Time Spin

Buffy stood beside Lonnie with Axel in her arms. Looking down at the top of Jaeger’s head she carefully watched the girl for a moment. Before looking up at the shaman as she and Old Mothers family lowered torches onto the funeral pyre.



Stepping back at the unexpected heat as the pyre caught fire and burned Buffy scanned the crowd for Sharja, the new Old Mother. Starting slightly when she saw the woman staring at her.



‘Okay creepy much’ Buffy thought, stepping closer to her mate. She looked around the tribe. Everyone had charcoal on there faces including the children. Everyone but Old Mother. Tribal law dictated she didn’t need to wear it but Buffy knew even if she did…it would be just for show.



Sighing she adjusted Axel and watched as the fire burned higher into the sky. Strangely it felt like her hope was burning away in that fire. And there was nothing she could do about it.



***********



~That Night~



Buffy lay in Lonnie’s arms; she knew her lover wasn’t asleep. She knew she couldn’t sleep either. There was to much that could happen now that Sharja was Old Mother. In a week she would name her mate at the time of harvest. It was no secret she would choose Buffy.



Everyone in the tribe seemed to be aware of the fact that Old Mother wanted her. She had always been envious of Lonnie and wanted what she had so it made sense that Buffy was number one on that list.



Rolling over she saw her mate wasn’t even trying to feign sleep as Lonnie’s green eyes met her hazel ones.



“Do you think maybe…shell just leave us alone?” Buffy prayed she would. She didn’t know what they would do if she didn’t.



“No. She has always wanted you and now she is in a position to take that and not be punished.”



“No she isn’t Lonnie. She cant have me when im yours.” Buffy tried to reassure her lover. Softly tracing Lonnie’s jawline.”I will always be yours.”



“She will take you from me Buffy and when I fight her claim she will have me killed. But now its not just me…shell kill the children too.” Buffy felt nauseous…leaning down she kissed her mate softly.



“We’ll find a way.” Buffy snuggled closer to her mate, inhaling the scent of sandalwood and something just Lonnie. “We have too.”



******************



Sansa stared out across the meadow as she stood beside Falcon. Wondering what it was her intended wanted to speak to her about she turned back to her.



“What is it?” She watched as Falcons normally carefree face was stiff and sad.



“When I was a girl. I was paired with Sharja and we were great friends. In a way I know her better than anyone Sansa, when the time to take mates came Sharja was paired with a girl from another village over the pass. They loved each other very much and the girl made Sharja calm. Kept that…cruel streak in check. But when she died…any kindness in Sharja did as well.”



“Why are you telling me this?”



“I need you to understand. About Sharja…my friend died many seasons ago and that shadow has been walking through this tribe ever since. She will take what she wants because she can. And im the only one that can stop her.” Sana felt her heart drop. Looking at her loves face she knew what she was saying.



“You want to challenge her. Take her place.” Sansa studied the ground. Unable to believe this was happening.



“If I don’t…she will kill Lonnie and the children and take Buffy as her own.” Falcon was desperate to make Sansa understand.



“What will happen to the tribe if she stays Old Mother?”



“I don’t know…Sharja loves the people and will do anything to make them thrive…but her desire for Buffy rivals her love for the tribe.”



“You cannot fight her Falcon.” Sansa was determined, she knew for Lonnie’s family she would step down and watch her own lover become Old Mother and she would sit back and watch as seasons came and went as Falcon would be forced to have a different mate each harvest but she also knew a bit about Sharja….the woman would kill Lonnie and her family regardless of whether or not Falcon became Old Mother.



“I have too Sansa. It is the only way.”



“No…think about it Falcon, whether or not she loses to you as Old Mother she will still kill Lonnie and the children....she would just have to claim her death was desired by the spirits in a vision she had when she was Old Mother and she’s untouchable.”



“So what do we do?” Falcon knew Sansa was right. It didn’t mean it was any easier.



“I heard Buffy speaking to mother once a couple seasons ago. There is a place she can take Lonnie and the children and be safe from harm.”



“Where?” She had a feeling she knew what Sansa had planned, the girl was very clever. One of the things that had attracted her to Sansa in the first place.



“I cannot say right now. I must speak with Buffy on it but I promise I will tell you when the time is right.” Holding out her hand she led Falcon back to the village.



**********************



Buffy glanced over at Jaeger, watching her as she patiently showed Axel how to scrape a small piece of leather. Smiling at the sight, it amazed her how patient Jaeger was with Axel, always showing him new things and sharing whatever toys and food she had. The only thing she didn’t like to share was Lonnie.



Looking down at her work Buffy finished grinding the wheat. She was making stone bread. It was tough bread that was used for soups mainly. Something she knew Lonnie loved. Personally she had always thought the bread was to hard to chew but lately she had been doing everything she could to keep the woman happy.



Sighing stared into the fire blankly for a moment, jumping when she felt Jaegers small hand on her knee.



“It’ll be okay mommy. The mean lady wont get you.” Jaeger said firmly. Staring down at the girl she smiled. Sometimes she wished she had a Childs faith.



“You don’t need to worry baby girl.” Leaning down she kissed Jaegers head softly before going back to making her bread.



********************



Jaeger watched as her blonde mommy made dinner, she knew everything would be okay. Looking down at Axel she smiled and tackled the little boy, laughing when he squealed and laughed when she tickled him.



She knew the Old Mother was not a nice lady. She had secrets just like mommy did and that mean lady. Her secrets were why her old family died and those men on horses took her and Axel away. Looking up at her mommy she knew she wouldn’t send her away but she knew it wasn’t a good time to tell mommy what she saw when she slept.



********************



Lonnie sat in the council hut, listening as the elders argued back and forth over preparations for the coming winter, barely listening as they all argued back and forth. Instead her attention was on the woman sitting in the place of Old Mother.



In all her finery she knew Old Mother wasn’t really paying attention either. Instead she was watching Lonnie with as much intensity as Lonnie was. There silent battle had been going on almost since the meeting had begun.



Lonnie knew she would die before she let this woman touch her, but she also knew if she had to provide for the children and her mate. She had always accepted the Old Mothers role in the village and before Buffy had been okay with the fact that Old Mother may have rights to whatever mate she took.



But she knew Buffy was special, she was hers and hers alone and she would never share with the woman that wore there mothers headdress.



TBC



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