Stormbound...Part 1

As we absorbed the information that T’tubah had given us, some large object crashed into the front of the house. It was loud enough that we were startled out of the mini reverie that had overtaken us. It also brought us back to the reality that we were gonna have to make our way out of this small house and into the teeth of a massive hurricane.

Ravyn recovered quickly, smirking as she said, “Well, she’s not getting any safer as we stand here waiting for you to collect your wits, you old rust bucket.” She looked to T’tubah a bit more kindly. “Are you going to be OK in here, or should we take you somewhere safer?”

The older woman cackled as she replied, “Child, don’t you worry none about me, you’ll have enough worries finding that baby girl and her mother and getting them to safety before things get really bad in this town. I’ll leave once the winds die down. I have some people in Atlanta that will be getting a visit from Great Auntie.”

Curious, I asked, “How will you get to Atlanta? The roads will be a mess, if your car even survives this mess, and there won’t be any mass transit for a while.”

There was a knowing twinkle in her eye as she answered, “The portal you came through works both ways, boy.” She shuddered a bit as she thought of something before continuing. “My way isn’t as flashy as some, but it gets me where I need to go when I have to use it. Now, you’ll be wanting to leave soon, you two aren’t the only horses in this race.”

Ravyn gave her an earnest hug, reaching up and around with both arms in an attempt to encompass the larger woman, who returned the hug just as earnestly.

Feeling a little uncomfortable, I reached out a tentative hand as they separated. “Thank you, Ma’am, for welcoming us into your home and giving us this infor...”

She had grasped my hand and yanked me into her embrace, surprising me with the strength of her grip and her ability to pull me off balance so easily. Her arms easily engulfed my shoulders as she brought her mouth close to my left ear. “You watch out now, boy, this baby is more important than anything else, don’t let the Little Devil use your own Demons to distract you from that.”

She pushed me back from her embrace, but held me with one firm grip on my left arm, looking square into my eyes. I could see the reflection of my flaming orbs in her eyes as her milky white gaze seemed to pierce through all of my armor. Her voice had that distant, tinny quality about it again as she spoke one last time:

“Stricken by Faith and Terror, the Daughter of Death has come!
To War turns the Old Guard, proclaiming loudly the false Victory.
Whilst Wind tears and Waters roar, the Daughter of Death has come!
Tho’ Fire and Shadow may strive, Hope or Peace has no guarantee.”

Her eyes returned to normal, but before either or Ravyn or I could comment, she shambled toward the front of the house, calling out, “This way, your time grows short.”