The Child and the Mother

“Mama! Look! What is that?”

Sakura looked to where the girl pointed at a tall structure made of wood and brick in the middle of a grassy field, the sails spinning in a slow circle with the lazy breeze. “That’s a windmill.”

“What’s it for?”

“That one is used for crushing grain, but they can be used for other things like pumping water or sawing wood.” She paused, thinking her words over carefully. “Ivy?”

“Yes, Mama?” the girl chirped.

“Do you remember what I want you to call me?”

“Uh huh! Sakura.”

“Do you think you can remember to call me that?”

“Yeah,” she agreed just as she gasped and pointed to the next exciting thing. “What’s that, Mama?”

Sakura sighed and gave up the fight. “That’s a plow. People use them to turn up the soil so they can plant crops.”

It hadn’t even been a fortnight since the fox had found the young girl, and to say that she was completely smitten with the darling, little thing would be a gross understatement. Sakura was completely taken by her, wrapped tightly around her delicate finger. There was nothing more beautiful or perfect than her, and Sakura was in a constant state of awe of how she had been blessed with the miracle that was the child.

Something she didn’t deserve.

But would never take for granted.

However, it didn’t seem appropriate to allow the girl to refer to her as her mother. She wasn’t her mother, and it always elicited the most uncomfortable looks from those who heard the girl cheerfully call her that. But getting her to call her anything else was proving to be difficult. Though Sakura reminded her often to call her by her name, the girl would quickly agree and then immediately neglect to do so. It wasn’t exactly a battle that she wanted to fight, but one she knew she should, even though it was weakly fought.

There was a squeezing at the fox’s hand, and she looked down at the girl, her bright eyes gazing up at her.

“When we get to the next town, can we get something sweet? Like an apple or an orange?” Ivy asked and then gasped at the idea that popped into her head. “Or maybe even a kiwi if they have them?”

Sakura mentally went through her coin bag, calculating what they could spare. “I think we have enough to get you something, but we’ll have to check the prices first. Some places are more expensive than others.”

The girl beamed up at her and nodded in agreement. “Okay! Will you carry me, Mama? My legs are tired.”

“I will if you ask again using my name.”

Her smile fell to a small pout, clearly not pleased with the compromise. “Will you carry me... Sakura?”

Sakura smiled her approval. “Thank you, and yes I will.” She crouched down and allowed the girl to climb onto her back before setting off again.

Ivy was quick to tire during their travels and often asked for the demon to carry her. It seemed as though her muscles were weak and unaccustomed to being used, something Sakura was determined to build up. But it was something that was going to take time, and she didn’t want to push her too much. Besides, she really did enjoy having the girl close—and actually preferred packing her around— but knew it wasn’t exactly reasonable nor beneficial to Ivy’s development. She’d never get stronger if she wasn’t given the opportunity to do so. It was just going to take time.

Sakura carried Ivy the remainder of the way, listening to the girl’s soothing melodies that only came to an end once they reached the town. Ivy wriggled and squirmed her way to the ground before taking the fox’s hand and enthusiastically dragging her through the crowd, along the stone and plaster-built homes and businesses in search of a shop with the sweet fruit she desired.

“It’s warm here,” the girl chirped. “Do you think they’ll have pomegranates?”

“They might, but pomegranates are expensive, so we won’t be able to afford one.”

She looked up at the demon, violet eyes pleading. “But they’re so good, and we can share.”

It felt as though Sakura’s heart was being torn from her chest, and she wanted more than anything to give in to the girl—give her everything she wanted. But it would be foolish to teach her that all she had to do was pout, and she’d get her way every time. Besides, she didn’t have the coin for that and would find herself without so much a single bronze in no time at all if she spoiled her. “Don’t look at me like that,” Sakura said, standing her ground the best she could. “I already said we don’t have the coin.”

“But we might. We don’t even know how much they are yet,” Ivy argued.

“It doesn’t matter because they’re always expensive.”

“But what if they’re not?”

“They will be.” The demon was beginning to lose her patience. “And we need to save our coin for things we need.”

“They may not be though,” the girl whined, stomping her feet. “We haven’t even looked yet!”

“I said no, Ivy!” Sakura snapped. “We’re not getting a fucking pomegranate! Just stop!”

But she didn’t stop.

Ivy’s eyes went wide and they rolled into the back of her skull before her hand slipped from Sakura’s and she crumbled to the ground, a high pitch wail emitting from her lips.

This wasn’t the first time that Sakura had seen something similar. It wasn’t uncommon for a small child to throw themselves to the ground and cry when they didn’t get their way. Though the girl was too old to be doing the same, she wasn’t exactly on the same maturity level as other girls her age.

Sakura would just have to nip it in the bud now.

She rolled her eyes as Ivy continued to screech and writhe on the ground. “Knock it off. Get up. You’re not gonna get what you want acting like that.” She chewed her cheek, trying to ignore the snide comments of passerby’s. “Come on, Ivy. That’s enough.”

The girl wouldn’t stop though, her screams only getting louder and more agonizing. Her hands went to her face, nails clawing and tearing at the flawless skin.

“Ivy! Stop!” Sakura screamed at the first sight of blood and dropped down over the girl, grabbing at her arms and trying to restrain her as she thrashed wildly. “Please! I’ll get the pomegranate! Just stop!”

The words didn’t appear to reach Ivy as her fit became more severe and people began to gather, questioning and reaching out to the two girls. All the vixen could do was hold her while begging and trying to compromise her way out of the situation they were in.

Sakura could feel herself slipping, her consciousness blurring. What was she thinking? How could she allow this to happen? Why would she take on this child just to fail her? This was her fault. She had destroyed her. What had she done?

She couldn’t do this.

She couldn’t do this.

She couldn’t…

“Girl!”

Her head snapped up and she was met by eyes so blue.

Raz.

He would know what to do.

“Help me,” she pleaded, realizing as the words slipped out that the man in front of her wasn’t the one she had longed for. His eyes may have been blue, but they were lighter and his hair was similar to moss on a tree.

“She needs a healer,” the man said, reaching for the girl, his hands going under her back and legs.

“Don’t fucking touch her!” Sakura snarled, clutching the girl tighter. She needed the man’s help, but she couldn’t let the girl go. Couldn’t let her be taken from her.

He pulled back, hesitating on what to do before grabbing under the fox’s arm and pulling her up. “Follow me then. I’ll take you to her.”

Sakura trailed closely behind the man as he hurried through the streets, taking her to the outskirts of town. Ivy thrashed against her in the beginning, but as they got closer to their destination, her body tired and relaxed until she was limp and unconscious in the demon’s arms.

The man stopped in front of a squat home with vines growing and stretching across the stone walls. “Alba!” he yelled, pounding on the door. “Alba, open up!”

The fox could hear the shuffling of heavy feet across the floor as the door opened and a short troll woman with a weathered face and bulbous nose stood before them, wiping her stubby hands on her apron. “Theo, what is all this shouting about?”

Theo reached around Sakura, pushing his palm against her back and guiding her past the woman and into a bedroom just off of the main room. “Lay her down on the bed,” he commanded and turned back to the healer. “This girl collapsed in the middle of town. I’m not sure why, but she was uncontrollable. Just screaming and flailing around. I’ve never heard a scream so horrible. Like she was dying. And just look what she’s done to that girl, torn her all up with her nails.”

Sakura hurried to the bed and laid the girl down onto of the crisp, white sheets. Her body gave in, and she collapsed to her knees beside her on the floor, relieved by the calm all while fearing what it meant.

Alba stalked past him, pulling a thread of twine from her apron’s pocket, and tied up her unruly salt-and-pepper hair. She went to Ivy, checking her pulse and her eyes, opening her mouth and running her hands along her body. “Do you know this girl?” she asked the demon.

She nodded, unable to look away from the now peacefully sleeping girl. “Ivy.”

“Has Ivy done this before?”

“I… I don’t know.”

“Do you have any idea what may have triggered it? What was she doing before it happened?”

The guilt trickled into the fox, heavy as a stone. “It’s my fault,” she muttered weakly, the shame eating at her. “She wanted a pomegranate, and I said no. I raised my voice at her. I did this to her.”

The woman looked at the distraught girl and couldn’t hold back a light chuckle. “Oh no, my darling. You saying no to a piece of fruit didn’t cause this. There are just people who are prone to these types of fits. Sometimes the reason is obvious, and sometimes it’s random. But by no means is it your fault.”

Sakura nodded, unable to trust her own voice any further.

“Well, whatever it was, it’s not bothering her now.” Alba walked across the room to a floor-to-ceiling cabinet and opened it, rummaging through the different vials and pouches. “You can go, Theo. I’ll take care of these two.”

“Thank you, Alba.” He turned to leave. “I hope your friend is alright.”

“Thank you,” the demon managed to mutter. “Me, too.”

She had to be alright.

She just had to.

What would Sakura do without her?

It didn’t matter that they had only been together a short time. The girl had already fully integrated herself into Sakura, becoming a crucial part of her. A piece of her soul. And if she were to go, she would take it with her.

Now that she was here, how could she ever live without her?

Praying wasn’t something that Sakura necessarily felt comfortable doing. She had only ever done it the one time, praying with all her might over a man who was already gone with no chance of returning.

Maybe she hadn’t done it right?

She had seen Raz pray a few times when she was younger. As quietly as possible, she had peeked around his door to find him kneeling next to his bed, palms pressed together, head bowed, whispers meant for only God that she had taken for herself.

He prayed for Ren.

He prayed for her.

He prayed to be better.

If only she hadn’t claimed them, they may have been able to reach their destination.

Closing her eyes, she brought her hands before her the same way he had, and released her whispers into the world.

She knew that God wouldn’t help her.

But maybe someone else was listening.

Someone who would care.

Sakura poured every ounce of herself into each and every word, giving them power. Strength to be something more. Promises she would keep.

Then she pressed her face into the pillow next to Ivy’s ear and wept silently.

“You’re far from your den, little fox. Why is that?”

The demon looked up to watch the woman as she knelt beside her and spread an aromatic, lavender colored liquid across the girl’s forehead. Normally, the question would be enough to set her off, just the thought of the den always managed to get her blood boiling. But there was something so genuine about the woman that it set her at ease. “I ran away when I was small,” she confessed, unsure of why she was telling these things to this woman. “It was during the drought and outbreak of dream fever. My parents had died, and so I left and never went back.”

“I see. Look at me, dear.” The girl turned and Alba began gently dabbing the liquid on the deep scratches along her face and arms with her finger. “That’s probably for the best. I would suggest you never return if your enjoy your freedom. A lovely thing like you would be fought over by all those men, and you’d never get out again.” Her earthy eyes fell to the feather on the demon’s shoulder. “However, it looks as though you’ve already been claimed. Is he the one who taught you how to pray?”

“No. We were raised by his uncle, and I saw him pray.”

“Where are your angels now?”

“Gone.” How her heart hurt to admit it. “But I’m going to find my One.”

Alba nodded, glancing at the sleeping girl. “And what about this child?”

“I found her alone in the forest. She’d been there for a while.”

“How long ago?”

“A fortnight.”

The woman was quiet for a moment, looking over the two young girls. “There’s an orphanage in the next town over. You’re too old to be taken in, but I’m sure she’ll...”

“This child is mine!” Sakura snarled, her hand grasping at the handle of her glaive. “You won’t take her from me. No one will.”

Alba reached for her hand, the demon’s fingers softening under her hold until she released the weapon. “I’m not trying to take her,” she assured calmly, “and I’m not telling you to leave her at the orphanage. But you have to understand that you are still a child yourself. How are you going to provide for the two of you? She is not a doll that you can leave behind when you grow tired of her or when things get too hard.”

Her eyes went wide at the thought of not having Ivy by her side. What a terrible thing to suggest. “I would never do that. I’ll do anything for her. I’ll always find a way to take care of her, no matter what. I’ll sell everything I have, I’ll starve, but she’ll never go without.”

The woman smiled and got to her feet, returning to the cabinet. “You speak as though you are her mother. If you think that you can properly care for her, then I won’t stand in your way, but it’s something that you need to carefully consider. There’s not much else to do other than wait for her to wake. You should try to get some rest as well.”

“Alright, thank you.”

“Of course. If you need me, just call.” Alba left the two girls on their own, closing the door behind her.

Sakura climbed onto the bed, taking hold of Ivy and bringing her close. She was so small, so delicate, the most precious thing the demon had ever encountered. She may have done just fine without the girl before finding her, but now that she had her, how could she ever let her go? Fingers combed through amethyst waves as an uneven tune cascaded from her lips.

She would wait.

Watch.

Until the girl came back to her.

The shadows crept across the room following the trajectory of the sun, becoming larger and more powerful than the light before Ivy opened her eyes. It was so easy, so gentle, as though her slumber had been brought on by a state of tranquility rather than by the violent fight it had been. She felt so warm, so safe, so loved as she tilted her head up, meeting emeralds and trails of ripped flesh. The tears sprang forth and she reached towards the damage. “Mama,” Ivy’s voice so small. “What happened to you?”

There would be time to explain what happened. Time to teach the girl what to call her. But for now, those things could wait.

Sakura pressed her lips against the girl’s forehead and pulled away, smiling. “How about we go get that pomegranate?”