Legends of Belariath

Salina Kyle

The Journey Home - Part Two

Afraid of the possibility of meeting the centaurs, I traveled at night for several days. The woods seemed to hold only the creatures of nature. At one point, I stopped to play with a pack of wolves. Some part of me wanted to stay with my woodland brothers. Still, Mentor Jarel's words would come back to me. I had to find my 'parents' only then would I discover my true path in life.

On this day, I awoke just past high sun. My need to get to my parents drove me to risk traveling in the warm light of day. I hadn't actually run into anyone else.

"Probably, the closest villages are still days away," I told myself, as I walked by a stream. My fear of being seen had extended to anyone I might meet. After witnessing the acts of hate at my home, my heart told me there was sure to be more then just centaurs that wouldn't like me, a magically created creature. As I searched for a shallow place to cross, sounds of running feet reached my sensitive ears. Someone ran down the creek toward me. At once, I jumped into the brush, and hid myself from sight. A young human came into view. His clothing, covered in dirt, was torn nearly from his body. He stumbled in exhaustion falling to his hands and knees. His breath came in hot pants from his tortured lungs. From behind him, a small group of humans caught up to the exhausted young man. They dragged him to his feet, and forced his arms behind his back to bind them.

"Thought you could get away, freak," the lead human growled, backhanding the young man, "We don't like bastard children in our village. Filth like you has no place in this world."

"Let&'s drown the abomination!" another shouted. That brought my head up real fast. My eyes went to the bound one, trembling in his captor's hold. On his head, I saw small horns, like those of a satyr. Could it be he was the child of a satyr and human?

"I haven't done anything wrong!" the young man shouted, struggling against the hands that would drag him to the water's edge, "It&'s not my fault my mother was in love with a satyr. Please don't kill me. I'll leave the village and never return. Please, I beg you." His pleas brought rough laughter from the five men.

"You're right about one thing, beast," the leader hissed, "You won't be coming back to our village ever again." They forced him to his knees, then forward into the icy water. I had to do something. Taking the rod from my belt, I took a deep breath.

"Lady of Light protect me!" I shouted as I dove forward into the open. Looks of shock and horror passed over their dust brown faces. My staff caught one in the gut and sent him flying. The next blow I struck toppled their leader. Those who were holding the boy let him go to flee the way they had come. Helping their leader to his feet, the other three quickly followed. The young man still lay in the water. My hands pulled him from the cold stream and to a safe distance away. My Healing powers told me he had been beaten earlier. He wouldn't live if I didn't help him. My commonsense said those men would be back in greater numbers. I also knew this young man would die if I didn't help him now. I looked around for some herb, and brought out a small dagger. Kneeling by his still form, I made a small cut in the palm of my right hand. The leaves were crushed into the blood by my rod mixing the two. I put the leaves into his mouth, and placed my bloody hand on his chest. Mentor Jarel had taught me the Rite of Shared Strength. My eyes closed, as I began a soft chant. Power flowed around us humming in a low voice to match my chant. His pain became my pain. For one brief moment, we were one. The ritual let us share our childhood experiences, and I felt his mother's love. It let us feel what the other had felt. In one brief instant he and I merged into one, then it ended. A soft moan brought my eyes down to his muddy face. He couldn't have been more then seventeen or eighteen years. His long black hair I thought would most likely hide his small horns. Looking down his body, I saw his legs had some black fur but human feet. As I looked him over, a frightened gasp brought my eyes to his shocked face.

"Do you feel strong enough to move?" I asked in human. "They'll be coming back soon."

"I think I can," he said, as I helped him up.

"Lets cross the stream," I suggested, "We can loose our scent, and maybe throw them off our trail." He looked at the water dubiously.

"I don't know if I can swim," he said.

"Just hold onto me," I told him. "I'll get us across." At that moment, my ears picked up the sound of many running feet. "They're coming. We've got to go now." We entered the cold water. His near naked body shivered against my warm fur. The swim didn't seem that bad to me. On the other side, I helped him up the rock-strewn bank, then into cover. The men had reached the scene of the fight.

"I'm telling you it was a demon wolf," one man said, "It had the body of a wolf, and the head of a demon." Silently, the two of us sneaked away from the area.

We walked in quiet thought for a short while. He had regained his strength as well as having most of his wounds healed. I could feel his eyes on me as we moved. The words of the man echoed in my mind. A demon wolf. The human man had called me a demon. Was my form that horrifying? The one I had rescued wouldn't stop staring at me. It occurred to me I hadn't even asked him his name.

"I'm Shalla," I said, turning to look in his eyes. After a moment of surprise, the raven-haired young man cleared his throat.

"I'm Xenex," he said, shyly, "Why did you save me?"

"Its&' no crime to be born between races," I said, sighing, "I couldn't stand by and let them kill you." He looked down at his healed wounds.

"Are you a healer, as well?"

"I guess you could say that," I said, thinking about it. "I am a child of the Lady of Light. She allows me the rites of healing as well as others. If you don't mind me asking were you born with your horns?" Shame flashed over his unshaven face. One hand went to his forehead as if to cover the horns from my sight.

"No," he said in a low voice, "They came out yesterday."

"What caused them to appear?" Inner pain flooded his being bringing a soft moan. Xenex sank to the ground in misery. At once, I knelt by him holding his hand in sympathy.

"It was my day of marriage," he said, slowly, forcing the painful words out, "I had no idea about my father. My mother had always told me that my father had gone far away, but nothing else. I 'looked' human. I had no way of knowing the truth. After the ceremony, we had a grand party that went on into the night. At last, Gia and I retired to the small house I had built with my own two hands." Tears ran down his cheeks. "We had undressed. I remember running my hands over her slight frame thinking how lucky I was to have Gia as my bride. As her hands moved over me, a passion began to grow. Not just passion but a lustful burning to take her. It became a need that overpowered me. My hands became rough as I caressed my new wife. My lips devoured her lips. Gia became frighten at the intensity of my heat. She began to fight me, but I couldn't stop. The need had grown too great. I found myself forcing my new wife to her stomach, and taking her as an animal would. My body felt like it had caught on fire. The pleasure peaked bringing a stabbing pain to my head. I sank down on top of her panting in exhaustion. Gia cried softly. Under most circumstances, no one would&'ve cared at how I took my wife to my bed, but I cared. Filled with shame at what had happen, I turned her over to apologize. The moment she opened her eyes, Gia began screaming. Shocked, I didn't know what was wrong, then my hand went up to my face. I felt the horns, and the blunt fangs. I had become a monster. She ran out of our home screaming in horror. Hearing her screams, the town peacekeeper, her father, and her brothers came to the house. When they saw me, I was bound then beaten. I managed to escape. The rest you know." I held him close doing my best to comfort him.

"It's not your fault," I said, "You had no way of knowing that this would happen to you. It's your sire's blood that has done this. You need only learn to control the 'need'. My teacher showed me satyrs on occasion. They are a passionate race, but also gentle. If you had known, you would've been able to control yourself." Xenex jumped to his feet enraged at my words.

"I'm a monster," he hissed, "I could&'ve killed Gia."

"You wouldn't have killed her," I said, with complete assurance.

"How would you know?" he growled. Sighing, I got to my feet.

"Because, satyrs don't kill," I said, starting down the path. "That would ruin the pleasure." After a moment, he caught up with me.

"I wish I were just human," he said, sadly. My eyes went to his dark face. Thinking of what those men had said, my emotions ran in the same vein.

Suddenly, my head snapped up. A very familiar sound came in our direction. The noise of hooves moving on hard earth brought that evil night back into my mind. Terror gripped my body. Xenex turned to find me gone from the path.

"Shalla?" he asked, looking confused. My hand reached out to catch his tunic, and drag him into the bushes with me. One hand went over his mouth to keep him silent. In a few moments, a man on horse back passed us headed in the other direction.

It took me several minutes to loosen my grip on Xenex. Luckily, he hadn't struggled. I felt sure that in my fear I might've done him serious harm. After some hesitation, we went back to the path. My companion looked at me strangely.

"Okay," he said, "Its your turn."

"My turn?" I whispered, looking in the direction the horse had gone.

"Yes. Like why did you just about smother me a moment ago?" That brought my eyes to his solemn face.

"I'm sorry, Xenex," I said, looking away from him. "Perhaps it would be better if we didn't travel together."

"Oh no you don't," the young man growled, grabbing my wrist, "I've told you my pain you owe me that same respect." He was right, of course.

"I'll tell you," I said, not sure I was ready to face my loss, "but we must keep moving."You're being hunted," he said, with a nod. We began to move down the pathway.

"I come from the Shrine of the Quiet Vale," I said, "I grew up at the shrine, and would've gladly died there. My teacher, a human druid, acted as my parent, and friend. He told me I was a gift from the Lady. That I should never be ashamed of how I&'d been born, but he said little to nothing about my parents. I didn't really care about that. Last night, my past caught up to me. The shrine was attacked. The prayer stones were knocked over. The holy circle was desecrated. Filled with hate, demon creatures I had never seen before that night did all of this. They came searching for an 'abomination', but Mentor Jarel wouldn't tell them where I hid. For that the centaurs killed him." I had to stop for a few minutes as sobs choked my voice. Xenex held me while I finished my horrible tale.

By nightfall, we'd found a cave to sleep in. We went down to a small stream to drink and wash. I noticed my new friend kept staring at me when he thought I didn't know.

"Am I that horrifying, Xenex?" I asked, bracing for the painful answer. "You keep staring at me." Looking down at the wet stones, his face turned a bright red. He didn't seem to want to speak at first. A sick feeling built in my stomach.

"I see," I said, softly. I began to move back toward the cave.

"No. Shalla, wait!" he said. I looked over my shoulder at his troubled face. He came over to take my velvety hand in his.

"You're not horrifying at all," he said with a gentle smile. "Have you ever considered wearing a tunic?" His question caught me by surprise.

"A tunic?" I replied looking down at my thickly furred, large breasted chest. "I'm not cold." A sparkle in Xenex's dark eyes seemed to call for an answering grin.

"You wear a tunic for more then just warmth, Shalla," he said, "I think I find your shape a little distracting. A tunic would help cover your 'charms', which would be a good idea. When we finally go into a city, you can't be naked. Humans take exception to that very quickly." I had never thought of myself as 'naked'. I had a coat of fur to cover me.

"I'm not naked," I said, as we walked back to the cave. A strange blushed passed over his face.

"You might not think you're naked, but I grew up in a village," he said, "Trust me when I say that to most you'd be considered 'naked'. Haven't you ever worn any clothing?"

"Well, when I was younger I saw my teacher putting on a night shirt to sleep in," I started remembering the warm memory. "I told him I wanted to wear a night shirt as well. He made me my own, and I have worn them for a while. Still, that was a child's attempt to imitate her role model."

"Then your mentor wore clothing?" Xenex asked.

"Generally, Mentor Jarel wore the tan and green robes of a follower of the Lady of the Green Land," I said, "He was very old, and chilled easily. Until the centaurs' attack I had never seen anyone other then him. I never really thought about it. Mentor Jarel never complained about my 'shape'."

"That's probably because he saw you as his daughter," my friend said, "He never thought of you in a sexual manner." My eyes went to where the half-satyr had laid down with his back to me.

"Do you think of me in a sexual manner, Xenex?" I asked, but it seemed he had already fallen asleep. Sighing, I tried to make myself comfortable. My thoughts and emotions ran in so many directions sleep took a long time in coming.

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