Maia Sweetgrass
A gregarious explorer and inquisitive wanderer hoping to learn the secrets of magic.
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Gifts
Her eyes shining in the night, Maia placed one foot in front of the other slowly, taking each step with care. Ever since locking gaze with the elk spirit her senses and her mind had come alive with the reality of the forest around her.
Everything felt more vibrant and real and known. Some of that vibrancy was fading, but the sense of growing knowledge had not, and while it all wound through her mind even basic tasks like patrolling around the campsite (she'd jumped at the chance to step away from the group for a breather) took on an added difficulty.
As exciting as it all was, as much as Maia seemed to be finally coming into her heritage, she still felt a prick of guilt. Ashryn had been upbraided by the Marshal for inactivity during the fairy ring...escapade, but Maia was no less guilty. Perhaps her companions didn't realize what she'd been doing. Between the obelisk in the Old Glade and today, she'd twice acted recklessly, driven by a need to seize the chance for more knowledge. Did they think it was accidental? Her own safety was her concern, but the rest of the group had been at risk this time.
She trusted them, of course, but it was still going to be an uncomfortable conversation. Perhaps if--
Maia stopped in her tracks. Something was nearby, and coming closer. She turned to her left, just as a slender vixen slipped out of the underbrush, boldly padding forward and staring directly into her eyes. Very unfoxlike behavior. She didn't look sick or wounded, either. But her approach felt right, perfectly natural. Crouching down, Maia reached out to scratch behind the creature's ear, a benison she accepted with grace. "Hello, love." In a flash, a stream of sounds, smells, and images flowed through her mind. The vixen's name, conveyed in an instant when words would take much longer. Another gift from the forest, it seemed. She smiled at her new friend. "Let's get you something to eat."
Almost There
The watching creature vanished without a trace, the lambent glow from its eyes lingering for just a moment longer than the rest of it.
Maia took a step forward involuntarily, a look of dismay flickering across her face, hopefully faster than the Marshal could see.
She'd been so close to answers about her heritage. She just knew it. The creature was part of the forest and its magic, and it seemed not to mean them any harm. In fact, it had helped defend them from the charlatans.
Could they have done anything different to make peace with the watcher? Impossible to say, now. If only they'd found the other two first. Surely Ashryn's scholarly knowledge would've been helpful here. Maia could only hope this wasn't her only chance.
So close.
Mysteries and Friendship
Maia surreptitiously rubbed her right shoulder as the fellowship ventured into the outskirts of the Old Glade. Perhaps Jared hadn't known his own strength when dragging her out of his bedroom the night before. Or perhaps he did. It could be a little hard to set aside ill feelings when you'd been manhandled by a new friend, but there isn't much else he could have done after catching her sneaking into his bedroom in the dregs of the night. Maia prided herself on being fair-minded, even if it meant admitting you were more or less completely in the wrong.
Why hadn't she waited, anyway? It's not like Jared had said she COULDN'T examine the stone. Just not alone, not at night. Still, looking inward she realized that part of her was reticent to tell the others about her Mark. Not just yet.
Which was more important? The truth of her magic, or her new friends? Years ago her father had taught her the responsibility of wilderness trackers and guides: put the needs of your charges first. It was no stretch of the imagination to extend that ethic to the people who were now in danger from the miasma and who knew what else was waking up in the wider world (The Witchwood? All Maia knew of the place were the barest hints of old stories). Still, she wasn't ready to show off her magic, even though it might be a help to the fellowship. It might even be related to the old Empire and the new miasma and whatever else. But the Mark usually made people uncomfortable, even afraid, and Jared was already angry with her. Would he stop trusting her if he felt she had a hidden agenda? Would Ash and Chu? She didn't have her own agenda. though. Not REALLY. But holding the stone when she wasn't yet ready to wake the Mark in front of the others seemed beyond pointless.
Nevertheless, she turned it over in her hands a few times as they made their first steps under the treetops. Maybe it was leading them to some answers along the way. Or maybe just a grisly death. Not that she really believed that would happen.
As shade spread across the fellowship, Maia handed the stone back to Jared before stepping to the front, bow at the ready. Mysteries and secrets would have to wait. Time to do your job.
Evading Sleep
It could be hard to sleep indoors. Maia was used to roughing it: more often than not she fell asleep without a roof over her head. Having spent every night of the last few weeks under a wagon, the fancy bed Maia now found herself in was almost unspeakably plush. It felt like she might sink through to the floor at any moment.
But the REAL reason Maia couldn't find her way to sleep was because of the unanswered questions swirling through her head. So much had changed so quickly at the end of a simple caravan job that she wasn't sure where to begin:
What was this miasma?
Could there possibly be a connection to the Witchwood?
How could a simple tracker help with such an important quest?
Would Chu ever trust her enough to show his face?
When would she next have such ready access to baths?
For just a moment, she stretched her right hand up towards the ceiling, and watched as a strand of forest green light played across her mark. It was a real shame Maia didn't anticipate getting any rest tonight. She doubted there'd be much time for it in the days ahead.
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