The Elders had woven tales around the fire, telling the children of the village of an Ancient Spirit that could appear at moments of mortal peril and even bring souls back from the brink of death. Mór Correa. You could not call upon him lightly – but surely, if the legends were true there was no better time to ask for his help.
Wookid reached into her leaf bag and pulled out a dark obsidian crystal with rainbow colours running through it – a scrying stone. Wookid would use it to help her reach across the boundaries between worlds, in the hope that the forest god would hear her. She had precious little time and but one chance to get this right.
Wookid closed her eyes. She reached into her memory for the words that must be spoken – and she hoped above all hope, that this would work.
For Strength of Earth, I call to thee
Wisdom, Air Shall bring to me,
Fire to hold my courage fast,
Healing waters, secrets past
By all the elements made one
With these words my plea begun.
Mor-Correa, Lord of our Forest, I summon, stir and call ye forth, that your light shall guard me, your wisdom guide me and your strength aid me. Shera-Veshoch
Wookid gripped the crystal tightly. She held it over her heart and slowly breathed out as her heartbeat thudded loudly in her ears.
The little fire Wookid had made at the water’s edge, was crackling as the flames flickered back and forth, creating strange shadows in the darkness. At that moment, Wookid felt utterly alone.
‘Psst!’ the fire hissed and crackled again. ‘Pssssst!’ Alarmed, Wookid looked at the flames and blinked in disbelief. Something was moving within them. Woosh!! Bursting up from the centre of the flames, a plume of red smoke rose, twisting and spiralling in the air as tiny sparks whizzed around within it. Wookid peered at shapes that were dancing within – impressions of creatures – serpents, the phoenix – a scorpion. Could these be fire spirits? They disappeared as quickly as they formed. Several feet above the fire, the red smoke now hung in the air, turning slowly in place – as if it was waiting – but waiting for what?
A gust of icy wind blew across the pool…
Wookid’s skin broke into goosebumps and the sudden chill was enough to break her attention. Another gust of wind. It whipped across the surface of the pool, creating ripples and stirring up the water spirits beneath.
The whispering in the mist that floated above the water was becoming louder. The clear dark waters of the Maidens Pool were now emanating a feint blue light. The surface was trembling and shapes began to form in the mist. The spirits of the water - Leaping fish, river otters and other water animals - swirling and darting, as they faded in and out of sight. This was a phantasmist. The whispering was all around her now, like voices in a dream. Wookid struggled to make sense of what they were saying. The whispering stopped as the blue glowing mist rolled and undulated along the shoreline next to her.
A blustering wind rose out of nothing and shook the branches of the trees around the pool. Leaves twisted loose and lifted into the air. Wookid watched in stunned silence as the leaves created spirals and patterns that looked like a flock of birds wheeling around her like a whirlwind. The leaves formed spiral now, which turned in the air like a wheel. It became static, turning in place as it floated over Wookid. Wookid could barely see as her hair was blown in every direction.
In that moment, the forest floor began to vibrate. Wookid almost lost her balance as the earth rumbled beneath her. The ground rose and fell as if some giant beast was trying to dig its way out of the earth.
A spiral of green light, materialised next to Wookids’ feet. It glowed and pulsated as the translucent forms of forest animals shimmered above it. The spiral began to rotate slowly in the grass.
Wookid watched, breathless and hopeful.
The colourful Spirits slowly moved toward one another. Green leaves entwined with the red smoke, whirling in the air. The blue phantasmist containing the water spirits gently gliding its way across the grass, toward the spiral at Wookid’s feet, now pulsating with energy, forming a strange green magical fog. With a swift twirling motion, the spirits of Air & Fire rushed forward like a small tornado, hitting the centre of the spiral on the earth with such force that the very trees shuddered around them. Wookid watched, hypnotised as the brightly coloured spirits merged, spinning faster and faster, the wind now a deafening roar until the colours could no longer be seen – but bright purple/white light shimmered in their place.
Wookid could not keep her balance as the earth trembled and the winds whipped in every direction. She dropped to her knees, covering her ears, her eyes shut tight.
For a split second there was silence – like all the sounds in the forest had been sucked away – then with a great thundering crack, Wookid was blown flat on her back. Winded, she sat up, her ears ringing. As she recovered in the stillness, she became aware of something breathing close by. She looked at the wolf cub. He was laying still, his breath soft and weak. There it was again – a heavy, slow, deep breathing sound.
Wookid fluttered her wings and rose to her feet; slowly turning, not daring to breathe, her skin tingled, sensing the presence of powerful magic.
Glimmering in the distant darkness, a figure seemed to be moving towards Wookid. Shades of red and blue, then yellow and green glowed and ebbed within, constantly moving and changing in a hypnotic dance of light. As it grew nearer, the outline became clearer. There was no mistaking – it was Mór Correa!
The Great Stag drew close - the embodiment of all the spirits and powers of Fiáine combined. A creature formed entirely of magic.
Wookid stared in awe. She dropped to her knees in reverence – half afraid to look him in the eye. His presence was very intimidating. His vast antlers shimmering like a crown of coloured starlight, illuminated by the moon. His body softly glowing, a glimpse of the great powers and elemental forces within him.
He stepped into the firelight, his wise eyes fixed upon the little wolf who lay so close to death upon the ground. Wookid looked at the stag for a moment and then hung her head in sadness. ‘I tried’ she whispered. ‘I couldn’t save him.’ Her eyes filled with tears once more as she grieved for the cub, feeling his life-force now slipping gently away.
The Stag stood silent for a moment. He approached Wookid, who became acutely aware of his huge size and the intensity of his gaze. He lowered his head and gently nudged her wand arm back towards the cub.
‘You want me to try again?’ Wookid whispered. The stag nudged her a second time, urging her to make another attempt.
Shaking, she knelt down next to the cub and composed herself. Wookid began to speak the healing words again. As she chanted, the connection with the wolf was stronger than she had expected. Through the bond, she could hear his heart beating and feel the blood running through his veins; as she breathed, so did he - becoming as one being.
Colain Cenasseg, Feowil Cenasseg, Anam Cenasseg – Tiernaeg!
Over and over she recited the incantation, desperately trying to revive the life force within him. As she held the connection, a surge of immense power coursed through her wand. It was vibrating so strongly, she had to grab it with both hands. A strange wind rose and spiralled around them.
A low, deep bellow was emanating from the stag. He stood rigid, his eyes sparkling white and Wookid saw upon his forehead, a glowing silver spiral. From the spiral, whisps of silver light emerged and floated toward Wookid’s hands.
She looked back to her wand - the blue light of her magic now intertwined strands of energy coming from Mor Correa. The magical connection, drawing from him, through her own life-force and passing into the body of the cub. Everything was shaking – vibrating with Mór Correa’s power. Wookid, was starting to feel weak. Giving all she had left, Wookid gave one last burst of energy as she shouted the words for the final time……
Tiernaeg!
A blinding flash of silver and blue, then all fell silent and dark. Wookid was on the ground, exhausted. She rolled on to her side, looking to the cub for signs of life in the fading light of the fire. As she watched, a strange mark appeared upon the wolf’s shoulder where she had focused the healing. A mark - like the symbols used in the oldest magic, when the earth was still young. Wookid did not know this particular symbol, but had seen some similar drawings in the dusty old scrolls the Elders kept in the temple – she felt sure they would have some knowledge of its meaning - and knew that she would need to seek their council.
‘Ow!’ she hissed. Her train of thought was interrupted as a prickly, tingling sensation seared the skin on the top of her right arm. She looked to see what was causing the pain – and there – the same mark glowed upon her own skin. As the mark appeared, Wookid became aware of another presence – the cub – she could sense him! She sat quietly, focusing on the connection between them. Though he lay sleeping, she could hear his dreams, feel his heartbeat, sense his life force. Wookid understood – this was the balance – this was the price. By saving him, she had become his destiny and he had become hers – but for what purpose, she puzzled.
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