Vuroth's Tear: Even the Gods Cry

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Jazel and Analda walked into the small tribal village hidden in the forest, little more than a clearing with a circle of maybe a dozen mud huts around a large fire pit in the center. Most of the people that Analda saw were nude or wore little more than an animal pelt hanging between their legs. She noticed Sanub sitting on the ground by the burning blaze, staring at her and Jazel while they walked, he looked furious to see them both.

"Are you sure it's alright that I'm here?" Analda asked.

Jazel nodded and ran a hand over her braided hair that hung over her shoulder, "It will be fine, don't let Sanub bother you."

Jazel led the way to the largest of the huts, with decorative animal bones and skulls on either side of the doorway covered with a long bear skin pelt. Jazel pushed the bearskin aside and let Analda enter before she followed.

Inside, a scent overwhelmed Analda, it was intoxicating and sweet, making her stop in her tracks and smile with closed eyes while she breathed deeply to take in the smell. An old man sat in nude meditation on the dirt floor surrounded by vines that hung from the low roof, covered with beautiful flowers that Analda had never seen before. There were hundreds of pedals, thin like needles, blue at the base and fading to red and then yellow at the tips.

"They are called burning blooms," the old man's voice made Analda jump and pull her hands back from one of the flowers, "They are very rare and as even a human can tell, their scent is quite potent and soothing."

"They are beautiful," She said with a smile, barely above a whisper.

With a grunt, the old man pulled himself to his feet, he looked at one of the vines and ran his fingers over one of the blooms before reaching behind it and gently pulling the flower free, "Here, take it," He smiled and placed it in her hand.

She gasped while she held the Burning Bloom flower, it was heavier than she expected it would be, and felt warm to the touch, "Thank you, sir."

His smile, even with the prominent wolf fangs, was a gentle one, "Please, call me Stein."

"My name is Analda," She spoke with a nervous tremble in her voice, realizing he was the leader of the tribe, or pack. She wondered what the Lycans called it.

Jazel spoke up in a respectful tone, "I know the rules about humans being in the village, but please understand, sir," She went silent when his eyes met hers.

"Sanub spoke to me when he returned without you and the twins. I'm sure that his version was embellished but still, we have things to discuss," Stein looked at Analda and back to Jazel while he stroked his long, white beard, "how is your sister?"

She swallowed hard, "In danger, we all are. I've seen it myself."

Analda spoke up, "There's a man, I think he's a man, he is using magic to bring the dead back to life as these creatures called..."

"Husks," Stein cut her off, "I know what they are, my dear."

"They took the capital. Velana and her friends tried to save the city, they asked me to keep Analda safe so I brought her here." Jazel hoped he wouldn't scorn her for the decision but she didn't know what else to do.

He smiled and lowered himself back to his spot of meditation with a groan, "Analda, my dear, you can stay with Jazel until your friends come for you. If anyone here gives you trouble, don't hesitate to come to me," He closed his eyes and returned to his slow deep breathing.

Jazel led Analda back outside and she felt a sudden sadness that she was no longer surrounded by the beautiful scent of the Burning Bloom, she looked at the flame colored blossom in her hand and put it up to her nose. She looked up from the flower to see two small boys running around naked, shifting into pups and wrestling on the ground. Analda laughed when she heard their little growls and barks.

Jazel smiled curiously at Analda. To her, the children playing were just a normal part of life. She forgot sometimes that for outsiders, her way of life was filled with new and strange experiences.

Analda followed Jazel into her hut, "You can sleep in that corner, that's where Velana's old bed is," Jazel pointed to a small pile of pelts in the far corner and Analda went to lay down.

"It's so comfortable, thank you," She gently placed the flower in a wooden bowl by the bed and sprawled out over the soft mat of fur, "you don't mind if I lay down for a bit now, do you?"

Jazel smiled, "We have barely rested for days, take all the time you need. Just try not to wander around the village without me for now, alright?" Analda nodded and then pulled a blanket over her.

Analda stared up at the roof of the hut, "Do you think they made it?"

Jazel stopped in the doorway, unsure of how she should respond. She knew it was more than possible that Velana and the others didn't escape the city. They were all, very possibly, dead near the walls of the capital city. Even if they did make it in and out of the city, they couldn't have all made it. It was a matter of who the survivors might be. She forced a smile, "I'm sure they did and will be here very soon." She knew by the look on Analda's face that she hadn't been very convincing in her reassurance, but it was appreciated regardless. Jazel pushed the cloth door to the side, "Sleep well, Analda."

Jazel left the hut and Sanub stood. She knew the stare that he gave her, his anger was perfectly expressed by his eyes. With a sigh, she closed the distance between them.

"Why is she here? She will bring us nothing but trouble," He spoke in a stern tone, trying to intimidate her.

"Let it go, Sanub," She snapped, "Stein saw right through your lies and she has been granted sanctuary. Why can't you just accept her?"

Sanub stuck his face close to hers, "Because she is human, and humans can not be trusted."

"Not all of them are bad," Jazel gently pushed him aside with her fingertips.

Sanub lifted his arm to show his scar, "This is what humans do, don't you remember? They hunt, they kill, they aren't capable of being peaceful and they don't respect the forest."

She remembered, finding Sanub on the ground in the woods, an arrow deep in his side. Jazel looked Sanub in the eyes. "She is to be left alone, do you understand me?"

Sanub stared at her, furious as Jazel walked away. He turned and looked at the hut, the one where Analda hid away. He clenched his teeth and turned away, changing into a wolf before hurrying into the forest.