Hunter or Hunted??

Home Sweet Home

The sight of home was so intoxicating. I could smell food and herbs the closer we got and I could hear the girls loudly announcing that the boys were going to be in so much trouble when Ma got home. It sounded like someone was in a fight and I was guessing that it was Cloud and Teddy by the sound of things. This wasn't new because Teddy knew his family even though he wasn't willing to go live with them and rarely visited them, which was understandablewith his situation. Cloud would be pouting about wishing he knew where his mom had gone and Teddy would tell him there was no point because all their parents were worthless and abandoned them. This statement wasn't true for Cloud so it would set him off every time and Teddy knew it would but he'd say it anyways. Clouds mother and father were in the last war and had been captured while Mama was watching over Cloud and a few other young children, we never found out what happened to them and Mama wouldn't reveal those type of things because she said her interference in some situations would change the future. She truly loved us all and it showed with every move through life that she made. Even if she wouldn't tell us what was coming next she was always prepared for what we would need during and for the aftermath. She was amazing and if anything made me feel better about all of our lives in general was the fact that we all had Amora.

Our home was on the edge of the clan, right next to the forest and we had a path made of colorful rocks leading through our garden to the forest from the front door and another path leading toward the castle from the back of the house. My favorite part of the yard would have to be the huge Willow tree with the big swing hanging from it. I would climb it for hours and even fall asleep in it when I was younger. Amora would come looking for me knowing exactly where I was but then I got old enough to wonder a bit further and fell in love with the vast forest beyond our territory. As we got closer the chipmunks, moths and fairies started coming out to greet us with small collections of honey and pointing out the baskets along the path with freshly harvested herbs, vegetables, berries, roots, flowers and fruit. Amora had built little houses for them in her garden many years before we came along and they had a perfect system built for them to live with no worry of being invaded and for Mama to have what she needed out of the garden when she needed it plus little helpers to care for the garden also. I loved the way the moon flowers glowed as the sun started going down and the moon started to rise. Our home itself has moss green shutters and is brown like the bark of a tree, there were flowers and other vine type plants that climbed up the house and all over wire tunnels that created a mock type bush look all the way around the house other than the doors. From the outside the house looked to be a small cottage with only a main floor and a small window in the rafters that could pass as an attic if a ceiling was put between the areas. In reality, there was much more to our home than what could be see from the outside or even seen by just walking in the front door.

When we walked in the door the girls were sitting at the table and there were already enough spots to eat set up for everyone plus our guest. This wasn't much of a surprise to me since I was sure that Mama already knew how today would play out or a few possibilities anyways depending on the choices Violet and I made or didn't make. The main table looked pretty nice and I was looking for the mess the rest of the boys had made, none of them were in sight other than Jack who was sprawled out beside the fireplace reading a book and drinking what looked to be herbal tea. Seemed pretty suspicious with all the commotion we had just heard as we came out of the forest. Mama went and checked all the food before setting it out on the tables. I was glad my appetite had kicked in because as everything was set out I could smell the sweet aroma of her homemade spaghetti sauce and garlic bread. Which meant that Jack was drinking Chai probably with a bit more cinnamon and cardamom added and some fresh creme. I went to fetch some mugs and get everyone some Chai since we had a guest everyone would be acting a bit more polite and helpful until she got use to the way things ran around here. Once I was done, I found a cushion to get comfortable on near the fireplace as I sipped my tea and nibbled at a garlic bread as we waited for everyone else to present themselves and get settled.

As if they could sense the impatients, Teddy peaked his head through the doorway off to the back of the house and was soon followed by Zero, then Cloud. They all looked as if they had went and straightened themselves up, maybe even changed their shirts. A smirk cracked over my face as I realized this was about Violet, I wasn't sure why but I would find out I'm sure. Mama was very humored also... as they walked passed her to get seated she commented.

"What's that smell? Since when did any of you boys smell like roses?" she had a giggle to her voice, "everyone dig in, it isn't going to serve itself!"

As we ate, everyone wanted to hear about what happened. They told me that they knew there would be an amazing story when we arrived since Mama had hurried to get food prepped and than after telling them what she needed done rushing off only saying that Shane and Violet would need her help. We filled them in on everything and from there brainstormed what we could consider doing next. The only thing we all agreed on was that Violet and I needed some rest and a nice warm baths filled with healing essentials. No argument was given from either one of us and as I wondered off to accomplish exactly that I could hear the girls gabbing with Violet about where she would be sleeping and leading her to the girls soak room.