"The Yegg are scary," shivered Ava, pulling the towel closer. "My mother used to tell me stories about them and my father would use them to keep me from being bad. Saying they would try and steal me away."
"They did try to steal me away," Mira's voice was soft as she remembered the rough way the man had grabbed her arm.
***
"This little pip-squeak is who you claim healed everyone?" His voice was incredulous as he gave her a shake and pushed her to the ground to look around at the crowd that was forming around them.
Mira carefully picked herself up and shook the dust from her clothes. Vraela had made them herself, showing her how to stitch each piece.
"The girl is taught by the Forest Witch," someone said from the crowd, bringing nods of agreement.
"She's a little witch?" asked another of the strange men.
They smelled of sweat and horses; their clothes stained from travel. The greed in their eyes made her want to run as fast as she could, but with their horses she wasn't sure she would be able to make it to the edge of the forest.
"The sickness that came to your village has spread far and wide and nothing anyone has done seems to help. If you get sick, you die. If she can save even a few," mused the leader, rubbing his chin and staring at her even though she was certain he wasn't seeing her.
"We could make a lot of money if we were the ones who brought her," whispered one of the men behind him, too softly for any of the villagers to really hear but she did.
Taking a step away from the men, towards the crowd, she tried to sneak away. The villagers stepped aside to let her pass and the moment the men, who called themselves The Yegg, looked away from her to discuss amongst themselves, she darted towards the forest.
There was a shout from behind her and she could only run faster. Her breath was ragged as she fought to suck more air into her lungs. The muscles in her legs burned but she pushed them harder. The moment she passed under the first tree, she heard the hooves of the horses behind her and all thought left her mind. Her feet found purchase on the slippery moss as she jumped over small roots and ducked under reaching branches.
Ahead of her she could see a darkness underneath a root of a great tree. There was a hollow there, just big enough she might fit. If they saw her dart in there, she would be trapped, but a large bush off to the side might be just enough to block their view. Not giving it another thought, she darted into the hollow and didn't stop wriggling deeper until there was nowhere else to go.
Only the sound of the beating of her heart and the faint gasps of air between her lips met her ears at first. Then she heard the horses. Their frantic pounding had diminished to an occasional plop as they searched for her. She could hear the men as they grumbled and complained, trying to find where she had disappeared to. Brambles blocked the entrance so she couldn't see out to know if they were near and fear kept her huddled into the far back.
After what felt like forever, the men left and still she remained in the hole, too scared of them trying to trick her. A cramp in her side finally made her move and she crawled hesitantly out into the light.
"They've gone," said a breathless voice to her right.
A strangled scream erupted from her throat and she fell to her side as if shot.
"Are you alright?" came the same voice, and as he struggled to stand to help her, Mira finally saw the boy.
He was small. Skinny as if he hadn't eaten in days, and his fingers, as he reached for her, were short and stubby; clubbed.
"You scared me," she whispered, accepting his hand and letting go quickly when her small weight almost knocked him over.
He sat back down quickly and struggled to catch his breath as if he had run just as hard as she had. His pale skin made her think he was sick.
"Those men were after you, but they left."
She nodded, sitting next to him and tucking her skirt in as she watched his chest rise and fall with difficulty.
"The forest is the only place where I can breathe," he managed after a moment.
"There's less dust here," she said, wondering if there was anything she could do. Something was wrong with him, but he seemed to have so much life she wasn't sure that he was sick at all.
The boy leaned his head back against the tree and closed his eyes as if focusing on his breathing.
"My mother used to make these herb things…" he whispered after a while.
***
"Cael?" asked the girl in excitement, leaning forward with her eyes shining.
Mira smiled. The enthusiasm of a possible love story always stole the minds and hearts of young girls.
"Yes, he wasn't sick from a sickness like the villagers had been. There was something in him that was wrong when he was born. As if the gods knew he would be too powerful if he was fully healthy, so they gave him a disadvantage. If I had been with Vraela longer… If I had more time…"
She sighed and leaned her head back wearily. "I would have done anything to fix what was wrong but never got the chance."
***
Mira found a combination of herbs that helped him breathe if he steamed them, but it was short lived and always made him cough so much. She hated that he seemed to be in such pain, but he always assured her it helped and he visited so often because it helped.
She wasn't sure he didn't visit more because he liked her, but she was too shy to ask. He would tell her about how the Yegg had taken the village hostage, demanding they do things for them and saying they wouldn't leave until they handed over Mira. He was worried about his mother and sister because the men had started threatening to hurt people.
Strangely, most of the time they spent together was comfortable. He assured her that the villagers refused to hand her over and the Yegg could never seem to get very far into the forest before they found themselves back at the edge. It was as if a spell were keeping them out.
She enjoyed his company and looked forward to their time together. Vraela encouraged it, sending her on trips to find certain herbs alone, knowing he was waiting for her.
Her favorite spot to sit with him was by the big tree with the hollow she had hid in from the Yegg. There was a moss-covered rock he would lean on, with his elbows propped up behind him. It helped him breathe; he would tell her. And she kept the stuff to steam more herbs for him there.
"I would love to live here in the forest," he said softly, after a particularly hard coughing fit.
"You're welcome to!" exclaimed Mira, sitting up excitedly.
"I couldn't because it would leave my mom and sister alone," he sighed, glancing away from her as if ashamed.
"Is everyone still safe from the Yegg?" she asked hesitantly.
He frowned and didn't look at her.
"Cael?" she asked softly.
"They're getting worse. Most of our reserves for winter are gone and the elders are discussing whether they think we can survive."
Mira sighed. This was all her fault. She should just go with the men and get them out of the village.
"If I get them out of the village, there's still enough time before winter you guys might be able to hunt enough…"
"No!" he cried, grabbing her hand as she went to stand. "Don't you under…"
His breathe left him in a whoosh and his words were lost to coughing.
"Cael! Ok! I won't, please, just breathe!"
Her hands fluttered over his face, just above his skin, like butterflies and his coughing calmed enough he could get a good breath.
"We.. need… a plan…" he wheezed after a moment.
"I'll talk to Vraela," said Mira, settling back now that his coughing fit seemed to be under control. Tears were threatening to fall and she fought to keep them back. Something told her crying wouldn't make him feel better.
"The… witch…"
"Vraela is a good witch, if she is one," said Mira with a frown, turning to look towards the cottage as her mind spun in circles trying to come up with a solution to the Yegg.
***
"What was wrong with him?" asked Ava with tears streaming down her face.
"Something he was born with," answered Mira in a low voice. "We sat there in silence for a long time before he felt well enough to return to the village."
***
"Surely there's something we can do," begged Mira as Vraela sat in her rocking chair watching the fire.
"Why is it so important that we save these people?" asked the old woman finally. "They have done little to win such a right to ask of you."
Mira thought about that, staring at the dirt floor beneath her bare feet.
"It matters to Cael. He cares about his mother and sister. Maybe I don't want to save everyone, but I do want to save them… I want to save Cael…"