Where the Wisp Witch Lives

Eastward

I couldn't find the horse. I had been walking for hours. My plan seemed simple enough at first. I would circle back to the last place I saw her, then follow any signs of the ornery nag. It quickly became apparent that she had simply vanished, much to my frustration. There was no trace of her near the meadow, at least none that I could be certain didn't come from the other wildlife. The herd still relentlessly ate their way through the grasses, but there was nothing pointing toward where Poppy had gotten off to. I had circled the whole thing twice looking for a hoof print or a broken branch to give me a clue, but what I could find only led me back to the other four-legged creatures who were intent on obliterating anything edible. It took even longer because I had to creep around carefully. I didn't want to end up antagonizing the big male if I didn't have to. The whole affair only stoked my anger towards my Nan and her selfishness. I had no horse, no clue as to her direction, and I had no real plan for what to do next.

Between my magic and my tracking skills, I have never really struggled to find anything. I knew she would cause trouble, but I hadn’t expected her to be untraceable. My magic’s connection to the land meant I could sense anything with a magical essence within my borders. If the horse was around, I would know or be able to find out. I would have felt it if she’d tried to leave, too. The Taintedwood was the source of my magic and here, within its protected heart, I was at my most powerful. I was grateful that I had the foresight to change into sturdier boots before I started out. I hadn't even considered the need for my camp kit, but I suspected I would be sleeping outside tonite. Realistically, I could be out here searching for days. I had my satchel, but I mainly used it while gathering, and it contained supplies better suited to an afternoon hike, not overnight in the wilderness. I also hesitantly brought a few untested home-brews that I had been working on. I hoped they would help me with my Poppy problem. A little dusting of either one of the powders should subdue her enough to be manageable. Unfortunately, I hadn't found the time to test the dosages, so I needed to be mindful if I used them.

With no better ideas, I chose to just keep going East. It was the direction I’d last seen her moving in. I probably wouldn’t run across her, but I would get to the invisible boundary. I wanted to try using it to find her. Maybe I could use it to amplify my own more simple finding spells. I felt fairly certain I could figure something out once I had more direct access to its magic. If that didn't work, I wouldn't have time to try a more complex spell. My wards had exploded in size over the years, which made for an unrealistic amount of ground to search alone, with only my witchy senses to rely on. The size also meant that any spellwork could take days to be completed. I really couldn't have any more delays. My plans for the city would be altered, but if I didn't lose more than a day or two, I could still meet with my contacts and other customers on time.

The hike to the easternmost edge of the boundary took much longer than I anticipated. As I walked, I just couldn’t resist stopping to examine the flora every few steps. When I caught the scent of berries, I picked a handful to snack on. I kept my palm topped up at every bush I came across. Then, I spotted a patch of mushrooms that, when dried, sold for a small fortune. Of course, then I had to stop to collect a handful of Valoroot when I saw it. My source had recently been completely dug up, and I hadn't been able to save any of it. From there, I spotted a Black Witch sapling, and was so elated I might have considered forgiving my Nan for a moment. The bark of a Black Witch sapling was extremely expensive, and its uses were too niche for me to justify the purchase. Harvest season made the forest a bounty that I just couldn't ignore completely.

The sun had well and truly begun its descent by the time I heard the small creek that traversed both sides of the ward. The unbroken rows of gnarled wood were becoming too heavily shadowed to spot many more gathering opportunities. While some trees had leaves or needles on their limbs, most of the canopy was just a tangled cage of bare branches. In the dying light, they became much more haunting. I had all but stopped looking for signs of the horse. Now, I wanted to find a spot near the barrier and set up camp. I was committed to this course of action, it was too late to turn around and sleep in my own bed. I gave myself one more delay to harvest a few handfuls of moss by the creek bed. Then I took a short rest, getting my fill of the fresh water and various edibles I had found. Once full, I shared the last of my berries with a few small pixies who had come to investigate me. Then I continued eastward, following the pull of magic to the edge of my land.

The further I got from the little creek, the more confidence waned. The last time I came out this way, the water was running parallel to the ward, occasionally cutting through to the other side and then back again further down. I couldn't even hear the water anymore, that magical pull from the ward was still coming from further east. It was a feeling more than a precise distance, so I couldn't guess how much further. In all my years of experience with magic and its various forms, I knew enough to be wary. When it started acting strangely, it usually meant chaos was soon to follow. I could only hope the wisps wouldn't make an appearance. Normally, the little sprites were keen for a game of Lost-and-Found, whether I wanted to play it or not. It made the whole situation even more unsettling that they hadn't come out to play. I had a feeling if one came to me now it would be for much less whimsical affairs.

It wasn’t until the sun was already drooping heavily and dusk-life was well and truly in swing that I finally arrived. My ward wasn't visibile, but it could be sensed in other ways. It had taken on a life of its own as I became older. Something more fueled it now. Parts would swell to bursting, then expand outward and claim new sections of the Taintedwood. The only indication that it had happened would be a ripple in the pool of magic I could access, as long as I was within the protective dome, of course. Recently, it seemed to expand at a more rapid rate. I wasn't trying very hard to understand the cause, so far it was only beneficial to me. I worked quickly to set up a small camp and then spent the rest of the evening watching creatures prepare for their night. Using magic, I fashioned a hammock of vines between two trees so I could sleep off the ground. There was nothing worse than waking up to something crawling across me. The laughter of pixie children evading their parents gave way to the chirping of frogs and insects as night descended. I had little trouble falling asleep.