Chapter 8: Atalaya's Third Birthday

The food prepared and the table set Samantha sat in her rocker, holding a fretting Quaeth in her arms as she soothed the cooled salve over his gums. As he quieted her hand reached for her amulet of Chauntea. “Please Lady, keep my daughter safe. Bring her home to me.” She rocked slowly forwards and backwards in time to her slowly stroking hand along Quaeth’s back, her prayer becoming a chant timed to her movements. Her eyes focused on the open door, she waited for any sign of her family’s return.


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Samantha jumped to feet, holding Quaeth tightly to her chest as a goshawk flew over the cottage, making excited ki-ki-ki-ki calls. Reaching the door of the cottage, she looked upward searching for Kalusa, hoping that it was Kalusa bringing her the news she longed to hear. When the goshawk landed on a garden fence post, and changed into Kalusa she nearly fainted, her anxiety finally reaching a breaking point. Kalusa noted the paleness in her cheeks and the trembling of arms raced to her side and took the baby from her arms. Leading Samantha back inside she helped her to sit back down in the rocking chair before returning Quaeth to her arms. “Easy Samantha. Take it easy. All is well. Ailwin brings Atalaya back. All is well. They will be here soon.” Seeing that Samantha was still in shock, she kept repeating the message. “All is well. They will be here soon, “ until Samantha was able to turn towards her with eyes that were clear and focused again.


“They come,” Samantha echoed, holding tightly to Quaeth. “They come.”

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Ailwin wanted to fly with Kalusa, to run with Clearwater, to find a way to magically appear in the middle of Samantha’s cottage without another single moment passing by. But instead, as Atalaya finally shook the last vestiges of sleep from her eyes and looked into his face in wonder, he drew her close, nuzzling her neck and tweaking her on her nose. “I love you. I love you now and forever, child of my heart. Never doubt how much I love you.” Then he tossed her high into the air, listening to her clear laughter as he caught her and drew her close to his heart.

“Again! Again!” she called. After he tossed her over his head another time she looked into his eyes. “You came Daddy. You came. But not on 10. You suppose to come at 10.” she added, pouting. “You come on 10, yes?”


“Daddy is sorry. I’m sorry I wasn’t here to find you on the count of 10. Next time I will. But next time you will not leave the yard without either your mother or I with you. That is a rule too.”

“I sorry Daddy. But Baby Kitten Rabbit was all alone too. I had to find him. But I not find him. He lost. You find him, Daddy?”


“He is probably back home with his mother now. Baby rabbits need to stay with their families just like little girls need to stay with their families. Like Atalaya needs to stay with her family.”

“Yes, Daddy. But you find Baby Kitten Rabbit now?”

“No Atalaya. Now we go home and have your birthday party. Mommy is waiting for you. She is worried. She misses you.”


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Kalusa gently took Quaeth from Samantha’s arms as she heard Clearwater’s call. They would be walking through the door any moment now. At the sound of Atalaya’s voice calling “Mommy, Mommy, we are home,” Samantha walked slowly to the doorway, dropping to her knees with her arms open to enfold her wayward child the second she reached the cottage.