Page 27 of Curse of Immortality
CHAPTER 10
Whispers in the Wind
Just as all Earthens did on birthdays, Althea, Maeve, and Rose woke before the sun and sat in a circle on the damp grass outside their small cottage reflecting upon their decisions and accomplishments of the year.
“What have you contributed to this earth since your last birthday?” Rose asked the girls, just as she did every year.
Most would have struggled to see anything in the dark night, but with their superior eyesight, Rose saw how Maeve’s gaze fell and her body shrunk.
“I have helped many injured animals, and I’ve tended to the rough soil by the creek, which is now blossoming with wildflowers,” Althea answered with her hands in her lap as she looked over at her sister.
“I’ve contributed with a lot of pain,” Maeve added, “and I’m truly sorry for that, but in my twenty-fifth year of life, I hope to make some better choices for myself and to help those around me.”
Althea leaned closer to her sister and placed a hand on her knee. “Don’t let the pain and few mistakes drown out all the good you’ve done this year, Maeve.”
Rose nodded and was quick to add, “I have always been a fast learner and a gifted Earthen, but never in my forty-six years of life have I created a new potion as you have. Nor have I ever met anyone as gifted at making remedies and potions as you.”
“Thank you,” Maeve said as she looked down at the seed in her hand.
“And your favorite part of the year?” Rose asked, coming to the last of her questions. Earthens had many traditions, and birthdays were a time of reflecting and setting intentions.
Althea smiled. “Probably, nursing the wolf cub back to health.”
“Yes, he was adorable, I think having him live with us for two weeks was my favorite part of the year as well,” Maeve added.
“Are you ready to plant the seeds of your twenty-fourth birthday?” Rose asked when she saw the sun beginning to rise.
The girls smiled and looked down at the small seeds in their hands.
As an Earthen Rose had grown up planting a seed for each of her birthdays. It was tradition to tend the seed and watch it grow; if the plant died the year it was planted, Earthens took it as a sign of lacking inner peace because the plant was a representation of them until their next birthday.
This was a tradition Althea and Maeve had first been introduced to when they came to live with their aunt because their father had never shown it to them. He had however planted a tree for each girl on the day of their birth following the custom of Earthens.
As the sunlight got closer to where they sat in a circle on the ground, the three women each placed their seed in the small hole they had dug and covered it with dirt just as the light of the sun reached them and warmed the ground. This year, Maeve had planted a pulsatilla vulgaris flower and Althea had planted a Fool's Parsley. Though birthdays landed during all times of the year, a good Earthen could make a small flower blossom, even in the hardest of winters, if they used their abilities in the right ways. Placing their hands where they had planted the seeds the girls closed their eyes and whispered affirmations of love.
Soon after they finished, Rose took off with her horse Tobias to the village. Her goal was to sell enough vegetables and fruits to buy each of the girls a little gift.
By mid-morning, the girls were foraging the woods. In their baskets, they carried the flowers and sticks they would use for their celebration in the evening where they would make a large fire and dance under the moon and stars until the day turned into night.
Walking side by side Maeve gave her sister a sideways glance and said, “Thank you.”
“For what?” Althea looked at her sister with a curious smile.
“For forgiving me and loving me; it’s more than I deserve.” It was late summer and with each step they took, the leaves under their feet made crunching noises. “I realize now that I never needed James to make me happy. I don’t need any human. As long as I have you, Althea, I know I will be happy.”
“You’re my best friend, Maeve, and I can’t imagine how today would have been if we hadn’t found you just in time. You’d better not ever do something as dangerous again,” Althea lectured, playfully bumping into Maeve’s shoulder.
Maeve turned serious. “I used to resent this lifestyle of isolation. But after what happened with James, I’ll happily live in the cottage foraging the woods till the day we’re seventy. I’ll die happy if I never see another human being again.”
Althea smiled and looked down at her full basket. “I think we have enough now, shall we head back?”
“I was thinking of going to get some of the red flowers for Rose’s flower crown that she loves.”
Althea sighed and used the back of her hand to push away strands of orange hair from her forehead. “Are you sure? That’s a long walk.”
“Yes, but I want to do something nice for her.”
“Alright, I’ll head back inside and start baking the pie.” Althea kissed her sister on the cheek before they parted ways.
