Interstellar Ross

Chapter 9 Purple Splendour

Witch Pocket Realm

Month of the Hare

I blinked and the memory vanished, the transition from the past to the present so seamless that I barely felt it. I looked down to see Tiberius, Dimitri and Bryn looking up at me expectantly. Completely unaware of how much time had passed during my reverie I started to slowly half fall half climb my way down the tree.

"I'm not waiting anymore; I can smell waffles from here." Bryn sniffed the air from below.

"With strawberries." Tiberius joined her and I looked down so to see him practically salivating.

"Fine, but don't eat everything before we get there." Dimitri allowed reluctantly.

"We make no promises." Bryn flounced away with Tiberius by her side.

I slid down a branch, the bark scratching at my skin without tearing through the material of my clothing. I hissed from the stinging pain as the skin from my hands was gradually grated away.

"Fucking tree." I fell a few metres down, landing hard on the grassy earth.

"Let's hope this is easier for you tomorrow." Dimitri grimaced at my bleeding palms.

"Ya better hope." I found my feet.

Freya swooped down from above onto his shoulder in golden canary form and chirped shortly to convey some type of message that only Dimitri could understand.

"We better hurry before we have to make our own breakfast." Dimitri gestured for me to walk back with him.

I eyed my weathered palms as I walked beside him, noticing how my skin was slowly beginning to heal and blood dry.

"I think we made some good progress this morning, with your powers making an appearance." Dimitri made small talk.

"Mmm." I thought back to only moments ago. "Ya'll call it progress, I call it askin' for a shallow grave."

He actually laughed a little. "Oh I'll be sleeping with one eye open from now on, that's for sure."

"A wise choice." I rubbed my newly healed hands to marvel at how normal they felt.

"Have any notable memories returned?" He kept his tone casual, though I didn't doubt he was itching to know the answer.

Freya hopped from his shoulder to mine, her beady golden eyes studying me closely while I formulated an answer.

"I've only remembered snippets about people, the odd memory about you, Tiberius and Circe." I divulged.

"So not chronologically?"

"No." I answered quickly. "Mainly when I sleep my memories are more streamlined. It follows a straight path, whereas when I'm awake the memories seem more erratic and spontaneous." I tried to find the right words to explain it.

"I hope they all return soon; we can't stay here forever." Dimitri cast a long look at the scenery surrounding us, now fully lit by radiant sunlight.

"Maybe beatin' Tiberius to a pulp will help?"

"I think it's worth a try." He held out his hand and Freya returned to him, happily rubbing her head against his thumb.

Our small talk had made the walk back to the cottage seem fairly short as we passed through the open front door and entered the bustling kitchen. Luckily two plates had been left with an assortment of waffles, fruit and syrups for Dimitri and I.

"I kept them warm for you both." Circe informed, cheeks flushed, and hair wrapped in a vibrant patterned scarf.

"Thank you." Dimitri paused to scratch a lioness under the chin before taking a seat at the kitchen table.