35
The Northeast Sentry Guards noticed years ago that shifters would go to a small cave near their cabin and have their children.
Beverly, Lizzy, and Colleen would keep it prepared for who ever needed it next. There were always some earthen jars filled with food, towels, blankets and some clothing for the mother and child.
It was known in the Shifter community as the best kept Sacred Pond around.
They were very proud of it.
Colleen and I were in her common room knitting with Melissa and Gen.
"Mom do you think I will use the Sacred Pond?" Gen asked.
"I do not know Gen if you have a sudden urge to take a walk down to your bathing pool then you will." She smiled. "All right I guess I will have to wait."
"I do not know how many of these I have made?" Melissa held up the bonnet she was working on.
"What you have not been keeping count?" I teased.
"Was I suppose to?" She looked worriedly at her mother who was hiding her smile in her teacup.
"No Melissa I am only teasing but you have made two hundred and three."
"How ...? Never mind." She laughed. "I am so happy that I am finally making one for myself."
"Me too." Gen said excitedly.
"I am going to be a mother." They said together then laughed. She stopped and touched her belly. "Oh I felt a kick." She giggled.
I saw Colleen counting to herself. She was calculating when the baby would be born. It usually went four and half months after the first kick.
Gen on the other hand had been feeling her little one for weeks now. She smiled at her sister. It was something we were waiting for.
We stopped to listen.
Melissa put her hand on the table beside me. She could feel the vibrations from the summoning bell. We headed for the main square.
Melissa and Gen came even though they would not be sent out.
Shaun was up on the platform. He was scanning the square.
"All right. There has been a violent thunderstorm. Many of our people are caught in the forests around us." He took a deep breathe. "There are a lot of trees down and there is quite a few who have not been accounted for."
They were a lot of gasps in the crowd.
"I want all the trackers up front. I have a list of the missing."
Cassie and Samuel walked with the rest of us to the front.
"Councilwoman Cassie and Councilman Samuel you are not part of the trackers."
"Yes we know Grandpa but we want to help." Councilwoman Cassie said.
"I understand." Shaun said quietly.
Councilman Klaus stepped forward. "You are both Council members." They nodded. "If a Councilmember leaves the cave they must be escorted by at least two Elite Guards each. Right now we do not have enough Guards to escort you. They are needed to find the missing. You must stay here."
They were both about to protest. The Councilman raised his head.
"We will discuss this after the trackers have left." They nodded and stood quietly to one side.
Shaun held up the list for us to see. Paddy and Quinn were both on the list. I looked at Shaun and Colleen. I nodded slightly to them, turned and left.
