Screaming and shaking. That’s all Fayer recognized as he was awoken. Blinking his eyes heavily, he peered at the figure in front of him. Smoke framed her little tear-streaked face, flames liking the outside of his window. ‘Lillith..?’ he asked, groggily sitting up.         

    “Daddy! Fire! Fire!” Through his haze, he made out the words she was screeching. Fear suddenly pounded into his heart as he realized what was happening.   

    “Lillith!” he bellowed, instinctively picking up the five year old. She clung to his neck as his hand shot for the sword leaning against his nightstand. The tall man grunted, gritting his teeth, as he slipped the scabbard through a belt loop. ‘Doran, you always picked on me for taking off my whole sword… Now you know why, fool,’ the golden blonde thought as he slung his shield onto his left arm. All around him, smoke threatened to suffocate the pair. 

    “Hold your breath, Lillith,” Fayer murmured gently as he carried the young girl out of the room. While he remained calm on the outside, he could feel the adrenaline and fear fighting to take over. ‘Stay calm. Use your head. Don’t do anything dumb,’ he reminded himself as he decended down the stairs. His right hand itched to pull out his sword, but he knew he couldn’t. Jumping down the remaining couple of steps, Fayer slowly looked around, shocked. 

    Everything was up in flames. Burning and burning, becoming ash right before his eyes. ‘Vendiva… Your home,’ he weeped silently. Swallowing, he pushed on, using the shield to cover Lillith’s delicate skin from the orange flames. As he approached the front door, a shadow was cast across the trees. Dread pooled into Fayer’s stomach and he paused, swiftly looking around. 

    There were no other escapes. All of the windows were blanked by the fire. His grip on Lillith tightened, causing her to whimper. Breathing deeply, he suddenly raced towards the door. Stumbling out, he was tripped by a heavy boot. Lillith squealed as father and daughter tumbled down the porch steps. 

    Fayer groaned, disoriented from the smoke and fall. As he was lifting his head, Lillith screeched. The man’s eyes widened as the young girl’s arm was snatched up by a leather covered hand. Glaring down at Fayer was a bald man, his eyes glinting with the fire that burned behind them. 

    “Fayer Henley,” the man hissed, holding up an odd-looking sword. Swallowing, the ex-general slowly got to his knees. Behind him, two soldiers stomped off of the porch, while two more stepped out of the trees. Lillith continued to shriek, fighting in the man’s grip. Shaking, Fayer focused on his daughter, ignoring the armored men. 

    “Lillith,” he murmured, staring at her calmly. She continued to fight against the man, which caused him to glare down at the girl. 

    “Hush,” he ordered her, but her lips pulled back at him. 

    “Lillith..!” Fayer snapped in a whisper, suddenly forcing her attention to him. “It’s okay,” he reassured her, while pushing himself to his feet. “It’s okay…” he repeated. Her hard stare told Fayer she didn’t believe him, but he couldn’t keep looking at her. Lifting his head, his eyes met the bald man’s. “It appears you know my name…” 

    He started, drawing his sword from its scabbard. “But I do not know yours.” The man sneered, his eyes still seeming to blaze. 

    “It won’t matter if you know it or not,” he hissed at Fayer, his grip on Lillith tightening. Fayer glanced at the girl, his heart skipping a beat. Moments later, the man screamed in shock, jerking his hand away. But Lillith followed, her teeth clamped tightly on the thick part of his thumb. With a rage filled cry, Fayer lunged forward, slicing at the man with his sword. The man cried out as the tip cut his neck, his sword dropping from his hand. 

    Behind Fayer, the two soldiers lunged, while the other two held up shields to defend the bald man. Twisting, Fayer moved just in time for the first soldier’s sword to glance off of his shield. With his sword, he parried the second soldier’s. The clashing of metal on metal rang through the air, nearly drowning out the roar of the flames as the cottage crumbled. Lillith was tossed away as she finally released her hold, scrambling away from the three men. She panted and squealed as they stepped closer to her, when something gleamed in the night. 

    Eyes glowed with flames as they trotted along the shadows of the trees, their fangs baring. Silent as the night itself, the beasts hurtled themselves into the small grassy clearing. The bald man reached for her, fury in his eyes, when a new set of jaws clamped down on his hands. This time, he screamed in utter pain as the father wolf crushed his bones. His soldiers shouted in surprise as the youngling wolves body slammed into the soldiers’ legs, knocking them over. Fayer let out a loud hoot, and more wolves jumped to his side, driving the remaining two soldiers back towards the cottage. 

    Lillith watched with wide, green eyes, when the mother wolf landed in front of her. Her fur was as black as the night, and her amber eyes sharp as ice. But she gently nosed the little five year old, before grasping the front of Lillith’s shirt. The young girl squealed as the mother wolf lifted her off of the ground, still holding the front of her shirt, and took off into the woods. 

    “Bumble! Bumble, stop! Wait!” Lillith shrieked, begging the mother wolf to put her down. She didn’t listen, however, her amber gaze focused ahead of her. Bumble continued along the dark packs of the forest, leaping over fallen logs as she flashed across the moonlight. It was when Lillith started to slip from her grasp did the mother wolf slow to a stop. Confident the child wouldn’t run away, she gently sat her down, standing protectively over her. 

    Sniffling, Lillith slowly got to her feet, her eyes focused on the distant smoke. Coughing, she swung her leg over the wolf’s back and hauled herself on Bumble’s shoulders. Wrapping her arms around the wolf, Lilith clung on as she murmured, “Go.” The pair were off again, as the mother wolf galloped between the trees. Lilith watched the tree limbs whip by, her lungs sore from the smoke. In the distance, beyond the dark shadows of the forest, she could see dozens of glowing lights. 

    ‘Syphyx,’ she thought, her hold tightening on Bumble. Moments later, the wolf lunged out of the thick underbrush and bounded through the dark grass. The village loomed ahead, like a stone forest, with candles flickering in the window sills. She hardly had a moment to think before she was screaming again, her voice carrying across the grassy hill. “Help! Somebody help me!” Bumble’s muzzle rose into the air and she let out a volley of barks that echoed through the stone houses. 

    Lillith aimed for the nearest house, tears filling her eyes again, as she continued to cry for help. When they neared, Bumble slid to a halt and Lillith flung herself off of the wolf. Sobbing and gasping for air, she bolted for the door, her small fists slamming on it. “Help! Father Doran, please! Help me!” she screamed. Behind her, Bumble took off into the thick of the houses, barking and howling as she ran to each door and scratched at them violently. 

    Voices rose into the dark night, curious and worried. But it was only when the door swung open for Lillith did she feel relieved. A broad man stared down at her, his brown eyes alight with surprise and curiosity. 

    “Lillith?” the priest spluttered, lifting the heaving girl into her arms. “What in God’s name are you doing here?” Feebly, Lillith pointed towards the trees, where the smoke was starting to become more apparent on the horizon. 

    “Fire… Daddy’s in trouble,” she whimpered, trembling. Doran’s face fell, heart suddenly racing. Behind Lillith, Bumble bounded into view, an army of gruff villagers behind her. Swiftly, the priest carried Lillith into the house and laid her on a chair. She watched with blank, teary eyes as he shouldered a shield and lifted a sword out of a glass case. He whistled sharply and Bumble entered the house, wary of the inside, but eager to listen. 

    Doran lifted a finger and pointed at Lillith, his voice low and stern,

    “Defend.” He said nothing else, running out of the house. Bumble trotted towards the five year old, sitting beside the chair. She shoved her muzzle into Lillith’s lap as, outside the house, Doran gathered the villagers. Many ran back to their homes while Doran led the rest towards the woods. Lillith twisted the ends of her hair like she always did when she was nervous. She sat in silence, while the mother wolf watched her carefully. 

    After a few moments, Bumble climbed into the chair with Lillith, curling around the girl. Whimpering, the five year old buried herself into the wolf’s fur. All she could imagine was the fire, and how her father fought, and the swiftness of the wolves as they crashed into the fray. More tears rolled down her pale cheeks, her grip on Bumble’s fur tightening. The mother wolf looked down at the child as she whispered, 

    “Mommy will protect him, right..? I mean, she’s why you came to us… Right?” Nothing could answer the girl’s questions, but Bumble gently nosed her, as if to reassure Lillith that all would be well. It was the sudden pattering of feet that caused both girl and wolf to look up. Hidden in the shadows of the hall was a little boy, his green eyes twinkling in the dim light. 

    “Lillith!” he squealed excitedly, toddering up to the girl. Slowly, she sat up in her seat, reaching out her hand to grab the little boy’s. 

    “Theo,” she murmured, feeling only a little relief at the sight of the four year old. He grinned his mischievous grin as he climbed up beside her, completely oblivious of the furry shadow behind her. Bumble laid her head on the arm of the couch, listening in silence.

    “Did Fay bring you over for a surprise sleepover?” the ravenette asked eagerly, clinging to her arm like he always did. Lillith stared down at him blankly, unsure of what to tell him. Slowly, as the silence grew between them, the boy’s grin faded. “What’s wrong, Lil?” he asked, sitting up. 

    She stared down at her hands, her golden blonde hair falling in front of her face. The girl wanted the tears to stop, but they wouldn’t, fueled by the images that flashed in her mind. “Lillith..?” Theo asked, nudging her. Sniffling, she looked up at him, her eyes red from crying and the smoke. His little face creased into a frown and he leaned into her, hugging the girl. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

    He stared up at Lillith, the sight of her crying making him want to cry. “Lillith, please tell me what’s wrong,” he begged her. She only shook her head, her mouth opening to sob quietly. Whimpering, Theo held her as closely as he could. Minutes went by as the outside began to get lighter out. It was then that Bumble was roused from her spot behind the children. 

    Her ears were pricked straight up and she was tense. Lillith and Theo turned towards her, only for Lillith to look out the window. Shadows walked out of the woods, large and small. 

    “They’re back!” she shouted, jumping out of the chair. 

    “What do you mean?” Theo called, scrambling after the girl. She raced out of the house, stumbling down the porch steps, and ran towards the trees. Theo tried to catch up, but fell behind quickly as Bumble bounded ahead of him. The first row of men slowed to a stop when they spotted the desperate girl. 

    “What do we say?” one man asked, his face smeared with soot. 

    “Nothing,” another man replied gruffly. “Absolutely nothing. We’ll leave that to Father Doran.” The second man went back to walking, striding past Lillith. Behind him, the other villagers grumbled, but followed him. Lillith ducked between their legs, her green eyes squinting in the pale dawn. 

    ‘He has to be here! He has to,’ she thought, running farther up the hill. Before she could get any closer to the trees, a silver shape loomed in her way. She slammed face first into the fluffy boulder, stepping backwards to rub her face. “Sterling!” she scolded lightly. “What do you think you’re doing, boy?” 

    Lillith giggled as she reached out the father wolf, running her fingers down his face. His mouth opened to pant, and he pushed his nose into her face. “Bleh! Your breath smells,” she told him, stepping backwards again. Behind her, Bumble slowed to a stop, her amber eyes focused on the edge of the woods. “Alright, boy, I’m done playing around. I need to find Daddy.”

    Lillith tried to step around the wolf, but Sterling stepped into her way, gently knocking into her. “I can’t play right now,” she said, patting the wolf’s head. “I’ll do it later.” Again she tried to step around him, but this time Bumble grabbed the hem of her shirt and dragged her backwards. “Hey!” she whined as she fell on her back, glaring at the wolf. 

    “Lillith!” She turned to see Theo wheezing as he jogged up to her, flopping beside the girl. “I.. finally caught up..!” He laughed, smiling at her, but she frowned, hardly amused. They both sat up and Lillith tried to stand, but one of the yearling wolves threw themself onto her legs. 

    “Oh, come on!” she groaned, laying back into the grass. Theo giggled, reaching out to rub the yearling’s head. 

    “I think they want you to stay put,” he said, smiling playfully at her. Lillith rolled her eyes, poking his forehead. 

    “Nooo, they just want to use me as a doll,” she said sarcastically. Theo giggled again, and Lillith joined in. Farther up the hill, standing just within the shade of the trees, Father Doran looked down the grassy hill. His sword was sheathed and his shield leaned on a tree to his right. Getting down onto one knee, he reached out to the white clothed bundle. Hand shaking, he grasped the edge of the sheet and moved it aside. 

    Doran still couldn’t believe what he was staring at, a fresh wave of tears enveloping his eyes. He reached out to cup the pale face of Fayer, his thumb running over his smooth cheek. Doran couldn’t help remembering the times when he was young, complaining about not getting facial hair. Fayer always responded with a laugh and would teasingly tell the man he personally never liked beards. Lips trembling, Doran shook his head. 

    “My brother… I’m so sorry,” he whispered, the tears rolling down his face. He leaned down and kissed Fayer’s forehead, the tears falling onto the dead man’s face. Doran closed his eyes, facing away from Fayer. The image was still burned into his mind, like the blazing fire that had burned Fayer’s home. Just as Doran stepped into the lit up clearing, Fayer was forced onto his knees. His body was littered with cut marks, while his sword and shield had been discarded. 

    Fayer had stared up at the bald man with furious eyes, his hands shooting up to grab the needle-like sword the man had plunged towards him. The blade had bit into the palm of his hands, but he never let go as he tried to force it upwards. Doran and the other villagers ran at them, but one of the soldiers had already moved. His sword cut into Fayer’s back, temporarily causing his grip to release. The sword stabbed down, driving itself through his throat and into his chest. All around Doran was screams of rage as the villagers surged forward. 

    Opening his eyes, the priest felt his lungs heaving and his body shook. His hands clenched into fists and tears continued to fall down his face. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry,” he whispered over and over as he stood. His dark eyes drifted down the grassy hill, where the orphaned daughter continued to lay with the wolves. Oblivious to the dead body of her father, just mere yards away from her. 

《☆》

End of Chapter Questions

1) What are your thoughts on the wolf pack?

2) What did you think of the bald man & his soldiers?

3) What are your thoughts on what Lillith said about her mother?