Something Sabotage

Contained within a ring of gathered stones, the fire crackled and snapped as it consumed the dry branches piled atop it. It was a mesmerizing dance, years of stored solar energy being rapidly released as heat and light through combustion. Anna stared into the flames, lost in the simplicity of not needing to have answers right at the moment.

“A fascinating element, is it not?” Clayton asked softly.

Anna looked at him. “Hmm?”

“Fire, one of the four elements. You know, earth, air, fire, water.”

“Oh… right.” Anna’s attention returned to watching the flames, grateful for the distraction as the day’s events weighed heavily on her.

Wolves howled in the distance.

Seated atop the pall that had been spread out like a picnic blanket, Anna felt the fire’s intensity bake her front while her back froze in the recurring wind gusts. The fire bent and twisted in the wind. The day had been no picnic.

Leaning forward, Anna wrapped her arms around her legs, hugging them. Clara lay beside her, sleeping soundly, curled up and using Anna’s bundle for a pillow. Clayton sat cross-legged at her feet, watching the fire, keeping it steadily fed.

Across from them, two of the hunters slept in bedrolls. The third stood watch with the horses.

With the overcast skies, the night was oppressively dark.

“So, what happened earlier with the stylus?” Clayton asked, keeping his voice low. “Going down into the gully like that. Did he say something to you? I have not heard from him in a while.”

“We’re talking mind to mind from now on,” Anna replied. “Makes things simpler considering what sort of situation we’re headed for.”

“Yeah, a voice coming from seemingly nowhere is unnerving.”

“Regarding the accident? No, not a word."

“Why was he kneeling over Astra like that? Usually you do not see someone get so emotional over an animal unless it was very special to them.”

“No idea,” Anna replied. “He didn’t offer and I didn’t ask. Seems unkind to pry.”

“Fair enough. Has he said anything at all to you lately?”

“Not a word. I sense he’s there. He’s just choosing to say nothing.”

Anna glanced at Clayton, who just nodded slowly, uncertain how to continue.

A long moment of silence passed. The wind blew again, trembling the trees and brush, leaves rustling. The fire bent low for a moment as the camp dimmed.

“What do you think will happen at trial? What will you do?”

“Tell the truth? I don’t know what else I can do. It’s not like witch trials are ever very objective.”

“But you did use magic.”

“But I was summoned here against my will. And I only used magic when I had no other reasonable choice.”

“I am not certain if that excuse will work. Using magic is punishable by death. The laws are pretty cut-and-dried.”

Anna exhaled, too tired to debate it further. “I guess we’ll find out soon enough then.”

“I like you Anna.” Clayton looked toward the third hunter, who was keeping watch with the horses. From the looks of it, he had accidentally nodded off while sitting atop a fallen log to which the horses were secured. “You seem like a really good person. Maybe… you should slip away while you have the chance.”

Anna shook her head. “What good would that do? I’ll continue to be hunted. I don’t want that. Turning myself in is the only way forward.”

“But it may end with you getting hurt… or worse.”

The line of questioning was too stressful. All she wanted to do was just forget for a few minutes and stare into the fire. “Enough.” Anna stood. “I’ll go find some more wood.”

Clayton looked at the woodpile. “But we have plenty of-” He caught Anna’s glare and fell silent.

Clara stirred. “W-where are you going?” she asked sleepily.

“I need to think. Alone.”

“No. It is unsafe.” Clara reached out with her hand, taking hold of Anna’s foot. “We stick together. Think together. Survive together.”

Anna felt a flicker of anger, a desire to jerk her foot away and storm off. Clayton was right. She was likely walking herself to the gallows, or whatever they used for execution in this world. But the idea of spending the rest of her life constantly being chased was exhausting. “I don’t know what to do anymore.”

“I do,” Clara replied softly, moving her hand to pat firmly at the surface of the pall. “Lay down and sleep. Tomorrow will be here soon enough. We can worry about it then.”

Anna took a deep breath, on the verge of losing it. “I can’t do that. I can’t handle not knowing. I hate uncertainty."

“Would you be willing to trust me?” Clara gave her a plaintive expression. “Because I have been where you are now. Bound. Cold. Hungry. Fearful. Headed for trial in the capital.” She slowly sat up. “If you are exhausted, you will not be able to speak slowly, patiently, clearly. They want you frightened and exhausted. Do not give them that. Some of the nobles are rational people. Your best defense is to be calm and well-spoken.” She patted at the surface of the pall again.

“You cannot do that without proper rest.”

The wind howled suddenly, flattening the flames and carrying a shower of sparks into the forest.

As the fire sprang back, Anna spotted a pair of eyes reflecting the firelight from within the brush, just outside the glow of the fire. A moment later, a low, dark shape slipped between trees. “Umm! Everyone!”

The hunter on watch awoke abruptly.

Clayton snapped to attention, rising into a crouch as he grabbed a short, stocky branch from the woodpile.

“Wolves!” shouted Clara.

The pair of sleeping hunters sat up, reaching for their knives.

Dark shapes darted through the brush, slowly circling.

The horses secured to the log whinnied in alarm.

“Quick, more wood!” Clara shouted as she hastily yanked a burning branch from the fire. Hot embers fell from the branch onto the pall. Anna spotted them and moved to stomp them out.

Clayton started rapidly piling the remaining wood onto the fire.

The two hunters by the fire grabbed burning branches. Along with Clara, they started waving them around, making the flames appear larger while being careful not to scatter the burning wood. With their free hands, the hunters waved their arms to look physically larger.

“Make lots of noise!” Clara exclaimed. “Bad dogs! Go away!”

Everyone joined in, shouting the same commands and making as much noise as possible.

The pack continued to circle, testing the group’s resolve.

The two hunters with burning branches moved to be near the horses as the watch hunter grabbed a burning branch as well. “Use your magic, witch!”

Anna looked up from stamping out the last ember on the pall. “Oh, so now you want me to use magic?!”

“Shut up, you insolent witch, and do as you are told!”

“Do not listen to him, Anna!” Clara shouted at the wolf Anna had spotted, though clearly the words were not meant for it.

“Agreed! Do not let them see you use magic again,” added Clayton as he finished adding all the wood to the fire and rose, club-like branch in hand, waving it broadly. He yelled the loudest at the pack as the fire warmed the damp wood piled atop it.

One of the wolves darted briefly into the camp, feigning an attack to try to split the group.

The horses stomped their hooves and shook their heads frantically, unable to run while being tethered to the log.

“Use your fear magic that you used on us to drive them away!”

“There is no need! This will work!” Clara yelled, her attention fixed on the wolf that remained in place while the rest of the pack kept changing positions, maintaining the threat.

“Bad dog!” Clayton hurled his branch club at the wolf in the brush. It flinched as the club narrowly missed it, landing with a shudder of leaves just to one side.

It growled back menacingly.

“Go away!” Clara shouted forcefully, showing no fear as she waved her burning branch side to side at the wolf.

“Rahhh!” Clayton yelled and feigned charging at the wolf, taking several exaggerated steps toward it, as though threatening a physical confrontation.

The wolf growled again but held its ground.

“This is not normal!” Clara told Clayton. “It should have run away!”

“Is it being affected by magic?!”

“It could be!”

Both turned to look at Anna.

“Don’t look at me!” Anna replied. “I’m doing nothing!”

“Anna, run at it! At full speed!” Clara directed.

“What?! You’re not serious!”

“Trust me!”

Anna shook her head, afraid of being mauled.

“Trust mom!”

Anna clenched her fists. “Screw it,” she muttered.

Yelling at the top of her lungs, Anna raced directly at the eyes reflecting the firelight. For a brief moment, she debated feigning a charge like Clayton did, but continued forward.

She rushed closer and closer, until at the last moment, the wolf silently turned and ran, disappearing into the night.

Anna stopped, panting, swallowing hard, feeling her throat strained and aching from all the yelling.

Behind her, the damp wood started to catch, the fire growing increasingly brighter.

With the strange wolf’s departure and the growing fire, the other wolves disappeared, slipping away into the night just as silently as they had arrived.

“What was all that about?” Clayton asked, turning to look at the others.

Clara frowned. “Sabotage.”