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.They were large and some had blood on the reeds.“We started freeing the prisoners and they descended.We fought.Other cougars and vultures came out of the shadows and started fighting with us.They didn’t agree with the way that your kind was being held.They’ve helped.” Rama pointed to others who tended to the wounded.“Can you take care of the others while we go back for help?” Belik asked.Rama nodded.“I should be okay.We’ll need more people to help.We lost Illiana’s mother and aunt.”“We know.I saw them.I’m going to take their bodies back with me.I’ll find more healers, but tell everyone who is able to head back to the village.We’re gathering there.Anyone is welcome as long as they don’t want to take off any more heads.I’ll tell Illiana, but they should come in human form so that they aren’t attacked,” Belik told her.“I’ll tell the others,” Rama said.Belik and Ohanzee picked up their bodies.When Illiana saw her kin, she would lose control.By not seeing them, he also knew she would wonder where they were.This was the only way to at least bring some kind of closer to her.He hated to do it and felt the tears stinging his cheeks.In their arms were the only leaders of the flock he had ever known.Now they had no one to turn to.Would Illiana be able to take up her mother’s mantle and lead them? Did she even want that burden?“This will break her heart,” Ohanzee said.“I know, but at least this way she knows.”The other man nodded.“At least this way she knows.”* * * *Illiana walked through the woods toward the village with Daruk by her side.The devastation that had been wrought with all the fighting turned her stomach.Bodies littered the forest floor.They would have to be buried or burned she would have to see to it they were all gathered.The day and the insanity of the events would live in the memories of the flock and the pack.There was the task of driving out all who were left and then rebuilding the villages.Now that the threat was over, she would have to start from scratch, too.First, she had to find Christopher.Once she found him she would feel better.Then she could worry about the future and what was going to come next.“What are we going to do with the bodies?” Daruk asked.“We have to bury them or burn them.I can’t imagine the stench if we don’t.”“If you don’t mind my suggestion, I’d say gathering up the bodies and putting them into one place is the best solution.I can hit them with one blast of dragon fire and it’d be done.”“I’m not sure if the flock would want their dead with the vultures and the cougars.”“Well, we can always put them in different spots.That isn’t a problem.It was only a suggestion,” Daruk said.She placed her hand on his chest.“I know and I appreciate that.I’ll think about it and talk to the elders who are left.They deserve some say in it.My mother will surely have a say in what goes on with our dead.”“Have you thought that your mother might not have made it?”Illiana did not want to entertain that thought, but it had crossed her mind.There were no reservations going into the attack.“I know.Since I haven’t seen them yet, I know there’s a chance, but I have to have hope.They can take care of themselves.I have to worry about Christopher right now.”“He might be their leader, but he needs someone to look out for him.”“You’ve been doing that for a long time.”“Ever since he lost his mother.”“And you loved him from then on?” Daruk asked.“I have.That’s the reason I left in the first please so that he could have a life and not be exiled by the pack, but seeing this I know I never should’ve left.”“You know that’s not true.I can see it in your eyes.Sooner or later someone would’ve come along and torn the peace asunder and you wouldn’t have been able to protect and defend your people.At least this way you knew what was coming.You were able to kill the enemies and drive them out of the forest.”“You’re right.I just don’t want to think that way.It’s been such a bloody morning and all I want to do is find him.”“We will.”They continued to walk until she came to the spot where she had seen Christopher and the rest of the wolves and ravens fighting.There were not as many bodies strewn around as she remembered.Maybe there were not many dead.Others moaned and some were trying to comfort the dying or the wounded.She could feel their lives all around her and knew that she had to help those she could, but first was Christopher.Daruk left her and was searching among the trees.She came to the remnants of the wolf village.Some of the huts had burned down and some were torn apart.Christopher’s house remained.She heard someone crying in the house.“Hello,” she called.“Illiana,” Jalisa answered her.When she went into what used to be Christopher’s room, and discovered the other wolf holding him on the bed.His color was ashen, but Illiana heard him drawing in rasping breathes.His body was covered with dried blood and marred with more scratches and wounds than she could count.The biggest one was the arrow protruding from his chest.She sunk down next to the bed and glanced up at Jalisa.Once they used to be mortal enemies because they wanted the attention of the same man, but now they were on the same side.“I thought I could bring him here and it might be better.All his other wounds have stopped bleeding, but I’m not a healer.I don’t know what to do.Can you help him?”Illiana tried to hold back her tears and felt the lump of emotions in her throat.She touched her mate’s hand and he stirred [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]