The New Druid

The root that separated the village from the jungle stood before her. She wished she could go home, this druid job was exhausting, and she had no one she could confide in. The events of this night would haunt her forever. She turned into a gull and soared over the root. There was a weird vibration across the village and Una couldn’t place it. It was a familiar noise but Una was certain it couldn’t be what she was thinking.

The doors to the church were overflowing and people were all cheering. The gull landed on the roof of the wooden building and shifted into a mouse. Along the rafter, she found a hole that she could squeeze into. The church was full and on the stage, at the head of the crowd a man stood in front of them. She assumed it was Armund, but she couldn’t make out figures with her small mouse eyes.

“Thank you for all assembling this late at night,” Armund said his hands raised in praise. “I’m sure you’ve already heard the good news.”

The crowd cheered and one person held a white animal up in the air. Una squinted, she still couldn’t make out what it was, but she figured it out. A sheep. One with wool, the curse had been lifted. The mouse squeaked a high pitch chirp of joy, as the crowd clapped and cheered for her work. There was a sense of accomplishment she had never felt before, and she started to blush. The village was saved.

“The earth mother has forgiven us for the heretics crimes,” Armund shouted, and the crowd cheered even louder. “Blessed be the Earth Mother.”

“Blessed be.” The crowd shouted back.

Una scowled. This wasn’t right. It wasn’t the earth mothers doing. These people were attributing their exile of Orin for the breaking of the curse. It was her, she was the one who saved the wolves, she undid the Grand Elms curse, not a murderous mob. All they had done was killed an innocent old man. There was a pang in her heart as she acknowledged the old man’s death.

“Let us rejoice, and pray our thanks to the Earth Mother.” Armund bowed his head and rested his hands on his cane. The crowd bowed mirroring the speaker.

The side door broke open disrupting the silence. A mainlander covered in blood fell onto the stage. “Father Armund. Help. The wolves. They’re back.” He said with heavy breath.

Armund raced over to him, waving the crowd out. “Everyone leave, give this man some space.” The crowd shifted nervously, not moving. “Worship is over, go home. Now.” Armund shouted. There were glances across the room, and slowly people began to leave. The ones outside the door were the last to leave as they kept peeking until they saw the sight. Satisfied, they left too.

“Father Armund, pray for me.” The injured man said.

“Bless you, child.” Armund said lifting the man’s head up and put his index and middle finger on the bridge of the man’s nose. “What has happened.”

“The wolves, they are back...” The man said. He grabbed Armund’s hand and began to cry. “I don’t want to die, father.”

“It’s alright child. You will be in the Earth Mothers warm embrace soon.” Armund said. The man smiled and closed his eyes. Armund rested the man’s head on the ground and grabbed his cane to help him back to his feet. Blood marked his white robes and his eyes were downcast. “Burgard.”

A large man left the shadows and Una squeaked surprise. She hadn’t seen this man before and didn’t even know he had been in the room. “Yes, Father Armund.” His voice was gruff, and he was covered in a black cloak.

“The wolves returning and the sheep regaining their wool can’t be a coincidence.” Armund said.

“What would you have me do.”

“I fear the druid is real, he has returned. His presence threatens everything. If this continues the Grand Elm won’t die. Find him and kill him.”

“Will we go on as if the wool is still gone?” The large man asked.

“Yes. This changes nothing. The inspector will be here tomorrow, and we can’t let him think that it’s worth keeping this place running. I need you to dump this into the stream outside the village.” He pulled a vial out from his coat. “The sheep will die once they drink the water. And the emperor will no longer see the value of keeping this place safe and will send his army. The earth mother will smile down upon us knowing we killed a demi-god. I can’t wait to return home.” He sat back in a chair and smiled out the open door looking onto the village. “I’ve stayed in this forsaken place for too long.”

Una gasped, she had suspected Armund had other motives before, but this confirmed everything. He wanted them all dead, He wanted the Grand Elm dead. She thought back to the wolves and understood their anger. In the cycle of life sometimes it was a fight for survival between two groups. She had no intention of letting Armund win. At least not unopposed.

The Large man bowed and took the vial. “Yes, father Armund.” He began to head towards the door but Armund clacked his cane on the wooden floor, he had one more thing to say.

“And Burgard, If you run into Cathal, kill him. I’ve had enough of his meddling.”

Una watched the large man walk down the street, the villagers paid him no mind and he continued to walk to the gate with no one the wiser to stop him. At the end of the road the guard post was guarded by several men holding spears. Cathal was nowhere to be seen. Una sighed a breath of relief. At least she wouldn’t have to deal with him as well.

She flew to the top of the post and looked over the meadows. Even in this light she knew exactly where all three of the targets were. She wondered if Cathal was still shooting every day, she couldn’t even remember how many days had been. She turned back to the road to make sure she hadn’t lost the large man in the crowd, but he continued to stroll down the main road. The three men with spears stood at attention when they saw him walking down the cobble stairs between the walls.

“Sir,” One said saluting with a closed fist over his belly.

“Enough. Is he still in there?” Burgard asked.

The soldier dropped his posture and nodded. “Aye sir, He hasn’t made a peep all day.”

“Have you checked on him?” Burgard asked.

“Err, not since we delivered dinner.”

Burgard’s eyes widened, his face furrowed. “That was hours ago.” He brushed past the guards and kicked open the hatch, Una just barely stayed out of his sight. “He’s gone.” Una sighed relief. She didn’t know what she would do if the large man wanted to kill her father here.

The guards quivered in fear. “At... at least he doesn’t have a bow?”

“He’s a suspected Heretic.” Burgard grabbed an arrow out of the bin and snapped it with his thumb. “Do you really think the Earth Mother cares if he is unarmed?”

The guards averted their eyes and hung their heads.

“Don’t just stand there. Go find him.” Burgard shouted waving a hand. The guards saluted once more and began to run in different directions.

Burgard sighed and stomped towards the stream. Una froze, she didn’t know where he had the vial, but she couldn’t just maul the man for it. This man would kill a cat, dog, gull, and especially a mouse. She shifted into the cat and stalked the large man. There would only be one chance to grab the vial from him. That chance was approaching fast. Burgard froze near the river and he turned around, his eyes scanning the darkness. Una held her breath and hid in the brush. Waiting for him to take out the vial.

“Burgard, is it?” Cathal asked. Una whipped her head back and held back an excited purr.

“Heretic. How do you know me.” Burgard reached to his hip and grabbed onto something, a weapon.

Cathal pulled the dusty bow from his back. The bow Una’s mother used. It was the first time Una had ever seen her Father holding it. “A post guards duty is to observe this village and keep it safe. This wasn’t my problem until you forced my hand.” He notched an arrow on the smaller bow. There was something off about his stance, he was unaccustomed to the smaller bow.

“Where did you get that bow,” Burgard asked with squinted eyes.

“It’s a sentimental piece. If you assign guards, be sure they don’t respect the prisoner more than they respect you.” Cathal said.

Burgard scowled, “Threatening me proves your guilt. You are a dead man.”

Cathal shook his head. “No, you will give me the vile. And I will have you and Armund removed. I know the emperor won’t condone what’s happening here.”

Burgard took a step back and covered his pocket. He charged forward. Cathal shot. The arrow flew at Burgard. His hand flashed and there was the sound of metal clinking. He pulled his fist back and Una could see sharp metal covering his fists. Cathal cursed and notched another arrow but he was too slow. Burgard’s fist came smashing towards him. Cathal blocked using the bow. He rolled out of the way dropping the shattered bow. He pulled a knife from his hip and sliced the Large mans calf. But another fist came and drilled into his ribs.

Both men collapsed in screams of pain. Burgard lifted himself back up and kicked the knife away. He grimaced in pain and spat on Cathal. “Heretic, By the blessed Earth Mother, I will kill you right here.”

Una charged. Cathal couldn’t die. She couldn’t let that happen. She had to protect her family. The cat roared and closed her eyes. Burgard turned to the noise and his eyes widened as a white wolf came barreling towards him. He raised his hands in defense and Una bit his wrist and pulled him down to the ground. The large man fell, screaming in pain. Una continued to bite, over and over. Rage consumed her as she tore through the man.

“You won’t hurt him. You won’t hurt my Father,” Una shouted in her head.

A hand touched her mane. And she flinched, about to snap at it. “Druid. It’s over.” Cathal said petting the mane. Blood leaking from his mouth. Una stared him in the eyes and he smiled. Feelings overwhelmed her and she rubbed her head on his. Cathal rolled over, his shirt covered in blood, but he didn’t stop smiling at the wolf. “Una. It’s you isn’t it.”

Tears formed in her eyes and she bobbed her head emphatically. He finally understood, and he closed his eyes.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

Una shook her head and whined. He can’t die now. He finally understood. An overwhelming bout of grief hit her. She wouldn’t let this happen.

“W-Wolf!” A man screamed. And a crowd began to form. Una looked up to the crowd whimpering sadly.

“Somebody quick, kill it.” A woman shrieked.

“Oh my god it’s already killed, those are bodies.”

Una ripped the pouch off Burgard’s corpse and shifted into the gull. It flew towards the crowd and dropped the pouch in front of them.

“I-its the druid.” The baker said in shock.

“He’s real.” One of the guards said, his spear pointing at the bird.

“What is going on here?” Armund shouted. The crowd parted and allowed the old man through. Armund looked down at the sack, and out to the field where he saw Burgard. His jaw dropped and he started to sweat.

Una shifted into the white wolf and growled at Armund. He fell backward dropping his cane. “It’s a monster! Kill it.”

“Father Armund, I want to ask you the same thing.” The baker’s wife said as she pulled the vial out of the pouch. “That man is your personal guard, why does he have this?” She shook the vial around and opened the top to take a whiff. Her face puckered up and she shook her head, racing to put the cap back on. “Poison...”

“It-It's a trick,” Armund said. “This cursed beast is tricking you.”

Una lowered her head, fangs bared, ready to pounce.

“But, you said the druid was nonsense.” A guard said.

Armund scrambled to his feet and backed up, promptly falling back over without the help of his cane. The shock on his face showing his guilt. “No... I didn’t... Someone kill this monster.”

“No Armund. You have some explaining to do.” The baker said. The crowd murmured agreement.

Armund tried to get up to run. Before he could, he was grabbed by the people in the crowd. He tried to shake them off but he was too weak. “Let me go. The Emperor will hear of this. There will be consequences!”

“The emperor will hear of this and he will find you guilty.” The baker screamed. Putting a supportive arm around his wife.

Una turned away from the crowd and walked to Cathal. Her father was still breathing. With a weak smile, she pulled the man onto her back and headed towards the village. Armund was bound, and the rest of the village stood in awe of the wolf. Una bowed her head. The villagers looked across each other’s faces trying to decide how to react.

“C’mon now, Let her through.” The baker’s wife said.

“Her?” The baker asked his wife.

“Of course, Can’t you tell? that’s Una!”

The baker's face went pale, and he turned to the wolf. “Orin was right...” He fell to his knees and bowed to Una. “Forgive me, Una, I didn’t know.” Una placed a large paw on his shoulder, and walked past the crowd, as they rushed to clear her path.

“The Grand Elm is real. It was the one who saved us.” One man shouted. “Long live the druid.”

The crowd cheered behind Una. She blushed and began to trot faster. Cathal didn’t have much time. She raced through the streets and up towards the forest.