Lost Kingdom

She slept well and woke as she always did before the sun rose above the mountains. She dressed, built up the fire, bringing in wood from outside, made herself a simple breakfast. As she ate she went through her bag, checking it making sure she had everything needed in it. Her guest lay on his bed she had made for him and was watching her she could feel his eyes following her.

"Today I forage in the woods for things I need. You will be safe here these lands are warded so no one meaning ill will or harm can pass onto them." she sat in her chair and put on her shoes.

He rested his massive head on his crossed front paws and kept an eye on her. She seemed friendly, but he had been fooled by that before and he would be dammed if that ever happened again.

She put her bag on her shoulder. "Keep off that leg, its healing and let’s keep it that way. No parties while I'm gone either might get complaints from the neighbors." She laughed. Grabbing her coat she put it on for it was cold in the forest before the sun warmed it, grabbed her walking stick and went out. She normally went upstream but today she decided to go down. She followed the stream collecting mosses, fungus and small flowers as she went. She had warded a large area of land around her place several miles. It had taken her nearly a week of walking and placing the ward. She had buried special totems to help keep the barrier up and safe. She came from a long line of Wiccan. Her family along with many others had been chased and feared for many generations. Another reason she lived here. She didn’t want a neighbor’s cat to die and suddenly be blamed for it or a sudden death of a loved one nearby. Most had accepted them but there were some who blamed them even for a hangnail.

He kept his eyes on her the entire time she was in view and after a half hour he decided to go and lay down by the small pond and look at the water and maybe see a fish or two for an easy snack.

= meanwhile=

A team of seven men in black suits and heavily armed was standing at the barrier, trying to figure out a way to get through it.

She felt her skin prickle and unease settle in her stomach. Someone was trying to break her barrier. She laid a hand on a tree then changed direction. She walked for some time until she saw what was standing beyond her line, Men and heavily armed ones at that. She saw them place their hands along the invisible barrier; try to push against it but to no avail. She saw one man sitting holding his head. He must have been the first to try to walk through. It didn’t kill or maim but it gave of a good jolt to warn. "You are not welcome here. Go back where you came from." She hid her face in her hood pulling it low.

All the men raised their weapons at her. "Bring down this barrier right now" the lead demanded.
She leaned on her staff. "I wouldn’t do that if I were you unless you’re prepared for it to come back at you and I will do no such thing. It is there to keep monsters like you out so it stays."

"You are harboring a murderer in there and you are disrupting official government business. Now bring this barrier down"

She laughed. "Am I and how could someone like that get by my protection. If he was a murder it wouldn’t let him through. No harm shall pass. And I am the only human on this side of that barrier so you will just have to look elsewhere."

The leader shook his head. "You were warned, we will be back and you will be sorry" he waved at the men and they all walked away.

She watched them until they disappeared from sight. "We shall see who is sorry." She turned and went back the way she came returning to her cabin. They would be returning and she had things to prepare.

The K9 had fallen asleep with half his body submerged in the pool, his head resting on the cool rock as he let the sun bathe his back.

She went by the pond and saw her guest resting there, but didn’t stop she went up to the cabin, dropped her staff, bag and coat, went to her bed and pulled out a wooden chest. She opened it and glanced inside. Carefully she lifted a large book wrapped in a black cloth and set it on the floor, then reached in again removing several candles dark in color and a bag full of special herbs. She gathered them all in her arms and returned back outside.

The men in black came back with an old woman in tow; she looked at the barrier and smiled. She chanted a spell and soon a small opening in the barrier opened.

She felt the interference and frowned. Grabbing her walking stick she drew a large circle then a pentagram in its center. she place a candle at each point, grabbed the herbs and sprinkled them north, south, east, west, father sky, mother earth, she chanted. Opened her book and stood in its center. She read a spell in ancient tongue, the wind began to blow, the sky darkened, and the earth trembled. No one came here unwanted not even one of her own kind. She took her knife and sliced her hand, sprinkling the drops on the points and candles. She continued to chant. Lightening struck around them; she held her hands above her head, the candles ignited. "SEND THOSE WHO COME TO HARM BACK TO WHERE THEY CAME! PROTECT THESE WOODS AND THOSE WHO SHELTER HERE!"

The old lady held up a small totem to shield herself and the few men lucky enough stand around her. The shield bounced off the lightning, but the ones outside where struck several times and dropped down dead. The K9 had heard the sound of the lightning and saw the darkened sky. They were here. He was a fool to think he could stop running; he stood up, shook himself to get most of the water out of his fur and started to run again up the mountain.

She saw him run and didn’t blame him. The old woman was strong in her magic. She cast a strong protection around herself in the circle. She would not leave her home. She picked up her book and opened it to a spell; she held it to her chest. This one she would only use if they did not leave peacefully. It was a dark magic death was certain but it left a taint on the one who weld it. She stood in her circle of protection and waited for them.