The Nymph of Black Forest

I had been passing out food stuffs to all the creatures in the forest, and Derek has been carefully packing my tonics, potions, and dried herbs, flowers and roots. I already packed my clothes.. Derek said he was taking me shopping. That could be fun! I have the cottage nearly ready to lock down.. I walk back inside, looking for Micah. I called him three times before he popped his head out of his room. I asked him if he was packed..and he chattered away.. Derek was looking between him and me, when my eyes got great big “What do you mean?? Are you crazy? We are a duo! The dynamic duo! Where I go, you go! I love you, Micah! I would never leave you behind! You might even find a lady mouse that catches your eye at our new house! Now hurry along and pack your clothes! Wear your blue hoodie! It matches your eyes!” Derek is looking at me…trying not to laugh and I smile “What? He hates the winter. His ears get cold! So he has pants..and matching hoodies! I make him new ones every year!” And he couldn’t hold it in, anymore. It started as a low rumble then broke free.. his whole body shaking with laughter. I mumble “It’s not THAT funny!” And he hugs me tight..still laughing “Oh baby! It is! It’s hilarious and absolutely adorable! And I already packed his table and chair, so you can laugh at me now!” But I didn’t laugh! I thanked him for being so thoughtful!

We made it out to the pickup point..pulling my cart. I had quite a few boxes with my potions, tonics and herbs. Pulling the cart made it manageable. Monty jumped out to help load up and before long, we were headed out. Micah got curious after awhile..so he jumped up on the dashboard to look out the windshield. Monty started to laugh and he said “Is that.. Is he.. clothes? Oh my Goddess! That’s priceless!” I roll my eyes and Derek explains “His ears get cold. So Rhiannon makes him clothes.” And he said it with a straight face..but that fell through when Monty started laughing again. Derek couldn’t hold it.

An hour into the drive.. I was looking at everything! The trees were different.. but the same! Evergreens..cedars..sycamores.. I fell in love with each mile. Monty speaks “Umm..Derek.. Deidra and her father arrived this morning and Shawn was dealing with them..but I’m not sure how that’s working out.” And I heard Ambrose starting to growl.. I crawled into Derek’s lap and let Ambrose feel Edina. He calmed almost instantly and I said “I will handle her.. I am your mate. Not her! I will make sure that message is received straight away!”

He says “Monty.. the full moon is in two days! I want the Luna ceremony set! Everything is a go! Shawn is supposed to have gotten the housekeeper and Sadie on it..as soon as he got home!” And Monty said he did..and Sadie is beside herself to finally have a Luna. I asked who Sadie is..and apparently, she is Shawn’s mate. Good to know!

I looked out the window and said “I didn’t know I would be this far north! Look, Babe! LOOK! Luna’s fern! Do you know what I can do with Luna’s fern!? I can make so many beneficial tonics and potions! Poultices that heal burns in hours! I can make a tea that will make our pack immune to silver! Oh my Goddess! I am so happy! Can we stop? Can I pick some?”

He laughed.. “ we just thought it was a useless weed.. it grows rampant across the packlands!” I gasp! “Ohhh…if my aunt hears you..she won’t be happy!! At all! Her fern and moonflowers are her gift to the earth! It’s why they only open at night! Do you have moonflowers on the mountain?? Please say yes!! Please!?”

Monty asks “Aunt? The moon goddess is your aunt?” I nod.. of course..I thought he knew that! He laughs “Your coolness just went off the Richter scale!” I’m confused. I look at Derek.. “What?” He laughs… “we haven’t told him that you are an earthbound deity.” I’m still confused… “Then how does he think I can do the things I do? Does everyone talk to plants and animals? Micah! Put that down! That has coffee in it! I don’t need you bouncing off the walls..at least, not until we’ve met everyone!”

Derek says “Okay.. I’ll bite.. what happens if Micah drinks coffee?” I shrug..and give Micah a stern look “He adores coffee! All kinds of coffee. If you don’t watch him…he WILL find a way to drink it. The only phrase I can think of to describe what happens is “crackhead on a three day binge!” “Like now!” I snatch the cup away and take the straw out of Micah’s hands! “Goddess damnit, Micah!” Then I ask how much further.. because we are going to be in a world of trouble! And Derek tells me ten minutes tops.

By the time we had pulled in front of the pack house, the coffee had hit Micah.. He had bounced front to rear in the car..ran up Monty’s leg… taken Derek’s hair out of his topknot and climbed up my arm to make a swing with my braid. I said “This is your fault, Monty! I saw you give him the straw! You are on mouse patrol until I get my shit unloaded!” And Derek started laughing and said “Good luck, Mon!”

Derek took me to a room on the fifth floor.. it was a lovely room! With a lot of good light.. I looked at him with a question in my eyes.. He wrapped his arms around me.. I thought you might like to have this room to work on your tonics and stuff!” I squealed and asked really..and when he nodded, I squealed again and leapt into his arms…wrapping my legs around his waist! Best day ever!!

We went down to the dining hall.. it was time for dinner.. and Derek wanted to announce he has found his mate. Monty came in and I asked where Micah was.. and he said “He..uhh.. he got away from me..” and I said where…where did you last see him?” And he said “He was running like mad.. and I chased him to the third floor..” I raced for the third floor. Yelling his name.. and he wasn’t answering me. I started to panic.. Edina said 🐺 shhh… breathe… now listen… listen for his heartbeat and I sat on the floor..shutting out all the other sounds.. and listened. I heard it! I stood and started following the sound.. Derek on my heels. I reached a door.. third from the end.. his little heart was racing.. he was scared! “Who’s room is this?” I pounded and pounded.. it was locked! I kept asking who’s room..and nobody answered. I stepped back and kicked the fucking thing in.. the room was a holy mess! Clothes thrown all over. A broken mirror on its side! Shoes laying everywhere. Panties scattered all over the floor. What the fuck? I yelled Micah’s name.. and I listened. I finally found him.. in a corner.. in the bathroom cabinet.. trapped under what looked like half a broken jewelry box. Someone had trapped him! I yanked the box out and pulled my baby to me.. he was terrified! He had never been treated in such a way! I tucked him into my neck and tied my braid around his little trembling body. I hadn’t realized I was crying.. but my little Micah was terrified and crying!

Derek pulls me out of the room..and says “We will find out what happened after Micah calms down. Let’s have dinner and maybe after he eats something, he will be calmer.” And we walked into the dining hall. Monty kept apologizing but it wasn’t his fault. It was mine. I know what caffeine does to him..and I should have kept him with me.

We had been sitting about ten minutes…and Micah was calmer. He came out from my hair and Derek held his palm out for Micah to perch. Which he did. Monty leaned over and whispered “Sorry little dude! I should have been quicker” and Micah rattled his little squeaks. I said “he doesn’t blame you. He’s the one who ran off.” A high pitched woman’s voice interrupted the entire dining room “Derek! Why wasn’t I told you were back? Daddy and I have been waiting for you!” And she reached her arm out to hug him. I grabbed her forearm.. and said lowly “You do not touch what does not belong to you” She said “You do not touch me..you little freak! What is up with your ears? What’s going on here Derek? You have mice.. one is trapped in my bathroom upstairs and now..this..this street urchin? Things are going to change drastically when I’m Luna!” And I laughed! I picked Micah up..putting him on my shoulder and said “At least I know what happened to Micah. Going to let you handle this… for now. Until I don’t like where it’s going!