The first time he showed himself to me I was very little.. Only about 8 or 9 and my aunt (against my mothers wishes) had been trying to train me in her families Craft. Wicca had been a major influence over many generations Despite any Opposition that was faced, Most of the women in my family had studied and practiced it for generations.
My task that day was to find some simple herbs.. Lavender, and Rosemary and some feathers and if I could find it a snakeskin or 2. When I woke that morning there was a velvet satchel on the table next to my bed with a note from her
"Meet me downstairs for breakfast we will make your first potion today" I lept out of bed and got dressed. My mother hated the wiccan ways, said they were full of Fantasy and darkness. "Not something a modern thinking person would believe in" But i loved it. Time spent with my Aunt making lil bottles of liquid sure to cure or soothe what ails you. It worked too! I can't tell you how many upset tummies and headaches my aunt had cured with a bottle of her brew!
When I went down stairs she had pancakes and Bacon ready to eat and sat with me at the big wooden kitchen table.. It was my Birthday, 9th and she had a task for me.
She handed me a list and asked me if I remember the paths she had shown me in the woods. I nodded and looked over the list with a gleeful smile.
"Good," she said, "then eat up.. u will need to be back by noon if we will have the time to make these before your party tonight!"
I sucked down the pancakes, and tied the satchel to my waist band setting off into the woods. "hold up there," she said and spun me around, holding out 3 small Vials of liquid. "Blue is for a animal, Wolf, bear, snake, if you feel threatened by them simply smash it on the ground near you. They won’t come any closer I guarantee! red and yellow, If ya get scratched or cut use the yellow on the wound.. WIll numb any pain or itch.. Red... is koolaid.. Need to keep ya hydrated!" she laughed and slipped the bottles into the satchel at my hip. "be careful if u get lost blow on this" she took a leather strap from around her neck and Tied it around mine. From the end hung a wooden whistle. I remember my uncle sitting on the porch whittling them as a child.. "This will be heard by anyone nearby.. Good luck !"
I ran my finger along the smooth wooden mouthpiece and put it to my lips blowing hard. Auntie covered her ears and laughed "now now, save it for emergencies" she took it in her hand between her thumb and forefinger chanting half intelligible words and kissed it" "Will see you in a couple hours..."
"yes Ma'am" I said and took off into the woods.. Pausing for a moment at the dark edge a shiver ran down my spine and I smiled my hand wrapped around the Wooden Whistle and went inside..
The trickles of light spilling down thru the thick tree cover gave the Forest an eerie but beautiful air. Sounds of animals skittering around the undergrowth coming from all sides. Something crawled across my toe and I screamed and saw it as it crawled into a root tangle near the bottom of a huge old tree.. I laughed a little to myself and then actually looked at the tree. we had passed this tree over and over again but this time it was different. The whole thing seemed tinted with a purple hue the cracks in the bark almost glowing with a dim light.
"There she is Revenire, We told you she would come." a voice silent as a whisper but clear as day. echoed around me. "yes Zrenda we see, lets hope she was prepared for this... well Witch? Did your aunt tell you why you are here today your 9th Birthday?"
"Witch?" I asked with a trembling voice, "She said i am to collect herbs for my first potions," The Forest seemed to almost heave around me with laughter. the branches of the tall old trees shaking in a windless atmosphere. I would have thought they were laughing at me for talking to myself but it was them I was engaging.
"Yes, but you are also here to be tested, To see if you have the nature needed to care for Us, We have been a part of your families history for Generations. The first of your family to settle here years ago Planted us. and we grew into the Forest you visit so often. "
I smiled no longer feeling fear but warmth in this place i moved toward the tree and hesitated a second. Looking over the oldest of the trees.
"It's ok come closer, we are friends, we have watched many witches rise, and fall in your family for centuries. Sadly some hung from our branches during the darkest times for your kind, their spirits still linger here, Watching over their successors giving aid when and How they can.
Almost without thinking i reached out and touched the bark of the oldest tree, as i did the voice of the tree spoke to me and only me in my mind, A warm glow surrounding me as She spoke. "You are moving quickly little one, there have been many new witches come for this revelation, they all needed to be told to touch the bark, you did it instinctively...
It was as if Zrenda wrapped her arms around me,. "Do not fear lil witch, The spirits of your ancestors are all around you. "
The warmth and purple glow enveloped me, Not to hot or too bright my eyes would not close. Zrenda spoke again her voice calm and comforting "look lil witch" she said turning me around "They are all here, to welcome you and to impart some of their knowledge on you," there were 3 women one I knew Nana Marie, My Grandmother, Stepped forward and put her hands to my cheeks.
"My dear Kalie, I now give you what your mother could not accept, my gift of sight." She kissed my forehead and it tingled. My eyes burned and my head felt as if there bugs flying around inside, My eyes closed and she whispered in my ear. "Remember, some things must be seen, but not always shared. Others are seen and inflict great pain.. But everything for a reason" She stepped back, and smiled as another woman stepped forward taking my hands in hers.
"We have never met, but your grandmother told me about your arrival, i was elated! Your mother would not accept this from me, I hope you will." She lifted my hands to her lips and kissed each wrist. "I offer you my gift of Influence. people's perception and even once you master it their will , There are times this will be a burden, always make choice based on what is best for the Earth, mother nature and therefore mankind and you cannot Make the wrong one."
She squeezed my hands a little too tightly and looked on me with such awe, she turned and looked to the third woman dressed in attire right out of Victorian movies. "Marie was right Abigail, she is so much like you" she turned to me "Meet my Mother, Abigail.." she leaned in and whispered "Never call her Abby, Unless you want her mad at you." She stepped back and Abigail approached her grin so wide as she stepped behind me one hand over my heart on my chest and the other where it beats against my back. Her hands grew cold and she laughed.
"My daughter and Granddaughter have very useful innate powers, sometimes however its useful to throw in a wild card.. To you my dear girl i give my power of Tapping. This power was granted me by my Grandmothers Mother. and now belongs to you.. IT grants you the power to take another power, for as long as they live it will be yours They sacrifice it to you. " Be careful, this power can corrupt. Balance is needed to master it" She took her hands away But it felt as if the one on my back was still there the skin where her palm laid burned viciously..
I winced and tried to rub the spot on my shoulder blade where her hand sat twisting my neck to try and see.. "Kailie! use your gifts.". Nana Marie grinned as she spoke "if you want to see it.. see it!" Zrenda whispered to me to close my eyes and I obeyed, "Deep Breaths Kailie, it will get easier and become second nature after a while... Will yourself to move around your body.. The minds eye can detach," I took a deep breath and did what she said, willed myself to see my whole body. i felt Zrenda's grip on me tighten a lil and as if I was spinning inside my own head. Even with my eyes closed i could almost SEE the Forest spin around me.. Then as sudden as Zrenda tightened her hold on my physical body i was looking at myself leaned against her trunk. She looked at me, Not at the body she held so tight, But into my Minds eye, She turned my physical body around and looked down at my shoulder blade,
A Symbol I have seen often, One I thought was my aunts rebellious stage. A Trinity Knot burned into my flesh and darkening slowly from red to black... It shocked me to realize I was still feeling the pain of the mark. Zrenda answered the question as if I had spoken it out loud. "The pain is felt because this mark is on your soul as well.. it identifies you as one of the (Looking for title) I watched as the mark turned black and the pain faded with the change. "back to center now Kailie, Focus on your body your physical site.." It felt like i was on a water slide, thrown down it clothed and unsuspectingly unable to slow my descent. When I opened my physical eyes I was being held up somehow against Zrenda's trunk.
"Kailie, wake up... Are you ok?" I felt hands on my face and in my hair my mothers voice starting to grow in volume as i opened my eyes. I saw 2 blurs coming toward me , I assumed and my aunt trying hard to keep up. As they reached the tree my aunt whispered slowly my ear "it's ok," My mother lifted me to my feet and as my eyes focused she spoke, "What are you doing out here, Sis, I can't believe you put her in this danger, for your silly MAgic tricks.." Still a little dizzy but steady I looked up at my mom and grunted
"silly Magic tricks mom?" I tore my arm out of her hand and backed up against Zrenda who now had gone still but very warm. "It's real, and you know it!" I looked up at her eyes finally focused, But it was not my mother I saw. It was her shape, but her skin was grey, Eyes empty and fixed beyond me, I felt myself scream but I did not hear it.. Before i knew what i was doing I was running into the Forest, my heartbeat in my ears as i flew past trees branches catching my face legs and arms. once the sound of my mother's voice, which sounded like her but it was changed. Deeper, darker, she sounded as if she smoked her entire life, I slowed my pace a bit to a hurried walk and turned to look behind me, The Forest was hot and steamy mid day by now and I did not recognize my surroundings.. the trees were spindly and they had fewer and fewer leaves... As i turned my head to look where I was going again i felt as if I was punched in the face, and everything went black..
Warmth, so pleasant on my face, when I opened my eyes i was half blinded by the pain, my right eye was swollen almost shut. the firelight added to the effect causing me to close my eyes as if the light were daggers... I realized i was warm from the fire, but also there was a warmth against my back. I Tried to roll backwards to see and was unable to move far enough. It moved.. and heaved a deep breath. I remembered what my aunt had taught me about the gift she imparted to me. I closed my eyes and willed myself to see my surroundings. That spinning stopped and I opened my eyes.
I was so small in comparison to it, Its tail alone the size of my leg. A wolf, large, black, and powerful. Its breathing was loud and rocked my body as It laid there lifeless... It suddenly lifted its head. From sound asleep to awake and vigilant in seconds.. He Spun around and to his feet, sniffing my body as it rolled to my back limp and lifeless.. he nudged me with his nose and his tail fell and slipped between his hind legs. WhImpering he tried to nudge me over wake me. Then the beat did something that i did not expect... "come now lass, Don't do this.. It was just a branch of a tree! Wakeup!" As soon as the laughter started in me I felt the descent back to my physical body.. I took a deep gasping breath and slid myself backwards against a tree away from it.
Rubbing my eyes i spouted at it "Who are you??" Its Tail wagged vigorously and it sat down I almost saw the relief it its eyes. "W..what are you?"
It moved closer and sat right at my toes laying its head on my knees and sighing deeply.. I felt no fear of this beast. Oddly i was comfy with it.. I laid my hand on his head and dug my fingers in. "Did you save me Wulfie?" It grunted and wagged its tail a bit gently licking my other hand which had blood still covering it.. Without my willing it the spinning started. But it did not stop with me looking down at myself but instead I saw the wulfie.. Curled up on the floor of a cave,, A being, not human but very bright stood over him. It stretched its arm out over his body and spoke softly, "Your path lead you here, and this is not the end. We think, your soul would serve best as a Familiar, a Companion to witches who are learning the craft. So this is what you will do." His body was surrounded by a white./yellow light and he writhed inside it.. His form shifted, The dog becoming a back cat and then a Sprite. Each change seeming to cause him great pain. Once settled his form twitched between each one and settled in the wolf form. "YOu Ruairidh will learn to take other forms as you continue on this path. YOu will, however, find these three the most useful.." He stood up and shook like a newly bathed pup.
THe being slipped to one knee and stroked his furr. "We thank you for all your years of service, We could not let you die, you are to valuable to us." The light around the being waned and I could see her form. A Woman, Silvery white robes, long red hair. "I knew you were meant for more than your father saw in you son, I am very proud of you" He licked her hand and then suddenly his head twitched toward me. I gasped as he moved toward me with a growl,. I fell again and when I opened my eyes he was backed up a couple paces and peering at me with caution.
"Ruairidh! THat is your name?" His ears perked a bit and his body began to glow, Grunting as his skin peeled and cracked furr giving way to skin. His form rose and stood over me. A man Nakid and covered in mud and whatever else the forest left on him. He squatted and wrapped his arms around his legs rocking as the change settled in on him.
"Yes, I am Ruairidh, and i knew i had seen you before. When I was told to come here and wait for my new Witch, I had no clue..." He shuddered in the cold morning air and sighed. THis is my human form. I did not think you would figure out who I was so soon.. Took the other witches a long time to get who and what I was,."
"Well," I said taking off my coat and wrapping it around his waist covering him in the best way I could "I know only that U are magical, and have many forms. And your name? What else should I know?"
HE tightened the coat around his hips and laughed "Least the important bits are covered" He settled down at the fire and sighed deeply, his eyes focused on the fire for a while as if searching it for a way to explain everything. He looked down at himself and gave a chuckle that seemed more melancholy Than happy and looked back to me.
“I wasn’t Always like this, My mother Was a witch, but she was not as lucky as you. When she was alive the world did not accept things as readily as they do now.” He looked back to the fire and his eyes filled with tears. He pressed his palms to his eyes and shook his head taking a deep breath and looking back to the fire. He wasn’t however simply staring. It looked as if he SAW something in the flames. I thought to myself that I wish I could see what he did, feel his emotion. Not seconds after the wish was made I was doing just that. I did not spin or fall.. I was simply and quite clearly seeing through his eyes. I stood up and my heart started to race. “No!” he said “Get out!” at this moment I became more aware of what i was seeing. I saw myself slumped over the log i was sitting on.
My mind went back to the day before, “I gift you my power of sight” could that help me do this? Sit in someone's mind like my mother did the wheel of her SUV?
“that is exactly what it is..” he croaked “You only were Gifted yesterday?” he took a deep breath as I answered him yes.. They weren't kidding when They said you would be my most important witch in the hundreds of years i have been guiding them. They could have warned me.
I closed my eyes and shook my head as if his words were tickling my mind “What are you talking about?” I asked “Who are “they” and what do “they” have to do with me?” he stepped a little closer to the fire and sighed. looking at his hand i felt a bit of fear swept over his body.
“forgive me for this my witch,” He held his hand out slipping it into the fire, the pain was unreal, We both screamed and then the falling as if descending that water slide again. I came to Screaming opening my eyes to see him sitting next to the fire as the wolf.
“Ok, I see now why They Were so adamant about me getting here.” he sat on his hind legs with the hand, or paw, he had burned lifted gingerly licking the wound. “What have you been told about your family Kailie?” I slipped the yellow potion from my Satchel and moved to him. I cringed as I got closer the smell of burning flesh hung in the air around him. When i reached out to gently hold it in my hand he jerked it away and looked at me shaking his head. I held the bottle out to him and his eyes widened a little. “You know potions?” he blurted “at 9 you know potions?”
I nodded and again put my palm under his paw and lifted it slightly ripping the cork out of the bottle with my teeth. “my Aunt made these, I haven't actually made any potions my aunt, however, has taught me about all the herbs in this forest.” I poured half of the bottle over his twisted and burned paw using my other thumb to move it over and cover the wound. My hand and his paw seemed to almost vibrate and he screeched a little. I let his paw go and stepped back, before my eyes the flesh began to grow over his wound and the fur even began to grow back a little.
“Thank you lil witch, you are definitely the most learned one i have been charged with..” He let his paw touch the ground and put some weight on it. “only a slight limp, i will heal up the rest nicely”
