The Nymph of Black Forest

Derek’s POV ~

After talking to Owen, we realize they are farther than we thought…except for one thing.. if we cut through the Black Forest, we would come out nearly on top of them. Since both war parties have to go around the Forest, it puts them at a distinct disadvantage! I’m good with that!

We are ready to head out within the hour.. still having about an hour of daylight, the birds are hanging back until dark. Their route is faster than ours, anyway. Rhiannon spoke to the bears “You are allowed entry to the Black Forest.. upon my invitation!” They all double thump their chests and I hold back a chuckle. They truly respect her…and it makes me so proud.

Along the way, she’s perched on Ambrose’s back..whistling and singing her birdsong..and it isn’t long before we all notice large game galloping alongside us. What an amazing sight! Bears, wolves and cats…bounding along the forests with large game keeping pace!

We enter Black Forest from the Northwest and everyone stops to drink at the river. I notice my mate stomping off…cursing that “Goddess damned crotchety old fucking beaver.” Within seconds, I hear her yelling at him “I have told you a hundred fucking times, you old coot! You are not allowed to dam th fucking river! You alter its course and hundreds suffer! You can dam the stream to the North..or the creek to the south! If you try to dam the river again, I will banish you from the forest! And if you chew down one more sapling..you are out! You use felled trees! Saplings are babies, you sick bastard! How would you feel if someone killed yoir babies? Huh?” And Angus asked “can she do that? Banish the critters?” I nod…snickering at her argument “Yeah.. she and that old beaver have been fighting for a year! He wants his dam to be huge to impress his mate..but it’s detrimental to the other creatures. He gets it half built..she destroys it..couple weeks later, he tries again. A lot of the animals are selfish..and they argue with her quite a bit.. One squirrel throws pine cones at her all the time. It doesn’t stop her from helping his family, though.” Angus busts out laughing “She’s something else…that little girl!”

We move out…headed east.. it’s so dark in the Forest.. but our eyes adjust and Rhia knows her way without looking…as we reach the edge of the treeline, we all hold back..listening. The sounds of camp being set meet our ears and she whispers to the Elk… Edgar, I think.. he nods his huge head then turns to the others. His snorts, huffs and clicks confuse the other animals..but Rhia and I know he is discussing strategy. We all fan out and surround the camp.

She whistles and all hell breaks loose. Rogues are being trampled..slung into the air by moose , elk and mule deer…being rammed by bighorn sheep and stabbed by antelope.. The survivors are scrambling for the woods..or trying to find cover. The cats are making short work of them. Rhiannon is perched on an elm branch, firing poisoned silver headed arrows every few seconds..never missing a mark. The bears aren’t even trying for a little finesse.. they are just ripping out hearts..tearing off heads.. within forty five minutes.. the fighting was over. A good fifty or sixty escaped. But, we expected it! We actually wanted it! Someone has to tattle to Leonard!

We decided to stay the night in the Black Forest. Angus was completely blown away by the Yew Cottage. And my Rhiannon…being so proud of her PaPa’s handiwork… showed him everything. Squeaky…being the ever nosy squirrel came to see what she was up to. When she tried to introduce him to Angus..he flipped his tail and scuttled away. She shrugged “He’s a dick!” And Angus cracked up “Is he the pine cone thrower?” She grins, nodding “To be fair.. he accused me of stealing all his nuts and berries. And I did not! Until he threw the pine cones..then I went out that night..and gathered all I could find. Of course I gave his wife some every day..but he doesn’t know that!” Angus laughed harder.. I said “She has interesting relationships in the forests” and again, she nods.. “They were the only ones I had to talk to. If you start the cookstove, and set the kettle to boil.. I will run grab us some salmon for dinner.” Angus asks “Run? Like the store?” She laughed and said “No. The stream.. silly bear”

Within a half hour, she was back..with six huge fish. She ran down to the root cellar.. grabbing wild parsnips, mushrooms, onions…and her canned raspberries. She rolled out dough and kneaded it..letting it rise.. she braised the vegetables and boiled rice while she scaled the fish.. flat roasted it in the oven.. while she rolled her dough and shaped it in pie tins..filling it with raspberries and topping it with more dough. She pulled the salmon from the oven..placed a bed of rice on plates, laid salmon steaks on top and spread the vegetables on top of that..slid the pies in the oven.. then said “Sit! Eat!” She poured us all coffee..and Angus kept saying she was magic, between bites.

We helped her clean the kitchen, and we all laid down for some sleep. The sounds of the forest soothed Rhiannon into a comfortable sleep. I made a mental note to bring her back, every couple months. She loves it here.. and now that I can hear the animals, I find it relaxing, as well.

She was awake before dawn..which has always been her habit, living here. We decided to run back to the pack.. it was early enough breakfast would still be being served. And we were anxious to hear what the birds know.

Edward greeted us, as we arrived, wanting an update that didn’t consist of squawks and growls, I laughed and told him “Smooth! It went as smooth as fresh shaved balls! The large game didn’t just stampede..they gored, stabbed, flung into cats in trees…sliced apart with hooves. It was fascinatingly macabre and horrifically heinous.. and fun as fuck! Those fuckers scattered to the four winds.. just to be stopped by bears, cats and wolves! I would give anything to hear the conversation they’re going to have with Leonard!”

Edward started laughing “You ain’t right, dude!”