Shepherd Hunted by Christopher Kincaid

The patches of grass felt wrong, trapped by stone roads and whitewashed buildings. Kit walked with her head held high, pretending the townsmen were an escort. Once night fell, she figured it wouldn’t prove too difficult to get away and find Timothy. Her escort stopped at the foot of the church’s staircase. Children and women sitting and working on various chores looked up. Children pointed at her exposed ears. Sister Tera waited at the top of the stairs.
    The nun’s eyes were tight around the corners. Gray bags shadowed the lower lids. The nun’s gaze settled on Kit. Kit puffed her chest up and held the nun’s glare. It wasn’t easy. She wondered if her own eyes looked so tired and worried. Her fool shepherd was going to bring her wrinkles and make her ears go bald! Finally, the nun looked away. Kit grinned.
    The nun descended the stairs and stopped before Kit. “I finally caught you, demon.”
    “It is nice to see you again too, Sister.” Kit lifted her bound hands. “Excuse me if I don’t hug you.”
    “You have a fast tongue still. We shall see if you can joke when you burn at the stake.”
    “What crime have I committed?” Kit asked.
    “What crime?” Tera gestured. “Look around. You brought God’s judgment on us for your evil ways.”
    “I brought God’s judgment?” Kit shook her head. “It is just an illness. Even if it was God’s judgment, do you think he would kill an entire town instead of just killing me?”
    “He punishes those who harbor creatures like you.” Tera jabbed her finger into Kit’s chest.
    Kit’s nose itched. The air grew thicker with smoke. Didn’t anyone else notice? “It doesn’t make sense for God to punish anyone except me. Let him strike me if my life is such a sin. I am tired of being told I shouldn’t be alive. If I am the sinner, I alone should be punished, right?”
    Sister Tera frowned, and her brow knit.
    A voice rang out. “Fire cleans! The town shall be reborn! We shall be reborn!”
    Kit’s tail furled under her skirts. She knew that voice!
    Black, acrid smoke wafted into the plaza. Out of the billowing black smoke appeared a small army of people, their once garish clothing charred and stained with soot. Women, children, and men held torches aloft. As they marched toward the church, people surged into the adjoining buildings like rabbits darting from a hunter. They battered down doors and smashed windows to get inside. A heartbeat later orange flames chased them back out.
    “God’s Will be done! Honheim. New Honheim!” The roar of the townspeople’s collective voice made Kit want to clamp her hands over her ears. Evelyn marched ahead of the crowd. Her black dress blew around her.
    Sister Tera grabbed Kit’s shoulder. “Always, something happens when I lay hold of you. It is as if you are protected by God himself. You will not escape me again, fox. Watch her!” She shoved Kit toward the gaggle of men and stalked toward Evelyn.
    Most of the buildings on the edge of the cemetery blazed. The crowd of people halted at Evelyn’s upraised hand.
    “Welcome to the day of rebirth, Sister!” Evelyn spread her arms wide.
    The nun swept everyone with her gaze. Kit’s guards ignored her and focused on the nun and Evelyn. Even the children stopped and watched the fire eating the homes. It seemed that everyone had forgotten about her, despite the nun’s order. She shifted sideways a pace. Best not to attract too much attention. No one noticed.
    “Have you all gone mad? You are burning your own homes.” Sister Tera pointed at the crowd. “Why are you following her? She is a madwoman.”
    “I was a fool.” Evelyn laid a hand on Sister Tera’s shoulder. “Water and soap only clean so well. Now fire can make things new. It took the fire of God’s judgment, this illness, to teach me.”
    Kit took two more sidesteps before Vyrin turned his head. She froze. He watched her a moment before returning his attention to the nun and madwoman. Kit inched behind a