Disclaimer: I don't own Redwall
Claimer: All the characters in the story are mine ESPECIALLY KAMILA SPIRITFEATHER AND NIGHTSONG (no stealing)
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Kamila SpiritFeather (Part 1)
On the first day of spring in a land not to far away from the famous Mount Bat Pit, a new life sprouted and blessed the earth. A little flying squirrel maiden was born to a newly wed couple who had been waiting to have a child of their own for months. The little squirrel, smaller then most, had fur that was like no other. Most flying squirrels were light brown with soft creamy white stomachs. But the little maiden had her own special colors. Most of her fur was a gentle cream white while her ears, paws, muzzle, the tip of her tail and the front of her body were an ebony black. Her eyes which looked up to her parents with flourishing life were a beautiful gold that sparkled in the glow of the candles hanging on the wall. At the time of birth she didn't have headfur but once she grew a little older, a long wave of golden headfur would grace her slender figure.
The young maiden's parents looked on proudly as their new born daughter stretched out a paw, revealing the thin skin membrane that was attached from her forearm all the way down to her ankle, revealing her species as a flying squirrel. However there was a small deformity in her "wings." Two holes at her sides right through the membrane could be seen but if something covered them, it wouldn't hinder her flying ability at all.
Her father, a strapping young albino carried the little maid over to his wife with joy shinning in his crimson eyes. He was a warrior type creature and served in his town's military. He was a lean, muscular creature though wasn't the wisest of flying squirrels. He often had the habit of making bad decisions and never learning from them. Quietly, he handed his daughter to his wife and smiled.
"What should we call her, Ren?"
Ralenda, commonly called Ren for short, looked up to her husband, white wisps of long golden headfur obscuring her vision. She was a beautiful, petite squirrel with the clearest blue eyes that any beast had seen. Her fur was the typical brown of a flying squirrel with the soft cream belly that was expected. The only thing that was different about her were her forepaws which were a dark ebony. She stroked her daughter's fur and leaned back upon the pillows that had been propped up behind her.
"Well there was one name I was thinking of Harem. Let's give her a name that's completely different from ours. I want her to make her own life… and have a good one at that. Let's call her Kamila Spiritfeather."
Ralenda nuzzled her daughter's small black nose affectionately.
"So her spirit will always sore with the birds and be lifted to the sky even when the worst comes to terms. Kamila…our little Kamila."
Harem smiled fondly at his wife and sat down on the edge of her bed so he could look at little Kamila. The maiden peered up at her parents with her large luminous eyes and gave a soft squeaky yawn before curling down in the folds of her mother's arms.
So began the life of Kamila Spiritfeather.
Kamila was as free to the wind as her mother had hoped when giving her, her name. The young flying squirrel began to grow into a spirited, and exuberant little maid. She was much smaller then most of those in her village though that wouldn't last for long. By the time she was five seasons, she was taller then most of the squirrel's her age. She wasn't interested in the usual arts and crafts that the mother's tried to teach their children. No, she was the type of child that was every father's dream. She was a fighter and there fore wanted to become a warrior like her dad. She followed him and watched as he trained with the military. At nights he'd show her his weapons and teach her what they could do to disarm or even kill a beast. Ralenda however disapproved of him telling their daughter such things which often led to arguments between them.
"She needs to learn about life and death Ren or she won't survive in this world!"
"She's just a child Harem. Let her live the first few years of her life without fear and wondering if a vermin's going to leap out at her from behind every corner. I want her to be alive and spirited not a frightened little squirrel who's afraid to go outside." Ralenda set down the dish she was washing and looked up at her husband quietly as he pounded a paw against the table. He looked at the vase that contained a bouquet of flowers that she and Kamila had picked together that evening. Growling in frustration, Harem snatched one of the flowers and held it out in front of her.
"What happens the first time a vermin comes into our village? Kamila will probably greet him with a flower if we treat her like a babe!" He threw the plant to the ground and began to pace the room. Ralenda scooped the fallen flower in her paws and looked up at her husband.
"I just want to protect her Harem, you know that. Whatever happened to reading her stories at night about the goodness in creatures instead of telling her about the best ways to take their lives?" Harem glanced over his shoulder at his wife and turned with angry tears brimming in his eyes.
"You would say that wouldn't you Ren. You're just a healer, you don't understand what it's like to fight for your life when you're little. You don't know what it's like to watch a creature get killed in front of you. You heal wounds but you never see them inflicted. What good's a healer Ren? Healer's couldn't even save my parents from dying. You just don't understand."
That was how fights usually ended. Harem would turn away from his wife, Ralenda would console him while Kamila sat on the stairs with her eyes focused on her paws. Ever since Harem had started teaching her, her parents had started having fights, though they were only petty words, nothing more. However, Harem's words stuck in her mind about healer's knowing nothing. She had always looked at her mother with respect because she was able to save the lives of so many creatures around her. She didn't under stand what he could mean by healer's being useless. Sadly, she would find out what he meant in the space of only two seasons.
By the time Kamila turned 7, she was a happy maiden who was still learning under her father the best way to fight and kill creatures. However, she had also been spending more time with her mother. Ralenda had taken it upon herself to teach Kamila how to read, write, sew, clean, cook and heal. Unlike her husband she believed Kamila needed to know the basics in life to live a spirited one. Her daughter didn't seem to object either. Although she preferred playing outside in the dirt with her friends, she was faithful to her mother and would always come in for her lessons. However, one evening that started out happily turned into one of the worst tragedy's in Kamila's life.
"Ok Kamila, can you read me what this verse says?" Ralenda held a book in front of her daughter and smiled encouragingly. Kamila tilted her head at the page and began to speak slowly, pronouncing the words evenly without much difficulty.
"Trees and bees, birds and seas,
Golden rays of light
Silver wings, ancient things
What a wondrous sight
Heaven's rays, joyful days
Listen to the thunder
Glowing skies, no goodbyes
Nature in it's wonder."
Ralenda clapped her paws happily as her daughter finished the little rhyme. Gently she gave her a hug and closed the book upon their laps blissfully.
"Wonderful job Kamila! You're learning very w-" Ralenda's voice faded as she was racked by a fit of coughing. Kamila looked up at her mother with a start and frowned. Ralenda had been coughing like that for the past few days, even to the point of spitting out blood. The flying squirrel's body had become smaller and her eyes looked more glazed then usual. Ralenda swallowed down the blood that welled within her throat and spoke softly to the worried maid.
"Well Kamila, it's past your bed time. Would you like me to tuck you in?"
The young maiden furrowed her brow slightly as she watched her mother and slowly nodded her head. She slid off of her chair and started to walk to her room. Ralenda took a deep breath and got to her footpaws. However, the moment she placed her full weight on them, her body gave an involuntary shudder and she collapsed to the ground. Kamila turned around and cried out as she ran to her mother's side.
"Momma! Momma are you alright? Come on, j…I'll get daddy you'll be alright."
Ralenda looked weakly at her daughter and took the young maiden's paw in her own while sweat ran down her face. Her paw shook as it rested upon her daughter's, her large luminous eyes fading away with each stuttering breath.
"No Kamila,…dad…daddy can't help right now….listen to me….I…I want you to take care of your father for me….an..and don't let what's about to happen take away your spirit…please just live like you always have….please Kamila…promise me."
Tears welled in Kamila's eyes as she realized what was going to happen. Her father had always told her about death and how to kill creatures, but he never told her about the suffering that they had to go through. The little squirrel maiden rubbed her cheek against her mother's paw and whispered in a choked voice.
"I..I promise momma." Ralenda touched her daughter's face then let her paw fall away as she lifted a necklace from around her chest. It was made of small jewels beads and feathers which appeared to have been made by a very skilled artisan. She placed it in her daughter's paws and smiled weakly.
"If ever…you need help Kamila…l…look in this book that we were reading…and follow the map in back…t..to Mount Bat Pit….sh…show them the necklace and give them my name." She squeezed her daughter's paw one last time and whispered gently on her final breath. "I love you…my…little…Kamila.Spirit…featherrr…"
Kamila wept bitterly as her mother finally passed away into the dark forest from a sickness that their healers are still baffled over.
The following evening, on a cool spring night, Ralenda was laid to rest beneath a large oak tree. Kamila stood beside her father, tears running down her eyes as she listened to other beasts speak about her mother. She stared at the flower she held in her paws, the same flowers she and her mother use to pick daily for their table. The same kind of flower her father had thrown to the ground, claiming that healers were worthless. Quietly she stepped forward and dropped the flower into her mother's grave then walked back to her father's side.
Harem stood beside several of the other military beasts as he stared at the grave with saddened eyes. Another female flying squirrel who served under his unit took his paw and tried to consol him. Harem allowed her to comfort him while he kept his eyes on his daughter. What would he do now? Kamila was still young and even he had to admit he wasn't father material. He hadn't taught his daughter anything except how to kill beasts. What would he do with her now that he had to take care of her, feed her, teach her…and love her more then he had while Ralenda was alive? He didn't even know how to read.
The flying squirrel maid at his side stroked his arm and looked at him with soft, sad eyes which moved over to Kamila.
"The poor little thing…without a mother. It must be hard realizing you have to raise her all on your own." Kamila's ears pricked as she heard the squirrel speak. Though the squirrel's words were filled with sympathy, something about them sent a chill down the young maiden's spine. She kept her eyes diverted through the rest of the conversation and whispered softly as if speaking to her mother.
"I'll remember what you told me momma…I'll live my life like you wanted me to…I'll take care of daddy and do my best to stay a good daughter." After those words, she turned around and followed her father…and the new squirrel maiden back to their home. Kamila stared at the black and brown squirrel's back as they walked and felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. She didn't like this maiden, not in the least bit. The squirrel glanced over her shoulder at Kamila and smiled at the young one with dark brown eyes. Kamila looked away, she couldn't stare at them. They made her feel as empty as losing her mother all over again.
Half a season after Ralenda's death, Harem was once again wed…to the squirrel that had comforted him at his wife's funeral. He had become so desperate for a companion that was willing to be his wife and take care of his daughter that he instantly turned his affections over to the flying squirrel maiden. Harem was happy while Kamila lost all hope for a joyful life.
Satana, as the other squirrel was named, looked to be a sweet little maiden on the outside. She was as tall as Harem with fur that was darker then Kamila's mothers. She also had black markings that covered her face. Her eyes were a dark brown and she always kept her claws the color of blood red. Where her mother's front fur had been creamy white, this squirrel's fur was ebony black. She was kind and sweet to Harem but with Kamila, that was a different story. The moment Harem had told his daughter that he was getting married again, Kamila walked out of the room and refused to speak with his soon to be wife. Satana had always acted kind to her…but something about the tone of voice she used and the look in her eyes always scared the young flying squirrel. She had reason to be scared to for after Satana and Harem were wed, Satana revealed her true self to Kamila.
Kamila sat quietly at the table looking over the book she and Ralenda had been reading the night she died. She was just about to turn the page when Satana came thumping into the room. The young flying squirrel glanced up at her step mother as she came to her side. With a quiet snarl, Satana snatched the book away and threw it across the room before placing her paws on the table in front of Kamila so she could see the blood red claws.
"Now you listen to me you little whelp. I make the decisions around here. If I tell you to do something, then you do it. If I tell you to clean something, you do it. If I tell you cook, you do it. I know that pitiful mother of yours taught you how to do that. I don't want to see you reading, I don't want to see you writing, you will do all that I say. And if you don't"
Her long claws raked out and grabbed Kamila's wrist. The young maid pulled back with a start but stopped the moment the sharp nails began to dig into her skin. She gave off a quiet squeak of pain and looked up at Satana as the squirrel pulled her closer.
"And if you ever say a peep about this to your father….I'll deny it and make your life hell. I don't need a little brat running around ruining my relationship. Do you understand?"
Kamila looked up with tears in her eyes as the nails dug deeper into her skin, enough to draw blood. The little squirrel nodded and bowed her head slightly in submission. Smiling, Satana pulled her paw away and walked over to the sink as she growled at the maiden.
"Until your father comes home, you're mine so I suggest you do everything that I say if you don't want me to hurt you more then that. No go to your room and stay there, I don't even want to look at your pitiful face right now."
Kamila hopped down from her chair and ran to where her mother's book lay. Pressing it to her chest, the little maiden dashed into her room and flung herself onto the bed as she broke down in tears.
Days, weeks and months passed under Satana's cruel treatment. Kamila came to dread waking up in the morning to face the elder squirrel's wrath. Her father left at 9 in the morning and didn't get back till 6 at night leaving Kamila in the clutches of her step mother for nine hours. Her friends began to worry about all the bruises that were being inflicted upon her body. Of course she could hardly see her friends since her step mother kept her locked away under her watchful eyes. Whenever Harem asked about the bruises, Satana would always reply the same way.
"Oh she was being careless playing outside and bumped her head against a tree" or "She was helping me carry some books and gave herself a deep paper cut."
Kamila, the whole while would merely sit and nod at her step mother's lies while she rubbed a paw across one of the new bruises that she was given. She had become so accustom to the beatings that she didn't even whimper when she was struck which only made Satana angrier. One of the worst nights of her life happened just before she decided to leave. She was sitting in her room, curled up in the corner behind her bed and reading her mother's book so she could avoid Satana. The elder squirrel had called to her several times to come and help her, but Kamila had had enough. Her paws ached from carrying heavy things around all day, her "wings" were burning from a hot broth that Satana had thrown at her and her eye was swollen shut from a strike across the face. She had stayed strong because she didn't want to leave her father alone with this witch, but her spirit was beginning to fade.
She read the last poem in the book and was turning the page when Satana crashed through her door and saw her curled up on the floor…with a book. Growling angrily, she moved over to the squirrel's side and snatched the book from Kamila's paws.
"I told you you were not to read!!" She screeched and threw the book at the door. Kamila got up from the ground and moved to fetch it but Satana grabbed a fist full of the younger maid's headfur and yanked her back so hard she struck her back against the wall. Kamila hissed in pain and looked up with tear filled eyes as a paw crashed across her soft, gentle face. The squirrel's legs buckled beneath her and she fell to the ground once Satana released her headfur. Through blurred vision she saw the squirrel pluck the book from the ground and head towards the fire place in the other room.
Painfully, she got to her footpaws and ran out just in time to see Satana begin to kindle the fire. Kamila's eyes widened and she ran forward to take the book back but was met by another fierce strike to the face. She fell to her back and watch the book being lifted up as Satana prepared to throw it into the hungry flames.
Something snapped within Kamila, she couldn't take it any more. Not only was this squirrel beating her and lying to her father but she was about to destroy one of the only things that her mother had left her with. She still had the necklace but the book…it was the only thing that could help her escape from her hell of a life. Growling, she pushed herself from the ground and spread her "wings." Neither of her parents had taught her to fly yet but she had the instincts of her species within her. She leapt onto the table and then launched at her step mother. Her "wings" spread and she snatched the book out of the air, landing in a tumble on the ground. Satana screeched in anger and jumped at her at the same time that Kamila turned to face her.
With hate brimming in the young squirrel's eyes, she waited until Satana tried to hit her before swinging her claws at her step mother's exposed arm. Her long nails bit deep into Satana's flesh and drew three long bloody lines. The squirrel stumbled backward with a screech, Kamila running after her. It just so happened however that as Kamila was about to give the squirrel another blow, her father walked through the door.
Seeing his wife backing towards the wall with blood streaming down her arm and his daughter running towards her with claws raised, he did the only thing that came to mind. He ran into the room and swiped a paw out at Kamila.
Kamila never saw the blow coming. One moment she was running at Satana the next she was flying backwards, tumbling head over heels right into the corner of the wall. She fell to her stomach, rubbing a paw across her lip where blood was beginning to drip. She watched Harem as he stared in shock of what he had done. But instead of going to see if his daughter was alright, he moved over to Satana to consol her tears. The maiden wept and wrapped herself in his arms as she whispered.
"I…I don't know why she attacked me. I…I was just starting the fire when suddenly she leapt and hit me…I've always been nice to her…I've never done anything to harm her…" Kamila's eyes hardened and she slowly climbed to her paws. Blood dripped from her lip, bruises lined her body and her golden eyes stared at her step mother in hate. She looked to her father, waiting for him to defend her…to see the swollen eye and apologize for striking her, promising that he'd send Satana away. But her hopes were fleeting. Harem looked at his daughter, narrowed his eyes and spoke harshly to her.
"How could you do this to your mother? She's the best thing that's come into our lives since Ralenda died. I hope that cut on your lip will teach you to give her more respect then that."
Kamila's eyes watered, her teeth clenched and her paws shook with anger. Her father was casting her aside for a liar. He had struck her and he had not apologized. He had never laid a paw on her before…not until Satana came to their home. Crying out for the first time since she was first struck, she grabbed her mother's book from the ground and pointed at Satana.
"Fine! Take her side, I don't care any more! Momma wanted me to stay and watch over you. Momma wanted me to be loyal to you! Momma wanted me to stay a spirited little squirrel! I can't do it anymore! She's lying to you! She's been beating me this whole time! Every cut every bruise is from her! I only hit her because she tried to throw momma's book into the fire!"
"Oh how can she say such things about me. Harem you know I love her with all my heart!" Satana wept. Harem looked down to his wife and instead of pushing her away, he continued to stroke her headfur gently. Kamila stared at him and ran from the room. She had had it. She couldn't be there for her father any more, he wasn't ever there for her! Once she was in her room, she threw the book to her bed and threw one of the daggers he had given her to the ground. She threw several more things across the room until she saw the page her mother's book had been turned to. She walked slowly to it and saw a map had been drawn in the back. Her eye's widened in surprise and she began to trace her paw over it as her mother's words came back to her.
"If ever…you need help Kamila…l…look in this book that we were reading…and follow the map in back…t..to Mount Bat Pit….sh…show them the necklace and give them my name."
Kamila glanced at the door to her room and nodded her head. She had to leave. There was nothing left in this village for her, no reason for her to live. Quietly she bundled some of her clothes and books inside a blanket, tied her mother's very long scarf around her neck and wrote a note for her father to read. It wasn't filled with the hate she felt in her heart. Instead, it was sad and told him exactly how she felt:
Dear Papa,
I'll be leaving since it seems I can no longer find a place in this family. Ever since Momma died and I saw you with Satana…I was afraid. I didn't want her to be my mom because she scared me. I never told you because I never thought you would try to make her my mom. Once she came…she started to hurt me. She told me that if I ever told you, she'd hurt me more and she'd deny it. I swear to you papa…she's the reason why I've been getting bruises and cuts on my body. I only hurt her once because I couldn't let her throw momma's book away. I won't tell you where I'm going…but I will tell you that I'm never coming back here. I still love you papa but…I feel betrayed because of you…I can still call you papa but…I can't feel it in my heart any longer. I'm going to live with the breeze and birds like momma wanted me to and try to find myself…I love you papa…please… some how see the truth in Satana. See through her lies and get away from her while…while there's time.
Signed, Kamila Spiritfeather
Daughter of Ralenda and the sky
Kamila rubbed a paw across her eyes as tears dripped onto the letter. She folded it twice then pinned it to the back of her door with the dagger he had given her. She went to the window and opened it to leap out…hoping that her father would read the letter and understand her. However, as she walked away from her home, she forgotten one important thing. Her father couldn't read.
