Leaving

"My brood brother, Mellen, went south," Alpen replied to Alithea's question. Bebe nodded. "I have not seen or heard from him in ten years when he parted. Perhaps we can join their village. I want to find out what is happening in the south. Where are the Ibik herds?"

Bebe asked, "The mountains to the south. What about the wolfbear?"

Alpen looked to Fallon Neither of them knew the habits of the wolfbear, only that it was territorial. He turned back to Bebe. "We'll be fine, hon. The three of us. We have weapons." He gave her a reassuring hug, and Fallon nodded in confirmation.

Each family placed their belongings on a travois that was usually used to transport Ibik meat and injured warriors. Alithea directed Fallon to pack her grandmother's bridal quilt and the nesting crib that they would need in a few weeks for the new baby, but there was so much she had to leave behind. Fallon's priority was weapons and tools. Alithea paused at the door as they were ready to leave. Had she forgotten anything? Suddenly, she let out a wail that bounced off the walls and out into the crisp morning air. The sound upset Erthen, who reached up to her for reassurance. She gathered him in her arms and followed Fallon out to their travois.

They went to visit their loved ones in the graveyard at the southern end of the village. Bebe and Alpen had also buried a young one there. "My soul is here," Bebe cried as she knelt on the damp grass. Drindl stood in front of his mother's grave, then reached down to pluck a spring flower from the site.

Fallon touched the headstone over his folk's grave. He and Alpen had found the large rock on the cliffs of an ancient volcano to the north. One side had a smooth glassy surface of burgundy streaked with silver and aquamarine that captured the evening sun's fire. They had both hurt for days after. Alpen had joked that the rock was the bravest warrior he had ever fought. Fallon knelt at the stone and kissed the swirl of cool color. The full impact of leaving their home hit him.
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Alpen touched his shoulder. "You gave your folks the evening sun for the rest of eternity."

Fallon needed to hear that. He stood, then turned to the squeak of the Faerie as it stirred from its stupor. "No, you've had enough. You're not going to die," Fallon answered, then remembered that he had forgotten the faerie cage. Alpen had not brought one either. Drindl ran back to Fallon's house and retrieved the faerie cage. The two of them transferred the Faerie to the cage and left the skull on the ground.

As the sun climbed above the horizon, Alpen urged them to leave. They stood facing the village, pausing for one last look at their home, their refuge in the world. Alithea set Erthen on the travois, covered him and secured him to the sled. Next to him, Fallon tied the faerie cage to the sled. "Maybe Erthen will learn Faerie talk just like his father," Alithea joked.

Fallon protested, "I'm not making this up!"  He slid into the harness of the travois and took the lead. He followed the bare outline of a path beaten down by the hooves of last year's Ibik migration. The warmth of the sun was welcome in the early spring morning.

As Fallon strode forward, he thought. Turning back to Drindl, he motioned for the young warrior to come alongside him. "Did you have any energy last night?" Drindl shook his head no. "You gave some to Erthen and I gave some to the Faerie. Did Alpen take any?" Again, Drindl shook his head. "Show me the energy," he asked and Drindl fished out the energy. "There is still a good deal left. All the warriors took that much energy?" Drindl nodded. Sarten had given them a strong enough dose to overcome any reluctance as he led them to slaughter. They would share Sarten's murderous spirit and act without question. Where did he get that much energy, Fallon wondered. "I'm glad you did not join them," he said as he reached out to Drindl. "We are brothers now. Brothers of the heart and brothers of the sword."