[mistral4543]

"Just a moment now, Rake." Soft was her command, and the lioness growled in discontent as it crouched against the ground, clawing the earth in anticipation. Why the stalling? Weren't the humans ripe for picking just below? Frustration gleamed in her eyes as she tilted her head sideways to exchange a glance with her mistress.

"You think I am senile, no doubt." The mistress chuckled, stroking the fur of her pet; a move which served only to irritate the feline who craved for violence rather than caresses. "I don't blame you, Rake. But I do have my reasons."

What reasons could she have? She was past eighty, and that was assuming she had kept track of her age; nobody had celebrated her birthdays since she was five, and even then, the last birthday had been a nightmare. A nightmare that had led to this day...

It was the fourth time she was in the forest, and each time she was there, she had nearly gotten lost because of its vastness. Always, her aunt had asked her to look for the most unusual of herbs and spices, saying that these were free for the picking, unlike the wares to be bought in the market.

Of course, she had obeyed. Uncle and Aunt were poor, with four children of their own. Her entry into their impoverished family could only be a burden. The least she could do was to help out with chores. Chores that none of their own children partook in...

"Aunt Mag!" Her calls sounded pathetic in the surroundings which were deadly quiet. She was more lost than before, because she had run further into the forest; that was the instruction she had received: "Surely you will not mind finding me the ginseng root, after today's celebration. It cost a fair bit, you know, Gatha. I can't afford to buy a ginseng now." And so she had searched everywhere, bearing a large sickle, chopping and carving at will. If only she had asked what a ginseng was... half her problems would have been solved!

But there was no reply, and the air was turning chilly, just as the light began to fade. Gatha's muddied feet scampered around the forest, her screams echoing hopelessly around the trees. "Please, Aunt Mag! Please... don't leave me here! I'm scared!" The trees were rustling and she could hear the sound of paws padding the earth. She was going to be eaten alive by the creatures of the forest, and Aunt Mag... surely Aunt Mag would come!

Aunt Mag did not want her. The more she tried to resist this terrifying thought, the more she became convinced of the case. She had been sent on the previous errands, so that she would not suspect this latest one... Aunt Mag knew that there was probably no ginseng in the forest; she only wanted her to entrench herself into it and never be able to get out... Aunt Mag's simpering smiles during the party had been quite different from her usual scowls and muttered grievances.

Gatha flung herself upon the ground, wailing her guts out and in anticipating of her impending doom. No one loved her, no one cared that her limbs would be torn apart and her bones chewed upon, and no one would even know she was here. Utter despair gripped her fragile frame as she continued to pour her grievances to the forest...

The memory of that fateful day could never be erased, and Gatha stared into space, remembering her indignation when she found out that Aunt Mag and her entire family had been executed years later for some treason. Revenge was out of the question, and she had spent decades guarding the forest that embraced a lonely, helpless child. She knew and spoke to each creature there, and they returned her affections. Now... everything was in disarray, and she... she was dying.

Every blow she had dealt Rehan earlier had taken a significant amount of physical and mental strength. Speaking to Lord Gerald had taken much of her energies as well. Perhaps she was tired... perhaps it was time to live, and let live.

Turning to Rake, she looked fondly into her eyes. "You can blame me all you want, but I am getting old. These bones are barely holding up." Grinning wryly, she gestured for the lioness to get up. "Go for them with my blessing, my lovely, but have a care. They are armed."

Yes, she would not fight anymore. She was so weary from the burden she had carried out of love and gratitude for her benefactors. They would be free to act for themselves, but for now... what she wanted was rest.

A good, long rest...