Chapter 37 – The… Problem Solver
Syrus carried Jerry back on her shoulder, he was frozen stiff and his unmoving eyes were lost in the void.
The audience of children watched on as Anna returned to the central gathering area.
Syrus dropped his body in the centre of the village and asked, “Now, does anyone else want to test breaking the simple rules?”
There was a quiet shaking of heads. No one wanted to get on Anna’s bad side when she was in this mood.
Noticing the tension in the air, Luna examined everyone and had a feeling it wasn’t caused just because of Syrus’ actions.
Luna sighed, “What’s got people so worked out?”
Now that the calmer Anna was out, the kids were a bit more willing to speak. It wasn’t that they didn’t like the louder Anna, but still, she could be scary.
The children understood Anna’s personality shifts more than their parents.
Anna did hide the fact that she was multiple individuals, but “Anna’s personality” did change drastically depending on what she was doing.
The parents described it as mood swings to their children, but only the kids knew what settings caused Anna to ‘flip’. In some cities, Anna might've been unsuccessfully bullied for her behaviour, but up here near the northern border, no one cared, the town was already filled with plenty of weirdo parents. Someone who was obsessed with reading and learning, one who cooked until they passed out, and another who spent all their free time wood carving.
After speaking with them, it turns out some of the kids were pretty restless because of the situation.
Certain parents made promises that they couldn’t keep because they forgot what they had to do today, while others had been uncharacteristically stern with their kids which had caused some mild shock within them.
[Well… at least Jen isn’t the only forgetful one.] (Eva)
The one good thing was even with the bits of restlessness and agitation shared between everyone. They still mostly listened to Anna. Mostly. Which had to be good enough.
Luna spoke, “Okay, now please everyone. I understand this is a lot, our parents are doing who knows what, and I’m the one who has been put in charge of you. But all I ask is for you to follow the rules and help each other when there is trouble. I’m also here if you need help. If you really want to break the rules, just please ask me first and we could reach some compromise.”
Then Syrus warned, “Or else, I will have to put you in your place.”
Half the group shuffled millimetres back, the other half contained the people who had zero interest in breaking the rules or were less scared of Anna-Syrus.
Once that was done, everyone went back to playing and everything went well for a few hours.
The children were now slightly more well behaved, Anna did step in when things seemed like they would start to go out of line but she also joined in some of the games.
Watching on, Luna asked [Have either of you had any experience in taking care of children?]
[I’ve taken care of many kids before, doesn’t mean I liked doing it. But what about yourself?] (Syrus)
[I have…? Though… those experiences were in a mostly controlled environment… so I don’t think I can call that experience, a proper learning experience.] (Luna)
[Well, you are getting that experience now, so that is something.] (Syrus)
They talked for a bit longer, where they planned some questions to ask their folks when they returned. Everything was going well until the troublemakers decided to not stay still.
In the distance, a young girl tried to stealthily make her way to the woods.
[Argh… why is Leah heading for the woods…] Luna sighed.
[You could blame the frequent troublemaker.] Syrus turned to look at Jerry who was hiding behind a house, watching Leah, but it looked like he was ready to book it after her once she reached the forest. [Brother and sister for sure, but Jerry mostly likely put her up to it.]
[Why is Jerry doing this… again? He should know better.] (Luna)
Syrus shrugged and stood up, [Maybe he is a masochist?]
[Ummm… a talk for later. Let’s bring her back first.] (Syrus)
Anna stood up, not running this time and she slowly walked towards Leah to not cause a fuss.
However, the sensitive Syrus noticed something.
[Wait, I hear rustling in the bushes.] (Syrus)
She quickly examined the bushy area in the tree line. Then they saw two bestial eyes between the gaps in the leaves and shrubs, and Syrus began to run.
Luna yelled, “Move Leah!”
Leah alerted, stumbled back and looked towards Anna.
Then with her back to it, the wolf pounced from the bushes with its maw open wide.
Leah's head swung back, then it froze as she saw the wolf and she screamed, but as the wolf’s dripping teeth approached her, Anna’s leg collided with the wolf’s stomach.
Owwargh! The wolf howled as it was kicked back flying into the dirt.
[Why is there a wolf so close to the village?!] (Eva)
Syrus focused on the wolf, followed up by using the fire magic Anna learned to keep up appearances.
A ball of fire was created above her arm, and then in instance, it exploded into a bolt that was launched straight at the wolf.
The wolf, still readjusting after its poor landing, was unable to survive as a bolt of fire cooked its mouth and head. It was a simple effective shot that decimated the creature.
[It was alone… I don't sense any of its pack around.] (Syrus)
[That’s good. I don’t want to risk the chance of the children getting hurt.] (Luna)
Luna turned to Leah to comfort her. She must’ve been frightened after all, and the rest of the children would need a talk after they nearly watched a friend die.
However, the fear of the event quickly washed away from the children's minds as Anna’s appearance of effectively dispatching the wolf was engraved in their minds.
“How did you do that?”
“Thank you, big SIS!”
“...She truly is the alpha wolf…”
“I will never disobey you again!”
The kids were calling her weird names and saying strange things.
Syrus let out an exhausted sigh.
[Luna can you deal with them?] (Syrus)
[If you can round them back up first.] (Luna)
With their combined teamwork order was returned to the village children, but the kid’s excitement levels didn’t drop much. They were all ready to tell their parents what happened.
[This… is going to be a long day.] (Eva)
[Quiet, you aren’t even helping.] (Syrus)
It continued to be a very long and tiring day, but at least Jen and George would be home soon.