AHS Imagines

22: Hiking (Madison Montgomery)

"Everyone get over to the clearing up there and we'll rest for a little while." Cordelia said, her voice very breathy as well. 

We all groaned but kept trekking up the trail to the designated stopping point where we could see part of the view. It was just tall, green trees everywhere around us with a few small roads bordering the gas stations and motels we'd passed in the van. Madison went a little further to see what the next section of the trail would be like, making sure that it wasn't unreasonably steep.

"Guys, the next part is pretty flat from what I can see." She informed us.

"Wonderful, Madison." Cordelia smiled, "Now, let's take a few of the  most vivacious branches of this holly, careful not to prick yourselves, since it holds some power for raising hope...Oh, this abundance of ferns is wonderful. They have even more magical significance for protection and forming bonds with others, a very useful tool for us witches." 

Our Supreme was overwhelmed by all of the native plants along this hike and stuffing samples of as many as she could into the little jars she'd brought along in her backpack. Cordelia grabbed large oak leaves for strength, violets down to the root for devotion, pine needles for humility, tiny red huckleberries for breaking hexes, and everything else she could find. Even though it was meant to be a group vacation, she still managed to make this a learning experience for us.

Madison was growing bored after a while and the rest of us were alright to keep going onwards. Zoe and Kyle started approaching the rest of the trail slowly, still waiting for Cordelia to finish up. But my friend had a much better idea than waiting around for our Supreme to catch the hint. She used her telekinesis to collect samples of every plant in the little area and shove it into the empty jars Cordelia had set down on the ground. 

"Okay, can we keep going now? I think everyone's caught their breath at this point." Madison urged, crossing her arms to make clear that she was firmly holding her position.

Cordelia sighed, packing up the jars and following the group down the flatter part of the trail. The rest of the route was either nice and smooth or terribly steep, but luckily on stretched out for only another 3/4 of a mile. There were still quite a few trees growing up at the top and blocking part of the view, but it was absolutely stunning once we reached the edge. More mountains surrounded us and rushing rivers cut across parts of the landscape, grand houses built around them. We could spot a few of the seedy motels and rural gas stations from before closer to the base of the mountain, teeny-looking cars driving across the slim roads. 

It was so relaxing to be so up high, our own world of worries and troubles so far down that it couldn't bother us. Zoe and Kyle huddled up a foot away from a cliff's edge, sitting together to talk about whatever deep topic they'd been discussing for the past hour. I stood beside Madison, light wind blowing through our hair as we looked down below at the tiny cities and cars. 

"Why is it so calming up here?" I asked her.

"Because we're over everyone else." Madison joked. 

"Ha-ha. But seriously, maybe I'm just tired from coming up here or something."

"I guess. This wasn't as bad as I'd thought it would be and there weren't any bears...or other people." 

Queenie interjected our quiet talk: "Hey, can you two lovebirds move for a second? I'm trying to get a picture of the view without either of your legs in the way." 

I chuckled, my cheeks turning pink at her comment. Madison rolled her eyes and sat down a little ways away from where she'd been standing. Cordelia gave me a knowing look before waving me over to her. The Supreme handed me a dried bouquet of white aster, purple violet, pink mayflower, white clover, purple crocus, and a single holly leaf. Alongside these strange things, she gave me a pack of matches and motioned towards the plants as if I were supposed to do something with them.

It became clear then that Cordelia caught on to my crush on Madison and her apparent fair-minded opinion of me. These plants each symbolized something I wanted to reveal to Madison but was too bashful to say out loud. I was meant to cast a spell for help in achieving the movie star's good graces and, luckily, this incantation was just a few words. 

I set the dried plants down upon a large boulder, careful not to set fire to anything else, before lighting the bouquet on fire. Before reciting anything, I blew four light breaths over the small fire and focused on my intent. My lips whispered the words "Vota mea" (fulfill my wishes) three times over, feeling a stir in my chest as I poured my soul into the spell. The fire turned magenta for a few seconds before blowing itself out instantaneously. A few sets of confused eyes looked back at me before Cordelia rounded us all back to go down the trial. I thanked her in a hushed voice and crossed my fingers that the spell worked.