Land of the Moon

Chapter 11

My body felt like it was on fire while the wound was now freezing and numb. I felt my fingers being clasped in a cool embrace. I struggled to peek through my sealed eyelids when they finally cracked open. I could see Ema holding my hand as she slept by my side. I got a shock of cold on my head from Louisa’s hand touching my forehead. Slowly moving my head so I could look to my left, I saw Louisa and Mira sitting close to me. Mira was helping Louisa to tend to me with the fever that now had a stronghold on my body and cleaning my wound. I tried to concentrate on what they were saying before the darkness pulled me back, cutting me off from the world.

When I next awoke, Mira’s ruby red hair was dancing in the wind, fluttering across my face, making the world vibrant red. The burning aches were now gone from my body, everything felt numb and heavy. It took me a bit of work to move my arm to get Mira’s attention. Ema noticed me right away coming over to check on me. “How are you feeling Cecily? Do you want some water?” Mira helped me up as Ema brought a waterskin to my lips. The water was heaven to my parched mouth and dry throat. It felt like forever since I last had a drink.

Mira laid me back down to rest my head on my makeshift pillow. They both waved Louisa over to check on me. “How are you feeling?” Louisa asked as she started checking me with healing magic.

“Well, I’m not dead.” I roughly whispered and a body-racking laugh escaped me. Ema frowned at my attempted joke. “Ema, if I am feeling like this, then that means I am on the mend and getting better slowly. You won’t be getting rid of me that easily.” I gave her a weak smile. This made Ema smile though it did not reach her eyes.

“You really are healing well and faster than anyone I have ever heard of who has been scratched by a werewolf.” Louisa said as she finished up checking me over.

“How long have I been out?” I croaked out. My throat still sore and drying up fast again. Ema held up the water skin for me to have another drink.

“You have been in and out a few times. It has been two weeks since we got out of the caves in the Dark Mountain.” Mira filled me in.

“It was a battle for Louisa with your fever. I honestly thought we might lose you, Cecily. Your body got as cold as ice and we could not even feel your heartbeat.” Ema’s eyes started to glass over as she told me this bit.

“It was touch and go there for a while with you. It was really tough, though like I said, you do heal pretty fast the few times I have heard of it happening. It took them a month to break the fever. That is even with some young shifters who are very healthy and have healers who know what they are doing.” Louisa sat back looking at me. “You really are lucky Cecily. I had a hard time making an elixir for you since I did not know what kind of shifter you were. Certain ones work well for some shifters and can make others worse. Ema told me that your parents were two different shifters, so you can shift into two different animals?”

I glanced at Ema before looking back at Louisa, “That is what I have been told. I honestly do not know who my parents are. They died before I was old enough to really know them. I don’t even remember them. “Thank you, Ema, for the quick thinking,” I added silently just to her.

“I have heard of it occurring now and then when two different shifters whose lines are pure, that their child has the ability to shift into both. Though not many look upon that with happy eyes. They tend to have a rough life growing up when they are around people who think they are tainted blood.” Louisa gave me a sad smile. “You must have had it rough even now. I suppose that is why you do not shift in front of anyone.”

“Ema’s family knows about me but it is still kept a secret. No one else outside of her family knows.”

“Cecily, you said that I only knew.” Ema looked at me questionly.

“ It is true you know my true self, Ema, but your father thinks the same that I am a half breed. He sees that I have two kinds of shifters' strengths. That is why I alone guard you and not two like your brothers have.” I caught Ema’s nod out of the corner of my eye. Taking a deep breath, I continued on. “That is why I alone am with her. Though I certainly did not expect to run into a werewolf. You are right though, Louisa, I have been hated by the few people that knew while I was growing up. I was very fortunate to be found by Ema’s family and that they did not judge me for what I was but for who I was and my skills. They took me in and they are my family. I will do whatever is needed of me to protect them.” I felt the reassuring squeeze of Ema’s hand.

“You won't tell anyone, will you? Cecily said there are people out there that would try to kill her and she is a good person. She does not deserve that kind of hatred just because she is a little different.” Ema looked at Lousia, then at Mira.

“We would never do that, young one. You are right though about those people, but we will not let her secret be known. You both have become our friends and good friends do not betray friends' trust.” Mira patted Ema on the back reassuringly.

“Mira is right, Ema, you are both safe with us, and thank you for trusting us with her secret so that we could help heal her.” Louisa leaned over me and gave Ema a quick hug.

Now all that filled my vision was Louisa’s wavy dark blond hair and Ema’s light brown hair as she met Louisa halfway for the hug. “This is a very nice moment but both of your hair is in my face.” My comment made them pull away laughing and smiling it even got Mira to laugh. “So what all has happened since I have been resting?” I asked as I looked between them.

“The boys went to Pirn town to help them since that is where we were originally headed. We got a letter of help from them, though since you were in such bad shape I stayed to help you and Mira has been watching over us as well, since we are only a day away from the Dark Mountains. The situation in Pirn town is taking a little longer than we expected but our other friend is supposed to meet them there to help out. Though I do not know if he has made it there. I gave them a magic stone to be able to stay in contact with us since we are separated.” Louisa looked at Mira “though it has been a few days since they last contacted us.” Louisa’s voice grew soft.

“I hope whatever they found that was taking those girls did not end up being too much for them to handle.” Ema looked from Mira to Louisa with worry in her eyes. “Should we go to them?” She asked with worry in her voice.

“No. Whatever has them taking this long, I am sure they can handle it. We just need to have a little faith.” Louisa gave Ema a reassuring smile.

“We will give them a few more days. By then Cecily should be able to move around some, so we can at least leave you in the village. That will be a bit more cover than out here in the forest.” Mira looked down at me. “Do you think you can make the trip if it comes down to that?”

I gave Mira a nod. “Do we have a good water source nearby? Anything will do.”

“There is a river nearby; it is a good-sized one too. Why do you ask?” Louisa now looked at me curiously. “I know some water magic that can help with the healing, though I am going to need some help getting there first.” I smiled at her.

Louisa’s eyes widened a bit. “You know water magic? And healing water magic at that?” Instant shock was in her voice as well as on her face for a fleeting moment in time.

“Is that odd, Louisa?” Ema looked at her with worry beginning to creep onto her face.

“No, not really. You see there are many people who are stronger in different elements with magic, as we were discussing during your lessons. Many use them differently and they are stronger at certain things that they use them for. For starters, fire magic is good for fighting or weaponry, though not very strong for healing. That is also why some try to learn other magic to expand their skills and knowledge. Wind magic is good for defense or offense when fighting at a distance. Earth magic is good for healing and defense. Water magic is strong in the healing art. Fighting it can, but you would need to be by water unless you could conjure up a storm. Now with healing, any small source works. For those reasons, many learn certain aspects of them all. However, water magic users generally have a hard time healing themselves with it. There are not many nowadays that know much about water magic and healing. Some do, but their knowledge is not much. So for Cecily to be able to heal herself with water magic, she would have to have a vast amount of knowledge about it.” Louisa was in her mentor state of mind.

“You certainly do know a lot about all the different elemental magic out there. Though this information about Cecily won't put her in even more danger will it?” Ema looked at Louisa, her eyes held some fear.

“Ema, please stop worrying about what will happen to me all the time. You are going to walk yourself into your own grave if you do.” I watched as her eyes snapped to me, her fear overrun with her anger.

“Cecily, you are family to me! I do not care if I walk into my own grave. I will not stand by and do nothing while you are being hunted or hurt.” She got up and walked off only a few feet away. No matter how far she wanted to go she always stayed close, though if she did I could sense her and find her in a heartbeat.

“Mira, would you help me to the river then?” I asked her as I slowly sat up.

“Yeah, I got you.” She whispered as she pulled me onto my feet.

As Mira helped me to the river that lay a little ways past the trees east of our makeshift camp. Louisa went over to talk to Ema and calm her down from what my ears could pick up as we were leaving. Mira had to take most of my weight since it was still a bit difficult for me to move or even attempt to walk. Though since I was fairly small, I doubt she noticed much. When we reached the river, she helped me into the water, sitting on the bank and keeping my head out above it. Letting out a slow breath, I relaxed my body and concentrated on the water running over me. I slowly let my magic flow out from me, shaping the water around my body so that I was in a personal bubble of water. At first, the healing was slow as my magic swirled around in the water bubble, just brushing the surface of my outer wound. Then it started to shape, to me healing all of me slowly.

The sun was just starting to make its descent in the sky when I had finished healing in the water. “I should be good now, maybe a little stiff since I have not been moving much for a time.” I grasped hold of Mira’s arm as she helped me from the river.

“That did not take very long since we got here when the sun was at its highest in the sky.” Mira took in my soaking form with a smile.

“It has been a while since I have had to do anything like that. And with the state my body was in, it did take some time.” I replied as I looked at my wrinkled fingers.

Our walk back was a slow and cool pace, though it was not like before when I needed help. By the time we arrived, I was now mostly damp. Louisa was helping Ema practice more magic. I watched as Ema was learning how to help a plant grow. So Mira and I settled ourselves by the entrance of our makeshift shelter of branches and moss where a small fire was already built. The wind was blowing a gentle breeze giving a chill to the air since we were moving closer to winter.

As our day was coming to a close, Mira napped as I stretched, trying to get my body in working order again. I did not last as long as my body was still on the mend, but by the end I was completely dry. Louisa and Ema soon ended their study session to start preparing dinner. Ema helped Louisa gather some roots and plants to make a soup. I then went with Ema to collect some water in the water skins, since we used it all for the soup broth.

“How are you feeling Cecily?” Ema asked as we walked.

“I am feeling better, still a bit stiff, though that will go away as I work it out.” I stretched my arms above my head.

“I am glad. How is your hunger though?” She glanced at me before looking back at where she was walking.

“Since it has been a time before we went into the cave and with what happened afterward, it is making itself known. I have controlled it before, though since I was weakened it will be a bit of a struggle. I will hunt when I am strong enough, so you need not worry.” I tried giving her a reassuring smile.

“I will try, though I am also worried that we have not heard back from the others yet.” Ema kicked at a small rock in her path.

“Mmm… you worry for Vladimir. How have things gone since I was asleep?” I watched her as she took a breath before answering me.

“I do not know, he comforted me as I cried, thinking that you may not pull through. They all made sure that I would eat and sleep. Vladimir would walk with me when I went to fetch water. Though they did not stay long, once your fever broke, they left for Pirn town. That was nine days ago now. Mira said that it was only a two-day journey from the Dark Mountains and since we are already a ways from it, it should not have taken them long to get there. They have checked in a few times since leaving, letting us know what was going on. The last we heard from them was four days ago. And they have not even met up with their other companion.” Ema sunk her teeth into her bottom lip.

A shiver ran its way through Ema’s body as we neared the river. I looked up at the setting sun, “Ema, do not let your fears cloud your mind or heart. You have to believe they will return alive just like you always have faith that I will protect you as well as be by your side.” I looked at Ema now. “I will talk to Louisa and Mira about leaving as soon as possible. I am sure they are worried about them as much as you are.” That brought a small smile to her face, chasing some of the fear from her eyes, lighting them with new hope.