“Yes, Goddess.” Rick said instantly.
The Goddess turned to Shelly. “I came today for one reason. To reinforce what Amy is telling you. War is on the horizon. A war like now we have never seen and if it isn’t handled in the next moon cycle, then all will be lost.” The Goddess’s voice turned sad. “The ones that are moving in the shadows are poking the hornet’s nest. Humans are taking interest where they shouldn’t. My children have hidden away, but nowhere will be safe if they keep pushing.”
Her words bounced around in my head but I could feel her pulling away.
“What do you mean?” Ternen called.
She turned to Alannah and Ternen. “Congratulations on the pup. If you make it through the next month, he will be so loved.” The Goddess smiled at them.
“He?” Alannah’s hand shot to her belly, and then I saw her face harden.
We nodded. “To answer your question…” She sighed as she fully stood again. “If this war goes on too long. If the Alphas keep pushing for power. You will be found. And no place that I can give you will be safe, not anymore.” No where she gave us? Where was she talking about? But she continued. “The humans will find you, and you will be killed.” I could feel her shiver.
The sound of tiny running feet was all I heard before a soft voice finished. “And the ones that survive the human extermination will beg for death, they will make sure of it.”
Everyone turned in horror as Carly stood in the grass, white eyes blind to the world, voice too deep for a freshly seven-year-old child. Rick turned back to me, because the Goddess left my body, and we were once again alone. “Is that who I think it is?”
Carly chuckled in a voice that sounded like she was grown. “If you are asking if I am the Shaman, I am indeed.” She turned to me. “High above us, where the stars can reach, the secret you are searching for has taken root.”
Something in my chest loosened. Something my soul has figured out, but my brain was still trying to catch up. “What do you mean?”
“You know.” She smiled, and then I watched her start to fall. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head and before she could slam into the ground, I caught her.
“Holy shit, you have the Shaman here?” Rick paced.
“Abby is playing with the Shaman?” Shelly looked confused.
Ternen, sweet Ternen, just looked at us. “Who or what is the Shaman?”
Everyone froze for a second and then all of us, including the newly awakened Carly, laughed. I think the comment broke through everyone’s heightened emotions and brought us all back down.
Wendy, Toya, and Abby all came out of the cabin and walked up to the laughing crowd. “Everything okay?” Toya sounded worried.
I nodded. “Why?”
Toya pointed to Carly. “The girls were playing with the dolls and this one sprinted from the room.”
Carly wiggled to get down from my arms. “I felt a vision coming on and I needed to be with Amy when it hit.” She looked up at them. “I’m sorry if I scared you.”
Wendy crouched down with a smile. “It’s okay, sweetheart.” She tickled her side, earning a giggle. “We understand that your power pushes you to do things. We just worry, that’s all.”
Carly hugged her and then turned to me. “You remember my words?” I nodded. “Good.” Then she turned to Abby. “Do you want to go back to playing with dolls?”
“Yes.” Abby danced in Toya’s arms.
“Hold your horses, girls.” My mom’s voice carried from the porch.
We all turned in surprise. “Ma?”
She laughed. “Morgan and Shannon are gone. The house is locked up and I came through with dinner.” She waved us over. “Come on and eat, and then we can figure out our next steps.” She walked back into the house.
“Morgan left the house?” Toya lifted her brows.
I nodded. “You missed the bomb that dropped today.” Toya and Wendy looked intrigued. “I’ll tell you later.”
“Porch wine?” Wendy offered.
I nodded. “Porch wine.” I winked as we all turned and headed to the door.
