Chapter 4: A mother's love

True to her word, Leana was still sitting, very still, at the cave entrance. She clapped her hands with joy to see Wounded Child return. The two young girls hugged each other tightly. 

“She has agreed,” said Wounded Child, “the skin which is rightfully mine, will be returned to me. Will you come with me to the skin changing ceremony?” 

“Of course,” said Leana, “we are one now and I will go where you go.” 

And so it was that the next day, two girls aged about six and eight were waiting at the heel of the Great Oak above Black Annis’ cave, at precisely six o’clock, when the Black Mother arrived. The winter night was dark and cold, and the thin crescent moon provided little light. The girls could just make out the skins of dead babies and children that were draped on the branches of the tree. The witch began to sing, her voice growing louder with each rendition of the tiny verse. 

Mm hm … Mm hm … Mm hm

Dark Forces come

Work to be done

Mm hm … Mm hm … Mm hm

Dark Forces come

Work to be done

Mm hm … Mm hm … Mm hm

Dark Forces come

Work to be done 

Leana and Wounded Child sensed, rather than saw, the Dark Shadow People that Black Annis had summoned. Cold and clammy hands brushed against their bodies and ran through their hair. The girls found themselves standing on opposite sides of a great fire pit, encircled by these shadowy beings and watching Black Annis circling too, high above the fire. Suddenly, Black Annis gathered her great dark cape around her, before swooping down and opening it again, to encompass and hold Wounded Child in a dark embrace. 

Join me, child, in magic’s flight

On this evil, holy night

The witch circled the fire pit three times, calling out for the Dark Forces to help her to undo the harm that had been done so long ago. On the ground, Leana’s heart drummed inside her head, pounding out rhythms which matched the witch’s chanting. 

Forces old and Forces strong 

Dark Forces, all, please come along 

This child needs help, she needs it now 

She needs to change, and this is how… 

Strip her skin, strip to the bone, 

Strip her in this fiery zone 

The dark, shadowy figures took to the sky, and darted towards Wounded Child like a pack of hungry hyenas. Leana could not help but let out a cry, a small and strangled cry of abject terror. 

The shadowy figures began their work, skinning Wounded Child like a rabbit, while Black Annis continued to hold her in a tender embrace. Tears coursed down Leana’s face; she could not bear to see Wounded Child suffering so much. 

And then, the deed was done, and Black Annis gestured for the Dark Forces to leave. She wrapped Wounded Child in her cloak, and tears rolled down the old crone’s life-lined face too. Witch and child floated to the ground, where they landed on the cool damp grass, covered by Black Annis’ great cape. 

Closer now, Leana could see the tenderness on the witch’s face, and she could see the love Black Annis had for Wounded Child. Leana gently lifted Black Annis’ cape and underneath she could see the fresh clear skin on Wounded Child’s back. She kissed the girl on her cheek, and saw again pain and distress on Wounded Child’s face. “Sit close” instructed Black Annis, “while I finish the work of the night”. Black Annis cradled Wounded Child and turned her gently over. It was then that Leana saw what was causing Wounded Child so much pain. From the girl’s right-hand side, just above her pubic bone, there was a deep fresh wound, a cut that ran diagonally across the girl’s belly, ending just below her heart. 

Black Annis pulled a piece of bone from her cloak. It was sharpened to a fine point, and threaded with a thin strip a dried skin. She stretched her hands heavenwards, praying over the girl before soothing her hair from her face. Then the witch began to perfectly and skilfully stitch together the gaping wound on the child’s body, weeping as she stitched, and using her tears as a salve for the pain. Wounded Child lay motionless, her face at peace for the first time since Leana had come across her in the clearing. The witch crooned a soft lullaby, singing showers of love onto the child. 

My precious child, 

Born of the wild, 

Your heart is true 

Dear Daughter, here’s my final gift to you!

Leana watched, as if in a trance, until Black Annis beckoned to her. “Take this moss to the stream and soak it, so that I can clean the freshly stitched wound. Run quickly, and return before this magic night draws to a close”. Leana hastened to do as Black Annis had asked, and then watched the witch gently dab Wounded Child’s stitches with the moss, and with so much tenderness and compassion. 

When she was done, Black Annis motioned for Leana to sit so that Wounded Child’s head rested on her lap. Black Annis crossed over to the Great Oak Tree, where she placed the moss in a hollow. Then she turned to say her goodbyes. 

“My work is complete on this evil and holy night. I must leave now and do not expect to see you again. My heart grieves and I will miss you, but we each have our own destiny to fulfil and our own path to travel. Please remember me, your Dark Mother. Do not forget me. Do not deny me. And know that I am always watching over you.” 

“In sealing your wound, I have sealed your three aspects - Wounded Child, Child of Light, who is called Leana, and your adult self. Take all the time you need in this place to heal, and know that all feelings that come from your wound are precious messages that must not be ignored”. 

The witch turned and made her way back to the cave. The night was still, and Wounded Child slipped into peaceful and oblivious unconsciousness. 

Reviews

[barleygirl]

Once again, you've changed my mind about this book. I read the earlier chapters, not sure I could get thru many upcoming chps. Also, I tend to be critical of people who do a bunch of fancy stuff with fonts & images becuz I'm an old poop who believes the words themselves should do all the work. Despite my pre-judgments, I am amazed at how creative & playful & commanding you've made this chapter with your fonts & images & changes in writing style thru-out. Everything you did to "fancy up" this chapter works to draw in the reader & make it fun to read (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Coyote Poetry]

I would buy this book. You create strong characters, a tempting story line and I wanted to know and read more of the story dear Helen. I need to learn to write conversation, like you do. Thank you for sharing the amazing chapter.
Coyote

[Helen]

Thank you for this and all your comments especially for saying you would buy the book. I came to writerscafe because I wanted to show this very personal story to the world and see what the world thought of it. When I arrived, I found that people on writerscafe were mainly interested in poems and my book sat there unread for some time until the lovely Divya started to look at it. So I am particularly grateful for your comment that you would buy the book because it suggests it would have wider interest and that is what I wanted to know. I have no real interest in selling it, but happy that it can have some interest for others as well as playing a powerful part in my healing journey.

I won't respond to all your comments. Just to say a sincere thank you and hope you enjoy the rest of the book

Helen : )

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome dear Helen. I will keep reading.