Disclaimer: All characters and generally the plot is from Tamora Pierce's books.
Story: Wolfcry: First Adventuress
Prologue: Weiryn of the Hunt
Weiryn ran a hand through his wiry hair, frustrated beyond what he normally was. In a glint of his eye, he decided to talk to someone, but whom? Weiryn snapped his fingers impatiently.
"Badger! Oh, Badger!" he cried, his eyes blazing with a type of passion only one type of man had – a man in love.
In an instant, the Badger God appeared in a light billow of silvery mist. He looked disgruntled, annoyed and truly bored. But Weiryn didn't bother noticing that, as he started to pace impatiently to and fro.
"Stop it, will you? You're making me dizzy!" grunted the Badger, covering his eyes with a claw.
Weiryn glared at him, but stopped pacing anyway. Finally, he led the Badger to his little cottage in the Divine Realms. Weiryn was silent, but he drummed his hands and jumped around so much that the Badger had to threaten to leave unless he stopped the unnecessary jitters. Weiryn reminded him of the obligation he had for him, and the Badger growled so ferociously that in the end Weiryn stopped jumping around. At least not that much.
"Badger, look inside there. What do you see?" asked Weiryn excitedly.
It was the Crystal of Arwyn, though it wasn't really a crystal at all but a globe of water suspended in midair on a pedestal. It sparkled brilliantly, catching every colour of the rainbow and spreading it in fans of glorious light and within it was a scene, clearly depicting a girl.
The Badger finally understood Weiryn's jitters and impatience. "You're in love?" he finally managed to say, an amused expression dancing in his dark, handsome eyes.
Weiryn scowled anxiously, and covered his face with his big hands. Groaning loudly, as if he was in pain, he half heartedly tried to whack the Badger with a heavy hand. The Badger immediately vanished, then reappeared on the dining table.
"She's beautiful…and so kind hearted…" Weiryn muttered wonderingly, his eyes glazed and unseeing – except for the Crystal and its contents.
"It's about time you fell in love, anyway," said the Badger softly, "When was the last time?"
Weiryn scrunched up his handsome face in thinking, then looked confused, until comprehension finally dawned on his face. It was like watching a light suddenly go on in his mind.
"I never loved someone!" he exclaimed, to the great bewilderment of the Badger. "And is it not Beltane?"
The Badger nodded slowly, and tilted his head in confusion. "So why did you make me come here?"
Weiryn took a deep breath, and shivered. He was treading dangerous waters now – there was unnecessary panic caused if he went to the Mortal Realms without a good incentive.
"Should I go see her?" he asked the Badger, his eyes full of yearning.
"Go," the Badger said with wisdom, "Go and try your luck. I will be with you."
Another boring, boring day…what a great pleasure. Why couldn't it have been at least mildly interesting? Snowsdale was so tiring these days… and the weather was so disagreeable! Wasn't it Beltane? Sarra Beneksri looked down at her sewing basket, and slowly threaded the disagreeable silk thread through the embroidery. I really should do more than this these days…maybe a walk will do me some more good…
Her lips were pursed in concentration, but they slightly crinkled up on the edges as she thought with amusement. A walk? Can she even afford that? Her hands looked raw, but she knew she couldn't afford it…anyway, who was she to meet? She sighed to herself but practically felt her will completely give way.
Sarra looked at her embroidery, and murmuring a soft word of command it folded itself and drifted to the embroidery corner. One part done…now the next step. Timidly walking out of the room, Sarra prayed to Mithros for luck in trying to sneak out of the house without her mother finding out.
"Sarra?" a soft, slurred voice called to her and she froze immediately as she felt her insides squeeze in painfully. Suddenly she was acute to everything – the looseness of her dress, her mussed up hair and even the slightly itchy and pinching feeling of the back of her dress brushing against her neck. No matter how hard she tried, her mother always found out. When would she be freed of the old Demon?
"Sarra, what are you doing?" Sarra looked at her mother, who was standing with a slightly amused look behind her.
When will she ever get it right? Ugh, why couldn't her Gift be more powerful than the healing power she had? Her hunted look didn't help as Sarra slowly turned around to meet the "old Demon."
"Ah…I thought I could have a walk…" Sarra replied with her fingers tangled behind her.
"Are you meeting someone?" a very suspicious but entertained look alighted on the gray blue eyes as Benek looked at her.
Sarra looked horrified. A boyfriend? How could she? Anyway, most boys thought her dishonorable, too much of a puzzle and too weird. She was never a hit among boys. There was her damn last name, naming her the daughter of a whore! Her mother was far away from that, but what did the boys know about her mother? Then there was her Gift, making her all the more different! Sarra was never ever called pretty or even cute! However, she had a prettier face than most girls, and she had a fire of a personality! How could most people just ignore her?
Benek looked at the indignation in her daughter's eyes and saw that she had gone too far. Here we go again! Benek thought apprehensively.
"Meeting someone, mother? Sure! Oh, all the boys are falling head over heels over me! I never thought I was so popular!" Sarra said, her eyes blazing with sarcasm.
"Well, I didn't know that. And don't get pert, young lady!" Benek looked at her daughter in amazement. Her mouth tightened, marring her gentle look, but it made her look all the more commanding yet elegant.
Sarra felt utterly gleeful. Ah, it was funny pushing her mother sometimes! Just her reaction was enough to make her collapse inwardly into hysterical laughter.
She laughed inwardly now and the mirth must have shown on her fair features. Benek looked at her in even more confusion. Why was Sarra acting like that? Like as if she knew something she didn't? Nah, couldn't be. She was still a child! Sarra was only 16! However, Benek softened her now harsh features and sighed impatiently. What could she do? Sarra was sometimes so stubborn…Benek did not want her daughter to suffer like she did, but how could she deny her life in full? Anyway, it was Beltane…she could afford to give Sarra a break, obviously!
"Oh, Sarra! You confuse an old mother so! Yet I see you want freedom…(she thought) But you deserve a break. Just don't get caught up!" Benek looked at Sarra with a type of pride, but it disappeared before Sarra looked up disbelievingly.
Sarra looked at Benek with a type of admiration. Why? It must have taken a lot of self control to allow her that type of liberty.
"Mother, have I ever been caught up? Oh, don't dishonour me! I don't just get caught up. I am always caught up!" Sarra flashed a quick, grateful grin.
Benek started to feel regretful. Her daughter was still so young! Sarra with her smoky blue eyes and her blonde locks – she was a picture of spirit. It was just that she was spirit that concerned her. She never really could control her sharp tongue.
"Well, you know your curfews. Be back before them! And say hello for me to your male friend!" Benek teased Sarra with motherly ease, and waved at her as she rushed to get her cloak.
Sarra glanced at her mother, but was glad enough to be able to go outside to not comment at all. She jutted out her chin stubbornly, but aside from that she had done nothing at all. Benek looked at her daughter with her bright gray eyes and thought whether she should feel sorry. She definitely didn't know what she was getting into.
A smile lingered around Sarra's lips and she prodded it, thinking why she had started to smile after nearly a week of complete boredom. Her eyes were dazzled at the sun as she stepped outside. Shivering involuntarily because of the slight bite in the air, she sighed at the freedom she felt. The season of love…it was undeniably different, but not romantic. After all, what did she know about love? Sarra sighed again, but for a completely unlike reason as she thought bitterly at her repellent reputation as an illegitimate daughter.
She needn't fall in love, though! She was independent, a rule upon herself! Sarra did not need another person to give her soul, her love to! All she heard about love was the romance, the happy times! She was no expert in love. And she never was, so why would she suddenly start?
Life was cruel, but what could you make of that? It never would be particularly smooth, not even for those monarchs she would hear about! She knew she never would want to be tied down to another person for her life.
She wrapped her cloak even closer to her body as a chilled wind whisked around the woods she was walking through. Suddenly, she shivered as she thought she detected a faint trace of magic on that wind. What was it? Could it possibly be anything important? Sarra shrugged, a picture of ignorance, as she thought that nothing could do with her.
Why would it, anyway? That type of magic she had never encountered before, so it could have been something to do with the gods. Sarra never was important, so why would the gods care about a fatherless child? She already knew her answer.
Sarra looked at the woods with love. This was her real home. The wild, ever changing place of nature. Ever since she was a young girl she had liked the woods with their plants and animals. And she had learnt from her mother that they were great places to find healing herbs to practice her magical healing. If only they weren't so damn damp! She thought to herself. Life was never the same in the woods, she knew that.
The winds were sultry, and would have induced anyone to sleep. It was alluring, as if it was a single song in its own self. The wind tinged with magic had disappeared, so nothing was there to disturb Sarra as she fell to the charms of the wind and wood as the midday sun beat down softly on the green leaves and moss.
"Maybe a rest is what I need." said Sarra aloud to herself as she continually yawned.
Looking around, she saw the emerald green of the woods flashing radiantly in the bath of gold light. Never had she saw the wood so beautiful with its own splendour that her eyes were momentarily blinded by it. She sighed in awe, and then closed her eyes against it.
Finally deciding to lie on a soft grass bed, Sarra looked at the azure sky and drifted off to sleep, so she was not there to see a badger peak out of the trees as if it was protecting her and see a shadow come to rest next to her and gently touch a tress of her brilliant blonde hair.
She was stuck. Unable to move, unable to talk. She looked at what she held – her stitching. Everything was as monotonous as it was at home. What was this place? What was its purpose? Was this what she was destined to do forever? Sarra felt distraught and found she couldn't breathe. Mustering up her last bits of breath, she opened her mouth to scream.
Suddenly, she wasn't where she was before. Everything was dazzlingly bright and it seemed to glow with a type of silver aura. Everything was covered with it. The leaves were a radiant green so bright that it seemed unnatural. Everything seemed…unreal, like as if from a fantasy picture.
Swans flew in the sky, deer shyly bounded between the trees. It was completely surreal. Then how come she felt almost like she knew this place? Rabbits hopped from burrow to burrow, but they also seemed to be talking to each other! Just a pity I don't understand them, thought Sarra with a touch of amusement. And everything looked crisp and fresh. It must be a dream! Yet it seemed so real and wonderful she didn't want it to stop. Where was this? Was this an ultimate realm?
Utter understanding followed as she noticed that this was no dream. She had somehow been transported to the Divine Realms! Yet why did she feel oddly detached – like as if she had left something behind? What was it? She looked for her fingers. Somehow, it felt like an eternity as she looked to find her fingers and saw a rosy blaze.
Terror started to grip Sarra as she looked at herself and noticed she was nothing – just a haze of rose coloured fire! What had happened? Then the answer struck her. She was in the Divine Realms in only essence. She was not really there…
"Badger." the shadow said softly, as if to not disturb Sarra.
The Badger God looked at the sleeping girl and grunted in reply.
"She is a beauty." said the Badger approvingly; eyeing the girl but then looked at the shadow closely. "You don't intend to make her your mistress, do you?"
Weiryn laughed without humour as he looked at the Badger. His laugh filled the air with the sound of wolves howling and leaves rustling.
"Oh, no," Weiryn replied. "She is to come with me to the Divine Realms."
Gods never were good at keeping promises or keeping their word. And the Badger knew those times, and grew decidedly concerned as Weiryn said his last statement with as much conviction as he could muster. Did he really think this girl would give up nearly everything to come with him? He must have been dreaming. And even if he did think about that, did he really think Sarra would love him?
Sensing the Badger's discontent, Weiryn looked at him reassuringly.
"I know what I am doing, Badger. You needn't worry!"
"I just wonder whether I should worry by agreeing to help you." grumbled the Badger.
This time Weiryn grinned, showing her pearly white teeth. "Oh, you needn't worry. I've got everything under control, if that is any consolation."
"That's the entire problem."
Weiryn was sure of himself. Maybe he was overconfident, but he felt sure this was it. Sarra was everything Weiryn had ever wanted – beautiful to a certain extent, strong willed, intelligent and polite. Why would a god want less? It was infamous everywhere for a god to be very picky in their choices of their chosen. And who was more famed than the Goddess in that category? However, it was also known for lesser gods to be very choosy in that sense was well. And that included Weiryn, with his very high expectations for mere humans.
Twilight was fast approaching, yet Sarra was still asleep on her bed of grass. Weiryn looked proudly at his prize, and resisted the urge to kiss Sarra on her plump red lips. For a god, he wasn't vain, but he quickly changed himself to a suntanned youth of around 18 years of age on appearance with a handsome figure and face. White magic flowed around him as he worked on his appearance while the Badger looked at him with amusement.
"You really have fallen for her, haven't you?" he said, his dark eyes dancing in humour.
In an annoyed glance he dared Badger to talk again. Taking the hint, the Badger shut up, but not without casting an infuriating look of understanding at Weiryn. Fuming at the Badger's look, Weiryn gave a withering glance, but said nothing to retort. It was no use arguing with the Badger sometimes.
The dusk wind stirred and winded itself in and out of the woods, causing Sarra to shiver. A sudden look of tenderness momentarily crossed his face as he placed a fur coat over her thin body with the Badger watching in curiosity. Not being able to resist any longer, Weiryn bent down towards her and lightly brushed his lips with hers. He felt tingly as he touched her, well aware of how close he had become. A god's heat rushed through him, making him yield to the passion he felt.
How silly was he? He was no mortal! He was a god! Then why had he been suddenly conquered in the heart, taken over by this mere girl? Yet lust seemed to flow inside him, and he wanted to kiss her again and again, but Weiryn refused himself, mentally telling himself to quit it.
Then Sarra began to stir, her eyes fluttering open, her mouth suddenly gasping. She looked at Weiryn and the Badger next to her and screamed her lungs out.
So? You like it? The second chapter is already up, please R&R!