Into The Wind

 Sanica stepped out of her cabin as the last shred of light disappeared from the horizon. She liked it better that way, when the moon was the only light and the stars her companion, as she would make her way through the woods to her sacred place. Less chance of anyone seeing her, as well. Not that there weren't enough stories about her and her strange habits already.

For the past days, she had been growing increasingly frustrated with a young woman, who had been showing considerable talent, but seemed reluctant to fully utilize it. Sanica had promised to guide her, but the girl was still hesitant. Tired of waiting for an answer, Sanica gathered her tools and headed out.

After reaching her destination, she set the place up, putting every thing in its place and sweeping the forest floor carefully. Then she sat down in the middle of her sacred space and stayed still.

But she could hear no one. She made another attempt. Still nothing. Vexed by the silence, Sanica took a deep breath and screamed ”What is it that you want?” into the forest around her. Her words echoed from the surrounding mountainside. She felt a warm breeze rise, taking her voice with it as it flew away.

Nic sat on his favorite rock, waiting for his best friend to show up. The meadow where they usually met up was bathing in sunshine and caressed by gentle birdsong. Happily, he bit into the sandwich he’d brought from home, the kind mom made especially for his trips.

Then he heard her, breaking branches as she walked towards the clearing. She was younger than him by two years, but mature for her age. They used to live almost next to each other but she moved away recently, so now they only met up maybe twice a week.

Nic hopped down from his rock to welcome his friend, offering her a sandwich too when she reached him. She grinned widely and accepted the gift. Nic's mom made the best sandwiches.

"Anything new?" he asked.

She shook her head while still chewing. "No one I asked remembers."

He just nodded.

His friend gazed at him, smiling slightly. "You're obsessed, you know."

Nic nodded again, hanging his head. He took a quick look around the meadow and noticed a wind rising. The grass was swaying and trees whispering. It felt calming. Then he heard as if a voice in the air current. It called his name. It said, "Mud holds the true spot". He was sure of it, the words came as clear as if his friend standing before him had spoken them.

He raised his head, looking around frantically. His friend took notice and frowned.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Mud," he said before heading towards the nearest group of trees. "Mud," he repeated with his gaze firmly fixed on the ground.

"What? Mud?" his friend tried again.

Nic didn't hear her anymore. He had located a spot on the ground that looked muddy. He took a small spade from his backpack and struck it to the earth. Sure enough, it seemed like mud. He started digging, going as fast as he could until he heard his spade hit something else. Nic dropped to his knees, reached down into the hole, and finished the unearthing with his hands. Then he pulled the wooden box up and onto the grass.

His friend was standing right next to him, holding her breath.

Nic stopped to catch his breath, then stood up and faced her. His grin went from ear to ear. "You know what this means?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "That you found---"

"That we are gonna be rich!"

The wind swept the meadow once more, breezing past the children. It grabbed his words right from the air and flew away again.

Oliver took one last step and upon reaching the summit stopped to catch his breath and take in the view. His girlfriend was still making her way up but he didn't want her to think she had to keep up with his pace. Years as a soldier had given him a physique perfectly suited for hiking but he was only here for the views and the company of his beloved.

Beloved. That means he loved her, right? But did he? He still had some answers he needed, some that might take a while to learn, while others... well, they might be more pressing.

She was beautiful, sure. And intelligent. And her laughter was the most wonderful thing he'd ever heard. But there was something weird about her too. Like her nocturnal trips outdoors. People were already talking around the small town they inhabited, saying there was a witch among them. A real witch, who performed spells and curses and all, in this day and age. He almost shook his head at the thought.

"Why so glum?" asked a lively voice beside him.

He raised his eyes to meet hers. "Just... lost in thought, I guess." He attempted a smile.

She giggled and then looked around them. "This place is amazing," she said, her gaze resting first on the mountains ahead, then the valley extending between them and the viewers of the vista. Somewhere a waterfall was roaring.

"Yes, it's almost... magical," Oliver said.

She grabbed his hand and smiled, staring right into his eyes. "No, Ol, you are magical."

As Oliver was thinking up a reply, a breath of air rose from the valley. As it reached them, he could swear he heard voices within the wind. For some reason such a strange occurrence did not worry or frighten him, but the opposite. Then the voices spoke clear words, telling him "She is not the witch." Then the wind died down again.

He turned to face his beloved and took her hands into his, pulling her closer. "My sweetheart, you are the most magical of all. I want to shout it out to the whole world!" He turned back to the valley and took a deep breath. Then he bellowed "My girl's the fairest of all!"

A gust of wind returned just long enough to carry the words away with it.

Triv sat up straight, keeping her head bowed and her hands on her knees. She breathed in the fresh evening air and breathed out her nervousness and indecisiveness. The issue she was contemplating was no small matter, as it would determine her whole future. Possibly the future of many others, too.

Others. How would they react? Her family, her friends, the people she greeted every morning on the streets. How would she explain it all to them? That this is what she wanted to do, what she had always wanted to do, and to have this opportunity to fulfill her dreams was truly once in a lifetime. She had been told she had talent. Now Triv wanted to find out if that was really true.

But... what of the other people? Would they understand? Could they?

She threw her head back and sighed as she felt a puff of air brush against her skin. She sat very still. Then the voices came, deep within the wind. They called her name and she opened up her whole body and soul to listen.

"The world will be enthralled."

Triv opened her eyes and a smile took over her face. She stared into the sky and finally knew what she would say to the old woman. She would accept. She would be her apprentice.

Then she stood up and headed to meet her. The strange witch of the woods.