It was early the next morning, and Senka had just finished putting the final touches on the repair to her umbrella, when Lady Zae and Duncan entered her tent. Knowing they were back to try and discourage her from going after her sister, she rose from her chair with little more than a glance their direction, and walked across the room. Stopping beside her bed, she kept her back to them as she wordlessly went about strapping her harness on over her shoulders and slipping the umbrella into place.
“Senka…”
“I don’t want to hear it.” she interrupted, cutting Duncan off before he could begin. “If the two of you think I am just going to sit here and do nothing while my sister is out there in danger, then neither of you know me very well.”
She could feel their eyes watching her every move as she continued to gather her things. But she no longer cared. She had already wasted most of the night listening to them try to convince her that she was being impulsive and reckless. Precious time that could have been spent out there hunting and tracking the bastard that stole her sister. And maybe they were right, maybe she was destined to fail. But even so, she thought it better to die trying than to live with the guilt of knowing she had done nothing while her sister suffered.
Grabbing her quiver and bow that were propped against the bedside table, Senka hastily secured them in place on her back with her umbrella. Lastly she picked up her hunting knives and began sliding them into the holsters built into the outside of her pants.
“If you would just give us a chance…”
“Did that already,” she huffed as she proceeded to tuck some clothing and supplies into a small leather satchel. “Right after Duncan tried to permanently fuse himself to my arms.” Pausing, she pushed up the partially rolled sleeve of her long sleeved black shirt and displayed the large circular bruise underneath. “I think he almost succeeded.”
Upon sight of the massive purple and black injury encircling the entire upper portion of her arm, Duncan, who was now dressed in his typical jeans and form hugging shirt, paled noticeably. “I… I did that to you?”
“Naw, it must have been the other bear Shifter in the room that was trying to keep me from flashing.”
Rolling her eyes, she turned to get back to packing her things when, out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Duncan rushing her way. Scared he was about to latch on to her once again, Senka jumped back and faced him, prepared to flash away if needed. But instead of grabbing her as she suspected, he took her completely by surprise when he took her hand into his own and dropped to his knee in front of her.
“Duncan! What are you doing?” she gasped. “Listen, I like you and all, but I don’t think we are ready to take it to this level. Hell, we haven’t even been on a date old man.”
Ignoring her poor attempt at humor, Duncan pressed his forehead against her hand. “I am so sorry Senka, please forgive me. You must know it was never my intention to harm you. I will do whatever you ask, if you can somehow find it in your heart to forgive me.”
“Whoa! Duncan, what are you talking about?” Furrowing her brow, she glanced down at her arm, then back to him. “Is this about the bruise?” Placing her free hand over his, she knelt down before him. “If so, then there is nothing to forgive. It was an accident, nothing more. I know you didn’t mean to hurt me.”
“Then you are not angry with me?”
“Uh no.”
Despite her reassurance, Senka could still see doubt in the old bear’s eyes. At a loss as to how to comfort him, she stood and turned to Lady Zae for guidance.
“All is well friend,” she consoled him, laying a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Rise.”
After a brief pause, in which he seemed to be questioning her sincerity, Duncan stood. Once he was back at her side, Lady Zae didn’t hesitate to start back in on Senka. “Though it was not the way I intended to go about this, I believe what just transpired here proved our point that you are not prepared to face what is waiting for you in Zerdanda.”
“I know enough.” She bluffed, knowing deep down what Lady Zae was saying was true. She had spent her entire life traveling the plains of Lanoria, first with her father, then on her own. She knew the location of every path, stream, and village of this country like the back of her hand and could flash there in the blink of an eye. But because Lanoria, the Elemental homeland, was the only country that permitted outsiders, like Night Stalkers, with no country of their own, to live on their land, she had never ventured beyond the safety of their borders.
“Then please enlighten me.” Lady Zae challenged. “Tell me why Duncan just reacted the way he did when he saw the bruise.” Cocking her eye brow, she overlapped her hands in front of her and waited as if she had all the time in the world.
“Ummm… because we are friends and he cares for me?”
Upon hearing her response, Lady Zae smiled. “While I have no doubt that played a major role in it, the main reason is a little more complicated.” Hesitating a moment, she stared up at Duncan. Taking her cue, he picked up where she left off.
“It is Shifter belief, especially amongst “older” Shifters, as the pair of you like to regularly point out I am, that a male should never lay his hands on a female in anger. They believe…” Catching his slip, Duncan hesitated. Senka thought she saw a flash of emotion crease his forehead, but before she could ascertain what it was, it was gone. “We believe… since the males of our people are so much larger and stronger than the females, any fight between the two would be entirely one-sided and unfair. That is why in Zerdanda, the injury of a female by a male can be a crime punishable by death.”
Jolted by the information, Senka gaped. “So are you telling me you could be executed for bruising my arm on accident? That seems a little extreme doesn’t it?”
Duncan shrugged, “Maybe not killed, but most definitely beaten.”
“Shit Duncan. I-I didn’t know it was such a serious matter, if I had I would have never brought it up.” She stammered. “Thank the stars we aren’t in Zerdanda.”
“Yes… thank the stars indeed.” Lady Zae joined back in. “But that still brings us back to the issue at hand. Senka, we can’t help but feel you are rushing into this blindly. Between your lack of even the most basic understanding of Shifter culture and your total unfamiliarity of the land, I fear your chances of success are minimal at best.”
“I’ll take minimal.” Shrugging off Lady Zae’s doubt, Senka grabbed her satchel off the floor and pushed her way past the pair. “I’ve succeeded before with worse odds.”
“Please, just hear us out child.”
A few steps from the door, Senka froze. Glancing back over her shoulder she glared at Duncan. “I’m not a child.” She ground out, stomping back his direction. “I have lived on my own, taking care of me and my sister since I was eighteen. I hunted, provided, and protected her all by myself. And now she is out there, scared, alone, and in need of my help. So excuse me if my ignorance of “Shifter etiquette” isn’t enough to deter me.” Emphasizing the words with air quotes, she pinned the two of them with her glare. “Tell me, either of you, what if it was your loved one that had been taken? Is there anything me or anyone else could say or do that would deter you from trying to get them back?”
Their downcast expressions were all the answer she needed. “I didn’t think so.” She huffed.
Done arguing with them about this matter and needing a moment to think, Senka stomped outside in search of fresh air and collided into someone trying to come in. “Excuse me,” she breathed without looking up. “I was just heading out. But feel free to talk to the ‘adults’ inside.” Straightening her satchel and her bow, she was about to continue on her way when a hand encircled her already bruised upper arm. Sucking in a breath through her teeth, Senka turned around ready to give someone a piece of her mind. However, when she came face to face with Ulysses, Brit’s father, all ability to articulate a cohesive thought escaped her.
His eyes ringed in dark circles and reddened from crying, the father stood before her, his face void of expression. “Are you going to look for her?” he asked with a strained voice.
Tension radiated off him in waves, thickening the air around them, and making Senka anxious. Not daring to speak for fear her nervousness would reveal itself, Senka merely nodded.
An unreadable expression twisted Ulysses’ features. “I’ll pay you whatever you want. Just name your price.” Releasing her arm, he reached into a bag she hadn’t noticed until this moment and produced a handful of jewelry and coins. “If this isn’t enough, I’ll find more. I’ll…”
Stunned and unsettled by his behavior, Senka slowly stepped away from the desperate father as he continued to produce more offerings from his satchel.
Ulysses however, was not going to be so easily deterred. Closing the gap she just created, he continued his pleading. “Just name your price. Need me to work for you, run errands for you, I will. I’ll give you anything, do anything, if you will find my daughter and bring her back to me.” Rushing forward, he thrust the items into her arms. “And should the opportunity present itself, I’ll pay you more if you manage to kill that son of a bitch that took her.”
“Ulysses!” Lady Zae chastised as she and Duncan stepped through the flap.
“We all know she is capable of it.” Ulysses retorted, “and it’s not like the asshole doesn’t deserve it.”
“Regardless, Wanderers are not now, nor will we ever be hired assassins.”
Hearing Lady Zae’s words, Senka dropped her gaze and bit her lip. Memories of a time long past, a darker time, when she was willing to do whatever it took to keep her and her sister alive, rushed to the front of her mind. It was a past she had hoped would stay buried, but it seemed no matter how far she ran, or how much she tried to change, the past would always find her. Consumed by the haunting memories, Senka could barely hear Lady Zae and Duncan defending Wanderer morals to Ulysses, who was not having any of it.
Like her employers of the past, Ulysses had one thought consuming his mind… revenge. And he was willing to do whatever it took to get it. And she couldn’t say she blamed him. After all, the asshole had taken her sister too. Baring that thought in mind, Senka inhaled a deep breath.
“I’ll find Brit.” She spoke, her emotionless tone halting the arguing of the others. Meeting Ulysses’ gaze, she reached over her shoulder and pulled her umbrella from her harness. “And if the stars are willing, and I find this man named Linus in the process, fear not. For I will make certain he never harms another girl ever again.” And with that said, she hit the button to release the canopy and flashed from camp.