Coldwalker [II]

Coldwalker brought out a knife and a bit of wood and began to whittle aimlessly, in an attempt to appear nonchalant. “Do you feel that way about me?”

“Yes...I do... I do see you like that. You are young like me, and you are strong and handsome in my eyes.”

There was a pause. Coldwalker began to shape the wood into a spoon, carving it out. “You know it would not be like I and my mares. We could not be that close. You would not want that willingly.”

“I understand,” Cierra said. “But, I would still spend time with you. What I feel is strong.”

Coldwalker turned and looked at Cierra. She was fair looking in his eyes. But it was the sense she had, a presence of mind somewhat different from other girls he met, that held his attention.

But he paused. “Your mother should be back by now.”

He rose quickly, almost sending Cierra into the snow. Mrs. Arechbelle’s footprints went off into the dark night. Coldwalker picked up a piece of wood that was lit at the end for a makeshift torch. Jakobs stood as well, a look of worry in his eyes.

“Take the ax by the packs,” Coldwalker told him. “Take your sister and stay by the fire.”

The boy nodded and did as he was told, though not without some hesitation. “What’s happened?” Cierra asked.

Coldwalker did not answer her. He followed Mrs. Arechbelle’s tracks out into the darkness. Away from the fire, the air had a bitter bite to it. Silence hung in the empty chill.

A sound, a crunch to the right. Coldwalker thrust his torch towards the noise. A large panther had its jaws in Mrs. Arechbelle’s throat. When it saw that it had been discovered, it let go of its prey and snarled. Coldwalker drew his long knife and stamped his hoof. After regarding its opponent for another moment, the panther slunk away, growling as it went.

Coldwalker walked over to Mrs. Arechbelle. She was dead. Her unblinking eyes left no doubt as to that. The panther had probably killed her before she even knew it was there.

The centaur looked back towards the glow of the fire. The last two of his charges still hung by the fire. They looked frightened. Coldwalker felt for them, in some strange way. He made his way back to them slowly, as though the weight of the news he bore was heavy on him.

“What’s wrong?” Cierra asked. Jakob stood beside her, hands gripped tight on the handle of the ax.

“Your mother is dead,” Coldwalker said.

The ax fell to the ground. The crackling of the fire was the only sound. At last Jakob began to wail. Cierra soon joined him, falling on her knees and sobbing.

Coldwalker came over to them and got down on his knees to comfort Cierra. Jakob threw himself across the centaur’s back, crying without control. Coldwalker did not move the boy. It would be a crime to interrupt this kind of grief, that of a child orphaned in the wild.

“Take care, Cierra,” Coldwalker said, putting his hand on her back. “It will be well.”

“How?” the girl asked, her voice despondent. “I don’t know who my mother was supposed to meet! I don’t know anyone!”

She dissolved into choking tears and buried her face into Coldwalker’s shoulder. His hands held her there. The trio sat like this for a while, as the fire began to die down in the night.

“I shall take you,” Coldwalker said.

“What?” Cierra asked, confused in her sorrow and looking up at him.

“My sire earned much money from these journeys. It is mine now. As I live a more traditional lifestyle for my people, I have no need for it.” He held Cierra in front of him. “If we are joined, as stallion and mare, then you and your brother become my responsibility. I would care for the both of you.”

Cierra’s eyes had a glimmer of hope. “You would?”

Coldwalker nodded. “It would be a manner of duty. I would help him through his last bit of schooling. And if he chooses to take on a trade, I would help him start it”

Cierra cast an eye at her weeping brother. A faint smile touched her face. She looked back at Coldwalker. “What about me?”

Now Coldwalker faltered for a moment. “You would live with my herd, as one of my mares. I would give you food you could eat, but that would be the only difference between you and them.”

This made Cierra’s head fall. “I would just be someone to give you children?”

“No,” Coldwalker said. “I and my mares are close in more ways than that. Though I am traditional, I am not fundamental. I would give you the same care and devotion they receive.”

Jakob’s cries were the only sound now. Cierra stared out into the blackness. Coldwalker looked at the boy whose tears drenched his flanks. Cierra got up and walked over to her brother.

“Sh, Jakob, sh,” she said, putting her arms around him. “We will be fine. You hear me? We’ll be all right. Coldwalker will take care of us. Okay? He’ll care for us.”

Jakob didn’t respond to her. Coldwalker turned and put a hand on the boy’s shoulder. Jakob looked up at the centaur. Coldwalker nodded and his crying began to subside. He sniffled and sat up against Coldwalker’s flank, looking out into the night with tears still streaming down his face. Cierra walked in front of Coldwalker and sat on her knees.

“This is for him,” she said.

Coldwalker nodded. “Don’t worry. It will be worth it. I will make it worth it.”

Cierra sighed and tried to smile. Coldwalker took her and pulled her close to him.

“I feel owned,” Cierra remarked.

Coldwalker put her head against his shoulder. He wanted to reassure her, but didn’t say anything.