(3) The Arcane Stain

Lanterns lit the hangman grove far from the open sky that soon fell into night. The cold was blistering now, worse without my garment, and being barefooted at this hour was foolish of me. I should have left earlier. The tide had already begun to take hold of the land as I ambled through ankle-deep water. Every part of me felt stiff and numb. This was somehow worse than how I left. I've never been this cold in my entire life. At least now I couldn't feel how sore my body had to be after today.

There was no moon gate when I followed the budding flowers out of the pale woods, which would have concerned me if I hadn't made it back home. They stopped blooming after that and when I looked back the flowers were gone as if they never grew from the soil. Like I dreamt of them. The amber-stained garment I held close to my chest reminded me that everything I had encountered today wasn't one of my dreams. The warmth from the chimera's flesh lingered faintly which I found to be an odd comfort, but a comfort no less in this cold. I'll be lucky if I don't end up sick after this with all my toes and fingers in tacked. I just hope this will be enough to feed everyone for a few days.

The water's depth became challenging once it surpassed my knees. But I was here in the grove, I was home. I heard Songbird's elegant voice first alerting the others of my return. Her joyous hymn sent ripples of glee throughout my near-frozen limbs. I gleamed until my teeth froze and my cheeks ached.

"Baylea! You're alive!" Songbird exclaimed. I could hear the relief in her voice and that alone was another comfort I cherished more. In a matter of moments, she hopped toward the lower branches and leaped down onto the leafy vines that reached closest to the grounds.

"I'm so happy you're back!" Her joy soon turned bleak when her eyes swept over my exposed silhouette. "What happened to your garment? You must be freezing!"

"I can barely feel where I'm stepping," I admitted weakly. I stopped shivering some time ago. I'm not exactly sure when.

"I got us something to eat at least. Lost the spear and the basket in the process." I swallowed hard, and the air felt too tight in my chest. "I wasn't able to carry much with it, but I hope this will be enough for the night into the morning."

"But your garment, it was a gift... I am sorry."

I only smiled, truly even though it hurt to, "Don't be. It's not really soiled so long as this smell comes out."

"I'm sure Estrella has some herbs she can bathe the smell out. I'm not sure about the color." She looked up and waved for a hanging basket to be brought down. "We'll get the meat up first to make it easier, and then we'll help you up," she said warmly.

"Thank you."

When the basket reached us, I placed the bundle of fresh meat inside it, feeling some of the weight rush out of me from carrying it so far. I felt the sudden weakness in my arms before dropping them to my sides. I wasn't normally this weak and could handle a lot for someone so thin, but the exhaustion I felt went beyond physical. I didn't even have to ask Songbird who took the initiative in weaving the lid to the basket shut for me. Once fastened to her liking, the two girls above started to pull the basket up into the hangman trees.

"You should quickly bathe."

I nodded my agreement and did my best to rinse the blood from my skin. The water was still up past my knees so the depth helped move things along. Once I decided I was far too cold to continue splashing frigid water on me, I reached for the vines. Songbird stopped me and called for the girls overhead. Of course, this is what she had meant by helping me back up. Another basket was lowered down, one big enough to hold me. Songbird helped me in, telling me to hold onto the rope and not to let go until after the basket rested on the bark's surface. I gave her a weak nod and held on for dear life. She giggled with the shake of her head.

"We aren't going to drop you. You hold the rope to keep yourself steady. You'll be fine."

With that said, she signaled to the girls and suddenly I was lifted out of the water with Songbird climbing swiftly not too far behind.

"I'm sorry it's not a lot of meat," I said again.

"It'll be enough Bayleaf. You did great."

My cheeks warmed a little at that, but I was too weak to continue talking. So I relaxed my body into the curve of the basket before shutting my eyes. I listened to the deep creaking of the hangman wood overhead where the rope was rubbing against the branch that helped pull me up. I could still hear Songbird climbing the vines close by, but there was no draft. It was mostly still in our grove. But since we were hidden in such a vast cavern, the maw that led to the outside protected us from most of the harsh weather. Not from the tide though since we weren't in the higher-ups. Every downside has its positives though, so I have little to complain about.

We reached the top and more girls moved over to help me out and kept me steady. Avreú, one of the few who are young like me quickly brought over a fur cloak that the others helped wrap me in. Her twin Avrea gently took another cloth to dry my face before covering my hair. The air was still chilled with no wind.

"Come," Yláh instructed. "Let's get you by fire. The elders are waiting inside."

The girls continued to huddle around me as we started for the broader hut. Their words came out in hushed whispers that I barely understood. If it wasn't for them keeping me upright I wouldn't be able to walk on my own. My vision felt murky as I struggled to keep my eyes open.

"We're almost there Bayleaf. It's just a little further and then you can rest," Songbird voiced close to my ear. I hadn't noticed her closeness before but it comforted me dearly. But I couldn't keep my eyes open much longer. Images darkened as my sight failed me. Other senses continued to function to a point. I could feel all the other girls' hands grasping my limbs, a few of their arms wrapped around mine to the point where they were physically carrying me. I heard other women talking over the crackling of burning wood. The heat from the fire happened suddenly with the heavy hide pulled back. My eyes cracked open only to focus in on its harsh blaze before slowly dragging my attention around the elders sitting around the fire pit.

Banue stood first, "What happened?"

Being unable to speak, Songbird spoke for me, "She'll be alright with rest and warmth. She's cold and weak, no wounds to be seen."

I had to shut my eyes again, this time without struggling to keep them open. It felt wrong to do but I gave in to exhaustion and let the girls carry me. They laid me down not too long after on a warm bedding of furs beside the fire. I heard more voices all that I recognized but could barely understand as I drifted deeper into slumber.

I woke sometime after that to softer crackling with no more voices to fill my ears. It was comfortably warm and my face was blissfully hot. But I felt heavy and so very weak. Slowly I opened my eyes to a still-burning fire. It looked recently fed.

"How are you feeling?"

I didn't dare move. I was far too tired too, and I wasn't so sure I could speak. Feeling a hand suddenly on my head in a gentle manner, I blinked while slowly licking my lips. My voice came out in a weak breath, "Like the lake bed beneath the water."

Bramble hummed softly, "This too will pass." I felt her hand leave shortly before returning with a warm wet cloth that pressed against my forehead. "You have a fever. Nothing that Estrella can't handle."

"But I feel comfortably warm," I mumbled and shut my eyes.

"Yes, but you are cold to the touch. It's bone chill, child. The fever is occasionally deadly if not treated sooner than later. You stop feeling the temperature of the air around you as you start to feel comfortably warm when really your body is freezing to death. It's a trick of the mind, but you will live."

"Mmm."

"The herbs will keep you numb from the aches for a while longer. You might not remember it, but Estrella had given you something to drink some hours ago. It will also keep you warm. Real warmth."

I relished in the feeling of being soothed, even if it wouldn't last long. Brambles words died some time ago as I started to drift again. The wet cloth remained on my forehead along with her touch. Then it was as if that long moment of nothing but the crackling fire had all been in my head when her words stirred me awake again.

"Tell me now, Bayleaf, so that I may clear Banue's rigid head. Were you the one who killed the Guardian or did you scavenge from it?"

The Guardian..? Oh...the chimera... It couldn't have been the same one carved into the moon gate. Could it? I tried to focus on the imagine but for the life of me I couldn't picture the Guardian asleep in stone. Those flower buds had led me on a different path home, though, and I had not seen the moon gate upon entering our grove.

"...it dragged me under and..." My thoughts suddenly shifted to the Waterling who pulled me from the water. It felt like such a strange thought, almost like a dream. But he saved me and that didn't feel like a dream. He also shouldn't exist.

"I don't know what happened after. I woke up far from the water underground and the chimera was already dead on the rocks when I found it."

"It must have pulled you under for a reason then. Perhaps you were in danger. Stalked by an unseen threat and the Guardian saved you best it could and risked its life to kill whatever had been hunting you. You are truly favored."

If only any of that were true, but she sounded satisfied with her ideal judgment. If I wasn't so drowsy I might have laughed. I was far from favored, not with all the details I failed to mention. I'm not sure why I left my encounter with the Waterling out. Maybe it was the guilt of losing my only roots back to the mother who had died birthing me. Or maybe I was simply afraid of what Banue would say if I told her the whole truth. That I lost my coin in the most foolish way feasible.

Bramble removed the wet cloth and adjusted the furs that surrounded me. Her voice was tender when she spoke next, "We'll speak again when you wake no longer ill. For now just rest. I'll fetch you fresh water and a meal when the morning comes."

"Hmm," I moaned quietly. It was getting harder to respond. Her hand brushed gently against my forehead again before I fell back into a deeper slumber.

This time when I woke there was no longer a fire. Warmth still covered me though in the form of older furs, furs that belonged to the elders. It was hard to tell whose furs these were, but it didn't matter. I was still grateful for their warmth.

A dull pain lingered on my right side, specifically my shoulder going down to my elbow. Laying on that side surely didn't help, but I hadn't felt any pain until now. I went to sit up, groaning through the ache in the process until I situated myself against the hut's strong wall. The morning light made the inside of the hut less dark all while confirming that I woke alone in my frayed state. The light also reviled what lay a few feet from where I sat. Reaching over to investigate, I took the pale fabric and held it up against the rays of light. It was my garment, still stained with amber blood yet somehow not at all tainted as I thought it had been. The color was...interesting at most. Stubbornly I forced back the smile hinting at my lips and decided to dress. The air felt chilled and I wanted to wear what was mine. The fact I was cold made me wonder how long I had slept. The garment felt the same and smelled a lot better than what stained it. At least I would be comfortable.

Satisfied, I carefully stepped out of the hut, taking great care of each step I took. Weakness still lingered in every aspect of my body and there was this chill that made me miss that blissful heat terribly. Maybe feeling cold was a good thing, hopefully. I didn't have to walk far thankfully as Bramble comes hobbling over accompanied by Estrella who held a small waterskin. She still had that limp which worried me.

"You're looking more alive already!" Estrella exclaimed with a grin.

"Do you feel alright?"

My eyes met Bramble's own and I tried my best not to seem concerned. I nodded with a small smile, "Much better than before, yes. I should thank all of you."

"That's good to hear. You gave everyone a fright with you returning home bare and covered in blood."

I winced remembering what stained my garment. "It won't come out will it?" I asked.

"Not likely I'm afraid. But perhaps we'll be able to craft another closer to the warm seasons," Estrella said and I gave her a small smile.

"It's alright. I can live with the stain as long as my garment is still wearable. How are the others?"

"They will all be alright with food and rest," Estrella said. It's what she had told the other elders before and that didn't settle well. Which means what I gathered wasn't enough.

Bramble cleared her throat, "Well if you are feeling able, Banue wishes to speak with you. Alone."

My body tensed at her words, "Is she angry with me?"

Bramble stepped forth after taking the waterskin from Estrella and placed her hand on my shoulder. Her gaze was as tender as her next words, "No Bayleaf. She is just as concerned as the rest of us. Everything is alright now. Here." Bramble removed her hand only to take one of mine and rested the waterskin in my palm. It felt warm to the touch.

"It's herbal tea. It'll give back your strength." With that said, Bramble murmured a short prayer in the old tongue that I never could understand. Still I smiled out of respect.

Bramble told me I would find Banue waiting for me above the roots of the hangman trees, deep within the rocks where the hollow lay. I thanked them both and made my way to see Banue.

No other girls were out from what I could see. Perhaps they were still sleeping. I sure hope my actions weren't for nothing because they needed the food more than I needed the time to recover. It might seem reckless of me to do what I intend to do sometime later, but if Bramble remains here another day longer... I'm not so sure we can wait another day. I'll need to take another basket and find a weapon to hunt with as soon as possible. Maybe I'll convince Estrella to give me some herbs that'll warm me and numb the ache. At that thought, I glanced down at the waterskin that Bramble mentioned would give me strength. Good, I thought. I'll certainly need it for what I would soon do.

The roots grew thick and curled like hooks into the flat stone above. Smaller and weaker roots were cut back and used for herbal remedies, but mostly to keep the hangman trees healthy. Near where the roots began to spiral unnaturally lay the opening to the hollow. I stepped forward and began the short climb up until smooth stone outlined the flooring. Inside I spotted the grey-haired woman with her back turned to me as she reached up with a wooden bowel to collect the seeping water from the stone wall. She was wearing a gown of dark furs and nothing more. Without having to announce myself, she spoke first.

"Have you drank from Estrella's tea?"

"Not yet." I stood and waited with my hands clasped around the waterskin against my belly.

"Go ahead and drink. You sound hoarse."

I didn't speak then, just drank. The taste was bitter and earthy, but it warmed me from within, feeling tingly along my throat. The taste was something that surely wouldn't leave my tongue for a long while. Still, I drank out of respect knowing that arguing would do me no good in my condition. And I needed to convince Banue that I was well enough to go back out there to hunt again.

She turned to look at me, bowl still in hand, and asked, "Better?"

"Yes."

"Good." Placing the bowl down on the center of the floor, she motioned me over, "Now come here. Come sit. I have already listened to what Bramble has repeated from you, but I would like to hear your words from your own lips, especially now that you are of sound mind."

Adjusting her furs, Banue sat down with her legs crossed and her hands on either knee. I joined her on the opposite side of the bowl.

"You may begin. Tell me everything you remember."

And I did. Well, most of it anyway. I left out everything having to do with my encounter with the Waterling and explained that the chimera was trying to eat me. And to that Banue scoffed coldly.

"You are mistaken, girl. The Guardian who protects this grove protects those who care for the trees. It protects us from harm. The chimera you saw had broken rosettes upon its ashen hide, yes? And jeweled eyes greener than newborn grass?"

I swallowed thickly and gave a rough nod, keeping my gaze low.

"Use your words."

"That is what I saw, yes."

"And are you certain you saw nothing else? Anything that would have provoked the Guardian into action?"

I shook my head, "No. I didn't hear or see anything following me. The chimera was the only thing that startled me when I came upon the water pool to fish."

"Hmm. What of your pendant?"

"Huh?"

"You haven't spoken a word of its disappearance."

My brows knitted together as I touched the bare spot between my breasts where my coin should have been. I nearly forgot to mention it... That was foolish.

"I was still wearing it when I found the water pool," I started, then dropped my hand and sighed. "I wonder if the chimera devoured it." If only that were true. It would actually make retrieving it a lot easier than the truth of its fate.

"Well, if that be the case then you have nothing to worry over. The Guardian will return it to you when it reclaims its physical form again."

My eyes snapped back up to her so fast I thought I would see stars. "What do you mean?"

"This wouldn't be the first time our Guardian has died only to return a day or two after. Though it hasn't happened since I was a young girl."

"But I brought back pieces of its flesh." My heart's beat fluttered like a caged bird in my chest. This was something impossible. The dead could not come back to life. This I was told countless times before and the proof of that statement was written all over the bark and branches of the hangman trees.

"You did and that kind of offering will keep our sisters strong. The Guardian's blood now flows through us for some time so we should not waste it."

"Are you saying it'll heal us? And Bramble, will she be able to hunt again?"

"In a few days, she will be able to."

"And what about today and then tomorrow? What will we eat? What if the blood isn't enough to keep the sick at bay? What if they can't wait that long?" I couldn't stop all of the worries that slipped through my lips. I couldn't bare another name carved into the wood. There wasn't many of us left. I wouldn't lose another sister. I wouldn't be all alone.

Banue's eyes narrowed, "What are you asking Baylea?"

"I can try again. I want to hunt."