Wolves of the Highlands

° CHAPTER FOUR °

The next day we found ourselves halfway to Macbain lands. We had been traveling since early this morning. All of us were exhausted and thirsty. Having no canteens or water bottles to fill up with water. We had to drink our fill at the well we found at the shack. Which walking for hours has made our throats dry. "Im thirsty." Catriona whined I sighed and lifted her up. She was so little barly any fat on her. She was all skin and bones. She was under fed and I could see some scaring on her arms. Frowning at my thoughts of her being treated wrongly. " Catriona how old are you?" Catriona smiled "Six summers old Sor." I smiled at the nickname she gave me. It remained me of Kane. "Catriona where your parents in that fire?" She shook her head no and her smile fell off her face. "I was sold to a man who lived in the village." My steps faltered at what this little girl said. I looked down at her to see nothing but sadness. This little girl had to grow up to fast. I looked over at Carrick quickly before facing the road again. "What about Carrick. Is he your brother?" Once again she shook her head no. "I was on my way back from the market when the village was attacked. Carricks mother pulled me into her home and hid us in a room. I would help her sometimes when we did the.wash. I would keep an eye on him. I ran with Carrick when I heard the door being broke down." Catriona trailed off and I felt something wet soak through my shirt. Looking down I see her sobbing into my shoulder. Pulling her closer I held onto her tighter. Trying to give her as much comfort as I could. She finally fell asleep as did Carrick. Leaving Roxy Verena and I in silence. Which only lasted about a minute because roxy began to shout and point. I smiled at her excitment which had seeped into us after seeing what was ahead. A village laid before us with a castle behind it. "Finally maybe we can get some help from someone." Verena and I sighed in relief at the sight. Walking down into the village some of the women began to stare at us. Some whispered behind their hands as we passed. But no one seemed to want to stop and help us. Except for one women who was short and a bit chubby. She had strawberry blonde hair with gray streaming through it. She marched right up to us with hands on her hips and a glare on her face. She reminded me of grams when she would scold me. The women reached out to grab carrick from Verena. But Verena stepped back from her. "Im not going to hurt the wee barin." She said in a huff. Not wanting to cause any type of scene I handed Catriona over to Roxy. Stepping in front of both my friends and the children I blocked them from view. "Im sorry if we seem rude. But our village was attacked some got away however we don't know where they went. The girl and boy are my cousins and the girls are my friends." I didn't want to tell her what really happened. Knowing these people would think us crazy. The womens eyes widened "You poor things this way all of you. We'll get you fixed right up." I smiled and nodded "Thank you." She waved me off and went ahead and grabed Carrick who woke up to all the excitment. He began crying and fussing and the women quited him down. "The wee lad is hungry. How long have you been traveling?" the women had began walking off with us following close behind. "A full day. But we didn't take breaks." The women nodded and walked inside a home were purple flowers grew all over the yard. "Come now we'll feed you and get you cleaned up." We all sighed and sagged with thought of food and a bath. "Sit down here." The women ushered us to a table. We sat down just to be out of her way. She was a force of nature moving around pulling out cups and bowls. filling the bowls with stew and the cups with water. Putting them down in front of us and marching outside to holler at someone. We Wolfed down the food and drank greedily from our cups. Even little Carrick and Catriona stuffed their little mouths till bursting. Verena had to pat Catriona on the back when she choked on her food. The women buseled back in and went to the side of the room and pull what looked to be a tube out. Other women began piling into the home. Some had buckets of steaming water while a few others had what looked like cloths. One of the women eyed me up and down before turning to the other. "Dolina ye think it wise to do this? The one lass dresses in things I have never seen before and carries weapons. Its not right for a lass to do so." She hissed out as she turned back to glare at me. I looked at her over my cup as I finished my water from it. Standing when I was finished "If you don't want to help me fine. But help my friends and the kids." The women snorted and shook her head. "those who helped you sin shouldn't be helped." My anger grew at the women in front of me. I took a step toward her but was stopped "You take that wretchedness some where else Agnes. I will no' have it here in my home." The women Dolina had shooed the other women out. Leaving a few women slightly smiling or chuckling. I was still standing willing to leave if Dolina wanted. She walked by me and gently made me sit back down. "No need for that lass. I say who comes and goes in my home." Nodding at the women I was beyond greatful to her. She helping us without pause. One of the women grabbed up Carrick and began washing him with a bowl of water. Catriona was the first in the bath. As she undressed some of the women gasped. Her whole body was a bruise. I clinched my jaw at the sight. I could see Roxy do the same as Verena looked close to tears. Catriona looked down in shame. Her long hair falling in her face. "Cat Im going to teach you how to fight." I whispered out not really wanting to scare her. She looked up and over at me with a huge grin. "Really Sor!" I smiled slightly and nodded "First you need a bath." She giggled and jumped into the tub splashing everyone near her. Dolina laughed out and began scrubbing the girl. After about thirty minutes of continued washing and rinsing. Catriona came out the tub freshly clean. She had red hair and a smather of freckles across her nose. As It came to be Roxy,Verena and my turn we balked. All the women were still in the room. Dolina put her hands on her hips "Come on is no' like ye have different parts. We are all the same." As it came my turn to bath after Verena and Roxy's very embarrassing one. I couldn't help but cringe. For the first time in my life I was worried about my tattoos. The way I dress is one thing. But tattoos on a women in this time. I shudder at the thought of what they might do. I looked over at my friends and back over to Dolina. However Most of the women began leaving. "Time to start the feast preparations. The Laird is trying to have peace talks. Waste of time talking to the Graham clan. If you ask me,Not a good one among them." My eyes widened as I slipped into the bath. The Graham were here too. Its like a never ending weird twilight zone. What did we get dragged into. I scrubbed myself with the soap Dolina gave me and washed my hair. Finally feeling clean and refreshed I stepped out of the now black water. There was a gasp from behind me and I winced. "Oh my those markings I have never seen such." Dolina had trailed off as she studied my tattoos. I sighed as I grabbed a what I would guess as a towel. Wrapping it around myself quickly I stepped out onto the floor. Dolina smiled and shook her head. "I did no' mean to embaress ye child." She handed me a dress which was soft and worn. But I took it smiling with a thank you. Grabbing up my bra I put it on as well as the dress. My jaw was suddenly grabbed making me wince. "What happened to your face. Its half black and blue!" Dolina cried out in anger. I smiled and laughed "You should see the man that gave me this." Dolina clicked her tounge and huffed. "We will have to see a healer for it. She's up at the keep right now." She began ushering us out the door. With my hair still wet and down. "Come on now this

way." We followed behind Dolina as quickly as we could. Once we reached the keep it felt like my muscels were jello. We entered through the kitchen where there were people running around doing different tasks. "Dolina there you are.The Lard has been asking for you." Dolina nodded then literally shoved us at the women. "Take them to Heather. They need looked over." She was gone again before any of us could say anything. "She's so fast." I looked down at Catriona and smiled. "that she is hun." The women that we were left with smiled at us all. "You must be the girls that has the servant women are talking about." I sighed as Verena and Roxy looked confused. "Well come with me I'll take you to Heather." We hesitantly followed behind her until we reached the dinning hall.Men were crowded in every where. Yelling and shouting at each other. I scooped Catriona up in my arms. While I moved in front of Verena who had Carrick nestled in her arms. "This way hurry." The women had opened a door connecting to the hall. In it was a women and a man. The women was putting a bandage on him while quietly scolding him. He looked up as he heard us step in. Causing me to catch my breath. He had dark green eyes that captured my light ones. He had a dark look about him, But it didn't scare me. We must have been staring at each other for a long time. Because I heard the room fill with chuckles and giggles. I broke the eye contact and glared over at my friends. I felt a huge hand gently take my jaw and turn it. Once again I faced those dark green eyes. "Who did this

lass?" His voice was low and rough, and held a dangerous note to it. He had bent over me Looking closely at my face. I felt my face heat up at how close he was. More chuckles issued from Roxy and Verena. A small whimper issued from Catriona. The man let go of my face and looked down. Catriona had burrowed herself into me. Her eyes were shut tight and I could see tears falling. "Catriona why are you crying." She just squeezed me tighter. Roxy came up beside me and laid her hand her head. The man stepped closer which made Catriona whimper again. "Catriona he won't hurt you." I might not know this man but I felt the need to trust him. "She is right little one. I will no' hurt ye." He had lowered his voice to a soothing one. Catriona peeked up at the man. "Ye promise?" the man smiled and nodded. "Aye I promise." She looked between me and the man. "What about Sor,Rena,Roxy and Carrick?" The man stood to his full size which was impressive. "None of ye will come to

harm." He looked straight at me as he spoke. Goosebumps popped up all over. Whatever was happening was putting me on edge. Once again as I stared into his eyes I was lost. I couldn't help but compare them to wolfs eyes I had seen yesterday. The door flew open and two men tumbled in. They were throwing punches at each other and trying to throw the other on the ground. Roxy and Verena had scrambled to the other side of the room. Carried began crying at the sudden loudness of the room. The women grabed Catriona so I could move out of the way. I felt someone grab the bottom of my dress and pull. Putting me in the middle of the fight. A punch was thrown which connected to my ribs. Arms were wraped around me. I was pulled out and held in someone arms. I looked up to the man looking extremely angry. "Are ye hurt lass?" I couldn't say anything. I was struck dumb as what felt like electric was going up my arms. He bent his head down so he could speak into my ear. "We will speak later lass. Right now have matters to deal with." He sat me down gently on the stool. He watched me for a moment then he left draging the two men with him. "I have no' seen Broden act like that to anyone like that before. Ye must be special." I looked over to the women in a daze. "Broden?" She nodded as she went to work looking over me. "Aye.." She had a knowing smirk on her face as she looked at me. "He is a dear friend to Lairds son. Grew up together and fought together. He is a great warrior." Roxy came to stand in front of me with a huge grin. "Who the heck wouldn't be with a body like that." The women laughed loudly at Roxy. "Your not a shy one are ye." Roxy looked panicked for a second. "Where we are from its okay for women to talk like that." The women nodded and smiled at us all. "have you traveled far?" This time Catriona was the one to quickly come up with something. "They traveled from the far lands." The women nodded "nice cover for the three of you. So how did you get here?" she set down the bowl she was blending things in. Hand proped onto her hip. I thought I was going to choke on air. "You were pulled here to." Verena whisperd out. The girl nodded "Yes by a stone near a pond."