Hammered

creature’s head. The squealing stops. I back away from the body but keep the rock in my hands. The mountain lion emerges from the river, pissed and walking low, baring its fangs at me and hissing. I keep backing away, slowly. I want to run, but that will just get me killed. My best chance is to get in a lucky blow with the rock.
    » What say you, Brighid? «   a voice says to my right.
    I dart a quick glance in that direction and see three figures there who weren’t there before, but the panicked part of my brain tells me they are not the immediate threat that the mountain lion is, so I return my gaze to the bad kitteh. As I watch, the lion sprawls on the ground, sphinx-like, and eyes me coolly as if it hadn’t just swum across a river to threaten me. On a Creep Scale from Hello Kitty to Cthulu, I award it a Freddy Krueger.
    Another voice draws my attention back to the three figures. It is contralto and layered like a parfait, caramel and orange peel and topped with whatever victory tastes like.
    » She acted swiftly once surprise had worn off, and she worked out the rules of the game. «   The speaker is a tall woman in full plate armor that somehow manages to convey the invulnerability of a juggernaut and the poetic grace of bounding deer. She cradles a helmet in her left hand, rests her right hand lightly on the hilt of a sheathed sword, and looks positively regal. I am looking at Brighid, First among the Fae, and when my mouth drops open, the rock almost drops with it. She tilts her head, considering me, then continues her summary of my behavior:   » A strategic retreat at first, a cool assessment of the field, and then decisive action. Nor did she run from the predator. There is none of the coward in her. «
    I am not sure if I am supposed to volunteer my thanks. I just close my mouth and gulp so I don’t look like a complete mouth breather. My eyes flick to the other two figures. One is Oberon, who looks utterly miserable and cowed. He is under Flidais’s control and looks deeply embarrassed that he can do nothing to help me. Flidais, the third figure, is a feral vision of frizzy red hair and suede leather in earth tones. The goddess of the hunt carries a bow in her left hand, and a full quiver of arrows peeks over her shoulder. She responds to Brighid’s assessment, saying,  » And yet she paused and spoke before throwing the rock at the peccaries. «   She addresses me directly.   » Why did you pause, Granuaile MacTiernan? «
    Instead of answering her question, I shudder with cold and ask through chattering teeth,  » Is it safe to put down this rock now? «
    Flidais nods impatiently, and Brighid lifts her right hand from her sword hilt and points at me.  » Téann tú, «   she says, and I begin to feel warmer. I check on the mountain lion; it is still quiescent, so I drop the rock and cross my arms in front of me, suddenly self-conscious in the presence of two goddesses who look like comic book heroines.
    » I spoke my true feelings at the time. I did not want to hurt them, «   I answer.   » I was trying to think of a way out that did not involve killing.   Unfortunately, I couldn’t think of one. «
    Flidais nods in approval.   » Respect for life. Good. «
    I want to ask where  her   respect for life is, why she thinks it is all right to treat animals like puppets and force me to kill one of them in some sort of sick game. But Atticus told me never to sass one of the Tuatha Dé Danann no matter how much they might deserve it. And Brighid chooses to answer some of the unspoken questions anyway.
    » Granuaile MacTiernan, you just underwent the   Baolach Cruatan , the Dangerous Trial. All initiates must pass it to continue their training. It is always administered by a Druid unknown to the initiate in conditions similar to these. Explain why. «
    Another test.
    » An initiate’s master may have difficulty administering a properly dangerous trial, «   I say, immediately recognizing the truth of it.   » And the initiate must believe herself alone and in true danger for the test to be effective. «
    A curt nod from Flidais.  » What is the purpose of the test? «
    » It is a test of courage and resourcefulness in a situation where magic and weapons are unavailable. «   Then, remembering how Flidais questioned me on my pause, I add quickly,   » And, to a lesser extent, morality. «
    I get a patient redirection for my efforts.  » That is the nature of the test, but not its