The Ember Ash

Not a human, nor a beast, nor she's kind to say the least.

— One skald's opinion of Scathach, the Cymrian Flame

Upon a time, in a land far far away there was a small village and a family like any other. One year the season was unusually rainy and the land was flooded so intensely, that everyone took shelter on the slopes of the nearby hills. The land they once farmed, their homes and supplies, everything was gone deep under the surface of a muddy lake. But the family did not give up and even on the slopes they cut down the forest to make way for fields and pastures. The land was more difficult to work, the woods thick and twisted but the effort paid off and they happily survived the winter.

One day, and it was on the brink of the new season, the man went on the top of the hill and prayed for a more sunny season, while burrying a piece of charred wood sprinkled with ash. But, be it of the gods fickle nature or the quality of the sacrifice, the rains came again and the water levels got even higher, forcing everyone to move to even steeper slopes. the family did not give up and once again made way for their pastures and fields and survived the winter once more.

On the brink of the new season, the woman went on the top of the hill and prayed for more sun and less rain, while burrying a cold ember with a fragrant piece of spruce resin. But once again, be it of the nature of the gods, or the quality of the sacrifice, the torrential rains came once more, causing the waters to become so high that every hill was now a separated island. The man and woman gathered whatever they could and on top of the hill have made a small sanctuary to spend the rest of their days.

On the brink of the third season, they both took the first piece of a burning wood and kinled the spruce resin from the previous year. The flames began small, but after a while they took off and consumed the charred wood, then the cold piece of charcoal, until all that was left was a silvery pile of ash sprinkled with small, flaming gems inside. Since no more food was left, they both fell into a deep asleep, exhausted but holding to the sliver of hope that things will turn for better.

The next day, even though it was barely spring, they were awakened by the warm and blindingly bright light. But it was not the sun as they expected but the brightest and liveliest of souls, resting in the fireplace, where they left the embers sleeping in the ash. And since the girl was found in the fireplace, they called her Ember Ash.

The years were increasingly tolling on the old parents but they didn't mind. Now that Ember Ash was with them, the days were much brighter and their souls cought the warmth from her smile and blissful laughter.

One day, when Ember Ash turned thirteen springs, she decided to take a swim in the nearby lake and as soon as she jumped in, the water began to stir and boil and great mists covered the hilltops. The parents got scared that maybe their fortunes have turned and the rain gods have come back to flood what remained of the world. How big was their amusement, when the mists have dropped and they saw their previous pastures lush and green, and the land already growing the crops! Strange as it was, they were not the kind to ask unnecessary questions and after making an offering in the sanctuary, they moved to their previous shelter.

The next day, Ember Ash felt a sudden urge to once again swim in the nearby lake and as soon as she jumped in, the water began to stir and boil and even greater mists covered the hilltops and the sun so that even during the day the light was dim and nights as thick as pitch. When everyone gathered around, they quickly gathered their belongings and traced the path to the sanctuary, thinking that this time the gods' rage has undoubtedly focused upon them. Day passed after day, week after week but the mists remained thick. Finally, on the top of the summer sun the mists have finally receded revealing their initial home along with the entire village. The pastures were even thicker and the plentiful livestock grazed it lazily. The fields were already nearly ready for harvest with gold and silver grains reflecting the sun. The initial wooden house was now reinforced with stone and precious gemstones paved the way from the sanctuary to the doorsteps.

And so the family left a final, and the most generous offering they could gather and all three returned to their new home. And Ember Ash? She could no longer find a lake to swim and was said to go on an adventure. Maybe she will visit yours?