The Nymph of Black Forest

I pull my cart into the apothecary and Adele hears the bell..coming out from the back she tells me “Child! I knew you would be here today! And I am so happy to see you! I have news!” I really don’t like when she does that! I don’t like knowing what might happen. I prefer to be just as surprised as everyone else. A life of predictability would be boring! She continues “I was sorry to learn of your grandmother, Rhia! She was such a good woman! Here..here, sit! I have a special tea today. Tell me what you think. It’s sunflower and mint!” I tasted the tea, after blowing to cool it down. “It’s lovely, Adele. I like the mint..it clears the sinuses..and the sunflower gives it enough bite to soothe my senses. Now what is your news?” She tittered..like a young girl “There will be a mate..for you! Your wolf is calling him. Soon. You will have forever love” and I laughed…”Adele, I live in the middle of the Black Forest. No one ventures past the edges of the treeline. Tell me..how will I meet this mystery mate!?”

She scoffs “Always the skeptic, child! The heart will find a way! Trust in that! Now..what potions and tonics did you bring me?” And I explained what I had packed up..showing her the labels on each bottle..and how much to use for each apple she uses them for. Then she asked if I had brought any Moon Flower potion..she has a patient with a lung affliction that none of her potions can cure yet. I grinned “You’re in luck! I brought only two bottles, though. They are pricey, because the flowers are becoming harder to find. I’m sorry.”

She tsk’d saying she’s not concerned with price “A good potion..or tonic is worth the price!” I agree and we talk about the town..and why it is so busy. She gets excited and starts talking animatedly about there being a fair in town. “Come with me! Let’s walk the midway..and see what we can see! It’s the first carnival to pass through in years!” And I agree, because NaNa wouldn’t let me go the last time. I was probably..eight.. and the rides fascinated me. But the smells.. the smell of the many foods intoxicated me! She said no, though.. ‘We have no time for such frivolity’ is what she told me.

Telling her I can only go for an hour..or I would never be able to make it home before dark..she grins.. telling me to hurry! So, I left my cart in her store and we scurried off. The fair was amazing! We tried corndogs..funnel cakes.. and the most amazing cloud of sugary goodness I have ever seen! They called it cotton candy! And it looked like a big pink fluffy cloud of cotton! It was sooo good. I even let Micah eat some..except now he seems to be in a sugar coma. We walked around and looked at everything! I played a dart game..where you throw darts and pop balloons.. after I had four stuffies..the guy behind the counter said I had to leave. That I was bad for business! We rode a big wheel that Adele said is a Ferris Wheel. And they stopped it when we were right at the top! I could see the Black Forest in the distance! All the treetops! I was amazed and decided I really like the fair!!

We headed back, so I could get my cart and buy my groceries. Micah was complaining of a headache but that’s just because of his sugar crash! I told him we would get some cheese as a treat this time..and he settled happily into my pocket.

Walking back home, I passed some black orchids..helping myself to half dozen.. they are perfect for healing potions.. they can heal imternal wounds..even a brain aneurysm! Very handy to have..and they are so very rare! This is an unexpected windfall and I am giddy with appreciation! I am happily chattering away to Micah about it when Edith joined us. She is an adorable teenage eagle fledgling..and has only just learned distance flying!

She tells me her dad has sent her searching for me because the rogues have moved camp a little further east from their northern location and her father is worried. They banked their fires..but embers are still smoking, causing concern because the winds are picking up out of the north.. And I run! Dropping my cart inside my cottage.. I change into leggings and a tee shirt and tear out of there to the campsite. If the embers spark into flame..our forest is in danger! I can’t let that happen!

I reach the campsite just before dark..and I can see the glow of the embers in the firepits. The winds are trying to blow them to life and I am angry! I summon the clouds..asking them to provide the rain I need to douse the would-be flames. Without hesitation..the deluge immediately put the embers down. I then bury the charred remains..just to make sure. And, again, I ask the clouds for one more favor. They acquiesce…since it’s early evening and they haven’t had much fun lately. They follow along the treeline, as I wind my way to the rogue’s new camp. I smile and ask the clouds to bring the rain again. And they are more than happy to. Soaking everything within a mile’s circumference of the camp..even popping lightning whenever one of those evil men tried moving. Good times!

Micah and I sit high in a knotty pine..watching the camp. They were trying to clean up after the storm. Slipping in the mud..not finding any dry wood for new fires. They cursed at each other.. got into a few physical altercations.. then decided to just turn in for the night. Hoping for a better day tomorrow.

I headed back to my cottage.. and got all the supplies we purchased put in their place. After tucking Micah in, I sat to work on a winter sweater I’m making. I found some lambswool yarn in a beautiful emerald green at the milliners’ in Woodland Falls last visit and it is really turning into a beautiful piece! I am making it extra large..so I can layer underneath it for extra warmth. Winters here can be mean! After a couple hours, my lids were drooping, so I turned in. Micah was chitttering in his sleep about Ferris wheels and cotton fluffs. I’m assuming the candy we had today was riding his brain.

Morning dawned with a crisp bite in the air. That sometimes means..winter is moving down the mountain earlier that expected. So, instead of fishing today and salting my catch, we decided to forage for wild vegetables. I know where there are leeks..and wild garlic…not too far from home. There is some wild asparagus and sheep sorrel to the southwest..as well as purslane. Due west, I will dig for potatoes. Mushrooms and wild onion are just to the south a mile or so. It’s going to be a long day! I throw on some jeans and a hoodie to ward off the chill. I will take it off, as the day warms. I help Micah into one of the hoodie I made for him…he’s quite spoiled now.. hates his ears being cold!

The day has been long..but so productive! We found wild apples..and carrots! Some Jerusalem artichokes and chickweed! We will have a good variety of vegetables to can.. Tonight I have promised Micah a raspberry cobbler, and he hasn’t shut his annoying little ass up about it, for two hours. Mice are annoyingly chatty! Don’t let anyone tell you different!

We arrived back at the cottage in the early afternoon, and with plenty of daylight left..I decided to chop some extra firewood while I prepared our vegetables for canning! I worked late into the afternoon and Micah is convinced he has been so helpful! A scratching at the door, had me opening to discover Squeaky’s son..telling me his mom had fallen from the tree and is complaining of leg pain. So I grabbed a couple poultices and bandages and headed over to Elm Tree. Her leg was severely bruised..but not broken. I packed a poultice on her leg and wrapped it snugly. Then told her cantankerous mate he had to take care of the household for two days! She needed to rest her leg for 48 hours! He grumbled and moaned, but eventually agreed and I headed home.

Just as I closed my door and taken off my hoodie, an agonizing howl rent the night air. I grabbed my weapons and ran outside..listening.. I picked up sounds from the northeast.. snarling and growling. The sounds of bodies crashing together. I told Micah to stay put..and I ran in the direction of the sounds. I was further east than the rogue camp..but I could smell their stench. I flitted into a pine to get an overview of what I was hearing.

A huge black wolf was ripping into rogues..right and left. Easily fifteen lay dead around him, and there seemed to be no slow up in him. I nocked my first arrow.. and started helping him..killing the ones trying to sneak up on him. I noticed the black wolf was bleeding profusely and slowing down.. I kept firing on the rogues until my arrows were gone. I jumped from the tree…drawing my sword and my long knife and dove into the fray. I decapitated three as I worked my way toward the big wolf.

I yanked a dagger from my side, whipped my hand from my side, loosing the knife at the last wolf..driving the knife deep in his forehead and he dropped like a stone. I turned to check the black wolf’s injuries..just as he collapsed into the dirt. I whistled for Edith to sit with him, while I ran back to the cottage..grabbing the litter to bring him back so I can treat him. It took nearly an hour to tug his huge body home…finally getting him inside. I situated him on a pallet in front on the fire and set about examining him.