FORGIVENESS AND TRUST

Summer of Wishes

Weave # 5, Thread # V

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Scroll down to the summaries at the end to catch up with the previous threads.

Within the glowing depths of the river, Claudia watched her friend Olive disappear. First, her left hand — the one holding Claudia’s earring — and then her arm. Finally, the water swallowed the sky, bruising it purple and orange.

Olive was now in her world.

“Lead her to me,” Claudia told the Nakkis around her. “I may be here for reasons I don’t understand, but this is my wish.” Her voice boomed around the chamber, and they obeyed.

Within minutes, Olive stood by her side, wincing as she crossed the blazing flames.

She joined hands with Claudia. “I saw Jared,” she said. “Your earring — it let me see inside your mind. How… Is he… Are we going to be okay?” she asked.

“I don’t know. I’m just glad you’re here,” Claudia said, staring at Jared through a magical opening in the flames. She gave Olive’s hand a desperate squeeze.

Grandpa Nakki stepped forward. “To enter our world,” he said, “you must leave something golden on the riverbank. When a Nakki claims it, the water lets you — or one of your friends — through.”

Claudia wrinkled her forehead. “So?”

“Jared left yours,” Grandpa Nakki said.

“No,” Claudia breathed. Both her earrings were gone.

“Someone told him that the price was gold, and he used yours. And then, he made a wish that broke the balance.”

“But I’m here, too,” Olive said. “Surely I get a wish as well?”

The room froze, as if nobody had considered it.

A purple-robed Nakki spoke from the shadows:

“To buy the elixir — the purple flame of life — trade your deepest secret. Drink it, and your dearest wish is yours. Throw it away, and your worst fear dissolves.”

“Now, I’m a fair man — ” Grandpa Nakki produced a vial of purple liquid and passed it through the flames. His benevolent smile came out wrong. “I will give you the elixir — fair trade for the jewel your friend left behind.”

Then, with a more calculating gleam, he whispered “ — And you will decide how much you love him, and how much you can trust him. That, dear, will decide how much of him comes back.”

“Trust him?”

“Every wish gives, and every wish takes,” he said. “If you succeed, my grandson will offer Jared a vial of his own. If he drinks it, he might save you. If he wants anything — anyone — more than you...” he paused meaningfully.

“You have a single minute,” a purple-robe declared. Upon his decree, the flames burned higher, making sweat trickle down the girls’ faces. Then, incrementally, silently, its light began to die out.

“Guilt,” Claudia breathed into the silence. “I knew he was taking things; I didn’t mind, because he needed it. It killed him inside, though.”

Olive nodded, understanding. “It must have been his mother, telling him to try gold. Never liked her.”

They stared at Jared through the magical opening, willing him to look their way. Suddenly, he moved closer to the little opening, as if sensing their presence.

In the background, the flames faded further.

Claudia gulped. Olive’s hand clutched hers tighter, whispering, “We’ve got one shot.”

Claudia nodded, bracing herself. Then, as Jared came closer, she stated two things, no urgency in her tone:

“I forgive you. And I trust you to bring us back.”

Then, she swallowed the elixir.

She had no doubts.

***Thread I Summary by Robbi Walls***: A young girl swinging on a tree swing by a river longs for her friends. She also wants the secret of how to make wishes the river will grant.

***Thread II Summary by Meta Marvelia:*** Meeting strange creatures in a river couldn’t be normal, right? Claudia is forced to face the truth: she has crossed into another world. And though the Nakki claim they can help her return, should she trust them?

***Thread III Summary by T.F.H:*** After walking through a market full of Nakki creatures, Claudia and the two Nakki relatives stop at the bottom of a hill. She learns that she must be judged by a Nakki known as the “Judge of the moon” in order to get back home.

***Thread IV Summary by Vaidehi*: **Claudia enters the Judge of the Moon’s chamber, where the Delphi Oracles reveal the truth behind Jared’s disappearance. As she struggles to reach him, Claudia forms a connection with Olive through the earring. Just as hope begins to form, Grandpa Nakki reveals Claudia’s true role in the Nakki world. Will Claudia make it to her world with Jared?

Thread V Summary by Zeest Zulfiqar: Claudia and Olive realize that they’re stuck because of a wish and a mistake Jared has made. To save him, however, they must forgive him truly and trust him wholly — for a magical wish gives, and a magical wish takes. Only the 1% with the sincerest emotions emerge unharmed.

And that’s it for Weave # 5! A big thank you to Robbi Walls for a lovely start to the story, to Meta Marvelia and T.F.H for showing up again, and to Vaidehi, a very warm welcome to the Weave. Hope you all had fun!

And now, for the next Weave…

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Tagging a few people who might be interested. If you want to be tagged (or not), let me know.

Kaili Bisson, Canute Limarider, Sean Ford, Jason Edmunds, Leni Quinn, Lynn L. Alexander, Isabella Conn, usmyy–, Tom Farr, Claire Noire♡.

All the best, and thank you for dropping in at Weave It Together!

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