Omnira's heart broke the moment she saw her mother. She had never seen her in such a state. Omnira had no idea what was wrong, and she didn't need to. She went to her mother's side and laid on the floor next to her. She wrapped her arms around her sobbing mother and held on tight as they cried together. Time slipped by holding no meaning in the moment. Their tears flowed freely carrying all the pain, stress, anger, and fear of the past several years. They pair had endured so much but always put on a brave face. Their people looked to them for strength, encouragement, and for answers. They had been there, the twin pillars of the community, holding up everyone else with no thought for themselves. This moment, born of pain, was a catharsis that they both desperately needed. They cried from their hearts, from their souls, until their bodies no longer had the strength to keep them awake.
At some point while Raeni and Omnira were crying, two older women entered the tent to check on them. Although they didn't know the cause, they knew exactly what was happening. They backed out of the tent and allowed no one else to enter. Several people had come throughout the day, looking for an audience with one or both of their leaders. But, one look from the two mothers at the door, and everyone of them knew it would be better to come back later.
It was late in the evening when they came. The setting sun was behind them, painting the sky in different shades of reds and oranges. The light slightly obscured their faces and they walked slowly through the streets. Many confused stares brightened into smiles of joy and recognition as their gazes fell on the one leading the group of four through the town. Many ran as they saw them, not in fear, but excitement as the group passed. When they made it to Raeni's tent, the two women baring the door perked up, smiling brightly as they allowed Marley and Marcus to enter.
Marley approached the two sleeping women quietly. He placed a hand on each of their shoulders and spoke their names in a soft gentle tone. He chuckled to himself as they looked up at him with the same confused expressions. The chuckle turned into bright laughter as confusion gave way to recognition and the two women jumped up to hug him, almost knocking him over. He squeezed them both tightly as they laughed tears of relief filling their eyes. Marcus stood smiling as we watched the reunion. After a moment he cleared his throat. "No love for a long lost brother?" Raeni stiffened, eyes wide, then turned around slowly. "Marcus!" She squealed and was on him in a flash, leaping into his arms, a fresh set of tears flooding her face. She squeezed her brother tight as she cried happily into his chest. "I thought you were dead" All he could do was rub her back, tears streaking down his own face. "I'm right here." The siblings held each in a long embrace. No words needed to be spoken. Their familial bond that had been stretched thin by time and distance, strengthened all at once, as if they had been side by side the whole time. When they finally let each other go they looked around and smiled, seeing the two youngsters in a very different sort of embrace.
Omnira never knew her uncle Marcus, but was glad to see the joy he brought her mother. She turned to Marley and threw her arms around his neck, letting herself melt into his return embrace. She climbed onto his lap never once letting go. She buried her face in his shoulder. "I missed you" she said softly, barely above a whisper. There was so much Marley felt in that moment, so much he wanted to say. When he heard those words, everything within him quieted. Time stood still and the rest of the world fell away. He tightened his grip on her and planted a kiss lightly on her neck. "I thought about you every day." She sat up and looked deep into his eyes. There were no more tears. There was nothing left to be said. They kissed, deep and passionately. They clung to each other tightly as if clinging to life itself. For that moment, there was no fight, no mission, no struggle, just them. In their hearts they stretched the moment into infinity. All was right in the world, until they heard giggling.
Outside the tent, the two women that had been guarding the door had become overcome with curiosity. They had heard the crying and the laughing when the handsome men first entered, but then there was nothing. They motioned for everyone to be quiet and they each peaked in one side of the tent flap slowly, trying not to make any noise. They smiled, hearts warmed watching the siblings embrace. It had been decades since anyone had last seen Marcus, and seeing him now reunited with his older sister was the most precious thing they had seen in a very long time. When they looked beyond them, they saw Omnira with her body wrapped around Marley, kissing him like he had the cure to ailed her in the back of his throat. They gasped and couldn't contain themselves as they backed out of the tent giggling like children.
The four were all smiles as they came out of the tent. They found Jarka and Moco waiting with knowing smirks, and the two women bouncing up and down excitedly, grinning ear to ear. Raeni just shook her head. "Thanks for 'keeping watch', ladies, I appreciate the privacy" she said with a hint of sarcasm. "Please tell everyone to meet in the town square in an hour, we have much to discuss." With slight bows, the two women jogged off before they could be told not to go blabbing about what they saw. Of course, all of Trench Town knew within the hour.
Marley laughed at the retreating backs of the two women. He could only imagine the mischief coming his way later. "That's gonna be a problem." He shook his head, still grinning. "In the meantime, allow me to introduce my friends." He gestured at the short elder. "This is Jarka, Protector of the Northern Forest and Custodian of Azaacar's Embrace." Raeni's eyes widened and her jaw dropped. "Jarka? The mother of the shadow dogs? The massive spirit that protects Azaacar's Embrace?" Jarka smirked and inclined her head, glad that her story still lived. "The one and the same." She said with a wink. Raeni Bowed and took the woman's hand. "I'm honored, I thought you were just a legend." Jarka laughed. "I still am a legend, just ask you future son-in-law." Omnira and Marley both blushed. Marley quickly continued, hoping to rush past the embarrassing jab. "And this is Moco, the Protector of the Eastern Savannah." Moco simply nodded. "It's a pleasure." Omnira shook her head in disbelief. "So you go into The Old Woods to learn about the Old Power, and come back with my long lost uncle and two Azaacarian legends?" Moco smiled and shrugged. "It is the will of Azaacar." Marley smiled. "Each one of these people taught me something different about Azaacar's gift. It's more than just a weapon or a tool. It's the energy that connects every living thing on this planet. Because of them I have a deeper understanding of who I am, where I come from, and what I'm meant to do." His smile faded as he said those last words, the memory of his mission crashing his joyous reunion. "Speaking of which, what's the situation now?"
Omnira and Raeni filled him in on everything that had happened. They made sure to include the people who were taken and they ended with the recent death. Seeing her solemn expression, Marcus and Marley both put a comforting hand on Raeni's shoulder. Marley shook his head. He knew his brother and what Raeni had described sounded nothing like him, but the description of the darkness she gave sounded way too familiar. He looked over at Jarka, who was chewing her lip, deep in thought. "Jarka," he said, looking pointedly at the woman. "It's time for a story." Jarka nodded as they all found places to sit at a nearby table. "It's an old story, one that was passed to me when I was just a pup. It tells of Azaacar's struggle with an ancient evil. A darkness so deep, we Protectors purposefully don't say his name, hoping he will be forgotten to history. He goes by Alucard, King of Darkness."