Chapter 8: The Feast

The feast was at our house because my parents were the leaders of the village. Mom, with a few volunteers, had lined out tables among tables outside on the dirt path, which was the only flat spot big enough to hold his many tables and chairs. There was enough space for all the Hunters, Shar, and the couple she traveled with, Herbalist Hardandra, and the leader's family. Seeing as how my mother and father were the leaders, I was automatically required to attend.

"Welcome, friends, family, and newcomers! We are here today to welcome Ray Versel and Sara Versel to the village. Not only them but the famous Shar Methef!" My dad's voice boomed through the clearing, sparking confused mumblings about why there was such a big deal about visitors. "The lovely Versel's have decided to settle in our village permanently, where they will be safe from any other wild horses."

"That's great and all," a random Hunter called out in confusion, "but why are we having a feast?"

"I forgot, no one here knows Shar by her real name. Shar Mathef is not what our guest goes by. Shar prefers to be known as The Water Whisperer, the one and only human that has the ability to tame the Kelpie." Immediately the tables erupted with conversation as people argued about whether or not she could tame the Kelpie and whether or not that even mattered.

"How will she tame the Kelpie?"

"Is the Kelpie even tameable without the enchanted bridle?"

"What will she do that we can't?"

"All in due time." my mother called out, immediately shutting everyone up. "For now, let's just sit down and enjoy this food!" Instantly, almost in unison, everyone drooped down into their seats and began piling food onto their plates. I stared blankly at the food in front of me. The food looked and smelled delicious, but for some reason, I suddenly was no longer hungry.

I looked around, watching as people shoved food into their mouths. The tables were filled with people eating, talking, and altogether enjoying themselves. I wonder how the Herd would celebrate newcomers?

"Well, I think that the Kelpie should be killed now! Rather than get a chance to kill us!" Everyone automatically stopped talking to turn and look at the Hunter who had spoken. I didn't know his name but I did recognize him as a Hunter that always followed and supported whatever Hunter Kyle was doing. I scanned their table to see if Hunter Kyle was nearby, however, I didn't see him. In fact, I thought scanning all the tables, I don't see him anywhere!

"Is there a problem?" My father called out rising from his chair to face the other Hunter.

"Yes," the Hunter shouted, "you have gone out of your way, and the villages way, to welcome these newcomers and give them a chance to tame the untameable! How long until that Kelpie-"

"His name is Ocean," Shar said standing up to join in the conversation.

"Ocean," the Hunter said through clenched teeth, "is not a pet. Ocean is what is called a Kelpie and if you didn't know Water Whisperer, the Kelpie is not only made of water but can control it too."

"Yes," my father stated angrily, "everyone here is very, very aware of that."

"Then I ask you, as our leader, Shar, as an 'expert', and my fellow Hunters, whose duty it is to protect, how long?"

"How long, what?" Shar asked.

"How long until he finds away out of his stall? How long until he breaks free during training? How long until he drags a villager into the ocean and kills them? How long until we find our entire village underwater?"

"How long?" Shar's voice rose. "Never! That's the point of training Ocean! So that he will be loyal to your village no matter what!"

"Enough," father called, "this is meant to be a feast to celebrate not fight!"

"Well, too bad! It is a fight! You're meant to lead the village, protect the village, and instead, you have brought our doom right to us!"

"Your leader," Hunter Ryan joined in, "just told you to shut up. So I suggest you sit down and shut up before you get yourself in more trouble!"

"Yeah? And what are you going to do?" The Hunter yelled walking up to where Hunter Ryan was sitting. "You who failed to become the leader, you failed to learn herbs and medicine, you failed to do just about everything except become the top Hunter. Actually, that is a good point, you are the top Hunter. So top Hunter, tell us, can you answer the question the other two can't? How long until your failure to kill the Kelpie causes the death of everyone we know?"

"You," Hunter Ryan stood, "continuously ask how long, so let me return the question, how long-"

"I asked you first."

"You also interrupted, you ask me how long until the Kelpie kills us? It would have to be years upon years from now because I will always protect this village with my leader and fellow Hunters. Now I ask you, how long? How long until the village turns on you?" As soon as the words left Hunter Ryan's mouth the other Hunter tried to punch him. Keyword being tried, only as soon as Hunter Ryan caught the punch they disappeared under other Hunters as people joined the fight.

My mother and father both rushed forward to try and break up the fight. Shar ran out from behind the pile to stand behind her two companions who looked pitifully lost. I searched the pile of fighting Hunters, once again looking for Hunter Kyle who was still nowhere to be seen. Herbalist Hardandra ran towards the fight, also attempting to break it up. Nothing was working, the Hunters continued to fight.

"Stop!" Hardandra yelled out backing away from the pile. "You all speak of the safety of our village? How is fighting each other helping!" Everyone had slowly stopped, each Hunter backing away from the other until you could clearly see two sides, those who were with the angry Hunter and those who were with Hunter Ryan.

"Why are we listening to you?" The same Hunter from before asked.

"Because she is the villages Herbalist and has spent her entire life studying for the welfare of our village." My father said angrily walking closer to the outspoken Hunter.

"Maybe so, but she also runs around with her little ferret and pretends that, that creature is just as important to the village as she is."

"Smo," Herbalist Hardandra's voice shook with anger, "is my Spiritus Vinculum and he has saved more lives than you could count."

"There she goes!" He yelled. "Talking about Spirit Bonds again! Something from a children's fairytale, and like a child she believes they are real. Seriously, Hardandra, do you really believe you are magically bonded to a ferret?"

"She doesn't belive she is," I spoke up suddenly, surprising the Hunters and myself, "she actually is bonded to Mister Smokes!"

"Kate," he laughed, "I'm actually glad you said that. How sad, Hardandra, surrounded by Hunters who have grown up with the knowledge that magic exists and yet, it has to be the only child here that stands up for you."

"Ummm, a question," Shar said causing everyone to turn and look at her, "whats a Spiritus Vinculum or Spirit Bond or whatever it is you're talking about?"

"It's said to be," the Hunter said slowly walking up to Shar, "a magical bond formed between human and animal. An absolutely unbreakable bond that allows them to communicate and share feelings no matter the physical distance. Stupid really."

"It's not fake and it's not stupid," Herbalist Hardandra ground out.

"Does Ocean have a human Spirit Bond?" Shar asked meeting Hardandra's eyes.

"Again!" the Hunter yelled, "Spirit Bonds aren't real, they don't exist! Why would you ask such a stupid question?"

"Because it really seemed as though Ocean knew perfectly well what Kate was thinking." Hardandra and I both froze at Shar's words. Could Shar, someone who didn't even know about Spirit Bonds, really figure it out that easily?

"Great! Another crazy person in our village! I guess you were all right! We won't be here when the Kelpie gets free and destroys everything. We'll all be dead by then, our village is being corrupted by their family," he pointed at mom and dad, "and our very own Herbalist!"

"Spirit Bonds are the most real things in this world," Hardandra's voice was nearly inaudible, "more real than you or me. We used to be good friends Matthew... Sad to see how you turned out."

"How I turned out? Hardandra you were my best friend! At least until you ran off and came home days later with your ferret! I don't know what happened to you, but you abandoned me. Not just me either! Kyle too! Kyle and I were your closest friends and you ditched us for nothing!"

"I needed to focus on herbs! I needed to find my place in the village because hunting and killing weren't for me! Why couldn't you two just accept that?!"

"Because you didn't need to learn herbs! You needed time! Like every person who loses their family, but Hardandra, you never got time. You spent it all studying and tending to that ferret that you built up this fantasy in your mind and you never came back to us! You chose a ferret over your two best friends... And now your building up that fantasy in Kate. Making her believe that Spirit Bonds are real. Can't you see how far it's gone? I mean, if you really believe that, that Kelpie in the village wouldn't kill Kate in an instant when given the chance, then you really have gone too far."

"I've never done anything wrong. If you and Kyle were truly my friends you would have believed me and stood by my side. Instead you guys were the first to stand against me and argue with something I've felt. Something I know is real and true and I know this because I have felt it."

"Glad Kyle and I figured out sooner rather than later that you love ferrets more than people!" Hardandra stumbled back suddenly as if somebody had pushed her.

"Smo..." Her soft voice sent chills down my spine as she took off in the direction of her house.