Chapter 69: Change

"I swear, if you had anythin' to do with the dog's disappearance, I'll kill ya!" Arthur snapped as he pointed at Micah.

"Woa ho ho!" Micah laughed. "I had nothin' to do with it. Besides, you can't kill me! I'm a brother!"

"You ain't my brother!" Arthur yelled.

"Jack?" Abigail yelled. "Jack, where are you?"

Arthur looked around and saw John and Abigail looking for Jack. Arthur sighed, realizing Lilly was gone too. "Abigail, I think Lilly probably took him."

Lilly and Jack sat down on the riverbank not too far from camp. Brian and James were running and playing in the river, so Lilly and Jack joined in. They chased after the boys and splashed them in the water and at one point, Lilly was gave Jack a piggy back ride as she ran after Brian and James. They barked and howled in the play, dodging and jumping around as Lilly followed them around.

"Jack!" Lilly heard Abigail yell from the riverbank.

Jack slid off Lilly and ran to his mother happily. "Momma! Are you all done fighting now?"

Abigail picked him up and kissed his cheek. "Yes, sweetheart, I'm sorry. We're all sorry."

"It's okay. Aunt Lilly and I were having fun with Brian and James."

Abigail laughed as Lilly walked over to them. "Sorry, Abigail. The boy got scared and, well..."

"It's fine. I'm just glad he's okay."

Lilly ruffled Jack's wet hair and giggled. "He's a tough kid. Gettin' big, too. Almost broke my back havin' you ridin' on it, buddy. You're gonna grow up and be so big!"

Jack laughed. "Aunt Lilly, you're silly."

Arthur came walking down the trail and looked relieved. "There you are, my wife," he said. "I was lookin' for you."

Lilly sighed in submission with a throwing of her hands as Abigail took Jack back up the trail to camp. "What the hell happened up there?" she asked him.

"I don't know," Arthur replied with a grin expression. "It's over now, at least. Come on, let's get you changed into some dry clothes."

Lilly suddenly gave her husband a smirk and backed up into the river. "Oh, I don't know about that, Arthur. I like stayin' wet," she cooed.

A wheezy laugh escaped from Arthur's lungs. "You saucy tiger..." He walked down to the river bank and held out a hand to her. "But seriously, co-"

Lilly dragged him into the water and pushed him over with a laugh. "That's for Horseshoe Overlook!"

Arthur resurfaced and shook his head with a laugh, wiping his mouth and blowing through his nose. "Okay, I guess I deserved that."

Lilly giggled and helped him up. Arthur grabbed her hair and pulled her in for a kiss. Lilly touched his jaw with her fingertips as she mirrored her husband's kissing. Their lips stayed locked on for some time as they stood in the river together, then they parted and walked out. "So, what now?" Lilly asked him.

Arthur coughed a little. "I need to go meet up with Eagle Flies and Dutch. You comin'?"

"Of course."

"Let's go get changed, then."

"Da, are you...have ya..." Lilly scoffed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Ya really think this will make the army leave 'em alone?" Lilly asked Dutch.

"Yes. We're just gonna trap a few of them in the valley," Dutch wandered over to the wagon full of dynamite, "disarm them, tar and feather them, and remind them to leave," Dutch reached in for a box of dynamite, "these boys alone."

"You have energy for pranks?!" Arthur snapped at him.

"Come on, you two," Dutch said, walking away towards the decline of the hill. Lilly and Arthur followed. "It's just tweakin' Uncle Sam's nose a little. I need you to help me. Lilly, you stay. I need a word with your husband."

Lilly sighed and watched as the two descended down the hill. Lilly turned back towards the Indian men and sighed. "You need help with anything up here?"

Eagle Flies looked at her. "No, but thank you." He looked around then back at her. "No Brian and James today?"

Lilly chuckled as she sat on the cliff edge. "No, they're at home today playing with my nephew."

Eagle Flies went and sat next to her. "I see." He looked down at Dutch and Arthur. "We don't have a lot of time! The patrol should be coming in a few minutes!" he yelled down at the two men. He looked back at Lilly. "So, how do you like the view?"

Lilly made a look of being impressed and inclined her head. "The view is pretty damn good, I gotta say." She looked down at her husband and waved. He waved back at her.

"I hear your husband is sick," Eagle Flies commented. "I'm very sorry."

"Yes, but I have him on treatments and...a old friend of mine promised that she'd heal him. She has her ways."

"Well, I hope she follows through."

"Me too." Lilly dangled her legs back and forth and Eagle Flies stared at her strangely. It made her laugh. "What?"

"Why do you do that with your legs?"

Lilly shrugged. "Why not? You never just..." she kicked her legs about lazily.

Eagle Flies shook his head. "No."

Lilly giggled. "Try it."

Eagle Flies untucked his legs and hung them over the cliff. He started kicking them about softly and blinked. "What is the point of this?"

"No point, really. Just means you're relaxed."

"Then I must be doing it wrong."

Lilly laughed at him. "Oh, ya need to lighten up, man."

Eagle Flies chuckled and looked down below. "I am lightened up. We're gonna tar and feather a patrol," he said softly before yelling down below. "I think that should do it! Come on now, quick, get back up here!"

Lilly watched Arthur and Dutch run back towards the hill and she stood, arming herself with her repeater. She cocked it and crouched with the others. "Hurry, I think I see some movement in the distance," someone said.

"Quick now, Arthur. Everyone into position," said Eagle Flies. Lilly looked out over the road but couldn't see anyone coming. She pulled up her red bandana. "My spotter will let us know when they're near."

"They're coming now. Oh, damn! The patrol is a lot larger than we thought it was gonna be.

Dutch chuckled happily. "Don't worry, that's a good thing," he said.

Lilly gaped at him. This was not a good idea at all. "Seriously?"

"Okay, that's the signal. Here they come. Stay low and quiet," Eagle Flies said.

"You sure you don't want me to man that plunger, Arthur?" Dutch asked him.

"No, I got it," Arthur barked resentfully.

"Oh, remove the weight of the world from your shoulders for a minute. Like I said, we're just goin' to give them a bit of a scare," Dutch assured.

"There they are. Looks like more than we thought," Eagle Flies observed.

"It's fine, we're only here to talk...and administer a little good old-fashioned humiliation. You're owed that, son, at the very least."

"Wait for my lead, men."

"Everyone just stay calm. We got the upper hand here."

Lilly frowned. "Tá sé seo amaideach," she hissed to Arthur. [This is silly.]

"Tá a fhios agam," Arthur replied begrudgingly. [I know.]

Lilly watched as they past the first dynanite charge. "Okay, they passed the first charge," Dutch said.

Arthur pulled the plunger and the army patrol was surrounded by explosions and trees falling. Their horses bayed and jumped up on hind legs. The Indians stood and aimed their guns amd bows down into the small canyon.

"Put your hands up! You're surrounded! Nobody need get hurt! Your humiliation of us has gone on quite enough!" Eagle Flies spoke down to the men.

"This ain't a good idea!" one of them yelled.

"Níl aon amhras orm faoi sin," Lilly muttered to herself. [I have no doubt about that.]

"Put down your guns," Eagle Flies continued.

"You are makin' a mistake, boy!" a man shouted up at him.

Ditch walked to the edge. "No, you're makin' a mistake." Dutch aimed his gun. "Put your hands up, soldier, take a little humiliation and leave these fine folks alone."

"Who are you?"

"A concerned citizen."

"Is that so?"

"They're bein' ambushed!" Lilly heard someone shout in the distance. She looked over amd saw another patrol headed their way.

"What now?" Eagle Flies asked Dutch.

"We gotta go!" she yelled at Dutch.

"We should move," Arthur reiterated.

Dutch held up a hand. "No, no, no, no, not quite yet."

"Get ready to fire!" a soldier off in the distance yelked.

"Soldier, you and your friends gonna tuck tail and run off? Run!"

"Excuse me?" one of the cornered soldiers said.

"I'm gettin' bored of this." Suddenly they were shot at and they all ducked slightly. "Your friends fired first, soldier!" And Dutch fired his gun at the soldiers.

Lilly groaned and returned fire as they were being shot at. The rest followed along. "My father won't be happy about this," said Eagle Flies.

"They fired first, son!"

They shot down the first patrol quickly. "There' another patrol at the rear."

Lilly rolled her eyes. "As ucht Dé..." [For chrisssakes...] "Should I have Adair handle the rest?"

"Sure!" Dutch said.

Lilly backed up and shut her eyes as she let Adair take over. Red wings spread out, she ran towards the edge and dove off, her wings flapping to keep her from landing harshly on the ground.

Arthur sighed as he continued shooting. He hated that Lilly and Adair exposed themselves so freely. "Who is that?!" Eagle Flies asked as he looked around. "Is that Lilly?!"

"No, that's Adair. The other part of my wife," Arthur explained.

Eagle Flies chuckled and resumed firing. "Two souls, indeed!"

Adair landed gracefully and picked up a fallen tree trunk. She swung it around and knocked most of the patrol with it. Most went flying while others were smooshed down into the ground. Adair dropped it, walked to a man trying to reload his gun, grabbed him, amd flew up into the air. When she was high enough she dropped him and he screamed as he plummeted down. Adair flew back down and knocked into some men with her feet. She stood and admired her handiwork before breaking someone's neck. She kicked another into a tree, then picked someone up by their neck and smashed them into the earth.

"Nice job with the tree trunk," Lilly complimented.

"Thank you," Adair replied. Adair stood upright and admired her handiwork. She waved at everyone as they came running down the hill. She gave her wings a flap and stretched. "That was truly satisfying."

Arthur marched over to Adair with anger on his face. "Have you lost your mind? Why do you keep exposing yourself like this?"

Adair laughed a little maniacally. "Because I can."

"Adair, it's dangerous!"

"I'm thousands of years old, Arthur! Back in my day, gods and goddesses did not have to hide from mortals!"

Arthur scoffed. "Back in your day, you weren't sharing a body with a human! Back in your day, nobody was shackling you down in iron chains!"

Adair thought about this for a moment. "He's not wrong," Lilly said.

Adair snarled. "Shut it, Lilly."

Lilly giggled from inside. "So testy."

Arthur closed in on Adair as the men surrounded them. "You can't just go around flauntin' that you're a goddess, Adair. It endangers my wife and my unborn children. You're the reason why Leviticus wanted her dead in the first place! She was tortured and raped! None of this would've happened if it wasn't for you!" Arthur shouted angrily, his face turning red. "It's your fault she went through so much bullshit!"

Adair tilted her head to the side and looked at Arthur in disbelief. "I had no idea he felt that way," Lilly said.

"Neither did I," Adair replied. "Arthur, yes, I am the reason for a lot of Lilly's...bad luck, but if it wasn't for me, she would not be the woman she is today and she would not have met you."

Arthur blinked a few times. "But...you," he stammered.

"We don't have time for arguing! Let's loot. They might have information on 'em that will help our friends with their cause."

Adair changed back to Lilly and Lilly looked at all the natives who were just staring at her with their jaws dropped. "Ahem, don't ya know it's rude to stare? Close your mouths, boys, and let's find stuff on these bodies."

They shut their mouths and as Lilly went looting, Eagle Flies approached her. "We need anything my father can use to strengthen our case," he said.

"I ain't sure much is gonna strengthen your case after this," Arthur said.

Lilly looted another body and looked up at Eagle Flies who looked rather confused. "Somethin' on your mind?" she asked him.

"Well, yes!" he barked with a laugh. "You...you changed into a...flying person!"

"I did." Lilly walked away to another body.

Eagle Flies followed her. "How did you do that?"

Lilly sighed. "Two souls, remember?"

"Yes but how did you do that?"

Lilly shrugged. "Damned if I know. It's a long story."

Lilly went to another body and searched for information. Eagle Flies just stood where he was and crossed his arms. "Okay, tell me."

Lilly scoffed at him. "Now?!"

"Yeah."

Lilly laughed at him. "We don't have time for that now!"

Suddenly a cannon ball hit and some of the men fell down, as did Lilly. She groaned and got up slowly. She heard a loud ringing in her ears and looked at Arthur who ran towards her. He was saying something to her but she couldn't hear him. She shook her head and palmed her ears.

"I can't hear shit!" she shouted.

He made a face like he was laughing. He directed her towards the hill and she saw army men coming down. She pulled her revolvers out and began shooting. Arthur raced up the hill, shooting men as he went. He shot the man with the cannon and soon all the military men were dead. Lilly started to regain her hearing and she shook her head again as a horn sounded in the distance.

"Damn. They're sendin' riders from the fort, we need to leave," Arthur said.

"But where's Paytah?" Eagle Flies asked. "Was he killed?"

Lilly looked around and saw Paytah walking towards them. "There he is," Lilly pointed out.

"He's alive," Eagle Flies said in relief.

"Well, that went just about accordin' to plan," Arthur spat out sarcastically to Dutch.

Dutch looked at Arthur walking off. "I'm tryin'...I'm tryin', Arthur, with everything I have and I will keep tryin', and you'll keep doubtin' me, and we'll keep failin'!" Dutch said angrily.

"It ain't like that, Dutch, look at me. Look at me!" Dutch glanced at Arthur. "I'm just...I'm worried about folk!"

"I know, I..." There was a loud boom coming from the fort and a large cannon ball hit near the two men. Not enough to knock them on their feet but enough to make them flinch. "We should go."

"Where's Eagle Flies?!"

"Run, son! Lilly, run!" Lilly and the two men went running. "This area's gonna be crawlin' with soldiers in a few minutes. We gotta leave. Now."

Lilly looked around for Eagle Flies and any of the other natives but she couldn't find them. "What about Eagle Flies?!" she yelled at Dutch. "We can't just-"

"We gotta go, Lilly! Come on!" Lilly ran to Doc amd mounted up. The other men got on their horses and galloped away. "We need to ride hard! Stay with me!"

Lilly kicked Doc's sides. "Run, boy! Run!"

Doc immediately increased speed as she followed Dutch and Arthur but the raven black Shire couldn't keep up with the two Arabians.

"Let's see if we can lose them down here!" Dutch said as they ran down a secluded trail. Shooting began from above them. "Shit! I guess not! Get behind something, Arthur! Lilly, get-" Dutch looked around for his daughter as he got behind a boulder. "Where's Lilly?"

Arthur looked around for her too. "God dammit!" he yelled.

"She'll be fine, she's got Adair with her! Just shoot, son!"

The two men were continuously pursued by more army men but all they could do was take cover and keep shooting, then run further into the trail. Arthur was worried about his wife but hoped that she would be okay. They kept getting followed by more and more army men.

"This is a losing battle, Arthur! We gotta do somethin'!" Arthur made more shots as he went through the pass. "There's too many, Arthur! Fall back!"

Arthur and Dutch went running until they reached a bridge that was out. "It's a dead end!" Arthur yelled as he walked around and threw his hands up. "This is it, this is..."

Dutch looked down towards the canyon then looked at Arthur. "Well, Arthur..."

"Put your hands up!" an army yelled as they came down the pass, guns raised.

This was not good. Not good at all. "I said put your damn hands up!"

"Okay. Okay." Dutch side walked to Arthur as Arthur put his hands up. "Follow my lead. I got a plan. This is a good one," Dutch whispered as he holstered his guns and raised his hands. "Hello, officers."

"You keep them hands up and come here." More soldiers showed up on the other side of the bridge as well as in the pass.

"Hello, Captain."

"Keep your hands up and come here." Arthur wasn't necessarily scared, but he sure as hell was flustered by the whole situation. He hoped Lilly got away. He hoped Eagle Flies and Paytah got away. "Come here."

Dutch and Arthur started backing up and the soldiers slowly closed in on them. "We uh...we can't do that," Dutch said. "Your men...those men they killed? They were good men. You're fightin' nature, Captain."

"Get over here!" the Captain growled.

"Ask my friend here. My whole life, I tried to fight change. It's a waste, I see that now. It's a waste. You can't fight nature, Captain. You can't fight change."

All of a sudden, from up the pass, there came a loud roar and the soldiers turned around to see a giant red grizzly bear running towards them. Dutch looked at Arthur in shock but Arthur chuckled.

"Don't worry, that's Adair," Arthur assured him.

"What?!"

The soldiers started shouting as the bear neared them. "Open fire!"

Adair roared again as the men fired at her but the bullets didn't penetrate her skin at all. Adair kept coming forward slowly as she bellowed. The soldiers quit firing as they realized their guns were ineffective. Adair moved closer and Arthur and Dutch started inching their way around the soldiers, their hands still up. Arthur debated on whether or not he should say anything to Adair when she spoke.

"Get away from my men! Now!" she ordered. Arthur's eyes went wide from the shock of seeing a talking bear. The soldiers backed away from Dutch and Arthur and the two gang members ran to hide behind Adair. She roared at the soldiers again. "Do not follow us!"

Arthur peeked around Adair at the soldiers as they stared at the beast in utter disbelief. "How do we get out of this?" Dutch asked her.

"Get on."

Dutch shook his head as if he didn't hear her right. "What?"

Adair looked back at him and lowered herself to the ground. "I said get on!" she growled. "And you better hang on tight."

Dutch and Arthur both climbed atop of Adair and she turned around, running up the pass. More soldiers were in their way and at them.

"Fire back, Arthur!" Dutch yelled.

The two took their guns out and began shooting at their enemies as Adair increased her pace. She ran faster and faster, and Arthur couldn't believe how fast Adair was running. And even though they were followed, they gradually left the military men in the dust. Adair ran to a secluded wooded area to where the horses were hiding and both the boys got off. Adair changed back into her regular form and Dutch clapped her on the shoulder. "You saved our asses. Thank you, Adair."

"You're welcome," Adair responded with a beaming smile.

"What a mess," Arthur said with a shake of his head.

"I know," Dutch said, walking towards the Count. "But a mess is what we need. We just escaped," he mounted up," from chaos. Eagle Flies must've been taken."

Arthur walked to Tessa. "Taken," he said as he climbed on. "Or killed.

Adair changed into Lilly and Lilly got on Doc. "Are we gonna do somethin' about that?"

"Well, we can't go find out," Dutch said, shaking his hand to signify a no.

"No, not now," Arthur agreed whole heartedly.

"Charles...I'll...we'll send him. Where is he?"

Arthur coughed and hacked. "He's probably back at camp."

"Let's split up. I'll go tell him." Dutch neared Arthur and Lilly. "You rest up, then go meet him at the reservation," Dutch said to Arthur. "We are gonna make it, brother." Dutch shook Arthur's hand. "I can feel it. Faith, Arthur...have faith." Dutch went and trotted away from the couple.

Lilly and Arthur looked at each other. "So, let's go rest up," Lilly said. "Should we make camp?"

"Yeah," Arthur replied. The two galloped away from where they were to a nice ledge overlooking the river. They set up their tent and crawled in. "You know, that was pretty amazing what happened back there. I didn't even know Adair could talk in that...that...as an animal."

Lilly giggled as she laid down, cupping her pregnant belly. "Yeah, I was pretty shocked about that too."

Arthur leaned down and kissed her belly. "Ah, the wee bairns," he said in an Irish accent.

Lilly laughed. "Don't you start..."

Arthur smiled at her devilishly and kissed her gently, relaxing next to her. "Too late, me bonnie Irish lass..."

Lilly laughed happily and kissed Arthur. "You're such a shite."

Arthur pecked her lips again. "You love it, woman."

"I most certainly do not."

"Liar."

"Bithiúnach."

Arthur chuckled deeply into her neck. "I love it when you call me that."

Arthur woke up the next morning to find Lilly just outside crafting some herbs into a craft bowl. "Whatchu makin'?" Arthur asked as he buttoned up his blue shirt.

Lilly smiled at him. "Oh, makin' that recipe Rains Fall taught you," she replied happily.

"Oh." He looked around and saw ten bottles near her full of the stuff. "Jesus woman, where'd you get all the herbs for that?"

"Oh, I was out while you were sleepin'."

"For how long."

"...All night."

Arthur looked at her face and saw how tired she looked. "Lilly, you didn't have to do all that."

Lilly narrowed her eyes. "Not don't you even start with me, mo chuisle. I am your wife and I am supposed to take care of you when you're..." Lilly paused and started to sob. "When you're...you're..."

Arthur knelt down to her and kissed her. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"Why hasn't The Morrigan come tah heal ya? I dunna understand! It's been weeks since she said she would and we havena seen her since she helped rescue me!" she cried.

Arthur held her to his chest. "I know, but she will, I'm sure of it." Arthur wasn't really sure. In fact, he had given up hope on being cured. Had The Morrigan lied, or was she gone for good? Lilly had said some dark magic invaded Tír na nÓg, so did The Morrigan survive the attack? He hoped she did. "Darlin', don't cry..."

"I canna help it, Arthur. I dunna want ya to die."

Arthur held her face in his hands and stared into her eyes. "I know. And it might happen, or it might not. But I need you to promise me that if I do die, you gotta live on for our babies, understand?"

Lilly sniffled and nodded. "Of course." They kissed softly but Lilly pulled away. "I need to finish these."

Arthur put his hands on hers. "I can finish. You need a nap, I think."

Lilly nodded and handed Arthur the crafting supplies. "Okay."

Lilly went into the tent and Arthur finished grinding up the last of the herbs for Rains Fall's medicinal recipe. He filled more bottles until he had fifteen filled up. He was impressed at his wife's dedication but also worried. When he did die, how would she take it? He sure as hell didn't take her death all that well so he couldn't really blame her for being so upset. And she was a strong woman. Arthur knew she'd get over it eventually.

"Arthur. Lilly," Charles greeted as the married couple and the wolves made their way into Wapiti.

"Hey Charles," Lilly said with a happy wave.

"Thank you for coming," he said as they walked along.

"Oh, no problem, Charles."

"The chief, he's uh, he's very...maybe you could speak to him? One of you?"

Lilly nodded. "Arthur, why don't you? I want to go visit Hawk Eye," Lilly explained excitedly.

Arthur inclined his head with a chuckle. "Alright, go on."

Lilly and the boys went running to Hawk Eye's tent. "Mr. Hawk Eye, sir? It's Lilly," she said at the entrance.

"Come in, and bring your wolves," he said. Lilly wasn't sure how they'd fit but obliged him, calling the wolves to her as she walked in. They followed her in as Lilly spotted Hawk Eye across from her. "Please sir," he said kindly.

"Thank you." Lilly sat with her legs criss crossed and the boys settled on each side of her. "How are you, Hawk Eye?" she asked.

"I am well. And you?"

"I'm good," Lilly said with an agreeable expression. "Sir, I had some questions."

"I suspected as much. Ask your questions, child."

Lilly cleared her throat. "I can't figure out he who is like the Lord. Our only suspect is a man named Micah and he is the very opposite of the Lord."

Hawk eye chuckled in amusement. "Oh, you'll figure it out. Just trust The Morrigan and I."

Lilly sighed. "Okay..." That was not what she wanted to hear but she couldn't very well beat the answer out of the old man. "The other day, something happened. I was unable to get visions from an oak tree as I sometimes do. And right after that, this...everyone started shouting and arguing with one another and I felt as if it was, well...it seemed odd."

"That was dark magic at work. It only affected your family for a little bit, but I would suggest looking in your cave for something not natural."

Lilly grinned. Now she was getting somewhere. "Good. I will do that as soon as I return home."

"Any other questions?"

Lilly shook her head. "Not really. Mostly I just wanted to stop by and say hello."

Hawk Eye smiled and looked at the wolves. "Your brothers look well fed."

Lilly laughed. "Oh, they are."

"I have something for you."

"Okay?"

The man reached into his pouch and pulled out a small bag made of leather and gave it to Lilly. "Use this in your tea. It will help you with your visions."

Lilly looked inside and the smell of skunk invaded her nostrils. "Um, ha! You know, I have a bunch of this stuff already. I smoke it for my nerves."

"This is different. This has been mixed with other herbs. And you don't have to smoke this. You eat it."

"Eat it?!"

Hawk Eye laughed. "If that appeals to you, yes. It tastes bad, though."

Lilly snorted. "I bet."

"Lilly?" she heard Arthur shout. "Lilly, where are you?"

Lilly rolled her eyes. "That would be my husband." Lilly put the small pouch in her satchel. "Thank you for the herbs, sir. I should be on my way."

"You're welcome. And again, feel free to stop by any time."

Lilly nodded and left the tipi with the boys. As she spotted her husband, she walked to him. "Hello, mo chuisle. Somethin' goin' on?"

Arthur nodded with a determined look on his face. "We're goin' to rescue Eagle Flies from the fort."