I have a question. Would you guys prefer if I included translations in the chapters, or do you like the mystery of it? Because I'm thinking about going through all the chapters with the foreign languages and adding translations even though that would be such tedious work, or I can start doing it from now on. What do you think? Let me know.

Chapter 66: The Bear

Lilly listened to Arthur and Rains Fall talk about Captain Monroe, and for the most part, she kept silent. Lilly was mostly contemplating what the shaman Hawk Eye had told her. However, her thoughts were interrupted by a distraught Rains Fall.

"What's happened?" he said in shock, getting off his horse. "No, it can't be!" Rains Fall went running to a small round tent made of animal skin that was now burned. Arthur and Lilly looked at each other before dismounting and chasing after Rains Fall. He fell to his knees in front of the burned Indian site. "No! They destroyed everything! No, I need to find the Chanupa. Who...who would do this?"

"Someone who wanted to enrage you," Arthur observed as he looked around the camp site.

Lilly had never heard the man Rains Fall so distraught. He was always so calm and collected, but that's not what he sounded like now. Lilly frowned and put her hands on her hips. "Bastards!" she shouted.

"Help me look around, please. The Chanupa is gone," Rains said sadly.

Lilly, Arthur and the boys searched the area for whatever this "Chanupa" was. "Of course," Arthur said. "What is it?"

"A ceremonial pipe...there must be some clue as to what happened here."

Arthur took one end while Lilly took another but she spotted smoke coming from down the mountain. "Rains Fall. Arthur. Over here. I see a camp down there. Looks like the army." Lilly took out her binoculars and focused on the camp. She saw three men in military uniforms shoving each other around. "Yep. Definitely army. What a bunch of shitebags!"

"Oh, there they are," Rains Fall said beside her. "These...brave men..." he spoke with an angry bitterness that sent chills up her spine. "Some of Colonel Favours' men. They must have been the ones who did this."

"Are you surprised this happened?" Arthur said on the other side of her.

"Not at all...but...I hoped we were past this."

"You got land they want...land with oil."

"They moved us here. They've taken everything we had. I signed three treaties myself, and they've broken each one. Now they've taken the last hope." Rains Fall sounded like he was on the verge of tears. "Now my people are gonna want a war. A war they can't win."

Lilly lowered her binoculars. Arthur sighed deeply and started walking down the trail with fury in his every step. "Where are you goin'?" Lilly asked.

He stopped and looked up at her with anger in his face. "I'm goin' to go get 'em back." And without another word he trailed down the road.

Lilly put her binoculars away. "Just do it quietly," she shouted. "They'll retaliate if you kill someone."

"Yes, sweetheart, I know!" he snapped.

Lilly shook her head and chuckled. "Well, all we can do now is wait."

Rains Fall looked at her and smiled sadly. "Your husband is a good man."

Lilly nodded in agreement. "Yes he is. I just wish he wasn't sick and dyin'. Although, well..." Lilly thought best not to mention The Morrigan at that time. "I hope the treatments I'm makin' him do will help him not die."

"What does he have, if I may ask?"

"Tuberculosis."

Rains Fall sighed. "I'm sorry to hear that." He walked over to the camp site and Lilly followed. They both sat down. "So, you talked to Hawk Eye."

"Yes."

"He tells me you have two spirits."

"Yes, Eagle Flies and Hawk Eye did mention that."

"Is there any truth to this?"

Lilly looked at the man and sighed. She felt she could trust Rains Fall, but what she had going on was, well, ridiculously miraculous and impossible, if she was being honest. Would he even believe her? "I think we can trust him," Adair said in her head.

Lilly scowled. "I told you not to talk to me," she snapped.

"I'm sorry?" Rains Fall said in a confused voice.

Lilly went wide eyed. "Sorry, I...I wasn't talkin' to you."

"Then who were you talking to?"

"The other spirit."

"So it is true?"

Lilly frowned. "Yes. I'm sorry, I know it seems...impossible. Well, I've been dealin' with a lot of impossible shit in the last six months."

"Such as?"

Lilly pressed a hand to her belly and looked down. "I died, you know. Three times. Once in an accident when I was seven, then I was poisoned a while back, then I was burned at the stake. I was infertile until a goddess cured it. I'm a reincarnated goddess, and my wolves are my deceased brothers. And I have...super powers." Lilly clamped a hand over her mouth.

Rains Fall actually laughed. "That does sound impossible, but who am I to question it? I've seen many things that one would call impossible."

"Oh really? Name something."

"Somewhere near an old abandoned mining town, in the mountains to the west, there is a special cave. If you go down in there deep enough, there's a giant oak tree in one of the caverns. One of my men took me to see it."

Lilly's eyes went wide. She'd had a vision of that once or twice. "Was...was the name of the town Colter?"

"Yes."

Lilly started laughing. "I think I know which cave you're referring to. I took shelter in it during a huge blizzard. It's actually where I met my wolves. They were just regular sized gray pups then."

Rains Fall smiled at her. "You were lucky they didn't eat you."

"Well, I had a dead horse with me, so..."

"As I said before, brutality and beauty."

Lilly nodded. "So what kind of place was this?"

"We use these sacred grounds for meditation, reflection, and healing. Our shaman and I are the ones who use it the most, but now..."

Lilly looked at the spherical tent and sighed. "Was the animal skin special?"

"It was made out of deer skin. Why do you ask?"

"Well," Lilly scratched the back of her neck, "I was thinkin' if you wanted help rebuilding it, I could get the skins for you."

"Really?" Rains Fall looked shocked.

"Yes. I hunt. I even use a bow most of the time."

"Thank you, Mrs. Morgan. You and your husband are good people."

"We try to be."

Rains Fall turned to her. "So, what kind of super powers do you have?"

"I have a very powerful shout, and I have a very weird effect on people with my singing. Super strength, advanced healing, I can switch voices with people, and I...well..." Lilly got up and stood in front of Rains Fall. "It's best if I just show you."

Rains Fall nodded. Lilly's body was enveloped in light and when it vanished, Adair was left standing in Lilly's place. Rains Fall slowly stood with awe in his eyes.

"This is the second spirit?"

"Yes," Adair said.

"But you both look the same."

Adair's wings unfurled and she raised them with a devilish smirk on her face. "You were saying?"

Rains Fall put a hand to his mouth and walked around Adair. "This is truly a marvel," he said softly, as if he had a hard time finding his own voice. "Extraordinary."

Adair let out a brief laugh. "Thank you, Rains Fall." She heard Arthur coming back up the path and turned towards the sound. "He's back," she said.

Arthur came into view but he stopped when he saw Adair. He sighed. "Adair, ní féidir leat tú féin a thaispeáint i gcónaí," [you cannot always show yourself.] Arthur barked with a scolding tone as he walked over.

"An ordú é sin?" [Is that an order?] Adair asked Arthur.

"Níl, ach níl a fhios againn an fear seo. Tá sé contúirteach tú féin a nochtadh." [No, but we do not know this man. It is dangerous to expose yourself.]

As Adair rolled her eyes and shifted back into Lilly, Rains Fall redirected his attention to Arthur. "Please tell me you found it."

"Here, I," Arthur went digging around in his bag while holding the ceremonial pipe in his other hand. "I got your things, I-I think," he said, sounding unsure of himself.

Rains Fall was given the pipe and the other objects. "Yes. Thank you."

"I'm very sorry about this," said Arthur genuinely.

Rains Fall studied the pipe as if it were an old friend. "Even sacred things are only things. People," Rains Fall looked at Arthur and motioned to his own chest, "the heart, matter more. Was anyone hurt?"

Arthur shook his head. "No one was killed."

"Well done...well done. I wish my son knew such restraint. My people owe you a great debt and I'm giving you very little." Rains Fall reached into his bag and pulled out a trinket. "But please, take this." Arthur grabbed it as Rains Fall handed it to him. "We believe it to be sacred."

Arthur studied it for a moment and looked at the man with gratitude on his face. "Thank you."

"Thank you," Rains Fall repeatedly with even more gratitude in his voice. "Take those herbs I gave you, please. And most of all, I hope you can find peace within yourself."

Rains Fall walked away to his horse, mounted and left as Arthur bent down and examined the destroyed hut. He shook his head and sighed. "I can't believe someone could be so cruel," Lilly stated angrily. "I mean, I've had my fair share of cruel treatment, but this...this is so much worse, somehow."

"I know," Arthur agreed. "It's awful." He turned to her and felt her belly. "How are my babies?"

"They're doin' good, my love," she said lovingly. She kissed Arthur softly and grazed a finger on his cheek. "It's time for your milk."

Arthur cackled. "Okay, okay," he said. He got his milk pouch and drank some of it. "Bleh, I'm still not used to the taste."

"Well it's probably not ss bad as the herbs Rains Fall gave you. We should mix them now. What did he say they were? Ginseng and English Mace?"

"Yes."

"Well, we better go lookin' for some. Hopefully we'll find some in the mountains here."

After finding a good amount of English Mace and some Ginseng, Lilly made the tonic for Arthur and gave him a drink of it. He did, in fact, feel like he had his strength back and Lilly smiled when he told her. They left the mountains and made their way back to camp for some rest and relaxation. But as soon as they got there, Uncle ambushed them.

"Hey, hey big man...I'm worried. I'm really worried," Uncle said to Arthur.

Arthur sighed. "Me too, Uncle."

"What's gonna happen, you know...to everybody?"

Arthur shrugged. "I guess...folks is gonna make a choice. Whether they live...or die."

"And you?"

"I'm just...tryin' to help others see clearly. That's my choice."

"You're a good man, Arthur Morgan. A good man."

Uncle walked away and Lilly sighed. "He's right, you know. You are a good man."

Arthur blew a raspberry. "Oh shut up, woman."

Lilly laughed happily and kissed her husband softly. Suddenly he started coughing and Lilly pat him on the back as Javier walked up to them. "You okay, friend?" Javier asked Arthur.

Arthur spit some blood out. "Never better," he replied with a hoarseness in his voice.

"Dutch...you're breakin' his heart, you know that?"

Lilly raised a brow. "What the hell is that supposed to mean, Javier?" Lilly asked him.

"For goin' after John when Dutch said no. And look what happened."

"And I'd go through it all over again if it meant John wasn't gonna get hanged!" Lilly snapped.

"He tell you to say this to me, friend?" Arthur asked Javier.

"No...but I know," Javier replied as if he knew something.

"Dutch...and that fool in his ear, they're gonna kill every last one of us. I see that now."

Javier chuckled, raised his hands and walked away. "What ever happened to loyalty, Arthur?"

Lilly scowled and looked at her husband. "You okay? Maybe you should take some more of that st-"

"I'm fine, Lilly," Arthur said to her, stroking her cheek. "Just a little cough right now, nothin' serious."

Lilly shut her eyes and grabbed his hand, kissing his palm with her mouth. "I don't want you to die, Arthur."

Arthur wrapped her in his arms. "I'm gonna be fine. The Morrigan said I'd be healed."

"Yeah, but when? Why can't she do it now?"

"I don't know, darlin', but I'm pretty sure she knows what she's doin'."

Lilly walked him over to the tent. "And I still need to figure out who the...rat is." Lilly looked at Arthur and smiled knowingly. "What you just said to Javier about Da...who's in his ear?"

"That would be Micah. He and Dutch have been gettin' real close lately and not includin' me in things, and it's been..." Arthur's jaw dropped. "Do you think he's the snake?"

Lilly sighed. "I...um...I misinterpreted what the old man said. Micah is the rat, but the snake is a different person."

"What do you mean you misinterpreted? I don't understand, darlin'," Arthur said with a confused face.

Lilly sat down and pulled Arthur down with her. "I need to tell you what the shaman Hawk Eye said to me."

"I sense your second spirit, Mrs. Morgan."

Lilly giggled nervously. "Yes, that would be Adair. She's a uh...I'm a uh...it's hard to explain."

"She was reborn within you. Explain how that is complicated."

Lilly's mouth parted. "Well, I'm not quite sure how it happened, or how it's even possible."

"Adair's mother. It was her doing. Adair's spirit was placed in an oak tree not far from your home. A piece of her was given to your mother in exchange for your mother's fertility to improve."

Lilly blinked a few times. "The Morrigan made a deal with my father, who had killed Adair in the first place. I was told Adair was responsible for famines in my home country, but both Adair and The Morrigan deny this."

"And rightly so. Your uncle was influenced by dark magic, the same black song that manipulates your father through he who is like the Lord."

Lilly tilted her head. "I don't understand."

"You will."

"And...who wields this dark magic?"

"Someone you will not fight for quite some time. The snake that controls the rat."

Lilly shut her eyes for a moment. "Wait, I was told the snake and the rat were the same person."

"You were told to cut the head off the snake, for the snake and the rat are one," the shaman said with a small smile.

Lilly's jaw dropped and her eyes squinted, then it dawned on her and she let out a brief laugh. "Ooooh. Well, my ability to interpret is not exactly, uh, all that great when it comes to riddles and symbols."

"That's alright. You will learn in time."

"So, who is the rat?"

"I'm afraid dark magic clouds the answer. And The Morrigan does not know either, though she pretends to. The dark magic is strong in a woman from a distant land, a land where gods and goddesses once roamed inside temples made of marble, brick, and mud. They are gone, but the witch is not. She has returned but cannot set foot in your homeland."

"Why?"

"She was cast out, along with her sons Darkness, Evil, and Violence, and as long as Ireland is protected by water, they cannot return."

Lilly shook her head. "Why are you telling me all this?"

"The Morrigan comes to me in dreams. She asked me to help guide you. She has been busy trying to protect her realm from the dark magic. But," Hawk Eye smiled, "you will see her again when your husband is healed."

Lilly frowned. "When is my husband supposed to be healed?" she asked him.

"Soon."

Lilly scratched the back of her head. "You know, for someone who is supposed to have immaculate clarity, you sure are bein' vague."

"The Morrigan told me to be vague. She said you would figure the rest out on your own."

Lilly sighed. "So she did. Well, that feels more like a set back."

"She trusts in your cleverness."

Lilly laughed. "If you say so. Anything else?"

"No. Your husband is about to leave with Rains Fall and Captain Monroe. I suggest you catch up, but please feel free to stop by any time."

Arthur rubbed the back of his neck and eyed Lilly. "That was...he who is like the Lord, that definitely don't sound like Micah."

Lilly nodded. "It's probably symbolic. I still think we should keep an eye on him."

Arthur grunted in agreement. "Why can't these people just tell us the answers instead of dickin' us around?"

Lilly giggled. "Well, apparently I'm clever enough to figure it out." Lilly went to her nightstand and pulled out her journal. "I'm gonna write this shit down so I don't forget."

As she sat back bown, Arthur laid on the bed and pulled out the owl talisman. "Once you're done with that, I wanna show you somethin'."

Lilly looked at him. "What's that?"

Arthur rolled over and crawled to her. "Just hurry up, please." Lilly chuckled and scribbled quickly. When she was done, Arthur laid with her on the bed and pulled out his journal. "Since you're my wife, I'm gonna read to you some of my journal."

Lilly's jaw went slack. "Are you serious? You never let anyone read that thing!"

Arthur laughed and opened it. "I know, but like I said, you're my wife, so c'mere..."

Arthur and her adjusted so Lilly could lay between his legs with her back to his chest. Arthur's back was to the bedframe and he opened up to a random page. "This is so exciting," Lilly said as she pulled out some salted beef and started chewing on it. Arthur started reading out loud.

"Met a lady scientist. Deborah somethin' or other. Seemed to be more mad than sane, but I don't have much frame of reference for scientists. Wanted me to see if I could help her find dinosaur bones and send her the details. Maybe."

Lilly gnawed on the meat. "Ooooo. Dinosaur bones. How delightful." Lilly studied the doodle Arthur made of the woman and smiled. "That's a pretty good drawing, Arthur."

"Thanks." Arthur turned to another page. "Oh, here's one about Mr. Mason. You remember him, don't you, sweetheart?"

Lilly giggled and stroked the drawing of Albert. "How could I forget?"

Arthur cleared his throat. "Met a nice fella taking photos of animals. Albert Mason, I think he was called. Kind and interesting and entirely lost and unused to real country, even though he seemed to love it. Trying to take pictures of our biggest predators, before they all got killed off themselves by the modern world. Should have got him to take a picture of Dutch."

Lilly broke into a cackling fit and Arthur followed suit. "That's so fuckin' funny."

"He got robbed by a coyote, but I got him his bait back."

They both laughed even harder. "Oh, that's great."

Arthur turned to another page. "Met a man. Francis Sinclair. Wants me to find some old rock carvings and send him details. Not sure why. I probably won't bother. Francis had bright red hair and a birthmark and spoke in an odd way."

Lilly looked up at Arthur. "Odd how?"

"Things like, "I'm on the up and up," and "on the hooch" and he called me "sport". He was...perky."

"Perky? Ha!"

Arthut turned to another page. "Oh, this..."

Lilly saw a drawing of Valentine. "What? Oh. Ah, the night we went drinking. Read me that one, love." She took a bite of her salted beef.

"Went off drinking with young Lenny and Lilly. Thanks to my own peculiar genius for trouble when drunk, my proposal to Lilly did not exactly go to plan and she almost turned me down because we were fighting until I told her I knew Gaeilge. Then she said yes, which made me ecstatic. The three of us had a wonderful night there, but a man by the name of Joseph Pierce showed up with a letter for my betrothed from her...well, her former betrothed. The letter was laughable."

Lilly giggled. "It was."

Arthur turned the page and frowned. "Oh, not this one."

He was about to turn the page when Lilly grabbed it from him. "Lilly died today," she read out loud. "Oh."

Arthur grabbed the book back. "Don't make me read that one, please."

Lilly nodded and kissed him. She turned over, straddled him, and tossed the journal away. "I think that's enough readin' for now, Mr. Morgan," she said with a seductive purr in her voice.

Arthur smiled up at her, pulled her head down and kissed her. "Okay," he said into her mouth. "Mmm, baby girl..."

"Mmm, bithiúnach..."

"Mr. and Mrs. Morgan!" Captain Monroe shouted with a wave as the couple entered the Wapiti Reservation. They got off their horses and walked over.

"Hello," Arthur said to Captain Monroe. "Here we are, as promised."

Monroe was a little distracted as he was feeding a sick child, then he looked up at the couple. "Captain Monroe."

"Of course."

"The chief's gone out tryin' to find medications, it's quite a business," he said, still feeding the sick child.

"Yes." Arthur looked around. "I thought we were through with all of this."

Monroe stood up. "We are, mostly. Colonel Favours seems to think the natives have broken some promise they never made, and apparently he's punishin' them by withholdin' vaccines," Monroe walked over to a pot of food, "sent down by the Federal Government."

Lilly gave a shake of her head. "What a mingin' melter."

Monroe blinked at Lilly with confusion on his face. "Um, what?"

"It means a dirty pain in the ass."

Monroe stifled a laugh as he poured a bowl of soup for an elderly native. Yes, ahem, very. I was supposed to oversee the administration of vaccines. Now I hear the wagon's been diverted."

"Why would he do such a thing?" Arthur asked him.

"To be honest, I truly don't know," Monroe replied as he gave the bowl to the old man, then he rubbed the back of his neck. "They say he didn't have a very good war, so...maybe he's tryin' to start another one."

"Is that what you think?"

"I'm tryin' to find out, and he knows I'm tryin' to find out. He'd love to provoke me almost as much as as he'd love to provoke these poor bastards," Monroe said while dishing out more stew.

Lilly shook her head. "Cheerful fellow, ain't he?" Lilly spat bitterly.

"We could just kill him," Adair said.

While Lilly considered the thought, she was still a bit peeved at Adair and Lilly didn't want to appear as if she were talking to herself, so she ignored Adair's suggestion. "So what's this all mean?"

"It means that despite the fact that I think he's a horse's ass," Monroe spoke, giving another bowl of soup to a native, "he knows I think that. So we're just stuck here tryin' to make the best of things."

Lilly scoffed. "This doesn't seem like the best of things to me. This is horseshit! I mean, there's sick children here!" Lilly pointed to the boy in his mother's lap. "Where's this wagon? How do we find it?" Lilly asked without giving it a second thought.

"I can show you," Monroe replied as he fed the child. "Supposed to be headin' to Wapiti after comin' up through Valentine, but it's been diverted south instead."

"Then let's get goin'!" Lilly snapped. "Arthur, you comin'?"

Monroe and Arthur followed her. "'Course, darlin'," Arthut said with an affectionate voice.

"M-Mrs. Morgan! Mr. Morgan!" Monroe stopped them. "We must act with due caution."

"Oh, we shall," Arthur said. "We surely shall. Now come."

All three people went and mounted up. Lilly realized Arthur was just as angry as she was and she smiled at him. "Fear céile, líonann tú mé le bród." [Husband, you fill me with pride.]

Arthur glanced at her and smirked. "Mar a dhéanann tú domsa, bean chéile." [As do you for me, wife.]

Monroe looked at them strangely. "What language is that?"

"Gaeilge," the couple both said.

"But you can call it Irish, if you want," Lilly said with a grin.

"Sounds...hard to learn."

Arthur laughed. "Oh, it is. I've been learnin' for five years now and I still have difficulty with some of it. The big words still get to me. Like, uh...honey, what's that word for photography?"

Lilly laughed with enjoyment on her face. "Grianghrafadóireachta."

Monroe was slack-jawed and wide-eyed. "What?"

Lilly laughed. "Green hra fa doy ee reck ta," she repeated, but slower. "I know, so difficult. Anyway, shall we press on?"

"Okay, I think I know a spot where we should be able to intercept it."

"Lead the way, Captain," Arthur said. As they left the reservation, Arthur continued the conversation. ."So this Colonel Favours, he knows you're up here helpin' these people?"

"Yes...and no. He knows I'm here to produce a report on the situation," the captain explained. "I was sent down from the North after all the news of unrest in the region. But I think my presence might be makin' things worse."

"What do you mean?"

"I worry he's takin' some of these actions more to protect himself now. If he can incite more retaliation, maybe he can prove a stronger defense."

"Like destroyin' that shrine."

"Yes, and takin' their horses. I mean, I don't know if he personally sanctioned any of this or not. This is the other problem, there's a culture now in his regiment. The rot has traveled down the trunk."

Lilly felt more infuriated the more Captain Monroe described the situation. "Let's find the wagon and I'll get the medicine. You shouldn't be seen around any of this."

Arthur glanced at her with a puzzled look in his eyes. "Wait, who said you were doin' this?"

Lilly looked back at him with squinted sapphire eyes. "I just did. You got to do the last one."

Arthur groaned. "Fiiine."

"Thank you, Mrs. Morgan. But I must ask you to please be discrete. We really cannot afford more conflict. I'm still hoping a meeting can be arranged between Rains Fall and Colonel Favours," explained Captain Monroe.

"So, discrete. How discrete?" Lilly asked him.

"You only need to commandeer the vaccine. Not bein' seen is preferable..." he looked at her pregnant belly, "if you can manage."

"Oh, I can manage. And I swear I won't be seen," Lilly said with an innocent smile.

Adair laughed inside her head. "I have an idea."

"What?" Lilly whispered as Captain Monroe kept on with Arthur.

"You do remember I am a shapeshifter like my mother, yes?"

Lilly suddenly grinned fron ear to ear. "What did you have in mind?" Lilly whispered again.

As the men and Lilly found a good vantage point on a high ledge, Arthur used his binoculars to look for the wagon. "You're good folks, you two, but I fear this task to be a fool's errand."

"Well firstly, I am a long way from a good man, seco-"

Lilly slapped his arm lightly. "Just shut up and take the compliment."

Arthur chortled at her. "Yes, m'lady."

Lilly looked at him from the corner of her eye and smiled. "Silly man."

Arthur turned to Captain Monroe. "May I ask you a question?"

"Of course," replied Monroe.

"Why don't you just tell all the folk up in Washington what kind of an idiot Colonel Favours is and save us all a lot of bother?"

Monroe chuckled. "Unfortunately the government doesn't work quite like that."

"If you say so."

"There," Monroe pointed. "I think that's the wagon."

Arthur gazed through the binoculars. "Alright, get yourself outta here."

"Just remember to keep it clean. Understand me?" Monroe said to Lilly as he crouched up to leave.

"Of course, Captain," she replied as she looked out at the wagon.

"Well, good luck."

"See you back at Wapiti."

"Try not to get yourself killed, Mrs. Morgan." Captain Monroe left and mounted his horse.

Arthur looked at his wife. "You gonna get goin'?"

Lilly held up a hand. "I'm waitin' for Captain Monroe to leave."

"Why? If you don't go now, you'll miss the wagon."

Lilly chuckled. "Adair and I got an idea."

Arthur threw up his hands as Lilly was enveloped by light and Adair appeared. "What are you doin'?!"

Adair smiled as her red wings came out. "Something amazing."

Adair stood up and dove off the edge. Arthur leaned over and watched as she landed on the ground effortlessly. Her body started changing into something big with red fur. Arthur stared in disbelied as the goddess shifted into a red grizzly bear. "You have got to be kiddin' me!"

Adair, in her new form, ran towards the woods in the direction of the wagon. It was exhilarating for Lilly to be like this, even if she really wasn't.

"Oh my God, Adair! This is ridiculous!" Lilly said in Adair's mind with a laugh. "Why didn't you do this before?"

"Other than at Sisika, I had no reason to shift," Adair replied as she ran through the trees.

"You can talk in this form?!"

"Yes."

Adair saw the wagon turn the corner and she charged faster. She let out a loud roar to get the men's attention as she got to the middle of the road. The men pulled back the reins immediately and Adair roared again. The horses bucked and neighed in fright but the men just sat where they were, frozen in fear. Suddenly one of them pulled out a gun and fired. It bounced off Adair's shoulder and she charged with a bellow. The men jumped out and ran away screaming. Adair stopped and let out a sigh. Once the men were out of sight, Adair shifted back into her regular form. The horses bayed and went on their hind legs as Adair tried to soothe them.

"Easy, easy," she cooed. "There there, I will not hurt you," she said in a soft voice as if she were speaking to a child.

The horses gradually calmed down and she pet them both. Adair climbed into the wagon and searched through the boxes. When she found some vials, Lilly spoke up in her head.

"Those are the vaccines."

"But what about the other supplies? Should we not confiscate them?"

"I'm sure other people will. Let's go."

Lilly," Adair said as she jumped out of the wagon. "I am sorry for what I did to Arthur. Truly."

"I know. You were just defendin' me, but he and I always say things like that when we fight. We never mean any of it."

"I see. Humans are strange." Adair started walking down the path as Arthur came galloping along on Rose with Liath behind him.

"Love is strange. But you are forgiven."

"Thank you."

Adair shifted back into Lilly and then the Irish woman mounted on Liath while putting the boxes of medicine in her saddlebag. Arthur merely gaped at her and she chuckled. "What?"

"You fuckin' changed into a bear!" he shouted as they trotted down the trail.

"Technically that was Adair's doin'," Lilly said with a giggle. "It was absolutely amazin', Arthur!"

Arthur shook his head and sighed. "It sure looked amazin'."

They hurried along the trail and soon enough, they were back in Wapiti. As they dismounted, Brian and James came out of nowhere and Lilly greeted them.

"Hello, boys. Where have you been?" They only looked at her and she chuckled happily.

Lilly grabbed the vaccines and her husband and she went around looking for Captain Monroe. He was tending to another sick native. "Hey, Captain! I got the medicine!"

Monroe stood up as Lilly handed them over. "Oh, wonderful. That's great news, Mr. Morgan."

"It went fine. As I promised, I was not seen."

She could almost hear Arthur groan internally. "I'll have to take your word for that." Monroe took out a vial and examined it. "We could swing for this."

Arthur started coughing and Lilly pat his back. "True, but it won't come to that."

"Maybe." Monroe set the boxes down. "I just hope Colonel Favours thinks he was robbed by bandits, and not..."

"Oh, don't get it wrong. We are both bandits."

"Of course. Well, I better get to work." He shook both their hands. "Thank you, both of you. Bandit or not, this was a good thing. Maybe it'll get us all three of us killed, but it had to be done."

Lilly and Arthur said their goodbyes and went to their horses. "So, we gonna tell anyone what happened?" Arthur asked her.

"No. I think people still have a hard time with me bein' a reincarnated goddess, so...best we keep this a secret for now."