Reign of Fire: Rising from the Ashes
Chapter Three- There's No Place Like Home
Dawn came quicker than expected for Wolf, Sarah-Lou was still asleep so she set to making breakfast, well some sort of edible food. Sarah-Lou woke not long after 'breakfast' was ready, smiling, Wolf gave her some of the rabbit Dog had caught as well as some dried food from her ration store.
"How are you feeling this morning?"
"Well my arm hurts but I think I'll live" Sarah-Lou replied, suddenly sounding a lot more mature than the night before.
"Good, well you finish up. I'll get the horses ready, oh I think you might need this, from what I can tell its gonna rain soon" Wolf said throwing a green plastic poncho at Sarah-Lou. It was one of those things that you just seem to collect overtime and never get rid of, lucky for Sarah-Lou in this case then.
They seemed to be ready in double time that morning. After a brief introduction to Dog and the horses, a bay named Dodger and a black named Scout, Sarah-Lou attempted to help Wolf get ready to go. After another 10 minutes and numerous curses from Sarah-Lou who believed she had said them quietly enough to avoid Wolf hearing (which they weren't) the two were ready to leave.
"Now have you ever ridden a horse before?"
"Yes Quinn lets me ride his all the time," Sarah-Lou beamed.
"OK then, this will make it a lot easier" Wolf smiled, "You can take Dodger he's pretty old and slow so you won't have to worry with your arm."
Once Sarah-Lou was in the saddle, Wolf mounted the younger and feistier Scout who had recovered well from the long walk.
"OK, which way?" Wolf asked praying to God that Sarah-Lou knew.
"This way, I followed the road" Wolf looked to the sky and mouthed 'Thank you' as the rain gently began to fall.
"Look she can't of got that far, its only been, what, a day at most? Once the rain stops we'll find her. No doubt she'll run back with her tail between her legs before then- you know she hates the rain," Creedy said, attempting to calm not only Quinn but all the other adults too (and himself but was not willing to admit he was terrified).
"Creedy for crying out loud she is a child! You know what the moors are like, God knows what's happened to her. She could be at the bottom of a ditch with a broken ankle for all we know- or worse" Quinn's voice trailed off at this, but his frantic pacing continued at the same speed.
"It's not as if we can do anything now is it? The rain is too heavy, give it half an hour then we'll see what to do OK?" Creedy replied sitting himself down and rubbing his hands through his hair.
"I don't know how you do it, I honestly don't. One of our girls is out there and your as cool as a cucumber!" Quinn roared, making several others jump.
"That's enough Quinn! You know I'm just as scared as you are, but we have to think positive- for Sarah-Lou's sake!" Creedy strained, his voice cracking with worry.
"Please you two, you're not helping. In half an hour we'll go out and start looking. I'll go ask some of the other children if they know anything else." Alex stated getting up from the table and making her way to Quinn who was a complete wreck.
"We'll find her Quinn, you know we will" she said hugging him tightly before heading off towards the children's rooms where they had been ordered to stay until told otherwise.
"Fine half an hour, then we go" Quinn said taking a seat at the table, practically destroying the rag that had been left there.
The rain did not let up all morning that the two road back to the castle. Sarah-Lou was fairing nicely with the poncho Wolf had lent her; just as Wolf was doing well with her long black trench coat, which thankfully had a hood.
"When we get back to your home, what do you think will happen?" Wolf asked rather out of the blue.
"Oh, I don't know, I didn't think of that" Sarah-Lou replied, worry lacing her young voice.
"Well don't worry, I won't leave until I know everything will be OK- all right?" Sarah-Lou turned to her and smiled, relief very apparent on her face.
"Thank you Holly, not that they'll hurt me, their far to nice to do anything like that- but I don't think I could stand being shouted at by Quinn, he can be really scary."
"It's OK honestly. But I have one thing I must ask of you. When we get their, can you call me Wolf? It's just I don't really like people calling me by my first name unless I trust them," Sarah-Lou grinned at Wolf knowing full well she just said she trusted her.
"OK, that sounds cool to me- our own little secret!" And once again, she had reverted back to the little girl that Wolf had met the night before.
"Wolf?" Sarah-Lou giggled, "How old are you?"
"I'm 20, why? do you think I'm old?"
"No not at all, it's just, well you seem kinda ageless. You don't act old and you don't act young."
"Thank you, I think." Wolf smiled, suppressing her own laughter as they made their way through the downpour.
Silence ensued for what must have been half an hour until Sarah-Lou finally squealed with joy- "Look there it is!"
Wolf looked up at the looming castle and gulped. My first real contact with people in six months- just don't put your foot in it! The gates were open as if waiting for Sarah-Lou to come home.
"Sarah-Lou, why don't you go ahead, I bet their dying to know your OK. I won't be far behind, go on." The girl looked at Wolf and smiled before kicking on Dodger in a rather slow trot as she headed home.
Quinn and Creedy were still sitting in the kitchen when Alex ran into the room.
"Quinn, she's back! Come on, she's just come through the gate!"
The two men exploded from the room, nearly knocking several people over as they made their way out to the gate desperate to know if little Sarah-Lou was all right. It had stopped raining just as she had come up to the gate and weak sunlight infused the castle grounds as Sarah-Lou jumped off Dodger. Both were rather confused at the sight, where did the horse come from? None of theirs were missing that was for sure. But it didn't matter the sight of Sarah-Lou seemingly safe and well was all that mattered. No one had noticed the dark riding up on its black steed.
"Oh God Sarah! You had us so worried!" Quinn shouted as he grabbed the girl and hugged her desperately.
"Ow! Quinn watch my arm!" She cried making Quinn jump back in surprise and pulled off the wet poncho to reveal her arm well splinted and rested in a sling.
"Sarah, what happened?" Creedy asked as Quinn eyed the sling frowning.
"She had a run in with a rebel gang" a strange voice called out. Looking up Quinn, Creedy and now Alex, all stared at the dark figure standing in front of them on a black horse.
"Who are you?" Quinn asked, moving in front of Sarah-Lou who found herself being protected by the two men. Slightly frustrated, Sarah-Lou moved from their protective shield and towards the stranger, patting the horse softly on the nose.
"Sarah, come back here" Creedy said but Sarah-Lou merely rolled her eyes.
"Quinn, Creedy, Alex, I'd like you to meet Wolf- my saviour." All three stared at the figure confused as it jumped down and removed the large hood. Possibly the most beautiful young woman any of them had seen was standing in front of them.
"H-hello" Creedy said, taken aback by the strange beauty standing before him. Wolf smiled gently before placing her hand on Sarah-Lou's shoulder.
"You're OK now though aren't you Sarah-Lou?" Wolf continued.
"Yes but only thanks to you H-Wolf."
"I said it was no bother didn't I?" At this Quinn seemed to break from his trance.
"Now young lady, what do you think you were playing at eh? You scared us half to death!" Quinn said crouching down on one knee in front of Sarah-Lou.
Sarah-Lou stood stock still, tears welling up once more. Turning she looked at Wolf who knew what to do.
"Something about the bright lights and big city wasn't it Sarah-Lou? Well we can firmly say all thoughts of escapades off to the city are truly from your mind aren't they?" Sarah-Lou nodded but erupted into tears, turning and holding onto Wolf tightly. Only Wolf knew what their cause was and could see the adults were more than concerned at what had happened to their little charge.
"Why don't we go inside and tell them Sarah. It's not something that you would want everyone to hear, anyway we have to look at that arm." Sarah-Lou nodded once more and practically dragged Wolf inside whilst still hugging her tightly. Quinn, Alex and Creedy were really confused but followed their little Sarah-Lou and her new found yet mysterious friend up into the castle leaving Jared to see to her horses and Dog, who randomly appeared from nowhere.
"Oh Sarah-Lou you poor thing! Come lets go see to this arm whilst Creedy and Quinn have a chat with your friend." Alex cried hugging the girl tightly before shooing her to the door. The two men sat quietly as Wolf drank her cup of coffee, neither of them quite sure what to say.
"Thank you, for helping Sarah-Lou," Quinn finally said, his face still pale from the story he had just heard.
"Like I said, it was nothing, I couldn't just leave her in their hands could I? I've seen what rebel gangs are capable of before, I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy." Wolf said her voice quietening towards the end.
"Still not many would do what you did." Quinn said, Creedy remained silent, from what he had heard and the beauty of the girl sitting in front of him, he couldn't speak- it was impossible.
"Well I'm not like most people." Wolf replied again, bitterness entwined with her sweet voice.
"Oh?" Quinn said, he liked this girl for saving Sarah-Lou but still he had suspicions of her that would not be quelled until he knew all about her.
Before she could answer, Sarah-Lou rushed back into the room.
"All done" she said her eyes firmly latched onto Wolf.
"So where are you from?" Quinn asked.
"You want to know about me eh?" Wolf smirked.
"Yes"
"Well there's really nothing to know, I'm not a psycho if that's what your thinking. Yes I've done some bad things in my life and I regret most of them." Wolf looked down her eyes filled with obvious remorse, "But I'm trying." She smiled then a radiant smile, the type of smile rarely seen in days such as these.
"Where will you go next" Alex asked.
"Yeah Wolf, where?" Sarah-Lou echoed, she wanted Wolf to stay but would not mention it.
"I don't know, north I guess. Find myself an adventure."
"Let me come Wolf please!"
"Oh no, I don't think so little one. It's far to dangerous up north for you. The dragons are up north, would you really want to go there?" Wolf hoped this would work.
"But if I'm with you I know I'll be safe, after all, you did tell me about all those dragons you killed!" Wolf groaned and the three adults stared at her in surprise.
"Yes I did kill them, but I've paid the price on many an occasion- I certainly have the scars to prove it. Speaking of which, if I'm going to go, then I'd better head off while the sun is still up." She stood, "Thank you for the coffee, but I must be heading off." As she made her way to the door her actions were stopped by a rather upset Sarah-Lou.
"You can't go. You said adventures are more trouble than their worth- so why are you going on one? What if you get hurt, I won't know and I'll never forgive you!" At that Wolf turned around and stared at the nearly crying Sarah-Lou in the eye.
"Oh sweetie, I'll be fine, I'm the Black Wolf after all, the terror of the southern rebels, slayer of dragons- whose gonna hurt me."
"But you- you could stay" she whimpered.
"No, I'd just get in the way."
"Please Quinn, please make her stay."
"I can't do that Sarah, not unless she wants to."
"Please stay please," Wolf finally felt her resolve melt.
"If it is OK with Quinn I'll stay little while all right? Then I'll go, I wouldn't want to outstay my welcome." Wolf looked up at Quinn who nodded in approval.
"Sorted" Alex said, "I'll take you to the spare room that's going at the moment. It's small but I think you'll like it."
"Thank you Alex" Wolf replied, glancing at Sarah-Lou who looked like the cat who had the cream.