Summer & Spellbooks

[Cross]

"Why of course!" 'Nik' lied, "I have yet to meet anyone who can use it, however."

Victiore closed her eyes in annoyance. She hoped he wasn't just playing along. She needed an honest answer. Glancing down at the new leaf by her paw, the witch knew it had to be magic that had caused the leaf to grow. It just had to be.

Steeling herself, she spoke before she lost her nerve. "I'm going to get right to the point on this," she said, her voice a little louder than the shy mumble it normally was. "Whether you truly believe in magic or not, I am a witch of the woods." She took a deep breath, realizing she had just revealed the biggest part of her identity to this stranger, more or less. "The poem you just read is not a poem, but it is meant to be a spell to give life back to dead trees."

She gently placed her paw behind the newly grown leaf upon the stump, tilting it up in full view. "I think it was your impressive voice reading the spell that caused this leaf to grow," she went on, her face as red as it had ever been. Her mind swam with uncertainties. What if he didn't believe her? What if he ridiculed her? What if he just thought she was insane? Yet despite these, she had to continue. Where else would she find someone to read her spells with as much emphasis and accuracy as this Nik?

"I-I know it sounds crazy" she continued, her voice breaking a little. "But . . . I would like to hire you as my personal spell-reader. I know we have just met, but I can provide you with--with food and medical care if you agree to travel with me, at-at least for a little while." She bit her lip, the shy side of her regretting her every word. But a witch had to be bold!

[Promatera]

The mouse closed her eyes and looked as though she was preparing herself for something.

"I'm going to get right to the point on this," she said, her voice a little louder than the shy mumble it normally was. "Whether you truly believe in magic or not, I am a witch of the woods." "The poem you just read is not a poem, but it is meant to be a spell to give life back to dead trees."

This mouse really did seem to be insane. What interested Bon Vaygan though was why was Victiore telling him this? Perhaps there would be some juicy tidbit of knowledge for his patience.

"I think it was your impressive voice reading the spell that caused this leaf to grow," she went on, her face as red as it had ever been.

For a shy mouse she certainly knew how to flatter someone. Bon Vaygan loved flattery and was enticed to hear more.

"I-I know it sounds crazy" she continued, her voice breaking a little. "But . . . I would like to hire you as my personal spell-reader. I know we have just met, but I can provide you with--with food and medical care if you agree to travel with me, at-at least for a little while."

Victiore had him at food. Bon Vaygan considered himself lucky. He had just secured himself a nice job and all he had to do was read. However, what also struck him was the offer of medical care. He wondered if that would include his "down time."

"I would be most happy to oblige," he replied as he bowed, "however you mentioned health care and I cannot help but ask a request." Standing upright once more he thought quick of a way to explain his condition. "I have some sort of sickness which renders me nearly lifeless for a few weeks," he paused, "I wonder if you would know of any way if not to cure it then to at least lessen its impact? If so I will accept your proposition immediately."

[Cross]

"I would be most happy to oblige," he replied as he bowed. . .

Victiore was struck dumb for a moment. Had he . . . actually accepted her offer? It had been a sudden impulse on her part. She couldn't help but wonder if he still thought she was crazy. But she knew the quickest way to a male's heart: food. That had cinched it for him, no doubt.

"However you mentioned health care and I cannot help but ask a request." Standing upright once more he thought quick of a way to explain his condition. "I have some sort of sickness which renders me nearly lifeless for a few weeks," he paused, "I wonder if you would know of any way if not to cure it then to at least lessen its impact? If so I will accept your proposition immediately."

"I--you--" Victiore had trouble replying for a moment. "Accept? I mean," She stopped, gathering her composure, sort of. "I-I could try to find some kind of, um, cure for your . . . sickness, I suppose. But . . . what do you mean by nearly lifeless?" She took out a charcoal stick from her bag and flipped to a clean page in her journal. "Is your-your physical body actually weak to the point of death? Or, is it a mental loss of will to live? I-I believe I could, um, create a remedy for either one, but . . . I'll, ah, need specifics if you want a potent cure." She quickly scribbled 'Nik' at the top of the page.

[Promatera]

Bon Vaygan almost burst out laughing at the squirrel's comical look of disbelief, but he knew better than that.

"I--you--" Victiore had trouble replying for a moment. "Accept? I mean," She stopped, gathering her composure, sort of. "I-I could try to find some kind of, um, cure for your . . . sickness, I suppose. But . . . what do you mean by nearly lifeless?" She took out a charcoal stick from her bag and flipped to a clean page in her journal. "Is your-your physical body actually weak to the point of death? Or, is it a mental loss of will to live? I-I believe I could, um, create a remedy for either one, but . . . I'll, ah, need specifics if you want a potent cure."

A wave of exhilaration flew through Bon Vaygan and nearly lifted him above the treetops, but he had to remain in control. "Of course," he smiled, "I would have to say that my state is all in the mind, but it almost feels as though it is in the body as well."

To think he could actually be helped! After years of bearing the burden of depression, he could finally shrug it off! All he had to do was read some verses. It was a perfect arrangement, but if Bon Vaygan ever got tired all he would have to do is quit. Certainly a lot easier than leaving a horde.

[Cross]

"Of course," he smiled, "I would have to say that my state is all in the mind, but it almost feels as though it is in the body as well."

Victiore nodded in understanding, jotting down a few notes. This was going to be an easy arrangement. All he needed was a simple antidepressant, and she would have someone bold enough to try out her spells. The mouse stood, shrugging her long scarf off her shoulders and stuffing it into her bag, which somehow never seemed to run short on space.

"Well, uh, welcome aboard," she said cheerfully, offering another small smile. "If you'd like to pack a few things, I can wait here." Journal in paw, the witch walked over to a thick patch of undergrowth and knelt beside it, tapping a finger on her chin. "Primrose or chamomile?" she murmured to herself. "St. John's wort or dropsy plant?"

Finding an herb or two that would calm Nik's mind during his depressed periods would be easy. Preparing the right mix of ingredients would be a little harder, but it just depended upon how intense his depression was. "Chamomile would help him sleep," Victiore told a clump of primroses. "But St. John's wort would ease the depression. Where might I find some?" She smiled warmly, plucking a stray daisy and tucking it behind her ear. She stood and moved to another spot.

"Dropsy plant would fend off anxiety," the mouse quietly informed a clump of wildflowers. "But primrose would calm him down if he got antsy." She thought for a moment on that last part and went back to the primroses. Pulling a good pawful up by the roots, she slipped them in a small pouch inside her bag. A mild sedative would be useful no matter if he was in his depressed state or not.

[Promatera]

As Bon Vaygan explained his symptoms, Victiore jotted down notes. He was still surprised that she could actually help him.

"Well, uh, welcome aboard," she said cheerfully, offering another small smile. "If you'd like to pack a few things, I can wait here."

"Thank you, Victiore!" he bowed, "I shall return shortly!"

Darting off into the forest, Bon Vaygan found his hollow hidden from view by several vines. By tugging on one, a burrow was opened beneath the base of a nearby ash tree. Climbing in, he descended into a small den. His home for many years. Not, but a few weeks ago it was a mess after a snake decided to join him, but after that issue was taken care of, his den returned to its quaint appearance. There was little to take as he had recently run out of food, but he wanted one last look at his home before he left for some time.

Just as quickly as he had left, he had soon reappeared bounding proudly into view. "I am ready!" he declared.

[Cross]

"I am ready!" he declared.

Victiore had just finished making a daisy chain as she sat cross-legged on the tree stump. She stood up as Nik approached and draped the chain around her neck, shouldering her bag. "Very well," she announced. "Since you tried to pilfer my food, I'm guessing you're still hungry. We'll find you some food on the way."

The mouse started off in the direction she had been traveling all day: West. As she walked, she kept an eye out for dropsy plant or St. John's wort. She also scoured for edible plants and such for Nik. Along the way, she got her journal out again and wrote down a few more notes on Nik's cure.

At the hint of a familiar scent, the mouse darted into a thicket. "Aha," her voice drifted back faintly. "Fancy some berries, Mr. Nik?" She came out of the undergrowth with a small sack in her paw, having filled it with blueberries. Offering it to the weasel, she added, "Consider it your first payment, I guess."

Ducking back into the thicket, she searched for any of the antidepressant plants she'd been looking for. Finding none, she moved to another spot, sticking close to the weasel as she scoured the different areas. She stopped in front of a yew sapling, furrowing her brow slightly as she knelt next to it, pushing the leaves of a bush aside. "Perhaps you know where I might find a bit of dropsy?" she quietly asked the bush, looking past it.

[Promatera]

Victiore looked as though she had been waiting on him for some time. She had put together a daisy-chain and put it around her neck. Springing to her paw feet, Victiore shouldered her bag.

"Very well," she announced. "Since you tried to pilfer my food, I'm guessing you're still hungry. We'll find you some food on the way."

"Great!" he exclaimed. Bon Vaygan was growing rather hungry and was eager to eat, but he would have to be patient. "Lead on Victiore!"

After walking for several minutes west, Victiore stopped as she sniffed the air and then darted into the bushes.

"Aha," her voice drifted back faintly. "Fancy some berries, Mr. Nik?" She came out of the undergrowth with a small sack in her paw, having filled it with blueberries. Offering it to the weasel, she added, "Consider it your first payment, I guess."

"S-sure," he replied taking the berry sack and eyeing it wearily. He had to admit he had hoped for a bit more, but he ate it just the same. It tasted very fresh and tart in his mouth and though a nice treat, it did not completely fill his stomach.

Victiore had already dove back into the bushes and was scrounging around for other plants. It sounded as though she had begun to mumble some phrases here and there, but Bon Vaygan had decided against speaking out to his present employer.

Instead he focused on gaining his bearings. Noting the Sun's position in the sky and the surrounding area. It was early in the afternoon and the forest was somewhat quieter than usual, though the occasional bird song could be heard. They were now surrounded by trees and shrubs. Through the treetops Bon Vaygan could make out the bright blue sky overhead. It was a nice warm day.

"So this is what you do all day?" Bon Vaygan asked lounging about.

[Cross]

"So this is what you do all day?" Bon Vaygan asked lounging about.

Victiore returned to the weasel, holding two bagfuls of mushroom truffles. Her normally white paws were brown with dirt up to her elbows. She offered a bag to Nik and nodded in response to his question. "More or less," she replied quietly. "Especially when I have a specific elixir in mind. In this case, I'm looking for your antidepressant."

She took a few truffles out of her little bag and chewed on them thoughtfully, glancing around once more. "Perhaps this is too dense an area," she murmured. "Both chamomile and St. John's like sunshine." The tattooed mouse wrote down a few more notes and shouldered her bag again. "We could try around a stream for St. John's. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to look for some vegetables to whip up some soup, too."

Though Victiore spoke aloud, she seemed to be speaking to herself, not necessarily to Nik. She shut her journal and set off again, beckoning to her new employee. She remembered the primroses in her bag and made a mental note to prepare that tea at some point, as well.

[Promatera]

"More or less," she replied quietly. "Especially when I have a specific elixir in mind. In this case, I'm looking for your antidepressant."

"Ah I see..." he trailed off as he began to realize he was bored. Seeing as he had little else to do he may as well assist his new employer. She was helping him with his disorder. However, before he asked, Bon Vaygan could hear what sounded like Victiore mumbling and writing things down. Perhaps Bon Vaygan should be concerned for her mental faculties? Should he trust what this "witch" would give him?

His thoughts were interrupted as Victiore shut her notebook and beckoned him to follow her once more. Bon Vaygan got up and tried to think of a way to address his concerns without alerting Victiore. "Victiore?" he inquired, "How long have you been practicing herbalism?"

[Cross]

"Victiore?" he inquired, "How long have you been practicing herbalism?"

The tattooed mouse didn't break her stride as she answered, "Eleven years, give or take." Most of that time had been spent actually training in the arts of the woods, but it still counted in her mind. As they walked, Victiore gathered various edible plants, mentally planning how she would make the soup once they stopped to make camp for the night. They soon came upon a dry stream bed, and the mouse set about searching for the antidepressant plants.

She was curious why Nik had asked, but she didn't press the topic. She didn't much like to talk to others about herself. Heck, she didn't much like to talk to others, period. That was why she had taken to speaking with the plants. They were excellent listeners, and they didn't try to hurt her. She knew she was a bit eccentric in that regard, but it was a habit, and not one she particularly wanted to get rid of.

"How long have you been a rogue?" she asked innocently, kneeling beside a dropsy plant. She took out her small silver knife and cut off a hefty bunch. Next she went to search for either St. John's or chamomile, trying to keep from talking to the foliage while she was directly in front of Nik. It would seem odd.

[Promatera]

The tattooed mouse didn't break her stride as she answered, "Eleven years, give or take."

"I see," he replied.

This reassured Bon Vaygan somewhat, but he still had some doubts. As they reached a dry stream Bon Vaygan began to wonder a bit about Victiore's past. What led her to her life of 'witchcraft' and why did she travel alone?

"How long have you been a rogue?" she asked innocently, kneeling beside a dropsy plant.

Rogue? He had always liked the sound of that word and it made him feel somewhat proud when he was referred to as such. However, Bon Vaygan decided it would be best if he did not let on about who he really was.

"Well Victiore if you must know I have lived in the woods of Mossflower for years, but I am no rogue, in fact I am an actor and have been since I was a child" 'Nik' sighed, "unfortunately many beasts do not make for a great audience."

"I must ask you, however," he added, "how long have you roamed these woods alone? Are you trying to escape from something?"

[Cross]

"Well Victiore if you must know I have lived in the woods of Mossflower for years, but I am no rogue, in fact I am an actor and have been since I was a child" 'Nik' sighed, "unfortunately many beasts do not make for a great audience."

Victiore nodded absently, finally locating some chamomile. She cut off a large bunch of the daisy-like flowers and stored them in her bag. "That's nice," she replied. "I've never seen a real performance before." Though her entire family was nothing but gypsies, they specialized in dancing, fortune-telling, and sometimes small magic acts. But they did nothing like the extravagant plays she had heard tales about.

"I must ask you, however," he added, "how long have you roamed these woods alone? Are you trying to escape from something?"

Victiore paused in her searching. She knelt by a short bush, stroking the leaves gently in order to identify their scent more easily. Escape? If she was trying to escape something, she would have stayed with her family. "Two years," she replied finally, her voice soft and low. "But I'm not . . . trying to escape anything."

What was horrible enough to escape was out in the woods, anyway. And yet she stayed. Through her immeasurable shyness, she at least had that little grain of bravery.

[Promatera]

"Two years," she replied finally, her voice soft and low. "But I'm not . . . trying to escape anything."

Victiore seemed to be hiding something, but Bon Vaygan decided to approach the issue subtly.

"Two years," he replied, "that's impressive for a mouse such as yourself."

Perhaps this mouse did know what she was doing. However, Bon Vaygan had an easier time believing this mouse was just plain lucky.

"You've never come into any trouble at all?" he added.

In the years Bon Vaygan lived alone in Mossflower, he had several close calls many times. He could not help, but wondering what the mouse 'witch' had been through. If she was to be believed, perhaps her brews helped her get by.

[Cross]

"Two years," he replied, "that's impressive for a mouse such as yourself."

Yes, two years was a long time. Victiore hated to remember her horrifying first days out in Mossflower. With her back to Nik as she knelt near a small bush, the young mouse closed her eyes, trying to get herself under control. She didn't need to think about it now. As long as she kept to herself she would be fine.

"You've never come into any trouble at all?" he added.

Victiore opened her eyes, biting her trembling lower lip. "Y-yes," she murmured almost inaudibly. The rat, who was so much bigger than she was . . . the three ferrets, who all had wickedly-sharp knives . . . the fox and the stoat, who had left her in the hollow of a dead tree . . . The mouse placed a dainty paw over her mouth, trembling as she relived the nightmarish events.

"Yes, I have," she murmured again. "Many times." It was why she was so shy, so withdrawn, so . . . fragile. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes again, exhaling slowly. When she finally stopped trembling, she stood, busying herself with finding a good place to make a campfire.

[Promatera]

"Y-yes," she murmured almost inaudibly.

"Yes, I have," she murmured again. "Many times."

Victiore shuddered and began to look about for something. Bon Vaygan figured she was trying to keep something repressed. It did not look like he would be able to glean any more information from her so he decided to assist her find firewood. As evening drew near Bon Vaygan remembered they had little food. They may be going hungry tonight.

"Victiore, you wouldn't happen to have any extra food?" he asked as he piled some branches in the streambed.

[Cross]

"Victiore, you wouldn't happen to have any extra food?" he asked as he piled some branches in the streambed.

The mouse struck flint to tinder and got a healthy blaze started. "I'll make vegetable soup with what I picked up along the way," she replied in her soft voice, opening her bag. From the bag she took out a pot and the ingredients she'd be using in the soup. She handed the pot to Nik and politely asked, "Would you be able to find some water nearby? I'll start preparing the vegetables."

She found a flat rock and placed one of her many extra sacks upon it. She then took out her silver knife, laid the veggies on the rock, and chopped them into thick slices. Carefully piling the slices on the cloth, she slid the sack off the rock, turning it inside-out with the sliced veggies inside. There were a few tears in the bag from her chopping, but it would hold until Nik returned with the water.

Victiore then took out a pawful of fresh basil leaves, some coriander, and a bit of rosemary. Tearing the leaves up, she dropped the pieces in with the veggies. Picking up the bag, she shook it, mixing the spices with the other ingredients. It was an unorthodox method at best, but one had to make due out in the lonely wilderness.

The tattooed mouse found some sturdy sticks and set up a spit from which to hang the pot. She made sure to save some of her spices for the broth. When Nik still hadn't returned, the witch settled close to the fire, pulling out her sketchbook to pass the time. Turning to a new page, she decided to draw her companion. She had never drawn a weasel before. Might as well give it a shot.

[Promatera]

The mouse struck flint to tinder and got a healthy blaze started. "I'll make vegetable soup with what I picked up along the way," she replied in her soft voice, opening her bag.

"Sounds nice," he muttered to himself. Having been raised by a hare, Bon Vaygan had always been fond of vegetables so vegetable soup did sound appealing. However, if it was from what they had picked along the way, then there may not be much. However, this was only a temporary issue! Food was only short for the moment! Besides it was at least free and he had honestly earned it!

She handed the pot to Nik and politely asked, "Would you be able to find some water nearby? I'll start preparing the vegetables."

"Very well," he nodded as he set off following the streambed. Water could not be far from where they had set up for the dinner.

Not far from their camp, Bon Vaygan found what would have once been the source of the stream's water, but it had been dammed up by fallen logs and rocks. Blocked off, the stream instead meandered further east. Bon Vaygan could not help, but suspect this had been done deliberately. As he approached the stream he knelt down and dipped the cooking pot within the water.

Suddenly something grabbed Bon Vaygan by his collar and he was slammed into a nearby oak tree. "Wot's yore buisness 'ere?" a threatening voice snarled.

It was another weasel. Of all the creatures in Mossflower he had to meet another weasel. Bon Vaygan was appalled by the creature's lack of hygiene and barbaric rags. The feral weasel glared at Bon Vaygan through bloodshot blue eyes that were slightly jaundiced. Sharp teeth bared, the beast asked again.

"Well? Out wit it!" he spat slamming Bon Vaygan back into the tree.

Wincing Bon Vaygan collected himself and in a calm voice replied. "I am here for some water, that is all," he answered staring the weasel in the eyes.

"If ya wants water then yeh'll be needin' to pay," the feral weasel responded, spittle flecking Bon Vaygan's snout.

Pay? Bon Vaygan had little to offer and the only thing Bon Vaygan was sure would be acceptable payment was his rapier, but there was no way he would part with it. His thoughts drifted back to Victiore, had she noticed him gone? Perhaps she would come to his aid.

[Cross]

Victiore finished the portrait of Nik and studied it carefully. It did look like him, and he didn't look half bad, if she did say so herself. Making some minor adjustments, she shut her sketchbook and glanced around the darkening woods for the weasel. Was water really that far off?

Well, this was a dry stream bed, after all. She guessed a source of water was probably a good distance away. But still, nearly fifteen minutes had passed. Torn for a moment, the tattooed mouse decided to go looking for her employee. She stood and stuffed her prized scarf into her bag along with her sketchbook. Then she placed the bag inside a hollow stump. She'd only be gone for a moment.

Before she left, she made sure to grab her silver knife, just in case. Taking a deep breath, she set off in the direction Nik had gone. Victiore went slowly, wishing it was lighter outside than the dull grayness of twilight. "Nik," she called hesitantly. Even if he'd been standing next to her, he wouldn't have heard what she said. Steeping herself, she tried again.

"Nik! Where are you?" her voice carried far into the woods. She immediately shrank back, clinging to a tree in fear. She hoped Nik had been the only one to hear her. Swallowing hard, she emerged from behind the tree and began walking again.

It didn't take her long to arrive at the dammed up stream. She gasped in shock at the sight of the feral weasel holding her companion captive. Trying to be brave, she choked back a scream and held her little knife out before her, stammering, "L-let him g-go!"

[Promatera]

"What makes you think you own the river?" Bon Vaygan replied to the feral weasel's demands.

"I can do wit it as I please," he answered. "'Sides, lots o beasts live down 'ere," he pointed down the streambed he had come from. "All dose beasts'll come to me now dat I plugged up 'dis 'ere stream."

Bon Vaygan was surprised. This idiot had come up with the dam scheme? It was pretty clever forcing beasts who lived downstream to pay him just to regain water, but it was risky. Many creatures would not take kindly to losing water. Perhaps the weasel had not thought everything through.

However, Bon Vaygan did not really feel like pressing the issue, especially with rabble such as this creature. "Well that certainly sounds interesting, but I do not think I am in need of water anymore."

"If you just let me go, I'll be off on my way and you can get back to haggling other passerbys," he faked a chuckle, but the feral weasel did not seem amused. In fact the weasel was staring at him. It was his nose. Bon Vaygan knew it! The stupid weasel had finally noticed his nose!

"Red nose, Red-Nose?" he questioned giving Bon Vaygan another glance. "It really is you isn't?" he laughed.

What was this fool raving about? It wasn't like they met before unless...No. It couldn't be!

It dawned on Bon Vaygan that this weasel had been a horde beast, but not just any horde beast. One that had been a fellow horde beast at some point in time. His past had finally caught up with him.

Cringing at the sound of his old crew name Bon Vaygan did not reply.

"Good ol' Red-Nose!" he embraced Bon Vaygan which made him wince. Right now Bon Vaygan wanted nothing more than to melt away, but there was no escape.

"Haven't seen ya since we killed all 'em otters," he added.

Unpleasant memories he had tried to forget from years ago began to resurface, but just then a weak voice cried out.

Trying to be brave, she choked back a scream and held her little knife out before her, stammering, "L-let him g-go!"

Noticing the mouse, the feral weasel continued to laugh. "Well would ya look at dat! A mousey come to help ya!"

"Whaddya do t'get dis lil' lady on yore side, Red-Nose?" he grinned.

Having recovered from the initial shock of meeting a former 'mate', Bon Vaygan tried to remember who exactly the weasel was. In the horde, he payed little attention to any other creature there so no name could come to mind.

However, Bon Vaygan's employer was in trouble here and if they both wanted to get out of this situation alive he certainly hoped Victiore could manage some improvisation.

"On my side?" he chuckled, "why she's my personal slave." Hoping to carry the hint, Bon Vaygan made an exaggerated wink before the weasel could turn and face him.

"Yore own slave?" he smirked. The weasel had not entirely believed Bon Vaygan. Victiore would have to sell it from here.