Fins and Fairyfolk

Fins & Fairyfolk

Chapter 3 - Where Is Home

As long as she could remember Samantha had been alone in the world. When she was three her parents shipped her off to live among country relatives in the Northern part of East Anglia. Among her brothers and sisters she had been the seventh child to a Under Gardener and Housemaid. The family were by no means well off, but through sending out some children to work or others to live among their relatives, they were able to keep the few at home feed and clothed. The result was that Samantha had never know most of her siblings.

The memories she had were of rare visits to her parents home in Wilcox Street, in the city of Glouchester. These family reunions were prefaced with a lack of familiarity with either her parents or her siblings. Only on one occasion had the whole brood returned to the nest. That was Christmas two years ago. Her father and mother had spoken to each of their children about their "duty" in keeping the family afloat. Samantha had been far luckier than the rest for her Uncle Timothy and Aunt Lucile Dalton had taken a fondness to her on a visit when she was younger. They were childless and wanted to have a daughter of their own. At the age of 8 Samantha's meager belongings were bundled up yet again. She was shipped off to live in the tiny village of Northumberton. It is here where her adventures began.

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Samantha stared up in awe at the towering cliff faces on either side of her. Only in fairy stories had she read of such places. The small canyon echoed with the sounds of dripping water, and the bare cliff walls were shrouded by the green of spring moss. A fine spray of mist rose up toward the sky, only then disappear as it touched the sunlight above. The sunlight itself filtered down from a split in the overhanging canopy above. Giant trees lined either side of the cliff tops above her, and the fresh emerald hues of spring leaves reflected down onto the water's surface below. After climbing over large stones, it was a relief to find herself again on flatter ground. The pebbles under her bare feet were colored in jewel tones. This is truly a magical place she thought to herself.

The walls of the canyon curved round and back several times as the girl waded through the shallow water. Every now and then, Samantha would stop and pick up a colorful river stone that took her fancy. Upon discovering a colony of blue shelled periwinkles, she squatted down on the balls of her feet and examined the tiny creatures. Gently picking one up she turned it over in her hand. The false foot looked slimly and black in the shadow of the cliff above.

When she grew tired of examining the tiny Arthropods, the girl found a larger stone to set on and watch minnows dart by. Their opalescent scales flashed when hitting a stray patch of sunlight from above. This strange place was full of many wonders. Slipping off her rock, Samantha continued her track up the river. As she made her way farther into the canyon the water began to rush past her knees at a more rapid pace. It became harder and harder to wade upstream. So she took to stopping here and there at intervals on any larger boulders she found. Her tiny feet were becoming prunish from being in the water so long. It became obvious she would need to stop this exploration soon, or she would never make it back to her aunt and uncle's cottage before suppertime. She was still unused to their company, and while her aunt seemed to mean well, anytime she raised her voice Samantha found herself cringing back in fear.

Her Uncle Timothy was a tall muscular man, but had the friendly disposition of a coolie dog. Upon meeting him again, after so many years, Samantha was unsure if she would be able to trust him again. However, five minutes after coming into her Great Aunt Bertrage's house, Samantha took hold of his hand and asked him when they could leave. It was her uncle who had encouraged her to go out to explore the woods this morning. "Some fresh air will do her good Alice my girl," he told her aunt. "Besides you've been grumbling about baking those pies for the spring festival since last week." With a wave his hand he sent the child out into the countryside. "Mind you don't eat anything wild girl without letting us see it first!" Her Aunt had admonished her. "You could be poisoned and then where would you be!"