Hibernia
Eanáir 5th, 431 AD

(Meanwhile...)

"Shit shit shit!" I panted, trying my damnedest to run without tripping in the snow, "Of all the things I could have encountered, why a bloody pooka?"

In response, an angered whinny sounded behind me.

"Yes, I was talking to you!" I snapped, only to groan when I realized I was approaching a small plot of farmland. Oh bother...

Stamping through the sad field, I looked behind me and realized the black stallion that wished to trample me into the snow looked quite irate. What the hell did I do to this thing? Oh...yeah.

"Look, I know I interrupted your meal, but pookas don't eat people!" I slung back at the pesky shapeshifter, "Last I checked, you only liked to scare people silly when they got on your back!"

That earned me another angered whinny, which told me enough. Keep running, or I am going to paint the snow red with your blood.

Right when I was about to run off the field, I took a sharp left and turned around to face my foe. Unfortunately for me, a mass of black fur and pure rage barreled me over. Landing on my back, I watched as the Pooka ran over me.

While I still had a chance, I drew a dagger from my belt, closed my eyes, and stabbed upwards. When I heard a strangled scream, my eyes snapped open to see that the shapeshifter had continued a few more steps forward before collapsing in the snow. Slowly but surely, it returned to its original form: a small, rabbit-like creature with red eyes writhed for a few fleeting moments before growing still.

Staggering to my feet, I felt a weak laugh escape my lips before hearing commotion behind me.

"M-My crops! I worked so hard to get these bleedin' things to grow in the first place! Ya damn gobshite! What were ye thinkin' runnin through my damn fields with a pooka on your heels?"

I almost couldn't believe what this bloke was saying. "I-I'm sorry for ruining your crops. Last I checked, this damn thing was trying to drag your wife out of a tree so it could eat her. I think she is more important than any crop."

"Without it, we won't make it to Márta (March)," the other man retorted, his breath fogging up in the air before him as he began to hyperventilate.

I felt my heart drop in that instant, so I knew what to do. "I will have to check, but I can bring you and your wife some food to make up for what you lost. There should be some grain or something around for you to use."

I could tell my words brought the man some relief, but he tried to not let it show as he begrudgingly shook my hand. "Only fair."

With a weary chuckle, I waved the man goodbye and started to look for my own horse, which had run away in fear once we had reached our destination.

I found my mount a few moments later; it was being led to me by the woman I saved from being eaten.

"Oh, go raibh maith agat (thank you), Miss," I began, breathing a sigh of relief when I saw my horse was unharmed.

"I should be the one thanking you," the woman replied, cocking an eyebrow in response as she handed the reins off to me, "Did a better job than my man. Bleedin' coward..."

I shrugged, only to feel myself shiver. "Not many people want to meet a raging Pooka head-on, so I don't blame him. Do you require any other help?"

"Níl (no), I am perfectly fine," she assured me, patting my shoulder as she walked past me, "Safe travels."

"I will return soon with grain and other food–my apology for ruining your husband's crops."

"Oh, that is very kind of you. Thank you," she replied, only to sigh when her husband called for her. The gaze that man cast at me might as well have had daggers strapped to it.

Realizing it was my time to leave, I quickly hopped onto my horse. Sparing no time, I spurred my mount forward and started the slow journey back home.

Well, things coulda gone worse. I mused to myself, idly tugging at my heavy tunic in a vain attempt to keep in heat. Wish I had more to keep me warm, though. Damn weather's gettin' worse by the day.

Realizing my silent grievances would get me nowhere, I squared my shoulders and focused on the snow-covered path before me.

Thankfully, it took less time than expected, and I arrived at the wooden gates of Cathair Mac Carthaigh in what felt like no time at all.

When the gate was wide open, I rode through and headed toward a small stable. There, I took off my horse's saddle and made sure it was properly fed and watered. After throwing a heavy blanket over my beloved steed to help keep it warm, I left the stable and started to look for my sister. I'm sure she'd love to hear all about my encounter with an angry Pooka.

However, Saoirse appeared to be nowhere in sight. I found several young'uns who were more than happy to talk my ear off, but the absence of my enigmatic sibling did not put my mind at ease.

"What did you hunt down this time, Callan?" one of the children, a little girl, inquired as she walked beside me.

"I dealt with a Pooka," I answered, too distracted to address her properly, "Forgive me, Roisin, but have you seen Saoirse?"

"Oh, Saoirse? I saw her come home a few hours ago. She went straight to Keira's hut. She...looked sickly."

"Ah...I need to check on her. I will tell you and the others about my adventures later," I promised, already feeling myself turn in the direction of my destination, "Thank you, Roisin."

"Oh, no problem. Slán leat (goodbye)!"

I left deep impressions in the snow as I hurried toward Keira's hut. Thankfully, she lived close to where I stayed, so it didn't take me long to find her.

"Ah, another visitor!" was the first thing I heard when I stepped foot into the small wattle-and-daub space, "What now? Don't tell me ya got cursed?"

"No, Keira. I'm here for Saoirse," I answered, feeling my jaw go slack when I spotted my sister resting on a small cot before the unamused healer.

Weakly, she rose a hand and waved at me in greeting, only to cringe as our older sister continued her work.

"What...what happened?" I breathed, kneeling beside Keira as she continued to work.

"Damn moran got herself cursed dealing with some fear gorta," she answered, shaking her head while she worked, "I warned ye, Saoirse: don't step on patches of dead grass!"

"I was aware of your warning," she growled out, "Couldn't avoid it when a group of the bastards were breathing down my neck!"

Keira leaned back long enough to brush some strands of curly brown hair out of her face. "All those years training with a grove of druids, and for what? Ungrateful siblings was the last thing I wanted to deal with."

"Try dealing with eternal hunger, ye damn Oinseach (fool)!" Saoirse hissed, closing her eyes in pain.

"Well, it'd be over with sooner if ye stopped bitchin' about it!" Keira fired back, only to sigh when I placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Please, help her," I muttered.

She nodded and held her hands over Saoirse's stomach. She then began to chant in a soft, almost-harsh tone, and I watched as her hands glowed a faint green. After what felt like an eternity, Keira leaned back again and wiped the sweat off her forehead.

"There, Saoirse's curse-free," she stated, a weary light weighing heavy in her emerald-green eyes, "I gotta lay down for a bit...make sure our sister doesn't get herself in trouble again, you hear?"

"Tá (yes), sister, I'll do that," I replied, helping Saoirse rise to her feet, "Thank you again."

"Don't mention it."

While our elder sister rested, I walked beside Saoirse and checked her for any other injuries.

Noticing this, she cocked an eyebrow and said. "I have been through worse, Callan."

"Yes, but can I not worry for my little sister?" I jested, earning a light punch to the gut.

"You are older than me by a few months," she shot back, but a soft light had taken hold in her left eye.

"Good to see you're still in good health," I commented, "So, you dealt with some fear gorta, yeah?"

"Unfortunately," she grumbled, "Is that farmer still here? The one who came to us a few days ago and informed us of the faint groans he heard at night?"

"Yeah, he should be. Why?"

"Well, we need to tell him his entire homestead was wiped out. Hell, they were probably turned into fear gorta as well."

I cringed. "Well...we should probably break the news to him in a less...harsh way."

"No better way to put it. Whoever made the unmarked graveyard I found deserved to die," she snapped, only to sigh when a guard stopped in front of us.

"The elders are looking for you two," they informed us, "Best get movin' along."

"Very well. go raibh maith agat (thank you)," I replied.

With a grunt, the guard walked off, leaving us to consider our options.

"You think you can get through another meeting?" I prompted my sister, "The elders have been wanting to check with everyone after they get through a hunt."

Saoirse nodded, and I couldn't help but scoff. "Words, sister. Use them."

"I'll live," she grumbled, "Might as well get moving. The elders are impatient."

"You know they care for us," I replied, "They may be blunt in their words, but the elders wish only the best for our brothers and sisters."

All I received was a simple grunt, telling me this conversation was over.

Oh well...at least Saoirse was speaking for once...love her to bits, but the stubborn lass can go days at a time without speaking...

We arrived at the elders' hut before I could continue my internal monologue. Located at the heart of our cashel, the small building almost appeared as nondescript as the other buildings around us. However, the two guards armed with spears told me enough.

We were in the right place.

The guards stepped aside to let us enter, and we walked in to find the three elders seated around a raging fire. I was silently grateful for the warm interior, but I had to quickly refocus my attention when elder Carys motioned for us to sit.

"Welcome, welcome," the wise elder began, greeting us with a warm smile as we settled down around the fire, "I hope your travels have been safe?"

"For the most part, yes," I answered. Saoirse rolled her eyes, but said nothing on the matter.

"What have you found, my friends?" Elder Riona prompted us, pinning my sister and I under her watchful eye.

And so Saoirse and I took turns recounting our most recent hunts. When we were done speaking, all three elders had worry etched into their weathered faces.

"This is not good," Elder Bohan muttered, stroking his beard as he spoke, "Another instance of a bloodthirsty Pooka, and now fear gorta are amassing in groups? What other surprises are lurking in the shadows."

"Be silent, Bohan," Carys cut in, a stern frown hardening her features. Once she looked back at us, her expression softened, "We are proud of you both–no, we are proud of your generation of hunters. To date, your siblings have managed to emerge triumphant against a host of malignant fae."

"And yet my siblings still disappear by the day," Saoirse whispered.

"...Yes, unfortunately," Carys replied, her bright smile flickering out, "I am sorry, Saoirse. I know this bothers you greatly, but everyone in the Cashel is trying their best to find those who have gone missi–."

"Sometimes, the best is not enough," my sister retorted, rising to her feet with a guttered fire in her eye, "Not for us, and not for those we have lost."

Without another word, Saoirse left the hut. I made to follow after her, but I was promptly stopped by the other elders.

"Let her go, Callan," Bohan began, shaking his head as he spoke, "She must sort her problems out on her own."

What are you getting at? I found myself thinking. However, I did not voice that thought. The instant I tried to detest his words, I felt my mouth dry when I met Bohan's gaze. The hard light that glimmered in the brown pools of light radiated authority.

...And warned against defiance.

"If she does not return by tonight, I will look for her," I said instead, settling back down among the elders.

"Very well, Callan. We wanted to check on your sister, but we also wished to task you with a most...pressing assignment. You see, some faery hills near Cathair Mac Carthaigh have gone quiet as of late. We would like for you to check in on these hills and see if their inhabitants are well."

I nodded, swallowing the apprehension that threatened to overcome me. "Very well. I will look into this development as soon as I can."