A Ride of Peril(41)

My mind suddenly clicked as I looked to my right. I could see the burned down camp beyond the deep green forest that unfolded at the base of the mountain. The Red Tribe had lived here for millennia, up until a couple of days ago. I squinted my eyes, my inner-wolf beating the distance and helping me get a better look at the ashes of a massive funeral pyre and the charred remains of tents, swords, spears, and arrows poked out of the purple grass. It all resonated with Jovi's description of the Red Tribe camp. 

I had moved from Azazel's castle to the northern mountains.

Well done, Aida!

I looked to my right, where the lush forest broke into a small clearing beneath the evening sky. A small fire burned in the middle, and I could see several figures moving around it. A glimmer of hope pulled strings in my heart, and my feet moved in that direction.

I climbed down the ridge and made my way through the thick dark forest, riddled with animals. What sounded like small furry creatures rushed beneath the bushes. Slender deer chewed on leaves, and numerous night birds sang to each other. If it weren't for all the impending doom, this would have made a great camping spot.

I made it into the clearing and found twelve young succubi gathered around a small fire. The smudges of red war paint and torn leather garments helped me identify them as survivors of the Red Tribe. My heart leapt with joy as I realized that there were indeed sisters of Hansa and Anjani who had survived the massacre.

Two of them were extremely young, most likely in their teens. They were cuddled up beneath a thick fur, warming up by the fire as they slept. The others were adults, probably the same age as Anjani, judging by the similar attire. From what Jovi had told me, the succubi tended to dress their age. The older they got, the more weapons and metals they wore on their bodies. Which made sense based on the two succubi I knew personally. Anjani had a few strips of leather wrapped around her body, while Hansa favored silver chest and shin plates, leather pants, and the red cape.

These creatures were dressed like Anjani in different shades of brown and black leather with silver knives dangling from their belts. They looked tired. Their eyes shimmered with tears, as they roasted small animals on the fire. Their expressions told of defeat and grief, and they slowly chewed their food and drank from their water bladders.

"Do you think anyone else survived?" one of the succubi asked, picking pieces of meat from her teeth with the tip of her blade.

"I have a hard time believing that, Olia," said another, poking the fire with a stick. "We barely made it out of there in one piece."

A third one sniffed and wiped tears away with the back of her hand.

"Perra, what about Hansa?" the third asked the second succubus.

"She's probably back by now. She's probably seen it all. She's feeling what we're all feeling, maybe worse, since she raised most of us," Perra replied.

"Should we go there?" Olia asked.

"It's too soon, too risky. We have the children with us. We have to be smart about this," Perra said. "Adisa, do we have any prayer dust left?"

The third succubus nodded and started digging through her satchel, while a fourth stood up, visibly angry with her hands at her sides, balled into tight fists. My heart bled for them, but I couldn't do anything. I was merely a formless viewer.

"We can't just stay here!" the fourth growled, pacing around the camp fire.

"We have no other choice, Striga!" Olia replied, barely holding it together.

"So, what do we do? Just wait here around the fire and enjoy the starry night sky while our sisters burn?" Striga shot back.

"Look at us!" Olia raised her voice. "This is all we have left! Us, Hansa, and Anjani! We have to be patient, we have to hold on, and we have to protect the children. They're all we have left! We are all we have left!"

Striga roared and shoved her sword into the ground, succumbing to fury. Then she fell to her knees, choked up, and let tears stream down her cheeks.

Perra stood up and moved toward Striga to comfort her. She kneeled and took the grieving succubus in her arms, whispering in her ear.


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Adisa pulled a small pouch from her satchel and handed it to Olia, who untied its string and motioned for the succubi to get closer to the fire. Perra managed to bring Striga back. They both sat down with glazed eyes and trembling lips.

"What will prayers do?" Striga moaned, rubbing her face.

"It's all we have right now," Olia replied. "Hansa may or may not be back, and we need to reach out to the Daughters. They need to see this. They need to feel what we feel. Maybe they'll show mercy and intervene."