SHE FOLLOWED ME HOME - ch 18

FIRST LET ME APOLOGIZE FOR THE DELAY IN GETTING THIS POSTED. HURRICANE MILTON CAUSED US TO EVACUATE, THEN THERE WAS NO INTERNET (UNTIL 10/15/24 AT 3PM).

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND CONTINUED SUPPORT.

SHE FOLLOWED ME HOME – ch 18 (final chapter)

Mo deas

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Brian put his arm around his daughter’s shoulders and with Mo deas and Midnight Magic following, they headed for home, both smiling with the anticipation of good things to come.

As predicted, Mia’s grandfather had begun the task of harvesting the vegetables from Mia’s small garden. As she approached, he looked up, smiled, wiped the sweat from his brow and said, “Mia, mo ghra, you’ve enough veggies in here to feed a small army. I’m not thoroughly finished pulling them.”

Mia ran to her grandfather and hugged him tightly, “Oh grandpap, you’ve done so much already! Just look at all you’ve placed in the crates. I’m going help as soon as I change my clothes.”

Before Collin could say a word, she was off like a shot and running towards the house.

Brian asked, “Collin, have you found any, er, problems yet?”

“No, Brian, but as you can see, I’m not even half way finished. I’m hoping for the best but, thinking of Finola’s warning, am anticipating the worst. There’s just no way of telling.”

“Collin, is there a possibility, that considering Mia’s gifts, she might be a target of something sinister?”

“No, Brian, these things are just creatures of the land. Normally, they just want to survive, like the rest of us but will attack if they feel threatened. That’s what has me worried. If Finola’s prediction is correct, they’ve built a nest somewhere in the garden and I have no way of knowing where. And if Mia begins digging there, well, we all know what will happen then.”

They turned as they heard Mia call out from the back porch, “I’m ready, grandpap.” They smiled as they watched her quickly charge forward as if she couldn’t wait another second to get her hands in the dirt.

“That was quick, mo ghra. You didn’t need to rush, Mia. There’s plenty to do.”

“Oh grandpap, I couldn’t let you have all the fun!”

She all but raced to a section of the garden that he had not yet reached. She looked at Mo deas and Midnight Magic and murmured, “Reay, mo chinn luachmhara (my precious ones)? Let’s get digging!”

Within minutes, Collin heard her scream, then cry out, “Ouch, oh my god! That hurts. Mo deas! No! Oh god no! Help. Somebody help me!”

Collin stood and began to run the thirty feet from where he was kneeling to where Mia sat sobbing.

Brian, Morena, and Sinead heard the screams and hurried outside to see what happened.

They found Mia in a corner of her garden, her hands covered in bites and beginning to bleed. She was cradling Mo deas whose body was trembling uncontrollably. Midnight Magic sat in her lap softly mewing, but only Mia heard her say, “Oh mo chroi (my heart). I’m so sorry you have to go through this. Be brave, mo chroi and never forget Mo deas was and always will be your warrior, your hero.”

“Mia, what happened?” Brian almost screamed.

“Dad,” she said between sobs, “I was pulling some cucumber plants and suddenly, these horrible worms were all over my hands, biting as if I were their last meal. Mo deas, began using her paws to push them off me and then they started biting her. There must have been hundreds on her paws and body and one large one tried to wrap itself around her neck. I was able to get them off her, and they started biting me again, but I was able to use the small garden shovel and scrape them off my hands and arms. But, look what they’ve done to Mo deas. She’s bleeding so badly. Grandpap, can you help her?”

Before Collin had a chance to answer, Finola appeared and stooped next to the trembling trio. Softly, she said, “Mo ghra, Draiocht an mhean oiche (Midnight Magic) is correct. Mo deas is a true hero. Take her inside, give her some milk. You mom will pull some dandelion leaves and wrap them on her paws. It’s not a cure but a comfort.”

“Aunt Finola,” Brian whispered, “her heart is breaking. What can we do to comfort her?”

“Brian, my ghra (my love), she has Draiocht an mhean oiche (Midnight Magic) for comfort. Just be available when she wants your shoulder for her tears, which will come soon.”

Mia carried her wounded pet inside while Midnight Magic followed quietly behind.

Sinead brewed tea for everyone, then sat on the bench near the hearth. She watched as Finola placed her hand gently on Mia’s and whispered, “Mia, mo ghra, this will be a very difficult time and I’m sorry to be the one to remind you. But think back to what I said a last week, ‘two suns, one will fade as the second shines’.”

“Aintin?” Mia began to say between sobs, “When the time comes, I’d like to put Mo deas in her favorite spot under the large peach tree.”

Finola answered softly, “No, my love, that is no place for a warrior which Mo deas definitely was when she fought to save you from more harm from those hammerhead flatworms. She deserves a warrior’s funeral.”

“Then we’ll give her one but why not under the peach tree?”

“Because, my love, she needs to be laid to rest in the Cave of the Warriors with the others who demonstrated such bravery and courage. When the time comes, we’ll sprout our wings and I’ll take you there. For now, be with her.”

It was then that Midnight Magic spoke in her soft kitten voice that only Mia could hear. “Mia, mo chroi (my heart), I’m here for you now. I can never replace Mo deas but I’ll do whatever is necessary to make and keep you happy and safe. Your grandpap will salt the earth and cleanse it while you rest. I’ll do whatever you need to take care of you. Mo deas’s spirit will never leave you, but you’re mine now.”

And as Mo deas, began to close her eyes, Midnight Magic nestled in Mia’s lap and softly mewed sounds of comfort.