“Shetransformed?Into flowers? How does someone just transform?!” I ask with disbelief in my voice. “People don’t just transform into flowers. They decompose, they rot and are eaten by bugs and animals and mycelium,” I say, my confusion clearly written on my face as I turn to Durga for confirmation.
She was of the fae. As are you and I, Nuria. We do not return to The Mother in the same way that humans do.I can hear Durga say in my mind, but her words don’t register as anything remotely logical.
Is this some strange joke? Am I dreaming? Did I bleed out and am actually lying by that blackberry bush – dead?
“Fae… as in faeries? I’m a fairy? Ya right!” I laugh out loud in disbelief, but the fact that I have been told this piece of information by reading the mind of a horse and speaking with gnomes makes my disbelief suddenly turn into shock.This cannot be true!
“If you need more reassurance young one then take that paste off your arm. I’m sure you will find it is already perfectly healed. fae heal very quickly,” Sister Buttercup chimes in and sure enough as I scrape away the green goop I can see my wounds have closed, leaving only a slight pink scar. I can freely wiggle my fingers without pain.
“But you put that on me. It must be some sort of magic. You are a gnome after all… you’re a magical creature,” I say, trying to deny what they have said I am capable of.
“We are no more magic than the humans. We have our duties to The Earth Mother and execute them well, yes, but we have no special healing magic like the fae. Those were healing herbs poppet; gifted to us by The Mother herself, a gift that all may use. It only aided in your innate ability,” Granny Mog replies.
“Wait a moment, Durga, you are fae as well? But you’re a horse! Why doIlook like a human? And don’t fairies have pointy ears and wings?” The questions tumble out of me as all the fairytale stories I once read as a child pop into my head.
“There are many types of fae, dear. Durga is a Metamorph who, unfortunately, cannot turn into her humanoid form since she passed into the human realm. You, my dear, are what they call an Etherealist, which has come to be a very rare gift amongst the Elemental fae. They have an affinity over the ruling element of the mind… the Ether,” Granny Mog replies, talking in calming tones as if I am a skittish baby deer that is about to bolt.
“An Etherealist?” I say, testing the word out on my tongue.Is that why I can sometimes read minds and communicate through thoughts?I chew on my nails as I ponder what this means. My whole strange childhood is making more and more sense but at the same time, completely overwhelming me.
Fairies…I laugh out loud, earning a few curious looks.
Endless questions are racing through my mind and my voice fails me as I stare wide eyed at Granny Mog’s warm features.What else can an Etherealist do? Was my mother an Etherealist? Is my father fae as well? Why was I brought to the human realm? Why can’t Durga change back? Does any of this have to do with my sister being taken? My sister… I’ve been here too long! I need to find Marissa!
Granny Mog squeezes my hand, drawing me back into focus. “Slow down Nuria, I cannot answer all you have asked dear child as I do not have the answers. What I can tell you is that we saw a varg come through here carrying an unconscious girl.” Thesurrounding gnomes shudder at the name of the creature. “We feared it had gottenyoubut I could tell it had made a mistake and taken another poor soul. I am truly sorry that the varg has taken your sister but my dear you must not follow them! Your mother warned us you would try to return but the fae realm is cruel and tricky. No place for someone raised by humans,” Granny Mog pleads.
“You… you tried to warn me about the varg in my vision. Why is it after me?” I question, looking around as if I may see a sign of where the creature has taken Marissa.
“It is a minion of The Wolf King. One of his young lackeys sent it through. I do not know why it was sent for you though; I only know that your mother was running from something when she came through The Gate. My child you must stay here,” Granny Mog warns.
“Don’t go, Nuria, stay with us!” Brother Willow exclaims and several other gnomes call out in agreement.
“I must go! I will not abandon Marissa. She puts up a tough front but she is probably terrified and you said that thing had orders not to harmme,but what happens when it figures outsheis notme? No, I have to go, please help me!” I beg, gripping onto my sword for strength. I look several of the gnomes in the eye before landing on Durga.
“You! You can take me! You came from there and you said so yourself that you were tasked to protect me!” I try to reason with her, remembering her vow to my dead mother.
I cannot return.Durga huffs and bows her head low. I step up to her and grasp her head, lifting her chin to make our eyes meet.
“Can you take me to The Gate?” I ask, looking straight into her big eyes and I can see a flash of what I can only assume is my mother in her memories, impossibly beautiful with her golden eyes and cascading ebony curls, asking her the same questionyears ago. Her face is blurred, as if the memory is too distant to recall. Durga nods her head gently and kneels in front of me, bowing down low.
“The sun will soon be setting my dear, at least stay the night with us to get your strength back,” Granny Mog reasons with me and I feel that a solid rest may be what I need before venturing into the unknown. So I nod and let them lead me to their caves.
There is already something delicious smelling, bubbling over the fire pit just outside the cozy entrance and my stomach does a little jump for joy, gurgling loud enough for everyone to hear. Little boulder gnome children come rolling out to greet me, giggling as one grabs my newly healed arm and another takes my sword and waves it around in awe.
“Hey, I’m going to need that back you little rascal,” I tease, all tension already easing away as I am welcomed into the wholesome boulder gnome family.Maybe I should just stay here,the thought comes up but I quickly shove it aside, knowing I have a greater duty towards my own family.
I sleep deeplythrough the night with the deep rumbling of the snoring gnomes lulling me into a dreamless slumber. The next morning I wake up to find a water vessel and a sheath for my sword crafted out of bark lying beside my pillow, a gift from one of the gnomes, too modest to take credit for the kind gesture. I get up to see everyone else is already gone from the cave and gather up my gifts and stumble out into the bright sun.
“Ah, you’re awake. I did not want to disturb you, my dear,” I hear Granny Mog say, my eyes are still adjusting to the blaring light and all I see are blurry figures. It must be well into the morning which gives me a wave of panic.
“I have to get going. Thank you for your hospitality,” I say looking around for Durga and seeing her sitting in the middle of a group of gnome childlings that are playing with her hair.
“Before you go dear, I have something we found in the flowers years ago. I am sure she would have wanted you to have it.” Granny holds out a beautiful necklace with a pendant of a little golden eye with delicate feathers encircling it. On closer inspection I notice it has a small, purple crystal gleaming in the iris.
“She left this for me? Thank you, truly,” I say, pushing back the tears that are threatening to overflow as she puts it around my neck, a piece of my mother that I could have never wished for. The cool metal soon turns warm and I swear I hear it hum for a split second. I look around but no one else seems to be reacting to the sound,must be hearing things.Durga walks up to my side and kneels down for me to hop on.
Granny grabs my hand before I hop on. “Look for the boulder gnomes in the fae realm, my dear; they tend to the hills on the other side of the Tanglewoods. Tell them I sent you and they will give you guidance,” Granny instructs, and I can see tears threatening to spill down her stone cheeks. I realize with a pang of guilt that she has probably had to mourn me once before. I give her a tight hug and look into her kind eyes.
“Thank you for your help Granny, I am sorry I could not stay.” I give a nod to the gathered crowd before I hop on the back of Durga, taking a deep breath, having to steel my nerves as she fully stands up and starts trotting, taking us out of sight of the gnomes and onward to The Gate.
