The Truth Over The Wall

Chapter 38 ( Part 2 )

                                  *To @elomeno, I promise I'll make it all up to you. :) *

Riding behind Dominic, Fobos was curled up in a ball with her head on her paws careful with the instructions, speaking only when she had to. She was saving all the last strength she had left. Dominic had some idea that Fobos was leading him back to the clearing where they had lost Amara, to the thorny enclosure where her parents were buried, so he was surprised to ride into an encampment of people emerging from their tents to look at the new comer.

"The recruits." Fobos said from behind Dominic, "Don't worry, they're on our side."

As Dominic got closer he realized that he could recognize at least one or two of the faces that had been involved in the clash with Fiona's kin just hours before.

Isla, the witch that had come forward to give evidence walked right up to Dominic with a look that was fit to burst with a challenge. Before she could say a word however, Fobos jumped over Dominic's shoulder to land on the horse before him.

"Fobos!" Isla exclaimed, taken aback.

"He is a friend," Fobos gestured with her head to Dominic, "Let us through."

Isla nodded and stepped back, "If you say so." She gestured with a sweep of her arm to the witches that had clustered, to disperse. The witches parted to make way for Dominic, but he could still feel them watching him as he rode past.

They arrived at the thorny gates and Fobos stood up on her hind legs. She waved one paw knowingly at one of the branches and touched it. The thorns receded to give them an entry. Dominic eyes first found the place where Joseph and Kara were buried. He bowed his head to them respectfully and he noticed a movement to his right.

Amara stepped out of her tent almost as soon as Dominic looked up. Her dark hair blew across her face as she stopped mid-step to stare at them wide-eyed and surprised. For a moment, all they could do was look at each other. In one way or another something had changed between them in the last few days, it had aged them almost.

Swallowing hard, Amara looked away unable to meet his eyes. She stepped back and raised her head stubbornly, unwilling to let his presence affect her.

Her eyes alighted on Fobos and softened. "Fobos," Amara whispered and held out her arms. "Amara!" Fobos jumped off the horse and into Amara's embrace. Amara hugged Fobos close and pressed her face into the familiar warm fur. "Oh, Fobs," her words caught on a sob.

"I'm sorry, Amara," Fobos said lifting her head to plead her innocence, "I'm so sorry. I didn't have a choice. I had to save him."

"I know, Fobs," Amara sniffed, "I know. It wasn't your fault. I just wish..."

"Me too, Amara," Fobos pressed her fore-head against hers, "I wished to be with you always. I don't want to leave you. I wouldn't if I had a choice." Amara sighed and looked up in the direction of her parents' graves as she said, "You don't have a choice."

She knew without having to look up to make sure that Dominic was looking at her, waiting. Waiting for her to give him some sort of an explanation. But she could not face him just now; she could not bear to say it out loud.

"Thank you for bringing Fobos back to me," Amara said to the space beside Dominic's shoulder, "I am very much indebted to you. Now, if you'll excuse me Fobos doesn't have much time."

Saying thus, she turned away, ready to run if she had to, but he halted her with his quietly spoken question.

"How long have you known?"

Amara's shoulders jerked forward even as her feet refused to move. She shut her eyes, and bit into her lower lip, she was so hoping she would not have to do this right now.