Vaalea met by chance this tall woman with a mysterious aura about her, Ulfey her name was. The last time Vaalea had met her, the woman had given her a jar of some salve for the unnaturally sickly wound in her palm. The woman had said she was a healer and the wound in Vaalea’s hand had indeed healed strangely quickly after she had started the treatment. She merrily presented now the results to Ulfey.
After a brief discussion, Vaalea decided to tell Ulfey about her dispute with the Spirits and the tall woman offered to help her with this ’wound’ as well, saying that she could take her closer to the Spirit’s realm, offering her a chance to speak with the Spirits. ”Yes, Where?”, was her short, curious, albeit serious reply. Woman told they should find a quiet place where she would feel joy and peace and for Vaalea there was only one place like that - they headed into the nearest forest. She chose a spot midst friendly looking trees and the woman asked her to sit on the grass. She sat and the woman circled behind her slowly, leaning down to touch her shoulders before sitting down behind her. Vaalea glanced over her shoulder at the woman, smiling unsurely. She swallowed her fear, before turning to peer forth again, speaking still with a thick accent of a foreigner ”What I need do?”
First you shall need to relax and not to worry. I am not here to harm you nor shall I let such happen. When you are ready I ask you to close your eyes and begin taking deep breaths, in through the nose and out through the mouth.
Vaalea pursed her lips together in concentration, attempting to translate the woman’s instructions inside her mind. She nodded shortly before relaxing her shoulders and laying her palms against the soil, her fingers disappearing into the fresh grass. Slowly, she closed her eyes, drawing a deep breath through her nostrils. Ulfey waited for her to calm down, before speaking again,
I wish for you to connect with the earth itself now. Do this by seeing roots grow from your body and move down into the earth. Deep down, until they reach a small pool of water. Allow your roots to rest in this water.
Vaalea saw this in her minds images, the small roots digging their way through the soil. She let out a tiny gasp as the roots sank into the water, as if it had been a real sensation. Ulfey smiled to herself, before raising her hands slowly to hover at the sides of Vaalea’s head, only few inches away from either side.
We are going to go on a small trip now. Whatever you might see do not be afraid of it, it can't harm you. See yourself in a forest. It can be any forest you like. Study all that you see around, listen to the sound it makes... And inhale its scent.
Vaalea imagined herself in the forest where she usually hunted now a days, the forest she had learnt to know by heart. She smiled at the forest, before inhaling it’s moist scent - apparently it had rained recently. She heard the wind brushing the leaves, and a small animal rustling in the bushes afar. Perhaps a badger, she thought.
You are going to make your way onwards and on this path you take you will find someone waiting for you. It may be a man, it could be a beast. But do not be afraid of either that may show. Step up to them, see them and listen if they have something to tell you.
Vaalea felt strange, yet mild, heat and pressure around her head as the woman spoke, accompanied by a strange feeling of serenity. She climbed on her feet inside her mind’s forest, treading forth the path laid afore her, her back straight and her expression brave, despite the fact that one could note she was afraid. Along the path, midst some trees, there stood an enormous figure of a wolf. She smiled amusedly at the sight of it - it was her old ’friend’ - the black wolf who had taken her bow - twice.
The one you will meet is one that follows you, a guide. Listen to their words if they speak and if they do not then it does not matter. Take note of your guide. They shall be giving you a gift, take what you are given and be thankful.
Vaalea drew a deep breath through her nose, staring at the wolf’s cold eyes with equally cold gaze. After a moment of haunting silence, she smiled and fell down on one knee, bowing her head at the beast, paying her respect despite their disputes. When she raised her head, she half-expected that the wolf wouldn’t be there anymore, but it had actually stepped closer while she had looked down. Her nose almost touched the tip of it’s huge muzzle. She blinked, for a moment considering the possibility that the wolf’s ’gift’ cold be her death. Yet again the wolf didn’t act according to her fears. It pressed it’s soft cheek against hers, before licking the old bite marks around her neck in an affectionate manner eventually even licking her face a few times. She smiled against it’s large wet tongue, and salty tears started to pour down form her eyes. She felt great relief, The wolf is a friend.
Ulfey’s one hand moved to hover over Vaalea’s head, while she rested the other hand against her own thigh with a palm facing upwards. She drew a slow breath.
We shall continue further into the woods now and your guide shall come with you. So when you are ready - continue into the forest until you find a large stone sat in a body of green water. It is not water as you know it but do not worry, there is no harm to it.
Vaalea did as Ulfey asked her to do, continuing deep inside the forest, the enormous wolf now padding by her side. Eventually they found the place the woman had spoken of and she halted by the water’s shore for a moment, hesitating.
Step closer to the water. Here is where some spirits come to heal. This is a holy and safe place and you have come under my protection. Step to the water and wait... See if someone comes to you, see if they will speak to you.
Vaalea felt suddenly a warm soothing wind moving through her body from atop her head, downwards. She gasped softly at the sensation, before walking into the water until it’s surface met her waist. She allowed her palms to float on it’s surface, enjoying the feeling of strange wetness against her skin. She looked calmly around her, before suddenly at her side there stood an old wrinkly man, wearing the garbs of her tribesmen. She didn’t recognize him so she simply smiled. He didn’t return her smile, his eyes appearing anguished and weary, deep worry lingering in them. He spoke to her in her mother tongue,
Vaalea, Tietäjä ei kertonut teille mitä pyysin. Valitsit kuitenkin oikean tien - kunnes eksyit. Seuraa Suuntaa ja löydät oikean polun kotiin.
She stared at him wide-eyed, inquiring who he was. He told her that she knew who he was. She blinked a few times, before suddenly realizing that the man was her grandfather, the former chief of her heimo. She bowed her head swiftly, keeping it low for a long time. Eventually she rose her gaze, only to note that the man was gone.
Ulfey 's head fell forward, the woman appearing half dazed for a moment or two before she drew in a sharp breath, taking a while to regain herself before speaking again.
It is time to come back. When you are ready turn and walk back down the path you came.Your guide shall walk with you.
Vaalea stepped out of the water and to the shore, smiling at the gigantic wolf whose height almost matched that of the short woman's. She trailed back along the path, staring vacantly in front of her, dazzled by her thoughts. Ulfey lowered slowly her hand from hovering above Vaalea's head and rested it in her lap, taking a moment again before continuing.
It is time to part with your guide. Say your farewells and give your thanks but do not worry - your guide shall never truly leave your side. When you are ready you can return.
Vaalea fell down on a knee in front of the wolf, staring into it's cold eyes with a rather affectionate and warm fashion. She ran her hand lightly through it's black silky fur across the side of it's neck, before whispering "Kiitos." She then stood up on her feet, before slowly closing her eyes and focusing on the feeling of wet soil against her palms in the physical realm.
You may open your eyes again once you are ready to return.
Vaalea opened her eyes, blinking for a few times. She drew some weary breaths, rubbing her eyes softly for a while, before turning around on the ground. She smiled at Ulfey, her smile expressing such vast gratitude that could not be expressed with words.
(((Thanks to Ulfey (!!!) I love the character (!!!), and A CREEPY SONG to go with the story. Thank you if you managed to swim through the scene, I know it's very long.)))
