The Kelpie's Curse (book #1 in the Kelpie's Entrapment trilogy)

Day 7 Pt. 5

***

"What do you think that one looks like?" Evelyn asked, raising her arm and pointing up at the clouds overhead. All three of them were laying down in the front yard gazing up at the clouds and for a moment if she shut her eyes she could pretend that they were back in Sherwood, Michigan trying to find a way to pass the day, for a moment she could pretend that Renestrae had never entered that contest to begin with.

If Evelyn was completely honest with herself then there was a part of her that wished Renestrae hadn't dragged her to this godforsaken country in the first place but every time she found herself thinking that she instantly felt guilty. It wasn't Renestrae's fault that these horrible things were happening, and as much as she wanted to complain about the strange contest rules there was no way any of them could have predicted what would happen shortly after their arrival.

"Either Huginn or Muninn." Renestrae answered from Evelyn's right.

Evelyn thought hard for a moment. Those names sounded strangely familiar to her but she couldn't place either one of them. Of course that wasn't surprising, she always seemed to be learning something she didn't know previously when she was around her two best friends. Although if she had to put money on it her bet would be that it had something to do with mythology.

"You want to explain this one, Kali?"

"Go ahead Ren, you know more about Norse mythology than I do."

Evelyn almost smiled when she heard Renestrae scoff. As much as she thought Renestrae and Kaloria needed to get their heads out of the clouds and focus on reality for awhile even she had to admit there was something fascinating about the way those two could get so wrapped up in things that didn't exist.

"That might be true but we're talking basics here Kali. Huginn and Muninn might be more recognizable than Odin himself."

"You have a point, Muninn is thought ri-"

"Oh for crying out loud, I'll tell it then." 

This time Evelyn was unable to hold in a small giggle at Renestrae's exasperation. Nope, she would never understand their obsession but at least it was entertaining. There was a short pause as Renestrae got into her story telling mode. Now, Evelyn could only guess but she assumed Kali had purposely said something incorrectly, goading Ren into agreeing to explain whatever Huginn and Muninn were.

"Huginn means thought and Muninn means memory or mind, they are the two ravens kept by Odin. Everyday Huginn and Muninn circle Midgard and-"

"I'm still confused," Evelyn cut in, "What's a Midgard?"

"Midgard is one of the nine worlds and just so happens to be the one inhabited by us humans." Kali explained.

"Are you sure you don't want to tell the story?" Renestrae asked and Evelyn could almost feel the girl arching her eyebrow.

"No," Kali said with a smile in her voice. "you can go ahead."

"So, Midgard is earth?" Evelyn asked hesitantly. She was sure that's what Kali had meant by the world inhabited by humans.

"It is, anyway, Huginn and Muninn circle Midgard everyday and report what they have seen to Odin. It is hinted that Huginn and Muninn might be Odin's own thoughts and mind when, in one story, Odin himself expresses his concern that they might not return from their daily journey."

"So the cloud looks like a raven?" Evelyn asked after thinking over what Renestrae had just told her.

"Yes."

Evelyn sighed in playful aggravation. "You could have just said that."

She could almost feel Renestrae's responding smirk even if she couldn't see it. "Yeah, but what would be the fun in that?"

"Hey, isn't the raven also an omen of death?" Kali asked.

"Yes actually it-"

"The Omen!" Evelyn suddenly exclaimed, sounding as if she'd had an epiphany. "That's what we should watch tonight." Evelyn sat up slightly, leaning back on her arms for support as she shot a glance at the other two. As it so happened, both Renestrae and Kaloria were looking at each other with a combination of confusion, shock and horror.

"Sweetie, are you feeling alright?" Renestrae asked, a genuine tone of concern entering her voice.

"Fine, why?"

She watched as Ren and Kali exchanged another look she could almost hear what the two of them were thinking and to be honest if things were reversed she'd probably be thinking the same thing.

"You just suggested that we watch The Omen." Kali stated.

"And your point is?"

"Sweetie, our point is that it's a horror movie and you don't like horror movies."

"Says who?" Evelyn tried to sound serious but was unable to keep the inevitable smile from her face.

"Oh I don't know," Renestrae began with a roll of her eyes. "the countless sappy romantic comedies we've had to sit through when you pick the movie."

"Hey! They are not sappy!" Evelyn shouted as a note of laughter entered her voice.

"Are too!" Kaloria and Renestrae shouted back in unison.

"Are not!" Evelyn smiled as she waited for the response that would most likely send their little squabble into a superb display of adult childishness that would be talked about for years to come.

Instead of Kaloria and Renestrae continuing the back and forth exchange all three girls looked at each other for about five seconds before they burst into laughter and fell back into their previous positions. With their backs on the grass and their eyes on the clouds above their laughter turned to giggles and their giggles into happy sighs.

"Alright Evelyn, if you really want to I don't have any qualms with watching the Omen."

After the movie had been decided upon the three girls continued their game, pausing every so often to engage in a friendly argument or reminisce about the incredibly stupid things they had done as children. Around four o'clock Renestrae stated that she would continue their bow training the following morning, a statement that was met with exasperated groans. However, despite her complaints even Evelyn could see that more training would be for the best.

"I hope this isn't the calm before the storm." Renestrae commented with a sigh as the sky above them turned various shades of pink, red and orange with the setting of the sun.

"What makes you say that?" Kali asked.

Evelyn turned her head to look at Renestrae but she kept her gaze focused on the sky.

"I don't know," Renestrae began, a weary tone entering her voice. "We haven't heard anything today but if the pattern has continued then another innocent local is probably dead."

Evelyn winced at that, she knew it was true but Renestrae voicing it seemed to make it that much worse.

"I don't know guys, it all just seems a little-"

"Too good to be true." Evelyn and Kaloria cut in.

There was silence after that and Evelyn decided that she would lay there for just a little while longer, if Renestrae was right and this calm was just as deceptive as she feared then she wanted to enjoy it for a little while longer. Evelyn closed her eyes and once again if she really focused for a moment she could pretend that they were in Sherwood Park instead of Fearchar, Scotland