Karielle and the Gift of Magic

CHAPTER 1

K ARIELLE WATCHED AS her mother and step father trudged briskly down the narrow path from their cottage to the valley below. It was a bright, sunny midsummer day and birds flew in and out of the trees carrying worms and grubs to their young. Nellie, the family goat, who supplied milk for all of them, bleated to Kari, hoping the young girl was outside to give her some grain. Kari paid no heed to her pet as she felt the dread of separation from her mother creep into her heart.

Strapped to her parents’ backs were packs with spare clothes, bedrolls, two cooking pots, and an oilskin wrapped pouch that contained a freshly baked loaf of barley bread, a round of goat cheese, some goat jerky and a smaller pouch of herbal tea. The food would have to sustain them until they could perhaps find a farmer willing to give them a place to sleep and food while they picked whatever crop was being harvested.

The young girl watching them walk away from their home couldn’t understand why they wanted to leave the safety and security of their humble cottage and be away for over a month in the valley to pick the various crops of the valley’s orchards and fields. But her mother had explained to her several times that a hard winter was foretold and the family would need coin to pay for some of the necessities of life their meager little garden and her husband’s hunting could not provide. If they were lucky, her mother also explained, they might be rewarded with some of the produce to bring home and that would also add to their winter food supplies.

Karielle could have told her mother that it was going to be a hard winter. The owl that had a nest in the lean-to where the family kept their animals had told her that. The squirrels who had their homes in trees nearby had also warned her as they scampered busily about gathering nuts to store away. She had also watched the bees gathering a great deal of pollen from the flowers growing near the front stoop for the making of honey. They needed to insure that they, too, would have enough food to sustain their winter.

Nathan, Karielle’s older half brother was to stay home and keep an eye on her and take care of the family goats, chickens, and cages of coneys while the parents were gone. Not a task the young thirteen year old boy wanted at all. Why should he have to stay home with his stupid sister? He had argued with his mother, Sarah, and stepfather Haken that he could pick the fruit from the trees and dig for root crops much better and faster than either of them because he was younger and more nimble. Why couldn’t they all go, he would whine. Karielle might be only ten years old, but she could pretty much watch out for herself while the parents and Nathan picked the crops. In fact, he argued, she was old enough to gather some crops herself.

His arguments fell on deaf ears, however. He was to stay home to care of the girl and the animals and that was that. Haken boxed his ears for being so cheeky and warned him that if he argued about the matter anymore, he would regret the results.

That night, Karielle had heard Nathan silently sobbing into his blankets. She felt sorry for him in a way. She knew he thought himself a man now and to have to stay at the homestead and care for a little sister must be a terrible insult to Nathan’s ego. There was no arguing with adults, the girl knew, as she listened to her brother cursing beneath his breath and into his pillow. Nathan was somewhat of a dreamer and had always hated the daily chores.

As the forms of Sarah and Haken disappeared from sight, Karielle sighed and turned back to the door of the cottage. Her mother had made a large pot of stew which should last the children a couple days at least. The aroma of turnips, carrots, potatoes and meat filled the entire living area and made Karielle’s mouth water. It wouldn’t be ready for awhile yet, however, so the girl went to the cupboard, took out a loaf of bread and sliced some of it to go with the stew. She set out two bowls, two wooden spoons, and two wooden mugs for goat milk that was kept cool in a straw-lined box buried in the ground out back.

She was deeply intent on her work when the slamming of the door startled her, nearly causing her to drop one of the bowls.

What do you think you’re doing? Nathan’s shadow filled the doorway and his face had a nasty frown.

Carefully placing the bowl on the wooden table, she turned to look at her brother. I’m just getting the table set for when the stew’s ready. Replied the girl.

Well, I’d like some help feeding the goats and chickens, if you’re not too busy trying to take over Mother’s place. He retorted sarcastically. Just because they’re gone, doesn’t mean you can just laze around all day. Now get out here and feed the chickens! And, don’t try to tell me they talked to you either. Crazy Kari!

All the time Karielle was tending to the chickens, then putting some grain into a wooden trough for the goats, Nathan kept up a steady chatter about how someday he would leave this place and seek his fortune in the outside world. No more babysitting for him, he’d say. No wife, either. He was never going to have a bunch of kids that would need him to look after them. No, Nathan was going to be an adventurer and live off the land, travel to far off places he’d read about in the few books his mother kept on a shelf in the cottage. Kari didn’t pay much attention to her brother since he had said it all before, many, many times.

That night, after supper was over, the dishes washed and put back onto the shelf by the fire, Nathan put on his tattered jacket and went for a walk. He said he just had to get out by himself for awhile, but that she had to stay inside and behave herself. If he came back and she’d done anything wrong, he would box her ears.

Kari could not remember a time when things were happy in her life. There had been chores for her to do ever since she was old enough to carry a bucket or throw tiny handfuls of corn to the chickens. Her head was barely above the top of the plank table that served as the working area for all preparations, whether it be cooking, mending, eating or whatever, when her mother began teaching her how to prepare vegetables for stew. She was shown how to bake bread, cut up slaughtered chickens and rabbits. She had small scars on her wrists and fingers from burns she got from the iron rod over the fireplace and the handle to the stone oven beside it. Every day began before dawn and she would fall onto her pallet in the loft above the kitchen long after dark each night. She might be only ten years old, but it had been a hard ten years.

Her only respite was her being able to hear what the animals had to say. They talked to her in her mind and she could understand what they were saying. Most of the time it was just nonsense, but they listened to Kari, too, and were often sympathetic to her woes.

The first time she had mentioned that Nellie, their goat, had told her the chickens were getting into her grain, her mother had just laughed. Nathan had sneered at her and told her she was crazy. When she continued to tell them about her conversations with the animals, her mother had at first just attributed it to her being a young child with a vivid imagination. Maybe it was because she was expected to do so much at an early age, her mother thought. Kari was admonished, however, not to exaggerate so much and eventually, the girl realized her family must think she was lying, so therefore, quit talking about her unusual conversations.

Without a man in the house at the time, chores were necessary for everyday living. Nathan’s father had died when Nathan was only three years old and there had been no adult man to help on a regular basis. The young boy was also indoctrinated into work early and resented it terribly.

Even at the age of fourteen, Nathan was showing signs of being a man. All the work he did was building muscles and his face had begun sprouting a light blond fuzz. His hair was a little longer than shoulder length and he kept it tied with a thong at the nape of his neck. Unfortunately, Nathan did not care much for cleanliness and his blond hair was always greasy looking and his body smelled of sweat most of the time. His mother admonished him often to go bathe in the creek, but he usually ignored her until she would take a broom to him. Then, he would reluctantly traipse down to the creek, slap a little water onto his face and call it good enough.

Karielle didn’t know who her father was. Nathan had told her one day when he was in a story telling mood that he was just a lad when one night there was a scratching on the door. His mother went to open it and a tall man fell through the doorway and onto the floor. He was soaking wet from the storm raging outside and running a high fever.

Sarah had Nathan help her pull the man all the way into the room and help pull off his wet cloak. The stranger was very tall, his hair was jet black. He wore leather chausses and the tops of his boots came clear up to his knees. It took all his and his mother’s strength to pull those boots off.

Somehow they managed to get the wet clothes off the man and Sarah and Nathan had tugged and pulled and pushed until they were able to get him into her own pallet that rested against the wall near the fire. She had made an herbal tea and got some of it down the man’s mouth in spite of his shaking and difficulty in swallowing. She covered him with several quilts and sat near the pallet all during the night. She had Nathan sit by the sleeping stranger only for a few hours during the day so she could get some rest and make a strong broth which she tried to get down his hot, fevered body.

Nathan couldn’t remember just how long the stranger had been there before the fever had finally broken and he began to stir and opened his eyes.

Kari’s brother had paused and stared into the air for a moment as he remembered those eyes. He told his sister he had never before or ever since seen eyes quite like those of that man’s. They were amber in color, much like those of a wolf or a wild cat, Nathan said. And when they looked at you, you got an eerie feeling. The only other person with eyes similar to that, Nathan told her, was herself. Her eyes also were of an amber color, but he said nothing more about that.

In time the man improved and told them his name was Morgan. His voice was strong, but he talked somewhat in a whisper most of the time. His moves were almost calculated. And those eyes were constantly moving back and forth as if to not miss anything nearby.

Morgan stayed with Sarah and Nathan while his health continued to improve and even though he was quite young, Nathan couldn’t help but notice the looks that began to pass between his mother and the tall man. As the winter progressed, soon Morgan and his mother were sharing the pallet by the fire. It was during this time that Nathan heard his mother singing for the first time he could remember.

She smiled quite a bit as well and always had her hair brushed to a high shine and would put on a clean shift before Morgan would come in from chopping wood or return from having gone to hunt for deer or some other game for the cooking fire.

At night after dinner, Morgan would light a pipe with a straw from the fireplace and then tell stories of his adventures in the outside world. Nathan would be enthralled at tales of riding the high seas in large sailing ships. He would shiver over stories of Morgan’s having to run from savage clans of almost non human beings from the North. His favorite story was when Morgan had ridden with a prince from the exotic south. He had a black stallion named Stone and he and that horse had fought many a battle with sword and shield against the infidels. He showed Nathan a brightly colored scarf that had been presented him by the prince for his bravery.

Nathan pondered the story for a moment and then asked, Where is Stone now? You were not riding a horse when you came here that night in the storm.

Morgan had put the straw to his pipe again and took several moments to draw in the smoke. As a smoke ring rose and circled above, Morgan softly spoke. Stone injured his leg on my journey through the valley. I was already ill and knew he couldn’t carry me much longer with his leg injured. I removed the saddle and set him loose to fare as best he could. I don’t know how long I walked before I saw the light from your cottage. I was too ill by then to give much thought to my horse. I can only hope his leg healed and that he found forage. Maybe someday I will come upon him again. We had a close friendship, Stone and I and I do miss him greatly, but only time will tell if we have a future together.

After that, Morgan never spoke about Stone again.

One day, however, when Nathan arose, he found his mother sitting on the edge of her pallet crying . Morgan had left before dawn, she had told him. He was sorry, he had told her, but he could not stay in any one place too long. The spring thaws were now on the land and he must be on his way. Morgan had kissed Sarah and when he had left, she found the colorful scarf beneath her pillow.

As if Fate wanted to add more injury to the already mournful Sarah, she found she now was with child. Morgan had made sure there was food enough to keep the woman and her son until the spring planting could be done and begin producing. There were the goats and chickens, of course, and many crocks of salted venison and smoked meats hanging from the rafters.

When time for the delivery was near, Nathan had been sent to the valley to bring old Meg, the midwife. When she arrived, Nathan was sent out of the cottage to await the birthing. While he waited, he milked little Nellie, the goat, fed the chickens, gathered the eggs, put grain down for all the goats, and then, with nothing more to do, laid down in the freshly strewn straw of the animal pen and finally fell asleep.

When he learned that the baby was a girl, Nathan thought he would be sick. He’d secretly hoped he would have a little brother who eventually could help him with the chores. But a girl! What could one do with a girl?

Morgan never came back.

Sarah never mentioned him again and Nathan was smart enough not to ask about him.

The baby grew and was given the name Karielle. Sarah would croon lullabies to her as she nursed and Nathan secretly wished she would die or that some animal would steal her and take her away. The fact that he never said anything to his mother was testimony of his never wanting her to know his true feelings about his sister.

As time went on, Kari, as both mother and son began to shortcut her name, grew and, maybe because there was a need, learned to walk and talk early. She was a bright child and Sarah began teaching her how to read and write early as well. Somewhere in Sarah’s upbringing, she had learned these skills. But she never had mentioned it to anyone. Kari had learned quickly and soon was sitting at the rough and worn table, hair falling into her face, reading or laboriously scratching letters or numbers on a piece of slate used for learning.

Nathan had, on only one occasion, asked his mother why girls needed to be so smart and where would Kari ever use such knowledge, but the look Sarah gave him closed his mouth forever on the subject.

CHAPTER 2

I T WAS NO surprise that Kari’s long hair was as black as Morgan’s. Her eyes, too, had that strange, deep amber color. These two facts only made Nathan hate her all the more. He didn’t want to remember the tall muscular man who had made his mother cry.

Another fact that made Kari different was the occasional happenings that had no explanation.

Once, when Kari was only about five years old, and as she was helping her mother set the table, she dropped one of the bowls full of stew.

Before the bowl could turn upside down, however, spill its contents and hit the floor, it just stayed upright and slowly descended to the floor with not a drop of stew spilled. Sarah had rushed over, thinking there would be a mess to clean up, but, there the bowl sat, not anything amiss.

The event was discarded as one of those strange occurrences that happen now and then.

There was also the fact that Kari seemed able to easily find things that were lost. She told her mother she could ‘see’ them where they had fallen or been mislaid. Again, her mother told her she was imagining things and trying to make everyone believe she was something she wasn’t. Since Kari couldn’t explain those strange happenings, she never argued.

All animals seemed to have a strange affinity for the girl. Nathan hated feeding and watering the home animals, saying it was beneath his dignity to shovel droppings and clean up after a bunch of worthless dumb animals. But Kari would take a pan of corn to the chickens and talk or sing to them as she threw the kernels out across the yard. They, in turn, would cluck and gather around her and respond to her conversation and singing with seeming happiness. Kari once told her mother they also talked to her, but after a strong scolding that it was sheer nonsense, Kari quit mentioning such things to anyone.

If strange things did happen with Kari once in awhile, she didn’t think it was odd. If those same things didn’t seem to happen to her mother or brother, she didn’t appear to notice. It was a part of her and she just accepted it.

After a few years, her mother had taken up with another man. His name was Haken.

Haken was a crude man and neither Kari or Nathan had liked him much, but he did the heavier work like chopping wood, making much needed repairs to the cottage and adding meat to the larder, so they kept their opinions to themselves.

Haken didn’t much like children and he was also rather abusive of Sarah. Many a night the children would hear their mother silently crying after Haken had drunk too much of the homemade wine and after roughly having his way with her, fallen asleep on their pallet.

Sarah had taken the abuse, however, and said nothing when he boxed Nathan’s ears for some small slight, or cursed Kari for not having his supper before him quickly enough. Kari was also very careful not to mention her ‘conversations’ with animals around Haken. He did not put up with what he considered silly nonsense from children.

At least now Kari and Nathan wouldn’t have to suffer his abuses for the time Sarah and Haken were gone.

About a week passed. Every morning, Kari would get up before the sun, and start porridge for breakfast. Nathan would have built up the fire, sometimes, but often he was still lazing it out in bed. Since no adults were there right now, Nathan could see no reason why he should exert himself. So, Kari, taking a deep sigh, would gather a few pieces of wood from the bin and adding a bit of moss to the still warm coals, blow on them until a nice fire was going. While the porridge was cooking, Kari would feed the animals. Kari would make the meals and clean up after. If she complained about any part of the chores, Nathan would box her ears like Hazen did him and yell at her for being lazy. The fact that he was the lazy one never seemed to occur to him.

One morning, early, Kari arose from the floor of the cottage. She had just finished the long arduous task of scrubbing it and brushed an errant dark lock of hair from her face as she stood up and rung out the rag she had used to pick up the excess water. As she lifted the bucket of dirty water, Nathan chose that very moment to come in from milking Nellie.

It had been raining off and on all night and the path between the animal lean-to and the cottage door had become quite muddy. As Nathan opened the door and entered the room, large muddy footprints formed with every step he took. The smell of animal dung also clinging to his boots was mixed with the mud.

Nathan! Kari, cried, Look what you’ve done! I just finished scrubbing this floor and now you’ve tracked mud and no telling what else all over. I’ve a mind to make you scrub it away yourself!

Nathan paid her no mind as he took off his rain soaked jacket and hung it on the peg near the fire to dry. Water dripped from it and made a puddle. I’m not scrubbing floors. That’s woman’s work. I’m surprised you even did that. Seems like I have to do everything around here as it is. I just did all the animal chores and am hungry enough to eat a bear. Now leave me be and bring me my breakfast!

If you want to eat, you can go dish it up yourself! Kari fumed, stamping a foot. I’ll not do one more thing this day. I’ve been up since before dawn cleaning house, making your meals, baking bread and you have the nerve to tell me I do nothing! Grabbing her heavy woolen shawl from the peg next to Nathan’s dripping coat, she threw it around her shoulders and stomped out of the cottage. I’m going for a walk! I don’t know when I’ll be back!

Don’t bother! Hollered Nathan back at her. I wouldn’t mind if you never came back! You’re just a pain in my side anyway. Too bad you didn’t die when you were born!

Despite her anger, Kari’s eyes filled with tears. Nathan had often been mean and taunting before, but he’d never made such cruel remarks as those. If her mother had been here, Nathan would surely have gotten his ears boxed.

Slamming the door and leaving the front of the cottage, she ran down the back past the garden plot and animal pen toward the forest. Nellie made her "baaing" sound as Kari rushed past, but the girl didn’t stop to scratch between her horns like she usually did.

The rain had stopped temporarily, but the narrow path was still quite muddy and Kari slipped a little on the leaves strewn across it. She kept on running, however, anger and pain wrenching her heart.

On and on she ran, trying to escape Nathan’s hurtful words and her anger over having such a harsh life. She went further and further into the woods, far past where she had ever gone before. It didn’t seem to matter where she went, she just wanted to get away from the life that had plagued her. Birds in the lower tree branches called to her, but this time she ignored them as she rushed past. Squirrels clinging to the sides of tree trunks chattered their alarm, but these Kari also ignored.

Huge oaks and tall birches lined the pathway. Their branches made a canopy overhead, being totally entwined with layers of leaves. Low branches seemed almost to reach out for her as she passed, but she pushed them aside and ran on. She ignored the small scratches they made on her face and arms. Small animals scurried at the sound of her running to hide beneath the large sprawling roots of trees, or into burrows. Kari could hear their frightened comments as she sped by, but she was too distraught to stop and try to calm their fears.

Suddenly her bare foot caught on a leaf covered root in the path and her momentum threw her forward. Before her loomed a deep ravine filled with sharp, loose gravel and rocks. Then, she was falling, tumbling, slipping, hands and knees scraping on those sharp rocks. There seemed to be nothing to grab onto to stop her fall. Down and down Kari slid, head over heels, until she reached the bottom of the incline. Her fall ended with her hitting her head on a rock and she was momentarily knocked senseless.

When she came to, she tried to sit up. Moaning, she put her hands to her head. She was quite dizzy and her head ached.

As her head cleared, she looked at her hands and knees. Both were covered with small rock cuts and purple bruises were already starting to show. There was also a large bump on her forehead, which she surmised, was the cause of her dizziness. There was a bit of blood on her fingers and she could trace a small cut there as well as the bump.

Fine! Kari thought to herself. "Look what you’ve done now, crazy Kari. Torn your shift too. And it’s the only one that really fits!"

The worst part, however, was when she tried to stand up. A sharp pain lanced through her ankle and clear up her left leg. The ankle was swelling rapidly and bleeding. The girl had no idea if it was broken or not.

What was even worse, the rain was beginning to fall again and darkness was approaching. The sun had already fallen below the edge of the trees. If Kari couldn’t walk on that ankle, she would be stuck here all night. Would Nathan even care? Would he come looking for her if she wasn’t back by morning? The girl really doubted it.

Suddenly Kari became aware of small sounds coming from the forest. Tiny creatures were beginning to scamper across the forest floor in search of food, or shelter. As long as they were small, Kari mused, she could handle it, but what if something larger than a squirrel or rabbit came wandering by?

Now, Kari wasn’t one to ever feel sorry for herself, but she was now in a situation she had never been in before. She was injured. It didn’t seem she would be able to walk on that ankle, even sitting up and leaning against the boulder behind her, and she was dizzy. Grumbling from her stomach reminded her she hadn’t eaten since early morning either.

New tears filled her eyes and found their way to the front of her torn dress to mix with the blood from her forehead. What if no one came looking for her? Would she die here? Would her mother come back in a month and not care that she was gone?

CHAPTER 3

"MAY I BE of any help to you?" A voice, soft, yet seemingly of great strength, spoke in her mind.

Startled, Karielle wasn’t sure at first how, or whether she should answer. She looked all around her and could see nothing but shadows. Finally, with a shaking voice, WWWho, or what are you?

I could be a friend. If you will let me, I will show myself. But do not be afraid. I will not harm you.

Kari pondered the words of the speaker and after a brief moment, decided she must take the chance. Whomever or whatever had spoken had tried to assure her she would not be harmed, but still, she was very afraid.

I guess I have no choice. I cannot walk, I’ve hurt my ankle.

There was a rustling in the bushes nearby and suddenly a huge black wolf stepped forward and stood a few paces in front of the frightened girl.

Kari’s breath caught in her throat. Her eyes widened with fear. WwwWas that you who spoke? If so, how?

The maw of the wolf seemed to spread into a gristly grin. "I heard your thoughts and spoke within your mind. It is very rare, indeed, for a human to be able to converse to our kind. Now, the sky is beginning to weep more strongly. If you are injured, may I help you to a place of refuge where you may be out of this wetness?

This was just crazy. Here she sat, already soaking wet, covered with bruises, maybe a broken ankle, talking to a large black wolf. What was even more crazy, he had just told her he would help her find a dry place out of the rain.

In spite of her fear, Kari smiled, a tight little smile. Speaking out loud, she said, Well, I guess I have no choice. If you are the speaker in my mind and your offer of help is genuine and, you will not eat me, what am I to do, but accept?

There was a low ‘huh, huh, huh’ sound from the wolf’s throat, much like a chuckle. He stepped forward and stood by Kari’s side. Wrap your arm around my neck. I will help you to stand on your good foot. Then, climb upon my back. Do not fear, I am strong enough to carry such a tiny one as yourself. Once you are securely on my back, I will take you to a place of dryness.

Kari looked up at the back of the wolf and thought to herself. This is insane. Talking to a wolf who offers to carry me on his back. I can’t even ride a horse.

Again the chuckling sound emanated from the wolf. Do you doubt my ability to carry you safely?

No, I guess not. It’s just hard for me to understand all of this. Just let me tie my shawl more securely and then I’ll try to get my arms around your neck. You are quite a large wolf, you know.

"I belong to a very rare species of the wolf clan. One does not see our kind often. We keep away from humankind as much as possible. You are lucky I just happened to be hunting in this part of the forest and found you."

Her shawl was by now heavy from the falling rain and tying it was difficult. She then managed to lift herself as much as she could without putting pressure on the injured foot and was able to wrap her arms around the wolf’s neck. The wolf slowly inched forward enough for Kari to push herself up in the knee of her good leg and then to a standing position. Very carefully, she raised herself over the broad furry back and lay across it, wrapping her hands securely in the long black fur of the wolf’s neck.

Is this how I should ride? The girl asked with a quavering voice.

Just hold on tightly. I will walk slowly so you do not fall. You won’t hurt me. Are you ready?

Kari laid her head against the wolf’s neck and told him she guessed she was as ready as she would ever be.

Slowly the wolf began forward. As soon as he was sure the girl on his back was not going to fall off, he walked a little faster. From time to time he would speak to her mind inquiring if she was comfortable, if she needed for him to stop so she could be more secure upon his back. Surprisingly, Kari was quite comfortable indeed, and assured her mount that she felt very secure.

In no time, the wolf was moving rather swiftly through the forest. He kept his loping gate as smooth as possible so as not to jar the injured young ‘wakini’. It seemed like quite a long time to Kari, but eventually, they came to a rocky ridge where the wolf sought out a deep entrance to a cave.

He entered and walked back into the darkness for several feet before he stopped.

"We are here, young human. Slip carefully from my back and sit here while I seek the rear of this cave. I want to make sure there are no other animals within. There is a pile of leaves the wind has blown against the side there. Perhaps it will be softer for you to sit upon."

Kari struggled to find the place where the leaves lay piled thickly against the side of the cave wall. She shivered as the rain had quite soaked her through and her shawl was not much aid against the cold as it was wet also. She rung it out as best she could, but had to put it back over her shoulders for whatever warmth it could give her.

She waited for several moments and had begun to wonder if the wolf had just left her to her own resources when suddenly he again stood before her. She sensed, more than saw him because the cave was very dark.

The cave is quite uninhabited. Now, you must be quite tired. If you would let me, I will lie down beside you and give you the warmth of my body. When the sun rises and there is light, I will go in search of food.

Karielle was quite tired, but there were questions in her mind that needed immediate answers as far as she was concerned.

How is it that you, a wolf, can talk to me? I mean, I know you only spoke in my mind, but you spoke so I could understand you. And, you can understand me. I’ve been able to talk and understand other animals, but you are so big. I’m really confused.

The wolf seemed to ponder her question for a moment and then his words entered into her mind once again.

"It is a puzzle to me, also. It is common for the higher minded animal kingdom to communicate. Wolves are among those with this skill. Most of the smaller animals have very limited minds and, therefore, we have no converse with them. In fact, for the most part, they become our food. But it is very unusual for you humans to understand or to have the skill to be able to hear us or speak to us. You, child, are gifted with a great many skills of the magical world. Were you not aware of this?"

Kari was startled to hear the words of the wolf. Magical skills? She was not aware she had any special talents along this line. All she had ever been was a drudge, someone to do the work required for the keeping of the home and table. If her brother Nathan had any say about it, he would have said she was dumber than the rocks that lined the garden.

Friend wolf, I know nothing of any powers or skills of magic. I’m just a simple girl raised for nothing more than cleaning floors, baking bread, and what other chores my family has required of me.

The wolf again pondered her words. He had crossed the floor of the cave and now laid down close beside Kari. It is time now for you to rest. Perhaps on the morrow you will feel better. We will look for answers after you are stronger. I know of one who might be able to provide something for your pain if it is still required. But for now, Karielle, put your head down upon my back and rest. My body will help to keep you warm. Tomorrow will be soon enough for answers.

The wolf had called her by name! How do you know my name. And if you know mine, do you have a name?

Again, the strange chuckle. "I could see your name in your mind. You may call me Worg. Now rest, child. There is plenty of time for answers."

Kari did as Worg asked and despite being wet clear through and the pain of her injuries, she soon fell into an exhausted restless sleep against the curve of the wolf’s warm body. His warmth penetrated deeply and soon she no longer felt the cold.

When Kari awoke again, there was still darkness within the cave, but the opening was a little lighter. It seemed the rain had ceased, at least temporarily. The wolf, Worg, who had been true to his word and kept her warm throughout the night, had apparently risen early and exited the cave. Kari felt somewhat afraid to be left alone, but the wolf had said he would go in search of food. It had been early the morning before since Kari had eaten, and her stomach was letting her know about it.

She tried to stand up, but her ankle was still quite painful and swollen. She was very stiff from her fall down the embankment and those bruises were now a deep purple. Some of the deeper cuts had an angry redness around them. Kari knew enough that if infection set into those cuts, or if her ankle was broken, she could be in for some deep trouble. The wolf, however, had told her he knew someone who might be able to provide some help in that area, if it was needed. Of all the things she didn’t want, Kari didn’t want to become ill out here in this wild place with no means to cure herself.

Since she couldn’t move about much, and was still a little dizzy, Kari again fell into a doze. Something brushed against her hand and she awoke, startled. She saw that the wolf had returned and placed the body of a wild coney near her.

What am I supposed to do with that? she queried. I have no fire to cook it or knife to cut and clean it.

I will bring in some small pieces of wood for a fire. I have no qualms about eating fur, bones, and all, but I have observed that humans don’t. If you look, I have used my teeth to open the belly of the coney. If you will remove the insides, I will eat those. The fur you should be able to just skin from the meat. If you cannot, I will bring branches with nice juicy berries on them. Some grow nearby.

Kari had skinned enough rabbits at home that, although it took a bit of work, using the sharp end of a broken stick, she was able to get most of the fur from the body.

Worg brought more dry branches and twigs from beneath the trees and soon there was quite a pile for a fire.

Well, Kari pondered, Here’s the wood, but how am I to make a fire when I have no flint or striker?

Use your magic, child. It lies deeply within you, for true, but it is there.

Me, make fire? Use my magic? Worg, I’ve never used magic, ever. I don’t know how.

Worg made a growling sound deep within his throat. I see you need a great deal of training. I do not see how you could have had this power within you and not ever felt its presence.

Kari looked as if she were about to cry again, but Worg put one paw on her arm. Karelle, build a small mound with the twigs. I have brought some dry moss as well to place in the center. Then look at the mound you’ve made and concentrate. Imagine a flame entering and touching the moss. Picture, fire, Karielle, and it will come.

"Me? Imagine fire and those twigs will start to burn? I don’t know what you’re asking me to do!

Karielle, have confidence. You have a magic within you. Now, do as I say and the flame will come.

Sniffing and drying the tears that had formed, Kari began the task of building a cone-shaped mound with the moss in the center. She first used very small twigs, then placed a few slightly larger ones over those.

She sat back and trying to get as comfortable as she could, she closed her eyes and imagined her fireplace at home with a nice warm fire burning brightly.

Not so big to begin with, child. Start with just a small flame. Think of the flame on a candle. That is the size to begin with.

A small flame, the wolf said. Starting over, Kari squinched up her eyes and tried to imagine just one small little flame beneath the pile of twigs.

Something coming from deep within her mind seemed to push itself forward. It felt like a door opening. She could feel something much like a finger directing her thoughts. She could see the flame come forth and flow into the moss. She could hear the crackling of fire as it began to eat the wood.

"Open your eyes, Karielle."

Slowly, Kari opened her eyes and gasped. There, before her, a tiny wisp of smoke was rising from the twigs. Then a yellow flame of a tiny fire began to eat its way upward to catch at the larger pieces.

"Quickly, now, blow on it gently and then begin to slowly add more wood. You’ve done well, Karielle. You have made a very fine fire."

In no time Kari had put a strong stick through the rabbit and had it leaning over the by now well established fire. What’s more, she had removed her damp shawl and outer shift and had them lying close by to dry. Despite her soreness, the fire helped her feel very comfortable. At least now she could be warm.

And, she had made fire! What power she had felt as it coursed through her! She had never known she had magic within her. Where had it come from? No one in her family used magic. In fact, it had never even been spoken of as far as she had known.

As soon as the rabbit was cooked enough to eat, Kari removed it carefully from the fire and tore off a leg and began to eat. It was a little tough, but as hungry as she was, it was the best meal she had ever eaten. She shared the meat with Worg, although he had already eaten his own dinner out in the forest. He didn’t want to offend the young girl, however, so he accepted her offering with graciousness.

As soon as she had eaten most of the meat, Kari carefully wrapped what was left in a piece of the hem of her torn shift for later.

The meal had made her a little sleepy, but now the aching ankle and other hurts made themselves known.

Worg, she queried, You said you thought you knew someone who could possibly help me with these injuries.

No sooner had she spoken, when there came the sound of footsteps outside of the cave.

Yoohoo! Worg? Are you inside? It is I, Gretchen. Are you within?

Worg immediately arose and walked quickly to the entrance to the cave. When he returned, there was a small, bent, wizened old crone following him. She looked ancient.

Her hair was white and straggly, hanging almost to her waist. It was filled with bits of twigs, leaves, moss, and no telling what else. She had a scrap of a filthy cap trying to cover it.

Over her scrawny, skinny bent frame, hung what may have once been a dress, but it was so full of holes it was hard to tell. The hands protruding from the raggedy sleeves were scarcely anything more than skin stretched over bone. Her fingers were like claws. Over her shoulder she carried a large, loose bag. This she dropped to the floor of the cave with a sigh as if it was almost too heavy to carry.

She shuffled over to where Kari sat against the cave wall and looked down at her with squinty eyes. But when Kari looked into those eyes, she saw not only the deepest blue ever, but great wisdom.

So, my wee miss, ‘tis a bad fall you’ve had. Eh? Just let old Gretchen get down here and I’ll take a look. Some of those cuts look angry, ‘tis true. I’ve got just the thing for those.

Grunting like one of the pigs at home and bones crackling as if they would break, Gretchen finally managed to sit down in front of Kari and reached for her huge bag. After a few moments of rummaging through its contents, she pulled out a small earthen crock filled with a pleasant smelling ointment.

Makes this meself, I does. Spoke the old woman. I grow most of the herbs in my very own garden patch and the forest supplies what else I might need. Knows ever’ thin’ ’bout healin’, I does. Now this ointment here is made from comfrey. It’ll help those bruises and such.

Reaching in with one finger, the woman began daubing some of the ointment on the cuts on Kari’s face, arms and legs. Almost immediately the burning and soreness began to go away. When she got to the swollen ankle, her eyes narrowed.

Putting the crock of ointment on the cave floor beside her, she looked deeply into Kari’s eyes. This ankle is pretty swollen. Sore, is it?

Yyyess. Kari was anticipating the pain that she would feel as Gretchen examined it almost before the woman gently lifted her foot.

"Owwww!"

I know, girl, I know it hurts, somethin’ bad. But pain is a part of life, it is.

Being as gentle as possible, Gretchen probed with her gnarly old fingers over all of the ankle and then gently put it back down.

It isn’t broke, for sure, but you did get a good sprain. Sometimes that’s worse than a break. Taking a cloth packet from her pouch, she held out a few small leaves to the girl. "Here, chew on these. They will help ease the pain a little.

She pulled out a roll of cloth from her bag and then turned to eye the pile of twigs and sticks Worg had brought in for the fire.

Give me two of those stout branches, there, Worg. Get the straightest ones you can.

Worg complied and the old woman placed one on each side of Kari’s ankle. Then she carefully wrapped the cloth around and around the foot and ankle until it was tightly bound.

When she was finished, Gretchen pushed and shoved her way back to standing and brushed herself off.

Well, I think that’ll do for right now. Let’s see if we can find a nice stout branch you can use as a crutch. I think you’ll be able to walk with something to lean on, but keep off the ankle as much as possible until that sprain heals.

Worg dragged in a nice sturdy limb with a sort of Y on one end where it had broken. Gretchen pulled out a knife from her bag and whittled it down just a little so that it fit beneath Kari’s arm nicely. Kari tried it out and it worked very well.

When you can walk down to that nearby stream, unwrap it and soak it in the cold water. That’ll help more than anything. I’ll let you keep this packet of leaves, too. Chew on one or two if the pain gets too much to bear and they will help.

Thank you. Kari told the old woman. I feel much better, really. Then, watching Gretchen putting her things away in her bag, asked. Do you live close by here?

Gretchen finished her packing and turned toward the girl. I have a place down the trail back deep in these woods. It’s too far a piece for you to walk right now, but when you get better, have old Worg here show you the way. I kin take a look at you and make sure you’ve healed proper like.

With that, Gretchen turned and walked toward the cave entrance, stopping for a moment before the huge wolf. You did good, my friend, bringing me to take a look at our little friend. She looks a might peaked. You feedin’ her?

Worg let out a ‘Wuff" and looked deeply into the old woman’s eyes.

Gretchen laughed and turned to Kari. I think our friend wolf is doing best he can, but just in case . . . Here she reached once again into her large bag and brought out a cloth wrapped parcel. I brought a round of cheese and a loaf of dark bread. I’ll leave this crock of ointment too. You put it on those cuts, hear? I’ll also leave you with a small bucket so’s Worg can bring you some water to drink until you can get to that stream. Oh, and here’s a small sharp knife for cuttin’ whatever Worg brings you to eat. I don’t imagine you care much for animal fur, eh? I don’t think it’ll be long before you can hobble around, but in the meantime, you’ve got to eat. You get to my cabin and I’ll fix you a nice stew, I will.

Thank you for your kindness, Gretchen, Kari said. "It was very nice of you