Children Of Myths, Act One: Scotland

The tale of the Innocents

Before the three dismayed and worried girls there were about six children, both boys and girls, they were inside that dark wagon huddled up against each other like baby chicks before a weasel. The eldest of them could be about nine/ten years old and the youngest four. They weren't injured or even undernourished, just terrified.

"Mum? Dad?" Trembling little voices asked while the two Fairies and the Elf felt their blood run cold and heart skipping a bit. Saraide wasted no time in ordering food and water to be immediately brought for the poor creatures. On the other hand, Artica went to break down all wagon's door, revealing more children inside. About thirty children and even three infants all together"

"I'm not your Mamaì, honey. But I'm a friend" The half-blood approached slowly, smiling and putting down the weapon, inviting the children to come down. However, they were so frightened that they didn't dare to move a muscle. So, the Sidhe of Brigid, Cerunnos and the Grim had to take the matter in their hands.

"We are what you call Fairies" declared those in part butterfly, creating both flames and flowers to convince the children that they were not enemies, far from it.

"... Doggy!" A little girl leaned towards a Grim, which had abandoned any sign of ferocity to bark and wag his tail, licking the child's nose.

Slowly, they were persuaded to get off the wagons, not before members of Brigid's court used the plants to drag the corpses underground, not to further traumatize those poor little ones and so that those unholy people would be of some use. Finally, the beastly Sidhe and Grim laid down on the ground to warm the most likely orphans with their furry bodies.

"Get some blankets and some milk for the babies, quick!" To hell with supplies. They had among them people capable of shifting into wolves and bears who could hunt if necessary. The others would gather fruit and drink water from springs or rivers. The most important thing was to feed those children decently, not just bread, water and a few apples.

Artica and others busied themselves with preparing a hot meal for them, some others took wood to light a fire and there were those who covered the children and took care of the newborns who stopped crying as soon as they were given milk little by little through some fabric to simulate a mother's breast.
They were finally able to feed themselves and calm down after the intense shock, but both Artica and Saraide had far too many questions.

"Do you feel like telling us what happened?" The redhead sat down on the ground in front of a boy about eleven, still slightly reluctant to speak.

"We won't hurt you, I promise. Those bad people hurt all of us, we're friends," she reassured him with a sweet, warm smile. It was convincing enough that the boy sat up.

"About five days ago the soldiers came to tell us that we had to leave home, we got into the wagons and left."

"They said they would take us to a safe place" Added a little girl hugging a Deer Sidhe "We stopped after many hours to let the horses drink and then..." She began to sob, immediately consoled by the Deer.

"Those men in black clothes arrived" resumed the first child, also with tears in his eyes "Papa and Mama tried to protect me but they got hurt and they couldn't move anymore"

"My grandfather too" added another little girl "He looked like a statue, and he was cold."

Artica listened to the terrifying story with clenched fists, teeth and aslow but much heavier breathing, snorting like a furious bull ready to charge.

But the worst was yet to come...

"They took us and dragged us into those wagons with something to eat and then kept us inside until now," continued the first.