Enchanted Elloise

Sunlight filtered through the canopy of leaves and brushed the Witch’s light features. Today was a good day to venture out into the woods. The mugworts and berries would be ready for collecting, and she had a couple new recipes to try with them that she was sure her friends would enjoy.

The summer heat was just arriving to the valley, and Elloise was thankful she chose a loose dress to wear. She made sure the poncho she liked to wear was secured with her fastened pendant, and then gazed onward. Ahead of her, the curled and wagging tail of her Familiar greeted her.

“And what have you found now, Kirk?” she gazed around his voluptuous brown fur to find a tiny bird stunned on the ground. “Ah, give it space.”

She ordered her canine companion just as she heard Kirk’s voice. It’s only been stunned, it hasn’t suffered any injuries.

The Witch was perturbed by this information, but nonetheless, she gently scooped the tiny blue Jay into her hands. She found a higher place where it would be safe within the grooves of branches and leaves.

“I wish you a speedy recovery,” she whispered to it, and walked back to her Familiar. “Have you found the scent yet?”

Kirk sniffed the air and grumbled as he led her further up the beaten path. The berry bushes were easy to find, and bursting with blackberries! She took the time to sort them out the old-fashioned way and packed them into her basket.

Elloise was getting ready to put her long hair up when she sensed a troubling shift in the air. Before, the wind carried the easy scent of the leaves and blooming flowers; now there was something vile that did not belong in these parts.

The positive energies of the day hid away as a nasty aura drew in stifling negativity. At first, the Witch was stun-locked at the uncanny presence that reminded her of smoke in her lungs, of ash at her feet...

Elloise! The desperate call made her leap into action even as her mind stumbled back into reality.

Lead me there! She called out to Kirk as their bond grew taught. Her mind’s eye showed flashes of the terrifying beast her partner was facing.

The putrid smell of rotting flesh filled the air as she grew closer to the sound of fighting. Her powers acted on their own to take the basket of berries from her, and she barely noticed the floating woven basket.

Why is it here?! Why was a creature of Fear manifested so strongly here in this peaceful grove? Its mutilated limbs leaked black oil as it tried to retain the form of a large bear. The red eyes were frightening, and the fangs and claws grew solid.

El, I think it’s after this. Kirk replied, showing off a kitten that huddled behind the pomeranian’s legs.

Elloise wouldn’t have thought the cat out of the ordinary until she sensed the unusual energy swirling around its orange and white body. It definitely held some sort of enchantment, and whatever the magic was, it was drawing the creature of evil toward it.

So she summoned her own magic, and felt the warm vibration of the crystal around her neck. The earth around her became alive as her affinity called to the nature. At once, vines and tree roots reached out to subdue the unwanted Fear.

The dark creature howled, and made Elloise shudder at the piercing sound. Her magic worked intricately as she spelled out writing in the air for the earth to listen to. “Heed my call, oh divine nature, send this denizen of the dark evil back to the shadows!”

Her command made the leaves above shudder, and the groaning of the earth could be heard across the forest as it shifted. The vines grew thorns that pierced the thrashing beast, holding it in place as energies swelled to form spirits of the forest.

Elloise stared into the starlight eyes of the guardian deer that heeded her call. It wasn’t long before the manifested spirits dealt with the evil tainting their sacred place. The Witch watched and clutched her burning crystal as Fear was pierced completely, and the light vanquished the dark evil.

Like dandelions, the remnants of the terrifying beast scattered and dispersed until there was nothing left remaining.

“I thank you for your service spirits, go rest now.” She bowed her head as the ghostly deer vanished in a fog that immediately began healing the scarred land.

El, the cat fainted. Kirk told her once she finished showing her respect to the guardian.

The Witch sprinted to the fallen feline where Kirk was laying around it. The tabby was so much smaller in size compared to her canine companion.

She reached out to touch it, but was stopped by an unknown force. The strange energy seemed to project outward like a shield around the feline. Curious, she reached out with her own energy in order to settle it.

She sensed an agony there that made her eyes water with pain and grief. Whatever this creature had been through, it was clear they felt it so strongly that it manifested to protect them from further harm.

“Oh, what you must have gone through to end up here...” she whispered, wiping at her watery eyes. “I promise to take care of you, for as long as you allow me.”

The promise settled the safeguarding energy, and she felt it retract back into the being. Finally, she gently pet the soft fur of the sleeping cat.

Elloise unlocked the pendant holding her poncho together and wrapped the grey fabric around the cat. The heavy poncho allowed her to scoop up and carry the feline in her arms. It still slept, seeming more at peace now.

That cat... It feels different from the usual animal. Her Familiar sniffed as he got up to take the discarded berry basket in his jaws.

Elloise peered down at the resting creature. “Yes they do, and I’m sure we’ll find out their story soon.”

Returning to town, they were met with concerned townsfolk. At the forefront was her disciple.

"I tried to tell them it was okay..." she whispered, her pinched brows showed her distress over the situation.

Elloise rushed to reassure everyone. "We're all right, please do not worry." She raised her voice so it carried over the small crowd. She still held the injured cat in her arms, and it pushed her to hurry.

"Asche said she sensed Fear was near." One of the elders of the town spoke up, and Elloise saw the priestess move to stand in the front. Her shiny black hair and custom robes were hard to miss.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause an alarm for everyone." The young woman was apologetic, and Elloise smiled to reassure her.

"No, you did good by alerting people. Fear did show up in the forest, but Kirk and I dealt with it."

Asche breathed a sigh of relief, and Elloise's little disciple, Careen, hugged her waist.

"Oh dear, is that little one okay?" Someone noticed the cat wrapped up, and Elloise found no surprise that it was their town's doctor.

"This one was in the woods when Fear showed up. I need to see to its injuries." Elloise once again glanced at the priestess. "Asche, can you stay on watch?"

"Of course," she nodded, and that was the Witch's que to escape the crowd. Asche would know what to say to disperse the townsfolk.

I'll go on ahead and make some tea. Careen's calm voice whispered through her mind, and she felt the little girl was already in their kitchen.

Thank you, please rest up after. Elloise knew her disciple's nerves were high. She always got anxious when dealing with large crowds.

Once inside the comfort of her home, Elloise laid the cat on top of fluffy blankets and moved it to her worktable.

The leaves rustled around her as she checked over the feline's body, noting how skinny the poor thing was.

"No serious injuries, just some slight bruises..." she murmured to herself out loud.

He just needs to plump up, huh? Won't be hard with all the cooking we do around here... Her Familiar was sitting close by in one of his many dog beds.

He?

Yes, you didn't check? Kirk's amusement could be heard in his voice, she didn't even need to check his emotions.

"I would've learned it once he woke up." Elloise pouted a bit at her smug Familiar.

"Tea!" Careen came in and handed the hot mug to her. "So the kitty will be okay?"

Elloise watched the steady rise and fall of their new housemate. "Physically yes, but I still don't know the extent of his emotional damage. Whatever happened to him, it attracted Fear to hunt him."

A frown warped the little girl's face. "It must be bad. I'm glad he was nearby or..."

A somber silence fell over them. There were two outcomes to those hunted down by Fear, and neither were happy endings. You were either mauled to death, or were so warped by their negativity that you become your own Fear manifested.

The only good outcome was if the Fear was vanquished before they took any victims, and only those with ties to the magic of the world were capable of destroying the evil.

"Careen, please get some rest." Elloise lightly ordered as she reached out to smooth the girl's bangs.

"Okay, just don't stay up too late."

The stern look adorning her cute face had the Witch biting back a laugh, but she readily agreed. "Kirk will make sure I don't overdo it."

Once the little girl wandered off to her room, Elloise sat at her main desk where crystals and books littered the surface.

You're going to ask them?

"Yes, I want to know what the spirits are feeling about our new guest." And about Fear drawing so close to Merriam.

Kirk remained quiet, yet ever vigilant, as Elloise focused her powers on calling to the great beyond. There were many spirits of nature all around this valley, and it was the spirits that first guided her here.

"Please tell me what this new development means." She waited for their guidance.

Just as the crystals warmed around her, the vines overhead reacted. They grew toward her, and along the vines three different flowers started to bloom.

One was a bouquet of blue and purple phacelia, and Elloise gathered her notes to find the meaning for the flowers.

Endurance, determination, the strength of character. The flower symbolizes overcoming obstacles and hardship to blossom into the very best version of oneself.

The Witch wondered if the spirits got confused by her request, and they let flowers bloom about herself. Just as she thought that, the other two flowers stopped trying to bloom.

You've done it now. Kirk's snarky tone made her deflate. She hadn't meant to be disrespectful!

"Oh well, perhaps they'll bloom with some time." She sighed, and closed her notes.

Time for bed. Kirk was a step ahead of her, already stretching as he padded over to their room.

Elloise finished her tea before checking the cat one more time. He really did have a beautiful coat; it reminded her of the orange creamsicles the town liked to serve during this time of the year.

"Rest well," she whispered, and went to join her Familiar for what she hoped would be a good night's rest for once.