Malaise
© Debbie Sutherlin

Glistening black tresses reached just below the child's chin. Several strands fell across her nose partially hiding her pretty face from view. It was her third birthday, 5 S 93 ADT. The child lay on the ground not breathing. Her father dropped to his knees in horror. Quickly, he swept the dark hair away from her face. Placing his mouth over her little nose and purplish-tinged lips he breathed into her lungs, just as Nell had shown him. Suddenly the breath came back into the childs body and she coughed. Her eyes opened and her mother cried out joyfully.

"Where was I, Daddy?" Came the small girls thin, sweet voice to his ears.

"I don't know honey, but I'm just glad you're back." The big man lifted the small child in his arms and carried her back into the family home.

"Call for Nell, Kelphos. Tell her Kalandra had another spell, this time she stopped breathing, just as Nell said might happen. Go. Hurry!" Mayia Lynn instructed her son, then gently nudged him out the door.

"We will watch her closely until you return." Mayia promised her worried son as he started down the dirt road.
 

Kelphos was the strongest runner and second oldest. He was pleased his parents had entrusted him to go find the healer, Crazy Nell. Opps, he wasn't supposed to call her that. If he allowed the thoughts, the words might slip out. His parents would skin him alive if they heard him utter such disrespect.
 

Leaning into the task, he relished the feel of stretching his legs out into long racing strides. He was going to be the fastest runner in all of Groley Woods if he ever got the chance to practice. One day Kelphos hoped to race clear out of Groley Woods and explore the wonderful expanse of country beyond.
 

Reaching the little, haphazardly-constructed cottage that was surrounded by a perpetual garden of plants of every description and size, Kelphos opened the gate. Window boxes crowded every sill of the little cottage. A wizened, gray-haired old woman came out of the front door at the sound of the gate creaking on its hinges.

"What you want, boy?" The old woman eyed the tall young man with suspicion.

"'cuse me Miss Nell, my sister has had another spell, this time she stopped breathing, just like you said might happen. Mama is real worried, can you come?" At the first sound of Kelphos's voice, Nell visibly relaxed and listened intently to what he said. Her thick, bushy white brows knit together over a worried frown.

"I'll come. Tell me 'xactly what she looked like jist afore it happened, while she weren't breathin' and after. Kin you do that, boy?"

"Uh...uh, I'll try."

"Pick me five of them there big bunches of purple flowers." Kelphos touched one set of blooms and looked at her with questioning eyes. "Yessir, those be the ones. I'll git' ma' pack." The old woman disappeared into the cluttered confines of the cottage, then emerged quickly with a sturdy, leather back pack on. Snatching up a large wooden staff, she let out a low whistle. A huge wolfish-looking, silver and gray dog came bounding up to her. Pulling his lips back to show just a hint of glistening white teeth in the semblance of a canine smile.

"Come on Nipper, we've a patient to see. Little Kal has done had another spell." The big dog wagged his tail at Nell, then barked softly as if to acknowledge her statement.

Nipper had come by his name honestly. The children used to tease the mysterious old woman and cause no small amount of damage to her herb gardens until the day the big gray and silver animal showed up. He was injured by a hunter and Kal's father brought him to Nell. The big animal decided he liked the company and took permanent residence with Nell by his own choice. He also took it upon himself to defend her gardens, much to Nell's intense pleasure. He never inflicted much damage only a good solid nip that hurt enough to discourage any more nonsense. As Garrett Lynn said on more than one occasion, Nipper was
the perfect companion for Nell, he couldn't have selected a better place to take the animal.

Kelphos held the large purple flowers in his hands as he walked beside Nell. It was a bizarre picture for the most part. A young man, holding a bouquet of flowers walking beside the wizened old woman and the big wolf-dog. Part of Nell's unruly thick, gray hair had escaped the bun she attempted to put it into. Straggling strands of gray stuck out every which way which only lent to the picture of disarray. Nell's apron was stained with dark, but now unrecognizable stains in various places. Her clothes were old and even sported a newly mended place now and then but they were always clean. Kelphos noticed that every time he was near Nell she smelled so wonderful...like the full fronds of purple flowers he carried. That was it! Nell smelled like lavendar. He wondered why Nell wanted to bring the lavendar. It must have some medicinal effect or Nell wouldn't have insisted. He knew she would not waste her flowers for any other reason. They ALL had some purpose with Nell or she didn't have time to grow them.

Kelphos liked Nell, but also feared her. There were so many strange stories about her, he just didn't know what the truth was. Thinking on why he was there he came back to the present.

"Nell, what do these flowers do?" He asked boldly. Old Nell hesitated in her step just a fraction of a second, raised one bushy white brow, then smiled in semi-toothless grin.

"Well now, Kelphos isn't it?"

"Yes, Miss Nell."

"Well lad, the lavendar has a calming effect on people. These here are for your family. I know yer mother lad and she will be fit to be tied! Now YOU don't let on why, you jist get them in a vase and sit them on the table, hear? I may even have to make some tea with dried lavendar for her. Little Kal is going ta' be fine. Her spells has something to do with things beyond my abilities. I'm coming to mainly check and make sure she didn't bump her head when she fell. And check on yer Mum. You must watch little Kallie, now. I believe when she reaches the age of womanhood, whatever this is, will reveal itself naturally."

"You mean Kallie will outgrow this fainting?"

"Usually right around the time of first blood." Kelphos blushed red as a beet. Old Nell laughed heartily at his obvious embarrassment.

"Why boy, you look shocked! Your sister WILL grow up one day. You can't keep her a little girl forever, no matter how hard you try! Mark my words too, Kelphos..." Old Nell suddenly became very serious and leaned close to Kelphos. Tapping him in the chest with a crooked, wrinkled finger, Nell accentuated her quiet words.

"Kallie is marked by the Light. She is destined for something but I don't know what. You need to be careful, the Dark will try to destroy her if they come across her. The Dark will see what little I kin see. Keep her under close watch, but DON'T keep her from her destiny."

Kelphos stared at the old woman with his mouth agape. She was walking on without him before he realized it. Suddenly he hurried to catch up with her.

"But Miss Nell! Kallie? OUR Kallie?"

"Yes, but she won't remain only *your* Kallie forever. She has a destiny much larger than this little town. I repeat for the last time, DON'T try to stop her when the time comes."

"But Miss Nell...how will we know?"

"That young man will be up to you to figure out..." Nell replied mysteriously as she entered the gate leading into the Lynn homestead. Nipper ran forward and leapt joyously up on Garrett Lynn, their father as he came out of the house. Nipper adored the man who saved him and placed him in Nell's care. This was actually his 'home away from home'. If he ever wandered away from Nell's hunting rabbits he was usually to be found near the Lynn's home for he was very fond of both Garrett and Mayia in addition to the tiny Kallie. Kallie often could be found wandering around the yard with one arm affectionately wrapped
around the big wolf-dog's neck. She was very fond of sneaking Nipper treats from her plate when the Lynns had big family dinners.

"Nell! How good of you to come. I did just like you told me when she stopped breathing and it worked! She was starting to turn purple, too! Oh, I'm sorry, where are my manners! Come in out of the sun. Gareth, get Miss Nell some cool spring water!"

"Now stop it, Garrett! You done what you needed too. Let me take over now. Thank you, Gareth, this water is just the thing. Where is that little Kallie?" Nell took a sip of the cool water and patted Gareth affectionately on the back. Truth be told, Nell liked this family. They were down to earth, kind people and they were no nonsense. How she wished the entire town were like this family!

"Mayia is in the back with her right now. It's her birthday. We were having a bit of jigging fun out in the yard. Think the excitement was too much for her?"

"No. This is just a mysterious malaise with no answers right now. Perhaps one day..." Nell answered as she moved down the hall to locate the little girl. Nell wished she had the answers, but knew these things had their own answers and only time would reveal them.