The Last Ranger

“I delivered a baby today.”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me!” said the werewolf woman excitedly.

“Tell me they weren’t wrens,” groaned her sister apprehensively.

“I hate when you use that term for them but yes they’re human.”

Sarah’s eyes widened, her thick brown brows lifting in shock, she hadn’t expected her sister to confirm that so openly. Humans. She hadn’t seen from or heard of one of them in a long time. She tucked a strand of black curly hair behind her ear as it stubbornly resisted her hair tie.

“It’s a term they gave themselves,” responded Sarah, continuing the conversation.

“Yeah but it doesn’t mean we should use it. You know what it means outside of their species,” Angie scolded her gently.

“Fine. But Angie, what were you thinking? If they find out-” Sarah glanced at a peacemaker passing by, lowering her voice to barely a whisper, “they’ll lock you up and throw away the key.”

“Yeah, yeah whatever. Check this out though, they live in a whole secret society way out in the woods,” Angie had leaned in close, speaking softly to Sarah before leaning back with a wide grin baring her massive canine teeth.

“I thought they were basically extinct?” She asked as she began to resume her bead work. Angie began splitting branches again and extracting the silk thread within. As she spun the delicate material she hummed their favorite lullaby. They worked like this each day, ten or more hours a day, running their silk thread and jewelry stand together for the last fifty years.

“The humans? So did I. I mean I’d heard rumors from Dan at the market underground but I never thought he had an honest cell in his body,” Angie’s bright green eyes shone with an excitement Sarah couldn’t recall seeing in them.

“So?” Asked Sarah pausing to indicate she wanted to know more.

“Oh right,” Angie twisted the last few strands together before hanging the shiny thread from a hook on the stall frame, “so anyways as I was in the tent, and another one walked in! I haven’t seen so many in one place in the last fifty years at least,” Angie couldn’t contain her excitement but Sarah’s small grin vanished near as soon as it came, her yellow eyes cast downward as she became lost in deep thought.

“What? What is it?”

“I just think you should be careful.”

Angie scoffed playfully, “Sis, I’ll be fine. No one even knows they exist. Besides, what good is my past training if I don’t use it?” She placed a comforting hand over Sarah’s.

“Yeah but we’re werewolves, they’re humans. Before the insurrection happened maybe this would have been okay, but now,” Sarah trailed off for a moment, “how did you deliver the baby safely?" Sarah pulled her hand away and resumed her work, her brows furrowed together in frustration.

Angie couldn’t contain her laughter, “Sis, they’re a lot like us. It was an easy birth. The little girl is quite healthy."

“Mmm,” was all Sarah said in response.

Sarah gazed out past their booth table at a small group of royal peacemakers in their maroon uniforms. Each carried a luminescent rifle with a built-in Bayonet which was activated by a trigger. They were milling around, poking at various market booth items, never buying anything. As the sun climbed higher and the heat increased they removed their helmets, revealing their angled faces and slanted eyes. Elves. Figures. Thought Sarah bitterly. She rarely hated anything but elves like them were the exception. You had to be high born to be either in the capitol or part of the peacemaker corps. Otherwise you were like the rest of the were-people in Riptide. Dirt broke and starving.

“I hope you’re right Angie,” A frown had set into the corners of her mouth but only for a moment as it was gone as soon as it had appeared.

“Oh look, that posh sailor captain is back. Bet he’s here for more than just your silk this time,” said Sarah as a dapper young sailor captain strode towards their booth. All feelings of tension vanished as the mood noticeably lifted. Angie hurriedly fumbled with her brown hair, combing her fingers through its tangles. By the time the young Captain made his way to the booth she had busied herself once more with silk. When the tall vampire came to a stop at the stand he bowed gracefully, a pleasant smile touching his lips.

“Good day to you both.” Though his eyes were fixed on Angie as he said it.

Angie rose from her seat offering her hand for him to take in to his as she curtsied. He took it, closed his eyes and gave her hand a kiss, he inhaled as her new perfume met his nostrils, then his red eyes shot wide open and he released her. A hardness had entered them and he left without another word.

“Wow, he must really hate your new perfume,” teased Sarah.

But Angie’s blood had run cold. How could she forget? Vampires have heightened senses and she hadn’t been able to rid herself of the human scent yet. She hadn’t planned on seeing the captain today. Her stomach felt uneasy and her chest tightened.

Sarah’s eyes met hers, the situation dawning on her then, “The scent. It’s still on you isn’t it?”

Angie nodded grimly. He wasn’t just any captain, he was a peacemakers captain. Part of the royal military. It wasn’t good.

“Goddess damn you Angela. Why can’t you leave them be? You’re gonna get us all killed if you keep being this reckless.”

“You know they have no one else, they’ll die if someone doesn’t help them,” she argued.

Sarah sighed exasperated, “They’ll die anyways if you do. They’re not our kind Angie, not to mention we’re not in the highest of favor with the peacemaker governor here so if that captain has any shred of loyalty to the crown-”

“So, how’s business these days ladies?” The smooth, deep voice was unmistakable. It came from the back of the booth on the outside near the alleyway.

“Governor Mackai, how lovely to see you at our humble shop. May I interest you in silk?” Angie responded quickly, turning her head in the direction of his voice her long brown hair swaying with the movement. Her tone masked the fear that Sarah knew she shared. A broad shouldered, tall man came into view, his auburn skin stood out against his pristine white uniform. Long black hair had been pulled back into a neat braid. Across his chest was a deep maroon sash with various medals of Valor decorating it. On his right arm there was an emblem with a crow wearing a crown holding a spear in its claws; the royal sigil.

“No thank you my dear, my your jewelry gets finer by the day,” the feigned compliment and pleasantness in his voice only made his presence more menacing.

“What can we offer you today, your grace?” Sarah had regained her composure and slid to the counter, blocking the governor’s path inside as she did so.

“Oh, I’m after something special today ladies.” A tight smile had appeared on his thick lips. His slanted black eyes were stone cold. Governor Mackai allowed his hand to drop from the countertop where he’d been fiddling with some silk braided necklaces. “You see, today I’m interested in a little information.”

Sweat began gathering on the back of Angie’s neck, her pulse quickening. She prayed the governor couldn’t smell her fear scent. She had dared to hope that he was there by mere coincidence before now. Maybe he still was.

“Not just any information, no,” he sighed, smiling sweetly, his massive canine teeth glinting in the sunlight as he did so, “I hear rumors you know. Rumors about things, people, even wren.” His eyes shot to Angies, “you ladies wouldn’t happen to have seen any wren lately have you?”

“Humans?” asked Angie. Sarah wanted to kick her. She couldn’t have made it more obvious.

“See I heard the most fantastic report about a werewolf who helped deliver a healthy wren baby in the woods, just mere miles from here. Now I know that couldn’t have been you Angie, you wouldn’t have risked all you have for a few measly wren would you?” He met her eyes with pure hatred.

“No sir.” Angie’s fist tightened around the branch she had begun splitting but she dropped her gaze trying not to show her fear or her anger.

“Not to mention the fact that you would both be sentenced to the whip and to hang. I would hate to see my fellow sisters hang. So knowing all this you wouldn’t lie to your Governor would you? Not after all I have done, and all my generosity,” He took a step forward and leaned into the shop window, bringing his face within a foot of Angies. She knew what he meant. She’d been in trouble in the past for being a sympathizer.

“Never sir,” she confirmed stiffly.

He opened his mouth as if to say something when the Captain’s voice spoke from behind him, “Sir. We have their location, they’re living in a secluded hut in the woods. What are your orders?”

Angie held her breath, forcing herself to continue working as if nothing were wrong, her hands shaking slightly. Sarah did the same only her breathing was calm, she was better at this than Angie.

“Burn them.”

“Sir?” The Captain’s face paled.

“Those are your orders, Captain Winterfold.”

“Yes sir.” His voice carried the weight he felt on his shoulders. Angie felt for him then.

“We don’t tolerate vermin in Riptide ladies. You would do well to remember that in the future.” And with that he spun on his heels and followed after the stiff backed Captain Winterfold.

“That was way too close Angie,” said Sarah later that night while they roasted some rabbit over an open flame.

Neither of them had spoken the rest of the day. They’d smelled the burning building, noticing the smoke from the forest just beyond the city wall. Angie knew that based on the origination point that the peacemakers had found the humans. Tears welled in her eyes as they made their way home just hours before.

“It’s not fair. They shouldn’t have died today.” remarked Angie after they'd been in silence for quite some time.

“Angie there’s nothing,”

“Oh don’t give me that tired old crap. There’s nothing I can do? That’s why humans are persecuted like this because of people like you who believe we are powerless against those above us.”

“Now who’s being unfair?” shot Sarah angrily.

“Still you Sar. They’re just existing and they’re exterminated without question but we wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them. Humans existed before any of us did. Just because they’re not as naturally gifted as we non humans are doesn’t mean they should die for it or be put on the bottom. It wasn’t like this when we were kids,” said Angie. The sadness in Angie's voice weighed heavy as her words in the air. Her eye's watered again.

“But how are we supposed to change that? You saw how quickly they reacted and the Governor won’t leave us alone now since he’s the one who dispatched the humans. He’ll keep his tabs,” said Sarah who had tied a knot too tight on the intricate bracelet she’d weaved; she huffed as beads cascaded to the ground, she had been working on it for a week. She stooped to pick them up, determined not to let them get away from her.

“If he knew for sure that it was us, we’d be dead,” said Angie. Her aura glowed a deep blue, showing her sadness and guilt at what had happened to the people she'd meant to help.

“How would you know? Maybe they’re waiting for you to slip up again Angie so they can take you just like that,” she snapped bringing emphasis to her words. It was quiet for a while. Angie's aura mixing with red, turning it purple. The color of shame and anger. She looked away, clearly wanting to say more but she closed her mouth, lips drawn tightly.

It was far from the first time that Angie had fraternized with humans and been caught red handed. Sarah supposed there was no clear evidence they were involved in this incident or surely Governor Mackai would have taken them both then and there. The first time this had happened the government had ceased half of their assets as punishment for getting caught with stern warnings and punishments threatened if they were caught violating the laws again. Angie had never really taken it seriously, still believing she was in the right and now humans had been killed.

“We should eat,” said Angie finally. They both turned their heads down to look at the rabbit they’d been roasting.

“You burned it,” murmured Sarah.

“Oh just shut up and eat your dinner,” replied Angie a little too harshly. They met each other’s eyes and began to laugh lightening the mood despite the fact that their aura colors hardly changed from deep blue and purple. After they had finished their meals, they sat on their beds, fiddling with objects while each of them waited for the other to speak up.

“Angie I admire you for wanting to help those in need but I wish you would take this more seriously,” said Sarah deciding she wasn't finished discussing everything.

“I do Sarah," replied Angie her aura spiking up and becoming more red.

“You think that what you did today helped them? They were burned alive Angela, for Goddess sake - you're doing more harm than good," Sarah pointed out anger boiling up again.

Angie didn’t respond. Instead she turned her head towards the sky, gazing at the stars above them. They’d rolled the rain cover back on their hut and were allowing the smoke to escape their home. Angie eyed their small booth out front, picturing the Governor still standing there with his sick grin. She sighed loudly, rolling on her side to face Sarah, her aura dying down becoming more subdued and deep in rich blues and greens. Signifying a mixture of remorse, guilt, sadness, and acceptance.

"You're right, today I was reckless, and I will have to live with this for the rest of my life. I'm sorry, I should have been more careful. I will be next time," replied Angie, her eyes downcast and full of tears. Sarah let the silence stretch again, she thought that it might be good for Angie to feel this guilt. She needed to think before she acted more often.

“Very well," replied Sarah resigning to the idea that Angie wouldn't stop, "At least tell me what you’re up to okay? Maybe I can help.”

“Okay," replied Angie. With that they closed their eyes and sleep washed over them.