Chapter 187: Camping Once Again!

"You know, I liked beds, but I kinda like this, too,” Ann yawned, stretching out on the ground next to the fire. They’d taken the time to set up camp, get some food cooking and get comfortable. The smoke and light might attract something, but with Ann, Kat, and Lucia’s enhanced senses, they weren’t too worried about an ambush while they were all awake.

Ann had started switching between her human eyes and wolf’s eyes as the daylight dimmed. Doing this as regularly as she had, the transition was becoming less excruciating. Her head still hurt like someone was jabbing an ice pick into her brain, but it wasn’t full on nausea-inducing migraine. Maybe after a couple weeks of this, it’d get down to major headache. A girl could hope.

Right now, Lucia was stalking through the woods, trying to track down some kind of prey for future meals. They still had supplies, but it didn’t hurt to be prepared for the eventuality of those running out. Ann had been out with her, but had been shooed off. Apparently she made too much noise, despite Ann not even hearing her own pawsteps.

Bren had taken a seat on a larger stone, wrapped himself in blankets on top of his robes, and opened a book. He hadn’t said much, but Ann could see his brain mulling over the earlier conversation. She hoped so, at least. Prolonging things wasn’t really her style, but Bren had a lot to weigh. Maybe that’s why Lucia had told her to leave? So she could be alone with her thoughts?

Kat, same as her all-but-brother, was buried in a pile of blankets warding off the cold of dusk. Rosalyn, who had no issues with the cold, was buried in with her. Happy little noises came from the bit of her head that poked out. Ann kind of wanted to join them, but was also happy the two were bonding. Maybe another night.

“Speak for yourself,” Rosalyn grumbled. “I liked the softness. Hard ground stinks, and none of our bedrolls are poofy enough.”

“Aw, we spoiled ‘er,” Kat chuckled. “A taste o’ luxury an’ now she can’t go back.”

“I can, just don’t want to,” Rosalyn pouted. “Big difference. Still, being out in the wilds again, the atmosphere is nice. Plus, we’re far enough out that we don’t have to worry about people coming after us. Barely got any sleep on those nights.”

“I know. Ye kept tryin’ tae get us tae distract ye,” Kat said, nuzzling Rosalyn’s fluffy hair.

“We have the sound thingies! It wouldn’t cause any problems! You all are paranoid, I swear.”

The first couple nights had been rather tense. A couple times they’d heard soldiers or other people combing the woods. Moving through the area in the morning had been a tense matter, always listening and watching for any movement. Anyone who had stayed behind or was still looking for them.

“Aye, but me Ma’ is gonna be freakin’ out,” Kat sighed, her face sad. “Hope Junia’s keepin’ ‘er together. Still feel like shite fer doin’ that, even if I needed tae.”

“I feel bad, and she’s not even my mom,” Ann groaned. “Really hope she can forgive me later.”

“Me as well,” Bren agreed. “I know she will be contacting my parents as soon as possible.”

“Will that be a problem?”

“I doubt it. While they are friends, it has not been a close relationship for a good few years. I am certain they will offer condolences for her loss and offer to keep an eye out for us, reporting anything they hear. If we visit, they are likely to do so, but not until after we have left.”

“Well, that’s good,” Ann sighed. “Wouldn’t want them getting in trouble because we’re causing trouble.”

“Oh crapbaskets, my parents!” Rosalyn exclaimed.

“They’ll be fine, little lamb,” Kat said, hugging her closer under the blankets. “Ma’s not so ruthless tae revoke protection from important people tae the family. Least she wasn’t. Still, I highly doubt she’d do anythin’ that’d put yer family in danger. Don’t think she wants others she likes tae go through what she has.”

“That’s less comforting than I would like, but it’s something. I’d like to get a letter to them at some point, though. Maybe in the next town we hit? Most towns have mail, right?”

“Aye, but we’re not gonna be able tae use me status tae get it through faster. It’ll take time.”

“That’s fine. As long as it gets to them, and lets them know I’m ok, then I’m happy,” Rosalyn nodded.

“I would suggest using my name, however Orlana likely has the post watching for that as well,” Bren sighed. “Just use a name your parents had for you instead of your real name. Something they would recognise instantly but not be obvious to others.”

“Rosie, got it.”

“Maybe a bit further off the mark.”

“Rosebud?”

“Still close.”

“Isn’t that a sled?”

“Little flower?”

“That could work,” Bren nodded. The pot on the fire began to boil, and he tossed a packet of tea leaves into it, quickly retreating back into the blankets.

“Grumble, grumble, thought I was done with secrets,” Ann complained.

“Soundin’ like Waheela, there, Ann,” Kat teased.

“Well, she agrees with me! She’s been rambling on and off about pride and being head of the pack since we got out of Korvas. I think being out here is making her more comfortable and talkative.”

It feels wonderful. Like I can breathe once more! We need to run, hunt, tear the throats from our prey and howl our dominance to the moon! We are stalkers of the night, predators in the dark, terrors lurking in shadows! The green one does not know what we can do.

“Yeah, she’s definitely happier,” Ann sighed. “At least it’s almost puppy like, even with the wanting to tear things throats out and drink their blood. Your Dragon treating you alright, Kat?”

“Nae. Been dealin’ wit’ all that,” Kats shoulders drooped. “Been a non-stop tirade o’ tellin’ me I failed an’ betrayed me mother. She is part of our hoard, an’ we cast ‘er out. Keep arguin’ that she’s not gone. Just ‘cause I’m not in the city doesn’t mean she’s not still important tae me. It doesn’t seem to get that quite yet, though.”

“You figure out if it’s a man or a lady dragon?” Rosalyn asked.

“Not yet. Somethin’s keepin’ it quiet about that. Says the Wolf is too true tae what it is, an’ the Goat is too forthcomin’. Don’t think it likes either.”

Ignorant lizard. The Goat is true to itself more than any. For its prior point, there is no shame in your pack knowing who and what you are. They are family. The leader must be known.

“Yeah, Waheela thinks it’s full of shit. More about the pack being family, all of that stuff.”

“Well, it says the Wolf is endangerin’ itself by callin’ possessions family.”

“Xirali isn’t talking, but she’s giving me the impression that both are dumb.”

“I really wish they could actually talk to each other,” Ann sighed. “Get their squabbling over with.”

“I sure don’t,” Rosalyn said. “I don’t want Waheela and the Dragon getting along. Can you imagine how awful they’d be if they were working together? They could use both your insecurities and what the other thinks against you. That’s too much.”

“Aye,” Kat nodded, chin rubbing the top of Rosalyn’s head.

“Collaboration would be problematic until we are able to, if at all, convince them to be more aligned with our cause.”

“Yeah,” Ann said. Her thoughts turned back to that offer Waheela had made the day Kat was shot. The power the old wolf promised. I know you said that was an open offer. Does that still hold up?

It does. Power to protect one’s pack. As the leader, you should be terrifying to your enemies, and welcoming to your family. I offer the former. You are well on your way to the latter.

You still haven’t told me what you actually get out of that.

Security, Waheela rumbled. I need you powerful to rip the throats from my enemies. I will devour you if you die before then.

Gee, kill me if I die? That’s kinda sweet.

Do not mistake me. I will take my pound of meat, just as you will be rewarded for cooperating with me.

What does cooperation look like? Your idea of it, at least.

Waheela was silent for a long moment. It has become… clear that I am bound too tightly. I have little if any influence over you besides altering your form through the mistake the bitch made. I have been raging against the seals for months, with no change. It is my current theory that only you can undo these.

So you want to make a deal?

Precisely. Your cunning does you credit. I propose a partnership. The Goat and the Lamb seem to have come to an agreement. Prey stick together, but so does the pack. As much as I would love to devour you, sip your marrow from cracked bones, that is no longer within my power. What is in my power is convincing you to allow me to assist in your crusade.

The crusade set up by the bitch who bound you?

I did not say I would enjoy it.

Ann sighed, drawing glances as she stared at the sky. Her ears barely picked up Rosalyn telling Kat that she was talking to Waheela. Xirali was snooping around, apparently.

See, that’s the problem I’ve got with this. You’re unwilling. If you want to help, I want you to want it. Maybe not for Orenous, but for our pack. Kat, Rosalyn, and I are all stuck with our Warped spirits. I need to figure out more about what’s causing this to help the rest of the world that isn’t lucky enough to have a Goddess protecting them.

You would ask me to take the whole world as our pack?

No, that would be insane. We can’t do that even if we wanted to. Way too many people. I don’t know how this journey is going to end. I feel like we haven’t even started. It would just be nice to have the old wolf that rages inside me to be on my side, instead of the monsters I’m fighting.

Waheela was quiet again. Ann lay there, staring at the stars, tracing Orion in her mind.

I will think on this. Do not be excited. I will not come to a conclusion soon.

Well, good. That might give me time to forgive you for what you said in that carriage.

Why initiate this discussion if you are still enraged?

Because I can’t run away from you. Can’t hide anything from you. You’re everywhere I am, feeling what I do. As much as I despise what you have said about people I care about, working towards cooperation is more productive than stewing in hatred. I need time to be angry, don’t get me wrong. You crossed a hell of a line. Once that’s burned out, however, we can talk more.

I find this acceptable, Waheela huffed, jowls flapping. Speak with me again when you are ready. I will appraise you of my conclusion as well.

Deal.

Ann blinked and rolled over to face the fire.

“Ye alright?” Kat asked.

“Yeah,” Ann said.

“Wanna talk about it?”

“Not really. Later,” Ann said. Talking to Waheela had torn that burning hatred for the wolf back to the front. The creature who at its core wanted nothing more than blood and mayhem. To devour the world. Pushing her at her weakest was cruel. She wasn’t sure if what they’d just talked about held any truth. Waheela could just be lying. Trying to make Ann let her guard down. It was a cold tactic. Still, she did feel the creature receding into her soul, a subtle aura of confusion following it. Maybe she had said something right this time, or Waheela had learned from that moment? They wouldn’t know until they moved past this and tried. Ann felt her chest clench at the thought. She wasn’t ready for that, though.

A rustling in the brush nearby announced Lucia’s return. Ann had heard her further out, but her breathing was distinct enough to know it was their riflewoman.

“Food,” Lucia said, placing down a brace of rabbits. She sat, pulled out a knife, and started the process of cleaning and butchering them.

“I’d offer tae help, but someone’s occupyin’ me.”

“Yup. You stay here,” Rosalyn giggled, wiggling in Kat’s lap.

“Keep that up, an’ we’re headed tae the tent early.”

“Oh?” Rosalyn teased with another wiggle.

“I’ll help. Might help get my mind off stuff,” Ann sighed, sitting up.

“Know how?” Lucia asked.

“Not really, no. Teach me?”

“Watch,” Lucia instructed. Slowly, she went over how to best cut away the skin of the rabbit, remove the head, then where to cut to remove the guts.

“How much do I take out?”

“All.”

“Not saving like, the kidneys or something?”

“Too small.”

“Ah, well, let me give it a shot, then.” Ann pulled a bunny out of the pile and got to work with her claws. The cuts weren’t nearly as clean as the ones Lucia made, but she wasn’t used to precision with these things. The first pelt was an absolute mess, but she got the innards out alright. Squelching guts in her hand didn’t feel the best, but went to chuck them into the fire.

“No!” Lucia grunted, catching Ann’s wrist.

“Huh?”

“Bury. Here,” she pointed to a hole beside her. Ann had seen her digging that before she went off on her own, but didn’t know what it was for.

“Bury. Prevents animals smelling,” Lucia explained, tossing her bunch of offal into the pit.

“Ok, so how do we take it apart?”

“Head easy. Base of neck, chop. Let me, knife easier. Find joints, snip tendons. Keep bone in. Easier to carry.”

“Ok, so like… this?” Ann asked. She took a claw and put it in the rough place Remmi had taught her to disable someone’s arm at the shoulder, then sliced. Half the arm fell away, but the back muscles still hung on. Getting deeper in, she finished the job.

“Good,” Lucia nodded. “Practised. Never done?”

“Nope. Remmi taught me pressure points, and I figure those are weak spots in joints. Cut kinda where it’d be on a human.”

“Good teacher,” Lucia nodded in approval. “Dangerous skill. Same for legs.”

Ann repeated the process with a little more difficulty. The legs were thicker and held on tighter. Probably from all the hopping this little one did. “Ah!” Ann cried.

“What?” Lucia asked, looking over.

“There’s something wiggling in there!”

“Hm, parasite. Worm. Will cook, dies. Is fine.”

“You’re not worried? Not about even the eggs?”

“No. Cook through, eggs pop, die. Safe.”

“And if it doesn’t get cooked through?”

“Bad. Get sick. Need healer,” Lucia explained. “Shit yourself, vomit, water is problem. Need lots. Can’t eat. Starve. Big problem. Seen before. Horrible.”

“Woah,” Ann whispered, getting back to cutting her rabbit. “I kinda knew we got rid of them in my time, but wasn’t quite sure how. I think we froze them instead of cooking, but we still cooked everything.”

“Freezing might work. Opposite of fire. Too cold to survive, eggs die. Hm, only possible very cold?”

“I think so? Don’t trust my word on it. I didn’t look too much into how food was made. I just know we did that kind of thing for sushi fish, cause man that stuff is tasty, but can make you sick.”

“Sushi?”

Ann tossed her rabbit, now neatly dismembered, onto the snow. “It’s a way to eat raw fish. You’d take it extremely fresh, flash freeze it for whatever germs or, I guess, parasites inside, then cut it up and serve on rice or by itself. All different kinds, too. Salmon, tuna, shrimp, prawn, eel. Oh, have you heard about puffer fish?”

“No?” Lucia finished cleaning her second rabbit as Ann started on her second. Her eyes were on the work, but she was clearly so skilled she didn’t need to pay too much attention.

“So, they’re these little fish, super cute, that’d puff up into a ball when scared. It had all these quills that’d stick predators and give them a toxin that’d basically cause their heart and lungs to stop. Apparently, some psycho decided to figure out how to cut them up in an edible manner. There’s some tiny organ somewhere in them that produces that toxin, and if they hit that, the toxin gets all over the meat. No clue if it’s true, but I’ve heard the story that people who serve that have to eat one they prepared before they’re allowed to serve customers.”

“Harsh. Can understand. Trust skills for self, keep customer safe.”

“Essentially, yeah. Like I said, that might be a rumour, but it sounds like a thing people would do.”

“I’d do it,” Lucia shrugged, shucking another hide and setting it near the fire. Soon enough another pile of guts joined the pit. “Good test.”

“Ride or die,” Ann said. They focused on their work, and quickly finished the six rabbits.

“I’ll spit. Put over fire. Cooked lasts longer. Dry better. Will start process.”

“Yeah, how does that work?”

“Couple hours before sleep,” Lucia nodded. “Will cut thin, then cook over fire, then dry near fire. Should be fine. If animal eats, then get more. Tomorrow, attach to bags. Let sun dry rest.”

“If it’s a sunny day,” Kat pointed out.

Lucia nodded. “Chance, but use salt, helps. Quicker dry. Will do,” Lucia grunted, waving Ann away.

Ann went to sit with Kat and Rosalyn since her spot by the fire had been commandeered by their hunter. “She really knows her stuff.”

“Ye pick it up,” Kat said.

“Yup. Gotta be able to live off what you’ve got. Really important when you’re not in a city with easy access to pastries.”

“How long are you gonna be on about that?” Ann laughed.

“Until I get more?” Rosalyn pouted.

“Och, we’ll give ye a cream fillin’ tonight,” Kat said.

Another retch from the campfire sent them all into giggles. Even Bren, funnily enough.