13. Koda
CHAPTER 13
KODA
" C razy." The word echoes in my head the instant it leaves my mouth. I see the hurt flash across Mia's face before she turns and disappears around the corner.
Oh, Nine Hells and a half, you really stepped in it Koda...
Not just stepped in it, I’ve rolled in it...
I take a step to follow, but a rough laugh stops me.
"About time you wised up, Chief!" Borgin's sneering voice cuts through the evening air. He and Grunk emerge from the shadows, clearly having witnessed the whole thing. "Now you see what we’re saying? Dangerous they are. Emotional."
"Yeah," Grunk slurs, swaying slightly. "An’ dangerously so. Can't trust humans. They just mess everything up. Trying to change our ways-"
Before either can react, I have Borgin pinned against the wall, my arm across his throat. "Listen carefully," I growl, letting every ounce of my built-up fury seep into my voice. "If I ever hear either of you say another word against Mia - or any human - it will be the last thing you do. Understand?"
"But you just said-" Grunk starts.
I spin, releasing Borgin to grab Grunk's shirt, just barely maintaining control. "I was wrong. Dead wrong. And if you so much as look at her wrong again..." I let the threat hang in the air.
The look in my eye makes it clear this is no idle threat. They both nod frantically, and I release them with a disgusted shove, but then by the time I round the corner, Mia's gone.
Gods, pixie piss and troll spit!
Where did she go?
Home maybe? I don’t know, but I need to check.
I race home, taking the tree path in record time, but the treehouse is empty. The sight of the hot tub, and a little pile of burrs on the platform alongside, makes my chest ache. Gods, how did I let things fall apart so quickly!
But this is no time to wallow. There will be plenty of time for that later if I don’t get into action. I race back to town.
Back in the square, I spot Whisper sitting with the other younglings. They all look lost, dejected. My son's eyes meet mine, and the disappointment there cuts deeper than any blade.
"I messed up, didn't I?" I say softly.
Whisper nods, and my heart sinks further.
“We were going to put on a show for everyone... we just had to figure out what. I guess it was all for nothing. She’s not coming back, is she?”
He looks despondent, and I realize I don’t even know what to say.
“I, I... Sure she is.” But I stop. “We just have to see son...”
I have never felt more helpless. But again... wallowing apologies may very well be in my future – but not if I can help it.
“I am going to do my damnedest to fix this son...”
Without waiting for a response, I leave Whisper and the other dejected younglings in the square, my mind racing.
This is bad isn’t it.
Of course it is, you big idiot.
I can barely think, but I harness my warrior mind to steady my breath.
Where would she go?
Maybe she went to her friends? For support and ‘to talk’...that’s what they do, right? It’ll be okay...
But despite all my efforts, the tightness in my chest is only getting worse.
You really screwed up this time.
The Bullhorn.
I start off at a dead run, and no one is stupid enough to get in my way.
I need to check anywhere she might go. Within a few minutes I burst into the Bullhorn, nearly taking the door off its hinges. "Has anyone seen-"
The conversation around the bar dies instantly as everyone takes in my state. Zoe and Olivia are at their usual table with Thokk and Kalen. All eyes turn to me, as their faces reflect my near panic
"What happened?" Kalen asks, instantly on his feet.
"Mia's gone." My voice comes out rougher than intended. "We had a fight. I... maybe I picked a fight... Gods, I don’t even know... but I said some things I shouldn't have."
“Oh no!” Olivia gasps under her breath.
"What things ?" Zoe's response is more cutting and her eyes narrow.
I force myself to meet their gaze. "I kind of called her crazy."
"Oh no," Olivia whispers, exchanging a look with Zoe. "That ... is not a word you ever call Mia..."
"I didn’t say, ‘you’re crazy!’ though-“
“Doesn’t matter... even of whiff of being called crazy is enough...”
“Dammit. But I can’t take it back now..." The words taste bitter. "I need to find her – to make things right."
"We'll help," Thokk says immediately, already moving toward the door.
“Thank you, brother.” In an instant everyone is on their feet, mobilizing to join me in the search. But we barely get ten feet out the door when suddenly we are surrounded.
What in the nine hells?
The Elders. Of course. Gods but what now?
They are flanked by ten sizable troll and orc guards... none of them looking particularly friendly. My blood boils when I spot Borgin and Grunk among them, looking far too pleased with themselves.
"Chief Koda," Elder Faelar's voice cuts through the tension. "Your presence is required. As a matter of fact, all of you are required. The council demands an emergency session."
"This is getting tiresome - and this isn't the time," I growl, but Elder Faelar holds up his hand as I make to sidestep him.
"The situation with the humans has reached a critical point. New revelations have surfaced. You will attend. Now." His tone leaves no room for argument, though that's never stopped me before.
“And what are you talking about... new revelations?” Thokk demands.
“All in due time,” Faelar says. “This is not pleasant for me either.”
"You don’t understand... my mate needs me... I must find her... now," I snarl, making another attempt to skirt the Elders and guards. Two trolls immediately move to block my path. "And if anything happens to her-"
"That's exactly why we need this meeting," Luminara cuts in, addressing Oakenheart, her wings buzzing with agitation. "See that, he calls her mate already. Something fishy is going on. I swear it.”
"Move," one of the troll guards grunts, prodding me with his club.
It takes everything I have not to rip that club away and show him some novel uses for it that probably have not crossed his mind. But Thokk catches my eye and gives a slight shake of his head. He's right - fighting our way out won't help me find Mia. For now, maybe we can straighten this out quickly and get back to what matters. But I file away “Resort to extreme violence” as a plan B.
As they escort us toward the great hall, I catch a glimpse of younglings moving purposefully through the shadows.
Is that Whisper?
I squint to make him out. It is, but there’s something different about him I can’t help but notice. For one thing he seems to be leading them somewhere... and there is a determination... or a purpose to his form I haven’t seen before. Strange, but I have bigger problems right now.
As they escort us toward the great hall, I spot a familiar figure already waiting by the entrance. Elowen stands between two more guards, looking thoroughly annoyed.
"Great, looks like you rounded up the whole gang," she says drily. "Now perhaps someone can explain what in the name of pillaging pixies is this about?"
"Oh, you know exactly why," Luminara snaps. "Your so-called mate summoning spell? Did you really think we wouldn't figure it out?"
The witch's eyes narrow. "What business are my spells of yours? And, figure what out, precisely? What are you talking about?"
"Oh please, you know very well what!" Elder Faelar's voice echoes through the hall as the guards usher us inside. "Regardless, all will be laid plain in our proceedings."
The council chamber feels smaller than usual, despite its vaulted ceiling. Or maybe it's just the weight of all the eyes watching us. The elders take their seats at the high table while we're arranged before them like common criminals. The guards line the walls on either side.
“Is this really necessary... I need to-“
“Silence!” Faelar is on his feet again, even as the guard shuffle their feet, obviously ready to enforce his next command.
So much for a quick resolution.
"Kalen the Minotaur. Thokk the Orc. Koda, Chief of the Sasquatch." Faelar intones our names like charges. "And Elowen, our..." he pauses, his lip curling slightly, "trusted witch."
"Get on with it," I growl. Every second we waste here is another second Mia's out there alone.
"Very well." Luminara rises, her wings casting dancing shadows on the wall. "I will get to the point. We have uncovered your plot. Your conspiracy to undermine our ancient ways by smuggling human females into our sacred realm!"
“What! That’s outrageous! What do you base such ridiculous claims on?” Thokk spits.
"Quiet! Enough with your outbursts," Faelar intones, settling into his chair like a man preparing for a long siege.
The accusation hangs in the air for a moment longer before Kalen lets out a surprised laugh. "You think we what?"
"Either smuggled or kidnapped," Oakenheart rumbles. "Though which would be worse, I'm not sure."
Faelar adds to the Tree being’s words. “I must admit, the idea of them all just appearing at random never made sense to me. First in the Watchtower, then in the Sasquatch sacred grounds... some temple, so you say ... And look, you know your mates have grown on me, but you must admit, your version of events is farfetched.”
"This is ridiculous! Zoe did appear in the watch-" Thokk starts, but Luminara cuts him off.
"Did she? No, I don’t think so...”
“Why would I make that up?” Thokk can hardly contain himself.
But Luminara will not listen. “Three humans appearing out of nowhere, all coincidentally becoming 'mates' to prominent monsters? And now we're supposed to believe in some convenient spell? You thought you had us all fooled, didn’t you."
I feel my blood beginning to boil. "You’re serious? You dare question my bond with my mate, Mia?"
"Mia," Luminara practically spits the name. "The most disruptive of all. That human is chaos incarnate. Tell us, Chief Koda, was that part of your plan too? If we were busy chasing after all her messes, perhaps we wouldn’t even think to look at the real culprits? And do they even know? Perhaps you drugged them... dragged them out of their homes? Not that that will save them, mind you, but it will be far worse for you... You have made a mockery of our ancient ways. And you will all be punished-“
"ENOUGH!" My roar shakes dust from the rafters. "My mate is out there somewhere upset and alone, because I was a fool. You can accuse me of whatever you want later, but right now-"
"You will remain here," Faelar commands, "until we get to the truth of this matter."
I glance at my friends, at Elowen, at the guards blocking every exit.
Nine hells. What am I going to do?
But there is little I can do. The Elders begin to lay out a long and detailed theory... fantasy if you ask me, picking apart and interrogating each of us on our every movement and interaction. From Zoe being paraded on a leash to Olivia being spotted in a Bigfoot disguise.
With a sinking heart I watch the shadows grow long from the high windows of the hall. Hours pass. I am beginning to contemplate doing something rash when it seems Elowen as well has had enough.
"This is insane," she snaps, her patience clearly at an end. "I’m not going to sit here while you drone on, trashing me and my friends with your insane conspiracy theories! And I can’t believe you would think myself, or any of us would be part of something like this. And you somehow think I'm, I don’t even know what? Somehow part of it? Obviously, that is what you think, right? What in fairy hell would I get out of any of this? And I told you Elder Faelar, I cast the mate summoning spell – it has obviously worked!"
"And yet you have no explanation for these random appearances? And why is that? Perhaps you all didn't have time to get your stories straight before the first human... Zoe, was spotted!" Luminara retorts, her wings practically vibrating with righteous fury as she gets to her feet.
“How dare you... I will throttle you all for dishonoring her name!” Thokk is on his feet as well now. The guards all take half a step closer.
“Thokk... don’t let them get under your skin... We did ‘just appear!” Zoe is also on her feet now.”
Oakenheart remains seated, showing his disdain. “And we are to take the word of a human?” He barks out a laugh at the end to make his dismissal complete.
“But it’s true! We don’t know why we just appeared in these random places!” Olivia pipes up.
“Of course you would say that... anything to protect your precious mate !” Luminara spits.
“Careful Elder,” Kalen says as the massive minotaur joins the rest of us on his feet now and takes a step in her direction, before three almost equally imposing Orc block his path. “Those wings of yours look very fragile...”
"And why would I supposedly help them?" Elowen cuts in. "Think about it, you pumped up pixie! What could I possibly gain from-"
The meeting is quickly turning into chaos. Monsters are not, by nature the most patient of folk, and after literally hours of sitting, cooped up and being read a list of our supposed transgressions, tempers are beyond frayed.
I for one, am barely listening to their absurd claims at this point. Something's wrong. I can feel it in my bones - a growing sense of panic that isn't entirely my own. Mia needs me. Now.
I catch Kalen's eye, then Thokk's. Years of friendship let me communicate without words. They give me the slightest nods. Surprisingly Elowen also meets my gaze. Most surprisingly it is she who makes the call.
"NOW!"
We move as one. Kalen's horns catch two guards completely off guard, while Thokk barrels into another group like a green avalanche. I don't wait to see more - I'm already running, ducking under a troll's swinging club. As I am about to burst through the doors, I hear Elowen, apparently casting some sort of spell to aid us.
“Pixie piss and troll snot... may you all be rooted – right to the spot!”
Behind me, chaos erupts as the trolls and orcs apparently struggle to free themselves. I hear Luminara shrieking orders, but I'm already halfway across the square.
Gods, it’s almost evening. The sun is halfway set!
We have been locked up the entire day, and she could be anywhere by now!
Settle down Koda.
She just needed to blow off some steam maybe... surely you will find her soon...
Deep breaths.
But still I can hardly keep my panic at bay.
I must find her. Mia. My mate...
"Chief Koda! Have you seen Rowan?" Mrs. Bramblewood calls out as I pass.
"Scamper's missing too!" another parent adds.
"The square is empty – where they usually play - all the children -they’re gone!"
But I barely slow down, shaking my head...
Damn helicopter parents.
I don’t have time for them... why can’t they just let a kid be a kid...
Suddenly Murk appears... “Where is Kalen? Have you seen him?”
“He’s a little busy...”
Oh well he is not going to be too happy... I think the younglings might have gotten into-“
“Save it, Murk! Please!”
God, what is it with everyone all of a sudden? Enough with the distractions. Right now, I only have one goal. “Kalen is back there somewhere, but look, have you seen my mate... my... Mia, the new girl...”
“No... but maybe, I mean, did you see the sign?”
That's when I see it - a crudely made sign spelled out in fairy lights. Fairy lights that look suspiciously like the ones Kalen has strung up in his beer garden. It reads "SHOW" with an arrow pointing toward the temple grounds. More lights are strung along, creating a twinkling path into the growing darkness.
I pause, glancing back. No sign of pursuit yet. I make a note that I owe Elowen one for sure. Part of me wants to look for Mia in the usual places, but the sign is too obvious to ignore. Besides, I am used to the occasional whisper from my inner voice, but right now it’s screaming at me.
Get to the temple!
And strangely enough it seems that is exactly the direction the arrow is pointing...
Gut don’t fail me now...
I follow the twinkling trail, straining my ears once more for any sign of pursuit, but my friends have definitely bought me at least some time. Then I hear it - a strange sound... not from behind me, but up ahead...
Familiar...
In an instant I know what it is... who it is...
Mia.
I increase my pace, now crashing off the fairy light trail towards the sounds...
"Help! Stupid briars!"
“Mia?”
"Koda!" I hear her mutter hopefully. Though I detect some uncertainty too. She continues to talk as I follow her voice. "Why do these prickers hate me so! You will not destroy what’s left of my dress!"
I round a massive oak and feel a wave of relief, as, despite the circumstances a little smile plays at my lips. There is my beautiful mate, Mia – tangled, yet again in another patch of brambles.
"Need a hand?" I ask softly.
“You came looking for me,” she says coyly.
“Of course I came for you,” I say gently, holding her gaze.
“You’re not going to call me crazy again, right?"
"No." I step closer, as adrenaline surges through me. “Never again.”
Where do I even start? How do I tell her that it was like everything in my world had stopped the moment I let that stupid word out of my mouth. The moment I realized the clumsy mistake I had made? I try to steady my hands I am so nervous as I carefully begin to work on the one thorny vine that seems to have her. Thank God that even as the sun has set, the moon is already beginning to shine. "I looked everywhere... Mia... I am soooo sorry...”
“Your ‘sooooo’ sorry? Oh, you are gonna need to do better than that.”
“Mia, you are everything to me. I, I can’t get into it now... I... well, the Elders...it’s complicated...” I glance into the darkness. “We need to hurry...”
“Or the doom dogs will get us? Cause I've been stuck here for hours, and if those doom dogs haven't found me yet, I'm pretty sure ten more minutes won't turn me into their midnight snack."
“No not them, it’s ah, it’s a long story... let’s just get you free and get out of here...”
"You don’t get to just come in here and play hero again you know and think everything is gonna be magically better. I expect some grade A groveling from you Mr. – You called me the C word...”
“You’re right... my princess... my everything ...”
“Good start, but you are lucky I am even talking to you. You don’t know what happened the last time someone called me that...”
"Mia, you’re my mate...I’m sorry. I swear by all the Gods, and by the Great winds, the Rains, and the Sky, I will make it up to you...but right now we need to get out of here. Another bramble comes loose.
She puts her hand on my arm, stroking my fur for a moment, before pulling her hand back. Her touch stirs a fire deep in belly that almost causes me rip the remaining brambles away that I might throw her over my shoulder and head for my home. Such is my desire...
“You do have a smooth tongue when you want to, but this is not over...”
Gods this human of mine.
"I was scared. Okay? Not of you – but of how much I need you – but how different your ways are...I mean I love your ways...but I feel so out of control – and alive with them. It’s just a lot.”
“That almost sounds like the C word...”
“No no no...I want you Mia, I need you...Whisper needs you. Look, words are not my strong point, please, just let me explain...”
“Oh you will explain alright...”
Finally, the last thorny branch falls away and I pull her in close, inhaling her intoxicating scent, feeling her ready flesh against my chest. “First thing, once we get out of this, we’re going to make ‘us’ official.”
“You mean like one of those tattoo marks official?”
“That’s exactly what I mean...”
Suddenly she seems to catch sight of something... the fairy lights.
“Koda, what’s up with those lights? They weren’t here when I ran into the temple before...
Just then a strange sound echoes from the direction of the temple, followed by what might be voices.
"What was that?" Mia asks, instantly alert.
"I don't know, but we should-"
"THERE HE IS!"
Oh, nine hells...
We both spin to see torchlight through the trees - the orcs and trolls seem to have unstuck themselves and have found my trail.
"Koda, what’s going on?" Mia asks.
"Oh, ya know just a little complication...the orcs and elders have bit of a bug up their butt..." I scoop her up as the distant shouts grow closer.
Gods but do we need to get out of here...
But where to?