Title: Winds of Change
Pairing: Jane/Maura
Rating: M
Summary: They track the Zunuluth down! Again italics denotes mind speaking in the body of the story.
Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read and review. Also a big thanks to those of you who have favorited and followed. It really makes my day to receive feedback from my readers. Now on to the story. Happy Reading!
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CHAPTER 28
Screams of pain and pleas for help woke Jane from a deep sleep in the early hours of the morning before the sun had started to lighten the sky. She bolted upright flinging her tent flap up and quickly pulling on her pants and boots. She was at first surprised when she realized no one else was responding to the screams, it took a moment for her to process the fact that she was the only one hearing them. Somewhere nearby Lycans were in trouble and she could hear it in her mind like she had the day before.
"Everyone up!" The Laird ordered. "The Zunuluth is on the move. It is attacking nearby or has taken more victims and traveling nearby."
Warriors began spilling out of tents getting dressed and outfitted in armor and weapons as Jane herself was doing. "Don't worry about the camp, we will keep the barrier up and can come back later for our things." She turned to the five warriors on sentry duty. "Start getting the horses saddles up." Her focus shifted to five other warriors. "You help them and follow the rest of us with the horses. Thomas you help them as well." Her mail shirt was soon on and her weapons were quickly strapped into place. The hunter was ready to follow the monster on foot. Jane retrieved her bow and one quiver full of arrows from her saddle.
"Marcus, Evie, Zeon, Alexi, Poledio I want you and the people I didn't order to gather the horses to come with me now. Nina I am leaving you in charge of the group with the horses. Does anyone else here have a COM mirror besides Zeon?"
"I have one." Nina reached into her saddle bag and produced a mirror.
"Keep it on you. We may need you to circle around to another position or something. We need to be able to communicate." The distress in her mind increased. "I have to go now. Zev, Phantom scout ahead. The rest of you stay quiet and keep up as well as you can. We need to hurry before it gets too far away for me to feel the Lycans that are in trouble." The King Alpha took off through the woods with her birds flying above the trees ahead of her and her pack behind.
Jane followed the call, but also began to pick up scents of blood and began to slow down. Stumbling into the Zunuluth would not be a good idea. They came upon the back of a small home with a well-kept garden and a small barn. Near the front of the barn they could see the remains of a horse and a dairy cow. Lying near the side of the home was an elder man who was wounded and bleeding, but not dead. An older woman was near him and lifted up a crossbow when they entered the yard.
"Put down the weapon." Jane's Alpha force rolled out from her as she approached the couple. They were both fox, but the woman was Omega and could perform some magic and was a healer. "We mean you no harm. We are hunting the creature who did this. If you open your shield a little I will have two of my men stay to help you while we continue to follow the Zunuluth."
The woman's eyes got large when she saw exactly who was coming out of the forest and instantly dropped the crossbow and opened a place for two warriors to enter. "Laird the monster took my daughter and granddaughter. They only slipped out of the protections for a short time to gather milk and eggs for us to eat. My husband was standing guard, but it seemed to come out of nowhere it was so fast. It went for the livestock first attacking them ravenously. My husband stepped outside the protections to cover our girls retreat and barely made it back in alive. That thing snatched up Rebecca and Gillian and took off that way once my husband was out of reach." The woman pointed.
"I will leave those two warriors here with you until others come with their horses. You are a healer yes?"
"Yes, Laird."
"His wounds aren't too bad, but the creature excretes poison into its victims and that is what is affecting him so badly. You need to put poultices or salve to draw it out on him. If you can, add your own power to them to aid in drawing it out more quickly. We will do our best to get your girls back, but we must go now."
"Thank you, Laird." She called to the retreating back of the powerful Lycan King, still unable to believe that was who had come to their rescue.
"Zeon contact Nina and tell her about the two people we left at the home. Once the woman gets her husband into the house she shouldn't need two warriors to help her. I want one warrior and his mount left there with the mount within the barrier. Everyone else needs to continue following us."
On the run Zeon relayed the message.
"Come on we need to pick up the pace, this thing is speeding up, the cries are getting more faint." The Laird put on a burst of speed that the others had a hard time keeping up with so the Alpha made sure to leave plenty of physical signs of her passing in case she lost her party. The call was getting stronger again and more voices could be heard, Jane slowed as the woods thinned out. Her two purple birds came zipping back to her, Phantom landed on her arm and put his forehead and beak to her Royal armband. He had never done that before. The Laird stumbled as warped images came into her mind, it took a second for her to understand that she was seeing what Phantom had seen. The Zunuluth's lair was ahead. It had a makeshift pen with several beings trapped inside and there was a dark cave nearby. She felt dizzy for a moment when the bird stopped sending her the distorted images.
"Wow. I didn't know you could do that. That was really cool and that could come in handy, a lot. Can all four of you do that?"
Phantom nodded his head with a chirp answering in the affirmative.
"Good to know." She held up her closed fist for silence as her team came up behind her. "The Zunuluth's lair is ahead. It has its victims penned up and I think they are all alive. Zeon contact Nina and the other hunting parties and let them know where we are. The creature is in a cave where two cliff faces meet. We might be able to trap the creature if we close off the end the area between the cliffs. We will also need to get the victims to safety if we can before we take on the creature."
Taking a moment to think she smiled. "The Elves and Fae among us are the best climbers. Nina and the rest of our party should be here any moment with the horses. I want a squad of six or seven of our strongest climbers to head up the cliff face on this end out of the sight and run along the top and drop a rope into the pen so the captives can climb up. A few of our people will have to climb down into the pen to calm them and to help any who can't climb themselves. If we have enough take a sufficient amount of rope to drop three lines down the cliff. We need those captives out as soon as possible. I don't know how long the creature will stay hold up in its cave."
Shortly the rest of the party arrived while Zeon spoke to the other hunter parties three of which were nearby. Since more help was on the way ten instead of six of their best and strongest climbers were sent to help in the escape.
What Jane and her people didn't know was that in one of the other hunting parties was a paper and mirror reporter that had tagged along to cover the story. He was very happy when he heard that one of the groups had found the creature and even more ecstatic when he found out it was King Raven's party. The reporter made sure he had his magic imager and his special sending mirror ready to report the action live. It seemed reporters weren't much different no matter what realm one was were in.
Soon everyone was in their places surrounding the end of the cliffs. The monster would have to go through them to escape, Jane and a squad of ten were sneaking along the base of the cliff to attempt to get behind the creature when it emerged from the cave and not give it a place to retreat to and defend. The captives were slowly making their way up the side of the cliff on the ropes. Some climbing by themselves while others were being assisted by those who could climb and some being carried by the warriors. The last of the captives and their rescuers had just slipped over the cliff top and the rope was being rapidly pulled up when the Zunuluth began to emerge from the cave.
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Ethan came rushing to Maura who was visiting with patients recovering in the beds in the dining room. "Lady Snow they have found the lair and a reporter is sending it out live over the mirrors."
Maura was ushered to a front and center seat in the main room of the house with many people crowding the room as well as around other small mirrors from the farm and hand held mirrors anyone might have. Maura's heart jumped to her throat as she watched her warrior take control of the force of warriors numbering near a hundred. She saw Jane point to a cliff behind her and the picture zoomed to what she was pointing at. They could all see the ropes being lowered down the cliff into a pen filled with beings that had been taken by the creature, some of the captives were family members and friends of many currently in the room with her. Maura heard many prayers being spoken. They all watched as the end of the cliffs were barricaded in by at least ninety warriors while Jane and a squad of ten began to make their way towards the cave where the Zunuluth was hiding. Everyone sighed in relief when the last captive disappeared over the top of the cliff top before gasping in horror and fear when they saw the vast and ugly monster emerge from the cave.
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The smell hit Jane and her squad first. It was horrid, like the festering smell of hundreds of dead rancid and rotting bodies. Their eyes watered as they all fought not to wretch and give away their position. The monster roared when it discovered that its dinner was gone. It ripped the pen apart all the while the creature's many heads whipped in all directions searching for where the prisoners could have gone. Jane and her squad were hunkered down behind some rocks out of immediate sight, at least at the moment. The creature tore off away from the destroyed pen towards the opening between the cliffs and roared again when arrows, spears, and crossbow bolts began piercing the Zunuluth's heads and long necks. Those were the only places soft enough for the projectiles to penetrate. When the creature turned away to escape back to the cave the warriors at the cliff opening stopped firing upon the monster and ran closer to it tossing nets in an attempt to capture its deadly barbed tail.
The Zunuluth was not happy when it turned to find its way to the cave blocked as well, but the monstrosity continued to advance towards Jane's smaller party of warriors. The creature's vision was greatly hampered because the skilled archers had been aiming for the eyes. The smaller squad used that advantage rushing the creature spears and nets in hand. It was the job of those with Jane to attack the heads and net the claws while the Laird used her sword to pierce the dark spot on the monster's underbelly.
Jane dodged claws and heads and once even the tail before it had been immobilized by netting. She rolled under the creature and as soon as she caught sight of the darkened spot the Alpha rammed her sword up into the Zunuluth as deeply as she could before ripping her weapon back out only to stab it back in again. The black blood that poured out was nasty and burned wherever it touched, but she continued stabbing several more times while the creature screamed in defeat. Jane drew her feet up and pushed with all her considerable might. She yelled to others near her. "Let's flip it onto its back!" With another mighty shove of her legs the behemoth was up and with some of the others pushing it further up on one side they flipped the dying creature onto its back. Once on its back several warriors took axes and hatchets to its underside to make sure it wouldn't be coming back to life.
Suddenly another roar filled the air and the warriors who had been standing near the cave entrance went flying with startled shouts. The downed creature had a friend and it was pissed. The second Zunuluth was the one that had attacked the first cottage Jane and her party had found the day before, one of its crablike legs was missing a section. The section that had been laying by the father in the woodsmen's cottage.
Jane was yelling "Regroup!" when the second creature attacked with everything it had in its arsenal. Some warriors were down, but the Alpha felt none had died. The dark haired woman was shocked when two small boys ran out of the cave in a bid for freedom, apparently there were more captives inside the cave. Hopefully more prisoners were still alive. The Zunuluth turned to its escaping dinner as Jane lunged for the children, but was only able to knock one of the boys to safety as a claw clamped tightly around her chainmail covered torso. One of the Zunuluth's heads bit deep into the little boy's leg she had been unable to reach. Jane rapidly shot one of the eyes out in the head that had the boy in its mouth with her small crossbow. The Laird also grabbed one of the swords from her back and threw it end over end until the blade spun around hitting low on the neck once again of the same head holding the child managing to lop the head clean off. The mouth opened as the head fell and the screaming child rolled away from the severed body part.
The claw around her middle tightened even further and two more of the Zunuluth's heads came at her. Zev and Phantom were darting in pecking at the creature's eyes, moving quickly to avoid snapping teeth. Jane pulled her remaining sword from her back and fought with it in one hand and her wolf sword in the other. She was able to cut off two more heads while the other warriors attempted to destroy its others and subdue or cut off its remaining claws and its tail. More of her warriors were down and the creature had sunk its teeth into one young warrior and had another clamped similarly to how she herself was being held except the woman looked to be unconscious. The Laird was furious at the destruction the creature had previously and was currently causing. The powerful Alpha drew in her focus into herself calling her wolf before instantly turning into her wolfwoman form with a loud howl. She kept hold of her swords as her other weapons and armor dropped away to the ground, but her clothes and some of her other natural fiber things were held in flux for when she switched back into her human form. The large black wolfwoman quickly hacked off part of the claw holding her using the remaining part of the claw to vault onto the creature's shelled back before cutting off the other claw so the unconscious warrior could be taken to safety. The wolf also succeeded in cutting off a fourth head releasing another warrior in the process. The Zunuluth was now down to only one head, small claws, and a netted barbed tail. The Alpha positioned herself over the area where she knew the black spot was located underneath her and howled loudly once more as she plunged her God gifted wolf sword through the armored back of the monstrous creature so hard and fast that part of her arm disappeared inside it and the tip of her sword came out the darkened spot on the underside. Jane wrenched her blade and arm around inside the creature totally eviscerating the organ that gave it life, she couldn't make herself call it a heart. The creatures didn't have hearts my Jane's definition of heart. She could feel the evil and darkness pouring from the Zunuluth as it slowly collapsed under her. Ripping her arm back out of the cracked shell black blood flew out around her before she leapt from its back as others took axes and hatchets to it as well making sure the monster was as dead as the first.
In a growly voice the King ordered ten warriors who were still in good health to join her in entering the cave, while others were to surround the mouth of the dark hollow in case more of the vile creatures were present and tried to escape. The searching group found another pen inside the cave with only a few captives remaining. The prisoners were trying to push the wood over enough for the few still trapped adults could escape like the children had. The searchers also found a pile of bones in the back of the cave in front of what could only be called a nest full of slimy leather like eggs. The nest held six eggs and it appeared that they were beginning to hatch as there were many rips and tears in the hides of the ugly eggs.
"Get the captives out and get me some beings with strength with the fire element. I want this nest torched, then we will torch the bodies of the adults as well." While her orders were carried out the wolfwoman turned to the eggs and started stabbing into them until she could feel no life remaining.
Three fire elementals soon joined her. "Fire the nest and bones until only ash remains, then do the same to the adult bodies outside. We need to torch every bit of the creatures' dark taint from the area before we leave this place."
"Yes, your Majesty!" The trio chorused together.
Jane left the cave to be met by Zeon. "Report!"
"Laird we have lost no one so far, but we have several injuries. Most small, but a few severe. Drawing poultices and salves are being applied to the worst of the wounds and more are being made for the lesser wounds. The strongest healers among us are working on the most severely injured." Zeon reported.
"No, no, no. Hang in there baby! Don't you die on me! Please!" A woman's wailing voice echoed off the cliff walls as she held a little boy.
It was the boy that Jane hadn't been able to knock to safety. His right leg was missing from mid-calf down and he had lost lots of blood and more was continuing to flow out of him. The boy didn't look to be over four years old.
"Maura, I need your help."
"What do you need Jane?"
"I need you to link with me and see what I see and lend me some of your healing gift to boost mine to save a little boy's life."
"I will do all that I can sweetheart."
Jane felt Maura merge deeply with her as she crouched still in her wolfwoman form beside the crying woman and injured boy. "I need water and a cloth to wash off my hands. Quickly!"
Alexi arrived along with Gil and they helped the Alpha clean her large hands and forearms. The Laird immediately laid her powerful wolfwoman hands on the exposed stump and began drawing the poison out. The Royal couple's combined power was working wonders and those around the injured boy and Alpha could see the poison oozing out of the boy until none remained.
"Maura, I need you to not cap off the wound. We can't re-attach his lower leg because the creature ate it, but I think I might be able to help if you can keep the exposed ends of the stump healthy and open without too much more loss of blood."
"I will do my best Jane." Maura wanted to question what her love was going to do, but felt the urgency of the moment and kept quiet.
The boy was a Lycan, a lion to be exact. Jane kept her palm on the wound so Maura would be able to work on it and laid her other palm on the boy's forehead while she placed her own forehead on the child's chest. A great power rose up within Jane before she pushed it inside the boy and followed it with her mind. The child wasn't anywhere near the turning like Bethany had been, so she was going to have to force the child's cub to not only wake fully, but help it grow back part of a limb. The little golden cub did not want to wake at all and it took a great amount of energy to wake it and then keep it calm as the cub felt the enormous pain of his missing foot, and then the additional pressure and pain of the energy flowing around that injured area as Jane helped to form a new limb. It would be weak for a while, but over time it would strengthen and he would not be left with a missing limb. When the foot was formed she whispered to the cub that it was time to come out. The little cub shied away too afraid and hurt to move. Jane mentally picked the cub up holding it tight before carrying it full force out into the open. The boy screamed as his lion-self burst forth, the human scream quickly turning into that of a cub. The boy cub continued to cry as his weak lower leg and foot grew into place.
Everyone felt the power being expended by the Great Wolf King as she saved the child's life and gave him back his leg and were in awe of what the their leader had done. The boy fell into oblivion as soon as the limb was complete and Jane slumped back onto her heals instantly turning back into her human form.
"Thank you Maura."
"You are welcome dear, but on that one you did all the hard work. I had no idea you could dive into someone that deeply and call flesh and bone to life."
"I had to go that deep. He was so young I had to actually carry and force his lion to come out. God I am so tired right now I don't know if I can stand up and I really need to get this blood off of me it burns like hell."
"Oh baby I wish I was there to help. Now you get cleaned up and rest as much as you can. Also eat when you can. Do that energy coiling like you did for the tournament to build up enough to be able to function. Just so you know there is a reporter around there somewhere and he broadcast the whole thing from the time you took over the leadership of all the warrior groups until now. Thought you would want that information."
Jane growled. "Thanks. I do want it. I love you and I will be seeing you as soon as I can, sweetheart."
"I love you to my powerful warrior. I will have our tent set-up along with the rest of our group's tents so everyone can rest when you return. The farm here is even more crowded now than it was earlier." Maura mentally kissed her love before pulling back into herself.
Jane lifted her eyes to see the mother crying while holding her lion cub in one arm and her slightly older son in the other.
In a voice heavy with tears the woman thanked Jane repeatedly. "I don't know how I can ever repay you for what you did for my youngest son. Actually for me and my eldest son as well. We would not be here if not for you and your warriors. Thank you so much, Laird."
"None of us need repaid, ma'am. It is our honor and privilege to help where we can. I am glad I was able to help your son. His new growth will be weak for a while. I don't think he will be able to shift back to a lion again, once he returns to his usual boyish self, until he reaches his teens like most boys. Although, he might find it easier to do so than before since his cub already knows the way. Just make sure he takes it easy on the new foot for a few weeks, maybe get him a crutch to use until it's stronger, like you would for a broken leg."
"I will Laird. I will make sure he takes good care of the wonderful gift you have given him." The woman reached over and clasped the Kings powerful hand. "May the heavens bless you, King Raven."
Jane squeezed the hand in return. "And you and your family as well."
It took all she had to stand without assistance. Zeon, Marcus, Evie, Alexi, and Nina surrounded her immediately. "We have a reporter who has been broadcasting everything since the beginning of this little operation. I want him found and want him to have limited access. The injured and traumatized do not need him in their faces. We also need to get some wagons and find out where we need to deliver those we have rescued. Get names of all those that we have saved and their conditions and then contact the places people have been gathering to see which villages and farms they need to be delivered to. Also send some of our people to our camp to pack it up. We should be able to make it back to the Haymaker's farm tonight and Maura is having our usual camp set up so we can all be comfortable when we get back to the farm. Apparently, it is very crowded there. House, bunkhouse, and barns are full and some tents have already been erected to house large beings and overflow. I have a feeling that the crowd won't start to dwindle for a few days." She sighed when she looked down at herself, her clothes were covered in nasty black blood. "I also seriously need my change of clothes and to take a dunk in a lake or something. This stuff is nasty and it really burns the skin."
Nina smiled. "Well you're in luck, Laird. When I grabbed your saddle for your horse I also grabbed the clothes you had hanging on the line of your tent and rolled them up and attached them to the back of your saddle like a bed roll. We did that for everyone who had something dry hanging ready to wear. There were only a few of us who did it."
"Thanks Nina. I could kiss you right now, but I would get you all gross and Maura would probably kick both our asses for it anyway." Jane smiled and they all chuckled. Her thoughts grew serious once again. "Is there any more seriously wounded that won't make it back to the more powerful healers?"
"No, everyone has been stabilized for now and should make it easily back to the healers near their homes." Marcus informed her.
"You may want to walk through the warriors and those we rescued after you're cleaned up. I think that will really boost morale and reassure everyone after the losses so many have suffered." Evie advised.
"That is sound advice. I'll do that as soon as I get cleaned up. Do any of you know where I can do that?"
"There is a fast moving stream on the other side of the far cliff there. That is where several have went to clean up." Nina pointed. "I will get your things from your horse and have one of our warriors gather your weapons and we will meet you at the stream."
"Thanks Nina." The woman was off. Evie and Alexi escorted her to the stream, the duo could see just how drained their Laird was.
Jane sat on the side of the swiftly moving stream hidden from view by the limbs of a willow tree. All of her stained garments and her sword were lying beside her except for her shirt which she unfortunately still wore, she let her legs and feet hang over the bank into the running water. Jane was taking a few moments to draw energy into herself from the power of the rushing water, whereas before she had channeled her own inner power that was now running low after her battle and the episode with the little boy. By the time Nina showed up with her clean clothes, a bar of flowery smelling soap, and a towel Jane felt remarkably better. Harry was with her carrying all of Jane's weapons that she had lost during the fighting.
"Thanks guys. Please make sure that reporter isn't hanging around anywhere. I don't want my naked ass showing up in papers and mirrors across Hecation. It would be a race between me and Maura as to who killed him."
Harriet "Harry" laughed. "You are safe Laird. The reporter has three guards on him and he is well away from here. You have your privacy."
"We will leave you to wash and will stand guard outside the tree cover." Evie waved the other three women out from under the fall of the willow branches before following them out. Zev and Phantom were perched in the tree canopy watching over the King as she tossed off her soiled shirt and entered the rushing water.
It took some scrubbing to get the dried blood off her skin and out of her hair, between the hard scrubbing and the cool water she had a nice pink glow to her skin when she emerged from the stream to dry. Her clean clothes were slightly wrinkled, but felt and smelled a whole lot better than the ones she took off. Harry had used magic and a brush to clean up Jane's boots as well as she could while the Alpha washed. Once dressed Jane combed her hair with a comb that had been hidden in the towel before pulling her wild mane into a tight pony tail tying it with a leather strip. She felt much better after the wash and the constant drawing of energy from the rushing water while she bathed. Jane was very pleased that she had cleansing spells placed on all of her weapons as she strapped them all back into place only leaving off her mail shirt.
The raven haired woman wrapped the comb and soap in the towel, gathered her ruined clothes, and her mail shirt before ducking back through the willow branches to join her friends and guards.
"I feel much better now. I hope to never have to face a Zunuluth again. They are nasty creatures in every way." The Laird's stomach rumbled causing the other women to laugh. "What? I can't help it. It takes a lot of energy being a badass."
The smirk on the Laird's face cracked them up even more. "And you do it so well my Laird." Evie teased as she wiped tears from her eyes.
Alexi handed her Laird a canteen of green tea and a large wedge of fairy bread. "It isn't much, but it should calm your hunger at least for a while."
"Thanks." It took only moments for the sustenance to be gone. "Now let's go see how the sorting is going and how close we all are to leaving this place. I really want to make it back to the farm tonight if at all possible. I don't relish another night sleeping alone in a little cot when I could be wrapped around my lovely mate."
It took another two hours for them to get wagons enough to carry everyone they rescued as well as the injured and to get everyone sorted to where they needed to go and loaded up. The whole time the King was among the citizens of Hecation soothing and calming where needed, even adding to some of the healing of some of those in worse shape. The King never spoke directly to the reporter, but the reporter did continue to broadcast the general goings on of the clean-up of the rescue and hunt. When everyone was mounted up and ready to go the reporter had tried to join their party, but was convinced not to follow by several warriors as well as civilians.
Jane and her group were the last ones to leave the area and were escorting two wagons filled with mostly women and children. There was only one of the General's men who had been injured enough that he needed to ride in the wagon instead of on his horse.
The boy who was now a cub was being held in one of the wagon's by his mother while his brother who looked about two years older wiggled beside the pair as his mother tried to get the fussy boy to be still and rest. "William I know you are tired and hungry, but we have a few more hours before we reach the Haymaker's farm. Why don't you rest a while, it will make the trip go by faster?" The mother looked like she wanted to nap herself.
Seeing this Jane rode up beside the wagon. "Ma'am, if William wants to, he can ride in front of me for a little while. It might calm him down a bit."
The mother could hardly believe the King was offering to let her fussy boy ride with her. "Are you sure you don't mind?"
"I wouldn't have offered if I minded."
William's eyes were big. "Mama, please! Charley got turned into a cub by da King, canna I get to ride on her horse with her. I'll be real good, promise."
"If you promise to be good you can, for a little while."
The boy squealed with joy and stood moving to the side of the wagon. Jane easily lifted him onto her lap and laughed at the large smile on his face. She also saw the wistful look that crossed the face of the eldest of the rescued children in their party. It was a girl about 12 years old. The next oldest was a boy about eight. Jane read the girl's mind and knew Gillian and her mother were the daughter and granddaughter that had been taken earlier that day. Their calls were the ones Jane had followed to the Zunuluth's lair. The pair were also not going to be with them for the whole ride back to the Haymaker's farm. Their family home wasn't too much farther along the road. The tall woman also read how the 12 year old wished she was young enough to get to ride on the big black horse with the King.
"I believe I heard someone call you Gillian, didn't I?" Jane addressed the girl.
"Yes, Laird."
"Well how would you like to climb up behind me here for the rest of the trip to your home? I know this big boy can take our weight." The dark haired woman patted her horse's strong neck.
Gillian sported a beautiful smile as she climbed over to the edge of the wagon and with Jane's assistance eagerly climbed up to sit on the bed roll behind Jane before holding tight to her King's sides.
The civilians were surprised at how natural and easy with children the powerful King was, but the warriors who had been traveling with her and the Queen were not fazed at all by the dark haired woman's interaction with the children.
It took quite a bit longer to get to the fox family's home when you had to use the road and travel slowly with wagons than running through the woods at full speed. Twenty minutes into his ride William was fast asleep in the King's arms. His mother seeing her boy asleep made a comfortable spot beside herself and with the King's help the tired boy was soon settled down by his mother and brother, hopefully to sleep most of the rest of the trip.
Once the boy was settled Jane had Gillian move to sit in front of her. "Can you ride a horse?"
"I do okay. We only had the one, but my grandpa has made sure I knew how to ride him."
"Good." Jane handed the girl the reins. "Take these and let's move on up in the formation."
"Yes, Laird!" With a beaming smile Gillian eagerly took the reins and did what Alpha ordered.
When the group came upon the girl's home thirty minutes later the large black stallion was leading the way with a smiling and waving Gillian guiding the big black horse up to the front of the house. Her grandparents and the one guard Jane had left behind were standing on the porch smiling and laughing upon seeing the excited girl.
The elder couple were overjoyed to have their daughter and granddaughter returned to them. "Thank you all for bringing back our girls to us safe and whole. It means more to us than I can possibly express." The father and grandfather spoke. His legs were bandaged, but he was moving around pretty well."
"We're glad we could do so. Arrangements have been made and you will have a new work horse to replace the large one you lost as well as a dairy cow. I am also arranging to have a mare delivered for Gillian. She handled my horse very well and a good mare would be useful to all of you." Jane stated. She wanted the girl to have something to look forward to after the trauma she had suffered and the girl had spoken on their brief ride how she always wanted a horse of her own. It was a small thing Jane could do for Gillian and for the family. Assistance had already been set-up to help all of the families that had been effected by the Zunuluths. That had been one of the first things to be taken care of when she met with the leaders of the other hunting parties after they had destroyed the monsters. The Hecation army would be sending out troops to provide assistance with all that needed to be done to rebuild the affected areas while the Hecation government would be helping with financial assistance as well. Jane made sure that counselors would also be sent to help those in need deal with the loss of loved ones or the trauma many had gone through. She passed that information onto the fox family.
Jane received a tight hug from Gillian as the girl thanked her for the mare and for saving her and her mother's life. "You just take care of yourself and that mare. That is all the thanks I need little one." Jane remounted making her way back out to the road where the wagons and most of the guards awaited. They all moved on down the road all of her warriors now back with her party.
Jane continued to give short rides to each of the children as they made their way towards Haymaker farm. Some of the children were real chatter boxes while some barely said a word, but all leaned into Jane seeking comfort from the powerful wolf. Many times the children fell into a deep sleep against her. The Alpha figured it had something to do with the waves of comfort and safety she sent to the children, every one of them was exhausted. The group stopped a few times for potty breaks and to stretch their legs. The warriors shared the food they had in their saddle bags and what was left in the bags on the pack horses with the rescued Hecations.
It was late and well after dark when the first of the mounted warriors appeared out of the trees behind Haymaker farm. Several happy shouts were heard and a crowd began to form as more warriors emerged from the trees followed by two wagons full of former captives. The King was the last to emerge with a smiling Charley sitting in her lap no longer in lion form. Jane stopped by the wagon and sat the boy back down by his mother. The Laird saw her love way on the other side of the yard sporting a wide smile. A path opened up before Maura and Jane leapt off her horse passing the reins to Ashley who stood nearby before heading towards her wife. Zev and Phantom raced ahead of her to join their mates who were perched near Maura. Everyone bowed to Jane as she strode past. Their King had risked her life to protect them and had led the warriors who destroyed the monsters plaguing their homes and families. Jane had taken another step on her way to becoming a great and powerful leader of legend.
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Maura was so proud of her wife. The respect that everyone showed Jane when she had leapt from her horse and started walking towards her brought tears to her eyes. The smaller woman wanted to run to her, but thought it was better to let Jane come to her and get out of the crowd. It wasn't long before strong arms wrapped around Maura and soft lips met hers in a kiss filled with love and longing.
"It feels like it has been forever since I last kissed you, Maur."
"I feel the same way, love. I can't wait to have you naked and in bed with me this night. Soundproofing spells on our tent are going to come in handy."
Jane chuckled into the kiss. "I totally agree, but we best get everyone squared away first so we won't be disturbed once we enter our tent."
They eased from the kiss they had been so lost in to hear the sounds of whistling and cheering. Everyone seemed to really like seeing how in love with each other the King and Queen were. Jane and Maura worked together along with many of their people to find places for everyone to sleep, reuniting family members with their loved ones, making sure anyone who needed it was visited by a healer, and also making sure everyone had hot food to eat and plenty to drink. The atmosphere became that of a celebration and went well into the night. People spoke praises of those they had lost and gave thanks to the heavens for the return of those that had been taken.
Maura and Jane were both glad it took a lot more to get a Lycan drunk than a human or they would have both needed help to their tent by the time things began to die down. Many toasts had been given for the dead and for the survivors. The couple took a quick, yet thorough shower together in the fancy camp shower by their tent. A private covered area led from their tent to the shower a few feet away. They had just finished drying when Jane scooped Maura up in her arms, the smaller woman wrapping her legs around a firm waist. The Laird's large hands gripped her lady's ass tightly pulling her close loving the feel of fresh wetness against her tanned skin. Their lips were devouring each other, breasts pressed firmly together.
The passion blazing between them could easily have caught the tent on fire. Jane sprang up onto the bed with Maura firmly beneath her never breaking their kiss or their connection in any way. The dark haired woman's hands went to her loves knees prying them from around her and pushing them up and out as she positioned them both where their cores would meet. When they locked together they both groaned into the kiss as Laird Raven rocked forcefully against her mate burning them both up in an inferno until they both exploded together crying out each other's name as they peaked. Jane kept rocking until she brought them over together once more before rolling to the side carrying her wife to lay up on top of her.
"That." Jane breathed out heavily. "Was fucking awesome. If we weren't so tired right now I would keep going for the rest of the night, but we are both exhausted. I'm so glad to fall asleep with you tonight. I really missed you last night. I love you Maura and each night spent in your arms is a gift to cherish."
"You wife are a sweetheart and I love you so much. I never thought I would ever need someone as much as I need you. Having to be away from you the last day and a half has really driven home the fact that you really are a part of me now. A part that I need to live, because I feel that without you I don't believe I could survive."
"I feel the same for you. We are now two as one baby and we always will be."
Maura snuggled her head down on her wife's chest loving the arms around her and having their legs entwined. "I hope you don't mind me sleeping up here, but I find it a very pleasant place to be."
"Not at all. I love when you sleep one top of me like this." Jane kissed Maura on the temple. "Sleep well my love." She pulled the covers up over them both wrapping her arms back around her already dozing wife before joining Maura in dream land.
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Well another chapter down. A little note for all out there who may be wondering this story still has a long way to go. I see it reaching 400,000 to 500,000 words or more easy. I hope you don't mind. Please review. I love hearing from my readers. Until Next Time….Holly