Unshaken

The Wisdom of The Elders

Liam rode down to the Kamasa River, just south of Butcher's Creek. His jaw stayed clenched in anger, his throat choking up and eyes growing watery throughout the ride. He washed himself off and stared at his reflection in the water. Who had he become? Was his mother right? Was he just a killer? He thought about his mom for a moment. She was a liar. He didn't believe a word she said. He had reasons for everything he did. He swatted away his reflection in the water.

He was about to ride off when he heard cries coming from down the river. He rode down quickly to a bridge to see a man holding his face and mumbling things. "Help! Help!" He said, grabbing his face and thrashing. Liam jumped off of Colter and approached the man. "You okay?" Liam asked. "Help! Help! Help!" The stranger said. His eyes looked abnormal. "You sick, partner?" Liam asked. "It's in me, they're in me." The man said standing up and falling onto Liam. "You're not well, friend." Liam said catching him and then putting him down on the ground again. "Butcher's Creek. Butcher's Creek." The stranger said pointing North. "Where?" Liam asked looking in the direction he was pointing. "Butcher's Creek." The man said, straining. "That where you're from?" Liam asked. "Butcher's Creek... they're in me." The estranged man said looking to the sky. "You want me to take you back, or..." Liam asked. The man passed out. Liam sighed.

"Come on, let me get you home." Liam said picking him up, putting the stranger over his shoulder and sitting him on Colter. He climbed on and rode across the river to get on the path to Butcher's Creek. "Who are you?" The stranger asked. On the ride there. The man kept mumbling things about the devil, demons and voices. Liam thought he was mentally unstable.

He rode into the strange community. The locals stared at him as he trotted to his destination. He found a shack with a man sitting on the porch. "Ah, Lemuel! You found Lemuel! Well, come, come, come here!" The man said, pleased with Liam's actions. Like Lemuel, he was also very skinny and wore tattered and dirty clothes. Liam got off his horse and picked up Lemuel from the horse. "He was in some distress." Liam said walking to the man. He placed Lemuel on the ground in front of the shack. "Yeah, he seems calmer now. I found him out in the woods." Liam said. "Lemuel, sweet Lemuel. Such a nice man, such a good man. Come here, come on, let me help you up." The man said, helping Lemuel into the chair. Liam looked at them in an odd fashion.

"Since the troubles came, he's not the same." The man told him. "It's in me." Lemuel said, looking at Liam intensely. "Why's he looking at me funny?" Liam asked, growing cautious. "No, he-he's not well, it's the darkness. He said it's the darkness." The man told him. "Who says it's the darkness?" Liam asked, wondering if they actually believed it.

"Well the village is... thank you, sir. Thank you for Lem-" he was cut off by Lemuel jumping out of his chair and charging Liam. He grabbed Liam by the throat and starting to shake him. Liam grunted and punched him across the face, causing Lemuel to fall to the ground. Liam was out of breath. "Please sit, please sir. Lemuel's not well, sir." The man said picking up Lemuel and helping him back to the chair. Liam rolled his eyes. "You got anything for me?" Liam asked. "Oh yes, of course sir. Love and friendship in the darkness. What else are there. Obediah Hinton, that's me." Obediah said, introducing himself. Liam shook his hand. "Love and friendship, friendship and love. We're not a rich village, sir. But with love, rich. We thank you." Obediah said walking Lemuel into the house and closing the door.

"Okay." Liam said walking off. He climbed onto Colter and rode back to camp.