Sophia had fallen asleep at the seer's home without realizing it shortly after the woman helped the girl relax. Her body was on the couch laying on her side having a peaceful dream that seem to last most of the day.
By the time she opened her blue eyes, she saw the blind woman making something in the kitchen area humming a song she couldn't recognize singing with words that couldn't be defined. Sofia blinked a few times trying to see if she was still dreaming not sure what was real anymore.
Sophia's heart was still saddened by the event of this morning, but she felt like she could still function which was a big blessing since she couldn't move not too long ago. Sharing her burdens with someone made her feel relieved and somehow guilty. Before, she didn't think she would be able to lift herself off the couch, but she felt more strength than she did the moment she saw her mother's dead body on the dirty ground.
"Warm tea always helps with the headache!" Clarice chimmed breaking the girl out of her thoughts.
"Oh no. I'm fine…"Sophia mumbled standing up brushing off her clothes. She had spent far too long in the house with the seer and didn't want her to do anymore for her. In fact, she wanted to go home and maybe cuddle in a blanket by herself.
"Tish tosh!"
Clarice then began to walk slowly holding a tray in her two hands which was impressive since she was not using her cane. Two cups were placed on top and Sophia could see the stream beginning to roll off of it.
Siting the tray on the small table, Clarice sat down grabbing a cup taking some sips not paying attention to her surroundings. She seemed comfortable in her residence probably due to the fact that she had the place memorized and felt safe.
"Why do you seem to be doing alright? I mean I'm happy you aren't struggling, but last I remember, you were not able to get off the couch after you touch my shoulder..." Sophia questioned as she watched Clarice act like her usual self smiling and singing to herself.
It wasn't that Sophia wanted the older woman to suffer, but even she could not be so positive after what happened. Her mother was her only family and losing her felt like the lowest point in her life.
"I'm use to sad things. I have learned to live through it, but it did take practice." Clarice said nonchalantly.
"Hmmm." Sophia hummed thinking about the words that were spoken. Having to feel others emotions when they were sad or hurt would be a heavy burden, and it seemed like the seer had done this most of her life. "I'm sorry Madam.."
"Don't be. It's what I decided to do to become a seer. It brings me joy for others to become closer to the moon and skies. The gods love their children and I'm able to feel that daily as well. There's a balance child. If you experience so much pain, you will experience the same amount of joy."
Sophia walked closer to the tray picking up the hot tea the seer had just made. She took a drink letting the warm liquid fall down her throat and it surprisingly did help with the headache she didn't realize she had. She didn't want to talk about her mother and tried to believe what happened today didn't.
"Madam Clarice, can I ask you a question?" Sophia said making her thoughts focus on something else. She right now didn't want to think about anything else.
Clarice placed her cup back on the tray still staring off into nothing waiting for the girl to ask the question that had been on her mind for the past couple days. It was something the seer expected her to bring up earlier, but Clarice was patient with Sophia wanting the girl to be brave to initiate the conversation.
"Well.." Sophia began thinking back to the encounter with Luke in the village. "The man who gave me the red hood had said something about the Wolfmen? I'm afraid I don't really know the history or reason behind the picking or anything about their kind. Would you perhaps explain it to me?"
Clarice hummed for a minute while a smile began to form on her face.
"The gods have created all the things in this world and they cherish them with all their love. The skies have no ill will in them, and only love the goodness their earth can offer. Some made the flowers, others made the sea, some focused on certain animals upon the earth, but one goddess in particular made two creations that were extremely important to her." Clarice said with a sad smile. Talking about the goddess made her more quiet than other topics.
"Her?"Sophia questioned surprised to hear there was a woman goddess. Perhaps it was the councils fault making everything appear to be under the authority of men.
"Yes." Clarice said nodding her head. " A very beautiful woman who is rumored to have golden eyes with hair as silver as the moon. Some refer to her as the Moon Goddess, but there are so many names concerning her. Too many to remember that I decided not to even try and memorize them."
Taking a breathe, Clarice relaxed in the couch deciding to tell the tale of the chosen.
"You see Sophia, the moon goddess created two kinds of breeds. One was the human race. They were weaker than she expected making her try again. Her other creation would be the Wolfmen."
"Despite how some perceived her creations, the moon loved her two species and was proud of how they turned out thinking they brought out the good in each other combining with both strength and weakness, but overtime, the human race began to fall more into the lustful ways of power and greed. They began to kill one another for gain and started to kill the other products of the gods not caring for anything but themselves. But…..The Wolfmen stayed closer to nature appreciating the gifts from the other gods, showing respect to them all making the skies pleased with their kind. Even though they too can have corruption, it seemed like humans hearts would more easily turn black. They did not associate with the human race since they began to see things differently."
Clarice grew quiet for moment making Sophia wonder if that was all. But the seer then continued.
"The gods then decided they needed retribution for what the human man destroyed demanding that the moon rid the species all together since they didn't see any hope in our kind. They even told her that they would come up with ways to rid us if she didn't take action."
"However, the moon saw potential in her creation and has a deep genuine love that has always been unconditional. So she came up with a way for humans to learn by giving one to the Wolfmen. Her plan was for the gods to see that the human race could become like the Wolfmen in their way of living by being shown an example. Her plan was to combine the human and wolfman species to live in harmony by learning from one another. But I think overtime, the Wolfmen made it a game not wanting to work together in this life. I think they saw how easily we become involved in the world."
Silenced filled the room as Sophia processed the words. She thought the sacrifice was to protect the village from the Wolfmen attacking, and that the gods showed mercy by just killing of one human every year.
"So it wasn't to let a creature kill us so they wouldn't kill our village?" Sophia questioned.
"No. That hunt was to see if any human was worth being a part of their tribe. That's what we call the hunt where they can see if you outsmart them. But the picking and the chosing is determined by the moon thinking the person would be a good fit in her other creatures culture. She isn't a fan of the hunt and has tried to protect the chosen as much as possible so they don't feel pain during the event which is why I can share some of your burdens during this time. I also believe she didn't intend of the Wolfmen to kill the human. Just to have them see that some humans were worthy to live around them… And I believe she has been struggling with her other creation since they too are not walking in her ways completely, but they also have been closer to her than our kind."
"Why doesn't she tell them to stop killing us then?" Sophia quickly asked not getting how the powerful goddess allowed her learning experience for humans to turn so deadly.
"She doesn't just appear and command child! They lose much power when the come and interact with us." Clarice reprimanded. "She has many different ways of teaching! Perhaps when a chosen actually survives, that will show the Wolfmen what she originally planned."
"Seems she really loves us then." Sophia murmured rolling her eyes. Even though they spoke of deity, she had lost respect for the supposive being.
"I don't have time to explain how to understand. Focus on survival, and meet me the night of the hunt. Now you need to go child. There's not much more I can say." Clarice said with a dismissive wave. This made Sophia stop talking not use to hearing disapproval in the seer's voice. The girl stood up a bit weakly not liking how she upset Clarice. But the seer wasn't allowing anymore discussions. Enough was said.
Clarice began to move Sophia to the door almost kicking the girl out of the residence roughly pushing her out.
Sophia made her way to exit the home before Clarice said, "Remember I will have to give you two things the night of the full moon. The hood will be masked with my scent since I plan to wear it, but use the dagger to lead the wolfman to different spots so he doesn't find you so easily. Continue to drip blood till you hear the first howl. I'm sure you'll make it till sunrise."
Clarice paused. She knew the girl was in mourning and it was very unfortunate Sophia would be alone the rest of the time until that night. Although the seer wished to stay and comfort the girl or even give her more comforting words, she didn't have time. And she knew this was something she couldn't take from Sophia.
"Now go home!" Clarice said quickly without anymore emotion.
Clarice shut the door in the girls face causing Sophia to experience different emotions. Had she just lost the two mother figures in the same day?