We had actually done it.
I was still wondering how on earth we had managed it after eight years.
I just wanted to savour the moment. Quinton kept beside me and matched my relaxed pace as we savored the warmth of the sun basking over us before the looming shadows of the trees stole it away.
"Kids! Stay with me!" I called out again, for my voice to fall on deaf ears once more.
"You know they are wild spirits" Quinton chuckled beside me, holding my hand for comfort and guidance "absolutely wild; the lot of them."
"You are the worst, Dad" Ethel chided with a cheeky giggle.
The rest of our family darted between the trees we walked amongst. They jumped out to scare each other and swung from low branches as they waited for us to catch up.
"Jayce" Quinton warned the young boy rocking on the branch of a tree we were nearing "you'll fall out again."
His dirty face split into a smile that showed his missing tooth. He had all of his arms extended to give him the most stability as he kept shaking the leaves, his light brown hair flopping up and down with his movement.
Jayce always had a knack of injuring himself. He didn't get that from any of us, and was often the first to run headfirst into what could break his bones or skin his knees.
He was also one of three that had developed identical skins. Each one had caramel skin like their mother, with blue rings pulsing underneath. Each of the trio also had the same light purple eyes as Ethel.
Jayce was also the bad influence of the three. Knox often followed his brother into danger, narrowly avoiding pain each time. Their sister, Paisley, was no better. If Jayce was there, she was right beside him with no thought to her wellbeing.
Quinton's arms flew out to catch Jayce as he came tumbling down. He glared at his son who wriggled free and charged ahead.
"Catch me too, Daddy!" I heard Paisley laugh before she threw herself from the tree and onto him.
"You need to be more careful!" I scolded her as I lifted her from Quinton "you know he can't see you properly."
"But I saw him! " she sang out then rushed off to where Jayce was waiting.
"Children" Quinton grunted with a roll of his eye and smirked at me.
"I don't know how you cope being jumped on all the time" I joked "maybe it's all the extra fur."
I slapped his stomach and he quickly glanced down at its flatness.
Ethel reached over to slap his stomach too. Quinton grabbed her in her distraction and bundled her up so she could sit on his shoulders.
"Me!" another girl came running over with her pale hands held high "me too!"
Her pink eyes twinkled when i bent down for her to clamber up. Her hands wrapped around my forehead to keep her stable, the pitch black fingers slipping over my eyes briefly to make her laugh.
Astrid was the only one with such dark markings against her pale skin. Her fingers were solid in colour that eventually broke into loops up the sides or her arms.
She also had a black patch over the left side of her face that resembled a birth mark. She had never been proud of it and kept her silver-blue hair long to act as a distraction from it.
Unlike her rambunctious trio, Astrid was full of wonder and curiosity. She had such a vivid imagination that made her still believe things girls her age were growing out of.
"I can touch the sky, Dad!" Astrid called out excitedly, her body leaning back against my grip before she hunched back over to look at me "do you think I can grab the sun too?"
"You wouldn't want to do that" I chuckled back then heard her question it "your daddy tried to do that and look what happened to his eye!"
"Really Dad?" Astrid turned to Quinton in awe.
"I didn't see the pointy bits" he replied bluntly.
Both Ester and Astrid squealed out in laughter. Quinton smiled as he withheld his.
I saw Paisley come running back with excitement in her face when she saw the girl's on our shoulders. As soon as she realised she wasn't getting her chance soon, her face fell.
"Missed your chance, Parsley!" her brother mocked from ahead.
His blonde curling locks could be spotted from kilometers away. He was the only child of our family who had developed the same shade of brown as mine for his eyes. His skin was dark like Quinton's, and bore the same blue rings he once had.
He was almost a spitting image of his father. He certainly had the pushing attitude to match that quickly faltered if he realised it was getting him into trouble.
He didn't seem to care right now with the branch he held in his hand that he whacked on the ground like a sword.
"At least I had one, Bird Cage!" Paisley stuck her tongue out at Avery whose cockiness soured when she stomped back to him and swiped the stick from him.
I saw him promptly tear and strip another to engage Paisley in a sword fight, darting around the trees that they used as cover.
Our calls for order were ignored again. It wasn't until Paisley was hit with the branch that scraped her face that Avery dropped his and tried to babble out his excuses when she went running to Quinton.
"You were told" I scolded him when he ran to my side to explain himself "you are lucky one of your eyes weren't taken out."
Luckily, the mark down Paisley's face was only on the surface. It wasn't even deep enough to draw proper blood that only peeked through the scratch.
"What do you say?"
"Sorry, Paisley" Avery mumbled out and dropped his head.
"You need to be more careful as well" Quinton told Paisley "no more sticks, OK? Avery could of been really hurt too."
She sniffled and nodded, walking off with her brother to where the others were witnessing from around the trees.
"If they keep this up, none of them are going to reach ten" Quinton blew out a breath "we don't need another part falling off our kids already."
Immediately, my eyes found the two girls only a few meters from us. Quinton's followed with guilt on his face.
They smiled and pressed themselves to the tree to try and hide from us. They would have succeeded too if they weren't giggling loudly while doing it.
Both were experts at hiding and used it as a way around me to sneak more food. They were almost identical to their father in every way, even right down to his amethyst eye. The only difference was the light pink rings under their skin.
The mention of missing parts only rang too true for the two who had both lost their eye during their first hunting trip with Quinton. The demon he had been tracking was only a young one with glorious antlers he had planned to bring back as a trophy for me. But when it grew violent in its last moments and struck out, Quinton hadn't been quick enough to save both girls. One lost the right while the other was the left when they were pinned by the beast who tore them out.
Both girls had become withdrawn due to the trauma. They wore the bandanas we gave them to cover their sockets, out of their own wishes to do so.
They didn't grow their hair long like Astrid did. In a way they liked the sympathy and attention it bought them whenever they were out.
Despite the option for fake eyes, neither of them accepted it.
I heard both girls leave the tree to dart out to us. Nevira was the one who always played the part of distraction while Remi swooped around. They both coordinated well together; a little too well when paired up with Jayce who was climbing yet another tree.
My hand ruffled up Remi's short hair when she snuggled against me. She stayed there while Nevira hid again to creep up on Knox.
I saw another three girls closing in on the other sides. They worked with Nevira to pin Knox to the ground who grunted out in annoyance at how oblivious he had been.
"Nevira, Cora, Sadie, Sage; let your brother breathe" Quinton called out with a laugh as we passed them.
Nevira immediately left Knox. The other three were persistent in keeping him down for as long as they could.
At eight years old, the three of them were already excellent hunters. They were even more ruthless in their demon forms.
Cora was the only one of the three who kept her brown hair short as well. Her pale skin was untouched by markings and almost seemed like porcelain. Even her eyes were a beautiful light blue that looked like it reflected the sky within them.
She was the one who loved to test her strength on her siblings and boast about her wins like they were battles to the death.
Sadie had caramel skin like her mother with white speckles dusting it. Her hair was almost white;flecked with grey to dull its shade that hung around her shoulders. Her eyes were like liquid gold and were always peering around cautiously.
She was typically more quiet and enjoyed the softer side of nature that she found deep joy in.
Sage had deep skin like her father. Her light brown hair looked like bronze in contrast and was always tied into a simple ponytail. Her eyes were a light silver that shone against her skin. Her speckles and rings were light pink, with the markings smearing either side of her eyes as well.
She was becoming independent already. Friendships outside the family were of great value to her and she was already showing interest in caring for younger creatures she found or stole from nests.
The three girls darted past us to gather on the side of a large mouth of water that blocked our path. Ethel and Astrid were lowered so that Quinton could slip down and stand in the water that came up to his bellybutton.
I did the same, wading over to stand close behind him and right before the other side of the running water tugging on my clothes and straps around my leg.
"One by one" Quinton said when our children bunched together "keep your legs tucked; just like the other times."
Each child lowered themselves into Quinton's arms to be passed to mine and placed on the other side. Their shoes grazed the water, but none of them got drenched.
Everyone was waiting for Ethel who was the last on the edge. When she was placed down and a head check was made, we quickly realised we were short by one.
We all knew who it was immediately before she had even straggled into view, holding out a giant leaf that excited her by how odd it was shaped.
"Baby, you need to keep up" Quinton kissed her forehead when she touched the leaf to his face with a laugh.
Maisie was always left behind or wandering off whenever we went out together. She was lured by anything that looked like it could make for a fun new toy, no matter how trivial it was.
She was also the smallest of her siblings and one of the few with unique colourings that didn't relate to any of her parents.
Her skin was only a few shades lighter than Quinton's and glowed with golden circles accompanying the spots around them. Her eyes were a deep crimson that were always wide with wonder or shining with joy, and her hair was the colour of copper that was always short and fluffy.
Maisie was adorable and loved nothing more than to be coddled, but also caused us the most worry with her constantly slipping from view.
She immediately went onto Quinton's shoulders when we pulled ourselves from the water and continued onwards to the destination Quinton was keeping secret from us all.
It was all made clear when we finally left the forestry behind and were welcomed with vibrant, red beauty.
Poppies as far as the eye could see were blanketing the ground and bending in the breeze.
There wasn't really a scent that danced around us here; it all just smelled like the fresh earth dug up around them.
"Kids, this is where I grew up" Quinton smiled at our children still gathered around us.
He lowered Maisie down, to have her promptly pick one of the flowers and shake it in joy.
"I wanted you all to see how beautiful it is here."
"It's so big!" Astrid gasped "we could run forever!"
Ethel giggled with her and ran circles around us with their arms outstretched.
"See that house way off there?" Quinton pointed to the skyline where a tiny object jutted out from the red fields "that's where the farmer lives."
"An evil farmer?" Jayce piped up curiously then showed off his non-existent muscles "I'll take it down all by myself!"
His siblings all giggled at him flexing into different poses. I smiled at his grin as I pushed his arms back down to his sides and ruffled his hair.
"Go have fun" Quinton urged "see if you can reach the house first!"
Jayce took off running with his hand wrapped around Knox's. Astrid and Sage rushed after them, all of them leaving a trail in their wake.
Eventually, everyone else followed behind. They were all spread out across the field to explore it as we advanced. Maisie and Sadie were busy weaving each other poppy crowns from the ones they ripped up as they walked.
"Look at them go" Quinton marvelled and kept his hand linked through mine as we walked "there is no stopping them."
I could see Jayce and Knox had become tiny faceless figures in the distance. They waved their arms up high to us, which we returned.
"This is bringing back some good memories" Quinton beamed, his other hand picking up a poppy to offer me "I used to chase my own sisters and brothers through here. They always won, of course."
"Of course" I smirked.
"And the trees were always the boundary" he pointed to our right to the border several kilometers away "but that never stopped us from cheating."
Quinton was so excited to share his childhood with me. The way his face lit up when he babbled them out only made me feel like I was being invited to relive something precious and personal.
He was being so open that he didn't seem like the same person I knew.
It was nice to see this side of him.
"You have to meet Jessabelle too!" he gushed "she's the farmer. I wonder how old she'd be now?"
I went to reply before a shrill scream pierced the air. My eyes snapped from Quinton's to search for our children and the source of the noise ahead.
I saw everyone trying to sprint back towards us as fast as their little legs could carry them. Jayce and Knox were the furthest from the group, with Sage not much further ahead.
And behind them was someone who made my stomach drop and dread come screaming from my mouth.
Reid.
But it wasn't the teen I knew. This was a demon who had taken his own path when we had parted ways. He had his own life to protect, and that of his family that was kept hidden as he barreled after our children.
He was nothing more than a rival male now. And one who would stop at nothing to keep his territory clear from intruders like us. To him, we were nothing anymore. He had his own children now, as Carter had told me long ago; and would protect them fiercely.
I was already running to the terrified children when Quinton tore from his skin and bolted through the fields towards Reid.
The screams from Knox were the first to be silenced when Reid lunged at him. Next was Jayce who tried to throw himself forward into he poppies as cover.
Sage squealed out for me when she was lifted into the air and promptly snapped in half.
Reid was relentless. He saw nothing but rivals, now that he was a father himself. The poppy field was his to protect.
"NO!" I wailed uselessly when I tried to reach my children still scrambling back desperately "STOP!"
But he didn't. Quinton was still too far to reach him when Reid bought down Nevira trying to protect Remi. I heard Remi scream and leap out of the way as Reid barreled for the children passing Quinton.
Remi barely made it past her father when he clashed with Reid and tore into his side. Both brothers battled while the remaining children wailed, grabbing for me as each one reached safety.
"Head for the trees!" I urged them desperately "keep going and don't stop!"
They were too terrified to tear from their skins. Each child sprinted for the treeline that seemed to dance further and further away.
The clashing of bodies and screaming of the battling brothers tore through the air. It bought little Maisie to a stop as she huddled on the ground in panic.
"Daddy" she whimpered and grabbed for me when I scooped her up into my arms and sprinted onwards.
I saw Reid break from Quinton's grip when he saw the bobbing heads amongst the flowers. He made a break towards Cora who was in the lead of the group.
"GET DOWN!" I screeched out.
All the children dropped at my command and remained still. Reid was already locked onto Cora who remained in his path and met his snapping mandibles.
Everyone else screamed and scattered. Quinton threw himself into Reid's side and lunged for his body again to stop him from perusing the screaming children.
Six little heads bobbed amongst the flowers in different directions. Maisie gripped to me when I ran after the closest one; Remi.
She wailed when I snatched her up and crushed her against me. I dropped to my knees and smothered her to me to try and comfort her shaking body.
"You need to stay here" I whispered to her "do not move until I come back for you. I'm going to bring the rest of your sisters and brother here, and then we will escape together."
"What about Daddy?" she whimpered and clung to me when I released Maisie.
"Daddy is strong" I ran my hand down the side of her face and wiped her tears "just stay safe for him and keep quiet."
She nodded and covered her mouth. Maisie did the same as they huddled there together.
The next I found was Avery. I would have completely missed him if it hadn't been for his crying.
He huddled down under the poppies and kept his hands over his mouth. His eyes were squeezed shut as well.
As soon as I opened my arms, he wailed and threw himself at me. Paisley came darting over from her hiding spot not far to throw herself at me too.
"It's OK" I sobbed with them "I'm here."
The poppies around us broke as Quinton stumbled through them, Reid shoving him away from the treeline.
"I have your sisters hidden" I hurried when I saw Quinton being dragged back towards us "stay close."
Avery snatched onto my hand and Paisley grabbed onto his. Our link darted back towards the location of Sadie and Maisie, keeping down low.
I heard Reid screech and his body hammer towards us. Quinton barrelled into him to push him from us just as I arrived at the hideout.
Avery was the only one still gripping onto me. Paisley was nowhere to be seen or heard of when he huddled against his sisters.
"I want you all to head for the trees" I told them as Quinton crushed the poppies only a few meters from us "if you can do it without the skins, you will be quicker. Keep below the flowers."
They all listened and nodded. I watched them leave, one by one, in a line that carefully shuffled out of danger.
It tore me apart to leave my babies unguarded. Out of the twelve, I only knew that the three I had sent off were still alive.
Knox, Jayce, Sage, Nevira, Cora, and Paisley were all gone. I didn't have time to mourn them though; I still had to find Ethel, Remi, and Astrid.
Remi was the next I found amongst the poppies. Her little body was curled up on the ground with tears still staining her face. It looked like she had been crushed in the battle between Quinton and Reid; barely fifty meters from where the others had been gathered.
Ethel was the next after that. She hadn't met the same fate as her sister and was sobbing into the arms of Astrid who was shivering with her. They both dived for me when I found them, crying and trying to babble out what they had witnessed.
"Keep down low and go for the treeline" I caressed them both and kissed their foreheads "Avery, Maisie, and Sadie are already on their way."
"What about the others?" Ethel sniffled.
"I'll worry about them" I kissed her again as tears rolled down my face.
They both crawled out of view and I stood up to check on Quinton who was still keeping Reid at bay.
They were still too close for comfort. I sprinted for them both with bubbling anger taking over my grief.
Reid was shoved back by Quinton, stumbling. I took the opportunity to scale one of his legs and heave myself onto his back.
I pinned my knees around his body to keep myself stable and hammered my fists into the hulking head as hard as I could.
"YOU BASTARD!" I screamed at him as I kept pummeling "YOU TOOK THEM FROM ME!"
Tears blinded me but I didn't stop. I knew my tiny hands would do nothing to a massive demon who planted his body down and shook me off.
I collapsed into the dirt but staggered to my feet to smash my fists against his face that only stared down at me.
"Those were my babies" I sobbed at him and felt my anger falter as the grief started to weaken and numb me.
I would never see Jayce's gap-toothed smile again as he conquered another tree or fell from it. Knox would never come running back, demanding hugs after he slipped over and scraped his knees.
Sage wouldn't come running to excitedly show me the tiny animal she was keen to nurture. Just last week, she had released a bird she kept in a shoebox beside her bed.
And Nevira. Her little fingers were always swiping for the plate of food I left out after distracting me from it with an absurd tale or funny joke. She always had such a cheeky laugh when we would chase her down when she was caught.
I wouldn't feel Remi nestled beside me when I read her stories at night. She always insisted on the same one with the worn pages that she had left on her bed this morning for tonight.
Cora couldn't tell me her bizarre stories of making the trees around our home move when she shoved against them, or come and confide in me when she felt left out of a game the others were playing.
And Paisley; she had been right beside Cora trying to help her show her strength. She was the one who would scream out for us to watch them like we were about to witness a miracle...
But now they were all gone. There would only be emptiness where they were that could never be filled again.
Reid's tears ran with mine before Quinton smashed into his side and snapped his mandible around his neck. Poppies flew upwards when Reid fell, settling over his body like a blanket.
Reid tried to fight back but couldn't. Quinton had always been the bigger and strongest one of the brothers; and was not going to risk losing any more of our family to him.
When Reid's last breathe left him, Quinton cried without holding back his pain.
We had lost so much. Quinton had lost his children and his brother all in a few hours. The home he had hoped to flood with new memories was only filled with crushed poppies that ran red with blood and bent their heads like they were crying.
Tears flowed for what we had lost and what we had saved.
We were a broken family of five now. Only time would be able to make the pain of it all a bit more manageable and not so bitter to remember.
Painful memories would drift back to more pleasant ones, and we could laugh about the antics our lost family had left us with.
It was the pain of loving something that made it so hard to let it go. But, with some healing, each day could be a little better and we could look to a bright future filled with renewed love in our little house amongst the woods.
ns 15.158.61.12da2
