Dindi (Spring Equinox Dawn)
Another scream ripped through the air.
It sounded far away, but strong. Dindi tilted her head to listen.
It was definitely a woman's scream, coming from further up the hill—outside the land of clan or tribe.
Dindi stood still. Should she go back and get help from the clanhold? She pictured her uncles laughing at her. She imagined Great Aunt Sullana clicking her tongue.
The woman screamed again. This time, the cry was full of pain.
"You must have heard that!" Dindi said.
The neko looked confused. "I hear nothing. Where are you going? You already saved the kitten! Don't go that way—it's dangerous!"
It wasn't the warning that made Dindi stop. It was how strange this all felt. She knew most people couldn't see or hear fae. But she had never met a person the fae couldn't see!
Then the woman screamed a third time.
Dindi ran uphill.
A winding path brought her to a rough, windy side of the mountain. She had never come this far before.
A tall black menhir stood in her way. A menhir was a big black stone, also called a Deathstone. It was made of basalt, a kind of stone not found in these hills. Human skulls sat in its cracks, staring with hollow eyes.
Like the windwheel, this Deathstone warned all people to turn back.
But she had no choice. She crossed the Deathstone.
Beyond it, on a high, open cliff, a bear attacked a young woman.
The bear was huge, and it looked angry. Or hungry! It was bigger than local bears, which were big enough! It didn't have brown fur like local bears. Its shaggy fur was golden-blonde.
But who was the bear attacking? Dindi knew everyone from the three clans in the Corn Hills. This woman was a stranger.
She wore black leather legwals and a black breastband, both edged in bright, colorful beads. Her necklace was made of animal teeth painted in many colors. A black feather cape flowed behind her. Her skin was paler than bone. Her hair was darker than obsidian.
A quiver of arrows hung at her hip. She held a bow with a stone-tipped arrow—but she could not use it. The bear knocked the weapon from her hands.
Bow and arrow clattered on the rocks.
The bear reared onto its back legs. It was even bigger than she first thought—as tall as two men, one standing on the other's shoulders. It swung a paw as big as a head!
The claws scraped the woman's face.
Four long cuts sprayed blood. She fell.
The rocky slope was rough and sharp. But it helped her slide away just in time. The next swipe missed.
But she would not be lucky again. The bear was ready to crush her.
Dindi ran forward and grabbed the bow and arrow. There was only one arrow, all black, fletched with raven feathers, with a sharp, shiny, obsidian tip.
Grip, notch, release. One smooth move.
She was no huntress, but like all the women in her clan, she could shoot if she had to.
The black-feathered arrow hit the bear's leg.
The bear screamed.
It sounded like a person, not an animal.
Dindi froze. That scream… it was the one I heard before. Was the bear the one screaming? Not the woman? But…
The woman in black stood up.
Her cape opened—and became wings. Not feathers.
Black bat wings.
She flew into the air and stretched out her hand. Webs of shadow shot out and struck the bear.
The bear screamed again.
"Immortal faery," the Black Lady said. Her voice echoed with a storm. "Only death can heal your wound. Without the power to die, my arrow's thirst will not fade. You will suffer forever—unless you give your pain to a mortal."
"Curse-bringer!" the bear screamed. Her voice was clearly that of a woman.
Black poison dripped from her leg.
She turned her pleading eyes to Dindi.
"Why did you help Death?! She is the Enemy! If she wins, the Last of the Aelfae will die!"
Dindi felt sick with fear and shame.
I don't understand! I only wanted to help a fae! And then I wanted to help a human!
How did I end up helping the Enemy of both the fae and mortals?!
The bear changed shape.
She became a glowing, Golden Lady with bright yellow butterfly wings. Her golden fur melted into a gown of yellow light, like shining gems. She glittered like sunlight on gold.
Not just any faery.
A High Fae—the Queen of the High Yellow Fae!
But her wings were torn. Her leg still bled black from the poisoned wound.
She flew away, slowly and crookedly.
The Black Lady did not follow.
Instead, Lady Death turned toward Dindi.
She reached out her hand.
Darkness spiraled toward the girl.
The shadows swallowed her.
As Dindi fell into the dark, she heard Lady Death's eerie voice say:
"You saved my life. You have joined the Ancient War. And I will reward you as you deserve. But, alas, you will not remember meeting me, saving me, or the dark blessing of my gift…"