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One Blessed Samhain
(as published by Yareah Magazine October, 2009)
Cold, wet nudges awakened her. Disoriented, Mistreäl
Adams awoke. Eyes widening at the grey animal that
stood above her, peering with its head tilted in
curiosity. Its long pink tongue dangled from a doggy-
like grin. Amber eyes alert but neutral.
Where am I? What the hell…
Misty lay on her back gazing past the wolf into a
lacy canopy of pines. Beyond an expanse of darkness
crowned, with a silvery full moon, stars sprinkled the
heavens like diamonds twinkling on black velvet. The
stillness, while unnerving, comforted her. She chanced
another glance at the wolf. It sat back on haunches
and continued to peer at her though no malice tinged
its attention. It remained patient and observant.
Misty relaxed only slightly knowing that to display
fear would only provoke the wolf.
I need to get up. Figure out why I’m here. She
continued to study the wolf. Would it attack when
she moved? No choice. Need to do something. I can’t
lay on the ground all night.
Slow and easy, she moved to a sit, eyes locked
with the amber ones that continued to watch. She
eyed the wolf. It made no move to interfere with her.
As a matter of fact, it had lain down and rested its
snout upon its front paws as it continued to observe
her.
“Why do you study me so?” She asked softly.
“Are you here to protect me? Otherwise, you had every
advantage to tear me limb for limb while I lay
unconscious, my furry friend.”
The wolf tilted its head at her words, but
remained impassive, so Misty continued to move into a
full stand. She grabbed for a tree trunk to steady
herself. Dizziness threatened to topple her back to the
ground and a black void coated her sight for several
seconds. “Hmm… what the heck is wrong with me?”
She reached her free hand to her head and
palpated her scalp for any damage. No lumps, bumps
or blood. Vision clear, she examined her extremities.
Nothing wrong there, either. Her muscles felt sore but
other than that, all was well. A quick glance toward
the wolf confirmed it hadn’t moved.
“I’m fine now,” she said to the animal. She
waved her hand gently in an attempt to shoo the
animal away. “I can manage now, my furry guardian.
Go back to your pack.”
The wolf stood and lowered its head, ears down
and moved forward. Misty stood still, a surge of fear
shot through her. She backpedaled only to feel the
solid, roughened bark of a pine tree. “Crap.”
Sensing her fear, the wolf stopped and dropped to
its belly. In a slow crawl, the wolf continued forward.
Relief spiraled through her system. “Oh! You are
submitting. You mean no harm.” Misty squatted down
and put her hand out to the creature. Its cool wet
nose sniffed her fingers then the wolf licked her hand.
Its eyes turned up to meet hers and a sense of kinship
seemed to pass between. “Thank you for watching over
me. Now if I only knew why I am here and where here
is?” Misty chuckled and patted the animal on its head.
The wolf turned and moved away. It stopped,
looked once more over its shoulder, and then
disappeared into the forest. Misty glanced around.
The brightness of the full moon lit the landscape
sufficiently for her to see the stone circle in which she
stood. Suddenly she remembered what had happened.
She gazed down at the simple gown she wore and
instinctively brushed the bits of pine needles and dirt
from its skirt. “I made it!” She spun raising her
hands to the sky. “I’m home!”
Seven years ago, she’d fallen into the future on
Samhain, while she and her Pagan sisters celebrated
the harvest. They danced and lit bonfires for the
celebration. As the others passed between the fires to
cleanse themselves of the year of strife and evil, she
somehow had slipped through time. How, she had no
idea. The only thing she knew, it had been on Hallow’
s Eve with a rare and coveted Blue Moon. Somehow,
she believed the magic propelled her to the future. She’
d planned for seven long years to return. Finally,
October 31st once again fell on the second full moon of
the month.
The question remained, had she returned
unscathed? Had time stood still? Or is it seven years to
the future here as well?
A cloud blanketed the moon leaving her in
darkness. A chill caressed her skin and the hairs at the
back of her neck stood on end. Someone stood to her
right. Her senses never lied. Besides she’d heard the
soft rustle of pine needles when the darkness fell upon
the circle. She tensed, but stood her ground.
“Who goes there?” Her voice carried a confidence
she did not feel.
Silence, thick and unnerving followed.
“I know you are there. I sense you. I am a witch,
please do not cause yourself harm.”
“You will not hurt me, witch.” The male timbre
caressed her skin like silk and caused a shiver to
tremble down her spine.
“And why would I not harm you?” Misty turned
to face the intruder. Like a spotlight, the silvery light
of the full moon cast the tall shadow in its radiance
against the ebony forest background. Her eyes widened,
but she remained quiet. He stood over six foot tall,
lean and well muscled. His light muslin shirt stretched
taut against his strong chest and the breeches hugged
well-formed thighs. Wavy dark hair touched his
shoulders and a smile edged his stern, chiseled
features. He leaned against a pine with his arms
crossed across his chest.
“Because it is I who have protected you while you
recovered from your fall from another time.” He pushed
off the tree and stepped toward her.
“Impossible! You are not a wolf.”
“If you are a witch, why can I not be wolf?” He
stood in front of her now. In her space. “Do I require
you to prove you are a witch?”
Misty could only shake her head, no. She knew
this man. She loved him in the future, and he had
followed her to the past. “Damian…”
“Yes, Mistreäl. I am who called you to the future
and love has brought me with you to the past. Happy
Blessed Samhain, my love. Now we shall never part.”
©Copyright 2009 Dayana Knight
(as published by Yareah Magazine October, 2009)
Cold, wet nudges awakened her. Disoriented, Mistreäl
Adams awoke. Eyes widening at the grey animal that
stood above her, peering with its head tilted in
curiosity. Its long pink tongue dangled from a doggy-
like grin. Amber eyes alert but neutral.
Where am I? What the hell…
Misty lay on her back gazing past the wolf into a
lacy canopy of pines. Beyond an expanse of darkness
crowned, with a silvery full moon, stars sprinkled the
heavens like diamonds twinkling on black velvet. The
stillness, while unnerving, comforted her. She chanced
another glance at the wolf. It sat back on haunches
and continued to peer at her though no malice tinged
its attention. It remained patient and observant.
Misty relaxed only slightly knowing that to display
fear would only provoke the wolf.
I need to get up. Figure out why I’m here. She
continued to study the wolf. Would it attack when
she moved? No choice. Need to do something. I can’t
lay on the ground all night.
Slow and easy, she moved to a sit, eyes locked
with the amber ones that continued to watch. She
eyed the wolf. It made no move to interfere with her.
As a matter of fact, it had lain down and rested its
snout upon its front paws as it continued to observe
her.
“Why do you study me so?” She asked softly.
“Are you here to protect me? Otherwise, you had every
advantage to tear me limb for limb while I lay
unconscious, my furry friend.”
The wolf tilted its head at her words, but
remained impassive, so Misty continued to move into a
full stand. She grabbed for a tree trunk to steady
herself. Dizziness threatened to topple her back to the
ground and a black void coated her sight for several
seconds. “Hmm… what the heck is wrong with me?”
She reached her free hand to her head and
palpated her scalp for any damage. No lumps, bumps
or blood. Vision clear, she examined her extremities.
Nothing wrong there, either. Her muscles felt sore but
other than that, all was well. A quick glance toward
the wolf confirmed it hadn’t moved.
“I’m fine now,” she said to the animal. She
waved her hand gently in an attempt to shoo the
animal away. “I can manage now, my furry guardian.
Go back to your pack.”
The wolf stood and lowered its head, ears down
and moved forward. Misty stood still, a surge of fear
shot through her. She backpedaled only to feel the
solid, roughened bark of a pine tree. “Crap.”
Sensing her fear, the wolf stopped and dropped to
its belly. In a slow crawl, the wolf continued forward.
Relief spiraled through her system. “Oh! You are
submitting. You mean no harm.” Misty squatted down
and put her hand out to the creature. Its cool wet
nose sniffed her fingers then the wolf licked her hand.
Its eyes turned up to meet hers and a sense of kinship
seemed to pass between. “Thank you for watching over
me. Now if I only knew why I am here and where here
is?” Misty chuckled and patted the animal on its head.
The wolf turned and moved away. It stopped,
looked once more over its shoulder, and then
disappeared into the forest. Misty glanced around.
The brightness of the full moon lit the landscape
sufficiently for her to see the stone circle in which she
stood. Suddenly she remembered what had happened.
She gazed down at the simple gown she wore and
instinctively brushed the bits of pine needles and dirt
from its skirt. “I made it!” She spun raising her
hands to the sky. “I’m home!”
Seven years ago, she’d fallen into the future on
Samhain, while she and her Pagan sisters celebrated
the harvest. They danced and lit bonfires for the
celebration. As the others passed between the fires to
cleanse themselves of the year of strife and evil, she
somehow had slipped through time. How, she had no
idea. The only thing she knew, it had been on Hallow’
s Eve with a rare and coveted Blue Moon. Somehow,
she believed the magic propelled her to the future. She’
d planned for seven long years to return. Finally,
October 31st once again fell on the second full moon of
the month.
The question remained, had she returned
unscathed? Had time stood still? Or is it seven years to
the future here as well?
A cloud blanketed the moon leaving her in
darkness. A chill caressed her skin and the hairs at the
back of her neck stood on end. Someone stood to her
right. Her senses never lied. Besides she’d heard the
soft rustle of pine needles when the darkness fell upon
the circle. She tensed, but stood her ground.
“Who goes there?” Her voice carried a confidence
she did not feel.
Silence, thick and unnerving followed.
“I know you are there. I sense you. I am a witch,
please do not cause yourself harm.”
“You will not hurt me, witch.” The male timbre
caressed her skin like silk and caused a shiver to
tremble down her spine.
“And why would I not harm you?” Misty turned
to face the intruder. Like a spotlight, the silvery light
of the full moon cast the tall shadow in its radiance
against the ebony forest background. Her eyes widened,
but she remained quiet. He stood over six foot tall,
lean and well muscled. His light muslin shirt stretched
taut against his strong chest and the breeches hugged
well-formed thighs. Wavy dark hair touched his
shoulders and a smile edged his stern, chiseled
features. He leaned against a pine with his arms
crossed across his chest.
“Because it is I who have protected you while you
recovered from your fall from another time.” He pushed
off the tree and stepped toward her.
“Impossible! You are not a wolf.”
“If you are a witch, why can I not be wolf?” He
stood in front of her now. In her space. “Do I require
you to prove you are a witch?”
Misty could only shake her head, no. She knew
this man. She loved him in the future, and he had
followed her to the past. “Damian…”
“Yes, Mistreäl. I am who called you to the future
and love has brought me with you to the past. Happy
Blessed Samhain, my love. Now we shall never part.”
©Copyright 2009 Dayana Knight
