7. Occult Abilities are Just Flowers of the Way

[Siobhan]

Siobhan woke with cotton in her mouth and her lids scraping her eyes. She groaned and rolled out of bed to immediately rush to the chamber pot.

The fox sat back and wiped her mouth. She needed to get out of this stinking town and breathe purer air. Siobhan went to the kitchen to gather water and food before setting out towards the outskirts of Craylock and the nearby river.

Squinting against the mid-morning sun, the vixen pulled her hood farther over her face. The fresh air wasn't doing nearly as much to alleviate her headache and roiling stomach as she had hoped.

She followed the river until she found a grassy area and sat to nibble her picnic. Last night had been a mistake. At least all the alcohol was. Bits of the evening were clear in her mind, while others were lost. She remembered the mouse. Antonia. And laughing. A lot.

In fact, Siobhan couldn't remember laughing that much in a very long time. The vixen hadn't really connected with anybeast since she left Arwydd in Nest.

Siobhan fidgeted with the bracelet Arwydd had given to her the last time she saw the weasel. She had broken her promise, and too much time had passed to fix it now.

The fox dashed tears from her eyes. There was no use sitting here crying. It was just making her headache worse.

Finishing the last bits of cheese, Siobhan swallowed some water and stood up. She could see the Singing Stone in the distance, just at the edge of town. It was a curious landmark, and she hadn't had a chance to inspect it since arriving. A meadow of sorts, more mud than grass, stretched out between the river and the Stone, dotted with dibbuns playing tag. Undoubtedly, they belonged to the mothers that set up tables and carts around the Stone to sell relics and jewelry to the pilgrims that flocked to it.

Siobhan kept her head down and crossed the meadow towards the Stone and town. An otter kit bumped into her while running from his mates.

"I'm sor-" he started, but stopped when he glimpsed her face.

He stared at the fox's almost-black countenance. Siobhan was used to this; with her hood pulled up, the orange in her fur was completely covered. But the unusual markings were part of what made Siobhan so successful at slipping in and out of shadows unnoticed.

"I-I'm sorry, ma'am," he finally sputtered out.

She scowled at the urchin and turned to continue on her way, but she was stopped by a small paw tugging on her cloak. She looked down again to see the boy holding out a flower to her.

"'Ere, ma'am. Ya look like ya need summat t'make ya feel better."

Her face softened, and Siobhan took the sprig from the youngster.

"My mum says I shouldn't pick 'em 'cuz they only grows by th'Stone, but I think they're mighty pretty," he said as he twisted a footpaw in the mud. "I like t'wear 'em as a crown when I can sneak enough."

"Thank you." Pulling back her hood slightly, the vixen tucked the flowers behind her ear. "Do you know what this flower is called?"

The otter shook his head.

"It's white jasmine, and I think it has one of the best scents in the world." Siobhan winked at him. "I promise I won't tell your mum."

The kit grinned and scampered off.

The Singing Stone loomed ahead, covered in scribbled carvings, those at the bottom smoothed by the many paws that came to seek its solace. Siobhan tried to read the symbols as she passed, but the clearest were at the top, and the sun burned into her eyes when she looked.

Instead, she studied the ground and the flowers that grew around it. The otter kit was right; the jasmine only grew at the base of the stone and clung to its sides as it grew.

The vixen kept her head down against the sun as she headed back into town. Her instincts usually allowed her to avoid running into other beasts, but today, her clouded head kept her from noticing the scarred sable before she knocked her down.

"I'm so sorry." Siobhan bent to offer her a paw and their eyes landed on the other's face for the first time. Both beasts started at the familiarity they found there.

"Siobhan? Is that you?" She grabbed the outstretched paw and stood up.

"Mekai? What are you doing out of Nest? Surely Eula didn't send you here."

Mekai's eyes turned wet and she looked down. "No, she wouldn't. I had to leave."

The fox's eyes widened. "I have a room in town. Let's get out of this blasted sun and we can talk where there are no ears to hear."

Mekai turned to the mouse and hare stopped close behind her. "Don't worry. She's an old friend. Go back to the room. I'll join you later."

When they reached Siobhan's room, the pair sat on the bed and regarded each other. Neither quite knew where to begin.

"How's Ar-"

"You nev-" They started at the same time. Siobhan gestured for the sable to begin.

"You never came back," she accused. "Arwydd misses you."

"I know." The vixen cast her eyes down. "I couldn't at first. And then I thought maybe she wouldn't want me to return."

Mekai placed her paw on the fox's arm. "She did. She does. And we need you back."

"What do you mean you need me?"

The sable told her story to Siobhan.

"You don't need an arrow dream to convince me, Mekai, of course I'll help Nest." The fox jumped up from the bed, then clutched a paw to her throbbing head and sat back down rapidly.

Mekai reached into her pouch, pulling out a bit of ginger and tumeric. "We'll make you a tea from these. It'll just take a min-" She stopped short as she turned back to Siobhan.

The fox had pushed her hood down to better knead her temples.

"What's that?" The sable pointed.

"What's wha-?" Siobhan ran a paw over her scalp, hitting the white flower. "Oh. Just a bit of jasmine a kit gave me today. Forgot I had tucked it there."

Mekai smiled knowingly.

"Finish that tonic for me, and I can take you to another beast who just might help. I met her last night."

Mekai busied herself boiling water. "Where will we find this beast?"

"Where else do you find a warrior in Craylock? We're going to the Pits."