Morrigan tightened her core and sharply punched one of her shoulders up, while the other went down, her hips doing the same. Her body twisted mid-air from the move, forcing her back to face the ground while positioning her body under Carol.

  Morrigan let her body hollow out, kept her head tuck and smacked the ground with her free hand as her back hit the ground, her right arm still holding Carol. She felt the stones and roots press into her back, through the protective layer of her jacket.

  Carol fell onto of Morrigan like a stone falling onto water. Her head landed hard on Morrigan’s chest. Her torso landed like a blunt body blow to Morrigan’s midsection, and her legs landed mostly off to the side. Morrigan wheezed as air was forced out of her body.

  Carol’s body, falling with a slight bounce, followed gravity, rolling off the peak of Morrigan chest to the side where Carol legs laid.

  “Ugh,” Carol groaned.

  Morrigan didn’t respond, still trying to regain her breath. It hadn’t been her best break fall for certain, but she’d kept Carol from getting hurt. Though, she started to wonder why she was cared to do that. The woman would have fine landing on her face. Right?

  “You — you ok.”

  “ I … pwew,” Morrigan responded, still trying to catch her breath.

  “That was crazy.”

  “Yes, attacking a spider like that —”

  “No, no. I have a firm policy that you burn all spiders on sight,” Carol said, in a surprisingly serious tone. She paused, and then continued with a sense of respectful, “That little move you did. You could be in Hollywood! I have contacts. Was that pilates move? You know? You could teach Pilates. I know people around the world. Good paying clients too.”

  Morrigan having caught her breath turned her head to look at the woman, who was already staring at her.

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  “Do I look like a person who’d teach pilates? I mean, really, look at me.”

  Carol looked at Morrigan for a moment

  “Well … I suppose you have a Morticia in her twenties vibe about you. But,” she then continued with a surprisingly sweet-tone that reminded her of a parent “some people like that. It’s ok.” She then gave Morrigan a smile.

  Morrigan stared at the woman for a few moment. Then an urge to chuckle came up, which she stifled. Then a second one came, and they didn’t stop. Carol joined in on the kind hearted laughter.

  What else do you do when someone compares you to people from the Adam’s family? But perhaps the bluntness from such a cooky woman wasn’t so bad. She meant no harm, Morrigan could tell. In fact, it was probably the most aware the woman had been and the most kind. To see someone for how they are and to tell them, it’s more than enough.

  Morrigan looked away from the woman, turning her eyes to the blue sky overhead. The glorious sun hung in the air, marching along the same path they need to walk, reminding her it would be setting soon and that they’d be late. However, Morrigan didn’t move, the smile still plastered on her face.

  The comfort and reassurance of a real laugh encouraged her to stay just a moment longer. It was a novel experience after all. A true connection with another person, and the moment. A sense of “rightness” and stability not built upon her usual pre-plans, numbers and calculations.

  Morrigan felt the weight of her body be gently accepted by the cool ground, like a gentle embrace. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. She could wait here just a moment.

  They could still make it in time at the pace they were moving earlier. It’d be close, no question about it. But, as long as they didn’t get distracted by any more odd-ball spiders they would be fine.

  “La Fey, you’re feeling pretty good aren’t you?” Carol asked.

  Morrigan stretched her tired back, feeling the knots grow across its length and beneath her shoulders from half-carrying Carol the majority of the way of the distance they traveled. She kept her eyes closed, a bit tighter as the sun must have ducked out from underneath clouds. “Why do you presume that?” Morrigan asked, knowing that anyone would logic that a woman resting with her eyes closed in the middle of some mud-gravel pathway must be feeling pretty good.

  “Well … I’ve seen my share of mood-rings, but I’ve never one shine as bright as your mood-necklace. Or one that flashed. You must be feeling better than I do after I’ve had a Winston …” she gave a conspiratorial chuckle “the drink, my dear, not the man, in case you were wondering.”

  “Mood-necklace? Flashing?” Morrigan asked, confused by the odd question, while tightening eyes shut against the sunlight overhead. Realization struck like a match when she realized that the light wasn’t coming from above, nor should it given the sun’s pathway. The light was coming from below, on her chest. And there was only thing that could glow on her chest, and it was no simple mood-charm.