Read with BonusRead with Bonus

#5

Aurora

After ensuring I was alone outside of the local wildlife, I conjured into my mind something subconscious, letting go just enough to remain vigilant. I raised my hands on either side, willing droplets above the surface, I could feel the divinity leaching into my actions as it hummed coursing through my body, as the droplets compounded into shapes… wolves, a pack running in a loop around me, each had different builds, the only color contrasting a glint in the eye; green, blue, silver, gold, amber, mocha, and black. The wolves began to blur as more droplets rose, forming many less distinctive wolves joining them as they began looping around me, then up in a spiral, dissipating in the late afternoon rays. I’d never done anything like that before. Letting divinity leech and forming a picture out of the elements wasn’t a skill set that was normal or even ever heard of.

I waded out, grabbing my journal and my towel out of the bag where I had stashed them when finding the pool. I dried off and flipped my clothes, willing them to dry before the temp dropped further. Moving towards the sunny rock for warmth, I spread the towel out and laid out in my birthday suit for the chipmunks and squirrels to gossip about. I chuckled to myself as I opened the journal to sketch out the wolves on two pages, noting the color of their eyes in each form. Then the birds are on the next 2 pages. I tended to draw rather than write out notes. Often they were sketches of plants instead of their names, followed by descriptions of uses. I switched over, laying on my back as I continued to add details to the pages; I went back to the wolves, noting they possibly had something to do with Blake if he was the blackbird. Wolves represented. Intuition and a deeper knowing of oneself. Learning one’s true self is the mission. It did not surprise me. They were beautiful creatures. My brother and I always hoped to see some actual wolves when we were younger. We always fancied drawing them and their array of unique coats. I sighed, gazing at each fine-tuning the forms from memory before they faded from my mind. I didn’t realize I became dazed, scrawling a rune near each wolf before shutting it and traipsing over to my clothing to see what was dry.

The underwear and the tank I pulled on. The thick leggings, Jean skirt, socks, and bra had some time to go. I flipped through them again. I looked at the sky. Which had begun to darken. I contemplated if my decision for a bath was wise. Knowing I wouldn't come across such a perfect place for some time, I conceded even through the risk. Pulling a wet brush and the sleeping bag from my pack. I wrapped the sleeping bag over my shoulders, sat on a stout rock near the fire, and began brushing my hair. So that the dampness wouldn't consume me, I braided it. Flipping over the clothes again. My socks were done.

Rinsing my feet in the shallows I then dried them with the towel before slipping them on. I gazed up at the Crescent moon, the maiden slowly rising into The Mother or full moon. It would take just under 4 weeks for the full moon and something in me itched to experience it out here without watchful eyes. The air was becoming cold as I had raised in altitude during my hike today.

*Flashback

I was 5 years old, and my brother and I were snooping due to the yuletide gifts we heard our parents whispering about. We didn’t care what we got, our curiosity was simply overriding us. My aunt had just forced me to sit still for an extremely long time to draw some symbols on my ankle. It was pretty, but it took too long and now I felt lost and empty. I missed sensing the animals outside. I had been sad to leave the fawn. His mommy hadn’t come back in days, and he was lonely. Any time I listened to my instinct, I seemed to get in trouble, but they kept telling me not to ignore it. Adults confused me. Now the baby deer was at a petting zoo and my parents promised I could visit, but I doubted the little deer would be happy there. The night after my aunt placed the mark on my skin, the dreams started. It seemed my instinct couldn’t turn off and if we would cut off one link, a new one would form. Blake and I were eavesdropping and snooping all day, but that night I dreamed of 3 magical items: a spruce wand, a quartz egg, and a tiger's eye rune.*

That’s what I received from my aunt and parents that year for Yule. I shook my head, knowing I didn't want to follow where that rabbit hole would lead me next. I had squirreled away those cherished items in my bag.

Pulling a small pot and filling it with water from the pool, and placing my roots and herbs gathered earlier, I was hungry. I should probably set a snare tonight. The exertion of hiking all day was making me hungrier. I tested my leggings. The seams were still damp, but close enough. I pulled them on, leaving the skirt and sweater by the fire. I dug through my bag for the snare wire. Most of the coven these days went vegetarian to avoid the need for blessing the sacrifice. Modern-day grocery stores and fast food made the death of animals too easy. My father had taught me that balance was essential. He had taught me to snare and how to shoot a bow early in life. Witches frowned upon guns because our gifts gave us nearly perfect aim. That wouldn't be fair. I walked into the brush looking for animals’ trails. Finding a tree with gaping roots, I placed a snare near it. I will check it in the morning.

unknown

She was now floating in the water, at peace. I could feel the pull to home, however, I was busy. She must be a witch of some sort. I only knew one other witch, and we had become quite close. They weren’t something I was opposed to.

Commotion from the water pulled me from my thoughts back to her. She had come to a standing position; the water sluicing and trickling over her curves. Her wavy hair clung to her hips from the weight of the water. The water hit just below her navel. I noted I was probably drooling. She looked around wearily before positioning her hands over the water. The hum of energy increased as I watched in pure awe as the drops of water rose, forming into shapes. These were not just any shapes they were ones I recognized, ones I knew. The wolves ran as a pack around her and I could identify each one by shape and the hint of color in their eyes. They morphed running as more droplets rose creating more wolves, strange ones they ran in a loop around her spiraling up into the sky, disappearing as the sun evaporated them. I couldn't move. The witch, I knew, couldn't do that. And I knew someone who could easily be the enormous bird with the coal eyes. My instinct didn’t deem her dangerous. And the part inside me that wouldn't allow me to leave her insisted I just couldn't walk away. The calls home would have to wait. I’d deal with the backlash later.

‘Mine to keep safe and mine to protect’ my baser self seemed steadfast in the mantra. ‘Yours,’ a voice whispered as the breeze picked up. I cocked my head, wondering what spiritual storm was about to start as I watched her gracious body sprawl out over the rock, scribbling away at the leather-bound notebook. I’d be curious to see what she was writing. Assuming she had no intention of taking off, I patrolled around the area of the pool, deeming it satisfactory for her camp. When I returned, she was partly dressed, stirring a pot of her gatherings. The breeze brought chiller air. I found myself worrying about the young witch’s comfort. Would she be cold tonight? Did she eat enough of that meager soup she called a meal? How would it feel to crawl between those supple thighs? Shit. I shook my head trying and failing to remove the images ingraining themselves in my mind. This was pandemonium. I needed to know a lot of things and I was pretty sure without too many shadows of doubt who this woman was to me. She definitely, had my undying attention. When it came down to it and I confirmed my suspicions, would I be able to walk away and live out my quiet life once again? Could she fit into it? Did I want the disruption, a possible companion in my responsibilities? Could she be the catalyst to bring to fruit everything I had attempted to avoid in life?

She began digging in her pack. I continued watching her, unable to quell my curiosity. When I realized what she was doing, I was even more impressed with my little witch. My witch? Rolling my eyes at myself. I hadn't even met her, and she didn't even know I existed. I did, however, admit I liked the sound of it. As she placed the snare expertly. She passed near me as I sunk into the shadows. The scent of her morphed my brain into mush. I’m done for, I thought. A primal need for possessiveness rose to a head. Which was a trait I was not used to displaying. She went back to cooking her dinner. A haunting tune rose from her, neither hum nor words escaped her lips, just angelic cords of notes strung together by her wistful voice, as she stirred the vegetation in the pot. I don't even think she realized it. I drifted off into a deep and strange sleep, the sound of her voice a haunting background noise to the images I couldn’t make sense of.

Previous Chapter
Next Chapter