Chapter 25.
The Visitors
The people stood silent, stunned, as she led Wolf into camp. She scanned their faces, seeing a mixture of emotions as they stared, unable to take their eyes off Wolf. There was joy in some, curiousity in others, but no hostility, no panic or fear. Rather the overall mood seemed reverential. The people wore their expressions openly. It was as if they were looking upon their own legends and stories made real. Virginia could certainly understand that feeling.
Wolf stood uneasily, seeming to crouch lower and lower under their friendly intensity. He looked for all the world like he was about to bolt. Evelyn, seeing his discomfort, said something quietly to her folk in their own language and straight away they turned back to their tasks and conversations, making their interest more subtle and less threatening. Wolf visibly relaxed but remained huddled at Virginia's feet as though she held an invisible noose around his neck. She hated to see him like this and she looked at Evelyn, who looked just as helpless as Virginia did.
There was a rustle of fabric behind her and Virginia glanced back to see Shaman coming out of her tent, her bright eyes taking in the scene. She strode forward briskly, coming to stand in front of Wolf, who, taking but one look at her booted feet, had suddenly stopped his cowering, sitting up now on his haunches, his eyes fixed on the old woman. Virginia felt herself drawn gently away by Evelyn as Wolf and Shaman stared at each other, as if in recognition. The sun came over the horizon just then and Virginia blinked, shaking her head slightly as an unusual thing happened.
Where once had stood the tiny lady she knew as Shaman, now superimposed was another figure entirely. This woman was tall and exceedingly beautiful. She had the palest skin and long silver hair which ran almost down to the ground. The hair seemed to curl and twine gently in an invisble breeze. Virginia felt as though all the light and sound had gone out of the world. The lady seemed to glow with a light of her own, luminous, and as she moved, tiny sparkles of light fell down to the earth. She crooned a soft tune at Wolf as he seemed to swoon at her feet. The lady paused momentarily and looked straight at Virginia. Her eyes were the blackest pools, and in them spun stars and galaxies. Virginia felt herself sway, almost like she was about to fall into the depths of that gaze. The lady had a wise and knowing smile on her face and Virginia watched now as she bent forward gracefully, holding Wolf's head between her hands, and kissed him full on the mouth.
Virginia blinked yet again, and the stunning vision was gone. Only a heartbeat had passed. It was Shaman as she knew her, aged yet strong, supporting Wolf carefully as he crumpled to the ground at her feet.
Shaman straightened as she laid Wolf out on the ground, motioning to some of her kinsmen. They came swiftly with blankets, rolling the unconcious form up gently and carrying him into her tent. Virginia followed Shaman and Evelyn into the small space, seeing that Wolf appeared to be sleeping only, not dead as she had first thought in terror. Her mind was still reeling from the vision of the pale woman and she began to wonder if maybe she had imagined it. She glanced sideways at Shaman. The old woman appeared perfectly normal to her. Virginia decided she would think about it later.
The two clanswomen unwrapped Wolf again, exclaiming softly over his injuries. Gathering their supplies together, skillfully they went over every one of them, applying various salves and herbal concoctions as they went. Finally they bandaged up his poor hands. Evelyn went out and returned with extra clothing donated by some of the men and together the three of them worked him into a pair of loose trousers and soft shirt. All the while he had not made a sound, nor roused, even when Evelyn had had to rebreak his finger which had begun to heal in an incorrect position. Virginia raked back the hair from his forehead, her own brow furrowed.
"Don't fear, dearest. He needs to sleep the healing sleep. He won't wake yet for a while, methinks" chatted Shaman, apparently unconcerned by her unresponsive patient.
"Now, I must go out for fresh herbs. If he wakes in pain, they will help" she added, getting up creakily and leaving the little tent.
The two women stared at the sleeping Wolf for a time. Virginia thought he looked more peaceful now, at least, and she could see his eyes moving under the lids, meaning he was dreaming. She hoped they were better than the one she had seen.
"Well, well, he is quite the good looking one, is he not?" said Evelyn, matter of factly. She winked at Virginia. Virginia smiled back at her, before breaking out in a knowing laugh. Even beaten and cowed as he was, Wolf's ability to attract female attention ceratinly hadn't been lost.
"I hope he'll be alright. He's always been the strong, fearless one, my protector. I am not used to taking care of him. The one time I did try, he hated it!" she said softly.
"He is loved, so all must be well in the end. You'll see!" Evelyn answered confidently.
"I feel so angry at what has happened to him. I feel guilty that my kind, my people, are responsible. We were foolish to let down our guard, feeling that we were safe in New York. It's proven every bit as dangerous as the spell-wielding, troll-ridden, fairy-cursed 9 Kingdoms!" Virginia said with some heat.
"What will you do?"
"We won't be able to stay in New York. We'll have to go back, find somewhere to settle in the 4th Kingdom. King Wendell has promised as much, should we decide to take up his offer" She sighed, wondering if there would ever be a place where they could live without persecution. Still, at least in the Kingdoms folk knew him for what he was, and there were far stranger beasties roaming those forests.
Evelyn looked disappointed at the mention of them leaving. Virginia could understand. She knew the clan had looked forward to spending a lot of time with Wolf, learning his ways and thoughts. She felt heavily indebted to them. Without their help, none of this rescue would have been possible. She'd still be wandering the streets without him, or locked up for assaulting priests.
"You can stay here, you know. We would never betray him to the world. We would revere him, honour both of you" Evelyn said seriously.
Virginia knew that such an offer was not made lightly. It was tempting to think they had such friends in this Kingdom. But she sensed that Wolf wouldn't really be at ease here either. What he wanted was no attention from humans, sincere or not. She told Evelyn as much.
"But you'll come to visit, surely? Our door will always be open to you both, and the little one when he comes" the elder replied earnestly. "It's sad to us to think that Wolf's kind will walk no more amongst us" she added thoughtfully.
Later, after they had eaten, Virginia lay down next to Wolf and was pleased when his arms reflexively curled around her. But sometime during the night he woke, shaking and growling, his eyes blank and unknowing as he showed his teeth to her and Evelyn. Shaman had woken then and one commanding glare from her had silenced him immediately. Afterwards, Virginia heard him snuffling from under his blankets. He slept deeply through the rest of that night, and right through till mid afternoon the following day.
Virginia was been outside, helping with the dinner preparations when she heard what she had so long wanted to hear.
"Vir...vir...gin" he rasped in his man-voice.
"Virginia! Vir-gin-ya!"
She dove through the tent flap, tripping over and landing directly in his arms. She held him away a moment, looking deep into his eyes. They were his usual pale hazel and they brimmed with tears, and love. He crushed her to him.
The people of the camp looked away, pretending not to see as the two lovers slipped away into the forest. There were some types of reunions that thin tent walls were unable to accomodate, they smiled to themselves. Virginia and Wolf could barely make it a respectable distance from the camp before they were in each others arms once more, tearing off clothes, holding tight to one another, giving and receiving love with needs long denied. Their tears and bodies mingled. Later, Wolf lay with his head resting on Cub's bump, listening to his child's little heartbeat. Virginia dozed in the late afternoon sun and Wolf contemplated what he had so nearly lost.
Unlike his moon-times, Wolf had clear memories about his wolf-self dominance. He understood what had happened to his man-self, why it had hidden from the world. He remembered when the old she-wolf had come to him, leading him away and bidding him wait in the undergrowth. He recalled the battle he had fought with his wolf-self and just how frightened and damaged his human mind had been when he had finally been overcome with his need for Virginia and all she represented.
And then, she had come. Wolf shivered in awe. Surely, a Daughter of the Moon Goddess had placed her hands upon him. He had grown up on tales of such beings but had never expected to ever meet one. To wolf's they were the human equivalent of angels. Wolf's all over saw the Moon as a deity in Her own right. Not always benevolent, of course, but constant always. Wolf knew that the Daughter-spirits walked here and there in the bodies of those so gifted as to recieve them. He had seen the Shaman looking at him as they had left the tent and he had no doubt that she had been fully aware of how her spiritual counterpart had worked through her. The Daughter's kiss had been instantly stunning and tumbled him headlong into a strange dreamlike state. One day, he would write down exactly what he had dreamed about, but for now he simply revelled in being his whole self again.
He patted at Cub fondly as his ears picked up the sounds of the approaching wolf-pack. They had come, as he knew they would.
"So, you would leave us now?" said the big alpha male. Wolf sensed amusement radiating from the pack.
"I would ask your leave, great one" he replied respectfully.
"I will grant it, new friend. Tell our story to the wolf's of your world, and we will tell your tale to ours"
"I will. I thank you"
"May the Goddess Bless you and yours" the alpha said, repeating the traditional wolf-saying.
Wolf kept his head lowered in deference as they melted away silently. Presently, he heard the sound of wolfsong and he answered in like manner. This woke delectable Virginia, of course, but that was alright. He needed her awake for what he had in mind.