14.
No one could find Terence. He wasn't home and he certainly wasn't visiting Tinker Bell. Although Fairy Gary searched the Pixie Dust Depot, he never bothered to look high in the rafters of the tower. There the young boy lay sprawled out on a support beam. The ordeal had left him exhausted and he had fallen asleep. When Gary called out his name, Terence didn't hear it.
Gary assumed the boy flew off to be alone. To be with his own thoughts. "He'll come in tomorrow. I'm sure of it," Gary told the others who had been searching for Terence.
~O~
Elsewhere, Tinker Bell was at war with herself. Terence was not the kind of person who could betray a trust, but there seemed to be no other answer. No one else could have known to tell Bolt and Stone. Part of her wanted to believe Fawn. Part of her couldn't believe anyone. Let alone herself. So many things had gone badly recently. It had dominated her mind, her thoughts. They had pushed out other priorities.
She had even forgotten what happened at the infirmary. Tinker Bell swore she would find out what happened to Dolly, the leaf painting garden fairy who was brought into the hospital with a poisonous spider bite. Even that traumatic moment had been pushed from her conscious mind. Sadly, her life had been turned upside down. She went into her home and wept well into the night, falling asleep when she could cry no more.
~O~
"There you are, Terence," Fairy Gary greeted. The young dust keeper appeared disheveled. When pressed Gary found out that he spent the night here. Up in the tower. He just needed a place to be alone. To hide from everyone's scrutiny. Since the depot was like a second home to him this was where he came.
Gary shook his head. The answer was so simple, but no one thought of it. "You will be pleased to know that Jeremy has been banished from Pixie Hollow," Gary began. "The queen thinks you should speak to Tinker Bell and explain that he is the cause of all of your troubles. No go, make things right with her."
"I can't, Fairy Gary," Terence replied. "She doesn't love me anymore."
"What? Doesn't love you?" It was shocking to hear those words from him, but at least it confirmed the queen's suspicions that Tinker Bell was seeking out Terence for romantic reasons. "What are you talking about, boy?"
The reason Terence fled to the upper reaches of the depot's tower was that last evening he saw Tinker Bell in a very passionate embrace with another sparrow man. "She's moved on. So should I."
Gary couldn't believe this nonsense. Tinker Bell and Terence had carried torches for each other for years. It was obvious to anyone. He doubted very much that Tinker Bell would just give up so easily. It must have been a mistake, Gary suggested. But Terence was far too depressed and heartbroken to listen.
"I'm going home, Fairy Gary," the young man announced. "I don't feel much like working today. I hope you understand."
Gary said nothing, neither acknowledging nor admonishing his ward. He simply let the boy go. Terence will get over this soon enough, Gary thought to himself. And when he does then I'll get the boy to speak with Tinker Bell.
~O~
During the morning report Clarion was thankful that there were no new reports of animals attacking fairies or any of the other denizens of Pixie Hollow. At least her charges had one day to live in peace, she thought. Let us hope for another.
One notation did disturb her. Jeremy had spent the entire day chasing the girls again. Rather than look for a place to live outside of Pixie Hollow he chose to engage in as much of his loathsome behavior as he could before his banishment was set to commence. He had to be chased away by no less than five guild overseers and two scouts. Later that afternoon Iridessa used her light talent to drive him off when Jeremy made a pass at her.
"I should have seen that coming," Clarion said, reprimanding herself.
"Ree? Are you well?" came a familiar voice. She welcomed the presence of Lord Milori with much relief. As the reigning monarch Clarion put everything on her shoulders. She had no one on whom she could unburden herself with the lone exception of Milori. He was the love of her life and they pursued a chaste and courtly romance. The complete opposite of Jeremy's lascivious ways.
The difficulty in their relationship was that Milori was the Lord of Winter. He ruled the Winter Woods in her name and the two rulers spent most of their time apart. A "normal" relationship was beyond them because their respective responsibilities prevented it. When together in public their need to maintain a regal and self-disciplined appearance prevented any significant displays of affection. This rigorous restraint even spilled over into their lives behind closed doors. Yet when they did spend time together alone, those moments were always truly wonderful.
"I'm fine," she answered in her usual tone, conveying strength and composure. Despite all of this her eyes gave away what she desired most. To not have to be a monarch at this moment. To break from her proud propriety and be allowed to collapse under the weight of her burdens, even if only for a few minutes so she could release the pent up anguish, fear and frustrations.
Milori understood this better than anyone. No one could see the queen look anything less than perfect. No one except the man she loved most. The one person with whom she could be herself and not the paragon of queenly virtue that was expected. It occurred to him that he and perhaps Fairy Mary were the only two people in all of Pixie Hollow who had ever seen the true Clarion behind the queenly mask (or at least as close to the true Clarion as she could allow). It made his well-timed visit all the more appreciated.
"Snowflake has kept me informed," he told her most directly, trying to hide his true intentions. "I came to lend my assistance."
"Thank you, Milori. You may," she answered him, acting equally stoic.
Clarion and her love removed themselves to her private quarters. Her helpers were excused and the two regents were left alone. When the doors were closed and Clarion was certain no one was watching she fell apart into his arms. She quivered and pouted, hyperventilated and cried like any other fairy of the realm. Milori just held the dear woman in his arms. She cried and babbled until exhaustion. Milori then carried her to fainting couch where he held her in his arms.
There she slept for almost an hour, recovering her strength and the fortitude to carry on under these most challenging of circumstances. When she awoke, Clarion spoke coherently. She apologized for acting like a mewling child and then proceeded to speak with him about the current situation. Together the two regents tried to work the problem and look for solutions that perhaps Clarion's advisors did not consider. Either way, it was a cathartic experience that left both feeling drained, much better in the end.
~O~
"I cannot understand why no incidents have been reported in the Winter Woods," Clarion wondered.
"We have no insects," Milori answered.
"Yes, but it is more than just insects," Clarion replied. "At least two squirrels, a chipmunk and one bluebird have also displayed erratic behavior."
She was worried for him. In spite of the wide variety of animal species that lived in the warm seasons, Milori and the Winter Fairies relied very heavily on Snowy Owls for their work. She could easily imagine his personal owl turning against him. Since Milori had a broken wing and no capacity for flight he would be an easy victim.
"Have you considered a sickness?" he suggested. "Maybe that nice doctor Griffiths on the mainland could help."
Word from the mainland was that animals, dogs in particular, were going mad with a disease commonly known among humans as hydrophobia. She gasped. "You don't suppose it has come here, do you?"
"It would be prudent to ask."
With at least a working theory Clarion sought out Fawn the animal fairy and instructed her to find Dr. Griffiths on the mainland and pose the question to him. She also wanted to know what could be done to prevent exposure and what treatment or cure existed.
The answers Clarion received the next day were mixed.
"I have good news and bad news," Fawn announced upon her return.
"I will take the bad news first," the queen asked.
"First, the proper name for it is rabies. The bad news is that there is no cure," Fawn replied looking quite disheartened. "Any animal showing symptoms is put down."
The ministers gasped at such a horrible method. "That is just cruel," Sunflower said.
"Well, there is a reason for it," Fawn continued. The little animal talent was near tears when she spoke again. "Animals don't recover from rabies. It infects their brain and eventually kills them. Dr. Griffiths said putting an animal out of its suffering is a mercy."
Clarion nodded in bleak agreement. "And the good news, Fawn?"
"It's not here," she replied with a weak smile. "Blaze recovered so it can't be rabies. Plus the symptoms don't match up other than the madness."
Fawn than added that Dr. Griffiths did not know of any disease that affected both animals and insects with a sudden burst madness followed by perfectly lucid behavior. If it was a human he would suspect insanity or for them to seek psychiatric help. But with animals he was at a complete loss.
"I see. Thank you, dear. You've been a splendid help." Clarion then released the animal fairy back to her work.
"One moment," Hyacinth, the Minister of Spring spoke. "Why do they call it hydrophobia?"
"Hydrophobia is a fear of water," Fawn answered. "One of the late stage symptoms of rabies is an abject fear of water. That's why some people call it that."
~O~
"Well that was of no use," Hyacinth complained after Fawn had left the main hall of the Pixie Dust Tree.
"On the contrary, Minister," the queen replied. "Those were the answers we were seeking."
"Answers? What answers?" He hyperventilated. "We're exactly where we were yesterday."
"No, Minister, we are not," she replied. "We know it is most likely not a disease. This has eliminated one possible cause and will allow us to consider other alternatives with a better focus."
"Yes, Your Highness. You are quite correct," Hyacinth replied contritely.
"The question now is what avenue do we pursue next?" Redleaf offered.
"Perhaps she should consider why the Winter Woods seems so unaffected by all of this," the queen mused. "What do we have that they do not?"
"Insects," was the instant reply. Clarion dismissed it immediately. Other creatures were also affected. Plus, disease had just been eliminated as a possibility.
"Magic?" Snowflake suggested.
"Selective magic against the warm seasons?" Sunflower asked.
"It would if that is what the caster intended," Redleaf answered.
"Well who would have a grudge against us?" Sunflower asked jittery.
"We don't have any enemies. Do we?" Hyacinth said, perplexed.
"Pirates?" Redleaf submitted. "We did take back our blue pixie dust and rob them of the power of flight. Pirates are known to hold grudges."
"That would require knowing where to find Pixie Hollow," Clarion interjected. "Our world is hidden to the outsiders and we do know for certain that Zarina did not betray us to the pirate James."
"If they knew where to find us why use magic?" Hyacinth added. "Why not a frontal assault?"
Clarion mulled this over. "I see your point, Minister. Pirates do prefer to get their hands dirty. And while they might enjoy terrorizing us in this way, that again leads us back to why not the Winter Woods."
"Water!" Snowflake blurted out. Queen Clarion and the three other ministers just stared quizzically at her. "What do the warm seasons have that we do not, remember? Our water is frozen. It does not flow freely as it does in the warm season."
"All the animals in the warm season would be sickened by it," Sunflower replied. She also reminded Snowflake that creatures in the cold season do drink at the border or consume snow or eat leaves for hydration.
"There are certain plants and trees unique to the warm seasons," Clarion volunteered. "And some that are unique to the Winter Woods."
"Spiders aren't herbivores," Hyacinth confessed, subtly reminding them of Dolly who was bitten by a spider.
"How is the young leaf painter doing, anyway?" Clarion asked.
"She is stable," Sunflower told her. "The prognosis is guarded, however."
"It can't be in the air because we all breathe the same-."
"COLD!" Snowflake shouted.
"Minister?"
"The Winter Woods are cold," she clarified. "Perhaps we are dealing with something that is averse to frozen temperatures?"
"You mean, like a sickness?" Hyacinth asked with a snooty tone.
"We cannot rule it out, Hyacinth," Clarion stated. "Other possibilities may exist."
"It isn't magic or illness or food or water or flora or fauna or weather," Sunflower wailed. "What else is there?"
There was a stillness between them. It seemed no one had an answer worth further consideration.
Hyacinth mumbled something so meekly no one heard it, though they did see his lips move slightly.
"Again, Minister?" Clarion asked of him.
"Uh…, a parasite?"
Clarion instantly straightened herself. She hadn't realized it, but the round table discussion had become so depressing she begun to slump. This suggestion fit better than anything that had been submitted before. It could cause the strange behavior, appear randomly, could potentially affect both animals and bugs, might be averse to freezing temperatures and would remain hidden even to the tiny fairies. Clarion called for her summoner fairy. "Viola bring word to the doctors at the hospital. Tell them to look for any sign of a parasite among the affected animals and creatures. It may be the origin of this inexplicable behavior."
"Right away, Your Highness."
~O~
"A parasite?" one of the physicians asked a colleague. "How are we supposed to test for that? I mean without killing the animal?"
The other doctor thought for a moment before speaking. "Poo?"
"You've got to be kidding?"
The other physician just shook his head, "That's all I've got."
"I'll never be able to hold down food after this."
Another chapter. Yay! So is it a parasite? Keep reading to find out.