Angora is a witch, a very small witch, a very young witch but a witch never the less. Last week was Angora’s 10th birthday. Her mother took her to meet a lot of witches who gave her very strange presents. All of the presents were things to learn like spells and how to make this potion or that ointment. She would have preferred a party with other children and gifts of sweets, cakes and maybe even a doll or ribbon but, her mother said, that was not the way of witches. All in all, Angora thought, being a witch was not much fun. She had been given a rope belt. On the belt were a number of pouches. One contained soot, another flour, yet another contained salt and another pepper, another contained sugar and the last contained two spark-stones and some kindling. She was told she should wear it every time she went out. “Why do I need these?” she asked her mother who just said, “You will work out what you need them for when you need them or you will get into trouble! They are not for cooking!”
She lived in a village that was on the top of a hill. All of the huts were round, had no windows and instead of wooden doors had thick leather ones. Inside there was just one huge round room with an area for sleeping, another for cooking and eating and the rest for working. Witches always were working! Apart from the normal cooking, washing and cleaning, looking after the animals, collecting eggs, milking the cow and growing vegetables and herbs, they had to make potions and ointments as well as correctly store lots of exotic herbs and spices that most people had never heard of. Then there were the people that came to see them and ask for help with this and that. Young men or ladies wanting love potions, people wanting something to help their backache, get rid or warts or even to stop then snoring!
Yesterday a messenger had dropped off some red and green things called chilli. Mother is using them today to make a potion to help people sweat off a fever. Angora has to go down to the river in the forest to fetch some wild garlic that is also needed. Normally her big brother Flavii would come with her into the forest to keep a look out for wild animals or Blue Meanies but now she is ten everyone reckons she can cope without him.
When she reaches the edge of the forest she slips in among the trees and then casts a spell that turns her into a small bird. Quickly she flies through to the river, looks around and, seeing it is safe changes back to herself before a hawk spots her. “Pity I can’t do that to get back!” she thinks, “but the garlic will be too heavy for a bird to carry.”
The trouble with wild garlic is, as you gather it, it gives off a strong smell and you end up smelling of garlic for ages. The only good thing about this is that lots of wild animals do not like the smell and will avoid it. Unfortunately for Angora though, there was a monster, new to these woods that liked the smell. As Angora moved off with a bunch of wild garlic in a cloth bag tied over her shoulder she did not see slight movement behind her as this strange monster crept nearer, ever nearer.
As Angora moved along the path she heard whistling ahead. As it was not a tune Angora thought, “Wodwoses!” (She had never figured out that the word Wodwose was both singular and plural) and hurried forward readying a spell in case they were not friendly. Flavii knew the whistle language of the half plant Wodwose creatures and had taught her how to whistle “Hello!” “Have fun!” and “Goodbye! Happy mulching!” She peered ahead and saw it was two friendly Wodwose. Angora continued along the path past them, giving them a friendly wave and a cheery “Hello!” whistle. They whistled and waved back. She had not gone much further on when she heard a couple of ‘plop!’ noises behind her. Quickly she looked round and the Wodwose were nowhere in sight! “How odd!” she thought but, as the Wodwose were masters at not being seen when they did not want to be seen she continued on without worrying.
A little further on she heard the snuffling of a wild boar. Wild boars are bad tempered and unpredictable so she quickly climbed a tree to wait until it had gone. From up the tree she could see the boar. It was snuffling and pawing at the ground. She thought that it was looking for truffles or some other tasty root. Just then a movement below the tree caught her eye and she looked down. Moving unnaturally quietly there was a creature. It looked like a giant beetle except that it also looked as though it was made of wood and leaves. “Camouflage!” she thought, rather pleased with herself for remembering the word.
A moment later she stopped feeling pleased when she saw on its back two Wodwose seemingly tied up in what looked like nets with a blob of gooey stuff over their mouths. Even worse! The ‘beetle’ was coming straight towards her tree and she realised it was following her trail. She bet it could climb trees! She had to do something and fast!
Just as suddenly she had a plan! She needed a stone. Ah! A spark-stone (they were easy to find so even if she lost it she could get some more.) She threw one at the boar. It roared and turned her way but to make sure she threw the other down by the beetle. The boar saw the movement and charged! The beetle saw the boar and turned towards it. ‘Plop!’ Something that looked like a spreading net shot from the front of the beetle but the boar was by now charging so fast, it had shot underneath and the net missed. The next moment there was a sickening crunch as the boar hit the beetle full on in the head. Green sappy stuff squirted out of the beetle. At least it smelt like sap.
The boar continued to attack the beetle’s head and then stomped proudly round. Angora knew though that if she climbed down it would attack her and if she did not she could not free the Wodwose. What to do?
Another idea! “Mr boar!” she called, “Mr boar! I am up in this tree! You can’t get little me!” Eventually the boar figured out where she was and came to the tree, looking up to see how to get at her. As it did she emptied her pouch of pepper down into its face! It snorted and sneezed and roared in pain as its eyes hurt and started to stream. It started to run to get away from the pain but the pain came with it so it ran faster and further until soon it was just a faint crashing through the undergrowth in the distance.
Angora by now was already out of the tree and using a sharp stone to cut the Wodwose free. They were a bit stiff at first but soon were back to their normal whistling selves. They insisted on carrying the garlic and escorting her back home. When her house was in sight they gave her the Garlic and melted into the trees. She continued on home and said to her mother, “I need to find some more spark stone and I have found out what the pepper is for!”
Her mother smiled and said, “No trouble then?”
Angora replied, “No trouble but I wish you had warned me about the green beetles!” spreading her hands to indicate they were huge.
“I have never heard of such a thing!” said mother.
“Well there is now a dead one not far from here!” responded Angora.
“Take Flavii and show him! I want samples and a good description!” said her mother.
“Oh! Joy!” thought Angora, “and I was just starting to enjoy being a witch!”