Witches Moon - Kerry

Arrival

Nunavut, December 2014

“It’s just over this stretch of water. We should be there soon Finn.” I shout over the raging snow squalls. The trip to Nunavut has been perilous on broom. The winds are strong and the air is beyond frigid. I have to cast a warming spell on the cloth bag that Finnigan rides in so that he doesn’t freeze.

We've ridden low over the snowy landscape to keep from freezing to quickly but it is impossible to avoid altogether. My cloak, also charmed with a warming spell, keeps me warm.

The water is dotted with icebergs and the occasional snowy white polar bear. They are such large majestic creatures of the North. It's fascinating that something could live this far North in the cold.

The water soon turns to land and I see the same flat white landscape that is most of Nunavut. This is Igloolik, the Northernmost Magic branch of the Order. My first stop to becoming a member of an elite group of Witches and other titles I don’t know of. I still don’t know a lot of what my new job will entail but I know it will get me travelling and learning about the magic of the world. It’s what I want most.

I bring my grandmothers broom down softly and pick up the Finn-bundle before tossing the broom over my shoulder. The snow is so brilliant in the day that it's nearly blinding so I’m wearing black sunglasses that make my face look like a giant walking fly. I wouldn’t want to become snowblind.

I scan the horizon looking for anything that looks remotely like an entrance to some sort of building or structure. All I see though is a cluster of canvas tents.

“Let's try those tents Kerry. Maybe the people there will know something.”

I nod, I think this is going to be an interesting experience. I trudge through the packed snow. The fresh flurries form a foot of new fluffy snow atop the hard layer beneath. My feet plow through the untouched snow forming a trench where I walk. Soon we reach the tents. It doesn’t look like anyone's around.

As I take a step passed the last tent I’m suddenly stopped and my foot slams into an invisible glass wall.

“A force field?! Smart, but… why here?”

“They don’t want intruders obviously. This must be it.”

A door to an unseen building opens and a tall figure in a long fur coat steps out and hurries towards me. As they get closer I see they too wear goggles and a furry hood that covers most of their face.

When they reach me they stop and wave. “Hiya! You must be Kerry Woodrow! The new recruit!”

“Yes, that’s me.”

“Nice to meet you! I just have to give you this so that you can enter freely. But first, can you answer our security question?”

I freeze, the man said nothing about a security question. I hope I know the answer.”

“First, Where did you hear about us?” I take a moment to remember my first meeting with the man.

“I was at Trent University, in the library common hall.”

“Good, and where did he say the origin of Magic was?”

I thought back to the conversation. We’d talked about the various magics commonly known of, Ireland's faerie magic and Merlin, the ancient kotodama naming craft of Japan and Asia and the mother of all magic the goddess Hecate from… “Egypt!”

“Good and one last question. Do you like figs?”

I freeze. What kind of question is that? “Uhhh sure? I guess. I mean, they’re not my favourite dried fruit but they’re alr-”

“Great! Take a step back please. This will only take a moment.”

I step back, still confused about the fig question as the fur covered security guard removes their gloves revealing hands tattooed with circles and alchemic looking symbols. They place their palms in the air, touching the forcefield and I see it ripple with their touch. They breathe a word under their breath, as I see the mist from their mouth rise and a whole seems to melt into the force field, large enough for myself to walk through.

The guard nods their head for me to come through and I do. As soon as I’m through they remove their hands and the whole seems to flood with water and hardens, returning the force field integrity.

“Great. Samantha just got a 5 month shipment of figs and we can’t eat them all so we wanted to make sure you liked them too so we can divi up the rations! Great eh?!”

I stare at them with disbelief… “Are all we eating is figs?” I ask.

“Of heavens no. God, can you imagine what the toilet would smell like?! Haha. No, we got other things. We’ve figured out how to make a fig pie!”

My first impression of these people is crazy. They lead me towards the know visible apartment building. It's two stories tall and the windows are small to keep the cold out. The wind and snow have slowed down to a gentle breeze on this side of the barrier. Must be part of the fields magic.

We reach the door and the guard stops. “Oh! I forgot to introduce myself! Sorry ‘bout that. I’m Carol. I’m a practicing alchemist and my specialty is barriers, as you saw earlier. Samantha is our new cook and also a plant specialist. She’s an expert at plant magical properties and the like.”

“That must be a tough craft to practice up here no?” I ask, wondering what plant life she’s using up in this snowy tundra.

“Actually insides got this enormous greenhouse that she started a few weeks back from ordering fruit and sprouting the seeds. We’re quite lucky actually. Alright. Let’s get inside where it’s warm and get you settled!”

“Yes, sounds good.”

“I can’t wait to hear about your travels!”

Finn pokes his head of the bag right then, making her startle. “Not much to explain. It was cold and snowing the entire time.”

“Oh wow! You got a pet?!”

“Actually he’s my companion. This is Finnigan.”

“Great! Tulok will love him!”

“Tulok?”

“Com’on! Let's get inside! Go go go!”

#Fantasy #Magic