The Heroes of Armagh

5: Gaia’s story

Gaia was walking through the forest. She enjoyed being alone out there. She was never scared. The animals were her friends and she was good at hiding if people showed up, but they seldom did.

She was thinking about her father, wishing she could do more to help him on their little farm.

Her father was always there to help an protect her. He was so scared someone should find out that she was special and take her away, as they had done with her mother when she was only a baby.

She reached a clearing and stopped to watch the beautiful deer grazing there, as she moved it looked up, but it didn't run. She held out her hand and the deer slowly came closer.

Gaia smiled as it stopped in front of her. It nozzled her hand and she stroked its neck carefully. It seemed to like her touch, pushing just slightly against her hand.

She realised that the sun was getting low on the horizon. She better get home and cook dinner for her dad. He would be hungry when he got home from the field.

"Well goodbye beautiful". She gave the deer a final pad and started on her way back.

She soon realised she had walked further than it felt, and when she finally reached there little house, her father was already sitting in the kitchen.

"I am so sorry dad, I lost track of time. I get dinner cooking right away". She hurried to the fireplace. Lighting the fire, under the big pot of soup she had luckily made ready earlier in the day.

Her father grinned a little. "Lost track of time again little one ? It is quite okay. I can wait for the food".

"I didn't realise how far I walked into the forest. It is so beautiful right now with everything blooming". She turned toward her father.

He moved his leg and winched. She is next to him in a heartbeat. "You are hurt, what happened dad ?"

"It is nothing special my dear. Just the plow hit a rock, making it fly up and it hit my leg, just a small cut". She could hear he wasn't entirely honest.

She knelt down next to him. "Let me take a look at it dad, please so I at least can clean it".

"Okay then, but you don't need to do anything". He let her roll up the leg of his pants.

It was a rather bad cut and he also had a gash in the bone, she could feel it. "Daddy I need to fix this. You have a gash in the bone, the leg could easily break if I don't fix it".

He just nodded. He didn't like her using her gift, but he usually listened to her when it came to health issues.

She put her hand on the wound, and she could feel the heat spread from her hand into his leg, healing first the bone, and then the cut.

"All done dad". She stood up smiling, and went to check on their dinner. It would be ready soon.

Her father was looking at her. He wished she didn't have to hide, but unfortunately people would fear her. "Thank you Gaia".

They ate together in silence. Gaia dreaming of seeing more than this little town and the forest. Her father hoping he could protect her from the world she dreamt of exploring.