22. Amma

Chapter 22

Amma

A mma exchanged a knowing look with Jo. The males thought they were being secretive, but women always knew what their men were thinking. She shrugged, the only thing that could change the way the males viewed them was for Ru and Suni to see them in action together. While the males talked, Amma tried not to pace with excitement. She was about to test her magical limits and she wished her mother was able to see her. Not everyone respected witches with the power to speak to animals. They were seen as recluses living in a house full of strange creatures. Usually that was true; most zoopathic witches hated mingling with other witches and detested non-magical people. Amma could understand the need to get away from humans and deal solely with animals because of their pure souls. If they liked you, they showed it. When they were tired of you, they said so. There was no pretense with animals, and you always knew where you stood. Yet, zoopathic witches were often stronger than average witches. They didn't exclusively depend on their own powers, but could ask any animal in the vicinity to do their bidding.

"Amma, are you sure about this?" Suni laid a hand on her arm. "You can still go with the other noncombatants."

She turned into his arms and stroked his cheek. "Yes. I know what I'm doing and everything will be fine. I promise."

"I only want to protect you." He leaned into her touch. "We have just started our life together. It would kill me to lose you."

"I feel the same. I promise to stay out of danger as best I can." Amma promised. "Hey Ru," she turned to when the other male walked up to them. "When would you like me to start scouting?"

"Can you do it now?" Ru asked.

"I can." Amma nodded and locked eyes with her cousin. This would be the first time they used their magic together in a real fight. "Jo, are you ready for this?"

"Hell yeah." Jo lifted one hand and played with the green light dancing around her fingers. "As the saying goes, ‘I was born ready.'"

"Why not?" Jo put a fist on her hip. "I'm amazing at it."

"Keep telling yourself that." Amma took stock of everything near them. "What are the table and chairs made out of?"

"Something similar to granite." Jo answered. "Why?"

Amma continued to scan the area. "We may need to move things around and make a barricade for me to hide behind."

"That's good thinking." Jo said. "I'm sure we can move some of them, right Ru?"

"Yes."

"Good." Amma had been wondering about a place for her to cast a circle to keep her body safe while she was working with the animals. "Suni and Ru, do you guys think you could bring one of the benches over here?" Even before she finished talking, Suni had picked one up and put it next to her. She was shocked. "Suni, did you just pick up a stone bench and carry it by yourself?"

He looked down at the bench before meeting her eyes. "Yes."

Amma fanned her face. "If we were not about to go into battle, I would drag you off into the bushes and show you how sexy I find your display of strength."

Suni's eyes hooded, and he grinned. "We have time."

Ru's ears swiveled in their direction. "If we had time for pleasure, I would steal my mate away too. Amma, we need to know where the witches are and their numbers."

"Yes." Amma sat down on the bench and rolled her neck. She took three deep breaths before her eyes flew open. She needed to reach a deep meditation before reaching out to an animal in the area and Suni's musky scent was driving her wild. "Suni, move downwind, please. I can smell you and its distraction."

"I will not leave you while you are vulnerable," Suni growled. "You cannot ask me this."

Amma sighed. "Fine." She cracked her neck again. "Don't get mad at me if all I can connect to is a hummingbird. She concentrated on her breathing until she started to feel as if she was floating. The world dropped away and darkness descended. Slowly, small pinpoints of light started to appear and voices filled the void. She knew from experience she was looking at the souls of every animal within a hundred miles. The smaller points she ignored. Subterranean animals wouldn't help her either, as their instinct was to hide. If the Coven witches saw one out in the open, they would know another witch controlled it. She also dismissed any animal in a herd. Again, if one started to act abnormally, it would be noticed.

A bright soul flared nearby, and she latched on to it. Suddenly, she was flying above the canopy, feeling the wind in her feathers. She had learned as a young witch that most animals were willing to lend her their bodies if she asked them kindly. They didn't know how to be afraid unless she gave them reason. It was her job and honor to keep them safe while she was in control.

Who are you?

My name is Amma. She answered. Would you mind if I used your eyes? There are bad people headed to my home.

Will it hurt?

Absolutely not. Amma promised . You have better eyesight than I do, and I can't fly.

I do not mind.

What is your name?

I am called Flix.

Flix. All I need you to do is let me put you in this cage. It will not hurt you, but will allow me to control your body. She mentally built a cage with no bars. You can take back control whenever you want.

Flix didn't hesitate. He stepped onto the platform, and immediately Amma was in complete control. Flix was a bird of prey, and his eyesight was amazing. She could see the ground through the leaves, and when she gazed into the distance, she could just make out a mountain with clouds covering the tip. Amma flew in wide circles over the trees before she was able to pick out the trail the witches left. Evil always had a way of making animals disappear and sometimes vegetation wither. At the edge of the destroyed vegetation, she spotted five females walking leisurely through the forest. The way they were acting, Amma would have thought of them as females from the village returning home without knowledge of what was going on. They were still far enough out that she could warn Ru and they could get the defenses up, but only just.

Flix, see those females? Amma asked. I want you to always keep them in your sight. Tell me if they change their path.

I will. Flix took back control of his body.

Amma's eyes snapped open, and she blinked to settle her eyes. The transition from seeing everything in fantastic detail to plain old human sight was jarring.

"Amma?" Suni murmured. He knelt in front of her, holding her hands. "Amma?"

"Suni, I'm fine," she answered, and squeezed his hand. "Just a little disoriented."

"Your eyes lost their color. I do not like it."

"It's normal," she assured him. "I can't use my eyes if I'm using someone else's."

"What did you see?" Ru brusquely interrupted.

Suni snarled.

"Suni." She laid a hand on his cheek. "Stop, Ru has a right to ask." She kept her hand where it was while looking up at Ru. "I saw five females making their way here. From the dead vegetation and absence of animals, I'm sure they're the witches. They are walking at a normal pace almost like they are out for a Sunday stroll."

"Do you think they know we can see them?" Jo asked.

"I doubt it," Amma answered. "They only know of you, and you're a battle witch."

"Yes, but every witch can use animals to some extent." Jo pointed out. "They have to know this."

"Maybe their magic is different," she shrugged. "All I can tell you is what I saw."

"Hopefully none of them can control animals. That would really put a kink in our plan."

"They had a half-mile of dead space around them. No animals stirred." Amma said. "I did leave Flix, the bird whose body I used to spot the witches, to watch them and report back to me."

"Will the animal watching them be caught?" Ru asked.

She shook her head. "No, Flix is a predator bird, and it's normal to see him hunting during this time. When the witches are closer, I will try a few other animals. Oh, and I saw a mountain with a cloud over the top. It seemed kind of important for some reason. It was like Flix refused to fly in that direction."

"You saw where the High Coven lives," Jo said. "Ru's home village is at the foot of that mountain."

"What?" She looked at Ru. "Why would your people build your home there?"

"There is a whole story behind it," Ru replied. "This is not the time to tell it. We must prepare for battle."

Suni pulled Amma to her feet and tucked her under his arm. She liked how he always wanted her as close as possible. "I am usually part of the first wave in battle. But since I am in your village, I will stand where you want me."

Ru smiled. "I saw you fight. If you can follow my commands, you are welcome to be one of the first to charge forward in defense of our home."

Amma frowned at her mate. He talked about being on the front lines of a battle like it was nothing. She had seen movies of the early wars on Earth, and they were horrific. Suni was a massive male and had an impressive weapon, but she had never seen him fight. If something happened to him because of her family, she would never recover.

"Amma, how long do you think it will take the witches to reach us at their current pace?" Ru asked.

"I would say by the time the second sun sets," she answered.

"That will have to do." Ru glanced behind her. "Mavuto, just the male I wanted to talk to."

Amma barely covered her gasp as the newcomer came into view. Mavuto towered over Suni by at least a foot, and his tall, proud horns added another foot or so. The massive, spiked bat slung over his shoulder did nothing to make him look more approachable. He carried himself with a calmness that Amma knew belied the brute power waiting to be unleashed.

Mavuto stopped and placed a fist over his heart. "I came to inform you warriors are placed in the spots Jo marked. It does not matter which way the witches come. We are protected."

"The noncombatant females and calves are safe within their homes?" Ru asked.

"Yes, I have a patrol keeping an eye out," Mavuto answered. "For the most part, everyone is staying low and waiting." He looked out past the gate. "Has anything changed?"

"Nothing," Ru answered.

Suni ducked his head and whispered, "Can we go somewhere to be alone?"

"Jo," Amma quietly caught her cousin's attention. "Is there somewhere Suni and I can talk alone?"

Jo nodded. "There is an empty hut near my house. It has a barren yard, so you'll know it when you see it."

"Thank you for your hospitality. Call us if anything happens," Suni said.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do," Jo yelled after them.

"Jo, you're pregnant! That doesn't leave much!" Amma yelled back. She heard Jo's laughter as she walked with Suni deeper into the village.