The Pooka (rough draft)

Due to some lucky circumstances, your family came into a small fortune. In your childhood, your family bought a farm, built a beautiful new home, and raised sheep. Along the property though is a massive blackberry bush that stretches along your property line and the forest.

Your father believes having the blackberries there is a sign of good fortune, on the other hand, your mother believes they will bring misfortune. Ever since your family moved in, every spring, it has been a constant battle of your parent’s wills with what should be done about the blackberries. Your father doesn’t want to get rid of the bush, but your mother doesn’t want the ill will the berries will bring. So, every year, your father allows for the berries to be picked all while your mother sets up a small chain of iron along the fence to ward off the pesky fae and spirits who love them.

In all this time, you have never tried any of the beautiful berries from the bush because your mother strictly forbids it. Every year you toy with the idea of going to the fence and having a small feast of black berries for yourself, but you always chicken out at the last second. You have no clue who to believe, your mother or your father. Having always been close to your father though, you were more inclined to believe that the blackberries would bring good luck, and like him, feared getting rid of the bush entirely. Yet the thought of being swept away after eating the berries, like your mother claimed, gave you a fright too.

During spring, along with the berries, it came time to sheer the sheep of their wool. It was always such a fun time because your family hired extra help to tend to the sheep as well as processing the wool. You always enjoyed the lively feeling of the farm with all the extra hands on board. Dinners were filled with banter and laughter, feeling like a gathering of family. It also was a time to flirt and tease the young men who came. There was always one who caught your eye and reminded you of your feminine wiles.

This year, along with the usual batch of hands, there was a few newer faces. Once such face who had hair and eyes as dark as midnight and wore a silver chain around his neck, stood out to you amongst the bunch. His name was Gerran and he was so handsome, almost pretty, with lashes so long and a smile that was dangerous. You found yourself feeling quite shy and giggly around him because of his lovely visage. Not only that, the sheep seemed to be enamored with him too, and he treated them so tenderly. He talked to them, whispered them secrets, it all added to his lovely yet mysterious package.

One evening, one of your favorite sheep was giving birth. Gerran led the charge, helping birth all three little lambs, the last one was pitch black, matching Gerran’s hair.

“There now, look at that, who’d have thought such a little thing could hold so much inside!” Gerran says as he washes his hands.

“I’m amazed, she’s never had three before. One or two, but this is a first.” You smile at the little black one, already finding a deep fondness for it.

Gerran looks at you and you have to look away. He’s so beautiful he makes you nervous to be near. “Good things take time, and that little one looks pretty great.”

You watch as the three new lambs nurse and gather around their mother. “I am not sure how my mother will feel about him. He looks like one of the blackberries she frets over.”

Gerran sniffs and places his hands to his hips. “She would be a fool not to cherish such a little thing. Dark though he be, there is power in the dark.”

You steal a glance at Gerran from the corner of your eye. His dark hair and eyes certainly do hold their own power, at least, they do over you. “Is that something you were told or something you know personally?”

Gerran’s smile grows and he turns to wink at you, making your face itch and heart rumble. “A little of both,” he sounds so assure of himself. “In dark, there is truth hidden, and what is more frightening than the truth?”

You try your hardest to look at him. “So are you saying there is truth hidden in blackberries?” Once you meet his eyes, you almost swoon. How is it possible for one man, no, one human to be so beautiful?

“Have you ever tried them?” He asks with a smirk.

You shake your head, suddenly realizing how childish your notions of good luck and bad luck are. “Mother doesn’t allow it.”

“What a good child you are,” Gerran teases. “You’ve never been tempted?”

A smile grows on your faces. “I was also told the devil would take beautiful forms.”

Gerran grins wickedly, and to your surprise, his cheeks bloom pink. “I do not know which to be more flattered by, lass.” He leans closer to you. “But I would certainly like to be called it all night.”

You playfully shove him as you laugh. “Devil or beautiful?”

His finger catches a curly lock, coiling it around before bringing it up to his lips to kiss. “If you call me devil, then I shall bury myself in the flames of your hair. If you call me beautiful, well then, I would want to be where you can see me best.”

You cheeks itch more as the heat grows. “What a tongue you have, did it belong to a poet?”

Gerran licks his lips slowly then chuckles. “It’s the only one I have ever had.”

“Maybe you are the devil then,” you say breathlessly.

He releases the curl he captured, letting it spring back to your head. “I can be yours, for certain. If that is something you would allow.”

After your father arrives to check on the new lambs, you and Gerran part. You go back home, breathless and wonderfully uplifted by your conversation with the beautiful Gerran. It still doesn’t make sense to you how an individual could be that lovely.

Over the next few days, you continue to have close brushes with Gerran. He smiles broadly when you are near, his dark eyes always focused upon you. You bring him extra treats from the house, sneaking him some of your baked goods. A biscuit or pastry, one time an extra tart.

“You know what would be good with this?” He says as he eats a biscuit. “Some blackberry jam.”

You look at him, wondering how badly he is trying to kid you.

“I am serious!” He replies. “Once you taste a blackberry, I am sure you’d understand.” He points towards the fence with your mothers iron chain draped across it. The blackberry bangs drips over with how heavy it is. People would soon be coming to pick all of them.

“Why not go get some yourself?” You ask him. “Since you love them so much.”

He smiles at you. “I’m talking about you.”

You glance away as he comes closer, sitting right beside you so you can feel how warm he is. You look up shyly at him, tucking your hair behind your ear. “If my mother caught me-”

“I can play look out,” he whispers. “If you want.”

“You should just do it,” you insist.

Gerran places a kiss so soft  upon your cheek. “They’ll taste sweeter from you.” His breath floats over your ear and down your spine.

It takes you a moment to recover from that kiss. Your heart is racing, your soul is hovering above your body. Looking at him again, you see the softness of his gaze that makes him seem genuine.

“Maybe you are the devil,” you sigh.

Gerran smiles. “If you’d like.”

You take the new lambs out, letting them and the mother wander freely. The little black one happily makes his way to the blackberries and tries to reach up to the low hanging branches. You chase after him while Gerran watches over the others. As you pick up the lamb, you pluck enough blackberries to fill the pocket on your apron.

You shoo the lamb back to its mother then stand close to Gerran, offering him a blackberry from your pocket. “Here.”

“Let me thank you.” Gerran takes the berry, placing it on his tongue. He then lifts your chin and kisses you. The juice of the blackberry flows against your lips, your tongue. It dribbles down your chin, but it doesn’t matter. The sweetness and tartness mingle with the delicious surprise of his kiss.

You moan softly as your lips part and Gerran licks the juice from your chin. With a soft smile he watches your expression. “Did you enjoy it?”

You sigh deeply. “Which part?”

Gerran chuckles and reaches for another berry in your pocket, popping into his mouth for his own enjoyment. “See what I mean? Wouldn’t these make the most delicious jam?”

You nod your head shakily. “Yes. They would.” You try a blackberry on your own, understanding now why people flocked to get them when your mother allowed. “They’re so delicious.”

“Forgive me for tempting you,” he chuckles. “I do feel the devilish part right now.”

You smile. “If it’s just me, I suppose it’s okay. But I do ask you don’t go around tempting others the same way. You could run into trouble.”

Gerran kisses the tip of your nose. “That is a warning I will heed.”

A few nights later, you’re sitting in bed fixing a hole in your apron when you see stains from the blackberries. You had thought often about that moment, about Gerran’s kiss and the excitement you felt taking the berries. You can taste them, and you begin to crave them. You try to ignore it, but your hunger grows and grows until it cannot be ignored. You can feel Gerran’s kiss and taste the juice from his tongue. It becomes too much, so you sneak out in your nightclothes to take a few berries.

It is dark, but the light from the house illuminates your way just enough. The berries shine with that dim light, so you can see them easily before you eat them. You have three before you hear a sound.

Turning to look, at first, you see nothing but shadows cast from the barn, the shed, and the house. It is a farm after all, there are always all sorts of sounds going on, even when the animals were asleep. You’ve learned to think nothing of it. You go to take another blackberry when you hear something breathing. Once again, nothing strange, until you hear something chuckle.

Every hair on your body stands on end and your gut turns into a stone knot that sinks heavily within you. Turning again, there is a dark shape in the shadows and it coming closer.

It’s quite large, and it doesn’t look like anything, or anyone, on the farm. Your mouth is filled with blackberry, but at any moment you feel you could heave out every meal you had that day. As it steps into the light, you can see it’s covered in black fur, but has large, round, illuminated eyes. The eyes almost remind you of globe lanterns. The creature looks part horse and part rabbit, with long ears and limbs. Large silver chains hang around its neck and limbs, cascading down from one ear. It then stands there, watching you as blackberries fall from your hands.

“Oh dear god, mother was right,” you exclaim in fear. You try to run back to the house, but the creature grabs you and throws you upon it’s back.

It then races away, careening through the gates and barreling up the road. Dust forms around you, obscuring your vision. It then goes into the river, shooting up sheets of ice cold water around you. You scream, burying your face into the dark fur.

The fae has captured you now and it is taking you far away. You fear what it will do to you. Give your away to it’s masters? Sell you to goblins? Perhaps even take you home so it can eat you as its meal? Your mind races with horror and fear as it gallops you farther and farther away from home.

Then, it slows. The mad dash it makes comes to a slow trot and then it stills. You shake as you raise your head, hoping if you knew where you were, you could have a chance at escape. You look up at the valley before you that suddenly ends at the edge of the sky. The moon hangs high above you, casting everything in a dream like glow.

The way the valley fell off into nothing looked like you were standing at the edge of the world. Despite the beauty of it all, you feared you would be run off the edge and vanish into oblivion.

“I wanted you to see it.”

The sound of the creature’s voice makes you gasp.

The creature kneels down, letting you step off to the side. “Something special is about to happen.”

You look up frightened at them. “What is it?”

They motion out into the field. “Just watch. They’re going to bloom soon.”

“Bloom?” You look back out across the field, which began to glitter like the stars in the sky. Small white flowers peered up from the lush grass, raising their heads as their petals spread forth. Small glowing lights began to appear, floating above the flowers before they ran and danced amongst each other. Your eyes opened wide and you lost your breath as you watched the field burst into colored light. The lights swirled and dance, growing up and out until they formed a river that flowed off the edge of the cliff.

The creature walked forward, following the river of colorful lights. Their dark fur shimmered, looking soft and silky to the touch. Unsure why, you followed along beside them.

“Are you going to leave me here?” You ask weakly.

They turn and look at you. “No. It will get cold soon. You will have to go to bed.”

You flinch in surprise. “Then why did you spirit me away?”

They laugh. “I did not spirit you, we are still in your world. I merely wanted you to see the flowers bloom and dance.”

Your gaze follows along the river while the creature takes a drink.

“What are you?” You whisper.

“For someone who believes in the fortune and misfortune of blackberries, I am shocked you have never heard the legend of the pooka.” They have a devilish smirk on their lips. “So tell me, what luck do you think you possess tonight?”

You look into the pooka’s great big eyes and your lips part. You whisper softly to them, giving them your answer.

“Want to find out if it’s true?”

You nod and the pooka places you back upon their back. They race again as wildly they did before. You careening and crash through the forest, and terrified as you are, you see the world whip around you like a blur. You cannot focus long enough to know where they have taken you or where you are going.

Soon, though, you are back at the farm. The pooka releases you right where you stood when you saw him before. The pooka inches away quickly from the fence.

You notice the iron chain has a glow around it that vanishes the further away the pooka slinks. “Do you want some blackberries?” You offer.

The pooka lifts their head. “I would love some.”

You pick a handful and hold them up for the pooka to eat. They nibble the berries from your palms, ticking your fingers as they do. You smile softly, lowering your hands as the Pooka turns their gaze upon you.

“So that’s why she put up the chain,” you murmur softly.

“Both your parents are wise,” they whisper. “Keep that in mind.” The pooka turns, vanishes back into the shadows.

After sneaking back inside, you find you cannot sleep. The frenzy of your night will not allow you rest. You lay there, thinking about the blooming flowers, the edge of the world, and the pooka itself.

Come morning, as you sleepily tend to your chores. You look back towards the blackberries, feeling a slight chill go down your spine. Gerran approaches, grabbing you from behind and hugging you tight.

“What are you doing?” You fuss at him.

“I have good news!” He announces quite proudly. “Your father has been so impressed with me, he has hired me as his new hand for the entire year.”

The hair on your body bristles as it did last night. “That is very fortunate.” You say the words in disbelief.

Gerran cocks a brow. “You do not seem as jubilant as I thought you would be.”

You try to shake the feeling and smile. “I am! I’m just so surprised!”

Gerran gives you a soft kiss. “Are you alright? Did you sleep at all?” He then smooths his touch under your eye. “How was your night?”

You keep hold of his hand. “I’m not sure how to explain my night. All I know for certain is that it was a ride I shall not forget.”

Gerran pulls you into a hug. “But did you get your answer?” He breathes into your ear.

At his words, you lose your breath.

He pulls back with a devilish smile upon his lips. “So tell me, do you still believe your luck is what you thought?”

You press your forehead to his. “Did the pooka tell you?”

Gerran’s eyes begin to glow like lanterns. “Tell me again, is it good or bad?”

You nod your head slowly as you catch your breath. “You are so beautiful, so it must be good.”

He breaks into a joyous grin. “And so it is. Perhaps it will bring us wedding bells in the future.”