The Outcast

The Healer in Oakwood Groove

Gravity is pulling Mona as swiftly as a bullet, and her fall did not even stop the river's raging flow. She was engulfed by the cold water, and down she went. She held her breath as long as she can but her efforts to go up were futile. The river's current was dragging her helplessly along. She's being pulled to the bottom, then will bob a second later. She'll inhale and go underwater again for another minute or more. It was not long until someone grabbed her. Thank goodness! But the amount of water she gulped is making her dizzy, add the freezing waters and the current, her head's starting to spin.

*****

"Where is she? Where is my Mona?" old Josephine asked as she met the men charging to the packhouse. She turned to Bill. Her eyes were worried yet hopeful. None of the men looked her straight in the eye. 

"Alpha? Bill?" she alternately looked at the men, waiting for a reply.  "Where is she!" she demanded.

"She fell. To the Moon River." Bill whispered. He dared not look at Josephine's wrinkled face. Guilt was all over his face.

Upon hearing Bill's answer, her knees turned to jelly she couldn't stand still. Bill supported her to one of the chairs. She felt her lungs had stopped functioning. She can't believe it! Falling to moon river is as good as dying! She held Bill's hand up in front of her and looked hysterically as if searching for evidence. It was gone. The silver trail of thread caused by the unbreakable vow was gone. She reached for the Alpha's hand as well. It was definitely gone, not a trace! Only the death of whom the promise was made will break it. Does it mean that Mona did not survive the fall? Is she really gone?? Josephine started to wail.

******

Mona opened her eyes wide. She thought she was dead, but she's not. In all fairness, she's feeling well, the best she has ever felt in all of her eight years. 

Her head had some kind of minty leaves, the same as her arm. She remembered being bitten by a rogue on her arm, but there is not a wound in sight, only fresh scars. She sat up. Good gracious! She does not feel any pain. She removed the leaves from her body and placed them carefully on the bedside table next to her.

The room she's in is very simple and airy. The windows were wide open as the curtains made of shell danced in the wind, creating a musical chime. Beside her was a wooden bedside table with a vase of fresh flowers and a small basin filled with water and leaves. An old mahogany cabinet was opposite her, and also a large, blurry, almost dusty mirror with intricate wooden carvings; she could slightly see her face on it. The room is filled with the smell of chamomile and lavender, calming her senses.

"I see you're awake... " a musical voice said. She turned her head automatically to its source. A very beautiful woman carrying a tray came into the room. Her very long, straight, black hair reaches to her hips. She's wearing a long dress in pale yellow with a blue ribbon tied around her narrow waist. She's short and slim, but it did not change the fact that she is very pretty. She has a light, happy, yet mysterious aura about her. She is the most beautiful lady she has seen so far, almost enchanting. She smiled at her, showing her pearly white, perfect teeth; her eyelashes were long, which complemented her slightly almond-shaped purple eyes.

"How are you feeling?" she asked as she sat beside her bed and put the tray on the table. 

"I'm feeling good, thank you," she said timidly. 

"That's great," she said happily. "Here, have some porridge," she said, took the bowl of porridge, and started stirring it. 

"Thank you," she accepts it and starts blowing on its contents. The lady is still looking at her, and she suddenly feels insecure and lowers her head.