Raina didn’t hesitate and was up into the saddle of the horse and motioned for the reigns before any words could be exchanged. Willow tossed the reigns over the horse’s head to Raina and immediately began running back toward the house. Willow wanted to get back to Fern, she wanted to tell everyone Fern was up and to avoid all the uncomfortable questions. Her mother was tenacious when she got ahold of some idea or concern, she didn't let go. Willow felt a chill up her spine thinking of her mother when she digs out every detail of her thoughts in the past few days to get at what was going on. Woe anyone who got in her way, so Willow ran. Better to avoid her mother's questions as long as possible she was afraid of the questions she didn’t know how to answer. She could hear her mother running behind her and hoped that she was faster. She had not really seen her mother do much running, but she was running now. By the time willow cleared the trees and was running across the open area before the house's others started running as well. The run seemed to take forever her breath was coming in gasps and she began to slow down. Dread welled up in Willow as she turned to see her mom still running.
Ali started speaking as soon as she was within hearing distance obviously a little breathless, “Where have you been young lady, instead of us leaving, everyone is out looking for you! We need to talk; I can’t figure what has gotten into you.” The comments continued they were full of emotion and hurt she could hear it in her mother’s voice, and it made Willow sad. She did not know what to say, what would her mother believe? What could she do to make her understand; she did not mean any of it to happen, except Fern getting well. That was worth whatever trouble she would be in.
Hands on knees Willow worked to catch her breath. She decided some truth is the only thing she had to offer, in a slightly gasping breathers “I do not know what you are talking about mother I never left the house.” Willow said as politely as she could manage. “I ended up in Fern’s room even though I knew you had said not to! When Fern asked me for water, I went as quickly as I could to find you. I found Zerin first he is likely inside talking care of her right now.”
Before anymore could be said there was a loud sharp clap of a bell being rung. Willow had heard the bell before it was used to call the families together for important events, meetings and emergencies. Ali glared at her daughter and ran toward the house. Willow moved more slowly and worried the rest of the way to the house. Her world had changed and was likely to continue to change and she didn’t think she was happy about it. It looked to be afternoon how long had she been missing? Why did they say she was missing, that was one strange dream she had twice? She would think about it later her tummy was rumbling; her hunger took her to the kitchen. Maybe there was food left from breakfast she mused as she pushes the door open. When she entered the kitchen, she was surprised to find the food uncooked, untouched and cold. It looked like cooked had been started the bacon sat in a large cast iron skillet looking half cooked, the eggs whipped in a large bowl and flat breads rolled out but only a couple cooked. She put the bacon back on the stove top and threw some corn cobs in the stove to heat things up a bit. Her mouth began to water and her stomach rumble thinking of breakfast. Busying herself arrange everything to finish some breakfast she didn't hear Zerin as he walked into the room.
Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
“What you up to now?” Zerin said, His eye where rimmed in red he had been crying, but his mouth was turned up in that mischievous grin he had when he thought he was clever.
Willow was caught off guard she motioned to the breakfast and then her tummy, while she Looked for another answer. The last few hours ran through her head as she couldn't wait any longer. She grabbed a flat bread and began to eat it in large bites while flipping the bacon as it began to sizzle. It was then that she remembered her stones. She had left them in Fern’s room she needed to go get them. Handing the fork to Zerin she smiled grabbing another bread she commented, "These are quite good." then said as sweetly as she could, “I will be back in a minute or two could you watch the bacon for me?”
Zerin started to protest, “let me go find someone to help I do not know how to cook.” But Willow was already gone. She headed down the hall to Fern’s room she hoped to recover her stones. She felt so stupid, she didn’t mean to leave her stones, and she needed to put her things away. She stopped ½ way down the hall, darn she heard voices. She ducked into her room instead to gather up her things. She would have to wait and then get her stones later.
Willow paced in her room her world was turning upside down. What was happening to her? Was she crazy hearing voices, having visions, healing, and disappearing into thin air. Willow stopped it sounded like magic was her life now a story full of wizards, trolics, dragons and evil needing to be stopped? She had no answers, but she hoped that she was wrong how could she have magic. There was something she did know, and Willow made an important decision she was not going to be left behind. If she wasn't allowed, she would follow her mother when she left today. If she trailed behind for a day or two, they would be too far away to make her turn back. She thought about what she would need things like clothes, food, water, and shelter. She packed up her clothes, rolled up the blanket and a pillow to stuff it into her bag there was little room left, and the bag looked as big as she was. Maybe she would leave the pillow she needed food and water yet. The thought of leaving her pillow made her frown and there would be no room for her doll either.