Free The Coalition Episodes 1-4 by Aria J. Wolfe

small creek stood between her and the bath house. The hollow clomping of her boots on the wooden bridge was suddenly joined by a low growl. She stopped then turned in a slow circle.
    "Hello?" Her voice sounded strained and thin in her ears. Sudden heat spread across the mark over her heart. She clasped her bathing things closer and held her breath for a moment.
    She jumped at a sudden movement to her right. A large black wolf sat on its haunches near the bath house. It lowered its head and followed her every move with its eyes. 
    She released her breath in a loud hiss. "Shoo! Get away!" She stomped her feet on the footbridge. "I said Go! Shoo!" The wolf bared its teeth but didn't move. The white-washed door of the bath house swung open and a large woman with blotchy red skin emerged balancing a stack of towels on her ample arm.
    "Whacha doin, girl! Sounded like Samael hisself was gonna come right through the walls! We're tryin' to git the children cleaned up and calm after our terrible night, so quit yer noise and either come in or don't!"
    "Sorry Maire. Did you see... never mind." The wolf had disappeared; her path was clear. She ducked her head and apologized again as she crossed the bridge. The Mother sniffed like she was disgusted then moved aside as Shai entered.
    The warmth and humidity inside was a welcome change. Shai paused and blinked a few times until her eyes adjusted to the dim light and she could see, just inside the door, a large entry-way with two long wooden benches. She took a seat on one of them and started unlacing her knee-high boots. She wrinkled her nose. Somehow she'd managed to sleep in her damp clothing. She had removed one soggy, wool sock when she heard two female voices arguing.
    The bath house had only two rooms; one for boys the other for girls. Voices from both sides blended together until the arguing crescendoed and Shai recognized one of the voices as Eliana's.
    "I don't know where you get off accusing them of such a thing! I don't care what you say, Maire!"
    Shai shoved her wet socks down into the toes of her boots then gathered her bathing supplies. Just as she stood to enter the girl's room the blotchy-skinned Community Mother careened around the corner pulling two young girls behind her by their wrists. She pushed the outside door open with her hip and with a hmmmf she exited the Bath House. Before the solid wood door closed after her, Shai caught a glimpse of the dark form of the wolf lurking nearby. She shuddered and entered the steamy girl's room.
    She found Eliana bent over the furthest tub, at the back of the room, swirling her hand around in the water as it poured from a gooseneck faucet. Green flecks floated on the water and the scent of mint filled Shai's nose.
    Eliana straightened up and smiled. "Maire told me you'd just come in. Here, let me take your things and you can use that closet there to undress." Eliana busied herself with laying out Shai's clean clothes on a nearby chair and draping her towel over the side of the tub while Shai stepped over puddles on her way to the changing closet. She pulled the thin curtain closed and struggled out of her tunic and dirty leggings.
    "So what was that all about?" She pulled her long hair up and twisted it around her hand so she could secure it with a pin.
    "Eliana?" She moved the curtain back and peered out. Eliana turned the water faucet off then wiped her hands on the front of her tunic and glanced up.
    "Oh that was just Maire being...Maire. She figures both you and Aliah are responsible for those missing children.  But she's bitter about everything regarding Aliah.. I think she's just never gotten over the fact that Aliah's blood-mother had asked me and not her to look after him. Come on, get in before it cools. You're the last one."
    Shai eased into the tub and let the hot, minty water ease the tension in her body. She breathed deeply, grateful they seemed to be alone.
    The only sounds were the muffled voices from the boy's side