Way of the Wolf

Chapter 12 Wanderers Heart

I feel my way throughout the black dense fog. I feel for my sword, but I realise I left it in the carriage. I curse myself under my breath, as I look around. Not that there was anything to look at. I decide, to just walk on. I'd get somewhere, sometime. I stride along, through the swirling blackness, it curls and fondles me as I walk. I then see a light. It's not very bright, but to me, it's a symbol of immediate hope. I feel my legs carry me in a steady, even run. I pick up speed, as the light becomes brighter, and larger, until I am enveloped in its white brilliance.
I then find myself, at the fringe of a forest. I looked around, disorientated and confused, for this wasn't the forest I was in before. This forest looked a little younger, and I didn't see any familiar landmarks. Except for the Runa Mountain. I feel mad, was that it? Just a teleportation device? But when I see the village, I take note that it is smaller, and that none of the villagers I saw before were in sight. I took to my heels, running to Wanderer's house. It's shiny, and new. I stand before it, shocked and in wonder. Then the door opens, and out steps a older looking Wanderer, followed by a man with hazel eyes and greyed hair. Then from behind them, run three children. 2 girls and a boy. There is one that has Kirahana's dark brown hair, one with Eitos oval head, and one wearing a long cape and brown hair trickling from her head. A little Wanderer. They don't seem to see me, and I watch them run around and play together. They look so happy, as do their parents as they hug each other whilst watching their children. But, I see immense sadness behind their kind eyes...
I find myself once more in a different location, this time, the edge of the village. I see a older Kirahana and Eito, howling, screaming and crying. And I see their parents, pleading with other villagers, tears streaming down their face.
"It's ok, mum, dad. Kirahana, Eito, I'll be alright." I turn, and see what is a 13 year old Wanderer, so similar in her hazel eyes and wavy hair to her present self. She is wearing the cape, the cape I first saw her in, that concealed her true identity. The 13 year old Wanderer, turns and begins to walk away from the village, head high, tears glistening in from her eyelashes. I continue to watch her, this weak young girl, scared and angry, trying to comfort her family by looking as though everything was alright, when I knew perfectly well that it wasn't.
I am back in the Forest Wolf Youkai forest. I hear running, and suddenly splat in front of me, lies an eagle spread me, with Wanderer sitting on "my" back. I realise it's a flashback of when we first met, then I am suddenly in the cave whilst we are talking, then on the road to the village, then lastly...we are fighting in front of my room door. I watch to see me wishing Wanderer a cold goodnight, then the interesting orang begins. Even after I close the door, she leans against it, crying silent tears that drop like crystals to the red carpet beneath her. She then walks to her own room, and I follow her in. I watch as she clambers into her bed, still descending into tears every now and then. She then falls asleep, crying. I spend a long time just watching her sleep, partly because I am not being taken to another flashback of sorts. But then Wanderer starts whispering in her sleep, "I pushed him...away...he...not...me..." Then she cries in her sleep again, before whispering again..."I..."
Then I am in a forest, and I see me. I am smiling and grinning like life was the best, and from absolutely nowhere, Wanderer races into the other me's arms. I just stare in a dumbstruck silence, until Wanderer grabs "my" hand and tows me away towards a small hill that seems to appear from nowhere, where Hansuke, Hagishi, Shigure, Fuchina, the 3 women and the rest of the Mountain Wolf Tribe await us, large smiles on their faces.
Then I am back, back in the black mist. But around me are shapes, barely visible in the darkness. But illuminating the vast are of soul sucking darkness, is Wanderer. She is curled up in a small ball, her blue dress mud streaked and hair once again messed and dirty with mud and foliage. Her cloak flow out from her shoulders like wings on an angel. I walk slowly towards her, scared it was a dream, that she would disappear from my sight if I blinked. Then a voice booms, loud and threatening. It's vibrating sound and loudness, causes Wanderer to contract deeper into her curled up state. The voice booms,
"Welcome to the Courtroom of Wanderer's Heart. Will the witness of Wanderer's life over the past few weeks please stand forward." And all the figures, the tall masses of darkness and black, turn to me.