Sophie and the Backwoods

     Sophie (infamously Sophie the Swamp Witch) was bored. She had been living in her shack alone since she was just a small Ixi, brought to Ilere the Earth Faerie by her brother Reginald when things in Neovia had spiralled out of control. Potions had been taken, lives were ruined … all except Sophie’s. Well, her life was inexorably changed. The only safe place for her had been away with Ilere. Except, of course, that in the end Ilere had left her to fend for herself. Sophie had done just that. She had survived in the swamp, learning and foraging she had become a powerful witch just in time to help Neovia and her brother Bruno. There had been that little Gilly-girl too Sophie supposed. Too bad another crisis wasn’t imminent, Sophie sighed.

     A knock came at the door and Sophie paused in the act of putting her spellbook down. What was this? She never got visitors … well, hardly ever. She glanced quickly around her small home. While it was called a shack Sophie knew better. Her home was no wilting violet of Neopia and had stood by her through some dark times. It also was quite homey in her opinion. While the wood walls were quite simple, they were sturdy. She also had her trunk of potion ingredients at the ready. The main room was lined with shelves full of books from all of Neopia. For all of Sophie’s hermit qualities she really did love to read. Certainly, the main categories were potion books, but Sophie had an extensive collection. The knock sounded again, impatient this time. Sophie took her wand from the wall. Her wand was one of her pride and joys, imbued with magical properties and tied in directly to her own magic it really cast a protective wallop and was super stylish (even if she did say so herself). Sophie went to get the door with Teddy on her heels.

     Sophie opened the door cautiously (it always paid to be cautious) and was surprised by the sight that greeted her. On the path that led to her doorway was a small basket filled with potion ingredients, a small folded note, and what looked to be a book. Disappointing and boring, Sophie thought to herself. Delivery from Brightvale Potions wasn’t very speedy she thought, but they were reliable and had learned to drop and run.

     She also would admit to herself that she had been hoping it was Bruno. She hadn’t seen him for quite some time and while she received updates from Reginald she had not gotten word from Bruno. Perhaps it was past time that she found him herself and quit waiting for him to come to her. Sophie squared her shoulders. Yes, that was a project she could get excited about. Finding Bruno would at least let her tell him what she thought about him not letting her know that he was alright. I mean, for shame.

     Sophie took the basket back inside. She called Teddy back in since the silly Meowclops had started down the path. Honestly, Teddy had no sense whatsoever. She crossed the threshold, nudging Teddy firmly inside, and latched the door securely. The swamp wasn’t always the safest, and while her shack was in the swamp now, it did have a tendency to wander if she wasn’t paying attention.

     Sophie put her wand down and went to get a few books and fresh quill and paper out. Certainly, she needed some ideas on finding Bruno. Sophie tapped her chin thoughtfully, she did have an idea of where to find him … the Haunted Woods in the caves and backcountry. Perhaps if she could just lure him out of the caves he’d come and meet with her.

     Sophie thought she had a semblance of a plan. If she left early in the morning she could be there by afternoon before it got dark. Then she could check in with Bruno and hurry home before her cauldron fires were even cold. Perfect.

     Sophie went to bed that evening with what she thought was a solid plan and not a worry in her mind.

     Bruno was exhausted. All this running and nowhere to hide. There were still some of the townspeople that had been chasing him and memorized his cave locations so he’d had to abandon them. Now he was only down to a select secret few. He had never minded about the woods or the chasing in the past, but Bruno felt like things were a little unbalanced. Maybe he could use a little help? After he, Gilly, and Sophie had cured Neovia Bruno had felt sure he could go back to living in peace, but it had been short-lived. The townspeople had been cured, but there were still some that were frightened of Bruno and had continued to chase him. Bruno curled up on the ground as he was thinking it over. Neovia was too busy, too dangerous to seek out his brother Reginald, but perhaps he could venture further and try to locate Sophie. He knew if he could just find her that she would help.

     Sophie set out the very next morning with her objective clear. She let Teddy come along against her better judgment since he was typically a lot of trouble, but Sophie knew if she left him alone that would probably be worse. Eventually, Sophie found herself in the area of the Haunted Woods that she suspected Bruno could be found and began laying out her potions. She knew that if he saw them he’d know she’d come to find him.

     Sophie kept one eye (well, her wand kept an eye) on Teddy. The silly meowclops was trotting along happily eating things he shouldn’t and randomly fainting. Luckily, Sophie had invented a spell long ago that revived him after a few minutes or she’d constantly be carrying the silly thing. Finally, when Sophie had all the potions laid out she sat down to wait. Earlier she’d dodged a Neovian townsperson so she was on high alert. Sophie hadn’t been super surprised that they were still out looking for Bruno. She nibbled on a kadoatie biscuit while she waited and shared a little with Teddy.

     “Psst,” came a small sound from her right. Sophie quickly turned towards the sound. Bruno was perched in a small tree looking nervously around. She scrambled up quickly, “Bruno!” Sophie forgot that there were Neovians out looking for him and didn’t lower her voice sufficiently. Bruno’s eyes widened in alarm as shouts came from a distance.

     “Oh bother,” Sophie said, annoyed.

     “They’re looking for me.” Bruno was worried. He was excited to see Sophie. He had been sure that it was her leaving the potions for him, but he also wasn’t sure that they’d be able to get away together. The caves that were left were in some spots with very tricky jumps. Bruno glared at the little creature next to Sophie dubiously.

     “Not to worry,” Sophie said confidently. “We’ll just go off to my house for a bit. Come on down.” The shouts increased in the distance. Bruno was hesitating. “Hurry up,” Sophie said impatiently. She waited as Bruno did as she asked and then, making sure he was close enough and that Teddy was accounted for, she cast her spell and took them all back to her shack in the swamp.

     Bruno stared around in amazement. “What? I had no idea you could do such a thing.” He gave her a fierce hug. “I’m so happy to see you. You have no idea what I’ve been having to do in order to get to safety. I was hoping to find you and get your help. It’s like they’ve memorized my cave routes. Or maybe they have them written down somewhere.” He stopped and looked at his sister (who was looking at him with a sceptical expression). “I promise I haven’t been taking any weird potions Sophie.”

     Sophie hugged Bruno back and looked him over. He did look rather ratty. Perhaps she would scold him later. “Don’t worry about the townspeople. I have just the thing to help you out with your problem. If they have been following you or memorizing your routes I can give you a little trinket so they will forget you when they’ve seen you. Every time they see you it will be like the first time.” She gave him a pat on the arm. “Don’t worry big brother … it’ll work like a charm.”

     Sophie and Bruno spent several days together enjoying each other's company. Bruno got some much needed rest and some hot meals (although Sophie wasn’t much of a cook and Bruno was a little scared of the things that came out of the cauldron). Eventually, Sophie finished the trinket she was working on and then gave the small charm to Bruno. Bruno sewed it carefully into the inside seam of his jacket so it wouldn’t be lost. He trusted Sophie and Sophie promised that it would work. It was worth a try.

     Sophie and Bruno said their good-byes the next morning and as Sophie watched Bruno leap into the woods she was pleased to see her charm at work. One townsperson after the other walked forward and then turned back after his passing. They seemed to throw their rock and then forget about his presence once he was out of sight. Satisfied, Sophie returned back home … ready again for some solitude.

     The End.