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.:Reflections:.

"Mama, may I give Crunch another cookie?" A soft tugging at Heloise's skirt caused her to look down, smiling at the radiance of the little girl who stood staring trustingly up at her.

"Yes, Liesel. Crunch may have another cookie, and so can you. And then I want you to both go outside and play." The hearth-witch watched as the tiny girl whose hair seemed twice the mass of her body skipped out the door, hand in hand with the strange shadow-creature that accompanied her everywhere.

She had never intended to be a mother of any sort. It wasn't that she'd never wanted or didn't like children, it was just that life was busy and Heloise had grown used to being alone. She appreciated not having to live up to anyone else's demands and she enjoyed keeping her own odd hours. That and being the local witch-slash-healer for the nearby village took up a lot of energy, especially around harvest time.

So it had come as a great shock when Liesel had been more or less dumped unceremoniously into her lap by a pair of rather strange individuals. But it had only taken moments for the woman to fall head over heels in love with the child. And who wouldn't? Petite, almost breakable seeming, little Liesel seemed the ideal child. She was quite feminine, always delicate with her movements. She was obedient, sweet and affectionate and in the very short time they had been together, Heloise had yet to see the girl so much as frown. As far as children went, Liesel really required very little except for the loving attention any parent ought to give their child.

Looking out the window, she watched as the diminuitive girl placed a circlet of flowers around the shadow's neck and then watched as the shadow promptly devoured the necklace. Liesel was laughing but Heloise found herself frowning slightly. She just wasn't sure what to make of the creature her new daughter referred to as Crunch. He never left Liesel's side though he would sometimes slip into the shadows and dissapear. And while he didn't seem to mind Heloise or any of the visiting villagers coming near the girl, she still got a sense that he was watching them all very closely. That level of protectiveness was reassuring but also somewhat off-putting. Still, he seemed harmless enough and Liesel was fond of him.

There was a knock on the door and the hearth witch went to open it, a bright smile on her face as she greeted the woman who had come to pick up a healing posset. All in all, Heloise reflected, life was so much brighter now that she had someone to care for.

.:Just a horse:.

"Somethings been eating mama's sweet peas." Liesel informed Crunch over breakfast. The little girl was seated on top of several thick books since she was too short for a regular chair. Heloise had promised to see what she could do about that, but Liesel had doubts that her mother could make her any taller.

The shadow, who didn't bother with chairs when Heloise wasn't looking and was therefore seated on the table in front of Liesel and in the middle of everything else, made a curious grunting noise.

"Well I don't know whats doing it, and neither does she. If either of us knew do you think we'd be wondering about it?" Liesel responded practically. Crunch merely grunted again and took the last pancake off Liesel's plate, consuming it whole and then whining softly.

"You can't possibly still be hungry." The little girl said with mock dismay. "And anyways, there isn't any food left. You've eaten it all. Including my share." Not that it mattered especially. Liesel ate like a bird and didn't often pay much attention to food. Unless it was a sweet. Sliding carefully down off the chair, she patted her hair. The hair had decided to cooperate with her today, more or less. She'd had a stern little talk with it the night before and had woken up to several neat braids wrapped around her head becomingly, and effectively keeping her long tresses from dragging on the ground. "Come on, Crunch!" Smoothing down her skirt, she was already headed to the door.

The shadow didn't hesitate. His place was with Liesel, whatever misguided thought was in that fluffy little head of hers. God knew that if he didn't keep an eye on her nobody would and she'd climb up a tree and dissapear into the sky. Not that Liesel would ever be so tomboyish to climb a tree, but... "Meh. Meh!" Crunch grunted, following her out the door with his peculiar gorilla-like shamble.

The sun was just barely cresting the trees at the edge of the field that was just behind Heloise's neatly picketed backyard. As it rose, it illuminated a pale figure standing in the middle of the garden. Liesel froze, wide eyes even wider. Even Crunch froze, the two young ones not quite ready to process what they were seeing.

"Oh..." Liesel sighed and then, without further hesitation, began walking towards the creature. "Hello there." She said softly, looking up and up and up the smooth white body as a huge yet delicately boned head bent down to sniff her. "You're beautiful." This must have been the right thing to say, because the unicorn snorted in a rather smug manner and went on chomping away at the sweet peas without a care in the world.

"Oh, but you shouldn't eat mama's garden, she's kind of upset. Or maybe you could just... ask her permission?"

This brought a condescending glare out of the corner of the beast's eye. As if something so magnificent should have to ask permission from anyone to do anything.

"Well... maybe not then." Liesel said after a moment. She sat down daintily next to the sweet peas so that everytime the unicorn reached down to take a bite it faced her. Humming happily, Liesel began plucking dandelions from the ground and braiding them into a little chain. One of her chores was to help weed the garden... this should count, right?

And that was how Heloise found her daughter when she came home from the early market. Wide awake and outside with some run-down looking old horse that was chewing away on her peas. "Hmph." Heloise said, crossing her arms. "I'll be damned. It's just a horse."

.:ORP Log:.

Pumpkin Patch Pals

.:ORP Log:.

Ghosts and a haunted house

.:Nighttime Fears:.

Halloween was drawing closer and closer, and the air was starting to hum from being over-full of magic. Liesel could feel it in her fingertips and in the way she always felt full of static electricity. She'd never experienced Halloween before, but Heloise had sort of explained why the little girl was feeling so strange.

"All the seasons have a different kind of magic." Liesel had been told one night as she was being tucked into bed. "But springtime and autumn are changing seasons, so their magic often acts as a catalyst in people's lives."

"Whats a catalyst, mama?" The sleepy little girl had asked.

"A catalyst is something unexpected that makes things change." Heloise kissed her daughter on the top of her head. "Like you were for me." It was true, the hearth-witche's life had changed dramatically in the short time she'd had Liesel. Not only had her priorities deepened, but she'd been feeling younger and more energetic every day.

"I was your catalyst?"

"You sure were, baby. Anyways, spring and fall are the times that big changes happen, so thats when the magic will try to bring important things into your life."

"What about summertime and winter?"

"Well, they're steadier seasons, and they have their magic too, but it's more stable. They're the times for making decisions, rather than acting them out. They're the times for thinking."

"Oh. What kind of changes should I expect, mama?"

"I don't know, dear heart. I guess you'll just have to keep an open mind about things and see what happens." Heloise rose to go, but paused as Liesel's tiny hand grabbed her skirt. "What is it, baby?"

"What if a wicked witch comes to lock me in a tower?" The little girl blurted out. It had been her greatest fear, ever since she'd learned the story of Rapunzel. The last thing she wanted to do was come into contact with any sort of evil sorceress, especially one who would take her away from her little family.

"Oh, I don't think you need to worry about that." Heloise replied with a chuckle.

"Why not?" Liesel's big blue eyes were on the verge of tears.

Heloise sat back down and gathered her daughter up tightly in her arms. "Because I'm a witch, sweetheart. You're already living in my... tower. That part of the story is fulfilled, I dont think the magic cares if you're living with a good witch or a bad witch."

"So, nobody else can take me as long as you're here?"

"Yes, my love. Thats exactly right."

"Thank you, mama. You're my catalyst too."

.:Comings and Goings:.

The snow was falling heavily - thick and silent. It blanketed the world in bright secrets, shining under the moonlight. Heloise had put Liesel to bed hours ago and now sat in her favorite overstuffed armchair alternatively sipping a cup of peppermint tea and knitting. Every once in awhile she would glance at the clock and frown very slightly.

Finally, after what seemed like hours of waiting, a muffled thumping could be heard outside, followed by a knocking on the door. Heloise immediately slipped on her house shoes and opened the door.

"I wasn't sure you'd make it, the weathers so bad." She said, helping the hooded figure inside and brushing the snow off it's jacket.

"Well, I did. And I'm here." Said a hoarse voice. "It's colder than a witche's tits out there, though." The voice belonged to that of a woman and as she set her two suitcases down and began stripping off wet layers of clothing, she was revealed to be a very pretty woman indeed.

"Here, let me just take those for you." Heloise smiled, piling up boots and coat to dry by the fire.

"You're looking well, cousin." The other woman said, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "In fact, I don't know that I've ever seen you look so well. Are you dying your hair now?"

Heloise touched an auburn curl almost self-consciously. It was true, the grey that had been in her hair had seemingly dissapeared, as had the faint laugh-lines that had begun appearing around her eyes and mouth. She looked much closer to her mid thirties than her late forties. "Oh.. no, I'm not dying it. I suppose happiness is making me young again." She smiled.

The other woman snorted. "And what is it thats made you so happy? A man in your life finally?" She asked crudely.

"Oh, no." Heloise blushed. "Much better than that, Dru. I've a daughter."

"You? How could you possibly have a daughter, theres no man in your life and you're barren besides!"

"Oh Drucilla, theres no need to be cruel. She came to me as a gift. A blessing. She's the sweetest girl."

Drucilla raised her delicately pointed nose into the air and sniffed. "And magic? I smell an abundance of magic in this house, and I know not a whit of it comes from you."

"She may have a small amount." Heloise said cautiously, eyeing her cousin. Drucilla was about her same age, and they'd been raised together as girls. Dru had always been the pretty one with plump, good natured Heloise following her everywhere. And Dru was still pretty, but her black hair was streaked with grey and her age showed around her eyes. Heloise felt a small twinge of smugness that she was the prettier of them now.

"Hmph." Was how Drucilla chose to respond to that. Then, "And where am I to sleep? I assume the child has taken the spare bedroom?"

"She has." Heloise replied. "However, I've converted one of the greenhouses to a guest cottage. It's warm and more private, I'm sure you'll like it. How long were you staying this time?"

Drucilla picked up her suitcases and glanced at the ceiling, as if she could see through it straight into Liesel's bedroom. "I'm not sure..." She said as she followed Heloise to the guest house. "As long as I need to."

.:Holiday Reflections:.

Yawning, Liesel climbed into bed. Ever since Christmas last week she'd found herself to be terribly tired all the time. It felt like her energy was just seeping out of her pores and fluttering away somewhere mysterious. She even had very faint dark circles under her eyes, making them seem twice as huge and somewhat haunted.

"I don't understand why I feel like I've been playing all day, Crunch." The little girl said as she drew the quilt Heloise had made her for Christmas up around her shoulders. It was a beautiful patchwork piece of art done in pinks and greens, Liesel adored it.

"Ch-ch-ch." Crunch said as he fluidly slid under the quilt as well and curled around her feet in his customary spot. He was like a dog, except that sometimes when Liesel woke up in the middle of the night he wouldn't be in the bed. There'd be no telltale lump. She'd softly call out his name and then suddenly there would be a pillow sized bulk under the covers once again.

"I didn't even do anything but help Mama. And thats not very hard." Liesel yawned again hugely and settled back against her pillows. Her hand went to her throat to stroke the pretty silver necklace Auntie Dru had given her as a christmas gift. The chain was very delicate but also very strong and it held a silver pendant in the shape of a flower with a little pearl at the center. Liesel thought it was beautful and Auntie Dru had told her to wear it always. Not a difficult task for a young girl. As her fingers stroked the cold metal flower she felt the faintest tinge of energy, as if her exhaustion wavered at the edges, and then she fell asleep. She didn't notice that the pearl in her necklace was glowing with a faint golden light.

-------------------------------------------------

"I just don't know whats wrong with her." Heloise was telling Dru downstairs in the living room as the cousins shared their customary pre-bedtime cup of tea. "I've tried everything I know, all my little herbs and remedies and nothing seems to help. She's just so tired all the time... should I take her to a doctor?"

Drucilla sipped her tea calmly, her expression passive. "I suppose you could do that..." She said with a shrug. "But it's that time of year for small illnesses. I'm sure this will pass soon, cousin."

"It's just that usually my cherry and slippery elm tincture does the trick and nothing is perking Liesel up. I just don't understand what could be wrong with her."

"Perhaps a few more days of rest." Drucilla responded calmly, the thumb of one hand stroking the small pearl ring she had taken to wearig on her right ring finger. The pearl was glowing, but the light was faint enough and Heloise was distraught enough that Drucilla wasn't concerned about it being noticed. "Liesel is a fine sturdy little girl. I'm sure you're fretting over nothing."

Heloise sighed and finally took her seat. "I suppose you're right. I suppose this will pass, it's probably just a cold of some sort. I'm sure she'll be fine."

Drucilla's eyes held a dark, triumphant heat as she watched her cousin. All the good being in the child's magical presence had done Heloise was being undone by worry. And in the meantime Drucilla was beginning to smooth out and tighten up, her lips were fuller and her hair sleeker than they had been in years. As long as she could keep Heloise distracted and make sure the child didn't remove the necklace... It wouldn't be long before Dru was back to her old self. Not long at all.

.:A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy?:.

Liesel struggled to make out the words on the letter she recieved. She was suprisingly good at reading for her age, but she still preferred picture books and needed to sound things out. Still, a smile crossed her face as she remembered Howl from the library. He'd been a nice boy. The little girl turned her sunken blue eyes to Crunch, who had been prowling around her bed for days. Wherever she went, he prowled as if hunting and she'd been feeling to sick to get out of bed lately.

"I want to see the General." She told her Shadow in a tiny voice. "I miss him." The two hadn't snuck off to the woods to visit the unicorns in several weeks and Liesel was eager to see how the baby she had nicknamed the General was faring. He was such a pretentious, prancing little colt.

"U-u-unch." Crunch said, crossing his arms over his chest and shaking his head. She was not in any state to go outside, even if the snow was mostly melted and it had warmed up. "Nunch."

"Please, Crunch. I feel so awful and I just want to get out of the house. Mama barely ever visits me because she's sick too. And auntie Dru..." Auntie Dru was kind of scary. Despite the fact that she was always sweet and kind to Liesel there was something behind that kindness. Something that wasn't right. She wasn't nice the way Heloise was nice. "You could carry me" She offered finally in a small voice.

The Shadow thought this over for a moment, grumbling under his breath. Liesel was his Most Precious Thing. He wasn't sure why, but there was a tie between them and he had to protect her at all costs. And he couldn't help wondering if there was something he wasn't doing to make her better. "Crunch." He finally responded affirmatively. Liesel squealed and hugged him tightly for a moment before pulling back, dizzy.

After being bundled in almost every warm article of clothing she owned, Crunch put Liesel over his shoulder in a fireman's carry which was effective if not dignified. They were careful sneaking out of the house, Auntie Dru was in the living room reading a book and there was no sign of Heloise. Liesel assumed she must be up in her own room, asleep.

The Shadow moved quickly across the hard ground, making it into the shelter of the trees in no time. They heard a rustling in the near distance of the clearing where they had last seen the unicorns and whickering noises of alarm.

"Whats wrong, Crunch?" Liesel whispered to the shadow as they crept closer.

Three unicorns were in the clearing, two had blazing eyes and flaring nostrils and were staring around blindly. They were terrifying. The third Liesel recognized almost immediately as the General. He was not colored like any other unicorn she'd ever seen, and even grown taller and lankier she recognized him. He seemed to see her as well and made a soft whuffing sound that quieted the other two from their momentary rage.

Crunch carried Liesel into the springtime circle of the clearing and set her down gently. Despite the deep bruises under her eyes and her sunken cheeks Liesel gave the General a big welcoming smile as he approached her warily. "Hello, I've missed you." She said, reaching out towards him.

The unicorn shied and danced away from her touch, jittery. "I don't understand." Liesel said, knowing the unicorn couldn't talk back. Tears came to her blue eyes. "You don't like me anymore?"

Then all of a sudden a massive wicked horn was in her face, so close she see the pearlescent sheen and count the spirals. The horn hooked under her necklace and jerked it upwards sharply. Liesel let out a little cry of dismay as one of the other unicorns crushed the necklace under it's hoof, grinding it against stone for good measure.

"Oh no! Don't do that! That was a gift!" She cried, then her mouth dropped open for a different reason. Thick smoke was coming from the bits of broken pearl. At first just gentle tendrils of gold that floated towards Liesel and settled around her like a mantle, making her feel instantly better. Then a belch of thick oily purple smoke that hovered on the air a moment before drifting out of the clearing and towards the meadow, and the house.

"What was that?" Liesel asked, the brightness already returning to her eyes. The exhaustion she had been feeling for months was slowly dissapating.

"Punch." Crunch muttered darkly under his breath, beating one paw into the other angrily.

The little girl frowned up at the unicorns, who were calm now that the necklace had been destroyed. "You saved me, didn't you?" She asked them, smiling. The General lowered his head to nuzzle against her cheek. "Oh! Thats right, I have something for you. Here!" She pulled some sugar cubes, albeit kind of old and linty, out of her pocket and offered them to the unicorn who ate them greedily.

Liesel lay back and let the warm sunshine restore her further. "That was the necklace Auntie Dru gave me." She said. "And it was making me sick. Do you think she did it on purpose?" Crunch, who had been stuffing his face with buttercups, nodded vehemently. "Then she is probably making mama sick too." Liesel said, her eyes narrowing into a hard line. "She'll have to go." Crunch grumbled a low grumble of agreement deep in his throat.

"I don't know how we'll do it, cause she's so big and strong." Liesel was telling the shadow as they walked up the front steps. Her cheeks were pink from life and exertion and anger. "But we'll figure something out." She reached out to open the door when it jerked open from inside.

"Liesel!" Drucilla stood at the door, looking younger than she had the day she arrived. "Oh Liesel darling! I'm so very, very sorry." The woman knelt down and drew Liesel into an awkward hug. It was clear that she didn't have much experience with young children. At first Liesel thought that Aunt Dru was apologizing for the necklace and for making Liesel sick, and Liesel was ready to tell the woman just what she thought of those horrid tactics. But what Drucilla said instead stole the very breath from Liesel's body. "I'm so sorry, dear girl. Your mother... she's gone. Just a few moments ago. She asked for you, but I could't find you anywhere." Dru gave Liesel another squeeze, though the cursory warmth in this one wasn't fooling anyone. "I suppose I'm your only family now." Drucilla added with a triumphant smirk over Liesel's shoulder. Liesel didn't see it, but Crunch did. "Don't worry though, my dear, I'll take good care of you."