Chapter 14.

Strange Pathways

Virginia dozed in the back of the dilapidated truck as it rambled down the highway, leaving the city behind her. She used her small backpack as a pillow now as she cast her mind back over an interesting day.

Evelyn, though certainly not a young woman, had hurried Virginia through a variety of shops as they made their way through several districts in New York. She gathered together a supply of dried herbs from a health food store, a new mortar and pestle (her old one had been broken recently she informed her), some pieces of crytal and odd stones from a new age shop, plus orders were placed for large amounts of sugar, flour and other basics. She came to town rarely, she explained, and so had a long list of items requested by other members of her community. Then she had glanced at her watch, yelping that they were very late, dragging Virginia to a particular corner where a young man was circling the block, waiting for them. Virginia managed to get them to stop at her apartment so she could gather a few necessities. She had no intention of being caught out again with only one set of clothes. She packed quickly and at the last moment scooped up Wolf's favourite red shirt from the floor where he had tossed it. She held it to her nose, fighting the tears fiercely. Be strong now, girl, she told herself. After squeezing into the old truck and nodding determinedly to Evelyn and their driver, Arne, they were leaving the crowds behind, heading northwest out of the city.

Now a few hours later the woman Evelyn looked back over her shoulder to see the young girl sleeping against the window. Poor thing looked worn down, she thought. Too much worry for an expectant mother. Not good at all, but she was confident that the girl would bounce back with a few days of peace and rest. Just a dangle of hope had lifted her already.

Evelyn was accounted wise amongst her people, her clan, and she had spent many years as a young woman learning the secret rituals and histories. She knew much and had seen more, but even she had been stumped for a while there when she had detected the infant's presence and realised it was not fully human. Evelyn probably couldn't have explained how she knew, but she did trust her instincts. The mother was fully human, she had no doubt of that, so who or what had fathered this child? Virginia also had a way of saying the name "Wolf" which hinted to the wise woman that maybe he was exactly that. She wondered how and where they had met. The girl had shown no indications of being particularly gifted in spirit work, which Evelyn knew to be necessary for such interspecies bonds to occur. She hoped the girl would tell when she was ready. Evelyn fought down a surge of excitement. Half human had not been heard of for many many generations. Only the old oral histories spoke of them, albeit in story form. Such folk were revered for their uniqueness and their special perspectives on life. They were blessed people indeed. Indeed, Evelyn would consider herself blessed should she ever get to meet one.

She thought about what might have happened to the couple, what had brought Virginia to her spiritual knees outside the church near the park today. She knew just what the "good brothers" would think of the girl's lover if they had happened upon him. She shuddered, hoping that it was not the case, but inwardly she suspected. She had seen the look Virginia had given the building as they had left. If that were the case, the poor soul could be anywhere by now. Still, they had the best tracker availible, if she could just be persuaded to come down from her remote mountain home.

Virginia was startled awake by the truck leaving the smooth highway and going onto a rough dirt track. It was fully dark, about 10pm by her watch. She yawned, stretching her stiff neck. She had no idea where she was, but was not alarmed in the slightest. As the old truck bounced along, Evelyn smiled at her from the front seat.

"Hola! Have you slept some, Virginia?" she called over the racket.

"Yes, thank you. I must have been more exhausted than I thought" she replied.

"Are you hungry dear? We have about another 2 hours to go, but we can stop if you need to"

"No, I'll be fine. Where exactly are we going, Evelyn?"

"To our community house in the mountains. We have a lodge there and all our clan live nearby to it, scattered through the valleys and hills. We're quite isolated, no phone, no power, but you'll love it! The most peaceful place on earth!" Evelyn was getting more and more excited talking about her home. Virginia couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. She couldn't have described her NY apartment with the same conviction.

Some time later the truck blessedly pulled up in front of a large long building in a clearing. Virginia clambered out, feeling slightly nauseous but just glad to stop bouncing. Evelyn ushered her up the steps and pushed on a large wooden door which gave way into a warm and spacious room. It was a long rectangle room with several unlit fireplaces and partitioned off areas. Virginia felt like she had stepped back in time as she surveyed the handmade furniture, floor coverings and mysterious artwork that trailed up the wooden walls. Given the late hour, there was nobody about. Evelyn showed her to a small alcove with a bed along the wall, bidding her to make herself at home. Drawing a curtain, Virginia changed into a loose t-shirt and leggings to sleep in, before crawling into the soft bed, asleep almost before she closed her eyes.

She awoke some hours later to the sound of children playing outside and adults whispering quietly. She lay still, thinking and trying to come to terms with the past few days. She was still sick with worry about Wolf, but not as panicked as she had been earlier. Virginia ached for him, to have his arms about her as he usually did when she woke, his kisses and caresses, his loving growl that he made only for her. She refused to believe that she would not have those things again. She got up quietly, wondering where the bathroom was. Evelyn saw her leave the alcove and pointed in the right direction, seeing her need.

When she got back, she found that breakfast had been laid out on the enormous longtable that dominated the room. Several other people were present now, all nodding quietly to her, welcoming. Virginia was glad that she hadn't bombarded with a million introductions and questions and supposed that Evelyn might have had something to do with that. She was extremely hungry and loaded her plate several times, the group looking on approvingly.

Afterwards, Evelyn motioned for her to join a small group of mostly older people as they sat before one of the hearths in a circle of comfortable chairs. She was introduced to the elders one by one; Don, Becca, Ivy, Lily and Rain. Somewhat shyly she gave her own name and was welcomed formally to their lodge, which they called "The Den".

"Virginia was placed in my path yesterday as I travelled the city. I have no doubts that she has been called here" stated Evelyn to the others, who nodded in agreement. They trusted her judgement in many things. Plus, the very air around the girl shimmered with power and portents. Evelyn turned expectantly now to Virginia.

"Young woman" she said almost formally, "Will you tell us your story that we may help you and yours?"

Virginia swallowed nervously. She had never told a soul in the 10th Kingdom about her adventures, not even in jest. Would they think her mad? Their faces were kind, open to her. Pushing aside her fears, she began to talk.