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 Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 4:04 pm
But Vanna, no matter how many tears slid down her cheeks and how many times she whimpered, wasn't thinking about her foot. No. She still clutched Kale to her chest, holding him close.
She wanted her friend back. And if that meant her foot would hurt? So be it.
She tried to get up, showing Marissa the candle. "Help Kale!" she said, plaintively. Why wasn't Marissa trying to do something about it? He needed to be turned back into a boy!
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Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 4:47 pm
Marissa was moved nearly to tears again as she heard Vanna's plight. "Honey, there's nothing we can do," she whispered, but nearly choked on the finality of the sentence. "Until we get this leg fixed," she added, partly for her own sake. She removed the soggy old bandage and, holding Vanna's shoulder to steady her, spread a thick clear balm on the wound. She braced herself for a whine- the stuff stung, but only for a moment.
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Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 4:54 pm
And a whine she received. Vanna didn't like pain at all, and she didn't like the thought of waiting to bring back Kale. So she cried and squirmed, back feathers twitching. Only clutching Kale helped her stay (mostly) put.
She'd sit through it for his sake, if Marissa insisted.
"Kale safe?" she asked, trying to make sure. If he was in pain, too...
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Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 10:08 am
Marissa finished up with a neat bandage, petting the little girl's hair for reassurance. She hoisted the child to the floor, taking her hand and leading her very gently to the cushions again. How to explain?
"Yes, Vanna, Kale is safe." She decided that conveying the information with utmost assurance was best for the girl to hear. "We don't know how to get Kale back just yet, but he is safe for now." She only hoped that what she was saying was true. In all honesty, she didn't know heads or tails.
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Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 10:13 am
But Vanna wasn't satisfied. Had they tried to take Kale to Oqaia? Had they? Oqaia was so smart. She could do anything!
"Kaya?" It wasn't quite the sound she wanted, but she guessed Marissa would know what she meant.
Well, she could show, couldn't she?
She pointed to herself, awkwardly, and said, "Issa." Then she held up the candle and set it down on the bed, movements big and dramatic. Before picking it up again, she pointed to herself again and said, "Kaya."
Give Kale to Oqaia! She could fix it. She had to be able to! It was just that Marissa hadn't thought of that. That was all. Silly Marissa.
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Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 10:28 am
Marissa understood the girl, her heart breaking at the naiivety of the sentiment. If only it was that simple. She nodded, smiling at Vanna, taking her hand and squeezing it slightly. "I'm not sure what Oqaia will be able to do, darling," she said, "It's fae magic. Fae magic is tricky." She brushed the girl's purple bangs out of her eyes. "Plus, nothing is going to happen this late at night." She chuckled sadly.
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Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 10:31 am
Oh. That's right. It was really late, wasn't it? And very dark.
"Kaya sleep?" she asked, blinking. Somehow, she never thought that pink-haired woman slept. "... Issa sleep?"
It was late. And Lorelei was sleeping. And she should have been too, but she wanted company.
She picked up the Kale candle, setting it back on her lap. She didn't want to let it go, not really. Who knew? Some crazy candle-lighting madman could sneak in during the night and melt Kale all away. And then what would they do?
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Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 10:57 am
Stifling a yawn, Marissa replied, "No, I'm not sleeping." It was the truth. She hadn't even napped since the ordeal in the forest. She couldn't, not with her head buzzing like it was. Seeing how Vanna cradled the candle, her heart ached. She wanted to cradle her son.
And idea struck her. She knew that Fortunette items were perfectly capable of gentle use. Taking the candle and setting it on a stool between them, she pulled a match from a drawer. She struck it and it sizzled with a small flame. Lighting the wick, she said softly, "Don't worry. It doesn't hurt him." Then, silently, she watched the flame dance.
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Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 11:01 am
Vanna wasn't as sure as Marissa, though, and she hopped up, ignoring her foot for the few steps she needed. Then she blew out the candle.
"Kale melty," she said, pointing to the already molten wax. "No."
Because if they forgot to blow him out, what would happen if he melted all the way down, like the candles Lorelei used for sewing at night?
"Kale melty, gone," she said again, elaborating, trying to get her point across.
Then she sat down on the floor, taking her weight off of her foot again.
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Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 11:06 am
Marissa sighed and pulled Vanna onto her knee. "Don't worry, he's my child, I would never forget about him," she crooned. Taking another match, she lit it, and cupping her hand around Vanna's let her help put the flame on again, all the while, stroking her hair. "See?" she said, "It's...almost like he's talking to us."
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Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 11:11 am
Vanna watched, bottom lip still trembling. She thought that if she ever melted, it would hurt. But if Marissa was sure...
She leaned back against Marissa, watching the little flame. It wasn't how she knew Kale, but she could see a sort of resemblance. Or maybe it was wishful thinking.
Either way, it comforted her a little, and she yawned.
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Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 7:34 pm
Marissa spotted the yawn and chuckled. The flickering flame was a little like a metronome, and was having a similar sleep-inducing effect on the older woman. Scratchign Vanna's head affectionately, she rose, cupping the babe in her arms like it was a cradle. She whispered, "Let's get your sleepy head back to bed, little girl," and made a quiet path out of the wagon.
Once outside, Marissa squinted as she found her way to Ivy-Twined. She took a deep breath and, as silently as she could, cracked open the door and entered the threshold. Upon entering, she tip-toed to what she assumed to be Vanna's bed, and laid the nearly asleep girl to rest. She kissed her forehead and backed out of the wagon.
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Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 7:37 pm
And Vanna fell asleep without incident. Her dreams were filled with candles and fox boys, but they had a happy tone to them. Marissa would take care of him, wouldn't she?
And Kale was okay. At least he was home safe.
In the morning, Lorelei would wake up, none the wiser to her daughter's midnight excursion, and start her day.
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Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 3:55 pm
IV. Waiting...
Journal,
All has been quiet. Eerily so. Without Kale tottering around and stirring up mischeif, the wagon has been lonely and silent, but for the Banyas. The Banyas chatter to themselves, but not in any language I understand. No, to the meij they keep me starkly, maddeningly ignorant.
I feel myself growing further away from my caravan sisters. I haven't attended one fireside gathering since the forest. I know I should be with them, loving with them as I used to, but it is hard to see the gypsies with their beautiful, happy children, while I have only this cold candle to show for my little boy. I know he is in there- I can feel it, in a strange way. And I know I have loved him as a candle before. But it is not the same, loving a candle who has once been a boy with such life that it shone from him like sunlight. I only hope to see that boy again soon. I am placing all my trust in the meij, and I have every confidence that they will restore him. Even so...dear, tricky meij... won't you bring my son back soon?
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Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 5:15 pm
V. A Gypsy's Intuition...
Journal,
The birds have gone suspiciously quiet. They rarely coo or trill, and they have not been leaving their perches as often as they had. They seem to be waiting, listening for something unheard by the gypsies. I know the others have been experiencing the same, for I have noticed a distinctive lack of sound within the caravan. I only hope that the banyas are listening to the syruppy voice of the meij- and that they will bestow upon us deaf mortals the gift of knowing its stories, too.
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