So I believe it is day 11, if I can count. Forests is the theme, one of my favourite places to be, there's something about sleeping under the stars surrounded by nature.
As always, let me know what you think.
Riv Riv :)
See end of chapter for more notes
There was something about the woods that calmed Lena. It could be the sound of the birds chirping or the way the trees swayed in the wind like their spirits were dancing in the moonlight. People often forget that trees have life forces and minds of their own, like stars in the sky. Or that crows once talked, but people no longer stop to say hello and have a conversation. How she longed to be part of the forest once more, like when she was little. Sure the National City Park wasn't the same as the forests of Ireland, but it was as close to home as she could get, and that wasn't a pub. That being said, a pub now sounded like an inviting thought.
She was buried deep into the park by this point, at a place where few people came by. Just how she liked it. Peaceful enough to work on her spells in quiet, not totally alone with the sounds of nature to comfort her. Laoina opened her máthair's spell book, falling on the page about human-to-animal transformation. Something her máthair was working on before that fateful day. The magic required a powerful witch; Lena would have rather practised this in a religious site, like Sí in Bhrú or Cnoc na Teamhrach, to amplify her powers. But the small worship ring she created and blessed in the woods would have to do.
"Kara, do you think you could come to the woods with me? I want to try this transformation spell, but I want someone there if it goes wrong." Of course, Kara agreed, despite the fact that she wasn't the biggest fan of the forest. It made her feel like she was in a Halloween movie, and the trees would swallow her whole. Flying to meet Laoina, she followed her heartbeat to pinpoint her exact location. But, instead, she found Lena with her face emerging in the book, reading and rereading every line. Kara was sure she had seen her love turn small animals into other things, even a person once, though she was pretty sure that was an accident, so whatever she was trying, Kara knew it had to be significant.
"So according to this, I should be able to turn into a raven. You see, I'm a descendant of Morrigan, the goddess of war. A shapeshifter, she could transform into a woman of any age and a bird, commonly a raven or crow." The Kryptonian wasn't sure if she was talking to her or herself, but either way, she was listening intently. Kara always loved learning about other cultures, religions and customs; it joyed her to see Laoina connecting with her's.
"So you are going to try it, eul?" Lena spun her head to meet the gaze of the alien, nodding. She looked around and gathered the ingredients from the plants covering the base of the woods before moving her search up higher, summoning pine and oak down from the trees. "So the book says, roimh iarracht bewear na hiarmhairtí. Óir muna sliocht Morrigan b'fhéidir gurb í an fhoirm dheiridh a bheith agat. Basically warning people not descended from Morrigan." Laoina read on to discover the spell was more mind over matter; she just had to imagine what she was turning into.
The first couple of tries ended with the witch having wings instead of arms whilst keeping her mortal body. The next few goes, ending up the other way round, which Kara found incredibly funny. Finally, after about an hour's worth of attempts, she completed a total transformation; she only managed to hold it for around a minute. "Oh, Lena, that was so cool. I'm so proud of you." Laoina slumped in the middle of her worship ring, trying to catch her breath. "But, it's not enough, Kara. I will keep trying now that I've got the hang of it. I only need to hold it for longer." After another hour of practice, Laoina was now soaring through the trees, with Kara spotting her in case she fell while braving the heights.
By the end of the evening, Laoina had mastered the art of transforming into a raven and back again at a simple flick of her wrist. "I think it's time we go home, darling. Would you care for a nice fly around the city before going to bed, a stór?"
The following day Supergirl appeared on the front of the local newspaper, chatting away with the graceful bird.
So that's that, and yes I know it's a day late, but rehearsals are a bitch sometimes. This is definitely influenced by one of Morgana's powers, to transform into a raven.
Irish
- Máthair - mother
- Sí in Bhrú - Newgate a Celtic religious site in Meath
- Teamhrach - hill of Tara a Celtic religious site of Meath
- roimh iarracht bewear na hiarmhairtí. Óir muna sliocht Morrigan b'fhéidir gurb í an fhoirm dheiridh a bheith agat. - before attempting beware the consequences. For if not a descendant of Morrigan the form you take may be your last
- A stór - sweetheart