Episode 4: Unsolved mystery

Time passed and I knew I had to complete my journey, so I packed a few rabbits and stones with me and decided to go looking for the rogues and I was surprised that they hadn't come for me. Yet.

Days and nights passed as I made my way through that unknown land, with only the wind and myself for company. As doubt settled down in my veins, I began to wonder what Alpha Asher had in mind.

But I was proven wrong as a large village came into view after a long long time. Small Houses were here and there as a fume emanated from each one of them.

Food, I thought to myself.

My stomach grumbled and my blue fingers clutched it tightly since the 3 rabbits I had managed to hunt down were all consumed leaving me with no nutrition for five days.

Back in the pack, I could manage to stay 3 days with no food at all since it was a part of the training but over the past days i had learnt to extend that period for 5 days. That was my first lesson, in order to survive one can destroy all his beliefs and outcome them.

I wondered if it was the compound of the rogues and didn't get to take a decision when a female voice stratled me :

"-What are you doing here my child ? Who are you? ".

An old woman inquired, she was wrapped in a fox's feather as it seemed but the innocent gleare in her eyes somehow assured me to trust her, not completely.

"- I'm just passing by, do you live here? "

"- Yes I live here with my husband, and well neighbors but what's a young child doing out here in the cold passing by ? "

I started to shake from cold purposely and the old lady took the bait :

"- oh dear you're freezing, come with me child, don't mind my manners. "

she quickly shoved me to one of the wooden cabins, in other words, her home and gave me a blanket making sure I was protected from the excruciating cold.

While drinking the vegie soup she made me, like a total homless, I started making up a story so as not to draw anymore unnecessary attention.

"-Tell me child, what's a beautiful young girl doing in the wild all on her own? " She innocently inquired, concern dripping from her tone.

"- I am... An orphan " I stalled for more dramatic effect, and when I saw pity taking form in her eyes I elaborated:

"-The people who raised me told me that my original parents are from the North, somewhere in these near villages. " I lied, uncomfortable mentally but let nothing show.

"-But this is an infinite land my dear, how are you going to find your parents in this cold and all by yourself ? " She questioned,

"-I have this pendant that they left me when I was a baby, " I showed her the necklace that Blake once bought me from a merchant and quickly added:

"-I've been told that these patterns can only be done in..." She didn't let me finish and to my credit, said:

"- These can only be made in Valclore villages which are a week away from here if you go by foot. "

I smiled warmly and faked excitment: "-So you know which way I can take to go there right ? "

I needed to make her believe that I was just an ordinary little girl.

"-Yes I do, but dear there are horrible stories that go around, it says that in those tribes hide monsters who practice sorcery, wolves go out the night to hunt their prays, be it humans or animals. "

She unconsciously lowered her voice as if she was telling me a secret.

Bingo.

"-It's okay, I have made it this far alive, I really need to find my birth parents " I pleaded. This woman did me more than a favor and I owed her big. She insisted I stayed when she noticed how weak I had become and started nutritioning me and taking care of me.

She took in a stranger and I had grown fond of her and her husband that had welcomed me arms wide open. My last night with them, seated on a wooden table with candles lightning the room we were having dinner together when her husband dismissed and I stayed with Cara all alone.

"-Thank you aunt Cara, for everything. " I sincerely said.

"-That's the first truth you've told me dear Iris. "

She held my suspicious eyes for a second, smiled and got up to sleep.

She knew... She had know all along.

An old lady living in another era cut from the civilisation, could easily break through the walls I've built with Blake, walls of indifference and cold temper, walls of lies to protect my existence, she broke through those walls that allowed me to survive.

A mere villager.

Shock engulfed me the whole night.

Next morning I woke up early and stocked my backpack with food that Cara had prepared for me to last more than two weeks with a proper diet. I wore my new warm clothes and got out to where Cara's husband was preparing a horse for me to ride in order to reach my destination.

We said our goodbyes after tight hugs and as I was about to kick the horse that I've been taking strolls with for the last days around the strangely empty mysterious houses, Cara gently squeezed my arm and whispered to me:

"- We are all beasts, some of us just hide their demons better than others"  and with that the horse started running.

I realised that was my second lesson throughout my journey : never underestimate the power of a so-deemed common man, nothing is as simple as it looks.

The nearby houses were inhabited...

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