-- This story is read from the perspective of
Lillith. --
---╞══════════════════════════════════════════╡𝚍𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚛?╞══════════════════════════════════════════╡𝙰s I brushed apart the beaded feather curtains that hung over the bowing hutch, I heard the lovely voice come through the pitch black of the small dwelling. A mysterious figure drooped behind mountains of gold and jewels, thinking alone to herself. The kalon's dark, mysterious eyes followed me as I sauntered into her abode.
Small trinkets hung from the walls from previous suitors and admirers, no doubt enchanted by her deeply soothing voice.
"I sense, you are here with a fretting matter. What seems to be the issue?"
Gorgeous silver and turquoise jewelry hung about her neck, swinging as she reached her paw out to me. I took it, shakily, and explained my issue...looking down at the barren floors and my feet, I told her how badly we had wanted children but to no luck.
"I've had no luck with any doctor or specialist. You're my last hope..."
The beautiful kalon let a small smile creep across her face as she went to dig through tinkering pots of silver and gold that lay behind her. She soon came up with a deep red chalise adorned with stunningly dark garnets embedded in the base. "This is a matter that demands our attention outside." she paused, and started out the door, "I'll be coming with you on this journey."
She led me outside and deeper into the neighboring forest. I followed her as she dipped beneath trees and under tangled roots, until eventually we came into a darkened cave a few hours later. The ground got muddier as we went deeper until we came upon a glittering underground well. Small yellow and green fish flicked around from end to end, creating an amazing show of dazzling color. Xochi stood over the pond, staring intently at the fish below. Suddenly, she took a quick dive into the pool and came up with some of the beautiful green creatures in the chalice. They swam around confused and bewildered that they had been caught so easily, and the kalon beamed with pride.
"These fish will help you with your problem. Keep them at your side while you sleep at night, and in three month's time you will be ready," she said, passing the chalice to me. I followed her out the same way we came, and I couldn't help but feel like it was missing something here.
"Hey...um, I was wondering... what's it like to live all the way out here?"
Xochi smiled. "It's...peaceful. I love how quiet yet loud it can be. So full of many lovely singing birds and animals...it's been this way as long as I've known."
Unsnagging my hair from the thorny branches above us, I patiently listened and asked if she had ever been outside the forest before. A grim look crossed her face, and she looked down suddenly. "Yes...only once. I hardly remember it, I was very young. But it is a long story."
"I'm a good listener...I don't have anything going on later today, anyways," I said.
"Well... I don't remember it firsthand very clearly, but I have stories from my father that filled in the gaps. My parents and I were travelling to gather some medicines for my sisters, and the nearest place that had what we needed was in the city. They brought me along as I was the youngest and too small to be left alone. I remember it was a very long trip, and to a small child it felt like an eternity. My mother was very worried and I didn't know why... it seemed just like a boring trip.
"When we arrived in the city, everyone was very cruel to us. We were clearly outsiders and we were ignored outright. Every doctor turned us away when we were most desperate for their help, and once we had exhausted the last shop my mother broke down in despair. It was practically a death sentence for her babies... my sisters. We were unable to make it back in time...
"...I played in the backyard while they buried my siblings. I had no idea what was going on. I wondered where they went."
The hutch had finally come back into view, but Xochi stopped in her tracks, sobbing uncontrollably. I stood and waited, letting her take control of her feelings before I asked if she would like a shoulder to cry on. The kalon accepted and sobbed quietly into my messy hair. We moved back towards the hutch through sniffles and choked sobs, and I set her down to rest on a disheveled chaise lounge before asking if there was anything else I could do.
"No... thank you dear. You have been so kind to me..."
"Ah, no, it's fine! It's something I deal with a lot, comforting people. I have a good sense of empathy, as I've been told..."
