Chapter 9 - Moonwood Mill

Miranda was pretty sure she had been walking forever... and that it had been raining the whole time. What had started as a nightmare, and blossomed into the promise of a fine adventure, had now pretty much been reduced to the monotony of putting one foot in front of the other.

Bluebell was more enthusiastic about the whole thing but then, Miranda thought bitterly, she had wings.


"I need to rest soon," Miranda said at last. "My feet a soaked. My legs have never been this sore. I'm tired and hungry and..."

Just a little further, Bluebell chimed. We're almost there.

Miranda had long ago given up asking where they were actually going.
She wasn't sure if the little fairy wouldn't answer, couldn't answer or didn't really know herself.


The most prominent among the various tattered notes, posters and flyers, declared this "Moonwood Mill."

As safe haven's went, Miranda didn't think it looked very promising... but there was light and voices coming from a nearly building and Bluebell (who had vanished again) seemed completely confident that this was the place.


Miranda wasn't certain what she had been expecting... but she was 100% sure "a library" had not even been on her list.

No one seemed particular bothered by the arrival of a wet and bedraggled young woman. They simply greeted her, if not warmly at least not unkindly. A nice fellow even asked her to join him for a game of chess.


In fact, many of the locals seemed to enjoy a good game.


Maybe it was because she was warm, drying out and not alone (except for a wisp of blue light she still wasn't entirely convinced was real) but Moonwood Mills was starting to look like a safe haven...

Plus, Jake was kind of a cutie...


... and Nick was really charming.


Miranda tried not to cringe inwardly at the fact that she was wearing a grungy sweatshirt. At least, she thought, Gwen had taught her a few practical spells that she'd used to keep her clothes, and herself, clean.

After a pleasant enough afternoon, Miranda found herself standing outside again unsure what to do next. Night was coming and she need some sleep. At least the rain had stopped.

If anyone ever again suggested to Miranda that sleeping outside under the stars was romantic and exciting, she felt she would slap them.


In the early morning (sleeping in just wasn't something she could do in a bush), Miranda followed the directions Jake and Nick had had given her to a local swimming hole. Magic was fine but sometimes a dip in real water was what a girl really needed to feel good.

Well, Miranda thought... I'm here. Now what am I supposed to do?

"Good morning. I don't mean to bother you, but I wondered if I could buy you some breakfast."