Dahlya DOES have a Backstory

“I don’t want you to go to town today!” Dahlya snapped at Eoin.

Eoin stared at his wife. His blank expression showed that she could continue to vent as she paced the room.

“There are more humans than normal coming into town and frankly, I don’t think it’s a good idea!” Dahlya’s voice rose as she finally stopped pacing and crossed her arms angrily in front of her chest.

Eoin couldn’t help but smile sweetly at her. He gently walked forward and placed his hands on her shoulders. “It will be okay, my love. I need to sell this harvest.”

Dahlya sighed. “You did outgrow yourself this year. I’m very impressed.”

He grinned. “And you, my lovely huntress did manage to catch quite a number of animals this year.”

She smiled and let her arms drop. “Please assure me you will be careful.”

Eoin leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “I promise.”

Dahlya smiled and gave him a quick kiss. “I’ll be out with the hunting party. I heard they are trying to kill a large boar. Hopefully we can bring that into town today.”

“I shall see you then!” He said with enthusiasm before giving a playful bow. “Grá go Deo.”

“Grá go Deo.” Dahlya mimicked. She watched her husband leave and gave a half-smile.
She grabbed her quiver of arrows and bow. Dahlya looked around the house before leaving. She could spot Eoin as he traveled towards their town. She took a moment to watch him walk away before meeting up with the hunting group.

XX

The horn rang out in the forest. Dahlya swallowed. It was a haunting sound that echoed amongst the trees. Her heart quickened and her chest tightened.

“Eoin,” She whispered. Dahlya knew he was no fighter. She needed to reach him. The town is in trouble. Something is wrong.
Before the others could make a sound, she took off towards Móirin. Dahlya pressed herself to run faster, harder. She almost tripped over her own feet as she skidded to a stop on the outskirts of the town. She noticed guards pushing injured humans out of the town. There was screaming and shouting. Dahlya felt there was too much chaos and confusion.

‘A fight? A riot?’ Dahlya thought as she entered town.
She found a townsmember near-by. “What happened?”

“Humans came into our town.” The female stated.

A male voice corrected the female citizen. “They tried to take control of our town.”

“There were a few that stood against them and fought back,” The female continued.

“Have any of you seen Eoin? Was he part of the fight?” Dahlya asked the citizens, concerned.

Both looked at each other. “I’m not sure where Eoin is, but yes, he was part of the fight against the humans.”

Dahlya’s breath caught in her lungs. She took a half-step back. She gave a nod at them, trying to collect her thoughts. Dahlya swallowed the growing lump in her throat and nausea in her stomach.

The crowd thickened near the entrance of the town. She scanned the area. Eoin wasn’t there.

“Eoin?” Dahlya called out and looked around to see if she could see his face glance in her direction.
A few individuals turned to see who was calling out, but none were Eoin.

She moved to another area and called out for her husband again. Nothing. Dahlya began to panic. She drew in a couple shallow breaths.

‘Stop it, think, calm yourself!’ She thought.
Dahlya closed her eyes and finally drew in a deep breath. She steadied her racing mind. She would go home, maybe he was already there after fighting. She was sure he would be a little shaken up, but proud to be a momentary fighter. And of course, Dahlya would support him. She gave herself a smile at that thought. Eoin would be at home, sipping tea, recounting the details of how he stood up against the humans and their controlling ways. Dahlya would smile and tell him she was so proud and that maybe one day he could come hunting with her. She would laugh as he gave a grotesque look. He never liked hunting. His place was in the fields.
“I have a green thumb you know!” He would exclaim.

Dahlya took another deep breath as she hurried off home. As she traveled the path towards their little forest house she stopped in her tracks. She blinked at the individual in the middle of the path. The body.

The familiar body.

“No,” Dahlya whispered. She slowly moved forward. ‘Please, no. Please, no. Please…’

Tears already built in her eyes as she drew closer. Dahlya stopped and stared down at him. Eoin. It was her lover. Her husband. Her partner. She dropped to her knees, and pulled him into her lap. She gently moved his hair away from his face. Bloody. Bruised. Swollen. His face was broken.

“No,” She cried out softly. Water flowed down her cheeks, dripping off her chin. Dahlya placed a hand over his heart. Nothing. Dahlya leaned forward, touching her forehead against his. She finally let out a sob and then a curdling cry. She gripped his shirt. Her eyes burned, her throat raw and tight from the destruction of her grief.

“Come back,” She whispered. “Come back, please.” She pleaded. Her voice steady before the realization hit her again. Dahlya sobbed. Eoin was gone.

She didn’t notice other townspeople had come to her aid. Some mourned softly with her. Others helped carry Eoin back into town for burial. A couple members of the town offered her a place to stay with them, but she declined, wanting to grieve in her own house.
They followed her back to her house and watched her enter. Dahlya rested against the door for a moment; she turned and threw her bow and arrows across the room. She let the tears flow from her eyes again. She screamed. In grief. In anger. In hatred.
Humans would pay. Humans. Would. Pay.