The Call

Bard clicked his tongue as he read through the report. This was what he expected, but it was still upsetting. Sen moved the plate from under him and took it to the sink, where she began to wash.

“That bad?” she hummed, and Bard looked up. Zak was sleeping on Kai in front of their favorite place, the fire. His eyes drifted to Sen as she worked. She had tied back her hair today, braiding it. He looked back at the report.

“We may not have another option,” he said softly. Sen stopped what she was doing and came over, drying her hands on her clothes. As she read over her shoulder, she frowned. Bard set it down and stretched.

“I’ve been off the road too long,” he muttered, remembering Father’s task.

“Looks like I’ll have to start packing,” Sen hummed and Bard froze. He looked at her with clear confusion, and then a stern ‘no’ settled on his face. “Don’t you go telling me what to do. You know how that went for my father.”

“But we also have to take care of Kihana, and Zak is too young for us to be leaving him alone,” Bard countered.

“She is due soon, so we can leave after that. And in the meantime, we can Zak prepared and have my father and grandfather take care of him. Keith and his wife would likely help a bit too,” Sen argued back, and Bard stood up abruptly. Anger filled his bones. How could she be so nonchalant about these situations.

“This is too dangerous. Someone needs to stay. If we both go and get killed-”

“Then I’ll go, and you can stay.”

“Sen!” Bard shouted and Zak began to stir. Kai huffed at them and Bard and Sen quieted down, though the tension was hardly calmed.

“And you were just going to leave on your own. Since there isn’t anyone able or willing to go. I can’t imagine you would force anyone to go with you, but you won’t sit back any longer while Elder Father is in danger. I saw Emotion’s token shade. They are getting close. You can’t sit back any longer,” Sen hissed. “How foolish does that make you! You can’t fight them off, and the songs and sunstones aren’t enough anymore. If anyone should go alone, it should be me. I can hold myself in a fight. And you’re the chief,” she said with such vehemence that Bard was taken aback for a second, before his own anger grew. Sen looked around as Zak stirred again and then rolled her eyes before indicating to their room. Bard followed her quietly, formulating how he would tell her ‘no’.

As soon as the door closed, he raised his voice a bit.

“I only call the shots, most of the thinking is done by all the other leaders. And Zak has father figures if I’m gone. But not any mother figures. I’m replaceable, you’re not,” he countered and Sen grabbed him by the collar and yanked him over to the bed, before throwing him down.

“So you admit you’re throwing your life away! You’re an idiot. You can’t even stop me, physically,” she argued, and Bard rubbed at his back as he tried to sit up. She jumped on him, a dagger drawn, and Bard froze.

“I can’t, but Kai can,” he countered, and she gritted her teeth.

“I’m going. And if I can’t go by myself, then I’ll go with you. End of story,” she said flatly.

“I won’t put Zak through it,” Bard said, a low growl in his voice.

“Through what,” she spat back. Bard pushed against the bed and shoved her off. As he rose, she danced lightly on her toes, ready for a fight. Bard tried to say it, say why he was against it, but it stuck in his throat. He had lost both his parents. He didn’t want that for Zak. Sen sensed his inner turmoil and relaxed a bit.

“What am I missing?” Sen asked. “I’ve never seen you like this.” Her posture was more calm, worried now.

“I won’t… I won’t let him go through what I did,” Bard managed to say, and Sen’s eyes were confused at first and then lit with understanding.

“You mean how the shades took out both of your parents,” she said for him, and Bard sunk to the bed, hands holding his head. He felt Sen’s hand on his back as she settled next to him.

“Oh, Bard,” she nearly growled in exasperation. “You are a fool. Even if you go, and don’t come back, he still could lose both of us, it only takes a hoard to wipe us out.”

“But-”

“Just stop and think for a moment. You’ve united the elders, but without you to direct them in the fights, then it’s not use, we would be wiped out already. And it’s only going to get worse. If we both go, I can keep you safe and we can travel faster. We can take Kai and just run. Then, with Father Tree, we can come back and be even stronger with him around. If either of us tries to do this alone, even with Kai, we won’t make it there, let alone back. It’s why you asked for a group, and it’s not happening.”

“But-”

“Bard.”

“NO. Listen. If we both are gone, what if this place is attacked? It won’t survive,” Bard pointed out with her own logic. Sen rolled her eyes, as if it was obvious.

“We have some musicians now, and if we train them before we leave, we can make this work, if just temporarily. That’s why we go small numbers, the best strength and fastest speed.” She wrapped her arms around him and held him tight. “Don’t do this alone. I won’t let you. Okay?”

Bard sighed in exasperation. She was so stubborn. There were multiple ways he could keep arguing, but he had a feeling that she would find ways around each one.

Bard closed his eyes, tears starting to come. He was scared. That fear could become gripping, or he could try to push beyond it. His shoulders ached as he leaned into Sen, the rock and foundation of his life. Just wishing for another answer. The reason he had set out all those years ago, was to build the life he had, but it felt so fragile. A moment was all it took for him to feel the crushing feeling of it being swept away. How grateful he felt to have Sen there in that moment, but also afraid he was that he had been so tied to this life that it might break him if he lost it.

Sen held him for as long as Zak slept, when his cries alerted them, Bard was numb to the feelings and walked with her to have dinner. Zak was joyous and ignorant, and Bard wished he could keep him that way. As he sat there, he felt a little nag in his head. The words of Elder Emotion flitted, though, reminding him of her token that was steadily growing black.

“Fear’s not there to stop you. It’s there to get you moving. So move.” So simple when you weren’t in the middle of it. Then, as if to rebuke him, Elder Communication’s words came to mind. He sighed. Even as shades, they couldn’t leave him alone. He moved to Kai and petted his snout before moving to rest on his favorite side. He closed his eyes, enjoying the warmth of the fire, and let his mind wander to his past, the memories that pained him so. As he let the words of Elder Communication guide him, he felt Zak come over and snuggle into his lap. Distracting, but still endearing. As he worked through the memories, pausing them and approaching his younger self, he couldn’t figure out what to say to assuage this fear. He then felt a little hand on his cheek as Zak reached up and began to wipe at the tears.

“Dad, no sad,” Zak said innocently and then began to hum a tune. It took Bard by surprise, and he opened his eyes to see into those brilliant blue eyes. After a few moments, Bard recognized the tune. Father’s song. Overcome by his son’s sweet gesture, he drew Zak into a bear-like hug and his son patted his head, his ears rubbing against his head.

“Thanks, Zak,” Bard said. “Daddy’s fine now.” Zak looked pleased and then turned around and stretched, shifting as comfortably as he could, and closed his eyes. With more controlled movements, Bard resettled himself and revisited the memories, humming Father’s song to himself.

When he came back to, he opened his tear filled eyes, and dabbed at them, still very much aware of Zak in his lap, snoozing peacefully. His eyes wandered and quickly fell on Sen, who was watching them with a pleased expression. She turned to washing the dishes and Bard moved Zak’s hairs away, which caused him to stretch. Bard took this chance and shifted under him, his own feet having fallen asleep a while ago. Kai brought his face around and Bard rubbed at it, enjoying the deep thrum of Kai’s contentment. He resolved himself. He wouldn’t let fear stop him. What he would do now, was prepare, like Sen had pointed out, and then leave as soon as he could.

After sending Zak to bed, Sen and him resolved that when Kihana’s kits were born, they would leave. Steeling their resolve, they worked on preparing the next morning. When those kits would be born, they couldn’t fully tell, and that deadline loomed over then. Jamil kept to his promise and brought food and resources, making it easier for Bard to focus elsewhere.

Sen took to training, sparring with Amir and honing her rusty skills. Kihana played with Zak while his mother worked. Her tail was quite the entertainment, and she was happy to help. Meanwhile, Jamil joined in the sparring sessions, a welcome stress relief while he kept Hasina away in the books and workings of the trade. His tail kept Sen on her toes, tripping her more than a few times which cracked a smirk from the catfolk, breaking his merchant mask, and Kihana’s devout and calm facade.

Bard found many eager folks, wanting to help with their music to defend the village from the shades. He drilled them hard, helping them learn the song of the forest, and had some dryads who could hear its melody lead out in song, to help unify the group.

He scaled back his involvement in the festivities, and only attended weddings as needed. Even scaled back how often he appeared on the battlefield, allowing the recruits to gain experience in the heat of the moment. Instead, he found time to spare with Zak, hoarding each precious moment. It both was enjoyable while stabbing at his heart, knowing it wouldn’t last.

As the weeks marched on, Kihana grew elusive, and her food mysteriously kept disappearing from the table without them noticing. Jamil started to hover nearby, worried and split. He kept Hasina away, which was growing into quite the challenge, and kept nearby in case he was needed. Elvira took up residence at his request, taking another spare room, something Bard was growing grateful he had the foresight to construct.

One night, a roar split the silence, and Bard stayed with Zak while Sen fetched the other catfolk and Jamil. She returned quickly with the ones who would help, but Jamil was nowhere in sight. When Bard managed to pull Sen aside and ask, she only mentioned Hasina’s name and Bard nodded, understanding. He helped Zak back to sleep, playing Father’s melody as a lullaby to sooth him. Finally, his little frame hummed as he slipped into a deep sleep. Bard took to watching the window, staying in the room in case Zak stirred again.

With a bit of relief, Jamil finally came running up the street and Bard slipped out, opening the door as he arrived. From this place, he could Kihana’s yowls, stifled as they were, but as Jamil began to ask, their ears caught the sounds of little mewling, sharp. Jamil’s eyes grew wide and he pushed inside. Sen came out and kept Jamil at bay a bit longer. A few more mewlings joined the chorus and when Elvira emerged, Jamil was finally let in.

Sen joined Bard, a twisted expression of joy and relief filled with sorrow. He felt it as well. Their time was up. She looked up at Zak’s room, and he followed her up the stair to it. They gently looked at Zak through the door, the reality of it all finally hitting them in this moment of peace. Sen shook her head, sneaking in and pulling the loose blanket over their little boy. Bard stood at the door for a moment as she sat next to him and caressed that face. Zak stirred briefly and grabbed her hand before falling back asleep. Sen’s eyes filled with tears, and Bard sighed softly, keeping his own tears at bay. He walked in and pulled at the cord around his neck, freeing Father’s token, a tiny piece of him to stay, and placing it on the nightstand near their son. Sen looked up and then closed her eyes, unable to see through the tears. Bard came over and helped her stand, pulling her into a hug before guiding her out the door. She wept in his arms for a bit, then wiped at her tears, breathing deeply as she put on a brave face.

They went to their room next and grabbed their gear they had packed, and then went to the kitchens, avoiding the joyous sounds in that wing of their house.

Kai saw their things and looked at them with a sad face before Bard ushered him outside. Sen grabbed the last bits of snacks and rations they had on hand, and filled the water skins while he pulled out the saddle. Elvira caught his eye and he shook his head. She bowed her head slightly and kept the others focused on the sounds of the new arrivals, and off what Sen and Bard were doing.

As he brought out the supplies and began to load up Kai, he was greeted by a few familiar voices.

Elwood called out first, and then Amir. Seeing them come, Bard felt a pang in his heart. He had grown close to them over the years, and he was grateful they had come to watch Zak, but it also made all this feel more real.

As if knowing, they didn’t say anything, but pulled him into a firm clasp of hands. Then, unexpectedly, Amir pulled Bard into a hug.

“Stay safe,” he said softly. Sen came out and rushed into her father’s arms, then her grandfather. They handed her a new bow and a stock of arrows. Sen and Bard thanked the two and loaded the gift up. Sen explained their latest observations on Zak’s behaviors and where things were to take care of him, bringing a smile to those two, face. Bard shook his head and then pulled Sen over, guiding her to the waiting Kai.

As Bard helped Sen up, he heard a voice that caused them to pause.

“Bard? You’re leaving?” Jamil stood at the doorway, tail still, eyes wide. The kit’s cries drifted faintly from farther in.

“Keep your family safe,” Bard said, forcing a wan smile. Jamil’s ears flicked, a ghost of a smile breaking through.

“Wondered if it might come to this,” Jamil sighed. “Thanks for staying as long as you did.”

Amir came up and nudged Jamil back inside. “Go to your kits.” Jamil hesitated, then nodded, retreating with a last glance.

Elwood came up and took note of the missing token. Bard nodded, and the old Dryad smiled before giving Bard his own hug. He silently left into the house, heading towards Zak’s room. Bard climbed up after Sen and Kai shifted underneath them. He looked back at them and hummed. Sen leaned into Bard, her warmth in this dark night a lifeline.

“The sun will be up soon,” she commented, a whisper. He looked back at her and noticed she was looking at Zak’s bedroom window. He shifted and grabbed her hand, reassuring her.

“Together,” he said, and she smiled as her gaze turned to him. She wrapped her arms around his middle and then pressed her head to his shoulder.

“Always,” she responded, her voice soft and soothing.

Bard urged Kai on, casting his own glance at the window, catching sight of Elwood inside before forcing himself to look forward. Kai cleared the houses and jumped the wall, startling the guards before taking off at a hard run, the sunstone lights fading. A howl of the shades began to pursue them, but Sen climbed around and drew out their own light sources, placing them onto the lanterns on the saddle. She handed Bard the tokens, and he took all in hand and moved them, making them sing their melody, protecting them while Sen applied the pitch to her arrows, getting ready as the shades began to swarm.

Despite the danger, Bard felt calm. They had faced worse and made it, and the sun would appear soon, they could make it through this.