The Weaver's Source

Part One: Chapter 1

I tugged the hood further over my face as I walked past the first small house beyond the gatehouse. The few people that milled the street, whether they were shopping, working or simply walking, avoided me. They looked away or got out of my path without so much as a hello, but I could feel eyes burning my back though as glares chased after me. Nobody liked me much here. I dragged in monsters from the woods, great bristled boars that tore up fields and small bugbears that raided the grocers, and then there were my dreams of death, premonitions of people passing. I think that was what unnerved people the most, but I had never hurt anyone. Despite that, the townspeople disregarded me and either pretended I didn't exist or sent me hot scowls and uttered vicious words beneath their breath. At least I wasn't pushed into the mud by kids anymore.

After roaming through the cold streets lined by squat thatched buildings, I quickly veered into a bakery, almost falling in when my boot caught the door-frame. From the clattering of boots and bursting of the door, Gabi glanced up sharply and quickly darted forward. She pulled me away from the door and, still holding my sleeve, peered out the front outside like a wolf seeking prey. Seeing nothing, she slammed the door and dragged me over to counter.

"No one was chasing you, were they?" She demanded hotly as she wiped my face dry from the mist of rain that had veiled the world outside.

"I just stumbled." I admitted with mild embarrassment.

She sighed heavily in relief before she smiled. 

"Come on then, I need to get you to work." She dragged me to the back room and practically threw me into the kitchen. "Pies, I need pies. And a few barley loafs. Can you do that?"

I smiled and nodded. "I can."

"Good, now get to work." Gabi grinned then darted back up the steps into the main shop.

I closed the door firmly to ensure no one saw me working. People usually didn't buy anything if they knew I was. They didn't want to eat anything made by me.

Contentedly and without much disturbance from Gabi, I worked throughout the day; kneading dough and making the fillings. I sang the old nursery rhymes that I remembered softly to myself and whiled away the time easily. This was something I always enjoyed doing. It was soothing and helped keep my mind unfocused away from certain dreams as I mindlessly made the dough, moulded it then watched it bake in the stone oven. I was so engrossed and determined not to conjure the feeling of hands stroking my inner thigh and a warm mouth taking my own that when Gabi came to tell me I had made enough, she had to shake my shoulder hard as her voice fell on deaf ears.

I whirled around and stared at her blindly until my brain caught up and I realised who it was. The memory of the dream swiftly flooded away.

"You don't need to make anymore." Gabi instructed.

I glanced up at her and smiled shyly, thankful that the dreams had faded. "I'll just finish this one."

"Take that one home if you want." She said then gazed at me warily. "You had another dream, didn't you?"

Not only did my face fan red but my eyes shifted from the strange hot pulsing pink to a far softer shade. 

"No." I lied horribly.

Gabi laughed openly and clapped her hand on my back. "You can't lie to me, Lyra. You're an open book."

My face grew hotter and I bit my lower lip hard. That was the one thing I hated about my eyes. Not only were they a dead giveaway to the mass amount of dormant magic held within me, but they always revealed my true emotions. I could never lie. My eyes, with their shifting colours and shades, would always betray me to those who understood what the shades meant.

"So, did you remember anything this time? Apart from being ravaged that is."

I glared at her. She knew exactly how to turn an already embarrassing topic into something far worse. Currently I just wanted the floor to swallow me whole. I never could talk about sex so openly and matter-of-factly as Gabi could, especially when I had zero experience with men. It made me feel foolish.

"No. It was the same man though. His essence was familiar." I managed to force out from my closed throat.

Gabi hummed to herself and tapped her teeth but only shrugged. "We need to find this Weaver who's calling to you. It's the only way to make the dreams stop."

I nodded in silent agreement. Mother had told me once I find my Weaver, the dreams would vanish. I could sleep normally as soon as I found him. It was just that he was very hard to find. Weavers travel vast distances in search of villages, towns and cities in need of their help, and in search of monster souls too. I couldn't leave the town either. It would be too dangerous. There were larger monsters beyond the safety of the farmlands and if one sniffed me out, they wouldn't stop hunting me until I was stripped to the bone or they themselves killed. While my mother was adamant I'd one day be magically powerful and capable of facing down anything, that couldn't happen until I found my other half, if that would ever happened. Every inch of me wanted to meet him, to find the man I was meant to help and fight alongside. My Weaver was the only one who could harvest the magic from within me without resorting to eating my flesh. I desperately wanted to help him in his duty and hunt alongside him, to learn anything I could about magic and monsters, to use the strength inside me for something good. It had been so long since I was ready for him however. My body sang every night, beckoning to him, but he still never appeared. 

Gabi watched me as I thought deeply to myself. My eyes were a dull grey. She knew I was wondering if my Weaver even wanted to find me.

"He'll come, Lyra. You'll see." She patted my shoulder softly. "He would be a fool to toss you aside." As soon as I nodded glumly, Gabi perked up. "Now go home. I need you no longer today."

I did as she bid without another word and took my extra pie with me. I wandered through the town, ignoring the hostile glances and hushed whispers, until I reached some level of solitude on the main road. There I just hummed softly to myself, inhaling the scent of the pie I cradled so lovingly in my arms and the musty scent of wet trees and cold rain. My mood lightened as the rain eased off and the sight of my ancient home loomed before me. I quickly unlocked and shoved the door open then darted inside.

My cloak dropped to the floor, wet and muddy, and I left it there in a heap while I organised my pie. I ate happily that evening, once again talking to my dead parents as a way of keeping myself occupied and a little less lonely. Rain and darkness always made this house feel empty. I took my time cleaning away the plates I had used and putting the remainder of the food in the parlour and even longer in getting myself ready for bed. I knew what dream was to plague me tonight and I was torn between dread and excitement, which I was embarrassed and slightly ashamed about.

Just as I snuffed the last candle out in my kitchen, something caught my attention. I felt something within me stir. I froze by the window, cradling my little oil light, and pushed it open and peered out. Outside there was nothing but the sound of birds and insects crying and the hum of soft rain. I couldn't see much either apart from darkness. Nothing was out there, my eyes and ears told me so. My magic however didn't agree with my normal senses. It stirred and squirmed unhappily, twittering with worry and telling me to hide. I knew that worry, it was all too familiar. A monster was out there. I took comfort that my magic was calm though. Whatever was out there wasn't too close.

I slowly closed the window and locked it. After one last glance, I drew the curtain then made my way upstairs with the candle still in hand, settling behind my sealed bedroom door with my poker in hand. 

It was warning me. The monster was hunting me.