author: Delta

The walk - part 2

And indeed. The two witches had entered deep into the forest. They didn't know how they had pushed themselves into the thick thickets and wondered how they got here. There was no way. Not even a path. Just a bush. The playing field wasn't even level. On one side of them was a steep ravine. On the other side of them the slope was terraced, but apparently walkable. The two looked around...and stopped.

• Get out of here - and Delta went in some direction - Well, this is already a living exhibition - laughed Delta - let's get lost in the forest!! Shame and disgrace. We've messed something up. Pebs, some shamanic spirit called her or whatever, Delta kept laughing.
• Deeel - a shout was heard. Delta looked around. Pebbles was gone.
• Peebuhls - she shouted - where are you, I can't see you! - And how will he see her... the thicket was thick, and the fog was slowly but surely descending from above.
• I found goooooo,” Pebbles shouted happily
• Go now! Del replied. Pebble was panting up the slope, waving something white
• I found it! she snapped again
• Who did you find? Del was perplexed
• I found a totem!! – and Pebs gleefully waved a…bone!! A huge, white…bone!
• You blew my mind, you freak like that! Del shouted. She was angry, but she was also filled with laughter - Just to take your bone...sorry, totem, guess where I'll put it...

Del was like that, it flared up easily, but quickly passed. They were both laughing. And they weren't so worried about the fact that they were completely lost.

• Look now—Pebbles' resolute voice brooked no objection—I'll lead, we'll find the way, I think I remember where we came from.
• Yes, well, you have a totem, don't you - Delta grinned - Okay, water, and I'll sing for you. And Delta sang. The forest took over to the sounds of "Katerino, boy". He played two verses and played "Are you a tulip, are you a hyacinth"...

But there was no way. Just a dog. The two were visibly worried. But like true friends, each tried to hide her fear from the other.

• Phew – Del waved his hands in annoyance as he made his way through the undergrowth – I ripped my hiking jacket – you're a shaman, where's your path?

Pells looked around and grinned.

• "Del, let's call the forest rescue service," Pebs knew how ridiculous the suggestion sounded. Simply because there was no way they could explain where they were lost. The only thing they could make out was a north-south direction, along the ivy twisted in the bark of the trees.
• No way!! - You know my cousin works there, he will forbid me to set foot in the forest alone until the second coming. What a shame - to get lost in our forest. And shake that bone, as long as he's swinging it. Shaman!
• Don't touch my totem!! Pebs held him tight and nothing else mattered.
• Aww, Del shouted and began to curse furiously. Pebs turned around…and burst out laughing.
• Let you, by not acknowledging my totem - Pebbles was already bursting with laughter.
• Just to freak out, I'll show you!! To you, to your totem and to the whole shamanic world!! Del was already seething with rage.

Tales from the Four Broomsticks Bar - The Walk - Part 1

And why not!. She had caught her backpack between two branches and her hood had gotten twisted in the bushes. And her posture is slightly stooped, conjuring up not very decent associations.

• Now I will give you such a totem, hahahaha – Pebbles was having a good time.
• Aaaahhhhhhh – and Delta sprawls on the ground, plowing her nose into the noise. Get off your back. He sat on the ground and grinned – Look, your shamans are probably on vacation, let me lead.
• Granted, agreed Pebs. Del concentrated for a moment, enough to clear his mind of thoughts, and took a direction. She had the ability to easily find the right path when she excluded senses and logic from her mind. He walked quickly, trying to keep his mind blank. At one point he heard chanting behind him.
• Hai-ai-ai-ai, oi-oi-oi-oi - sang Pebs in a shamanic rhythm.
• Will beat you up! - cried Del - let's just go home and I'll beat you, distract me!
• On the contrary - answered Pebs with a wrinkled nose - I even helped you find the way. Hey, down through the pines, let's just go down that slope too.

And indeed. The path shimmered between the trees. The two ran down, skating on the damp noise, falling, getting up... darkness had covered the forest, and the thick fog completely prevented them from seeing.

At last they came down to the path. Of course they still had a long way to go home, but at least they were in a familiar place. There was no way for them to get lost.

• Pebs, let's get some rest - Delta cried piteously - I'm tired and cold. I'll light a fire and then we'll move on.
• "Okay," said Pebs, "and my leg hurts." Pebs sat down on the ground and blithely plugged his pipe.

Del made a circle and collected sticks. It was also clear that in this moisture the ability to start a fire with just a thought and a wave of the hand would not help her. So he tried the standard method. With a match. But the moisture had consumed the earth and the leaves and the twigs... There was a smell of smoke all around, but the fire was not coming. And luckily they only had two matches. Nasty. Del concentrates to the max. He managed to generate some light between his palms, but it quickly died out. Delta was exhausted. The humidity was draining her strength by the minute.

• Del - Pebs was looking around calculatingly - let's go, this fog is going to screw you up. After all, it's already dark, we'll get lost again.
• We are on the royal road, we cannot get lost. But we have a long way to go - Delta cried - and I'm hungry
• If only we had collected some snowdrops, but you - no!, don't pluck the flowers - muttered Pebs - now we could have cheated hunger.
• Eh, at least you have a bone - Delta joked.

The two snuggled into each other and walked down the path. The lights of a nearby village could be seen in the distance. But they could not go fast. Pebs still had those pains in her leg, and she had gone too far today. They walked and were silent. There was a splash of water. So they had reached the Wolf Spring. It wasn't far from Del's house.

“Dark and foggy! A terrible combination. Worse, nowhere!” Del muttered to himself. She was also angry about the torn jacket.

• Good evening ladies! – both ladies were startled by the bass male voice. They looked around startled. A young man appeared out of nowhere and smiled at them. He was tall, with curly hair falling in damp tresses around his neck. He was cute and kind of creepy at the same time.
• In which direction is the cemetery - asked the man politely, staring at the two witches.
• You have to go back, you're going in the opposite direction. That's the forest, answered Delta, recovering from the initial stress. Who was this stranger in their area and what was he doing in the graveyard in the middle of the night. His work was not clean, nor was the look he continued to fix on both.
• After those trees you'll turn left, follow the path until you come to the carriage road, then right and straight on until you reach the cemetery – Pebs did his best to direct the stranger exactly.
• Thank you - the man politely replied, continuing to smile. His eyes glowed a strange pale yellow. Delta, already visibly worried, looked at him sourly and couldn't wait to leave - I'll see you soon - said the man and disappeared into the nothingness from which he had appeared. The two witches shuddered as if a strong wind had passed through them. They hurried to the village and Del's home.

They arrived in less than an hour. Del started the fire and Pebs warmed the dinner. They relaxed blissfully. With full stomachs, the two drifted off, listening to the crackling of the logs in the fireplace.

• Martenitse! Delta shouted suddenly
• Poo, poo - Pebs jumped up startled - What?
• Tomorrow is the martenitsi contest, and I'm not ready! Get up, we're going to knit! Delta's tone did not tolerate objections.
• Oofff, but you're a big omala - Pebs slowly got up

They went into the other room where Del had prepared yarn and beads. After a short debate, they decided to make an octopus. Or a spider. Or whatever came out. Pigot and Penda were banally out of fashion.

"Hold it here, bro! Give me the scissors. Not like that, look at the loose braid. Thread me. Get it for me! Put it in there. No, wait, wait, that node is visible. Oh, you're not there. But this octopus has no mouth. And his feathers became shaggy.” – laughter, banter and bickering could be heard for several more hours. They knitted, cut and spun yarn. Finally, satisfied, they relaxed. They had a wonderful octopus and a very decent little girl, reminiscent of Pippi. They were ready. An argument ensued as to who made more trash and who should clean up next. Pebs stomped down, and Delta gathered up the threads and threw them into the fireplace. It was past midnight.

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• Acacia honey or linden? Deelll, where did you go - Lilith stood impatiently with a cup of tea in her hand.
• Lipov - answered Delta and began to tell the story of the incident in the forest and to complain that she was covered with snot from the humidity. Lil, Far, and Heck listened, sipped their tea, and laughed.
• Strange, Faer muttered thoughtfully at one point, the one with the graveyard might turn out to be an old acquaintance.
• I didn't like it - answered Delta and shuddered - I didn't like it at all. And that feeling of tension and fear crept into her again. Something was going to happen. And it wasn't good.

… to be continued

© 2023 Iliana Dechkova