Campfire sessions — 02may25

A fog had descended on camp. It happens at times and, when it does, the fog reflects the flames in such a way that the immediate surroundings appear aglow but the campfire is quickly swallowed by the thick fog standing a few dozen yards away. I did not expect anyone to find me tonight as a result of being well within the betweens. So I warmed my hands and contemplated the thorns still visible on one side of the clearing: daggered things that would have screamed of a sepsis incurred within hours of being pricked by their sharp tips.

The weald likes to keep its secrets. I may be the nominal warden of this place, but that does not mean that I know anything more than I need to about the darker spaces within. Of course, if there were need of the blackthorn’s protection, I would find I could slip within the hedge’s folds like a chickadee or wren. The weald protects its own as much as it wards.

That is when a familiar and small voice spoke in my left ear.

Hey, they said. Thought you could stand some company.

Ymmi hung suspended by a thin strand of silk. Attached to what? I have no clue. I’m assuming it is some kind of special tricks that only spiders know how to do.

You are always welcome, Ymmi, I say. I’d frankly thought this was going to just be a contemplative night by myself, so you are doubly welcome.

They dropped down on my shoulder, their silk drinking off into the fog. Whatcha contemplating? they asked, settling in.

I tilt my head towards the brier. Those thorns, I say. And this fog.

I wouldn’t go anywhere near those, replied Ymmi. I’ve tried and, in no uncertain terms, made it clear that I should stay out. She keeps things in there that neither you nor I need to know anything about.

I nodded. So… they were Hers. I suspected, but did not know for certain. Information was worth more than gold in the forest. Of course, gold has no value here, so the comparison is meaningless. Outside the weald, however — oh, you know what I’m trying to say…

Now that Ymmi had brought Her up, I naturally started thinking about Her.

I know that look you ware wearing, said Ymmi. You’ve got it in your head that you need to go pay your respects. Do you think that is wise?

Nobody has ever accused me of being afflicted with wisdom, I say. Is there a problem?

Ymmi hesitated. Not that I know of, but I’m not one to check in with Her. Problems have a habit of forming when She’s in a mood.

Is She in a mood?

If there were any doubt that a spider could shrug, Ymmi dispelled those doubts. I’ve seen Her less in a mood than in past week. But I can’t say that She is definitely in a mood.

I tend to keep my distance, added Ymmi. Unlike you, I have at least an instinct for survival. You? You do stupid shit all the time. I’m not convinced you know what the word entails some days.

It was my turn to shrug. Fair enough.

Tell you what, said Ymmi, breaking the silence that followed. Just think about going to pay your respects to Her. And only think. I heard whispers that She’s going to come looking for you soon. I think you shouldn’t rush this.

Whispers? I ask.

I sit up in the trees all day. their terrible gossips, exchanging news with fungi. If I sit really quiet like, they forget I’m around and I hear kinds of things that I probably shouldn’t hear. And they say She’s been meaning to visit with you. Don’t ask me how they know stuff like that, but their gossip is usually solid.

When?

Soon. You’re probably not as ready as you think you are. She apparently doesn’t sound happy.

So She’s displeased with me?

I didn’t say that. I said that She doesn’t sound happy from what I hear.

That might be worse, I reply.

And, if spiders could nod, Ymmi would go a long way to proving that to anyone who cared to know, because he nodded.

The silence came back, all sound swallowed by the fog. For all I knew, She was standing behind me during my conversation with Ymmi. I would have been startled, but not surprised.

We sat there, staring a blackthorn or flames until the flames burned themselves out and the world grew darker than night within the fog.