She signed and laid her head down onto her paws.They’re the same person.
“Yepp.” I spent the next thirty minutes finishing the grave, then I hopped out of it. I dropped the shovel by the pile of dirt, waiting to be backfilled, and I went to pick up Carl.
I don’t know how to be a mom.Nix’s voice wavered, and I smiled.
“Neither do I.” I walked back through the bodies and found the rogues roughly tossed into a pile. Wood tossed around him. “Rowan was busy.”
“He wanted to do everything, but I told him you would want to put Carl to rest.” Toya came from the shadows of the cabin. “So he did this. But I warned him to leave if he heard you coming.”
“And he listened?” I stared at the bodies at my feet, my heart cracking a little more.
Toya sighed. “He did. But it had less to do with my words.”
“What do you mean?” I looked up, and she just shook her head.
“You’re going to have to figure that out yourself.” She jiggled the little red gas can, the liquid inside sloshing against the sides. “Carl really thought of everything.” She dropped the hose at her feet and walked over, pouring the gas over the bodies.
“Yeah.” I waited as she lit a pack of matches and then tossed them on the pile. Igniting the bodies and the wood. “This is going to take all night.”
She hummed. “The girls and I are going to take shifts, keeping the flames burning. I already talked to them about it.”
I turned to her. “Thank you.”
She walked over and wrapped her arm around my shoulders. “We are best friends. You don’t have to say thank you.” She kissed my temple. “Go lay our friend to rest. I have things handled here.”
I nodded and pulled away. I turned and lifted Carl from the ground, walking him back to the giant oak, and jumping into the hole. I laid him down and did my best to wipe the blood from his face. I fixed his hair and his shirt. I was about to stand when my fingers brushed a small paper sticking out of his shirt pocket.
I pulled it out, and there was a hastily scribbled note.
I thought I had more time. I dumped everything into a bowl on the counter.
‘I dumped everything into a bowl on the counter’.What the hell was he talking about? I checked his other pockets to be safe before I hopped up. I grabbed the shovel, turning back to the man and the grave, but before I could fill it in. I felt a hand on my shoulder.
I turned and looked, and there was my grandma, sadness etched her face. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”
“I know, love, that’s why I’m here.” She leaned in and kissed my cheek. “Grab a handful of dirt.” She nodded toward the mound. I dropped the shovel and grabbed a handful before I turned to look at her expectantly. “Carl, or better known as Carlithaen, the Shaman of old. We lay you to rest to join the Moon Goddess. May her fields be bright and cool. May your wolf and you run together for eternity.” She nodded to me and I went to drop the dirt, but something stopped me.
My grandmother turned to me, and I could see her confusion. “I-” I tried to explain, but she just gestured to me.
“Follow your instinct.”
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I opened myself to my magic, and it jumped to my fingertips. “Isla fo int ye per ta na shado.” My grandmother’s eyes widened.
“Why did you do that?”
“Do what?” I felt the magic rush into the dirt in my hands and then I sprinkled the dirt over Carl.
“You protected his grave.” She tilted her head. “No, that isn’t right.” She sounded slightly unsure of her words.
“What?”
“You just said a spell.” I nodded.
“And…”
“And it wasn’t one from the book.” Her voice was soft.
“Of course it was. I remembered it.”
