Daughter of the hunt

On the second day of our hunt, Dekota and Eris decided to take their team farther east to look for tracks. It was unlikely they would find any as everything the other hunters have seen told us north but it would be better to have them there to flank north if needed.

Makya kept Zophiel circling high above us, scouting for any sights as we raced north. Shortly after noon, Zophiel let out a pieces screech, bringing the team to a halt. I looked up to see Zophiel wheeling over the next ridge.

“There is a clearing, what? Around 1000 meters over that rise isn’t there?”

Makya looked at a small map he always had with him. “From what I can tell, that should be right. We camped there two summers ago, right?”

“That’s what I am thinking.” I climbed out of the sled, already missing its warmth, and pulled out my rifle.

“Not taking dad’s gift?” Makya teased.

“You are welcome to carry it as backup, but I plan to stay out of sight for now.”

He shrugged, pulling out his own rifle and ski set. “I will take the rise on the left. The dogs should be fine here. You going up to that overlook?” he asked pointing to an outcropping that should give a vantage down into the clearing.

I gave a gentle nod and began the trudge. The snow was thick today but thankfully our snowshoes made it fairly easy. In any case, I was accustomed to these hikes thanks to chasing Makya all over the frozen world. When I reached my spot, I lay out an oilskin on the snow and crouched on top, uncasing my rifle.

Down in the clearing, about 500 meters away I saw a stag, which was not what I expected after Zophiel’s alert. A stag here should mean no danger was in the area. I watched closely through the scope as a crow flew down into the valley.

“Morrigan? Cernunnos?” I breathed, not believing my own eyes. The crow landed on a branch near the stag and the two looked at each other. Then, a great red-furred timber wolf prowled into the clearing. I took aim on the wolf, waiting for the battle crow to mark my target.

“Brigid, lady of the forest, forgive me for taking one of your wolves. Cernunnos, thank you mighty lord of the hunt. Morrigan, mark my kill that you may feast first.”

The battle crow cawed and took flight. I slowed my breathing, taking careful aim, adjusting for distance. Then the crow landed on the horns of the stag! I blinked. Was I supposed to target the stag and not the wolf? As I began to adjust my sight to the stag, the wolf moved, following my crosshairs until it stood beneath the stag.

“Mother above!” I swore. “The three-faced god embodied. What world of hell have I evoked?”  I about shat myself when all three creatures turned their faces in unison and stared at me through my own scope! There before me, the trigod embodied. As I watched, there was a flash, and the trigod was before my face, inches away!

I tried to scream but the world spun and went black. I stood on a plane of grass in a forest. No snow could be seen. Tir na nóg? Was I now among the Tuatha de Danann? Shit this was bad!

Before me stood the trigod, the battle crow, the stag, and the wolf. My eyes locked with the wolf and my mind felt like it was splitting in two. I clutched at my head, writhing on the ground. Then, like a cold splash of water on a hot burn, a voice, husky and deep spoke into my mind.

‘Daughter of the hunt, we greet thee.’

“Cernunnos?”

‘Welcome, daughter, to Tir na nóg.’

When I had my wits about me, I came to my knees and bowed my head low. Five minutes ago I believed in Cernunnos as a kind of fulfillment of my own belief and luck at hunting. Now? Now the embodiment of faith stood before me. Yea you freaking bow and grovel when you mean your gods' damned deities. Especially when you realize you are in Tir na nóg on top of everything else!

“How may I serve?” Yea, that is good. Let’s stick with that.

‘Rise, Daughter of the hunt, my faithful huntress.’

I hesitated but figured right now, obeying was the best option.

The wolf stepped forward. ‘Daughter of the hunt, we have been waiting for you.’

“For me?”

‘A great evil is preparing to return to the land. Your world is not the only one at stake. If Emrys Ballar returns to power, a druid of his ilk could cross the planes and jeopardize our world too.’

“And you want me to do what exactly?”

“Hunt” came a cawing command from the battle crow.  

“Hunt? This Emrys Ballar? I don’t hunt humans…”

‘No, but you hunt wolves. And do so well. Emrys Ballar is as cunning as a wolf and you will need to have the mind of one to defeat him.”

“Mind of the wolf, defeat Emrys Ballar, save the world, save Tir na nóg. Got it… anything else while I am on this mushroom trip?” Probably should have kept my mouth shut on that last bit…

The battle crow’s eyes glowed red. Definitely should have kept my mouth shut.

The crow flapped from its perch on the stag’s antlers and shifted before my eyes into a stunning woman. The Maiden!

“Girl, you may think this a passing fancy, but hear me now. Your father sacrificed his life to imprison Emrys Ballar before you were born. Your mother gave her life that the world might have a daughter such as you. They shared a power that most mortals could never dream of. It was in the power of their union that I was able to bless their child. Cernunnos and Brigid are here now and as one we have come to see that blessing complete.”

“And I am the answer to this? I don’t even have magic!”

The wolf locked eyes with me then, ‘This is far from true. It only needs to be awoken. On your eighteenth birthday, come to the grove at the center of the seven lakes. There the ritual will commence. Each quarter, the moon shall turn, blood shall flow, and you, our huntress, shall send forth a river of souls to us. Those of blackest night the Morrigan shall claim. With each blood moon, your power shall converge.”

“Blood moons, power, convergence… ok, got it. Anything else?”

The wolf showed me her teeth in what I assume was a smirk. Then it pounced! My head hit the ground hard as claws sank into my shoulders, then the maiden was at my head and raked a nail down the side of my neck, drawing a thin trickle of blood. The wolf leaped off me, leaving stinging claw marks. I tried to crawl away but I had nowhere to go. I was deep in Tir na nóg with no idea how to get back to my own plane.

‘Peace, Child. It hurts now, but our intention is not to harm you, beyond that which is necessary to initiate the rite.’ Came the stag’s deep voice.

“Then, it is done?”

The wolf circled me, ‘It has begun. You, Eileen, shall be soul bonded to my daughter, StellaLuna.”

“Soulbonded, your daughter- Stella… Luna? Queen? Star Queen? A wolf?” said in a panic.

‘A wolf? No, Child, Luna. I am of the Tuatha de Danann. If we act directly against the mortal plane, it would not be good. However, my daughter is pure wolf, born of magic, and now your soulbound.”

“So, like Makya’s eagle, Zophiel!”

“Only in part. You are of one body but two minds. She is your other half, your second form. Born of Morrigan’s magic, my shape, and Cernnonus’s blessing, your bond is our answer to your parent’s faith.”

“I’m a… a…” I wasn’t sure I could bring myself to say it. “Werewolf?” I finally whispered.

‘You are goddess blessed. You are soul bonded to my daughter. She is no werewolf born of cursed lycanthropy, but pure Direwolf, born pure for the earth as her defender. She is not a Luna of cursed origins but StellaLuna, born of starlight.’ Came Bridit’s howl.

“You are blessed by the Morrigan, born in the magic of love, and gifted with life and protection by the chooser of the slain,” came the battle crow’s cry as she shifted back into crow form.

‘You are the daughter of the hunt, our huntress. Go forth, and fulfill our promise given nigh eighteen years ago,’ came Cernunnos’s snort as the stag turned with the crow perched once again on its antlers, the wolf walking beside them.

I stood, not wanting to be left behind. “Umm, How do I, you know, get home?”

The world spun around me, darkness and light swirling in dizzying patterns.

I slammed hard on my back into the cold snow, my furs soaking in the damp. My shoulders ached. Ok, so that part was real enough. I reached into my furs, expecting to find torn clothes but only found torn skin beneath an intact fur coat. My hand came out slightly bloody.

“Eileen?”

Makya stomped up the rise. “I didn’t see anything. Was there anything on this end? I never heard a shot.”

“I. Nothing. A stag.”

“Ah, Zophiel must be hungry. I will make sure he finds some food for himself or give him some jerky. You sure you are ok? You look pale.”

“Fine, I think I just need to rest. Think I can ride in the sled a while longer before we switch?”

“You rest. I can lead the team.”

“You sure?”

“Eileen, we are not in a race. We are hunting. I am fine. I will stop when I am tired and we will set up camp ok?”

“Thanks, Makya.”