HUNTED

Part 5

Marigold looked out the window as she prepared yet another funeral lunch for the people of MistyGrove. She watched as Braxton gently laid the wrapped body of Isabel Baste on top of the funeral pyre, doused it with fuel, and lit it ablaze. She sighed heavily, and returned to cooking rice.

Braxton watched Izzy's remains being consumed. He remembered how she had snuggled into him the day before as she uttered her last words. Was it fate that he was the one that held her as she left mortality? He remembered watching her sun sword rise up through the roof and disappear shortly after she passed.

He looked over at Cammy who stood back from the crowd and stared at the ground. She looked like she was still dealing with the mixed trauma of her hangover and the knowledge that her lover had died while she was passed out.

Braxton slowly approached her with a sorrowful look.

"Don't," she hissed.

Braxton stopped but reached toward her.

"Camryn..." he said softly.

Cammy unsheathed her sun sword and pointed it at his neck.

"Braxton, so help me, if you try to touch me right now I will CUT you. Do you understand?"

He sighed and hung his head a little.

"I'm here if you–"

"Where were you yesterday afternoon when I did need you?" She barked.

Braxton tried to respond, but no words came to him.

"Ten years, Braxton..." Cammy continued. "Ten years Izzy and I shared a bed. And for ten years, we were nothing but blade-sisters. Defending the innocent. Smiting the wicked. Righting wrongs. Sure, we both had the occasional fling here and there. We have our needs, same as everyone else – but, ten years I slept beside the woman that I most admired in this world... and nothing happened between us. And then, one night a month ago, we were both extremely drunk. Our inhibitions dropped. We reached for each other... and we went to the stars, Braxton. We went to the stars and back. Finally, for once in my life, someone that I truly loved was loving me back the way I wanted them to. And then, it happened again – and we weren't even drunk that time. And then, do you know what happened next, Braxton?

He could only shake his head.

"She REJECTED me," Cammy shouted through clenched teeth. "Said it wasn't what she wanted. Gave me her whole speech about wanting kids. And then... and then she left. The woman that I loved more than anything... left. My blade-sister... left. Just like everyone else that I've tried to love. They all... LEFT!"

"I am so sorry, Camryn!" Braxton said as earnestly as he could.

Cammy started to tremble and tears rolled down her cheeks – but she kept her sword raised.

"I get why you rejected me too," she continued. "I do. You had just been with the woman that I loved and desperately wanted to be with – and you're decent enough to be principled. I suppose I should thank you for that. At least it looked like she was going to end up with a 'good' man in the end."

Braxton felt her words start to stir emotion within him. He looked over at the funeral fire and watched Izzy's body continue to burn.

"And I was too wrapped up in my own problems to even be sober when she... when she..."

Cammy broke down and covered her face as she sobbed.

"She cherished you," Braxton said and took a step closer. "The night we spent together, she spent most of the time talking... about... you."