Day Fifteen, Fifth Moon, Hunting Year Five Hundred and Four
I amend my earlier statement. I'm grateful I'm here, but I'm not grateful to the aunts and uncles -- to providence, maybe -- and Samson and the Haven definitely -- but not to them. Mags took Mason and me mushroom hunting this morning. That, by itself, was quite interesting. This is the second time they've taken me with them, and I enjoy it -- enough that I might like to make mushroom hunting and berry gathering specialties of mine, particularly if I can use the knowledge to gather medicine like Mama had been teaching me. I think that's what she was doing in a roundabout way before I got injured.
I always take on of Samson's hounds with me when I go out. I've named her Queenie because she's big and a little bossy, but that works out for me. She's learning to help me stay steady and on course, and if I fall, she's strong enough to help me get back up, but also knows commands to go get help from someone in the Haven or to stay with me and keep watch until I can get up again or until help arrives. I'm working out a trade with Samson so that I get to keep her permanently. The first thing I've been bringing him is the last crop of blackberry leaves, dried and packaged so that he can use it for tea next time he gets a winter cough. In the meantime, he's helping me teach her new commands so that she's ready to be my helper when she's mine.
We had a good haul, filled our sack about halfway with hens and chickens of the woods and a few turkey tails before we came to the edge of the wood, close enough to see the empty road in the dim light.
I don't want to say anything more tonight. I can't bear it.
YOU ARE READING
The Wood
FantasyLike every other girl in her village, Kyla has been taught to ward off curses with the right concoction of herbs, but when a new plague falls upon the village, the elders begin to hunt for the witch who caused it. Kyla becomes the next target after...
