Scout Stories: Bruised Beginnings

Mist

The road home was difficult. Miach had thought she knew the way so well that her feet would take her there automatically. But, without being able to see, she had no idea where she was going. She didn't even what direction she was facing. She couldn't go fast, for fear of falling. She had to walk with her arms outstretched in front of her to avoid banging into anything.

She had to get home. Everyone should be there now. Or would they have run to the Main Hall because of the strange fog? Maybe they would all be in their own homes, waiting for it to pass. Miach could only hope that was the case. She could only hope Brianna had left the clinic.

She didn't see the side of the house until she touched it. Miach didn't know whose house it was. She couldn't tell from the outside. She followed the wall until she came to a window. The shutters were closed but not locked. She opened them to peer inside.

The fog had crept inside the building as soon as did, spilling over the window still. The house was dark and no one seemed to be inside. There was a dummy in the corner in the room. A small, wide step was in the middle and furs and cloth hung from rails on one of the walls. This was the tailor's house. She was closer to home than she had though. If she could find the front door, the clinic should be only a few steps down the road.

"Hello?" Miach called inside.

When no one answered she climbed into the room, making sure to close the shutters behind her. The fog curled around her ankles as she walked through the room, leaving the small bit of exposed skin wet and cold. No lamp was lit. The sun could not have found it's way into the room through the dense fog outside. Still, Miach could see better in here than she could outside.

The wet got into her shoes and made her every step make a squelching sound. Miach ran through the house and opened the front door. The fog rolled over her as should as she did. The sight made her think of water and she instinctively held her breath. Then she ran out and towards her house.

Somehow, stumbling and circling, she found her way back to Grandmother's house. The door was still closed. Miach opened it.

The fog had gotten in there too, through the cracks under doors and the space under the thatch roof. It wasn't yet thick enough to blind her. Brianna was sitting next to Grandmother's body. She had a lamp lit and for some reason the mist wasn't going anywhere near her. It had to be because of the light.

"There you are!" she said. "What's happening?"

Miach went to her friend and pulled her to her feet.

"We need to get out of here. Go to the Hall and I'll meet you there."

"Miach! Tell me what's going on!" said Brianna.

"There's an Aed," said Miach.

Brianna blinked at her.

"But Aed don't attack us," said Brianna.

Miach shook her head.

"I don't know. Something is different. Look, just go to the Hall. I'll meet you there. Alright?"

"What about you?"

Miach went straight to Grandmother's bedroom door. She paused before opening it.

"I'll catch up."

"Miach!"

"I promise, okay? I'll be right after you."

"You better," said Brianna.

Miach smiled and turned back to go into the bedroom. She hadn't been in there since that horrible night.

The foxglove flower should have been dead. It had been weeks since it had been watered.

"Miach!"

Miach turned, annoyed.

"I told you to g-"

Brianna was at the door. The fog was no longer avoiding her. It was up to her knees. Tegid was standing next to her, holding onto her arm tightly as she struggled against him.

"LET ME GO!" Brianna struggled against the hold but Tegid would not let go.

"No," said Tegid, "I am going to drag you both before you're father and get to the bottom of this."

"What do you think you're doing?" asked Miach.

"What am I doing?" Tegid gave a short, sharp laugh. "What are you doing? You run off and all of a sudden this strangeness is happening. And that-"

He pointed at Grandmother's body. The fog wasn't going near it.

"That proves this is no normal fog. What is happening here?"

"I DON'T KNOW!!" said Miach.

Brianna and Tegid stopped struggling and stared at her.

"I don't know, okay? I went out to hide Grandmother's books-"

"-You were going to hide my books! Those books belong to the Healer. Do you want people here to die, little girl? I need to know what's in those books to help people."

Miach shook her head.

"They aren't what you think, Tegid. They weren't about care. At least, they weren't just about care. There was something else. That's why she wanted me to have them but..."

"Miach, what are you talking about?" asked Brianna.

"She-"

There was a scream from outside. They all turned to stare out the door.

"I can explain later", said Miach, "Right now we have to get to the Hall."

"And how do you propose we do that when we can't even see a the end of our noses out there?" asked Tegid.

"I have an idea," said Brianna. She was looking at Grandmother's body.

Note: How's everyone doing? Apologies for giving anyone flashbacks of having wet socks. 

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