3 Reminiscing

Crouching low to the ground I felt the muscles in my legs tightened in anticipation, the grip on my crude dagger flexed and my ears that now stood tall were twitching at every sound. Looking into the forest I was amazed at how clearly I could see into the depths of the woods.

Satyrs must have good eye sight I mused as I watched the Alpha wolf exit the forest. Seeing the massive wolf I paled immediately, it was twice as tall as I was and my little crude dagger wasn't going to do anything to the beast. It walked closer and I felt an immense pressure push me to my knees.

The beasts aura alone was enough to force me to touch my head to the floor. I was unable to move my body was stiff as a board. I heard the beast move closer and his breath washed over me as he sniffed me a few times. Before I could so anything the great beast opened its jaws and I could feel it getting closer to the nape of my neck.

Unable to even blink I waited for the end. I felt its teeth grab the scruff of my neck and I was lifted up off the ground like a kitten. Instinctively I pulled my knees to my chest and my arms held them close.

At this point my body failed to obey my commands, the dagger I held before was now left in the dirt behind us as I was carried through the forest by the massive creature. It wasn't long before I saw the tale tell signs of fire in the distance and the smell of smoke in the air.

The Great Wolf dropped me off at the edge of the camp before me. He nuzzled my face affectionately and trod off back into the forest, after it left I let out my held breath.

I sat there panting heavily as I tried to recover from that experience. I wiped tears from my eyes, but that was no use. It's felt like my body had a mind of it's own and I just sat there for a long time crying.

After I shed my last tear I got up on shaky feet and trudged towards the camp. I felt much better but extremely exhausted. I lamented at how much time I lost to my emotions. It was much easier to suppress my emotions when I was a guy, I was already starting hate everything.

Entering the fire light I was temporarily blinded as my sight adjusted. The sounds of talking and eating ceased and as my eyes focused I found out why.

I was suddenly slammed in a tight embrace and lifted into the air, there was suddenly much more noise as everyone cheered and shouted. I felt the women holding me set me down and I finally had the chance to look around.

I was immediately struck by how small I was compared to everyone else. Everyone was clearly taller then me by several feet. I was either younger then I originally thought or I was extremely short. I was honestly hoping for the former as I wanted to be able to grow more, I wasn't exactly thrilled to be so small.

I was brought over to what appeared to be a bath house and was quickly cleaned by several women that were already bathing. Water was dumped over my head and a soap like material was applied to my hair and body.

Confused and exhausted I let them do what they wanted to, goodness knows I needed a bath after rolling in the mud and all that crying in the dark. I was given a small strip of cloth that was tied around my chest to hide my breasts and a skirt of rough animal hides was added to cover the rest, this left me essentially exposed but seeing how everyone wore similar attire I didn't complain.

I guess this species sees the natural wool on their legs as enough coverage so pants are not used. Like how its weird to put clothes on animal but it's equally weird to see one without fur. After getting dressed I was dragged to the seat at the head of the banquet. I was sat next to the largest chair, just slightly to the right.

'Was I the chieftains daughter or something?' I wondered as I stared wide eyed at everyone. They all looked expectantly at me and I didn't know what to do. A few began to notice this and started to whisper among them selves.

Soon however one of the women walked over and knelt beside me.

"Eveline is everything alright?" She asked quietly but kindly.

Already certain that I was not going to be able to bullshit my way through this I was as honest as I dared to be.

"Where am I? Who are you?" I answered, I figured the best way was to feign amnesia. That way I can at least learn more about my situation.

The women looked knowingly into my eyes a deep sadness covering her previously joyous attitude. She somberly stood up to address the gathered group. Everyone noticed this and quieted down to listen some already expecting something bowed their heads before the one standing could begin.

"The great spirits have shown pity to a fellow this night" She began.

"The spirits, may they rest in peace have bestowed the greatest gift and the greatest curse to lady Eveline"

Many people lowered their gazes and I could see a few weeping tears of sorrow and some of reluctant smiles. I was unsure what this all meant but I think I was putting the pieces together.

"It is however a joyous night for the spirits allowed for her glorious return. Lets drink to old friends and to making new one in the coming days"

The lady turned around, tears streaming down her face as she came to give me a soft hug. I held her close as she wept on my shoulder and waited until she was ready to let go.

I wasn't sure why but I vaguely felt like I should know her and care about her well being. She wiped away her tears and handed me some food and drink before sitting across from me.

I could tell she was trying to smile and it reminded me of the smiles I saw friends and family give my grandfather when he started to forget who everyone was. This was why my father thought he could get the company, the will has to be null if the person who wrote it was not sound of mind. In the end he decided to just remove the competition but that's now the past.

The look I saw was the look you see when the person you knew your whole life vanished and everything you shared with them gone with it. It was worse when the person in question sat before you and looked at you like a stranger, I could only imagine what she was going through. It's probably best to avoid mentioning her suicide attempt in the forest.

"In case you were wondering your full name is Eveline Eldenfrost Mossgrove, many of us called you Eve. You are seventeen this year and you are" She paused "Was the active chieftain of our tribe, ever since the early death of your betrothed last spring. His name was Emerdale Stonegrove son of Martin Stonegrove and eldest son in line for leader"

"As was tradition when the leader dies and no heirs are to be found the role of chieftain falls to the eldest wife, or this case his only betrothed. It was our hope that you were carrying the child of the late chieftain but alas as with most maidens you refused his advances as was your sacred right. Your marriage and later that night, your honeymoon would have been yesterday. That's when we noticed that you vanished from your tent and we feared for the worst"

I sat in silence listening her, my story. It would seem that her life was going great. For being the smallest of her age group she managed to win the Chieftains heart through her rebellious personality.

She was every bit a wild flower and story was that he fell for her. In a sense both figuratively and literally. It would seem she had a short person complex and didn't take kindly to any who called her short or weak. He tried to be a kind soul but misspoke, he found himself laid out on the floor with someone more then half his height insulting him about his manners and lack of respect.

I guess she made a good impression because later that year they were engaged. That spring however tore them apart, slave traders from the human lands came to hunt some young Satyrs and sell them on the black market. Eveline was caught and dragged away in the night. As was most of the young females in the village they used a rag to put them to sleep and if it wasn't for Eveline's training they would have gotten away.

I guess I have a decent resistance to poisons and toxins in my body that only the warriors can boast about. This left the women of the village at risk, but apparently the method of increasing ones resistance has a high death tole so I can understand why the women would refrain from attempting it.

A fierce battle ensued and it cost many people their lives including Eveline's fiance, I found myself crying hearing about his death as if some remnants of her feeling still remains in me.

Much later, we visited his grave and left offerings to his soul. I added another offering for myself as an apology to stealing her as a vessel. I felt it in my heart however that the soul Known as Eveline passed on before I took her vessel, I prayed they meet again in the next life.

I also learned the one who took the time to explain this to me was my half sister, we have different mothers but the same father. We grew up together and is the reason why she knows so much about my life, my old like and desires.

It turns out that Eveline wanted to explore the world. Even though it was frowned apon she trained as a warrior and hunter. As a social norm it was expected for the women to cook, clean and have children and the men were expected to provide and care for the children.

It was an honor evidently to have the ability to care for several wives and it was seen as an honor to be married to such a man. That was ridiculous in my mind but here it was the norm. I was very clear with Gwen my half sister that I would continue my training as a Warrior and Hunter because it resonates deeply within my heart.

That was honestly not a lie, after hearing her tale of my heroic deeds I was struck with the growing sense of pride, honor and purpose. As if the deed she spoke of was my own, I felt in my heart that the path she followed before would be a path I too will walk.

Gwen shed happy tears at my proclamation and we had another bout of crying. This time I was drawn in to the mess of tears and hugs and it was awhile before both of us could calm down. It seems that I will have to get used to this change, for better or worse I see a lot of tears in my future.

At the end of the night and many stories later Gwen and I fell into a deep sleep. I was held tightly by Gwen like a small stuffed animal. It seems we used to to this quite often as it took no time at all to get situated into the most ideal and comfortable positions.

Tomorrow I was expected to be at the training grounds to go through the round with the rest of the warrior. It seemed my proclamation reached every ear of the village, the warriors actually approached me sometime last night to hear me sat those words myself.

I was surprised to see genuine smiles on their faces. It would seem that Eveline, was a trailblazer and everyone respected and admired her for it. Looks like the hard work she put in to break the mold of her society was worth her every blood sweat and tears.

Thinking about how I wished Eveline could see how her people cared for her left me crying at the foot of the warriors who were honestly taken aback by my sudden outburst. Gwen came over smiling at them.

"Remember boys this girl doesn't have the years of struggle engraved into her body and mind anymore. Remember how you saw her no more than a few years ago?"

The group of men coughed and avoided eye contact, they all shuffled their hooves awkwardly.

"She may have the same fire in her soul as she did before but she also has a delicate side she locked away so many years ago. I know it may seem weak or strange to you men. But I for one am delighted to see her show her true feelings again." She paused to look down at me

"I get to be the big sister I couldn't be before, so you better not hurt her feeling or I'm going to be the one you deal with" she waved her finger in their face and to my surprise they all backed up a few steps, and not baby steps either.

This elicited a fit of laughter from me, the faces of the men reddened in embarrassment and they themselves started to chuckle. I honestly gave up trying to suppress all these feelings, they are like a torrent and its so much easier to just let them run their course. They bid their farewells and headed off to bed and we did the same.

Tomorrow is a new day, I wonder what the day will bring.