The New Druid

Una awoke to an eerie silence. The sun was already up and off the edge of the grand elms trunk. She shook the grass off of her fur and scratched her ear with a hind paw. Then she stiffened, her ears perking up. This was an opportunity. She scanned the meadow and found a pack of sheep lazily grazing. The white dog yipped and circled around them. They jumped and formed a ball of bodies. Mimicking the dog from yesterday, Una repeated a series of dashes in and out. The sheep skipped forward to avoid the frightening dog.

She reached the large cobblestone wall that protected the village. It was a lot higher to a dog then it had been to a girl. She tried her best to keep the sheep quiet. But they were so noisy compared to the silent town above the wall. It wasn’t a particularly loud town, but it had never been silent like this.

The sheep made their way down the villages, now deserted, main road. The doors were all closed, and not a soul was in sight. As she walked further down the road her ears perked up, and she pointed her snout towards the new noise. It was an angry rumble. She continued to walk the sheep down the road until the main road intersection. To her left, a crowd of made up of everyone in town stood shaking fists and yelling profanities. She led the sheep into a garden and let them munch on a poor blokes vegetable patch. She closed her eyes and shifted into the cat.

“Heretic, murderer.” The crowd chanted. Rotten produce was hurled towards a platform in the center of the square that was walled of by the Grand Elm’s root. On top of the platform, a sad figure stood bent over, his head and hands bound with a wooden brace. It was Orin.

Armund walked up the cobbled steps, pushing his hands down to settle the mob. He stood in front of Orin and held his hands up in praise of the Earth Mother. The cat’s hiss went unnoticed.

“My dear friends, that is enough,” Armund said with his eyes closed. “The Earth Mother has seen through this man’s lies.”

“Murderer.” The red-faced baker yelled. The crowd rallied in agreement. Orin couldn’t be a murder, He was a drunk fool, but hardly malicious.

“Yes, This man’s fallacies of myths has robbed our village of one of our youngest and brightest stars, Una, the daughter of Cathal. The punishment for this heinous act is exile.” The crowd roared and lifted their hands in praise with Armund. The old priest smiled and lifted his head to the heavens. “Listen now people. There are consequences for disobeying the Earth Mother. Never forget this fact.”

The crowd roared approval. Una bared her fangs. But there was nothing she could do. Orin was going to suffer because of her. She promised she would find him later outside the roots and lead him to safety, but for now, she had to take advantage of the diversion. A tear flowed from her round eyes as she ran away from the old shepherd.

She returned to her dog form and barked at the sheep, happily eating a delicious last meal. She navigated the sheep up the road into and into the woods. There was a heavier feeling about her role now, the village was quick to lay judgment onto Orin. What would they do to her if she was caught? The question gnawed at her until the stream started to glow. The forest was still. There was no sound aside from the scratching of leaves rubbing together in the wind. The Trunk was just ahead and Una started to bark at the sheep nervously, trying to get them to pick up their jaunt. She led the first four into the tunnel at the base of the Grand Elm. Annoyed, she turned back to see a straggler sipping some of the magic water. Una trotted over to the sheep and barked at it, the animal raised its head confused and an arrow pierced into its head. The path of the arrow was meant for her.

Una’s eyes opened wide and she spread her paws ready to jump. Another arrow darted out from the woods, and Una leaped to the side. But she was too slow, the arrows edge slicing through her shoulder. The pain caused her to yelp out in pain. Rolling on the dirt, she winced and pictured the cat. When she shifted her wounds were gone. She sprinted towards the opening as fast as she could. Another arrow dug into her hide and she tumbled forward into the tunnel. She looked back at the arrow, there was only one person who would never miss.

Una took her human form and stood, her mind not letting her forget she was in great pain. Her shoulder seeped blood, and an arrow was still buried in her side. She walked to the entrance with sorrow filled eyes. At the edge of the tree, Cathal stood with his bow, a scowl on his face. He Slammed his fist on the opening and green circles rippled out across the opening. Una tried to put her hand on her father’s, hoping she could make him understand. Her fingers touched the invisible barrier and the green rings pulsed from her touch. Her father looked down at her with tears in his eyes.

“Una I’m sorry.” He said, his knuckles white with rage.

“Father, no. It’s my fault, you did nothing wrong. I’m sorry I disobeyed you. I’m sorry.” She shouted, but he didn’t react.

“Una...” Cathal’s head touched the barrier and he let his tears drop to the dirt.

“Father.” Una stood on her tiptoes and put her brow to his. If only there were a way to make him understand.

“I swear, I will not rest until I have the druids head. I will find him for you.” His eyes burned bright and he stared straight into Una’s eyes.

Her heart sank and tears flowed from her eyes as she collapsed to her knees. “N-no. Why can’t you see? Father please, hear me. It’s me.” Una slammed her fists on the magic doorway. “Grand Elm. He has to know. Please Let me tell him, just this one time.”

Cathal pushed himself off the trunk and wiped away his tears. He slung his bow over his shoulder and disappeared back into the woods. Una screamed and banged the tree, unsure of what else she could do. Her father was gone, and she curled into a ball and sobbed. He wouldn’t rest until he killed her, and there was nothing she could do to stop him.