After Draco and I parted company I made my way to the East and he continued his search for his friend. My travels were unchanged I helped the ones I could and avoided any large cities. One day I sensed a strong attraction to a section of forest that I had not felt in some time, since leaving Mortici. As I made my way into the forest I came upon a large thicket that seemed to be at least 10 feet thick and 20 feet high. There was a sense of protection coming from this wall of thorns that in a way seemed familiar. As I reached out to examine this wall a doorway opened in the wall and I was allowed to pass through with the doorway closing behind me. Inside this wall I could see was contained a small glade with soft grass, a small stream, and an old run-down shack. I politely called to the shack to announce my presents but got no answer. I approached the shack and noticed that there seemed to be an alter of sorts behind it. I knocked on what was left of the door and still no answer, I entered. Inside I found no sign that anyone had been in here for many years. There was an old wooden bed with a rotting straw mattress, a fireplace, a rickety table, and a set of wooden dishes. The roof needed several holes repaired and good general cleaning was needed. I went outside to look around. As I approached the collapsing alter I saw that it was to Hern, as it had a faint carving of a stag upon it. I bowed slightly towards the alter out of respect, as I hoped that any would do at an alter to my Goddess. There was a loud clap of thunder, though the sky was clear, and a large man in woodland dress with a stag headpiece stood before me.
"You do honor to my alter yet you do not worship Hern. I am pleased to know that a follower of Malieki respects that which is not hers. The druid that served me in this place has pasted on to his reward for faithful service. Only because you are a druid were you able to enter this grove. What are you intentions?" the man asked.
"If it would be okay, I would remain here for a while, repair the shack, and rebuild the alter to Hern. I would like to also build a small alter to my Goddess for it was She who lead me here. But, if this offends Hern then I would leave; for I would not want someone to defile an area blessed by my Goddess, and I will not defile an area dedicated to any as powerful as Hern." I replied.
"Build your alter, but make it no larger than the alter to Hern. You may stay here for one month if you do as you have said." he replied. With that said he disappeared.
I continued my search of the glade and refreshed myself at the clear cool stream. In the back on the shack I found a small storage that contained simple tools. These I would use to repair what I could of the shack and the alter. I pulled the rotting mattress from the bed and took it outside. I took the dishes to the stream and using sand scrubbed them clean. One of the tools was an old sickle that I used to gather grasses to make a bed out of, I could use by bedroll to place on top of the grass. I was able to catch a rabbit and had that for my meal. The night shy was clear so I would worry about the roof tomorrow.
A grass mattress under my bedroll made a bed that I had not enjoyed in some time and I slept until after sun up. After arising, washing, and eating a simple breakfast I went into the woods nearby to see what I could find to repair the roof and hopefully the alter to Hern. I found a deadfall of oak that would work perfectly for repairing the alter and a large pine tree deadfall that would provide temporary repair for the roof. It took most of the day but I gathered the materials I needed for the first repairs. I begged Hern's pardon as I remove the top of the alter to take inside where I could work by the fire light. After smoothing a piece of oak I began the process of carving a new alter top with the image of a stag on it. The carving seemed to go very quickly for I finished sooner than would be expected. Being as it was still early, though dark, I took another piece of oak and prepared it for carving. Once smoothed, I started to carve an Unicorn upon the wood in great detail. Once again the carving seemed to take no time at all. I had a meager meal and went to bed for the night.
I woke up later, the moon was high in the sky and shown as a great ball of silver. I went out and the moon seemed to be shining very brightly upon a particular area of the forest. As I walked towards that area I saw an Unicorn and a Stag standing together in the moonlight, they almost seemed to be conversing with each other. I watched in awe as they each seemed to bow to the other and walk away. The stag into the forest and the unicorn towards me. The Unicorn came up to me and bowed then turned and walked into the forest and disappeared. A single moonbeam lit a small patch of Holly. I carefully gathered a small amount of the Holly and returned to my bed.
The next morning I took the two carved pieces of wood to the alter. Carefully I placed the Stag carved piece in place on Hern's alter. I then bowed respectfully to Hern's alter. I went to the stream and gathered smooth stones. Taking my time I erected a small stone alter and placed the oak with the Unicorn carved on it upon the stones. Returning to the shack I gathered the Holly from the night before and took it to be placed upon the alter to Malieki. Satisfied with the way the alter looked I knelt and offered my prayers to Malieki.
Once finished, I returned to the shack and started to repair the roof and make preparations to replace the door to the shack. I had done only temporary repairs to the roof, but it would keep the rain out for now, and had made great progress in constructing a new door by days end. It had again been a very productive but peaceful day. I washed at the stream then went to prepare myself some supper. When I entered the shack I was struck by the changes that had occurred. The table was no longer falling apart, upon it was a great meal with meat and vegetables and a large container that, upon inspection, contained Mead. The bed now had a new mattress to replace the pile of grasses I had been using. The fireplace had a nice fire going and there were candles placed around the room to give light. I felt a nudge at my back and when I turned around I was facing what appeared to be the same Unicorn and Stag from the night before. I moved out of the way and both entered followed by a wolverine that appeared very thin and injured. Now wolverines are not very friendly and don't really like people so I was surprised that one would just walk inside. I noticed that both the Stag and the Unicorn were watching me, when the wolverine collapsed the two avatars both looked concerned.
I placed my faith in my Goddess and went to check on the wolverine. It had a very deep gash in it's side that looked as though made by sword. There was much dirt and debris in the wound. I had a bucket of water that I had brought in from the stream and using an old shirt I cleaned the wound. Then using what little thread I had I stitched up the wound. Placing my hands on the wound I chanted the healing spell that I had been taught. It did not seem to be enough.
"Hern, if you would but this once help me to help the forest creature I will do what my Goddess allows to honor you in any way possible" I shouted.
The shout seemed to startle the stag, but suddenly I heard a different spell in my mind and chanted that spell. A brown glow with a hint of silver surrounded my hands and infused into the wolverine's body. After a short time the wolverine stirred, she sat up and licked my hands. Her wounds were gone, but she still looked very thin. I gave her water from my own hand and she drank quietly. I took some of the meat from the table and offered it to her, she took it gently and slowly. Once she had finished that bit of meat I placed more on a plate and put in front of her along side a bowl of water. I had forgotten about the stag and unicorn, when I remembered and looked around they were gone. But, sitting at the table were two people, the old man that I had seen at the alter the first day and Malieki. I knelt and bowed to both of them.
"Well Hern, I told you this one was special. You told him to repair the alter to you and that he might construct a smaller one to me which he did. Now when I could not help him, since he is in an area dedicated to you, he asks your help to accomplish the task we agreed upon. I will allow him to do what you may require as payment for your help. Don't be too hard on him." Malieki said.
"All that I require of him is to finish the repairs to this shack, and that he construct a larger single alter with both our symbols on it. Medico, since you have shown respect for that which is dedicated to me and have healed one that was injured by asking for my help I grant safe sanctuary in any area that is dedicated to my service, this for you and your offspring only. This area will be shared by your Goddess and myself. Let any know that this is so." Hern thundered. With that both disappeared, but the wolverine remained. I sat down and enjoyed the meal that had been provided.
Over the next few weeks I did as asked and constructed a large alter with both a Stag and an Unicorn carved upon it. I did not destroy either of the smaller ones. I moved each so that one stood to one and the other to the other side. As I worked the wolverine, who had by this time fully recovered, followed me around like a pet and whoa be to any small vermin that came near me. She would sleep on my feet each night and wake me each morning by gently licking my face. All the repairs had been completed and it was time for me to push on with my journey. As I left through the doorway in the wall of thorns the wolverine remained inside the glade. I would see her many years later when she was old and infirmed, though I didn't know that then. It is strange, but looking back it was after that month that I noticed that I was always watched by the wolverines of the forest no matter where I traveled in this land.