4 Arriving

Coming over the rise I looked down into the valley. It was full of soldiers and the fighting was fierce. I could see some were being cut down like sheep at the slaughter pen and the ferocity of those doing the killing was bordering on a lustful excitement. Their faces shone with the high from the exhilaration from the killing. They frightened me. These were bad men. 

But who were they attacking?

I squatted down and watched as the fighting continued. Some people were dragged away whilst the rest were left for dead. Those who were doing majority of  the killing had gone, carrying their prey (?) across their saddles. I stayed still and watched. No-one stirred. Then I heard groaning and smelt the blood. Not good. Wolves howled. They would be food tonight, unless.....

Without thinking I galloped down the hillside and ran over to the men. Quickly, I searched out those who were alive and which were dead. Those who had already died, I dragged to the edge of the clearing. If anyone was going to be food it would be corpses not living beings.

The injured, I pulled towards the centre of the clearing and built a fire large enough to keep the wolves at bay, then hunted around to see if there was anything I could do to help the men.

They were shocked by this feral creature running around, but I had a plan and the cooking pot came out. I found vegetables from the surrounding area and raided my meat stash. Placing it all into a pot I cooked. It smelled good and this alone was enough to revive some of the men. Their distrust in me seemed to ebb and the smells from the pot encouraged them to sit if they could.

It was only then I realised these were not all soldiers. They were officials travelling with guards and they had been attacked. I checked the pot. It was ready. 

Finding a few bowls amongst the belongings scattered about, I started giving some to each of them. It took time and some men, hungry and overwhelmed by everything, started eating directly from the pot. I wish I could have cooked more but I had given them all I had.

Slowly, they began to organise themselves. Some had healing skills, and the necessary threads and needles. These men began stitching up the worst. Others found bandages, raided uniforms and made a reasonable job at patching one other up. They talked amongst themselves and stared at me from time to time. I sat at the edge of the clearing, watching, standing only to attend the fire with more wood which I regularily collected.

As I went out collecting, I found knives, swords, pikes and chains which I brought back. These were things dropped in the fight. All useful. If the wolves came down it would be best to be ready. They were suspicious. They watched my every move, one hand on a hilt, ready. 

It didn't concern me, in my mind the forest presented greater threats.

They stared at me. "Who are you?" one asked, more quizzical than anything, 'and where did you come from?"

I'd not spoken to a soul for years and I found forming words hard.

"Alone.... Walking...." I looked at the man. I wanted to say more but I had lost that ability.

A wolf howled andvwithout thinking I returned the call telling them to stay away. The man turned and looked at me, "You calling the wolves little girl?" He stood and put a knife to my throat, "No, No!" I waved my hands gesturing the same word. " I tell them stay away"

The man was untrusting, "you talk to wolves? How do we know you're not lying! Tell me, what did you call out to them?" He leered into my face and for the first time in years I was terrified. I burst into tears and tried to run. He grabbed me and holding the knife to my throat, "if they come little miss, then I'll slit your throat and feed them fresh meat, how's that?" and with that he threw me back onto the ground.

I lifted myself onto my knees and kow-towed to him.

"yes, master," I replied.

I kept the fire all night and used all my food reserves to give the men something in their bellies.

The wolves didn't come. They sat at the ridgetop looking down. They saw an easy meal but were held back by the fire and my presence. We had already met a few times and they had learned to respect me and my dominance over them. I had grown these past few years fighting for my survival and a pack of wolves no longer frightened me.