Willow opened her eyes to the sun piecing them. She was up late surprised no one woke her. Rubbing her eyes and shaking out her legs which were a little stiff and putting on her clothes she hurried toward the outhouse. People were out and about Rolly hurried by leading two horses one a paint white with red patches and one dusty brown. She saw Tara walking away from her toward a shed pulling a cart.
Willow still had not more than seen her friend in passing at the prayers the night before and had run over to her home for a few minutes, it was a short visit. Tara had wanted Willow to stay, but Willow was thinking about going and saving her father. She felt like she was in one of the stories she read, and an urgency kept her from just hung out with her Tara. Willow had just got back from her walk down the road to see her friend and she had been stopped by Raina and was chastised for being out by herself. Willow went to her room to sleep before anyone else saw her. She didn't feel like being told how foolish she was again. Sleep was not the escape she had hoped she tossed and turned all night. The moment she was sound asleep she was back in the woods walking down the trail just as she had, then in the void space the same animals and the same message, but the end changed. When she returned to the road, she saw people dead scattered down the trail and when she got the courage to move closer to see if they were really dead or just injured, she saw the faces of her friends and family torn and bloody. She screamed she could not sleep, sleep lead back to the dream. She had heard her mom up late likely caring for Fern as she had done in the past when dealing with someone who was in need of healing, but no one came to her room maybe she didn't scream.
She tried to think of something else and remembered her favorite story about a wizard, dwarves and a young hobbit leaving to help the dwarves and save the world. She tapped her chin thinking about the story and the adventures seeing herself as the hobbit Bilbo yes that was it and the stories name was the Hobbit, she would need to read that book again. But soon her tiredness lead to sleep, sleep the vision, and then waking with a scream. She shook her head time to think of something else helping find her father.
She considered her words as she headed to where her mom was most likely in the kitchen helping Raina prepare breakfast. They had decided she was to be left here but the more she thought about it the less she liked being left home, she wasn’t a child anymore, she could take care of herself. Willow entered the kitchen deciding to make her case about going to find her father. She didn’t like her mom leaving without her, so she would make a stand and a plea to go. She had been to the trading circle it was safe enough before and it was better for them to stay together. What would she do if both her mom and dad were gone. She didn’t want to be left alone at the farm either maybe she was just being silly, but she had a bad feeling and wanted to get away from here. A shiver started at her middle and continued through her body as she stood there for a few minutes thinking but thinking lead to the dreams from last night. She didn't want that thought, so she thought about her home instead. She has always loved her home, but the uncomfortable feeling just wouldn’t go away. She tried to refocus but didn't feel as confident and almost lost her nerve, what was she going to say?
Ali noticed her daughter’s arrival the moment she entered the kitchen and her desperation rolled off her like dark energy. Ali wanted to say something about her screaming in the night about why she should agree to stay, but she looked ready to cry. Ali knew what Willow was feeling she felt the same worry about leaving her behind. She needed to be strong this was for the best. They didn't know what they would find Willow had no idea and she wasn't going to explain now.
Willow began pleaded with her mom, “You can’t leave me here. I want to go with. I could help.” Her words came in gasps and tears threatening the corner of her eyes.
Her mom shook her head, “Willow it is better that you stay. We need to travel fast, and it could be dangerous.”
Willow pleaded more loudly feeling more desperate, “Please I want to help I I…….” She trailed off crying angry with her mom and with herself for being angry and she hurried from the room slamming the door behind her.
She went right down the hall toward her room she needed to think, and she couldn’t take a walk unless she took someone with. She had already been warned about being out and about by herself. Her parents were always trying to protect her, but she wanted to learn to protect herself she didn’t like to feel so small. Once she had overheard her mom and dad talking, well almost arguing. She felt a little guilty about listening in on their conversation until she realized they were talking about her. Her father discussed teaching Willow to defend herself and fight. Her mother wanted to wait, saying something about her being too young. Her dad pressed saying something about not being able to keep her safe from his past forever. They had been lucky so far, he said and that is when her mother started to cry. That was the end of the conversation. She remembered her mom and dad training together years ago it looked like fun, but when they found her spying on them, they stopped or got better at hiding it. When she asked her father, she was always told now is not the time. She kept walking as her mind whirled with memories.
When she stopped and looked up, she found herself in front of Fern’s room. Her door was the same collection of planks as any door in Rolly's home, but Fern had painted small animals and flowers running along the bottom of the door and up the side a simple vine of blue flowers wound around the door handle. She wasn’t sure why she was here her mother was already angry with her this would likely make it worse. She had asked her mother about seeing Fern and was told flatly no. Before she thought about it more and changed her mind, she opened the door and walk boldly into the room.
She stepped further into the room slowly, not sure what to expect and not wanting to wake Fern. She wasn’t prepared for what she saw, after all the talk about being old enough to take care of herself she felt small, fern looked worse than she had thought possible. She had never seen anyone look so sick and her heart went out to Fern. Willow and Fern have been friends since she could remember. They had a lot of fun together Fern was a wild child always pushing the limits of what they were allowed to do. She had always been the cautious one and Fern teased her about being afraid to have fun. She would give anything to go back in time and just be a couple of kids playing in the woods. She hated to see Fern looking so weak laying there not moving barely alive. Willow sat down next to Fern's bed and gently took her hand it looked so fragile like it would break if you held it too tight. Willow wanted to do something to help, but she didn’t have the healing skills of her mother, so she did the only thing she knew how to do, pray.
Her eyes filled with tears, "Creator Gitchea Manitou please help Fern heal from this sickness and protect everyone else from getting ill," it took a long time to finish the few words of her prayer as she sobbed and cried through every word.
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Fern worried and thought what I can do to help Fern get better on one deserves this. We should be talking and laughing Fern should be happy and well again. Her determined thoughts lead to her fumbling with her leather bag and her special stones. She remembered Fern and her chasing fire flies through the field. Fern did most the catching she was good at it Willow had felt bad because she couldn’t catch one. Willow had tried to be happy for Fern and just enjoy their fun, but she was just sad. Fern ran inside leaving Wiilow holding the jar of twinkling bugs. When Fern returned, she took the jar and gave Willow a small carved quartz flower. She removed her stones one at a time until she held Fern’s stone. It made her think of Fern, and it was a happy memory. She needed happy right now, before the tears and pain in her chest from crying overwhelmed her. Before long she had all her special stone laying in a circle on the table next to Fern’s bed. She was looking at the stones thinking about Fern when the room seemed to shift, she was sitting surrounded by the council of animals the same circle and void from her vision and her dreams. Her heart raced!
This was the same place she had been to the day before, back in the woods near her home. Willow spoke quickly her words tumbled out sounding more desperate than she had wanted, not wanting them to be gone before she got her questions out, “Why am I here?” But there were no answers, “How is this possible?” still there was no answers. Willow thought, I must have fallen asleep was it another nightmare? Did I expect animals to answer me and what could possibly be the meaning of this vision was she missing an important message? She stood and began walking toward a large silvery colored mare with blue eyes and wavy mane and tail. As Willow approached the animals, she went from feeling anxious to feeling calm and even excited to be surrounded by them. She forgot her worries keeping in mind Fern’s health.
“Not to worry,” a soft voice echoed in her head. Willow stopped and looked around finding a woman surrounded by light as if she was illuminated from the inside. She was so bright Willow could not really see her face clearly. The mysterious woman appeared to be wrapped in a dark robe scattered with stars, her long silver hair was braided and hung over her shoulder and almost touched the ground by her feet. Willow closed her eyes then opened them, thinking that the woman would be gone, but she was still there. Willow then pinched her arm, why did people do that anyway it hurt, she was obviously not asleep and if she had been she would be awake now, but the woman had not moved. She appeared proud head held high, in her left hand a staff, a wood stick which curved at the top to form a circle, inside the circle was a spider’s web, there was red cloth, dark fur and seven feathers hanging from the staff. Willows concentration on her vision was broken when the voice again spoke to her as if inside her thoughts, “We are your grandmothers your relatives we are here to help, to guide, to teach.” She was thinking about the words she had heard when she realized she could also hear a drum with a steady beat and words to a song the song grew louder and steadier, she did not recognize the words, but as the signing continued, she found herself singing along.
Her grandmother voice whispered, " A healing song in answer to your prayer."
Although Willow heard the voice, she found herself caught up in the magic of the drum song and the words gave her strength and hope, so she sang. As the song continued, she thought of Fern and wanted to give her the same strength and hope that she felt. She reached out and took Ferns hands. Willow continued to sing the song it was calming and felt good her energy filled the room.
Willow woke to a soft touch and a softer voice saying her name. She had forgotten where she was for a moment. And who had just spoken the voice was so quiet? Reality flooded back to her; how long had she been sleeping? She picked up her head and was so close to Ferns face that it was a blur. Fern was awake, she reached over and wiped a tear from ferns cheek, hugged her friend and then wiped a tear from her own face too. She was so happy that Fern was alright she didn’t care about anything else, she needed to tell her mom. What if the search party was gone, and she didn’t get a chance to say goodbye. It didn’t matter she would ride out and find them and tell them.
Fern croaked voice dry, “I am thirsty. Could I get a drink?”
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” willow repeated excitedly before running from the room, her eyes searching frantically for someone anyone, but the house was empty. She ran out the door and saw the horses tied and waiting, at least they did not leave without me she thought, but where could everyone be. Willow kept looking but as she walked around the horses she bumped into Zerin as he stood up.
Zerin said with a giggle, “You have to stop doing that! And then more seriously, “Where have you been? Everyone is out looking for you.” Your mother said you stormed out of the kitchen and walked down the hall toward your room. Your mom went to talk to you, but you were gone.” His hands were on his hips his brow formed a deep angry furrow across his forehead." You agreed to stay close." the last word trailing off.
Willow hesitated her thoughts whipping around wildly in her mind, “I never left the house!” as she shook her head a frown forming on her face. Willow wondered if the day could get any stranger.
Zerin looked concerned and replied, “Your room was checked when you weren’t there, the house was searched.” His face softened showing concern rather than the anger there just a minute ago.
Willow remembered why she has gone looking for someone, in a rush she said, “Never mind me Fern is awake asking for a drink. I need to tell my mom, her mom, everybody!”
Zerin’s hands fell to his sides and his jaw dropped for a moment Willow thought he would fall over, then he ran for the house leaving the horse he was saddling untied. Willow looking around and seeing no one, jumped up on the horse and rode off to find someone. She worried about Fern as she rode off, she hated to leave but Zerin would take care of Fern and she would back in a few minutes. She needed to find someone, and she need to tell her mom she wasn’t gone. She had likely made her mom cry. Willow was sensitive and hated it when someone made her cry, so she had made a promise to herself to never make someone else cry. She didn’t take the time to think further on her failure there was too much to do, and Fern was going to be ok. They also needed to head out to find her dad soon, time was short. She had no explanation for her disappearance, she didn’t mean to worry everyone again, but what could she tell them. She rode fast only pausing to check all the outbuildings, and fields. She wasn’t having any luck finding her mom or anyone else and all this riding around was getting her nowhere, so she stopped.
She dropped to the ground resting her hands on the cool green blanket that covered the earth. Her mom had said that the earth was their mother she provided a place to live, food to eat and clothing. The plants and animals were put here to guide and protect her if she would let them. As she thought about finding her mother, she swore she could sense something, so she let her inner self search. Holding the reigns, she walked towards the woods it felt right. She walked for about a 5-minutes into the trees away from the farm. Soon she heard voices and quickened her pace toward the sound. As she got closer, she saw her mom and Raina standing by a large cedar tree holding out their left hands. They let what was in their hands sprinkle to the earth as Willow approached leading the horse.
Ali and Raina jerked around and turned to face Willow. On each face was a look of shock and tears run down their cheeks. Willow announced with excitement! Willow made sure she spoke first that might save her an impossible explanation of where she had been, “You need to come quick Fern is awake.”