When Magic Speaks - NaNoWriMo 2020✔️

6

15 years ago...

As a young bab, Wiss found the utmost comfort out in the field. As her grandmother worked, she would roll in the grass, picking up ladybugs and watching them crawl across her skin. She would meticulously pull blades of grass from the earth, eating the strands which she'd successfully pulled with its white root still in tact. She could've been out there for hours, disregarding the world and its many burdens as she became one with the earth. 

Back then, Amma had birthed a blooming business of fruit bouquets. Their berry farm had much to offer when it came to assembling these delicacies. From strawberries to blueberries to raspberries, even sprouts of orange berries Wiss didn't recognize. It was like living in a magical fruit heaven. Each day visitors from out of town would travel to the Quilm cottage, their carts bare to make as much room as possible for Marma's fruit bouquets. There was only the rare instance where they would have a Hural customer (albeit it was Taun's family every time). Wiss would be in her own little world as Taun would march over in his knee high boots, squatting down to spectate her bug brawl. The two of them would watch as ants faced off against the ladybugs, fighting for any fallen scrap of berry they could find. Wiss would pretend that the insects casted magical spells to gain the upper hand while Taun imagined them using blades of grass as lances. Typical. Eventually Taun's parents with their arms stuffed with fruit would be ready to go, having exhausted their willpower to chat any longer with 'crazy Marma'. They allowed the kids a few extra minutes before Taun's father would whistle and Taun would wish little Wiss farewell. And then she was once again off in her own world, having already named half of the ladybugs she'd spotted.

The sun grew warmer on her back as it rose higher in the sky, the morning mist evaporating around them like dissipating clouds. Marma, having gone back inside half an hour ago was busy cooking lunch on this particular day, her back to the window facing the yard. Wiss was completely free to imagine now, to pretend that she was rolling around in the fields of a far off kingdom, nestled by a rose river and a unicorn farm. A group of fairies gathered on her shoulders as she built a home for the ants out of small pebbles, and--

Snap! The snap of a twig.

Wiss whipped her head around, caught off guard by the noise. She glanced around in every direction but...she didn't see anything. Curious she squinted one eye as she waited. Surely it was a startled rabbit or a frisky bird. Wiss waited one moment more before giving up, returning to her ant colony. But as soon as she did, she heard it again. Snap!

"Alright," little Wiss huffed, rising to her feet and brushing the dirt of her knees. The sound came from behind her, from behind the oak tree. With one pebble still in hand she stared at the tree, taking a small step forward. "If you want to play, all you have to do is ask."

And that's when she spotted it - a small shadow peeking out from behind the tree. Curious, Wiss leaned her head forward to try and get a better glance. Was it a raccoon? A bear cub? Wiss felt slightly nervous now but remained calm as she took another cautious step forward. "Come on out," she cooed. "I won't bite."

Wiss watched then as a young boy around her age slowly emerged from behind the tree. He was dressed very fancily in a royal blue coat and collared shirt, his boots shiny and spotless. Was he a prince? Wiss looked at him in awe as he stood before her now, his innocent wide eyes staring into hers.

"Hello," Wiss spoke softly. Admittedly, she was a tad starstruck.

"Hi," the boy responded, just as timid. The two stared at one another, either unaware of what to say. Or, maybe it was just silent observation. 

Wiss stared at the boy's collar and sleeves - they were dressed with golden lace patterns, hugging the ends of his fabric. He twinkled like a brilliant little fallen star.