The Witch and the Wolf

I'm a WHAT?

[Emi]

I watched the small old lady intensely. She reaches into the box and pulls out a large cloth. She then proceeds to lay it out near the fire. Next, she walks back to the box and pulls out a velvety bag. She sets it on the cloth and goes back to the box again. On her final trip, she pulls out something wrapped in a shimmering silk cloth. She closes the box and takes the item back onto the cloth.

She rolls out the silk cloth and inside were 5 small candles. With those, she made a circle around her. With a snap of her fingers, the candles were lit.

All while this is happening, I remain silent. Watching intensely. This was my first time seeing a real witch in action. I'm assuming she's a witch because, well first off, she looks kind of like one.

Her long gray hair shimmers in the moonlight. Although she looks as though she is in her late 60's, her skin is still milky and smooth. Her nails are long and her hands look weathered and callused.

"Before we start, Emilia. My name is Ennis. I have been reading bones for a long time, so please trust me when I tell you, you may not be happy with what the bones have to say. Now, little miss. I need something personal."

I look at Ennis while I dig in my jacket pockets, turning them out. A pack of half-eaten gum and my house keys are all that lay there. "I don't have anything." Showing her my empty pockets.

She looks at me and smiles. "Look at your wrist, little miss."

I looked down at my wrist and saw my charm bracelet. This is the only thing I have left from my father. Mother passed away giving birth to me, and father never remarried or never dated anyone. That being said, I didn't really get to have a motherly figure in my life. Just him. When he would leave for work trips, he would always bring me back a charm from wherever he had gone that time.

"You can't have this. It means too much to me," I said, assuming she would want to keep it .

"Aye, that I know, miss, but that's why I must have it. If it makes you feel any better, you can have it back when I'm done..." She smiles, "If the travelers don't take it."

"What do you mean travelers?" I asked, puzzled.

She sighs, "You got a lot to learn for being a gifted one. Ain't no one ever taught you to use your gifts?"

"You mean? Me reading people's minds?" I asked, confused.

"Aye, that and more. You can read others' thoughts, move things at your will, and, depending on your element, call upon your elemental spirit at anytime." She explains. "This is all things we teach at a young age. Didn't your mum ever teach you that?"

"Oh... Umm, no. Sorry. She passed giving birth to me." I stated sadly.

"Ahh..." She pauses. "Well, what is done is done. Since you're here, I'll show you some basics, but you need to find your spirit element and pact with it or you won't be makin' it too far in this world. When we're done, I'll read your bones for you."

I'm in shock. I'm a gifted one? A witch? I thought I was just a telepath. This is so much more than I can handle right now. I quickly squat and hold my head trying to wrap my brain around everything I've just been told.

'You're not the first one I've trained, little miss. Don't you worry. It's been about 27 years but I'll help you, best I know how.' I heard Ennis say, but her lips weren't moving.

I shake myself out of my slump and agree to try my best.