11. Koda
CHAPTER 11
KODA
I rub at my temples, trying to ease the tension building there. From my vantage point near the watchtower, I can hear another "rehearsal" getting underway. Though 'hear' might be too strong a word - they've strung up sheets between the buildings, muffling whatever they're doing back there. Just vague sounds and occasional giggles escaping. Seems like there's always a “rehearsal.” Or a game. Or some new activity that has the younglings wound up like pixies after drinking nectar. And she just got here.
Things between us started with great promise. Great promise. And she is mine... I must soon make it official... yet her antics tax me...
"Chief Koda," Elder Faelar's voice makes me wince.
Here we go again.
"I am sorry to trouble you... But concern is growing among the parents. And not just the parents. What happened at the market... and these noises..."
"I know, I know..."
"It seems you don't know, which is why I am explaining things. Look, I have actually grown rather fond of the human females, and not just because they are spoken for by Thokk and Kalen. They are surprising-"
"Elder F-"
"Listen." He brings himself up to his full height, wanting as that is. "The discoveries they have brought to light are extraordinary... and they both have keen minds... but this new one... Mia... she threatens to destroy all the progress your friends, and myself I should add, have made with human acceptance..."
"I know, I said I know..." I rumble, watching as more children gather. Even from here, I can see one of Mia's scarves occasionally appearing above the makeshift curtains as she directs – or does whatever she does - behind the bedsheet wall. "I'm handling it."
"Are you handling it?" Luminara flutters nearby, her wings betraying her agitation. "Because right now, all anyone can talk about is the chaos she's causing. She is singlehandedly turning the town on its head. She makes the other’s impact look like they were quiet as mice. All this only feeds into the worst stereotypes about the destructive little beasts. Even the humans' strongest supporters are starting to question. I have passed questioning. Something must be do-"
“The younglings are not being that destructive,” I assert, interrupting her little rant.
“By ‘little beasts’ I meant humans. The faerie elder doesn’t even crack a smile as she speaks.
As if on cue, Zoe and Olivia approach, looking worried. They smile politely at the Elders. Though they are friendly with Faelar, I know Lumimara still intimidates them.
Totally understandable. She’s a little tightly wound.
"Koda," Olivia starts carefully, "Can we have a word? Then under her breath she adds, “About Mia!"
"Not now," I growl, but Zoe presses on.
"Yes, now.”
“Fine, excuse me Elders...”
Zoe launches right into it. “The orcs are using this as ammunition. I know you were there for the “market incident” but do you know what happened afterward? Borgin and his crew were going around and “helping” clean up. But really, they were there to just talk more shi—to stir up trouble, saying all kinds of horrible things about us. That’s what Madame Thistlebloom told Murk., at least.
My fur bristles at the mention of those troublemakers. "I thought we had an understanding. I'll deal with them. Again..."
"That's not the point," Olivia says softly. "We've worked so hard for acceptance here. And Mia... I know she means well, but she's just so..."
"Explosive," Mrs. Thornberry supplies, appearing from nowhere like elderly ogres somehow always do.
“I was going to say ‘expressive,” Olivia offers, but I notice she doesn’t correct the ogress.
"My grandson hasn't shown up for a single one of his Ogre Etiquette lessons this week. All he talks about ‘Miss Mia this and Miss Mia that! And I can’t get him to finish his meat without his banging away at every he can find. The dog isn’t even safe! And since when do ogres play music anyways? It’s not right, I tell you.”
It is taking all of my willpower not to show her what “explosive” really means. Mia is hardly “explosive”. She is unorthodox, yes... maybe a step beyond, but she means well. She wants to help the younglings. That much is true. I am about to set the ogress straight when a sudden movement back toward the walls catches my eye.
It's Whisper, slipping behind the sheets to join whatever secretive practice they're doing back there. Through a gap, I catch a glimpse of him with one of those seed pod drums Mia made, and actually smiling. Really smiling. But more than that he’s playing with a few other monster kids. Friends. He’s making friends. I feel my shoulders release a tension I didn’t even realize I was carrying. For a moment, a surge of gratitude fills my heart. In just days Mia seems to have accomplished what I couldn't in years.
I nod absently, watching him move with such confidence. For a moment, I let myself imagine this new grace helping him master our traditional ceremonial dances. Maybe this strange training could actually help prepare him for his naming ceremony after all.
But then I hear it - a strange sound floating above their makeshift barrier. It is odd sounding, but not entirely unpleasant. It’s not quite a howl... certainly unlike anything I would expect from any of these younglings.
Gods of wind, rain and the thunder above.
A sudden gust of wind blows the curtain aside, revealing the source of the melodic sound.
The hackles on my back stand up at the realization.
It's coming from my son.
"This can’t be," I mutter, as I freeze in place.
But it is.
Our kind do not make such sounds. It goes against the very foundations of all it means to become a strong, proud sasquatch. I have been teaching him to howl and roar. He must master the thunderous howl of our kind if he is ever to truly find his place in our clan. And it will be required of him on his name day.
But this. No. This is something else entirely.
I feel my shoulders slump. A dull ache has begun somewhere in the pit of my chest. I have let Shellyn down. I have failed our son.
The ache in my chest transforms into something hotter, darker. A growing anger - not at Mia, not really. She doesn't understand our ways. How could she? No, I'm angry at myself for allowing this. For failing him. All this time, and my sacrifice – come to this. I turn to leave before that anger can take control. Better to clear my head than say something I'll regret. But as I pivot away, I find myself face to face with the Elders once again.
Nine Hells, but it seems I cannot escape them today.
"This is exactly what we mean," Luminara says sharply. "I know you heard it. I’m no expert in your kind’s ways, but I am pretty sure those sounds are not what’s expected of a bigfoot boy fast approaching his name day.”
I want to argue, but I can’t.
This human is undoing all our heritage. She may not be doing it on purpose, but she is doing it nonetheless!” Luminara is practically working herself into a frenzy. She turns to Faelar. “I told you accepting these stray humans was a bad idea. We should have killed them on the spot like in the good ole days. No fuss no muss. Well, maybe a bit of a ‘muss’, but whatever...”
“No one is killing anyone,” I thunder with far more aggression than I intended. The fairy almost falls over as she stumbles back.
"Chief Koda," Elder Faelar says, speaking quietly, in a measured voice. "I don’t want to tell you how to be chief, but your position requires certain... responsibilities. The other clans are watching. I am sorry you are in this position, but, well, you put yourself there. Or... perhaps fate has had a hand in it, if we are to listen to Elowen. But we all know that the fates can also be cruel. “He pauses, whether for dramatic effect, or to weigh his next words, I can’t be sure. “Many are suggesting that you've been... compromised by your obvious feelings for this latest human arrival. They question if a monster can really take a human as a mate at all. As a pet, perhaps, but as a mate?"
"A pet!" The words hit me like a physical blow. I nearly knock him over as I advance, fury building in my chest. How dare anyone question my authority, my wisdom - or my mate.
And right on top of what I just learned of how I have failed my son... it is almost too much. But to question Mia’s status as my mate...
I have killed for less...
I can barely hold In my fury as I take another step toward the little elf Elder. “She does not yet bear my mark, but if any dare question that she is mine, or that I protect her, let them step forward, that I may teach them the meaning of respect...” With each of my words the little elf takes another step back.
“Um, well, I am just telling you what I am hearing...”
With everything going on I have almost forgotten about the strange very un-sasquatch like sound drifts through the sheets add. But this time it is even higher and stranger than before.
Enough of this already.
What’s wrong with a good bigfoot roar. Or a howl...
Nine hells, but that sound is like nails on a chalkboard...
Before I can stop myself, I tear at the curtain.
"Koda! Sweetheart!" Suddenly Mia is there, all swirling scarves and waving dress. She presses herself against my chest.
“Step aside Mia, this cannot continue...” My voice comes out icier than I intend.
"Wait, no you can’t see... not yet - it's supposed to be a surprise!" The confusion on her face is evident.
But something primal has already taken hold and I brush it aside. One pull is all it takes to bring their makeshift barrier down.
I don’t know what I expected, but not this.
I saw a flash of color before when the wind blew, but now all is revealed.
Whisper stands at what must be center stage, draped In some ridiculous gaudy sash – and are those sequins...?
"What are you doing? Trying to ensure he becomes an outcast? Banished from his own people?" The words tear from my throat, a growl that sends children scattering.
Even as the words leave my mouth, I am vaguely aware of how they cut. But I can’t help it. Even the strongest amongst us has his limits.
"We were just brainstorming!" Mia steps forward, her hands raised. "Just an idea, Koda!”
But I can't hear her. All I see is all the work I have put into shaping my son gone down the drain. Truly I have failed him. And I have failed Shellyn...
My claws flex involuntarily. "Take. That. Off."
"But Koda? Didn’t you hear me? We're working on figuring out-“
"Figuring out what? How to turn the whole town against my son? The words explode from me before I can stop them.
I turn to Whisper, who shrinks back.
“This is my fault! I should have put a stop to it in the beginning!”
“But dad... this is really fun... and like Mia said... it’s gonna be...”
“Fun! and like Mia said? I don’t care what she said... and there are more important things at stake than having fun... don’t you get it? Either of you...? You are here... a growing soon to be... proud bigfoot man... playing dress up... while the orcs and the elders plot her demise!
Both Mia and Whisper take steps back. What few younglings were left have scattered.
The words tear from my throat before I can reign them in. But in the moment, I hardly care. I turn to Mia, my frustrations with the town, and the elders... and my disappointment in myself finally boiling over.
“Do you have any idea what it’s been like trying to raise him right? Alone? How could you? You have barely set foot in Fablewood. You don’t know our ways. Maybe you should have asked before turning everything on its head? I have worked so hard to prepare him... to ensure he would not have to struggle as I struggled. Doing my best to make his mother proud... and in a matter of days you have undone it all...”
"But you have done a good job... he's perfect... you don’t understand..." Mia protests, though I can hear the tremor in her words. "He’s special... you’ll see when we-"
"Special?" The word comes out like a curse. "Special won't help him when he stands before the clan. When they judge whether he's worthy to take his place among us. You're turning him into some kind of... spectacle!" I can see the hurt in both their faces, but I can't stop. The pressure of weeks, of years, pours out. "And it's not just him you're putting at risk. The whole town is watching. The humans' place here is already fragile enough without... without all this chaos!"
"Koda, please, if you'd just wait until-" "Wait? Wait for what? For the orcs to turn everyone against us? For the elders to decide humans are too dangerous after all? Do you ever stop to think about the consequences? You are playing right into their very worst ideas about humans. You acting all crazy is not helping!"
Her face goes white at that last word. "Crazy? That's what you think of me?"
"Mia, I said acting crazy, not-" But I realize too late what I've done. "No, I know what you meant..." Her voice is barely audible. The slump in her shoulders obvious. "I'm just crazy Mia. Too much. Again."
She starts to back away..."I thought you were different. That we were different. Can you believe stupid Mia was actually starting to believe in fate... and magic? That it could really work... that it was real. Even for me..." "Mia, wait - that's not what I-" But the look in her eyes stops my words cold. She turns and flees, leaving only scattered sheets and silence in her wake. What’s left of my anger drains away, leaving nothing but cold regret. I start to follow, but what can I say... every word has seemed to only make it worse.
What have I done?