He distrusts anything that is not a hundred percent human. The strange thing is that he also seems to distrust other hunters. Sally, says he has his reasons, though she is not completely sure why. Like I said, he is odd. Anyway, my mother May, is her emergency contact. Do I need to get her down here?”

“Not yet, let me take a look at her. She may just have a light case.”

Soon enough, they are back at the cottage. The Luna was trying to get the child from Sally’s arms, but Sally would not let go. Both the Luna and the Healer kept making odd sounds as they looked at both Sally and Starlit. “How far out is your mom?” She asked.

“Maybe five hours, if she drives”. He replies. She made a few more sounds before stepping back and pulling out her phone.

“I have someone that can help with this problem. We need his help anyway, so two birds one stone. Text me your mom’s phone number and address now.” Said Luna Bethari as she pulled out her phone from her back pocket and left the cottage to make her calls. First, she called May and after a five-minute conversation in which the Luna somehow managed not to ask any questions about the Ghost of the Mountain despite her deep need too, they switched to a three-way call planning out travel logistics. She walked back into the cottage after about ten minutes with deep lines carved in her face. “They should be here in about thirty minutes. Nanook is allowing us to use the doors to the dead city. My Beta is meeting them at the closest door to us, of course.”

“Mother has been to the Dead City a few times. I have only seen pictures of it. But I don’t understand why they call it a dead city.” The older Luna smiled at him.

“There are 4 magical cities of knowledge. Three are well known and each the capital of its own kingdom, Murias, Falias and Gorias, but the last was thought to be lost to time. As it slept underground and without magical beings, it lost its reason for existing, so it simply chose not to, until life came again, magical life. Enough magic to cause the city to live once again. Findias is now a white-washed city with children and adults always painting its walls with great pieces of artwork. There is an underground waterfall like none other I have ever seen. And it has hallways just outside the border of the city that are full of doors that lead all over the world. They are portals, of course, but since portal magic is so rare, it makes this city the fastest way to travel anywhere in the world. But not everyone can enter the city. There are guardians that protect the city and if someone does not follow their rules, then they are driven from the city or worse. May told me she had been in the city before, back during the war. It was a base and a supply center for the Freeland army. We were invited to the city after the war for an award ceremony. Well, twice, Alpha and I both received metals of bravery. Most of the Lunas who managed to protect and keep their packs together while under the rule of the Three Queens received one. Alpha Siman’s metal came because of his bravery during battle. My love took on a Mega troll, protecting a group of wounded polar shifters.” The Alpha half laughed at his talkative Luna.

“Well, a very large hunter came out of nowhere and helped me finish him off. That was the strongest man I have ever seen. He had to be one of the 120. They had a hatred for the Queen that was beyond impressive, almost to the point of insanity. But noting what the Pale Queen had done to them, I can understand.”

This talk went on for a few more minutes as the Luna and Healer kept checking on Sally but nothing changed. Sally felt as if she was underwater in a place of no light, but she was not alone. Someone was so close to her, and yet she could not touch them. Soon, she was able to put her feet on the bottom of the lake and push her head above water. It was strange because she had not been holding her breath nor had she fought for air. She just walked out of the lake and onto the shore, as if she was just crossing a room. It was sandy and there were several large boulders in clusters all along the shore. On top of a three-foot boulder sat the prettiest woman that Sally had ever seen. The woman had to be of aboriginal decent with medium length dark brown hair and white markings on her forehead. She did not mean to stare at the lady, but Sally simply could not help it. Her presence and beauty were overwhelming. It was an ancient kind of presence she had never felt before.

“It is very lovely here. I like to come here at sunset each night and just watch.” Said the Lady without turning her head away from the lake.

Sally looked around to take in the view. “Yes, it is quite amazing.” She stood there for some time just watching the sunset with the stranger just lost in the moment.

The lady broke the silence once one of mother nature’s most amazing shows was completed for the day. “It is getting late and you have two people in quite a hurry, trying to get to you. No matter how you may feel, please remember it is rarely just about oneself and, no matter the pain, you must prevail. Her world, though as broken as it is, has just been ripped away from her. Hunters protect humans from the dangers of this world, and they are given gifts to aid them with that job. A bond creates the needed connection that insures the safety of their people. There are three types of bonds: shifters to their mates, hunters to their humans, and protectors to their wards. Two of them are for the prosperity and safety of a large group of people. A rejection is an option but few do. The overall outcome is the continuation of the group to the next generation. The third, now, that is a different kind of bond. A choice has to be made by both parties. They are fated to cross each other’s path, but still the choice has always been theirs to make.” In the distance a white fox was running through the trees with such grace, followed by a melanistic one. “You were chosen at birth as a potential protector. At first, it seemed another had been chosen, but things changed. First impressions are rarely the best source material for such an important selection. A choice was made out of your control. Free will comes with a price, I am afraid. It was not supposed to happen in that way. But on that day, you showed your merit in an expected way. A new road was created. This is a correction of sorts. It may not be the most ideal correction, but the end result will be the same. You will see. As a chosen and willing protector, I give you a gift. One that is most needed in order to deal with such a wild child. She is loved whole heartly by me just as you are also loved, but I am not blind to anyone’s behavior.” The lady said with a smile.

“What, I do not understand. I am the weakest of the hunters. My aunt or step-father are a much better choice.”

“Do not be afraid. We chose you when you were a human. Keep your eyes open and your mind sharp. There are those who look to harm you and kill your ward. They succeeded once, almost a second time, but they do not know all of the survivors. A great enemy still lives from the war and their forces are gathering, hoping to place their red queen back on the throne. There is time to prepare yourself and your ward for the great hardship ahead. This time you will be ready. Their victories were losses but they cannot see that, because in their hearts no good dwells. Hunters are more than a pack or protectors of a village.” She said this before suddenly stopping. “They are here. It is time. Do not worry. They will follow. Now, close your eyes. Follow the voices. Your outward strength is much closer to your inward strength this time. Even with all the pain, I know you will choose right.”

The foxes were gone and so was the lady and the lake. Sally was not under water but she was not near the lake either. Voices were calling her name and she could almost see their faces. Could it be May? But no, she was too far away and drowning in work. She hated being taken away from her precious paperwork. There were other voices and someone she did not know. What is going on? “May?” The word finally came out of her mouth as she realized she was lying down. She rubbed her head as she started to take in who was in the room. But her eyes were still very heavy. “Oh, sweet Creator, what did Russell do and why do I have such an awful headache?” May smiled and laughed as Russell started to protest.

“Hay, I have been good for at least a week now.”

“Yes, I will give you a gold sticker out of my purse for good behavior just as soon as my head stops banging. Was I hit in the head by a helicopter, again?” Russell started to laugh. Oh, she is going to be alright.

“Again?” asked the Luna.

“It is a long story but it involved a lollipop, two trolls and a misjudged jump. Now that was the worst headache of my life and the smell. Those were my favorite boots. If I could have raised them from the dead, I would have killed them a second time.”

“Lollipop and trolls,” asked the Alpha?

Another much louder voice boomed, causing her headache to reach new levels. “What are you sniffing around for, young lady?”

“Please sir, sounds are not my friend right now. But it is ok. It is ok. It is ok. Sleeping and it is ok. We are ok.” She started to repeat to herself as her eyes shut.

“Open your eyes, Captain.” She finally was able to open them all the way and her heart almost stopped at what she saw.

“Now, I am sure Russell did not mean to do whatever it was that he did, sir. I have no idea why I am in this bed, but I promise to keep a better eye on him for now on. It will never happen again. Great Silver Councilman Nanook.” Said Sally quickly.

Russell looked defeated, but May smiled at her friend. “Russell did nothing for once. And thank you for handling such a big pain in my butt.” Russell just threw his arms up in the air at what his mother had just said.

“It has been a year. I promise. I have been straight for a year. And I did not know she was a Luna. I got drunk at some bar. I don’t even remember the name of it now and she was there already. Her mate and her had some fight and she decided to get some revenge on her Alpha. All we did was kiss a little, but man did I find out how fast I could run drunk that night and how stupid strong Sally is.”

The Alpha took a step closer to his Luna while she stiffened a laugh. “ Luckily, the Alpha was in such a rage he did not see my left hook. I thought it was going to be a real fight but he was half drunk himself. The biggest problem I had that night was getting Russell out of the back seat of my car and back into his hotel room. He would not come out until I drove back to the union headquarters 235 miles away. Well, he thought he was not coming out. He thought that was a good idea until we drove up to his mom’s house and found her standing in the driveway. I just went to my room and prayed for mercy on his soul, because I knew his mom was not about to show him any.” She started to laugh as she thought about the look on his face when he saw his mother standing in the driveway waiting for him. She was too calm and not at work. “I put some ear plugs in and went to bed. I still do not want to know what went down, but I know he has been a different person ever since then… mostly.” Her laughter started to make her head hurt worse.

“He almost met Jesus that day. I had spent two hours on the phone with one highly upset Alpha. I even had to pull rank and threaten him with my old general but we came to an understanding. I hate pulling rank, but Russell knows that now. Not to worry Alpha, he knows he will meet Jesus if he pulls that again.” Said May, which seemed to calm the Alpha down just a little.

“They are both stronger than they look.” Said Russell, just under his breath.

Silver Councilman Nanook, bent down to look straight into Sally’s eyes. “From the beginning child. What you saw and each word she said.”

“From the beginning?” Said Sally, more a question to herself then to anyone else in the room. The beginning, now that is a question.