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Leotie’s clan had moved about five miles deeper into the forest and higher up the hill, where they’d found a large cave system. In the entrance, there was a perfect crevice to make a fire with cracks leading to the outside to vent the smoke. She found a pocket and turned it into her private space. However, the area didn’t stay completely outlander free. After a few years, about eight miles to the south, a small town called Dover began to emerge. So far it stayed small with no soldiers. She hoped it stayed that way.
Markus stopped in and approved of the place. As a lover, Markus was alright. She didn’t love him, but managed to fake it. It was worth it to keep everyone safe. In return, she did get part of her life back. Once again she lived off the land, hunting as a wolf or human. After a few months, she felt ready and visited her people, joining them for feasts or going on hunts. It didn’t bother her to see Keme with Enola anymore. Sometimes she even struggled to make vests with her mother.
Markus continued on his trips, which involved commanding some English troops. He seemed to be having a great time and often mentioned that he would eventually want her to join him. Yet, she had a bad feeling about it. Deep down, everyone knew that one day Markus would ask too much of them. In the meantime, it was important to stay safe and continue to grow in skills. A hope stirred in her that one day she would match his power and make herself truly free again. This hope gave her the will to go on.
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Enjoy the following free sample of Rebel Shifter (Freedom Shifters Book 2)
Rebel Shifter
Chapter 1
Two years later....
Finn crouched behind a deer blind as a gust of wind blew toward him from Lake Erie. He was about to give up when he spotted a buck moving slowly, taking a few steps, lifting its head, then a few more steps. Finn’s eyes widened at the impressive rack of antlers. He raised his bow and readied an arrow, waiting for the deer to reach a space void of the many narrow, leafless trees. At last the deer was in the right spot. He pulled back on the bowstring. A strong gust of wind came up and a cold, wet explosion of snow crashed down from one of the trees above right onto his head. His fingers slipped, and the arrow flew.
He brushed the snow off and looked up. The buck had collapsed on the ground. Finn came out from behind the blind and walked to retrieve his kill. After several steps, another arrow sticking out of the deer’s chest came into focus. He flinched and looked in all directions, but saw no one else. An Indian must be hunting somewhere in the woods. His heart raced. Some of them could be desperate for food and willing to kill for it. Coming this far was not a good sign.
Finn sucked in a breath and ducked at the base of a tree, but it wasn’t wide enough to hide him. None of them were. Not one tree nearby would do. Scrambling, he flattened himself out on the snow-covered ground and wiggled into a low spot. Arm yourself, damn it. He pulled the pistol from his belt and aimed toward the deer.
Memories of a battle against the Indians flashed through his thoughts, when he happened to be passing through an area west of Virginia with his family as a child. A bloody battle, with arrows and musket balls flying, men dropping, women screaming – blood everywhere. He shivered. A few natives remained here and there, but they never came too close to his property or the village. Until today. He searched the stick trees frantically, puffs of steam flowing from his breath.
Leaves crunched ahead. Finn flinched at the sound and tightened his grip on the pistol. A person came into view, moving between the narrow trees. The native, dressed in tan deer skins, carried a bow and approached slowly. Finn guessed the Indian must’ve noticed something, but didn’t seem to know where he was hiding. He smiled despite his racing heart. All he had to do was let the Indian take the deer. It wasn’t worth a bunch of trouble if a new tribe was passing through. Just go away...just go away.
The Indian walked around the deer and looked it over. He paused, and looked in Finn’s direction. Shit, why won’t you leave? Finn crouched as low as possible, trying to become one with the ground. The Indian turned back to the deer, grabbed it and pulled the dead deer over the snow. Slowly, Finn took out his spyglass and peered through it. He tucked in his lip at noticing a feminine shape with a long black braid draped over her shoulder. A woman, hunting alone?
He guessed her to be in her early twenties, like himself. She moved with the gracefulness of a wolf stalking its prey, and looked more than capable of plugging an arrow into him. She stopped tugging at the deer and looked around. Where had she come from?
Questions multiplied, along with a building temptation to know more. Nobody even came to help with the deer. She had to be alone. What to do? What to do? If he let her leave, he would never know where she was from.
He tucked the pistol in his belt and stood up. “Hello.” His voice wavered while he continued to scan the woods for more of them.
She turned around and grabbed the bow off her shoulder so fast he didn’t see where she’d pulled the arrow from, yet she aimed it at the ground – ready to bring it up if needed.
Finn forced a smile and held his hands up so she could see them. “I didn’t mean to startle you, but it seems we struck the same deer.”
She stayed by the deer as he approached. He came within ten feet of her. White beads on her coat were in some sort of swirl design. He’d seen similar symbols worn by the small Mahasi tribe that lived farther to the north. He had thought they’d long since left the area. The long winter and poor hunting had probably caused her to come out of her normal territory.
She eyed his bow. “So, what is an outlander doing hunting with a bow?”
“I like a change now and then.” He found it odd she appeared so confident to be out here alone and although she had an accent, her English was surprisingly good. “I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but a lass shouldn’t be out here alone.”
“I am more concerned with hunting.”
Finn nodded. Her hard expression made him want to squirm and fidget, but he controlled himself and guessed her people were struggling to survive. “And where do you live?”
She tucked the arrow back in her pouch. “Deeper in the woods with my tribe.”
“But why do they send a woman to do the hunting?”
“So you think a woman can’t hunt?” She flung the bow on her shoulder and put her hands on her hips.
“I didn’t mean it that way. ’Tis just not the tradition from me observations.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I like hunting alone. It is my right.”
“Of course.” He changed the subject fast. “Since you’re the one who killed the deer, you should have it.” He pictured a group of poor natives with only frail gray-haired men and women huddling around a fire.
Her head tilted. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Aye?”
“Why do you talk a little different than other outlanders?”
“My father was born in Scotland and I have a wee bit of his expressions.”
“Scotland?”
He waved his hand toward the east. “’Tis a place across the ocean. So, I thought most of your people had moved south.”
“No. Not yet, anyway.”
“I’m Finn Mathison, by the way. Perhaps I can help you carry this deer and you can come back to me house for a moment. Dinner will be ready soon.” He cringed inwardly at himself. “I know we just met, but I thought you might be hungry after being out here all day.”
“That is kind of you. I’m Leotie and...”
A horse whinnied from several feet behind her, and out of view.
Leotie smiled a little. “That’s my horse. She gets impatient sometimes. Thanks for inviting me, but my family will worry if I’m late.”
“I figured. Anyway, allow me to help.” Finn hoisted the deer over his shoulders.
Leotie led the way up a slight incline.
Finn’s eyes widened at seeing two more dead deer in the cart. Drenched in sweat, he let it drop into the cart. “It seems you had a good hunt today.”
She closed the back door of the cart. “There are many to feed, and the Great Spirit was with me today.”
The horse let out a screech of a whinny, its tail swished and legs stomped as if about to bolt.
“Tala, calm down.” She took the reins and stared into the horse’s face.
The mare relaxed to the point of only twitching in various spots. He supposed she wasn’t used to seeing a white man. Leotie mounted the horse.
“Be careful on the way back,” Finn said.
She nodded, waved and gave him a small smile. Leotie had a personality after all.
Finn watched her until she went out of view. He turned and hurried down the long trail along the side of the sheep pasture all the way back to the house – a log home with one large room on the bottom and a bedroom and loft on top. A workshop stood to the left of the house, while a barn was on the right.
He made his way around to the front of the house. Upon opening the door, he expected to smell chicken cooking, but there was no scent.
“Dad?” he called several times.
His chair was in the same place it had been in the morning – near the fireplace and his spinning wheel. His father should’ve been back from the village by now. With no answer, he looked in the bedroom, the loft and outside in the barn. The buggy was still gone, along with his father’s horse. It wasn’t like him to be late for anything.
CHAPTER 2
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Sure the outlander was kind, but would he have been so nice if he found out that I’m a shifter? Leotie mused as she turned down the path leading to a small settlement of Mahasi.
She looked at the diamond ring on her finger, wishing yet again she could take it off and toss it in the snow. But no, Markus had given it to her. It represented a mutual sort of loyalty she was supposed to have and could be used to summon him. It still worked, but she told the others Markus had changed it into an ordinary ring because they made her summon him too much. Markus had insisted it was only for emergencies. She preferred it that way.
Tala trotted along swishing her tail and projected her thoughts to Leotie, “Aren’t you going to tell me anything about that outlander?”
Leotie thought back to her, “If you must know, we struck the deer at the same time. He was kind and let me have it.”
“You mean you talked to him as you are and he didn’t try to shoot you?” Tala asked.
“Yes, he was...different. As I’ve found out over these years, they’re not all bad.”
“Ha!” Tala thought with a piercing jab.
“I’m serious.” She stopped short of projecting a description of Finn, even though she couldn’t stop thinking about his hair – light brown with bits of red that could only be seen in the sun. His blue eyes looked sincerely concerned. But why was he living so far from the village?
Tala bounced and thought, “Is that all you can tell me about him?”
Leotie wobbled and grabbed her mane. “Must you know everything?”
“I’m bored riding you around and my back is killing me. The least you can do is give me more details.”
She thought back to his nervous smile. “He had some fascinating things. There was this pocket watch he glanced at once before he left. Even stranger, he invited me for supper, but I said no.”
“An outlander invited you to eat with him,” Tala thought loudly. “He was up to no good!”
“Not necessarily. Maybe he thought I was hungry and tired.”
“Since when do you trust outlanders?” Tala’s thoughts grew persistent.
“That’s why I didn’t go with him, but I might visit him again,” Leotie thought. “We’re getting low on candles and other supplies. Maybe I could trade furs to him for the things we need.”
“What if he gets curious? You well know it’s against the master’s rules. Markus would never agree to you befriending an outlander. It’s better to blend in with the villagers and steal from them like you always do,” Tala thought as they moved into a small clearing and up to a group of wigwams and cabins.
Smoke billowed out of a few of them and swirled around in the winter wind. The new wigwams had been sealed together with mud that had hardened into stone. This allowed the improved dwellings to stand strong against the cold wind while keeping those inside warm. The council building and a few cabins were made of logs.
Tribe members waved to her as she pulled up to Keme and Enola’s wigwam.
“Keme? Enola? Are you in there?” Leotie said, speaking in Mahasi. “I brought you something.” She dismounted and pulled a deer out of the cart, setting it near the fire pit.
Enola, the tribe’s holy woman, came out in a hurry. She wore heavy furs and a braid hung out of the back of a raccoon skin hat.
“Thank you so much.” She looked at Tala. “Both of you.”
“I only wish I could do more.” Leotie looked over the camp. A few others walked about wearing heavy furs. Keme was nowhere around.
“He went hunting and fishing. We have to do all we can this winter. This deer will certainly help. It’s so kind of you to think of us. How are you and the others?” Enola asked.
“We are well.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
“Leotie!” Dena called, trying to run in the snow.
The two hugged. Heavy furs made mother feel like a small bear.
“You stay away far too long,” Mother said, her hair half gray now.
“Sorry, but I’ve been too busy hunting.” Leotie motioned to the deer.
“You’re so kind, and I know the winter has been horrible.” Mother wrapped her coat tighter. “There is talk of us moving next spring and we’re hoping you will come with us. Perhaps you could finally live with us?”
Leotie had known this question was coming. She didn’t want to get into the multiple reasons why she thought it wouldn’t happen. Still, Markus had been gone a long time and might never come back.
Before she could answer, someone let out a greeting cry from the edge of the camp. She recognized the tone. It was Keme. He was at the front of a hunting party, wearing heavy furs, and raised a spear up, the feathers on one end blowing in the wind. She no longer felt sad to see him. Instead, it was always a relief and a happy time to see him well.
Keme and his usual group of friends, Hinto, Lusio, Nina and Sakoya, hurried over with him. They’d grown a good deal over the last year and were becoming strong men. She gave them all a friendly hug.
Keme looked over the large deer. “It’s great to see you, but are you sure you can spare this meat?”
“Of course. I want you to have it.”
She noticed they didn’t have a deer, but at least their fishing basket was full.
“I’ve been wanting to talk to you both.” Keme motioned everyone to come inside.
Tala did a quick shift into a wolf. Nobody stared; they were used to seeing a shift now and then. Everyone followed Keme into the wigwam and sat down around the small fire that kept the dwelling warm.
Keme put some more wood on the fire. “I know even you feel cold now and then.”
Leotie nodded, holding her hands up near the flames. Her mother, sitting next to her, did the same.
“As you know, outlanders are coming north again. The village of Dover is slowly growing, so we’ll most likely move farther west in the spring. Everyone wants your clan to come with us. Is this possible?”
All the hopeful eyes stared at her, especially her mother’s. There wasn’t much Leotie was allowed to say. Markus had been gone since spring, and was still off somewhere playing his war games. He’d forbidden her from telling anyone he was gone or what he was doing, not even the tribe.
“We’ll have to think it over,” she finally said.
“You don’t want to be with us?” Mother asked, her eyes filling with tears.
“It’s not that,” Leotie said.
“I know what it is...it’s that thing known as Markus,” Keme said.
“It’s best we don’t talk about it,” Leotie insisted.
“What do you think, Tala?” Enola asked.
Tala projected her thoughts, “Tell her I don’t want to be the tribe’s pet.”
Leotie frowned at Tala and thought, “Stop being so crabby all the time.”
“Is something wrong?” Keme asked.
“Oh no,” Tala said with her semi-wolf mouth. “But Leotie is right. We should consider it in the spring.”
“I know Markus holds you back.” Keme stared at her with those knowing eyes.
Enola touched her knee. “We want to help you, the way you’ve helped us.”
Leotie cringed. “No, don’t do it. Whatever you’re thinking. It’s too dangerous.” She jumped to her feet. “C’mon Tala, we best get back before the others worry.”
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Continue the trilogy!
REBEL SHIFTER (Freedom Shifters Book 2)
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