Warriors of Blue moon

Two years and eight months later

I leapt from tree to tree chasing down the last rogue from the group of 8 that attempted to kill me and failed, although this one had the big vile mouth and was happy to kill and eat me, he is now the one that’s running fast as his skinny legs could go and from what I can hear, he’s yelping out of fear.... good, I love it when I scare them…. serves the assholes right!

He kept looking back as he ran trying to see if I was chasing him down and I had to stifle my laugh as he was clueless, I was trailing after him through the trees.

Just as he come to a stop, puffing and panting, thinking he’s safe I moved ahead and dropped down from the trees landing in front of him with a big grin on my face, startling him.

“Where do you think you’re going you little coward? from what I recall, you’re the one that wanted to tear my limbs off”

"I’ll fuckin kill you, you bitch” he spat as sweat ran down his face and his eyes raised up in fear

I tutted and shook my head “why don’t you lot ever learn?” with a swift quick flash I stuck my dagger in his chest then kicked him hard, still holding onto the dagger letting his body fling back through the air back and slam onto the floor. I walked over and stood with my boot on his chest ”I will kill every last one of you that think I am your plaything… dirty rogues like you will always die at my hand”

He choked on his own blood as I lifted my boot and walked away.

I made my way home, leaving all the bodies for the animals to feast on.

A year ago, I found another cave, but bigger at the top of a hill hidden by an abundance of trees and tall grass. I found it by accident as I was hunting. I had decided to hunt and run further than I normally did, just for something to do. Its quieter here and the view from the hill is beautiful.

As evening was passing and the sun was beginning to set, I stripped off most of my armor leaving only my trousers and tank top, I sat outside the cave on the edge of the hill and watched as the sun lit up the forest below me. The clear stream twinkled like it held a billion diamonds on its surface as the sound of the water rushing down were like waves in the sea. The sun warmed my skin as I took in the warm evening air, it made me feel calm and sleepy. Although I felt at home in the old cave, this one felt like it was meant for me, the location and the view actually made me feel lucky to be here… this felt more like home than the little cave.

Once the sun had grown dimmer and the sky was beginning to get dark, I retreated to my cave, swiped the overhanging trellis to the side and pushed the small boulder I use as a door. I used the light left from the sun to see the wooden torches tied to the cave wall and lit them then moved the boulder back into position, so my cave was closed to the outside. I set up my usual traps by the entrance, took off my boots and trousers, then spread across my sleeping bag.

My last thoughts wondered to the group of rogues I killed today. I caught them off guard when they were having a hushed and what seemed private conversation… now thinking of it the majority of them seemed to want to kill me out of being startled rather than greed. When they saw me, they looked almost worried that I had saw them. Not that I actually heard their conversation, but when they saw me one of them did say ”were going to have to kill her… just in case" they all nodded in agreement and proceeded to try and kill me. Oh well never mind, like all rogues they think they’re entitled to take what’s in front of them without a conscience.

Life out here feels so normal now. When I had realized that it had been two years and my banishment was over… for some reason I chose not to go back… and I don’t know why. I always thought I’d run all the way back without stopping until I was safe back in the boarder with everyone I loved but I don’t have that urge anymore. if anything, I feel angry when I think of The Blue moon, of everyone living their lives… new and different ones while I try and fit my way back in again and live my life where I left it.

I missed my family and friends but not as much as I used to, and I knew by now they had all moved on and lived their lives wherever that took them. If I went back, I wouldn’t know what I was going back to or who I was going back to! I’m sure apart from my family everyone had forgotten about me and my returning after two years. I made the decision to stay here, and I made it for those reasons. THIS felt like home now and at least here, I know who I am and what life I’m living. However, the thought of living out here alone forever didn’t seem all that great either…. but for now, I was happy.... Am I?

Yes I am.... I’m sure I am.

Spring settled in and each morning as I sat outside my cave the first thing that would greet me was the bright yellow sun and the singing birds nesting in the hundreds of different trees that surrounded me. I’d close my eyes and lift my face toward the sun and listen to all the nature around me. I’d inhale a deep breath of the fresh morning air, the sweet smell of flowers and damp grass, the sounds of the trees slowly swaying in the calm breeze… Inhale.. exhale… Inhale... exhale... Peace!

If only every day could be like this. If only there was no such thing as the bloodthirsty evil monsters that lurked within the beauty of the forest… without them it would be perfect.

Hopefully, now the cold seasons have passed I might not come across so many. The number of the bastards I killed felt as if it had tripled over the colder months.

I ate the meat and fruit that I had left over from yesterday as I watched over the forest from my high position. I finished up and got into my armor, luckily it wasn’t too hot yet to wear it as it keeps me better protected from rogue claws and teeth.

I set off in a fast run in the similar direction as yesterday but this time I went a little further jumping over logs, darting through trees… and just ahead of me I noticed the long line of clustered trees, in an even neat line as far as my eye could see. Both me and my wolf picked up a different kind of smells.... ones we were not used to after all this time… it wasn’t the smell of nature or rogue. It was a warm, homely smell. I slowed down in my tracks and stopped when I came to the realization I was running along the border of a pack. I had no idea what pack this was or even where it was… all I knew was the scents were strong and overwhelming causing my heart to feel a sudden sense of longing… I knew this definitely wasn’t The Blue moon, or anywhere near it but even though this wasn’t my old home, the familiar scent of warmth and people made me remember all that I lost… I gulped hard as I put my hand to one of their trees and leaned into it to give myself a moment to guard my heart and push those feeling away.

It had been so long I had forgotten all smells from my pack, even the faces of my people had almost become a blur as I had forced myself to block them out.

I gathered myself and stood up straight determined to just run along as if it all meant nothing to me and carry on with my life as it is. I was about to set off when low voices made me halt. I kept still, quiet, I perked my ears to sense what direction the voices were coming from...they were somewhere ahead of me but not too far. I ducked behind a tree and moved quietly from one to the other as I made my way silently toward the sounds.

As I got closer, the nauseating wet dog stench hit me. I pulled a dagger out from my sheath, ready for blood as I moved even closer. A few more yards and they came into my view. four rogues, three men and one woman. I moved in stealthily as I clawed my way high up into the tree. Looking down on them I could see them clearly, but I couldn’t hear their hushed whispers. They kept looking to each other and toward the pack boarder line as they spoke. It was obvious they were hoping to attack a patrol warrior or maybe anyone that ran too close to the boarder alone.

They started to spread out as they slowly walked up and down the treeline as if trying to gauge the best way to gain entry… maybe they wanted to go all the way through the boarder and onto the pack land and take as many innocents as they could. But if this pack is patrolled like mine always was...they’d be detected instantly. But I knew nothing about this land, maybe they didn’t patrol or patrol as strictly as we did, there would have been no way rogues could even come close to our territory without being noticed.

They did this for some hours, occasionally grouping together and whisper. I spent the whole time waiting for them to breach the boarder to attack, I don’t know why I felt like I should be responsible to kill them if they did but I couldn’t leave knowing they could capture innocent people, but much to my surprise, they regrouped once again then ran off in the opposite direction.

My brows furrowed and I shook my head in confusion, I didn’t really believe they came here just to sniff around the boarder and leave… they couldn’t be done… surely?

I sat in the tree and decided to get comfy while I waited just in case they decided to come back with reinforcements or weapons, I didn’t know how long I was waiting for, but the sun was starting to set, and I contemplated on whether I should leave and hope the pack was protected or stay just in case the rogues decided to attack at night wanting to catch everyone off guard.